The Times-Picayune 08-30-2025

LSU AT CLEMSON

‘STILL

HERE’

Region marks20years of resolvetorebuild in theaftermath of HurricaneKatrina

BY MIKE SMITH, STEPHANIE RIEGEL, TYLER BRIDGES,BOB WARREN and KEITH SPERA Staffwriters

The New Orleans area commemorated 20 years since Hurricane Katrina on Friday withanoutpouring of remembrance coupled with gratitude for residents’resolve to rebuild, as ceremonies from the Lower 9th Ward to St.Tammany and the shores of Shell Beachpaid tribute to victims of thedevastating storm. Commemorationshighlighted themonumental work over the last two decades to bring back neighborhoods thought lost to the floodwaters, but they were accompanied by warnings ofa loss of people, culture and traditions in New Orleans.

Gov.Jeff Landry, meanwhile, attendedamemorial Mass in Chalmette celebrated by Archbishop Gregory Aymond and said the disasters the state has faced have shown

there is nothing Louisiana can’t overcome.

“What Katrina does is offer an opportunity to look back on the past and to understand the things thatwe’re exposedtoand how we get over them,” the governor said

during hisvisit to St.Bernard Parish, whereresidents have gradually built back in theyears sinceKatrina left it in ruins. “And it’s only through challengesthatwesee greatness

ä See KATRINA, page 6A

PrivatedonorskeepAmistad Center afloat

Some laid-off employeeshired back

BYMARIE FAZIO Staff writer

Months afterfederal cuts threatened the future of the Amistad Research Center in NewOrleans, one of the nation’soldest Black historical archives, the organization has raised enough money to stay afloat forthe next few years, according to executive director Kathe Hambrick

Housed on Tulane University’s campus,the center lost40% of its

$1.5 million budget after the Trump administration gutted the Institute of Museum andLibrary Sciences, a federal agency that awards grants to libraries andmuseums across the country. The agency did not explain why Amistad’sgrants were terminated, but the cuts mirror other moves by the administration to end programs thatpromote diversityor prioritize theexperiences of minority groups. Hambrick wasforced to layoff halfofher 14 employees and reduce the hoursthat members of the public could access thearchive,which includes millions of records, papers

andworks of art mostlyfocusedon Black history,the African Diaspora and the Civil RightsMovement. Butthanks to agroundswell of support, including hundreds of donations through thecenter’s “Save Black History” fundraising campaign and several institutional grants,Amistadwas able to counteract the cuts and gain a measure of stabilityfor the next few years. The center has raised $1.6 million, allowing it to bring back five of theseven employeeswho were laid off, Hambrick said.

“Because of this generosity and

AMISTAD, page 8A

LSUto replace dean of law school

Allensaysshe raised concerns about‘irregularities’in finances

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

LSUonFridayannounced thatPaulM.Hebert Law Center DeanAlena Allen will end her tenure as dean at the conclusion of the academic year But an attorney representing Allen said the dean had notagreed to resignher position when she was asked just a day earlier —and she was considering legal action over alleged whistleblower retaliation, racial and gender discrimination, and violations of LSU policy In aletter to LSU on Friday,Allison Jones, Allen’sattorney,said theLSU BoardofSupervisors “engaged in systematic discrimination and retaliatory conduct” against Allenaftershe raised concerns about “irregularities” in theLSU law school’sfinances. According to documentsprovidedtoThe Advocate| The Times-Picayune,Allensaidshe was concerned that theschool’s budget showed it receiving the full costoftuitionwheninfact it granted numerous discounts. That led to budget

N.O. PosiGen customers seek answers

Homeowners signed agreements with solar firm

BY BLAKE PATERSON Staff writer

Homeowners whosigned long-term lease agreements with solar panel installer PosiGen are searchingfor answers after the Louisiana-based company laid off hundreds of workers and ceased mostofits operations.

PosiGen, which has offices in seven states and is Louisiana’s largest solarcompany, notifiedstate and local officials on Monday that it was laying off 166 employees at its facilities in Jefferson and St. Charles parishes, saying it defaulted on a credit line andcouldn’t raise thelong-term capital it needed amid rollbacks in federal renewable energy tax credits.

ä See POSIGEN, page 8A

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

The 20th AnniversaryofHurricane Katrina March and Second Line travels down Tennessee Street in theLower 9th Ward neighborhood of New Orleans on Friday

STAFF PHOTO By JOHN MCCUSKER Archbishop GregoryAymond celebrates Mass at OurLadyofPromptSuccor in Chalmette marking the Katrina anniversary.

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

U.S. revokes Palestinian leader’s, officials’ visas

WASHINGTON Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revoked the visas of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and 80 other officials ahead of next month’s annual high-level meeting of the U.N. General Assembly, a step the Palestinian Authority decried as against international law

A State Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss visa issues that are normally confidential, disclosed Friday that Abbas and other officials from the Palestinian Authority were among those affected by new visa restrictions. Palestinian representatives assigned to the U.N mission, however, were granted exceptions.

The move is the latest in a series of steps the Trump administration has taken to target Palestinians with visa restrictions and comes as the Israeli military declared Gaza’s largest city a combat zone. The State Department also suspended a program that had allowed injured Palestinian children from Gaza to come to the U.S. for medical treatment after a social media outcry by some conservatives.

The State Department said in a statement that Rubio also ordered some new visa applications from Palestinian officials, including those tied to the Palestine Liberation Organization, be denied.

“It is in our national security interests to hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments, and for undermining the prospects for peace,” the statement said

China criticizes U.S. senators’ Taiwan visit

TAIPEI, Taiwan A visit by a pair of U.S. senators to Taiwan has drawn criticism from China, which claims the island as its own and objects to any contact between officials of the two sides.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, and Nebraska Republican Deb Fischer arrived in Taipei on Friday for a series of high-level meetings with senior Taiwan leaders to discuss U.S.-Taiwan relations, regional security, trade and investment, according to the American Institute in Taiwan, which acts as Washington’s de facto embassy in lieu of formal diplomatic relations with the self-governing island democracy

Upon arrival, Wicker said: “A thriving democracy is never fully assured and we’re here to talk to our friends and allies in Taiwan about what we’re doing to enhance worldwide peace.”

“At a time of global unrest, it is extremely significant for us to be here,” Fischer added, noting that discussions would include “security, opportunities and progress for this part of the world.” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun protested the visit, saying it “undermines China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and sends a gravely wrong signal to the separatist Taiwan independence forces.”

Thai court dismisses leader over phone call

BANGKOK Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Friday dismissed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, ruling that she violated ethics rules in a phone call with a high-ranking Cambodian official.

The decision ends the term of the nation’s youngest prime minister and delivers the latest blow to the powerful Shinawatra political dynasty that has dominated Thai politics for more than two decades.

In a 6-3 vote, the judges found that Paetongtarn’s conduct in a June 15 call with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen compromised national interests.

The call, which became public just weeks before a deadly border conflict erupted between the two countries, sparked outrage in Thailand. Audio of the conversation revealed Paetongtarn addressing Hun Sen as “uncle” and appearing to criticize a Thai army general as an “opponent” while discussing the tense border situation.

Israel declares Gaza City combat zone

BY WAFAA SHURAFA, SAM METZ and JULIA FRANKEL Associated Press

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip Israel declared Gaza’s largest city a combat zone and recovered the remains of two hostages on Friday as the army launched the start of a planned offensive that has drawn international condemnation.

As the military announced the resumption of fighting, health officials said the death toll in Gaza has risen to 63,025 with 59 deaths reported by hospitals over the last 24 hours.

Aid groups and a church sheltering people said they would stay in Gaza City, refusing to abandon the hungry and displaced.

The shift comes weeks after Israel first announced plans to widen its offensive in the city, where hundreds of thousands are sheltering while enduring famine. In recent days, the military has ramped up strikes on the city’s outskirts.

Plumes of smoke and thunderous blasts could be seen and heard across the border in southern Israel on Friday morning.

Israel has called Gaza City a Hamas stronghold, alleging that a network of tunnels remain in use despite several previous

large-scale raids on the area throughout nearly 23 months of war

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel needs to cripple Hamas’ capabilities in the city to avoid a repeat of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that ignited the war

While United Nations agencies and aid groups condemned the offensive, people in Gaza City said it made little difference.

“The massacres never stopped, even during the humanitarian pauses,” resident Mohamed Aboul Hadi said in a text message from Gaza City

Some who fled south were putting together tents Friday in the central Gaza Strip, west of the Nuseirat refugee camp. They spoke of the miserable conditions

they have endured.

“We are thrown in the streets like, what would I say? Like dogs? We are not like dogs. Dogs are better than us,” said Mohammed Maarouf standing in front of a shelter for him and his family of nine.

More than 63,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war started, the Gaza Health Ministry said Friday The ministry’s count — 63,025 — does not distinguish between fighters and civilians. It also said five people had died from malnutrition-related causes over the past 24 hours, raising the toll to 322, including 121 children, since the war began.

The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals. The U.N. and in-

dependent experts consider it the most reliable source on war casualties. Israel disputes its figures but has not provided its own.

Facing international criticism, Israel instituted what it called “tactical pauses” in Gaza City and two other populated areas last month. That paused fighting from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. to allow more aid to get through, though aid groups have said deliveries remained challenging due to blockade, looting and Israeli restrictions.

Midday Friday the military changed course, marking the latest escalation after weeks of preparatory strikes in some of the city’s neighborhoods and calling up tens of thousands of reservists.

“We will intensify our

strikes until we bring back all the kidnapped hostages and dismantle Hamas,” said Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee, who urged Palestinians in Gaza City to flee south, calling evacuation “inevitable.”

Hundreds of residents began that journey on Friday, piling their few remaining possessions onto pickup trucks or donkey carts. Many have been forced to leave their homes more than once.

The U.N. said Thursday that 23,000 people had evacuated this past week, but many in Gaza City say there is nowhere safe to go.

“We cannot find any place in the west nor in the south. Conditions are difficult. Where are we going? We don’t know,” said Saddam Yazigi as he prepared to leave.

About 440 people sheltering at the Holy Family Church of Gaza City planned to remain there, along with clergy assisting them, although the church has few defenses.

“When we feel danger, people get closer to the walls or whatever it’s more protected,” Farid Jubran told The Associated Press.

The UN’s humanitarian agency also planned to keep its staff and NGOs on the ground.

The Israeli military did not say whether it had notified residents or aid groups of its plans to resume daytime fighting before Friday’s 11:30 a.m. announcement.

Appeals court finds Trump’s tariffs unconstitutional

War’s death toll surpasses 63,000 Judges leave them in place for now

BY PAUL WISEMAN and LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press

WASHINGTON A federal appeals court ruled Friday that President Donald Trump had no legal right to impose sweeping tariffs on almost every country on earth but left in place for now his effort to build a protectionist wall around the American economy.

The ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit found Trump overstepped his authority under an emergency powers law, a major legal blow that largely upheld a May decision by a specialized federal trade court in New York

“It seems unlikely that Congress intended to grant the President unlim-

ited authority to impose tariffs,” the judges wrote in a 7-4 ruling.

But they did not strike down the tariffs immediately allowing his administration until midOctober to appeal to the Supreme Court.

The president vowed to do just that. “If allowed to stand, this Decision would literally destroy the United States of America,” Trump wrote on his social media platform.

White House spokesman Kush Desai said Trump had acted lawfully, and “we look forward to ultimate victory on this matter.”

An attorney for small businesses affected by the tariffs, meanwhile, said the ruling shows Trump doesn’t have unlimited power to impose tariffs on his own. “This decision protects American businesses and consumers from the uncertainty and harm caused by these unlawful tariffs,” said

Jeffrey Schwab, director of litigation at the Liberty Justice Center

Still, it remains unclear whether businesses will see any effects from the decision, said National Foreign Trade Council President Jake Colvin.

“If these tariffs are ultimately struck down, it ought to serve as a wake up call for Congress to reclaim its constitutional mandate to regulate duties and bring some long-term certainty for U.S. businesses and relief for consumers,” Colvin said.

Democratic Sen Ron Wyden of Oregon said he plans to force votes on “repealing these harmful, regressive taxes at every opportunity.

The ruling complicates Trump’s ambitions to upend decades of American trade policy completely on his own. Trump has alternative laws for imposing import taxes, but they would limit the speed and severity with which he

Trump ends Harris’ Secret Service protection after Biden extended it

BY SEUNG MIN KIM and ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump has revoked former Vice President Kamala Harris’ Secret Service protection that otherwise would have ended next summer senior Trump administration officials said Friday

Former vice presidents typically get federal government protection for six months after leaving office, while ex-presidents do so for life. But then-President Joe Biden quietly signed a directive, at Harris’ request, that had extended protection for her beyond the traditional six months, according to another person familiar with the matter The people insisted on anonymity to discuss a

matter not made public. Trump, a Republican, defeated Harris, a Democrat, in the presidential election last year

His move to drop Harris’ Secret Service protection comes as the former vice president, who became the Democratic nominee last summer after a chaotic series of events that led to Biden dropping out of the contest, is about to embark on a book tour for her memoir, titled “107 Days.”

The tour has 15 stops, including visits abroad to London and Toronto. The book, which refers to the historically short length of her presidential campaign will be released Sept. 23, and the tour begins the following day

A recent threat intelligence assessment the Secret Service conducts on

those it protects, such as Harris, found no red flags or credible evidence of a threat to the former vice president, said a White House official who also insisted on anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. The administration found no reason Harris’ protection should go beyond the standard six-month period for former vice presidents, the official said.

Trump’s vice president from his first term, Mike Pence, did not have extended Secret Service protection beyond the standard six months.

Still, it is not unusual for Secret Service protection to continue well beyond the statutory six-month window particularly when former officials face credible and ongoing threats.

But Trump’s decisions to revoke the protection have stood out both for timing and for targets.

could act. His tariffs — and the erratic way he’s rolled them out have shaken global markets, alienated U.S. trading partners and allies and raised fears of higher prices and slower economic growth.

But he’s also used the levies to pressure the European Union, Japan and other countries into accepting one-sided trade deals and to bring tens of billions of dollars into the federal Treasury to help pay for the massive tax cuts he signed into law July 4.

“The administration could lose a pillar of its negotiat-

ing strategy,” Ashley Akers, senior counsel at the Holland & Knight law firm and a former Justice Department trial lawyer, said before the appeals court decision. A dissent from the judges who disagreed with Friday’s ruling clears a possible legal path for Trump, concluding that the 1977 law allowing for emergency actions “is not an unconstitutional delegation of legislative authority under the Supreme Court’s decisions,” which have allowed the legislature to grant some tariff authorities to the president.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MAyA LEVIN

An Israeli armored vehicle moves Friday in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel

Trumpblocks$4.9B in foreignaid Congress OK’d

BY JOSH BOAK Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump has told House Speaker Mike Johnson that he won’tbespending $4.9 billion in congressionally approved foreign aid, effectively cutting the budget without going through the legislative branch.

Trump, who sent aletterto Johnson, R-Benton,onThursday,isusing what’sknownas apocket rescission —when a president submits arequest to Congress to not spend approved funds toward the end of the fiscal year,soCongress cannot act on the requestin a45-day timeframe and the money goes unspent as a result. It’sthe first time in nearly 50 years apresident has used one. The fiscal year draws to aclose at the end of September

The letter was posted Friday morning on the Xaccount of the White House Office of Management and Budget. It said the funding would be cut from theState Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, an early target of Trump’sefforts to cut foreign aid. If the White House standardizes this move, the president could effectivelybypass Congress on key spending choices and potentially throw into disarray efforts in the House and the Senate to keep thegovernment funded when the next fiscal year starts in October

The useofapocketrescission fits part abroader pattern by the Trump administration to exact greater control over the U.S. government, eroding the powerof Congress andagencies such as the Federal Reserve and

the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among others. Theadministration hasalready fired federal workers andimposed ahistoric increase in tariffs without going through Congress, putting the burden on the judicialbranch todetermine the limits of presidential power.

AWhite House official, whoinsisted on anonymity on acall with reporters to discuss the move,declined to say how theadministration might usepocket rescissions in the coming years or what the upper limits of it might be as atool. The official expressed confidence the administrationwould prevail in any legal challengesand said agoal of the proposed spending cutswas to make the cleanest case possible for these types of clawbacks.

WindingdownUSAID

Secretary of State Marco Rubio postedonXthat USAID is essentially being shuttered and congratulated White Housebudgetdirector Russ Vought for managing the process “USAID is officially in close out mode,” Rubio said. “Russ is now at thehelmto oversee the closeout of an agency that long ago went off therails.”

The 1974 Impoundment Control Actgives thepresident the authority to propose cancelingfunds approved by Congress. Congress can within 45 days voteonpullingback the funds or sustaining them, but by proposingthe rescission so close to Sept. 30 the White Housearguesthatthe moneywon’t be spent and the funding lapses. What was essentially the last pocket rescissionoccurred in 1977 by Demo-

cratic then-President Jimmy Carter,and the Trump administration argues it’sa legally permissible tool despite some murkiness as Carter had initially proposed the clawback well ahead of the 45-day deadline.

Pushback

The movebythe Trump administrationdrew immediate backlash in partsofthe Senate over its legality

Sen. Susan Collins, RMaine, said in astatement thatthe Constitution “makes clearthat Congress hasthe responsibility for the power of the purse” and any effort to claw back funds “without congressionalapproval is a clear violation of the law.”

“Instead of thisattempt to undermine the law,the appropriate way is to identify waystoreduceexcessive spending through thebipartisan, annual appropriations

process,” Collins said. “Congress approvesrescissions regularly as partofthis process.”

Senate Democratic Leader ChuckSchumerofNew York warned that Trump’suse of thepocket veto could underminethe normal funding process and risk “a painful and entirely unnecessary shutdown.” After all, anybudget agreements reached in the Senate couldlackauthority if the Trump White House has the power to withhold spending as it sees fit

Schumersaidina statementthat Republican leaders haveyet to meet with Democrats on apath to fund the government after the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30 just as Trump tries an “unlawful gambit to circumvent the Congress all together.”

“But if Republicans are insistent on going it alone, Democrats won’tbeparty to

theirdestruction,” Schumer said.

‘Noexceptions’

Eloise Pasachoff, aGeorgetown University law professor and expert on federal spending issues, has written that the Impoundment Control Act allows rescissions only if Congress acts within45days, meaning the theWhiteHouse alonecannot decide to not spend the funds.

“This mandatory language admits no exceptions, indicating thatCongress expects the funds to be used as intended before the end of the fiscal year if it does not approve the proposed rescission,” Pasachoff wrote in an academic paper last year What’s in thefunding?

The funds in the pocket rescission package include $3.2 billion in development

Fedgovernorseeks court orderblockingher

BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER and PAUL WISEMAN AP economics writers

Alawyer for Lisa Cookon Friday urged aU.S. judge to let the Federal Reserve governorkeep her job while she fights President Donald Trump’sattempt to fire her in astunningassault on the central bank’sindependence The case in the U.S. District Court in Wa shingto n D.C. could provide Trump with expansive power over the Fed, which has traditionally been shielded from political pressure as it makes tough, complicated decisions about whetherto raise interest rates to fight inflation or lower them to encourage hiring and economic growth.

Trump has sought to fire Cook over allegations that she committed mortgage fraud when she purchased ahome and condo in 2021, the yearbefore President JoeBiden appointed herto the Fed’sgoverning board. Trump has repeatedly

criticizedthe Fed —and its chair,Jerome Powell for refusing to cut interest rates. Thecentral bankhas left its benchmark rate unchanged this year, partly because it is waitingto see whether thebig taxes —tariffs —that Trump is slapping on foreignproductswill pushinflation higher.Cook hasvotedagainst a cut, alongwith most board members. Argumentsinthe court Fridaycentered on what constitutes “cause,” which in this case are the unproven accusationsof mortgage fraud In an exchange with U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb, Cook’slawyer,Abbe David Lowell, said Trump’smotivationsare clear.“He’s already said he wantsa majority (onthe Fed board). He’sbragged that he’sgoing to getit.”

If Cook’sfiring is allowed to stand,itwould likely erode the Fed’slong-standingindependencefromdayto-daypolitics. No president haseverfireda Fedgovernorinthe agency’s112-year

history.Economists broadly support Fed independence because it makesiteasier for thecentral bank to take unpopularsteps such as raising interestrates.

Cook has asked the court to issue an emergency order that would prevent her firing and enable her to remain on theseven-memberboard of governors while her lawsuit to the overturn thefiring makes itsway through the courts. Thecase may end up before theU.S. Supreme Court.

The district court ruling is notexpected untilafter LaborDay —although Judge Cobb said she would seek to expedite the case.

In courtFriday,the Justice Department’sYaakov Roth, who represented theTrump administration at the hearing, complained that Cook had not offered an explanation for anything questionable in hermortgagedocuments or adefense against thefraud allegations.

The allegations remain just that, leveled by Bill Pulte, Trump’sappointee to the agencythat oversees mortgage giants FannieMae and Freddie Mac.

assistancegrants, $520 million for the United Nations, $838 millionfor international peacekeeping operations and $322 milliontoencourage democratic valuesinother countries.

Trump had previously sought to getcongressional backing for rescissions and succeeded in doing so in July whenthe House and the Senate approved $9 billion worth of cuts. Those rescissions clawed back funding for public broadcasting and foreign aid.

TheTrump administration has made deep reductions to foreign aidone of itshallmark policies, despite the relatively meager savings relative to the deficit and possible damage to America’s reputation abroad as foreign populations lose access to food supplies and development programs.

In February,the administration saiditwould eliminate almost all of USAID’s foreignaid contractsand $60 billion in overall assistance abroad. USAIDhas since been dismantled, and its few remaining programs have been placed under State Department control.

TheTrump administration appealed to the Supreme CourtonWednesday to stop lowercourt decisionsthat had preserved foreign aid, including for global health and HIVand AIDS programs, that Trump has tried to freeze. ButonFriday,the administration withdrew its appeal to the Supreme Court, after afavorable appeals court ruling late Thursday

The New York Post first reported the pocket rescission. AP writers Mark Sherman, Lindsay Whitehurst and Stephen Groves contributed to this report.

Cook

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByMARK SCHIEFELBEIN

PresidentDonald Trumpspeaks Tuesdayduring aCabinet meeting at the White House in Washington.

KATRINA

Continued from page1A

come about. Ithink that is what we’ve seen here.”

The date servedasanopportunity to take account of how far the region has come —and how much is left to do —since the storm roared ashore near Buras as a strong Category 3onAug. 29, 2005. Much of the dest ruct ion was humancaused, with the insufficientlybuilt levee system for the New Orleans area crumbl i ng, causing 80% of thecity to flood. Afar stronger protection system now exists. It remains the costliest U.S. hurricane on record,ataround $200 billion in today’sdollars. The death toll across all states amounted to 1,392 people.

Aceremony at New Orleans’ Katrina memorial began the day at 8:29 a.m., with jazz stalwart Michael White leading aprocession of cityleaders,who placed wreaths in front of mausoleums holding the remains of unidentified victims of the storm. White, whosevastcollectionof music history— along withmost everything else at his Gentilly home —was lost in theflood, performed whathecalled a“toneddown” version of ajazz funeral and second-line, beginningwith “AmazingGrace” and ending with “When the Saints Go Marching In.” Light rain began to fall toward the end of the ceremony

MayorLaToyaCantrell, whose political stature grew during her activism for her Broadmoor neighborhoodinthe yearsafter Katrina, spokeatthe memorial of residents’ determination to seethe city come back

“It’s been because of each and every one of usthatare here, that arethroughout the city of New Orleans, who made sure that 20 years later,New Orleansisstill here,” Cantrellsaid. “I don’tknow about you, but Iamhonoredtobe apart of thenumber.”

While the city has come back

Visitors viewFatsDomino’s storm-damaged piano at the Louisiana State Museum in NewOrleans on Thursday. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser joined museum officialsearlier in themorning to cut the ribbon on the reimagined ‘Living with Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond’ exhibit,marking the 20th anniversaryofHurricane Katrina.

strongerthan many might have expected, it remainsabout 100,000 people short of itsprestorm population and, theexodus has led to importantdemographic shifts. Around 53% of New Orleanians now identify as Black compared to two-thirdsbefore Katrina.

‘A Louisianaway’

In New Orleans’ Lower 9thWard, devastated in 2005 by abreach of the IndustrialCanal floodwall, formerVice PresidentAlGore andrapper, cookbook author and educator Mia “MiaX”Young

were part of amemorial, march andsecond-line. Residents, Mardi Gras Indians andbrass musicians paraded through the streets.

Asection of thenew floodwall along Jourdan Avenue is now decorated with amural by students of visual artist Brandan “BMike” Odums and his StudioBE’s“EternalSeeds” nonprofit.

Some attendees wore black and gold “Katrina 20” football jerseys.Others sported T-shirtswith apainting of “The Original Roof Riders,”a tribute to those who climbed atop roofstoescape the

floodwaters from ruptured levees.

“They are tearing apart FEMA after theyimproved it andfixed some of the terrible mistakes made 20 years ago,” Gore said. “Andthe causes of the climate crisis are still continuing to get worse. It is afossilfuel crisis and Iknow it’stricky and delicate to talk about the fossil fuel industry here in Louisiana.”

Acrosstown, at an event organized by the Louisiana State Museum at the French Quarter’sLePetit Theatre,prominent Louisianans spoke of memories good and bad. Walter Isaacson, then president of the AspenInstitute, whowould soon become vicechair of the Louisiana Recovery Authority,remembered crying when he flew in by helicopter to New Orleans immediately after the storm and saw his hometown underwater “Wethought the city would never come back,” Isaacson said.

Lt. Gov.Billy Nungesser,not yet an elected officialatthe time, recalled coming out of his house on the westbank of Plaquemines Parish immediatelyafter the storm, climbing intoanairboat andrescuing 30 peopleand hundredsof animals.

“When you thought about giving up, when youfeltsorry foryourself, that this wastoo much, another group of volunteers that you neverknewshoweduptohelp,” Nungesser said. “Itwasn’tsomuch the physical help they gave you. It was if they can put life on hold to help us, we just have to keep moving.”

Aaron Broussard, then theJeffersonParishpresident, recalled how the governorofMaryland sent acontingent of 500 National

ä See KATRINA, page 7A

STAFFPHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

BrittanyBell Surratt, of the Hip Hop Caucus, is comforted during the LeveeCeremonyportion of the 20th

AnniversaryofHurricane Katrina March and Second Line in the Lower9th Ward neighborhood on Friday.

STAFF PHOTO By DAVIDGRUNFELD

STAFFPHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Musician Dr.Michael White leads NewOrleans MayorLaToyaCantrell and other city officialsand funeral directors as theylay wreaths in front of six mausoleums that hold theremains of 86 unidentified victims from Hurricane Katrina during a20th anniversarymemorial serviceatthe Hurricane Katrina Memorial on Friday.

STAFF PHOTO By JOHN MCCUSKER

St.BernardParish commemorated those lost 20 years agowith aprogram at Shell Beach followed by awreath laying on Friday. Stephen Stearns is embraced by brother Chad after placing awreath on the water

from page 6A

Guardsmen who were doctors and nurses after seeing Broussard on NBC cry in frustration at the slowfooted federal response.

Broussard deployed the medical personnel to elementary schools in poor neighborhoods in Jefferson Parish where people hadn’t evacuated.

“They saved lives,” he said.

Isaacson said that a deeply divided nation could perhaps take lessons from how New Orleans and Louisiana came together to tackle the enormous challenges the storm presented.

“When there are forces that are larger than our partisan differences, we have to have a Louisiana way that says we have to work together,” he said.

‘Mixed emotions’ in St. Tammany

In hard-hit St. Tammany Parish, a ceremony at Slidell’s Camp Salmen Nature Park was held to dedicate a Katrina memorial.

“I didn’t sleep well last night the thunder and lightning brought back some bad memories,” said Kevin Davis, who was St Tammany Parish president in 2005 when Katrina roared ashore, with its eye crossing roughly over the Louisiana-Mississippi border

The parish saw low-lying communities flood massively. Much of eastern St. Tammany and Slidell were underwater And from end to end across the sprawling parish, huge pine trees lay across countless rooftops.

Nearly 50,000 structures were damaged, while the public school system sustained around $125 million in damage About $2 billion in claims, excluding flood, were paid “We have mixed emotions,” said Davis, the keynote speaker at the parish’s ceremony “It was a tragic event — it impacted hundreds of thousands of people But I think we still need to talk about it.”

Addressing the group that gathered under a couple of tents as a light rain fell on the park, Davis said the parish was forever changed by Katrina. Lots of things were lost favorite coffee shops, neighbors who left for other places

But, he added, “in some ways we’re better for what we went through.”

‘He would not leave’

In St. Bernard, the Mass attended by Landry and about 250 others was followed by a wreath-laying at the memorial cross that rises

above the waters in Shell Beach.

For Terri Ducote the mass was more than a collective grieving. It was personal. Ducote’s father drowned in Katrina’s floodwaters in the family’s Arabi home after she was unable to convince him to evacuate.

“My parents were divorced so my mother was already remarried and living someplace else and it fell to me to get him,” she said, her voice starting to crack. “I’m not still grieving but it’s just sad because he was so hardheaded. He would not leave.”

Later, Ducote was among 100 or so parish residents who followed in procession to Campo’s Marina for the wreath-laying ceremony, where the names of the 164 parish residents who died in the flood were solemnly read by Nunez Community College President

Tina Tinney

Stephen Stearns, a Chalmette native, placed the wreath in the brackish waters as a trumpeter played taps. Stearns also lost a parent to Katrina — his mom, Marion Stearns, who was just 56 at the time.

“The water came in so fast,” he said. “One minute it was at my ankles and three minutes later it was over my head.”

STAFF PHOTO By JOHN MCCUSKER

Archbishop Gregory Aymond celebrated Mass at Our Lady of Prompt Succor in Chalmette marking the Katrina anniversary. The event was one of many commemorating Hurricane Katrina.

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Monique Pilie lays flowers at the base of one of six mausoleums that hold the unidentified remains of 86 victims from Hurricane Katrina during a 20th anniversary memorial service in New Orleans on Friday.

STAFF

PHOTO By JOHN MCCUSKER

St. Bernard Parish commemorated those lost 20 years ago with a program at Shell Beach followed by a wreath laying on Friday A pelican is reflected in the commemorative marker

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

The Congo Kids perform by the levee wall in the Lower 9th Ward during the 20th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina March and Second Line in New Orleans on Friday.

Continued

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Everett Green watches as artist Ted Ellis puts a wreath on a tree as Robert Green watches on Tennessee Street in the Lower 9th Ward neighborhood on Friday.

AMISTAD

Continued from page1A

support,” she said in astatement, “Amistad’s staffcan continue its mission of makingthe storiesand voices of marginalizedgroups available to the publicwhile trainingthe next generation of preservation professionals.”

Still, Hambrick warned thatprivate fundraising is only a“shortrangesolution.” The money will sustain the center’soperations for the next few years of the Trump administration,but Hambrick said the center is mapping out alongterm funding plan “so it won’tmatterwho the president is.”

