The Times-Picayune 08-09-2025 by The Advocate

EYEONEDUCATION

From math reformstoTrump changesand school closures,fourK-12issuestowatch this year

BY PATRICK WALL Staff writer

Last school year was aturning point for K-12 education in Louisiana.

The state’sstudentsled the country in post-pandemic readingrecovery and made big gains on anational fourth-grade readingtest,surgingto 16th place nationally from 42nd place just two years earlier.OnMonday,U.S. Education Secretary LindaMcMahon is scheduled to visita Baton Rougeschool to celebrate that academic progress. Suddenly,Louisiana is being cited as an education leader,not alaggard. The question this school year: Will it last?

“We’re coming offahistoric year for educationinLouisiana,” said state Superintendent of EducationCade Brumley.“We just needtocontinue with that momentum.”

To do that, Brumley wants to apply

the state’s reading-reform strategies to math.He’salso hoping that arevamped school-rating system will spur campuses to up their game —though manyeducators see the new system as more hindrance than help.

At thesame time, Louisiana schools could face headwinds this year,including reduced federal funding and oversight as President Trump dismantles the U.S. Education Department and declining enrollment means morepotential school closures.

As the new school year kicks off, here are four big education issues to watch in Louisiana.

Apushtomultiplymathscores

After Louisiana’srecent literacy gains, state ofﬁcials want to make math

thenew reading. Studentshave further to climb in math,withLouisiana’s fourth graders ranked38th on anationalmath test. Butofﬁcials insist that thepolicies they say boosted students’ reading skills teacher training and coaching, frequent student assessments andintensive tutoring —can achieve similarresults in math.

A2023 law requirednumeracy training for teachers in grades 4-8, sincemath scores decline in the upper grades, and alaw passed this year looped in teachers in grades K-3. It alsorequiresmath coaches for teachers.

This year,schools also will pilot anew numeracy screener forgradesK-3 to measure students’ math progress during theyear

ä See EDUCATION, page 4A

TrumpsayshewillmeetPutin in Alaska

Leaderstodiscuss endingwar in Ukraine

BY WILL WEISSERT and VASILISASTEPANENKO Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump saidFriday that he will meet with Russian PresidentVladimir Putinnext Friday in Alaska to discuss endingthe warinUkraine, a potential major milestone after expressing weeks of frustration that more was not being done to quell the ﬁghting.

Speaking to reporters at the White House afterannouncinga framework aimed at ending decades of conﬂictelsewhere in the world—between Armeniaand

Azerbaijan —Trump refused to say exactly when or where he would meet with Putin, but that he planned to announce alocation soon. Later on social media, he announced what he called “the highly anticipated meeting” would happen Aug. 15 in Alaska.Hesaid more details would follow.The Kremlin has not yet conﬁrmed the details.

He suggested earlier Friday that his meeting with the Russian leader couldcomebefore anysit-downdiscussion involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

“We’re going to have ameeting with Russia, start off with Russia. And we’llannounce alocation Ithink the location will be avery popular one,” Trump said.

ä See TRUMP, page 4A

Landry orders probeof recordsat landfill

BY JONI HESS Staff writer

Days after New Orleans court records were found scattered in alandfill, triggering stinging criticism of MayorLaToyaCantrell’sadministration,Gov.JeffLandry on Fridaycalled for acriminal investigation into the matter and Cantrell’sofﬁce offered the most detail yetabout howthe records were moved.

In aThursdaylettertoState Police Col. Robert Hodgesthat Landry publicizedFriday, Landry directed State Police to conduct an investigation “to identify those responsible”sothey “canbeprosecuted andheldaccountable.” “This is adisgusting abuse of power anda slapinthe face to crime victims.Those who participatedin this deliberate crime must be held accountable,” Landry said on the social media platform X.

After the governor’s statement, newly appointed city Chief Administrative Ofﬁcer Joe Threat said the city welcomes the state’s investigation. He said thecityhas held theﬁles, which hail from Criminal District Court,instoragecontainers inside Federal Emergency Management Agency trailers at aDepartment of

N.O. official says city welcomes investigation ä See LANDFILL, page 5A Landry

cuts programthatwould lowerutility rates

BY JOSIEABUGOV Staff writer

Louisiana is set to lose $156 millionin funding for solar energy after the Trump administration’smove to eliminate the program, ablowtoeffortstoimprove electricity reliability and affordability in astate withsome of thenation’smost outages, local ofﬁcialssay

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency canceled the$7billionprogram on Thursday that aimed to lower utility costs fornearly amillionpeople across the country.Louisiana’s$156 million grant had already been awarded to the state, which planned to use it to expand access to renewable energy forlow-income anddisadvantagedfamiliesaswell as help safeguard residents when storms knock outpower

See SOLAR, page 5A

Brumley

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By EVGENIy MALOLETKA Ukrainian servicemen of the 148thartillerybrigade load ammunition intoa M777 howitzer Thursdaybefore firingtoward Russian positions at the frontline in Zaporizhzhiaregion, Ukraine.

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIAGERMER

Sixth grade students participateinactivities in groups Wednesday during the first dayofschool at Gayle Sloan Middle School in Mandeville.Last year,the state’sstudents led thecountryinpost-pandemic reading recovery and made biggains on anational fourth grade reading test.

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

Authorities say Florida woman posed as nurse

PALM COAST Fla. A Florida woman is accused of posing as a licensed nurse and giving medical care to thousands of patients authorities said.

Autumn Marie Bardisa, 29, of Palm Coast, participated in medical services involving 4,486 people from June 2024 until January 2025, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Ofﬁce said.

“This is one of the most disturbing cases of medical fraud we’ve ever investigated,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said in announcing the arrest.

Bardisa was apprehended in the driveway of her home Tuesday and is jailed on multiple charges that include practicing health care without a license, sheriff’s ofﬁcials said. She’s being held on $70,000 bond and is due in court for a Sept. 2 arraignment.

No lawyer who could speak on behalf of Bardisa was listed in local court records.

The sheriff’s office said Bardisa used another health care worker’s license number and submitted false documentation in order to be employed as an advanced nurse technician at AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway in Palm Coast.

“This woman potentially put thousands of lives at risk by pretending to be someone she was not and violating the trust of patients, their families, AdventHealth and an entire medical community,” Staly said.

Police say Montana bar shooting suspect caught

A man suspected in a shooting at a Montana bar that left four people dead was captured Friday just a few miles from where the shooting happened after hundreds of law enforcement officers spent the past week scouring nearby mountainsides, authorities said.

Michael Paul Brown, 45, was taken into custody about 2 p.m. near the area where authorities had focused their search in the days following the Aug. 1 shooting at The Owl Bar in Anaconda, about 100 miles from Missoula.

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said during a news conference that about 130 law enforcement ofﬁcers made a hard push Thursday after getting tips that helped verify they were looking in the right area

“We think that was directly correlated to ﬂushing him out,” Knudsen said of the number of officers that had swarmed the area. “We were able to move really quickly and get our suspect apprehended.”

Gov Greg Gianforte first confirmed Brown’s capture on social media Friday afternoon, saying it was an incredible response from law enforcement officers across the state.

“They followed up on every tip. They spent hours climbing over these mountains, looking for this criminal,” the governor said later during the news conference. “They used every resource available to them to search for him.”

Meteor that hit Georgia house older than Earth

ATHENS, Ga. — A meteorite that punched a hole in a Georgia homeowner’s roof after blazing across the sky in a ﬁery streak is older than the Earth itself, according to scientist who examined fragments of the space rock.

People in several Southern states reported seeing the mysterious ﬁreball in broad daylight on June 26 as it hurtled toward the ground faster than the speed of sound.

University of Georgia planetary geologist Scott Harris said in a news release Friday that he examined 23 grams of meteorite fragments recovered from a piece the size of a cherry tomato that struck a man’s roof like a bullet and left a dent in the ﬂoor of the home outside Atlanta

Examining the fragments under microscopes, Harris concluded the meteorite formed 4.56 billion years ago. That is roughly 20 million years older than the Earth.

“It belongs to a group of asteroids in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter that we now think we can tie to a breakup of a much larger asteroid about 470 million years ago,” Harris said.

Israeli plan to take over Gaza City stirs fears

BY WAFAA SHURAFA, SAM METZ and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press

JERUSALEM Israel said Friday it will intensify its 22-month war with Hamas by taking over Gaza City, stirring fears for Palestinian civilians and Israeli hostages still held in Gaza, and renewing international pressure for an end to the conﬂict.

Israel’s air and ground war has killed tens of thousands of people in Gaza, displaced most of the population, destroyed vast areas and pushed the territory toward famine. The timing of another major ground operation is unclear It will likely require mobilizing thousands of troops and forcibly evacuating civilians almost certainly worsening Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.

An ofﬁcial familiar with the plans to take over Gaza City said the operation would be “gradual” and that there is no start date.

The ofﬁcial spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

Mediators from Egypt and Qatar are preparing a new framework that will include the release of all hostages — dead and alive — in one go, in return for an end of the war in Gaza and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the strip, two Arab ofﬁcials told The Associated Press Before Israel’s Security

Cabinet approved the plan to take over Gaza City Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had outlined more sweeping plans Thursday in an interview with Fox News, saying Israel planned to take control of all of Gaza. Israel already controls around three-quarters of the territory Hamas rejected Israel’s plans. “Expanding of aggression against our Palestinian people will not be a walk in the park,” the group said in a statement International powers, including Israeli allies France, Britain and Canada, have stepped up criticism of the war amid mounting shock over media reports showing starvation.

Germany said Friday it would not authorize the export of military equipment that could be used in Gaza until further notice.

Tensions could rise further if Netanyahu follows through on the more sweeping plans to take control of the entire territory, two decades after Israel’s unilateral withdrawal.

Israel’s new plan may be aimed in part at pressuring Hamas to accept a ceaseﬁre on Israel’s terms.

It may also reflect the reservations of Israel’s military chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, who reportedly warned that expanding operations would endanger the remaining 20 or so living hostages held by Hamas and fur-

ther strain Israel’s army after nearly two years of regional wars.

The military “will prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones,” Netanyahu’s ofﬁce said in a statement after the Security Cabinet meeting.

Amir Avivi, a retired brigadier general and chairman of Israel’s Defense and Security Forum, estimated it would take less than three months to mobilize some 30,000 troops, evacuate Palestinian civilians and take over Gaza City

Hamas-led militants triggered the war when they stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and abducting 251 people Most of the hostages have been released in ceaseﬁres or other deals but 50 remain inside Gaza. Israel believes around 20 of them to be alive.

Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed over 61,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many were fighters or civilians. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals.

The United Nations and independent experts view the ministry’s figures as the most reliable estimate of casualties. Israel has disputed them without offering a toll of its own.

officer

DOJ subpoenas N.Y. AG in Trump fraud suit probe

BY ERIC TUCKER and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Justice Department has subpoenaed New York Attorney General Letitia James as part of an investigation into whether she violated President Donald Trump’s civil rights, according to people familiar with the matter

The subpoenas sought records related to a lawsuit James filed against Trump over alleged fraud in his personal business dealings and a lawsuit involving the National Rifle Association, according to one of the people. Another person confirmed that the subpoenas are related to a civil rights investigation. The people could not publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on Friday on the condition of anonymity

tion carrying out the president’s political retribution campaign,” Lowell said. “Weaponizing the Department of Justice to try to punish an elected ofﬁcial for doing her job is an attack on the rule of law and a dangerous escalation by this administration.”

The subpoenas mark an escalation of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to scrutinize perceived adversaries of the president, including those like James who had investigated him before his election win last November

A spokesperson for James’ ofﬁce, Geoff Burgan, declined to confirm the subpoenas but issued a statement that said “Any weaponization of the justice system should disturb every American. We stand strongly behind our successful litigation against the Trump Organization and the National Riﬂe Association, and we will continue to stand up for New Yorkers’ rights.”

In a separate statement, James’ personal attorney, Abbe D. Lowell, called the subpoenas “improper.

“Investigating the fraud case Attorney General James won against President Trump and his businesses has to be the most blatant and desperate example of this administra-

A spokesperson for the Justice Department, Natalie Baldassarre declined to comment. James, a Democrat, has sued Trump and his Republican administration dozens of times over his policies as president and over how he conducted his private business empire. Trump is appealing the $454 million judgment she won against him in a lawsuit alleging he and his companies defrauded banks and other lenders by giving them ﬁnancial statements that inﬂated the value of his properties, including his golf clubs and his penthouse in Trump Tower

Trump says that his financial statements actually understated his wealth and that any mistakes in the documents were harmless errors that played no role in banks’ lending decisions. He and his lawyers have repeatedly accused James of engaging in “lawfare” for political purposes — a claim she has denied. In her role as a regulator of charities and nonproﬁt groups registered in New York, James also sued the NRA and its longtime leader, Wayne LaPierre. A jury last year found that LaPierre misspent millions of dollars of the organization’s money and used the funds to pay for an extravagant lifestyle, while the NRA itself failed to properly manage its assets and violated whistleblower protections. James had sought to dissolve the powerful gun advocacy organization altogether though a judge ruled that the allegations did not warrant a “corporate death penalty.”

BY JEFF AMY Associated Press

ATLANTA — A suspected gunman and a police officer are dead after law enforcement responded to reports of an active shooter near the adjoining campuses of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Emory University on Friday authorities said.

No civilians are believed to have been injured, but several rounds hit buildings on the CDC’s sprawling campus, said Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum.

The officer who died “received gunfire” during the shooting, DeKalb County Police Chief Gregory Padrick said. Officials earlier said that the officer was critically injured at the scene and taken to the hospital.

CDC employees circulated photos from inside the buildings that appear to show numerous windows with bullet impacts in them.

The shooter was armed

with a long gun, and authorities recovered three other ﬁrearms at the scene, according to a law enforcement ofﬁcial who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.

The gunman was found on the second floor of a building across the street from the CDC and died at the scene, Schierbaum said. “We do not know at this time whether that was from ofﬁcers or if it was self-inﬂicted,” Schierbaum said. A white car with an open truck was part of the crime scene and is being searched, he added, but it’s still unclear if it belonged to the suspect Authorities said there is no longer a threat to

the public Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said the man’s motive is not known because the investigation is still in the “preliminary stages.” Staff at a nearby deli said they heard what sounded like a string of gunshots. “It sounded like ﬁreworks going off, one right after the other,” said Brandy Giraldo, the chief operating ofﬁcer of The General Muir restaurant Emory University announced in a post on X that the shelter-in-place order on campus had been lifted, but asked people to avoid the area. By about 6 p.m., a warning siren repeatedly sounded near the Emory and CDC campuses, as law enforcement vehicles parked throughout the streets.

James

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By OHAD ZWIGENBERG

Israeli soldiers walk Wednesday along the border of the Gaza Strip in southern Israel.

Apollo 13 missionleaderJames Lovell dies at 97

BY DON BABWIN Associated Press

CHICAGO James Lovell, the commander of Apollo 13 who helped turn afailed moon mission into atriumph of on-the-flycan-doengineering, has died. He was 97.

Lovell died Thursdayin Lake Forest, Illinois, NASA said in astatement on Friday

“Jim’scharacter and steadfastcourage helped our nation reach the Moon and turned apotential tragedy into asuccess from which we learnedanenormous amount,” NASA said. “Wemourn his passing even as we celebrate his achievements.”

OneofNASA’smosttraveled astronauts in the agency’s firstdecade, Lovell flew four times —Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8and Apollo 13 —with the two Apollo flights riveting the folks back on Earth.

Lovell and fellow astronauts Fred Haise and Jack Swigert received renewed fame with the retelling of the Apollo 13 mission in the 1995 movie “Apollo 13” where actor TomHanks —portraying Lovell —famously said, “Houston, we have aproblem.”

In 1968, the Apollo 8crew of Lovell, Frank Bormanand William Anders was the first to leave Earth’sorbit and the first to fly to and circle the moon. They could not land, but they put the U.S. ahead of the Soviets in the space race. Letter writers told the crew that their stunning pale

Astronaut JamesLovell, the commander of Apollo 13 whohelped turnafailed moon mission into atriumphofon-the-flycan-doengineering, died Friday at age97.

blue dot photo ofEarthfrom themoon, aworld ﬁrst, and thecrew’sChristmas Eve reading from Genesis saved America from atumultuous 1968.

Butthe bigrescuemission was still to come. That was during the harrowingApollo 13 ﬂight in April 1970. Lovell was supposed to be the ﬁfth man to walkon themoon.

ButApollo 13’sservice module, carrying Lovell and two others, experienced a sudden oxygen tank explosion on its way to the moon

The astronauts barely survived,spendingfour cold and clammy days in the cramped lunar module as a lifeboat.

“The thing that Iwant mostpeople to remember is (that)insome sense it was very muchofa success,” Lovell said during a1994 interview.“Not thatweaccomplishedanything, but asuccess in that we demonstrated the capability of (NASA) personnel.”

Aretired Navy captain known for hiscalm demeanor,Lovelltolda NASA historian that his brush with deathdid affect him.

“I don’tworryabout crises anylonger,”hesaidin1999. Whenever he has aproblem, “I say,‘Icould have been gone back in 1970. I’m still here. I’mstill breathing.’ So, Idon’tworry about crises.”

Lovellhad icewater in his veins like other astronauts, but he didn’tdisplay theswagger some had, just quiet conﬁdence, said Smithsonian Institution historian RogerLaunius. He called Lovell “a very personable, very down-to-earthtype of person,who says ‘This is what Ido. Yes, there’srisk involved. Imeasure risk.’”

In all, Lovell flew four space missions— anduntil the Skylab ﬂights of the mid1970s,heheld the world record for the longest time in space with715 hours, 4minutes and 57 seconds.

Aboard Apollo 8, Lovell described the oceans and land masses of Earth. “What

Ikeepimagining, is if Iam somelonelytravelerfrom another planet, what Iwould think about the Earth at this altitude, whether Ithink it would be inhabited or not,” he remarked.

That mission maybeas importantasthe historic Apollo 11 moon landing, aflight made possible by Apollo 8, Launius said.

“I think in thehistoryof space ﬂight, Iwould say that Jim was one of the pillars of theearlyspace flight program,” Gene Kranz, NASA’s legendary flight director, once said.

But if historians consider Apollo 8and Apollo 11 the most significantofthe Apollo missions, it was during Lovell’slast mission that he came to embody forthe public the image of the cool, decisive astronaut.

The Apollo 13 crew of Lovell, Haise andSwigert was on the way to the moon in April 1970, when an oxygen tank from the spaceship exploded 200,000 milesfrom Earth.

That, Lovell recalled, was “the most frightening momentinthis whole thing.” Then oxygen began escaping and“we didn’thavesolutions to get home.”

“Weknew we were in deep, deep trouble,” he told NASA’s historian.

Four-fifths of the wayto themoon,NASAscrapped the mission. Suddenly,their only goal was to survive.

Lovell’s“Houston, we’ve had aproblem,” avariation of acomment Swigert had radioed moments before,

becamefamous. Whatunfoldedoverthe next four days captured the imaginationofthe nation and the world, whichuntil then hadlargely been indifferent aboutwhatseemed a routine mission.

With Lovell commanding the spacecraft, Kranz led hundreds of flight controllers andengineersinafurious rescue plan. The planinvolvedthe astronautsmoving from the servicemodule,whichwas hemorrhaging oxygen, into the cramped, dark and frigid lunarlanderwhile they rationedtheir dwindling oxygen, water andelectricity Using the lunar module as a lifeboat, they swung around the moon, aimed for Earth and raced home. By coolly solving theproblemsunder the mostintense pressure imaginable,the astronauts andthe crew on theground becameheroes In the process of turning what seemed routine intoa life-or-death struggle, the entire ﬂightteamhad created oneofNASA’sfinest momentsthatranks with Neil Armstrong’sand Buzz Aldrin’swalks on the moon nine months earlier

“Theydemonstrated to the world they could handle truly horriﬁc problems and bring them back alive,” said Launius. The loss of the opportunity to walk on the moon“is my one regret,” Lovell said in a 1995 interview with The Associated Press forastory on the 25th anniversary of the mission.

Trumpremoves BillyLongasIRS commissioner

Official to serveasIceland

ambassador

BY JOCELYN GECKER and MICHELLE L. PRICE Associated Press

The Trump administration is seeking a$1billion settlement from theUniversity of California, Los Angeles, aWhite House ofﬁcial said Friday,weeks after the Department of Justice accused the school of antisemitism and other civil rights violations. UCLA is the firstpublic universitytobetargeted by awidespread funding freeze over allegations of civil rightsviolations related to antisemitism and afﬁrmative action.

President Donald Trump’s administration has frozen or paused federal funding over similar allegations against elite private colleges. In recent weeks, the administration has struck deals with Brown University for $50 million and Columbia University for $221 million but has explored larger settlements, suchas with Harvard University

The White House ofﬁcial did not detail any additional demands the administration has made to UCLA or elaborate on the settlement amount. The personwas not

authorized to speak publicly about the request andspoke on condition of anonymity

The Trump administrationsuspended $584 million in federalgrants for UCLA, the university said this week.The Department of Justice’sCivil Rights Division issued aﬁnding that UCLA violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment andTitle VI of theCivil Rights Actof 1964“by acting with deliberate indifference in creating ahostile educational environment for Jewish and Israeli students.”

The university had drawn widespread criticism for how it handled dispersing an encampmentofIsraelHamas war protesters in 2024. Jewish students said demonstrators in theencampment blocked them from getting to class. One night, counterprotesters attackedthe encampment, throwing traffic cones and firing pepper spray,with fighting thatcontinued for hours, injuring morethan adozenpeople, before policesteppedin. Thenext day,after hundreds defied orders to leave, morethan 200peoplewerearrested.

BY FATIMAHUSSEIN

Associated Press

WASHINGTON— President Donald Trump has removed former U.S. Rep. Billy Long as IRS commissioner less than two months after his conﬁrmation, aWhite House ofﬁcial said Friday

The ofﬁcial, who was not authorized to sp ea k publicly , spoke on condi tio n of anonymity.Treasury Sec re tary ScottBessent wi ll serve as acting commissioner, theofﬁcial said. Long will instead serve as ambassador to Iceland, Long said in astatementonthe social media site X.

“It is ahonor to servemy friend President Trumpand Iamexcited to take on my newrole as theambassador to Iceland. Iamthrilled to answer his calltoservice and deeply committed to advancing his bold agenda Exciting times ahead!”Long said.

The Senateconfirmed Long on a53-44vote de-

spiteDemocrats’ concerns aboutthe Republican’s past work for aﬁrm that pitched afraud-ridden coronavirus pandemic-era tax break and about campaign contributions he received after Trumpnominated him. Before Long’sconfir-

mation, the IRS shuffled through four acting leaders, including one whoresigned over adeal between the IRSand theDepartment of Homeland Security to share immigrants’ tax data with Immigrationand Customs Enforcementand another

whose appointment led to a ﬁght between formerTrump adviser Elon Musk and Bessent. Long will be theshortesttenured IRS commissioner confirmed by the Senate since the position was created in 1862.

FILEPHOTO PROVIDEDByNASA

EDUCATION

Brumley calls it a“back-to-basics” approach, ensuring thatstudents develop foundational math skills that they can builduponover time

“Too often, kids are taught to believe that they’re not amath kid,” he said. “Every kid has to be amath kid in Louisiana.”

Atougher gradingsystem

It’sabout to become much harder forLouisiana schoolstoearntop grades.

Citing adisconnect between many schools’ high grades and many students’ lowscores, state policymakers overhauled the school-rating system to put much moreweightonstudents’academic outcomes. Next year,whenschools receive their ﬁrst ratingsunder the new system,many willlikely see their grades take ahit.

Not surprisingly,the changesare deeply unpopular with many educators.

“I hate it,” saidSammi Caillouet, aveteran teacher in the St. Charles Parish school system. “It will make us look like we’re not successful when we’re actually wildly successful.”

The changes will be mostdramatic for highschools, where75% of their ratings will now be based on student test scores, up from 25%.

Criticssay schools will be incentivized to focus disproportionately on tested subjects while pulling back

TRUMP

Continued from page1A

He added: “It would have been sooner,but Iguess there’ssecurity arrangements thatunfortunately people have to make. Otherwise I’d do it much quicker.He would, too. He’d like to meetas soon as possible. Iagree with it. But we’ll be announcing that very shortly.”

If it happens, the meeting would be the first U.S.-Russiasummit since 2021, when former President Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva It could mean abreakthrough in Trump’seffort to end the war, although there’snoguarantee it would stop the ﬁghting since Mos-

from electivesand thearts.

“Wecan’t just havethe focus only on English andmath,” said St.Tammany Parish Public Schools Superintendent Frank Jabbia. “Wereally need tomake sure we’re working on the whole student.”

District leadersalready arewonderinghow they willconvince families that schools didn’tget worse the goal postsjust moved. They’re also working to meet some of the rating system’snew expectations, including paid internships for high schoolers—a big ask given that only5%ofseniors graduated with internship credits in 2023.

“It’saheavylift,” said St.Charles Parish Public Schools Superintendent Ken Oertling. “There are going to be some bumps and bruises alongthe way.”

Shrinkingfederal oversight

Trump has takenanaggressive —and contradictory —approach to education in his second term.

On the one hand he’susedfederal funds and investigations to compel colleges and K-12 schools to comply with his agenda, while on the other hand promising to shrink the federal government’sroleineducation.

Both trends could have amajor impact on Louisiana, which gets about 20% of itseducation funding from the federal government —a larger share than most states.

In abid to eliminateprograms related to diversity,equityand inclusion,orDEI, theTrumpadministration canceled some teachertraininggrantsand froze billions of dollars in school funding. The

cow and Kyivremain far apart on their conditions for peace.

Still, Trump said,“President Putin, Ibelieve, wants to see peace, andZelenskyywants to seepeace.”

He said that, “Inall fairnessto PresidentZelenskyy,he’sgetting everything he needs to, assuming we get somethingdone.”

Trump also said that apeace deal wouldlikely mean “there will be someswappingofterritories between Ukraine and Russia but didn’tprovide further details. Trumpsaid of territory generally “we’re looking to get someback and some swapping.It’scomplicated.”

“Nothing easy,” the president said. “But we’re gonna get some back. We’re gonna getsome switched. There’ll be some swap-

frozen funds were recently restored, but theback-and-forth disrupted planning and budgeting for this school year

“Luckily,theyreinstated it,”Jabbia said. “But it put us behind.”

Meanwhile,Trump hasordered mass layoffs at theU.S. DepartmentofEducation, part of his plan to abolishthe agency and give more authority to the states. One early casualty of thecuts: The so-called “nation’sreport card” —the national test thatrevealed Louisiana’sreading gains—isbeing scaled back, and some experts fear for its future.

Critics say theﬁrings also have diminished the agency’scapacitytoenforce civil rightslaws that protect students. Public data shows the agency’sOfﬁce forCivil

ping of territories,tothe bettermentofboth.”

Analysts, including some close to the Kremlin, have suggested that Russia could offer togive up territoryitcontrols outside of the four regions it claimstohave annexed.

Pressed on if this was the last chance to make amajor peace deal, Trumpsaid, “I don’tlike using the termlast chance,”and said that, “When those guns start going off, it’sawfully tough to get ’em to stop.”

Exasperated that Putindid not heed his calls tostop bombing Ukrainian cities, Trump almost two weeksago moved up his ultimatum to impose additionalsanctionsonRussia and introduce secondary tariffs targeting countries that buy Russian oil if the Kremlin

Rights has resolved fewercases this year than in thepast, according to The Associated Press.

Theoffice, which investigates complaints that students faced discrimination in school basedon race, sex or disability,has been a powerful waytoholdschoolsaccountable, said Kathleen Cannino, aLouisiana special-education advocate and parent of achild with adisability

“If we lose that top level of enforcement,” she said, “then schools from the bottom up will be less inclined to follow the laws.”

Loomingschoolclosures

Louisiana’spublic schools enrolledfewerstudents last year thanatany other timeinnearly two decades.

did notmove toward asettlement. The deadline was Friday Before his announcing the meetingwithPutin, Trump’sefforts to pressure Russia into stopping the ﬁghting have so fardelivered no progress. The Kremlin’sbigger army is slowly advancing deeper into Ukraine at great cost in troops andarmor while it relentlessly bombards Ukrainiancities. Russia andUkraine are farapart on their terms for peace. Ukrainian forces are locked in intense battles alongthe 620-mile front line that snakes from northeasttosoutheast Ukraine. The Pokrovsk area of the eastern Donetsk region is taking the brunt of punishment as Russiaseekstobreak out into theneighboring Dnipropetrovsk region. Ukraine has signiﬁcant

Thesteady declineisdue to the state’sshrinking population and a rise in homeschooling andsmall, unregulated private schools. Louisiana’snew LA GATORprogram, whichgivesfamiliestax dollars to spend on homeschooling or private school, could draw even more students out of the public system. As enrollment drops, school districts get less funding but face higher costs because under-enrolledschoolsare moreexpensive to run. The upshot is that, sooner or later,many districts will have to close and consolidate schools. It’salready happening in some districts —and theprocess is often painful and contentious.

In Caddo Parish, parents this year tried, unsuccessfully,toget a judge to block the district’splan to closeanelementary school where nearly half the seats were empty In St. Landry Parish, educators and city council members protested the closure of three schools andthreatened to sue.The School Board proceeded with the plan, which they said would save the district $2.5 million annually Brumley,the state education chief, said more schoolsystems will have to “right-size.” If district leaders target schools with few students and low scores, they can movestudents to higher-performing schools while saving money that canbeused to raise teacher pay,heargued.

“I’ve never been through aschool closure thatwasn’tcontroversial, he said. “But I’ve also neverbeen through one that wasn’tthe right thing to do.”

manpower shortages.

Intense fighting is also taking place in Ukraine’snorthern Sumy border region, where Ukrainian forces are engaging Russian soldiers to prevent reinforcements being sent from there to Donetsk. In the Pokrovsk area of Donetsk, acommander said he believes Moscow isn’tinterested in peace. “It is impossible to negotiate with them. The only option is to defeat them,” Buda, acommander of a drone unit in theSpartan Brigade told The Associated Press. He used only hiscall sign,inkeeping with the rules of the Ukrainian military “I would like them to agreeand forall this to stop, but Russia will not agree to that. It does not want to negotiate. So the only option is to defeat them,” he said.

Many Americansare fortunate to have dental coverage fortheir entire workinglife, through employer-providedbenefits. When those benefits end with retirement, paying dental bills out-of-pocketcan come as a shock,leadingpeople to putoff or even go without care. Simply put —without dental insurance,there may be an important gap in your healthcarecoverage.

When you’re comparing plans ...

 Look forcoveragethat helps pay formajor services. Some plansmay limitthe numberof procedures —orpay forpreventive care only.

 Look forcoverage with no deductibles. Some plansmay require you to pay hundredsout of pocket before benefits are paid.

 Shop forcoverage with no annual maximum on cash benefits. Someplans haveannual maximums of $1,000.

Medicare doesn’t payfor dentalcare.1

That’s right. As good as Medicare is, it was never meanttocover everything. That means if you wantprotection, you need to purchase individual insurance.

Earlydetection canprevent small problems from becoming expensive ones.

The best way to preventlargedental bills is preventive care. The American Dental Association recommends checkups twice ayear.

Previous dental work canwear out

Even if you’vehad quality dental work in thepast, you shouldn’ttakeyourdental health forgranted.Infact, yourodds of having adentalproblem only go up as you age.2

Treatment is expensive— especiallythe servicespeople over 50 oftenneed.

Consider these national average costs of treatment. $222 fora checkup. $190 for afilling. $1,213 fora crown.3 Unexpected bills likethiscan be arealburden especially if you’re on afixed income.

Ask about the Premier Plan –our most

STAFFPHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Principal Amanda Keller greets teachers andstudents Wednesdayat Gayle Sloan Middle School in Mandeville.

Public Works maintenance yard since 2006 because the Clerk of Criminal Court’sofﬁce lacks storage capacity

The documents haven’tbeen properly securedatleast since 2022, when he started in his role, he said. The city recently got new storage trailers for the records, and was in the process of clearing out the old trailers, and moving the employeeswho worked in them, when the issue occurred, he said. He said the city is still investigating how the ﬁles ended up in the landﬁll, but that he believes the situation was an accident

“If the governor hadn’thaveassignedaninvestigation,Iwould have assigned the investigation,” Threat said, adding that his team has been searching forthe records since it learned of the incident.

“I believe, and I’m not sure, that we have gotten most of those documents back,” he said.

Clerk of Criminal District Court Darren Lombard, who raised the alarm about the records being scattered and in some cases destroyed afterhelearned of the problem last week, thanked the governor for looking into the “deeply troublingdisposal” of the records.

