BKV Carbon Ventures project manager Spencer Crouch looks at acompression station wherecapturedcarbondioxide is dehydrated and pressurizedfor storageina nearbysequestration injection well on May29inBridgeport, Texas. Dustin Davidson, the newsecretaryofLouisiana’senergyand natural resources agency,isurging carboncapture executivestomake greaterefforts at outreach to local leaders and the public.
BY DAVIDJ.MITCHELL Staff writer
Atop state official is urging carbon capture executives to make greater efforts at outreach to local leaders and the public, as increasing opposition threatens to derail an industry that Louisiana has sought to embrace.
Growing opposition in rural Louisiana has included attemptstopass parish-
wide moratoriumsoncarbon capture anddemands that residents or localgovernmentsbeallowed to vote on whether to permit the technology,among other grassrootsinitiatives.
Those are “a direct result”ofalack of communication from companies,said DustinDavidson, thenew secretaryof Louisiana’senergy and natural resources agency “I cantell you that alot of themorato-
riums we’re seeing from different parishesisadirect result of not knowing who these operators are and notknowingwho the people are whoare coming in and setting up their seismic surveys or their drilling rigs, not knowing what’s going on,” Davidson said on the final day of athree-dayindustry conference on carbon captureatLSU on Friday.
Stateleaderput EBR school system under agency oversight
BY CHARLES LUSSIER Staff writer
Public school leaders in Baton Rouge are looking to pay aprominent Boston-based consulting firm up to $150,000tohelp it figure outhow to exitheightened state scrutiny of its special education services.
In spring 2024, state Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley designated the East Baton Rouge Parish school system as a“highrisk district,” triggering additional oversight from his agency,including regularon-sitevisitsasopposed to just reviews of paperwork. And in an apparently first-of-its-kind move for Louisiana, Brumley hired Roxane West, aveteran north Louisiana educator,toserve as his “special master” to ride herd over East Baton Rouge’s special education division. Brumley pointed to aseries of detailed complaints from parents outlining recurring problems, giving four examples: n Lack of priorwritten notice to parents about special education issues affecting their children n Failure to approve parents’ individual evaluation requests
n Questionable alternate assessmentdecisions
n Concerns with the provisionof services.
Brumley opted not to set an end date forthis heightened scrutiny
About 10% of the school system’s 38,000-plus students have disabilities that qualify them for special services.
BYPATRICK SLOAN-TURNER
Staff writer
CharlieDavis, who has held the top position on East Baton Rouge Parish MayorPresident Sid Edwards’staff, will soon take on anew role in the office, Edwards’ office an-
nouncedMonday Davishas served as chief administrative officer for the first nine months of Edwards’ tenure. He will take on the titleofchief efficiencyofficer, anew role in theMayor-President’s Office.
Davis was named Edwards’ top staffer in December before he was sworn in to office.
In astatement Monday,Edwards said it became apparent that Davis’ skills were needed in anew role for theoffice.
“Charlie has done aremarkable job as Interim CAO, moving the needle in East Baton Rouge Parishinapositive and profound manner,” Edwards said. “But given thescale of the challenges beforeus, it has become clear thathis talentsare needed at abig-picture level —radically reshaping how government operates for thefuture of our parish.
TheCAO has historically beenthe toproleinthe office,managingrelationships
with the Metro Council and overseeing city-parish departments
The administrationhas begun asearch to fill thevacancy at CAO. Davis will oversee the effort.
Davis said Monday in a statement that Baton Rouge needstochange theway its government operates, and he looks forward to managing that shift in his new role. ä See
ä See
Murdoch family reaches deal over media empire
R. Murdoch
Rupert Murdoch’s family has reached a deal on control of the 94-year-old mogul’s media empire after his death, ensuring no change in direction at Fox News, the most popular network for President Donald Trump and conservatives
The deal creates a trust establishing control of the Fox Corp. for Lachlan Murdoch, Rupert’s chosen heir who has been running Fox in recent years, along with his younger sisters, Grace and Chloe.
Lachlan Murdoch’s three older siblings, Prudence MacLeod, Elisabeth Murdoch and James Murdoch, give up any claims to control of Fox in exchange for stock currently valued at $3.3 billion, according to The New York Times, which first reported news of the deal.
It ends a drama that has been like a real-life version of HBO’s “Succession,” only with huge financial implications and an impact on U.S. politics.
French government collapses after vote
PARIS Legislators toppled France’s government in a confidence vote on Monday a new crisis for Europe’s secondlargest economy that obliges President Emmanuel Macron to search for a fourth prime minister in 12 months.
Prime Minister François Bayrou was ousted overwhelmingly in a 364-194 vote against him. Bayrou paid the price for what appeared to be a staggering political miscalculation, gamblingthatlawmakerswould back his view that France must slash public spending to rein in its debts. Instead, they seized on the vote that Bayrou called to gang up against the 74-yearold centrist who was appointed by Macron last December
The demise of Bayrou’s shortlived minority government now constitutionally obliged to submit its resignation after just under nine months in office — heralds renewed uncertainty and a risk of prolonged legislative deadlock for France as it wrestles with pressing challenges, including budget difficulties and, internationally, wars in Ukraine and Gaza and the shifting priorities of President Donald Trump.
Banksy mural to be removed from court
LONDON A new mural by elusive street artist Banksy showing a judge beating an unarmed protester with a gavel will be removed from a wall outside one of London’s most iconic courts, authorities said Monday. The mural appeared Monday and depicts a protester lying on the ground holding a blood-splattered placard while a judge in a traditional wig and black gown beats him with a gavel. Banksy posted a photo of the work on Instagram, his usual method of claiming a work as authentic. It was captioned “Royal Courts Of Justice. London.” Security officials outside the courthouse covered the artwork Monday with sheets of black plastic and two metal barriers, and it was being guarded by two officers and a security camera. Because the Victorian Gothic Revival-style building is 143 years old, the mural will be removed with consideration for its historical significance, according to HM Courts and Tribunals.
“The Royal Courts of Justice is a listed building and HMCTS are obliged to maintain its original character,” it said in a statement.
While the artwork doesn’t refer to a particular cause or incident, activists saw it as a reference to the U.K. government’s ban on the group Palestine Action. On Saturday, almost 900 people were arrested at a London protest challenging the ban. Defend Our Juries, the group that organized the protest, said in a statement that the mural “powerfully depicts the brutality unleashed” by the government ban.
BY JAKE OFFENHARTZ Associated Press
Carroll
NEWYORK A federal appeals court on Monday upheld a civil jury’s finding that President Donald Trump must pay $83.3 million to E. Jean Carroll for his repeated social media attacks and public statements against the longtime advice columnist after she accused him of sexual assault.
The 2nd U.S Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Trump’s appeal of the defamation award, calling the jury’s damages awards “fair and reasonable.”
A three-judge panel, citing hundreds of death threats Carroll faced,
said the case record supported the trial judge’s “determination that ‘the degree of reprehensibility’ of Mr Trump’s conduct was remarkably high, perhaps unprecedented.”
Trump had argued the damages were unreasonably excessive particularly a $65 million punitive damage award, and pushed for a new trial after the Supreme Court expanded presidential immunity.
But the appeals court roundly rejected those arguments, writing that Trump’s “extraordinary and unprecedented” broadsides against Carroll, 81, justified the steep award, given “the unique and egregious facts of this case.”
Lawyers for Trump responded through a spokesperson to a request for comment by calling for “an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system
and a swift dismissal of all of the Witch Hunts including the Democrat-funded travesty of the Carroll Hoaxes.” The case is likely headed to the Supreme Court.
In its ruling, the 2nd Circuit said there is “ample evidence” that Trump was recklessly indifferent to Carroll’s health and safety after “castigating Ms. Carroll as a politically and financially motivated liar” and “insinuating that she was too unattractive for him to have sexually assaulted” and would “pay dearly” for speaking out.
Carroll’s lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, welcomed the decision, saying in a statement that the appeals court affirmed that “Carroll was telling the truth, and that President Donald Trump was not.” Noting the threats to her client, Kaplan said they “look forward to an end to the appellate process.”
At trial, Carroll testified she feared for her safety after receiving hundreds of death threats and losing her decadeslong career at Elle magazine.
The ruling centered on the second — and far more expensive — of two defamation awards issued to Carroll over Trump’s yearslong attacks on her character, which began after she accused Trump in her 2019 memoir of sexually assaulting her decades earlier at a Manhattan department store.
In her memoir and again at a 2023 trial, Carroll described how a chance encounter with Trump at Bergdorf Goodman’s Fifth Avenue in 1996 started with the two flirting as they shopped, then ended with a violent struggle inside a dressing room.
At least 10 killed, over 40 injured
BY RAMSES MERCADO VALDES and FERNANDO LLANO Associated Press
ATLACOMULCO, Mexico A freight train sheared a double-decker bus in half at a crossing northwest of Mexico City early Monday, killing at least 10 people and injuring more than 40, authorities said.
The accident took place in an industrial area of warehouses and factories in the town of Atlacomulco, about 80 miles northwest of the Mexican capital.
The state of Mexico’s civil defense agency said on X that authorities were still working at the site of the accident, and the state prosecutor’s office said it had opened an investigation. The bus from the Herradura de Plata line was ripped apart by the collision
The agency said 10 people were killed and 41 injured. Local media reports said the injured were taken to hospitals throughout the state.
The bus company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The train line, Canadian Pacific Kansas City of Mexico, confirmed the accident and sent its condolences to the families of the victims. The Calgary, Canadabased company said its personnel were on site and cooperating with authorities.
BY WAFAA SHURAFA, MELANIE LIDMAN and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip Israel struck and destroyed another high-rise building in Gaza City on Monday after warning residents to evacuate, part of an offensive aimed at taking over the largest Palestinian city. The military said it was targeting Hamas observation posts and bombs placed around the 12-story office building.
Over several days, Israel has destroyed multiple high-rise buildings in Gaza City, accusing Hamas of putting surveillance infrastructure in them It has ordered people to flee ahead of its ground offensive into the city of some 1 million residents, which experts say is experiencing famine.
President Donald Trump said he was giving his “last warning” to Hamas regarding a possible ceasefire, as Arab officials described a new U.S. proposal for the immediate release of all the remaining hostages in exchange for 3,000 Palestinian prisoners and a temporary ceasefire. A senior Hamas official called it a “humiliating surrender document,” but the militant group said it would keep negotiating.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said hospitals received the bodies of 65 people killed by Israeli fire over the past 24 hours, with another 320 people wounded.
The Israeli military said four soldiers were killed in Gaza City on Monday when a group of militants threw an explosive device into a tank. Another soldier was wounded, according to the military which said two of the militants were shot.
Authorities did not immediately give details about how the accident occurred but one video circulated on social platforms showed the bus in heavy traffic slowly moving across the train tracks when the fast-moving train suddenly appeared out of frame ramming the bus at its midpoint. The train’s momentum carried the bus down the tracks and out of frame. The front half came to rest in the opposing traffic lanes beside the crossing and the rear half farther down on the opposite side of the tracks.
There were no visible crossing gates or other stop lights, witnesses said.
But shortly before 7 a.m., 33-yearold Miguel Sánchez said he heard the train blow its horn like trains always do well ahead of the crossing. Sánchez works at a service station about 100 yards away
Cars continued to cross the track in the lead-up to the crash. Then, the train barreled into the bus.
Cars going in the other direction stopped crossing the tracks at the time the bus drove onto them, though a motorcycle scooted
after a shooting attack carried out by two Palestinian gunmen in which several people were killed and others injured at a bus stop Monday in Jerusalem.
gunmen kill
in
BY MELANIE LIDMAN and JULIA FRANKEL Associated Press
JERUSALEM Palestinian attackers opened fire at a bus stop during the morning rush hour in Jerusalem on Monday, killing six people and wounding another 12, according to Israeli officials.
An Israeli soldier and civilians who were at the scene shot and killed the two attackers, said police, who later arrested a third person in connection with the shooting. Footage of the attack showed dozens of people fleeing from the bus stop at a busy intersection. The windshield of a bus was riddled with bullet holes and belongings were scattered across the street Paramedics who responded to the scene said broken glass covered the area, and people wounded lay unconscious on the road and a sidewalk near the bus stop. Israel’s Shin Bet internal security agency said the two attackers were 20- and 21-year-old Palestinians from the West Bank with no prior arrests. Hamas hailed the attack without claiming responsibility calling it a “natural response to the occupation’s crimes against our people.
Soldiers and rescue personnel work the scene of a deadly accident where a freight train slammed into a doubledecker bus Monday in Atlacomulco, Mexico.
across seconds before the crash.
The train hit the passenger side of the bus.
“We heard a crash. We thought it was just a car We never thought it would be a bus with so many people aboard,” Sánchez said.
Another video showed the bus at rest to the side of the tracks. The roof of the bus was gone and people could be seen moving on the top level as the train slowed to a stop. A woman could be heard crying, “Help me, help me.” Shortly after, a flood of ambulances arrived at the scene, Sánchez said.
theadvocate.com/subscribe E-Edition: theadvocate.com/eedition
BY MICHELLEL.PRICE Associated Press
WASHINGTON Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released on Monday a sexually suggestive letter to Jeffrey Epstein purportedly signed by President Donald Trump, which he has denied.
The letter was included as part of a50th birthday album compiled in 2003 for Epstein, awealthy and well-connected financier whowas oncea friend of Trump’s.Epstein killed himself in aManhattan jail while awaiting trial in 2019oncharges that he sexually abused andtrafficked dozens of underage girls.
Trump has said he did not write the letter or create the drawing of acurvaceous woman that surrounds the letter,and he filed a$10 billion lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal forearlier reporting on his link to the letter
“As Ihave said all along, it’s very clearPresident Trump didnot draw this picture, and he didnot signit,” White House presssecretary Karoline Leavittsaidinastatement posted on X. President Trump’slegal team will continue to aggressively pursue litigation.”
White Housedeputychief of staff Taylor Budowich posted variouspictures on X of Trump’ssignature over the years and wrote, “it’snot his signature.”
Therelease of thedrawing comes as the president has for months faced increasing pressuretoforcemore disclosure in the case ofEpstein and hisformer girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell. Epstein was accused of payingunderage girls hundreds of dollars in cashfor massages and then molesting them, while Maxwell wasconvicted of luring teenage girls to be sexually abusedbyhim.
It also once againputs a spotlight on Trump’sformer friendship withEpstein, which the president has said ended twodecades ago after afalling-out. Trump said recently thathe cut tieswith Epstein because he “stole”
young women— including Virginia Giuffre, who was amongEpstein’smost wellknown sex trafficking accusers —who worked for the spa at hisMar-a-Lagoresort.
Thecaseagainst Epstein wasbrought more than adecade after he secretlycut a deal with federal prosecutors in Florida to dispose of nearly identical allegations. Trump hadsuggested during the presidential campaignthat he’d seek to open thegovernment’sfiles into Epstein, but much of what thegovernment has released so far had alreadybeen outthere
Democratsonthe House Oversight Committee received acopyofthe birthday album on Mondayaspart of abatch of documents from Epstein’sestate.
Trump has denied writing the letterand creating the drawing, calling The Wall StreetJournal report on it “false, malicious, anddefamatory.”
“These are not mywords, not theway Italk. Also, I don’tdraw pictures,” Trump said.
The letter released by the committeelooks exactly as describedbyThe Wall Street
Journalinits report.
Theletter bearing Trump’s name and what appears to be his signature includestext framed by ahand-drawn outlineofacurvaceous woman
“A palisawonderful thing. Happy Birthday—and may every day be another wonderful secret,” theletter says.
Theletter’sdisclosure comes amid abipartisan push in Congress for the releaseofthe so-calledEpstein filesamid years of speculation and conspiracy theories. Calls for the release of the records camefrom Republicans, including Vice President JD Vance, before he was sworninto the country’sNo. 2 position
The Justice Departmentin August beganturning over recordsfromthe Epstein sex trafficking investigation to the House Oversight Committee.
The committee subpoenaed theEpstein estatefor documents lastmonth.Inaddition to the birthdaybook,lawmakers requested Epstein’slast will and testament, agreementshesigned withprosecutors, his contact books, and hisfinancial transactionsand holdings.
Feds announce newimmigration operation
BY SOPHIA TAREEN Associated Press
CHICAGO The Department of Homeland Security trumpeted the start of anew immigration operation Monday in Chicago, stirring up fresh confusion and anxiety as the city remained on alert for a federal intervention President Donald Trump has touted for days.
Blasting so-called sanctuary laws in Chicago and Illinois, the latest effort targets people without legal permission to live in the U.S. who have criminalrecords. Like other Trump administration plans, it wasstamped with asplashy name, “Operation Midway Blitz,” and circulated on socialmedia with the mugshots of 11 foreignborn menitsaidshould be deported.
“This ICE operationwill target the criminal illegal aliens who flocked to Chicago and Illinois because they knew Governor (JB) Pritzker and his sanctuary policies would protect them and allow them to roam free on American streets,” said a statement from DHS.
Pritzker,who hasbeen locked in aback-and-forth with Trump for days, criticized the move. He and Mayor Brandon Johnsonhave defended the state and city’s extensive laws that bar coordination between local police and immigration agents. They’ve accused the Trump administration of using scare tactics, particularly with Latino residents, in the nation’s
LosAngeles, ajudge deemed the National Guarddeployment illegal, but the Trump administrationgot avictory related to immigration enforcementthere when the U.S.Supreme Court lifted arestraining order barring agents therefromstopping people solely based on their race, language, job or location.
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, of Illinois, the Senate’sNo. 2 Democrat,rejected the latest operation announced in Chicago
“These actionsdon’t make us safer,” he saidinastatement. “They are awasteof money,stoke fear, and represent another failed attempt at adistraction.”
in astatement. “Wewill continue our law enforcement andpublicsafetymission, undeterred, as we surge ICE resources in thecityincoordination withour federal partners.”
DHS said the operation announcedMondaywould be in honorofKatie Abram, one of two Illinois women killed in aJanuary fatal car crash. A grandjuryindicteda 29-yearold maninthe hit-and-run. TheGuatemalan national also faces federal false identification crimes.
AssociatedPress writer Christine Fernando contributed to this report.
BY DAVID FISCHER Associated Press
FORT PIERCE, Fla. The man charged with trying to assassinate Donald Trump while he played golf last year in South Florida stood before agroup of potential jurors in aFloridacourtroom on Monday and said he was“sorry for bringing you all in here.”
Ryan Routh, wearing a graysportscoat, redtie with white st ri pe s andkhaki slacks, is representing himself in the trial that began with jury se le ct io n on Monday in the federal courthouse in Fort Pierce, Florida.
“Thank you for being here,” Routh toldthe first group of 60 jurors who were brought into the courtroom after U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon introduced prosecutors and Routh to the panel. Cannon signedoff on Routh’srequest to represent himself but said court-appointed attorneys needed to remain as standby counsel.
During ahearing earlier to go over questions that would be asked of jurors, Routh waspartially shackled. But he did not appear to be restrainedwhenthe first of three batches of 60 potential jurors were brought into the courtroom on Monday afternoon.
Cannon dismissed the questions Routh wanted to ask jurors as irrelevant earlier Monday.They included asking jurors about their views on Gaza, the talk of the U.S. acquiring Greenland and what they
would do if theyweredriving and saw aturtle in the road.
The judge approved mostofthe other questions forjurors submitted by prosecutors. Thepanel of 120 potentialjurors filledout questionnaires on Monday morning and the first group was brought into the courtroom during the afternoon session. The judge inquiredabout any hardships that would prevent them from sitting as jurors during aweekslong trial. Twenty-seven noted hardships and the judge dismissed 20 of them on Monday
The court hasblocked off four weeks for Routh’s trial, but attorneys are expecting they’llneed less time.
Jury selection was expected to take three days in an effort to find 12 jurors and four alternates. Opening statements were scheduled to beginThursday,and prosecutors will begin their case immediately after that.
Cannon told Routh last week that he would be allowed to use apodium whilespeakingtothe jury or questioning witnesses, but he would not have free rein of the courtroom Cannon is aTrump-appointed judge who drew scrutiny forher handling of acriminalcaseaccusing Trump of illegally storing classified documents at his Mar-a-Lagoestate in Palm Beach. The case became mired in delays as motions piled up over months, and was ultimately dismissed by Cannon last year after she concludedthatthe special counsel tapped by theJustice Departmentto investigateTrumpwas illegally appointed.
third-largest city
“Once again, this isn’tabout fighting crime. That requires supportand coordination yetwe’ve experienced nothinglike that over thepast several weeks,”Pritzkersaid in astatement. “Instead of taking steps to work with us on publicsafety, the Trump administration’s focused on scaring Illinoisians.”
Chicago has been bracing for an influx of immigration agents and possibly the NationalGuard fortwo weeks. Numerous protests havecroppedupdowntown, outside asuburban military base DHS plans to use and at an immigration processing center that’sexpected to be a hub of activity Trumpdeployedthe National GuardtoLos Angeles over the summer and as part of hisunprecedented law enforcement takeover in Washington, D.C., where he has direct legal control. For the federal intervention in
It remained unclear what role Monday’sannounced programwould playinaChicagosurge
Adding to theconfusion was ahandful of immigration arrestsover the weekend in Chicago, which galvanized the city’s vocal activist network andworries that it was thestartofsomething bigger.
“This is about terrorizing our communities,” Chicago City Council member Jeylú Gutiérrez said. “Butwewill not be intimidated.”
She andimmigrant rights activistssaid thatfive people arrested were “beloved community members.” Some wereontheir way to work when arrested Sunday.Another worksasaflower vendor
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcementconfirmed four arrests but gave sparse information, noting criminal histories withprevious arrestsand oneconvictionfor driving under the influence.
“ICE has always operated in Chicago,” theagency said
“To capitalize on our potential, we must fundamentally change how we operate government,” he said. “I’m thrilled to be able to focus on
Continued from page 1A
“There has to be direct communication with the parish,” he said.
Davidson, whose agency is the state’s chief regulator of carbon-capture projects, added that residents and leaders in rural Louisiana need to be able to put “a face to a name” and have someone to whom they can ask questions.
He added that the opposition is an indication that “we have a public engagement problem that we really need to address.”
Industry and state economic policy officials as well as scientists in LSU’s geology and petroleum engineering disciplines see carbon capture as one of the most readily available ways to decarbonize Louisiana’s major industries, which have intensive greenhouse gas emissions.
They argue the technology remains safe, well suited to the state’s geology and keeps Louisiana industries competitive in a decarbonizing global market.
‘A key strategy’
Greg Upton, executive director of the LSU Center for Energy Studies, said at the conference that demand for low-carbon energy sources and production methods, like carbon capture, was being driven by the increased use of Louisiana’s energy and chemical production for for-
Continued from page 1A
As the school system begins its second year of “high risk” status, Superintendent LaMont Cole is looking to the Boston-based Public Consulting Group to help it refine its improvement plans.
“I’m looking for a comprehensive analysis of all of our special education services to determine whether we are providing high-level services to all of our (special education) students,” Cole said The proposed contract calls for the consulting firm to spend the next year poring over district data and talking with school personnel to identify short and long-range improvement goals. It would also develop ways for the district to implement these changes and track their effectiveness. Without discussion, the parish School Board gave unanimous preliminary approval last week to hiring the firm. It’s expected to give final approval when it meets Sept. 18.
The Public Consulting Group, formed in 1986, works in a variety of public sectors, including education.
The firm has a lot of experience with special education
what matters most — making lasting and fundamental changes to our system of government. Only then will we be able to improve the lives of our citizens.”
With Davis changing roles, the administration now has two former CAOs on staff. In May Edwards hired
eign export.
Companies are trying to find ways to reduce the emissions of those products in a cost-competitive way to meet global demand and their own internal goals for low-carbon products, regardless of political winds in the United States, Upton added.
“Of course, carbon sequestration is a key strategy that could be used to reduce emissions intensity of products,” he said.
Davidson said part of the message local officials need to hear is that carbon dioxide storage brings in businesses looking to make more competitive exports
But fears about what decades of stored carbon could do to groundwater — critical for drinking water and agriculture in rural Louisiana — and worries over the risk of CO2 pipeline leaks has sparked grassroots opposition in Republican and typically pro-oil-and-gas sectors of the state.
The opposition has spurred continuing legislative and local attempts to block or restrict the technology and become a campaign issue for U.S Senate candidate and state Treasurer John Fleming.
In 2022, Livingston Parish adopted a moratorium over a proposed carbon-capture field under Lake Maurepas and another planned under timberland and country estates near Holden, only to see a court block the law due to the state’s authority in permitting the projects.
Early last month, Allen
William Daniel to serve as an assistant chief administrative officer Daniel held the title of CAO during the Kip Holden administration from 2012 through 2017.
In his new role, Davis will focus on “restructuring and right-sizing parish government,” according to an office
news release. Once a new CAO is named and brought in, that role will handle “day-to-day operations of government,” which Edwards’ staff said will allow the administration to build a team designed to “set Baton Rouge on the right track for years to come.”
Before joining Edwards’ team, Davis worked in the private sector as founder and CEO of Moxey, a Louisiana small-business network, and a co-founder of MasteryPrep, a Baton Rouge-based company that helps underprivileged students across the country
Parish withdrew its own carbon-capture permitting regime after ExxonMobil sued in federal court in July, arguing state primacy in permitting trumped the local permitting rules.
Late last month, the Iberia Parish Council considered a moratorium until the parish’s attorney warned the law wasn’t on its side.
Cooperation ‘critical’
While state officials, university scientists and industry executives participated in the high-level talk about better presenting carbon capture Friday, officials at the Department of Energy and Natural Resources were grappling with new legislative pushback over a CO2
pipeline project in southwestern Louisiana.
A letter signed by 32 legislators asked the department on Wednesday to delay a hearing planned Tuesday to decide whether to grant Low Carbon Logistics CCS Transport’s pipeline certificates that would have allowed the ExxonMobil subsidiary to expropriate land for the pipeline corridor
The land takings, which require fair market value payment, are another flashpoint for opponents of carbon capture.
The legislators wrote that new state rules, which would make getting those expropriation rights tougher were adopted in the most recent session and take effect Oct.
1, less than a month after the now-canceled hearing.
This pipeline also wasn’t legislatively granted a waiver to the new rules as a project in St. James Parish has been, the letter added The legislators said the public needs more time to gather information and comment and couldn’t do so before the Tuesday hearing.
“We are in a moment where cooperation is more critical than temporary success,” the letter said. “Our citizens and our culture are in some places fractured due to the uncertainty brought on by these projects and by the threats to property rights that actions like these might bring about.”
State Rep. Brett Geymann,
raise their ACT scores. He also served as the secretary of the Republican Party of Louisiana and vice president of New Schools for Baton Rouge.
Email Patrick SloanTurner at patrick.sloanturner@theadvocate.com.
R-Lake Charles, and state Sen. Valarie Hodges, RDenham Springs, were the first two names on the list of signatories.
On Friday, the department issued a statement that the ExxonMobil subsidiary was withdrawing the application and also defended its public notice of the hearing.
The agency statement said the now scuttled hearing wasn’t to permit the pipeline but would have served as an evidentiary hearing to verify procedural steps, including that the line had end users, and so followed different, more limited public notice requirements.
The line west of Lake Charles would have linked a methanol plant to an existing CO2 line owned by Denbury, another ExxonMobil subsidiary The line would have carried the plant’s CO2 to Texas, both to a permanent storage site and to an enhanced oil recovery field.
An ExxonMobil spokesperson said the company asked for the cancellation “to allow more time to review the route with potential stakeholders.”
“We’re following Louisiana’s pipeline approval process, sharing information with relevant parties and engaging landowners transparently We’re here to listen, provide clear information, and build lasting relationships,” the spokesperson said.
David J. Mitchell can be reached at dmitchell@ theadvocate.com.
The past work with the firm, though, was paid for with federal funding.
The new contract’s upto-$150,000 expense would come from district general operating funds.
Ted Beasley, a spokesperson for the Louisiana Department of Education, said while it was not the state’s idea to hire the Public Consulting Group, the agency has used them before as well. He said East Baton Rouge remains a “high-risk” district.
“While there have not been any changes to their status, EBR has been very receptive to our special education supports,” Beasley said.
“We’re continuing to offer support and plan to provide additional monitoring in the fall.”
This is not the first outside group brought in to size up the parish school system’s special education shop
“This group has a reputation for evaluating services in districts around the country, making recommendations that have been shown to help districts get better, so that’s what I want for us as well,” Cole said Cole said the firm caught his eye because it has previously trained district special education teachers ways to improve instruction — the district spent about $90,000 last year on the firm so he knew its personnel would already be familiar with East Baton Rouge.
In 2022, the Council of Great City Schools conducted a critical, special education audit. From 2022 to 2024, the department received help and coaching from the PROGRESS Center an arm of the U.S. Department of Education focused on special education.
Indeed, one of the Public Consulting Group’s first tasks would be see the extent to which the school system has followed through on past recommendations from the Council of Great City Schools and the state Department of Education and identify where the district is falling short.
Here are other tasks:
n Conducting surveys, interviews and focus groups to see how people perceive the district’s services currently and how families are seeing any improvement in how well district educators communicate and respond to their concerns.
n Build and test ways of monitoring special education classes, such as walkthroughs, data reviews and reviews of Individualized Education Plans.
n Developing new working tools such as progress dashboards, checklists and status trackers.
n Determining what kind of training teachers and school leaders need in the future.
The Public Consulting
TheEastBaton RougeParishRegistrar of Voters Office announcesthe last daytoregistertovoteormakechanges to your voterregistration forthe October11, 2025 Election is:
Wednesday,September 10,2025by-mail or in person at theoffices of theRegistrar of Voters,weekdays8:00amuntil 4:30 pm
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a veteran consultant for the firm,
who spent 10 years with the city of Philadelphia public schools, including two years as operations director for its office of specialized instructional services.
Wall Street flirts with another record
NEW YORK Stocks nudged higher ahead of a week with several data reports that could dictate by how much or even whether the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates at its next meeting in a week.
The S&P 500 added 0.2% and finished just below its record set last week The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.5% to a record.
AppLovin and Robinhood Markets helped lead the market after learning they will join the S&P 500 index later this month. Trading across Wall Street was relatively quiet ahead of updates coming later this week on the job market and inflation China’s export growth slows in August
BEIJING China’s exports grew last month but at a slower pace than in recent months, the country’s customs agency said Monday.
Exports reached $321.8 billion in August, a 4.4% increase compared with the same month last year That was down from a 7.2% jump in July Meanwhile, imports totaled $219.5 billion, a 1.8% rise.
China’s large trade surplus has become a contentious issue with major trading partners, including the U.S. and the European Union. Low-priced Chinese imports are a boon for consumers but can lead to job cuts in manufacturing. In the first eight months of the year, China exported $785.3 billion more in goods than it imported from other countries, according to the monthly customs data.
President Donald Trump has imposed 30% in additional tariffs on imports from China since taking office early this year He backed down from even higher tariffs after China retaliated with import taxes of its own. The two countries are in talks to try to reach a trade agreement.
U.S. firm, Pakistan agree to $500M deal
ISLAMABAD A U.S. metals company signed a $500 million investment deal with Pakistan on Monday Pakistan’s Frontier Works Organization — which is the country’s largest miner of critical minerals — signed a memorandum of understanding with Missouri-based U.S Strategic Metals for collaboration plans that include setting up a polymetallic refinery in Pakistan. The deal comes after Washington and Islamabad last month reached a trade agreement that Pakistan hoped would attract American investment in its minerals and oil reserves.
U.S. Strategic Metals is focused on producing and recycling critical minerals, which the U.S. Department of Energy has defined as essential in a variety of technologies related to advanced manufacturing and energy production.
A second agreement was signed between the National Logistics Corp of Pakistan and Mota-Engil Group, a Portuguese engineering and construction company
Judge reviews $1.5B Anthropic proposal
SAN FRANCISCO A federal judge has started reviewing a class-action settlement between AI company Anthropic and book authors.
The authors claimed Anthropic violated copyright law by pirating copies of their books to train its chatbot. The company has agreed to pay $1.5 billion, which would award about $3,000 for each of the estimated 500,000 books covered U.S. District Judge William Alsup has raised questions about the agreement and asked representatives to appear in court Monday Alsup previously ruled that training AI on copyrighted books wasn’t illegal, but Anthropic wrongfully acquired them.
BY LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press
WASHINGTON Chief Justice John Roberts on Monday let President Donald Trump remove a member of the Federal Trade Commission, the latest in a string of high-profile firings allowed for now by the Supreme Court.
Trump first moved to fire Rebecca Slaughter in the spring, but she sued and lower courts ordered her reinstated because the law allows commissioners to be removed only for problems like misconduct or neglect of duty
Roberts halted those decisions in a brief order, responding to an appeal from the Trump administration on the court’s emergency docket.