More than 300 individuals contributed to Amistad’sSave Black History campaign with gifts ranging from $5 to $10,000. Tulane University,the CityofNew Orleans, GreaterNew Orleans Foundation, the National Historical Publication and Records Commissionand Greater Together

POSIGEN

Continued frompage1A

The news came as ashock to Iwona Leonard,who recently signed a20-year lease agreement with PosiGen and had solar panels installed on the roof of her double in the Lower Garden District just last week.

Leonard said the person she reached on PosiGen’scustomer service hotline told her they were “waiting for more information from the higher-ups” on what the restructuring meant forcustomers.

“I’m very nervous,” Leonard said.

PosiGen’sfounder and executive chairman, TomNeyhart,did not respond to calls, texts andemails Messages left with contactslisted in the company’sstate filings were alsonot returned.

Foundedin2011, PosiGenspecializes in marketing solar energy systems to low- to moderate-income households and rode awave of state and federal solar credits that allowed it to grow quickly for much of the past decade.

But it said itsability to secure new investments, which were neededtofund recent expansions, were hampered by the passage in July of PresidentDonald Trump’s tax and spendingbill, which cancels certainrenewable energytax credits starting next year

In early August, the Trump administration also terminated$7 billion in grants aimedatexpanding access to solarenergy for disadvantagedcommunities. Louisiana was awarded $156 million through the Solar for All program last year but was still waiting for federal approvalofits workplan.

According to aletter to employees from CEO Peter Shaper that was obtainedbytrade publication Solar PowerWorld,PosiGen wasn’table to obtain enoughfi-

Continued from page1A

shortfalls, and private donations from the school’s foundation filling the gap, she said But while she reported the irregularities and workedto address them, she said she faced questions from LSU leaders that led her to believe she was being blamed for the issues —even though they had happened before her tenure.

“I am the first woman and thefirst person of colorto serve as thepermanent dean of thePaul M. Hebert Law Center.That fact is not incidental —itiscentral to what follows,” she wrote in one response to auditors. “I find it deeply troubling,and frankly difficult to ignore, that Iappear to be held to astandard far more exacting than that applied to my white, overwhelmingly male predecessors.Itwas they who oversaw and entrenched the very practices Ihave since questioned and begun to reform.”

An LSU spokesperson said the university “cannotcommentonpersonnel matters.” Jones said Allen asked LSU for an investigation into potential racialand gender discrimination. On Thursday,three months later,Allen was invited to a meeting with LSU interim Executive Vice President and Provost Troy Blanchard and Associate Vice President and Chief Human

Fund forRacial Equityalso donated unspecified amounts to the organization. The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, anationalsupporter of arts andhumanities, gave $750,000 over thenextthree years for the organization’sgeneral operating expenses. The Getty Foundation gave $275,000 over two years to supportthe processing the works andpapersofsculptors Richmond Barthé andElizabethCatlett, cartographer Louise Jeffersonand visual artist Senga Nengudi through itsBlackVisual Arts Archives initiative. And the AncientEgyptian Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrineand Prince HallShriners gave $50,000.

In anews release thanking Amistad’sdonors, Hambrickcitedthe “difficult environmentinwhich all of our organizations are operating, amid increasing challenges and attacksfromthe currentadministration in Washington,D.C.”

“Your commitment to stand with Amistadduring thiscriticaltime speaksvolumes,” she said.

Kathe Hambrick, back

staff membersinJune.

Iwona Leonardrecently signed a20-year lease agreement with PosiGen and had solar panelsinstalled on the roof

GardenDistrict

nancing to continue operating and would “dramatically reduce” the size of its workforce.

Jeff Cantin, the CEOofanother New Orleans panel installer,Solar Alternatives,and alsoserves as board president of the Gulf States RenewableEnergy Industries Association, said some companies were preparingfor the rolloutof the federal grantprogram.PosiGen, he said, may have been left in abind when it wascanceled.

“The government created apro-

gram, announced it, started rolling it out, asked businesses to scale up for it andthenpulled the rug out from under it,” said Cantin. “It’s fine if the administration wants to change priorities, but they need to acknowledge that businesses have respondedtothe government and need time to adapt.”

Under her contract with PosiGen,Leonard agreed to pay $60 per month each for two setsofsolarpanels, with no upfront cost and paymentsincreasing $1 ayear for

“I am the first womanand the first person of color to serve as thepermanent dean of the Paul M. Hebert LawCenter.That fact is not incidental —itiscentral to whatfollows. I find it deeplytroubling,and frankly difficult to ignore, that Iappear to be heldtoa standard far more exacting than that applied to my white, overwhelmingly male predecessors. It wasthey who oversawand entrenchedthe verypractices Ihave sincequestioned andbegun to reform.”

ALENAALLEN,Paul M.HebertLaw Center dean

Resources Director Clay Jones, Jones said. Blanchard told Allen the LSU Board of Supervisors haddecidedto“make a changeinleadership at the law school”because “they were just going adifferent direction” and she would be able to serve the role until the end of theacademic year, accordinga letter Jones senttoLSU.

Blanchard also saidthat Allen could resign and “controlthe messaging,” but Allen declined to resign, Jones said.

On Friday, around 12:30 p.m., Blanchard sent an internal LSUemail announcing that “Dean Allen will complete herserviceasdean and transitiontoafull-timefaculty role within the Law Center.” “Inthe months ahead,we

thenext 20 years.

In return, Leonard would be able to use the power generated to offsether electricity bill,which she saidcan sometimescost as much as $600 per month. Entergy New Orleans also credits residents with rooftop solar forthe excess power theyproduce forthe grid.

Leonardisstill waitingfor Entergy and thecity of NewOrleans to inspect the panels. After that, PosiGen said it would turn them on remotely and begin sending her a

will launch anational search to identify the next dean, withthe process designed to ensure that new leadership is in place upon theconclusion of Dean Allen’stenure,” theemail said. Jones said that neither she nor Allen had been given advance notice of the email.

ALouisiana native,Allen was named dean in February 2023. She hadpreviously been deputy director of the

monthly bill. It’s unclear what comes next for PosiGen. The company told state officials that an additional 92 employees in Louisiana could be laid off in the next twoweeks if it can’t find additional funding or away to sell what remains of its business. “It’svery uneasy not knowing who’sgoing to takeoverthe lease,” Leonard said.

Email Blake Paterson at bpaterson@theadvocate.com.

Association of American Law Schoolsand held several leadershippositions at the University of Arkansas law school. LSUhas seen severalhighprofile departures this year Former President William Tate left in June for Rutgers University; Provost Roy Haggerty departed for Oregon State in May. The university’stop lawyer, Winston DeCuir,and chief

administrative officer also leftthis year

Thelaw school attracted political controversy when aprofessor, Ken Levy, was recorded using vulgar language to criticize President Donald Trumpand Gov.Jeff Landry.Landryurged LSU to take action against Levy forhis comments, and LSU suspended him with pay. Staff writer JanRisher contributed to this report.

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

of her double in the Lower

STAFFFILE PHOTOByCHRIS GRANGER

Amistad Research Center in NewOrleans,

Missouri’s GOP governor orders redraw of House map

Texas governor signs state’s new

maps into law

BY DAVID A. LIEB and ANDREW DEMILLO Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY Mo Republican Gov Mike Kehoe is calling Missouri lawmakers into a special session to redraw the state’s U.S. House districts as part of a growing national battle between Republicans and Democrats seeking an edge in next year’s congressional elections. Kehoe’s announcement Friday comes just hours after Texas GOP Gov Greg Abbott signed into law a new congressional voting map designed to help Republicans gain five more seats in the 2026 midterm elections. It marked a win for President Donald Trump, who has been urging Republican-led states to reshape district lines to give the party a better shot at retaining control

of the House.

Missouri would become the third state to pursue an unusual mid-decade redistricting for partisan advantage Republican-led Texas took up the task first but was quickly countered by Democratic-led California. Kehoe scheduled Mis-

Boy hurt in Minn.

BY STEVE KARNOWSKI, JOHN SEEWER and MARK VANCLEAVE Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS Moments af-

ter rifle blasts reverberated inside a Minneapolis church, Catholic school children wearing plaid jumpers and green polo shirts ducked into pews, some jumping atop friends to protect them from the carnage.

One girl, Lydia Kaiser, was struck shielding her “little buddy” while her father the school’s gym teacher, helped usher children to safety and reunite them with their parents, according to a family friend organizing fundraising for the family

A 13-year-old boy named Endre, who was shot twice and rushed into surgery, asked the doctor “can you say a prayer with me?” his

aunt said in a GoFundMe posting. Endre’s aunt said he’s now recovering, and that surgeon told the family that Endre had inspired their medical team. Despite the horror carried out Wednesday by a shooter who authorities say was “obsessed” with the idea of killing children, stories of bravery and tragedy emerged as families share their accounts. At least five children and one adult remained hospitalized Friday. The shooting left two students dead and 20 people wounded, nearly all of them children.

New law enforcement documents revealed Friday that the shooter went through a romantic breakup not long ago and showed up at the church Wednesday with three weapons, including a semi-automatic rifle. Doctors and first respond-

souri’s special session to begin Sept. 3. Missouri is represented in the U.S. House by six Republicans and two Democrats

— Reps. Wesley Bell in St Louis and Emanuel Cleaver in Kansas City Republicans hope to gain one more seat by reshaping Cleaver’s dis-

trict to stretch further from Kansas City into suburban or rural areas that lean more Republican.

Some Republicans had pushed for a map that could give them a 7-1 edge when redrawing districts after the 2020 census. But the GOP legislative majority

ultimately opted against it.

Some feared the more aggressive plan could be susceptible to a legal challenge and could backfire in a poor election year for Republicans by creating more competitive districts that could allow Democrats to win three seats.

Republicans won a 220215 House majority over Democrats in 2024, an outcome that aligned almost perfectly with the share of the vote won by the two parties in districts across the U.S., according to a recent Associated Press analysis. Although the overall outcome was close to neutral, the AP’s analysis shows that Democrats and Republicans each benefited from advantages in particular states stemming from the way districts were drawn.

Democrats would need to net three seats in next year’s election to take control of the chamber The incumbent president’s party tends to lose seats in the midterm elections, as was the case for Trump in 2018, when

Democrats won control of the House and subsequently launched investigations of Trump.

Seeking to avoid a similar situation in his second term, Trump has urged Republican-led states to fortify their congressional seats. In Texas, Republicans already hold 25 of the 38 congressional seats.

“Texas is now more red in the United States Congress,” Abbott said in a video he posted on X of him signing the legislation. In response to the Texas efforts, Democratic California Gov Gavin Newsom approved a November statewide election on a revised U.S. House map that gives Democrats there a chance of winning five additional seats. Democrats already hold 43 of California’s 52 congressional seats. Newsom, who has emerged as a leading adversary of Trump on redistricting and other issues, tauntingly labeled Abbott on X as the president’s “#1 lapdog” following the signing.

ers in Minneapolis this week called the students and teachers at Annunciation Catholic School heroes for protecting each other and for following their active shooter training as the barrage of gunfire erupted during the first Mass of the school year

Matthew Stommes, who had just walked his 12-yearold daughter and 8-year-old son into the church that morning, was sitting in a back pew when he saw flashes of gunfire and children screaming and covering their ears.

“We didn’t know what was going on for those first few seconds that seemed like minutes,” he said. “We could see the leaders in the church from the front starting to tell everyone to get down. But those leaders in the church here, our priest, our deacon, our principal, they were not

Zelenskyy seeks talks with Trump, European leaders on peace efforts

BY HANNA ARHIROVA Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine Ukrainian

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that Ukrainian officials want to meet with President Donald Trump and European leaders next week to discuss recent developments in efforts to end the three-year war with Russia.

The proposed meetings appeared designed to add momentum to the push for peace, as Zelenskyy expressed frustration with what he called Russia’s lack of constructive engagement in the process while it continues to launch devastating aerial attacks on civilian areas.

Trump has bristled at Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s stalling on an U.S. proposal for direct peace talks with Zelenskyy, and said a week ago he expected to decide on next steps in two weeks if direct talks aren’t scheduled.

Trump complained last month that Putin “ talks nice and then he bombs everybody.” But he has also chided Ukraine for its attacks, and a major Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine overnight from Wednesday to Thursday that killed at least 23 people drew no public condemnation from the Trump administration. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt noted Thursday that Ukraine has been striking Russian oil re-

fineries.

Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential office, met on Friday in New York with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss preparations for upcoming meetings.

“The key priority is to push forward real diplomacy and ensure the implementation of all the agreements reached at the Washington summit,” Yermak said in a social media post. “We are coordinating our efforts.”

Yermak said he had briefed Witkoff on Russia’s latest attacks on Ukraine and lamented that Putin had shown no willingness to engage in peace efforts despite his meeting with Trump in Alaska this month.

ducking.”

His own children were unscathed, but two of their friends remained hospitalized Stommes and other parents were among those who carried injured children out of the church as EMS arrived. Some of those who showed up to help didn’t know their children were among the injured.

A pediatric critical care nurse at Hennepin Healthcare arrived at work Wednesday morning to help treat shooting victims It was then that she found out her 12-year-old daughter, Sophia Forchas, was among the wounded, the family wrote on a GoFundMe page.

The girl, whose younger brother also was at the school but not wounded, un-

derwent emergency surgery and was in critical condition, a spokesperson for the hospital confirmed on Thursday

“Her road ahead will be long, uncertain, and incredibly difficult — but she is strong, and she is not alone,” the fundraiser says.

The father of the 8-year-old boy who was killed tearfully urged others to remember his son for his love of family, fishing and cooking.

“Please remember Fletcher for the person he was and not the act that ended his life,” Jesse Merkel said Thursday

The parents of 10-year-old Harper Moyski, who also died in the shooting, said they want to see their daughter’s memory bring about changes when it comes to

gun violence and mental health issues.

“Change is possible, and it is necessary so that Harper’s story does not become yet another in a long line of tragedies,” Michael Moyski and Jackie Flavin said in a statement. Surveillance video showed the shooter never entered the church and could not see the children while firing, said Minneapolis police Chief Brian O’Hara. The shooter, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, fired 116 rifle rounds through the church’s stained-glass windows. Search warrants released Friday showed the shooter was armed with a pump-action shotgun, a 9 mm pistol and a semi-automatic rifle.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By CHARLIE RIEDEL Republican Gov Mike Kehoe is calling Missouri lawmakers into a special session to redraw the state’s U.S House districts.

with meteorologist DamonSingleton

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New Orleans FBI agent gets job back

He was fired after claiming ‘corruption’ by prosecutors

BY JAMES FINN Staff writer

A New Orleans FBI agent fired

after he criticized federal prosecutors’ handling of a Louisiana district attorney’s sex crimes case got his job back this week — thanks partly to lobbying by President Donald Trump’s FBI director,

Kash Patel, who pushed to reverse past discipline against a slate of agents.

Michael Zummer, who focused on public corruption and whitecollar cases within the bureau’s New Orleans field office, will retire immediately when his reinstatement takes effect under the deal. Still, the arrangement means Zum-

mer can regain his security clearance, receive back pay and retire with full FBI benefits, he said in an email.

The deal marks the close of a crusade that Zummer waged across four presidential administrations against the Justice Department. And it highlights how Patel has sought to remake the

bureau in Trump’s image partly by undoing decisions by his predecessors, whom Patel often castigates as corrupt.

“We greatly appreciate President Tr ump’s commitment to transparency and accountability,” Patel said in an Aug. 21 social media post praising the agreements. In total, eight former FBI “whistleblowers” reached deals similar to Zummer’s in recent weeks, the organization he works for, Empower Oversight Whistleblower and Research, said in a news release. Of the eight, only three will return to active duty

Ride out the storm

The nonprofit watchdog group helped secure the deals.

Raindrops streak a window as a mule-drawn carriage carries visitors through the French Quarter on Thursday. On the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the falling rain serves as a reminder of the storm’s lasting shadow, even as life carries on through the streets of the city.

Hit-and-run charges dropped

St. Tammany authorities cite new evidence

BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office has withdrawn its request for the northshore District Attorney’s Office to charge a Slidell man with vehicular homicide in connection with a fatal hit-and-run that claimed the life of a 6-year-old boy Aug. 13, saying new evidence shows the charge is “not supported.” The Sheriff’s Office and northshore District Attorney Collin Sims’ office both said in news releases Friday afternoon that new evidence has come to light, and Sims’ office said vehicular homicide charges against Cody Beaudette would be refused.

The Sheriff’s Office said the evidence, which it did not detail, showed the initial charge against Beaudette, 35, was “not supported.” Beaudette had been accused of hitting 6-year-old Jeremiah Ramirez, who was riding his scooter in his driveway on Northshore Lane, and then fleeing

State agency investigating project

Contractor on Harahan Park of Heroes draws scrutiny ä See AGENT, page 2B

BY LARA NICHOLSON Staff writer

After the city of Harahan paid an unlicensed contractor more than $800,000 for several projects without issuing any formal bids, a state regulatory agency is now investigating the contractor and a city audit has questioned spending practices.

The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors issued Paul Galaforo of Galaforo Con-

struction LLC a notice of potential violation for acting as a contractor without a valid license while performing work for the Harahan Park of Heroes, according to Sean Beavers, deputy executive director of enforcement to the board. More potential violations could be issued before the hearing, Beavers said, which is set for Jan. 15 in Baton Rouge.

“Reviewing all those (construction) invoices, the dollar amounts (are) contrary to state licensing law and would appear to also run afoul of public bid law, which are all in place to give all contractors a level playing field,” Beavers said. The case has also been referred

See HARAHAN, page 3B

Hangout Nola recreation center to close after 3 years

Event space was a safe haven for youth

BY JONI HESS Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Zummer

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE People walk through the Park of Heroes next to the Harahan Playground in Harahan on Aug. 8.

La. expands restrictions on deer baiting

Officials cite chronic wasting disease, sparking controversy

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer

After a deer tested positive for a fatal disease in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana added deer baiting restrictions to several new parishes, sparking controversy among the hunting community

The rules have also drawn the ire of some lawmakers, who say they infringe on American freedom and disrupt Louisiana hunting culture.

State officials argue the measures will protect the state’s deer population in the long term by helping to prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease, or CWD, which has reduced deer populations in other parts of the country

They say deer baiting can create new gathering spots for deer that would not otherwise interact, increasing the contact rate among animals and facilitating the spread of CWD.

Critics have suggested the risks of CWD may be overblown and question whether the mitigation measures would be effective

Earlier this year, the Louisiana

Wildlife & Fisheries Commission issued a declaration of emergency that banned deer baiting in parts of Richland, Caldwell, La Salle and Catahoula parishes, expanding the state’s “CWD Control Area.”

Preexisting bans had been established in parts of Tensas, Madison, Concordia and Franklin parishes, according to the order, which also expanded the control area in Concordia and Franklin parishes.

The order was effective May 1.

It came after a buck in Catahoula tested positive for CWD, the first case found in a wild Louisiana deer outside Tensas Parish, according to a release from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. There have been multiple cases involving captive deer in other parishes.

CWD was first detected in Louisiana in 2022, according to the release.

After the emergency declaration took effect, the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission sought to draft a new, long-term rule defining the control area.

The proposed rule is expected to take effect Sept. 20. It still expands the control area to the new parishes but softens the restrictions in some areas by creating a “buffer” zone, where baiting would be allowed by nonstationary methods, said Johnathan

3 N.O. men booked in shooting outside bar

BY MICHELLE HUNTER Staff writer

Three men from New Orleans were arrested in connection with a shooting outside of a Harvey bar that left a 19-year-old in critical condition.

The shooting was reported just after 3 a.m. Aug. 10 in the parking lot of a bar in the 1500 block of Lapalco Boulevard, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office

The victim got into an argument with several men at the bar. A witness told deputies the dispute was over a woman, according to authorities. A short time later, authorities say the victim was shot in the head while in the parking lot after gunfire erupted from a vehicle The man was taken to a hospital for treatment. Bryan Torrez Umanzor 20, was booked Tuesday with attempted second-degree murder and obstruction of justice. He is the suspected

gunman in the shooting, according to Sgt. Brandon Veal, sheriff’s spokesperson.

Emil Ordonez Jackson, 23, was booked with being a principal to attempted second-degree murder and obstruction of justice. Ordonez is accused of acting as the getaway driver, authorities said.

Ordonez’s brother, Jaid Ordonez Jackson, 20, was booked with being an accessory after the fact to attempted murder Authorities say he was present when the shooting occurred.

It’s not clear if Torrez and the Ordonez brothers were among the group arguing with the victim.

The Sheriff’s Office did not disclose how they identified linked the suspects to the shootings. All three were being held Friday at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna.

Bail for Torrez was set a $225,000.

Emil Ordonez Jackson was being held in lieu of $125,000 bail while his brother’s bail was set at $25,000.

Slidell man convicted of shooting estranged wife

BY BOB WARREN Staff writer

A St. Tammany Parish jury found a Slidell man guilty of ambushing and trying to kill his estranged wife, who he shot four times in a 2022 attack.

Calvin U. Brown III, 47, was convicted of attempted seconddegree murder, attempted simple burglary and stalking on Aug. 21, northshore District Attorney Collin Sims said in a news release. Brown was accused of ambushing and shooting his estranged wife four times while she sat in her vehicle on a Slidell street in February 2022. Slidell police officers found the victim unconscious and bleeding and performed CPR. At the scene, the victim was then

able to identify her husband as the person who shot her Surveillance footage and forensic evidence, including phone records and health data from the defendant’s Apple watch, supported the victim’s account, Sims’ office said. Brown had called the victim over 50 times before the shooting and was caught on surveillance breaking into her apartment. The couple’s 7-year-old child witnessed the shooting

The District Attorney’s Office said the victim testified during the trial and described years of abuse and harassment by Brown.

State District Judge Richard Swartz is scheduled to sentence Brown on Oct. 15. Brown faces up to 50 years in prison, Sims’ office said.

3 brothers accused of stabbing death on boat

Staff report

Three siblings have been arrested, accused of killing a co-worker aboard a commercial fishing vessel in Plaquemines Parish.

Josiah Cottrell, 28, Timothy Cottrell, 25, and David Cottrell, 22, were booked with second-degree murder according to Capt. Chaun Domingue, spokesperson for the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office. All three are from Broussard. Authorities have not yet released the name of the victim, who suffered multiple stab wounds,

Domingue said. The man and the Cottrell brothers worked as deckhands on the vessel, which was not identified by the Sheriff’s Office. The homicide occurred about 10:30 p.m. Thursday while the vessel was near the Red Pass waterway, just west of Venice, according to Domingue. Authorities were contacted by officials on the vessel, and deputies boarded near the Empire jetties.

Detectives are still trying to determine what led up to the stabbing, according to Domingue.

Bordelon, LDWF’s deer program manager

That means hunters may spread feed through other means, including a vehicle, Bordelon said.

The rule also prohibits hunters from moving whole deer carcasses out of the control area, though they may move certain processed meat and finished taxidermy mounts.

What is CWD?

Related to mad cow disease, CWD causes a healthy protein to misfold, creating holes in the brain, Bordelon told lawmakers during an Aug. 27 meeting of the Senate and House natural resources committees.

That panel had the power to vote to reject the rule, or parts of it, but it took no action.

Deer can shed CWD into the environment through fluids such as saliva, and the affected material can remain infectious for years, Bordelon said.

There are no known cases of CWD in humans, but the World Health Organization recommends against consuming meat from animals that test positive for CWD. The disease can spread to other cervids, including moose, elk and reindeer

CWD was first detected in Colorado in 1967 and has since

spread to 36 states, according to Bordelon. Its prevalence is low in Louisiana, but if it hits a certain threshold, it could cause population loss, he said.

Officials say that is why it is important to take action to mitigate the disease early on.

Still, it is hard to predict the spread of the disease, said Michael Chamberlain, a professor at the University of Georgia who specializes in wildlife management.

“How CWD functions is very different as you move across the landscape,” he told lawmakers. But “the hunter in me says we need to try to seek ways to mitigate and not get to that point (of population decline).”

‘Anti-Sportsman’s Paradise’

Not all hunters are on the same page as Chamberlain.

State Rep. Lauren Ventrella, a Republican from Greenwell Springs who grew up hunting, slammed the rule in an interview

Growing up, she looked forward to setting out corn for deer every year, she said, adding that the practice celebrated the reverence of the sport and the animal.

“It’s a cultural aspect of the state of Louisiana,” she said, calling the restrictions “about as anti-Sportsman’s Paradise as you can get.”

Rep. Danny McCormick, R-Oil City, also pushed back against the rule during the meeting of the natural resources committees, drawing parallels between the CWD rule and restrictions placed upon people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He was concerned the rule would take away freedoms and never give them back, he said.

McCormick said his granddaughter was able to kill her first deer at 6 years old because it was standing at a corn feeder

“I’m very concerned about Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries taking that right away,” he said.

Meanwhile, Andy Brown, director of commodity and public policy for the Louisiana Farm Bureau, said restricting deer baiting would have economic consequences by reducing opportunities for farmers to sell deer feed.

But Rick Owens, a hunter and conservationist with the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, said the rule represented a compromise between many different parties and that his organization would support it, though they initially felt it didn’t include enough CWD mitigation measures

Email Meghan Friedmann at meghan.friedmann@ theadvocate.com.

Mistakenly released inmate in custody

Khalil Bryan tracked to Texas

BY MISSY WILKINSON Staff writer

A felony defendant mistakenly released from jail last month due to a clerical error is back in custody at Orleans Justice Center according to records.

After nearly a month on the run and an Aug. 20 arrest in a Houston suburb, Khalil Bryan, 30, was booked back into the New

Orleans jail Thursday afternoon, according to Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office records.

Bryan was arrested on July 15 on drug counts, possession of stolen goods and resisting an officer He walked out of jail 10 days later when deputies confused him with an inmate with the same last name. Two deputies were fired and five were suspended after an OPSO investigation revealed “human error compounded by inadequate protocol adherence,” Sheriff Susan Hutson said last month.

A Crimestoppers tip led U.S. Marshals, the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force and Harris County Constable Precinct 5 to a house in Cypress, Texas, where Bryan was staying with family members. A man and a woman were arrested on unrelated warrants Bryan was booked into Harris County jail.

In addition to his July 15 counts, he is also held on two warrants, one for aggravated criminal damage and hit and run, and the other for felon in possession of a firearm.

AGENT

Continued from page 1B

Zummer’s case laid bare longsimmering tensions between federal law enforcement agents who investigate crimes and the government attorneys who prosecute them.

The 13-year agent lost his job after writing to a judge in 2016 that the U.S. Attorney’s Office had soft-walked its prosecution of St. Charles Parish District Attorney Harry Morel. Zummer had spent years investigating allegations that Morel sexually victimized more than 20 women over as many years, including by offering defendants gentler court treatment in exchange for sexual favors.

Zummer alleged that Morel’s federal prosecution was tainted by his defense attorney’s friendship with a then-senior prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Morel ultimately pleaded guilty to a single obstruction count and served three years.

HANGOUT

Continued from page 1B

years,” Bender said. But the final straw came over the summer. Bender and a team of staff hosted a free summer camp for about 60 kids sponsored by the Asher Institute Nola, which is led by Pelicans player Zion Williamson’s stepfather, Lee Anderson. The institute was supposed to pay for staff salaries, building use fees, food service and camp materials.

But the institute ran out of money, forcing that camp and two others to close or find other funding. The Benders were forced to temporarily shut down the camp, but they reopened a week later, relying on their own fundraising efforts and the community for resources and support. Still, the cost of using the building Monday through Friday without revenue flowing in proved challenging, and it’s unclear how much was lost. But it was a reality they were willing to face because of local families’ need for affordable youth summer programs.

For failing to prosecute him on more severe counts, Zummer’s letter accused the U.S. Attorney’s Office of perpetuating “systemic corruption.”

The New Orleans-based U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana has long rejected Zummer’s claims. Former U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite at one point said the prosecutor in question played no role in the case and called Zummer’s allegations of improprieties “completely false,” according to media reports.

Polite once called the Morel case “one of the proudest prosecutions of my tenure,” noting that his office secured the guilty plea though a key witness in the case had died. The witness, Danelle Keim, participated in an FBI sting that caught video of Morel groping her but died from a drug overdose in 2013 soon after news of the operation became public.

Polite declined to comment on Zummer’s reinstatement.

New Orleans’ U.S. Attorney’s Office did not respond to a request for comment on the rein-

statement. An FBI spokesperson said the bureau does not comment on personnel matters. Zummer was suspended without pay in 2016 amid an internal inquiry into whether he mishandled “sensitive material” by sending the letter to then-U.S. District Judge Kurt Engelhardt. He was later fired, a move he argued violated his First Amendment rights. Zummer this week said Morel’s alleged victims, like Keim, deserved better

“I could have spent the last nine years investigating corrupt officials in the New Orleans area, but former FBI executives thought it was more important to silence me,” he said.

“So, I spent that time learning to sue the FBI, and with (Empower Oversight’s) help I intend to keep doing that to stop the FBI’s abuse of the security clearance and other processes, and use the Freedom of Information Act to expose FBI executives’ wrongdoing.”

Email James Finn at jfinn@ theadvocate.com.

The Hangout opened in the summer of 2022, during a time when youth advocates warned of ongoing mental health crisis in the wake of pandemic disruptions and gun violence. That year, New Orleans saw its sharpest uptick in murders since before Hurricane Katrina, including a mass shooting at a Lower 9th Ward house party where six teens were injured and two killed. Many view youth-centered recreational places like The Hangout as a way to disrupt cycles of youth crime which has, along with overall crime, since declined across the city Earlier this year, the NOLA Coalition, an anti-crime alliance of businesses, nonprofits and other institutions, released an open let-

The Hangout Nola event space and youth recreation center on Lake Forest Avenue in New Orleans East is closing its doors after opening three years ago.

ter calling for more citywide investments in youth recreation as a means to sustain those declines.

“We kept our heads down, did the work, hopefully made an impact in the community that we were working so hard to do,” Bender said.

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

STAFF FILE PHOTO

By SOPHIA GERMER

LSUfansheadtoSouth Carolina forkickoff

BY MADDIE SCOTT Staff writer

The Baton Rouge airporthosted atailgate party Friday morning to send off Tiger fans traveling to LSU’sfootball seasonopener against Clemson.

“Wewanted to send the Tiger fans off in style,” said Mike Edwards, BTR’sdirector of aviation

In the second-floorterminal building, passengers were welcomed with big purpleand gold balloon displays before going through security.Some were greeted by the spirited LSU cheerleadersasthey led chants to hype fans for the big day

Acircle of vendors offeredfree treats like lemonade, PJ’scoffee, mini beignets, friedchicken and cookies, and travelers also indulged in activities like face painting and aphoto booth.

“All of our airport vendors have come together to make this tailgate happen,” Edwards said Airlines are offering nonstop flights throughout the football season to select home and away games. On Friday,footballfans flew to Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina— aflight of less than two hours.

Maribeth Andereck, of Bayou

HARAHAN

Buddies Pet Therapy,brought her 4-year-old border collie, Malarkey,tointeract with passengers andbrighten theirdaysbefore boarding their flight.

“She’sbeen doing this since she was about 8weeks old,” Andereck said aboutMalarkey.“We go to about 54 places in town, and the Baton Rouge airport is just one of

them.”

About seven more Bayou Buddies volunteers walkedaround with theircanines before and after security.Travelers oohed and

aahed at thelovable dogs,some stopping for greetings and pats before rushing to board the plane.