SOLAR

Continued from page1A

Forstate ofﬁcials involved in planning the program— called Solarfor All at the federal level, and Solar for Y’all in Louisiana —the news of the cut came in the form of asocial media post from EPAadministratorLee Zeldin.

Zeldin wrote on XThursday afternoon that the agencynolonger has the authority to administer or appropriate the funds “to keep this boondoggle alive” under the One Big Beautiful Bill, signed into law by President Donald Trump last month

The tax and spending law cut the $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund that was approved under former President Joe Biden’ssignature climate legislation, the Inﬂation Reduction Act. The solar program came out of this larger fund.

The EPA formally notified the Louisiana Department of Energy and NaturalResources, which was awarded the solar grant in April 2024,that the program was cut Thursday evening, according to DENR spokesperson Patrick Courreges.

“Congress has made its intent clear —via arepeal of thestatutory authorization andall appropriated funding for the program and the administrative burdens of implementing and overseeing the program —that the [Solar for All] program is no longer to operate,” states the termination letter from the EPA, shared with The Times-Picayune.

“This is aserious breachof public trust, andI fully support effortstohold accountable those responsible for this reckless and damaging act,” Lombard saidFriday. “Thesefiles represent justice, accountability and the rights of victims and defendants alike.” Lombard combed aGentilly landfill with his staffthisweek after hesaid hundreds of Criminal District Court files in the city’scustody were moved withoutnoticefrom containers in office trailers at aPublic Works yard. He saidworkers toldhim themove came at thedirection of New Orleans Public Works Department Director RickHathaway

The records include caseappeals, docket books and evidence logs for cases of murder,rape and armedrobbery with permanent retention requirements, the Louisiana secretary of state said

Friday

In Louisiana, records related to criminal cases must be kept for at least three years after thecase is closed, unless an agency is approved to hold them longerbythe secretary of state.

In Orleans Parish, felonyrecords are retained permanently Secretary of State’sOffice spokespersonJoel Watsonsaid Friday that afelony criminal case record would “possess legal value far beyond three years for those who are incarcerated.”

Lombard said he for years has

Courregessaidthatinthe absence of thefunding, the state will “look for other opportunities,federal or otherwise, for energy resilience.”

The Center for Planning Excellence, aBaton Rougebased organization that crafted Louisiana’sSolar for All program with the state, stressed theeconomicbeneﬁts that the solar program would have delivered tolower-income populations.

“Louisianans are already rightfully upset about their energy bills —theyare high, getting higherand already unaffordable formany,”said CPEX President Camille Manning-Broome. “Electricity is becoming aluxury in Louisiana —while residents in states generating solar aregettingmoney back.”

She lauded the now-terminated programasa way to address affordabilityand grid resilience in astate with one of thenation’shighestelectricitycost burdens. The federal Solar for All program guaranteed that participating low-income residents would see 20% reductions in household bills.

‘A betrayal’

Around15,000 Louisiana households wereexpected to beneﬁt from the program, generating around $4.6 million in savings,ManningBroome said

“Louisiana peopleneed our stateleadership to protect this investment thatis critical to meeting current energy needs, maintaining economic competitiveness and poweringour future,” she said.

U.S.Rep Troy Carter,DNew Orleans, said in astatement that the EPAdecision “may be illegal.”

“Cutting thesegrantsisa betrayal,” he said. “It hurts workingfamilies, ourenvironment and ourshared

future.”

warned city ofﬁcials about worsening storage conditions andthe need for anew facility.Capital budget documentsshow multiple requestsfrom theclerk’sofﬁce for such afacility.Inthe latest ask, city bond funding would renovate theformer Community Correctional Center that hassat vacant since Hurricane Katrina if votersapprove the measure in November

“The new facility would alleviate the dire need for substantial space needed to house essential court records, property,and evidence,” Lombard’srequestread. Threat said Friday that fornow thecity has found anew site to store criminal andcivil courtrecords under alease to buy agreement with the owner

“That’s where all the court documents will be stored,” Threat said.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, who chimed in on theissue viasocial media earlierthis week, saidFriday that sheshares the governor’sconcerns and has been in talks withLombard.

“I, too, have major questions about the nature and identiﬁcationofrecords, and if they were permanently lost,” shesaid.

Lombard said he’s looking forward to meeting with State Police next week as its investigation begins

Email Joni Hess at joni.hess@ theadvocate.com.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson; Gov.Jeff Landry; and U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge,and John Kennedy, R-Madisonville, didnot respond to requests for comment.

States withDemocratic leadershipand other organizationsacrossthe country are signaling they will ﬁght the EPAtermination in the comingdays, arguingthat the president lacksthe authority to rescind money appropriated by Congressand already obligated to state agencies. All of the$156 million awarded to Louisiana has been obligated.

In communication with thefederalgovernment, Louisiana’s energy departmenthad earlierstressed how theprogram to generate 112 megawatts of solar power would positively impact thestate.

“Louisiana is in aunique positionnationally to demonstrate how to reduce its high greenhousegas inventory through theincorporation of solar energy while addressingits historicsocial and economic inequities,” DENR saidinits February2025workplanapplication to the EPA.

The program had not startedrolling outyet,as the state was waiting for approval from theEPA ExtremeriskinLouisiana DENR’splannotes the state’sfrequent extreme weather,including hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, drought,wildfires and high heat. Projected sea level rise contributes to elevated flood risk andquicker coastal land loss. On top of these risks,DENR’sapplication describes the slewofoutages that strainvulnerable residents.

“In 2021, theaverage customer in Louisiana experienced more than 80 hours of power outages during the year duetothe weather, by far the highest in the country,” the plancontinues. “The disadvantaged communities of Louisiana will continue to experience the devastating impacts of hazardous weather without themeans to evacuate or invest in energy resilience options.” Solar for Allsought to address these concerns through arange of programs for eligible lowincome homeowners and renters. This included residentialsolar for single-family units and small multifamily apartments, with no upfront costs and aminimum of 20% in sav-

ings.Battery storage grants were planned to complement the residential solar installations to reduce grid dependenceand increase household resiliency

This would mean that people could typically still powertheir homes at night, on dark days or during outages through storedsolar energy

According to the DENR application,the program also opened anew pathway for “communitysolar,” a system designed forrentersorothers who can’t install solar on their properties. Residents can subscribetoa share of asolar farm located elsewhere and receive acredit on their electric bills. The program anticipatedsupportingupto

8,600 households across the statethrough community solar New Orleansisthe only Louisiana city withpolicies enabling community solar,and itsclimate ofﬁce stressed howthe lost funds would have significantly helpedﬁnanceprojects for atotal of 55 megawatts of power

“There’s enough demand in the city,” said Greg Nichols, who leads the Ofﬁce of Resilienceand Sustainability in New Orleans. “I don’t want to say they’re not going to happen. It just makes all of thoseprojects harder to pencil out.”

Email Josie Abugov at josie.abugov@theadvocate. com.

Zeldin

PHOTO PROVIDED By DARREN LOMBARD Orleans Parish Clerk of CourtDarren Lombard and staffsearch forofficial records in alandfill on Tuesday.

atrilateral

President Donald

with Azerbaijan’sPresident Ilham Aliyev,left,and Armenia’sPrime Minister Nikol PashinyanonFriday at the White House in Washington.

Armenia, Azerbaijan leaderssigndeal at peacesummit

Trumphosts meeting at WhiteHouse

BY SEUNG MIN KIM and MICHELLE L. PRICE Associated Press

WASHINGTON— The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan shookhands as they joined President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday for apeace summit where they signed an agreement aimed at ending decades of conﬂict.

The two countries in the South Caucasus signed agreements with each other andthe U.S. that will reopen key transportation routes while allowing the U.S. to seize on Russia’sdeclining inﬂuence in the region. The deal includes an agreement that will create amajor transit corridor to be named theTrump Routefor International Peace and Prosperity,the White House said.

Trump said at the White House on Friday that naming the route after him was “a greathonor for me” but “I didn’task for this.”

Asenior administration ofﬁcial, on acall before the event with reporters, said it was theArmenians who suggested the name.

At thepeace summiton Friday, AzerbaijaniPresident Ilham Aliyev said the transit corridor will “create connectivity opportunities for so many countries.”

“Weare starting the path toward strategic partnership,” he said.

Armenian PrimeMinister Nikol Pashinyan called the agreement a“significant milestone.”

“Weare laying afoundation to write abetter story than the one wehad in the past,” Pashinyansaid.

Both leaders said the breakthrough wasmade possible by Trumpand his team andjoined agrowing list of foreign leaders and other ofﬁcials who have said the U.S. leader shouldreceive aNobel Peace Prize something he has coveted.

“PresidentTrump in six months did amiracle,”Aliyevsaid.

Trump remarkedonhow long the conflict went on betweenthe two countries and saidofthe agreement, “Thirty-fiveyears they fought and now they’re friends and they’regoingto be friends alongtime.”

That route will connect Azerbaijanand its autonomous Nakhchivan exclave, which are separated by awide 20-mile-widepatchof Armenian territory

Trumpordershigher federallaw enforcement presence in Washington

BY WILL WEISSERT Associated Press

WASHINGTON The White House said Thursday night that there will be increased presence of federal law enforcement in the nation’s capital to combat crime for at least the next week,amid President Donald Trump ‘s suggestions that his administration could fully take over running the city “Washington, DC is an amazing city,but it has been plagued by violent crime for far toolong,” White House press secretary KarolineLeavitt said in astatement. “President Trump has directed an increased presence of federal law enforcement to protect innocentcitizens.”

She added that the increased federal presence means “there will be no safe harbor for violent criminals in D.C.” Trump has repeatedly suggested thatthe rule of Washington could be re-

turnedtofederal authorities. Doing so would require arepeal of theHomeRule Act of 1973 in Congress, a step Trump said lawyers are examining —but could face steeppushback.

“Wehave acapital that’s very unsafe,” Trump told reporters at theWhite House this week. “Wehave to run D.C.” The White Housesaid the increased law enforcement would“make D.C. safe again” and would be presentonthe streets starting at midnight —led by U.S. Park Policefollowing an 11 p.m. Thursday rollcallatanestablished command center

Thepush will last the next seven days with the option to extend “asneeded,” underthe authorityofTrump’s previous executiveorder establishing theMaking DC Safeand Beautiful Task Force. Theadded federal ofﬁcialswillbeidentiﬁed, in marked unitsand highly visible, the White House said

TexasDemocrats head to California

Republicans warn of more escalationsover walkout

BY JIM VERTUNO and NADIA LATHAN Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas The Texas House of Representatives failed to meet aquorum on Fridayfor the third time this week as Democratic lawmakers continuedtheir walkout to block avote on congressional voting maps sought by President Donald Trump in awidening national battle over redistricting.

Republicans had warned theywouldescalate efforts to end the nearly weeklong holdout if deﬁant Democrats do not return to thestate Capitol. But the Democrats whobolted for points across thecountry on Aug. 3still were notback forFriday’s scheduledHouseﬂoor vote.

The state constitution requiresatleast100 members present forthe 150-member House to do business, and Republicansholdan88-62 majority in the chamber

Only 95 lawmakers were counted as present

FrustratedRepublican leaders continuedtoratchet up the pressure as thewalkoutpersists,including new andexpanding efforts to try to remove Democratic lawmakersfrom ofﬁce and seekinghelpfromthe FBI to assist Texas statetroopers trying to ﬁnd them.

“Wehaveall hands on deck, we arecontinuing to explore” options to force Democrats home, House Speaker Dustin Burrows saidafter thechamber failed to reach aquorum. “Wewill keep pressing forwarduntil thejob is done. Each one of you knows eventually you will come back.”

The Housewas scheduled

to reconvene Monday afternoon.

The dozens of Democrats who left the state have shown no signs of buckling for now: Agroup of themwas scheduled to appear later Friday with California Gov.Gavin Newsom and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosiina public showofsupport for the walkout. Newsom has said he will push to redraw his own state’slines in retaliation if Texas reshapes its maps for the 2026 elections

Texas has been the epicenterofTrump’spush to gerrymander congressional maps to shore up Republicans’ narrow House majority before next year

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed alawsuit directly to theall-Republican state Supreme Court on Friday thatseeks to have 13 of theabsent Democratic lawmakersimmediately removed from office, or at least given a48-hour warning thatthey must return or have their offices declared vacated.

The lawsuit argues thatthe lawmakers have effectively “abandoned” theirofﬁce and duties, andtheywere singled

outfor making public statementsthattheyleftfor the purpose of blocking the vote and disrupting House business.

“Their out-of-state rebellioncannotgounchecked, andthe business of Texas must go on,” Paxton said.

Paxton’slawsuit includes Rep. Gene Wu,chairmanof the House Democratic Caucus, whoalso faces asimilar lawsuitfiled by Gov.Greg Abbott. Wu’s legal team argued that the state constitution allows House members to be removed only by atwothirds vote of the chamber, not the courts.

Wu said this week that quorum-breaking is not an abandonment of ofﬁce but a legitimate form of dissent.

In aseparate ﬁling in state district court, Paxton also suedformerU.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, who ran unsuccessfully for governor and Senate, alleging that his political group, Powered by People, improperly gave money to covercosts forthe absent Democrats and continued to raise more for them.

Paxton alleged that the fundraising efforts amount to illegalbribery in exchange for

violating their duty of ofﬁce. O’Rourke and his organizationdid notimmediately issue aresponse to the ﬁling but said earlierinthe week that they would be undeterred by Paxton’sthreats.

Abbott promised thathe’s willing to play the long game to get the bill passed.

“Wehaveanagenda to pass priorities critical to Texans, andwewill getitdone. I’ll callspecial session after special session —nomatter how long it takes —until thejob is ﬁnished,”Abbott said on the social platform X. The current special session ends Aug. 19, andthe missing lawmakers already face mounting ﬁnes for every day they are gone and civil arrest warrants issuedbythe state House.

Trump wants five more seats out of Texas to potentially avoida repeat of the 2018 midterms, when Democratsreclaimedthe U.S. House andproceeded to thwart his agenda and impeach him twice.

While their minority status allows them only to delay,the Texas holdout has inspired Democrats and progressives around the country

Judgeweighsendingprotections forimmigrant children

BY VALERIE GONZALEZ Associated Press

McALLEN, Texas Ajudge on Friday was considering a Trumpadministration request to end adecades-old policy on protectionsfor immigrant children in federal custody that thegovernment says is inhibiting its immigration crackdown.

Theadministrationasked U.S.District Judge Dolly Gee in Los Angeles during a hearing to dissolvethe policy,which limits how long Customs and Border Protection can hold immigrant children and requires them to be kept in safe andsanitaryconditions.

Gee, who oversees what is known as theFloresagreement, expressed skepticism at the government’srequest but did notimmediatelyissue aruling. It was not clear how soon she will rule.

The judge pressedgovernment attorney Joshua McCroskey on why President Donald Trump’sadministration washolding children at the borderfor longerthan the 72 hours laid out in the agreement when border arrests have reached record lows.She saiditseems like conditions should be improving but they “are deteriorating.”

“It seemscounterintuitive

that should happen unless it’swillful,”said Gee, who was nominated to the court by PresidentBarack Obama McCroskey saidsome children are being held for lon-

gerbecause Trump as part of hiscrackdownendedthe Bidenadministration’spolicythatallowedexpedited releases of immigrants. McCroskey also pointed to

logistical challenges that resulted from the closure of temporary facilities that were set up under President Joe Bidentohandle an inﬂux of immigrants.

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByRODOLFO GONZALEZ

TexasHouse SpeakerDustin Borrow, R-Lubbock, right, speakswith House Rep.Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, followinga Republican Caucus meeting on Fridayatthe State Capitol in Austin, Texas.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARK SCHIEFELBEIN

Trump, center,sitsduring

signing

ForecastFrom WWL-TV,Your Local Weather Experts

BY JAIMIE DING Associated Press

LOS ANGELES— Firefight-

ers in amountainous area north of Los Angeles made good progress in their battle against abrush ﬁre that has forced thousands of people to evacuate,officials said Friday

The Canyon Fire ignited Thursday afternoon and spread rapidly in the dry, steep terrain in Ventura and Los Angeles counties to more than 8square miles. It was 25% contained as of Friday afternoon, according to the Ventura County Fire Department. At least 400 personnel battled the blaze along with several planesand helicopters, county ﬁre department public informationofficer Andrew Dowd said.

The fire is burning just south of Lake Piru, areservoir located in the Los Padres NationalForest. It’sclose to Lake Castaic, apopular recreation area burned by the Hughes Fire in January.That

ﬁre burned about 15 square miles in six hours and put

VP meets with U.K. foreign secretary

BY DANICA KIRKA and MEG KINNARD Associated Press

LONDON

Secretary David Lammy on Friday at astately home south of London, with the two leaders saying the agendaincludes global economics and the Israel-Hamas war and Russia’sfull-scale invasion of Ukraine. Taking questions from reportersbeforetheir talks, Vance addressed the U.K. decision to recognize aPalestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to aceaseﬁre in Gaza, saying he wasn’t

50,000 people under evacuation orders orwarnings.

Firefighters battling the Canyon Firetook advantage of lower temperatures overnight to directly attack the ﬁreand made lots of progress, Dowd said.ByFriday morning,theywere seeing subdued fire behavior,he said.

With 100-degree temperatures and strongwinds, firefighters faceda “toughfirefight”onThursday,Dowd said.

“They were putting it all on the line to bring this ﬁre under control,”hesaid.

Onefirefighter reported aminor injury,but no civilianinjuries were reported, Dowd said. No single-family or multifamilyresidences were destroyed, but two minor structures were destroyed, he said. Sunny,hot and dryconditions wereexpected Friday in the area where the CanyonFire wasburning, with thedaytimehigh near 100 degrees and minimum humidity in the midteens, according to the National

Weather Service. Winds were expected to be light in the morning andgrow from thesouth to southwest in the afternoon.

The wind was expected to stick around Friday, but at aslightly lower magnitude, according to Bryan Lewis,a meteorologistatthe weather service’soffice in Oxnard. Thehumiditywas expected to remain low, andthe fuels

sure what such recognition wouldevenmean, “given the lack of afunctional government there.” Asked whether Trump had been given aheads-up on Israel’s announced intent to occupyGazaCity,Vance

said he wouldn’tgointosuch conversations. “Ifitwas easy to bring peace to thatregion of the world, it would have been done already,” he said. Themeetingcomes amid debates between Washing-

Firefighters make progress againstCaliforniawildfire

were very dryand receptive to burning quickly,hesaid. Given these conditions, people should be very careful to avoid sparks, he said.

“These ﬁres can start and grow pretty rapidly because of howdry everything is and howhot everything is,”he said.

In LA County,around2,700 residents evacuated with 700 structures underan

evacuation order,officials said late Thursday.Another 14,000 residents and 5,000 structures werecovered by an evacuationwarning. Areas within the ValVerde zone had been reduced from an order to awarning.

The evacuation zonesin nearby Ventura County were relatively unpopulated, Dowd said. Fifty-six people were evacuated from the

Lake Piru recreation area. LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents the district, urged residents to evacuate.

“Extremeheat and low humidity in our north county have created dangerous conditions where flames canspreadwithalarming speed,” Bargersaidina statement. “If ﬁrst responderstellyou to leave, go without hesitation.”

The new blaze comes as amassive wildfire in Central California became the state’slargest blazeofthe year,threatening hundreds of homes andburning out of control in the Los Padres National Forest.

The Gifford Fire had spread to 155 square miles by Fridaymorning with 15% containment. It grew outofatleast four smaller fires that erupted Aug. 1 along State Route 166, forcingclosuresinbothdirections eastofSanta Maria, a city of about 110,000. It has injuredatleastfourpeople The causes of the ﬁresare under investigation.

ton and London about the best way to end the wars between Russiaand Ukraine, as well as Israel and Hamas. It’s also taking placeasthe United Kingdom tries to come to favorable terms for steel and aluminum exports to the U.S., and the two sides workout details of abroader trade deal announced at the end of June.

Russian PresidentVladimir Putin said Thursday that he hoped to meet with President Donald Trumpnext week, comments thatcamea day before Trump’sdeadline forMoscowtoshowprogress in ending thenearly 31/2-year war in Ukraine.

While Trump has focused on bilateral talkswith Putin, U.K. PrimeMinisterKeir Starmer and other European leadershavestressed that Ukraine must be partofany

negotiations on ending the war. The U.S. andBritain, which havehistoricallyclose ties known as “the special relationship,” have also disagreed on their approach to ending the war in Gaza.

The meeting took place at Chevening, an almost 400-year-old mansion surrounded by 3,000 acres of gardens that serves as the foreign secretary’sofficial country residence.

About two dozen protesters were spottedonthe road beforethe turnofftothe stately home. Afew werewearing kefﬁyeh scarves andanother held up around sign that had amememakingfun of Vance printed on it. Vanceand Lammy come from opposite ends of the political spectrum, but have made apersonal connection

through their hardscrabble childhoods and Christian faith. While Lammy is amember of the left-leaning Labour Party and Vance is aconservative Republican who supports Trump’s“America First” agenda, the two men have bonded in recent months.

Lammy told the Guardian newspaper that the twomen can relate over their “dysfunctional” working class childhoods and that he considers Vance a“friend.” Lammy attended aCatholic Mass at the Vance home in Washington earlier this year,and the two menmet againatthe U.S. Embassy in Romewhenheand Deputy PrimeMinister Angela Rayner attended the inauguration

NOLA.COM | Saturday, auguSt 9, 2025 1BN

JudgeOKs voting in church bankruptcy

Abusesurvivors wouldget ballot on settlement

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

Afederal bankruptcy court

judgeonFriday cleared the way for survivors of clergy sex abuse to vote on aproposed settlement plan with the Archdiocese of New Orleansthatcould bringthe longrunning case to aclose by the end of this year At akey hearingheld more than ﬁveyears after thecasebegan,

La.urged to address residents’ water concerns

Magnolia

Water customers complain aboutquality

BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer

The St. Tammany ParishCouncil formally asked the state to address parish residents’ concerns about aprivate water utility company,following an animated discussion Thursday night about aresolution that will ultimately be more symbolic than anything else.

The final version of the resolution, which thecouncil passed 10-3 after an hour of debate, does not point to any speciﬁc provider Instead, it asks St. Tammany’s legislative delegation, theLouisiana Department of Healthand the Public Service Commission to respondtoresidents’ concerns about private utilities more generally But the impetus for the resolution was undoubtedly Magnolia Water, aprivate utility company that provides water and sewer to at least 62,000customers in theparish and that has faced recent scrutiny as residents complain of quality issues and dramatic increases in their bills. Magnolia Water is operated by CentralStatesWater Resources, aMissouri-based, investor-owned company thatpurchases failing wastewater and water systems aroundthe country andrehabilitates them.

The company’sCEO,Josiah Cox, was grilled by St. Tammany residents at atown hall in Slidell in January,where he said the higher water bills are payingfor much-needed infrastructure improvements that are improving water quality In June, Magnolia customers took complaints of brown,smelly water to the Parish Council.

Magnolia isn’tthe onlyutility that hassparked residents’ ireinrecent years, butcouncil members say they have limited control over utilities. Instead it’s the Public Service Commission, the Louisiana Department of Health or the state Legislature that have that power,they say. “They are ultimately the ones that regulate this,” council member David Cougle said Thursday “But, we are your voice,” he added. Cougle helped council member Arthur Laughlin, the resolution’s sponsor,draft the ﬁnal version of theresolution.

“I applaud the councilfor looking out for their constituents,” Steve Ernst, MagnoliaWater’s

U.S. BankruptcyCourt Judge Meredith Grabill said shewill approve aset of documents with detailed informationabout the proposedsettlement and aballot with votinginstructions

The settlement, which was jointlynegotiated between the archdioceseand acourt-appointed committee that represents theinterestsofthe roughly 650 abuse survivorswho have ﬁled claims,wouldcreate atrust of

nearly$180 million to beneﬁt survivors. An additional $45million or so would be addedtothe trust next year following theanticipated sale of Christopher Homes, thechurch’s low-income senior apartment complexes.

Ballots will be mailed laterthis monthtoall survivorswho have ﬁled claims in thecase andmust be returned by Oct. 29.

DuringFriday’shearing, Grabill reiterated awarning shehas

issued several times in recent months.

“If theplan is not confirmed, we aregoing to dismissthe case,” shesaid.“Ihave made this very clear. We arenot going to amend the plan or go through this again.”

If the caseisdismissed, survivors would be free to pursue individuallawsuits against the Roman Catholic archdioceseand its parishes in state court. Butas apractical matter,that process would likely takeyears.

Kristi Schubert, whose firm represents about 75 abuse sur-

vivorsinthe case, said it “would almost certainlyresultinthe archdiocese ﬁlingfor bankruptcy again.”

“That would put thesurvivors right back at square one,”she added. In aprepared statement, the archdiocesesaid it was “pleased with this progress and will continue to work hard to bring this to resolution.”

Friday’shearing was acontinuation of atwo-day “disclosure

Cruising in Kenner

Companyeyes Rivertownfor newdock

BY LARA NICHOLSON Staff writer

While Kenner’shistoric Rivertown neighborhood flourisheswith new restaurants andevents, its leveehas remained blemishedfor decades by the shreddeddock that’sbeen out of commission since Hurricane Katrina.

But that may soon change,asanexpanding cruise line eyes thespot as anew stop on its Mississippi River cruise.

American Cruise Lines,asmall-ship domestic cruise company based in Delaware, seeks to expand its Louisianafootprint with anew docking facility in Rivertown,near LaSalle’sLandingatthe end of Williams Boulevard.

The Kenner City Council will vote to

approve an agreement with the company at itsnext meetingonAug. 22. The agreement says the companywould clear outthe demolisheddock on the levee and build anew one in its place.

“Kenner’s historic Rivertown is experiencing aremarkable renaissance, and the additionofAmerican Cruise Lines’ newpierisatremendous milestone in that growth, said Kenner Mayor Michael Glaser.“This investment will bring visitors from across thecountry to experience ourunique charm.”

The new dock will operateinaddition to American Cruise Lines’ New Orleansstop,located downtown at the Thalia Street Wharf.

American Cruise Linesoffers at least 12 itineraries per year along theMississippi River acrossﬁve boats, with plans to expand with additional boats anditineraries in the future, according to spokesperson Alexa Paolella.

The companyalso recently announced anew eight-day Gulf Coast cruise fromNew OrleanstoPensacola, Florida, starting next spring.

Accordingtothe proposed contract with Kenner,American CruiseLines would lease the newRivertown dock for20years at $12,000 peryear,with the option to extend by 10 years up to twotimes.

Thecruise line would buildadock on thewater anda 325-foot walkway connecting it to theMississippi River Trail. It would also replace the existing closed-offobservation deck on the levee with anew one, which would be open forpublic use.

The agreement comes in addition to an $826,000 federal grant secured by the city last year to renovate LaSalle’s Landing, addrestrooms andplace a covering on the nearby bus stop.

See CRUISE, page 2B

West Nile case confirmed in OrleansParishpatient

BYPOETWOLFE Staff writer

Before he’d even reached high school,JacarinScott had already rescued ﬁve dogs from thestreets of theLower 9th Ward, the New Orleans neighborhood where he lived withhis motherand siblings. He hoped to one day open ashelter,where he’d nurtureand dote on abandoned dogs,the animal he loved

most. He dideverythinghecould to care for his pets—mowing lawns for cash to buy them food and setting asidehis usual introversion to askneighbors for help.Inthe end,hemay have given his life for them.

“I thinkthat’swhy he wasout that night,” said his mother, Adrianne Jones. “Tryingtoget food for his dogs.”

BY EMILYWOODRUFF Staff writer

The Louisiana Department of Health has confirmed thefirst human case of West Nile virus this year in Orleans Parish. Thepatient hasthe neuroinvasive form of thedisease, the most serious type,health officials said. Statewide,10other residents have beendiagnosed with the neuroinvasive formofWestNile thisyear,according to an Aug. 2 report from theHealthDepartment. Those cases were reported

It’s the firsthuman case forthe year ä See WEST NILE, page 2B

in Caddo, East Baton Rouge, Livingston, St. Tammany and Washington parishes Mosquito activity has alsobeen high for the virus. The department reports 642 mosquito pools have tested positive for West Nile across Louisiana this year, including 199 in Orleans Parish. West Nilevirus spreads between wild birds and mosquitoes, and can infect humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. In theNew Orleans area, themaincarrier is thesouthern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus, which is most active after dark.

STAFF PHOTO By JOHN McCUSKER

The Kenner CityCouncil introduced an item for an agreement with American Cruise Lines, whichwould allowthem to construct adocking facility in the city’s historic Rivertown in additiontoits current dock in NewOrleans.

Jacarin ä See CHURCH, page 2B

Ex-Golden Meadow police chief arrested, AG says

He allegedly deleted traffic citations, arrest records

BY MATTHEW ALBRIGHT and MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writers

On his way out of office, the former Golden Meadow police chief deleted a slew of traffic citations, arrest reports, payroll information and other data going back for more than 12 years, Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a statement Thursday Troy Dufrene has been arrested on one count each of injuring public records, malfeasance in office and computer tampering, Murrill’s office said in a news release.

Last November, Dufrene lost by nine votes to Michelle Lafont, according to the Secretary of State’s Ofﬁce.

“I would say it was a contentious election,” said Sheriff Craig We-

bre of Lafourche Parish, where Golden Meadow is located. “In a small town like Golden Meadow, it’s not unusual for a local election to get contentious.”

for deleting the modules containing the data was that he felt the data belonged to him,” the document says.

fail its regular audit in February which could lead to ﬁnes, the new chief told investigators.

CRUISE

Continued from page 1B

Between the election and vacating his ofﬁce at the end of 2024, Dufrene allegedly deleted traffic citations, fuel expenditures, arrest reports, payroll information and more from the police department’s case management system.

“Dufrene’s actions caused signiﬁcant disruption to the police department’s operations as ofﬁcials have struggled to retrieve the deleted records,” the release says.

Dufrene admitted to Louisiana Bureau of Investigation agents that he deleted the records, according to an afﬁdavit provided by the Attorney General’s Ofﬁce.

“Dufrene explained his excuse

Dufrene apologized after he was told the information belonged to the town of Golden Meadow and the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Ofﬁce, which owns the computer system and allows cities and towns to use it, the afﬁdavit says.

“I don’t know if he was misguided in his belief that he had the right to remove the data or not,” said Webre. “It was a surprise to me when the initial complaint was made by Chief Lafont, that he would have done such a thing. But the attorney general obviously determined in her investigation the probable cause supports a criminal charge.”

“He enjoys the presumption of innocence and will have his opportunity at some point in our legal system to present his defense,” Webre added.

The lost data stirred worries that the police department could

Man booked in chase after woman and child

BY MARCO CARTOLANO Staff writer

A man was arrested Wednesday in the Kentwood area in connection with a high-speed chase along La. 38, where the man allegedly drove after a woman and her child, according to the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Ofﬁce

Johnathan Newman, 40, of the Kentwood area, was arrested following an investigation.

The woman told authorities that she was driving along the highway with her child when she came across a parked vehicle across both lanes of the road, according to the Sheriff’s Ofﬁce.

When she stopped, she said a man exited the vehicle and began walking toward her She backed out and be-

CHURCH

Continued from page 1B

statement” hearing that began last week and resolved several disputes over language and ﬁnancial information in what’s known as a solicitation packet that will go out to survivors by mail.

The purpose of a disclosure statement is to help survivors and other creditors in the case understand what they would get from the settlement, where the money would come from and whether the church and its affiliated parishes and charities have the wherewithal to pay it.

Much of the discussion at Friday’s hearing, however, centered

WATER

Continued from page 1B

director of regulatory relations for Louisiana, said Thursday night after some residents complained their water bills had doubled and tripled since Magnolia took over But Ernst asked the council to consider amending the resolution to apply to all the water utilities regulated by the state, not just Magnolia Water “Don’t just single Magnolia out, then our customers will be the only ones who benefit from that,” Ernst said.

Magnolia Water has invested over $72 million into St. Tammany’s wastewater and water systems, Ernst said adding that

WEST NILE

Continued from page 1B

It thrives in polluted water found in ditches and urban stormwater systems Aging septic systems can also create conditions for populations to grow unchecked.

The virus was ﬁrst detected in Louisiana in 2002 and has since become the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the United States, typically peaking in warmer months.

Most infections cause no symptoms, but about 20% of patients develop West Nile fever a flulike illness with fever, headache,

gan to drive back the way she came, and the man got back into his vehicle and began chasing her, according to the Sheriff’s Ofﬁce.

The woman told authorities that the man pushed her into driving over 100 mph in order to avoid a collision. She was able to escape the pursuit and contact the Sheriff’s Ofﬁce.

Newman, whom the woman said she did not know, was identiﬁed as the suspect.