The Justice Department has argued that the FTC and other executive branch agencies are under Trump’s control and the Republican president is free to remove commissioners without cause.
Slaughter’s lawsuit over her firing will keep playing out, as Roberts asked her lawyers to respond to the Trump administration’s arguments by next week.
The court has previously allowed the firings of several other board members of independent agencies.
It has suggested, however that his power to fire has limitations at the Federal Reserve, a prospect that could soon be tested with the case of Fed Gov Lisa Cook.
Monday’s order is the latest sign that the Supreme Court’s conservative majority has effectively abandoned a 90-year-old high court precedent that protected some federal agencies from arbitrary presidential action.
In the 1935 decision known as Humphrey’s Executor, the court unanimously held that presidents cannot fire independent board members without cause.
The decision ushered in an era
of powerful independent federal agencies charged with regulating labor relations, employment discrimination, the airwaves and much else. But it has long rankled conservative legal theorists who argue the modern administrative state gets the Constitution all wrong because such agencies should answer to the president.
The agency at the center of the case was also the FTC, a point cited by lower-court judges in the lawsuit filed by Slaughter. She has ping-ponged in and out of the job as the case worked its way through the courts.
The FTC is a regulator created by Congress that enforces consumer protection measures and antitrust legislation.
BY ALEX VEIGA AP business writer
LOS ANGELES
— Skyrocketing housing values and a shortage of homes on the market gave homeowners the upper hand for years when it came time to sell. That’s no longer a given. Across the country, it’s getting tougher for sellers to drive a hard bargain. A dearth of home shoppers who can afford to buy and uncertainty about the outlook for the economy, jobs and mortgage rates is putting pressure on sellers to give ground at the negotiating table.
In some markets, mainly in the South and West, homeowners who are eager to sell are more likely to give buyers a better deal. This could include a lower price, up-front money to nudge down the buyer’s mortgage rate, and funds for closing costs and any repairs or improvements that may pop up after the home inspection.
The reasons: Would-be buyers balk at what they view as unreasonable asking prices, while at the same time, new construction is giving buyers more options and putting pressure on sellers to make their homes more appealing
As a result, while the national median home listing price rose slightly in July, some metro areas saw a decline, signaling a reversal in the power dynamic between buyers and sellers. It’s rare to see the type of eye-popping bidding wars that exploded home values by roughly 50% nationally earlier this decade Low-ball offers are more common.
Despite this hopeful trend, the housing market remains mired in a slump. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes are running about 1.3% below where they were through the first seven months of last year, when they sank to their lowest level in nearly 30 years.
The national median home listing price rose slightly in July from a year earlier to $439,450, according to Realtor.com. The real estate listing company found the most a homebuyer who earns the median U.S. household income can afford to spend on a home is $298,000. The analysis assumes a 20% down payment and a 30-year mortgage at a fixed rate of 6.74% By those criteria, 7 out of 10 home shoppers are priced out of the market.
The housing market has been in a rut since 2022, when mortgage rates began climbing from historic lows. The number of homes available for sale sank while prices kept ris-
ing. Nationally, more homes are going on sale and remaining unsold longer because buyers have been unwilling or unable to make a deal. Active listings — a tally that encompasses all homes on the market except those pending a finalized sale — increased in July for the 21st month in a row, climbing nearly 25% from a year earlier, according to Realtor.com.
The inventory of homes for sale across the U.S has increased gradually as the market has slowed and is now at a level where supply and demand are more balanced. But in states like Texas and Florida, the number of homes on the market has climbed sharply, partly because those states are hotbeds of new home construction.
Home shoppers may now have more leverage relative to sellers in the South and West, where home inventory has risen in the single digits, compared to pre-pandemic levels. Conditions are tougher in markets in the Midwest and Northeast, where the supply of homes remains 40% and 50% below prepandemic levels, respectively, according to Realtor.com.
After roughly two months on the market and three open houses, Doug McCormick’s home has yet to receive a single offer
The retired business owner and his wife initially listed the 4-bedroom, 4.5-bath house located in Evergreen, a mountain community about 30 miles west of Denver, for $1.3 million They lowered their asking price to about $1.28 million. That, too, failed to bring in a buyer McCormick, 80, says he’s hoping mortgage rates ease a bit and bring out more buyers. But he’s also considering just renting the property
“That’s something that’s kind of in the back of my mind,” he said. “I keep reminding myself you only need one buyer.”
McCormick’s situation is not unique. As demand has slowed, more sellers have resorted to lowering their initial asking price — often multiple times — to no avail.
“Even though we are seeing a substantial amount of price reductions, sometimes it’s not enough to move the home, it’s still sitting,” said Annie Foushee, an agent with Redfin in Denver
The median home listing price in Austin fell 4.9% in July from a year earlier, while in Miami it dropped 4.7%. Among other metro areas that had sharp drops in their listing price were: Chicago (4.4%), Los Angeles (4.2%) and Denver (4%).
Rules reinforcement proof of policy, she says
BY JILL LAWLESS Associated Press
LONDON U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Monday she doesn’t think the detention of hundreds of South Koreans in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia will deter investment in the United States because such tough actions mean there is no uncertainty about the Trump administration’s policies. The detention of 475 workers, more than 300 of them South Korean, in the Thursday raid has caused confusion, shock and a sense of betrayal among many in the U.S.allied nation.
“This is a great opportunity for us to make sure that all companies are reassured that when you come to the United States, you’ll know what the rules of the game are,”
Noem said at a meeting in London of ministers from the “Five Eyes” intelligence-sharing partnership focused on border security.
“We’re encouraging all companies who want to come to the United States and help our economy and employ people, that we encourage them to employ U.S. citizens and to bring people to our country that want to follow our laws and work here the right way,” she said.
The detained Koreans would be deported after most were detained for ignoring removal orders, while “a few” had engaged in other criminal activity and will “face the consequences,” Noem said.
Newly appointed U.K. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood welcomed Noem and ministers from Canada, Australia and New Zealand to the 18th-century headquarters of the Honourable Artillery Company for talks on countering unauthorized migration, child sexual abuse and the spread of opioids. Mahmood, who was given the
The far-flung countries are close allies with some common problems but also widely differ in their approaches to migration. The Trump administration’s program of street raids, mass detentions and largescale deportations of unauthorized migrants has drawn domestic and international criticism and a host of legal challenges.
Noem said there had not been disagreements among the ministers in talks focused on sharing information on criminal gangs, using technology to disrupt their networks and speeding extradition arrangements.
interior minister job in a shakeup of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Cabinet on Friday, said the ministers would “agree on new measures to protect our borders with our Five Eyes partners, hitting peoplesmugglers hard.”
“I don’t think that the discussion today has covered politics at all,” she said “It is what resources do we have that we can share so we can each protect our countries better?”
Noem said that “when we put tough measures in place, the more that we can talk about that and share that is an inspiration to other countries to do the same.”
U.S. military stepping up operations in Caribbean
BY DÁNICA COTO Associated Press
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico U.S.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Air Force Gen.
Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived in Puerto Rico on Monday as the U.S. steps up its military operations against drug cartels in the Caribbean.
Their arrival in the U.S. territory comes more than a week after ships carrying hundreds of U.S. Marines deployed to Puerto Rico for a training exercise, a move that some on the island have criticized.
Puerto Rico’s Gov Jenniffer González said Hegseth and Caine visited on behalf of President Donald Trump’s administration to support those participating in the training.
“We thank President Trump and his administration for recognizing the strategic importance of Puerto Rico to U.S. national security and for their fight against drug cartels and the narcodictator Nicolás Maduro,” González said.
Hegseth and Caine met with officials at the 156th Wing Muñiz Air National Guard Base in Carolina, a city just east of the capital of San Juan.
González said Hegseth spoke to nearly 300 soldiers at the base and thanked those he described as “American warriors” for their work.
The visit comes as the U.S. prepares to deploy 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico for operations targeting drug cartels, a person familiar with the planning said Saturday The person spoke
on condition of anonymity because information about the deployments has not been made public.
On Sept. 2, Trump announced that the U.S. carried out a strike in the southern Caribbean against a vessel that had left Venezuela and was suspected of carrying drugs. Eleven people were killed in the rare U.S. military operation in the Caribbean, with the president saying the vessel was operated by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. While the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago praised the strike and said the U.S. should kill all drug traffickers “violently,” reaction from other Caribbean leaders has been more subdued.
Barbadian Foreign Minister Kerrie Symmonds recently told The Associated Press that members of Caricom, a regional trade bloc, sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio asking for an open line of communication on developments. He said they want to avoid being surprised by any U.S. moves against Venezuela.
Meanwhile, Venezuela’s government on Monday insisted that the U.S. is falsely accusing it of playing a crucial role in the global drug trade. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez told reporters the U.S. government should redirect its recently deployed maritime force to the Pacific, where fast boats and container ships have long carried Colombian cocaine.
“Those ships that are trying to intimidate Venezuela today should be there in the Pacific if they truly wanted to fight and prevent cocaine from reaching the United States of America,” she said. “They have a GPS location problem. They’re where they shouldn’t be. They need to calibrate their GPS.”
BY ASIM TANVEER and BABAR DOGAR
Associated Press
JALALPUR PIRWALA, Pakistan
Rescuers backed by troops evacuated more than 25,000 people from a city in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province overnight as rising rivers threatened to flood the region, officials said Monday
The emergency rescue operation in Jalalpur Pirwala began late Sunday and continued through the night, said Irfan Ali Kathia, director-general of the Punjab Disaster Management Authority. By Monday morning, about 25,000 residents from high-risk neighborhoods had been moved to safer areas.
The latest evacuations from Jalalpur Pirwala came two days after a rescue boat capsized in floodwaters on the city’s outskirts, killing five people. Fifteen others were rescued after the boat overturned Saturday, local officials said.
Ghulam Shabir, a 50-yearold construction worker, said that he moved to higher ground near the city after floodwater entered his village, inundating homes and farmland. He appealed to the government to expedite rescue work as many people were still stranded in flooded villages.
The government has deployed hundreds of boats, and thousands of rescuers and volunteers for evacuations in flood-hit districts.
The Pakistan Markazi Muslim League, a volunteer group known for being among the first responders in natural disasters, is among those involved in the efforts, with members spread across the country The group’s spokesman, Taha Muneeb, said that floodwaters had already submerged all the villages surrounding Jalalpur Pirwala and had begun to seep into the city itself.
“Many residents refuse to leave, saying it is better to remain on their rooftops than to sit helpless on the
roadside,” he said.
Survivors told reporters that many people remain stranded on rooftops and trees.
“I saw with my own eyes people perched on branches of trees, half-submerged in floodwaters,” said Taj Din, who was among a dozen evacuees rescued by a boat.
Punjab government spokesperson Uzma Bukhari said that they’re utilizing thermal imaging drones to locate stranded people in flooded areas, enabling them to be rescued by boat. She said that “the government is doing its best to handle this situation.”
Though Pakistan hasn’t issued any appeal for help, the Saudi government on Monday delivered 10,000 food packages and 10,000 shelter kits to the Punjab government for flood-hit families.
The Saudi shipment came just two days after Washington also dispatched emergency supplies for Pakistan’s flood victims.
Floods have so far affected more than 4.1 million people across 4,100 villages in 25 districts of Punjab province.
Since Aug. 26, there have been at least 56 flood-related deaths, while more than 2
million residents have been moved to safety, Kathia said.
The disaster management official told The Associated Press that displaced families were being provided with tents and food supplies. He said that the local administration, assisted by troops and police, was expediting evacuations in the city which has a population of nearly 700,000. Mosques broadcast evacuation announcements as residents scrambled onto vehicles amid heavy rainfall.
Punjab has been conducting one of its largest rescue operations, including with the aid of drones, since last month, when floodwaters inundated multiple districts after India released water from its dams. The surges swelled the Ravi, Chenab and Sutlej rivers, while torrential monsoon rains further raised water levels.
Kathia said that Punjab’s chief minister, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, is personally monitoring the evacuation effort from a central control room. The Pakistani army, police and rescue services are assisting, including helicopter airlifts from remote villages.
Since late June, monsoon flooding has killed more than
900 people across Pakistan, according to the National Disaster Management Authority Over the weekend, India again notified Islamabad through diplomatic channels of potential cross-border flooding, the agency said Kathia said that surging waters have already displaced more than 2 million people across Punjab since Aug. 23, when heavy rains and dam releases began overwhelming rivers. Only about 60,000 of them are living in official relief camps, he said, while most sought shelter with relatives in nearby towns or set up makeshift camps along river embankments, waiting for the waters to recede.
Evacuations are also underway in southern Sindh province, which faces growing threats as water continues to flow downstream into the Indus River and where more than 100,000 people have already been relocated from vulnerable settlements. Sindh was among the worst-hit regions in the catastrophic 2022 floods, which killed 1,739 people nationwide. Munir Ahmed contributed to this report from Islamabad.
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LOUISIANA AT LARGE
Most weeks, I’m lucky enough to write about one Louisiana adventure or another.This week, though,I’m telling someone else’sstory
For the past 15 years, Catherine Schoeffler Comeaux, of Lafayette,has gone to an area along the coast near Cheniere au Tigre to celebrate her birthday.Saturday was her birthday— so she andher husband decidedtomake their annual pilgrimage.
Getting to that section of the Louisiana coast is quite the process. The area, about 40 miles south of Abbeville, is named for the live oaks growing on the ridge about 3feet above sea level. (“Cheniere” means “oak grove” in French.)
Indigenous people spent time there, followed by early settlers, pirates, privateers and other renegades.There was even asmall hotel, the Sagrera Health Resort, from 1913 until 1957, when Hurricane Audrey closeditfor good.
There are no roads to Cheniere au Tigre, but Comeaux has been going there her whole life.
“My parents took us camping there, and then subsequently we would go beachcombing,” Comeauxsaid.
Even as akid, Comeaux recognized that the items she found on Cheniere au Tigre were not typical beach finds.
She says that in her “little kid brain,” she thought other people camping left their trash behind.
“I was wondering, ‘Well, why would they leave afluorescent light bulb?’Like, who’scamping with one of those?”she said. “Or ahalf-eaten jar of peanut butter? Hard hats? Or only one flip-flop? It was bizarre trash to find. Eventually,Irealized this was not peoplecamping —because nobody camps at Cheniere au Tigre. It’s very buggy.”
Beyond the bugs, another deterrent to camping near the Cheniere au Tigre area is that it takes aserious commitment to get there. By midmorning, Comeaux and her husband set out in their21-foot, single-engine outboard flatboat from Intracoastal City.With calm water, the boat ride on Saturday only took an hour
Once there, Comeaux said they are careful to stay in the public beach area, while the rest of the area is privately owned.
On Saturday,she andher husbandbeachcombed about 21/2 miles, finding a3-foot lengthof brain coral; wild not-yet-ripe watermelons growing; ared sandal; asingle doll’sleg; amylar “Happy birthday” balloon (she finds one every year); adumpster-like container on casters thathad the words “PLASTIC WASTE” stenciled on top (it was empty); awild hog skull; and the crown jewel —aship in abottle witha note included. The message in abottle, this time an old Haig &Haig whiskey bottle, is not Comeaux’sfirst. It was the third one she’sfound on herbirthday —and she’slearned alot about how to open them without tearing. Still, she was disappointed when she unfolded it and all the writing was gone.
“When Irolled it out, there was not adamn thing on it,” she said. “Nothing, you could see nothing on this note.”
Her middle child had asuggestion —use apencil to sketch over it and see if the message would show up.
“I was like, I’m not doing that,” Comeaux said. “That’sgonna mess it up.”
So she searched the internet looking for suggestions on what to do.
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BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer
An 83-year-old Baton Rouge manwas sentenced Mondayto 10 years in prison for beating his mentally disabled son to death.
Ellsworth Hull stood beforeDistrict Court Judge Colette Greggs, whoimposedthe sentence during ashort hearing inside the 19th JudicialDistrict Courthouse.Hull pleaded guilty to manslaughter last month in the killing of his special needs son, 40-year-old Derrick Christophe.
According to courtrecords, Hull beat Christophe with awooden mophandleand metal broomstick during aFeb. 14, 2020, argument in their Shelley Street residence.
Christophe suffered internal
bleeding and died frommultiple blunt force trauma wounds.
Hullwas set to be tried for second-degree murder lastmonth but accepted the plea deal to the reduced charge of manslaughter Aug. 8—10days before his trial date. Thedecadelongprison stint was the term of incarceration his attorney andprosecutors agreed upon. According to arrest reports, Baton Rouge policewere calledto Hulland Christophe’s home late at night and found adeceased Christophe seated in the bathtub. Hull initially told officers he and his son had aphysical altercation, then he laterfound Christophe dead in the tub. But Hulldidn’t report thedeath to authorities immediately. He calledhis attorney
first and thelawyer contacted law enforcement after he arrived at thehome.
Detectives noticed bruising, cuts and puncture wounds all over Christophe’slegs, armsand back.There were also ahandful of lacerations on the victim’shead.
Some of thewounds were fresh, while others appeared to old, investigators said. Despite allthe wounds and bruises, there wasno blood coming from Christophe’s body and minimal blood in the home. Detectivesdeterminedthat wasa sign that the scene had been cleaned before officers arrived.
Several empty bleach bottles theyfound throughout the house bolstered that belief,according to reports.
Acoroner examinedChristophe’sbody at the sceneand determined he’d been dead about 12 hours before officers arrived.
Investigatorscollected abroken wooden mop handle found on top of the refrigerator and abroken metal broom stickasevidence, according to reports. After the coroner’sassessment, Hull admitted that he struck his son several times with the wooden mop handle while he wasinthe tub after Christophe grabbedhis arm.Hull said he mayhave beaten Christophe on the head with the mop handle.
Hull told detectivesafterhe deliveredthe blows,Christophe wasn’t“coming to” like he normally did, according to thereport. Hull said he changed the water in the bathtub several times while he tried to figure out what to do. He told officers similar beatings happened ain the past, including one that occurred about aweek before thefatal incident.
Official placed on leaveafter student fightatScotlandville
BYCHARLES LUSSIER Staff writer
After nearly aweekonleavein the wake of astudent fight captured on video, Paul JacksonreturnedMondayasprincipalof Scotlandville High. That news did not come from the East Baton RougeParish school system,but from Metro Council memberAnthony Kenney,whose District 2includes Scotlandville.
In anews release sent out Monday morning, Kenney thanked Superintendent LaMontCole, saying thetwo had “productive andcollaborative discussions regarding thefutureof Scotlandville Magnet High Schooland thevitalroleof Principal Jackson’sleadership.”
“Let’s continue the momentum of support for our students and staff in thefuturetocome. Scotlandville is not an option —itisanopportunity,”wrote Kenney, agraduate of the high school at 9870 Scotland Ave.
Kenney took office in January replacing Chauna Banks as District 2representative. Cole spent nine years on theMetro Council before becoming school superintendent in August 2024.
Aspokesperson for the school system acknowledged that Jackson is back at work, but saidnothing more. Jackson was placed on paid leave aweek ago while district leaders conducted an inquiry into afight that occurred there theprevious week.
The fight, which involved several female studentsbeatingup another female student, was cap-
BY ELLYN COUVILLION Staff writer
Baton Rouge had acouple of thingsthat made this summer abit morebearable than last year: rain and early cold fronts.
“For agood bulk of thesummer,weran above average in rainfall,” and that cooled things down, said Hannah Lisney,a National Weather Service meteorologist. In recent weeks, cold fronts made theirappearanceinthe region, too, bringing increased cloud cover and lower humidity, shesaid.
While most of thosefronts stalled northofBaton Rouge, Lisney said acoldfront that made it all the way throughthe area this weekend brought the lowesttemperatureofthe sum-
merSunday night —66.
“For this time of year,that’s pretty crazy, but we’ll takeit,” shesaid.
Summer 2024 wasascorcher, with threeheat warnings —issued whenhigh temperatures poseanimmediate threat to life or property —posted for Baton Rouge in August, Lisney said. Twelve heat advisories were issued as well, in August2024, letting people know of thepossibility of dangerous heat.
This August, the National Weather Service issued sixheat advisories and no heat warnings for BatonRouge, Lisney said.
Along with June, July and August, “weusually include the first half of September”assummertime in south Louisiana. That being said, the end of summer 2025 will end up being “a little bit drier and alittle bitcooler”thanlastyear,she said.
N.O. mother arrested after son found dead
BY JOHN SIMERMAN Staff writer
The mother of a nonverbal New Orleans boy who was found dead in a lagoon last month after a desperate 12-day search appeared in a New Orleans courtroom on Monday to face allegations of deadly negligence, as court records revealed new details behind her weekend arrest.
According to police, the short life of 12-year-old Bryan Vasquez was defined by failed parenting and physical abuse at the hands of Hilda Vasquez, with his grisly death a tragic consequence.
The boy had left his home in New Orleans East in only a diaper that he would soon shed, sparking a search that ended Aug. 26 when his body turned up amid alligators. Vasquez, 34, appeared in shackles and jail scrubs in Magistrate Court, saying through a Spanish language interpreter that she would hire a private attorney to face felony counts of seconddegree cruelty to juveniles and negligent homicide. Both carry a maximum 10-year sentence upon conviction. She has not yet been charged.
The attorney, Cinthia Padilla, confirmed that she plans to represent Vasquez but declined to comment, saying it was premature.
In a police affidavit supporting Vasquez’s arrest, New Orleans Police Department Officer Mario Bravo, of the Special Victims Division, wrote that Vasquez had left the boy and his 11-year-old sister home alone the morning of his Aug. 14 disappearance, as she took a younger child to school.
She’d “elected not to bring Bryan or his sister to school,” having yet to provide a new address for a school bus to reach them, Bravo wrote. Vasquez called home about
10 a.m and her daughter said the boy, who had repeatedly left home, was missing again.
“Vasquez stated she had not taken preventative measures to secure the window because Bryan had never attempted to leave through one before,” the detective wrote of Bryan’s escape route.
“Vasquez further disclosed two prior incidents of Bryan running away.”
On Aug 1, at their previous residence, the boy was “found by the police, completely naked and drinking water from a drainage ditch,” the affidavit states. The second escape happened on Aug. 4, his birthday and wasn’t reported to police.
The family moved into their new home on Aug. 5, less than two weeks before Bryan went missing for the last time, according to police.
Magistrate Commissioner Jonathan Friedman on Monday set a Gwen’s Law “dangerousness” hearing for Monday, which means Vasquez will remain in the Orleans Parish lockup until then.
Friedman said there was “ap-
propriate probable cause for both charges” in the arrest warrant. He said he would sign domestic protective orders for Vasquez’s other three children, requiring her to stay 600 feet from them and make no contact.
Friedman pledged to revoke any bail she receives if she violates the order Vasquez began to weep as she said she acknowledged those terms.
Detectives and officials with the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services began reviewing Vasquez’s criminal history soon after a volunteer using a drone discovered Bryan’s body It turned up near where he’d gone missing at Michoud Boulevard and Sevres Street, ending a search that had gripped New Orleans. The coroner determined Bryan died from blunt force trauma and drowning suffered during an alligator attack.
Family members and authorities described Bryan as nonverbal and autistic.
A child welfare department report from 2021, however, said his disability was classified in an individualized education plan as a
“traumatic brain injury (non-accidental).”
An earlier police report states Vasquez injured the boy when he was 3 months old. He’d been taken to the emergency room with injuries that included a damaged lung, retinal hemorrhages, fractures in both legs and a skull fracture.
Vasquez was charged in 2014 with cruelty to juveniles and second-degree cruelty to juveniles. She later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of negligent treatment or neglect.
Bravo wrote that he reviewed child welfare investigations from 2013 and again in 2022, when Bryan “was observed with scratches near his genitals, on his inner thighs, and on his right wrist. However, the agency did not validate allegations of physical abuse regarding these injuries.”
A fresh investigation is pending, he wrote.
In the arrest warrant affidavit, Bravo said there was a “documented history of failure to provide adequate supervision for a medically vulnerable child despite repeated interventions and warnings over a 12-year span.”
He wrote that Vasquez “failed to take appropriate steps to secure her residence despite her knowledge of special needs and history of leaving the residence.”
Nicholas Gernon, NOPD’s chief detective, confirmed Sunday that state social workers removed Bryan for a time from the Vasquez home after his visit to the ER.
The 2021 child welfare department report, which was prompted by a notice from school, stated that Bryan had been found with large bruises on his face and his inner thigh. He also had “tapeworms on two different occasions,” the report states. Gernon said investigators believe that Bryan’s poor treatment led to “undue pain and suffering.”
Staff writer Missy Wilkinson contributed to this report.
Survivors’ legal team backs proposed settlement plan
BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer
Nearly a dozen attorneys who collectively represent more than 200 clergy sex abuse survivors in the Archdiocese of New Orleans bankruptcy have thrown their support behind a proposed settlement plan, signaling the long-running case could come to a close by the end of the year
In court documents filed Monday, the group of survivors and their attorneys signed on to a revised settlement plan, which already has the support of the official court-appointed committee for all 650 abuse survivors and three of four church insurance companies.
Under the terms of the settlement, the archdiocese would pay $230 million into a trust for survivors, funded, in part, by a guaranteed $50 million from the anticipated sale of Christopher Homes, a group of church-owned apartment complexes for low-income seniors. Earlier versions of the plan included estimated proceeds from the apartment sale but no guaranteed amount.
The plan also would entitle survivors to sue a fourth church insurer, Traveler’s, for additional compensation.
The group of survivors and the 10 attorneys who signed on to the plan had been signaling opposition since it was filed in July and had in the past argued that the bankruptcy should be dismissed
In a recent filing, they alleged that Archbishop Gregory Aymond and his advisers had mismanaged the case since filing for Chapter 11 reorganization more than five
Continued from page 1B
Finally, she decided on a course of action to unravel the mystery “I said, ‘Oh heck, I’m just gonna do like my kid told me,’” she said. “I scratched a pencil and sure enough it started coming out.” It helped some, but not much. Still, we’ve figured (and I say “we” because I’ve spent more time than I’d like to admit try-
years ago. In the court documents filed Monday, they agree to withdraw that lawsuit.
Attorneys involved in the negotiations said Monday’s developments are a significant milestone in the case.
“It’s a huge step forward in finally getting justice for survivors,” said bankruptcy attorney Rick Kuebel, whose firm, Troutman Pepper, is co-counsel for the official survivors committee. “I’m glad we could get the other attorneys on board, supporting the plan.”
The leaders of those other attorneys, Johnny Denenea, Soren Gisleson and Richard Trahan, did not respond to a request for comment.
In a statement, Aymond said he remains “very hopeful and committed to bringing the bankruptcy to a conclusion that benefits the survivors of abuse.”
“I know there remains much work to be done and I continue to hold this work in prayer,” he said.
“I pray for the survivors of abuse every day and look forward to the opportunity to meet with them to hear their stories first-hand.”
End of the road?
The recent developments come more than five years after Aymond placed the archdiocese under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection amid a growing number of clergy sex abuse claims At the time, nearly 40 lawsuits had been filed against the local archdiocese.
In the years since, more than 650 abuse claims have been filed with the bankruptcy court and the case now ranks as one of the longestrunning and most expensive of more than 40 church bankruptcies around the U.S. attorneys’ fees alone are nearing $50 million.
The development also come as survivors and other creditors in
ing to figure it out), that the note reads: “Friday, May 2, 3:25 a.m. Ouachita River, West Monroe, LA, Launched by Jim Lee. 1968” The tiny ship was a replica of Christopher Columbus’ Santa Maria. We’ve discussed numerous hypotheses as to why this man would launch a ship in a bottle with a note that said little at 3:25 a.m. We also realize that in 1968, May 2 was on a Thursday, but we figure that at 3:25 a.m., he may be confused.
the case are in the process of voting on the proposed reorganization plan, which was jointly negotiated between the archdiocese and the official committee of survivors earlier this summer Ballots were mailed to survivors in late August. Two-thirds of survivors must vote to approve the plan.
To be sure, the case still has many hurdles to clear A group of bondholders who are owed nearly $30 million are fighting the plan because they’re unhappy with its terms.
U.S. District Judge Meredith Grabill also must confirm the plan at a hearing scheduled for late November
But overcoming the objection of the survivors group and its attorneys is widely considered to be a crucial step toward bringing to a close a case that has rocked the nation’s second-oldest Roman Catholic diocese and its 500,000 faithful.
If approved by a super majority of voters and confirmed by the judge, survivors could begin to receive payments by early 2026.
Documents filed in the case Monday include a third version of the settlement plan, which has been agreed to by the archdiocese and its affiliated parishes and charities, the official survivors committee and the attorneys for the other group of survivors.
The financial terms of the revised plan are not markedly different from the earlier versions, which called for $130 million in cash from the archdiocese and its affiliates, an additional $20 million to be paid over four years and another $30 million from the settling church insurers.
The biggest change in the revised plan is the guaranteed $50 million from Christopher Homes, a portfolio of 15 complexes that are actively being marketed for sale.
Six years ago, she found an illegible message in a bottle with a $1 bill. She kept the dollar and thought it was funny Then, in 2022, she found Paxton Oliphant’s message in a bottle with a watercolor map/drawing and a note that predicted his bottle would go to Asia. Oliphant was from Pecan Island — so it didn’t go far Comeaux knew someone who knew someone who knew him and was able to get him word that she had found the bottle. “Ironically, every year we go,
Fishing team’s posts called Black leaders ‘ignorant’
BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer
Shane Guidry, a confidant of Gov Jeff Landry who often serves as his point person for New Orleans issues, said a series of posts on his fishing team’s Instagram story blasting Black leaders including one asking “Why are Black leaders so ignorant” — were put there by a guest on the team’s fishing trip to the British Virgin Islands.
Guidry, whose fishing group is called Team Harvey, said the guest made that and three other posts criticizing Black leaders but quickly deleted them. He said the guest apologized but did not wish to comment.
Another post featured a headline about New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s indictment and was captioned, “Why do so many black female politicians feel so invincible.”
“We absolutely disagree with what they wrote,” Guidry said Sunday evening, adding that he has had Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Costa Ricans and Mexicans work on his boat. “There’s certainly no place on our fishing team for that.”
When first asked about the posts, Guidry said he had not seen them. But after a reporter described them, he said he agreed with the sentiment that Cantrell must have thought she was “invincible.”
Guidry added, “I personally don’t believe all Black leaders are bad. I personally don’t believe all White leaders are bad.”
Earlier versions of the plan indicated the sale of the apartments could contribute between $36 million and $51 million toward the settlement.
Though no purchase agreement for the properties has been filed, sources familiar with the deal say negotiations between an interested buyer has advanced to the point that the church was comfortable guaranteeing the sale will generate $50 million for the settlement trust.
For survivors, Mondays’s developments are an important step. In recent interviews, survivors have said no amount of money can make up for the innocence they lost when they were sexually abused as children. Still, those who plan to vote for the settlement said it is their only hope of getting justice.
“There is only one option — to take what we can get right now and then go after the insurance company,” said Stephen McEvoy, 61, who said he was raped as a 12-year-old in the mid-1970s by Deacon George Brignac. “I have lived with this for years Now, it’s my turn.”
The plan’s “non-monetary provisions” also requires the church to implement stricter child protection measures to guard against future sex abuse by priests, and will create a public database with details of past abuse cases and the names of the abusers.
Some survivors said those elements of the plan alone are enough reason to vote for it.
“I feel very passionately about putting the nonmonetary settlements in place,” said Ashley Allen, 37, who alleged abuse by Father Anthony Serio in the 1990s. “There are children who may be in danger of this and if these measures do not go into effect this could happen again.”
we drink a bottle of prosecco,” she said, “and I write a message and throw it in the sea somewhere near Southwest Pass, south of Vermilion Bay, right in the Gulf.” In 2018, Andy Boudreaux found the bottle she had thrown in September on the Louisiana coast south of Morgan City She’s hoping that someone can help her identify “Jim Lee” who was in West Monroe in 1968. If you have any information, email me at jan.risher@theadvocate.com.
As for the post that asked ‘Why are Black leaders so ignorant’ — which was attached to a picture of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson with a caption saying Johnson blamed the city’s gun violence on red states — Guidry said he agreed Johnson’s remarks were ignorant.
“Guns don’t kill people. People kill people,” he said. In another one of the posts, an image shows two Black people who were apparently arrested in connection with a store heist, with the caption, “Why is it always Black people doing this, answer caused by White DEMOCRATS.” Guidry, who is based in Metairie, owns multiple businesses that provide oil field services in the Gulf.
Continued from page 1B
tured on video and has been circulating around the school and in the surrounding Scotlandville community.