Among passengers was former Lt. Gov.Jay Dardenne, who was traveling with theLSU Alumni Association. He crossed paths with Malarkey andsnapped apicture with the bordercollie before boarding his flight.

Dardenne tries to attend at least one away gameevery year.It’llbe his first time in Clemson University’sDeathValleystadium.

“We’re Death Valley No. 1,” Dardenne said of Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge. “Hopefully we’ll be able to take careofbusiness at Death Valley‘Two.’

The airport hasgrown dramatically over the years, Dardenne noted, andhethought it wasa great ideatohavethis tailgate as asend-off.

This is the airport’ssecond year hosting the tailgate party This season, nonstop flights will be availablefor away games, including Vanderbilt, Alabama and Oklahoma,Edwards said.

“We’re just really excited for the upcoming season,” Edwards said, “and wantedtoshowour airline partners andall ourTiger fans how much we appreciate them.”

Audit findings

to law enforcement agencies for review,hesaid, but did not offer any additional details.

As first reported by TheTimesPicayune,Harahan paid Galaforo $882,687.50lastyear forseveral projects, each split into phases costing $50,000 or less, without issuing any formal bids or signing any binding agreements.

Galaforo had his license suspended in 2019 after allegedly failing to pay ajudgment against him, according to records If found in violation of the new allegations, theboard could fine Galaforo up to 10% of the projectvalue, along with administrative costs for the investigation againsthim.

Mayor TimBaudier did not respond to arequest for comment, but said at aCity Council meeting last week that he refuses“to let any sort of sting” be put on the Park of Heroes memorial.

“We’re working hard every day

Am Iperfect? Not by along shot, but Itry my best every single day when Iwake up,” Baudier told the chamber

“Toimply that anything may have been done nefarious is ludicrous, and intentionally to try to put a stain on my tenure as mayor,and I’m not going to tolerate it because Iknow that Igive this community 24/7 of my life, and I’ve done that for six and ahalf years.”

Breakdownofnumbers

Baudier previously explained on social media how the Park of

CHARGES

Continued from page1B

Continued from page1B the scene.

TheSheriff’sOfficeinitially booked Beaudettewith vehicular homicide, hit and run and reckless operation.

But soon afterBeaudette’sarrest, posts on social media began to question whether it wasBeaudette’svehicle that hit Ramirez

“As new evidence came to light, it became clear that the initial charge of vehicular homicide was not supported,” SheriffRandy Smith said in astatement.

“The investigation remains active as we work to fully understand what led to this tragic loss of a young life,” Smith said in the news release.

Asecond vehicle has been identified as possibly being involved and therole its driver may have played is under investigation, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

ASheriff’s Office spokesperson said Friday that no additionalinformation would be released and that Sheriff Randy Smith would notbe available for an interview

“He sat in jail for two weeks, while his three children and 71/2-month-pregnant wife waitedfor himtobereleased,” saidJoe Raspanti, aMetairie-based lawyerwho is representing Beaudette Sims’ office said it would refuse charges related to Beaudette’sarrest for vehicular homicide, hit and run driving and recklessoperation of amotor vehicle, according to the news release the District Attorney’sOffice sent out.

Heroes wassplit into smaller projects, like the walking trail, thedisplays and the drainage system,and that the memorialhad garnered international support. Invoices show that thememorial wassplitinto 14 differentphases, andthe water wall fountain was split into at least six phases.

State lawrequires acontractor’s license for any projects costing $50,000, or $10,000 for plumbing, mechanical or electrical projects. It also prohibits the splitting of projectsinto multiple phases for the sake of avoiding bids.

Statelaw also requires that public works projects valuedat$250,000 or more go through aformalpublic bid process with advertisements Butwhen TheTimes-Picayune requested allprocurement documents and contracts withGalaforo for the Park of Heroes, the city said no such recordsexist.

Galaforo invoiced the city for more than $560,000 forwork performed on the memorial park project commemorating Harahan nativeswho died during military service. It openedearlier this year and includesawalking trail, sculptures andwater wall fountain next to the HarahanPlayground.

The memorialpark was funded through $405,000 in state funds and $200,000 in private donations, accordingtoBaudier,along withat least $50,000incity funds.

The contractor also renovated Harahan’sEmergencyOperations Center for at least $125,000 and built agazeboand wooden awnings at theHarahan SeniorCenter,along with other upgrades, forabout $84,000, according to the city check register.

The newsrelease states “there is sufficientinformationtoconclude that refusal of the aforementioned charges is appropriate.”

The Sheriff’sOffice said in the news release it is still requesting that Beaudette be chargedwith driving while intoxicated, child endangerment,driving with a suspended licenseand no childrestraint.

“This isa classical example of why the presumption of innocence is important in American jurisprudence. My client was raked over thecoals on social media,”Raspanti said in aphone interview Friday

“The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office within fivedays knew that Cody was not theperpetrator of thecrime withoutquestion, Raspanti claimed.

He said an investigator working for Beaudette provided theSheriff’sOffice with video evidence showing avehicle that wasnot Cody’svehicle going intothe subdivision where the6-year-old was hit.

Thevehicle didnot havedamage to the fendergoing in,but leftthe subdivision two minutes later with adamaged fender,Raspanti said.

“The information we gave them clearly exonerated my client and inculpated anotherperson,who I think they should be able to identify quite easily,” he said “Defense attorneys and family members shouldn’tberesponsible for doing thebasic investigations that are incumbent upon theSheriff’s Office to do when deciding who to arrest in atragic case like this.”

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

The 2024 audit for theCityofHarahan, performed by EisnerAmper and published July 9, alsoreported findings in which an unnamed vendor received four paymentstotaling $279,986 for one project without any writtenbids, as well as another instance where an unnamed vendor

received $434,190 in American Rescue PlanAct dollars without any contract or bids outofa testsample of 12 vendors. It alsofound that the city failed to properly amend its budget to account for total ARPAexpenditures from last year,among other accounting issues.

In awritten response dated June

24,Baudier concurred with the auditor’sfindings andsaidthe city would implement acorrective action plan before the end of the year but did not directly address the issues of lacking bids or contracts.

Baudier,56, is serving his second and final term as mayor.Before his mayorship,heservedonthe City Council for eight years.

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Tricia Rogers, left,and Rosslyn Stone, LSU fans traveling for the Clemsongame, look overtheir plans together duringaseason kickoff tailgate partyatthe Baton RougeMetropolitan AirportonFriday.

Avegno, John Brisco Jr., Gladdis

Pecunia, Georganne

Pesses, Harold

ScoginJr.,Douglas

EJefferson

Garden of Memories

Avegno, John NewOrleans

Lake Lawn Metairie

Brisco Jr., Gladdis

Pesses, Harold St Tammany Honaker

Pecunia, Georganne

ScoginJr.,Douglas

Obituaries

Avegno,JohnBernard

John BernardAvegno, affectionately knownas Johnny B” and“Tuna Fish,”passedawayonAu‐gust21, 2025. He wasborn tothe late FrancesMusser and Thomas LouisAvegno, and wasa belovedbrother, uncle,and friend.Johnis survivedbyhis brothers, ThomasLouis Avegno III and TimothyRobert Avegno(Claire); his nephews,MartinAvegno, Hugh Russell, andBen Rus‐

sell; andhis nieces, Caro‐lineAndress, MollyCreel Charlotte Bradford,Katie Newland,and Rachel Krentz. He is preceded in death by hissister, Anne AvegnoRussell, andhis brother-in-law, Howard Russell Jr.Johnwas alongtimememberofthe Mag‐nolia School community where he wasknownand loved.The familyextends their heartfeltthanksto the Magnolia Community Servicesstaff fortheir compassionate care and support throughout the years.Inlieuof flowers, donations maybemadein John’smemorytoMagno‐lia Community Services 100 CentralAve., Jefferson, LA70121.A privatememor‐ial servicewas held on Fri‐day,August29, 2025 Arrangementsare being handled by Garden of MemoriesFuneralHome, 4900 AirlineDr.,Metairie, LA70001.Toshare condo‐lences, please visitwww gardenofmemoriesmetairi e.com.

BriscoJr., GladdisClay

Gladdis Clay BriscoJr. at the ageof72went to be with the LordonFriday, August 22, 2025when he heardJesus say,"Come untomeall ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give yourest.You have foughta goodfight, you have finishedthe race,you have kept the faith." Relativesand friends are invited to attend the funeral services at St.Josephine Bakhita CatholicChurch, 3501 NMiroStreetinNew Orleans,onSaturday,

August 30, 2025. Visitation willbegin at 9:00 a.m. with aMemorial Mass following at 10:00 a.m. Gladdiswill be laidtorest at Mt.Olivet Cemetery at 12 p.m.

Pecunia, Georganne Fried'Jan'

Georganne “Jan”Fried Pecunia, age90, of Slidell, Louisiana,passedaway peacefullyonAugust23, 2025, surrounded by family. BornMay 30, 1935, in New Orleans,she wasthe daughterofthe late GeorgeS.Fried Sr.and Josephine Favorita Fried. OnJanuary 18, 1958, she married Harold Jude Pecu‐nia,withwhomshe shared 67years of devotedmar‐riage.She is survived by her husband, Harold;two sons, Dr.RickPecuniaand his wife,Melanie,and Ron Pecuniaand hiswife, Melissa;and sevengrand‐

children:Anna Claire,John Morris, Jackson, Hunter Bryce,Grace andAn‐neliese.Jan waspreceded indeath by herparents and herbrother,George Fried Jr.Rememberedfor her extraordinaryvocal tal‐ent,Jan chosetodedicate her life to family, faith, music andcommunity.She was also admiredfor her eleganceand grace, al‐waysimpeccablydressed and radiant. Afuneral ser‐vicewillbeheldat Honaker FuneralHome, 1751 GauseBlvd. West Slidell, LA 70460 on Thurs‐day,September 4, 2025 withvisitationbeginning at9:00amand serviceat 12:00 pm.The familyex‐pressesheartfelt gratitude tothe teamsatSlidell MemorialHospitaland Compassus Hospicefor their exceptionalcare. In lieuof flowers, memorial contributions maybe madetoAmericanLegion, Post185, Slidell, LA or Our LadyofLourdes Catholic Church,Slidell, LA.Please visit www.honakerforestla wn.comtosignguestbook ArrangementsbyHonaker FuneralHome, Inc.,Slidell, LA.

Pesses, Harold Alton Harold Alton Pesses, age71, diedathis Metairie residence on Friday, August 29, 2025. Funeral servicewillbeonSunday, August 31, 2025 at Lake

LawnMetairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd.New Orleans, LA 70124. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. untilthe service at 11:00 a.m. Intermentwill follow in Beth Israel Cemetery.(Full obituaryonSunday).

ScoginJr.,Douglas 'Skip'

Douglas“Skip”Scogin Jr.,78, of Slidell, Louisiana, passedawayonMonday, August25, 2025, in Slidell. Skipwas born May27, 1947, in Port Arthur,Texas When he was fifteen,the familymoved to Slidell. After attendingSoutheast Louisiana in Hammond, Skipbecameanaccoun‐tantfor theU.S.D.A.Hewas aparishioner of St.Mar‐

garetMarywhere he wasa memberofthe Knightsof Columbus. Skip is survived byhis sister,Susan F. Sco‐gin.Funeral Services will beheldatHonaker Funeral Home, 1751 GauseBlvd. West, on Friday,September 5,2025. Visitation will begin at 9:00 am followed bythe funeralservice at 11:00 am.Burialwillbein ForestLawnCemetery. Pleasevisit www.honaker forestlawn.comtosign guestbook.Arrangements byHonaker FuneralHome, Inc.,Slidell, LA

When youneed thenews. Wherever youreadthe news

Thenewspaper of record for NewOrleans

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

More shrimp pulled for potential contamination

More companies are recalling tens of thousands of packages of imported shrimp sold at Walmart, Kroger and other U.S. stores because they may contain radioactive contamination, according to federal notices.

AquaStar USA Corp. of Seattle is recalling more than 26,000 packages of refrigerated cocktail shrimp sold at Walmart stores in 27 states between July 31 and Aug. 16. The company is also recalling about 18,000 bags of Kroger-branded cooked, medium peeled, tail-off shrimp sold at stores in 17 states between July 24 and Aug. 11

At the same time, H&N Group Inc., a wholesale seafood distributor in Vernon, California, is recalling more than 17,000 cases of frozen shrimp sold to grocery stores on the East Coast, according to a notice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That recall began on Aug. 12. The products have been pulled because they may be contaminated with Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope that is a byproduct of nuclear reactions. The risk appears to be small, but the shrimp could pose a “potential health concern” for people exposed to low levels of Cesium-137 over time, FDA officials said.

Delta settles after jet dumped fuel on schools

LOS ANGELES Delta Air Lines has agreed to pay $79 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed in 2020 after one of its airplanes that was experiencing engine trouble dumped its fuel over schoolyards and densely populated neighborhoods near Los Angeles.

The Delta jet had departed from Los Angeles to Shanghai on Jan. 14, 2020, when it needed to quickly return to Los Angeles International Airport. The Boeing 777-200 landed safely after circling back over Los Angeles while dumping 15,000 gallons of fuel to reach a safe landing weight.

Los Angeles County firefighters were called to schools in the city of Cudahy, where nearly 60 schoolchildren and teachers were examined for minor skin and lung irritations. None required hospitalization.

Shortly after, teachers from Park Avenue Elementary School in Cudahy filed a lawsuit against the airline, saying they were exposed to jet fuel that drizzled down like raindrops with “overwhelming” fumes. Later, several Cudahy homeowners filed a class-action suit. The teachers said they sought medical treatment after the incident and experienced physical and emotional pain.

780,000 pressure washers under recall

NEWYORK About 780,000 pressure washers sold at retailers like Home Depot are being recalled across the U.S. and Canada due to a projectile hazard that has resulted in fractures and other injuries among some consumers. According to a Thursday recall notice published by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, TTI Outdoor Power Equipment is recalling certain models of its Ryobi-branded electric pressure washers because the products’ capacitor can overheat and burst, “causing parts to be forcefully ejected.”

Consumers in possession of the now-recalled pressure washers are urged to stop using them immediately and visit Ryobi’s recall website to learn about how to receive a free repair kit, which includes a replacement capacitor The Ryobi washers under recall have model numbers RY142300 and RY142711VNM. About 764,000 were sold in the U.S., in addition to 16,000 in Canada. In the U.S. these products were sold at Home Depot and Direct Tools Factory Outlet between July 2017 and June 2024, the CPSC notes, for about $300 to $400 in stores and online.

BUSINESS

NOLA.COM/BIZ

Key inflation gauge holds steady

BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP economics writer

WASHINGTON The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge mostly held steady last month despite President Donald Trump’s broad-based tariffs, but a measure of underlying inflation increased.

Prices rose 2.6% in July compared with a year ago, the Commerce Department said Friday, the same annual increase as in June. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, prices rose 2.9% from a year earlier, up from 2.8% in the previous month and the highest since February

The figures illustrate why many officials at the Federal Reserve have been reluctant to cut their key interest rate. While inflation is much lower than the roughly 9.1% peak it reached three years ago, it is still running noticeably above the Fed’s 2% target. At the same time, the report showed that consumer spending picked up last month and could boost economic growth, which weakened considerably in the first six months of the year

On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.2% from June to July, down from 0.3% the previous month, while core prices increased

0.3% for the second month in a row

The figures are similar to those reported earlier this month in the more widely followed consumer price index, which has risen 2.7% from a year ago. The core CPI increased 3.1% in July compared with a year earlier

Separately, the Friday report showed that consumer spending jumped 0.5% in July, the biggest increase since March and a sign that many Americans are still willing to open their wallets despite high interest rates. Spending jumped sharply for long-lasting goods such as cars, appliances and furniture, many of which are imported.

Trump cancels $679M in wind projects

Administration continues attacks on reeling industry

BY MATTHEW DALY Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Transportation Department on Friday canceled $679 million in federal funding for a dozen offshore wind projects, the latest attack by the Trump administration on the reeling U.S. offshore wind industry

Funding for projects in 11 states was rescinded, including $435 million for a floating wind farm in Northern California and $47 million to boost an offshore wind project in Maryland that the Interior Department has pledged to cancel.

“Wasteful, wind projects are using resources that could otherwise go towards revitalizing America’s maritime industry,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement.

“Thanks to President Trump, we are prioritizing real infrastructure improvements over fantasy wind projects that cost much and offer little.”

The Trump administration has stepped up its crusade against wind and other renewable energy sources in recent weeks, cutting federal funding and canceling projects approved by the Biden administration in a sustained attack on clean energy sources that scientists say are crucial to the fight against climate change.

President Donald Trump has vowed to restore U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market and has pushed to increase U.S. reliance on fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas.

California Rep. Jared Huffman, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, called Duffy’s action “outrageous” and deeply disappointing.

“It’s

an

attack on our jobs. It’s

an

attack on our energy. It’s an attack on our families and their ability to pay the bills.”

DAN McKEE,governor of Rhode Island

Trump and his Cabinet “have a stubborn and mystifying hatred of clean energy,” Huffman said in an interview “It’s so dogmatic. They are willing to eliminate thousands of jobs and an entire sector that can bring cheap, reliable power to American consumers.”

The canceled funding will be redirected to upgrade ports and other infrastructure in the U.S., where possible, according to the Transportation Department.

Separately, Trump’s Energy Department said Friday it is withdrawing a $716 million loan guarantee approved by the Biden administration to upgrade and expand transmission infrastructure to accommodate a nowthreatened offshore wind project in New Jersey

The moves come as the administration abruptly halted construction last week of a nearly complete wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island and Connecticut. The Interior Department said the government needs to review the $4 billion Revolution Wind project and address national security concerns. It did not specify what those concerns are.

Democratic governors, lawmakers and union workers in New England have called for Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to reverse course.

Trump has long expressed disdain for wind power, frequently calling it an ugly and expensive form of energy that “smart” countries don’t use.

Last week, with U.S. electricity prices rising at more than twice the rate of inflation, Trump lashed out, falsely blaming renewable power for skyrocket-

Incomes rose 0.4% from June to July, boosted by a healthy gain in wages and salaries, the report showed.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell has said the central bank will likely cut its key rate at its meeting next month. But policymakers are expected to proceed cautiously Trump has relentlessly pushed Powell and the Fed for lower interest rates, calling Powell “Too Late” and a “moron” and arguing that there is “no inflation.” On Monday he sought to fire Lisa Cook, a member of the Fed’s governing board, after allegations of mortgage fraud were revealed.

ing energy costs. He called wind and solar energy “THE SCAM OF THE CENTURY!” in a social media post and vowed not to approve any wind or solar projects.

“We’re not allowing any windmills to go up unless there’s a legal situation where somebody committed to it a long time ago,”

Trump said at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Energy analysts say renewable sources have little to do with recent price hikes, which are based on increased demand from artificial intelligence and energyhungry data centers, along with aging infrastructure and increasingly extreme weather events such as wildfires that are exacerbated by climate change.

Revolution Wind’s developer, Danish energy company Orsted, said it is evaluating the financial impact of stopping construction on the New England project and is considering legal proceedings Revolution Wind was expected to be Rhode Island and Connecticut’s first commercial-scale offshore wind farm, capable of powering more than 350,000 homes.

Trump has made sweeping strides to prioritize fossil fuels and hinder renewable energy projects. Those include reviewing wind and solar energy permits, canceling plans to use large areas of federal waters for new offshore wind development and stopping work on another offshore wind project for New York, although construction was later allowed to resume.

Some critics say the steps to cancel projects put Americans’ livelihoods at risk.

“It’s an attack on our jobs,” Rhode Island Gov Dan McKee said of the move to stop construction of Revolution Wind. “It’s an attack on our energy It’s an attack on our families and their ability to pay the bills.”

Patrick Crowley, president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, said his union is “going to fight (Trump) every step of the way, no matter how long it takes.”

Street closed out an-

winning month Friday, even as stocks gave back some of their recent gains, pulling the market below its latest all-time highs. The S&P 500 fell 0.6% a day after climbing to a record high. The benchmark index ended August with a 1.9% gain, its fourth straight month of gains. It’s now up 9.8% so far this year The Dow Jones Industrial Average also came off its own record high, slipping 0.2%, while the Nasdaq composite closed 1.2% lower “The reason the market is down today is primarily because we are heading into a long weekend, and a lot of traders don’t like to have a hefty exposure over a long weekend because of the news that could come out and take them by surprise,” said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA. Mixed economic data may also have given traders an excuse to sell and pocket some profits following the market’s milestone-setting week A closely watched measure of inflation showed prices mostly held steady last month, and a survey of consumer sentiment suggested Americans’ worries about the economy and prices intensified since July Losses in technology weighed on the market, offsetting gains in health care and other sectors.

Dell Technologies slid 8.9% for the biggest decline among S&P 500 stocks a day after the company reported second-quarter revenue that exceeded analysts’ expectations, but noted margin pressures and weakness in PC revenue.

Among other tech companies that ended the day in the red: Tech giant Nvidia fell 3.3%, Broadcom dropped 3.6% and Oracle slid 5.9%. Treasury yields were mixed in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.23% from 4.21% late Wednesday The yield on the two-year Treasury, which more closely tracks expectations for Federal Reserve action, slipped to 3.62% from 3.63%. Among the stocks that weighed on the market Friday were Ulta Beauty and Marvell Technology Ulta fell 7.1% despite posting second-quarter earnings and revenue that topped analysts’ estimates, while Marvell slid 18.6% after its third-quarter guidance fell short of what Wall Street was expecting. Petco Health & Wellness and Autodesk bucked the broader market slide after reporting better-thanexpected quarterly results Petco jumped 23.5% and Autodesk climbed

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JENNIFER McDERMOTT Patrick Crowley, president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO calls on the Trump administration to allow work to resume on the Revolution Wind offshore wind farm at a news conference Monday in North Kingstown, R.I

OPINION

What’s happening with FEMA is seriousbusiness

The time to worry about natural disasters is before, not after,they happen.

That’swhy Louisiana has reason to worry about what’shappening at the Federal Emergency Management Agency We’ve seen the consequences when FEMA doesn’twork.

swift execution of ourmission.” It cites the dismissal of “experienced staff whose institutional knowledge and relationships are vital to ensure effective emergency management.”

Ron Faucheux

Aslow response to Hurricane Katrina, bureaucratic failures and lack of vigorous coordination brought addedmisery to already unbearable conditions. Red tape and silly rules often thwarted efforts of first responders, local officials, charities and church groups to provide badly neededassistance.

One-third of FEMA’s full-time staff, according to the letter,has left so far this year,either voluntarily or not.The actingdirector of theagency,accordingtoThe Wall StreetJournal, acknowledged just two weeks before the currentAtlantic hurricane season began that he didnot haveafully formed disaster-response plan

FEMA was created in 1979 to bring together federal agencies dealing with disaster assistance, state preparedness, flood insurance, weather services,fire prevention and other functions. Later,the Stafford Act was passed, authorizing the president to act on emergency preparedness and pre-disaster mitigation assistance.

Hours after Katrina hit, FEMA became the poster child for bureaucratic incompetence. That’swhy President George W. Bush’s infamous comment about FEMA’s then-director Michael D. Brown —“Brownie, you’re doing aheck of ajob —was an embarrassment, especiallyfor aformer Gulf Coast governor who should have known better Since then, changes have been proposedtofixFEMA. Bipartisan legislation introduced this summer in Congress(HR 4669) includes a host of reforms —reducing paperwork, improving transparency and strengthening coordination among agencies. According to the bill’sauthor,House Transportation Committee chair Sam Graves of Missouri, it’sintended “to cut through the bureaucracy,streamline programs, provide flexibility,and return FEMA to its core purpose of empowering the states to lead and coordinating the federal response when it’sneeded.”

This all sounds good.

Reshaping FEMA into avigilant, nimble and smooth-running operation is essential. But fixing the problem isn’tjust agoal for the future; it must be done now,during the current hurricane season. This is why apublic letter of protest, recently signed by more than 180 FEMA officials and employees,must not be ignored.

The letter claims that, since January,“FEMA has beenunder the leadership of individuals lacking legal qualifications, Senate approval, and the demonstrated background required of aFEMA Administrator.”

It says the current FEMA management hinders “the

In addition,the letter is critical of theTrumpadministration’s impoundment of FEMA funds and transfer of assets, which led to problemsduring theJuly floods in Kerrville, Texas. “Mission assignments were delayed up to 72 hours,” claims the letter

Theletter also warns against efforts to eliminate pre-disaster mitigation programs, whichoften benefit Louisiana.“As disasters growmore frequentand costly,removingmitigation initiatives is fiscally irresponsible and puts American lives andpropertyatunnecessary risk.” The letter points out that, on average, FEMA mitigation grants save taxpayers $6 for every $1 spent.

AFEMA Review Council, co-chaired bysecretaries of the homelandsecurity and defensedepartments, is now exploringways to restructure disastermanagement The council’smembership is heavily weighted toward members from Southern states that are frequently in hurricane paths. It includes currentand former governors ofVirginia, Texas andMississippi, as well as Tampa’smayor.Mark Cooper,who was chief ofstaff to former LouisianaGov JohnBel Edwards, is also amember.Afinal report is due by Nov. 16. The Trumpadministration’splan to abolish FEMA and rechannel funding directlytothe states isa complex issue, requiringa formula to determinewho gets what,when and how Can we trust Washington to do this right?Will Louisianabeleft holdinganempty bag? If it comes to that,let’s hope our state’spowerful congressional delegation canprotect us. Improvingthe performance, management and structure of any government bureaucracy is agood thing.FEMA reformcould work, if done properly Given what we’veseen, that remains abig “if.”

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

GAMEDAY

lS uA Tc le mS on •6 :30 P. m. SA Tu rd Ay •A Bc

EC IC SHIFT

Bythe time Tamarcus Cooley decided to transfer to LSUinmid-January,the former NorthCarolina State safety knewquite well the Tigers’ portal train was steaming toward something big.

“I was definitely aware” of the other players LSUwas pulling in, Cooley said. “I knew for afact we could build somethinghere. It was amajor factor.”

By thetime Cooley pickedLSU on Jan.13, theTigers already had gotten players such as Florida edge rusher JackPyburn, Virginia Tech center Braelin Moore andcornerback Mansoor Delane, Oklahoma wide receiverNic Anderson and Kentucky receiver/kick return specialist BarionBrown. All thoseplayersare expectedtoplaysignificant roles forNo. 9LSU as it begins theseason Saturday in ablockbuster opener at No.4 Clemson (6:30 p.m., ABC).

Also by the time Cooley picked LSU, the Tigers hadlost thepledge of high school quarterback Bryce Underwood to Michigan,his home stateschool.

Scott Rabalais

LSUGAMEDAY

LSU at CLEMSON

BROADCAST INFORMATION TEAM SCHEDULES

6:30 p.m. Saturday,MemorialStadium,Clemson,S.C

TV: ABC| Line: Clemson by 4

Radio: WDGL-FM, 98.1; WWL-AM, 870; WWL-FM,105.3;

LSU

Thetwo eventualities —the flipofthe nation’sNo. 1prepprospect and the attraction of agroup of players thateventually would comprise the nation’stop-ranked transfer portal class —reflect the newrealities of attracting talent and building rosters in present day college football. And neither are mutually exclusive of each other

According to previous Advocate reporting, LSU was prepared to offer Underwood $1.5 millionper season to play in Baton Rouge. The prospect of walking the same path as recent LSU Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks Joe Burrowand Jayden Daniels resonated withUnderwood, who was committedtothe Tigers for ayear

But in November,Michigan swooped in with adeal worthy of “The Godfather” —anoffer Underwood could not refuse. Oracle founder Larry Ellison (worth$282 billion, according to Forbes) teamed withBarstool Sports founder and Michigan alum Dave Portnoy(not worth nearly as much, but also filthy rich) to help Big Blue reportedly offer Underwood $12 million for his college career

Having already given away the ending, you know that LSUcouldn’torwouldn’tcompete withsuch an offer.LSU spent only (only being arelative term in today’shigh-priced talent market) $5.5 milliononits roster forthe 2024 season and acombined $11 million over the previous three seasons.

The phrase “youget what you pay for” applies here, for better or worse. LSU was unable to compliment astar-studdedoffense in 2023 led by Daniels and receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas witheven amediocre defense. That team missed out on aberth in the four-team College Football Playoffbecause of it

In 2024, LSU was not quiteasgood offensively but somewhat better defensively and got taken out of contention for the now 12team CFPbyamidseason three-game losing streak, winding up 9-4 after aTexas Bowl win over Baylor. It was anice way to finish. But if playing in the CFPisthe equivalent of playingon Broadway,the Tigers were doing community theater in the Texas Bowl.

LSU coach BrianKelly mincedfew words about where LSU was withits roster-building capabilities during his first threeseasons in BatonRouge.

FILEPHOTO By PAUL

Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood throws apass during aspring game on April 19 in Ann Arbor,Mich.Underwood flipped hiscommitment from LSUtoMichigan in November

“Everyone talks about iron sharpening iron,” Kelly said Wednesday on the SEC coaches’ media teleconference. “Wedidn’t have iron. It was iron versus butter.”

Harsh words, perhaps, but honest ones. Clearly,tobuild up its roster to be able to contend in the SEC and for one of those coveted CFP berths, LSU had to have the financial means to do so. Maybe LSU couldn’tquite get to aposition to lavish $12 milliononthe career of one player such as Underwood, but to borrow aterm from the movie “Moneyball,” perhaps LSU could re-create him in the aggregate

Sometimesyou have to lose to win. In the case of the Underwood flip, that mayturn out to be the scenario for LSU.

Kelly realized the program had to do more to attract talent. He pledged $1 millionfrom his compensation package (money that by rule had to go to the Tiger Athletic Foundation’sscholarship fund, not to LSU’sNIL efforts) to get boosters to kick into afundraiser called the “Million Dollar Match Challenge.” The campaign netted $3.23 millionindonations, and LSU was well on its way Through Kelly’scommitment and some highly motivated fundraising from boosters who want to see the Tigers back on top, LSU spent the equivalent of aCaribbean island nation’sGDP to stock its roster with top-shelf transfers and high school talent. On his first weekly radio show of the new season Aug. 21, Kelly revealed that figure to be $18 million. LSU

STAFF PREDICTIONS

REED DARCEY

CLEMSON 30, LSU 26

Clemsonis flushwithreturning talent,and it’s playingathome. Thosefacts make it toughto find apathtoanLSU upset, even though preseason camp hasshown that this roster,onpaper,isthe strongestone BrianKelly’s builtsofar in histenure in BatonRouge.T.J.Parkerand PeterWoods have theirway with an unsettledoffensive line,forcing GarrettNussmeier outofrhythm.

ZACH EWING

LSU 31, CLEMSON 28

Clemsonreturns alot,but let’snot forget that it wasnot aplayoff team last year untila dramatic winoverSMU in theACC championship game Clemsondidn’tbeatanyonein2024asgoodas this LSUteam, andthe purple andgold Tigers have spentthe offseasonrestockingtheir roster and overemphasizingthisgame. LSU finally findsa way to endthe season-opening drought.