Newman was booked into Tangipahoa Parish Jail on Wednesday night on counts of stalking, reckless operation of a vehicle and obstructing highways of commerce, according to jail records.

An investigation is ongoing as deputies look into “similar claims” in the area, ofﬁcials said.

not on church finances but on what kind of evidence attorneys will be allowed to gather as they prepare for the confirmation hearing later this year, provided survivors vote to approve the plan.

At that hearing, which attorneys have described as a trial, Grabill will take up an effort by an inﬂuential group of attorneys who represent about 80 individual survivors who want the case dismissed.

In court documents, those attorneys have argued that Archbishop Gregory Aymond and his advisers have mismanaged the long-running case, which has cost $50 million in legal and professional fees During Friday’s hearing, the lead attorney for that group,

the money from the water bill increases has been entirely reinvested in the parish.

Parish Council member Jeff Corbin, who voted against the resolution, noted the company’s large investment in the parish.

“What’s the point of beating them up?” Corbin said in an interview, questioning the point of the resolution given that the council cannot regulate the company

“You’ve got a company that has come in and bought poorly run water systems that are in pretty deplorable condition,” he said.

“If you invest in something that’s failing, there’s a lot of work to put in the right place.”

The council decided not to single out Magnolia Water in the amended resolution. It was a contrast to the resolution’s ﬁrst draft, which had urged the Public Ser-

body aches, nausea and rashes.

Severe cases, which are more likely in people over 65 or with weakened immune systems, can cause neuroinvasive disease, leading to high fever, stiff neck, disorientation muscle weakness, paralysis, coma or death. These symptoms may last for weeks and can result in permanent damage Last year, Louisiana recorded 617 positive mosquito pools, including four in New Orleans, and three deaths statewide from the virus.

The city of New Orleans has been spraying multiple times per week in response to the increased activity The next spraying mission is scheduled for 8:45 p.m. to

The vendor for the software was able to recover data Dufrene deleted, charging the Sheriff’s Office $4,680 to do so, the affidavit says. “The vendor was able to recover and restore 100% of the data that was removed,” said Webre Dufrene deleted the records while logged in under his username, allowing investigators to trace the activity back to him, the affidavit says.

A Golden Meadow police officer told investigators that Dufrene said that “since he lost the election, he would be deleting files and it was up to the offices to memorize anything they needed for daily operations.” The officer also said that, when the new chief took over and learned of the deletions, “it caused Golden Meadow to handwrite everything” instead of putting it in the computer system, according to the affidavit.

Trooper

ﬁres shot after driver attempts to ﬂee, police

Patrol car struck after chase, according to officials

BY POET WOLFE Staff writer

A trooper fired his weapon Thursday night in New Orleans after a driver hit a patrol vehicle while attempting to flee a traffic stop, according to Louisiana State Police.

Troopers tried to pull over

Soren Gisleson, sought Grabill’s approval to question Aymond under oath on church finances and management, among other things.

“These questions are fair game,” Gisleson said.

An attorney for the archdiocese, Dirk Wegmann, opposed many of the requests, describing them as “tragically overbroad.”

Grabill approved some of them, though she limited the scope.

Gisleson is also seeking copies of emails and communications between Aymond and Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson about the fundraising effort she is leading to restore the St Louis Cathedral, which is 175 years old and needs between $50 million and $100 million in repairs.

vice Commission to stop Magnolia Water from buying additional water companies altogether. Still, even with the changes and the fact that it will ultimately have no legal implications, Laughlin said he thought the resolution was much needed.

“We need to be careful to protect ourselves in this new age of private equity-funded water services,” Laughlin said in an interview later “Our only vehicle to do this is to use our voice and make a resolution.”

A member of the parish’s legislative delegation, state Rep Kim Carver, R-Mandeville, had not yet read the resolution, but said in an interview, “We’ve had a lot of discussion and outreach with different neighbors serviced by Magnolia.”

He said his ofﬁce has reached

midnight Friday in the Gentilly, New Orleans East and Lakeview neighborhoods. Louisiana’s climate and geography make it one of the most mosquito-prone states in the country, experts say Frequent rainfall, high humidity, warm temperatures, clay-heavy soils that hold water and a diversity of habitats all contribute to mosquito breeding. In warm weather, mosquitoes can complete their life cycle in as little as ﬁve days.

It’s important to empty standing water to prevent mosquitoes from breeding, according to ofﬁcials. The amount of water that ﬁlls a bottle cap is enough for a mosquito to lay eggs in.

The New Orleans Mosquito

Rivertown has seen a resurgence in recent years as the city offloads its collection of shuttered properties in favor of privatizing the area with new boutiques and restaurants, including the addition of a new ice cream shop named Flying Dolly’s last April.

Email Lara Nicholson at lnicholson@theadvocate.com.

TEEN

Continued from page 1B

In the early morning hours of July 31, Scott was shot and killed in St. Roch, according to the New Orleans Police Department. Responding officers found him dead in the 1600 block of Franklin Avenue around 4:30 a.m. He was 14. Just minutes earlier, a 34-year-old man was gunned down a few blocks away near the intersection of Mandeville and North Miro streets. Police said the killings are being investigated separately, and they have not released updates regarding potential suspects or arrests.

say

the vehicle for a traffic stop around 9 p.m., State Police said in a news release. But the driver did not comply and drove off, leading to a chase. After coming to a dead end on Pleasure Street, the driver then tried to reverse and hit a marked patrol unit. The trooper then fired his weapon, State Police said, but no one was injured. The driver fled and has not been located, and the shooting is under investigation.

Email Poet Wolfe at poet. wolfe@theadvocate.com.

The $75 million Our City Our Cathedral campaign has been underway for more than two years and restoration is currently taking place, “but we don’t know how much has been raised and what their fundraising levels are,” said Gisleson.

He said he is seeking the information because it speaks to the broader issue of the value of church assets.

Grabill said she would allow the request, though limit it to the past 18 months.

The archdiocese did not respond to a request for comment on the matter A spokesperson for Benson declined to comment.

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

out to LDH and PSC about issues with Magnolia’s water in the past and has also been in contact with the company “Growth and development in unincorporated St. Tammany could not have taken place without developers installing their own water and sewer infrastructure, which was later assumed by utility companies,” Parish President Mike Cooper said in a statement. “Safe drinking water is a necessity, and we expect all utility providers to offer high water quality sewer treatment and customer service.” Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta was not immediately available for comment Friday

Email Willie Swett at willie. swett@theadvocate.com.

Control Board recommends repellents containing EPA-registered active ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus Always follow product instructions when using repellents. When possible, limit outdoor activities between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active. Use air conditioning or sit in the airﬂow of a fan when outdoors. Residents can report mosquito issues by calling 311, ﬁling a request at nola311.org, emailing mosquitocontrol@nola.gov, or calling (504) 658-2400.

Email Emily Woodruff at ewoodruff@theadvocate.com.

Scott’s loved ones created a GoFundMe to support his family and help cover funeral expenses.

The day he died, Jones was at work when she got a call from Scott’s brother — he hadn’t come home. When she heard about a fatal shooting on the news later that day, she had a sinking feeling. Jones went to the police with photos of her son.

“I had to ﬁgure it out by myself,” she said. He was set to start his ﬁrst year of high school this month at Andrew H. Wilson Charter School. School didn’t come easily for Scott, who was diagnosed with a mild form of schizophrenia at 13, according to his mother But he was “very independent,” she said, and worked hard to overcome his challenges.

Scott loved being outdoors, especially while swimming and riding bikes This month, he and his family had plans to take a trip to Orange Beach, Alabama, for his sister’s birthday

“He would’ve loved to go to the beach,” Jones said, referring to him as her “baby boy.” In school and at home, Scott was quiet and kept to himself, she said, except around dogs, babies and his school nurse, Aderonke Whitaker.

Whitaker met him for the ﬁrst time last year when he came to her ofﬁce with a stomach ache and asked her for snacks. Then he kept coming back, often dodging classes to see her — and to get chips and soda

“I really became that person on campus for him,” Whitaker said. “No matter what silly thing he did, they would be like, ‘Your baby’s over there.’” Scott talked so much about his dogs that she was convinced he would’ve given up his bed and slept on the hard ﬂoor if it meant they could get a good night’s rest.

“He just was always a respectful kid,” Whitaker said, and “gentle-hearted.

When Scott graduated from middle school, she proudly saved a photo of him in his cap and gown.

Whitaker was driving when she got the call about his death. A co-worker told her to pull over before sharing the news. Everyone at the school knew he was more than just another student to her

“I just remember crumbling,” she said.

Whitaker saw Scott’s future as clearly as he did, one surrounded by his favorite animal.

“He never got a chance to see what his full potential could look like,” she said. “It’s very disheartening. You’re talking about a 14-year-old boy. You’re not talking about a man. You’re talking about a 14-year-old boy.”

Email Poet Wolfe at poet. wolfe@theadvocate.com.

Dufrene

LSUrunningbackturns self in

Lindseyallegedly housed murder suspects in dormroom

BY QUINN COFFMAN Staff writer

An LSU freshman running back turned himself into campus police Friday afternoon for allegedly opening his dorm room to two suspects in an Alexandria-areakilling.

JT Lindsey,who was considered afour-star prospect andrankedamong the best in his position nationally,turned himself in after awarrant for his arrest was issued by LSU Police. He faces acountof accessory after the factto second-degree murder Lindsey’sattorney,Kris Perret, who is aformer LSUdefensive tackle, said Lindsey had no idea the two teenagers from his hometown were wanted for mur-

der, or anyother crime, when he let them crash at his dorm for afew nights beginning on July 24. The two suspects, Shemell Jacobs, 17, and KeldrickJordan, 18, have been wanted bythe Alexandria Police Departmentsince mid-Mayinconnection with theshooting death of 17-year-old Corey Brooks. Lindsey was seen enteringand exiting his dorm with Jacobs and Jordan multiple times, andthe pair was also seenusing hisLSU ID to access the buildingon their own, according tothe afﬁdavitfor Lindsey’sarrest.

Jacobsand Jordan were taken into custody by U.S. marshalsatthe Riverbend Building of Nicholson Gateway dorms on Monday this week in the room assigned to Lindsey.Lindsey’sID was found on Jacobs at the time of hisarrest. LSU spokespersonMichaelBonnettetoldThe Advocatethat the athletic department is aware of

Waterspout spotted near theCauseway

BY MARCOCARTOLANO

Staff writer

Asmall waterspout spun up along Lake Pontchartrain on Friday morning, startling some New Orleans metro residents during their early commute.

The waterspout was reported crossing near the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge north of Metairie just before 8:30a.m., according to the National Weather Service. There were no reports of the waterspout crossing over onto land or causing any property damage

Awaterspoutisa whirling column of airand watermist thatcircles together,according to the National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration. Though it can sometimes move onto land and causetornadoactivity,most often it dissipates rapidly

Severalresidents andlocalmeteorologistsraced to social media to share images andvideos of theswirlingcloud,including Fox 8meteorologist Zack Fradella, former WDSU chief meteorologist Margaret Orr and WWL-TV meteorologist Payton Malone.

Lindsey’ssituation.

“Weare aware and won’t have anycommentout of respect for the legal process,” Bonnette said.

According to astatement releasedbyPerret, Lindsey wouldnot have allowed Jacobs and Jordan to stay with himhad he been awareoftheir wanted status.

“(Lindsey) is gladthese individuals were taken intocustodybyauthorities without incident,” Perret’s statementreads.

Lindsey is notaccused of having taken anypart in the original crime, only to have housed thetwo teenagers while they were wanted.

According to thewarrant for his arrest, however, investigators said they believe Lindsey was awareof thecrimes.

The three went to high school together,along with the alleged murder victim. Theafﬁdavitfurther claimsthat Jacobs, Jordan andLindsey were part of

thesame friend group in Alexandria.

“Lastly, (Alexandria PD) advisedthat they had a large media blitzinvolving social media as well as traditional media coverage surrounding the murder and subsequent manhunt in Lindsey’shometown,” theafﬁdavit states. “Given thesizeofAlexandriaand the close tiesLindsey had to both the victims and suspects in the case, it is highly unlikely thathe would not have been aware of these media reports.”

Further,investigators reportedly interviewed another associate of Lindsey’s who told them Lindsey had spoken with theassociate about Jacobs and Jordan beingwanted formurder beforetheir arrests.

Lindsey wasreleased on a$5,000 bail on Friday Reporter Reed Darcy contributed to this report.

Email Quinn Coffman at quinn.coffman@ theadvocate.com.

Covingtonman booked on child porn,animalabuse

BY MARCO CARTOLANO Staff writer

ACovington man was arrested Thursday on acount of sexual abuse of an animal and five counts of possessing child sexualabuse material, accordingto AttorneyGeneral Liz Murrill.

Joshua Frank, 31, was booked into theSt. Tammany Parish jail, Murrill’sofﬁce said in anews release.

Agentswiththe Louisiana Bureau of Investigation began investigating after receiving atip from the National Centerfor Missing and Exploited Children, according to the AttorneyGeneral’s ofﬁce.

The news releasedid not include additional information.The investigationisongoing.

Email Marco Cartolano at Marco.Cartolano@ theadvocate.com

Suspectdetainedby ICEafter fatalcrash

Impairment suspectedin collision, officialssay

BY KRISTIN ASKELSON Staff writer

Afatal crash in AvoyellesParish that left one mandead has led to the arrest of asuspect now being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,according to statements released by Louisiana State Police and the Department of Homeland Security

Louisiana State Police Troop Ereported that a collision occurred around 9p.m.Sunday on La. 1near theEchocommunity. Officialssay anorthbound 2014 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Romero H. Roberto,34, of Alexandria, veered off the roadway and struck a2013 Kubota lawn mower being operated on the shoulder by 59-year-old Rickey G. Maddox, also of Alexandria. Maddox suffered severe injuries and was transported to alocal hospital, where he later died. Roberto, who wasnot wearing aseat belt was uninjured. Troopers said impairment is suspected in the collision, and toxicology

samples were taken for analysis.Roberto was arrested Monday and charged with vehicular homicide, first-offense DWI, careless operation, no driver’slicenseand an expired license plate. He wasbooked intothe Avoyelles ParishDetention Center

TheDepartmentof HomelandSecurity confirmed Thursday that ICE placed an immigration detainer on Roberto, identiﬁed in their release as Romero-Hernandez, a Mexican national whoentered theUnited States at an unknown timeand location. Thedetainer was issued to ensure he is not released back into the community after local legal proceedings, according to DHS.

“This criminal illegal alien’srecklessdecision to drink and drive killed an innocent man,”saidDHS AssistantSecretaryTricia McLaughlin in theagency’sstatement. “Thesenseless tragedy shouldhave never happened because Romero-Hernandez should have never been in our country.” Thecase is being investigated by Louisiana State Police.

Email Kristin Askelsonat kaskelson@theadvocate. com.

Catanese,Rosemary

Conrad,Shirley

Gaeto, Diane

Marks, Leta

Robertson, Vincent EJefferson

Garden of Memories

Gaeto, Diane NewOrleans

DW Rhodes

Conrad,Shirley

Greenwood

Catanese,Rosemary West Bank

Robinson FH

Robertson, Vincent Obituaries

Catanese,Rosemary

Rosemary Muscemeci Catanese, belovedwife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother,sister, and friend,was called to her heavenly home on Au‐gust4,2025, at theage of 93. Shepassedpeacefully and wassurroundedbythe loveofher familyand friends during her final days. Born on May16, 1932, inNew Orleans, Louisiana, Rosemarywas thecher‐ished daughter of thelate Philipand Josephine Muscemeci.She is also precededindeath by her infantdaughter, Karen Catanese. Sheissurvived byher devotedhusband of 73years,Charles J. CataneseSr.,and theirlov‐ing children:Geralynn Phillips(Charles),Charles CataneseJr. (Cindi), and Phyllis Giffin(Glenn).She was theproud grand‐motherofCharles “Chip” CataneseIII (Aaron), Jes‐sicaPhillips, Barrett Phillips(Julianne), Erin Szekely (Tyler), JacobGiffin (Jordan), andChloe Catanese, andthe adoring great-grandmother of Ella Phillipsand Roman Phillips. Sheisalsosur‐vived by herbeloved sister, JoAnn D’Antonio(John), along with numerous nieces, nephews, anddear friends.Rosemarywas deeply lovedbyall who knewher.She treasured timespent with family, es‐pecially hergrandchildren,

each of whomshareda uniqueand specialbond withher.Her love forher familywas ﬁerce,uncondi‐tional, andunwavering. She delightedin family gatheringsand wasa loyal friendtomany. Shefound great joyinsimpleplea‐sures—playing cardswith friends,visitingthe casino withher cousin andsister, and enjoying herdaily lunchesatrestaurants throughoutNew Orleans and Metairie.Rosemary was awoman of faith and service.She wasa devout Catholic,a graduate of Sa‐credHeart High School and a parishionerofSt. Louis King of France.She was also amemberofthe Third OrderLay Carmelite Community.She served faithfullyasa longtime memberand Presidentof the KnightsofColumbus GentillyCouncil Ladies Auxiliary,where sheforged lifelongfriendships and madea meaningful impact onher community.Profes‐sionally, sheworkedfor 32 years at PanAmericanLife InsuranceCompany,where she createdlasting bonds. Rosemaryand herbeloved Charlie were lifelong resi‐dents of NewOrleans and had called Metairie home for thepast20years.Fu‐neral services will be held onMonday, August 11 2025, at Greenwood Funeral Home, 5200 CanalBlvd. New Orleans, LA 70124 Familyand friendsare in‐vited to attend visitation beginning at 11:00 a.m.,fol‐lowed by aMassofChrist‐ian Burial at 1:00 p.m. Bur‐ial will follow in Green‐wood Cemetery.A recep‐tionwillfollow. To honor Rosemary’sdeep faith, the familyrequestsMassesin her memory insteadof ﬂowers. We also invite you toshare your thoughts, fondmemories, andcon‐dolencesonlineatwww greenwoodfh.com.Your sharedmemorieswillhelp uscelebrate Rosemary’s lifeand keep hermemory alive

Conrad,Shirley Marie

ShirleyMarie Conrad departedtobewithOur Lordatthe ageof91onAu‐gust1,2025. Herloved ones willrememberher as a personwho lovedGod, family, andmusic.Shirley was anativeofNew Or‐leans andthe secondof Manuella andJosephCon‐rad’s sixchildren. She graduated from Xavier Prep Academyand re‐ceivedher Bachelor's De‐greefromXavierUniver‐sity. Sheearnedher Mas‐ter's in MusicEducation fromColumbiaUniversity and then returned to New Orleans to teachmusic After retiring as amusic teacher, Shirleyearnedan

MBAfromthe University of New Orleansand began her second career as aCer‐tiﬁed Public Accountant withthe U. S. Department ofHousing andUrban De‐velopment.Evenwithher professionalendeavors, Shirley remained devoted toher family. Shecared for her mother until herpass‐ing.She taught many of her nieces pianoand was the pianoaccompanist for their vocalperformances. Her godchildevenper‐suadedher to become the organistfor St.Brigid’s Church,a position that providedher with much enjoyment andcama‐raderie.Shirley Conrad is precededindeath by her parents andher siblings Anne Merrick, Joseph Con‐rad,Jr.,Johanna Conrad and Melvin Conrad.She is survivedbyher brother, Fritz Conrad,Sr.;her sis‐ters-in-law BernadineCon‐rad andVictoriaConrad; as wellasnumerousnieces and nephews. Shewas loved by many andwillbe misseddearly. AFuneral Service celebratingher life willbeheldatSt. Maria Goretti Church,located at 7300 CrowderBlvd.,New Orleans,Louisiana,onSat‐urday,August9,2025, at 11:00 A.M. Visitation will begin at 10:00 A.M.,and her interment will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery ArrangementsbyD.W RhodesFuneralHome, 3933 WashingtonAvenue Pleasevisit www.rhodesf uneral.comtosignthe guestbook

DianeBoudreaux Gaeto, age 77, passedaway peacefullyonAugust2, 2025, surrounded by her lovingfamily. Born on Feb‐ruary 4, 1948, in NewOr‐leans,Louisiana,Diane was the beloveddaughterof the late FrancisGibbon Boudreaux Sr.and thelate MaryKochBoudreaux.She isprecededindeath by her husband,PaulAnthony Gaeto Sr.; herdaughter, AmandaFrances Gaeto; her brothers,Francis Cosmo” Gibbon Boudreaux Jr.and Richard Ricky” Boudreaux; herfa‐ther- andmother-in-law, VictorLouis Gaetoand Edith Apperson Gaeto; her sister-in-law,Edith “Toot‐sie”Caronna;and herdear friend, MavisHill. Dianeis survivedbyher son, Paul Anthony GaetoJr.;her sis‐ters, ValerieZink(Carey) and AnnMouille (Charlie); and hercherished nieces and nephews: Christian Boudreaux,Jessica Van‐derbrook,Zachary Zink, Stephanie Russo,Alexi Stepp, Chad Mouille, and CodyMouille.She will also bedearlymissedbyher lifelong friends: Harold and

NancyVicknair, John Hill, and Harold andCharlene Cook.Diane wasa devoted wife, mother,sister, aunt, and friend.Her deep Catholic faith wasa guid‐ing lightinher life—she prayedthe rosary daily and wasa faithfulparish‐ioner of St.Christopher the MartyrChurch,she also participatedinthe Miley GoldenAge Club in Metairie. Dianefound joyin the simple pleasuresof life. Sheloved to travel withDisneyWorld holding a specialplace in her heart,she also enjoyed working on puzzlesand in‐dulging in herfavorite treat,chocolate.Family and friendsare invitedto attendfuneral services on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at St. Christopherthe Martyr Church.Visitationwillbe heldfrom10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.,followedbya Massat12:00 p.m. Inter‐mentwilltakeplace imme‐diately afterwardatGar‐den of Memories Ceme‐tery, 4900 AirlineDr., Metairie, Louisiana70001 Toofferthe familyonline condolences,orsend ﬂow‐ers,pleasevisit,www.gar denofmemoriesmetairie com.

Marks, Leta Weiss Dr.LetaWeiss Marks died of complications following spinal surgery July 25, 2025 at Yale NewHaven Hospital.Leta was born in NewOrleans on February 25, 1932 to Leon Charles Weiss, Sr.,architect of the StateCapitol,and Caroline Dreyfous Weiss.

Leta graduated from Isidore Newman School in 1949, Bradford College in 1951 and Connecticut College in 1953. Whileat Connecticut College,she met ayoung Hartford lawyer, Albert J. Marks, Jr., best known as Alby.They married in NewOrleans in 1953. For twentyyears, Leta taught English and coached thegirls' tennis team at Bloomfield(CT) HighSchool, and was for many years thereafter an adjunct professorofliterature and writing at the University of Hartford. She was awarded Master's Degrees fromTrinity CollegeinHartford in 1961 and 1983, and obtained a Doctorate in literature in 1994 fromthe Universityof Connecticut.In1997, Leta publishedher dissertation producing Time's Tapestry: Four Generations of aNew Orleans Family (LSU Press), acreative non -fiction account of her AlsatianJewishfamily's life in NewOrleans.

Following in the tradition of herauntsand uncle, who fought for civil rightsinNew Orleans during the 1960s, Leta was activeinpublicservice throughout her adultlife. Passionate aboutthe arts, she volunteered as adocent at theWadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art forthe past twentyyears.

Leta lovedNew Orleans and brought her family annually to visit her mother, auntsand uncle. Throughout her life,she maintained NewOrleans

food traditions, starting everyday with acup of French Marketdripcoffee Leta cherishedher four childrenand their spouses, ten grandchildrenand twelve great-grandchildren,hosting them at her house, visitingthemno matter whereinthe world they were living, andgatheringthemtogether every fiveyearsfor familyreunions Leta waspredeceased by herparents,her sister Betty (Elizabeth Parnes) and brotherBubby (Leon Weiss, Jr.) andtheir spouses, Leoand Pat,and her husband, Alby. Sheleaves herchildrenand their spouses, Jonathan (Daniela), Richard (Jennifer),Catherine (William) andAlan (Kathleen);her former daughter-in-law, Patricia; hergrandchildrenand theirspouses, Sarah (Benjamin), Zoe (Matthew), Jeremy (Jessica),Hannah (Andrew), Rachel(Scott), Emma, Jonah, Jacob,Elijah andTania; hergreatgrandchildren; nieces and nephews; many,many dear friends; andher beloveddog, Lizzy.

Robertson, Vincent 'Champ'

Vincent“Champ” Robertson,bornonMay 11, 1998, he gained hisWings onSunday, July 27, 2025. He issurvivedbyhis loving partner,Destiny Christian, his twochildren, Vayden and Dynver Robertson, who were thecenterofhis world.Champ is also sur‐vived by hismother, An‐gelaRobertson,and father, Vincent Hill.Hewas acher‐ished grandson to Judy Hemphill,CarterRobertson and AnnieJones (late Clifton Jones).A beloved brother to Ryan Sylve, WhitneySylve,Cletus Robertson,Brooklyn Robertson andJawuan Riley.GodchildofPennie Duplessisand Tyrone Sell‐ers.Loved by ahostof Aunts, Uncles,Nieces, Nephewsand cousins. A

friend to many.Heispro‐ceeded in deathbyhis GrandparentsGeraldine & Leonard Hemphill andpa‐ternalGrandfather Ralph Lynn; hiscousins Davante Dream” Robertson, Rickey Hines,and Kane Mcgowan. Hewas abeloved son, de‐voted father,cherished brother,and afriendto many. Champ’slegacyof love, laughter,and dedica‐tiontohis familywillfor‐everremaininthe hearts ofthose who knew him. He willbedeeply missedbut never forgotten. FOREVER DREAM’S BROTHER. Apri‐vatefuneral service(for immediatefamilyand friends only)willbeheldto celebrate hislifeand the beautiful memories he leaves. Funeralplanning entrusted to Robinson FamilyFuneral Home (504) 208-2119. Foronlinecondo‐lencespleasevisit www robinsonfamilyfuneralho me.com

Muscemeci

Gaeto, DianeBoudreaux

BRIEFS

Minneapolis fed chief talks possible rate cuts

For all the uncertainty plaguing the U.S. economy, one observation is clear: From job growth to consumer spending, the $30 trillion engine is slowing.

That usually signals it’s time for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates. And Neel Kashkari, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, posited two such moves before the end of the year in a Wednesday TV interview

But there’s a big caveat to Kashkari’s call: The central bank might have to reverse course and raise rates. That’s if President Donald Trump’s global tariffs — which on Thursday hit about 90 countries with import taxes as high as 50% — push inﬂation back up again.

“I would love to not have to do that,” Kashkari said on CNBC from the Aspen Economic Strategy Group forum. “But I’m realizing that these tariff effects are going to take a lot longer to really become clear, and if virtually all the other economic data is pointing to a cooling economy and a slowing economy, how long can we wait until the tariff effects become clear? That’s just weighing on me right now.”

Interest rates are the Fed’s main tool for speeding up or slowing down the economy, with the goal to keep prices stable and unemployment low. When inﬂation is high, the central bank raises rates to slow spending and tame prices; when unemployment is high, it lowers rates to kick the economy back into gear

OpenAI launches fifth generation of ChatGPT OpenAI on Thursday released the ﬁfth generation of the artiﬁcial intelligence technology that powers ChatGPT, a product update that’s being closely watched as a measure of whether generative AI is advancing rapidly or hitting a plateau.

GPT-5 arrives more than two years after the March 2023 release of GPT-4, bookending a period of intense commercial investment, hype and worry over AI’s capabilities.

In anticipation, rival Anthropic released the latest version of its own chatbot, Claude, earlier in the week, part of a race with Google and other competitors in the U.S. and China to leapfrog each other on AI benchmarks Meanwhile, longtime OpenAI partner Microsoft said it will incorporate GPT-5 into its own AI assistant, Copilot.

It is also trying to raise huge amounts of money to get there, in part to pay for the costly computer chips and data centers needed to build and run the technology.

Adidas accused of cultural appropriation

MEXICO CITY Mexican authorities are accusing sportswear company Adidas of plagiarizing artisans in southern Mexico, alleging that a new sandal design is strikingly similar to the traditional Indigenous footwear known as huaraches.

The controversy has fueled accusations of cultural appropriation by the footwear brand, with authorities saying this is not the first time traditional Mexican handicrafts have been copied. Citing these concerns, local authorities have asked Adidas to withdraw the shoe model.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Friday that Adidas was already in talks with authorities in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca to provide “compensation for the people who were plagiarized,” and that her government was preparing legal reforms to prevent the copying of Mexican handicrafts.

Adidas did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. The design at the center of the controversy is the “Oaxaca SlipOn,” a sandal created by U.S. designer Willy Chavarría for Adidas Originals. The sandals feature thin leather straps braided in a style that is unmistakably similar to the traditional Mexican huaraches. Instead of ﬂat leather soles, the Adidas shoes tout a more chunky, sports shoe sole.

BUSINESS

NOLA.COM/BIZ

Market clocks another winning week

BY DAMIAN J. TROISE and ALEX VEIGA AP business writers

U.S. stocks closed higher Friday, capping a choppy week of trading with the market’s third winning week in the last four and another milestone.

The S&P 500 rose 0.8%, finishing just shy of the record it set last week. The benchmark index also wiped out its losses from a slide last week.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.5%, and the Nasdaq composite added 1% to the all-time high it set a day earlier Technology companies with their hefty stock values, did much of the heavy lifting for the market. Nvidia rose 1.1% and Apple gained 4.2%.

Gilead Sciences jumped 8.3% for one of the market’s biggest gains. It reported ﬁnancial results that eas-

ily beat analysts’ forecasts while also raising its earnings forecast for the year Expedia Group rose 4.1% after also reporting encouraging ﬁnancial results.

They are among the final big batch of companies within the S&P 500 to report mostly strong ﬁnancial results for the second quarter Financial sector stocks also helped drive the market higher Bank of America gained 2.4% and Mastercard rose 2.3%.

Elsewhere in the market, entertainment giant Paramount Skydance slid 10.5% a day after the company was created by the closing of an $8 billion merger of Skydance and Paramount. Shares in rival Warner Bros. Discovery sank 8%.

The main focus throughout the week has been on President Donald Trump’s trade war and its potential impact on the U.S. economy, as well

as the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy Trump began imposing higher import taxes on dozens of countries Thursday

Still, the market appeared to largely shrug off the latest tariff escalation.

“The S&P 500’s rebound this week may highlight the extent to which the market is becoming numb to tariff headlines,” said Daniel Skelly, head of Morgan Stanley’s Wealth Management Market Research & Strategy Team.

The unknown path of the economy amid an unpredictable tariff policy has been the key reason for the Fed to hold its benchmark interest rate steady Fed Chair Jerome Powell, though, has been under increasing pressure from Trump to cut interest rates Policy decisions aren’t made solely by the Fed chair All 12 members of the Federal Open Market Commit-

tee vote on interest rate changes.

Trump has an opportunity to exert more control over the Fed following his nomination of Stephen Miran to a vacancy on the Fed’s board of governors. Miran is a top economic adviser to Trump and is a near-certain vote in support of lower interest rates.

The Fed’s last decision to hold interest rates steady included two votes to lower interest rates. Its next meeting is in September, and Wall Street is overwhelmingly betting that the central bank will cut interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point.

Treasury yields edged higher

The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.28% from 4.25% late Thursday The yield on the twoyear Treasury which more closely tracks expectations for Fed actions, rose to 3.76% from 3.73% late Thursday

Boar’s Head plant to reopen

Facility was shut down after deadly contamination

BY JONEL ALECCIA AP health writer

The Boar’s Head deli meat plant at the heart of last year’s deadly food poisoning outbreak is set to reopen in the coming months, company ofﬁcials said.

But recent inspections at Boar’s Head sites in three states documented sanitation problems similar to those that led to the listeria contamination that killed 10 people and sickened dozens.

The Jarratt, Virginia, plant was shut down in September when U.S. Agriculture Department ofﬁcials suspended operations and withdrew the federal marks of inspection required to operate, saying the company “failed to maintain sanitary conditions.” Boar’s Head permanently stopped making liverwurst and recalled more than 7 million pounds of deli products.

USDA officials this week said they had “thoroughly reviewed” the plant and lifted the forced suspension on July 18.

“The facility is in full compliance of the guidelines and protocols set for the safe handling and production of food and the serious issues that led to suspension have been fully rectified,” officials with the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service said in an email Wednesday And yet, documents obtained by The Associated Press through a freedom of information request show that Boar’s Head plants in Arkansas, Indiana and elsewhere in Virginia were ﬂagged for the same kinds of sanitation problems that led to the outbreak, with the most recent report in June.