It is unusual for the school district to launch its own inquiry into a student fight Typically the principal handles such matters. School officials have thus far not explained why Jackson was placed on leave, saying it’s a personnel matter Jackson, a 1989 graduate of the school, became principal of Scotlandville High in summer 2021 after he was promoted from assistant principal at the school.
The high school is home to almost 700 students.
After the news broke that Jackson was on leave, an online petition was launched to get him reinstated, attracting more than 900 signatures as of Monday morning. “Principal Jackson has been more than just an administrator,” according to the petition. “He’s been a mentor, a supporter and a leader who has dedicated himself to building a safe, supportive and motivating environment for everyone on campus.”
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DeBate, Roosevelt Joseph 'RJ'
Roosevelt Joseph ("RJ") DeBate, resident of Prairieville, LA, passed away on September 5, 2025. RJ was born on August 30, 1945, to parents Inez and Roosevelt DeBate, in Lutcher, LA. He was 80 years old.
RJ was an Army Veteran and worked most of his life asa Shipping Supervisor for IMC Agricochemical plant.Hewas asports fan who loved to follow his favorite teams, namely the Houston Astros, LSU Tigers and New Orleans Saints He was an avid hunter and sportsman in his youth, loving to fish and hunt with friends and family. Upon retiring, his passion was antiques, where he loved traveling with his wife, Judy, to find antique collectibles and furniture so that he could restore them.
RJ is survived by his wife, Judith Ann Henderson DeBate;children, Lori DeBateHorton (Jim) and David DeBate (Teasha); sisters,Laura DeBate Chenier,Linda DeBate Babin and Diane DeBate Tramonte; and grandson, Carson DeBate. He is preceded in death by his parents, Inez Marie DeBate and Roosevelt Peter DeBate; and sister, Janice DeBate Boudreaux. Pallbearers will be Carson DeBate, Aaron Leake Ivy Babin, Jason Henderson, Matt Tramonte, and Keith Rodrigue. Visitation for Mr. DeBate will be held at St. Mark Catholic Church in Gonzales, LA, on Wednesday, September 10,2025 at 10:00 AM with service to follow at 11:30AM. Acommittal service will take place followingthe service at Serenity Oaks in Prairieville,LA.
The family would liketo thank the staff at OLOL Hospital for the care provided throughout the last week
Goodroe Jr., Horace Thomas 'Tommy'
Horace Thomas Goodroe Jr.(Tommy),72, of Greenwell Springs,passed awaySeptember5,2025, at his home.
He was born on January 29, 1953, to Horace andJoy Goodroe in Houma Louisiana
Tommygraduatedfrom Louisiana State University in 1976. He also graduated from MTICollegein 1989.
He marriedKarenMetz on June 6, 1987, and they had two daughters, Amanda and Emily.
He worked as an IT Specialist and retiredfrom Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Tommyenjoyed being TPaw to his five grandsons who he adored.
He wasa musician and loved playing hisguitar and singing. Deeply devoted tohis savior,Jesus, he lovedserving and pouring into others, particularly throughhis ministry to those in prison.
Tommyissurvivedby his loving wife, Karenand daughters Amanda Schafer (Tanner) and Emily Morgan (Wesley). His sisters Ellen Clark and Joy Dupuy.And his five grandsons, Benjamin Morgan, Daniel Schafer, Oliver Morgan, Luke Schafer,and Patrick Morgan.
He wasprecededin death by his parents, Horace Thomas Goodroe Sr andJoy NaquinGoodroe
Visitation will be Wednesday,September 10 at 10:00am at Healing PlaceChurch- Annex Building, 19202 Highland Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70809, followed by a memorialservice at 11:00am.
The family wouldlike to express our appreciation to Dr. Shelby MacRae, Superior Home Health, Hospice In His Care, and Healing Place Church for their love and support.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Healing Place ChurchKingdom Builders.
GeorgeLee Livers Jr., a resident of Baton Rouge, passed away on August 28th. He was 99 years of age, born December 21, 1925. George was one of our country's last living WWII veterans.George grew up in theeastTexas town of Marshall where he graduated from high schoolwhereuponheimmediately enlisted to serve in theArmy's AirCorps in November 1944. After training as aB-17 tail gunner, he was deployed to Lavenham, England as part of the8th AirForce's 487th Bomb Group.During his time there, he participated in 16 missions as part of a bombingcampaign to destroytargets deep in enemy territorysuch as Berlin and Dresden. He survived 4 "Forced landings," one afterbeing downed in the NorthSea, and anotherin Poland where he was listed as MIA for over three months. He evaded capture and finally found his way through enemy territory to allied soldiers. He laterreturnedtothe 487th and then to theU.S.Hewas blessed to return home as only25% of theEighthAir Force survivedthe war. He was reluctant to share his experiences of the war untilmuch later on in life, which is now much appreciatedbyhis family.He was atrue hero to us. Georgereturned to East Texas where he reconnected with theloveofhis life DorisMarieBrooks. They carriedona long-distance relationship for ashort period as Dorisattended Texas Tech in Lubbock and he attended theUniversity of SouthLouisiana in Lafayette. They were marriedonDecember 28, 1950 in Marshall, Texas and they moved to Dallas, Texas where he attended and received adegree fromSMU. They welcomed ababyboy into the family, GeorgeL.Livers, IIIand shortlythereafter returned to Shreveport,LAfor most of his remaining life.Once back in Shreveport,Mary Lynn Livers, "The appleof his eye" joinedthe family and they settled intowest Shreveport and were active members of St. Theresa's CatholicChurch. Georgewas an employee of UnitedGas Pipeline Company in Shreveport from1952 until his retirement in 1987. George was a man of faith and quietly contributedinvarious ways in his church communities over theyears. Whether servingasan usher, areader, or making visits to "the oldpeople" in
nursing homes, he was therewhen needed.Inaddition,both Dorisand Georgemadewhatever sacrificesnecessary to ensure theirkidsreceiveda catholic education. In 1975, he and Dorismoved with thecompany to Houston where they livedfor 20 years. It was here they enjoyed avibrantlife andenjoyed entertaining their niece and nephews as well as many LSUgrads from Mary's LSUdays. Together they were generous and lovedbeing around afun crowd of youngpeople they lovedliketheir own. After bothretired,they moved back to Shreveport in 1995 to reconnect with friends and to be closer to family (sisters Margie Whitehurstand Martha Wynn, and Bill Whitehurst, nephew). In 2013, they moved to Baton Rouge to be closertotheir daughter. Georgewas known to be a quiet intellectual, with an impressive amount of "useless" knowledgethat gavehim theabilitytoanswer most of thequestions on "Jeopardy". He also possessed akeen sense of humorwhich he delivered with astraightface in a dryand understatedmanner. Georgewas an alltime favoriteuncle, surrogate father, and loving friend to many. He sincerely demonstrated care and kindness in allofhis significant relationships and showed allwho knew him how to ageinplace with gratitude, kindness, acceptance, and grace. George is survivedbyhis son, GeorgeLee Livers IIIof Manor, Texas; his daughters Mary Liversand Penny Frazier of BatonRouge. He was especiallyclose with his sister-in-law, Martha Wynn, nephews Bobby
Wynn, John Wynn, and family, from Austin, Texas andnieceMary Susan Wynnand son Emmitt from Ft. Collins, Co,who loved theirUncle George to the moon and back. They spent countlesshours making theirway to Baton Rouge for frequentvisits andlots of laughs. In addition,George considered Stafford Johnsonone of his daughters and enjoyed the loyal friendships of ourBaton Rouge friends Nellie Gonsoulin, Nancy Gautreau,AdrienneClark Allen, John andKaren Church,Lynne andCharles Stubbs. Ourfamilyalso appreciatesmanyfriends we have all over thecountry, especially Nancy Quinn andSue Goza, whohave offered love andsupport throughout George's later years. He waspreceded in death by his parents George L. LiversSr, and Nellie Hill of Marshall Texas, and hiswife of 66 years, DorisBrooks Livers. Visitation will be observed at SacredHeart Catholic Church on September 11, 2025 from 10:00 to 11:00. A mass of Christian burial will follow at 11:00, celebratedbyFather Josh Johnson. Intermentwill take place in Marshall, Texas at atimetobedetermined. Thefamily wouldliketoexpress gratitude to themany wonderfulstaff at theHollyCourt Assisted Living whotook care of him, especially Veronica Murphy and Michelle Raymond,and NurseSharonWalker. Also thankyou to Ingrid Hildago at Audubon Hospice for herloving, excellent care For those wanting to honor hislife, please considerdonatinginhis name to Sacred HeartCatholic School,
Rebecca LeePierson,a resident of BatonRouge died on Tuesday, Septem‐ber2,2025 at age73. She leaves to cherishmemo‐ries of herfromher hus‐band,Sherman Pierson; 3 daughters, Chernika Or‐done (Taisean), Kisha James, andKarla Jones (Quinless);3 stepchildren Kimberly McCoy, Christo‐pher McCoyand Jamar Pierson; nine grandchil‐dren;4 great-grandchil‐dren;two brothers,Richard LeeJr. andDonaldLee (Wanda); 1sister, Linda Harris;and ahostofother relativesand friends. She wasprecededindeath by herfather, RichardLee Sr mother,ThelmaR.Lee, brother, Robert Shannon, sister,MaryLee, niece DemetriusLee andgrand‐son, BrandonOrdone. Visi‐tation will be held on Wednesday, September10, from 10 am until serviceat 11 am at Saintsville C.O.G.I.C.,8930 PlankRd. In‐termentwillbeinSouthern Memorial Gardens. Repast immediatelyafter burial at SaintsvilleC.O.G.I.C
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As Congress returns to session andashurricane season reaches its peak,federaland state officialsshould look with shame at the continued closure of 3.3 miles of U.S.90atthe LouisianaMississippistate line
Aftermorethan three years, theutterfailure to produce afinancial plan to replace fiveold, unsafe bridges along the highway is embarrassing. It’salso dangerous. East-West traffic flow along theGulf Coast, no less than North-South flow awayfromthe coast,is acrucialpartof hurricane evacuation considerationsand of post-storm aid and rescueoperations.
And as tens of thousandsofdrivers have experienced through the years, anyaccidentonInterstate 10 near either Pearl River bridge there canback up that highway for miles, makingU.S. 90 avital alternative route. Since Mayof2022, that alternative has been unavailable,and multiple recent reports provide nothing more than themost ephemeral hopes for progress there anytime soon.
One would have thoughtthat the20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrinamight have spurred some action, but alas, those thoughts would have been wrong. The stateofLouisiana says the $350 million price tag is too high forittobear, and so far,neither thefederal governmentnor the state of Mississippi have ponied up,either.
As this paper has reported twice in the past six weeks, the bridge closures also have been economically devastating for the small town of Pearlington, Mississippi,and nearby communities.With that stretch of U.S. 90 closed, local bars,restaurants, convenience storesand other businesses all have struggled mightily And forthose needing emergency health care, delays caused by reroutingcould mean life or death.
We understand that $350 million doesn’tgrow on trees, much lessinmarsh grass. Still, with Congress having passednot onebut threemassive “stimulus” and “infrastructure”bills in the past six years, along with executiveorders providing some fast-track (or at leastfasterthan-before-track) permittingfor transportation projects, surelythere should be reasonable accesstofederal highway dollars and concrete (no pun intended) plans to usethem.
It’s not as if Louisiana doesn’thavepower and access to knowledge of the system, with both Speaker Mike Johnson andMajority Leader Steve Scalise hailing fromhere andwith former New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu having served as infrastructure czar for formerPresident Joe Biden. Surelytheycan “talkamongst themselves,” both formally and informally,to find asolution. State and local governments, too, should be doing all they can to provide matching funds for federal monies.
“We’re past thepoint of shrugging our shouldersand saying we don’thave themoney,” said state Rep. Stephanie Berault, R-Slidell. Beraultisright. And it is incumbent on every local, stateand federal official from the area, elected and appointed alike, to find themoney andstart rebuilding thebridges. Soon.
LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE AREOUR
GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’scity of residence
TheAdvocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address andphone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor,The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com. TO SEND US A LETTER, SCANHERE
Upon reading culture editor Jan Risher’srecent Houmas House plantation article, Ifelt compelled to write this letter
The morethan 1,000-word piece sustains alight tone, briefly interrupted by thesection “Not ahistory buff.” Ihoped this might launch anuanced examination of owner Kevin Kelly’sviews —instead, the article softens Kelly’sdismissal of history with the playful phrase “He is simply interested in pretty.” That is the length of the article’scriticism. All articles,nomatter their scale, have political ramifications beyond their text. The Advocateand Risher have amoral obligation to complete reporting, especially given theprofound topical sensitivity of plantationsand Confederate sympathy in Louisianatoday Ispecifically mention thelatter in light of what is published on the Great River Road museum webpage. Rather than researched information on the lives of those enslaved at the plantation, the page only broadly describes the1811 Slave Revolt and disturbingly be-
What follows is amachine gun firing at the rule of law: Issuing an executive order that usurps the power of Congress and the states to regulateelections; picking up and deporting people without due process of law; ignoring or disobeying court orders; unlawfully removing people from government agencies; illegally withholding funds from various groups and agencies; mass firing of inspectors general; freezing foreign aid without Congress’s approval; instituting mass terminationsoffederal workers; purging independent government watchdogs; illegally dismantling parts of the government; threatening to extend the federal takeover of Washington, D.C.;and threatening to takeadditional actions, now and in the future, that would be illegal or corrosive.
Republicans during President Barack Obama’sterm complained constantly about his executive orders and how he was bypassing Congress with them. Obama issued 122 executive orders in the four
gins withthe unfinished sentence: “Although slavery was not the primaryreason for secession, it would ultimately play amajor role in the conflict which (line ends).” The above is the foundational assertion of the Lost Cause myth. The page andRisher’sarticle both fail to mention that theHoumas House enslaved over 800 people (according to theNational Park Service). The article was clearly billed as a lighthearted profile. But Kelly’sflippant dismissal of slavery,and the troubling inaccuracy on the website for amuseum he says addresses that history,are anything but lighthearted, making Risher’sapproach grossly inappropriate. Her quoting, photo-ops and singularly playful tonetoward Kelly and theHoumas House inherently amplifies his viewpoint,compounded by Risher’s massive omission of any other perspective.
Iimplore the Advocate andRisher to immediately reflect on the article, recognizing their power as thestate’slargest newspaper ELIZABETH LEE Baton Rouge
years of his second term. Trump has issued 188 executive orders in his first seven months, not just bypassing Congress but also kicking them to the curb.
Republicans won’tcallout the attacks on the rule of law; they are too self-serving and fearful of losing their next election. Democrats call out the attacks but have themselves been guilty of someof the same activity,albeit to amuch lesser degree in scope and quantity If theDemocrats regain power in 2028, that scope and quantity could increase.
There is no clear picture of what this will evolve into, but it is clear that if this machine gun doesn’trun out of bullets soon, our democracy will be gravely wounded or somethingmuch worse.
“The world no longer has achoice between force and law.Ifcivilization is to survive, it must choose the rule of law.” —Dwight D. Eisenhower
RIKKI
THARPE Baton Rouge
When Isee the astounding incompetence of the daily news makers in President Donald Trump’scabinet, people such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., among others, Iamreminded of the maxim that asecond-rate leader chooses third-rate staff.
To call our current president second-rate, however,ismuch too generous. He strikes me more as the ringmaster of acircus from Hades. And the “performances” in this circus feature sabotaging health care, creating anascent police state, trying to resurrect the Confederacy,giving industrialpolluters free rein and so muchmore.
JOE BARBARA Metairie
Thank you, Kurt Kiesling of Gonzales, for your letter in arecent edition of The Advocate. Iagree with you on the importance of subscribing to adaily paper,and The Advocate ranks among the top, if not the best, daily newspaper in the state. I, too, have always subscribed to the paper of the town in which Ilived.
When Imoved to Baton Rouge 11 years ago, I, of course, began getting the local daily newspaper.After the subscription cost increased, Ichanged over to the online edition, but after less than ayear,Ichanged back to the hard copy.Ijust enjoy reading areal newspaper and not one online. To quote Kurt, “Weare fortunate to have such anewspaper.”
MARYANN RIDDLE Baton Rouge
On Aug. 11, aletter from Keith Istre, in response to Medicaid cuts, asked Jesus’ question: Have you fed me,clothed me cared for me?
Jesus didn’task that question to, or demand it from, the government. He asked that of individuals. For me to answer yes, I need to dip into my pockets and give directly,orthrough my church, to help. If Istre wants to answer yes, he needs to reach into his own pockets and keep his hands outof my pockets. It’seach individual’schoice TIM ALFORD Kentwood
Tanned, rested and ready,Congress has returned from theAugust recess. It is unclear why The Democrats’ House and Senate minorities have no power —the ability to achieveintended effects. The Republicanmajorities have no power becausetheyare not permitted intentionindependent of this president’spreferences.
He refuses to enforce the law that strictly required the TikTok app to be sold or banned, at the latest,byApril. He believes Congress’sspending power is merely the power to suggest spending ceilings. Trytocitealongstandingtenet of conservatism hehas nottraduced. Federalism? To endvotingbymail and impose voter identification requirements,hewould truncate, by executive order,the states’ constitutionally enumerated power to conduct elections. He would commandeer state and local governments withanexecutive order banning no-cash bail. Free markets? See “state capitalism,” below. The Constitution’sarchitecture presupposes legislative andexecutive powers not merelyseparated but somewhat rivalrous. “Ambition,” wrote James Madison, “must be made to counteract ambition.” Thearchitecture collapses when, as today,the controlling ambition of most members of the congressional majorities is reelection requiring sycophancy toward today’s president. Individual andinstitutional pride have vanished, supplanted by unapologetic and undignified fear
Hence, it is regrettable thatlast year Republicanscaptured Senate control. They said this would enable them to preserve the filibuster,which prevents enactment of large measures on slenderand entirely partisan majorities Instead, Senate Republicans have advanced the president’sagenda —the sliver of it requiring legislative action
rather than executive fiats—bya parliamentary maneuver (reconciliation) that evades the filibuster Absenta Republican Senate majority, these Cabinet members(among other wreckers masquerading as reformers) would beabsent: Health and Human Services SecretaryRobert F. Kennedy Jr., Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. The confirmation of each required abject deference to presidential discretion that precludes independent senatorial judgments concerning any nominee’s character and competence.
The Senate confirmed, 50-49, Emil Bove, thepresident’sformer criminal defenseattorney,toafederal appellate court,on thethreshold of the Supreme Court. His jurisprudential thinking, if any,isunknown. Hiscoarseness is not: When theacting U.S. attorney in Manhattan resigned to protest the Trump administration’sdropping, for political reasons, the corruption case against New York Mayor Eric Adams, Bove’s thuggish reflexwas to ominously threaten to “investigate” her Voters, remember Bovenext year.If aSupreme Court vacancy occurs before 2029, an invertebrate Republican Senatemight mean asullied court Presidents are mistakenly accorded vast discretion in foreign policy,so Congress candolittle when today’s president, for no discernible strategic reason, usesinsults and economic coercion to propel the most populous nation, India,into closer collaboration with thesecond most populous, China. Congress could, however,inhibit this administration’sprimary domestic policy It is frequently,and illogically,described as “state capitalism,” an oxymoron coined to avoid candidly calling it “socialism”: government supplanting markets in the allocation of capital and,hence, of opportunity.Many business leaders in what should now be called “thequasi-private sector” have
responded to presidential bullying with groveling.
Intel, for example, has given the government a10%interest in it.This dilutes the value of other shareholders’ portions of the company —anunconstitutional, because uncompensated, takingofproperty
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says thegovernment might take stakes in defense companies such as Lockheed Martin, which he says is “basically an arm of the U.S. government.” If so, Congress should pass an “Armof-the-Government CEO Compensation Act,” stipulating: No executive of any company in which the government owns as much as 1% can receive total annual compensation exceeding in value the$162,672 paid for aGS-15 civil servant.
Half acentury ago, Congress adopted budgeting rules it rarely obeys. They stipulateatimetable for presenting budget resolutions, and passing 12 appropriations bills by Sept.30.
Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., proposes thePrevent Government Shutdown Act. When government funding lapses because Congress ignores its rules, arenewable 14-day continuing resolution would fund critical operations, but: During the continuing resolution, members’ office funds cannot be used for travel other than aone-way trip back to Washington. No campaign funds can pay travel expenses. Neither the House nor theSenate can be adjourned for morethan 23 hours, and mandatory midday quorum calls, seven days aweek, will confirm members’ attendance. Unlike the budgetary rules Congress pretends tohave imposed on itself, Lankford’slaw would be obeyed. Congress is tanned, rested and ready to resumeits passivity.
Email George Will at georgewill@washpost.com.
TimKaine needs to report to aremedial civics class as soon as possible. The Virginia senatorand former vice presidential candidate expressed outrage at acongressional hearing that aTrumpnominee said that our rights comefrom God, not government.
Kaine suspected incipient theocracy, warning that theIranian regimepersecutes religious minorities on exactly this basis. “They do it,” he explained, “because they believethat they understand what natural rights are from their creator.”
In searchingfor an example more relevant to theAmerican experience, Kaine mightcasthis mind back to afellow Virginian —a tall, sandy-haired, Charlottesville-area gentleman with an interest in architecture, ataste for fine wine and knackfor writing. Ring any bells?
Thomas Jefferson had three things inscribed on his tombstone: drafter of the Virginia statutefor religious freedom, founder of the Universityof Virginia and author of the Declaration of Independence.
Kaine could lodge all the same complaints he made about theoffending nominee, Riley Barnes, against the Declaration of Independence that shockingly maintains that allpersons are “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,” andcalls this proposition —with arrogant certitude—a“self-evident”truth.
Luckily for the Sage of Monticello, he didn’thave to get confirmed as ambassador to France by aSenateForeign Relations Committee including Tim Kaine (as it happened, the U.S. Senate didn’texist yet).
Kaine might consider that,intaking his oath of office, he actually pledged to defend aconstitutional system that is founded on the idea thatour rightsexistprior to government.
As Jefferson noted later,the sentiments of the Declaration were commonplace in 18th-centuryAmerica. Jefferson’snemesis, Alexander Hamilton, stated that “the sacred rights of
mankind” are “written,aswith asun beam,inthe whole volumeofhuman nature,bythe hand of the divinity itself; and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power.”
JohnAdams, James Wilson and John Dickinson,among other Founding figures, saidexactly thesame thing.
Whereas TimKaine hears someone say ourrights come from God and thinksofthe writings and thought of, say,the Ayatollah Khomeini, the philosophical basis of the idea is found in the work of John Locke, one of the greatest Enlightenment thinkers.
Locke grounded his liberalism in an understanding of mankind as possessing inherentGod-given rights and dignity.
The power of this idea is that in a conflict between our rights and laws impinging on them,the laws must give way Kaine’sview that rights come from thegovernment implies that the state getstodecidewhether or not and to what extent we have rights. The American project, though, is based on the belief that it is duty of government to respect preexisting rights, and if a government tramples on them, it has failed and is illegitimate.
Theabolitionists used this view to
great effect in the 19th century.Even though the government had decided that it was permissible for one class of people to enslave another,the abolitionists believed that this was an offense against God. Enslaved people had a natural right to liberty that couldn’tbe erased. So, Kaine must have abeef with the likes of William LloydGarrison, Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. He presumably would have gone ballistic over Garrison’sconviction that the “right to enjoy liberty is inalienable. To invade it is to usurp theprerogative of Jehovah.” Rather than awarrant for theocracy,the Garrison view supported the extension of rights. As he put it,“wherever there is ahuman being, Isee God-given rights inherent in that being, whatever may be thesex or complexion.”
Kaine’soutburst shows how progressives have an allergy to God in any contextother than apersonal one, and how it isn’tjust schoolchildren who are ignorant about our history and system of government.Isittoo much to ask that a U.S. senator know alittle bit about our heritage?
Rich Lowry is on X, @RichLowry
Imagine someone made you this offer: You press abutton, and you get $5 million. But somewhere in the world, several dozen young men become afflicted with adisease that leaves them in constant pain and suffering from substantial cognitive impairment. Would you press that button?
No?Let’smake it alittle easier on you: Youget the money now, they get the debilitating disease 30 or 40 years later.Tempting? Still won’tpress? Let’scomplexify it further: Youdon’tget the money, they do. Youjust get afew hours of entertainment watching them destroy their bodies andbrains.
So again: Do youpress that button?
Yes, obviously,many of you would. Repeatedly.Because that’swhat happens whenyou push the button on the remote and sit backtoenjoy another football game —asmillions of Americans did this weekend with the NFL kicking off its season.
KFF and ESPN recently released the results of ajoint survey of NFL players from the 1988 season, who are now at an average age of 62. Not surprisingly,they reported high rates of physical disability,with athird saying thattheyhad chronic pain severe enough to limit daily life or work activity most days (the rate for the general population of similarly-aged menis13%).
More worryingly,they also reported extremely high degrees of cognitive disability: While 6% of meninthat age group report serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions, 47% of the former NFL players do. Fifteen percent report having been diagnosed with dementia, while just less than 4% of men65and older have dementia, according to ESPN.That raises ethical questions about watching football, doesn’tit? Obviously,you are not tuning in to watch some hardy young manturn into apainwreckedretiree who can barely walk without crippling pain or remember whetherhehas grandchildren. But you are watching the process that leads from one to the other That process is exciting to watch, no doubt, whichiswhy it’sAmerica’sfavorite pastime.It reminds me of aquote Ionce read: “I do notlove war,but Ilove the courage with which men face war.” The courage, the athleticism,the teamwork —it’sthrilling. And part of the fun is that so many other people watch it, so you ride the highs and lows in fellowship with legions of fans. All of that rests on the willingness of these young mentodestroy their bodies and minds for our entertainment. It matters that they’re willing, of course, that they’re not just victims of astranger with abutton, but avid players who love the game and are well paid forplaying it. In the KFF/ESPN survey,90% of the players said they’d do it again. So why shouldn’tyou watch, if they’re willing to trade their future welfare for today’sglory?
As alibertarian, you’d expect me to resonate with that argument, yet Ithink it’snot thatsimple. Idon’tthink football should be illegal —obviously.But when participating in markets, we have ethical obligations that go beyond what’s legal. And there are some things youshouldn’t buy or sell, even if it’slegal to do so
Iwon’tpresume to tell you whatthose things are, because life is full of trade-offs —vegetarianism,widely practiced, saves cows not just from death, but from existence in the first place. We all have to negotiate those trade-offs as best we can, and no one can tell anyone else where their duty lies.
But Iwill lay out the drawback of doing so: Football fandom provides the moneyand the social status that attracts so many young mento pursue it as acareer.Many of them will suffer the injuries without having the career, or the money,orthe fame.
Yes, they play willingly,but at an age when people are notoriously bad at grasping the needs of their future self. That incapacity is why we create institutions and cultural scripts that guide them toward things that will be good for their future well-being (marriage, education, stable employment), and not things thatmight be fun right now but will be disastrous later,like drug addiction and crime. In football, we have created acultural script that valorizes wrecking your future body and brain.
Every time you press that button, youreinforce the script. Your eyeballs fund the ads, your purchases support the endorsements, andyour willingness to watch them tear each otherapart gives players the fame that is amajor attraction of the job.
Iwon’ttell you not to press the button in the end. I’d just ask you to think about the crippled old menthose boys will become, and askyourself whetherthe fun you’re all having is really worth what youare doing to that far-off stranger MeganMcArdle in on X, @asymmetricinfo.
Researcherssay presence marks thefarthestnorth discovery
BY PATRICK WHITTLE Associated Press
PORTLAND,Maine Re-
searchers have confirmed thepresence of an invasive species of tick in Maine for thefirst time, markingthe farthest northeast in the United States the pest has been discovered.
The UniversityofMaine andstate conservation officials said Monday they confirmed the presence of theAsian longhorned tickinthe state in July
The tick is native to east Asia, where it is capable of spreading tickborne infections such as spotted fever
The tick was first confirmed in the United States in New Jersey in 2017 and it hassince spread to more than20states, clustering mostly around the eastern third of the country.Exactly howthe tick arrived in the country isn’tcertain
PHOTO PROVIDED By THE UNIVERSITy OF MAINE
An Asianlonghorned tick wasfound in Maine in July
but public health officials have cited possible routes of entry including onpets andlivestock
“This discovery underscores thecritical importanceofcontinuedtick surveillance in Maine, said Griffin Dill,director of theUMaine Extension Tick Lab. “Whilethisappears to be anisolated case, we areclosely monitoring the situation andcoordinatingwith state and federal partners.”
The tick specimen was not yetanadult anditwas collected in the southern part of the state,the lab said in astatement.Follow-up surveillance didn’t turn up any additional specimensinthe
surroundingarea, the lab said.
Asian longhorned ticks feed on numerous animals, including cattle and humans. They pose achallenge for pest control authoritiesbecause female ticks of the species can reproduce without mating, which means asingle individual can create an infestation, the lab said. The specimen found in Maine could not reproduce yet because it was ajuvenile, the lab said.
Research is still going on to determinethe tick species’ ability to spread pathogens in Maine and elsewhere in the U.S., the lab said. Ticks are a major public health concern in theNortheastern U.S., whereanother species, the blacklegged or deer tick, spreads Lyme disease In the meantime, the public can prevent tick bites by takingsteps such as conducting rigorous checksfor them, avoiding overgrownvegetation and wearing protective clothing, public healthofficials said.
BY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer
Whenever Brian Kelly was questioned about the LSU offensiveline during preseason practice, he saidthe unitwould play well eventhough it had to replace four starters. Some of hisconfidence came from the addition of center Braelin Moore, aVirginia Tech transfer who he said “sets the rest of the group up for success.”
If Moore is that critical,whatwould happen without him against tougher competition?
It’sapotential issuefacing No.3LSU.
In what could be aseason of silver linings, the biggest from the New Orleans Saints’ opener was the performance of Spencer Rattler
Moore begins the week questionable to play againstFloridaafter he suffered an ankle injury on thefirst snap of LSU’s 23-7 win againstLouisiana Tech, Kelly said Monday.Moore is “day-to-day” after undergoing an MRI, and LSU will see what he can do at practice. Multiple reports said Moore suffereda high-ankle sprain.
“Wedidn’tget the true sense that we have ahigh-ankle sprain with Braelin,” Kelly said. “There was nothing that gave us that sense when we looked at the MRI thatthis is aTightRope procedure and he’sgoing to be out for four weeks.
“We’ll seehow he feels.Hefelt better
today.Ithink we’re going to list him as questionable, and that could change to probable as we go through theweek We’ll see how he progresses.”
Even if Moore can’tplay against Florida, it was notable thatKelly said the staff does not think he needs TightRope surgery.The procedure hasaccelerated returns from high-ankle sprains, but it still indicates amultiweek recovery time.
Last year,LSU offensive lineman Garrett Dellinger underwent TightRope surgery after suffering ahigh-ankle sprain Oct. 26 against Texas A&M. Kelly
Armstead, who spent his
seasons in New Orleans and the
three seasons with the Miami Dolphins, retired in April. Aknee that needs to be replaced simply wouldn’tallow him to play any longer
But that wasn’tgoing to stop Armstead from being on the football field Sunday leading the Who Dat chant. There’snoplace he would have rather spent his first game post-retirement than the city and team that helped shape him.
“This team holds atrue place in my heart,” Armstead said. “Everything that Iamand everything that Iaspire to be is as aSaint. That’samindset, a lifestyle to me.It’snever to be taken for granted.”
Armstead first thanked team owner Gayle Benson, team president Dennis Lauscha and general manager Mickey Loomis, who sat in the front row
“I truly appreciate you for changing my life and my family’slife,” Armstead said. “For allowing me to have achance to change our lineage, the meaning of our last name.”
Samuel Armstead, the manwhose last name Terron wore on the back of his jersey every Sunday,sat proudly on the front row.Terron Armstead is ahero to his dad, and his dad is ahero to him.
That wasn’talways the case, as Terron explained whenasked whatmotivated him to be so dedicated to his craft despite all of the injuries he endured.
As akid growing up in Illinois, Terron didn’tknow the demons his father was facing.
The final box score might not indicate it, but Rattler played well. Certainly well enough for the Saints to steal avictory from amore talented Arizona Cardinals team.
Don’tlet Rattler’sunderwhelming 70.4 passer efficiency ratingfoolyou. Hispedestrian stats in the heartbreaking 20-13 loss beliedthe level of his performance
In short, Rattler played exactly theway the Saints need him to play to give them achance to win this season. He led the offense with poise and confidence, avoided major mistakes
BY TIM REYNOLDS AP sports writer
Luis SuárezofInter Miami further damaged his reputation.