SCOTTRABALAIS

CLEMSON 27,LSU 24

If this game were played in TigerStadium —Death Valley Sr., as BrianKelly wouldhaveit— Iwould pick LSU. As it is,it’saskinga lotofLSU to break itslosingstreakinits firsttruetop-10roadseason opener.I thinkLSU keepsitclose,withGarrett Nussmeierconnectingonatleast acoupleof bigplays,but theroadTigersfallshort trying to overcome a10-pointfourth-quarterdeficit.

KOKI

RILEY

CLEMSON 21,LSU 17

LSUcan winthisgameifthe offensivelineholds itsown againstanelite Clemsondefensive front. Butit’shardtobankonthat, givenLSU’s question marksatleftguard andright tackle,the group’slack of experience playingtogetherand thechallenges of havingtodoitall on theroad. KeepingGarrett Nussmeieronhis feet will be achallenge throughout thenight

PHOTOByMICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU wide receiver Nic Anderson, left, hauls in apass against cornerbackMichael Turner during adrill at spring practice on April 12 at TigerStadium. Anderson was one of several transfers to join the Tigers during the offseason AP

SANCyA

LSU head coach Brian Kelly stands at midfieldwatching drills during aspring practice on April 12 at TigerStadium.

Kelly agreed that losing Underwoodwas a catalyst for raising the moneytohelpbuild this year’sroster through the portal and with high school recruits such as five-starcornerback DJ Pickett, achallenger for astarting role.

“All those things play into what Ihavesaid from Day 1,” Kelly said. “Inthis new model you have to be able to adapt to current circumstances. Certainlythat (Underwood) was abig one we had to address and adaptto.

“At the end of the day,itwas our fanbase that stepped up and said we need to be part of this. With the giftImade and over 1,500 gifts to support our roster,everybody had their ear to the ground and were readyto adjust and be attunedtowhat’sgoing on in college football.”

LSU ended up with 18 transfers, many of whom likely willplay key roles against Clemson. Itwas important, Kelly said, not just to pull talented players out of the portal, but the right players. The unstated conclusion being that LSU finally had the means goinginto this season to do just that.

“We’ve been at this for the past nine months,” Kellysaid. “You make sure you recruit the right guys. This is ateam we were very intentional about in terms of going out and getting mature players who can stand up to those moments” against ateam such as Clemson.

“When you’re putting together the DNA of afootball team, it’snot just about talent acquisition. It’smaking sure you have the piecesnecessary to compete in thosemoments. When there’saturnover.When there’sasudden change. Whenmomentumis not going your way.What is the makeup of your team?

“I want to have the conversation after the game that we competed the right way.That our composure was amazing. And that we played with great confidence.”

Underwood definitely would havehad to sit at least one year at LSU, waiting for his turn to be the starting quarterbackbehindestablished star and fifth-year seniorGarrett

Nussmeier.AtMichigan, he has been thrust into astarting role. At theexact same time as LSU’stough-as-nails opener withClemson kicks off, Underwood and the Wolverines will ease into 2025 at home against five-touchdown underdog New Mexico. Things don’t get real for Michigan and its$12 million man until next week at No. 18 Oklahoma.

When you’re puttingtogether theDNA of a football team, it’s notjust about talent acquisition It’smaking sure youhavethe pieces necessaryto compete in those moments.When there’saturnover. When there’sa sudden change. When momentum is not going your way.What is the makeup of your team?”

Losing out on Underwood may have spurred LSU and itswell-heeled boosters to help build acontender rosterthis year,but recruiting is an annual thing. Nussmeier will leavefor the NFL after this season —LSU clearly made it worthhis while to stay for 2025. That means the Tigers will look to recently transferredquarterback Michael VanBuren from Mississippi State or current redshirt freshman Colin Hurley to be their quarterback in 2026. Just as likely,LSU will head back into the portal to try to entice aprovenquarterback to transferinfor next season. Quarterbacks bounce all over the college football mapthese days, but you don’tfind areally good one in the discount aisle. If LSU wants/needs to go thatroutefor next season, it will cost dearly That’s aconcern for another time. Fornow,the focus is on making the CFP this season. Perhaps in the end it will all work out for LSUand Michigan, which happens to be the one traditional power program the Tigers never have played in football. Who knows? Maybe LSU and Michigan, who have won twoofthe past seven national championships and are eager to getthere again, will end up facing each other in the CFPcome December or January Like it or not, it takesthe kind of financial commitment LSU and Michigan made to get to the topthese days. No guarantee of success, of course, but not trying will guarantee you won’tmake it LSUknows that as well as anyone.

BRIAN KELLy, LSU coach

COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

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

Murray St. (0-0) at ETSU (0-0), 4:30 p.m.

Weber St. (0-0)atJames Madison(0-0),5 p.m.

New Hampshire(0-0) at NC Central(1-0),5 p.m.

Coastal Carolina (0-0)atVirginia (0-0),5 p.m.

Webber International (0-0)atStetson(0-0),5 p.m.

Presbyterian (0-0)atMercer (0-0), 5p.m.

Gardner-Webb (0-0)atW.Carolina (0-0), 5p.m.

Allen YellowJackets (0-0)atMoreheadSt. (0-0),5 p.m.

Wofford(0-0) at SC State (0-0), 5p.m

North Alabama (0-0)atW.Kentucky (1-0), 6p.m.

LIU Brooklyn (0-0) at Florida(0-0), 6p.m.

Charleston Southern(0-0)atVanderbilt (0-0),6 p.m.

AustinPeay(0-0) at MiddleTennessee (0-0),6 p.m.

Morgan St. (0-0)atSouth Alabama (0-0), 6p.m.

Georgia St. (0-0) at Mississippi (0-0), 6:45 p.m.

MIDWEST Texas(0-0) at OhioSt. (0-0), 11 a.m.

Ball St. (0-0)atPurdue (0-0), 11 a.m.

Merrimack (0-0)atKent St. (0-0), 11 a.m. Va.Lynchburg(0-0) at Valparaiso (0-0),1 p.m. Butler (0-0)atN.Iowa(0-0), 1p.m.

STAFF FILEPHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

THINGS TO WATCHINWEEK1

Tide turns to newquarterback No. 8Alabama is turning to longtime backup quarterback Ty Simpson to makehis first start when the Crimson Tide opens coach Kalen DeBoer’ssecond seasonat Florida State. Simpson will be tasked with gettingthe ball to asupporting cast led by receiver Ryan Williams.The Tide will be withoutrunning back Jam Miller (collarbone). Florida State is debuting a$265 million stadium renovation, arevamped offense and aretooled defense under sixth-year coach MikeNorvell aftera 2-10 campaign.

Underwood set for debut No.14Michigan opens the season at home againstNew Mexico. Former LSU commitment andNo. 1overall high school prospect Bryce Underwood is expected to takethe Wolverines’ first snap, becoming the fourth freshman quarterback to startinprogram history. Michigan beat No.11 Alabama 19-13 in the ReliaQuest Bowl,closing the season with three straight wins to finish 8-5. Thewinning streak included afourth straight win over rival OhioState in coachSherrone Moore’sdebut season.

Lotoforange in Atlanta No. 24 Tennessee and Syracuse openthe season at Mercedes-Benz StadiuminAtlanta. TheVolsare 3-0 all-time against theOrange. The last time the teams faced offwas in 2001 when Tennessee downedSyracuse 33-9 in Knoxville.Tennessee openedits 1998 national championship season with avictory over the OrangeatSyracuse.Both Tennessee and Syracusewent 10-3 last season.TennesseecoachJosh Heupel has a7-0 record in season openersduringhis coaching career

—AssociatedPress

Inside ‘1-0’mentality

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

In BrianKelly’s first year as LSU coach, preseason camp was meant to establishanew culture.

Year 2was about reinforcing those habits. Last season,anemphasis wasplaced on improving ahistorically poor defense from the prior year

This preseason, the tone was different again. Kelly and the Tigers’ sole focus has been going 1-0.

“I feel like our mentality is just 1-0, it’sClemson,” redshirt junior linebacker Harold Perkins said. “It’snot (Louisiana Tech) it’snot nobodyunderneath them. Our main focus and our mentality is to go 1-0 in Week 1.”

Winning the first game of the season has become amajor obstacle for LSU. The Tigers haven’twon aseason opener since 2019. Losses to Mississippi State and UCLA under Ed Orgeron havebeen followed by twodefeats to Florida Stateand afifth consecutive losslast year against Southern Cal. Breaking that trend will be anythingbut easy Saturday when No. 9LSU facesNo. 4 Clemson on the road (6:30 p.m., ABC). Clemson enters the matchup with athird-year starting quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate in Cade Klubnik, and two potential firstroundpicks on the defensive line.

“Whatever poll you’re looking at, it’satop-five team,” Kelly said. “They reached the(College Football Playoff last year). Iknow coach (Dabo Swinney) very well. Thirteen seasons at 10 wins. They’re the epitome of consistency at the highest level.” When it comes to emphasizing the importance of winning the first game, Kelly hastranslated his words into actions by adjustingLSU’spreseason practice schedule.

In years past, it wasseemingly randomized until the week of thefirst game.This preseason, LSU has been on aconsistent game-weekschedule for three weeks before the first game of the year

“Usually in camp, it’s kind of choppy,” junior linebacker Whit Weeks said. “You’ll go three days on, have aweird off day, like on aWednesday. Butfor the past three weeks, we’ve been practicing Monday throughSaturday, andthen(have an)off day on Sunday.” The game-weekschedule also has included night scrimmages under the lights at TigerStadi-

coach Jake Flint) did an unbelievable job putting together a practice schedule,” fifth-year senior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier said, “just as faras allowing us to get intoroutines, (to) build (and) start to build routines, something we talk a lot about here.

“And so Ithink it’sbeen extremely beneficial, andIthink it’sgoing to pay off.” Kelly isn’tready to take avictory lap. Whether the schedule changesactually worked won’t be determined until Saturday’s gameisover ButasLSU inchesclosertoward its massive showdown with Clemson, Kelly is happy with how his team prepared for thebig game.

um the past two Saturdays. Both practices have been at 6:30p.m., thesametime LSU will face Clemson this weekend.

“It really feelslike you’re goinginto agame,”Weeks said.

“All day you’re preparinglike it’sagame.” Gettingintoits game-week routine weeks earlierhas helped

LSU develop stronger habits heading into this Saturday.For example,atypical Tuesdayfor Kelly’steam during game week is called “Attitude Tuesday.” Before it faces Clemson, LSU will have had threeAttitude Tuesdays. “I think coach Kelly and (strengthand conditioning

“This was really about trying to get intoa routine, so game week didn’tfeel so unusual,” Kelly said. “And Ithink our guys really adapted well to understanding that even in camp, each day of the week. waslaid out.”

“And Ithink that allowedthem to be alot more intentionalabout their work each and every day.”

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

BY JOE REEDY Associated Press

COLUMBUS,Ohio— Texasand Ohio State are used to dealing with pressure. The expectationsfor both programsgoing into Saturday are at fever pitch as the top-ranked Longhorns and defending national champion No. 3Buckeyes meet in oneofthe most-hypedopeners in recent memory.

“It is agreat way to start the year It’sjust different. There’spositivesand negatives to everything, but what agreat game to kickoff the season with against agreat opponent,” Ohio State coach Ryan Daysaid. This will be the fifth meeting between thevaunted programs.Inthreeofthe past four meetings— includingthe two times they have met in the regular season —the winner has gone on to play for the national title.

The last matchup was Jan. 10 in aCollege Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl, when the Buckeyes pulled away in the second half for a28-14 victory In the232 days sincethe teamslast met, 26 players fromthat game were selected in the NFLdraft(Ohio State 14, Texas 12) with only 17 of the 44 combined starters on offense and defense forboth sides returning.

“At the end of the day,that stung walking outofthe Cotton Bowl last year.But this is anew challenge, anew journey, anew mission we’re on,” Texascoach Steve Sarkisian said.

Arch Madness

Heisman Trophy contender Arch Manning will make histhird collegiate start. He playedin10games last season,including twostarts, and made abrief appearance against the Buckeyes and had an 8-yard carry.Eventhough thesophomore hasreceivedthe most attention, Manning realizes that thegame will not only come downtohim

“I always have to remind myself it’s not about me,it’sabout the whole team,” he said. “Wehave to play the situations well, not give them short fields andtake care of the ball. Our receivers have gotten together every practice.”

Ohio State’sJeremiahSmith gets all the hype at wide receiver,but Texas has abudding playmakerreadyfor abreakoutseason.RyanWingo had29catches for472 yards and two touchdowns last season as freshman. Like Smith, Wingo can be aphysical mismatch forsome defensive backs at 6-foot-1, 215 pounds with speed.

TheOther QB

Ohio State’s JulianSayin will be making his first start. The sophomore took 27 snaps in four games last season and was 5for 12 for84yards and one touchdown. Sayin is thefifth quarterbackunder Day to makehis first start, joining Dwayne Haskins (in 2018 when Daywas the offensive coordinator), Justin Fields (2019), C.J. Stroud (2021) andKyle McCord (2023).

What aboutthe defenses?

Matt Patricia takes over as Ohio State’s defensive coordinator and inherited a unit that hadonlythree returningstarters. One of those is safety Caleb Downs, whommany have as one of the top-ranked defensive prospects for next year’sdraft. Aconcern remainsthe defensiveline, which has four new starters. Texas has six starters returning but lost two in the

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

blows the whistle to end adrill at aspring practice on April12atTiger Stadium.

Tigers this preseasonhas been solely on winning the opener

Havennot atypical top-notch recruit

Dunham QB takes analytical approach to intenseinterest

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

About five or six years ago,ElijahHaven sat down and penciled outhis future

His plan?

Pursue acareer in computerengineering and found his own company. He didn’thave all thedetailssketchedout,but he didhave aname—Haven Tech —and he madesure to include it in the essay he submittedfor a middle school award.

But plans can change and priorities can shift, especially for someoneasathletically gifted as Haven.

“As early as fifth grade,” his mother,Ebony Haven, said,“he knewthat’skindofwhat he wanted to do.” Haven, ajunior at The Dunham School, might still grow up to representalarge company.He’sstill on track toworkasan engineer —but not in the traditionalsense, or at least the way he envisioned it when he wrote that essay in middle school. Haven’saquarterback now,bothfor the present and foreseeablefuture

The consensus among recruitingservices is that Haven is the nation’stop signal caller in the Class of 2027. He was once the next big thing on the BatonRouge high school sports scene. Now,he’sahousehold name with the power to alter thetrajectoryofa major college football program.

“I can’trecall asingle quarterback that, especiallyfrom the Baton Rouge area in particular,has drawn the eyesofsomany offensive coordinators and coaches around the country quite like Elijah,” said SamSpiegelman, arecruiting analyst for On3 andRivals, Everyone wants to know what Haven is thinking. Scouts. College coaches. Agents. Reporters. Anyone lucky enough to get a piece of the 6-foot-5,220-pound junior will meet a16-year-old with the talenttoone day play in the NFL, the polish todeftly

ä See HAVEN, page 8C

STAFFPHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK Dunham quarterback Elijah Havenspeaks following apractice on Aug. 20. Havenis the nation’stop signal caller in the Class of 2027.

SPORTS

ST IN NUM RS

Tulane hasbaker’s dozenwithbad intentions on D-line

BY GUERRYSMITH

writer

Contributing

Right after the defense dominated Tulane’s spring game in April, linebacker SamHowardsingled outSantana Hopper andthe entire line as areason for his unbridled optimism. In the four monthssincethen, teammates and coaches have doubled down on Howard’s enthusiasm.

Whenthe Green Wave hosts Northwestern on SaturdayatYulmanStadium (11 a.m., ESPNU), they anticipate acoming-outparty for abaker’s dozenwith badintentionsupfront.Coach JonSumrall expects Hopper,Elijah Champaigne and Eliyt Nairne to get time at tackle (boundaryend in his terminology) with Tre’Von McAlpine, Derrick Shepard, Armondous Cooley andGeordanGuidry logging downs at the nose; Kameron Hamilton, Gerrod Henderson and Jordan Norman divvying up the downs at field end; andMo Westmoreland, HarveyDyson andJah’rieGarner lin-

ingupatbandit (rush end/outside linebacker).

Only Hamilton, Henderson, Champaigne, Garner and Guidry were on the roster last year.Seven arrived from the transfer portal in January,and Cooley joined the team in the summer as Sumrall sought strength in numbers to makeupfor theloss of stalwarttackle Patrick Jenkins,sacksleader MatthewFobbs-White, NFLbound edge rusher Adin Huntington and somekey backups.

The early returns are fantastic.

“Our guys look physical, violent, twitchy and fast,” Sumrallsaid. “They have the potential to create havoc.”

It starts with Hopper,anAppalachianState transfer whose nameHoward invoked as the one to remember at the endofthe spring because of his relentlessness. Sumrallrecently said Hopper has the ability to blow up any11-on-11 drill the Green Wave runs in camp.

As aredshirt sophomore in 2024, Hopper earned firstteam All-Sun Belt honors while making 36 tackleswith 81/2 tackles for loss and five sacks while being credited

Grizzled NFLcoach Belichickadjusts

BY AARON BEARD AP sportswriter

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. North Carolina bet big on Bill Belichick to elevate its footballprogram beyond decadesofalso-ran statusand midtier bowl appearances More simply,itwas abet Belichick could do something he never has before.

The73-year-old with six Super Bowl titles as an NFL head coach isnow acollege rookie. He’straded rosters of30-somethings for recruiting teenagersyet to emerge from under their parents’ wings. He’sgreeted donors at fundraisinggatherings, and he’sworking amid awildly evolving landscape of player empower-

ment across college athletics.

The first on-field look comes Mondaynight when the TarHeels host TCU.

“I’ve been through alot of opening days, Belichick said, “and everyone is the same in that there’ssome things youkind of feel good about, there’ssome other questions that youhave.”

Thesetting

The spotlight will lock on Belichick taking thefield as he pushes avisionofbuilding the NFL’s “33rdteam” at aschool better known forits storied men’s basketball program ESPN will host apregameshow from Kenan Stadium.UNC has sold out season tickets (at higher prices, no less) and single-

game seats. And beyond Monday, streaming provider Hulu will feature theprogram in a behind-the-scenes show TCU coach Sonny Dykes has experience withspectacle, at least. Twoyears ago, his ranked Horned Frogshosted Colorado in retiredNFL starDeion Sanders’Buffaloes debut —and lost “Never thought Iwould, no,” Dykes said of facingBelichick. “Just assumed he would aways coach in the NFL and assumed I’d always coach in college, and didn’treally consider that possibility.One thing I’ve learned about college football though is neversay never.”

See BELICHICK, page 8C

STAFFPHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Tulane quarterback JakeRetzlaff, left, shares alaugh withdefensive lineman Santana Hopper during ascrimmage on Aug. 16 at yulman Stadium.

U.S. OPEN

Alcaraz wins despite knee problem

Shelton quits during third-round match with shoulder injury

BY HOWARD FENDRICH and BRIAN MAHONEY AP sportswriters

NEW YORK Carlos Alcaraz was cruising along in the U.S. Open’s third round, leading by a set and a break after taking 10 of the first 14 games in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday, when an awkward step while striking a forehand caused an issue with his right knee.

The No. 2-seeded Alcaraz, who won the first of his five Grand Slam titles at Flushing Meadows in 2022, got broken for the first time in the tournament, then took a medical timeout and had his leg massaged by a trainer Problem solved: Alcaraz rolled through the rest of the match, never dropping another game, and beat No. 32 Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-4, 6-0.

It was the first, brief hint of any trouble for the 22-year-old Alcaraz this week — well, other than the hair-cutting mistake by his brother that led to a shaved head He didn’t let teasing from Frances Tiafoe about that bother him, and Alcaraz didn’t seem too concerned about what went on with his knee against Darderi, a 23-year-old Italian who was making his debut as a seed at a major “I just felt something that was not working good in the knee, but after five, six points, it was gone,” Alcaraz said, describing the visit from the trainer as precautionary “I’m going to talk with my team, but I’m not worried about it.”

Other than that blip, his play was terrific in the 1-hour, 44-minute match.

He delivered 31 winners to just 12 unforced errors and won 70 of the 105 points that lasted four shots or fewer

“It’s too bad that I ran into Carlos in the third round, because right now it’s impossible to play against Jannik (Sinner) or Carlos. They are the two whose level is above everyone else’s,” Darderi said. “Everyone knew going into today that my chances were not the highest.” Alcaraz, who faces Arthur Rinderknech in the fourth round, improved his career Grand Slam record to 80-13. Only Boris Becker Bjorn Borg and Rafael Nadal

were younger by a month or two — when they got their 80th match win at majors.

Meanwhile, the No. 6-seeded

Ben Shelton, a two-time major semifinalist, stopped because of an injury after dropping the fourth set against Adrian Mannarino to force a fifth set. His shoulder injury was perhaps caused when he landed on his left arm after tracking down a ball in the corner on the final point to win the third set..

But early in the fourth, the 2023 U.S. Open semifinalist began wincing and said to his coach’s box: “I did something to my shoulder I don’t know what it is.”

He received treatment in the middle of the set, where the trainer rubbed some cream on his left shoulder, and tried to shorten the points afterward by consistently attacking the net. But after Mannarino won the set, Shelton was visited again by the trainer and called off the match, leaving the court with a towel over his head and tears in his eyes.

Mannarino, a 37-year-old from France, ended up with his first vic-

tory in 23 career against matches against top-10 players in Grand Slam tournaments.

“When he started to have pain, he was leading in the match,” Mannarino said. “Honestly, he would have probably won that match.”

Shelton was certainly a heavy favorite in it after coming in with a 14-2 record this summer on hard courts and winning the title in Toronto, where he routed Mannarino early in the tournament.

Shelton was one of the best hopes to give the U.S. its first men’s major champion since Andy Roddick won the 2003 U.S. Open. Another of them, No. 17 seed Frances Tiafoe, who had reached the semifinals in Flushing Meadows in two of the previous three years, was eliminated with a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7) loss to German qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff.

Shelton’s left-handed serve is one of the most powerful in tennis, and his 140-mph ace in the first set matched the third-fastest of this U.S. Open. He still was able to crank up some hard ones after the injury but repeatedly grabbed

at the shoulder after or even in the midst of — points. Bryan Shelton, his father and coach, told the 22-year-old to come forward, hoping to end the points quickly Shelton had 13 serve-andvolley points in the fourth set after only three in the first three sets, and he was at the net for a missed volley when Mannarino broke him for a 4-3 lead in the fourth Shelton fought off four set points in his next service game before Mannarino held to win the set.

Other events

The 82nd-ranked Rinderknech reached the fourth round at a Slam for the first time by defeating Benjamin Bonzi 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2. Bonzi had won both of his first two matches in five sets, including in a wild one against 2021 U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev, who was fined $42,500 by the tournament for his meltdown after play was delayed when a photographer wandered onto the court. Emma Raducanu’s best run at Flushing Meadows since her 2021 trophy ended with a 6-1, 6-2 loss to No. 9 Elena Rybakina.

Townsend in spotlight after confrontation

BY STEPHEN WHYNO

sportswriter

AP

NEW YORK Taylor Townsend is in the spotlight at the U.S. Open as a result of an interaction she wishes never took place.

Townsend said Jelena Ostapenko told her she had “no class” and “no education” during a face-to-face argument after their secondround match Wednesday A huge crowd cheered her on in doubles on Thursday and now Townsend is set to be front and center in prime time at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday night against fifth-seeded Mirra Andreeva. Going into this Grand Slam, Townsend had nowhere near the star power or the name recognition of fellow Americans Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, and she is not even seeded in single’s play Yet the 29-year-old who is half of the top-ranked women’s doubles team in the world and was No. 1 as a junior player has become one of the biggest stories of the tournament through no fault of her own.

Still, Townsend hopes the attention around the confrontation and her calling attention to it can be a positive for the U.S. Open and tennis in general.

“If I’m someone who can draw huge crowds into the stadiums as a name that can bring people to

ter Townsend won in straight sets.

When asked if she thought the comments had racial undertones, Townsend said she didn’t take it that way but acknowledged, “That has been a stigma in our community of being ‘not educated’ and all of the things, when it’s the furthest thing from the truth.”

Gauff and Naomi Osaka were among those who publicly came to Townsend’s defense. Osaka called what Townsend reported Ostapenko saying “one of the worst things you can say to a Black tennis player in a majority white sport.”

at the U.S. Open, along with Gauff, Osaka and Pegula, more than a decade after the U.S. Tennis Association decided to hold her out of junior competition over concerns about her fitness. The organization in 2012 withheld funding her tournament appearances while she focused on getting in better shape.

Pelicans guard Alvarado injured in FIBA AmeriCup

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado was injured Thursday night during a game in the FIBA AmeriCup in Miami.

Alvarado, playing for Puerto Rico, was carried off the court on a stretcher in the third quarter of the game, according to a video posted on X. On the play, Alvarado appeared to fall on his tailbone. Puerto Rico was playing against Argentina, which won the game 8277. Alvarado posted on Instagram, “Appreciate the love y’all,” Alvarado wrote. “But your boy good. God got me.”

The Pelicans didn’t have any further updates on Alvarado’s injury Friday evening. Alvarado is entering his fifth season with the Pelicans. He averaged a career-high in points (10.3), assists (4.6) and rebounds (2.4) last season.

Florida baseball coach reprimanded for profanity

The NCAA Division I Baseball Committee issued a public reprimand to Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan on Friday for aggressive behavior and profanity-laced language directed at site administrators for the regional in Conway, South Carolina.

The committee said O’Sullivan’s actions violated an NCAA misconduct bylaw during a championship event. O’Sullivan publicly apologized June 2, the day after his tirade. Florida also suspended O’Sullivan for the first three games of the 2026 regular season.

O’Sullivan was upset because the start time of his team’s elimination game against East Carolina — an 11-4 loss — was pushed back an hour. East Carolina’s previous game had ended at midnight.

Patriots release safety Peppers during shuffle

The New England Patriots released safety Jabrill Peppers on Friday marking the latest shakeup of the team’s roster under new coach Mike Vrabel. The 29-yearold Peppers, who was entering his fourth year in New England, made the Patriots’ initial 53-man roster and was expected to start alongside Kyle Dugger in the Patriots secondary in their revamped defense. Instead, Peppers’ departure is the latest turn away from holdover players and contracts that were dolled out under former coaches Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo. Cornerback Jonathan Jones and defensive tackle Deatrich Wise weren’t re-signed this offseason, and receiver Kendrick Bourne and offensive lineman Cole Strange were both recently cut.

Red Sox release pitcher Buehler, calling up Tolle

Walker Buehler who got the final out in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ World Series victory last season and was expected to be a key member of the Boston rotation this year, was released on Friday after the Red Sox concluded he couldn’t help their playoff push from the bullpen.

Buehler, 31, has struggled since signing a $21.05 million contract with Boston, going 7-7 with a 5.45 ERA. He made 22 starts before he was demoted to the bullpen last week; in his only relief appearance since earning a save in Game 5 of the Series.

To fill Buehler’s spot on the roster, the Red Sox called up top pitching prospect Payton Tolle to make his major league debut against Pirates ace Paul Skenes.

come and buy tickets and support the game, then that’s a crown that I’ll gladly wear,” Townsend said. “Whatever that it is, whatever type of attention that it brought, it’s doing the right things, which is bring people to see the sport and bringing people in to support and that’s what it’s all about.” Townsend, who is Black, and Ostapenko who is from Latvia, had an intense back and forth af-

Even privately, Townsend said other players came up to her to broach the subject and express their support. Online, she gained thousands of social media followers. “It’s cool to know that people see you and people are watching and more than anything,” Townsend said. “I was hoping that it was received a certain type of way and it was, so it was just external validation that I handled things the right way and that’s what I’m the most proud of and the most happy with. I wasn’t looking for that and in my answers and when I decided and I spoke and I said what I said I wasn’t looking for those things, but it’s nice to know that I made people proud.”

Townsend is in the third round

In the intervening time, she has become dominant in doubles, winning Wimbledon last year and the Australian Open earlier this year with partner Katerina Siniakova, and the pair is the top seed in Flushing Meadows. Townsend has not gotten past the fourth round in singles at a major If she does so this time, she wants the lesson to be that it is OK to stand up for yourself.

“Sometimes I feel like in society, especially people of color, we are expected to be silenced, or sometimes there are times where we have to decide and be very strategic as to when we speak up, and in these type of moments, it’s important for me to speak up, not only for myself but for my culture,” Townsend said. “No matter what, no matter what attention comes or whatever, I think it’s about being unapologetically yourself, be happy in who you are and never allow anyone to take you out of your character and who you are as a person.”

Miami LB Hayes charged with vehicular homicide

Miami linebacker Adarius Hayes has been charged with three counts of vehicular homicide and one count of reckless driving with serious bodily injury, all of which followed the investigation into a May crash that killed three people.

Hayes surrendered to police Friday morning in his hometown of Largo, Florida, and records show he was booked into the Pinellas County Jail before bonding out a few hours later Miami said Hayes “has been indefinitely suspended from all athletic related activities” in response to the charges. Police previously revealed that the three people who died as a result of the crash — a 78-year-old woman, plus two children ages 10 and 4 — were all in a Kia Soul, which collided with a Dodge Durango being driven by Hayes.

AP PHOTO By FRANK FRANKLIN II Taylor Townsend of the United States, returns a shot during her doubles match against Aldila Sutjiadi, of Indonesia, and Nadiia Kichenok, of Ukraine, in the second round of the U.S Open on Thursday in New york.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By yUKI IWAMURA

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, returns a shot to Luciano Darderi, of Italy, during the third round of the U.S Open on Friday in New york.

GAMEDAY

Tulane stands on toptostart

BY GUERRYSMITH Contributing writer

TheAmerican Conference landed amarquee victory when South Florida throttled 2024 College Football Playoff participant Boise State 34-7 at homeonThursday night. The Bulls gave up an early touchdown beforedominating the Broncos therest of the way With the lone rankedGroup of Five conference team getting exposed —Boise State was 25th in the preseason Associated Press poll—the American already is in the driver’sseattotake the guaranteed playoff spot outside of the Power Four.

South Florida, which hasroad gamesatFlorida and Miami next on abrutal early schedule, was theconsensuspick for fifth in the league. As the season gets underway in earnest this weekend, here is the American Conference power rankings:

1. Tulane

Tulane 24,Northwestern17:

Predicting openersinthe transfer portal eraistwice as hard as in the olddays, with almost everyteam undergoing dramatic roster turnover This much we know,though: The Wildcats traditionallystruggles on offense, andthe GreenWave is loaded with defensivetalent. Points couldbeata premiumsince quarterbackJakeRetzlaffisstarting amonth aftertransferring to Tulane andhas no proven receiver,but Retzlaff came throughinthe clutch severaltimes at ByUlastseasonand likelywilldoitagain

Guerry

2024 record: 9-5 overall, 7-1 American This week: vs. Northwestern, 11 a.m. Saturday (ESPNU)

Extrapoints: TheGreenWave, whichis22-2 in American regular-season games over the past threeyears, loaded up in the transfer portal to replace heavy losses on bothsides of the line of scrimmage. The late addition of BYU transfer QB JakeRetzlaff augmented the bestroster in the league.