In the past seven months, government inspectors reported problems that include instances of meat and fat residue left on equipment and walls, drains blocked with meat products, beaded condensation on ceilings and ﬂoors, overﬂowing trash cans, and staff who didn’t wear protective hairnets and plastic aprons — or wash their hands.

The records, which included USDA noncompliance reports logged by inspectors from Jan. 1 through July 23, raise new questions about the company’s promises to address systemic problems and about federal oversight of listeria contamination in plants that make readyto-eat foods.

“If there is evidence that food safety problems are continuing, the government needs to make sure the company ﬁxes them,” said Sandra Eskin, a former USDA ofﬁcial who now heads STOP Foodborne Illness, a consumer group focused on food safety

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins last month announced plans to bolster efforts that

combat foodborne germs, including listeria.

Ofﬁcials at Boar’s Head, the 120-year-old company based in Sarasota, Florida, have posted job openings for two dozen positions, including a food safety quality analyst, at the Jarratt site.

The company convened a panel of expert advisers last fall and hired a chief food safety ofﬁcer in May The advisers include Frank Yiannas a former U.S. Food and Drug Administration ofﬁcial, and Mindy Brashears, President Donald Trump’s nominee for USDA’s undersecretary for food safety

Boar’s Head last year said they “regret and deeply apologize” for the contamination and that “comprehensive measures are being implemented to prevent such an incident from ever happening again.”

But company officials refused to discuss the problems found this year They canceled a scheduled AP interview with Natalie Dyenson, the new food safety ofﬁcer And they declined to allow Yiannas to detail the investigation he led into the contamination’s cause.

Brashears, who now directs a food safety center at Texas Tech University, did not respond to requests for comment about the Boar’s Head problems. An automatic email reply said the USDA nominee was traveling out of the country until Aug. 25. She remains on the company’s food safety board.

“Boar’s Head has an unwavering commitment to food safety and quality That commitment is reﬂected in recent enhancements

to our practices and protocols” described on the company’s website, Boar’s Head said in an emailed statement.

“We have also been working with the USDA in developing a plan to reopen our Jarratt facility in a measured, deliberate way in the coming months,” the statement said.

The 35 pages of new inspection ﬁndings cover Boar’s Head sites in Forrest City, Arkansas; New Castle, Indiana; and Petersburg, Virginia.

They surprised outside food safety advocates, who said that factory conditions should have improved in the year since the outbreak was ﬁrst identiﬁed.

“You would have expected after all they went through that they would put themselves in a place where you could essentially eat deli meat off the factory ﬂoor,” said Brian Ronholm, director of food policy for Consumer Reports, an advocacy group.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., called the ﬁndings “appalling.”

“This is a pattern of negligence cutting corners to protect the company’s bottom line at the expense of consumers and these conditions show a complete disregard for food safety and for the public health of the American people,” DeLauro said in a statement

The ﬁndings echo the “inadequate sanitation practices” that USDA ofﬁcials said contributed to the outbreak. Key factors included product residue, condensation and structural problems in the buildings, according to a January report

Intel CEO responds after Trump calls for his resignation

BY MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP business writer

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan says he’s “always operated within the highest legal and ethical standards” after President Donald Trump said he should resign. On Thursday Trump said on Truth Social platform that, “The CEO of Intel is highly CONFLICTED and must resign, immediately There is no other solution to this problem Thank you for your attention to this problem!” Trump’s post landed after Sen. Tom Cotton sent a letter to Intel

Chairman Frank Yeary expressing concern over Tan’s investments and ties to semiconductor firms that are reportedly linked to the Chinese Communist Party and the People’s Liberation Army, and asked the board whether Tan had divested his interests in these companies to eliminate any conﬂicts of interest It was not immediately clear on Thursday if Tan, who took over as Intel’s CEO in March, had divested his interests in the companies. The economic and political rivalry between the U.S. and China is increasingly focused on com-

puter chips, AI and other digital technologies that are expected to shape future economies and military conﬂicts.

Intel said in a statement that it’s “deeply committed to advancing U.S. national and economic security interests and are making significant investments aligned with the President’s America First agenda.”

Tan also addressed the situation, saying in a message to employees that there was misinformation circulating about his past roles at Walden International and Cadence Design Systems and

that he’s always followed proper standards.

Tan also said Intel was in contact with the Trump administration.

“We are engaging with the Administration to address the matters that have been raised and ensure they have the facts,” Tan said. “I fully share the President’s commitment to advancing U.S. national and economic security I appreciate his leadership to advance these priorities, and I’m proud to lead a company that is so central to these goals.”

The company’s stock rose slightly in premarket trading on Friday

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MICHAEL CONROy

Inspections at Boar’s Head plants in Arkansas, Indiana and elsewhere in Virginia have been flagged recently for ‘failing to maintain sanitary conditions’ that led to the outbreak at the closed Jarratt, Va., plant.

ANOTHERVIEW

Whynobody’s happy with how Trumppolls

When the subject of Donald Trump’spopularity comes up, you get strong reactions.

In arecent speech, Inoted that thepresident had an average job rating of 46%. BothTrump supporters and opponents objected. Supporterstoldmethey heard his rating was 50% —and they were right, it had reached 50%inone poll. Opponents told me theyheard his rating was 41% —and they, too, were correct; another poll showed that to be the case. The 46% wasanaverage of ninepolls. The two surveysreferenced areoutliers; that doesn’tmean they’rewrong, it just meansthey’re different from the others. Saying that Trump’sjob rating is 50% without mentioning the eight other polls showinghim loweris an incomplete picture, justassayinghis ratingis41% without mentioning the eightother polls showing him higher

Everyone is entitled to their opinion,but if youonly look at information thatreinforces yourviews, you may be missing something important

This is why people who live in liberalbastionCambridge, Massachusetts, couldn’tbelieve Trumphad defeated Hillary Clinton in 2016. “Everyone Iknow voted for Hillary,” they said.

And it’swhy people in red Wyoming, astate Trump carried overwhelmingly in 2020, couldn’tbelieve Joe Bidenhad wonthat election.

Voters are perplexed about recentpolling Trumpers can’tbelieve only 46%ofthe countryapproves of the job he’sdoing,and anti-Trumpers can’t believe as much as 46% approve of the jobhe’sdoing. The steadiness of Trump’spublic support is unique and evident: He received46.1% of thepopular vote in 2016 (when he won) and46.8% in 2020 (when he lost). He received 49.8% of the popular vote last year (when he won) andhis job ratingnow averages 46%. His entire political career has operatedwithin anarrowrange of less thanfourpoints

Gallup’saverage job ratings for Trump’sﬁrst term and so far in his second termare onlyone point apart. Whyisthis?

Perhaps partisan polarization is oneanswer. But there’smore to it with Trump.

He’sdoing so much, everywhere andall at once, that Americans are anesthetized bythe sheer volume and uncertainty.Withsomanyissues to parse and ﬁghts to follow,most voters appear to have formed an overallviewofTrump, positive or negative,and are sticking withit.

Trump’saverage job approval rocks along at 46% even though only 26% of Americanssay his“big, beautiful bill” will be good forthem(KFF poll), only 34% approveofhis handling ofinflation (Economist poll) and only 20% approve of his handlingofthe Jeffrey Epsteinmatter (Economist poll). In years past, presidential job ratingsweremore sensitive to specific eventsand swung morewidely George W. Bush’sapproval ratingreached 90% right after the 9/11terrorist attacks. It fell to 25% in the final days of his second term; his handling of the Iraq War, Hurricane Katrina and thefinancialcrisis shattered the immense popularityheoncehad. Bill Clinton’slow point in theGalluppollcame during his early months in office, whenhis rating was 37%. Acombination of misstepshad pulled him down. Remarkably,his highest approvalnumber— 73% was reached the day he was impeached.Yes,you read that right.

During hisﬁrstmonthsinofﬁce, LyndonJohnson’s rating hit 79%. He had won widespreadacclaim for his handling of the transition afterPresident John Kennedy’sassassination. Duetothe bloody, costly war in Vietnam, LBJ’spopularity fell to 35%.

JFK’s highest approval ratingwas 83% —and it came right after his most embarrassingfailure,the Bay of Pigs debacle. (His taking responsibility forit was credited with the ratingupswing.) Before theCuban missile crisis,his rating was61%; after thecrisis subsided, it shot up to 76%.

Right after he became president following Franklin Roosevelt’sdeath, Harry Truman’s Gallup ratingwas 87%. His approval fell to 22% during theunpopular Korean War. It all proves one point. No matter what Trumpdoes, howhedoes it or when he does it,heremains sui generis in American politics.

Ron Faucheux is anonpartisan political analyst, pollster and writer based in Louisiana.

Ron Faucheux

SPORTS

QB Nussmeierdealing with tendinitis

Kellydownplays LSUquarterback’s injuryconcerns

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

LSU ﬁfth-year seniorquarterback Garrett

Nussmeierthrewatpractice on Friday after he aggravated acase of patellar tendinitis in aknee on Wednesday,coach Brian Kelly said Friday

Kelly added that Nussmeier is expected to participate in a“practice situation” on Saturday

“Tendinitisismanaged every single day aroundthe worldfor all kinds of different ailments,” Kelly said. “... Just likeabad anklethat you’re going to come back in (for),

ThreeWave QBstoget bulk of work in ﬁrst scrimmage

BY GUERRYSMITH

Contributing writer

Quarterbacks BrendanSullivan, Kadin Semonza and Jake Retzlaff will getthe majority of snaps on Saturday nightinTulane’s ﬁrst preseasonscrimmage, coach Jon Sumrall said Friday

The Green Wave’squarterback competition is far from settled two weeks into camp, but it is virtually impossibletogive four guys equal time. Illinois transfer Donovan Leary has lagged behind the other three in practicetime since splitting ﬁrst-team reps with Sullivan in last Saturday’sworkout.

Semonza (Ball State), who has been with theteam sinceJanuary,and Retzlaff (BYU), who showed up aweek before camp, were full-time starters last season. Sullivan, a late-May arrival, starteda handful ofgames at Northwestern and Iowa. Leary played in only two games overthree years at Illinois. “Kadin has great command for the most part of what we’re doing and how we’re doing it and why we’re doingit,” Sumrallsaid. “Brendan is picking thatupquick now.He sticks out when he tucks theball and wants to run. It can be afirst down fast. Jake’s just learning the operation.He’sacouple of weeks into being here andhe’shaving to run everything we run. He’sgrowing. Yousee the arm talent. Yousee the throws he makes. It’scan we eliminate the hey,Iforgot to bring aguy in option, those sort of things.” At this time ayear ago, Darian Mensah, operating only with the backups at the end of the first scrimmage, was impressive enough to earn first-team reps in the followingweek. He neverlooked back “I feel stronglywecan win with alot of guys in that room,” Sumrall said.“We’re just trying to figureout who’sgoing to be the most consistent with how they execute, operate and take care of the ball, leadand have commandatthe line of scrimmage. There’ssomany components that go into playing quarterback other than justthe guy withthe biggest arm.”

Sumrall said the scrimmage would feature 40 to 50 plays of open-ﬁeld work,followed by ashort period with the offense backed up to its own goal line and ared

ä See TULANE, page 3C

he’llbeback out (there).”

Kelly was unsure how the injury occurred and doesn’tknowwhichkneehas thetendinitis. He said he wanted to “getthe right information out there” after online rumors that Nussmeier had suffered aserious injury circulated on Wednesday “Thisislikea 1.5onthe scaleof1 to 10,” Kelly said. “And that’sjust being honest with you.” Kelly said the tendinitis Nussmeier is experiencing is the aftereffect of asurgery he underwentin2023 calledthe

ä See LSU, page 3C

Tendinitisis managed every single dayaround the world for all kinds of different ailments. ... This is likea1.5 on the scale of 1to10.”

BRIAN KELLy, LSU coach

BYMATTHEWPARAS Staff writer

IRVINE, Calif. Chase Young haslongresisted The Narrative The Narrative —the dreaded narrative —isalabel that carries aperception, and Young tends to dislike perceptions.

When he signed withthe NewOrleans Saints last year,the pass rusherbrushedoff theideathathis one-year,$13 million contract was aprove-it deal. In Washington, the2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year dismissed thenotion that aslow start to hissecond seasoncould be attributed to hischoice to ﬁlm commercials instead of attending his team’soffseason workouts. And even comingout of thedraft, when he was perceived as agenerational prospect, he was bothered by thosewho thought he wasn’tstill disruptive in hisﬁnalthreegames at Ohio State when he was held without asack. But this year,his sixth in the NFL, there’sa newnarrative around Young —one he hasn’tnecessarily shied away from.

LSUQB Garrett

Nussmeier

MICHAEL JOHNSON

Saints defensiveend Chase young chases down aball carrier during last Saturday’spractice at the team’straining facility in Metairie. STAFF PHOTO By JOHN McCUSKER

STAFF PHOTO By JOHN McCUSKER

Tulane quarterback JakeRetzlaff looks to makeapass during adrill Aug. 1at yulman Stadium. Retlaff will beone of three quarterbacks to getthe majorityofsnapsin Saturday’s first preseason scrimmage.

Packers star, first NFLPA president dies at 95

Billy Howton, a former Green Bay Packers star regarded as one of the most productive wide receivers of the pre-Super Bowl era who was a founder and the first president of the NFL Players Association, has died. He was 95. Howton died in Houston on Monday, according to an obituary Bradshaw-Carter Funeral Home confirmed his death on Friday Howton was born in Littlefield, Texas, in 1930. He was believed to have been the oldest living NFL player

Howton scored the Packers’ ﬁrst receiving touchdown at Lambeau Field in 1957. He was a secondround selection by the Packers in 1952 and became the ﬁrst NFL rookie with a 1,000-yard receiving season after recording 1,231 yards that year

Rivera surges at U.S. championships

BY SCOTT RABALAIS Staff writer

No Simone Biles, no Jordan Chil-

es, but lots of smiles Friday in the U.S. Gymnastics Championships for Olympic gold medalist and LSU commitment Hezly Rivera.

The only member of the fivewoman U.S. Olympic team that triumphed in Paris competing in this year’s event, Rivera showed off her world-class skills to take the lead after the ﬁrst senior women’s session at the Smoothie King Center Coming off a shaky showing U.S. Classics meet in July, where she had two falls, Rivera bounced back strongly in this event that her Olympic teammate Biles won in 2024 for the ninth time. It’s a tight race among the top three, however, with Rivera at 55.600 followed closely by Arkansas’ Joscelyn Roberson (55.400) and Florida’s Leanne Wong (55.100).

“It will obviously be very competitive,” Rivera, 17, said. “I’m just going to focus on myself and my gymnastics, and whatever happens happens. But I know I’ve been working really hard in the gym, and I’m going to let my gymnastics go and see where it takes me.”

The women’s all-around championship and titles in four individual events — vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor — will be decided after the final session Sunday night, along with spots on the U.S. national team. Scoring from both Friday and Sunday’s sessions will be weighted equally With LSU’s Konnor McClain, the 2022 U.S. all-around champion, in the stands, Rivera started on beam, posting a routine that was an exceptional mix of difficulty and execution It was originally scored at 14.050, but after an inquiry Rivera’s mark was bumped up to 14.350 that held up for first place in that event.

Moving to floor in the second rotation, the Oradell, New Jersey,

STAFF PHOTO By JOHN MCCUSKER

Olympic gold medalist and LSU commitment Hezly Rivera competes on balance beam at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships on Friday at the Smoothie King Center Rivera scored a 14.350 in the event.

native just stayed in bounds on one tumbling pass but her performance was good enough to post a 14.000 and tied for the second-best score in that event behind a 14.150 from Roberson. Rivera followed that up with a strong 13.800 on vault, choosing not to do a second pass in the event. Needing a 13.300 on bars to stay in front of Roberson, who closed with a session-best 14.150 on ﬂoor going into Sunday, Rivera ﬁnished with a 13.450 in that event, only a small twist on the landing perhaps keeping her from a higher score. Another LSU commitment, Annalisa Milton of Lee’s Summit, Mis-

souri, was in 17th in the all-around at 51.300. Rivera is not currently expected to compete for LSU until after the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. “It’s been a great experience here in New Orleans,” competing in Louisiana for the ﬁrst time, Rivera said. “It was so cool to see the LSU team supporting me and Annalisa. We room together at (gymnastics) camp a lot so we have just been growing a closer bond.”

The junior women’s session got things underway Friday afternoon, with a tight battle at the top in that division’s all-around competition. Caroline Moreau of Keller,

Texas, was in ﬁrst place at 53.700, followed closely by Charleigh Bullock of Spotsylvania, Pennsylvania at 53.200. Isabella Anzola of Statham, Georgia, was in third at 51.900.

The men’s competition concludes Saturday with Stanford’s Asher Hong way out in front in the senior portion of the meet. Hong was at 85.585 after six events, 4.48 points ahead of Oklahoma’s Fuzzy Beneas (81.105). It’s the largest margin midway through the men’s competition since the current scoring system was implemented in 2006.

Saturday’s senior men’s ﬁnal will be streamed live on Peacock.

Fleetwood builds big lead at playoffs opener

By The Associated Press

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Tommy Fleetwood had another big closing stretch Friday with four straight birdies, giving him a 6-under 64 and the 36-hole lead in the FedEx Cup St. Jude Championship with his sights set on an elusive PGA Tour title. So much attention is on the top 50 in the FedEx Cup who advance out of the ﬁrst postseason event Fleetwood is already locked in all the way to the ﬁnale at the Tour Championship. What he cares about is winning.

“It hasn’t happened for me yet out on the PGA Tour, but I would much rather be up there and not quite get it done than not there at all,” Fleetwood said. “And who knows? Maybe this weekend is the weekend and we’ll see, and we’ll crack on from there.”

Fleetwood was at 13-under 127, four shots clear of Collin Morikawa (65) and Akshay Bhatia (69) Justin Rose also was at 9-under par after a birdie on the par-5 16th. Storms rolled into the area, forcing spectators to leave the course and suspending play until Saturday morning. Fleetwood finished with four straight birdies on Thursday He made three in a row early, including a 30-footer from the fringe on the par-3 fourth hole at the TPC Southwind.

He also had a pair of key par saves around the turn before going on another run. He holed a pair of 15-foot birdie putts on the 13th and 14th. He

Tommy Fleetwood, of England, watches his tee

of the St Jude Championship on Friday

stuffed a wedge to 5 feet for birdie on the 15th. And then he reached the par-5 16th in two and two-putted from about 30 feet for a fourth straight birdie.

The only bogey came at the ﬁnal hole when he went from the bunker into thick rough, and the safe shot from there was some 50 feet long of the pin.

“Of course, when you shoot two good scores, it’s easy to say everything has been going well,” Fleetwood said. “But I think for the most part I’ve been very good off the tee, put myself in position to have a go at the course. My iron play has been good and solid, and I’ve rolled the ball well.”

Kurt Kitayama had the low score of the round at 63, moving him to the top ﬁve on the leaderboard as a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change. The FedEx Cup playoffs were

WALKER IV

an afterthought until two weeks ago. He was at No. 110 until winning the 3M Open in Minnesota. Now he’s at No. 52 and the next goal is to move on to the BMW Championship next week outside Baltimore.

It’s hard not to pay attention to the top 50 this week because along with advancing in the postseason, anyone in the top 50 is assured of being in all eight of the $20 million signature events next year

There’s no need for Scottie Scheffler to look. The PGA and British Open champion is so far ahead in the FedEx Cup he is assured of staying at the top this week. That doesn’t mean he’s cruising along without a care.

Schefﬂer was slowed by three bogeys on the back nine, landing in rough that swallowed up his golf ball and left him visibly frustrated. He still shot a 66 and was

six shots behind. Jordan Spieth had an 8-foot par putt on the ﬁnal hole that turned toward the cup and looked to be falling from gravity alone when it hung on the edge.

That about summed up his day of three bogeys, three birdies and a 70 that left him 12 shots behind and facing plenty of stress for the weekend as he tries to avoid a second straight year outside the top 50. Bud Cauley, one spot behind Kitayama in the FedEx Cup at No. 53, shot 69 and was in a tie for seventh when play was suspended.

Once the second round is completed, the third round will follow in threesomes off both sides.

Fleetwood is No. 15 in the world with seven wins on the European tour against some of the stronger fields. He has thrived on a big stage overseas, particularly the Ryder Cup. It’s just that small matter of a PGA Tour title.

He was on the verge in late June at the Travelers Championship until a stunning ﬂip at the end, when he took three putts from just short of the green for bogey and Keegan Bradley made birdie to beat him.

“Right now I would love to just go and sulk somewhere and maybe I will do,” he said that Sunday at the Travelers. “But there’s just no point making it a negative for the future really.”

He gets another chance on the weekend at the TPC Southwind, still only the halfway point but at least there with a chance and in command of his game from teeto-green.

Trackhouse Racing signs van Gisbergen to extension

After making the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs as a rookie, Shane van Gisbergen has earned a multiyear extension with Trackhouse Racing, the team announced Friday No further terms were released.

With victories from the pole position at Mexico City, Chicago and Sonoma Raceway, van Gisbergen has secured the fourth seed in the 2025 playoffs with three races remaining in the regular season. After winning three championships in the Supercars series, van Gisbergen was hired by Trackhouse two years ago as part of its Project 91 program to showcase international drivers in NASCAR’s premier series. Van Gisbergen moved up to Cup with Trackhouse this year in the No. 88 Chevrolet.

Texans safety arrested twice in two months

Houston Texans safety Jimmie Ward was arrested Thursday on a felony warrant, according to the Montgomery County Jail records. This was second arrest in two months for the 34-year-old Ward. He also was arrested June 12 at his home in Magnolia, Texas, for allegedly assaulting and threatening a woman.

It was unclear if the second arrest was related to the ﬁrst. Ward has been on the Texans’ physically unable to perform list and has not taken part in training camp.

He agreed to a one-year extension through this season. If he plays for Houston, it will be Ward’s third season with the team. He played his ﬁrst nine seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.

Colts QB Richardson day-to-day after injury

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is considered day-to-day with a dislocated pinkie, a person with knowledge of the injury told The Associated Press on Friday on condition of anonymity It’s unclear when Richardson will practice next. Indy did not hold practice Friday and is scheduled to do so Saturday in Westﬁeld, Indiana, a suburb on Indianapolis’ northwest side.

Richardson was injured on the second possession of the Colts’ preseason game against the Ravens on Thursday night. He was driven into the ground by unblocked Baltimore Ravens linebacker David Ojabo. When Richardson got up, he saw his ﬁnger at an awkward angle and immediately left the game. He did not return.

Former top-10 player pulls out of U.S. Open

Former top-10 player Paula Badosa pulled out of the U.S Open on Friday after dealing with a back injury that has sidelined her since a ﬁrst-round loss at Wimbledon on June 30. The U.S. Tennis Association announced Badosa’s withdrawal and said Jil Teichmann would replace her in the ﬁeld. Alizé Cornet, who retired from tennis last year but returned to action this year is the next woman in line to get a berth in the draw at Flushing Meadows if someone else pulls out. Play is scheduled to begin on Aug. 24 in the singles brackets at the

tournament. Badosa, a

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By GEORGE

shot during the second round

in Memphis, Tenn.

Indianapolis 500 champion Alex Palou, of Spain, poses with the BorgWarner Trophy at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis on May 26.

By MICHAEL CONROy

Palou closer to winning fourth title

BY JENNA FRYER AP auto racing writer

It’s not a question of if Alex Palou will win his fourth IndyCar championship this season, only a matter of when.

His

ﬁrst opportunity at clinching a third consecutive title and fourth in ﬁve years comes Sunday at Portland International Raceway, Round 15 of the 17-race schedule.

A run of utter dominance not seen since Scott Dixon in 2006 has put Palou in need of leaving Portland with a 108-point lead over Pato O’Ward, the only driver still mathematically eligible to beat him for the title. Palou is a comfortable 121 points ahead of O’Ward headed into the race.

Even so, Palou is adamant a fourth Astor Cup does not yet belong to him.

“Everybody here is saying we’ve already won,” Palou said. “Although we have a lot of points, we still need to win it. If somebody else is mathematically alive, it’s still alive, so we don’t want anybody to be mathematically alive for the points.”

Whatever you say, Alex

O’Ward is already resigned that it will take a total collapse from Palou over the ﬁnal three races of the season for him to have even an outside chance at snatching the championship away from the most dominant driver of the last ﬁve years.

Although no one besides Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Dixon has had a season so strong in nearly two decades, Palou has easily surpassed all of his peers’ previous domination.

It started with back-to-back wins to start the IndyCar season remember Josef Newgarden bristled when asked what it would take to dethrone Palou with a curt, “It’s Round 1, dude. Let’s see how it goes.”

Well, here’s how it went: Palou won ﬁve of the ﬁrst six races, which included the Indianapolis 500 that had eluded him in five previous tries. That win at the Brickyard cemented his path to another championship and he’s been untouchable since.

Palou goes into Portland with a series-high eight wins, five poles, 11 top-five finishes in 14 races, 563 laps led and a 1.2 average finish.

Dixon, a six-time IndyCar champion considered the best driver of his generation and one of openwheel’s all-time greats, has only one win this season and no answer as to why he can’t keep pace with teammate Palou.

“I don’t know sometimes you just have years like that and it just ﬂows and it’s not even a conﬁdence thing,” Dixon said.

SonowPaloucontrolshisownfate and it starts at the Portland track where he has two wins and finished second last season. If O’Ward wins Sunday and picks up the maximum points, Palou would still win the championship by finishing second and leading a single lap. Palou can clinch the title by finishing fourth or better maybe even eighth depending on various factors involving O’Ward and bonus points.

So history basically awaits starting this weekend, when Palou will attempt to join Dario Franchitti, Sebastien Bourdais and Ted Horn as the only drivers in series history to win three consecutive titles. But, the more impressive mark is that Palou, with two wins in the final three races, can tie the IndyCar re-

cord for victories in a season set at 10 by A.J. Foyt in 1964 and Al Unser in 1970.

A sweep of the rest of the schedule would make him IndyCar’s winningest driver in a season. Ironically, Palou entered the season with 11 career wins and can now double that mark in 2025.

“I cannot really comprehend everything that’s happening, not only this year, but if I look back at ever since I started in IndyCar, my dream was just to be a professional race car driver, and I never thought about records or anything like that,” Palou said. “I never thought that I would be around those names, and I think obviously this season in particular has been a little bit crazy

“I almost matched the wins that I had in three years, or in four years actually It’s amazing to be there,” he continued. “I owe everything to my team and everybody that is behind me, like my personal team and my racing team. It’s not that I’m not conscious about what’s going on. It’s just that I cannot really believe it, and I’m just riding the wave and enjoying every single second of it and having fun.”

Yankees’ Stanton nearing return to outﬁeld

TheAssociated Press

NEW YORK Giancarlo Stanton is nearing a return to the outfield for the first time in nearly two years, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Friday Stanton has had his playing time limited while the Yankees have used slugger Aaron Judge as the designated hitter while working his way back from a flexor tendon strain in his right elbow

Stanton was not in the lineup for the third straight game on Friday as the Yankees opened a three-game series against the AL West-leading Houston Astros.

Stanton could be back in the lineup soon.

Stanton has not played the outﬁeld since September 14, 2023, at Boston. He last appeared in the outﬁeld at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 9, 2023, against Milwaukee.

Stanton started at DH for 32 games after missing the first 70

LSU

Continued from page 1C

Osgood-Schlatter surgery The procedure, according to the Precision Surgery Center, is intended to reduce inﬂammation and pain in the knee.

“It’s not torn. There’s no fraying. There’s none of that,” Kelly said. “This is pre-existing, and (he) probably just planted the wrong way.”

Nussmeier enters the 2025 season as one of the top quarterbacks in the country Last year, he threw for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns in his ﬁrst season as a starter, leading the Southeastern Conference in completions and passing attempts He needs to collect only 3,343 more yards to eclipse Tommy Hodson’s career yardage tally and become LSU’s all-time leading passer

If Nussmeier were to miss time, the Tigers would turn to Mississippi State transfer Michael Van Buren, a sophomore who completed 54.7% of his passes for 1,886 yards across the eight games he started as a freshman. He entered the portal and decided to enroll at LSU in December, potentially giving the Tigers a starting quarterback for the 2026 season. The only other LSU signal-caller on scholarship is redshirt freshman Colin Hurley — a former

LSU athletics hires Ohio AD as top executive

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

The LSU athletic department announced Friday that it hired Ohio University’s athletic director to work as one of Scott Woodward’s top lieutenants.

Julie Cromer — an administrator who’s run Ohio’s athletic department since 2019 — will now fill the role left behind by Keli Zinn the chief operating ofﬁcer who left the Tigers in July to become the new athletic director at Rutgers.

“Julie is a widely respected leader in college athletics who brings tremendous experience at the highest levels to our university,” Woodward said in a statement.

“Not only is her perspective as an established athletic director invaluable to charting our path forward, but her previous experience at the executive level impacting several institutions will help drive our continued growth and success.”

Zinn followed former LSU president William Tate IV to Rutgers. At LSU, she oversaw the school’s football and gymnastics programs, helped it craft a plan to share revenue with athletes and plotted the early stages of a project to build a new basketball arena.

LSU said Friday that Cromer will take on similar responsibilities. She’ll “oversee the daily operations of the athletics department,” the school’s statement said while also working to build revenue streams and start capital projects.

games of the season due to inﬂammation in the tendons of both elbows. His only appearance since Judge returned from his injury came as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning Tuesday, when he grounded into a double play

Stanton spent about 45 minutes Friday during batting practice

fielding soft fly balls and grounders from third base coach Luis Rojas. Rojas hit fly balls to Stanton from near first and second base before finishing the session hitting fly balls from near the first base side of mound.

The 35-year-old appeared in 114 games last season, hitting .233 with 27 homers and 72 RBIs, then had seven homers in 14 postseason games and was voted the MVP of the AL Championship Series.

He missed time because of a strained right biceps and strained posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee (2019) strained left hamstring (2020), strained left quad-

riceps (2021), right ankle inflammation and left Achilles tendinitis (2022) and strained left hamstring (2023 and 2024).

Dodgers

Sasaki shows progress in simulated game, eyes late-season return: Roki Sasaki threw a three-inning simulated game Friday and the Los Angeles Dodgers rookie is on track to return late in the season.

The Japanese phenom has been on the injured list since mid-May with a right shoulder impingement.

Sasaki tossed 46 pitches, with his velocity touching 97 mph at times, against outﬁelder Alex Call and a few minor leaguers.

“He accomplished what he needed to,” manager Dave Roberts said.

Roberts noticed Sasaki has added some weight through working with the team’s strength and conditioning coach.

“He’s more physical,” Roberts said, “The throw wasn’t as shoulder-

Sophomore running back Caden Durham broke off a long touchdown run, but only after the defense had picked up three tackles for loss and a sack.

Early returns of camp, however, have shown that Nussmeier has already struck up nice connections with his retooled group of receivers. In the offseason, Kelly and his staff signed transfer wideouts such as Oklahoma’s Nic Anderson and Kentucky’s Barion Brown, as well as former Oklahoma and Southeastern Louisiana tight end Bauer Sharp, while retaining skillposition contributors Aaron Anderson, Chris Hilton and Trey’Dez Green. Anderson is the only other projected LSU starter who has missed time in preseason camp Kelly has said that he, too, is battling knee inﬂammation and that his wasn’t expected to sideline him past Tuesday’s practice.

four-star recruit and early enrollee who’s now fully recovered from a serious car crash that hospitalized him in January

Staying connected

Nussmeier tweaked his knee in LSU’s seventh practice of preseason camp The Tigers rehearsed in full pads for the ﬁrst time on Tuesday, a day in which the defensive line made several disruptive plays in team drills.

The Tigers are scheduled to hold 13 more practices before they begin the week of their Aug. 30 season opener at Clemson.

Kelly said he does not expect Nussmeier’s tendinitis to prevent him from participating in any of those sessions.

“We’ll calm it down,” Kelly said, “and the world is still round.” Reed Darcey contributed to this report.

Email Koki Riley at Koki.Riley@theadvocate.com.

y. It was a little bit more clean.”

Roberts said he wasn’t sure if Sasaki’s next move will be a rehab assignment or another sim game.

Brewers

Ballpark selling flapjacks after Murphy’s viral‘pocket pancake’moment: The Milwaukee Brewers are bringing manager Pat Murphy’s strange eating habits to fans.

Murphy went viral in a recent interview for pulling a pancake out of his uniform pocket and taking a bite — sharing the ﬂapjack with the reporter as he detailed different ways he shoves food into his pockets to snack on in the dugout. The moment has spawned quite the movement in Milwaukee. The ballclub announced Friday that “Murph’s Pocket Pancakes” will be sold at American Family Field during Sunday games for the rest of the season, starting with this weekend’s series against the New York Mets.