Jalen Carter of the Philadelphia Eagles cost himself the chance to play in aseason-opening game. And Brendan Bett of Floridagave South Florida a15-yard gift on its drive that decided its win over the Gators Their transgression: spitting. In thespanofseven daysfrom Aug. 31 through Saturday, there were three high-profile spitting
andkept the Saintsinfavorable down-and-distancesituations throughout the game.And when
incidents in sports. They were immediately condemned, includingbythose close to theoffendingparties such as Florida coach Billy Napier who called such behavior “unacceptable.” The reviled responses show there are limits to allowable aggressions,eveninthe mostheated competitions.
“Thereare alot of written andunwritten rules about how youinteractwithothers,”said Peter Valentin,the chair of the forensicscience department at the UniversityofNew Haven in
the team needed it, he directed aprecisetwo-minutedrive that nearly snatched victory from
the jaws of defeat. His second-to-last pass to Juwan Johnson wasa thing of beauty,perfectly timed andplaced.Ifnot for agreat breakup by apair of Cardinals defenders, it might have gone down as oneofthe most dramatic pass plays in Saints history
“Veryclose,very close,” Rattler said.
“That’sthe only spot it could have been thrown. Game of inches. Ithink that guy made agood playonthat ball to Juwan (Johnson), but Itold Juwan before that playthat I’m coming at you, so be ready. I’ll throw that ball to him 100 timesout of 100.”
Rattler’sfinalnumbers don’t jump off thestat sheet. He completed 27 of 46 passes for
Connecticut. “And in the sports world, you can have two opponentsvie for supremacy and they go at each other very,very aggressively.But it’sdone witha measure of respect “The ideaofspitting on your opponent communicates disrespect.And Iwould be shocked if that wasn’tthe intent of that act, to just demonstrate disdain for your opponent.” Suárez, whopreviously has been sanctioned in his career for biting opponents, spit on amemberofthe SeattleSounders’ staff after Inter Miami’s3-0 loss there in the Leagues Cup final. Carter spit —orspit back, depending on perspective —atDallas quarterback Dak Prescott before the first play from scrimmageinthe first NFL game of the regular season Thursdaynight.Bett spit at aSouth Florida player, andthose 15 penalty yards helped theBulls get achip-shot
“Damn, why hasn’tDad been home in one or two days?” Terron would ask himself.
He later found out it was alcohol and drug addiction.
By the time Armstead went to college at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, his relationship with his fatherhad soured.
“I went to college madathim, pissed off,” Armstead said. “… It drove me through college. Iwanted to be better than him.”
When Armstead was drafted by the Saints in 2013, his father began living with him. The pivotal moment in the relationship camethe night Armstead had gone to dinner with some of the other offensive linemen. His dad was
1:30
8:30 a.m.
3:30 p.m.
6p.m. Detroit at N.y.yankees TBS,TRUTV
8:30 p.m. Cincinnati at S.D./Ariz. at S.F. MLBN MEN’S SOCCER
5:30
Ravens running back Derrick Henry, front, fumbles the ball as he is hit by Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver, on the ground, during their game in Orchard Park, N.y., on Sunday.
AP PHOTO By JEFFREy T. BARNES
6p.m.Florida at North Carolina ACCN
6p.m.TexasA&M at SMU ESPN2
8:30 p.m.Stanford at Missouri ESPN WNBA
6:30 p.m.Minnesota at Indiana ESPN
9p.m.Los Angeles at Phoenix NBATV
Last season’s No.1seeds amongsquads with 0-1records
BY ROBMAADDI Associated Press
TheNFL’s twoNo. 1seeds last season are off to 0-1 starts, and the Baltimore Ravens blew a 15-point, fourth-quarter lead.
Let the overreactionsbegin.
The Detroit Lions were no contest for Jordan Love, Micah Parsons and the Green Bay Packers on Sunday
They joined the Kansas City Chiefs, who opened with aloss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil on Friday night.
The Ravens became the fourth 2024 division winner to losein Week 1when Josh Allenrallied the Buffalo Bills to a41-40 victory
The Houston Texans were the other,falling to the Los Angeles Rams 14-9.
JaredGoffand Detroit’sdynamic offense sputteredin the first game since offensive coordinator Ben Johnson left for Chicago. The Lions didn’tscorea touchdown until the final minute in a27-13 loss at Green Bay.
After winning afranchiserecord 15 games last season,the
Lions were eliminated in the divisional round by Washington. They lost Johnson and defensive coordinatorAaron Glenn, who went to the NewYork Jets.
Expectations were still high for Detroit despite losing both assistants andcenter Frank Ragnow to retirement.With star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson coming back to boost thedefense, the Lions were focused on unfinished business.
Alopsided loss in Green Bay doesn’tsignal theirtwo-year reignatopthe tough NFC North is over It’sone game. Of course,the Packers proved they’re areal contender.
“I thought we’dbemuch cleaner thanwewere, and it wasn’t as clean,” Lionscoach Dan Campbell said. “But there again, you’re talking about afew plays that were critical. Butlike Itoldthe team, theseare allso correctable.Everythingthat showed up is so correctable, and we will, we’ll hit it head on. Our players are accountableman; they’reready. And nobody takes it worse than they do, so that’sthe goodnews. We gotthe right dudes.”
TheChiefs, who alsowent 15-2 last season and weredenied a three-peat by the Philadelphia Eagles, lost 27-21 to the Chargers.
Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and AndyReid’s Chiefs arestaring atthe possibility of their first 0-2 start since 2014 with the Ea-
gles coming to Kansas City for a SuperBowl rematch. Butit’sway too early to claim theChiefs’ runofdominance they’ve won nine straight AFC West titles —has ended. It may be near,but it’s nothere after just onegame 3,500 miles away Until another team provesthey can defeat Mahomes in January theChiefsare still theteamto beat in theAFC. Also, twoofthe threeteams Ravens andTexans—considered to be theirbiggest threats in the conference also lost.
Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and the Ravens looked unstoppable against Buffalo for 31/2 quarters. Then Henry fumbled, opening the door for Allen to pull off astunning comeback capped by Matt Prater’s 32-yard field goal as time expired.
It’sahuge win for the Bills, who’ve losttothe Chiefs in the playoffs four times in five years They’rethe classofthe AFC East, but another division title isn’t the goal.Buffalo won’tbesatisfied withanything less than atrip to the SuperBowl. Same goes for Baltimore.
The Ravens have fallen short in theplayoffs sixtimes with Jackson. “Weall hate losing,” said Jackson, atwo-time NFL MVP.“Probably letitlingerfor anight then we have to forgetabout it andget readyfor theBrowns, adivision
rival.”
The loss to the Bills could have home-field advantage implications down the road, but Baltimore knows it’s just onegame. TheRavensstarted 0-2last season andended up winningthe AFC North Houston faced ateam that nearly knocked off Philadelphia in the playoffs last season. C.J. Stroud hada toughtimeagainst aformidable defense.Hewas sacked three times and threw an interception.
TheTexans, who’ve wonthe AFC South two straight seasons, overcame an 0-2 start in 2023.
They’ll have adifficult task trying to avoid that when the TampaBay Buccaneers visit next Monday. “I think it’sgood, it’searly, there’sa bunchofupside Ithink we could possibly have,” Stroud said. “I always try to think positively and give ourselves alittle grace, but also there’sanurgency andthere’s somethings we need to fix, so Iknow conversations will be hard. We’ll be hard on each other,but Ithink it’s agood thing. It’s what friction is. Ithink that’slove. So Iwant to see all my teammates do well.Ithink when there’s friction in that, Ithink sometimes is a good thingina positive way.”
TheTexans, Bills, Lions, Chiefs andthe rest of the teams have 16 more games to figureitout.The Super Bowl wasn’twon or lost in Week 1.
BY STEVE MEGARGEE Associated Press
GREEN BAY, Wis. ColbyWooden had heard the speculation thatthe Packers run defense mightstruggle without Kenny Clark,who was traded in the deal thatbrought star pass rusher Micah Parsons to Green Bay
All that talk even got back to the Packers defensive tackle’sfather
“My dad called me on Thursday,” Wooden said. “(He said): ‘Do me afavor.Shut them up.’” Wooden andhis teammates did just that.
The Packers limited Detroit to 46 yards rushing on 22 carries in their season-opening27-13 victory over the Lions on Sunday.David Montgomery andJahmyr Gibbs, who teamed up to run for 2,187 yards and 28 touchdowns last season, were limited to 44 yardson 20 carries.
Montgomery had rushed for at least 121 yards in two of his past three visits to Lambeau Field and had 96 yards from scrimmage in the Lions’ victory at Green Bay last season. He ran for 25 yards on 11 carries and caught fourpasses for 18 yards Sunday Gibbs, atwo-timePro Bowl selection, had nine carries for 19 yards and 10 catches for 31 yards.
like it was kind of disrespectful like, ‘Well, they’re going to runthe ball.’Imade it mymission, excuse me,wemadeitour missiontostop therun.”
time to get ready for itsnext test.
and contain that quarterback.”
What’s working
The defense collected four sacks and nine tackles forloss against a Detroit team that scored an NFLleading 33.2 points pergame last year.The Lions didn’tget atouchdown untilthe finalminute of the game. …After struggling early in games against NFC North teams lastyear,the Packers grabbed an early 17-3 lead this time by scoringoneachoftheir firstthree drives. …The Packers didn’tturn theball over andwere penalized just four times.
What needshelp
The Packers rushed for 78 yards on 25 carries, an averageofjust 3.1 yards per attempt.
Stockup
Former LSU star Johnson joinsULwomen’shoops TemekaJohnson,anLSU women’sbasketball star from 2001-05, recentlywas named theassociate head coach of the UL women’sbasketball program Anative of Kenner,Johnson was astandout at BonnabelHigh School. At LSU,Johnson becamethe alltime leader in assists in the NCAA. She was atwo-timeAll-SEC selection and helped lead the Tigers to three consecutive Final Fours. She then spent 11 seasons in the WNBA, where she wasnamed the Rookie of the Year in 2005. She wonatitle in 2009 with Phoenix. Most recently,she served as an assistant coach at Western Kentucky before joining UL coach Garry Brodhead’sstaff. The Ragin’ Cajuns finished 13-16 last season during Brodhead’s13th year on the job.
JACKSON,N.J.—
The sister of Minnesota Timberwolves player and formerLSU standoutNaz Reid was fatally shot at aNew Jersey apartment complex by her boyfriend, who wascharged withmurder, authorities said Monday Police went to the Paragon apartment complexinJackson around 11 a.m. Saturday after receiving reports of shots fired. They soon found Toraya Reid, 28, unresponsive near the complex’sexit, and she apparently had been shot multiple times, Ocean County prosecutorBradleyBillhimersaid. Officers also saw Shaquille Green, 29, of Jackson running downanearby road,and he wassoon taken into custody without incident.
Reid, 25, aNew Jersey native anda star scholasticplayerinhis homestate, is about to enter his seventh season with Minnesota and recently signed afive-year contract with the team
Chiefs may be without Worthy,Royalsvs. Eagles
KANSAS CITY, Mo.— The Kansas City Chiefs could be without Xavier Worthy androokie Jalen Royals because of injuriesina depleted wide receiver group when they face the Philadelphia Eagles in a Super Bowlrematch on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium Worthy hurt his shoulder in the opening minutes of the Chiefs’ season-openingloss to the Chargers in Brazil, when he collided with tight end Travis Kelceona crossing route. Royals, afourth-round pick, did not practice last weekand missed Friday night’sgame while dealing with aknee injury
Eagles acquire running back Bigsby from Jaguars
JACKSONVILLE,Fla. Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby was traded to thedefending Super Bowlchampion Philadelphia Eagles on Monday fortwo 2026 late-round draft picks, aperson familiar with negotiations said.
Bigsby became expendable once theJaguars draftedBhayshul Tuteninthe fourth round from Virginia Tech. Tuten has shown glimpses of being able to handle a lead role at somepoint, probably next season.
Bigsby had been on the trading block previously,and theJaguars found ataker in Philadelphia. The Eagles gave up fifth- and sixthround draft picks next year to land Bigsby
Bigsby,a third-roundpick from Auburn in 2023, has910 yards rushing and nine TDs in two-plus seasons.
SEC fines Mississippi St. $500K for field storming
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. Mississippi State University has been fined $500,000 by the Southeastern Conference forits fans rushing the football field following ahome win over then-No. 12 Arizona State The Bulldogs knocked off the Sun Devils 24-20 on Saturday,and their students rushed the field afterward, carrying the goalposts with them out of DavisWade Stadium as they left. The win was Mississippi State’sfirst over atop15 nonconference opponent since 1991. The SEC altered its policy on field andcourt storming over the summer,imposing a$500,000 fine each instance instead of escalating penalties. On TV
“I just did my job, went out there and stopped the run,” said Wooden, who had acareer-high six tackles as his playing time increased in Clark’sabsence. “I took it personal, honestly.Ifelt
Green Bay benefited from the fact the Lions were breaking in three newstarters on theoffensive line and playing their first game with coordinator John Morton,who tookoverafter BenJohnson left to take the Chicago Bears’ headcoachingposition. Even so, this represented quite the opening statement for Green Bay’s defense. TheLions scored an NFL-leading 33.2 points per gamelast season That defense won’thave much
ThePackers arebackatLambeau Field on Thursday night to face the Washington Commanders, who rushedfor 220 yards on 32 carries in a21-6 victory over theNew York Giants.
Jayden Daniels ran for 68 yards while throwing for 233 yards in thatgame. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, arookie seventh-round draft pick, had82yardsand atouchdown on 10 carries.
“It’sgreat to start off aweek with awin, dominate,” Wooden said. “But we’ve got to keep it going. We’ve got agood team coming in on Thursday.Weknow we’ve got to be ready to stop that run
Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper hada career-high 12 tackles. Defensivelineman Rashan Gary recorded 11/2 sacks. …Safety Evan Williams had an interception in thered zone. …Daniel Whelan averaged 54.7yards on his three puntsand landed twooftheminside theDetroit 20-yard line.
Stockdown
After playing nearly 90% of Green Bay’soffensive snaps last season, Sean Rhyan found himself in more of arotation at right guard with 2024 first-roundpick Jordan Morgan. Rhyanstill was on the field abouttwo-thirds of the time.
BY LUKE JOHNSON, MATTHEW PARAS AND JEFF DUNCAN Staff writers
Safety JulianBlackmon suffered ashoulderinjury that could end his season during the New Orleans Saints’ loss to the Arizona Cardinals, coach Kellen Moore saidMonday “That will be along one,” Moore said. “Potentially for the whole season, so that’sa tough one.”
According to an NFL media report, the concern is that Blackmon suffered a torn labrum Blackmon also injured his labrum last year while playing for the Indianapolis Colts, though he elected to play through it in 2024 and undergo surgeryinJanuary.Moore was not able to say whether it was the same shoulder It’snot clear when Blackmon suffered the injury Sunday.Hewas on the field for each of the Saints’66 defensive snaps, recording seven tackles. Moore said the issue became apparent after Blackmon returned to his home after the game.
“That’swhat adrenaline does to you during games, I guess,” Moore said. “Sometimes these things happen for these guys. Everyone’s sore after afootball game. Sometimes it takes alittle
Continued from page1C
214 yards and added 29 yards on four runs. His 70.4 passer rating was the sixth lowest of all starting quarterbacks in Week 1, primarily because of his 58.7 completion percentage and 4.7-yard average gain per passing attempt. But Rattler was simply taking what the defense gave him. The Cardinals’ defensive game plan was designedtotake away the Saints’ big-play opportunities in the deep passing
time to realize what’ssore and what’s an injury.”
New Orleans signed Blackmon to make up for the unexpected retirement of Tyrann Mathieu in August. He looked like an ideal fit for Brandon Staley‘s defense, recording five training camp interceptions. Mooredeclined to say whowould fillBlackmon’s spot, but the Saints may turn to rookie safety Jonas Sanker,a 2025 third-round pick out of Virginia. Sanker playedonly one defensive snap against the Cardinals, with his role focusing mainly on special teams, but he impressed during the preseason with his physical play New Orleans also could turn to JordanHowden,who wasinactiveagainst Arizona after being limited in practice with an oblique injury. Howden has appeared in 33 games with 11 starts since the Saints selected him in the fifth roundofthe 2023 draft.
Fuagaupdate
Offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga will be monitored throughout the week todetermine whetherhecan play Sunday against the San Francisco49ers, Moore said. Fuaga was pulled from Sunday’s20-13 loss with akneeinjury. Mooresaid
game.Safeties Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson spent most of theday in deep center field. Ayear ago, Rattler might have forced things and made agame-changing mistake. On Sunday, he took what the defense allowed and kept the ball out of harm’sway
“It was ashell fest,”Rattler said. “They played very conservatively on the back end, so we had to take what they gave us.”
Likewise, Rattler was forced to operate in unfavorable circumstances. Five ofthe Saints’10offensive possessions were undermined by penalties.
“we’ll see” when asked whether Fuagawas OK, but he also said there were ahandful of players who would require“maintenance” as the week progressed.
“Just during the game, it became athing that just keptbotheringhim,” Moore said. “Ultimately,wehad to makethe decision to slide Asim (Richards)inthere and give himachanceand put us in aposition there.”
The Saints insertedRichards into the lineup to start
The Saintstrailed for all but fourminutesofthe final three quarters. You’re not going to win many games when youcommit13penalties andmiss a37-yardfield goal
“He was spinning that thing,” veteran defensive endCam Jordan saidof Rattler.“We allsaw the moxie. We allsaw thepoise he playedwith at training camp.”
By no means was Rattler perfect. He missed some throws he’d like to have back.And as theon-field leader of theoffense, he must take some responsibility for the pre-snap
The San Francisco 49ersmay not have their usual starting quarterback available when they facethe NewOrleans Saints on Sunday
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday thatquarterback Brock Purdyhas left shoulder and toe injuries that makehis statusfor next weekend’sgame uncertain.
“Not sure, has to see howitheals and how theweek goes on it,”Shanahan said, according to BayArea News Group’sCam Inman. If Purdycan’t go,the 49ers would turnto MacJones —the former NewEngland Patriots
quarterback whowas shut out by the Saints in 2023 Jones, the 15th overall pick in 2021, joined the49ers thisoffseason after spending last year in Jacksonville. He is 20-29 all-time as a starter,going 2-5 lastyear Purdyisn’tthe only 49ers playerbanged up. Shanahan announced tight endGeorgeKittle is outmultipleweeks with ahamstring injury andwide receiver Jauan Jennings will undergo aCTscanfor hisshoulder injury.
Matthew Paras
Continued from page1C at home with Armstead’s twin daughters, but he had passed out by the time Terron returned home. Armstead cried. Then he gave his dad an ultimatum.
“If you don’tfixthis, fight this, combat this, you’ll never see me or my kids again,” Armstead said. “He’sbeen clean since that day.” Armstead drove his father to arehab center in New Orleans East the next day,and the guy who he looked up to became his hero again.
“He is the fighter,” Armstead said while proudly looking at his dad. “That fighting DNA (in me)? That’s where it comes from.” But New Orleans also taught Armstead how to fight. The city and its people are tough. Andithelped make Armstead even tougher on his way to making three Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team as aSaint. He was named to two more Pro Bowls in Miami. Yeah, he missedsome games due to injury,playing in 13 or more games in just four of his nine seasons here. But there were some other games he played with injuries that nobody ever knew about. His response to those who label him injury
prone?
“Shut up, I’mresilient,” Armstead said.“It comes from this city. This city has been through tragedy.But this city celebrates in spite of tragedy and in the faceof heartbreak. Iadopted that. It’sthe reason Iplayed for 12 years. My career was supposed tobeover in three or four.” Armstead played through physical pain, and he also played through the kind of pain that never shows up on theinjuryreport. His brother was killed during the 2020 season. NFLplayers weren’tallowed to fly on commercial airplanesthat season becauseofCovid. So Benson allowed Armstead to travel to the funeral on her private jet. He returned to New Orleans in time to play in agame againstthe San Francisco 49ers. Armstead criedinthe locker room before the game. Ateam captain, he cried at midfieldduring the cointoss, too.
“The other team saw me (crying),but Ididn’tcare,” he said.
Aftereveryoffensive series, he wouldhead to the sidelineand sit on thebench and cry AlvinKamara, Latavius Murray andthe offensive linemen would surround him. By the time the game ended,the entire team had
joined in. The Saintsbeat the 49ers27-13 that day,but for Armstead, the final score didn’treally matter
“That’snot justfootball,” Armstead said. “Thatis afamily.Thatmomentis deeperthanthe sport. I cannot express enough my gratitude.”
On Sunday, the Saints returned the favor andshowed alittle gratitude back by honoring Armstead. He’ll do some work in the media this season, andhe’llget to spend more time watching hisdaughters play middle schoolbasketball.
He was offered acoachingjob by Sean Payton two days after he announcedhis retirement, but he declined. He knows howdemanding the schedule would be workingfor hisold coach But he knowshewill continue to pour his heart into other thingsinsome capacity.The life lessons he’slearned are ones that he knows can help others. Thebiggest lessonisthis one: “Storms don’t lastalways,” Armstead said. “The sun comes out. But you’ve got to keepdoing thingsthe right way.”
For nine years in New Orleans, Armstead did just that. Through blood, sweatand plenty of tears. Including the ones he heldback Friday
the fourth quarter.Moore said Mondaythat themedical staff alerted him that Fuaganeeded to be out.
Before Fuaga exited thegame,the 2024 firstrounder hada rough performance. In his first start at right tackle, theposition he played in college,Fuaga allowed fourpressures and onesack, accordingtoPro Football Focus.
Twoweeks ago, Fuaga sufferedaknee injury during an Aug. 21 practice, sat out the next day’spractice,
mayhem that accompanied some plays. And the red zone was againanissue.
The Saintsscored just one touchdown in their four trips inside the Arizona 20.
But overall, Rattlerdelivered aperformance good enough to inspire confidence from his teammates and coaches.
“I thought Spencer did some good stuff and put us in position there (at the end of the game),” Saints
missed theAug. 23 preseason gameagainst the Denver Broncos and returnedfor an Aug. 27 session.Moore said then that the tackle’sknee injury was “nothing major.”
Highly improbable
Should JuwanJohnson have caught thatlatepass from Spencer Rattler on Sunday?
Some people think so Advanced analytics say it was highly improbable. The completion probabilityonthe attempted
coach Kellen Moore said. “Obviously,there are highs and lows you go through in agame, but Iloved the way that he approached it, the mindsetheplayed with. He gave us achance.”
Things will get tougher from here. Opponents now have game filmonRattler and Moore’soffense. The element of surprise will diminish with each game. Eventually,Rattler will be asked to be more of aplay-
18-yard pass attempt was 14.7%, according to the NFL’s NextGen Stats. Had the veteran tight end come down with the ball, it would have tied 49erstight end Jake Tonge’sgamewinning 4-yard touchdown catch against the Seahawks for the most improbable completionofthe weekend in the NFL.
Cardinalssafety Budda Baker was creditedwitha pass breakup on theplay,which came with nine seconds left on third and 10. Fellow Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson also appeared to gethis right hand on the ball as Johnson corralled it at the goal line.
“I knew Ihad the ball in my hands, and when Ihit the ground, it wasn’tthere anymore,” Johnson said afterward. “… At the end of the day,Ididn’tmake the play.”
Completion probability is an advanced metric created by NextGen Stats in 2018 to contextualizepassingand receivingperformances on aper playbasis. The advanced statistic factors in variables such as separation, depth and distance to the sideline and occlusion-aware separation, designating throws as more difficult when the defender is directly in the ball’s path and actively contesting the catch point.
maker and less of agame manager.It’sthe litmus test of every NFL quarterback, and it awaits Rattler at some point this season. But against the Cardinals, his play was asilver lining. If he plays with that kind of efficiency,decisiveness and smarts the rest of the season, quarterback will be the least of the Saints’ concerns. Moore and the offensive staff will take it every time.
You knowhim well.Scotthas been covering LSU since 1992. He is theauthor of three highly acclaimed booksonLSU and was chosen as an LSU Expertfor ESPN’s
Each Monday,Scottwill puthis thoughts on the last week’sgameand thenextweek’sgame into avideo essayplacing the game in its context anddrawing historical parallels
Kelly listed center Braelin Moore (ankle)and tightend Trey’DezGreen (MCL sprain) as questionable forSaturday. Kelly said Moore didn’t suffera true high-ankle sprain and he wouldn’t rule either out against Florida.That said, neither injuryiseasy to overcome quickly,soexpect the No. 3-ranked Tigers to trytotame the Gators without them.The good news is neither player’sinjuries are season-ending,whichappeared possiblewhen theyhappened against Louisiana Tech
Kelly was running hot in hispostgamenewsconference Saturdaynight, though he didn’t pound the table because, as he jokedMonday,“They make memes out of that.”Kelly was in abetter mood Monday,talking about how histeam“dominated” Louisiana Tech.Statistically,that’s true, but as Kelly alsosaid, the Tigers’ preparation “needs to be elite every week.”Clearlythat was not the case forLSU.It’salesson the Tigers need to taketoheart.
BY REED DARCEY, KOKI RILEY AND SCOTT RABALAIS Staff writers
The run playsLSU called Saturday in its 23-7 win over Louisiana Tech were good for only marginal gains, save for acoupleofkey exceptions.
One of them was afourth-quarter carry by running back Harlem Berry.The five-star freshman took an insidehandoff behind acouple of blocks, spun through onetackle attempt, juked past another and raced toward the boundary for a 43-yard gain to give the offense one of the fewhighlight playsit produced in alacklusterhome opener
Did that run earn Berry alarger role in the LSU offense?
“He required aconversation,” coach Brian Kelly saidonMonday With sacks excluded, LSU rushed 30 times for arespectable 154 yards against the Bulldogs. Take a closer look at those numbers, however,and it was an inefficient night on the ground. The Tigers gained more than half of those yards on twocarries: the 43-yard run by Berry and a48-yard first-quarter run by receiver Zavion Thomas.The remaining 28 carries gained atotal of only 63 yards. Only six of those runs picked up more than 5 yards, and just two gained more than 10.
Berry finished with six carries for 56 yards, more than anyother LSU tailback.Starter Caden Durham led in carries (13), butheturned those opportunities into only 30 yards
“(Berry) did agreat job,” Kelly said. “He made acouple of guys miss, extended the play.Weknew he was talented, right? Imean, this is much more aboutcatching up to thesystem that we want, protectionsout of thebackfield, right reads. Those things.
“But it required aconversation that this is aguy that we’ve gotto keep aneye on.”
In theTigers’ winover Clemson, Berryplayedonlyone snap, per ProFootball Focus.Hethenlogged 12 against Louisiana Tech.
Injury update
LSUsenior center Braelin Moore andsophomore tight end Trey’Dez Green will belisted as questionable to play heading into theSaturday matchup againstFlorida, Kelly said Monday Moore injuredhis left ankle on the opening snap against Louisiana Tech. He walked offofthe field underhis own power but finished the night wearing streetclothes and a walkingboot.
Kelly said Moore did not suffer a high-ankle sprainand that he will be day-to-day
The transfer from Virginia Tech was the SEC offensive lineman of
the week after LSU’s17-10 win over Clemson in Week 1.
Kelly said Greensuffered aright MCL sprain during thefourth quarter.His nightended on crutches and with abrace on his knee.
SourcestoldThe Advocate on Sunday that Green likely will miss afew weeks, but theailment is not deemed serious enough for him to missthe rest of the season.
Kelly,however,did not rule out Green for this week’sgame against Florida.Green caught LSU’sfirst touchdown pass of the season against Clemson.
“Those are injuries (MCL sprains) that you can comeback from,” Kelly said, “and rather quickly.”
‘SEC Nation’heads to LSU
The “SEC Nation” pregame show, the SEC Network’sversion of ESPN’s“College GameDay,” returns to the LSU campus Saturday
The show is setfor 9a.m. and will be televised from the LSU Quad. Now in its 12th year,the “SEC Nation” cast includes Paul Finebaum,former Florida quarterback TimTebow,former New Orleans Saints player Roman Harper,host Laura Rutledge and Jordan Rodgers
In addition, the“Marty &McGee” show will be televised from the quad before “SEC Nation” at 8a.m., featuringESPN’s Marty Smith and Ryan McGee
BY MARK ROSNER Associated Press
Texas coachSteve Sarkisian rebuffed aquestion about Arch Manning’sphysical well-being after videos posted on social media over the weekend sparkedspeculation the quarterback might have throwing issues.
On the TV broadcast during the No. 7Longhorns’ 38-7 win overSan Jose State on Saturday,Manning appeared to grimace as he threw a ball short to receiver Ryan Wingo. During Sarkisian’sweekly news conference on Monday,areporter said that Manning “seemed to be having some throwing pains,” and Sarkisian cut him off.
“According to who? Arch said that to you?” Sarkisian responded
The reporter then asked whether thereisanexplanation forwhy Manning “lookedlike that?”
“I’venever filmed anyofyou guys when you’re using the bathroom,soIdon’t know what faces youmakewhen you’re doing that,” Sarkisian said and thenmoved on to the next question.
Manning was asked at apostgame news conference if he had anypain
“No, no, Igotta make that throw,” Manning said. “He wasopen. Rana gooddig route, so gotta makethat throw.”
Sarkisian also was asked after thegame whether Manning was dealingwith any injuries.
“I don’tknow,” Sarkisian said.
“News to me.”
Manning completed 19 of 30
passes for 295 yards and four touchdowns while also scrambling 20 yards for another score.
He wasbadly offtargeta few timesduring a14-7 loss at Ohio Stateinthe season opener on Aug. 30, prompting aquestion about Manning’smechanicsatSarkisian’snews conference the following Monday
“There was acouple times where we had some crossing routes where Ididn’tfeel like he brought his feet to wherehe wanted to throw theball, which, in turn, forcedkind of alittle bit moreofaside arm delivery,which isn’this style of throwing,”Sarkisian said. “I thinkifhecan get his feet alignedand gethis shoulders aligned, that can help with some of his accuracy.”
PLEA TO FANS Kelly made arare appeal to LSUfans forSaturday’s game: “Weneed to be Death Valley.We need to be the most difficult place to playinthe country,because it’s SECtime.”TigerStadium wassold out forLouisiana Tech, but it wasnot actually full and only thunderously loud at times. Kelly probably figures,asheshould, that the Gators pose areal threat to his Tigers and that theyneed that extra juice to win
BYTOYLOYBROWN III Staff writer
SeveralHBCU teams played tough out-of-conferencecompetition in Week 2ofthe college football season.Here’show Ivoted in theBOXTOROW
HBCU football media poll after Week
2.
1.JacksonState (1-1):
TheTigers lost 3820 to FBSschool Southern Misson theroadSaturday. Running back Travis Terrell had apositive showing, rushing for80yards on 10 carries. His success is apositive sign for theteam’s depthatthe position, as AhmadMiller was thetop tailback with 180 yards rushing in the opener
2. South Carolina State (1-1): South Carolina State played South Carolina on the road and lost 38-10. The Bulldogs defensehad astrongstart after they held a3-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.They gave up 17 points in the next quarter
3. North Carolina Central (1-2): The Eagles lost 54-6 to Old Dominion of theSun Belt Conference. Their two consecutive losses are not ideal, but they wereagainst qualityopponents, also losing 27-10 to New Hampshire.
4. Alabama State (1-1):For the first time since 2012, Alabama State beat Southern on the road. In the 30-7 victory,Hornets quarterback Andrew Body completed 16 of 25 passes for 198 yardsand twotouchdowns.
5. Tennessee State (1-1): Tennessee State fell59-3toNorth Dakota Stateathome. The Missouri Valley Conference power allowed a field goal in the fourth quarter Tennessee State had104 yards rushing on 28 attempts.
6.Alabama A&M (1-1): Quarterback Cornelius Brownhad an impressive showing in his team’s41-31 win over Alcorn State. Brown completed 25 of 34 passes for260 yards andthree touchdowns.
7. Prairie View (1-1): PrairieView fell 27-21 to the Southland Con-
Continued from page1C
suggestedhemight be able to come back, but Dellinger missed thelast four gamesofthe regular season before opting outof theTexas Bowl. FormerGeorgia tight end Brock Bowers returned in 26 days after having the surgery in 2023, and former Alabama quarterback TuaTagovailoa cameback in less than a month in 2018.
LSUneeds Moore ready as soon as possible.Inpreseason practice, Kelly described his combination blocksas“outstanding” and highlighted his recognition of fronts. He said acenter like him “allows everything else to kind of fall into place”onthe offensive line. Moore then receivedSEC offensive lineman of theweek after LSU’s seasonopening winagainst Clemson. But Kelly spent part of his news conference Monday expressing confidence in redshirt sophomore DJ Chester,who replaced Mooreagainst Louisiana Tech.
After starting all13games at center last season, Chester hasmovedaround since Moore transferred to LSU. Chester took snaps at tackle, guard and center during preseason practice.