2. SouthFlorida

2024 record: 7-6 overall, 4-4 Amer-

ican

This week: Beat Boise State 34-7 on Thursday

Extrapoints: The Bulls, wholast beat aranked opponent in 2016, made aloud statementthey are ready to contend under thirdyear coachAlexGoleshafter going without awinning record in the American since 2017. Their inexplicably long stint in thewilderness —considering their vast resources —finally may be over

3. Navy

2024 record: 10-3 overall, 6-2

American Thisweek: vs. VMI,11a.m.Saturday (CBS Sports Network)

Extra points: Dynamic quarterback Blake Horvath returns after leading aresurgence that ended with wins against American champion Army and Oklahoma in abowl game. He ran for 1,346 yards and tied aschool record with13touchdown passeswhile the defense was stingy.

4. Memphis

2024 record: 11-2 overall, 6-2

American

This week: vs. Chattanooga, 3:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN+)

Extrapoints: The Tigers are seeking their first conference title game appearance in coach Ryan Silverfield’ssix-year tenure,although he assuaged restless fans abit by winning11times last season. Their portal success matched

TULANE

Continued from page5C

with 20 quarterback pressures. Pro Football Focus gave him the highestgrade of anylineman in theleague.

“I want to be an All-American,” he said of hisintentionsatTulane.“Iwant to get those scouts outthere and hear them callmy name onpro day. It feels good to have people look at meand expect alot from me. Ijustdowhat I’m expected to do.” Agaggleofcandidates could join Hopper as difference-makers.

“There’salot of competition in that room everyday,” defensive coordinator Greg Gasparato said.

“If you don’tshowup, you’renot going to runwith the 1’soreven the2’s thenextday.” Westmoreland, aredshirt senior UTEP transferwho wascompeting for the starting spot at bandit with Dyson into this week, arrived with the best credentials. He made Athlon Magazine’spreseason All-American Conference first team after leading ConferenceUSA witheight sacks while adding 46tackles. Dyson,a redshirt junior from TexasTech, hasa PowerFour

Tulane’s. Afriendly schedule features home games against the Wave and Bulls, andnomeeting with Texas-San Antonio.

5. Texas-SanAntonio

2024 record: 7-6 overall, 4-4 American This week: at Texas A&M,6 p.m. Saturday (ESPN)

Extrapoints: TheRoadrunners have theoffensive talenttorebound from an uncharacteristic year in which they went 0-6 on the road. Coach Jeff Traylor,nearly unbeatable at homethe past four seasons (22-2),needs adefense thatwas decimated by theportal to showupoutside of San Antonio.

6. Army

2024 record: 12-2, 8-0 American

This week: Lost30-27 in OT to Tarleton State

Extrapoints: We saw how much Boise State missed Ashton Jeanty against SouthFlorida. Could Army be in thesame boat without unstoppable quarterback Bryson Daily? The Black Knights were 6-6 in 2022 and 2023 before he carried them to the championship in their debut American Conference season. Friday’sstruggle against Tarleton Statedoes not bode well.

7. NorthTexas

2024 record: 6-7 overall, 3-5 American This week: vs. Lamar,7 p.m. Saturday (ESPN+) Extrapoints: The Mean Green has not been able to stopanyone in coach Eric Morris’ first twoyears He brought in former SamHoustondefensive coordinator Skyler Cassity in the hope of correcting that issue after watching his team score andgive up 35 points or moreseven times last season.

8. East Carolina

2024 record: 8-5 overall, 5-3 American

conference background.He played in eight games for the Red Raiders with twosacks, twopass breakups,afumble recovery and aforced fumble.

McAlpine,a 305-pound redshirt sophomore and teammate of Dyson at TexasTech,has drawn praise for his dominance at the nose.Hestarted twice for theRed Raiders and had 19 tackles Even the less heralded transfers have made an impression Nairne, aredshirt sophomore from Liberty,doubletrained at tackle and end during camp. Sumrall labeled Norman, abackup end who started nine games with25tackles as aredshirt freshman at SouthAlabama, as possessing the best potential of all of the linemen.

Theholdovers are accomplished, too. Hamilton and Henderson —neck and neck for the starting job at end—combined for 43 tackles lastyear.Hamilton, asenior,started nine times last year andtiedfor theteam lead with 41/2 sacks.

Henderson, aredshirt junior whorosefrom thebottom of the depth chart in the spring of 2024 to atwo-time starter,plans to apply what he learnedduring hisfirst significantplayingtime.

This week: Lost to North Carolina State24-17 on Thursday

Extrapoints: The Pirates, whobeat theWolfpack in the Military Bowl in December,dropped the rematch in Raleigh but notwithout a fight.They were stopped on fourth and 1from the 9inthe final minute. Blake Harrell, whowas 5-1 as interim coach, got the job full time for this season.

9. UAB

2024 record: 3-9overall, 2-6 American This week: Beat AlabamaState 5242 on Thursday Extra points: Trent Dilfer,the only coach in the bottom six who was retained, did nothing to win over his skeptics when the Blazers had to rally from a28-17 third-quarter deficitagainst amiddle-of-thepackSWACteam. Quarterback Jalen Kitna leads agood offense. The defense appears atrocious again.

10.Florida Atlantic

2024 record: 3-9overall, 1-7 American This week: at Maryland, 11 a.m. Saturday (Big TenNetwork)

Extrapoints: The briefTom Hermanera (error) ended in ignominy,with former Texas Tech offensive coordinator Zach Kittley taking over atough job. He upgraded at quarterback immediately,getting prolificWestern Kentucky transfer CadenVeltkamp. The rest of the roster needs work.

11.Rice

2024 record: 4-8 overall, 3-5 American This week: at UL, 7p.m. Saturday (ESPN+) Extrapoints: The Owls underachieved last year under Mike Bloomgren,who was fired after

seven season. Stout upfront, they beat UTSA and Navy,and gave Tulane and Memphis scares but lost to Charlotte and UAB. Newcoach Scott Abell runs the triple option, joining Army and Navy with that retro approach.

12.Charlotte

2024 record: 5-7overall, 4-4 American This week: vs. Appalachian State on Friday (n)

Extrapoints: The 49ers wereworse than their 4-4 record indicated, losing three conference games by 31 points or more. New coach Tim Albin ledOhio to three consecutive 10-win seasons, but he will start from scratch with aroster that lost all of its significant quarterbacks, receivers and running backs.

13.Temple

2024 record: 3-9overall, 2-6 American This week: at Massachusetts, 2:30 p.m.Saturday (ESPN+) Extrapoints: The Owls are6-33 in league play the past five years after asignificant run of success before then. New coach K.C. Keeler won FCS nationaltitlesatDelawareand Sam Houston, but Temple needs to commit moreresources to football in the NIL era.

14.Tulsa

2024 record: 3-9, 1-7 This week: vs. Abilene Christian, 7p.m. Saturday (ESPN+)

Extrapoints: Tulsa, which reached the American title game in 2020 andoncewas aConferenceUSA power,bottomed out at the end of Kevin Wilson’ssecondand final year,giving up 59 points to UAB and 63 to Florida Atlantic down the stretch.

New coach TreLambfaces a Herculean task returning this program to prominence.

addition to the depth.Hamilton beganhis career inside andpracticed there quite abit in camp. Henderson can movetobandit, if needed. Guidry hasworked at tackle and nose. Hopper can shift to end. The lineup possibilities appear endless.

“We’re allupand coming and hungry,” Hendersonsaid. “The depthchart is amazing. It’s going to be scary foropposing O-lines just understanding that you have one guy,another guy and another that you’ve gottoworry about, andthenyou haveguyscoming offthe bench youhavetoworry about. It allows us to go outthere and just ball out.” McAlpine agreed.

“This is themost talented defensive line I’ve played with depth wiseand talent wise,” he said.

“Every time Iget on the field, I’m ready to play with my head on fire,”hesaid. “It’sall about my energy andmyeffort. Ireally feel confident with everything.” Sumrall cited the group’sposition flexibility and versatility in

“When we get to Game 12 and the championship, we’ll still be fresh. We don’thave to use everybody 60 to 70 snapsagame. We canall split it up 20 snaps apiece.” They’ve talked the talk for months. On Saturday,they will see if they can walk the walk against Northwestern.

“Weneedthemtoplaylikethe talents they are and like the depth they have,” Sumrall said. “Ifthey do, we’ll have ashot in every gameweplay.”

STAFFPHOTO By BRETT DUKE Tulane linebacker Mo Westmoreland participates in a drill during practice on Aug. 22 at yulman Stadium.

South Floridacoach Alex Golesh walks away after abrief chat with Tulane coachJon Sumrall after agame at yulman Stadium on Sept.28.

Corso’s emotional farewell

ESPN personality to pick his final mascot head on Saturday broadcast

BY JOE REEDY AP sportswriter

COLUMBUS, Ohio It is rare for a sports broadcasting figure to retire on his own terms or to be able to accept the tributes or adulation of colleagues and fans.

Lee Corso gets to experience that on Saturday Corso makes his final appearance as part of ESPN’s “College GameDay” crew before No. 3 and reigning national champion Ohio State hosts top-ranked Texas. Since announcing his retirement earlier this year, Corso has received his share of acclaim and send-offs. He was honored at the ESPY Awards in July and received a standing ovation before boarding his flight in Orlando, Florida, on Thursday “It’s a gamut of different emotions. I’m trying to stay in the celebratory lane this weekend ” said GameDay analyst Kirk Herbstreit, who has sat next to Corso since 1996 “We don’t want to be emotional or sad when it’s his last show We can be sad next week. But this weekend, we need to be celebrating him. Everything he’s meant to us and to the sport.”

Corso, who turned 90 on Aug 7, has been a part of “GameDay” since its start in 1987 and has made pregame shows entertaining un-

HAVEN

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traverse a high-stakes, modern recruitment, and the focus to lead his Dunham team back to the Division III select state championship.

Haven has games to win, endorsement deals to fulfill and colleges to visit. He also has honors, advanced placement and dual-enrollment classes to pass. All those responsibilities will set him up for a whirlwind junior season — perhaps the most important portion of a recruitment that sprung up organically, shifting him off course from the engineering career he originally wanted to pursue.

“There was no blueprint to the NFL for Elijah growing up,” said Matt Bowers, the New Orleansarea car dealer who signed Haven to an NIL deal in January

“He’s incredibly mature and smart. I mean, he’s more mature and socially adept than I was at 31 years old. He’s 16.”

‘One in a million’

Chad Myers was sure the kid would play college hoops. All the Dunham boys basketball coach needed to see was the time Elijah Haven dunked in a tournament for eighth graders, prompting kids to ask him to sign autographs after the game. At the time, he was in seventh grade.

This middle-schooler, Myers figured, would one day lead the Tigers to a state title or two, ride off into the sunset and begin playing college basketball somewhere — probably at a power-conference school.

Then Myers saw Haven start his first game at quarterback for Dunham.

“Oh crap,” he said then “Never mind.”

That night, Haven accounted for 534 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns in a 52-46 loss to Parkview Baptist. Neil Weiner, the Dunham football coach, noticed that his new quarterback was navigating the pocket to avoid pressure and moving safeties with his eyes. Some passers never learn how to truly operate an offense, but Haven had most of the controls figured out by the first game of his freshman season.

“Statistically speaking,” Weiner said, “it was the best game I think I’ve ever had a quarterback have.”

Then the wheels on the recruiting train started to spin. Offers rolled in slowly at first, then accelerated once Haven picked up an invite to OT7 — the summer seven-on-seven league that puts high-level recruits in front of scouts and plasters their highlights all over social media. The recruiting services, of course, were there too, and they could see exactly how Haven compared to some of the country’s top quarterbacks.

Before long, the 2027 class had

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By TED S WARREN ESPN ‘College GameDay’ host Lee Corso puts on the mascot head of the Oregon Ducks on Oct. 12, 2013, during a TV broadcast from Red Square on the University of Washington campus in Seattle.

der a simple philosophy: “Football is just the vehicle. It’s entertainment, sweetheart.”

“Almost everyone, no matter what they accomplish in our industry, sort of gets dragged out boots first. They don’t really get a chance to say farewell,” GameDay host

Rece Davis said on Friday after a production meeting. “I think it’s a real blessing that we’re able to give Lee his flowers on a day when he’s feeling great, doing great, and excited for a game.”

GameDay’s 26th appearance in Columbus also marks a fullcircle moment for Corso. It was outside Ohio Stadium on Oct. 5, 1996, where Corso’s popular headgear prediction segment began.

Corso donned Brutus Buck-

pass during practice on Aug. 20.

a new No. 1 quarterback. And he hadn’t even begun his sophomore season.

Haven’s parents, Kwame and Ebony, knew their oldest son was talented. But the recruiting world was new to them They’re more academics than athletes.

Kwame — a pharmacist by trade with a doctoral degree — was a high school swimmer who grew up in suburban Atlanta. Ebony a Baton Rouge native who now serves as the executive director of the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council has two graduate degrees from Tulane.

The couple met as undergrads at Xavier-New Orleans. Once they married, they set up shop in Prairieville, had three kids and decided to enroll their oldest, Elijah, at the private Dunham school for its academic rigor, not its Class 2A football program Now Kwame Haven applies his clinical background to his son’s recruitment.

He uses a spreadsheet to keep track of all the variables. It’s grown to 20 or 30 columns, he said, one for every program that’s courting Elijah. The corresponding rows sort teams by categories such as style of offense, alumni in the NFL, head coach and professional quarterbacks who have played for its head coach.

“And then we rank those schools in different tiers of how we feel about them,” Kwame said. “There’s gonna be a subjective component, but let’s try to at least categorize or organize the objective components that we can empirically see, right?”

Kwame hopes the process eases some of the pressure on Elijah, allowing him to focus on football, school, his social life and basketball, too Since eighth grade, Haven also has starred for the varsity hoops team after football season.

“It’s a one-in-a-million type situation for us with him,” Myers said. “He’s been dealing with this for a while, but you would never know You would never know he was a superstar He’s just another student out here, and that’s the way he likes it.”

A decision to make

Yes, Haven is already a quasiprofessional quarterback Today,

Corso has a 66.5% winning rate on his headgear predictions (286144), which is much better than his 73-85-6 mark in 15 years as a coach at Louisville, Indiana, and Northern Illinois. His final headgear pick will be on the field at Ohio Stadium. Besides airing across all of ESPN’s networks, Fox Sports may show part of it. The final hour of both pregame shows will also take place in the Horseshoe.

Tom Rinaldi and Chris Fallica — former GameDay crew members now with Fox Sports are also expected to give their thoughts on Corso’s retirement.

joined in 2022, and Nick Saban last year after retiring from Alabama. Fowler who will call Saturday night’s game between No 9 LSU and fourth-ranked Clemson, will also be a part of the GameDay crew on Saturday Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said the beauty of Corso and “College GameDay” is that they allow fans to experience the flavor of being at a game at Texas or Alabama on television.

eye’s head before Ohio State faced Penn State, and the rest is history

Corso has worn 69 different schools’ mascot headgear and has dressed up as Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish leprechaun, the Stanford tree, and historic figures James Madison and Benjamin Franklin. However, Brutus remains Corso’s first love, wearing it 45 times.

“When we looked at the schedule, the obvious place was to try to go to Tallahassee, where he played (at Florida State), but this game is so big. The fact that it’s a noon game. It became a no-brainer to have it here,” Herbstreit said. “It is very kind of storybook. The fact that we started with this and and end it here in Columbus.”

most recruits of his caliber are.

But no, he won’t reclassify to speed up the process of becoming a full-fledged professional athlete.

Haven’s mom, Ebony is OK with him enrolling a semester early at whichever school he chooses. But skipping out on his entire senior year of high school is a bridge too far for her even if her son has the academic record to do so.

“He’s already having to grow up a little bit faster,” she said.

NIL deals such as the one Haven signed with Bowers, the New Orleans car dealer, are part of the reason why Once that partnership was announced, social media buzzed with comments that accused Bowers of using the agreement to lure the prized quarterback to Ole Miss, his alma mater Bowers wants to set things straight. He doesn’t care where Haven goes to college, he said. In fact, he’s known the quarterback since before he was a quarterback. As a pre-teen, Haven played for the EYBL basketball team Bowers runs. He and Kwame Haven struck up a friendship over food orders they would make to hotel lobbies during basketball tournament trips.

“The genesis of the relationship was really over basketball,” he said. “We’re just friends, you know?

I don’t want anything from them.”

Bowers is one of the folks who has offered broader “guidance and counsel” to Haven and his parents as they navigate the recruiting process, Kwame said. The family also seeks legal advice from Baton Rouge lawyer David Fleshman and marketing support from NIL agent RJ Harris.

“He’s a very polite, nice kid,” Bowers said of Haven. “You ask him to go sign an autograph, he’ll do it. He’s just a nice kid. So, I think he’s handled it fairly well, but I think it’s gonna get really really intense locally for him. I feel bad for him to some degree, you know what I mean? Like, people expect him to go to LSU. Why?” Haven can play wherever he wants. All the SEC powers — LSU, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Ole Miss — are after him. So, too, are some more academically rigorous schools such as Cornell, Stanford, Duke and SMU.

On Aug. 11, On3’s Steve Wiltfong predicted Haven would choose Florida, not his hometown Tigers.

But there’s still time for things to change, especially because Haven and his parents are treating his choice of a college football team like it’s an engineering project. An organic, new-age recruitment, they think, demands a slow, clinical approach.

“I think that we’ve already sped up his teenage years as much as I would like to,” Ebony said, “and I want him to be a true kid, a high school kid, and enjoy those experiences because you’ll never get them back.”

Email Reed Darcey at reed. darcey@theadvocate.com.

“Now that his career, obviously coaching but now as a broadcaster, is ending, you look back on the impact that you made. And he certainly made a major impact on a lot of people,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “For him to be here for his last mascot game in his last year means a lot to all of us.”

When GameDay started, Corso was the analytical one known for hot takes, while the late Beano Cook was the funny one who made game predictions a production.

The show took place at ESPN’s studios in Bristol, Connecticut, until it went on the road for the first time in 1993, before Notre Dame hosted Florida State in a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup. The show has been on the road regularly since 1995.

Chris Fowler was the host from 1990 through 2014 before Davis took over Besides Herbstreit, Desmond Howard has been with the show since 2006, Pat McAfee

BELICHICK

Continued from page 5C

College pivot

Belichick’s NFL career featured a 24-year run leading the New England Patriots, producing six world titles alongside star quarterback Tom Brady When Belichick and the Patriots split in January 2024, he held 333 regular-season and playoff wins, trailing only Don Shula (347) for the NFL record.

Belichick was later linked to NFL jobs but nothing materialized. That led to the unlikely pairing with UNC when the school moved on from Mack Brown. At the time, Belichick said he “always wanted” to try college coaching and cited his late father Steve’s connection as a Tar Heels assistant in the 1950s.

In the months since, he’s popped up at men’s basketball and baseball games and can rattle off a list of stops — Atlanta, New York and Chicagoincluded—onthedonorcircuit.

“It’s really fun to be part of a school,” Belichick said last month. “I grew up in Annapolis at the Naval Academy and there’s only one team: there’s Navy It didn’t matter if it was Navy baseball, Navy lacrosse, Navy football, Navy swimming, Navy this, Navy that — you always root for the same team. So you’re really part of a community.”

UNC gave Belichick a five-year deal, the first three guaranteed at $10 million in base and supplemental pay, to spark a program that last won an ACC title in 1980. It comes as the sport’s role as the revenue driver in college athletics never has been more important, particularly with July’s introduction of revenue sharing.

In a recent athletics department podcast, chancellor Lee Roberts pointed to early returns in added buzz from Belichick’s mere presence.

“I’d say, in a lot of ways the experiment has already been successful,” Roberts said.

Coaching relationships

Of course, questions followed.

Among the biggest: Would the NFL lifer known for terse and gruff responses in Patriots news conferences really hit the recruiting trail?

Rolesville High coach Ranier Rackley quickly was convinced.

His school, about 40 miles east of Chapel Hill, was an immediate stop for Belichick with the Rams featuring multiple prospects, including four-star senior edge rusher Zavion Griffin-Haynes.

“There was a situation for me with my schedule that I had to change the dates of him originally coming,” Rackley said. “He was like, ‘No, we’ll make it around your schedule.’ And he did that. For me, I’m like, ‘Wow, this is Bill Belichick adjusting to my schedule to come see my kids.’

Rackley recalled Belichick spending two hours in his first visit “talking about ball, talking about life” while working to build relationships. Rackley said there’s an

“Coach Corso was able to bring the aspect of a coach and a very analytical approach to the games being played, but then the entertainment and doing the headgear at the end of every show,” Sarkesian said. “I know that was something we all used to look forward to. What was he going to do? Like that was going to determine who would win the game or not, but that was the beauty of the show, getting people excited about every Saturday for college football.”

GameDay producer Jim Gaiero thinks Corso may still have a surprise or two for Saturday No one would be surprised if he led on that he was picking with Ohio State and ended up going with Texas.

But even though Corso will no longer be a part of Saturday mornings for college football fans, his impact will continue to be felt.

“His ability to bring entertainment to a preview show helped get away from seriousness. You can be outrageous and still do your job, but you can still have fun,” Gaiero said. “I think other shows have tried to do that, even political shows.”

“open-door policy” for him to visit or talk with the UNC staff, and that Belichick had been receptive to Rackley’s observations.

That included a tip to look at defensive lineman Xavier Lewis, landing the former Austin Peay recruit on the UNC roster as a freshman Rackley said six of his players have UNC offers with three committed: Griffin-Haynes; his brother Jayden, a linebacker and fellow senior; and junior running back Amir Brown.

“Even when I go out to practices, when (Belichick) sees us, before he goes to anybody else, he’ll come talk to us,” Rackley said. “That means something to me. Not saying other coaches haven’t done that, but the fact that I know my guys will be in good hands, that makes me settled in my spirit, in my heart, that they’re going to be OK.”

Convincing a mother

Winning over Mom is a tougher sell. And Latara Griffin, mother to the Griffin-Haynes brothers, wasn’t going to be easily swayed by numbers on a résumé.

“I am really a football mom,” she said. “I care about my kids. I care about being able to lay my head down at night and know my kids are good and being taken care of.” So she didn’t hold back when questioning Belichick, including how he’d go from coaching grown men to teenagers who never have lived away from home. Or whether this was a one-year pitstop before returning to the NFL.

Griffin said she sensed some nervousness from the coaching great in early conversations, though that faded into a welcoming vibe. She described establishing a strong connection with the UNC defensive coordinator — Belichick’s son, Steve, and his family and appreciated the elder Belichick’s effort to understand the importance of the brothers to play together

After prayer-filled days for her, the brothers announced their commitment to UNC in June for a January enrollment.

“I think after being around us a little bit more, I’ve seen him kind of be a little bit more open: telling jokes, laughing and smiling,” she said with a laugh. “When you see Bill Belichick on pictures, you don’t really feel like he’s funny and cool like that. But he is.”

What’s ahead

Belichick’s current players have had time to get past star-struck first encounters with a man they grew up watching at the sport’s highest level.

“It’s pretty normal now,” receiver Alex Taylor said.

That doesn’t mean Belichick’s presence has lost its luster, or that friends and family have stopped inquiring about what Belichick is like.

“Honestly, it’s just every meeting I walk into, every new day,” Boise State transfer linebacker Andrew Simpson said, “I just sit there and I understand that I’m in front of greatness.”

The only thing left now? Actually winning games.

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK Dunham quarterback Elijah Haven looks to throw a

AnotherKarrnewcomershinesinjamboree

Transfer Wilfredreturns punt foraTDin win over West Jeffferson

BY CHRISTOPHER DABE Staff writer

Edna Karr will have somenewlook elements to its football team this season.

Last week in ascrimmage against East St. John, it wassenior transfer Xavier Owens from California who caught three touchdown passes from third-year starter John Johnson.

Then on Thursday in ajamboree contest against West Jefferson, the reigning state champion Cougars unveiled another newcomerwith senior transfer Greg Wilfred from Destrehan, who returned apunt from near midfield for atouchdown during the Cougars’28-0 victory at Morris JeffStadium in Algiers.

That touchdowncame between apair of rushing scores from running backs TreGarrison, aNicholls State commitment, and junior Jermond Macklin.

“There’snosurprise with what he does,” Karr coach Brice Brown said about Wilfred. “He doesit all the time at practice.” Wilfred arrived as an experienced receiver after he caught 24 passes for 150 yards and three touchdowns at Destrehan last season. He played in the jamboree just days after the LHSAA ruled him

eligible to playhis senior season for Karr

“He’sexcited,” Brown said. “I was excitedfor him out there (Thursday). Hopefully we can get him more touches (in the opener next week) against Shaw.”

Athird potential newcomer is all-state wideout Jakai Anderson from McDonogh 35. Anderson,

an SMU commitment,was on the Karr sideline but not in uniform for thejamboree.

When askedifAnderson, who enrolled at Karr this month, is cleared by theLHSAA to play this season, Brown said “there’snostatusonthat right now.”

Not everything in the jamboree went exactly howBrown would

Parsonswelcomeshigh expectations in GreenBay

Linebacker says he hassightson achampionship

BY STEVE MEGARGEE Associated Press

have liked.The Cougars had four personal foul penalties during the first 15-minute period,including onethat came on what would have been along touchdown run by Johnson

“The most disappointing part is it’s the captains getting the penalties,” Brown said. “That’snot the other 100 (players). That’sthe cap-

tain on top of the line, so that’sthe mostdisappointing part.”

Brown said thepenalties were part of “getting outofpractice modeand into gamemode.”

Defensivelineman Richard Anderson, an LSU commitment, did not play against West Jefferson.

“Just holding him out,” Brown said. “We’ve been practicing alot Because he’s been practicing so much good-on-good, we decided to hold him out.”

Garrison and Macklin scored their rushing touchdowns in the first half. Garrison, whorushed four times for 54 yards, capped the opening drive with a4-yard touchdownrun. Later,after the punt return touchdownbyWilfred, Macklin scored on a1-yard run. Macklin rushed five times for43yards. Karr scored its final touchdown in the second half. Sophomore receiverRogersGainesreached over adefender near the right sidelineinthe end zoneand caught a20-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Marlon Jones.

Karrdid not allowa first down rushing or passing in six West Jefferson possessions. The two first downs forWest Jeffcame by personal foul penalties against Karr Brown thankedWestJeffcoach Marcel Andry foragreeing to play Karr “atthe last second” when other jamboree plans fell through, Brownsaid.

“I appreciate Coach for that,” Brownsaid.

Contact ChristopherDabe at cdabe@theadvocate.com

Quickstart sparks Curtis in jamboree vs.EastJefferson

Strong defense also helpslift Patriots to win

BY SPENCER URQUHART Staff writer

John Curtis got off to afast start and neverlooked back during itsjamboree matchup against East Jefferson on Thursday at Yenni Stadium in Metairie.

Athree-and-out opening drive by EastJefferson resulted in afumbled punt exchange thatwas recovered by JohnCurtis at theEast Jefferson 3-yard line. John Curtis running back Kolston Martinez scored from 3 yards out, thefirst of five touchdowns in a36-3 rout.

led to John Curtis running back GavinLedet scoring an 8-yard touchdown. Another short field saw John Curtis senior running back Jacobi Boudreaux score from 21 yards out. Boudreaux only had one carry in the jamboree but is usually one of John Curtis’ primary running backs. He scored three touchdowns in last week’sscrimmage against St. Paul’s.

“It’snot just me,” Boudreauxsaid. “We’vegot multiple seniorsthatare capable of doing thesame thing as me.We’ve got four or five backs.”

Sophomore wide receiver

“I thought our secondary played really well,” J.T Curtis said. “The first group played well in the first half.” East Jefferson put together ascoring drive in the second half that resulted in afield goal by sophomore kicker Marco Cortez. Curtis Johnsonplayedthe full game at quarterback,and the junior completed 6-of7passes with22rushing yards.

“(Johnson) didn’t have muchtime all night,” East Jefferson first-year coach Karl Williams said.“Hopefully this is agood test for him to progress andbea better quarterback.”

Paul Dufrene caught John Curtis’ first and only passing touchdown from sophomore quarterbackLondon Padgett, who startedthe gameunder center

Althoughthe Packers had 45 sacks totie for eighth in the NFL, more thanhalf of themcame in four games. They had no more thanone sack in seven of their 17 games.

Parsonshas recorded at least 12 sacks each of his four seasons, whereas the Packers haven’thad anyonecollect that many sacks in aseason since Za’Darius Smith had12 1/2 in 2020. For afranchise that is known for traditionally building itsroster by developingits own draft picks, this represents a true swing for the fences.

This Packers team had plentyofsolid players but lacked star power.Parsons instantly providesthat Green Bay hasahistory of signing future Hall of Fame defensive players who can lead championship runs. Reggie White came over from Philadelphiaand played ahuge role on the 1996 championshipteam. CharlesWoodson arrived from Oaklandand helped lead the 2010 Super Bowl run. White’stitle came in his fourth season in Green Bay.Woodson’schampionship cameinhis fifthyear with the Packers. Green Bay fans hope Parsons’ arrival provides amore

GREENBAY,Wis. Micah Parsons is embracing the expectations thatcome from joining the Green Bay Packers with arecordsetting contract. “I just want to do whatever Ican to help the Packers win achampionship,” Parsons told The Associated Press on Friday,aday after the edge rusher was traded from the DallasCowboys and agreed to acontract that makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history Parsons received afouryear,$188million contract with $136 million guaranteed.The Packers sent two first-round picks and three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark to Dallas in exchange for Parsons, who already has 52 1/2 careersacks through his first four NFL seasons. Parsons’ new team could result in anew uniform number. At Dallas,Parsons hadNo. 11, which wide receiver Jayden Reed currently wearsfor Green Bay The 26-year-old Parsons hinted at anew number Friday when he went on X and asked,“Should Igo0 or 1!” Adding Parsons makes thePackers among the league’stop Super Bowl contenders after they reached the playoffs with the NFL’syoungest team each of the past two years. Parsons shores up a pass rush that wasn’t reliable last season, when the Packers went 11-7 and lost at Philadelphiainthe NFC wild cardround.Parsons should make upaformidable pass-rushing tandem with Rashan Gary,who has 39 career sacks in six seasons.

immediateSuper Bowl payoff.

Parsons’ acquisition brings the Packers some potentialshort-term and long-term consequences.

The loss of Clark could hinder Green Bay’s rundefense. Clark is coming offa 2024 season in which he recorded only one sack while dealing withatoe injury that required surgery,but he’shealthy now and has always been solid against therun.

Losing Clark andallowingdefensivetackle T.J. Slatontosignwiththe Cincinnati Bengals in free agency leaves Green Bay short on depth at that position. The Packersneed a big season from Devonte Wyatt, a2022 first-round draft pick.

And withall the money Green Bay is paying Parsons andquarterback Jordan Love, who signed afour-year,$220 million extensionlast year,the Packers may need to make somehard decisions down the road with players approaching the end of their contracts.

The list of Packers entering the finalyear of theirdeals includeswide receivers Romeo Doubs and ChristianWatson,left tackle Rasheed Walker and linebacker QuayWalker who has led Green Bayin tackles each of the past three years. Packers coach Matt LaFleur andgeneral manager Brian Gutekunst face their own contract issues, and their futures could be tied into howwellthistrade worksout.Bothhavetwo yearsleft on their deals.