TULANE

Continued from page 1C

zone period of 12 to 15 plays. After a halftime break, they will have a special teams segment before ﬁnishing with third-and fourth-team backups in action.

Proven starters like linebacker

Sam Howard and offensive lineman Derrick Graham and Shadre Hurst will be pulled after getting close to 20 downs.

High intensity

On Thursday, Sumrall went into the way-back machine and made Retzlaff and Sullivan live in a short-yardage segment at the Saints indoor facility a rarity in 21st century practices.

Both of them gave as much contact as they received during a physical session. Sullivan took on about ﬁve tacklers near the sideline on one play before ﬁnally going down in a mass of bodies.

The intensity on both sides of the ball was a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10.

“There’s only one way you practice short-yardage period,” Sumrall said. “We don’t always do it with the quarterback, but we’ve got some quarterback run game stuff in the plan — not just in short yardage but in a lot of areas — and because of that, there’s certain times you’ve got to let those guys be live.

Cromer has served on national boards, such as the NCAA’s Division I board of directors, the Division I men’s basketball oversight committee and the FBS AD association.

In 2022, she co-chaired the NCAA’s transformation committee with Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey. Under Cromer Ohio’s football, men’s basketball and women’s soccer teams won Mid-American Conference championships. Its football program has now won at least 10 games in three straight seasons.

“LSU is one of the most recognizable and successful brands in college athletics,” Cromer said, “and I am grateful to Scott Woodward for this opportunity to help the department reach greater heights.”

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

“If we’re calling a quarterback run and we think it’s going to get a ﬁrst down, we need to actually see did it get a ﬁrst down or did it not.”

Ahead of schedule

Tulane practiced a two-minute drill for the first time in camp in Friday’s hour-long workout in shorts at Yulman Stadium. Semonza’s possessions fizzled before it started, but Sullivan and Retzlaff led drives that ended in field goals — the point of the exercise.

“We installed it (without full pads) because I want to be somewhat competitive, but it’s really about teaching the situation,” Sumrall said. “The training camp schedule is probably something I put more time in than anything else we do.”

He added the only aspect the Wave had not practiced in the ﬁrst two weeks was its goal-line package, marking a huge change from before 2020, when NCAA rules did not allow coaches to work with their players at all during the summer

The restrictions have loosened up considerably since then.

“Our coaches got roughly 12 practices with no pads or helmets (before camp started) but going through situations to cover a lot with installations,” Sumrall said. “Day 1 of training camp was like day 15 pre-COVID We’re so much further ahead now than we used to be.”

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier runs the ball during a drill at spring practice on April 12 at Tiger Stadium Despite dealing with tendinitis, Nussmeier is set to practice Saturday.

Woodward H

Rattlertostart preseasonopener

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

IRVINE, Calif. —Kellen Moore hasmade adecision on his startingquarterback—for the ﬁrst preseason game, anyway

The New Orleans Saintscoach said Spencer Rattler willstart Sunday’spreseason opener against the Los AngelesChargers at SoFi Stadium. The decision reﬂects how the Saints have practiced of late, with Rattler getting agood dose of repswith the ﬁrst team.

But Moore’sdecision was also based on the type of camp Rattler is having. The second-year signal caller has been the mostdecisive of the three quarterbacks in contention for the starting job, and coaches havehighlightedRattler’s mobility as another standout It wasn’timmediately clear how long Moore intends to playRattler with the starters,orwhether rookie Tyler Shough will also getan opportunity to play with the ﬁrst team in Sunday’s game. Moore indicated previously that he planned to sit several veterans in the exhibition, including star running back Alvin Kamara Resting Kamara, which Moore said was decided because the team knows what the 30-year-old can bring,will free up the Saints to evaluate theirother backs in what has been acrowded competition Kendre Miller Clyde Edwards-Helaire and others are competing to be Kamara’sbackup, and Moore indicated theteam will likelykeep only three or four runningbacks on the roster As for the quarterback competition, Moore has said the preseason will be acrucial step in theteam’s overall evaluation process. It was at this point last year that Rattler made serious gains in New Orleans’ backupquarterbackcom-

SAINTS

Continued from page1C

“I feel like Igot alot to prove to myself,” Young said. “I know what Ican do when I’m all the waythere and 100%.” In training camp, teammates and coaches have sworn they’ve seen a shift in Young. Linebacker PeteWerner,Young’scollege teammate, said he sees aplayerwho has“matured alot,” one who now understands his overall importance to the defense. Tightend Juwan Johnsonremarked that he could tell Young was“on a different mindset” when they talked during arecent practice. Defensive coordinator Brandon Staley believes Young beneﬁted from acompletely healthy offseason.

The hope is for Young to build on apromising first season with the Saints. Despite only finishing with 51/2 sacks, Young ranked sixth in pressures with 73, according to NFLNext Gen Stats. And despite coming off aneck injury,Young played in every game forthe first time in his career

On its own, Young’snew contract carries an averageannual value of $17 million —making him the league’s19th-highest-paid edge rusher.Big picture, that appears to be areasonable contract for aplayer who hasyet to have a double-digit sack season and has a lengthyinjury history.But on the Saints, based on thatsameaverage, Young is suddenly the team’s highest-paid player Hence the expectations.

“We’re on his tail,” defensive end CamJordan said. “I mean,you see the explosive plays. Yousee, or

petition in part because of howhe performed in thepreseason comparedto Jake Haener.Although Haenerwas initially Derek Carr‘s backup to start the season, theSaints turned to Rattlerwhen Carr went down with injuries.

Complicatingmatters, the Saints did not line up joint practices against another team —which usually tends to affect reps in the following preseason game. Teams will usually rest most of their starters if they feel likethey got agood amountofwork during joint practices. In lieu of ajoint practice, theSaintsopted foranintrasquad scrimmage Friday,albeit alighter one than last Sunday’sintense 126play practice.

Last year,the Saints played their starters for only nine snaps —goodfor twodrives—intheir preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals.

But the circumstances have changed. The Saints have anew coaching staff, and more importantly,a quarterback competition in which every rep is valuable.

Team bonding

Over his ﬁrstyear as coachofthe Saints, Moore has prioritized teambuildingactivities to fosterchemistry.The outingshave includeda trip to Five OFore Golf,apaintball course and abowling alley

They’ll continueinCalifornia.

The Saints are out west for training camp,and Moore set up the team’sschedule in part to encourage players to bondatnight when theSaints aren’t in meetings. New Orleanshosts late afternoon practices from 4p.m. to 6p.m., and beforethat, players and coaches spend most of the day in meetings.

With their evenings cleared, Moore saidhehopes players go to dinnerwith each other or ﬁnd some other way to bond.

could say,‘Hey,hecould be special.’ Andwewantthat every play …Wesee your splash play.Don’t letitbeasplash. Letitbeawave.”

“We’ve got to have him on his game,” Werner said. “Andhe knows that.”

Young hasbeenonhis game thissummer. In camp, the 26-year-old hasused his rare blendofspeed andpower to wreak havoc off theedge. He’s playedwithconsistenteffort, notablychasing down Alvin Kamara down thefield after the running back broke off abig run.

The Saints’ change in scheme hasalsobeneﬁted the former No. 2overallpick. Young said he likes thefreedom Staley gives his defensive ends, often letting them dictate whether to rush from atwopoint(standing position) or threepoint (handonthe ground) stance. AndStaley’sdefensedeploys widenine alignments, which Youngsaid make it easier to set the edge and getafterthe quarterback.

“Iteliminatesa lot of thinking,” he said

In thisdefense, the Saints could use Young similarlytohow the Los Angeles Chargers deployed star Khalil Mack when Staley coached there. Mack,coincidentally,isone of Young’sfavorite passrushers to study.The two met when Young wasinthe eighth grade because of amutual connection —Young’s coach at the timeplayed college footballwithMack —and Young has maintained an interestsince then.Whenhelearnedteammate ChrisRumph playedwith Mack in Los Angeles, Young wanted to know all abouthim.

Mack’sﬁrst seasonwithStaley resultedineight sacks for the pass

Shough hashis best showingofcamp

“It’simportant to let them kind of go,”Moore said. “There’sa part of it —wewill certainly schedule things, but Ithink it’s important to letthese guys developthose relationships together. Everyone has different interests, differentrestaurants, different preferences. So we allowthose guys to enjoy the differentthings that they like.”

Chris Olave appreciates thegestures.

“It’shuge,man,” thewide receiver said. “The chemistry,the bond, therelationships we build with each other,it’smuch more than football. Especially when we get to thetough gamesand thetough roads in the middle of the year, toward theend of the year.When we get to those points, we’ve got to lean on each other, evenwhen we’re mad at each other or when we’redown in thegameorstuff like that. Ilove the energy and vibes (Moore) broughttothe whole coaching staff.”

Moving on

The Saints’decision to cut incumbent punter Matthew Hayball had to do withwanting to evaluatetheir other two punters, Moore said.

New Orleans released Hayball before theteam headed to California on Wednesday,leaving James Burnip and Kai Kroeger on the roster

“Just atough decision,obviously,”Mooresaid. “Wehad three punters in here and we thought (Hayball) certainly did some good things. We thought from theyoung guy’sperspective,there was something interesting aboutthemand giving them alittle bit of alonger lens to evaluate them We felt like we had threegood ones in camp and ultimately had to make achallenging decision.”

Email Matthew Paras at matt paras@theadvocate.com

rusher. In 2023,his last withStaley, Mack ﬁnishedwith acareer-high 17 sacks.

“If you want those edge players to be the tone-setters in your defense,the differentmakers, then youhavetoput them in aposition to setthe tone and make adifference,” Staley said. “Andsowe think fromamatchup perspective,having themwider allows them to impact the run gameand pass rush.

“Because if you talk toany rusher,the closer he is,the tighter he is, the less base he has to operate.”

Even if Young doesn’tquite reach Mack levels of production, Staley sees alot to like.Hesaid two things stood out about Young initially: His age and his health.

Being only 26, Staley said, was still relatively young givenhow much Younghas accomplishedin his career.Inaddition to his rookie of theyear campaign, Youngmade thepostseason that same year and later made the SuperBowlwhen he was traded to theSan Francisco 49ers in 2023.

StaleysaidYoung “looksamazing” afterhavinga full offseason to train without recovering from aserious injury. Lastyear,Young was working his way back from neck surgery.And for each of the two years prior,Young was recovering and rehabbing from atorn ACL and additional knee damage that he suffered in 2021.

This offseason,Young was able to focus on his craft.

“He’shealthy,(we’ve) got avision forhim andnow you’ve got to go demand what he’scapable of giving,”Staley said.

ColumnistJeffDuncancontributed tothis report.

IRVINE, Calif. —SpencerRattler will start Sunday’spreseason opener against the Los Angeles Chargers. Butdon’tcount out Tyler Shough in the New Orleans Saints’ quarterback competition just yet. Friday easily marked Shough’s best training camp practice of the summer as he looked confident, decisive and overall faster It wasthe latest sign of growth for the second-round draftpick, who seemed to have turned acorner after starting particularly slow over his first fewpractices. Shough’slearning curve was perhaps to be expected, but the Saints still needed to see progress from the 25-year-old. That has happened in droves lately.It startedlast Sunday whenShough began the Saints’ first scrimmage 8-of-8 before cooling off. But on Friday,inNew Orleans’ second scrimmage, Shough hardly suffered adropoff. He was aggressive —but more importantly, consistent. At his best, Shough’sball placement is the trait that arguably separates him from the other quarterbacks on the roster.That was on full displayinFriday’s practice. He hit BubMeans in a tight window on aplay-action pass that was right on the money Later,onthird down, Shough rolledtohis right, scanned the field and found DantePettis for 30 yards while withstanding pressure right in his face. His most impressive throw, however,came inside the 10yard line when he jumped to lob apass to Kevin Austin foratouchdown. On that play —another thirddown —Shough leapt so he could still get the ball off with linebacker Pete Werner crashing in. Shough’sscore also came against the first-team defense even though he spent the after-

noon with the 2’s. That level of instinct had typically been reserved forRattler this camp. But Shough has made those kinds of plays of late, and you can see his conﬁdence starting to grow

Here’show apparent Shough’s conﬁdence wasinNew Orleans’ 66-play scrimmage: After he fooled the entire defense on a keeper,Shough went running on the baseline of the end zone to high-ﬁve asmallgroup of kids watching in the family and friends section.

Coach Kellen Moore seemed impressed with Shough’sdecision to keep the ball for the score, too. He told reporters after practice that 95% of the time, that play is supposed to go to the running back, but Shough made an instinctive call to end up with points.

With all that said, let’stake a look at the numbers during Friday’ssession:

•Rattler: 12-16 (92-134 overall)

•Shough: 10-14 (84-134)

• Jake Haener: 3-8 (71-105)

Did Shough close the gap on Rattler for the starting job? As good aday as Shough had, that’s hard to say.After all, Rattler was almost equally sharp. He displayed an impressive chemistry with Rashid Shaheed,who ﬁlled in as the team’s No.1receiver with Chris Olave nursing an ankle injury Rattler thrived on deep playaction throws, such as when he found Shaheed fora30-yard touchdown. On that score, Rattler quickly identiﬁed that Shaheed was in amismatch and let it rip. Rattler has displayed a consistent level of decisiveness throughout camp, and that may ultimately be the reason he wins the starting job. But forthe Saints, it was important forShough to be decisive as well. And that has happened moreand morelately Email Matthew Parasatmatt. paras@theadvocate.com

Patriots unveil a17-foot bronze statue of Brady

BY JIMMY GOLEN Associated Press

FOXBOROUGH,Mass.

TomBrady’s statue weighs 6tons and rises 17 feet off the ground, from the bottom of the six-sided base —one for each of theNew England Patriots’Super Bowl victories —to thetip of the bronze ﬁst raised in celebration. For aplayer who was too slow and immobile coming out of college to merit morethan aNo. 199 draft pick, that seemsjust about right

“When Iwas drafted, Ijust hopedtomake the team.Inever dreamed I’ll be standing here twoand ahalf decades later, made of bronze and frozen in time,” Brady said Friday night at aceremony to unveil the statue beforethe Patriots’ exhibition opener against the Washington Commanders. “But actually,it actually feels pretty appropriate given my 40-yard dash time.” Athree-timeNFL Most Valuable Player, ﬁve-time SuperBowl MVPand seven-timeNFL champion —hewon one after defectingtothe Tampa BayBuccaneers —Brady retiredin2023 as the league’smost-decoratedplayer ever,holding records in dozens of categories that include most wins, yards passing and passing touchdowns —for both the regular season and playoffs The Patriots inducted him into

their Hall of Fame last year, waiving the usual four-year waiting period, and retired his No. 12. At theceremony, owner Robert Kraft saidBrady would be the ﬁrst player in franchise history to have abronze statue outside the stadium Thework by sculptor andlifelong Patriotsfan Jeff Buccacio unveiled Friday on the plaza outside the team’sPro Shop and Hall of Fame features ahexagonal granite base and a12-foot Brady, honoring Brady’suniform number

STAFF PHOTO By BRETTDUKE

Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler throwsapassduring training camponTuesdayinMetairie.Rattler has beennamedthe starter for the preseason opener on Sunday.

AP PHOTO By STEVEN SENNE Astatue of former NewEngland quarterback TomBradyisshown on Friday in Foxborough, Mass.

STAFFPHOTO By BRETT DUKE Saints quarterback Tyler Shough flips the ball at practice Tuesday.

Matthew Paras

Lions-Falcons game ends early

Detroit safety Norris suffers serious injury

By The Associated Press

ATLANTA Detroit safety Morice

Norris was attended to for about 20 minutes and taken off the ﬁeld in an ambulance during the Lions’ preseason game Friday night against Atlanta, with the game ending with 6:31 to go after the

players let the clock run. Norris was hurt with 14:50 to go trying to tackle Nathan Carter

“We’re just praying for Mo and ask that everybody prays for him,” said Lions coach Dan Campbell, who said he had “positive information” from hospital.

“He’s breathing. He’s talking. He has some movement,” Campbell added. When play resumed, Falcons quarterback Emory Jones took a snap and then held the ball as players from both teams stood at the line of scrimmage and the clock continued to run.

Rookie Sanders shines in debut with Browns

BY STEVE REED

AP sportswriter

CHARLOTTE, N.C Shedeur Sanders’ NFL preseason debut was so impressive even LeBron James took notice. Sanders completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdown passes in the ﬁrst half to Kaden Davis on Friday night as the Cleveland Browns defeated the Carolina Panthers 30-10.

“That young (man) looking good out there,” James posted on X. “Keep going UP!!! HEAD down on the grind and HEAD high to the most high.”

Finally, with 6:31 left, an ofﬁcial announced the game had been suspended “per New York.”

The Lions led 17-10 when played was stopped. Campbell and Falcons coach Raheem Morris made the decision to not ﬁnish the game.

“Raheem Morris is a class act,” Campbell said.

“He’s the ultimate class act. We agreed it just didn’t feel right to ﬁnish that game.”

Lions quarterback Kyle Allen said the decision to not ﬁnish the game was easy to make.

“I don’t think anyone on that sideline wanted to play,” Allen said.

“We weren’t part of that decision but you could look in anyone’s eyes and see that.” It was the preseason opener for both teams.

Cowboys can’t afford to let Parsons’ contract dispute linger longer

BY ROB MAADDI AP pro football writer

Jerry Jones is known for dragging contract negotiations so it’s no surprise Micah Parsons is just the latest Dallas Cowboys star player to have to wait on a new deal.

Dak Prescott had to play on the franchise tag in 2020 after being unable to reach agreement on an extension, and he didn’t get another new deal last season until hours before the Week 1 opener Jones eventually caved and made Prescott the highest-paid player in NFL history with an average of $60 million per year

CeeDee Lamb held out into late August last year following an All-Pro season before Jones gave him a four-year, $136 million deal.

All-Pro guard Zack Martin held out of training camp in 2023 while waiting for a new contract. This is nothing new for Jones. Back when the Cowboys were America’s Team, even Emmitt Smith couldn’t get paid quickly

The Hall of Fame running back missed the ﬁrst two games of the 1993 season because of a contract dispute. He eventually signed a $13.6 million deal most for a running back at the time — after the Cowboys started 0-2 without him but they still ended up winning the Super Bowl.

rett (four years, $160 million) and T.J. Watt (three years, $123 million) to sign new contracts, Parsons is in line to make more than $41 million per year The Cowboys waited to sign Prescott and were forced to give him more money than any other player because he was the next quarterback in line.

Jones’ patience has a negative impact on his checkbook.

Parsons, who is a hold-in at camp, requested a trade last week. Jones blew it off.

“We have no intentions of trading Micah, and that’s part of the negotiations,” Cowboys co-owner Stephen Jones told the team’s website. “That’s just the nature of negotiations. I think any player that’s holding out for a contract — I think I’ve read around the league where they’ve all requested to be traded. So that’s part of it. We have no intention of trading Micah. He’s right here in camp.”

Business is business but there seems like there’s some tension in this relationship that won’t be erased until Jones and the Cowboys give in. Jerry Jones isn’t certain Parsons will play in Week 1 against the Eagles.

“A big part of that is his decision. How would I know that?” he said.

Parsons is scheduled to make $24 million in the final season of his five-year rookie contract and could be franchise tagged in 2026 without an extension. Prescott is confident a deal will get done because he’s been through it.

The four-time NBA champion followed up with another post, adding “And I don’t wanna hear that ‘It’s only preseason’ bs. Cause if he was out there not going in y’all would be on his (butt) about it! So give credit and grace lames.” Sanders, a highly-rated draft prospect who endured a dramatic fall into the ﬁfth round in April, entered the game fourth on the Browns depth chart, but was pressed into starting duty because of injuries. His status could change after he led three touchdown drives in nearly three full quarters of action, showing tremendous poise and awareness in the pocket. “I honestly don’t know and don’t care,” Sanders said when asked if he thinks he should move up the depth chart. “I did some good and bad I know moving forward I won’t do the same mistakes twice whatever the decision is.”

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders throws his first touchdown pass during the first half of a preseason game against the Carolina Panthers on Friday in Charlotte, N.C

While Sanders played into the third quarter counterpart Bryce Young had a quick, but effective night for Carolina.

Young played two series and completed 4 of 6 passes for 58 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Coker to give Carolina an early 7-0 lead. Coker, who is battling for a roster spot after a solid rookie season, had an impressive night, also hauling in a long pass with one hand while a defender had ahold of one of his arms, although the play was called back on a penalty

Raiders’ tackling woes evident in preseason tie with Seahawks

BY MARK ANDERSON

AP sportswriter

HENDERSON, Nev The Raiders tackled or at least, attempted to tackle — for the ﬁrst time Thursday night. And it showed. Las Vegas had a number of missed tackles in its 23-23 tie with Seattle, especially earlier in the game when more of its front-line defenders were on the ﬁeld.

The question is whether that was more of a long-term cause for concern or typically what’s expected in the ﬁrst preseason game.

“I’m chalking it up to it’s the ﬁrst preseason game,” Raiders coach Pete Carroll said Friday “I’m concerned, yeah That way we tackled stunk, and it was all open-ﬁeld stuff for the most part. That’s why you play these games.”

Making matters worse for the Raiders, they went against the Seahawks’ backups. But it’s not as if Las Vegas played all its starters for an entire ﬁrst half, either The Raiders emptied their bench fairly quickly, and by the second half, the field was populated on both sides by players fairly far down the depth chart.

“Progress was made in the second half,” Carroll said. “We were playing a lot cleaner and guys just got used to running and hitting. But we need to continue to emphasize it like we have been, but that’s the ﬁrst shot. It could have been better. I thought we worked on it hard enough to show better than that, but we’ve got work to do.”

The Raiders will have a much better idea of where they stand this upcoming week from a tackling standpoint as well as the other

issues that face the team. They will have a joint practice with San Francisco on Thursday and then will face the 49ers in a preseason game two days later

The joint practice will be especially telling because both teams will want to see how their starters perform. But, at least from the Raiders’ perspective, the preseason meeting also should provide some clarity because Carroll said the starters will receive more playing time than they got in Seattle.

“We won’t be tackling in the practice, but that’ll be a good part of the preparation to get to the game,” Carroll said. “Our guys just need to see the tempo and the speed of really good clubs. You’ve got to play good teams if you want to get good and so this is a great opportunity for us.”

Jones mentioned that when training camp started. That’s not a good sign that Parsons will get what he wants sooner than later Jones operates on his own time and there’s plenty of ego involved. He’s been a unique owner since he bought the Cowboys in 1989 and named himself general manager Hiring Jimmy Johnson to replace Tom Landry was Jones’ best decision. Both men are in the Hall of Fame for it and the Cowboys won three Super Bowls under Jones.

But they haven’t reached an NFC championship game in 30 years and they won’t get through a tough NFC East without Parsons, the two-time All-Pro edge rusher and generational talent. The Philadelphia Eagles are reigning Super Bowl champions. The Washington Commanders faced the Eagles in the conference title game.

Dallas has a big challenge trying to compete in the division and they’ll need Parsons to have a chance.

Jones hasn’t even talked to his agent, David Mulugheta. Jones has said he had direct conversations with Parsons in the spring over a contract extension that would almost certainly make him the highest-paid defender in NFL history By waiting for Myles Gar-

“I can say from experience that it’s just frustrating,” Prescott said. “I hate that he’s going through it, but as I’ve told him, keep handling things the way that you are, and I believe that he should be paid.”

Longtime NFL super-agent Leigh Steinberg, who represents the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, also expressed conﬁdence that Parsons will get his new deal.

“Despite the current friction and heightened public spotlight surrounding the CowboysParsons contract deadlock, this situation will ultimately be resolved,” Steinberg told the AP “Micah Parsons is simply too valuable to the franchise — a generational talent who’s irreplaceable on the ﬁeld and central to the team’s identity The Cowboys, for all the noise, are ultimately pragmatic when it comes to retaining cornerstone players. In the end, I expect a deal to get done and for Parsons to enjoy a long, successful career in Dallas.”

It’s just a matter of when and whether Parsons misses any games, which the Cowboys can’t afford if they want to be championship contenders.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS By RUSTy JONES

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Gage Larvadain, a former Southeastern Louisiana star, is tackled by Carolina Panthers safety Demani Richardson on Friday in Charlotte, N.C. The Browns won 30-10.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARK J. TERRILL Dallas Cowboys defensive end Micah Parsons, left, talks with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb during training camp Thursday in Oxnard, Calif

LEo (July23-Aug. 22) Dig in and do what you do best. Your determination and innovative insight will helpyou outmaneuver anyone who gets in your way. Life choices areyours. Do what's best foryou

VIRGo (Aug. 23-Sept.22) It's what you do to helpothers that will draw attention. Be thedo-gooder that you are, and you'll make adifference. Expand your relationships with thosewho share your passion forreform and fairness.

LIBRA (Sept.23-oct. 23) The clocks are ticking, and your optionsare open for investigation. Trust your instincts, speak up on your own behalfand take theinitiative to make thingshappen.

ScoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Do your research, expand your mind and consider how you can fulfill thepromises you made to yourself. Don't hesitateto share your feelings with someone you love andfind out whereyou stand.

SAGITTARIuS (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Strut your stuff andenjoy beingpart of theentertainment. Engage in memorable events and tell others how you thinkand feel about them.Make someone's day, and it will bring you joy.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Don't expect everyone to have yourbest interests at heart. Look foropportunities that bring you closer to someone whohas your back.Avoid indulging in irresponsible behavior, scams and abuse.

AQuARIuS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Take the changes happening around you seriously and consider your options carefully.

Refusetolet youremotions interfere with your abilitytosee what's best for you and your circle.

PIScES(Feb. 20-March 20) Listen, communicate and embark on projects or pastimes that interest you. Make commonsense choices rather than relying on your emotions. Don't get bogged downintime-consuming undertakings

ARIES(March 21-April 19) Keep your emotions hidden and be observant. Your strength will come from your ability to decipher what otherswant or expect from you before you negotiate your position.

TAuRuS (April 20-May 20) Payattention; someofthe changes others tryto implement will not suityour needs. If youmakeafuss, it will cause setbacks. Make the necessary adjustments and continue.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Carry out personal obligations first, and you'llfeel more relaxed when moving on to what brings you joy. Put your energy where it counts, and you'll comeout on top.

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Look inward and consider your needs before takingonother people'sdrama. Love is on therise, and putting your best foot forward will help you strengthen your friendships.

FAMILY CIrCUS

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people,past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

ToDAy'ScLuE: LEQuALSV

CeLebrItY CIpher

beetLe bAILeY

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

LAGoon

bIG

Sudoku

InstructIons: sudoku is anumber-placingpuzzle basedona9x9 grid with several given numbers Theobjectistoplace the numbers 1to9inthe empty squaressothat each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once.The difficulty levelofthe sudoku increasesfrom monday to sunday.

Yesterday’s PuzzleAnswer

THewiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

CurTiS

By PHILLIP ALDER

Denis Healey, aBritish politician, said,

“Follow the first rule of holes:Ifyou are in one, stop digging.” If he were agolfer, presumably he would have said, “Ifyou are in ahole, take the ball outand move to the next tee.”

In today’s deal, though, South’s problemiswhich suittodig at first. He is in threeno-trump,andWestleadsthespade queen.

After Westopens three spades, North hasa textbook takeout double,and South plunges into the logical game contract.

South starts with five top tricks: two spades, one heart and two diamonds.He can gain three more winners from clubs andatleasttwo from hearts. And there is anatural instinct immediately to play aclub, but that is fatal. Eastwins with his ace andreturns hisremaining spade, which establishes West’ssuit while West still has the heart kingasanentry.

Declarer needs to realize two things First,that if West has theheart king and club ace, thecontract is unmakable.Second, that it cannot cost to takethe heart finesse before touching clubs

So South plays adiamondtodummy’s king, then runs the heart queen. If the finessewins,declarercanswitchtoclubs to establish nine winners. Here, though, thefinesse loses and Westprobably perseveresinspades.Southwinsandknocks outtheclubace,knowingthatEastisnow out of spades. If instead West returns his second diamond at trickfour,declarer takes the trick and plays aclub, aware that he cannotlosemorethanoneheart,oneclub and two diamonds. ©2025 by nEa, inc.,dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication

wuzzles

Each Wuzzle is aword riddle which createsa disguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: nOOn gOOD =gOOD aFTErnOOn

Previous answers:

word game

InSTRucTIonS: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such

ToDAy’SWoRD EXcuLPATE: EX-kul-pate: To clear from alleged fault or guilt.

Canyou

“Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching themtoobserveall things whatever Ihave commanded you: and,see, Iamwith you always, even to the end of the world.Amen.” Matthew28:19-20

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

hidato

ScrabbleGramS

dIrectIons: make a2-to 7-letter word from the lettersineach row. add pointsof each word, using scoring directionsat right.Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter havenopoint value. all the words are in theOfficial sCraBBlE® players Dictionary, 5th Edition

ken ken

Puzzle Answer

WiShinG Well

InstructIons: 1 -Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1thorugh 4(easy) or 1through 6 (challenging) without repeating. 2 -The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners. 3 -Freebies: Fill in the single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner. HErE is aplEasanT

the

roSe

Anyone knowingthe whereabouts of Lola Inez Cuadrado please contactAttorney KandiceDoley Meyers 504-943-7071. 153300-Aug9-11, 3t $85

Patricia R. Fox, Attorney at Law, (985)264-3950. Property rights involved 153099-8/9-10-11-3t $97.00

Anyone knowingthe whereabouts of Liam PatrickRoche,please contactAttorney Bria Joshua at (504) 858-2148 or bria@bjoshlaw.com. 153104-8/9-10-11-3t $97.00

Anyone knowingthe whereabouts of LindaHol sJoh le

Anyone knowingthe whereabouts of PatriceBenn-Abbey, 4065 Fairmont Dr NewOrleans,LA, please contactN.Kim Nguyen Attorney,401 WhitneyAve #515, Gretna,LA70056, or (504)218-5946 153124-8/9-10-2t $102.00

Anyone knowingthe whereabouts of RussellLee Smith, registered agentfor Ezekiel10:1-22 Church of GodinChrist, please contact Patricia R. Fox, Attorney at Law (985)264-3950. Property rights involved 153103-8/9-10-11-3t $121.00

Anyone knowingthe whereabouts of Torrance T. Green please contact

Anyone knowingthe whereabouts of WardetthaLandry, please contact TobieTranchina at 504-861-5552 or tltranch@loyno.edu 152945-Aug7-9,3t $85

Anyone with knowledgeofthe whereabouts of Keonda Weathersby,pleasecontact Atty A.J. Bellowat504-544-4055 153000-8/7-8-9-3t

ECCENTRIC ESTATE

From chic to tongue in cheek, JoeJaegerJr. auctionhas it all

MaMou chef TomBranighan’s Quarter renovation. Page 14

INCLUDED

Tell

HOME | DESIGN | GARDEN | REAL ESTATE

Taste: To each hisown

The late developer Joe Jaeger Jr. had eclectic taste. Youcan see just how eclectic at an estate auction so big it’sdivided into two days, each with different offerings.

Items range from ﬁne antiques to playful bronze gorilla statues, pinball machines and autographed guitars. Doug MacCash has apreview on Page 8. Youwon’twant tomissit.

On Page 14, Jyl Benson takes us inside theFrench Quarter renovation of chef TomBranighan of MaMou, who lets us in on some of his cool and easysummer recipes.

INSIDEOUT EDITOR: Karen Taylor Gist, kataylor@theadvocate.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:

Karen Taylor Gist

Transitioning to the more thecontemporary,One in a Million looks at an unusual, architecturally interesting EnglishTurnmansion that’sfull of art.The price? $1.7M. See Page 18.

The InsideOut home and gardensection is published every Saturday by TheTimes-Picayune Questions about InsideOut should be directed to the editor

COVERDESIGN: AndreaDaniel

COVER PHOTO: Chris Granger

Victor Andrews, Jyl Benson, Dan Gill, Doug MacCash, Danny Monteverde

TO BE FEATURED: Send information and photos to insideout@theadvocate. com

GREENTHUMB

Plant afall vegetable garden now. PAGE 4 IN DETAIL

Asummerwaveof Caribbean color. PAGE 7

COVERSTORY

An estate auction that’s beyond eclectic. PAGE 8

INSIDE INFO

Home and garden happenings. PAGE 11

InsideOut’smission is to give readers peeks inside themanydifferent ways that peopleinthe New Orleans area live. We proﬁle spaces that are opulent,orjustoffbeat; sophisticated or simple;functional or lighthearted; historicorbrand-spanking new. Andanything in between. Please help us by sending information andJPEGphotos of your home, or speciﬁc spaces inside it,toinsideout@theadvocate.com. We love gardens and outdoor spaces, too. And we’re waiting to hear from you.