“For him to come in on the secondplayand be mentally ready to do it,I think that’sa really big thing,” Kelly said of Chester.“Some guys mentally have ahard time notstarting and notbeing in the game, and then when you put them in, it’s hard for them to be in that performance mindset, right? They’ve been sitting around. He’sunique in that way.He’smature. He can
5. VirginiaUnion 6. Johnson C. Smith 7. Tennessee State 8. AlbanyState 9. Howard 10. AlabamaA&M
ference’s University of Texas Rio Grande Valley,which is in its first season as aprogram.The Panthers battled back from down 17-0 in the first quarter 8.Virginia Union (1-0): Virginia Union remainsinthe top 10 after having its bye week. The reigning championsofthe CentralIntercollegiate Athletic Association in Division II hadaspositiveofaseason opener as it could have imagined when it beat Miles 45-3, the reigning champion from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
9. Southern (1-2): The Jaguars almostfallout of my top 10 after their turnover-laden home-opening loss to AlabamaState. Southern’stwo losseswereagainst good teams that are in the top four of the HBCU media poll.
10. JohnsonC.Smith (2-0): Johnson C. Smith’spass defense was elite in its28-16 victory over Valdosta State.ValdostaStatecompleted only 9of32passesfor 134 yards and atouchdown. Golden Bulls defensive back TyQueron Hineshad ateam-high five pass breakups.
step in.” Kelly thought Chester faced atough testbecause Louisiana Tech played athree-downdefensive front, which put anose guard right in front of him “If he hastostart, we’re very comfortablewithhim,” Kelly said. “I thought he did anice job. Threedownishardbecause you get somebody on your nose right on top of you, and you’re snapping the ball in shotgun situations.
“Tohave aguy like him is invaluable, right? He didn’ttake aton of snaps the last couple of weeks at center.Wehad him outatlefttackle.He’splayed guard.He’ssovaluable, and he went in there and he did aheck of ajob.”
Eventhough Florida wasupset at home Saturday by South Florida, the Gators are still a dangerous team,especially if top defensive lineman Caleb Banks returns from alower-leg injury Banks, who’s6-foot-6 and 330 pounds, had asack and aforced fumble in Florida’swin over LSU last season.
Perhaps Moorecan recover in time for the SEC opener.Ifnot, LSU could hold him out against Southeastern Louisiana, then reassess before it plays at No. 17 OleMiss. If Moorehas to missgames,Kelly expressed confidence in Chester
“I thinkthis really says alot more about what we know we have with Braelin Moore was on display against Clemson,” Kelly said, “and then what we saw this past weekend is that we have a No.2 whocan play as aNo. 1, and that’sareally good asset.”
For more LSUsports updates, signupfor ournewsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter
1. Catholic-BR (1-0): The Bears opened the season with a 32-23 win over Destrehan. Catholic forced two turnovers in the win and allowed just 16 points defensively
2. Central (1-0): The Wildcats’ stout defense held De La Salle to just 13 points in a 20-13 victory to begin the season.
3. Zachary (1-0): In a battle between top-five teams in the District 4A-5A rankings, the Broncos defeated Plaquemine by double digits, 5228. Zachary pulled away in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Green Devils 24-8 down the stretch.
4. St.Amant (1-0): The Gators entered the season as early district favorites.They dominated C.E. Byrd 49-6 in their season opener.
5. Brusly (1-0): The Panthers blew past Port Allen 42-6 to start the season with an impressive victory.
6. Denham Springs (1-0): Behind a new starting quarterback in senior Da’Jean Golmond, the yellow Jackets dispatched Hammond in a 34-15 win.
7 Walker (1-0): The Wildcats eked out a 27-26
win over Ponchatoula to begin the 2025 season.
8 Plaquemine (0-1): The Green Devils ran into trouble against Zachary.The Green Devils trailed 28-20 in the third quarter before the game slipped away.
9. Liberty (1-0): The Patriots enter the top 10 after defeating a solid Southern Lab side, 41-28, to start the season in the win column.
10. St. Michael (1-0): The Warriors also enter the rankings after blowing past Episcopal 41-21. St. Michael rushed for 258 yards as a team in the win.
CLASS 3A AND BELOW
1. University High (1-0): The Cubs showed why they’re a top-ranked team after dismantling Woodlawn 49-8 in their season opener.The U-High defense had three turnovers in the win.
2 Dunham (1-0): The Tigers high-flying offense led by junior QB Elijah Haven defeated Parkview Baptist on the road 49-14 to start the year
3. St. James (1-0): The Wildcats continue the trend of big wins for the top teams in the 3A and below rankings. St. James blew out East St. John 49-12 in Week 1.
4. Madison Prep (1-0): Madison Prep made the most of its takeaways to pick up a 48-41 win against Dutchtown on the road last Friday night.
5.Ascension Catholic (1-0): Behind four touchdowns and 275 rushing yards from senior running back Trevin Simon, the Bulldogs took down H.L Bourgeois in a shootout, 45-40.
6. North Iberville (1-0): North Iberville moves up in the rankings after a 47-20 win against Central Private.
7. Catholic-PC (1-0): The Hornets nabbed a narrow victory against Red River, 26-24, in their season opener
8. Southern Lab (0-1): The Kittens fell in Week 1 to Liberty 41-28, but will look to bounce back in what should be a strong season.
9. Episcopal (0-1): The Knights slip in the rankings after a 20-point loss to St. Michael. Still, Episcopal should be poised for a solid year 10. St. John (1-0): The Eagles take the last spot in the rankings after a big 36-19 win against Hanson Memorial Jackson Reyes
White Castle at GEO Next, 6 p.m.
Doyle at Live Oak, 6 p.m. East Iberville at North Iberville, 6 p.m. Central at Parkview Baptist, 6 p.m. Acadiana at The Christian Academy, 6 p.m. Southern Lab at U-High, 6 p.m. Prairieville at Woodlawn, 6 p.m.
at
at
Amant,
p.m.
p.m.
at
p.m. Istrouma at Belaire, 6 p.m.
Feliciana at Catholic High Pointe Coupee, 6 p.m. East Ascension at Central Private, 6 p.m. Mentorship at Glen Oaks, 6 p.m. Lutheran at Family Christian, 6 p.m.
Arizona offensive lineman Paris Johnson said.
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“unacceptable” on Saturday night and didn’t back down from that stance when addressing it again Monday Napier said that Bett will reach out to the South Florida player to apologize, plus will issue a public apology Bett will face internal disciplinary action, but Napier did not say whether he will be suspended Saturday at No. 3 LSU.
“He made a mistake and he compromised the team,” Napier said Monday “He made a selfish decision. He misrepresented our fans, our alumni, the university And when a young man comes into your office and that’s his immediate concern, how he didn’t represent this place the right way, I think that’s a good indication of his attitude towards it.” Around the NFL this week, the reactions to spitting were clear
“That’s just not professional,”
“You can’t do that,” Green Bay defensive lineman Rashan Gary said.
“You don’t want to see anyone getting spit on,” Tennessee offensive lineman Lloyd Cushenberry said Suárez got a six-game suspension from future Leagues Cup matches and will miss the next three Major League Soccer matches for his team as well, which will hurt the playoff push for Lionel Messi and his squad. Carter got kicked out of the Eagles-Cowboys game, with Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni saying Monday that any possible team discipline levied against him would remain private. Bett was ejected for what became the final seven plays of the Florida-South Florida game.
“It was a mistake that happened on my side,” Carter said “Just won’t happen again.” Replays later revealed that Prescott spit first, but only in the
general direction of the Eagles defense and not onto an opposing player Carter in response, spit on Prescott.
“I guess I needed to spit,” Prescott said. “I wasn’t going to spit on my linemen. I just spit ahead. I don’t wish for anybody to get out
of the game. I’m sure he probably regrets that to some extent. I’m pretty sure he knows I didn’t try to spit on him or wasn’t even aiming to spit on him.”
Players around the league could see how that sort of back and forth escalated quickly
“You’ve got to fight me at that point, spitting on another player,” Tennessee Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo said. “If you spit at his feet, I guess it’s just like talking. But spitting on another player like that is unacceptable.”
In the way spitting occurred in and after those three games this past week, it was simply considered degrading. And there are few things that seem to trigger stronger reactions in sports than when someone intentionally spits on another person.
“It’s just a new level of disrespect, not only for your opponent, but for the game itself,” Valentin said. “The unwritten rules are important Spitting has never been part of the culture. I am certain of that.”
BY COLETTE DEAN
Contributing writer
If you’re seeing hummingbirds buzzing the blooms in your yard, it’saclear sign that it’sSeptember in Louisiana. It’sestimated that onehummingbird will visit feeders every 10 to 15 minutespreparing for migration
Thelast two weeksofthis monthare peak fall migration for the ruby-throated hummingbird as they move throughthe state on theway to their wintering grounds in Mexicoand Central America. The rubythroated hummingbird is the only breeding hummingbird in the eastern United States.
Jane Patterson, president and education chair of theBaton Rouge AudubonSociety,said,“Fall is where you will see thegreatest number of hummingbirds, because the birdsthat flew here in the spring had their babies in the summer andthey are all migrating back,sothe population has grown exponentially.” Hummingbirds weighabout 2grams (less than anickel) and can travel about600 miles in one journey
Your backyard hummingbird feeder is anectar rest stop for fill-ups for these tiny crosscountry travelers.
To help youlearn more about these flyingjewels, here are two events scheduled in the area
In Hammond
The Hummingbird Celebration, sponsored by theBaton Rouge Audubon Society,will take place from 8a.m. to1p.m Saturday,Sept. 20, at LSUAgCenter Hammond Research Station, 21549 Old Covington Highway
The HammondResearch Stationfocuses on plants for the home garden and grows many species of plants that aregreat
Afemale ruby-throated hummer feedsona Mexican sunflower The ruby-throated hummingbird is the only breeding hummingbird in the easternUnited States.
PROVIDED PHOTO By DENNISDEMCHECK
Staff report
“Re-Imagine, Renew,Rise: Enhancing the Interfaith Federation and Its Mission” will be the theme of the annual CommUNITY Prayer Breakfast
7a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Thursday at Boudreaux’s, 2647 GovernmentSt., Baton Rouge. The Interfaith Federation of Greater Baton Rouge will host the event.
Baton Rougefaith leader and Episcopal Archdeaconof the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana Charles N. DeGravelles will bethe guest speaker DeGravelles, afounder of theEpiscopal ministry at Louisiana State Penitentiary,now the Chapelofthe Transfiguration, hasworked for more than 30 years with incarcer-
ated andformerlyincarcerated menand women, includingthree yearsas aspiritual adviser for a deathrow inmate. He has volunteered with theInterfaith Federation, collaborating on numerous community presentations on peace and justice. He is awriter, musician and photographer who also works with theEpiscopalSchoolofBaton Rouge, where he often teaches service learning andcommunityimpact. At the breakfast, DeGravelles will discuss how each person can make an impact on unity, justice andpeace, the missionofthe InterfaithFederation sinceits founding 39 years ago. He leads
Summer is winding down,and autumn is on the way. Here’s what to do in thegarden.
The kids have gone back to school, football season is upon us and pumpkin spice-flavored products are back. That can mean only one thing: Fall will be here soon —onSept. 22, to be exact. Our gardens are beginning to wither in the heat, signaling the coming transition from summer to fall. Although it’sstill hot outside, you can go ahead and start preparing your garden forthe change in seasons. Here’sachecklist of things you can do now to get ready for the fall: n Remove vegetables that have stopped producing and start fall crop seeds. The intense heat of August can shut down tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and other vegetables. If you have plants that are no longer bearing fruit, feel free to pull them. But you don’thave to be in arush to discard plants that are still doing well. In fact, some warm-season crops, including okra and eggplants, can remain productive until our first freeze. In the meantime, get started on your fall vegetable garden. Youcan start seeds forawide variety of crops, from broccoli to collard greens to potatoes. Check out the LSU AgCenter’s free Louisiana Vegetable Planting Guide at www.LSUAgCenter.com/VeggieGuide for recommended varieties and planting dates. n Spruce up beds with shoulder crops. Remove any seasonal bedding plants that are looking tired. While it’stoo early to replace them with cool-season favorites like violas, you can refresh your garden with shoulder crops —plants that bridge that gap between one season and the next. Look for heat-tolerant plants that can last into the first part of fall. For sunny locations, crotons, marigolds and zinnias make excellent choices —and even offer asplash of autumnal color n Prune roses by the
and
Dear Heloise: Whenmychildren wentoff to college, Isent them off with afishing tackle boxthat was filled with these items: athermometer,Tylenol, Advil, NyQuil, bandages, Neosporin, rubbing alcohol, peroxide,and atimer with amagnetic back (toremind them that they had clothes in the washing machine or the dryer)
Asewing kit was also apartof thepack. Q-tips and cotton balls were included as well. My kids are now 36 and 40. My son still has histackle box and refills it when needed.A friendofmine would give her kids gift cards forUber or other ride-shares. Thanks for the greatideas. —Cindy Wolfe, via email Containerorganization
Dear Heloise: Searching for con-
tainer lids is frustrating, so Ihave two drawers forfoodstorage containers. Onedrawer is for the round containers and lids, and theother is for the square containers and lids. Lids areseparatedfrom thecontainers and placed on their edges in aplastic basket in the drawer
how to read and sound out words that Ididn’tknow.Iwas 4years old back then, and Iam34years old now and teaching my daughter toread from your column. —Diana M., in Kerrville,Texas Disposingofmedications
To speed up the search, thecolor of thelid is written with marker on the bottom of theclear containers: “BLU,” “GRN” and“RED.” —Cody, in NorthDakota LearntoreadwithHeloise
Dear Heloise: Just anote to let you know that my dad andIread your column every day while Iwas growing up. It’s where Ilearned
Dear Heloise: Alwaysdiscard of unused medicationsproperly to avoid contamination of the ground and waterways! In our city in Alabama, there are many pharmacies that have apublic disposal container,and thepolice departmentalso has one. The discarded medications are covered with amixture of clumping, hardening material that is then handled securely for dispos-
DENNISDEMCHECK
The last twoweeks of Septemberare peak fall migration for ruby-throated hummingbirds like this male.
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for hummingbirds. Many will be in full bloom this month, right on time for the birds passing through. Tangipahoa Parish Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions
Other highlights of the celebration will include Erik Johnson, from LSU’s ornithology department, who will be hummingbird banding and enabling a close-up look at ahummingbird. Also, Wild Birds Unlimited BatonRouge and Backyard Birds and Gardens in Covington will share more information about hummingbirds and backyard feeders. Learn about the natural history of the ruby-throated hummingbird, as well as about other hummingbirds that may visit in winter in
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cycle and encourage better airflow,which helps prevent diseases.
Start by removing dead and damaged canes entirely.Then, trim shoots that are sticking out far beyond the plant. Finally,prune up to one-third of the height of the plant, always cutting right above anode. Don’tprune once-blooming varieties like old garden roses and climbing roses right now.These roses set blooms on old wood, so you’ll cut off next year’s flowers if you prune now n Pull summer weeds before they drop seeds
Louisiana,while watching them in action in thegarden andatthe feeder observation stations.
In BatonRouge
Masternaturalist and photographer Dennis Demcheck will present “The Daily Lives of Louisiana Hummingbirds —and theGardens that Attract Them”atthe Discover Nature program at LSU Hilltop Arboretum,11855 Highland Road, at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday,Sept. 23. Demcheck will share an up-close look andinsights into the hummingbird’s daily behaviors, including feeding, courtship,nesting and migrations. This highlyvisual talk will also highlight the nativeplants that provide food, shelter and year-roundappealto hummingbirds, so youcan create agarden that truly supports these dazzling pollinators.
Warm-season weeds such as chamberbitter,Virginia buttonweed, goosegrass, mulberry weed, spurge and barnyardgrass are nearing maturity —which means they have developed lots of seeds that you don’twant falling into your lawn or landscapebeds. To curb the soil seed bank —and next year’sweedpopulation pullthese weeds before the plantsdrop them. Throw theweedsaway.Don’tleave them on theground or add them to your compost pile. Spraying mature weeds with herbicides mightkill the plants —but theirseeds will still beleft behindand possiblyremain viable. That’swhy hand-pulling is your best bet atthispointin theyear n Tackle vines. Vinescan grow vigorously in the heat of summer.If youhaven’tstayed on top of controllingthem, tryto catch up.It’stemptingto wait for cooler temperatures for this tediouschore, but don’tput it off too long. Vineswill lose their leaves in late fall and winter,making them easiertooverlook. Annual vines like morning glory often can be pulled by hand. Perennial, woodyvines likeVirginia creeper can bepulled if small; large, established
Continued from page1D
Pattersonsaid she hopes many will take advantage of the opportunities available this monthtolearn about hummingbirds in Louisiana. The Baton Rouge Audubon Society website, www braudubon.org has alink dedicated to feeding hummingbirds and another link to an online presentation.
“I’m doing eight presentationsthis month between New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Ponchatoula, so everybody should be able tolearn alittle something about hummingbirds. If not,it’s your own fault,” she said, laughing.
This column is provided by the Louisiana Master NaturalistsofGreater Baton Rouge,which seeks to advance awareness, understanding and stewardship of the natural environment.For more information email infor@ lmngbr.org.
vines should be cut and treated with aherbicide containing triclopyr.With either type of vine, don’t forget to removeany top growthcovering nearby plantsorstructures to reduce thenumber of seeds that get dropped into the landscape. n Replenishmulch. Mulch plays acrucial role in suppressing weed growth, retaining moisture and moderating temperatures around tree and plant roots. But it breaks down over time, so yours may have thinned out over the summer.Now is agood time to put down some fresh mulch. It’ll enhance theaesthetics of your landscape and ensure it is ready for cold weather Aim for a2-to4-inch layer of mulch and take care when applying it around trees. Don’tpile thematerial into avolcanolike shape that touches the trunk, which can interfere with airflow and cause tree healthproblems.
al. This is so important, especially for theprevention of dangerous exposure through the local drinking water forour youth. Check your area (search online or call city hall) and follow through. Never flush chemicals down thetoilet or drain! Thanks! —N.H.,An Old Nurse Aspecial code
Ready, set, rinse
Dear Heloise: Regarding the frustration that Susan H. had with determiningwhether her clothing/shoes wereblue or black, I used to havethe sameproblem Iworked in retail for44years, and awonderful vendor told me that the “universal” color code for black is always 01 or 001. Every label should have acolor code, and if it’s01or001, it means that the color is black. Hope this helps! —Gail, in Springfield,Ohio
Dear Harriette: My younger brother got married last year.This is his first marriage, and he’sinhis 50s. In some ways, Ithink gettingmarried later can be a bit easier: Youknow what you want,you know your boundaries and you are likely moreestablished (professionally and financially).Ithink in some ways that rang true for my brother,but Ithink after they made thingsofficial, his wife has shown him different sides of herself. She moved into my brother’slongtime home when they got married and is now requesting that he purchase something new withmore space— despitehaving two spare bedroomsintheir current home. She works full-time but does not want tocontribute to anybills. My brother seemssomber He’ll talk to me about the pressure sometimes, but he tries his best not to express anger or resentment. He’dbeen planning for early retirement but is now reworking his plans to stay in the workforce abit longer.How can Isupport my brother as he tries to handle this new pressure
By The Associated Press
gracefully? —Sister-in-Law
Dear Heloise: Ijust read your short response concerning whether or not to rinse after brushing one’s teeth. My dentist does say not to rinse forthe samefluoride reason, but Ienjoy rinsing. My own solution, which has not yet been sanctioned by anyone, is to rinse with water after brushing to get the taste out. Then I rinse with afluoride mouth wash that tastes good and theoretically replaces the fluoride Ijust rinsed out. —Larry G., M.D.(But Not aDentist), in HuntingtonBeach, California
Send ahinttoheloise@heloise com.
Dear Sister-in-Law: While marriage does require compromise, not every requirement or request has to be honored. It’s too bad that your brother and his wife didn’ttalk about these things beforehand and map out aplan for the future, especially something as important as where they wanttolive. Obviously,you cannot control what he does, but you might recommend to him that the twoofthem sit downand review their goals forthe future based on available resources, needs and desires. It seems reasonable that if she wants them to buy abigger house, she should be willing to contribute. This is their life, though, and they must determine responsibilities and choices.
Dear Harriette: Youadvised “Working Hard,” the man whowas in a“highdemand environment” to tell his girlfriend that his job required him to give 100%. That leaves 0% for others —oreven himself That may be OK if it is time-boxed (for example, if the boss says, “wehave anew client and are hiring
North America.”
Today is Tuesday, Sept.9,the 252nd day of 2025. There are 113 days left in the year
Todayinhistory:
On Sept.9,1971, prisoners seized control of the maximum-security Attica Correctional Facility near Buffalo, New York, taking 42 staff members hostage and demanding improvements to inmate treatment and living conditions.
Also on this date: In 1776, thesecond Continental Congress formally adopted the name “United States of America,” replacing the “United Colonies of
In 1850, California was admitted as the 31st U.S. state.
In 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the first civil rights bill to pass Congress since Reconstruction, ameasure primarily concerned with protecting voting rights. It also established aCivil Rights Division in the U.S. Department of Justice.
In 2022, King Charles III gave his first speech to Britain as its new monarch, vowing to carry on the “lifelong service” of his mother Queen Elizabeth II, who diedaday earlier
Today’sbirthdays: Singer Dee
ateam member to take the extra work”), and he has learned from this how to better manage his capacity and how to meet client expectations. But if he cannot figure out how to get his lifeback into somebalance —e.g. hire apartner, set clearer expectations with new clients, learn to say no or negotiate vs. automatically saying yes to a client and therefore no to his girlfriend —heshould not be pretending to be in arelationship and should let her go on with her life until he is established and ready to be present in a relationship. —Response to ‘Working Hard’ DearResponse to ‘Working Hard’: Goodpoint. My suggestion of supporting him during this critical moment was based on ashort-term vision, not forever.There are many professions that require total immersion for alimited period of time. If apartner is willing to wait that out and be there for the hard worker,life can be sweet afterward. Youare right: This type of total immersion cannot last forever,atleast not for a relationship to survive.
Sendquestions to askharriette@ harriettecole.com.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Expand your reach by communicating with experts and broadening your scope and longterm plans. When one door closes, don't hesitate to open another and move forward with confidence.
LIBRA (sept. 23-Oct. 23) Focus on what's meaningful and use your energy innovatively. Your attention to detail will be the difference between success and failure. Know your audience and tailor your message to them.
scORPIO (Oct. 24-nov. 22) Discipline will be your saving grace. Consider what's vital to achieving your goals and act accordingly. Knowing what you can do and confidently displaying your skills will attract positive feedback.
sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) A lifestyle change will give you a chance to rediscover what you want out of life. Let your emotions guide you and your physical ability carry you to your destination.
cAPRIcORn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Think before making a move. Refuse to let outside influences push you in the wrong direction. Opportunity is within reach, but it's up to you to take advantage of what's available.
AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Review your financial situation and implement a plan that will help your money grow. Put more time and effort into personal or professional contracts and improving your relationships.
PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Overspending to make an impression or paying for
someone else's mistake will lead to a loss. Look for opportunities that expand your mind, interests and chances to advance.
ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Use your imagination, but keep your cash in a safe place. You're likely to buy into something overpriced or unnecessary. Your time, money and effort will flourish if directed toward your health.
tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Home is your refuge, so don't allow anyone to annoy or distract you. Establish who you want to spend time with and what you want to achieve, and you'll gain insight into how to make it happen.
GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Fix your surroundings to suit your needs Reach out to people you can trust for input, expertise and hands-on assistance. Implement a schedule adjustment.
cAncER (June 21-July 22) Don't sign up for something that will exceed your budget tax your energy or waste your time. Protect yourself from scammers and people making false claims or offers that sound too good to be true.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Keep the information flowing and your finger on the pulse. Knowing how to play fair and smart will help you navigate your way to positive change and connections.
The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2025 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication
Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.
tODAy's cLuE: I EQuALs F
FAMILY CIrCUS
InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. Theobject is to place the numbers 1to9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of theSudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.
Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer
Bridge
By PHILLIP ALDER
Edward R. Murrow is acentral character in the WorldWar II book “Citizens of London” by Lynne Olson (Random House).Murrowsaid, “The speed of communicationsiswondrous to behold. It is also truethat speed can multiply the distributionofinformationthatweknow to be untrue.”
At the bridge table, since cards are hidden, distribution information can be uncertain. Playersmusttry to allow forasmany as possible. Thisdeal is an example. Southwas in four hearts. How didheplayafter West surprisingly led the spade three and East dropped the king under dummy’s ace? North and Southwere using two-overone game-forcing, so three hearts was forcing. South signed off in four hearts because he hadaminimum opening bid. At trick two, declarer ledaheart to his ace. When West dropped the 10, South wondered if this wasa singleton or from adoubleton queen-10or10-nine. Rather than decide immediately, declarer led hisdiamondqueen. West won with her ace and played another spade. East took thetrickwith his queen and returned a diamond. Now South had an almostsurething. He carefully played ahearttohis king. Here, the queen dropped, so he drew the lasttrumpandclaimedanovertrick.But
if West had discarded, South wouldhave played on clubs,discarding spades and holding East to one trump trick.
Note that if South had finessed his heart jack at trick five, he would have failed,becauseWestwouldhavewonthe trick and led aspade, Eastoverruffing dummy’sheart eight withhis nine.
©2025 by NEA,Inc., dist.
By Andrews McMeel Syndication
Each Wuzzle is awordriddlewhich creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON
Previous answers:
word game
InstRuctIOns: 1. Words must be of fourormore letters. 2. Words that acquire fourletters by the addition of “s,”such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3 Additional words made by adding a“d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit wordsare not allowed
tODAy’s WORD EnActs: ih-NAKTS: Makes into law.
Average mark18words
Timelimit 30 minutes
Can you find 25 or morewords in ENACTS?
yEstERDAy’s WORD —APPROVAL
BURR FERRY FIELD 29-D-3 LEGALNOTICE STATEOFLOUISIANA,OF‐FICE OF CONSERVATION BATONROUGE, LOUISIANA. In accordance with the laws of theState of Louisiana, andwithpar‐ticularreference to the provisions of Title30of LouisianaRevised Statutes of 1950 and StatewideOrder No.29D-1, thefollowing notice is given: Please be advisedthat TEXEGY LAND LLC has made applicationfor au‐thoritytocommingle in their SOUTHBURRFERRY COMMINGLINGFACILITY NO.1 (900001),hydrocar‐bons produced from the AUSC RA SUI(618545) SouthBurrFerry Field, Vernon Parish,Louisiana with production previ‐ouslyapproved forcom‐mingling by Office of Conservation OrderNo. 29-D-2,effective Septem‐ber15, 2024, SouthBurr Ferry Field, Vernon Parish,Louisiana.The same method of mea‐surement andallocation of production as ap‐proved by said Order shallapply to theabove Applicationreviewbythe Office of Conservationin‐dicatesthatall require‐mentsofStatewide OrderNo. 29-D-1, which governsthe authorityto commingle gasand/or liquid hydrocarbons and to usemethods other than gaugetanks forthe allocation of production have been met. Should anyinterested partyfeel that this appli‐cation forauthority to commingle hydrocar‐bons should notbeap‐proved,heisafforded the opportunity to make hisobjectionsknown, in writing, to theCommis‐sioner of Conservation,P O. Box94275, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9275, within theten (10) calen‐darday period following thedatethisnoticeis mailedbythe applicant. In theabsence of the fil‐ingany letter of objec‐tion during said ten(10) calendar dayperiod, an approval letter will be is‐sued authorizingcom‐mingling as requestedby theapplicant. With re‐specttothe computation of said ten(10)calendar dayperiodoftimeal‐lowedfor receivingwrit‐tenobjections, thedate of this LegalNoticeand theapprovaldateshall notbe included.Inthe eventthe last dayofsaid ten(10) calendar daype‐riod falls on aSaturday, Sunday or alegal holi‐day, it shallbeunder‐stood that thelastday of said ten(10) calendar dayperiodwillthenbe considered to be thefol‐lowing Monday or the date followingthe legal holiday f hi li i
PUBLIC NOTICE
ADVERTISEMENT FORBIDS Sealed bids will be re‐ceived forthe Stateof Louisianabythe Division of Administration and shallbedirectedtothe Office of Facility Planning andControl,1201 North ThirdStreet, Claiborne Office Building,Suite 7160, BatonRouge Louisiana, 70802 or P.O. Box94095, BatonRouge Louisiana, 70804-9095. Thedeadlinefor receipt of bids is 2:00 PM on Tuesday, October07, 2025,atwhich time bids will be opened andread aloudina public meeting in theClaiborne Office Building, Conference Room 1-155. FOR: Roof Replacement InvestigativeSupport Services (ISS)Building DPSDataProcessing Center BatonRouge,Louisiana PROJECTNUMBER: 01-107-24-04, F.01004679 Complete Bidding Docu‐mentsfor this projectare availableinelectronic form.Theymay be ob‐tained withoutcharge andwithout depositfrom www.centerlinebidco nnect.com Printed copies arenot available from the Designer but arrangements canbe made to obtain them throughmostrepro‐graphic firms. Plan hold‐ersare responsiblefor theirown reproduction costs.
Questionsabout this pro‐cedure shallbedirected to theDesignerat: Didier Architecture: Derryl Didier,Architect &Associates, LLC 17531 OldJefferson Hwy.,Suite C Prairieville, LA 70769 Telephone: 225-744-0008 E-mail: derryl@didierarch.com
Allbidsshall be accom‐panied by bidsecurityin an amount of five per‐cent (5.0%) of thesum of thebasebid andall al‐ternates.The form of this security shallbeas stated in theInstructions to Biddersincludedin theBid Documentsfor this project.
ThesuccessfulBidder shallberequiredtofur‐nish aPerformance and
CITYOFST. GEORGE BY COUNCIL MEMBER EDMONDS: ORDINANCE NO. 2025-037 TO REZONE A12-ACRE PARCEL DESIGNATED AS TRACT C-1-
B-1-A-1 OF THE MERRITT MCDONALD PROPERTYFROMR (RURAL) AND C2 (HEAVY COMMERCIAL) TO A2 (SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL) AND TO PROVIDE FORRELATEDMATTERS (Z25-08)
WHEREAS,anapplication made by Mickey L. Robertson, MR Engineering &Surveying LLC, on behalf of Henry McDonald, LLC to rezone anewly created 12-acreparcel and two other parcels totaling approximately 20.11 acres from R(Rural) and C2 (Heavy Commercial) zoning districts was designated as Case No. Z-25-08; WHEREAS,onJuly 7, 2025, the St. George Planning Commission approved the subdivision of a21.486-acreparcel designated as Tract C-1-B-1-A-1 of the Merritt McDonald Property to create a12-acreparcel and approved apreliminary plat for the subdivision of the 12-acreparcel, conditioned, in part, on the rezoning of the property to A2; WHEREAS,the proposed development would be an extension of the Majestic Oaks subdivision which is zoned A2; and WHEREAS,after apublic hearing held on July 7, 2025, before the City of St. George Zoning Commission, the Commission recommended granting the request to rezone the parcel to A2. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the St. George City Council, StateofLouisiana, as follows:
Section 1: Subject Property.The Subject Property is the parcel described in Exhibit Aattached hereto and made apart hereof consisting of approximately 12 acres of Tract C-1-B-1-A-1ofthe Merritt McDonald Property
Section 2: Rezoning.The Subject Property is hereby rezoned from the R(Rural) and the C2 (Heavy Commercial) zoning districts to the A2 (Single Family Residential) zoning district to permit the constructionof31 lot subdivision in conformance with the Preliminary Plat of Majestic Oaks Second Filing, by MR Engineering &Surveying, LLC., stamped June 19, 2025.
Section 3: Conflicts.The specificterms and conditions of this Ordinance shall prevail against other ordinances of the City to the extent that theremay be any conflict. Except for the foregoing, the use of the subject property is subject to the terms of all applicable ordinances and regulations of the City of St. George, including any amendment thereto.
Section 4: Severability.Ifany provision of this Ordinance is declared invalid by acourt of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 5: Effective Date.This ordinance shall be effective upon publication.
This ordinance having been submitted to avote; the votethereon was: For: Cook, Edmonds, Monachello, Murrell, Talbot Against: Dellucci, Himmel
Absent /Abstaining /Recused:
Adopted this 12th day of August, 2025
Signed this 15th day of August, 2025
Delivered to the Mayor on the 15th day of August, 2025
Lorraine Beaman, City Clerk
Approved:
Dustin Yates, Mayor Received from the Mayor on the day of 2025
Lorraine Beaman, City Clerk
Adopted Ordinance published in The Advocate on the day or 2025.