John Curtis had five playersfind the end zone in the first half of ajamboree that consisted of two15-minute periods. The offense was ledbya strong running game that piled up over 100 rushing yards between11 rushers.

“Westarted fast,but the field position really hurt East Jefferson,” John Curtis coach J.T.Curtis said. “They had difficulty with their punt team and created good field positionfor us. Thatlet it get out of hand real early.”

Ashort punt by East Jefferson after its second drive

“London(Padgett) will probably start (at quarterback),” J.T.Curtis said. “We’ll also play Luke Martinezatquarterback andat wide receiver. We’restill feeling out how we’re going to do it earlyinthe season. Both of those guys have ability and will get playing time.”

The JohnCurtisstarting defense delivered multiple tacklesfor alossinthe first half. Sophomore safety Jaden Keelen, whohas Division Ioffers, was among the lead tacklers.

An out-of-state trip awaits John Curtis in Week 1, as it will be travelingtoCalifornia to face Cathedral of Los Angeles. The team is set to fly out early Thursday morning and take the field at 6p.m. Friday “We’re looking forward to it,” J.T. Curtis said. “Our kids arehealthy right now andwant to stay that way. We look forward to representing Louisiana andour school in California.” East Jefferson will be back at YenniinWeek 1for ahomegameagainst Livonia. Kickoff is set for 7p.m Friday

Email Spencer Urquhart at surquhart@theadvocate. com.

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Greg Wilfred, left,ofEdnaKarrruns for atouchdown against West Jefferson during ajamboree at Morris Jeff Stadium on Thursday.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

Cowboyslinebacker Micah Parsons celebratesafter sacking Giants quarterback Drew Lock at agame in Arlington, Texas, on Nov. 28. Dallastraded Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, with Parsons receiving afour-year,$188 millioncontract.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Eliminate frustration over money matters by avoiding joint venturesorshared expenses. Channel your energy into personal and physical pursuits that promote your health,happiness and overall wellbeing.

LIBRA (sept. 23-Oct. 23) Setyoursights on your goal, and don't look up or back until youreach your destination. The journey youembark on will helpyou discard what's no longer purposeful scORPIO (Oct.24-nov.22) Map out your path beforeyou take off. Look at every angle, and abide by therules to avoid getting caught up in someoneelse's misfortune.Stick to what youknow anddobest

sAGITTARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) You're ready to take the plunge,update your image or change yourdirection. Keeping up withthe times will offer aboost to your confidence, helping youfind your way.

cAPRIcORn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Rethink what'simportant to you, and choose to useyourmoney to benefit you. Research will help revise your plans to ensure you benefit from theresults. Don't overreact; work quietly toward reaching your objective.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Don't be afraid to apply pressure when necessary.Ifyou believe in something, follow through. Your money will serve you best if you invest in yourself.

PIscEs (Feb.20-March 20) Finish what you start. Pour your energy into doing

and add your unique touch to ensure youget the credit youdeserve. Emotional turmoil will arise if youallow someone to usecriticismtomake you feel inadequate.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Put your energy, discipline and ingenious ideas to work for you. Enjoy physical challenges and strivefor victory. Balance andequality are necessary to your success. TAuRus (April20-May 20) Protect your health, wealth andemotional wellbeing. Refuse to letwhat others do ruinyour plans. Get what you want in writing, and don't mix business with pleasure.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Review your situationand be theone to initiate change Adomestic change will touch you emotionally. Be sure to followthrough. Concentrate on what you want to achieve. cAncER (June 21-July22) Focus on opportunity and investingmore timeand effort into simplifying your life.Walk away from those who holdyou back or complicate your life.Happiness is a choice. Do your best

LEO(July 23-Aug. 22) If you're fun to be with, everyone will want to be around you. Keep your emotions and troubles to yourself. Smile,behappy, and letgo of the past. Choose fitness, notindulgence.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. ©2025 by nEa,inc., dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication

Cipher cryptograms are created from quotationsbyfamouspeople, past and present. Each letter in thecipherstands for another

beetLe bAILeY Mother GooSe And GrIMM

Sudoku

InstructIons: sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. Theobject is to place thenumbers 1to9inthe empty squaressothat each row, each column and each 3x3 boxcontainsthe same number only once. Thedifficulty level of thesudoku increases frommonday to sunday

Yesterday’sPuzzle Answer

THe wiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

By PHILLIPALDER

C.J. Cherryh, ascience fiction andfantasy author who has an asteroid named after her, said, “Trade isn’t aboutgoods. Trade is about information. Goods sitin the warehouse until information moves them.”

For the last two weeks, we have been using the acronym “trade” to help find the right plays. We trackthe tricks, read thelead, audition the auction, deduce the danger, and eye the entries.

Hereisonemoreexample.Howshould Southplayinfourspadesafter West guesseswell to lead afourth-highest club five?

When North raises three spades to four, he knows that therecould be four top losers, but it might make or be agood sacrifice against amaking four-heart contract for East-West.

This deal is East’s problem. He should realize that if the defenders are going to win four tricks, they will be either three clubs (West started with queen-fourth) and the heart ace, or twoclubs (West started with five clubs) and two hearts.

So, East takes the first trick withhis club king and cashes the clubace, noting that West plays the two, indicating that West started with five clubs. NowEast must shift to alow heart. If West has the king, cashing the acefirst works fine; but not here. The question is: Will South guess correctly?

wuzzles

Finally, if West wins the third trick with the heart queen, how does he know to return aheart,not give East aclub ruff?

BecauseifEasthadbegunwiththeaceking-doubleton of clubs, he wouldhave won the first trickwith the ace, then cashedthe king.

©2025 by nEa,inc., dist.Byandrews mcmeel syndication

Each Wuzzle is aword riddle which creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: nOOngOOD =gOOD aFTErnOOn

Previous answers:

word game

InsTRucTIOns: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the additionof“s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. additional words made by adding a“d” or an “s” may notbeused. 4. proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

TODAy’sWORD DEFERMEnT: dih-FER-ment: Official postponement of military service.

Average mark 38 words

Time limit 60 minutes

Can you find 50 or more words in DEFERMENT?

yEsTERDAy’s WORD— GROunDWORK

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

hidato

dIrectIons: make a2-to 7-letter word from the letters in each row.add points of each word, using scoring directionsat right. Finally 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter have no point value. allthe words arein the Official sCraBBlE® players Dictionary, 5th Edition. For more information on tournaments and clubs, email naspa –north americansCraBBlE playersassociation: info@scrabbleplayers.org.Visit ourwebsite:www.scrabbleplayers.org. For puzzleinquiries contact scrgrams@gmail.com Hasbro andits logo sCraBBlE associated logo,the design of thedistinctive sCraBBlE

ken ken

InstructIons: 1 -Each row and each column must containthe numbers 1thorugh 4(easy) or 1through 6 (challenging) without repeating. 2 -The numbers within the heavily outlinedboxes 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 numberinthe top-leftcorner.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

WiShinG Well

HErE is aplEasanT liTTlE gamE that will give

numericalpuzzledesigned to spellout

thenumber of letters is 6ormore, subtract

is your key number.start at the upper left-hand corner and

bers, left to right. Then readthe

Scrabble GramS

Get fuzzy

jump Start

roSe iS roSe

luann

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MinimumQualifications

•Master'sDegreeinNursing,limited exceptions;Doctorate Degree required forAssistant Professor •Louisiana Registered Nurse(RN)li‐censure(by startdate)

PreferredQualifications

•Doctorate Degree

•DoctoralCandidatespursuinga ca‐reer in NursingResearch

•AdvancedPracticeCertification (APRN) To applytothisposting,clickonthe fol‐lowing link: https://lsuhsc.peopleadmin.com/ postings/20289

LSUHealthNew Orleansseekscandi‐dateswho will contribute to aclimate wherestudents, faculty,and staff of all identities andbackgroundshaveequi‐tableaccess andsuccess opportuni‐ties.Asanequal opportunityemployer, we welcomeall to applywithout regard to race,color,religion, age, sex, na‐tional origin,physicalormentaldisabil‐ity, genetics,protected veteranstatus, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression,orany othercharacteristic protectedbyfederal,state,orlocal laws.LSU Health NewOrleans is also designated as aState As aModel Em‐ployer (SAME) agency andprovidesas‐sistance to personsneedingaccom‐modationsorwiththe accessibilityof materials. Forthose seekingsuchac‐commodationsorassistancerelated to this search,weencourage youtocon‐tact theOffice of HumanResource Management (HRMADA@lsuhsc.edu)

Pass

OR ASSISTANTPROFESSOR LSUHealthNew OrleansSchool of Nursingisseeking ahighlymotivated individual to join ourfaculty as aschool of nursingexcellencewithinanacade‐michealthsciencescenterenviron‐ment.Our nursing facultyhavethe op‐portunity to educatefuturenursesat theBSN,MN/MSN, DNSand DNPlevel includingstate-of-the-art simulation laboratories;conduct nursing &inter‐disciplinary research;engageinfac‐ulty practice,including ournurse-run clinics; pursue entrepreneurialand consultative activities;and serveas a nursingleaderand developmentof leadership skills throughour Emergent NurseLeaderProgram.Weinviteyou to submit your curriculumvitae forthe followingteachingpositions:Adult Health,MentalHealth, MedicalSurgi‐cal, Pediatrics,Community Health,Pri‐mary Care (FNP), andWomen’s Health MinimumQualifications •Master'sDegreeinNursing,limited exceptions;Doctorate Degree required forAssistant Professor •Louisiana Registered Nurse(RN)li‐censure(by startdate) PreferredQualifications •Doctorate Degree •DoctoralCandidatespursuinga ca‐reer in NursingResearch •AdvancedPracticeCertification (APRN) To applytothisposting,click on thefol‐lowing link: https://lsuhsc.peopleadmin.com/ postings/20291

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Otheremployeebenefitsinclude afullservicecreditunion,wellnessbenefits featuringcomplimentary fitnesscen‐termembershipfor employeesand theirspouses,employeeassistance program,campusassistanceprogram andpet insuranceoption.Moreinfor‐mation aboutthese benefits canbe found on this webpage: https://www lsuhsc.edu/administration/hrm/add tlbenefits.aspx

LSUHealthNew Orleansseeks candi‐dateswho will contribute to aclimate wherestudents, faculty,and staff of all identities andbackgrounds have equi‐tableaccess andsuccess opportuni‐ties.Asanequal opportunity employer we welcomeall to applywithout regard to race,color,religion, age, sex, na‐tional origin,physicalormentaldisabil‐ity, genetics,protected veteranstatus, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression,orany othercharacteristic protectedbyfederal,state,orlocal laws.LSU Health NewOrleans is also designated as aState As aModel Em‐ployer (SAME) agency andprovidesas‐sistance to personsneeding accom‐modationsorwiththe accessibilityof materials. Forthose seekingsuchac‐commodations or assistance relatedto this search,weencourage youtocon‐tact theOfficeofHuman Resource Management (HRMADA@lsuhsc.edu). Comprehensivebenefitsare available to eligible employeesand theirdepen‐dentsincluding health,life, dental,and vision insurance; flexible spending ac‐counts; retirement plans; generous an‐nual andsickleave;14paidholidaysper year;and an employee health primary care clinic.See followinglinkfor more detailsonour benefits offerings: https://www.lsuhsc.edu/administrat ion/hrm/benefits-about.aspx Otheremployeebenefitsinclude afull-

LA-8826-EJ CIVIL ACTION NO.: 25-1506 SECTION: G NOTICE OF COMPLAINT OF EXONERATIONFROM OR LIMITATIONOF LIABILITY NOTICE is hereby given thatLimitationPlaintiffs, SpectrumAR, LLCand SpectrumOpCo, LLC(col‐lectively,Spectrum”), as ownerand ownerpro hac viceofthe Pro-DriveBoat LA-8826-EJ,has filed a Complaint pursuant to 46 U.S.C. §181 et seq.,as amended by U.S.C. §§ 30501 et seq.,claiming the righttoexoneration fromand/orlimitationof liability fordamage claims, demands, or liens arising outofanincident involving thePro-Drive Boatonorabout August 17, 2024, whenitwas in‐volvedinanexplosion and fire in theGardenIs‐landBay oil field. Allpersons asserting claimswithrespect to which theVerified Com‐plaintseeksexoneration fromorlimitationoflia‐bilityare advisedand ad‐monishedto file theirre‐spectiveclaimswiththe Clerk of theCourt forthe UnitedStatesDistrict Court,Eastern District of Louisiana,500 Poydras Street,New Orleans, Louisiana 70130, andto serve on theattorney for LimitationPlaintiffs, Alan R.Davis,ofLugenbuhl Wheaton, Peck,Rankin & Hubbard at 601 Poydras Street,Suite 2775, New Orleans,Louisiana 70130 a copy thereofonorbe‐forethe 12thday of Sep‐tember2025, or be for‐everdefaulted Personal attendance is not required Anyclaimantdesiring tocontest either the right to exonerationfrom and/orthe righttolimita‐tionofliability shall file and serveananswer, all asrequiredbyRuleF of the Supplemental Rules for CertainAdmiralty and MaritimeClaimscon‐tainedinthe Federal Rules of CivilProcedure Date:July24, 2025 153171

come anytimebe‐tween 4p.m.and 7p.m to learnmoreabout the airport’splans in this open houseformatmeet‐ing. Public com‐ments/feedback areen‐couraged andwelcome ContactInformation: Dale Thayer -dalet@ flymsy.com,504.303.7515 154884-aug23-sept 2-11t $193.27

NOTICE MEETINGMINUTES OF THEBOARD OF COMMIS‐SIONERS ERNEST N. MORIAL NEW ORLEANSEXHIBITION HALL AUTHORITY AMeetingofErnestN MorialNew OrleansExhi‐bitionHallAuthority was heldonWednesday,June 25, 2025. PresidentRussAllen calledthe meetingto order at 2:21

The totalnumberpresent atrollcallwas eight(8) PresidentAllen askedfor publiccommentsof agendaitems.There werenone. PresidentAllenre‐quested amotiontoap‐prove theNOEHA Board MeetingMinutes of May 28, 2025. Commissioner Rizzuto movedapproval; CommissionerWhit‐worth seconded.Motion approved. RicardoCallender with PFM FinancialAdvisors LLC presentedthe 2025 BondSaleReport. AlitaCaparotta pre‐sentedConsent Agenda Contracts:1.Furnish and InstallSmoke andDuct Detectors –TBD and2 Provide Access Control ConstructionAdministra‐tionServices– ZBeta Consulting. Commis‐sionerMantillamoved approval; Commissioner Rizzuto seconded.Mo‐tionapproved. AlitaCaparotta pre‐sentedthe April2025 Fi‐nancial Reports. Com‐missioner Mahana moved approval;Com‐missioner Rizzuto sec‐onded.Motionapproved. CommissionerMantilla moved approval to go intoExecutive Sessionat 2:45p.m.todiscuss 1. PendingLitigationpur‐suant to La.R.S.42:17(A) (2) a. Ernest N. Morial New Orleans ExhibitionHall Authority v. Regional Transit Authority, No 2021-4470, CivilDistrict Court,ParishofOrleans State of Louisiana b. Daniel M. Ryan v. City ofNew Orleans, Through ItsDepartmentofSafety and Permits, TammieT Jackson,New Orleans Board of Zoning Adjust‐ments andRobertD Rivers, No.2024-7949, Civil District Court, ParishofOrleans,State ofLouisiana 2. Characterand Profes‐sionalCompetenceofEx‐ecutive Vice President Candidate ;Commis‐sionerCook seconded Motionapproved. CommissionerCook ex‐cused himselffromExec‐utive Sessionprior to the discussionofCharacter and Professional Compe‐tence of ExecutiveVice President Candidate. No action wastaken dur‐ing ExecutiveSession CommissionerRizzuto moved approval to return fromExecutive Session; Commissioner Mahana

seconded.Motionap‐proved. Boardreturned fromExecutive Session at3:21p.m.The following Commissioners returned tothe meeting: Allen, Cook,Rizzuto,EllisonFrost,Mahana, Mantilla, Vegaand Whitworth. AlitaCaparotta pre‐sented: Resolution 2025.8: AuthoritytoExe‐cuteEmploymentCon‐tract with ExecutiveVice President Candidate. CommissionerMantilla moved approval;Com‐missioner Mahana sec‐onded.Commissioner Cook abstained. Motion approved. OtherBusinesstocome beforethe board: JT Han‐nan presentedthe 2025 Legislative Sessionup‐dates PresidentAllen askedfor a motion to adjourn. CommissionerWhit‐worth movedadjourn‐ment; Commissioner Cook seconded.Motion approvedand themeet‐ing adjournedat3:28 p.m ATTEST: JACK RIZZUTO, SECRETARY :mp 156330-AUG30-1T $49.74

ChairmanAllen re‐quested amotiontoap‐prove theNOPFMIBoard MeetingMinutes of May 28, 2025. Director Whit‐worth movedapproval; DirectorMantillasec‐onded.Motionapproved. TimHemphill presented the Salesand Events Re‐port. TimHemphill presented the Marketingand Com‐municationsReport. Adam Straight presented the Operations Report AlitaCaparotta pre‐sentedthe FinancialRe‐port. Therewas no OtherBusi‐nesstocomebeforethe board Chairman Allenasked for a motion to adjourn. Di‐rectorRizzuto movedad‐journment;DirectorMa‐hanaseconded. Motion approvedand themeet‐ing adjournedat2:20 p.m ATTEST: JACK RIZZUTO, SECRE‐TARY :mp 156323-AUG30-1T $25.77

Scars/Tattoos: Louisiana 156066, Aug30-31 $250.00 p theopposite side line; and which said LotNo. 25 forms apartofthatpar‐titionofground desig‐nated as PLOT “C”on

werenone.

METTGAHN, JR.,has madeapplicationtothe Court forauthority to sell Decedent’sfullinterest inand to thefollowing immovablepropertyat private sale,to-wit: ACERTAIN LOTOF GROUND, together with all thebuildings andim‐provementsthereon,and all therights, ways,privi‐leges,servitudes, advan‐tages andappurte‐nancesthereuntobe‐longing or in anywiseap‐pertaining, situated in the PARISH OF JEFFER‐SON,State of Louisiana, inM.A.GREEN ADDITION SUBDIVISION,according toa survey made by Adloe Orr, Jr.and Associ‐ates, C.E.,dated February 11, 1954, said lotbeing situatedinthe square bounded by Southlineof the 50 foot stripof ground dedicatedfor a servitude to the4th Jef‐

MID LIVING IN TIMES

Small 1960s rancherwith alarge yard is aperfect fit

HOME | DESIGN | GARDEN | REAL ESTATE

Making theright move

Jim and Janice Hall were at a crossroads in life when they stumbled upon the home they hadn’trealized they wanted. But today,they’re living their best lives in a1960s rancher in Lakeview and leaninginto mid-modinterior stylings. Jyl Benson has their story on Page 12.

3,300 squarefeet. It could be yours for $1.75 million. Victor Andrewstakes us inside on Page 10.

GREENTHUMB

3no-sweat thingstodo nowinthe garden. PAGE 4

INSIDE INFO

Home and garden happenings. PAGE 7

HOMEWORKWITHLOUIS

Learn the ropesofbidding at an auction. PAGE 8

Karen Taylor Gist

ANashvilleAvenuehome mixes its prime Uptown locationwith rustic chic stylings throughout its

Going to your first auction mightbea little scary —it feels like such an insider game.But interior designer Louis Aubert is here to explain whatyou need to know to experience the thrill of bidding, and maybe winning, something you love. That’sonPage 8.

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

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

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:

Victor Andrews, Louis J.Aubert, Jyl Benson, Dan Gill, Marni Jameson

COVER DESIGN: AndreaDaniel

COVER PHOTO: Jeff Strout

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

ONEINAMILLION

Uptown home melds rustic and chic. PAGE 10

COVERSTORY

Mid-mod rancher proves irresistible. PAGE 12

IN DETAIL

Wherepurple reigns over lesser hues. PAGE 16

AT HOMEWITHMARNI

When you’re suddenly house-hunting. PAGE 17

REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS

Recent transactions in the metroarea. PAGE 19

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.

6423 CanalBoulevard •Lakeview$529,000

Locatedinone of themostdesirable neighborhoods. Traditional4Bd, 3Ba, 2,413Sfhome w/ theperfectblend of modern finishes,open floor-plan, functionality&convenience forany lifestyle! Charming curb appeal w/ an electricgate&pavedcarportw/gargforadd’lprkg!SpaciousLivRm,DinRm,Lrg Kit, Spacious Primaryw/En-SuiteBath. NewRoofOnceUnder Contract!

KenHamrick 504-628-5428

KellerWilliams RealtyNew Orleans 504-862-0100

200Carroll Avenue •Bay St.Louis,Mississippi

1130 Fourth Street, Unit 1130 •GardenDistrict$899,000

Trulyaspecialhome w/timelessarchitecturaldetails &artisticupdates.Classic dblparlour-ideal forentertaining.Staircase accentsentrywaytospacious& lovely diningroom. Custom chef’s kitchenhas great oldworld style& function, that overlooksabeautiful courtyard! Primaryste w/ balcony overlooking 4thSt. Walking distance to MagazineStorst-cartoFr. QtrorAudubon Pk ShelleyLawrenceShelleyLawrence.info 504-813-8466

WurthRealEstateshelley@wurthre.com504-866-7000

8623 Zimple Street •Riverbend /Carrollton$829,000

Newly renovatedcamelback sits eloquently behind aprivate cement wall/ iron gatew/secure off st-prkg. 3Bd, 3Ba, 2500sf sanctuaryw/orighdwd flrs, added2nd flrprimary suitew/en-suitebath&2 porches. Manicured bkyd.One block from notableOak St Corridor of UptownN.O., Breads on Oak, Po-boy Fest &somuchmore! AlarmSystems Schedule aprivateviewing today. Toni VanZandt 504-913-8665 Reve |Realtors504-300-0700

$1,450,000

This circa1900meticulouslyrestoredcottage marrieshistoricalgrandeurwith modern sophistication.Steps from theBay,itboastsoriginalfeatures,updated interiors,guestcottage,customboathouse,hugecornerlot.SurvivingHurricanes Camille andKatrina,thisenduringhomeoffersan expansivescreenedporch, Englishherbgarden, primeOld Town location forgraciousGulfCoast living EleanorFarnsworth504-669-0211

COMPASS•GardenDistrict504-891-1142

2033-35Esplanade Avenue •New Orleans

$850,000

Welcome to this historicmansion w/ orginarchitectural features on amassive corner lot&4separateunits.6Beds/6Baths/6,110 SqFt Livg AMustSee! Trulyuniqueinit’sown way: 14ft ceilings,dbleparlors,antique decorative frplcs,cypress pocket doors, plastermoldings,gleamingoriglongleafpine plankwd flrs &all thecharm of an antebellumN.O.home. Det’d2-car garage

Muriel Cassibry 504-258-0912

Mark Herman Real Estate,LLC 504-495-0474

GREENTHUMB

Enjoy. Evaluate.Rethink.

It’stoo hot to do anything strenuous in the garden now.I would certainly put off labor-intensive jobs, like creating new beds, building structures such as decks and arbors, or major landscape plantings. The heat also means it’s not agreat time to addhardy trees andshrubs.

Idoslowly stroll aroundmy gardens in the early mornings or late evenings when thetem-

peraturesare somewhat cooler.Oh, I’llstop to take care of some weed issues (that never stops). Still, Itry to keep physical activity to aminimum. But I’mnot wastingtime.

I’m doing three important thingsasIramble around my landscape

1. I’menjoying it. Iamappreciating thebeautiful flowers, brightcolors andfragrances of

do in your garden

summer bedding plants andtropicalsblooming now. Youwork hard to create andmaintain your gardens don’tforget to enjoy them.

2.I’m evaluating plants. I’m looking carefully at howwelllandscapeplants, especially newplants, are doing in this stressful late-summer weather.New plantings are also scrutinized to see if plant and color combinations look as good in the gardenastheydid in my mind.

3. I’m reevaluatingmylandscape. This is agood thing foreveryonetodo.

Reasonstoreevaluate

As landscapes mature,

TOMATOES NOW: Last call to plant tomato transplants into your garden for fall production. Thisneeds to be done thisweekend. Insect and disease pressure is usually greater in the fall than in the spring.Spinosad is a great organic option for controlling the caterpillars, spider mites and leaf miners. For fungal diseases, sprayregularly with a copper fungicide or chlorothalonil.

GOING BANANAS: Some banana trees have produced fruit this

thingschange. Trees get taller and castdeeper shade, and bushes can become overgrown. People’slifestyles also change, and thatareagiven over to a sandboxoraswing set maybe ready for adifferent purpose. Maybe you have recently purchased ahome with mature plantings that no longer work well, or at leastthey don’tsat-

GARDEN TIPS

year despitelast winter’s freezes. It will generally takefour to six months for fruit to reach full size after flowering.The fruit will generally look smoother or plump as it ripens, changing from square or sharp angular shape in cross-section to amore rounded shape. Fruit should be harvested when full-size but green and allowedtoripen off the tree.This is because

Just walking through a garden canbe constructive. Use the time to evaluate the plants being used and howthings may need to changefor next season.

isfy you. Perhaps the arrival of anew baby limits the amount of timeyou have to maintain your gardens. Whatever the reason, reevaluation is an important part of creating a landscape that is attractive and provides for the current needs of afamily.

ä See HEAT, page 6

the fruitwill often split if left on the plant untilfully ripe.

NEW HYDRANGEA: Paniculata hydrangeas, suchasLimelightand other varieties,are still relatively newtosouth Louisiana gardeners.They are adifferent species from the more common big leaformophead hydrangeas we have typically grown.Paniculata hydrangeas produce cone-shaped clusters of white flowers.The flower headswill developpink and rosy colors as they age.After the flowers become unattractive,

prune them off.To control size and increase bushiness,cutback paniculata hydrangeas in late winter or early spring.Theybloom on newgrowth,unlikegarden hydrangeas that bloom on buds set in late summer the year before.

CRAPE MYRTLE THINNING: Many crapemyrtles are sheddingleavesdue to afungal disease called Cercospora leaf spot. While rakingleavesisa nuisance, the disease is well-tolerated by the trees and there is no need to treat them.

Dan Gill GREEN THUMB

STAFFFILE PHOTOBy LESLIE WESTBROOK

GREENTHUMB

Getting rid of weeds is hard and never-ending work

BY DAN GILL

Contributing writer

What is the easy way to get rid of weeds? —

Ninette

I guess spraying with weed killers is easier than hand weeding, but weed killers are not appropriate in every situation. To be honest, it is always a challenge to deal with weeds. Keeping weeds managed in a landscape requires persistent effort and diligence over time. There is simply no getting around that.

We use both physical control (pulling, hoeing) and weed killers in our efforts. Different situations will generally require different techniques and weed killers. It’s important to make sure you are using the best techniques and/or weed killers in each situation to make your efforts most effective. But there is still a lot of effort needed, and it never goes away. Weeds will always be a part of gardening.

In addition to dealing with growing weeds, doing what you can to prevent or reduce weed problems is also helpful. Keeping beds mulched to a depth of two to four inches helps reduce weed issues. Everyone should make use of mulches in vegetable, flower and

keep the bed weed-free longer

One clear truth is this: The more time and effort you put into managing weeds, the easier it gets. Over time, weed problems are greatly reduced in landscapes where weed control is done frequently and effectively. Gardeners who allow weed problems to get way out of hand before doing anything have a much harder time.

shrub beds.

Also, consider preemergence herbicides. We have all noticed that you can clean every weed out of a bed, and in a week or two, you see new weeds growing back. This is because weeds drop seeds, and those seeds germinate after you pull out the existing weeds. To prevent this, after thoroughly weeding a bed, apply a preemergence herbicide (weed preventer) over the bed following label directions, such as Preen, Amaze or other brands. The herbicide will kill germinating weed seeds and

Do you have any suggestions for killing Asiatic jasmine? I am trying to dig it out, but it is a large area, and I am losing the battle. — Becky Asiatic jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum) is tolerant of many weed killers and can be hard to kill. However, you can use the herbicide Triclopyr to kill Asiatic jasmine. Look for brands like Brush Killer, Brush B Gon, Poison Ivy Killer and others. Add a surfactant (spreader sticker, also available at nurseries) to help it cling to the waterrepelling foliage of the jasmine.

Just spray enough to wet the foliage of the jasmine without a lot going into the soil. It is generally OK to use it in the vicinity of other plants, but do not get this on the foliage of desirable plants. It may take more than one application.

Lots of the leaves on my camellias are bronze colored. I have gone to the internet, which mentions lots of problems, none of which I have, fortunately. But nowhere do I see this bronzing of the

leaves mentioned. Can you give me any advice on what might be causing this symptom? — Wayne Bronzing camellia foliage generally indicates spider mites. Spider mites are not visible to the naked eye and live primarily on the underside of the leaves. They are more common during hot, dry weather

mites on camellia foliage are more common in hot, dry weather.

You can control spider mites with a light horticultural oil spray under the leaves, such as Year-Round Spray Oil, Neem Oil or All Seasons Oil. Make two or three applications getting thoroughly under the leaves. The foliage may not change after treatment since the damage is done. But symptoms should not get any worse after treatment.

Dan Gill is a retired consumer horticulture specialist with the LSU AgCenter. He hosts the “Garden Show” on WWL-AM Saturdays at 9 a.m. Email gardening questions to gnogardening@agcenter.lsu.edu.

Margaret Stewart

FILE PHOTO By KATHLEEN FLyNN

FILE PHOTO By JEFF STROUT Spider

GREENTHUMB

Afresh look

To start reevaluating alandscape, you musttakeahard, honest look at what you have. Changes can happen subtly over yearsand you might overlook the obvious,such as an increase in shade from trees, unless you really focus.

Or there may be moresudden changes thathaven’tbeen properly integrated into the landscape. Maybe you added a deck, for instance, and traffic patterns have changed, but you haven’treworked thewalkways.

Perhaps atreewas removed, creating sunny areas that were once shaded. Pretend you are the new owner of the house and gardens you are surveying and look at it withasmuch objectivity as you can.

Consider what your landscape is currently providing. Does it match your current needs? Have your tastes changed? Can you still physically deal with the maintenance? Are therethings you need to eliminate or things you need to add?

Here areafew things to consider.

TREES: One of the biggest changes that can affect alandscape over time is the growth

3Ba,2,150SfCamelback Sanctuarybehindaprivate cementwall/irongatew/ origlhdwdflrs,plusanewly added2ndflrprimary suite.Just1blockfromthe notableOakStCorridorof UptownNewOrleans

It’sa good timetoassess whether atree’sgrowth

of trees.They not only grow taller and larger,but they can dramatically influence what can or can’tgrow under or around them.

If your landscape has been planted for anumberofyears, you may find thatsomeplants don’tperformaswell as they used to.You might notice, for instance, that abed of azaleas is no longer blooming well and the plantslook leggy and thin. If the area is shaded by trees, it could be that they need more light. Trees that were smaller when the azaleas were planted

600PORTOFNEWORLEANS

have grown larger over the years and cast more and deeper shade. Lawns often succumb to shade from atree that has grown larger

When shade makes existing plants do poorly and look unattractive, consider removing those plants and replacing them with something more shade-tolerant. Plant areas where grass will notgrow with shade-loving ground covers like monkey grass or Asiatic jasmine.