INSIDE SOURCES

Fine knivesfor serious cooks. PAGE 12

INSIDE STORY

Chef TomBranighan’s Quarter renovation. PAGE 14

ONEINAMILLION

Aunique home in English Turn. PAGE 18

REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS

Recent transactions in the metroarea. PAGE 21

2212 WirthPlace •Uptown$895,000

Beautifullyrenovated2-story,3 Bd,2.5 Ba Gemoffersthe charmof aclassic neighborhood w/ thecomfort of modern living w/ aspacious& flexible layout Gatedrearparking for2-3 Vehicles+ afront drvwy for2more--A Rare Find! PerfectFor Entertaining! Just stepsawayfromall of thebeloved Uptown restaurants, cafes,and shops in awalkable&desirable area!A Must See! CharlotteDorion•504-237-8615Chris Dorion •504-451-4274

Berkshire HathawayHSPreferred,REALTORS504-799-1702

110AtlanticAvenue• AlgiersPoint

$495,000

NestledbehindgorgeousCrepe Myrtlesyou will find a3Bd,2.5Ba homew/coveted wrap around porch, off-st parking formultiple cars, &curbappealfor days.Onceinsideyou will immediately notice lightfilledrooms that offeropen& airy socialspaces that flow effortlessly.Thisisyoursouthernlivingdream home!

HeatherShields •504-450-9672LeslieHeindel •504-975-4252 BeNew Orleans/ Crescent CityLiving504-327-5303

214Sauve Road •River Ridge$1,200,000

Everyonceinawhile, ahome comesalong that doesn’tjustcatch theeye,it captures theheart!This estate offers5 bds, 3full&2halfbaths +anadd’l half bath in theworkshop, blending elegance,strength &soul. Nearly 6,000sfof refinedlivingspace&over8,200sfunderroof,sitson142’x236’lotw/2gazebos, cov’d patios,a sparkling pool &balcony off primarysuite PLUS so muchmore! AprilGongora Brownaprilgo1@gmail.com504-606-0466 HospitalityRealtywww.HospitalityRealty.net

96 Boardman Avenue •Bay St.Louis,MS$1,200,000

Luxury living at it’s finest in this exquisite4-bedroom,4.5-bathcoastal retreat, perfectlypositionedtocapture stunning viewsofthe Bayfromthe wrap around porch, kitchen/diningroom&great room!Designedfor both elegance & comfort.The home also hasapassenger elevator,homeoffice,high-end finishes throughout &beautiful landscaping. Perfectfor effortlessentertaining!

ReganKane 228-363-0331

JohnMcDonald Realty228-467-5500

600PortofNew Orleans Place, Unit 3H

$699,000 OPPORTUNITYKNOCKS! Enjoythe freedomofcondo living in this luxuriouscondominiumwhere everyneed,wantand desire have beencarefully met….affordable, 24/7 security,state of theart fitnesscenter&muchmore.The most sought-after premier building in theCityofNew Orleans!1723SqFt. Come seethisfresher look! HelenKatz504-236-6825 LATTER &BLUM|COMPASS •Uptown504-866-2785l.

GREENTHUMB

GARDEN PERKS

Dan Gill GREEN THUMB

There’slots of planting to be done in our vegetable gardens this month. The late summer/ fall vegetable garden includes plantings of both warm-season vegetables (many of the same ones we planted in spring) and some of the more heat-tolerant, cool-season vegetables

Visit nurseriestosee what vegetable transplantsand seeds areavailable this month. Youcan also order seeds from online seed companies.

We broadlydivide our yearround vegetable growing into two seasons:The warm season (frost-free, mild to hot tem-

peratures) runs from April to October, and the cool season (freezes may occur,mild to cold temperatures)runs from Octoberthrough April.

Although there is someoverlap as we transition from one season to the next, we grow distinctively different vegetables in the twodifferent seasons. What allows us to plant warm-season vegetables now is thatwestill have many weeks of frost-free weather ahead. We typically don’texpect the ﬁrst frosts across southeast Louisiana until lateNovember to early December,and on the south shore New Orleans area sometime in early to midDecember

beneﬁcial soil microorganisms and earthwormsand promotes vigorous plant growth.

So, there is plentyoftime to grow,for instance, afall crop of tomatoes.Tomatoes planted in August should begin to produce ripe fruit in October,and thenwell into lateNovember or December

But timing is important.You mustget warm-season vegetables planted this month(although gardeners in the south shore New Orleans area may get away withplanting in early September).

When it comes to thecoolseason vegetable, thereisno hurry.Ashot as August has been and likely will continue to be, you certainly maywait for milder weather to plant.Chilly weather and even freezes will not bother them.

Proper siteselection is critical for asuccessful vegetable garden. All vegetables produce best with plentyofsun, so the site should receive aminimum of six hours of direct sunlight. Full or all-day sun is preferable. If your sunniestareais

An application of generalpurpose commercial or organic fertilizer should also be incorporated into the soil to boost fertility.Follow label directions of the product you choose. Watering is particularly important when planting during the intense heat of late summer. Beds that are direct seeded should be wateredlightly every day until the seeds come up and then monitored carefully.Newly planted transplants mayalso need daily attention for the ﬁrst week or two after planting.

covered in concrete, many fall vegetables grow well in large containers.

Be sure to prepare beds properly beforeplanting this next setofcrops. Clear the site of all weeds or old, ﬁnishedvegetable plants.Turnthe soil with ashovel, garden fork or tiller to adepth of at least 8inches and spread a2-to4-inch layer of homemade or purchased compost over the tilledsoil.

This helps maintain the organic matter in the soil, which adds mineral nutrients, encourages astrong, healthy root system, retains moisture while improving drainage, encourages

Mulching 1to2inches deep can help considerably by preventing soil from drying out so fast and keeping the soil cooler. Transplants should be mulched as soon as they are planted. When planting seeds, wait until the seedlings are several inches tall and then mulch.

Late summer/fallvegetables

If your eggplant and pepper plants from the spring are still in reasonably good shape, they often will produceanexcellent fall crop once the weather begins to cool down. Fertilize them and control any pest problems. Or,you can plant new transplants this month.

For your fall tomato crop,itis

STAFFFILE PHOTOByLESLIE WESTBROOK

GREENTHUMB

Too much watering will harm agapanthus

BY DAN GILL Contributing writer

I planted several agapanthuses last March and they were beautiful at first.Then a month later I noticed leaves turning yellow I have an automatic sprinkler system that waters the beds four days a week for 10 minutes. I increased irrigation to every day for two weeks and noticed the plants getting worse. I went back to watering four days a week and fertilizing monthly with the liquid fertilizer, but it did not seem to help. I also had one plant that died, and it looked like root rot.

I have a heavy clay soil and want to know if I should dig the plants up dig out of the clay and replace with good soil for drainage or any other suggestions you can give me.And do agapanthuses do well in a location where they get sun most of the day? — Tracy

Bottom line, you are simply watering them too much. Agapanthus plants do not like to stay too wet. It causes them to rot, as you have seen in the plant that looked like root rot. The solution is to stop watering them Agapanthuses are remarkably droughttolerant and rarely need supplemental irrigation unless we get really dry We have had plenty of rain this summer and they did not need to be irrigated. So, to keep your agapanthuses healthy you need to stop irrigating them.

The issue is not the soil, and there is no need to dig up the agapanthus plants and replace the soil. Once they are not being kept so wet, they should recover (although you may still see some rot from the way you were watering earlier)

Agapanthus grow well in sunny locations, and those exposures produce the most ﬂowering. They will do well in part sun or part shade, but ﬂowering may not be as abundant

During the heat of mid- to late-summer it is not unusual to see the foliage of agapanthuses develop yellow and brown ends to the leaves — particularly in those plants growing in sunnier locations. This is due to heat stress. Although they look unhappy, they will recover as the weather moderates in the fall and be just ﬁne.

Can I apply a weed and feed to my lawn again now? I did it once back in March. — Scott

It is too hot to apply a weed and feed product now The most common weed killer in weed and feeds is Atrazine, and it is more likely to damage the lawn if it is applied when it is hot.

You can, however, apply a lawn fertilizer now, if you like. Get this done by the end of August. We do not apply fertilizer to our lawns after Sept. 1 to

ä See ADVICE, page 6

GARDEN TIPS

ADD NEW BASIL: It is typical for basil planted in spring or early summer to be blooming now and eventually become tired and played out.There is still time to plant more basil transplants for harvests from September through December

CHINCH BUGS ARE OUT: Periods of hot, dry weather in late summer are ideal for chinch bug damage to show up in lawns, particularly St.Augustine Chinch bugs suck juices out of the grass, and this causes the blades to roll up lengthwise. Look for irregular, enlarging areas of tan, straw-like grass, especially in sunny, dry areas between the sidewalk and the street and along driveways. Treat with insecticides labeled to control chinch bugs on lawns.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MAX BECHERER

Agapanthus plants don’t need a lot of water

GREENTHUMB

GROWING

Continuedfrom page4

best to plant healthy,new transplants. Nurseries will have tomatotransplants available this month. Varieties recommended for latesummer planting and fall production include many of the heat-tolerant types,such as Florida 91, Spitﬁre, Solar Set, Heatwave II, Phoenix, Sunleaper,Sunmaster,Solar Fire or Talladega. Cherry and paste tomatoes alsoproducewell in the fall, as well as old standards like Celebrity.

Fall snap beans are one of the easiest and most reliable warmseason vegetables to grow. Wait until late August or early September to plant so they will comeinto bloom after the weather has begun to turn cooler.Choose bush types. Normally 50 to 55 days are required from planting until harvest begins. Keep the beans well-watered during dry periods.

Broccoli is apopular coolseason vegetable. Transplants may be planted this month through early October. Seeds can be planted now through early September and may be planted intopots or ﬂats and transplanted into the garden or seeded directly intothe garden wherethey will grow.

Plant transplants12to18 inches apart intowell-prepared beds. Planted now,harvest

ADVICE

Continuedfrom page5

allow themtoslow down and get ready for winter dormancy. If you have weed issues now thatwarrant theuse of alawn weed killer,MSM Turf and Celsius can be used now.They do not have atemperaturelimitation.

We have lost thethird queen palm treeinthe lastseveral years due to freezes. Can yourecommend apalm that would have theshape of the queen palm but able to withstand the extreme

PLANTTHIS MONTH

Warm-season veggies

n Plant transplants of tomato n eggplant n peppers n Plants seeds of bush lima beans n bush snap beans (late August) n Plant seed or transplants of cucumber n summer squash.

Cool-season veggies

n Plant transplants of broccoli n cabbage n cauliflower

If your eggplant and pepper plants from the spring are still in reasonably good shape, theyoften will producean excellent fall crop with somecare.

n Plant seeds of broccoli

n Brussels sprouts

n cabbage n cauliflower n Chinese cabbage n collards n mustard n rutabagas n Swiss chard n Plant sets of bunching onions.

should come in October to November.

Afterthe main head is harvested, side branches will produce smaller heads, often doubling theproduction of each plant.

Be preparedtowatch for and controlpests. Insect and disease pressure is usually

coldwehad in January? —Jean Queen palms (Syargus romanzofﬁana) are hardy only down to about20degrees and are prone to loss during unusually coldfreezes. Unfortunately,there arenoother palms that look like queen palms. There is ahybrid between the queen palm and pindo palm (Butia capitata) called the mule palm. It looks similar to the queen palm but is abit squatter.The pindo palm parentimparts added hardiness, andthe mulepalm will take more coldthanthe queen palm. Palms that were not greatly

greater in the fall than in the spring.

Spinosad is agreat organic option for controlling the caterpillars, spider mitesand leaf miners that are commonnow For fungal diseases, spray regularly with acopper fungicide or chlorothalonil (Daconil and other brands).

affected by the January freezes include windmill palms (Trachycarpus fortunei), pindo palms, date palms(Phoenix dactylifera), cabbage palms (Sabal palmetto) and Mediterranean fanpalm (Chamaerops humilis).

Dan Gill is aretired consumerhorticulture specialist withthe LSU AgCenter.Hehosts the “Garden Show” on WWL-AM Saturdays at 9a.m.Email gardeningquestions to gnogardening@agcenter.lsu. edu.

FILE PHOTO By DINAH ROGERS

character Colorful

New Orleans’ tropical climate offers bright and lively gardens year round, and its history keeps homes thrumming with the vibrant colors of Africa and the Caribbean. Fortunately, the paint colors, at least, didn’t wilt in last month’s record heat.

— Karen Taylor Gist

STAFF PHOTOS By JOHN McCUSKER

Quirky treasures

Geta sneakpeekatgemsin Joe Jaeger Jr.’s

estate auctiononAug.15-16

Jack Sparrow lay in pieces on theﬂoor in the foyer of the Crescent City Auction Gallery on Tuesday morning. The 10-foottall statue of the Disney pirate was heavy,made of sheet metal and carparts. Auction house employees struggled to assemble Jack. They climbed ladders to put hisheadinplace,despitehis uncooperative,dangling dreads, whichweremade of steel cable.

Jack is one of theﬁrst things visitors will behold when they arrive to preview the almost 600 pieces in the sale of theestate of the late Joe Jaeger Jr., which takes place on Aug.15-16. The trove, which could fetch as much as $830,000, is awild mingling of ﬁne antique furniture,paintings, sculpture, arcade games, rock ’n’ roll memorabilia, curios and fabulous examples of tongue-incheekkitsch.

Jaeger,ahigh-proﬁle NewOrleans hotel owner,died on June 23, 2024, after atragic automobile accident near Folsom.At 77, he was aself-made success by anybody’sstandards. The9th Warder attended Holy Cross, took up the plumbingtrade after high school, eventually became abig-time contractor,and then amajor real estateinvestor and hotel owner.Healways had colossal plans.

He also had acolossal collection of belongingsthatwere scattered among his Causeway Boulevard ofﬁces, his party house in Covington, ahuge warehouse in the Marigny andelsewhere,according to Crescent City Auction PresidentAdam Lambert.

STAFF FILE PHOTO JoeJaeger Jr., the biggest single hotel owner in New Orleans, died June 23, 2024.

ABOVE: The cape belonging to alargestatue of Darth Vader is installednext to the pieces of aCapt. JackSparrow statue in Crescent City Auction Gallery as staffprepare for the estate saleofitems belonging to the late JoeJaeger Jr Everything in the room is part of Jaeger’scollection.

LEFT: Adam Lambert, of Crescent City AuctionGallery, looksatsome of the artonce owned by the late hotelier STAFFPHOTOSByCHRIS GRANGER

Doug MacCash

COVERSTORY

The selection of treasures now ondisplay at the St. Charles Avenue auction house is beyond eclectic —it’spositively surrealistic. If there’s any one thing that unites it all, it is acertain sense of playfulness

Hidden among the furniture and art, you’ll ﬁnd apair of huge bronze gorillas andan even bigger ﬁberglassgorilla that looks like it mighthave escapedfromsome 1950s roadside attraction.

Popping up here and there are life-sized statues of Spider-Man, Superman, the Blues Brothers, Frankenstein and, best of all,Uncle Fester. There’sacoin-operated Batmobile —the kind littlekids used to ride at the grocery store —and afull-sized working replica of a1907 electric car.

There’sone of those dissected human anatomical models with pastel-colored, removable organs. And there’sZoltar,a turban-wearing, animatronic soothsayer in aglassbox.

The auction house staff keeps putting quarters in Zoltar’sslot to get their fortunes read, Lambert said.He describes Zoltar,giant Jack Sparrow and all of these sorts of things as Jaeger’s “toys.” Lambert thinks that maybethe businessman didn’thavemany indulgences when he was a kid, so he made up for it when he could afford to.

AUCTION PREVIEW

WHAT: Browseitems up for auction from theestate of Joe Jaeger Jr.beforethe event. WHEN: 10 a.m.to5 p.m.Monday through Thursday WHERE: Crescent City Auction Gallery,1330 St.Charles Ave. ONLINE: To place bids Aug. 15-16, visitcrescentcityauctiongallery. com

Lambert alsopointsout that Jaeger loved music and musical devices. He owned acouple of orchestrions, which are like player pianoswithrobotic drums, tambourines, accordions andother instruments

Art, antiques and curios

attached. He had aYellow Submarine-era Beatles-themed jukebox, an Elton John pinball machine, guitars signed by Willie Nelson, Billy Joel, the Eagles and others, and ahuge glitter painting of Jim Morrison.

Jaeger’sart collection was

ä See AUCTION, page 10

Twohugebronze gorillasand avintagemirror are found in aroom at Crescent City AuctionGallery.

Curios, Blues Brothers and antiques STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER Pinball machines and astatue of Marilyn Monroe are among the items belonging toJoe Jaeger Jr.upfor auction at Crescent City Auction Gallery.

A life-sized statue of Superman that once belonged to hotelier Joe Jaeger Jr. is among the items to be auctioned off at the Crescent City Auction Gallery on Aug. 15-16.

AUCTION

Continued from page 9

all over the map, from realism to full-on abstraction The best piece in the selection by far is a hypnotic painting of nude women in a desert landscape by the late 20th-century New Orleans master Robert Gordy — with a starting bid of $6,000. There are also a couple of small, signed Salvador Dali prints, and a selection of paintings by an Italian American artist named Lou Marchetti that were apparently used as romance novel cover illustrations.

COVERSTORY

Renaissance-Revival carved walnut hall bench, a black walnut library table, et cetera. The vintage furniture ﬁts in with the rest of the objects in the same way a symphony violist might ﬁt in at a Bag of Donuts concert.

One of several juke and music boxes

Jaeger also was a major collector of works by a Minnesota artist named Bill Mack, who sculpted seductive nude women, Lambert said There are lots of nudes in the collection.

Floating here and there in the ocean of objects are incongruent islands of 19thcentury furniture — a brooding Dutch marquetry secretary bookcase, an American

Some of us may bid on the late Jaeger’s treasures. But even if you have no use for a pair of bronze gorillas or a continental Renaissance Revival cabinet, a visit to the

auction exhibition is bound to bring a smile. There’s something marvelously unpretentious about it all. It’s a trove of everyman gems. Here’s a guy who obviously bought stuff he liked, not stuff he was supposed to like. In case you wondered, the opening bid on Jack Sparrow is $3,000.

Email Doug MacCash at dmaccash@theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

A replica of the first electric car is on display inside Crescent City Auction Gallery as staff prepare for the estate sell of Joe Jaeger Jr.

STAFF

PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

A room at Crescent City Auction Gallery is filled with the collection of art, antiques and curios that belonged to the late Joe Jaeger Jr

STAFF PHOTO By DOUG MacCASH

A 1980s painting by the late New Orleans master Robert Gordy is an artistic gem

Bonsai auction

Saturday in Harahan

The Greater New Orleans Bonsai Society will hold itsannual auction and plant sale Saturday at the VFW Hall, 1133 Hickory Ave., in Harahan

In addition to the auction, there will be designs from national bonsai masters,starter material, pots and supplies, bargain tables and more.

Viewing of the trees and the sale start at 4p.m.; the auction is at 6p.m.

For information, visit gbnobs.org.

Southerngames is theme of HNOC forum

The weekendlong celebration of history and aesthetics returns to The Historic New Orleans Collection withits annual Antiques Forum.

“Light and Distraction: Material Culture of Southern Amusement” will be thetheme Friday through Sunday.Board games, the circus, pleasure gardens, horse racing and more will be examined.

Registration is open fora singleday or for the fullforum, plus add-onactivities. Sessions start at $60. Visit hnoc.org.

Urban Tree plan meetings start

Meetingswill be held in August on both sides of the river for the Jefferson Parish Urban Tree Master Plan to gather input on aplan to “growits green canopy and make our community cooler,healthier and more vibrant,” according to organizers.

The meetings, from 5:30 p.m. to 7p.m., will be Wednesday at Lafreniere Park’sFoundation Room, 3000 Downs Blvd., in Metairie, and Aug. 20 at Woodmere Playground, 4100 Glenmere Drive, in Harvey

The meetings will explore ideas and accept input on planting projects, incentivesand education efforts. Visit friendsofjeffersonthebeautiful.org for details.

INSIDEINFO

Orleans assessment rolls open

Property tax rolls for OrleansParishfor 2026 areopen through Aug. 15, and online appealswill be openthrough Aug. 20

Assessor Erroll Williams said therolls will beopen from 8:30 a.m.to4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the following locations:

n City Hall, 1300 Perdido St., fourth ﬂoor

n Algiers Courthouse,225 Morgan St., ﬁrst ﬂoor

n Lakeview Christian Center, 5885 Fleur De Lis Drive, second ﬂoor.

Notices of assessment change have been mailed to property owners and updated valuesare online. Schedule appointments to meetwith the appraisal staff to discussassessments online or in-person at nolaassessor.com or (504)754-8811.All appointments must be made at least 24 hours in advance

Notarial Archives to openagaininAugust

Whatto knowmore about the history of aproperty?

New Orleans’ Civil District CourtClerk ChelseyNapoleon is offering atour of of the Notarial Archives Research Center, 1340 Poydras St., Suite 260, from 10 a.m.to11a.m. Aug. 26.

to professionals in the landscape and building sectors.

The school is from 8a.m.to 4:15 p.m. and includeslunch at the JeffersonPerforming Arts Center,6400 Airline Drive, in Metairie.

Visit friendsofjeffersonthebeautiful.org.

Volunteer projects abound at City Park

Avarietyofcleanup days and initiatives are on tap at City Park to improve andmaintain the extensive urban green space. Those coming up include:

n Urban Forest SupportInitiative: 9a.m. Saturday and Aug. 16. Volunteer Center,1031 Har-

rison Ave.

n Pelican Greenhouse Summer Volunteer Series: 8a.m.Tuesday and Thursday.2Celebration Drive.

n Litter Cleanup Krewe: 9a.m Tuesday,Thursday.Volunteer Center

n NativePlant Management: 9a.m Wednesday.Volunteer Center.

n Big Lake NativePlant Trail RestorationProject: 9a.m.Friday.Big Lake Native Trail near 7Friedrichs Ave.

Have ahome and garden event coming up? Send it to events@theadvocate.com.

For information, email civilclerkresearchctr@orleanscdc. com or call (504) 407-0106.

Registration open for treeschool

Registrationisopen for the 25thannual Tree School in Jefferson Parish to be held Oct.7.

The Carey Hammett Tree School, hosted by Friends of Jeffersonthe Beautiful, looks at careand preservation of the parish’streecanopy.

The one-day workshop will feature Diane Jones Allen, professor and program directoroflandscape architecture at the UniversityofTexas at Arlington.

Admission is $12.50, or free

STAFF FILE PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

INSIDESOURCES

When the time came to sharpen it, I knew it was not to be dragged through my wellused, pro-level commercial electric knife sharpener This baby deserved TLC rendered by hand with a whetstone, an implement I have never employed and have no idea how to use.

It was time for a visit to Coutelier.

Chefs Jacqueline Blanchard and Brandt Cox founded their small, high-end Japanese kitchen knife shop on Oak Street in 2015.

Most of the knives at Coutelier are from multigenerational master Japanese bladesmiths, including famed knifemakers Moritaka, Takeda and Takamura, with whom the business partners have cultivated close relationships over years of annual visits.

In 2022 the shop, which now has a cult following among serious cooks and chefs, expanded to roomier, though still smallish, digs a few blocks away, and the selection of offerings expanded to include a smattering of cookbooks, teas, sauces, some American-made knives and ﬁne culinary implements, such as ﬁsh scalers, and Japanese Konro miniature

INSIDESOURCES

tional value. With a sharper blade, you get better retention of nutrients. Dullness leaves chlorophyll and natural juices behind on the cutting board. Not good.”

Blanchard is also the chef/ owner of Sukeban, an izakaya (Japanese-style tavern and sushi counter) inside the Broadside entertainment venue on Broad Street.

COUTELIER’S COST OF SHARPENING:

Standard kitchen knives, $10 minimum for knives 8 inches and under ($1.50 per inch after 8 inches; single-bevel blades, $20 minimum and up; cleavers, $15-$30; kitchen scissors, $15-$30.

ﬁnish.

n Apply a layer of tsubaki/camellia oil (available at Coutelier) to the surface of carbon blades to prevent oxidation and rust

n Do not cut through bones, as this can chip the blade. Never use your knife to cut frozen food. Never twist, cleave, or pry the blade. This can chip the blade.

n Always use a wooden or plastic cutting board Avoid cutting on glass, marble, slate, plates, china, or anything harder than steel Avoid bamboo as it is very hard and dulls knives quickly

charcoal grills that the cooking obsessed can geek out on.

In 2017, it unveiled the NOLA House Series Knives, which are made exclusively for Coutelier in Japan. That same year, Blanchard and Cox opened a second shop in Nashville, Tennessee.

Services include knife sharpening and repair as well as classes on knife skills and sharpening. Composite whet-

stones of varying grits, as well as natural stones cut straight from a Japanese quarry, are also on offer.

Knives range from about $250 to $1,900.

Lessons learned

SAGE ADVICE: “Take care of your investments,” Blanchard said. “A dull knife damages your food’s cellular structure, which can decrease its nutri-

HOW LONG WILL YOU WAIT?: Standard turnaround is up to 48 hours, depending on the job and the number of knives ahead of you. You will get a text when your knife is ready This is not a drop-off-and-wait service. You must clean and sanitize your knife before dropping it off.

Caring for your knives

n Wash and dry the blade by hand immediately after use. They are not dishwasher safe. Use a soft sponge to wash the blade. Avoid abrasive dish scrubbers that may damage the blade’s

n Store knives so that the blades do not knock into each other. Get a saya cover (available at Coutelier) or a wall-mounted magnetic strip.

n Use a ceramic honing rod or leather strop for edge maintenance.

n Always sharpen by hand with a whetstone.

VISIT: Coutelier, 8600 Oak St., (504) 475-5606, couteliernola. com

Inside Sources is a column that tracks trends and provides consumer information from experts in their home and gardening ﬁelds.

MUIRFIELD

with naturallight.The heartofthe home is acustom-designed ItalianPoliformcontemporarykitchen,amasterpiece of both functionalityand technicalexcellence. Theluxurious firstfloorprimary suiteoffersatranquilretreat,featuring beautiful travertine flooring andcustomdraperies.Coppergutters and downspoutsfurther enhancethe home’s timeless appeal.

Nestledinthe Villas sectionofEnglish Turnsgated golf course community, this beautifullyupdated home offerscomfort, privacy, andstyle.Hiddenbehindbeautiful mature front landscaping, this 2,900+ square foot home includes 3spacious bedrooms, 2.5baths,and adedicated first-floorstudy.The open floorplanisflooded with naturallight andanchored by rich wood floors throughout.The 2023 totalrenovation of thebathroominthe primarysuite is atrueretreat with a contemporary soakingtub,bathroomheater, andgracious glassshower, whilethe upstairs Jack-and-Jill bath hasbeen fullyrenovated with modern touchesaswell. Atruegem in the Villas,scheduleaprivate viewingtoday!

STAFF FILE PHOTO By IAN McNULTy

The Oak Street culinary shop and chef knife specialist Coutelier expanded in 2022 to a new home a few blocks from its original location.

flavor French Quarter

MaMou chef is hands-on in home reno, all while opening his restaurant

BY JYL BENSON Contributing writer

Chef Tom Branighan and Antonio Carbone purchased a circa 1870 four-bay Italianate double in the French Quarter in 2019.

Branighan, a New Orleans native and Brother Martin High School alum, began his restaurant career at Emeril’s and went on to train at the Culinary Institute of America before spending 15 years working in Michelin-rated restaurants such as Café Boulud and Bouley in New York City, as well as Lacroix, Jean-Marie Lacroix’s restaurant at the Rittenhouse in Philadelphia.

Branighan and Carbone’s circa 1870 four-bay Italianate double in the French Quarter.

He spent much of the COVID-19 pandemic in a much less glamorous way — meticulously painting his new home’s many exterior architectural details in shades of butter yellow, cream, scarlet and that speciﬁc woody shade of green so familiar to the neighborhood.

Together, he and Carbone worked, sometimes with hired help, renovating both sides of the historic house when Carbone was not consumed by his demanding career as a banker

“We feel we are stewards of this historic property,” said Carbone, a Connecticut native who moved to New Orleans to study ﬁnance at Tulane University and never left. “We wanted to do everything right. We take a lot of pride in this.”

ä Tips for living in a small home. PAGE 16

Eventually, they turned their attention to the circa 1830 former servants’ quarters, located separately behind the primary house, which had burned in a ﬁre and was later rebuilt. The quarters were accessible via a tight alley, so they decided to remove the exterior staircase and relocate it inside. In doing so, they found all manner of trash and treasure, including a badly rusted Civil War bayonet. “I felt like Indiana Jones digging around back there,” said Branighan.

ä See CHEF, page 16

PHOTOS By JEFF STROUT Chef Tom Branighan, left, and Antonio Carbone with dog Riley.

A sculptural addition in the back courtyard.

White ceilings and a limited color palette shelf with brass towel brackets of the

The couple enjoy many of their meals in their courtyard due to limited space within their home. The olive trees framing the table echo the European feel of the space.

Chef Tom Branighan’s summer recipes More on Page 17.

Zucchini

Bread

Makes

1. In separate bowls, combine wet and dry ingredients. Stir until each mixture is fully incorporated.

2. Add dry ingredients to wet and fold together with a spatula until fully combined. Do not overmix.

3. Let the batter rest for one hour

4. Bake at 350 degrees until golden and springy to the touch, about 40 minutes.

palette serve to visually expand the small living area and open kitchen. The ‘bar’ accessible from the staircase was fabricated by Tom Branighan. He cleverly enclosed the bottles on the sort usually used in a bathroom.

LIVING SMALL

Here are some tips from the pros for living in a small home. Carbone and Branighan use many of them in their space.

n Declutter your home

n Organize storage spaces

n Embrace small furniture

n Expand your space with mirrors

n Use furniture with exposed legs

n Maximize vertical space

n Install a hideaway desk

n Make the most of corners

n Paint walls a light color

n Go with an exposed closet

n Get creative with kitchen storage

n Include a bar cart

n Get out of the house (Carbone and Branighan usually dine and entertain outside on the courtyard.)

CHEF

Continued from page 14

The new version

With a portion of the interior of the 700-square-foot structure now occupied by a steep, narrow wooden staircase, the couple opted to remove and rebuild the lower ﬂoor’s two bedrooms and tiny kitchen into one open kitchen and living space, complete with a pantry accessible through a door within the kitchen.

A wall of original, operable French doors with working exterior shutters brings light into the tight space. The old brick walls were given a soft whitewash, and the ceiling and exposed rafters were painted in a gloss white to further magnify the space.

The tidy but well-equipped kitchen features sleek, lowproﬁle cabinets in soft navy

with elegant brass pulls. A backsplash of glossy, white Zelig-style tiles rises from the pale quartzite counters to meet the undersides of the cabinets.

A peninsula extending from the primary wall of cabinetry and appliances features storage on one side and bar

seating on the other The peninsula, crafted of rich mahogany, is used as a buffet when entertaining or dining in the restored courtyard and as a dining table in the event of inclement weather.

They installed wide plank porcelain ﬂooring, which is a dead ringer for softly washed

natural wood, throughout the space.

The upper portion of the structure once housed two minuscule bedrooms. It became one open bedroom with a small bathroom to the side. French doors with functional shutters open onto a gallery overlooking the courtyard.

Another move

When the painstaking renovation was at last complete, the couple rented out both sides of the spacious house and moved into the 700-square-foot dependency.

“A lot of it also had to do with Riley,” Carbone said of the couple’s beloved 8-year-old pitbull-mix rescue dog. “The ﬂooring choice was because of her, and we want her to have access to the courtyard when we are at work. We choose furniture that is welcoming to her and comfortable for her We have no rugs. Riley runs

the show.”

“We maximized every inch,” Branighan said. “I love this wall of windows overlooking the courtyard, and we can close the shutters to keep it cool and energy efﬁcient. It’s so peaceful and quiet back here. You don’t feel like you are in one of the busiest neighborhoods in the city.”

Amid all this, in November 2022, Branighan opened MaMou, the celebrated Pan European restaurant he co-owns with sommelier Molly Wismeier He and Carbone were married Aug. 22 of that year in the restaurant’s unﬁnished kitchen entryway

“For two years, I was married to the restaurant,” Branighan said. “Now we are trying to reclaim our time together Monday and Tuesdays are always date nights, usually in the neighborhood and city we love. We spend plenty of time with Riley, too.”

PHOTOS By JEFF STROUT

The patio was rebuilt by Branighan and Carbone. The adjacent living room opens onto the patio via a series of French doors, allowing for flow between the spaces.

Antonio Carbone accesses the bar from the stairs. The design was Branighan’s.