EXHIBIT A
TRACT C-1-B-1-A-1 (12 ACRES), MERRITT MCDONALD PROPERTY (S25-10-F), IN SEC. 68, T8S, R2E, GREENSBURG LAND DISTRICT,CITY OF ST.GEORGE, EAST BATONROUGE PARISH, LOUISIANA
CITYOFST. GEORGE BY COUNCIL MEMBER EDMONDS:
ORDINANCE NO. 2025-038
TO EXTEND THE MORATORIUM ONNEW BILLBOARDS ANDTO
forthe classification of Building Construction or Roofing andSheet Metal, Siding idd i i d
g Bidder isrequired to comply with provisions andrequirementsofLA R.S. 38:2212(B)(5). No bid maybewithdrawn for a period of forty-five (45) days after receiptof bids,exceptunder the provisions of LA.R.S 38:2214. TheOwnerreservesthe righttorejectany andall bids forjustcause.Inac‐cordance with La.R.S 38:2212(B)(1), theprovi‐sionsand requirements of this Sectionand those stated in thebidding documentsshall notbe waived by anyentity. When this projectis fi‐nanced either partially or i l i h d
p y entirelywith StateBonds or financed in whole or in part by federalorother fundswhich arenot readilyavailable at the time bids arereceived, theaward of this Con‐tractiscontingentupon thegrantingoflines of credit,orthe sale of bondsbythe Bond Com‐missionorthe availabil‐ityoffederal or other funds. TheState shall incurnoobligationtothe Contractor until theCon‐tractBetween Ownerand Contractor is fully exe‐cuted. Facility Planning and Controlisa participantin theSmall Entrepreneur‐ship (SE) Program(the d
PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS (T-25-05)
WHEREAS,onJuly 23, 2024, the St.George City Council approved Ordinance No.2024-002, in part placing amoratorium on new billboards within the City; WHEREAS,Ordinance No.2024-002 was effective for one year or until astudy on billboards was completed and the St.George Unified Development Code (“UDC”)and consideration by the Council of appropriate amendments to the UDC, whichever period was shorter; WHEREAS,morethan one year has passed since the effective date of Ordinance No.2024-002 and due to the delays in obtaining revenues from the Consolidated Government of the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge many activities of the City have been delayed including astudy on billboards; WHEREAS,the Council continues to be concerned about the addition of new billboards that couldbepermitted by the UDC; and WHEREAS,after apublic hearing held on July 7, 2025, beforethe City of St.George Zoning Commission, the Commission recommended an amendment to Section16.7 of the UDC.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the St.George City Council,State of Louisiana, as follows:
Section 1: Amendment.Notwithstanding any ordinance to the contrary in Section16.7 of the St.George Unified Development Code (“UDC”), no new billboards shallbepermitted in the City forone year from the effective date of this Ordinance or from the completion of astudy related to the placement of billboards within the City and consideration by the Council of any further amendments to Section16.7 of the St.George UDC, whichever period is shorter
Section 2: Conflicts.The specificterms and conditions of this Ordinance shall prevail against other ordinances of the City to the extent that theremay be any conflict. Except for the foregoing, the use of the subject property is subject to the termsofall applicable ordinances and regulations of the City of St.George, including any amendment thereto.
Section 3: Severability.Ifany provision of this Ordinance is declared invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions shall remaininfull force and effect.
Section4:Effective Date. ThisOrdinance shall be effective upon publication.
This Ordinance having been submitted to avote; the vote thereon was:
For: Cook, Dellucci, Edmonds, Himmel, Monachello, Murrell, Talbot
Against: Absent /Abstaining /Recused:
Adopted this 12th day of August,2025
Signed this 15th day of August,2025
Delivered to the Mayoronthe 15th day of August,2025
Lorraine Beaman, City Clerk
Approved:
Dustin Yates, Mayor
Received from the Mayoronthe day of 2025
Lorraine Beaman, City Clerk
Ordinance published in The Advocateonthe day or ___________, 2025
CITY OF ST.GEORGE BY COUNCIL MEMBER EDMONDS:
ORDINANCE NO. 2025-039
TO AMENDTITLE 7OFTHE CODE OF ORDINANCES, THE UNIFIEDDEVELOPMENT CODE, TO CLARIFY PUBLIC
SIDEWALK SERVITUDES ANDTO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS (Case No.T-25-06) WHEREAS,onJuly 23, 2024, the St.George City Council approved Ordinance No.2024-002, in part, adopting the East Baton Rouge Unified Development Code (with some changes) as the
Development Code (“UDC”) and incorporated the UDCinto the St.George
City of St. George Zoning Commission, the Commission recommended approvalofthe text of an amendment. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the St. George City Council, State of Louisiana,asfollows: Section 1: Amendment.Section 7:4.3.7entitledMinor Subdivisions
shall prevailagainst otherexisting ordinances of the City to the extentthatthere maybeany conflict. Section 3: Severability.Ifany provision of this Ordinanceisdeclared invalid by acourt of competent jurisdiction, the otherprovisions shall remain in full force andeffect
Section 5: Effective Date.This Ordinanceshall be effective upon publication.
This ordinance having been submitted to avote;the vote thereon was: For: Cook, Dellucci,Edmonds, Himmel, Monachello, Murrell, Talbot Against: Absent /Abstaining /Recused:
Adoptedthis 12th day of August, 2025
Signedthis 15th day of August, 2025
Deliveredtothe Mayor on the 15th day of August, 2025
LorraineBeaman,City Clerk
Approved:
Dustin Yates, Mayor
Received from the Mayor on the day of 2025
LorraineBeaman,City Clerk
AdoptedOrdinancepublishedinThe Advocateonthe day or ___________, 2025.
EXHIBIT A
NOTE:Underlined text is new. Strike-through text is deleted.
Chapter 4 SITEPLANS AND PLATS
Sec. 7:4.3Subdivision Plats ***
Sec. 7:4.3.7MinorSubdivisions ***
A. Defined.Any subdivision thatmeetsall falls into one of the following criteria exclusive categoriesshall be considereda minor subdivision: 1. Dedication, acceptance, relocation, or deletion of servitudes, including sidewalk andutility
CITY OF ST.GEORGE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MONACHELLO:
ORDINANCE NO. 2025-040
TO AMEND TITLE 7OFTHE ST.GEORGECODE OF ORDINANCES,THE UNIFIEDDEVELOPMENT CODE,TO
READOPT THE DRUSILLA JEFFERSONDESIGN OVERLAY DISTRICT STANDARDS AND TO PROVIDE FORRELATED MATTERS
WHEREAS, on July 23, 2024, the St. George City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2024-002, in part, adopting the EBR Unified Development Code (with some changes) as the City’sinterim Unified Development Code (“UDC”); and
WHEREAS, the UDC has been incorporated into the St. GeorgeCode of Ordinances as Title 7; and
WHEREAS, on February25, 2025, the City Council adopted text amendments to the UDC to better tailor it to the City (Ord.No. 2025-005; T25-01); and
WHEREAS, the text amendments deleted the standards for certain Design Overlay Districts that did not exist within the City limits; and
WHEREAS, the deleted Design Overlay District standards inadvertently included the standards for the Drusilla Jefferson Design Overlay District; and
WHEREAS, apublic hearing was held on the proposed changes as case number T-25-07 on August 4, 2025, before the City of St. George Zoning Commission at which the Zoning Commission recommended approval of the text amendment readopting the Drusilla Jefferson Design Overlay District standards.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the St. GeorgeCity Council, State of Louisiana, as follows:
Section 1: That the deletions and additions to the UDC set forth in Exhibit A, attached hereto arehereby adopted.
Section 2: The specificterms and conditions of this Ordinance shall prevail against other existing ordinances of the City to the extent that there may be any conflict.
Section 3: Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance is declared invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 4: Effective Date. This ordinance shall be effective upon publication. This ordinance having been submitted to avote; the votethereon was: For: Cook, Dellucci, Edmonds, Himmel, Monachello, Murrell, Talbot Against: Absent: Adopted
ce building,a 6,000 office/warehouse
the proposed building will replace the
WHEREAS, apublic hearing was held on August 4, 2025, beforethe City of St.George Zoning Commission at which the Zoning Commission recommended the grant of the rezoning request and granted site plan approval for the new office building,subject to the approval of the rezoning (Case No.SP25-03).
NOWTHEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINEDbythe St.George City Council, StateofLouisiana, as follows:
Section 1: That the property that is the subject of this Ordinance is legally described in ExhibitAattached hereto and made apart hereof.
Section 2: That the subject property is hereby rezoned from the R (Rural) to CW1 Commercial Warehousing One to permit the construction of anew two-story,12,800 sq. ft. office building in conformance with the site plan approved by the Zoning Commission on August 4, 2025.
Section 3: The specificterms and conditions of this Ordinance shall prevail against other ordinances of the City to the extent that theremay be any conflict. Except for the foregoing, the use of the subject property is subject to the termsofall applicable ordinances and regulations of the City of St.George, including any amendment thereto.
Section 4: Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance is declared invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions shall remaininfull force and effect.
Section 5: Effective Date. Thisordinance shall be effective upon publication.
For: Cook, Dellucci, Edmonds, Himmel,Monachello, Murrell, Talbot
Against: Absent:
Adopted this 26th day of August,2025
Signed this 28th day of August,2025
Delivered to the Mayor on the 29th day of August,2025
Lorraine Beaman, City Clerk
Approved:
Dustin Yates, Mayor
Received from the Mayoronthe day of 2025
Lorraine Beaman, City Clerk
Adopted Ordinance published in The Advocateonthe day or 2025.
EXHIBIT A
TRACT3-A-1 (2.53 ACRES),EDNAD.MARTINTRACT, IN SEC.37, T8SR2E, GREENSBURG LAND DISTRICT,CITYOFST. GEORGE, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH,LOUISIANA
CITY OF ST.GEORGE
Received
Lorraine Beaman, City Clerk
BY COUNCIL MEMBER MURRELL:
PROPOSED ORDINANCE NO. 2025-042 TO PROHIBIT PUBLICDISPLAYOFMATERIAL DEFINEDAS OBSCENEORAPPEALING TO THEPRURIENTINTERESTS AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS
WHEREAS, the St.GeorgeCity Council seeks to promote the health, safety,morals, and general welfareofits residents, including protecting minors from exposuretoharmful material and preserving the community’s aesthetic character;
WHEREAS, the St.George City Council has determined that billboards and signage directing the public to obscene or prurient material,including via QR codes or digital links, contributetothe erosion of community standards and harm minors, and create secondary effects such as increased crime, blight, and reduced property values, contribute to visual blight; and
WHEREAS, St.George City Council is empowered under the Lawrason Act (La. R.S. 33:401 et seq.), the Louisiana Constitution, and federal law to regulatesignageinamanner consistent with state and federal constitutional protections and state statutes, including,La. R.S. 14:91.11 and La. R.S. 14:106;
NOW, THEREFORE, the City of St.George hereby enacts the following: Sec. 1. Purpose.
The City of St.George finds that signage and billboards displaying or linking to obscene content appealing to the prurient interests, as defined by law,orcoding to access sites which display such materials, undermine community standards, contribute to visual blight, and may be harmful to the health, safety,and welfareofresidents, including minors. This Ordinance is intended to regulatesuch signage in amanner consistent with state law and stateand federal constitutional protections.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
As used in this Ordinance, the following termshave the meanings ascribed to them in this Sectionunless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
1. Advertisement: Any message, image, or mechanism on a billboardthat promotes, describes, or facilitates access to material, goods, or services.
2. Billboard: atype of sign, generally,but not limited to,arigidly assembled sign, display,ordevice, usuallyfreestanding, that is affixed to the ground or to abuilding, the primary purpose of which is to display advertising posters, including static and digital formats, visible from any public street, right-of-way,or adjacent private property
3. Digital Link: Any QR code, hyperlink, phone number,URL, or similar technology embedded in abillboardthat connects to material accessible via electronic device.
4. Obscene Material: Materialthat appealstoprurient interests, is patently offensive, and lacks serious literary,artistic, political or scientificvalue, as set forth in Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:106.
5. Prurient interests: Abnormal, unhealthy,shameful, or morbid interest in sex, nudity,orexcretion, as defined by the U.S. Supreme Court in Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15 (1973), when the material: A. Appealstothe prurient interest, applying contemporary community standards; B. Depicts or describes sexual conduct in apatently offensive way; and C. Lacks serious literary,artistic, political,orscientificvalue.
6. Signage: Any structure, device, placard, poster,graphic, or visual representation, whether temporary or permanent,that: A. Conveys amessage, advertisement, or image (commercial or non-commercial); B. Is visible to the public from any street, sidewalk, park, or private property; and C. Includes but is notlimited to:
i. Posters, banners, and murals; ii. Electronic or digital displays; iii. Projected images or lighting;and
adigitallink to obscenematerial whichthe averagepersonapplying contemporary community standardswould find, taken as awhole, appealstothe prurient interest andwhichlacks serious literary,artistic, political, or scientificvalue.
Sec. 4. Exemptions.
This Ordinance shall not apply to:
1. Materialsdisplayed in bookstores, theaters, or galleries where accessislegally restricted to adults;
2. Government-sponsored educationalorhealth-related materials; or 3. Signs located entirelywithin private property andnot visible from public rights-of-way
Sec. 5. Enforcement And Penalties
Any sign in violation of this Ordinancemay be ordered removedbythe City of St. George,with noticeprovided to the property owner andsign owner,ifdifferent.
1. Each day aprohibitedsign remains in violation shall constitute aseparateoffense.
2. Violators maybe finedupto$500 per offense per day andmay be subject to injunctive relieforotherremedies as provided by law.
Sec. 6. Severability If anyprovision or section of this Ordinanceisheld to be invalid or unconstitutionalbya courtofcompetent jurisdiction, such adecision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions.
Sec. 7. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall become effective upon publication.
This Ordinance having been submitted to avote,the vote thereon was as follows: Ayes: Cook, Delucci,Edmonds, Himmel, Monachello, Murrell, Talbot Nays: None Absent: None
Introduced on August 12, 2025 andvotedonAugust 26, 2025.
LorraineBeaman,City Clerk
DeliveredtoMayoronAugust 29, 2025.
LorraineBeaman,City Clerk
Approved:
Dustin Yates, Mayor
Received from Mayor on 2025
Ordinance published in The Advocateonthe day of 2025
CITY OF ST.GEORGE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MURRELL:
ORDINANCE NO. 2025-043 TO REGULATE THE SALE, POSSESSION, AND USE OF FIREWORKS AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS
WHEREAS, the St. George City Council seeks to promote public health, safety,and welfare through responsible regulation of fireworks; WHEREAS, the St. George City Council hasdeterminedthat unregulateduse of fireworks presents adangerof fire andinjury, andisa public nuisance; and
WHEREAS, the St. George City Council is authorized by La.R.S. 51:660 to regulate the sale, use,and possession of pyrotechnics commonly knownas fireworks; and
WHEREAS, this Ordinancesupplements La.R.S. 51:651 et seq., (“the Fireworks Code”).
NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the St. George City Council, State of Louisiana,asfollows:
Section1.Enactment
TITLE 6–FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION
CHAPTER 4. FIREWORKS
Sec. 6:401. Definitions
As usedinthis Chapter,the following terms shallhave the meanings ascribed to themunless the context clearlyindicates otherwise: 1. 1.3G Fireworks:A UnitedStatesDepartment of Transportation (hereinafterreferred to in this Section as “DOT”) classification indicating display fireworks to be usedbyprofessionals in a public display
2. 1.4G Fireworks:Consumer fireworks intendedfor use by the general public.
3. Aerial luminary:Anairborne paper or membrane lantern containing asmall candle, or other device for fuel, thatheats airfrominside the lantern causing the lantern to rise into the airand remain airborne until the candle or other fueldevice extinguishes or is caused to descend by environmental effects. These items arecommonly knownassky lanterns, Hawaii lanterns, Kongming lanterns, Chinese lanterns, fire balloons, or flying luminaries.
4. Consumer Fireworks:Small fireworks usually sold at retail to consumers duringdesignatedperiods. These include a numberofsmall devices designed to produce audible effects, ground devices containing fifty milligrams (50mg) or less of flash powder,and aerial devices containingone hundred thirty milligrams (130 mg) or less of flash powder.The DOT classifies consumer fireworks in 49 CFR 172.101 as UN0336 andUN0337.
5. Display Fireworks:Large fireworks usedincommercialdisplay showsunderthe direct supervision of alicensed pyrotechnic operator.These fireworks aredesignedprimarily to produce visible or audible effectsbycombustion,deflagration,or detonation. They include but arenot limitedtosalutes containingmorethantwo grains (130 mg) of flash powder aerial shells containing morethanforty grams of pyrotechnic compositions, andotherdisplaypieces whichexceed the limits of explosive materials for classification as consumer fireworks. They also include fusedset pieces containingcomponents whichtogetherexceed fifty milligrams (50mg) of flash powder Display fireworks areclassified by DOT in 49 CFR 172.101 as UN0333, UN0334, or UN0335.
6. Fireworks:A broad composition or devices usedfor the purpose of producing avisible or audible effect by combustion, explosion deflagration, or detonation, andwhichare furtherdefinedin three general categories: “articles pyrotechnic”, “consumer fireworks”, and“display fireworks”. The term firework” does not include blank cartridges, railroad flares, modelrockets, or anynovelty or toy cap pistols, caps, toy canes, toy guns, or other devices in whichpaper caps containing twenty-five hundredths (25/100) grains or less of explosive compounds are used, provided theyare so constructedthatthe hand cannot come in contact with the cap when in place for exploding, andtoy paperpistol caps whichcontain less thantwenty-five hundredths (25/100) grains of explosive compounds.
7. Pyrotechnic operator:anindividualwho, by experience and examination, hasdemonstratedthe necessary skill and ability for safely assembling, discharging, andsupervisingpublic displays of Fireworks 1.3G,asdefinedinLa. R.S.51:650
8. NFPA1123:NationalFireProtection Association (NFPA) subtitled Code for Fireworks Display,acomprehensive code created by the to ensurethe safety of individuals andproperty during
MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF BAKER PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATEOFLOUISIANA
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
3325 GROOM ROAD, BAKER, LOUISIANA 70714
www.youtube.com/@bakerforward August 26, 2025 -6:00 p.m.
The City Council of the City of Baker,Louisiana, metinregular session on August 26, 2025, with the following members in attendance at the meeting: MAYOR Darnell Waites
COUNCIL MEMBERS Desiree Collins Rochelle Dunn Cedric Murphy Dr.Charles Vincent Robert Young
CALL TO ORDER –Mayor Waites presided.
The invocationwas given by Council Member Murphy
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Council Member Young. *** Public commentswill be allowed on all agenda items. Such commentsshall not exceed3 minutes and shall be confined to the agenda item and any proposed dispositionthereof.***
DISPOSITION OF THE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The motionwas made by Council Member Vincent, seconded by Council Member Murphy to approve the minutes of the meeting held on August 12, 2025.
The mayor called for public comments or questions.
Vote was called for YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy,Vincent, Young NAYS: None
ABSENT:None ABSTAIN: None
The motion passed with avote of 5-0.
The motionwas made by Council Member Murphy,seconded by Council Member Dunn to move item “2. BREC Interim Superintendent Janet Simmons to provide an update on Parks and Recreation (Mayor)” up on the agenda so that it becomes item number one under Recognitions, move item “3. Authorize mayor to execute contract with Faulk &Winkler to complete fiscal year 2025 financial audit (Mayor)” under New Business up on the agenda so that it becomes item number two under Recognitions and move item “1. First Step Transitional Living Academy,LLC” down on the agenda so that it becomes item number three under Recognitions.
The mayor called for public comments or questions.
Vote was called for YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy,Vincent, Young NAYS: None
ABSENT:None ABSTAIN: None
The motion passed with avote of 5-0.
RECOGNITIONS
2. BREC Interim Superintendent Janet Simmons to provide an update on Parks and Recreation (Mayor) BREC Interim SuperintendentJanet Simmons provided an update on parks and recreation throughout East Baton Rouge Parish and specifically what has been accomplished in the Baker area. She also provided an overview of BREC’splans for the future, and the possibilities of what proposed development and growth might look like for the Baker community Discussion regarding Ms.Simmons’spresentation was held.
3. Authorize mayor to execute contract with Faulk &Winkler to complete fiscal year 2025 financial audit (Mayor) The mayor stated that due to staffing demands and current client commitments Faulk &Winkler will be unable to act as the city’sauditor at this time. He said he received correspondence from the firm which included arecommendationfor Kolder,Slaven &Company,LLC, certified public accountants.
The motionwas made by Council Member Collins, seconded by Council Member Murphy to move forwardwith Kolder,Slaven &Company,LLC.
The mayor called for public comments or questions.
Vote was called for YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy,Vincent, Young NAYS: None ABSENT:None
ABSTAIN: None
The motion passed with avote of 5-0.
1. First Step Transitional Living Academy,LLC Location –4809 Groom Road, Baker,Louisiana 70714 First Step Transitional Living Academy, LLC, was recognized as anew business in the City of Baker PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS
RESOLUTIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
1. Resolution endorsing grant application submission to the Delta Regional Authority (Mayor)
The resolution was read by Aneatra Boykin. Discussion followed.
The motion was made by CouncilMember Murphy,seconded by Council Member Young to adopt the resolution.
The mayorcalled for public comments or questions.
Vote was called for YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy,Vincent, Young NAYS: None
ABSENT:None
ABSTAIN: None
The motion passed with avote of 5-0.
2. Proclamation declaring September 2025 Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in the City of Baker (Vincent) The proclamation was read by Aneatra Boykin.
The motion was made by CouncilMember Vincent, seconded by Council Member Murphy to accept the proclamation.
The mayor called for public comments or questions.
Vote was called for YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy,Vincent, Young NAYS: None
ABSENT:None
ABSTAIN: None
The motion passed with avote of 5-0.
3. Proclamation declaring September 2025 Sickle Cell Anemia Awareness Month in the City of Baker (Vincent) The proclamation was read by Aneatra Boykin.
The motion was made by CouncilMember Vincent, seconded by Council Member Collins to accept the proclamation.
The mayor called for public comments or questions.
Vote was called for
YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy,Vincent, Young
NAYS: None
ABSENT:None
ABSTAIN: None
The motion passed with avote of 5-0.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Introduce Ordinance 2025-19, an ordinance to fixthe rate of taxation and levy an ad valorem property tax to defray the operational expenses of the City of Baker,State of Louisiana, for all general purposes for the year 2025 on all taxable property within the corporate limits of the City of Baker,Louisiana (Mayor) The mayorread the titleofthe ordinance. AneatraBoykin read aportion of the ordinance. FinanceDirector
Discussion regarding the proposed ordinance was held.
The motion was made by Council Member Murphy,seconded by Council
Members Collins/Dunn to introduce Ordinance 2025-19.
The mayor called for public comments or questions.
Vote was called for YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy,Vincent, Young
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN:None
The motion passed with avote of 5-0.
2. Introduce Ordinance 2025-20, regulations regarding 18 Wheelers, Tank, and/or transport vehicles parking on private or public property withinthe City of Baker and to provide for other matters regarding to the same (Mayor)
The mayor read the title of the ordinance.
The mayor called for public comments or questions, and abrief discussion followed.
The motion was made by Council Member Dunn, seconded by Council
Member Murphy to introduce Ordinance 2025-20.
The mayor called for public comments or questions.
Vote was called for YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy,Vincent, Young
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN:None
The motion passed with avote of 5-0.
3. Authorizemayor to execute contract with Faulk &Winkler to complete fiscal year 2025 financial audit (Mayor)
Thisagenda item was previously addressed.
PUBLIC MEETING
1. Adopt Ordinance 2025-14 Sales &Use Tax(Mayor)(Introduced 8/12/2025)
Public meetingwas held.
The motion was made by Council Member Young, seconded by Council
Member Murphy to adopt Ordinance 2025-14.
The mayor called for public comments or questions.
Vote was called for YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy,Vincent, Young
NAYS:None ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN:None
The motion passed with avote of 5-0.
2. Adopt Ordinance 2025-15 Insurance License Tax(Mayor)(Introduced 8/12/2025)
Publicmeetingwas held.
The motion was made by Council Member Young, seconded by Council
Member Murphy to adopt Ordinance 2025-15.
The mayor called for public comments or questions.
Vote was called for YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy,Vincent, Young
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN:None
The motion passed with avote of 5-0.
3. Adopt Ordinance 2025-16 Occupational License Tax(Mayor) (Introduced 8/12/2025)
Publicmeetingwas held.
The motion was made by Council Member Young, seconded by Council
Member Murphy to adopt Ordinance 2025-16.
The mayor called for public comments or questions.
Vote was called for YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy,Young
NAYS: Vincent ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN:None
The motion passed with avote of 4-1.
4. Adopt Ordinance 2025-17 Chain StoreLicense Tax(Mayor) (Introduced 8/12/2025)
Publicmeetingwas held.
The motion was made by Council Member Dunn, seconded by Council
Member Young to adopt Ordinance 2025-17.
The mayor called for public comments or questions.
Vote was called for YEAS: Collins,Dunn, Murphy,Young NAYS: Vincent ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN:None
The motion passed with avote of 4-1.
5. Adopt Ordinance 2025-18 Alcoholic Beverage Tax(Mayor)(Introduced 8/12/2025) Public meeting was held.
The motion was made by Council Member Murphy,seconded by Council
Member Young to adopt Ordinance 2025-18.
The mayor called for public comments or questions.
Vote was called for YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy,Vincent, Young
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN:None
The motion passed with avote of 5-0.
ANNOUNCEMENTS/COMMENTS
1. Updates on CATS –aresolution authorizing the levy and collection of a10.6 mills ad valorem tax on allthe property subject to taxation within the boundaries of the City of Baker,State of Louisiana, during the year 2025, to provide funds to be used entirely and exclusively for the purpose of improving the availabilityand quality of public transportation for the City of Baker,including decreasing wait times, improving the efficiency of routes, and improving signs and shelters, and to provide funds for the operation,maintenance and acquisition needs of the Capital Area TransitSystem to provide transportation service (Collins)
Council Member Collins exalted the benefits of the CATS system, especially the LYNX program, explaining how important the services they provide aretoresidents of the Baker community.She said the CATS system increases the quality of living for people and their sense of independence, as wellasconnecting directly to their sense of social and emotional well-being by providing them with the opportunity to be where they want to be.
Council Member Collins encouraged everyone to participate in the Baker Market and take advantage of the opportunity presented by Representative Barbara Carpernter and the SouthernUniversity AgricultureDepartment.
Council Member Collins asked everyone to support the youth in our community by attending sporting events.
2. Call forvolunteers for inclusive holiday/end of year planning and decorating the city (Collins)
Council Member Collins asked that anyone interested in being involved in holiday/end of year planning and decorating for the City of Baker contact her.She stressed the importance of inclusivity and encouraged everyone to participate.
3. The Rotary Club of Baker is hosting Interact GBRmeetings beginning Monday,September 8, 2025 in the meeting room in the Municipal Center (Collins) Council Member Collins announced the RotaryClub of Baker will host Interact GBRmeetings on Mondays beginning September 8, 2025, in the meeting room of the Baker Municipal Center
4. City of Baker Recreation
line
5.
Council
Vote
ABSTAIN:
1. Planning andZoning Commission 2. Annexation Review Committee
AND COMMISSIONS
3. Economic DevelopmentTeam 4. Heritage Museum/Related Committees 5. ABC Board 6. OtherSpecial Committees a. BuffaloFestival b. Prayer Breakfast c. Strategic Planning Committee d. Citizens Advisory BoardtoLaw Enforcement e. MainStreet District Committee
Council Member Vincentasked about the appointments to the Fire& Police Civil Service Board. The mayor stated he needs to speak with the President of the Council regarding thatmatter.
ADJOURN
The motion wasmade by Council Member Dunn, seconded by Council Member Collins to adjourn.
YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Vincent, Young NAYS: None ABSENT:None
ABSTAIN: None
The motion passed with avote of 5-0.
CITY OF BAKER PARISH OF EASTBATON ROUGE STATEOFLOUISIANA I, Angela Canady Wall, certify thatIamClerk of the Council for the City of Baker,Louisiana, andthatthe above andforegoing is acopy of the minutes of aregularmeeting of the Council for the City of Baker, Louisiana held on August 26, 2025.
Angela Canady Wall, LCMC Clerk of Council
MINUTES BOARDOFCOMMISSIONERS HILLCRESTMEMORIAL GARDENS CITY OF BAKER PARISH OF EASTBATON ROUGE STATEOFLOUISIANA 3325 GROOM ROAD BAKER, LA 70714 August 26, 2025
The City Council of the City of Baker, Louisiana,sitting as the Board of Commissioners for Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, met in regular session on August 26, 2025, with the following members in attendanceatthe meeting:
COMMISSIONERS DesireeCollins Rochelle Dunn Cedric Murphy Dr.Charles Vincent Darnell Waites Robert Young
CALL TO ORDER –Commissioner Waitespresided.
DISPOSITION OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The meeting wascalledtoorder andthe motion wasmade by Commissioner Waites, seconded by Commissioners Murphy/Vincentto approve the minutesofthe meeting held on August 12, 2025.
YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Vincent, Waites, Young
NAYS: None
ABSENT:None
ABSTAIN: None
The motion passed by avote of 6-0.
PUBLIC NOTICE
NEW BUSINESS
OTHER NECESSARYBUSINESS
1. Monthly Business Report
/s/DarnellWaites, Mayor 157172 Sept.9,1t $82.25
PUBLIC NOTICE ORDINANCE2025-16 LEVYINGAND REGULATING OCCUPA‐TIONAL LICENSETAX AN ORDINANCETOLEVY AN OCCUPATIONAL LICENSETAX FORTHE YEAR 2025, AND SUBSEQUENT YEARS, UPON PERSONS PURSUING AND CONDUCTING ANYBUSI‐NESS,TRADE CALLING, PROFESSIONS, OR VOCATION WITHIN THECORPORATE LIMITS OF THECITYOFBAKER LOUISIANA TheMayor andCouncil of theCityofBaker Louisianamet in regular sessionatits regular meetingplace,Tuesday the26thday of August 2025, andwitha proper quorum beingthere and then in attendance,and declared that apublic hearingwas in sessionto consider theadoptionof thefollowing ordinance which wasreadinfull andsubmitted to avote foradoption. NOWTHEREFORE,beit ordainedbythe Mayor andCouncil of theCityof Baker, Parish of East BatonRouge,State of Louisiana, as follows, to wit: SECTION1: TheCodeofOrdinances
calling, profession,orvocation, within thecorporate lim‐itsofthe City of Baker, Parish of East Baton Rouge,State of Louisiana, subjecttoli‐censeunder the LouisianaConstitution andlawsofthisstate SECTION2: Theamountofthe li‐censetax in each case is hereby fixed, deter‐mined, andordainedto be the same as that fixed, levied andcollec‐tablebythe governing authorityunder,and shallbegranted in accor‐dancewith, theprovi‐sionsofLouisiana Re‐visedStatutes, Title47, Section341, through401, inclusiveasamended andall otherapplicable laws,all of whichfor all purposes of this ordi‐nanceare made apart hereof by referenceasif writtenhereininexten‐sion
SECTION3: Non-Disclosure andVeri‐fication:Nothing con‐tained in this ordinance shallrequire,permitor allowthe disclosure of anyinformation whatso‐ever,fromthe files, pa‐pers,books,and records of anyprofessionalper‐son, firm or corporation taxedhereunder andver‐ification of thetax of said professional person firm,orcorporation shall be basedand deter‐mineduponthe gross revenue shownand de‐clared by said profes‐sional persons’ firms’, or corporations'state in‐come taxreturn.
SECTION4: Peddlers. Allpeddlers definedbyLouisiana Re‐visedStatutes, Title47, Section342, shallobtain alicense costingone hundred dollars ($100.00)
anysection,paragraph sentence,clauseor phrase of this ordinance be
unconstitu‐tional or invalid, by
courtofcompetent juris‐dictions forany reason theremainder of said or‐dinanceshall remain in full forceand effect,the provisions of this ordi‐nancebeing hereby de‐clared severable. This ordinance, having been submittedto a vote,the vote thereon wasrecordedasfollows: YEAS:Collins,Dunn, Mur‐phy, Young NAYS:Vincent ABSENT:NoneABSTAIN: None
This ordinancewas pre‐sented August 12, 2025, at theregular meetingof theBaker City Councilat itsregular meetingplace in Baker, Louisiana. Andthe ordinancewas declared adoptedonthis the26thday of August 2025 at theregular meet‐ingofthe BakerCity Councilatits regular meetingplace in Baker, Louisiana. ATTEST:
/s/Angela Canady Wall LCMC,Clerk of Council
/s/DarnellWaites, Mayor 157175 Sept.9,1t $78.21
PUBLIC NOTICE ORDINANCE2025-17 CHAINSTORE TAX AN ORDINANCE DIRECTINGAND INSTRUCTINGTHE TREASUREROFTHE CITY OF BAKER, LOUISIANA, TO COLLECTTHE CHAIN STORETAX FROM THOSE CORPORATIONS PARTNERSHIPS,FIRMS OR INDIVIDUALSFROM WHICHTHE TAXWAS PREVIOUSLY COLLECTED BY THESTATE OF LOUISIANA, UNDERTHE PROVISIONS OF LA R.S. 47:1121 et seq
TheMayor andCouncil of theCityofBaker Louisianamet in regular sessionatits regular meetingplace,Tuesday the26thday of August 2025, andwitha proper quorum beingthere and then in attendance,and declared that apublic hearingwas in sessionto consider theadoptionof thefollowing ordinance whichwas read in full andsubmitted to avote foradoption.