SHRUBS: Overgrown shrubs can be trimmed back, trimmed up or removed entirely

Ahard pruning can rejuvenate some overgrown old shrubs. Hard pruning is best done just before shrubs start active growth. February or March is agood timetodohard pruning to shrubs that bloom in the summer.Prune springflowering shrubs in late March or April after they flower.Once they begin growing again, control their size with regular pruning.

In other cases, you can trim ashrub up if height is not an issue. To do this, the lower branches of an overgrown shrub are selectively removed, training it into asmall tree form. This opens space under and around the plant, making it less dominate.

Do youfind yourself continually pruning back shrubs that are too large for the area where they are planted? This is afight you will never win. Often, removing and replacing these shrubs is the best idea. If you do decide to do this, make sure that you select new shrubs that will notgrow too large for the location.

PLANNING AHEAD: The best time for planting hardy trees, shrubs, ground covers and perennials in the landscape is November through March, with fall and early winter being the most beneficial. That’s why nowisagood timetostart doing this type of reevaluation. Youstill have plenty of time to rethink your landscape and make plans for what needs to be done whenthe weather becomes cooler.

FILEPHOTO By TED JACKSON

INSIDEINFO

Learn Japanese gardening style

The Japanese art formof growing plants in aball of soil covered in moss, kokedamas, will be featured in aworkshop Sept. 13 at Longue VueHouse and Gardens, 7Bamboo Road, New Orleans.

Leigh Gradiz, head gardener at the museum, willlead the all-ages workshop (children should be accompaniedbya ticketed adult).

Cost for the workshop is $85. Visit longuevue.com toregister

Find what it’s like to live in Vieux Carré

What’sitlike to live in the French Quarter? The Vieux Carré Property Ownersand Residents Association,French Quarter Journal andthe Historic BK House &Gardens present an evening that celebrates theneighborhood Sept. 17.

Residents, business owners and community members share stories about people, places and traditions of the sector,starting at 6p.m. at 1113 Chartres St. Tickets startat $10. Visit bkhouse.org.

BK House symposium looks at textiles

“Historical Textiles in Home Design: Quilts, Needlework, Cottons &Linens” willbethe theme for the annual Beautiful Spaces Symposium from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at the BK House &Gardens, 1113 Chartres St., in theVieux Carré.

Sessions on fabrics for the home, exploring the significance of textiles in design, cultural identify and regional aesthetic style will include discussion periods at the end of each.

Tickets start at $55. Forinformation, visit bkhouse.org.

Visit theold K-Paul’s with PRC

in September

The French Quarterbuilding that once housedthe famous

Longue VueHouse and Gardens is hosting aworkshop on howto makekokedamas, which are plants growing in balls of soil covered by moss, Sept. 13.

Paul Prudhomme restaurant, K-Paul’s, will bethe spot forthe Preservation Resource Center’s next Beamsand Brewstour.

The Historic New Orleans Collection purchased the building, formerly two separate structures, and is renovating them to stabilize, reroof and updateinteriors at 420Chartres St.

The PRC program, at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 24, offers a chance to view theongoing construction andhear from project managers— plus have

abeveragefromUrban South Brewery

Tickets for thetourare $10. Visit prcno.org.

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 the careand preservation of the parish’streecanopy

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&Babineaux

Babineaux

The workshop, from 8a.m. to 4:15 p.m., will feature Diane Jones Allen, professor and program director of landscape architectureatthe University of Texas at Arlington.

Admission is $12.50 and free to professionals in the landscape and building sectors.

The school includeslunch at the JeffersonPerforming Arts Center,6400 Airline Drive, in Metairie.

Visit friendsofjeffersonthebeautiful.org.

Volunteer projects abound at City Park

Avariety of cleanup days and initiatives are on tap at

City Park to improve and maintain the extensive urban green space. Those coming up include:

n Native Plant Management: 9a.m Wednesday.Volunteer Center.

n Big Lake NativePlant Trail RestorationProject: 9a.m.Friday.Big Lake Native Trail near 7Friedrichs Ave.

n Super Saturday: 9a.m.Saturday.Volunteer Center,1031 Harrison Ave.

Register for the programs and find out more about what to bring at friendsofcitypark. volunteerhub.com.

Have ahome and garden event coming up? Send it to events@theadvocate.com.

PROVIDED PHOTO

GOING, GOING, GONE

Here’s howtoget themostfromgoing to an auction

The dictionary defines the word auction as “a public sale in which goods are sold to the highest bidder.”

While correct, this definition seems abit dry.Itlacks the thrill of the hunt as well as the sometimes heart-pounding sensation that comes with placing the winning bid.

Of course, these feelings can also result in theuninitiated being hesitant to enter the uncharted waters of an auction. No one should be afraid that an accidental sneeze will result in ahigh bid on something in which you have zerointerest. That’ssimply an old bit played out in vintage television sitcoms. Akeen-eyed auctioneer recognizes when alive bid has been placed, so unlike Lucy and Ethel in “I Love Lucy,” you will not return home with abattered moose head or an elephant foot umbrella stand —unless you really want one.

Understandingthe basics

Auction houses can be big business, movingrareand pricey items from the consigner to the highest bidder,but they also are frequently

HOMEWORKWITHLOUIS

Columnist Louis Aubertisshown on Nov. 19, 2005, biddingonanitem at the first post-Hurricane Katrina auction at NewOrleans Auction Gallery.

the source of wonderful pieces at surprisingly low prices. Estate auctions include the most outstanding family pieces of furniture, but also include the slightly lesser,but handsome and well-made, second tierof treasures.

Auctionhouses sometimes focus on aparticularportion of the market. Forinstance, Katie Hovas, senior vice president of the New Orleans-based Neal AuctionCo., explained thatNeal focuses on 19thcentury Americana. While Neal handles the sale of art and furnishings of other periods, its reputation is based on an outstanding variety of 19th-century pieces.

New Orleans is blessed witha number of auction houses representing awide variety of goods and price points. Particularly interesting are the “celebrity” auctions in which itemsthat belonged to awell-known person go under the hammer. The

The auction of arare portraitof 19th-century enslaved man named Frederick unfolds in April at Neal Auction house in NewOrleans. Auction houses canbe bigbusiness, moving rare and pricey items from the consigner to the highest bidder,but theyalsoare frequently the source of wonderful pieces at surprisingly lowprices

STAFFFILE

estate of writer and tastemaker

Julia Reed attracted great attention in 2021 and resulted in avery successful auction to benefit charity Recently,the auction of real estate developer Joe Jaeger Jr.’svaried and unusual collection attracted buyers interested in the pieces he had amassed over many years of collecting.

Previewing an auction

Each auction is preceded by a number of days in which you may preview the items in the auction showrooms. Viewing the online catalog is agood place to start, but it is muchbetter to see each item of interest in person. Take aphotograph and measurements to be certain that it will fit in your home. Some large pieces of furniture disassemble and can easily be moved. Others do not! Preview with afriend. Asecond opinion can be of value. An auction

STAFF FILE PHOTO By RUSTyCOSTANZA

PHOTO By DOUG MacCASH

Louis Aubert

preview and lunch can be afun outing.

When previewing, Ilike to look and really see everything, as there are often surprises. Work the showroom clockwise andthen retrace your steps counterclockwise. It is amazing how many interesting things youmay have missed the first time around.

Don’thesitate to ask questions.

Knowingthe market

The much-maligned “brown” furniture (dark wood furniture) is once again desirable.

“People 20 years ago wanted more space and fewerthings. The demandfor brown furniture was dead, as agood English chest might go for (as little as) $300,” Hovas said. Today,however,youngerbuyers view old pieces as adding “architecture” to contemporary interiors.

Arichness is achieved when an antique, gilded mirror is placedabove amidcentury credenza, just as ahome furnished primarily with antiques benefits by the addition of an Ida Kohlmeyer-style abstract painting. Contemporary art allows us to acknowledge that we live in the 21st century.

Estimate value

Each lot is described in the catalog and includes an estimate of what the piece may bring at auction. For instance, achest may have an estimate of $300 to $500. Sometimes a piece goes for less than the estimate,and other times it may fetch bids much higher than expected. As Hovas said, “Sometimes you wonder how did that piece bring that price?”

The answer can be as simple as thatatleast two people really liked it, and for whatever reason, both wished to purchase it.

Doingyourhomework

Trygoing online to check out the sales results of previous auctions. Finding the sale price of itemssimilartothe ones that you are considering may help you to establish your

HOMEWORKWITHLOUIS

n “ASIS” and “WHERE IS” reflect that all items are sold as is and without warranty, and that items are on-site and must be collected from this location by the buyer

n “SIGNED IT” signifies the qualified opinion that the signature, monogramorother indication of authorship is a

maximum bid.

When bidding, try to stick with your preset maximum bid. Full disclosure here: If another bidder places my absolutely highest bid, Iwill bid once more. Ialsorecommend bidding quickly and decisively, as ahesitant bidder may signal to others that he has reached his limit.

Nowcomes thebidding

Youcan bid in anumber of ways. Attending alive auction and bidding in person may be a little scary the firsttime,but it can also be great fun. Bidders may experience arush when placing bids, especially awinning bid.

Youcan also log in to the auction and bid in real time, or you can leave your maximum bid before the auction and the house will bid for you up to

TERMS TO KNOW

signature of the artist.

n “SCHOOL OF” is the qualified opinionthat thework is of theperiod of theartist named,bya student or follower of theartistnamed, but not by theartist.

n “MANNER OF” is the qualified opinionthat although theworkisinthe styleofthe

your maximum.

Telephone bidding maybeallowed with lots of higher value

What if it’s ugly?

Occasionally,there is apiece so ugly as to be desirable. Iremembera circa 1900 oak table withsplayed, barley-turned legs ending in ball and claw feet thatconsisted of detailed, oversized, bronze claws holding baseball-sized glass balls. This likely mass-produced table was awkward and goofy, but in the right place, it would be wonderful. Aperfect example thatugly,like beauty,is in the eye of the beholder.

Louis J. Aubert is aprofessional memberofthe American Society of InteriorDesigners and an avid preservationist. Some of his most visible New Orleans projects include mak-

artist named, it is actually of a later period.

n “AFTER THIS” refers to a copyofa knownwork of an artist.

n CONSIGNER: The person whohas authorized the auction sale of thepiece.

n AUCTIONEER: Thelicensed personwho conductsthe auction.

n LOTNUMBER: An identification number assigned to apiece in the auction.

n HAMMER PRICE: The high bid that winsalot.

n PREMIUM: Apercentage of the hammer price payable by the buyer to the auction house.

ing interior color selections for GallierHall, Trinity Episcopal Church and the Louisiana Supreme Court Royal Street

ChrisDorion

504.451.4274

Courthouse, and both interior and exterior selections for St. Stephen’sBasilica. Contact him at mrcolour@aol.com

ONEINAMILLION

PROVIDED PHOTOS

Joined by a double opening and pocket doors, the sitting room is an extension of the living room.

Stainless appliances, a rough-hewn table and cypress cabinets are the ingredients for the kitchen.

A soaring ceiling with exposed beams utilizes reclaimed lumber and creates an interesting counterbalance to the terra cotta tile floor in the great room of the addition.

Rustic meets chic inside 3,300-square-foot Uptown home

BY VICTOR ANDREWS Staff writer

There is a rustic yet chic ambiance to the home at 520 Nashville Ave. in Uptown New Orleans.

The $1.75 million home is situated in a neighborhood just a short walk to Magazine Street and its variety of retail and dining options, as well as near Audubon Park and the city’s verdant play space. With four bedrooms and three full baths, this home has more than 3,300 square feet of space. It sits on a 7,200-square-foot lot with towering oaks in a compound that is a unique merging of a 1869 Creole cottage and a two-story addition. Its unique layout provides for multigenerational living and ample space for spreading out in style.

The gated and fenced forecourt is handsomely landscaped with a water feature to set off the distinct character of the vintage architectural style. A broad front porch is a welcoming landing spot.

The shutter-clad windows and doors hint at the timeless character inside, which is evident as soon as the front door opens into the bright living room. Rich wood tones underfoot are balanced by the bleached white tones of the exposed wood ceiling, illuminated by an array of windows throughout the room. A fireplace provides a detail element in the linear space that opens onto a family room through a large double doorway with pocket doors.

The family room maintains the ambiance set by the living room, with a matching fireplace and windows.

Behind the second of the public spaces, the dining room has similar tones with built-in cabinetry edged in wood. A large floor-length window, also edged in rich wood, overlooks the back and spills sunlight across the room.

The kitchen takes up the tenor of these design elements, with cabinetry of roux-colored wood, exposed beams and a rough-hewn central table that serves as an island. The stainless ap-

pliances and thoughtful layout bolster the charm of the room. A stairway to the upper section of the main house is tucked behind a door

A first-floor primary bedroom is conveniently located off the living room, mimicking the style of that room with the wooden ceiling and floor. A fireplace is featured in the room, lending a cozy air to the space.

The primary en suite is an introduc-

A blend of a classic Creole cottage and a contemporary two-story addition, the home on Nashville Avenue is an inviting spot that creates a multigenerational home in the heart of Uptown.

tion of various textures and surfaces, with tiles and stone in gray tones counterbalanced by the bare wood and brick of the fireplace. A soaking tub and separate shower are tucked into the space. A large walk-in closet sits next to the bath.

Behind the kitchen, a hall with French doors to the outside leads to the stepdown addition that can be sequestered from the rest of the home. A staircase

Astylish space that canserve as a bedroom, as shown, or as ahomeoffice is partofthe two-storyadditioninthe back of the dwelling

to the upper floor of the structureand ahalf-bath sit inthe hallaswell.

The addition opens with a flexible room that can serve as abedroom or an office. Aworking fireplace and combination tile and wood floors continue the timeless feel of themain home in this generous additional space.

Asmall kitchen alsoacts as apassageway to the great room, astriking chamber with araw-wood vaulted ceiling and exposed beams. With access from the home’scentral courtyard, it also features three French doors opening onto arear covered porch. A European-influencedworking fireplace is adominant anchor in thespace, providingvisual and environmental features.

Upstairs in the addition, a large suite features astylish sleepingroom with French doors onto acovered balcony

The en suite melds many textures andstyles foracontemporaryyet rustic ambiance that includes ajetted tub and a furniture-style vanity.

The suite over the main house has an angledceiling with clever use of irregular spaces for built-in shelves and storage.The sleekbath has

ONEINAMILLION

The kitchen of the addition is acompact yetfunctional space that also acts as apassagefromthe office/bedroom to thegreatroom.

asubway-tiled shower and clevervanity utilizing astone and iron table.

Theprivate backyard is a haven for relaxation, while the additionalgreen spaces around

Atub and standing showerare elements of the primary bath, asleek space of marble and tile, with hints of brick and wood for flavor

thehome are landscaped and offer plentifulspots for gardening

Thehome is listed by Joey Walker,ofRêve Realtors, (504) 300-0700.

Cleverlycrafted storagespaces tucked under the pitch of the roof are partofthe charminthe upstairs bedroom of the main house.

The blond brick ranch home has three bedrooms and two baths.

By JEFF STROUT

RIGHT

COVER STORy

DIRECTION

A wrong turn leads this California couple to a Lakeview jewel

BY JYL BENSON Contributing writer

Eighteen months ago, Jim and Janice Hall were at a crossroads. Life had thrown some obstacles into their paths, and they were trying to figure out their next move. They were frequent visitors to New Orleans, where Jim Hall’s son lives and Janice Hall’s mother had honeymooned not once but twice.

“Something about that left me feeling I had a symbiosis for the place. Like we had some kind of destiny,” said Janice Hall, a native of Chicago.

In 2015, the couple had moved to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, from Palm

Springs, California, where Janice Hall, an author, photographer, interior designer and competitive tennis player, had owned a series of art galleries. They continued to maintain a second home in Southern California.

One afternoon in 2023, they were headed back to the coast after a visit to New Orleans.

“We always took I-610 and Highway 90 back to the coast,” Janice Hall said, “but one day Jim said, ‘Let’s take Lakeshore Drive back, and see where it leads.’”

As Janice Hall was traveling down Fleur de Lis

ä See JEWEL, page 14

Janice Hall and her beloved miniature Labradoodle Pete relax on their rear patio.

PHOTOS

Jim and Janice Hall’s living room features a trio of Mark Rothko posters, a reflection of Janice Hall’s enthusiasm for all things associated with the midcentury aesthetic.

ABOVE: The previous homeowner carefully restored the home’s kitchen after postHurricane Katrina flooding nearly destroyed the home.

LEFT: This cozy dining space is located between the kitchen and the living room, all of which features the terrazzo floors that drew in Janice Hall.

Midcentury-era, atomic-style stars adore the wall behind a petite bar in the Halls’ kitchen.

PHOTOS

By

JEFF STROUT

JEWEL

Continued from page 12

Drive toward Allen Toussaint Drive, she turned a couple of streets too soon.

“And there it was, the cutest little, teeny, tiny house ever! Something about it just spoke to me,” she said.

She immediately called the listing agent, who came right over.

Though tidy and wellmaintained, the circa 1963,

1,300-square-foot ranch house was entirely too small for Jim Hall’s tastes. “He sat in the car while I went to check it out,” said Janice Hall.

“I fell in love with the original terrazzo floors and natural wood trim in the house,” she added.

Janice Hall enticed her husband to take a look, to consider the possibilities given the property’s sprawling rear yard and the al fresco lifestyle he enjoyed.

Her instincts were right. Jim Hall — a retired environmental executive and former NASCAR driver — was sold on the yard. The couple made a contingent offer on the house, based on their ability to sell their house on the Gulf Coast, which was not even on the market.

“The Realtor told me the house had been in the same family since it had been built. It was located just a couple of blocks from where the 17th Street Canal had breached the levee following Hurricane Katrina,” Janice Hall said. “The house had been nearly destroyed, but instead of demolishing it, the family had lovingly rebuilt it, preserving the floors in the process

“It was the niece of the original owner who was selling the house, and they were being very particular about who they would sell the house to. I wrote her a letter accompanying our

offer, telling her how the house would perfectly serve us and inviting her to come visit anytime, should she be willing to sell us the house.”

Their Gulf Coast home sold in three weeks. The house in Southern California was soon to follow They planned to make the little house in Lakeview their only home.

“When I went to the closing, (the owner) was late,” Janice Hall said. “When she arrived, she told me she had stopped at the cemetery on her way to tell her aunt, ‘We have found the right buyer.’

“And with that, that wrong turn I made turned out to be the right one.”

New life for an old house

Since the Halls have owned the blond brick, midcentury house, they have imposed a Southern California sensibility upon it. Porch furniture in a midcentury style, as well as a collection of tropical plants, frame a flat panel door with a trio of horizontal glass panes for a breezy feel.

Within, the pale terrazzo floors are topped with soft, sand-colored, low-pile shag rugs. Janice Hall’s passions for midcentury art and design are evident. A trio of Mark Rothko art prints hangs on the wall behind a contemporary, sandcolored sofa, with a turntable and a collection of LPs within arm’s reach. The space is il-

A music enthusiast, Janice Hall’s art collection includes depictions of female jazz musicians.

ABOVE: Musicrelated mementoes are displayed in a room Hall calls ‘the museum.’

LEFT: What looks like a guitar is actually a speaker

This 1969 Jazz Fest poster is a treasured part of Janice Hall’s art collection.

Though she does not smoke, Janice Hall collects the dramatic ashtrays that were popular in the 1950s and ’60s.

luminated by an atomic-style floor lamp on one side and a woven rattan floor lamp on the other.

Before the sofa sits a glass and chrome cocktail table topped with 1960s art books and a truly groovy ceramic ashtray.

“I don’t smoke,” said Janice Hall, “but I love arty ashtrays. And this table is the only piece I have carried everywhere throughout my life. We had to get all new furniture to fit the house.”

A small room, located just inside the front of the covered carport, was once a mudroom;

now it is “The Museum.” It holds an Illinois license plate that was refashioned into a guitar Music posters feature notable artists such as Jimi Hendrix and Billie Holiday, and there’s a framed album cover of “The Final Tour” by

Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Holding a place of honor are a trio of treasured, framed Dinah Washington albums that once belonged to Hall’s mother and were played to Hall when she was a child.

There are more stacks of

“And there it was, the cutest little, teeny, tiny house ever! Something about it just spoke to me.”

JANICE

HALL

The clean midcentury aesthetic carries over into the primary bedroom.

LPs, audio equipment, art ashtrays and collectible snow globes picked up on travels.

California living

Today, the back of the house has been opened up for easy access to the rear yard. A paver patio serves as a conversation area at the rear of the home’s large, deep yard, where Adirondack chairs are grouped around a propaneburning fire pit.

Just outside of the back door leading from the house is a paved and covered porch outfitted with midcentury-style outdoor furnishings, colorful art, tropical plants and a sleek black rattan dining set illumi-

nated by an atomic “sputnik” style chandelier

Life in the neighborhood

“I would not live anywhere else,” said Hall. “We have the best neighbors ever It only takes 10 to 15 minutes to get anywhere from here. I get to walk to the Lakefront with my dog for sunsets. I love the liveliness of Harrison Avenue. I love Hibernia Park, which is dedicated to the Irish who lost their lives digging the New Basin Canal. I am 100% Irish. And I love this little house.

“It was a total accident that we found it. We took a wrong turn and everything just fell together.”

The outdoor dining table is illuminated by an atomic sputnik-style lamp.

PURPLE POWER of

Purple is a regal color, quiet, rich and elegant, setting a calm backdrop for its partners in paint. The green and gold that so often accompany it in New Orleans can be counted on to add the dramatic touches.

— Karen Taylor Gist

MAKING HASTE

When aquick offerprompts ahurried new-home hunt, be prepared with alistof must-haves andcan-live-withouts

Editor’snote: Remember Marni? Of course you do. She recently retired from writing the weekly column that ran in these pages but still contributes the occasional missive. This is one of them.

Ishould know by now thatifyou venture into an exploratory hypotheticalconversation witha real estatebroker,you might as well start packing.

Onecasual conversation witha broker friend started thehouse hurricane.

My neighbor had just sold his house for atidy sum. Thatgot me running the numbers on the Happier YellowHouse. Who doesn’t do this?Inthe seven years since we bought it —and greatly improved it (in my humble opinion) —the home’svalue had increased nicely

So, Iasked Wendy,our broker friend, justout of curiosity, what she thought we couldget.She gave me anumber thatevenafter broker’sfees would be hard to

Althoughselling

Marni Jameson AT HOME

passup. Still, thethought of listing my house, finding anew place andmoving sounded more painful than surgery withoutanesthesia.

Italked it over with my husband. DC was instantly on board. To reduce our chances of this actually happening,wetold Wendy to circulate the nonlistedproperty among the brokersonly in her office.

If any of them had abuyer willing to pay full price, we’d consider selling.

Three days later,two dozenor so brokersfrom Wendy’soffice paraded through our home. A

few thought theymight have a prospective buyer.One brought awell-to-do widowthe next day. She made an all-cash, full-price offer.(It’sanambiguous blessing thatselling my home to the first buyerwho walks in is oneofmy superpowers. This is fifth time in arow it’shappened.)

And just like thatwewere homeless.

Nestledinthe Villas sectionofEnglish Turnsgated golfcoursecommunity, this beautifullyupdated home offers comfort, privacy, andstyle.Hidden behind beautifulmaturefront landscaping, this 2,900+ square foot home includes3spacious bedrooms, 2.5baths,and adedicated first-floor study. Theopenfloor plan is flooded with naturallight andanchoredby rich wood floors throughout.The 2023 totalrenovationofthe bathroom in the primarysuite is atrueretreat with a contemporary soakingtub,bathroom heater,and gracious glassshower, while theupstairsJack-and-Jill bath hasbeen fullyrenovated with modern touches as well.Tonsofrecentupgradesmake this atrueturn-keyproperty- including HVACsreplaced in 2022 and2024, waterheaterreplaced in 2024,carpet replaced in 2024,painting andkitchen cabinets refinished in 2024,and more Additionally,enjoy your summers stress free knowingyourwhole home generator is theretokeepyou up and runningall year round. Atruegem in the Villas,scheduleaprivate viewingtoday!

ASSOCIATEDPRESS FILEPHOTO

your homecan be an emotional time, it allows youtodream of what your next home could be.

HUNT

Continued from page 17

Some serious thought

Though this happened fast, the notion of selling and moving is one DC and I have talked about — if only idly. DC is nearing retirement. As we look ahead, we are looking for ways to stretch our retirement income by reducing our real estate overhead. Specifically, we’d like to be mortgage-free. Currently, we have two properties: our main house and a beach condo an hour away Both have small mortgages, which are easy to manage so long as we’re both working.

We love having a beach getaway, but because of its

mortgage, it costs more than it makes in rental income. (By offering it as a vacation rental, we only have to open a vein to cover the costs, not a full artery.) Our plan when we bought the condo two years ago was to see how we liked it (we do), and then when we got ready to retire decide whether to keep or sell it. Here we are.

This prompted a recurring circular discussion: To be mortgage-free, we could either sell the Happier Yellow House, use the equity to buy something less expensive for cash, and keep the beach condo, or we could keep the Happier Yellow House and sell the condo. The answer to the riddle kept coming as: Neither.

That is until a full-price

cash offer tilted the tables. Though intellectually, I knew what to do, emotionally, the decision wasn’t so easy. I love my home and neighbors.

Looking to the future

However, because I strive to practice what I preach in my columns and books about downsizing and rightsizing, and specifically the notion that we must evolve so that our homes suit our current phase of life, I told myself I needed to — gulp — walk the walk.

The scramble to find a new house I loved or could love, that fit our needs — social, emotional, physical and financial — began. We had 60 days to closing. Tick tock.

Meanwhile, when I got cold feet — every 10 minutes — I would remind myself that house deals fall through all

While a smaller home footprint is preferable for her next home, Marni Jameson says a smaller yard with space for a dipping pool is an option.

the time. They can fail inspections, parties can disagree on improvements that need to be made, financing may not materialize, contingencies might not be met. The sale isn’t over until the docs are signed and the ink has dried. I found this irrationally reassuring. Worst case, we would stay put.

But, as the reality sunk in, my outlook brightened. I grew hopeful and started envisioning what the next home could offer.

A MAN CAVE: In retirement, DC is looking forward to spending more time working on creative projects, including writing music. He also plans to do

some consulting, so would like a dedicated space, which our current home doesn’t offer.

MORE HOUSE DOWNSTAIRS: Our current home has three bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs. I can see a day when a one-level home could appeal.

A LITTLE LESS YARD: The tree trimming, irrigation issues, fountain maintenance, flower bed refreshing, pest control and lawn care all add up. However, I still want a private outdoor oasis and maybe a small dipping pool. I live in Florida, after all.

THE MAGIC COMBO: Mostly I want a home that has what I can’t change, but not what I can. That is, I want good room flow, good natural light, welcoming curb appeal, a nice street and a nice area. I also want a vanilla house, one that is well-maintained but not “done.” One that could use improvement. These little gems often sit on the market and go for a good price.

NO MORTGAGE: I like the sound of that.

Join me next time for the house hunt.

Marni Jameson is the awardwinning author of seven books, including “Rightsize Today for Your Best Life Tomorrow.” Contact her at marni@marnijameson.com.

FILE PHOTO

REALESTATETRANSFERS

EAST JEFFERSON

n TRANSFERS FOR AUG. 16-21 HARAHAN

HICKORY AVE. 395: Lauren Waites to RSC Properties LLC, $280,000.

STOREY ST. 5118-20: Janis E.L. Malone to Lapeyre Properties LLC, $1,275,000.

JEFFERSON

AUDUBON TRACE 205: Denise G. Nebel to Braylon J.H. George, $212,000.

DODGE AVE. 321: Kimberly Woodall to Christi M.R. Guste, $245,000.

GELPI AVE. 541: Rachael Maurin to Kimberly Ewing, $255,000.

JEFFERSON PARK AVE. 541: Elegant Houses LLC to Rafael N. Lopes, $317,500.

NEWMAN AVE. 205: Anna Montalbano to Zenaida Macaranas, $360,000.

KENNER

CALIFORNIA AVE. 3209: Laura K. Pontiff to Marco S. Acosta, $160,000.

COCOS 7: B. Vertical LLC to Jeremiah Fears, $855,000.

E. NOTRE DAME PLACE 504: Wilford Marcote to Scott Kyser, $214,000.

ILLINOIS AVE. 2105: Duane C. Westman to James Westman, donation, no value stated.

ILLINOIS AVE. 2105: James Westman to James Westman, $112,937.

INDIANA AVE. 2218: Monica Rogge to Shyanna L.H. Hensarling, $199,000.

IOWA AVE. 1951: Ryan A. Gianelloni to Ondina Lobo, $198,000.

LEGRANDE BAYOU LANE 209: Dayna L.H. Lehmann to Carole B. Saba, $471,000.

LIBRA LANE 828: Jerry T. Neil Jr. to Irian A. Hernandez, $250,000.

LOYOLA DRIVE 4129: Sean Finnegan to Rac Development LLC, $115,000.

LOYOLA DRIVE E. 3745: Linda H. Anglada to Ibisleinis A.V. Fernandez, $225,000.

NASSAU AVE. 32: Calamari Properties LLC to Cindy Marlbrough, $459,000.

PLATT ST. 1: Mary Mumford to Kirsten G. Mahmud, $415,000. W. ESPLANADE AVE. UNIT 1B 1500: Julie Wakefield to Edward L. Meise, $94,000.

METAIRIE

39TH ST.

NO NEW ORLEANS TRANSFERS

The Orleans Parish property transfers were not received from the Clerk of Court’s Office in time for publication.They will return next week.

AMHURST ST. 6021: Mark Giammaria to Latryante Carter, $251,500

APPLE ST. 1801: Yamilet P. Jones to Catherine B. Ducrow, $332,500.

BISSONET DRIVE 4517: Manuel F. Blanco to Kimberly A. Lopez, $387,000.

CAMEL ST. 4519: Chuyler W Freeman to Elegant Houses LLC, $100,000.

CARNATION AVE. 237: Albert M. Gallwey Jr. to Two Thirty Seven Carnation LLC, $130,000.

CASWELL LANE 2209-11: Margaret Perrier to Tianyan Gao, $330,000

CIVIC ST. 3933: George P. Brue to Nicolas R. Russo, $335,000.

CLEARY AVE. UNIT 106 2305:

Gavin A. Stevens to Stephen Breaux, $87,000.

COLONY PLACE 1205: Adam Scott to Hancock Whitney Bank, $48,000.

COURTLAND DRIVE 3909: Denise M.D. Galjour to Kimberly C. Ficker, $440,000.

E. MANLEY AVE. 603: Craig J. Boudreaux to Elizabeth K. Ball, $418,000.

FERRAN DRIVE 4317: Wendy T Smith to Lisa B. Steib, $415,000.

GLENN ST. 7032: Patrick Madore

to Nicole Montalbano, $311,000.