Cool recipes for a long, hot summer

What’s wrong? Can’t stand the thought of slurping on a hearty gumbo, a steaming pile of jambalaya or a hot, hearty casserole? We feel you. We still have weeks to endure the big-dog-breathing-on-you feel that leaves us listlessly clutching our air conditioners for dear life.

Chef Tom Branighan, the celebrated culinary force behind the diminutive, Pan European restaurant MaMou, is right there with us.

Despite his extreme culinary acumen — 15 years at the Michelin-starred Café Boulud and, since opening MaMou in 2022, high praise as one of the top spots in the nation from Bon Appétit, The New York Times and Wine Enthusiast — he wants to keep his time in a hot kitchen as limited as

possible.

Upon opening MaMou (Branighan named it for his beloved great-grandmother, not the town in Acadiana), he made his mark with his fresh takes on French classics. While the ochre-hued dining room festooned with masses of ﬂowers still has the power to transport his guests to a Parisian corner brasserie, the chef’s menu has evolved to embrace a broader European approach, while staying rooted in precise French technique.

This fresh sensibility informed a special menu of cold dishes he is currently serving at MaMou as well as the menu he prepared and shared with his husband, Antonio Carbone, on a recent sultry evening in their home courtyard.

— Jyl Benson

Heirloom Tomato Sandwich

Serves 4

3 ripe heirloom or Creole tomatoes (if you can find some), sliced into 1/2-inch rounds

Salt and pepper, to taste

2 ½ tablespoons sherry vinegar (the chef recommends Don Bruno brand, but white balsamic can be substituted

2½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

3½ tablespoons good-quality honey

2½ tablespoons Urfa Biber pepper (a good smoked paprika can be substituted

2 4-ounce balls of burrata cheese

6 basil leaves, julienned

1 loaf Italian bread (chef recommends the “Big Italy” from Ayu Bakery)

3½ tablespoons roasted pine nuts

1. Always start with room-temperature tomatoes — trust us, it matters.

2. Lay the tomato slices in a single layer on a tray. Season generously with salt and pepper and let sit ﬁve to 10 minutes, or until the salt is absorbed. Drizzle liberally with vinegar, olive oil and honey, then sprinkle Urfa Biber over the top. Let marinate.

Asparagus and Egg Salad

Serves 4

12 hard-boiled eggs (store bought or method follows)

½ cup chopped fresh chervil or parsley

½ cup julienned chives or scallions

½ cup finely chopped shallots

5 tablespoons Blue Plate mayonnaise

1 tablespoon lemon zest

Salt, to taste

1 large bunch asparagus

Asparagus is paired with herbed egg salad.

1. Bring 1 gallon of water to a boil. Add eggs and let cook for 12 minutes, then immediately shock in ice water Peel and press through a roasting rack or ﬁnely chop.

2. Mix eggs with herbs, shallots, mayo, lemon zest and salt.

3. Trim woody ends off

asparagus. Blanch stalks in heavily salted boiling water for two to three minutes (two minutes will give you a nice crunch), then shock in ice water. Drain on a clean cloth.

4. To serve, mound the egg salad onto a chilled platter. Arrange the asparagus around the egg salad.

3. Drain burrata and mash with a fork, mixing in basil, salt and pepper until creamy

4. Slice bread into half- to ¾-inch slices. Toasting is optional — fresh bread keeps the texture soft and lets the tomato and cheese shine.

5. To assemble: Spread burrata mixture generously on both sides of bread. Layer with two to three tomato slices, sprinkle pine nuts and close the sandwich. Serve immediately

Strawberry Soup

Serves 6 to 8

1 quart Moscato d’Asti

1-inch piece of vanilla bean

1 English breakfast tea bag

3 pounds fresh or frozen strawberries, hulled (and thawed if frozen)

1 cup sugar

1 cup orange juice

1. In a saucepan, bring Moscato to a gentle simmer with vanilla bean and tea bag. Simmer brieﬂy to reduce alcohol, then remove from heat and cool completely.

2. Puree strawberries with the cooled Moscato in blender with sugar until smooth

Always start with room temperature tomatoes.

Toasting the slices of Italian bread for the Heirloom Tomato Sandwich is optional. Strawberry soup can be served cold as a dessert.

(do not let mixture heat up). Strain through a ﬁne sieve. A food processor can also work.

3. Combine puree and orange juice. Chill thoroughly.

4. Serve cold as dessert, ideally with a warm slice of zucchini bread.

Branighan puts the finishing touches, pine nuts, on an heirloom tomato sandwich.

PHOTOS By JEFF STROUT

All recipes courtesy of Tom Branighan, executive chef and partner at MaMou.

ONEINAMILLION

A fireplace set atanangle delineates the livingroom space fromthe home’s roomybar area, which also boasts auniqueceilingtreatmentand plenty of seating for entertaining.

Unusualhome in Engish Turn boasts 10,000

Amonumental sculpture is partofthe collection of original artthat fills the home. The collection is available for purchase separately from the home.

Acurvedstaircase dominates the upper spaceofthe great room in the English Turn home, leading to an arrayofadditional bedrooms above the publicspaces.

feet,

architecturalextras, contemporary art

BY VICTORANDREWS Staff writer

The striking home at 738 English Turn Lane in the gated country club is astandout even in the manor section of the tony turf.

Sitting on 31/2 acres of land on acul de sac, the dwelling is almost 10,000 square feet of unique space. Built in 1998, it seems as much a piece of art as the trove of artwork it houses.

With ﬁve bedrooms and more than ﬁve baths, the home is aprime post for entertaining and displaying vast amounts of art and style, on sale for $1.699 million.

The broad, symmetrical style of the home makes an immediate statement,with a large porte cochère over the

front curved drivemarking theentrance. Curved walls and detailedlandscaping frame thewater feature at thefront,with aview of the double front doors.

Inside, marble tilesmark the foyer area, which heralds the vast open space including asitting area, living room, diningroom, bar,curved staircase arching tothe secondﬂoor and accesstothe other partsofthe home.

Thevaultedceilingover the sunken livingroom, whichincludes acontemporary ﬁreplace at an angle to mark the space, is dominated by alarge sculptural installment that balances the ﬂoating curved stairs. Various layers delineatethe sitting area, abright spot lighted by large windows and afeature

ABOVE: Acurved drive leadstothe frontopen porte cochère offering wide viewsofthe front lawn.

LEFT: Plenty of room is just apartofthe enticement of the kitchen in the English Turn home, with stainless appliances, dark counters and bright cabinets for relaxed entertaining.

PROVIDED PHOTOS

wall of glass bricks.

Across the foyer lies the dining area, a mirror image of the sitting area, with a bold coved ceiling and more intimate feel.

A spacious bar at the back of the great room is under the upper story, with a unique ceiling and plentiful seating for entertaining

Behind the great room at the back of the home is a den with exercise space, a window-lined spot with views of the back yard and tile ﬂoors for casual relaxation.

White cabinets and stainless appliances are found in the spacious kitchen, with a black, white and gray-tiled ﬂoor to set off the dark counters. A laundry is located next to the kitchen, as well as a powder room.

The primary bedroom takes up the left portion of the home, with a large sleeping chamber with ﬁreplace and easy access from the hall just off the great room. Passing between two walk-in closets, the room segues into the massive primary baths that open onto each other. Three vanities are located within, as well as a tub, soaking tub, standing shower and a sauna.

Also on the left, a garage with entry to the house is located at an angle to the main building, connected by a hall that also features access to a home ofﬁce.

On the right, a matching garage also connects to the house along a side that features two en suites bedrooms with a ﬂexible room in between.

Upstairs, a curved balcony overlooks the main great room of the home and offers access to the hall. Along the hall, two bedrooms share a bath and also a kitchenette along the back of the home.

Another room can work either as a bedroom or a home theater, located at the end of the hall on the upper ﬂoor

The upstairs also sports an outdoor balcony for al fresco experiences.

In the backyard, a triangular patio with plenty of room for a dining table or lounging furniture steps down to a paved

ONEINAMILLION

A coved ceiling forms the overhead frame for the dining area, a mirror image to the sitting area located on the opposite side of the home’s vast great room.

A den and exercise space has the enviable spot at the rear of the home with broad views of the backyard.

courtyard centered with a ﬁrepit bracketed by benches Throughout the landscape,

mature palms lend a tropical element to the well-manicured lawn, surrounded by English

Turn’s mature trees.

The owners’ collection of original art, custom furnishings and sculpture are also negotiable for sale separately

The home is listed by Kelly Waltemath Wall, of Keller Wil-

A personal oasis can be found in the primary bedroom’s bath with a jetted tub, standing shower, separate vanity and spacious windows.

liams Realty Services, (504) 236-8587.

One in a Million is an occasional series featuring upscale homes for sale in the metro area

Grand Isle’s Oleander Hotel on historic register

BY DANNY MONTEVERDE Preservation Resource Center

The long-vacant Oleander Hotel on Grand Isle, which has hung on for nearly a century, is among the newest additions to the National Register of Historic Places.

Ofﬁcials with the state Ofﬁce of Cultural Development’s Division of Historic Preservation said they received word about the listing on July 25.

Restore Grand Isle, a nonproﬁt, has said it plans to restore the two-story building in Jefferson Parish as a visitors center, museum and community space.

The nomination was prepared by Allyson Hinz, a recent graduate student in Tulane School of Architecture and Built Environment’s Historic Preservation program, who wrote that the hotel serves as an example of Louisiana Coastal Vernacular architecture that has become rare on the barrier island

“Commissioned by lifelong (Grand Isle) resident John Ludwig, the hotel stands as one of the few remaining examples of its architectural style, largely due to the frequency of tropical storms in the region, and retains its historic integrity despite alterations,” Hinz wrote in the nomination.

The 30-room Oleander opened in April 1929, before there was even a road that led to Grand Isle. (Access to the island at that time was by ferry.)

“It is rumored that during conversations in the 1920s, Gov Huey P. Long told Ludwig, ‘If you build a hotel, I will build a road,’” Joseph Augustin, one of the current owners, told Hinz during her research into the building’s past. “Whether apocryphal or not, Ludwig followed through with construction, and just two years after the hotel’s completion, Louisiana Highway 1 was extended all the way to Grand Isle, marking the beginning of a new era for the island and the Oleander Hotel alike.”

The Oleander is the sole sur-

The 30-room Oleander Hotel opened in April 1929, before there was even a road that led to Grand Isle (access to the island at that time was by ferry), and is the sole survivor of several hotel and resort buildings of that era that once dotted the island.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Restore Grand Isle, a nonprofit, has said it plans to restore the long-vacant two-story hotel in Jefferson Parish, the newest additions to the National Register of Historic Places, as a visitors center, museum and community space.

vivor of several hotel and resort buildings of that era that once dotted the island. “Its signiﬁcance lies not only in its architectural form and style, but also in its function, as it represents the last historic

hotel on Grand Isle,” Hinz’s nomination reads.

The hotel once had a large gallery and porch on its Gulffacing facade with windows on all sides to catch sea breezes for ventilation. While the gal-

lery and porch are gone, much of the building’s historic fabric remains intact, if hidden in some instances.

“Missing ceiling tiles, likely from a late 20th-century renovation, expose what is believed to be the original ceiling material — a light wood beadboard ceiling,” Hinz wrote. “The bathrooms in many guest rooms retain their original ﬁxtures, including toilets, wall-mounted sinks and bathtubs.”

The nomination packet also notes that the Oleander “retains many of its original materials, including wood siding, original windows with wooden frames, and salvaged wood used in various parts of the building.”

“The Oleander Hotel serves as a unique and preserved snapshot of its time, speciﬁc to Louisiana Gulf Coast architecture. It illustrates both the challenges posed by natural forces and the community’s

adaptive responses, highlighting the evolution of coastal vernacular practices on Grand Isle,” Hinz wrote.

It remains unclear when the hotel went out of business, but all indications are that it was sometime in the 1990s.

Restore Grand Isle is raising money to buy and renovate the building with an estimated cost of $2 million to complete that work.

Listing in the National Register has several beneﬁts in Louisiana, including opening opportunities for ﬁnancial assistance in the form of tax credits, certain protections from federally funded projects and national prestige

This story was reported by The Preservation Resource Center, a nonproﬁt whose mission is to preserve New Orleans’ historic architecture, neighborhoods and cultural identity. For information, visit prcno.org.

PROVIDED PHOTO By FONVILLE WINANS

NEWORLEANS

TRANSFERS ISSUED JULY29TO AUG. 2

DISTRICT 1

BARONNE ST.749: $745,000, Erika Wolf Briggs and Travis L. Briggs to Debra Willis Ethridgeand Lynnton Stuart Ethridge.

CANAL ST.4400-04: $631,500, Cynthia S. Caron and John C. Caron to Matson Gandolfo LLC.

PRYTANIA ST.1723: $240,000, Prytania LaundromatLLC to Chadrick Kennedy

S. MURATST. 517: $265,000, Kristy Duhamel Moneyand Nathaniel A. MoneytoKemp Long and Rebecca Long.

S. PETERS ST.1111: $255,000, Benjamin Kingsdorf to Keys On Cheese LLC.

DISTRICT 2

ALLEN TOUSSAINT BLVD.101: no value stated, Gretchen S. Sehrt and RobertR.Burton IIItoSneerglawLLC.

BILL ST.8520-8522: $180,000, Nola FundingLLC to Lania Clara Alberts.

CANAL BLVD.6565: $650,000, Beth Ann BuchertGeneres and Jourdan Champagne Generes to AlexandraNavarreDavis and Clarence Davis Jr.

EGRET ST.77: $480,000, James William Armbruster andLourdes Blanco Armbruster to Hiromi Tatematsu Ellis and Joseph LemoreEllis.

ESPLANADE AVE. 1508,1512, 234: $245,000, MJ Falgoust Inc. to 1816 Investment LLC.

FRENCH ST.931: $644,000, Christine O’Brien, John C. O’Brien, John O’Brien and Christine O’Brien Living Trust to Rhonda HigdonBelle and RichardJames Belle.

GEN. HAIG ST.7320: $585,000, ErikaSilvernale Semmes and John G. Semmes to Mitchell A. Gibbs.

HAWTHORNE PLACE 5508: $560,000, Michael P. Robinson and Sarah S. Pusateri Robinson to Chelsea Rainwater andJames AnthonyRay

LOUISVILLE ST.5908: $10, William Charles Davison to Christopher Brookey Cortez and Cristin Nunez Cortez.

LOUQUE ST.738: $330,000, Darlyn Plauche GuerratoBenjamin Talbot Guerraand KelsiMcLaughlin Guerra.

N. RAMPART ST.1217: $105,000,

REALESTATETRANSFERS

Terry Jean Richards to Terrence Marie Dugas.

ORLEANS AVE. 3001-03: $125,000, Joseph K. Williams Jr. to Nola BuysHousesLLC.

ROYALST. 1212: $2,050,000, E. Lorenz Borenstein Gallery Inc. to 1212 RoyalLLC

ST.PHILIP ST.2734-2736: $520,000, AveryG.Ligon and Mary Elizabeth KeeversLigontoLouis Karpinskiand MadisonStephens Karpinski.

TURQUOISE ST.425: $950,000, Mary BolognaCiaccio to Katherine M. LaySeparate Property Trust.

URSULINES AVE. 1712-14: $225,000,JefferyHerbert Sr., Kendrick Y. Sorrell, Sheila Clair Bailey,Trina Sorrell Mitchell and Zina Sorrell Scott to Darryl Tudor and LeelaTudor.

URSULINES AVE. 2603: $185,000, Calvin Smiley, successionof CleophusSmiley Sr. andRobert Earl SmileytoNola Petit Property

Management LLC.

WUERPEL ST.6541: $518,000, Catherine LeighCranﬁeld Chenevert and Dakota K. Chenevert to Madelaine Grace DeneneaRabalais and Nicholas Scott Rabalais.

DISTRICT 3

ALLEN TOUSSAINT BLVD.2517: $200,000, KeokaBias to Alan W. Mills and AmyMills.

ALLISON ROAD 7701: $165,000, Krystal Rosette to Antonio B. Rush.

ATHISST. 2547: $135,000, Ida EsteenDolliole to Elton Joseph Steen III and MaraPatricia Meza Cruz.

CAMELIA ST.4842, DESIRE ST. 2314-2316, FORSTALL ST.2100, TUPELOST. 2415: $48,000, Global Grinding Management LLCand P.D.C. Remodeling LLCtoThirty Four AcresHoldingsLLC

CARTIER AVE. 4405: $175,000, Myrna West Thomas to Sarah

Gorzelskyand Scott Gorzelsky.

CERNAYST. 4943: $160,000, Mai Ly Hoang Vanden Heuveland Megan Phuong Nguyen Trinh to YeimiBelgica Flores Palada.

CHEF MENTEUR HIGHWAY 26360: $252,500, MichaelJ.Karl and Patricia ClarkKarl to Mark D. Wise and Sheila Hall Wise.

DWYER BLVD.13500: donation, no value stated, Hien Thanh Nguyen Do and Huyen Thi Thanh Nguyen to Huan Gia Nguyen.

E. HEMES ST.7165: $8,000, New Orleans Redevelopment Authority to Sixteen Thirty Eight Investments LLC.

ESPLANADE AVE. 917, UNIT 3: donation, no value stated, Michael Steven Gallacher and Randal Joe Baker to Gallacher Baker Family revocable trust.

FORSTALL ST.625: $50,000, Matthew Jon Nims and Reiko

MelanieMalama Nims to Eddy Association LLC. FRENCHMENST. 3100-02: $375,000, Benet Renovations LLC to Felicia Danielle Tanner.

GEORGE NICK CONNOR DRIVE 2433: $165,000, Clarence L. RichardsonJr. to SuzanN.Richardson.

INDEPENDENCE ST.1304-1306: $61,000, Nauman SteeleScott IV to 1304-06 Independence St. LLC. KILLDEER DRIVE 2442: $560,000, Jose Ramon Prado III andLaurie MillerPrado to Joshua C. Shaw and Monique M. BoissiereShaw.

LAUSSAT PLACE 3049-51: $310,000, Esther Garcia Gomez and Jorge GomeztoNathan L. Colbert.

LURLINE ST.4651: $158,000, ä See ORLEANS, page 22

Continued from page 21

Kymberly Ann Jenkins to Latanya Harris and Louis Anthony Harris.

N. CLAIBORNE AVE. 3601: $212,000, Byshion Stewart and Jessica Sanchez Stewart to William M. David.

N. CORONET COURT 7730: $47,000, Mechele Moore Bates to GMD Management LLC.

N. PRIEUR ST. 3811: donation, no value stated, Thomas McMillian Jr. to Chaniel Age Chestnut.

PIETY ST. 1433-35: $103,000, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Case 221 4471400 to TMPLFIRE LLC.

PINEBROOK DRIVE 7009: $169,900, Halo Fund 1 LLC to Kenneth Lewis Jr.

REALESTATETRANSFERS

PORT ST. 1431: $210,000, Andersen Design + Build LLC to Erika Britt Nyborg Burch and Konstantina Banteka.

PRESSBERG ST. 10114: $155,000, Vance C. Reed to Kimberly M. Anderson

SAN MARCO ROAD 4522: $46,000, Julie Schmit and Paul Schmit to David B. Monconduit.

ST. MAURICE AVE. 2232: $4,000, New Orleans Redevelopment Authority to National Black Food & Justice Alliance.

ST. MAURICE AVE. 2238: $4,000, New Orleans Redevelopment Authority to National Black Food & Justice Alliance.

ST. MAURICE AVE. 2410: $4,000, New Orleans Redevelopment Authority to Annette Bryant and Annette Robinson.

ST. ROCH AVE. 2437-2439: $51,000, Nauman Steele Scott IV to Roch

& Roll LLC.

TOURO ST. 925: $499,500, Caroline Hayes Morgan and Thor Morgan to Christophe Marques.

TRICOU ST. 1343: $121,000, Naomi Williams Hunter and Raymond Hunter Sr. to William Henry Hunter.

TRICOU ST. 615: $233,000, Mary Schippers to Carolyn Cass Kolbe and Kristopher B. Doll.

TUPELO ST. 2215-2217;: $4,000, New Orleans Redevelopment Authority to Jo Ann Minor.

TUPELO ST. 2317-19: $5,000, New Orleans Redevelopment Authority to Celestin Development Corp.

VERONESE ROAD 4531: $339,000, Catherine Troendle Fitzmorris and Stephen A. Fitzmorris to Troy D. Currault.

WAINWRIGHT DRIVE 6202-04: $345,000, Ali Zahmatkesh Tareh and Mohammad Zahmatkesh Tareh to Tonjaletha Howard Jenkins.

WERNER DRIVE 4435: $49,000, Cascade Funding Mortgage Trust HB15 to Vernisha Pepp Elerby.

YARDLEY ROAD 10830: $120,000, Diane Jacquet Pitre to Guyton Investments LLC.

DISTRICT 5

AMAZON ST. 2839: $133,000, Lois Brenda Kirkpatrick Allen, Mack Allen Sr. and Monique Coler to Elegant Houses LLC.

EDWARD ST. 8933001, HART ST. 8928001, MAUMUS AVE. 8963001: $7,000, Succession of Walter George Schleh to George W. Schleh and Nancy D. Schleh.

LAVERGNE ST. 141: $435,000, Shawna N. Shields to Rachel Suzanne Turner.

PRATT DRIVE 5617: $522,000, David M. Boswell and Erin N. Boswell to Clarissa Costa Lima Brown and Kyle Brown.

SECOND ST. 1904-1906: $40,000, James Thomas Redus Jr. to G&G Property Development LLC.

SHIRLEY DRIVE 1775: $19,500, Ruoli Wang and Yang Su to Bettye Hatch Smith and Rudolph Smith.

TULLIS DRIVE 5863: $17,700, Hunter Ray Rushing to 444 LLC.

DISTRICT 6

BURTHE ST. 7321-23, LOWERLINE ST. 901, 903: $1,050,000, Kristen Elizabeth Metzger Fransen and Merilynn Pertuit Metzger to D&A Burthe Lowerline LLC.

CADIZ ST. 1123: $545,000, Michael Green Sawyer and Robert John Sawyer to Allison Hallock.

CADIZ ST. 2920-2922, S. CLAIBORNE AVE. 4600: $760,000, Associated Medical Realty LLC and Uptown Building LLC to Pilah LLC.

CAMP ST. 4854: donation, no value stated, Joseph Anthony Wallace Jr. to Taryn Wallace Hill.

CAMP ST. 4854: $375,000, Kenneth Edmond Wallace and Taryn Wallace Hill to Moore Property Ventures LLC.

GEN. TAYLOR ST. 2916-18: donation, no value stated, Burnedette Gaines, Carsander Thomas, Douglas Gaines Sr., Joseph Albert Gaines, Loretta Baker, Lucille Patterson Allen, Mary Ann Calloway West, Tira Helton, Wallace Talton Patterson Jr. and Wayne Ernest Patterson to Debra Walker.

GEN. TAYLOR ST. 3112-14: $265,000, Sarah M. Hijuelos Watley to Brennan Smith, Cameron C. Smith and Gretchen Wilfong

Smith.

HENRY CLAY AVE. 721-23: donation, no value stated, Edward Moreland Ellington III to Big Easy Beer LLC.

HENRY CLAY AVE. 721-723:

$1,000,000, Big Easy Beer LLC to Jordan Alexandra Kazlow and Travis L. Gray.

LOUISIANA AVE. 1215, UNIT 304: $395,000, Dionisia Kapsalis Zbar and Ross I. S. Zbar to Powers & Parker LLC.

LOUISIANA AVE. PARKWAY 3526: $153,000, Ashley Renee Green, Bobby Green, Brian Allen Green, Darlene Green Richards, Deborah Perkins Johnson, Harvey Alaric Green, Isaac Lee Green, Joann Green Porter, Joseph Louis Green Jr., Tamikia Ulmer Jones and Thomas Elliott Green to Yunjie Shen Chen.

LOWERLINE ST. 1811-13: $315,000, Erik Pefferle to Emily Hickman and Michael William Thomas.

PRYTANIA ST. 5228: $100, Marie Lebourgeois McEnery and Samuel P. McEnery to Alexander Leeds Porter and Catherine Steck Porter.

ST. CHARLES AVE. 3300: $340,000, Melissa Binder Adams and Timothy L. Adams to Christopher Wade Vicknair and Gina Vicknair.

UPPERLINE ST. 1712: $1,325,000, Ann Azcuy McCaslin and Charles M. McCaslin to Henry Rosenblat and Susan Rosenblat.

WALNUT ST. 203: $100, James E. Slatten III and Mary Elizabeth Slatten to Cynthia Hassenboehler Sellers and Daniel H. Sellers.

DISTRICT 7

BELFAST ST. 8117: $90,000, Karen Carter Williams and Ryan Christopher Carter Williams Jr. to Kapex LLC.

BENJAMIN ST. 7522: $105,000, Ramona Ann Hall to Kelly Dean Wade.

COHN ST. 8137-39: $534,000, Margaret A. Sanders Stromboe to William G. Binder.

FRERET ST. 7902: $1,505,000, Aimee Laﬂeur St. Cyr Murphy and Colin R. Murphy to Amy Shniderman Eisner and Brian Howard Eisner.

HILLARY ST. 1029: $1, Carol Frances Bebelle to Laveil M. Allen and Monica Hall Allen.

LEONIDAS ST. 2113: $282,000, Vincent Maenza LLC to Maria Margarita Munoz Clark and Ryyan Michael Clark.

LOWERLINE ST. 2104: $278,000, Nancye H. Dawers to Carlos Stich

REALESTATETRANSFERS

EAST JEFFERSON

n TRANSFERS FORJULY26TO AUG. 1

HARAHAN

HALSEY DRIVE 314: David B. Glauner to Lauren E. Janca, $150,000.

HICKORYAVE. 11: Powerline LLC to RichardD.Kittok, $200,000. OK AVE. 12: John E. Pell to Homi Jambusarwalla, $775,000.

POWERLINE DRIVE 100: Powerline LLCtoPowerline DriveSelfStorage LLC, $450,000.

W. SHANNON LANE 230: Michael Ougel to Paige R. Nulty, $215,000.

JEFFERSON

AUDUBON TRACE 2407: Nancy D. S. Morris to Mary E.P.Lambert, $215,000.

BARRYAVE. 153: Lawrence Y. Yatsu to Cynthia M. Davis, $370,000.

CAROL DRIVE 548: Bert A. Dupre Jr. to Rebecca D. Mason,donation, no valuestated.

LABARRE PLACE 7: Secretary of Veterans Affairs to JenniferLi, $212,000.

SANMATEO AVE. 23: Twenty Three San Mateo LLCtoLaura E. H. Drake, $232,500.

KENNER

ARIZONA AVE. 3732: Brandon M. Perkins to ArturoP.Martinez, $209,000.

AVANT GARDE CIRCLE 133: Laguna Legacy Enterprise LLCto JennyPastor,$158,000.

BAYOUGENTILLY LANE 205:

Jeanne C. Dolsen toJames P. Cambra,$598,000.

BROUILLYDRIVE 632: JoyceB. Muscarello to WayneJ.Bergeron Jr., $330,000.

CAMERON COURT641: AlbaL.VillervatoTaha Construction LLC, $122,000.

CLAY ST.526: William T. SaylesJr. to Ezella S. Turner, donation, no value stated.

COMPROMISEST. 1112: SydneyShirleytoSarah Lambert, $263,000.

CONNECTICUTAVE. 4232: John W. Johnson toTruecarejax LLC, $275,000.

E. LOUISIANA STATEDRIVE 3712: Dale Kessler to DajaRealty LLC, $75,000.

HUDSON ST.1500: AnthonyJ. Mistretta to TanyaG.Chevalier, $225,000.

MICHIGAN AVE. 1112: Deanna R. Wooley to ChelseaMahoney, $320,000.

MICHIGAN AVE. 2012: Zinaida A. Smits to Manuela IAyala, $89,900.

MISSISSIPPI AVE. 2013: Forstall FolliesLLC to MaudaJ.Rivera, $210,859.

RUE CHARDONNAY 5B: Colt 2021 Rpl1 Trust to Open BoxLLC, $51,000.

TULANE DRIVE 3305: DebraHillensbeck to Andrea Y. Hewitt, $220,000.

METAIRIE

CATHERINE AVE. 4003-40031/2: Carl M. Acosta to Daniel R. Esclante, $150,000.

ACADEMY DRIVE 4108: Eric P. Weissborn Jr. toIssis A. Pavon, $205,000.

ALPHONSE DRIVE 4548: Hannan Jennifer Living Trust to Christopher Daniels,$700,000.

ASHER ST.6605: New Orleans Property Ventures Inc. to Elizabeth C. E. Winsinger, $285,000.

ATHANIA PARKWAY 947: LindaS. Marino to Cody R. Dunn, $280,000.

AZTECAVE. 1516: Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to Konstantin LLC, $72,005.

BEAULIEU ST.3116: Joseph M. PlevatoJoseph Hebert, $449,000.

BELLE DRIVE 4945: Big Property Holdings LLCtoJames R. II Lonon, $500,000.

BELLE DRIVE 4945: Sandra FreidenbergtoBig Property HoldingsLLC,$250,000.

BELMONT PLACE3000: Colleen B. E. MooretoValeria G. Corretjer, $282,000.

BUTTERNUT AVE. 1809: Rahim E. Ebrahimpour to KatayonKargosha, donation, no value stated.

EDENBORN AVE. 3133: FrankaEnterprises LLCGloriatoJefferson Parish Council, $815,000.

ELMEER AVE. 1017: DorothyStout to William H. Breaux, $311,000.

FAIRFIELD ST.4520: Faia Family Irrevocable Trust to Anthony Wetta, $299,000.

FAIRLANE DRIVE 12: Manuela I. Ayala to DaphnyD.Davila, $419,900.

FAYE AVE. 320: Armilise T. Guillory to RosauraE.Sandoval, $150,000.

FORSHEY ST.1620: S. Marcell to Darlene M. B. Wingerter, $329,000.

HARING COURT4905: Quinlivan Homes LLCtoSydney L. Siekmann, $530,000.

HELIOS AVE. 1001: Philip M. Hannan to Michelle S. Reuther,

$1,049,000.

HELIOS AVE. 1218: Seyedeh S. M. Amini to Hannah Philip Living Trust, $310,000.

HOUMA BLVD.2017: Brandon M. Wild to Kapex LLC, $200,000.

ITHACAST. 4912: Quinlivan Homes LLCtoGeorgeDoggett, $345,000.

LAKEVILLA DRIVE 3008: Darlene F. Lebreton to Caspian Properties LLC, $110,000.

LAKEWOOD DRIVE 4616: Kenneth J. Beler to Chary E. Dantoni, $226,000.

LORINO ST.4612: Gary G. Schmidt Jr. to PamBoos, $426,000.

MANSON AVE. 2024: Bryan Fuentes to Matthew Sun, $362,500.

METAIRIE COURTPARKWAY 3547: Three Thousand Five Hundred Forty SevenMetairie Ct LLCto Ryan Xiao, $325,000.

METAIRIE COURT 2616: Kayla GillespietoBrendaDingman, $150,000.

METAIRIE HAMMONDHIGHWAY 420: Brett CamettoOcie W. SherrodIII, $225,000.

METAIRIE HEIGHTS AVE. 348: Holly H. Merchant to Anthony Merchant, donation, no value stated.

MISSISSIPPI AVE. 2344: Napoleon Tadatada to Austin P. Cina, $264,000.

N. CUMBERLAND ST.1528: Casa Nola Investments LLCtoSaia Plumbing Co Inc., $350,500.

N. TURNBULL DRIVE 3109: Shirley R. Jacob to Kimberly D. Jacob, $150,000.

N. STARRETT ROAD 808: Rita E. Kulick to Jodi A. Fried, $126,000.

ä See EAST, page 24

Continued from page22

andMayuTakeda Stich.

OLIVE ST.8711: $137,000,Latasha Bright Johnson and Sharon MornayBright to Michael Aidoo.

PRITCHARD PLACE 8422: $350,000, Julie Yael Ward Bacon to Olive Annabelle Curreri.

S. CLAIBORNE AVE. 8236: $325,000, Monique FrilouxHeine to AlexandraMadelainePazmino Moreno, Mariapaz Morenoand Washington Ricardo Moreno.

SPRUCE ST.7700-02: $260,000, SaraAnn Harris to Ahmad Mohammad Muaket andRula Ruello.

Over 2600SF of exquisite spacewithtremendous views of the City,Lakefront andmarinafromthree balconies.3bedrooms /3 full bathroomsand onehalfbath. Coveredparking for3 vehicles!Generousroomsizes andcustomdecorator finishes throughout. Largegreat room leadstobalcony overlooking thewaterwayleading to Lake Pontchartrain.Beautiful primary suitew/its ownbalcony andlarge walk in closet.Third floor bedroom/ denwithits ownfullbath. Cathedralceilings. Lighthouse Harbor condos features newroofing andother recent improvements.Dining,shopping, bike andwalkingtrails andLakePontchartrain aresteps away

Continued from page 23

OAKLAWN DRIVE 640: Shannen K. Cooper to Emily Schaff, $265,000.