NOWTHEREFORE,BEIT ORDAINED BY THE MAYORAND COUNCILOF THECITYOFBAKER, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, STATEOF LOUISIANA, AS FOLLOWS, TO WIT: Whereas, theLouisiana
Legislaturehas repealed Title47, Section11211127 of theChain Store Tax, by theenactment of ActNo. 706, of 1974, and Whereas, theLouisiana Legislatureinthe same actenacted anew and entirely differentChain StoreTax adding to the olddefinition asingle storeenjoyingthe bene‐fits of centralizedpur‐chasing, warehousing, or advertisingwhich cov‐ered numerous single storeoperators of fran‐chised merchandise, and Whereas, theLegislature in an attempttoclarify thematterenacted Act 487 at itslastregular sessionofthe year 1975, restoringthe definition of achain
forthe City of Baker, Louisiana, be andher or sheis hereby authorized directed andempowered to collectthe ChainStore Taxonlyfromthose cor‐porations, partnerships firmsorindividuals from whom thetax wasprevi‐ouslyallowed to be col‐lected by theState of Louisianaunder theold 1932 ChainStore TaxAct as amendedand codified as LRS47:1121-1127. SEVERABILITY It is hereby declared to be theintention of the City Councilthatthe sec‐tions, paragraphs,sen‐tences,clauses and phrasesofthisordinance areseverable,and if any phrase,clause, sentence paragraphorsection of this ordinanceshall be declared unconstitu‐tional by anycourt of competentjurisdiction, such unconstitutionality shallnot affect anyof theremaining phrases, clauses, sentences, para‐graphs,orsectionsof this ordinancesince the same wouldhavebeen
enactedbythe city coun‐cilwithout theincorpora‐tion in this ordinanceof anysuchunconstitu‐tional phrase,clause, sentence,paragraph or section. If theprovision of this ordinanceorthe applicationthereof to anypersons,facts,situa‐tionsorcircumstances is held invalid,the remain‐derofthisordinance and theapplicationofsuch provisiontoother per‐sons,facts,situations, or circumstancesshall not be affected thereby. REPEAL Allordinancesand parts of ordinances in conflict therewithbeand the same areherebyre‐pealed
Therepealofany ordi‐nanceshall notrevive anyordinance in force before or at thetimethe ordinancerepealedtook effect
Therepealofanordi‐nanceshall notaffect anypunishmentor penaltyincurredbefore therepealtook effect or anysuit, prosecutionor proceedings pendingat thetimeofthe repeal,for an offensecommitted under theordinance re‐pealed
This ordinance, having been submittedto a vote,the vote thereon wasrecordedasfollows: YEAS:Collins,Dunn, Mur‐phy,Young i
SECTION7:
MINUTES WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING GOVERNMENTBUILDING
880 North Alexander Avenue, Port Allen Thursday,August 14, 2025 5:30 PM
The Following Minutes AreSummarized For Brevity,For Precise Meeting Information Please Refer To Meeting Audio Or Video.
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER &REQUEST ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES BE SILENCED
ARegular Meeting of the West BatonRougeParish Council was held on Thursday,August 14, 2025 and called to order at 05:30 PM
Council Chairman Carey Denstel asked that all electronic devices be placed on silent.
2. OPENING PRAYER
Councilman Atley Walker Jr.led everyone in an opening prayer
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chairman Denstel recognized Council Member Brady Hotardwho led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. LOG ATTENDANCE
The following members wererecordedasbeing present: Messrs. Kirk Allain, Daryl “Turf” Babin, Atley Walker,BradyHotard,Kenneth Gordon,Carey Denstel, Alan Crowe,GaryJoseph,and Mrs. Katherine Andre.
Also, present wereMr. Jason Manola, Parish President, Mr.Phillip Bourgoyne, Executive Assistant, Mr.Chance Stephens, Director of Finance, Mr.Brandon Bourgoyne, DirectorofPublic Works andMrs. Michelle Tullier,Council Clerk
5. MINUTES APPROVAL
A. Approval of Minutes from the Regular Meeting of July 24, 2025. Amotion was made by Council Member Kirk Allain, seconded by Council Member Kenneth Gordon to approve Minutes fromthe Regular Meeting of July 24, 2025.
Thevote was recorded as follows: YEAS: 9(Kirk Allain, Daryl “Turf” Babin, Atley Walker,Brady Hotard, Kenneth Gordon, Carey Denstel, Alan Crowe, Katherine Andre, Gary Joseph)
NAYS: 0(None)
ABSENT:0(None) ABSTAIN:0(None) As aresult of the votes, the motion Passed.
6. CONSIDER ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA
Therewerenoitems to consider at this time.
7. PARISH PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Parish President Jason Manola was recognized and covered the following items: Finalizing the design drawing forthe Fire/Police station to be built on Hwy 190; May need to lookataCooperative Endeavor for this project; August 21, 2025 Senior Day; August 20th Industry Roundtable at WBR Chamber of Commerce.
8. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mr.Charles Taylor was recognized and asked for clarification on the 5million dollar surplus of funds in the Council on Aging budget, specifically what can be done with that money.His concerns werethat the money was going to be used elsewhere. Mr.Chance Stephens and Chairman Denstel explained this money was collected fromatax millage, which means it can only be used by the Council on Aging. Ms. Francis Bynum was recognized and wanted to speak about ongoing drainage issues she has been having on her property.Mr. Phillip Bourgoyne collected her contact informationand explained he would look into the situation to see what the Parish could do to help.
9. COMMUNICATIONS WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS AND/OR ELECTED OR APPOINTED OFFICIALS
A. Proclamation Recognizing OctoberAsDysautonomia Awareness Month Chairman Denstel presentedMs. Carmen Gonzales with a Proclamation declaring October as Dysautonomia Awareness month in WBR Parish. Ms. Gonzales gave abriefoverview of what she has been doing to bring awareness to this diagnosis around the State of Louisiana.Inclosing, Ms. Gonzales thanked the Council and Administration for its efforts and contacts in regardto getting information out to the public.
Mr.Chance Stephens was recognized and brieflyreviewed the updated year to date budget to actual numbers for2025. Said numbers can be found at the end of these minutes.
10. NEW BUSINESS
A. Accept Final Reportof2024 Auditsfor the WBR Parish Council and WBR Parish FireDistrict No. 1
Mr.Kevin Rodriguez with Hawthorne, Waymouth and Carol
was recognized and gave abrief report of the 2024 Audits for the WBRParish Council, reporting only one finding in regardto public bid law.Mr. Rodriguez went on to explain this was aclean audit overall.Mr. Rodriguez moved on to the WBRParish Fire Department No.1and noted it was aclean audit withonly one finding in regardtopayroll.
Amotionwas made by Council Member Kirk Allain, seconded by Council Member Brady HotardtoAccept Final Reportof2024 Audits forthe WBR Parish Council and WBR Parish Fire District No.1
The vote was recorded as follows: YEAS: 9(Kirk Allain, Daryl “Turf” Babin, Atley Walker, Brady Hotard, Kenneth Gordon, Carey Denstel,Alan Crowe, Katherine Andre, Gary Joseph)
NAYS: 0(None)
ABSENT:0(None)
ABSTAIN: 0(None)
As aresult of the votes, the motionPassed.
B. Accept Final Reportof2024 Auditsfor the WBR Parish Utilities Department Mr.Tanni Budde with Ericksen Krentel was recognized and gave abrief report of the 2024 Auditofthe WBR Parish Utilities Department, noting that due to an increase in gas prices, this would have been ayear with aloss due to some larger projects. Mr Budde explained therewereafew issues with olddeposit money and afew procedural issues to clean up, other than that aclean unmodified report was issued.
Amotionwas made by Council Member Alan Crowe, seconded by CouncilMember Katherine AndretoAccept Final Report of 2024 Auditsfor the WBRParish Utilities Department
The vote was recorded as follows:
YEAS:9 (Kirk Allain, Daryl “Turf”Babin, Atley Walker, Brady Hotard, Kenneth Gordon, Carey Denstel,Alan Crowe, Katherine Andre, Gary Joseph)
NAYS:0 (None) ABSENT:0ABSTAIN:0(None) As aresult of the votes, the motionPassed.
C. Consider Change Order Number 2for Arena Well #2 Project President Manola was recognized and explained the need for this ChangeOrder No.2 is for$68,923.00 due to an upside in casing andpiping.Noting we will have adeduct change order coming up in this project.
Amotionwas made by Council Member Brady Hotard, seconded by CouncilMember Katherine Andretoapprove ChangeOrder Number 2for Arena Well #2 Project in the amount of $68,923.00.
The vote was recorded as follows:
YEAS: 9(Kirk Allain, Daryl “Turf”Babin, Atley Walker, Brady Hotard, Kenneth Gordon, Carey Denstel,Alan Crowe, Katherine Andre, GaryJoseph) NAYS: 0(None) ABSENT: 0(None) ABSTAIN: 0(None) As aresult of the votes, the motionPassed.
11. PUBLIC HEARING ON PREVIOUSLYINTRODUCEDORDINANCES Therewerenoitems to consider at this time.
12. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES
Mrs.Tullier,CouncilClerk read by title the below proposed ordinance/s being introduced and publicized by title,and considered for adoption following apublichearing as specified below,at5:30 pm in the Council Chambers, located at 880 North Alexander Avenue, Port Allen, La.:
A. An Ordinance Adopting the 2025 CouncilAmendmentstothe Fire Department Budgeted Expenses for the Fiscal Year beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2025. PublicHearing Date: August 28, 2025
C. An Ordinance AmendingChapter 104 Zoning To Incorporate AmendedZoning Designation Map (Zoning Plan) UnderSection 104-3 Establishment Of Districts, OfficialZoning MapRezoning Request of Martha B. Lawson. Regarding
(AgriculturalFull Scale) MASTER PLAN CHANGE.Public Hearing Date:September25, 2025
D. An Ordinance To Amend And Reenact Part III (Unified Development Code), Chapter 101 (General Provisions), Sec. 101-1, (Definitions), Chapter 104 (“ZoningOrdinance”), Article II (District Regulations), Sec. 104-26 (Adoption, Amendment, andInterpretation of Zoning Districts), Sec. 104-28(Base District RegulationsByZoning Districts), Appendix A(“Zoning Districts”), Chapter 106(Site Planning),Article V(Yard/Setback, OpenSpace And Common Area Requirements), Sec160-126 (I-1Site Development Regulations), Sec106-128(I-3Site Development Regulations) andSec. 106134 (AG Site Development Regulations) Of TheWest Baton Rouge Parish Code Of Ordinances. Public Hearing Date: September 25, 2025
13. CONSIDER STATUS REPORT, CHANGE ORDER AND/OR OTHER MATTERS AS REQUIRED ON CURRENT PROJECTS
Therewerenoitems to consideratthistime
14. RESOLUTIONS
Therewerenoitems to consideratthistime
15. CONSIDER SUBDIVISION PLATS, CONDEMNATIONS, WAIVERS AND MATTERS RELATEDTHERETO
Therewerenoitems to consideratthistime
16. APPOINTMENTS
A. ConsiderRe-appointment of Mr.Ray Rivet to the WBRParish Planning &Zoning Commission termtoexpire 07/2033
Amotion wasmade by Council MemberDaryl “Turf” Babin seconded by Council Member AlanCrowe to Re-appointMr. Ray Rivet to the WBR Parish Planning &Zoning Commission term to expire 07/2033.
The vote wasrecorded as follows: YEAS: 9(Kirk Allain, Daryl “Turf” Babin,AtleyWalker,Brady Hotard,Kenneth Gordon, CareyDenstel,AlanCrowe, Katherine Andre, Gary Joseph) NAYS: 0(None) ABSENT:0(None) ABSTAIN: 0(None) As aresult of thevotes, themotion Passed.
17. CORRESPONDENCE REPORT
CorrespondenceReport from CouncilClerk, Mrs. Michelle Tullier includedthe following items:
• Next Planning &Zoning MeetingofAugust 19, 2025 at 5:30PM; •Next Council Meeting of Thursday,August 28, 2025 at 5:30PM
18. ADJOURN
Therebeing no further business, amotion to adjournwas made by Council Member Kirk Allain andwas adopted by acclamation at 06:00 AM. ALL
AND
B. An Ordinance authorizingthe Parish of West BatonRouge, StateofLouisiana to proceed with anot to exceed $9,160,000 financing through the Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities and Community Development Authority; authorizing and ratifying the Parish’srequest of the Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities and Community Development Authority to issue itsrevenue bonds; authorizingthe borrowing by the Parish of theproceeds from the sale thereof;approving and ratifying within certainparameters thetermsofthe sale of the bonds; authorizing the form of andexecution of the LoanAgreement; authorizing the form of andexecution of an Agreementfor the purchase of the bonds andancillary financing documents; andotherwise providing with respect thereto. Public Hearing Date: August 28 2025
ORDINANCE 2025-14 SALES &USE TAX
AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL REVENUE FORWORKS OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT AND LAWFUL CORPORATE PURPOSES FOR THE CITY OF BAKER, LOUISIANA, FROMAND AFTERJANUARY 1, 2025, AND SUBSEQUENT YEARS,EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED HEREIN, UNLESS SOONER RESCINDED, ANNULLEDOR AMENDED BY LEVYING ATAX ONTHE SALE AT RETAIL, THE USE, THE CONSUMPTION, THE DISTRIBUTIONAND STORAGE TO BE USED OR CONSUMED IN THE CITY OF ARTICLESOFTANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTIES AS DEFINED IN R.S. 47:301 ET SEQ. AND ACT 398 OF 1966, AS HERETOFORE OR HEREAFTERAMENDEDAND UPONTHE LEASING OR RENTING OF TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTYAS HEREIN DEFINED; DEFINING THE TERMS ‘SALES’, ‘RETAIL SALES’, ‘SALES OF SERVICES’ AND OTHER TERMS USED HEREIN, LEVYING AND PROVIDING FOR THE ASSESSMENT,COLLECTION, PAYMENT AND LEVYING AND DISPOSITIONOFSUCH TAX; PROVIDING FOR ADEQUATE REMEDY AT LAW, DEFINING VIOLATIONS OR PROVISIONS OF THIS ORDINANCE,AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFOR; PROVIDING FORRULES AND REGULATIONS FORTHE ENFORCEMENT OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ORDINANCE AND THE COLLECTION OF THE TAXLEVIED HEREBY;PROVIDING THATANY PART OF THIS ORDINANCE WHICH MAYBEHELD INVALID OR UNCONSTITUTIONAL SHALL NOT AFFECT OR IMPAIR ANY OTHER PARTSOFTHIS ORDINANCE; AND REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTSOFORDINANCESINCONFLICT HEREWITH, ALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AUTHORITYOFR.S. 33:2711, ET SEQ.
The Mayor and Council of the City of Baker,Louisiana met in regular session at its regular meeting place, Tuesday,the 26th day of August, 2025, and with aproper quorum being thereand then in attendance, and declared that apublic hearing was in session to consider the adoption of the following ordinance which was read in full and submitted to avote for adoption.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINEDBYTHE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAKER, PARISH OF EAST BATONROUGE, STATEOF LOUISIANA,ASFOLLOWS, TO WIT:
Section 1: DEFINITIONS
(1) As used in this ordinance the following words, terms and phrases shall have the meaning ascribed to each in this section unless the context clearly indicates adifferent meaning:
(a) “Business” means any activity engaged in by any person or caused to be engaged in by him with the object of gain, benefit, or advantage, either direct or indirect. The term “business” shall not be construed in this ordinance to include occasional and isolated sales or transactions by aperson who does not hold himself out as engaged in business.
(b) “City” as used herein shall means the City of Baker,Louisiana, as its limits weredefined on January 1, 1990, or as may be changed by futureextension or contraction of boundaries under the provisions of the Louisiana Revised Statutes.
(c) (1) “Cost Price” means the actual cost of the articles of tangible personal property without any deductions therefromonaccount of the cost of materials used, labor, or service cost, except those service costs for installing the articles of tangible personal property if such cost is separately billed to the customer at the time of installation, transportation charges, or any other expenses whatsoever,orthe reasonable market value of the tangible personal property at the time it becomes susceptible to the use tax, whichever is less. “Cost Price” shall not include the supplying and installation of boardroads to oil field operators if the installation charges areseparately billed to the customer at the time of installation.
(2) In the case of interchangeable components located in the taxing jurisdiction ataxpayer may elect to determine the cost price of such components as follows:
(a) The taxpayer shall send to the Director written notice of the calendar month selected by the taxpayer as the first month for the determination of cost price under this paragraph c(2) (the “First Month”). The taxpayer may selectany month. The taxpayer shall send to the Director notice of an election to designate aFirst Month on the first day of the designated First Month.
(b) For the First Month and each month thereafter,cost price shall be based and use tax shall be paid only on onesixtieth of the aggregate cost price of the interchangeable components deployed and earning revenue within the taxing jurisdiction during the month, without regardtoany credit or other consideration for Louisiana state, political subdivision, or school boarduse tax previously paid on such interchangeable components.
(c) Any election made under this Paragraph shall be irrevocable for aperiod of sixty consecutive months inclusive of the First Month. If at any time after the sixtymonth period the taxpayer revokes its election, no credit or other consideration for use taxes paid pursuant thereto shall be applied to any use tax liability arising after such revocation.
(d) For purposes of this Paragraph, “interchangeable component” means acomponent that is used or stored for use in measurement-while- drilling instruments or systems manufactured or assembled by the taxpayer which measurement-while- drilling instruments or systems collectively generate eighty percent or moreoftheir annual revenue from their use outside of the taxing jurisdiction.
(e) “Measurement-while-drilling instruments or systems” means instruments or systems which measureinformation from adown hole location in aborehole, transmit the information to the surface drilling process of drilling the borehole using awireless technique, and receive and decode the information on the surface.
(3) “Cost price” shall not include any amount designated as acash discount or arebate by avendor or manufacturer of any new vehicle subject to the motor vehicle license tax. For purposes of this subparagraph “rebate” means any amount offered by the vendor or manufacturer as adeduction fromthe listed retail price of the vehicle,
d. “Dealer” means:
(1) Every person who imports, or causes to be imported, tangible personal property from any state or other political subdivision of this state, or foreign country,for sale at retail, for useor consumption, or distribution, or for storage, to be used or consumed in this taxing jurisdiction.
(2) Every person who manufactures or produces tangible personal property for sale at retail, for use, or consumption, or distribution, or for storage.
(3) Any person who sells at retail or who offers for sale at retail, or who has in his possession for sale at retail, or for use, or consumption, or distribution, or storage, to be used or consumed in the taxing jurisdiction, tangible personal property
(4) Any person who has sold at retail, or used, or consumed, or distributed, or stored for use or consumption in the taxing jurisdiction, tangible personal property and who cannot prove that the tax levied by this ordinance has been paid on the sale at retail, the use, the consumption, the distribution, or the storage of such tangible personal property
(5) Any person who leases or rents tangible personal property for consideration, permitting the use or possession of such property without transferring title thereto. However,a person who leases or rents tangible personal property to customers who provide information to such person that they will use the property only offshorebeyond the territorial limits of the state shall not be included in the term “dealer” for purposes of the collection of the rental or lease tax imposed by this ordinance on such lease or rental contracts. For purposes of this subparagraph, “use” means the operational or functional use of the property and no other uses related to its possession such as transportation, maintenance, and repair.Itisthe intention of this subparagraph that the customers of such persons shall remit any tax due on the lease or rental of
business: maintaining directly,indirectly or through asubsidiary,anoffice, distribution house, sales house, warehouse or other place of business, or by having an agent, salesman or solicitor operating within the taxing jurisdiction under the authority of the
or its subsidiary irrespective of whether such place of business, agent, salesman or solicitor is located in the taxing jurisdiction .permanently or temporarily, or whether such seller or subsidiary is qualified to do business in the taxing jurisdiction, or any person who makes deliveries of tangiblepersonal property into the taxing jurisdiction other than by acommon or contract carrier,orany person who makes deliveries of tangible personal property into the taxing jurisdiction in a vehicle owned or operated by such person.
e. “Director” means the City Treasurer,orhis duly authorized assistants, or the Director of Finance of the City of Baker and the Parish of East Baton Rouge or his duly authorized assistants or employees.
f. “Free Hospital” means ahospital that does not charge any patients for health careprovided by the hospital.
g. “Gross Sales” means the sum total of all sales of tangiblepersonal property,and sales of services without any deductions whatsoever of any kind or character,except as provided in this ordinance.
h. “Lease or Rental” means the leasing or renting of tangible personal property and the possession or use thereof by the lessee or rentee, for consideration, without transfer of the title of such property.The term “lease or rental”, however,asherein defined, shall not mean or include the lease or rental made for the purposes of re-lease or re-rental of casing tools and pipe, drill pipe, tubing, compressors, tanks, pumps, power units, other drilling or related equipment used in connection with the operating, drilling, completion or reworking of oil, gas, sulphur or other mineral wells. The term “lease or rental” shall not mean or include alease or rental of property to be used in performance of acontract with the U. S. Department of the Navy for construction or overhaul of U. S. Naval vessels, nor the lease or rental of airplanes or airplane equipment by a commuter airline domiciled in Louisiana, nor the lease or rental of items, including, but not limited to, supplies and equipment, which arereasonably necessary for the operation of free hospitals.
i. “Off-road Vehicle” means any vehicle which is issued a manufacturer’sstatement of origin that cannot be issued a registration certificate and license to operate on the public roads of this state because the vehicle does not meet the safety requirements prescribed by R.S. 32:1301 through R.S. 32:1310. This includes vehicles that areissued atitle only by the Vehicle Registration Bureau, Department of PublicSafety,such as recreational and sport vehicles, but it does not include farm equipment or heavy construction equipment.
j. Reserved.
k. (1) “Persons” means any individual firm, co-partnership, joint adventure, association, corporation, cooperative, estate, trust, business trust, receiver,syndicate, any parish, city,municipality or public board, public commission or public or semipublic corporation, district or other political subdivision or any board, agency,university, school,college, instrumentality or other group or combination acting as aunit, and the plural as well as the singular number (2) For purposes of the payment of the taxes levied herein, “person” shall not include the State of Louisiana, this parish, city and parish, or municipality, any other parish, city and parish, municipality,district, or other political subdivision thereof, or any agency,board, commission, or instrumentality ofLouisiana or its political subdivisions.
l. “Purchaser” means any person who acquiresorreceives any tangible personal property,orthe privilege of using any tangible personal property,orreceives any services pursuant to a transaction subject to tax under this ordinance.
m. (1) “RetailSale” or “sale at retail” means asale to aconsumer or to any person for any purpose other than for resale in the form of tangible personal property and asale of services, as hereinafter set forth, and shall mean and include all such transactions as the Director,upon investigation, funds to be in lieu of sales. Sales for resale must be made in strict compliance with the rules and regulations. Any dealer making asale for resale which is not in strict compliance with the rules and regulations will, himself, be liablefor,and pay the tax.
(2) “Sale at Retail” does not include sale of materials for further processing into articles of tangible personal property for sale at retail or sales of electricity for chlor-alkali manufacturing processes, nor does it include an isolated or occasional sale of tangible personal property by aperson not engaged in such business. The exclusion of isolated or occasional sales shall not apply to the sale of vehicles, and the term “sale at retail” shall include isolated or occasional sales of vehicles and the tax shall be collected thereon as provided in Section 6(c) hereof. The term “sale at retail” does not include the sale of any human tissue transplants, which shall be deemed to include all human organs, bone, skin, cornea, blood, or blood products transplanted from one individual into another recipient individual,nor does it include the sale of food items by youth serving organizations chartered by Congress. The term “retail sale” does not include asale of corporeal movable property which is intended for futuresale to the United States Government or its agencies, when title to such property is transferred to the United States Government or its agencies prior to the incorporation of that property into a final product.
(3) “Sale at retail” does not include the sale of tangible personal property to food banks, as defined in R.S. 9:2799. (This subparagraph (3) shall be effective. August 21, 1992).
(4) “Sale at retail” does not include the purchase of anew school bus or aused school bus which is less than five years old by an independent operator,when such bus is to be used exclusively in apublic school system.
(5) “Sale at retail” does not include the sale of airplanes or airplane equipment or parts to acommuter airline domiciled in Louisiana.
(6) “Sale at retail” shall not include the sales of Louisiana manufactured or assembled passenger aircraft with acapacity of morethan fifty persons, if, after all transportation, including transportation by the purchaser,has been completed, the aircraft is ultimately received by the purchaser outside of Louisiana. (This subparagraph (6) shall be effective August 21, 1992.)
(7) “Sale at retail” does not include the sales of pelletized paper waste when purchased for use as combustiblefuel by an electric utility or in industrial manufacturing, processing, compounding, reuse, or production process, including the generation of electricity or process steam, at a fixed location in this state. However,such sale shall not be excluded unless the purchaser has signed acertificate stating that the fuel purchased is for the exclusive use designated herein. For purposes of this Subparagraph, “pelletized paper waste” means pellets produced from discarded wastepaper that have been diverted or removed from solid waste which is not marketablefor recycling, and which is wetted, extruded, shredded, or formulated into compact pellets of various sizes for use as asupplemental fuel in apermitted boiler.(This subparagraph (7) shall be effective July 1, 1993.)
(8) “Sale at retail” shall not include the sale or purchase of equipment used in firefighting by bona fide volunteer fire departments. (This subparagraph (8) shall be effective July 1, 1992.)
(9) “Sale at retail” shall not include the sale of items, including, but not limited to, supplies and equipment, which arereasonably necessary for the operation of free hospitals.
n. “Retailer”
(2)
(a)
(b) Carefor
Museums include but arenot limited to the following institutions:
(a) Museums relating to art and history,including
(b) Aquariums and zoological parks.
(c) Botanical gardens and arboretums.
(d) Naturecenters.
(e) Planetariums.
(3) The furnishing of storage or parking privileges by auto hotels and parking lots.
(4) The furnishing of printing or overprinting, lithographic, multilith, blueprinting, Photostattingorother similar services of reproducing written or graphic matter
(5) The furnishing of laundry,cleaning, pressing and dyeing services, including by wayofillustration and not of limitation, the cleaning and renovation of clothing, furs, furniture, carpets and rugs, and the furnishing of storage space for clothing, furs and rugs.
(6) The furnishing of cold storage space and the furnishing of the service of preparing tangible personal property for cold storage where such service is incidental to the operation of storage facilities; and,
(7) (a) The furnishing of repairs to tangible personal property including by wayofillustration and not of limitation, the repair and servicing of automobiles and other vehicles, electrical and mechanical appliances and equipment, watches, jewelry,refrigerators, radios, shoes and office appliances and equipment.
(b) For the purpose of this subparagraph,tangible personal property shall include machinery,appliances,
but is used, consumed, distributed or stored for use or consumption in the taxing jurisdiction, provided thereshall be no duplication of the tax.
(3) The gross proceeds derived from the lease or rental of tangible personal property,wherethe lease or rental of such property is an established business,orpart of the same is incidental or germane to the business.
(4) The monthly lease or rental price paid by the lessee or rentee or contracted or agreed to be paid by lessee or rentee to the owner of the tangible personal property
(5) The gross proceeds derived from the sale of services.
(6) Interstate sales to the extent authorized by Act 155 of 1990 (R.S. 47:305(E)).
(7) Refinery gas to the extent and in the manner authorized by Act 476 of 1990 (R.S. 47:305D(1)(b)).
f. The taxes shall be collected from the dealer and paid at the time and in the manner hereinafter provided. The taxes so levied are, and shall be, in addition to all other taxes, whether levied in the form of sales, excise, license, privilege or property taxes levied by any city,school boardorparish ordinance.
g. The collection of the taxes herein levied shall be made in the name of the taxing jurisdiction by the Director
h. The Director will use the integrated bracket schedules provided by the Secretary of Revenue and Taxation, State of Louisiana, pursuant to Louisiana Revised Statutes, Title 47, Section 304, for the purposeof tax collection within the meaning of this ordinance.
Section 3. EXEMPTIONS FROM TAX
The following transactions areexempt from all the taxes imposed by this ordinance.
a. The sale at retail, the use, the consumption, the distribution and storage, to be used or consumed in the taxing jurisdiction, of the following tangible personal property: Gasoline, natural gas, steam, water when delivered to consumers through mains, pipes or conduits, electric power or energy,newspapers, fertilizer and containersused for farm products when sold directly to the farmer
b. The sales of materials, equipment and machinery which enter into and become component parts of ships, vessels, including commercial fishing vessels, or barges, of fifty (50) tons load displacement and over,built in Louisiana, and the gross proceeds fromthe sale of such ships, vessels, or barges, when sold by the builder thereof.
c. Materials and supplies purchased by the owners or operators of ships or vessels operating exclusively in foreign or interstate coastwise commerce, wheresuch materials and supplies areloaded upon the ship or vessel for use or consumption in the maintenance and operation thereof; repair services performed upon ships or vessels operating exclusively in foreign or interstate coastwise commerce; andmaterials and supplies used in such repairs, wheresuch materials and supplies enter into and become acomponent part of such ships or vessels; laundry services performed for the owners or operators of such ships or vessels operating exclusively in foreign or interstate coastwise commerce, wherethe laundered articles aretobeused in the course of the operation of such ships or vessels.
d. The sale in the taxing jurisdiction of livestock, poultry and other farm products direct from the farm, provided that such sales aremade directly by the producers. When sales of livestock, poultry and other farm products aremade to consumers by any person other than the producer,they arenot exempted from the taxes imposed by this ordinance; however,each and every agricultural commodity sold by anyperson other than aproducer,toany other person who purchases not for the direct consumption, but for the purpose of acquiring araw product for the use or for sale in the process of preparing, finishing or manufacturing such agricultural commodity for the ultimate retail consumer trade, shall be exempted fromany and all provisions of this ordinance, including payment of the tax applicable to the sale, storage, use, transfer,orany other utilization or handling thereof, except when such agricultural commodity is actually sold as amarketable or finished product to the ultimate consumer,and in no case shall more than one tax be exacted. The term “agricultural commodity”, for the purpose hereof, shall mean horticultural, viticultural, poultry,farm and range products, and livestock and livestock products.
e. All sales by dealers in the operation of businesses which are rehabilitation units for the blind.
f. Any exclusion or exemption specifically mandated to include municipalities or parishes by the provisions of L.R.S. 47:301 -305.46, et seq.
g. (1) (a) The sales of tangible personal property at, admission charges for,outside gate admission to, or parking fees associated with, events sponsored by educational, historical, charitable, fraternal or religious organizations, which arenonprofit, when the entireproceeds, except for the necessary expense connected therewith, areused for educational, charitable, religious or historical purposes. The exemption provided herein shall not apply to any event intended to yield aprofittothe promoter or to any individual contracted to provide services or equipment, or both, for the event.
(b) This subsection shall not be construed to exempt any organization or activity from the payment of sales or use taxes otherwise required by law to be made on purchases made by those organizations.
(c) This subsection shall not be construed to exempt regular commercial ventures of any type such as bookstores, restaurants, gift shops, commercial flea markets and similar activitiesthat aresponsored by organizations qualifying hereunder which areincompetition with retail merchants.
(2) The sponsorship of any event by any organization applying for an exemption hereunder must be genuine. Sponsors will not be genuine in any case in which exemption from taxation is amajor consideration leading to such sponsorship.
(3) An exemption certificate must be obtained from the Director under suchregulations as he shall prescribe for nonprofitorganizations to qualify for the exemption provided in this subsection.
(4)Innocase shall any organization which endorses any candidate for political of
or
i. Purchases made by bona fide fire protection districts.
j.Pharmaceutical samples approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration which aremanufactured in Louisiana or imported into Louisiana for distribution without charge to physicians, dentists, clinics, or hospitals.
k. The acquisition of material, supplies, vehicles, or equipment made by apublic trust pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 38:2212.3(Act 780 of 1989).