GREENMOUNT DRIVE 433-435: Wendy B. Flake to T&G Investment LLC, $180,000.

HOMESTEAD AVE. 626: Thomas G. Mule to Charles Pierson, $385,000.

HYACINTH ST. 210-212: Trimeg Properties LLC to Wilson Electric LLC Wooddy, $510,000.

JESSICA ST. 2913: Bertucci Investment Group LLC to Bertucci Investment Group LLC, $175,534.

LIBERAL ST. 4313: Marco J. Hernandez to Luisa F. Hernandez, donation, no value stated.

LIVE OAK ST. 824: Jn Mly Property LLC to Peggy Popovich, $300,000.

MARTIN BEHRMAN ST. 812, UNIT

O: Lia B. Delgadillo to Nejat H. T. Daglache, $98,000.

METAIRIE COURT ROADWAY 2310: Lawrence N. Powell to Taylor Cummings, $385,000.

MISSISSIPPI AVE. 2613: Williams F. Cupit to Two Thousand Six Hundred Thirteen Mississippi Ave LLC, $146,074.

MORTON ST. 6200: Keith Caceres to Elizabeth M.C. Mercer, $270,000.

PAPWORTH AVE. 312: Monica Guarino to Halee Morris, $309,000.

PAPWORTH AVE. 506: Emily Provosty to Jessica Dekleva, $347,000.

PARK MANOR DRIVE 6421-6423: Jaime A.G. Urbina to Maria D. Urbina, donation, no value stated.

RUE ST. ANN 207: Kenneth G. Haik to Anne Hamilton, $875,000.

SANFORD ST. 5020: Rachel R.S. Smith to James B. Royal, $268,000.

SENAC DRIVE 5000: Elizabeth F. Raymond to Alexandra P. Wilson,

$375,000.

SEVERN AVE. 3825: Lisa M.D. Marse to Lacy S. Goree, $453,000.

TOLMAS DRIVE 3213: Shannon Lorenz to Kristen M. Shaheen, $472,500.

TRIBUNE ST. 68: Paul J. Truxillo to Bertucci Investment Group LLC, $115,000.

TRUDEAU DRIVE 805: Charlene H. Songy to Gwendolyn H. Turner, $19,000.

W. ESPLANADE AVE. 4740: Wayne J. Pharo to Ani Kassardjian, $250,000.

W. WILLIAM DAVID PARKWAY 861: Stephanie Burgard to Bryce Paulin, $380,000.

W. WILLIAM DAVID PARKWAY 303: Kaley L.P. Intravia to Depass LLC, $1,300,000.

YORK ST. 5908: Carolyn Greco to Gloria E. Jimenez, $248,000.

RIVER RIDGE

ARNOLD AVE. 508: Robert D Menesses to Kurt C. McGovern, $181,000.

CITRUS LANE 9429: Monteiro Anna D. Brans Unified Credit Trust to Rebecca Susick, $375,000.

DIANE AVE. 201: Grace Foret to Thomas Conrad, donation, no value stated.

DOUGLAS DRIVE 242: Charles F Hirling Jr. to Joseph N. Lecoq Jr., $633,000.

GARDEN ROAD 301: Ann W.V. Matthews to Richard C. Newman, $765,000.

HAZEL DRIVE 101: Steven M. Manning to Empire Group LLC, $200,000.

ORMOND PLACE 9108: Marsha Montgomery to Blake A. Alongi, $435,000.

SHERRYL.OWEN CRS, GRI, SFR, ABR 228-760-2815 •228-822-9870 OWENSHERRYL@AOL.COM 220818THST, SUITEB,GULFPORT, MS 39501 WWW.OWENANDCO.COM

POINTCIR. $2,800,000 4Beds/5.5 Baths 6,118sqft/ 2.1acres Gorgeous views, saltwater pool andspa,double garage anddoublecarport, andboathouse

BEACHFRONT GULFPORT 5200 W. BEACHBLVD. $599,000

2Beds/2Baths/ 1,312sqft Beachfront bungalowlocated just steps from thegulf. Panoramicwater views! Fortified Gold Construction,elevator, and workshop.Perfect full-time residence, vacation home,orinvestmentproperty.

3105: Austin D Roark to Monique T. Wilbanks, $495,000.

REALESTATETRANSFERS

WEST JEFFERSON

n TRANSFERS FOR AUG. 16-21

AVONDALE

LANDSDOWNE DRIVE 4104: Dsld LLC to Lashon N. Coleman, $279,990.

LANDSDOWNE DRIVE 4112: Dsld LLC to Brittany N. Louisville, $267,990.

BRIDGE CITY

THIRD ST. 160: Viola C. W. Washington to Yotta Williams, donation, no value stated.

GRAND ISLE

AMARIS BLVD. 1023: Beryl G. Daniel to Walker M. Field, donation, no value stated.

AMARIS BLVD. 1023: Lott Properties LLC Daniel to Beryl G. Daniel, $300,000.

PAMELA BLVD. 7002: Kristin Bassett to Kerri H. David, $910,000.

ROSETHORNE LANE 180: One Hundred Eighty Rosethorn LLC to Catherine M. Pruitt, $155,000.

GRETNA

AMAPOLA CIRCLE 305: Aisha J. Dalton to Megan Broussard, $249,000.

AZALEA DRIVE 12: Glenda Kirchhoff to Eric Savoie, $90,000.

CLAIRE AVE. 1430: Associated Catholic Charities of New Orleans Inc. to Jba Hondumex Remodeling Company LLC, $227,500.

FIELDING AVE. 605: Davin R. Savoy to Josue C. Hernandez, $255,900.

FRANKLIN AVE. 409-11: Grayling B. Bocage Jr. to Imbue Management Group LLC, $145,000.

HANCOCK ST. 441: Michael P. Bradley to Stacey Zuehlke, $380,000.

HUEY P. LONG AVE. 1902: Michelle E. S. Yawn to Kendra C. Mote, $228,900.

LESLIE ST. 2144: Luis Suarez to Elegant Houses LLC, $200,000.

MYSTIC AVE. 808: Norman A. Rieskind Jr. to Miracle Realty Solutions LLC, $82,500.

WRIGHT AVE. 507: Toni A. Kirkton to Hammond Charles Jr., $90,000.

HARVEY

E. BAMBOO DRIVE 3932: Leos La LLC to Ysabel T. Ortiz, $202,650.

EASTMERE ST. 2309: Danielle K. Penwright to Sharika Arceneaux, $190,000.

EASTVIEW DRIVE 3729: I & U Investment LLC to Karen C. Ulloa, $225,500.

ESTALOTE AVE. 1913: Catherine Washington to Pine Pots LLC, $95,000.

FIRST AVE. 427: First Avenue LLC to Todd Higuera, $146,000.

KEITH WAY DRIVE 2952: V. Netter Jr. to Joan R. Edwards, donation, no value stated.

LAPALCO BLVD. UNIT 8 1525: Ebony Cook to Fabulash LLC, $115,000.

N. VILLAGE GREEN ST. 2282: Michael Jones to Anh Le, $230,000.

PETERS ROAD 730: Edwards Express LLC to One Thousand Thirty Two Avenue A. LLC, $221,000.

LAFITTE

JEAN LAFITTE BLVD. 3740A: Carly K. Guidry to John Alexie, $300,000.

MARRERO

AVE. G 1321: Agnes L. P. Hebert to

Luismidaniel L. P. Cruz, $275,000.

BARATARIA BLVD. 4700: Brandi Frosch to Brandi Bush, $900,000.

BAYOU LOURS COURT 2733: Terry A. Rodgers to Michael Rhue, $220,000.

COTTONWOOD DRIVE 4000: Elegant Houses LLC to Musaa Aayad, $157,000.

COUSINS BLVD. 4313: Alia Jordan to Tuyett T. C. Hoang, $299,000.

JOY ANN DRIVE 2657: Ginger A. Aucoin to Tammy G. Blanchard, $200,000.

LYDIA COURT 736: A.3 Fazende to Brindell Dorsey, $280,000.

MIMOSA ST. 1509: Jacqueline Morlas to Tyler Tran, $248,888.

N. OAK DRIVE 5833: Kelvin Payne to Kasey Joseph, $175,000.

SCHOOL DRIVE 4005: Michelle E. L. Brouillette to Tristen Perrin, $279,900.

SUWANNEE DRIVE 2321: Rickey C. Klinner to Jimmie Wilson Jr., $260,000.

TERRYTOWN

DANIELS ROAD 2156: Lem Investments LLC to Nancy E. Rodas, $135,000.

MORNINGSIDE DRIVE 733: Mi Group LLC to Lauren Green, $210,000.

W. BUTTERFLY CIRCLE 419: Lola P. Keomanichanh to Lola P. Keomanichanh, $70,000.

WESTWEGO

AVE. B 774: Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to Zedekiah W Gaddis, $123,500.

AVE. G 808: Ollie B. Hooter to Cole D. Ellis, $150,000.

MALLARD DRIVE 131: Natasha T. W. Shaw to Angela Toups, $72,000.

ST. TAMMANy

n TRANSFERS FOR AUG. 4-8 ABITA SPRINGS

J.H. WARNER ESTATES DIVISION, LOTS 1A2, 1A3, SQUARE 3: Cassandra C. Katz to Rawlin W. Carter, $205,000. MONEY HILL PLANTATION SUBDIVISION, PHASE 2A, HOMESITE 118: James A. Landversicht to Joshua E. Pincu and Rebecca C. Pincu, $400,000.

NEAR ABITA SPRINGS, PORTION OF GROUND: Larry E. Arnold to Alison K. Arnold, donation, no value stated.

PEARL ST. 21510: Peter W. Langland and Brandy Badeaux Langland to Henry B. Atkins, $365,000.

SOUTHEAST DIVISION OF ABITA SPRINGS, LOT 5A, SQUARE 20: Mark & Kasey LLC to Roy P. Anslem and Darlene B. Anslem, $130,000.

COVINGTON

10TH ST. 70351: Habitat For Humanity St. Tammany West Inc. to Arian M. Chatman, $217,900. 11TH ST. 70323: Barbara A. Reeves to Patrick Becker, $225,000.

BUNNY LANE 72221: Dean B. Tennille to David Kaufmann and Sadie Campeaux, $315,000.

CLOVER MEADOW COURT 301: Edwin A. Arcemont and Marsha Pitre Arcemont to Anthony A. Ruckert and Mary C. Gilder Ruckert, $380,000.

E. 35TH AVE. 524: Buy and Sell Houses LLC to Ryan D. Otto, Kevin W. Otto and Renee F.

Otto, $178,000.

EMERALD FOREST BLVD. 350, UNIT 5202: Alireza Zahedi to John A. Dufrene and Kathy M. Perret, $85,000.

ESTELLE COURT 3068: DSLD Homes LLC to Edgar R. Monjure Jr. and Patricia A. Monjure, $299,280.

FIRST ST. 70459: Juneaux LLC to Monique Rogers, $215,000.

FITZMORRIS ROAD 19046: Mark H. Devillier and Kimberly T Devillier to Andrew D. Barksdale and Mikkie Green-Barksdale, $538,200.

JENKINS ROAD 69310: Succession of Sylvia A. Favre Mayeaux and Glenn Mayeaux Sr. to Bryan A. Mariakis Jr., $202,000.

KNOLL PINE CIRCLE 312: Charles S. Faulk to Christopher O. Martin and Reyna R. Martin, $280,000. LA. 1081 20236: Casey J. Hammock and Karyn M. Gresham Hammock to Clayton Thornton and Krista Whiddon, $240,000.

LAKE RAMSEY SUBDIVISION, PHASE 2, LOT 61: Timothy P Radosti and Melanie B. Radosti to Patricia Lady, $37,500.

LAKE TAHOE DRIVE 14329: Starfish & Sand One LLC to Jareth W. Mears and Dina L. Mears, $335,000.

MOORE BLVD. 526: Benjamin L. Dixon and Taylor M. Dixon to Larry D. Bernard and Lynda K.N. Bernard, $295,000.

NEAR COVINGTON, PORTION OF GROUND: Frank E. Crutti Jr. to Gregory P. Acosta and Carla G. Acosta, $28,000.

RHONDA COURT 5: Jonathan Wallace Sr. to Michael W. Mason and Olivia M. Sanchez, $334,000.

RIVERLAKE DRIVE 13419: Deborah G. Janssen to Scott A. Robinson and Samantha M. Stalcup Robinson, $480,000.

SOLITUDE WAY 513: Nicholas Paiva to Lauren M. Gonzalez, $560,000.

TERRA BELLA SUBDIVISION, PHASE 1A13, LOT 450: Terra Bella Group LLC to Roland S. Sherwood III and Danette M. Sherwood, $117,500.

VILLAGE WALK 942, UNIT 3-A, BUILDING 3: Jimmy L. Willoughby and Ulrich A. Starke Willoughby to Kelly Richards and Tracie L. Richards, $770,000. W. 15TH AVE. 820: Fredaco LLC to Eddy D. Sosa Madrid, $117,000. WICKFIELD DRIVE 13: Tyler E. Gaspard to Camryn Cox and Colin Sullivan, $282,500.

VALLEY ROAD 77344: 138N.CortezSt.

Roy T. Ritter Jr. to Green Valley Estates LLC, $180,000.

J AND B DRIVE 78175: Terrie G. Cole and Delbert O. Cole to William R. Corbidge and Jennifer R. Corbidge, $229,000.

LA. 1077 77116: Rose Mary S. Gilberti, Peter Gilberti and Marc A. Gilberti to Jimmie C. Daniel III, $275,000.

NEAR FOLSOM, PORTION OF GROUND: North Fork Two LLC to Roehl & Wolf Ranch LLC, $251,505.

OLD CREEK ROAD 100: Jake B. Leger, Sarah E. Leger and others to Jared R. Gambino and Natalie M. Gambino, $419,500.

SPRING RIVER PARK SUBDIVISION, PHASE 2, LOT 55: Joshua M. Pailet to Tiffany R. Pierre, $100 and other valuable consideration.

TOWN OF FOLSOM, LOTS 6, 7, SQUARE 129: Donald Vial and Monique Vial to Aaron B. Chabuad, $45,000.

LACOMBE

AUBREY TRACT SUBDIVISION, LOT 10, UNIT 5: Victor P. Lewis to Kevin A. Lewis, donation, no value stated.

FISH HATCHERY ROAD 62569: Steven Faber and Frances B. Faber to Rebecca Larkins and Keith Larkins, $230,000.

FOREST DRIVE 61267: Kyle Bell to Victor M. Taboado and Heather M. Streeter, $237,000

HUEY ST. 30479: Jeanne D. Charrier, Robert J. Delle III and others to Leon J. Paoletti, donation, no value stated.

LYNNWOOD DRIVE 61061: Michael W. McGough to Daniel G. Gast and Deborah G. Gast, $65,000.

NORTH OAK LAWN SUBDIVISION, LOTS 336, 337: Kevin S. McDonald and Donna C.P. McDonald to Gene A. Laurent, $47,000.

SALT LICK LANE 67425: Kenneth C. Ober and Tina Folks Ober to Loto LLC, $106,025.

SNOW ST. 62088: Dorothy G. Adam to Kiamba M. Wasuna and Elizabeth A. Wasuna, $225,000.

SUNRISE DRIVE 26297: Bruce P. Maquar to Maegan R. Maquar, donation, no value stated.

W. SPRUCE ST. 25512: Federal National Mortgage Association to Tasha Sopsher, $145,000.

MADISONVILLE

ALICE ST. 29: Mitchell R. Rogers to Alexis Waguespack and Ambrose Bordelon, $299,000.

AUDUBON PARKWAY 1157: Joshua J. Mortensen and Ashley M. Mortensen to John P. Dallam IV

REALESTATETRANSFERS

and Angela M. Winter, $505,000.

BEDICOVE DRIVE 7162: Ernest Celestie-Giordano and Jillian Celestie-Giordano to Todd Engle and Angela Engle, $712,000.

DECIDUOUS LOOP 620: Jason P Campbell to Kyle W. Hall and Emma R. Hall, $295,000.

FAYEDAYE DRIVE 136: Brian A. Miller and Jacqueline F. Miller to Jay A. Stinson and Lindsey R. Stinson, $362,000.

MARDI ST. 108: Roger D. Hayes to Brindell Brigham, $175,000.

SPIKE DRIVE 71537: DSLD Homes LLC to Alton Johnston and Mandi Johnston, $237,150.

MANDEVILLE

BIRON ST. 2037: Nathan R. Mastnjak and Jennifer L. Mastnjak to Kevin P. Loisel, $278,000.

BUTTERFLY COURT 2347: Harrison J. Fontenoy and Kathryn E. Fontenoy to Fernand Bourgeois III and Mia S. King, $270,000.

CEDARWOOD DRIVE 416, UNIT

D-3: RDV Holdings LLC Inc. to John Weed III, $130,000.

DESTIN ST. 2537: Brenda G. Collins to Michael R. Donegan, $225,000.

EVANGELINE DRIVE 267: Andrew R. Schwing and Dey M. CaronnaSchwing to Donna M. Caronna Crowe, $100 and other valuable consideration.

MONTEREY DRIVE 732: Brewster Living Trust to Deborah G. Janssen, $155,000.

NEAR MANDEVILLE, LOTS 12, 14, SQUARE 233: Gadrel LLC to Jose Gil Nava Perez and Ana C. Vazquez, $5,000.

NEAR MANDEVILLE, LOTS 49, 51, 53, 55, 56, SQUARE 184A: GSRE LLC to Christopher K. Es-

quinance, $75,000.

NEAR MANDEVILLE, PORTION OF GROUND: Salty & Associates LLC to Three B Properties LLC, $162,697.

PINERIDGE COURT 221: Edward E. Stone III and Debra L. Stone to Kimberly R. Purtle, $175,000.

S. LAURA DRIVE 375: Denise D. Cortez to Phillip D. Brodt and Melinda M. Brodt, $399,000.

TALLOW TREE DRIVE 1061: Robert Theriot Jr. and Jennifer C. Theriot to Davin Wallace and Maria Wallace, $420,000.

TETE LOURS DRIVE 640, UNIT 1: James T. Anderson and Regina Perkowski Anderson to Grace C. Dorsey, $190,000.

TRACE LOOP 3: John Hoft Supplemental Needs Trust for the Benefit of Andrew K. Hoft to Leonard C. Hutchinson, $195,001.

WALNUT ST. 106: Jeanne M. Ferran to Wade T. Mayer Jr., $215,000.

WESTWOOD DRIVE 418: Arturo Vasquez and Anitra M. Guillory to Sean T. Helleren and Laura M. Helleren, $285,000.

PEARL RIVER

GUM ST. 39120: Brad A. Mascaro Jr. to Christopher Rhody and Ashlyn Adams Rhody, $194,000.

JIM PARKER ROAD 76480: Succession of Ethan C. Baragona to Andrea C. Baragona, $5,000.

JIM PARKER ROAD 76480: Angela C. Touchet to Andrea C. Baragona, donation, no value stated.

PARLANGE DRIVE 430: Mary Ann Loup Cain to Christopher L. Cavalier and Robin B. Cavalier, $333,000.

RACE HORSE ROAD 69382: William J. Gaines to Tenna J. Benoit

Jr., $90,000.

THOMAS H. CRAWFORD SUBDIVISION, LOT 3C: Pamela H. Wrenn and Robyn H. Weller to Melody H. McDaniel, $80,000.

SLIDELL

AMANDA DRIVE 205: Adam R. DeLaCerda and Whitney A. DeLaCerda to Kayla LaCoste, $235,000.

BEECH ST. 1529: Jameson Diesburg to Cleveland Myers III, $205,000.

BRIARWOOD ST. 1464: Wesley L. Stokes Jr. and Dawn M. Stokes to Gayle R. D’Aquin, $155,000.

CARA MAE ST. 40411: D. R. Horton Inc.-Gulf Coast to John E. Snider and Ty T. Marie Templet, $254,900.

CARR DRIVE 407: Mary A. Richardson to Stanley P. Bertheaud,

$465,000.

CHAMALE DRIVE 143: Louis B. Landry to Lois O. Carollo, $150,150.

CLIPPER DRIVE 1121: Kerry E. Weilbaecher Sr. to Rey F. Hernandez and Daniela P. Figueredo, $415,000.

CLIPPER ISLAND ROAD 1409: Clouds Landscaping LLC to Hubert E. Franklin, $65,000.

CYPRESS BRANCH DRIVE 5307: Brittany M. Jones to Cristina J. Del Castillo, $230,000.

CYPRESS LAKES DRIVE 301: Brent D. Savoie to Kenny Williams and Jonte Ellison, $460,000.

DELTA RIDGE AVE. 6696: D. R. Horton Inc.-Gulf Coast to Alejandro Gonzalez, $415,000.

DEVONSHIRE DRIVE 1437: Ken-

ä See TAMMANY, page 22

REALESTATETRANSFERS

TAMMANY

Continued from page 21

neth W. Fitzpatrick and Rosalyn B. Fitzpatrick to Michael Taylor II, $216,000.

DRIFTWOOD CIRCLE 415: Christopher A. Istre and Celeste L. Istre to Johnathon E. Beals and Samantha B. Beals, $180,000.

E. LAKESHORE VILLAGE DRIVE 471: D. R. Horton Inc.-Gulf Coast to Cory D. Neal, $232,030.

FAIRFIELD LOOP 728: Christopher L. Houser and Maritess Molina Houser to Bradley R. Forgy and Jamie C. Forgy, $274,000.

FRANKLIN COURT 811: Adam G. Thibodeaux and Jessica B. Thibodeaux to Quang B. Tran and Tien Nguyen, $290,000.

KINGS ROW DRIVE 1714: Charles H. Ferman Sr. to Tyler Sims and Ashlyn C. Bobley Sims, $189,000.

LANDINGS BLVD. 112: Glenn A. Sharp to Joseph R. Lacoste Jr. and Gwendolyn M. Lacoste, $456,000.

LIZANA SUBDIVISION, LOTS 7, 8, SQUARE 2: CWABS Inc. Asset Backed Certificates Series 2005-2 to J Neto’s Construction LLC, $41,000.

MICHIGAN AVE. 801: Barry Roy and Wende Roy to 801 Michigan Ave. LLC, donation, no value stated.

MOONRAKER DRIVE 326: Ryan Denney to Jessica E. Spicer, donation, no value stated

NEAR FLORENVILLE, PORTION OF GROUND: June B. Evans and succession of Blackwell B. Evans Jr. MD to Shawn C. Hudson and Crystal P Hudson, $76,500.

OAKMONT DRIVE 208: Sheila Og-

den to Lynsay Taylor, $250,700.

OLD SPANISH TRAIL 1684: Maverick Management Group LLC to Shawn B. Realty LLC, $500,000.

SEAGULL CIRCLE 3946: D. R. Horton Inc.-Gulf Coast to Omar Awad and Mary A. Awad, $203,700.

TAYLORS TRACE CONDOMINIUM, BUILDING 2, UNIT 204: Abel Jaime to Shannon E. Davis, $168,000.

TERRACE PARK SUBDIVISION, LOT 7A, SQUARE 9: Suzette F. Pittman and Jeffrey S. Pittman to Treh D Johnson, $7,500.

TIMBER RIDGE DRIVE 205: Jennifer M. Bellu Messina Baudier to Zara I. Wilson, $155,000.

TOWN OF ALTON, LOT 6A, SQUARE 45: Payton N. Pierrie Shephard to MHubert Enterprises LLC, $27,500.

W. CHAMALE COVE 119: Leslie G. Holden to Samantha N. Leonard, $105,000.

WESTLAWN DRIVE 1303: Bruce Newton, Sandra N. Davis and Brian Newton to Dolores Duplessis, donation, no value stated.

SUN/BUSH

EDDIE PENTON ROAD 81469: Joshua A. Duncan to Yianni I. Duncan and Kimberly D. Pace Duncan, donation, no value stated.

HOUSE CREEK ROAD 85510:

William M. Sharp, Angela Sharp LeBlanc and Caitlyn Sharp to Mary T. Foto, $9,000.

NEAR SUN, PORTION OF GROUND: Carl P. Lamprecht and Connie Taylor Lamprecht to Darren M. Buie and Babie Pharis Buie, $435,000

VILLAGE OF SUN, PORTION OF GROUND: Burrell Mullet to Jeffery M. Tisdale Jr., $3,000.

Backyard wellness is booming

BY AVERY NEWMARK

Atlanta Journal-Constitution (TNS)

ATLANTA A new report from Yardzen reveals a major shift in how we approach our outdoor spaces. While entertaining is still a priority, more homeowners now focus on privacy and relaxation. Think cottage-style gardens, cold plunges and climate-resilient landscaping.

“We’re in the middle of a wellness design revolution,” Joe Raboine, vice president of design at Oldcastle APG, told The Atlanta JournalConstitution. “There’s a global trend around health and wellness, and a growing need for daily connection to nature.”

It’s a trend that goes beyond aesthetics, tapping into how outdoor environments can support our physical and mental well-being. Here’s how the “wellness garden” trend is taking root and tips on how you can create your own.

From party spots to retreats

Backyards are no longer just for weekend gatherings. More people now see them as true extensions of their home. Places to unwind, move or reset.

“There’s a growing trend of blurring the lines be-

While entertaining in backyards is still a priority, a recent report shows that more homeowners are designing their outdoor spaces around privacy and relaxation.

tween inside and out,” Raboine said. Features like folding glass doors, seamless patios and natural flow between indoor and outdoor areas help make that connection feel effortless.

Raised garden beds also play a role. Yardzen reports a 21% increase in installations, with homeowners growing herbs, vegetables and fruit right outside the door Think of it as a

simple way to reconnect with nature and impress your dinner guests.

Biophilic design

Some experts say biophilic design — which brings nature’s rhythms into our built environments — is at the core of this movement.

“Our brains respond immediately to being outside,” Raboine said. “And a lot of that is subconscious.”

Whether it’s adding natural stone or creating a cozy nook with a sense of “prospect and refuge,” the goal is to make the outdoor experience feel calming and innate.

It’s science

Studies from the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Agriculture show that time outside lowers cortisol levels, reduces blood pressure, improves sleep and even boosts immune function. Even just 20 minutes outside can significantly reduce stress levels.

“Being outside is in our DNA,” Raboine said. “We especially need these spaces now, when most people spend over 95% of their time indoors.”

No major renovation needed If a major overhaul isn’t in your budget, start small.

“The simplest way is to add container plantings,” Raboine said. “You can achieve a calming effect with materials that have natural elements — wood grain, stone textures, anything that feels natural.”

He also suggests thinking about your everyday needs. Want to practice yoga outside? A small deck or outdoor rug in a private corner may do the trick. Working from home? Add a Wi-Fi booster or power outlet to take your calls in the sun.

Even the smallest balconies can become wellness zones with the right elements.

“We still tend to see design as something extra,” Raboine said. “But beauty, nature, and thoughtful spaces directly impact how we feel.”

FILE PHOTO By JEFF STROUT

It’s hard to watchdaughterstruggling with herchoices

Dear Annie: My daughter will be 26 this year.Her father and Idivorced when she was 14. Ifeel likeshe had more sense as a12-year-old than shedoes now.She had her fair share of issues growing up, and Itook her to therapists until she turned 18.

Needless to say,we’ve had a rough relationship the last few years. It’shard to talk to her as Iknow she’sstill mad at herself for decisions she’smade as well as hurting fromtrauma she experienced growingup. Early last year,she got preg-

nant by aguy she’s been dating butwho we’ve never met. She hadamiscarriage about nine or 10 weeksin. We haven’t cared to meet this guy because of how hemadeher feel duringall this. Seeing herscared and crumblingwas very hard as her mom.

Still, shestayed with him andcontinued on with her life choices, includingdistancing herselffrom herfamily and loved ones,and running aroundinnot-so-great areas with this guy and hisfamily Overall, shewasn’tbeing a nice person,either.

Speed uptopresent day,she gotpregnant again with the same guy.Bythe way,westill have notmet him.Her car has

TODAYINHISTORY

By The Associated Press

Today is Saturday,Aug. 30, the 242nd day of 2025. There are 123 days left in theyear

Todayinhistory:

On Aug. 30, 1916, on his fourth attempt, explorer Ernest Shackleton successfully returned to Elephant Island in Antarctica to rescue 22 of his stranded crew members, who had survived on the barren island for 41/2 months after the sinking of their ship, the Endurance.

Also on this date:

In 1941, during WorldWar II, German forces approaching Leningrad cut off the remaining rail line out of the city

In 1945, U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur arrived in Japan to set up Allied occupation headquarters.

In 1963, the “Hot Line” communications link between Washington and Moscow went into operation.

In 1967, the Senate confirmed theappointment of Thurgood Marshall as the first Black justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

In 2005, aday after Hurricane Katrina hit, floods covered 80% of New Orleans, lootingcontinued to spread and rescuersin helicopters and boats picked up hundreds of stranded people.

been repossessed not once, but twice, and she got it back both times.She still lives at home and is in no way ready to be a parent.She planned to keep thebaby at first but has now decided to get an abortion. I didn’tlike either situation, but Iknow it’s her choice.

Ilove my daughter very much andItell her I’mhere for her whenever she wants to talk.Icannot make her go to therapy,though she does need it. She’snot much on accepting and dealing with emotions.

Iknow she has to makethis decision on her own, whatever it may be. I’m hoping she will wake up and see how much she has to offer,not only to herself but to her future. I’m at my

wits’ end, and Idon’tknow what else Ican do. Any advice would be much appreciated! MomatHer Wits’ End Dear Mom: One of thehardest realities of parentingiswatching your child make choices you wouldn’t, while pushing you away in the process. Despite your daughter’shardships, you’ve done the right thing offering your support if and when she’sready forit, while also giving her the space she needs to figure thingsout for herself. That balance isn’teasy You’re right that this is her decision, and she’llhave to navigatewhatever comes next.But since she’sstill living under your roof, you do have asay in what’sacceptable in

your home. Setting expectations that protect her wellbeing and help keep her from sliding further off track could give her somemuch-needed structure.

You’re not powerless. Keep the door open. Remind her of her worth and how much you believe in her future, even if she can’tsee it yet. And yes, absolutely continue to encourage therapy.Asupport group or therapist of your own could makeaworld of difference as you cope with loving your daughter from the sidelines of her life.

Send your questions forAnnie Lane to dearannie@creators. com.

In 2021, theUnitedStates completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan, ending America’s longest war with the Taliban back in power,asAir Force transport planes carrieda remaining contingent of troops from Kabul airport.After watching thelastU.S. planes disappear into the sky over Afghanistan,Talibanfighters fired theirguns into the air, celebratingvictory after a20-year insurgency.

Today’sbirthdays: Investorand philanthropist Warren Buffett

is 95. ActorElizabeth Ashley is 86. ActorJohn Kani is 83. Cartoonist Robert Crumb is 82. Olympicgold medal skier JeanClaude Killy is 82. Comedian Lewis Black is 77. Basketball Hall of FamerRobert Parish is 72. U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., is 65. ActorMichael Chiklis is 62. ActorCameron Diaz is 53. TV personality/journalist Lisa Ling is 52. FormerMLB pitcher AdamWainwright is 44. Former professional tennis player Andy Roddick is 43. Singer-songwriter Bebe Rexha is 36.

Annie Lane

DEAR ANNIE