ORION AVE. 1137: Bonnabel Properties Inc. to Michael R. Aucoin, $3,000.

PHOSPHOR AVE. 920: Edward D. Delagrange III to P2p Group LLC, $255,000.

POINSETTIA DRIVE 1508: Joyce L. Ross to Gina W. Ippolito, $300,000.

RIDGELAKE DRIVE 800: Erin L. H. Merlin to Austin Burkenstock, $915,000.

RIVERSIDE DRIVE 6320 UNIT 151: Smapt Warehouse Management LLC to Rrrd LLC, $77,424.

WALTHAM ST. 1200: Tina M. W. Rothermel to Christen G. Broggi, $350,000.

WOODLAWN AVE. 77: Bertucci Property Development LLC to Marie A. Cannaliato, $280,000.

RIVER RIDGE

CAMILLE COURT 9033: Gwendolyn T. Kelley to Gina A. Marciante, donation, no value stated.

KUEPFERLE COURT 9505: Suzanne C. Provenzano to Avery Provenzano, donation, no value stated.

RENSU DRIVE 9013: Brian M. Dietzway to Charla Blanchard, $310,000.

SAUVE ROAD 269: Anthony Cruz to JP Morgan Chase Bank National Association, $460,000.

REALESTATETRANSFERS

WEST JEFFERSON

n TRANSFERS FOR JULY 26 TO AUG. 1

AVONDALE

CARITA DRIVE 165: Ashlee L. Rodriguez to Enrique Rodriguez Jr., $229,000.

FELICIA DRIVE 136: One Hundred Thirty Six Felicia LLC to Brenda M. Abud, $175,000.

FOUR O’CLOCK LANE 41: Matthew T. Hoffman to Pax Investments LLC C., $110,000.

HELEN DRIVE 101: Tenna Benoit to Yana M. Bernard, $170,000.

HOMEPLACE DRIVE 4013: Dsld LLC to Tina Xoumphonhphackdy, $285,210

HOMEPLACE DRIVE 4017: Dsld LLC to Odalis Y. Rivera, $255,320.

HOMEPLACE DRIVE 4117: Dsld LLC to My P. Thi, $290,275.

BRIDGE CITY

NINTH ST. 175: Brenda C. Ramos to Guadalupe Chacon, donation, no value stated.

GRAND ISLE

SMITH LANE 166: Linda M. Fabre to Stephanie Bond, $199,900.

GRETNA

AZALEA DRIVE 12: D.R. Gaddis to Glenda B. Gaddis, donation, no value stated.

AZALEA DRIVE 6: Lisa Chastant to Gustavo Varela, $195,000.

CHRISTANA PLACE 933: Donald T. Orgeron to Ernest B. Beyer, $485,000.

CLAIRE AVE. 3016: Leslie Isaias to

Baron Construction Co., $125,000.

LYNNMEADE ROAD 448: Jeremy H. Kohler to Eric M. Deidrich, $315,000.

MASON ST. 71: Eric Deidrich to Dawson C. Comeaux, $239,000.

TERRY PARKWAY 763: Phung T. Nguyen to Thi M. T. C. Tran, $240,000.

HARVEY

AGATEWAY DRIVE 3720: Ellis J. Case to Shantia M. Lyons, $236,000.

BAYOU OAKS DRIVE 4001: Tubas LLC to Sheyla W. Martinez, $278,800.

CURTIS DRIVE 1316: Debbie Dinet to Le Pham, $220,000.

GREENBRIAR LANE 3801: E. Dillon to Nicholas R. Washington, donation, no value stated.

HAMPTON DRIVE 1825: Tam V. Do to Lam H. Nguyen, $179,000.

HYDE PARK AVE. EAST 2109: Foundation Providing His Inc. to Arrianne D. Montgomery, $350,000.

JUPITER ST. 2620: John Carpenter to Brothers Realty LLC, $158,500.

MAPLE AVE. 533: Mary K. Lassus to Zachary Young, $90,000. N. HARPER DRIVE 2232: Courtney Faulkner to Next Step Rental 1. LLC, $60,000.

S. BIRCHFIELD DRIVE 2605: Robyn Garner to Mahon Tammy I.R.A., $120,000.

STALL DRIVE 1809: Woodland Oaks LLC to Ramy I. Abukhalil, donation, no value stated.

TALLOW TREE LANE 1128: Cortes Properties LLC to Esmerlin E. D. Maldonado, $315,000.

TIMBERLANE ESTATES DRIVE 1844: Sonya B. Tillison to Evelio

A. Almendarez, $185,000.

VULCAN ST. 2571: Oscar J. Wiley to Seven Hundred Seven Grefer St LLC, $115,000.

LAFITTE

PALMETTO ST. 1888: Randy J. Reynon to Randy Reynon, $109,000.

MARRERO

ALLO AVE. 1108: Devin J. Braud to Jennifer R. Lyons, $152,000.

BATISTE DRIVE 2652: Earl J. Dominick Jr. to Heather D. Brantley, donation, no value stated.

CARVER DRIVE 2088: Neighbors Louisiana LLC to Velocity Commercial Capital Loan Trust 2023 4., $100,000.

CATALPA COURT 22: Cag National Fund III LLC to Phuong T. T Nguyen, $275,000.

COLONY COURT 2724: Elizabeth Dominick to Gina Fabre, donation, no value stated.

E. PEARL DRIVE 2516: Rebecca A. S. Lonon to Romualdo S. Garcia, $281,000.

GRAND BAYOU DRIVE 4824: Colton T. Lee to Courtney T. G. Ledet, $255,000.

JAMES DRIVE 2016-2018: Weixian X. Zhai to Leonel R. V. Hernandez, $215,000.

JOY ANN ROAD 2565: Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to Sd Property Group 1. LLC, $144,800.

KISMET ST. 2552: Kaitlin Bartolo to Kim Nguyen, $365,000.

LONG BRANCH DRIVE 2625: Michael C. Leblanc Sr. to Brian L. Tran, $125,300.

MILLENDER DRIVE 6521: Willie L. Carter Jr. to Salem Zaina LLC, $48,000.

NOTTINGHAM DRIVE 1669: Freedom Mortgage Corp. to O Araujo, $285,000.

OAK ALLEY BLVD. 26: Larry J. Plaisance to Thao X T. Le, $572,000.

ROBINSON AVE. 1005: Anan LLC T A. to James E. Samuels, $199,000.

SEA SHORE DRIVE 2621: Horizon One Services LLC to Kevin E. Dublynn, $302,000.

WOODCREST DRIVE 5037: Joslyn A. Chenevert to Chrishiaya Tillman, $155,000.

WOODCREST DRIVE 5060: Karen M. R. Chiasson to Restoration Nola LLC, $25,000.

TERRYTOWN

DANIELS ROAD 2156: Kerry F. Mcnair to Lem Investments LLC, $120,000.

HOLMES BLVD. 311: Horton Inc. Gulf Coast D. R. to Gustavo Williams, $284,900.

MERCEDES PLACE 753: Haag Enterprises LLC to Khalid Awwad, $190,000.

WAGGAMAN

ASHER PARK LOT 9: Bryce M. Cortez to Kevin Troescher, $70,000.

WESTWEGO

AVE. A 1235: Michael P. Dufrene Jr. to Kevin Roberts, $201,000. AVE. A 805: Fernando Cundin to Eight Hundred Five Avenue A. LLC, $50,000.

AVE. C 1160: Brenda C. Ramos to Rafael Chacon, donation, no value stated.

HELIS DRIVE 524: Reve Inc. to Cynthia V. R. G. Hernandez, $247,700.

PINTAIL DRIVE 116: Darry J. Delaune to Ct Homes LLC, $68,266.

ST. TAMMANy

n TRANSFERS FOR JULY 14-18

ABITA SPRINGS

ALLEN ROAD 73399: Marcos A. Lopez to Scarlett L. Giambelluca, $110,000.

BURLWOOD DRIVE 28049: Tracy T. Farmer and Erika D. Farmer to Brandi L. Ancar, $115,000.

LIONEL COURT 600: Jordan Russell and Julia S. Russell to Chandler R. Theodore Broekman and Ashlyn C. Broekman, $270,000. N. DUNDEE LOOP 2028: Gloria St. Germain Nicosia to Troy Ohlsen

TAMMANY

Continued from page24

and Candy Ohlsen, $172,500.

PETERS ST.32996: MagdalenMcCoytoPeterNewton, $280,000.

SNEAD DRIVE 27207: Hillcrest LakeVillas Property Owners Association to AbitaOaks LLC, $10 and other valuable consideration.

WARM SPRINGS DRIVE 73419: Earl J. GregorytoJairon A. Rivera Rosales and Ricardo J. Paguada Hernandez, $75,000

COVINGTON

19TH AVE. 19306: FalconerFamily LLCand KritzFamily LLCto Rogers Real Estate Services LLC, $2,200,000.

AUTUMN WOODS DRIVE314: Succession of Sam W. Ascani toMCH Rental LLC, $265,000.

BARRINGTONDRIVE 1204: DSLD Homes LLCtoChristian B. Varnado, $318,835.

COVINGTONPOINT DRIVE 709: John K. Kienzle and Maria A. Guevara Kienzie to David Lahareand Abigail Lahare, $280,000.

ESTELLE COURT3076: DSLD Homes LLCtoKelly Caruso, $309,030.

FLORENCE ST.20282: Jean N. du Treil to JeremyNunez, $215,000.

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS DRIVE 16713: Paul J. Mandina Jr. to Christopher Jenkins and Breanne Jenkins, $230,000.

HOLLYCREST BLVD.49: Kimberly McGrath to JRB Property Ventures LLC, $145,000.

MEMPHIS TRACE 316: Matthew R. Rhea and Kellie R. Rhea to Kelvin O. Ellis Jr. and Sharanah G Ridore, $940,000.

MIRABELLA LANE 755: Phillip E. Sandilands and MarlysS.Sandilands to Stephanie G. Dupepe and Jo Ann L. Gele, $405,500. N. NEW HAMPSHIRE ST.157: LauraL.Menkes revocableliving trust to John B. Levert III and Beatrice B. Levert, $1,000,000.

NEAR COVINGTON, PORTION OF GROUND: Brenda R. Breaux to Jason A. Bourgand Sarah J. Bourg, $45,000.

NEAR COVINGTON, PORTION OF GROUND: Sholty Properties LLCtoJustin Mclin and Anny B. Debreus Mclin, $102,500.

NEAR COVINGTON, PORTION OF GROUND: Rhodes Life Insurance Co. to Duplynn J. Rhodes, $65,750. NORTHRIDGE DRIVE 182: Succession of Velma G. Dupuy Woody to Steven D. Whaley,$246,300.

REALESTATETRANSFERS

PARTRIDGE STREET, PORTION OF GROUND: McCalman LLCtoBrad Raziano and Samantrha Raziano, $210,000.

ROSALIE COURT1810: DSLD HomesLLC to Lydia L. Dardar, $309,015

RUE SAINT EMILION 329: Gay B. Romano and succession of Frank A. Romano to Joseph W. Marchetta Jr. and Shelly G. Marchetta, $600,000.

RUE ST.GERMAIN789: JoAnn L. Gele to Runette S. McNeill, $405,000

S. ORCHARD LANE246: Avie A. BourgJr. and Louise Bourgto RobertFoley and DarlaD.Foley, $365,000.

SMITH ROAD 20408: JoAnn D. Creech Estate to Jean Blanchard and BrittanyPolkey Blanchard, $310,000

SUNSHINE AVE. 19345: Nathaniel C. Graff to Next Door Properties LLC, $55,500.

SYCAMORE ST.49: Daniel McNeil and Jill E.Mcnie toPatrick C. Fraher and MandyF.Fraher, $750,000

SYLVIA DRIVE 75616: Nyla St. Romain Hurst to Stephen R. Poche, Katharine LaGrange Poche and Rene G. Poche, $240,000.

TAMMANY HILLS SUBDIVISION, LOT20A, SQUARE 31: Advance Mortgage Co. LLCtoJennifer E. Kuzma, $3,000.

TAMMANY TERRACE SUBDIVISION, LOT73A, SQUARE 14: Nova Contracting LLCtoShawn D. Hoover andElizabeth M. Hoover, $304,900.

TERRA BELLA SUBDIVISION, PHASE 1A13, LOT448: TerraBella Group LLCtoMarco Demma Jr. and Dolores Demma, $120,000.

TERRA BELLA SUBDIVISION,

PHASE1A13, LOT452: TerraBella GroupLLC to BluebirdDevelopment&Design Co.LLC,$118,000.

THIRD ST.19295: Sally Lam Rentals LLCto19295 3RD ST LLC, $1,200,000.

TOWNOFMAILLEVILLE, LOTX1, SQUARE 33, 47: Stor-All Covington LLCtoLFCLDE Holdings LLC, $515,000.

TOWNOFMAILLEVILLE, PORTION OF GROUND: Stor-All Covington LLCtoLFCLDE Holdings, $1,545,000.

VICTORIA DRIVE 75413: DSLD Homes LLCtoPerry D. Spadoni Jr. and Rebecca Spadoni, $288,585.

VICTORIA DRIVE 75477: DSLD Homes LLCtoTuan T. Francis Tran and Megan Jenkins, $274,625.

W. 23RD AVE. 823: Sandra M. NelsontoDeborah G. Dunn, $345,000.

W. 24TH AVE. 402: Gladiator3 LLC to BK&J Properties LLC, $165,000. W. 32ND ST.1029: Todd Smithto George R. Havers, $120,000.

ZACHERYCOURT1453: DSLD Homes LLCtoMarsha J. Delis, $329,655.

FOLSOM

NEAR FOLSOM, PORTION OF GROUND: Jean Anne S. Mayhall to Bradly D. Pellegrin, $249,830.

TOWNOFFOLSOM, LOTS 6A, 8A, SQUARE 105: Walter C. M. Negrotto and Carol R. Negrotto Family irrevocable trust to Together is Better LLC, $100,000.

LACOMBE

CHARLOTTE ROAD 27428: Karl V. RichardSr. to LisaM.Sandifer, donation, no value stated.

CYPRESSPARK SUBDIVISION, PORTION OF GROUND: Deborah S. Jones, Cindy Reed, DianeStewart and Corey Stewart to Phoebe Naylor, $13,000.

FISHERMAN’SHAVEN SUBDIVISION, LOTS 23, 24: Salvatore Impastato to Andrew S. Burns, $275,000.

NEAR LACOMBE, PORTION OF GROUND: LionelRomar to Alma J. Hagans, $25,800.

ST.JOHN DRIVE 30310: JakeK. Petmecky, Kori J. Lopreore Petmeckyand others to John Macgregor and KendraMacgregor, $370,000.

MADISONVILLE

BRYANT ST.105: Raymond Road LLCtoLandry Family Builders LLC, $28,000.

COQUILLE DRIVE 162: Charles Waldrep and Natalie Waldrep to Merwyn Melvinand Marcia Melvin Living Trust, $568,889.

FOXSPARROWLOOP 1145: GMI ConstructionLLC InctoKorey Hall and Paula Hall, $464,000.

LOST LAKELANE 3108: Jordan D. Frantz and Jamie M. LaGrange Frantz to DMLS Properties LLC, $335,000.

MADISON AVE. 122: JeremyM. Bedell and Caroline R. Bedell to Kirsten E. Pecot, $236,000.

MARINA BEAUCHENE SUBDIVISION, LOTM1E: Marina Five LLC to MireReal Estate Holdings LLC, $175,000.

PALM BEACH BLVD.138: Cynthia S. Parson and David C. Parson to Amanda K. Mouton, $267,500.

PINE CREST DRIVE 225: Roberto Arias and Judith L. Arias to Daniel J. Mano and Nicole F. Mano, $300,000.

$2,500,000 6Beds,5.5Baths, 6,751SqFt Theeleganceof

PINEY RIDGE CIRCLE 609: John A. Bradley to LindaB.Underwood, $299,900.

REX AVE. 25, CLOVER ST.1326: EsperanzaC.Lopez Tale to Alba O. Velasquez Zelaya,$10 and othergood and valuable consideration.

SAPBERRYDRIVE 217: Anthony D. Harrell and Chelsea Harrell to Kyle D. Bowser and Denise E. Rock, $520,000.

SPIKE DRIVE 71525: DSLD Homes LLCtoRachel N. Berteau and Ryan A. Parr, $231,335.

SWEET PEACOURT1657: Hearthstone HomesLLC to Jaco Construction LLC, $90,000.

SWIFT FOXRUN 505: Calder Living TrusttoZachary Dubourg and Gretchen Dubourg, $349,000.

MANDEVILLE

BEAULIEUX ST.653: Timothy Massa andAlana C. Rolfe to Jamie Breaux, $239,500.

BONFOUCALANE 812: Succession of UweJ.LorenztoAdam D. Whitworthand Brannon E. Wiedmann, $825,000.

BONFOUCALANE 826: Succession of Joanne Mae Kreft Suttonto Julie S. Connelly,$606,000.

BRIDALWOOD DRIVE 423: Richard W. Fava II andJulee Fava to Colin M. Royand CourtneyR.Roy, $765,000.

CAROLINE ST.1835: GSRE LLCto WAmerica LLC, $95,000. CASTINEPOINT DRIVE 651: Runette S. McNeill to Joseph S. Exnicios and DebraR.Exnicios, $597,500.

CHINCHUBACREEK TERRACE 107, UNIT 49: EnverV.GuerratoLee

4827PrytaniaSt., NOLA70115 504-300-0700 LicensedinLouisiana

REALESTATETRANSFERS

TAMMANY

Continued frompage25

M. Robinson, $207,600.

EVERGREEN DRIVE 546: Timothy P. Diggs and Teresa Z. Diggs to Bolden A. Bankston andKristie F. Bankston, $590,000.

FLORIDAST. 760: Burns Real Estate Holdings LLCtoAndreg LLC, $130,000.

FOREST BROOK BLVD.284: Alice G. McDaniel to Casey Vinterella and April Watson, $415,000.

FOREST DRIVE121: Ronald J. Gravois to Cristen Watters and

Zachary Watters, $350,000.

FOREST LOOP 911: Nicole Reaux to Kelly Lauroand Donna Lauro, $230,000

GISELLE DRIVE 22039: RichardC. Osborne andRosalie V. Osborne revocable trustto Deborah L. Ryan, $360,000.

GISELLE DRIVE 22043: Jamie L. Breaux to Katie Cloud Badinger and Cameron Badinger, $350,000.

JENNIFER COURT4: Mary E. Brumﬁeld Simon to Garrett R. Hinesand DarleneS.Hines, $137,000.

LIVINGSTON ST.2324: Jallies Rental Properties LLCtoMelissa M. Faust, $228,123.

MAILLEVILLE SUBDIVISION, PORTION OF GROUND: Dragonﬂy Enterprises Inc. to Billy Dean Mowdy-Kemp, $30,000.

MARINERS ISLAND CONDOMINIUM, UNIT 2C: Wendell J. Sewell to MarkL.Brasseaux and/or Marta Brasseaux revocable, $345,000.

N. VILLAGE LANE 629-A: Becky R. Gilly to Franklin M. Kyle III, $269,500.

NEAR MANDEVILLE, LOTS 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, SQUARE 228: Dale D. Demont, Margaret E. Verret Demontand others to MichaelA Mayhall Jr., $145,000.

NEAR MANDEVILLE, PORTION OF GROUND: Patricia P. Peterson, Frank J. Francois Jr. and othersto St.TammanyParish, $211,579.

SLIDELL

BIRDIE DRIVE 68, UNIT 12-C: Clyde J. Dugas to Silverback Holdings LLC, $90,000.

BRITTANY LANE 109: Paul L. Speed to Roberto Odis,$212,000.

BYPASS BREEZE DRIVE 5341: D. R. Horton Inc.-Gulf CoasttoMichael O. Arowoloand Adeola M. Olarewaju Arowolo, $308,900.

CANAL BANK DRIVE 3870: Ryan P. O’Haraand Rebecca C. O’Harato James N. Huerth and VictoriaM. Huerth, $336,330.

CHINCHAS CREEK ROAD 40698: Khamsouk Pathoumthong and Chantha Pathoumthong to TommyPhong Le and Nghi D. Dong Vu,$135,000.

Earline WhiteTaylor, $220,000. NORTH BLVD.223: Neil E. Galyon and Elizabeth A. Galyon to Moms SecondAct LLC, $108,500.

ONDINE LANE107: JohnnyR.Barr revocable family trustand Sherry H. Barr to Hannah B. Temple, donation, no value stated.

PINEY RIDGE PARK SUBDIVISION, LOTS 1, 2,SQUARE 1: Kent G. KableJr., KathyK.Neel Estate and succession of JosephF Fazzio Sr. to StanleyH.EbertJr., $10,000.

S. BLACK LAKE COURT 701: Stacy A. Schwankhart to Brian T. Haas and Taylor Haas, $242,600.

SALEMDRIVE 1197: Raymond L. Beck Jr. and Cynthia M. Beck to Reid Martin, $875,000.

Or show your support forour journalists with our Times-Picayune coffeemugs andtotebags.

OAKDRIVE 285: MichaelGuiden and KatherineD.GuidentoMichael J. Adams, $440,000.

ORIENT ST.821: Jason A. Brown and Alisa M. BrowntoMathew J. Kunhardt and Tasia N. Kunhardt, $344,000.

PIPER LANE 39: Thomas W. Robinsonand Cheryl L. Robinson to MarkC.Kline, $360,000.

TETE L’OURS DRIVE 660-1: Geraldine S. Payne to JayW.Seastrunk III, donation, no value stated.

WILLOW OAKLANE 821: Vendevco LLCtoThomas C. Engman and Nicole A. Scozzari Engman, $322,000.

WOODLANDS SUBDIVISION, PHASE5,LOT 65: Keith S. Nunmaker and succession of Gayle G. Nunmaker to John C. Welty III and Brenda D. Welty,$430,000.

PEARLRIVER

BOSS BOWMAN ROAD 35270: Succession of MichaelJ.Guaraggi to Mason C. Joachim and Madison K. Shorten,$170,900.

FISCHER DRIVE 123: Allen A. Abadie IV to Ashton B. Scott and Robert M. Crews, $360,000.

HERMAN SINGLETARYROAD

35119: MichaelR.France and Connie S. France to Courtney S. Candies, $125,000.

NEAR PEARL RIVER, PORTION OF GROUND: Dean Kramer Jr. and Dawn Kramer Robin to Brian S. Willis Jr.and Brandy A. Kramer, donation, no value stated.

OAKLEY BLVD.413: Margaret Bordelon to Robert Dossett and Megan S. Dossett, $220,900.

THIRD ST.315: Tikva2024 LLCto M&W Homes LLC, $82,500.

SIXTHWARD

NEAR SIXTH WARD,PORTION OF GROUND: CaroleE.DillardtoJoseph Carronand Jennifer Carron, $140,000.

COLLEGE ST.3272: Tanya R. Carter to Denisha Watt, $150,000, donation.

CONSTITUTION DRIVE 1425: Nationstar Mortgage LLCto Franklin Luque,$155,001.

CRESCENTWOOD LOOP 114: Evelyn D. Labourdette to MarlyDe OliveiraMiranda, $195,000.

DEVONSHIRE DRIVE 1105: Monica O. Bordelon to Lisa J. Skaggs, $133,000.

FAIRFIELD LOOP 665: Clark M. BrienJr. and Ashley C. Brien to James W. Johnson and Stacey L. Oliver, $300,000.

GRAFTON DRIVE 119: Douglas A. Lawrence and Donna B. Lawrence to Jaime Salgadoand Sophia Boudreaux, $270,000.

HAMPTON COURT1229: Andrew Jolley and Megan C. Jolley to Dustin L. Goode and Carla C. Goode, $340,000.

HARBOR DRIVE 1244, UNIT 318: Matthew W. Myers to Rapid Logistics Land Management LLC, $117,500.

INVERRARYCOURT104: John Macgregor and Kendra Macgregor to Cameron J. Martinez, $290,000.

JAYST. 2311: RobertM.Crews to Amber J. Garrott, $212,000.

KOEL COURT305: DanielW.Bonin Jr. and Michelle R. Hoppmeyer Bonin to Steven A. Stroud and DeirdreStroud, $330,000.

LEFLEUR DRIVE 101: Philip A. Kopﬁnger and KarenS.Koﬁnger to ClarkBrien Jr. and Ashley Brien, $381,000.

LONGLEAF DRIVE 412: Paul N. Breaux, Adam J. Breauxand Angel A. Bowman to Paul W. Henderson and Bentley Henderson, $217,000.

MAGNOLIALANE 412: Jack A. Hutchison Jr. to RichardP.SaavedraIII and Lariat H. Saavedra, $505,000.

MARHAM DRIVE 613: Emily N. Craddock to Larry Taylor and

SEAGULL CIRCLE 3878: D.R. HortonInc.-Gulf CoasttoNorwood J. BorneJr., $199,540.

SILVERWOOD DRIVE 156: Alina Ryder to David LeeJr. and Dion Lee, $236,000.

SILVERWOOD DRIVE 115: Gregory DucreSr. and CaritaF.Ducreto Ashley Clinkscales, $247,000.

SPARTANDRIVE 503, UNIT 2204: Levance BrowntoKelsey B. Heyd and Melissa A. Brown, donation, no value stated.

SUNSETDRIVE 1334: Lakeview Loan Servicing LLCtoSecretary of Housing and Urban Development,$70,000.

TREASURE ISLE DRIVE 42: Benjamin J. Diebold to John Frisbee, $1,000,000.

WAVERLYDRIVE 544: Helmut A. Jatho and Christa J. Jatho to Patrick F. Foretrevocable trust, $340,000.

SUN/BUSH

BRIN FARMS SUBDIVISION,LOT 9: Sharon L. Benfatti to Barry A. Grinnell, $75,000.

EJ OALMANNROAD, PORTION OF GROUND: LaurelB.Stuckey, David D. Hull Willis Jr. and others to RichardT.Lambert and Carol M. Abide Lambert, $140,000.

NEAR BUSH, PORTION OF GROUND: McCune Consultants Inc. to MarciaChassaniol McCune,donation, no value stated.

NEAR BUSH, PORTION OF GROUND: DarrellT.Guilott and Connie GuilottJenkins to Cathryn G. Thurman and Connor J. Thurman, donation, no value stated.

THORNHILL ROAD 23520: Jason V. Collierand Ashley R. Collierto Kevin M. Wilson, $182,500.

TOMPENTON ROAD 81359: Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to Luis T. Gonzalez Perez, $10 and othergood and valuable considerations.

Hostileneighboranunwelcome packagedeal

DearAnnie: Ihave anew neighbor who recently moved in. She orders alot of things online, which Ihave no problem with. However, there’ve been times she’shad her packages shipped to my house or to other neighbors’ homes. Why she does this, I don’tknow

At ﬁrst, Ihad no problem with it and would just walk her packages across the street to her porch. But the last timeithappened, Itook her package to her door and told her to stop using my addressfor her deliveries. I said if it happened again, I’d return the package to the sender She got veryhostile, called me

names and slammed the door in my face.

WasIwrong for doing this? — Peeved by Packages Dear Peeved: No, you weren’t wrong. You’ve been respectful about this odd arrangement so far,and you gave her fair warningthat it mustn’tcontinue. Herhostile response says more about her than it does about you. Stick toyour word. You’re well within your rights to return her packages to the sender or letthe delivery service know what’snot yours. Hopefully,this will incentivizeher to use her own address moving forward. Thiscertainly isn’tyour responsibility,especially without your permission.

DearAnnie: At thebeginning of the year, Imet aguy we’ll call “Gus.” In the ﬁrst couple of months, Ifelt likethings would

progress into arelationship. We went to dinner,watched movies and spent the night together multiple times. But once Istarted asecond job, it got harder to see him —orsoItold myself.

Since March, Gus hasn’tinitiated asingle hangout. I’ve asked him to,but he always says he’s busy with family.After ghosting me for almost twomonths, he showed up at my apartment at 1a.m. to explain himself. I thought he was drunk, and Iregretfully let him stay the night.

Afew days later,mygrandfatherpassed away.Onthe night of the funeral, Gus showed up, this time at 2a.m., and stayed over again. It’s been over a month since then, and he hasn’t returned my calls or made any effort to seeme.

While this has all been happening, Ihaven’ttold my sister

TODAYINHISTORY

about any of it.I’vebeen too embarrassed to because Iknow I’mnot being treated theway Ideserve. I’m30, andrelationships have always been difﬁcult for me.Mysister comes more into play because there’saguy she’sbeen wanting me to meet He’sfriendly,family-oriented and has agood job.Hegot my number and reached outaround the time of the funeral.Wehave adateplanned soon.

Gus is still in my life at the moment, but I’m notsurehow to go about things.DoI need to tell him about this other guy? Am Iabad person forinitiating another conversation while already involved with Gus? —Feeling Likea Floozy

Dear Floozy: You’re notabad person for entertaining someone who seemsgenuinelyinterested in you and ready to offer what

you’re looking for. Gus hasn’t shown thiscapability— and worse, he hasn’t shown theinterest in trying.

Between ghosting you, being inconsistent in his communication andshowing up at allhours of thenight,it’sclear Gus is looking forsomething casual at most. Youdon’towe him anything he isn’toffering in return

Go on thedate, andgive this newconnection achance. You deservetobetreated well by someonewho is thoughtful, consistentand intentional.And don’tshut your sister out. It soundslikeshe truly hasyour best interest at heart, andthat’s someoneworth keeping in your corner

Send your questions forAnnie Lane to dearannie@creators com.

By The Associated Press

Today is Saturday,Aug. 9,the 221st day of 2025. Thereare 144days left in the year

Todayinhistory

On Aug. 9, 1945, three days after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, aU.S. B-29 Superfortress droppeda nuclear device over Nagasaki; the bombing and subsequent radiation poisoning killedan estimated 74,000 people.

Also on this date:

In 1173, constructionbegan on the campanile of Pisa Cathedral —better knownasthe Leaning Tower of Pisa.

In 1854, Henry David Thoreau’s“Walden,” whichdescribed Thoreau’sexperiences while living near Walden Pond in Massachusetts, wasﬁrst published.

In 1936, Jesse Owens won his fourth gold medal at theBerlin Olympics as the United States took ﬁrst place in the 400-meter relay.

In 1969, actor Sharon Tate and four other people were found murdered at Tate’sLos Angeles home; cult leader Charles Manson and agroup of his followers were later con-

victedof the crime.

In 1974, Gerald Ford took the oath of ofﬁcetobecome U.S.presidentafterRichard Nixon’sresignation; in aspeech following, Ford declared that “ourlongnationalnightmare is over.”

In 1988,President Ronald Reagan nominated Lauro Cavazostobesecretaryof education; Cavazos became the ﬁrst Hispanic person to serve

in the Cabinet.

In 2014, Michael Brown Jr., a Black 18-year-old, was shotto death by apolice ofﬁcer following an altercation in Ferguson, Missouri; Brown’sdeath led to sometimes-violent protestsin Ferguson and other U.S. cities, helping fuel anational “Black Lives Matter” movement Today’sbirthdays: Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Cousyis 97. Tennis Hall of Famer Rod

6925 CANALBLVD. |LAKEVIEW

OPEN TODAY12-2PM Indoor-outdoorappealin15yr oldhome. 2porches,heated salt-waterpool,2cargarage, 3carparkingpad,3964SqFt oflivingarea,formalrms,den, chef’skit,6bdrms,generator!

Babineaux &Babineaux Partners

Linda Babineaux 504-957-8014 (c) J. Babineaux 504-813-8460 (c) At Latter &Blum-Compass Uptown-Maple Ofc, 7934 MapleSt. N.O.,LA70118|504-861-7575 (O) Licensed in Louisiana

Laver is 87. Jazz musician Jack DeJohnette is 83. Comedian-director David Steinberg is 83. Actor Sam Elliottis81. Singer BarbaraMason is 78. College FootballHall of Famer andformer NFL player John Cappelletti is 73. College Football Hall of Famer andformer NFL player Doug Williams is 70. Actor Melanie Grifﬁth is

68. Actor Amanda Bearse is 67. Rapper Kurtis Blow is 66. Hockey Hall of Famer Brett Hull is 61. TV host Hoda Kotb is 61. Pro and College Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders is 58. Actor Gillian Anderson is 57. Actor Eric Bana is 57. Latin rock singer Juanes is 53. Actor Liz Vassey is 53. Actor Anna Kendrick is 40.

Annie Lane

DEAR ANNIE

Kotb