I. Orthoticdevices, prostheticdevices, prostheses and restorative materials utilized by or prescribed by dentists in connection with health caretreatment or for personal consumption or use.
m. Purchases by or for the City of Baker,Louisiana, or its departments, agents, or officers.
Section 4. Reserved
Section 5. ADVERTISING AGENCY EXCLUSION
It is not the intention of this ordinance to levy atax upon any advertising service rendered by an advertising business, including but not limited to advertising agencies, design firms, and print and broadcast media, or any member,agent, or employee thereof, to any client whether such service also involves atransfer to the client of tangible personal property However,a transfer of mass-produced advertising items by an advertising business which manufactures the items itself to aclient for the client’s use, which transfer involves the furnishing of minimal services other than manufacturing services by the advertising business shall be ataxablesale or use of tangiblepersonal property; however,innoevent shall tax be levied on charges for creative services which areseparately invoiced.
Section 6. COLLECTION OF TAXFROM DEALER
a.Onall tangible personal property imported or caused to be imported from other states or other political subdivisions of this state or foreign country,and used by him, the dealer shall pay the tax imposed by this ordinance on all articles of tangiblepersonal property so imported and used, the same as if the articles had been sold at retail for use or consumption in the taxing jurisdiction. For the purpose of this ordinance, the use, or consumption, or distribution, or storage of tangiblepersonal property shall each be equivalent to asale at retail, and the tax shall thereupon immediately levy and be collected in the manner provided herein, provided thereshall be no duplication of the tax in any event.
b. (1) It is not the intention of this ordinance to levy atax upon articles of tangiblepersonal property imported into the taxing jurisdiction or produced or manufactured in the taxing jurisdiction for export, nor is it the intention of this ordinance to levy atax on bona fide interstate commerce. It IS, however,the intention of this ordinance to levy atax on the sale at retail, the use, the consumption, the distribution, and the storage, to be used or consumed in the taxing jurisdiction of tangible personal property after it has come to rest in the taxing jurisdiction and has become apart of the mass of property in the taxing jurisdiction.
(2) Acredit against the use tax imposed by the ordinance shall be granted to taxpayers who have paid asimilar tax upon the sale or use of the same tangible personal property in another city or parish in Louisiana, or in acity or county or other political subdivision in astate other than Louisiana, the proof of the payment of such tax to be according to rules and regulations made by the Director.The amount of the credit shall be calculated by multiplying the rate of the similar tax paid in the other taxing jurisdiction by the cost price of the tangible personal property at the time of its importation into this Taxing Jurisdiction. In no event shall the credit be greater than the tax imposed by this Taxing Jurisdiction upon the tangible personal property which is the subject of this Taxing Jurisdiction’s use tax.
(3) Wheretaxes have been erroneously paid to another taxing jurisdiction, the provisions of Act 739 of 1990 [R.S. 33:2718.2(D) and (E)] shall be used to determine the applicability of the credit.
c. Any provision of this ordinance to the contrary notwithstanding, the tax herein levied on the sale or use of any motor vehicle, automobile, motorcycle, truck, truck-tractor,trailer,semi-trailer,motor bus, house trailer,orany other vehicle subject to the vehicle registration license tax of the State of Louisiana, shall be collected as provided in this subsection.
(1) The Director shall enter into an agreement by which the tax herein levied on any such vehicle shall be paid to the Vehicle Commissioner of the State of Louisiana at the time of application for acertificate of title or vehicle registration license. The sales tax levied by Section 2hereof on any such vehicles shall be due at the time registration or any transfer of registration is required by the vehicle registration license tax law (R.S. 47:451., et seq.). The use tax levied by Section 2hereof on the use of any such vehicle shall be due at the time the first registration in this state is required by the vehicle registration license tax law (R.S. 47:451., et seq.).
(2) Each vendor of avehicle covered by the provisions hereof shall furnish to the purchaser at the time of sale aswornstatement showing the serial number,motor number type, year and model ofthe vehicle sold; the total sales price, any allowances for,and adescription of, any vehicle taken in trade, and the total cash difference paid, or to be paid by the purchaser between the vehicles purchased and traded in and the sales or use tax to be paid, along with such other information as the Vehicle Commissioner may,byregulation, require. All labor,parts, accessories and other equipment which areattached to the vehicle at the time of sale, and which areincluded in the sale price, aretobeconsidered a part of the vehicle.
(3) It is notthe intention of this subsection to grant an exemption from the tax levied by this ordinance to any sale, use, item or transaction which has heretoforebeen taxable, and this subsection is not to be construed as so doing. It is the intention of this subsection to transfer the collection of the sales and use tax on vehicles from the vendor to the Vehicle Commissioner and to provide amethod of collection of the tax directly from the vendee or user by the Vehicle Commissioner,asauthorized in the case of state sales and use taxes by the provisions of Act 182 of 1962.
(4) The Director is further authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the terms and conditions of any agreement entered into with the Vehicle Commissioner for the purposes hereof.
d. Auctioneers shall be responsiblefor the collection of all taxes on retail sales by them and shall report and remit such taxes as provided in this ordinance.
Section 7. COLLECTION OF TAXBYDEALER
a. (1) The tax herein levied shall be collected by the dealer from. the purchaser or consumer,except for the collection of tax on the lease or rental of property for use offshoreasotherwise provided in Section Id(5) hereof. The dealer shall have the same right in respect to collecting the tax from the purchaser,orinrespect to nonpayment of the tax by the purchaser,asifthe tax werea part of the purchase price of the property or charges for services, and payable at the time of the sale; however,the taxing jurisdiction shall be joined as aparty in any action or proceeding brought by the dealer to collect the tax.
(2) Every dealer located outside the taxing jurisdiction malting sales of tangiblepersonal property for distribution, storage, use or other consumption in this taxing jurisdiction, shall at the time of making sales, collect the tax imposed by thisordinance from the purchaser (3) Wherethe purchaser has failed to pay and adealer has failed to collect atax upon asale as imposed by this ordinance, then in addition to all other rights, obligations and remedies provided, such tax shall be payable by the purchaser directly to the taxing jurisdiction, and it shall be the duty of the purchaser to file areturn thereof with the Director and to pay the tax imposed thereon to the taxing jurisdiction within fifteen (15) days after such sale was made or rendered.
b. (1) The dealership, as far as practicable, add the exact amount of the tax imposed under this ordinance, or the average equivalent thereof, in conformity with the rules and regulations to be issued by the Director,tothe sales price or charge, and when added, such tax shall constitute apart of such price or charge, and shall be adebt from the purchaser or consumer to the dealer,until paid, and shall be recoverable at law in the same manner as other debts. Any dealer who shall
a. The taxes levied hereunder shall be due and payable on the first day of the month next following the month in whichthis ordinance takes effect. For the purpose of ascertaining the amount of tax payable under this ordinance, it shall be the duty of all dealers, on or before the twentieth (20th) day of the month following the month in which this tax shall become effective, to transmit to the taxing jurisdiction, upon forms prescribed, prepared and furnished by the Director returns showing the gross sales or purchases arising from all sales or purchases taxable under this ordinance during the preceding calendar month, or during the part of the preceding calendar month, running from the effective date of this ordinance to the end
b.
or less per month.
c. The Director may agree with adealer to allow for the collection of sales taxes by the dealer from his particular independentagents, such tax is to be remitted to the Director
d. The Director may agree with certain dealers or purchasers to accept their sales and use tax returns and remittances on an irregular basis, when past returns and knowledge of common business practice indicate to the Director that the only tax liability is because of infrequent transactions upon which sales or use tax is due.
e. For the purpose of compensatingthe dealer in accounting for and remitting the tax levied by this ordinance, each dealer shall be allowed one (1%) percent of the amount of tax due and accounted for and remitted to the taxing jurisdiction in the form of adeduction in submitting his report and paying the amount due by him, provided the amount due was not delinquentatthe time of payment.
f.
in
for
in
in Louisiana Act 204 of 1991, shall be deemed to be sales and the tax due on such transactions shall be payable in equal monthly installments over the entireterm of the rental- purchase agreement, rather than at its inception.
j. However,aperson who leases or rents tangible personal property to customers who provide information to such person that they will use the property only offshorebeyond the territorial limits of the state shall not be included in the term “dealer” for purposes of the collection of the rental or lease tax imposed by this ordinance on such lease or rental contracts. For purposes of this subparagraph, “use” means the operationalorfunctional use of the property and no other uses related to its possession such as transportation, maintenance, and repair.Itis the intention of this subparagraph that the customersofsuch persons shall remit any tax due on the lease or rental of such property directly to the Taxing Jurisdiction.
Section 11. RECORDS
a. Every dealer required to make areport or payany tax under this ordinance shall keep and preserve verifiable recordsofthe sales, purchases or leases taxable under this ordinance, and such other books of account as may be necessary to determine the amount of the tax due hereunder,and such other information as may be required by the Director.Each dealer shall secure, maintain and keep, until the taxes to which they relate have prescribed, acomplete recordof tangible personal property received, used, sold at retail, distributed, or stored, leased or rented,within the taxing jurisdiction by such dealer together with invoices, bills of lading, and other pertinent records andpapers as may be required by the Director for the reasonable administration of this ordinance, and acomplete record of all sales or purchases of services taxable under this ordinance until the taxes to which they relate have prescribed. These records shall be open to examination by the Director at all reasonable hours.
b. All wholesale dealers and jobbers in the taxing jurisdiction shall keep and preserve verifiable records of all sales of tangible personal property in the taxing jurisdiction whether such sales be for cash or on credit. These records shall include the name and address of the purchaser,the date of the purchase, the article purchased, and the price at which the article is sold to the purchaser.These recordsshall be kept until the taxes to which they relate have prescribed and shall be open to examination by the Director at all reasonable hours.
c. For the purpose of enforcing the collection of the tax levied by this ordinance, the Director is hereby specifically authorized and empowered to examine, at all reasonable hours, the books, records and other documents of all transportation companies, agencies or firms operating in the taxing jurisdiction, whether said companies, agencies or firms conduct their business by truck, rail, water,airplane, or otherwise, in order to determine what dealers, as provided in this ordinance, areimporting or areotherwise shipping articles of tangible personal property which areliable for said tax. In the event said transportation company,agency or firm shall refuse to permit such examination of its books, records and other documents by the Director,asaforesaid, the Director may proceed by rule, in term time or in chambers, in any court of competent jurisdiction and require said transportation company,agency or firm to show cause why the Director should not be permitted to examine its books, recordsor other documents, and in case said rule be made absolute, the same shall be considered ajudgment of the court and every violation of the judgment as acontempt thereof and punished according to law
Section 12. DIRECTOR’S AUTHORITY TO EXAMINE AND AUDIT
a. For administering this ordinance, the Director may make or cause to be made an examinationorinvestigation of the place of business, if any,the tangible personal property,and the books, records, papers, vouchers, accounts, and documents of any dealer.Itshall be the duty of every dealer and every director,official, agent or employee of every dealer,toexhibit to the Director the tangible personal property and all the books, records, papers, vouchers, accounts, and documents of the dealer and to facilitate any such examination or investigation, as far as it may be in his or their power so to do.
b. It shall be lawful for the Director to receive the written oath of any person signing any application, deposition, statement or report required by the Director,inthe administration of this ordinance.
c. The Director may conduct hearings and have administered and examined under oath any dealer and the directors, officers, agents and employees of any dealer,and any other witnesses relative to the business of such dealer in respect to any matter incident to the administration of this ordinance. Such examinations or hearings shall be at atime convenient to the dealer within fourteen (14) days after requested by the Director in writing.
Section 13. DIRECTOR’S AUTHORITYTODETERMINE THE TAX
a. (1) After areport or returnis filedunder theprovisions of the ordinance, the Director shall cause to be made such further audit or investigation as he may deem necessary,and if therefrom he shall determine that thereisadeficiency with respect to the payment of any tax due hereunder,heshall assess the additional amount of tax and any penalties and interestdue. The assessment so made shall be considered prima facie correct and the burden shall be on the dealer to show the contrary
(2) In the event any dealer fails to make areport and pay the tax as provided by this ordinance, or in case the dealer makes agrossly incorrect report or areportthat is false or fraudulent,itshall be the duty of the Director to make an estimate for the taxable period of the retail sales, or sales of services, of such dealer,or of the gross proceeds from rentals or leases of tangible personal property by the dealer,and an estimate of the cost price of all articles of tangible personal property imported by the dealer for use or consumption or distribution or storage, to be used or consumed in the taxing jurisdiction, and assess and collect the tax and interest, plus penalty,ifsuch have accrued, on the basis of such assessment, which shall be considered prima facie correct, and the burden to show the contrary shall rest upon the dealer
b. In the event the dealer has imported the tangible personal property and he fails to produce an invoice showing the cost price of the articles which aresubject to tax,orthe invoice does not reflect the true or actual cost price, the Director shall ascertain, in any manner feasible, the true cost price and assess and collect the tax with interest, plus penalties, if such have accrued, on the true cost price as assessed by him. The assessment so made shall be considered prima facie correct, and the burden shall be on the dealer to show the contrary
c. In the case of the lease or rental of tangible personal property,if the consideration given or reported by the dealer does not, in the judgment of the Director,represent the true or actual consideration, then the Director may fixthe same and collect the tax thereon for the taxing jurisdiction in the same manner as above provided, with interest, plus penalties, if such have accrued.
d. All taxes, penalties and interestassessed pursuant to the provisions of this ordinance shall be paid within thirty (30) days after notice and demand shall have been mailed to the dealer liable thereforebythe taxing jurisdiction.
e. If taxes, penalties and interest assessed shall not be paid within thirty (30) days, thereshall be added to the amount assessed, in addition to interest as hereinabove provided, and any other penalties provided by this ordinance, asum equivalent to five (5%) percent of the tax. Section 14. PROCEEDINGS TO COMPELACTION
a. If any dealer subject to make and file areturn required by any provision of this ordinance fails to render such returnwithin the time
required,orrenders areturnwhich is false or fraudulent in that it contains statements which differ from the true gross sales, purchases, leases or rentals, or other transactions taxable under this ordinance, or otherwise fails to comply with the provisions of this ordinance, for the taxableperiod forwhich said returnisdue, the Director shall give such dealer fifteen (15) days’ notice, in writing, requiring such dealer to appear beforehim with such books, records and papers as he may require, relating to the business of such dealer for such taxableperiod. The Director may requiresuch dealer,orthe agents or employees of such dealer,togive testimony or to answer interrogatories, under oath administered by the Director respecting the sale at retail, the use, or consumption, or distribution, or storage for use or consumption, in the taxing jurisdiction, or lease or rental of tangiblepersonal property,or other transactions subject to tax,orthe failuretomake report thereof, as provided in this ordinance.
b. If any dealer fails to make any such return, or refuses to permit an examination of his books, records or papers, or to appear and answer questions within the scope of such investigation relating to the sale, use, consumption, distribution, storage, lease or rental of tangible personal property,orsale of services, the Director may apply to any court of competent jurisdictionfor an order requiring such dealer to make such return, or requiring the dealer or his agents or employees to appear and answer any such questions or permitsuch examination, and the court or any judgethereof shallthereupon issue an order upon such reasonable notice as shall be prescribed therein, to be served upon said dealer or the agents or employees of such dealer directing him to so appear and testify, and to produce such books, records and papers as may be required
c. Any person failing to comply with any such order shall be guilty of contempt and shall be punished as provided by law in cases of contempt.
Section15. JEOPARDY ASSESSMENT
a. If the Director finds that ataxpayer designs quickly to depart from the taxing jurisdiction, or to remove therefrom any property subject to any tax or to any lien foratax, or to discontinue business, or to do any other act tending to prejudice or render whollyorpartly ineffectual any proceedings that might be instituted to collect such tax,whereby it shall have become important that such proceedings be instituted without delay,hemay immediately make adetermination, from any available information or by estimate or otherwise, of the amount of tax,penalty and interest such taxpayer is liable to pay under this ordinance. Having made such determination, the Director shall immediately assess saidamount,and by writing to be retained as part of his official records, indicate such assessment has been made, and without any notice, proceed to distrain as is hereinafter provided any property belonging to the taxpayer.This type of assessment may be made whenever atax becomes due under the provisions of this ordinance, regardless of whether it is then payableornot
b. As soon as is feasible after such assessment, and not later than two calendar days thereafter,the Director shall send by registered or certified mail anotice to the taxpayer against whom the assessment lies, at the address given in the last report filedbysaid taxpayer,orifno such report has been filed, to any such address as may be obtainable. Such notice shall inform the taxpayer of the assessment, its basis, and jeopardous nature; make demand for immediatepayment thereof; and give notice that any propertydistrained or to be distrained will be subject to sale as hereinafter provided to satisfy the assessment.
c. The taxpayer against whom the assessment lies can stay distraint of his property,orsale of his property already distrained only by the immediatepayment of the assessment or by posting with the Director asurety bond for twice the amount of such assessment, or of alower amount acceptable to the Director,with such sureties as the Director deems necessary.The taxpayer shallhave sixty (60) calendar days from the date of payment, or the date of posting bond, to appeal to the courts as provided in Section19hereof foraredetermination of the assessment. During this period, the Director shall hold any payment made manescrow account. If the taxpayer does not appeal, the Director shall immediately creditsuch payment to tax collections or proceed to collect from sureties, if any weregiven. In the event of an appeal, such payment or demand forpayment from sureties given shall be held in abeyance pending the redetermination or affirmation of the assessment by the court which reviews the matter.Finalpayment, or collection from sureties, will be for the amount of the affirmed or redetermined assessment.
Section16. DISTRAINT PROCEDURE
a. If any dealer against whom taxes have been assessed under the provisions of this ordinance shallrefuse or neglect to pay such taxes within the timeprescribed in this ordinance, it shall be lawful for the Director to enforce collection of such taxes, together with such interest and other additional amounts as areadded by law,bydistraint and sale of any property or rights to property belonging to the delinquent dealer
b. Wherever the words “distraint” or “distrain” areused in this ordinance, they shall be deemed to mean the right to levy uponand seize and sell, or the levying upon, or seizing or selling, of any property or rights to property of the delinquent dealer by the officer charged with the enforcement of collection of the taxfor the purposes of satisfying any tax,interest or penalties due under the provisions of this ordinance.
c. Whenever the Director shall distrain any property of ataxpayer or dealer,heshall cause to be made alist of the property or effects distrained, acopy of which, signed by the Director shall be sent by certified mail to the taxpayer,dealer or retailer at hislast known address or business address or served on him in person. This list shall be accompanied by anoteofthe sum demanded and a notice of the timeand place wherethe property will be sold, if such asale is necessary.Thereafter,the Director shall cause anotice to be published in the official journal of the taxing jurisdiction wherein distraint is made, specifying the property distrained, and the time and place of sale. The sale shall be held not less than fifteen (15) calendar days from the date of the notice mailed or served on the taxpayer or dealer or the date of publication in the official journal, whichever is later.The Director may postpone such sale from timetotime, if he deems advisable, but not for atimetoexceed thirty (30) calendar days in all. If the sale is continued it shall be readvertised.
d. Any person in possession of property or rights to property subject to distraint upon which alevy has been made shall, upon demand by the Director,surrender such property or rights to the Director unless such propertyorrights, at the time of such and, subject to an attachment or execution under any Judicial process. Any person falling or refusing to surrender any such property or rights shall be liable to the taxing jurisdictionina sum equal to the value of the property or rights not so surrendered, but not exceeding the amount of the taxes, penalties, and interest and other costsand charges which aredue.
e. The Director shall sell at public auction for cash to the lightest bidder so much of the property distrained by him as may be sufficient to satisfy the tax,penalties, interest and costsdue. He shall give the purchaser acertificate of sale which will be prima facie evidence of the right of the Director to make the sale and conclusive evidence of the regularity of hisproceedings in making the sale, and which will transfer to the purchaser all rights, title and interest of the taxpayer or dealer in the property sold.
f. Out of the proceeds of the sale, the Director shall first pay all costs of the sale and then applysomuch of the balance of the proceeds as may be necessary to pay the assessment. Any balance beyond this shall be paid to the taxpayer,dealer or retailer Section17. SUMMARYPROCEEDINGS
In addition to any other procedureprovided in this ordinance or elsewhere in the laws of this city,parish and state and for the purpose of facilitating and expediting the determination and trial of allclaimsfor taxes, penalties, interest,attorney fees or other costs and charges arising under this ordinance, there is hereby provided asummary proceeding for the hearing and determination of all claims by or on behalf of the taxing jurisdiction, or by or on behalf of the Director,for taxes, penalties, interest, attorney fees, costs or other charges due thereon, by preference in all courts,all as follows:
a. Allsuch proceedings, whether original or by intervention or third opposition, or otherwise, brought by or on behalfofthe taxing jurisdiction, or by or on behalfofthe Director,for the determination or collection of any tax,interest,penalty,attorney fees, costs or other charge, claimed to be due under any provision of this ordinance, shall be summary and shall always be tried or heardbypreference, in all courts, original or appellate, whether in or out of term time, and either in open court or chambers, at such timeasmay be fixed by the court,
c. All matters involving anysuchclaim shall be decided within forty-eight (48) hoursafterIsubmission, whetherinterm time or in vacation, and whetherinthe courtof first
d. Whenever the pleadings filedonbehalfofthe taxing jurisdiction, or on behalf of the Director,shall be accompaniedbyanaffidavit of the Director or of the counselor attorney filing the same, thatthe factsas allegedare true to the best of the affiant’sknowledge or belief, allof the factsallegedinsaidpleadings shall be accepted as prima facie true andasconstituting aprima faciecase, andthe burden of proof to establish anything to the contrary shall rest wholly on the defendant or opposing party
e. The City Policefor the City of Baker andthe Sherifffor the Parish of East Baton Rouge shall enforce injunctions prohibiting the further pursuit of business whena valid injunction andJudgment hasbeen obtained from acourt of competent Jurisdiction involving delinquent sales anduse taxunderthe provision of this ordinanceuntil such time as the delinquenttax, interest, penalties andcosts have been paid by the dealer retailer.
f. Failuretopay anytax due, as provided in this ordinance, shall ipso facto, without demand or putting in default, cause said tax, interest, penalties andcosts to become immediately delinquent, andthe taxing jurisdiction is hereby vested with authority,onmotion in a courtofcompetent jurisdiction, to take arule on the dealer to show cause in
of
order
renderedshall be
andincase the
is
of
of business
as
of
penalties andevery
injunction shall be consideredas acontempt of courtand punished according to law.For the purpose of the enforcementofthis ordinanceand the collection of the tax levied hereunder, it is presumedthatall tangible personal property subject to the provisions of this ordinancewill be sold at retail, usedor consumed, or stored for use or consumption in the taxing jurisdiction, or leased or rentedwithin the taxing jurisdiction, andissubject to the taxhereinlevied; however,suchpresumption shall be prima facieonly andsubject to proof furnishedtothe Director
Section 18. DEALER’S RIGHTTOA HEARING
If anydealer shall be aggrievedbyany findings or assessment of the Director,hemay,within thirty (30) days of receipt of noticeofthe assessment or finding, file aprotest with the Director in writing, signed by himself or his duly authorized agent, whichshall be underoathand shall set forth the reasontherefore, andmay request ahearing. Thereafter the Director shall grant ahearing to said dealer,ifa hearing hasbeen requested, andmay make anyorder confirming, modifying or vacating anysuch finding or assessment.The filing of anysuchprotest shall not abateany penalty for nonpayment, nor shall it stay the rightofthe taxing jurisdiction to collect the taxinany mannerhereinprovided. Appealsfrom the decision of the Director shall be directed to anystate,city or federal courtofcompetent jurisdiction, as provided for in Section 19b hereof.
Section 19. LEGAL REMEDIES FOR DISPUTE SETTLEMENT
a. (1)A rightofaction is hereby created to affordaremedy at lawfor any dealer aggrievedbyany provisions of this ordinance. In the case of such dealer’sresisting the payment of anyamount found due, or the enforcementofany provisions of this ordinance in relation thereto, such dealer shall pay underprotest the amount found due by the Director,and shall give the Director notice, at the time,ofhis intention to file suit for the recovery of the same. Upon receipt of such notice, the amount paid shall be segregated andheldbythe Director for a period of thirty (30) days. If suit is filedwithin such time for recovery of the amount prod, suchfunds so segregated shall be furtherheld in pending the outcome of the suit. If the dealer prevails, the Director shall refund the amount to the claimant with interest at the rate provided in RS. 33:2718, covering the period from the date the funds were received by the taxing jurisdiction to the date of refund.
(2)The Director maytransfer to the taxpayer, at anytime before judgment, taxes, penalty,and interest paid underprotest when there is agenuine legalissue andhefeelssuchtransfer is in the best interest of the taxing jurisdiction. Interest in connection with such transfers shallbecalculatedasfollows:
(a) For whatever portion of the judgment awarded to the taxing jurisdiction, the taxpayer shall owe interest at the rate specified in this ordinancefromthe date the taxwas due until the date it waspaidunderprotest. Further,the taxpayer shall owe interest at one-half the rate specified in this ordinancefrom the date the Director transferred the tax, penalty,and interest to the taxpayer until the date of repayment by thetaxpayer
(b) For thatportion of the judgment awarded to the taxpayer,the taxing jurisdiction shall owe interest at the rate specified in this ordinance from the date taxes were paid underprotest until the date of transfertothe taxpayer by the Director
b. This section shall affordalegal remedy andright of action in any state, city or federal courthaving jurisdiction of the parties andsubject matter for afull andcomplete adjudication of allquestions arising in the enforcementofthis ordinanceastothe legality of anytax accrued or accruing or the method of enforcementthereof. In such actions, service shall be upon the Mayor
c. This section shall be construedtoprovide alegal remedy in the state, city or federal courts, by action of law, in case such taxes or their collection areclaimedtobeanunlawful burden upon interstate commerce, in violation of anyAct of Congress or the UnitedStates Constitution, or the Constitution of the State of Louisiana,orin federal jurisprudence; however,upon request of the dealer andupon proper showing by such dealer thatthe principle of lawinvolvedinan additionalassessment is already pending beforethe courts for judicial determination,the dealer,upon agreementtoabide by the decision of the;courts, maypay the additionalassessmentunderprotest, but need not file an additional suit. In such cases,the taxsopaidunder protest shall be segregated andheldbythe Director until the question of lawinvolvedhas been determined by the courts andshall thenbe disposed of as therein provided.
Section 20. PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DEALER
The liability of anypersonordealer arising from anytax, interest and penalty from the time theyare due shall be apersonaldebt of such person or dealer to the taxing jurisdiction, recoverable in anycourt of competent jurisdiction in an action at lawbythe taxing jurisdiction. Such debts, whethersuedupon or not, shall be alienonall the property of such delinquent person or dealer,except as against an innocentpurchaser for value without noticeinthe actualcourse of business, andshall have preference in anydistribution of the assetsofthe person or dealer,whether in bankruptcy,insolvency, or otherwise.The proceeds of anyjudgment or order obtained here undershall be paid to the taxing jurisdiction.
Section 21. OFFICER AND DIRECTOR LIABILITY
a. Notwithstanding anyotherprovision of lawtothe contrary, if any corporation fails to file returns or to remit the salesand use taxes collected from purchasers or consumers, the Director is authorized, as an alternative meansofenforcing collection,tohold those officers or directors having direct control or supervision of suchtaxes or charged with the responsibility of filing such returns andremitting such taxes andwho willfully fail to remit or account for such taxes withheld or collected, personally liable for the totalamount of suchtaxes withheld or collected, andnot accountedfor or not remitted, togetherwith any interest, penalties, andfees accruing thereon. Collection of the total amount due maybemade from anyone or anycombination of such officers or directors who willfully fail to remit or account for such taxes withheld or collected, by use of anyofthe alternative remediesfor the collection of taxes.
b. Acorporation by resolution of the boardofdirectors maydesignate an officer or director,with direct control or supervision of suchtaxes or chargedwith the responsibility of filing such returns andremitting such taxes, andsuchresolution shall be filedwith the Director Section 22. SUCCESSOR LIABILITY
in their possession, under their control, or owing by them.
Section 21. CORPORATE ACTIONS No corporation organized under the laws of the state shall hereafter be dissolved, or affect amerger,reorganization or consolidation under any law of the state by the action of the stockholders, or by the decree of any court until all taxes, fees, penalties and interest imposed on the corporationinaccordance with the provisions of this ordinance shall have been paid in full. No foreign corporation which has obtained authority from this state to transact business in the taxing jurisdiction may surrender such authority and withdraw from this state until all taxes, fees, penalties, interest and other charges imposed upon said corporation in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance shall have been fully paid.
Section 25. RULES. REGULATIONS. AND TAXFORMS
a. The Director shall have the power to make and publish reasonable rules and regulations, not inconsistent with this ordinance or the laws and the Constitution of this state or of the United States for the enforcement of the provisions of this ordinance and the collection of the revenues and penalties imposed thereby
b. The Director shall design, prepare, print and furnish to all dealers, or makeavailable to all dealers, all necessary forms for filing returns, and instructions to insureafull collection from dealers and an accounting for the taxes due. Failureofany dealer to securesuch forms shall not relieve him from the payment of taxes at the time and in the manner herein provided.
c. The Director may design, prepare, print and furnish consolidated or combined forms for the use of those dealers who arerequired to file returns under this ordinance.
d. The cost of preparing and distributing the report forms and paraphernalia for the collection of the tax, and of the inspection and enforcement duties required herein, shall be borneout of appropriations by the Council of the City of Baker,unless otherwise specified herein.
e. The Director may revise, publish and adopt tax reporting forms, systems, and procedures which requirethe reporting of summary tax amounts which have been rounded off to the nearest whole dollar.The whole-dollar rounding offshall only be employed in reporting periodic summary tax amounts as directed by the Director and shall not be appliedtoindividual transactions or tax applications.
Section 26. NOTICE REQUIREMENTS
Any notice required to be given by the Director pursuant to this ordinance may be given by personal service on the dealer for whom it is intended, or be mailed to the dealer for whom it is intended, addressed to such dealer at the address given in the last report filed by him pursuant to the provisions of this ordinance; or if no report has been filed, then to such address as may be obtainable. The mailing of such notice shall be presumptive evidence of its receipt by the dealer to whom it is addressed. Section 27. SECURITY TAXDEPOSIT
a. The Director may requireabond or other securityfor thepayment of any taxes, fees, interest, or penalties whereany of the following conditions apply:
(1) The taxpayer is three (3) months or moredelinquent in reporting or remitting due taxes, penalties or interest. (2) Anew owner has purchased abusiness which, at the time of the sale, is ‘1 delinquent in remitting taxes,penalties or interest. (3) The dealer is an itinerant vendor,which includes sellers at flea markets, sellers by the roadside, or any other peddler not having a fixed place of business.
b. The requirement of asecurity tax deposit shall be satisfied by payment in the form of cash, certified check, cashier check, or money order
c. The security tax deposit shall be an estimate of three (3) months tax penalty,and interest. The estimate shall be based on the average of the past twelve (12) months remittancesoftax, penalty and interest or knowledge of finances of related businesses or other relevant information. Additional three (3) month deposits, up to amaximum of twelve (12) months, for accounts that have been delinquent at least three (3) months each year for the previous three (3) years, may be required.
d. All delinquent sales and use tax accounts shall be reviewed periodically,and tax deposits shall be applied to delinquent tax accounts. Taxpayers will be notified when tax deposits areapplied andshall then be required toprovide additional security tax deposits to replace the amount applied to the delinquent tax account.
e. The Director shall retain this security tax .deposit until such time as the delinquent taxpayer has remainedcurrent in reporting and remitting sales and use taxes for aperiod of twelve (12) consecutive months or until such time as the business has ceased its operation in the taxing jurisdiction.
Section28. DIRECTOR’S RECORDS
a. The Director shall keep arecordofall the official acts, and shall preserve copies of all rules, decisions and orders made by him. Copies of such rules, decisions, orders, and of any paper or papers filedinany office maintained by him in the administration of this ordinance may be authenticated under his official signature, and when so authenticated shall be evidence in all courts of the state of the same weight and force as the original thereof.For authenticating any such copy,heshall be paid afee of one ($1.00) dollar,which shall be deposited in the City Parish General Fund.
b. Allreturnsorreports filed with the taxing jurisdiction pursuant to the provisions of this ordinance shallbepreserved for three (3) years and thereafter may be destroyed by order of the Director
Section29. AUTHORITY TO HIREEXPERTS
The Director may,onbehalf of the taxing jurisdiction, contract with and hireexpert consultants, for the purpose of evaluating and appraising equipment and machinery and related worknecessary in connection with sales and use tax auditsbythe Finance Department.Any such contracts of employment shall be subject to the approval of the Baker Council
Section30. AUTHORITY FOR INSTALLMENTAGREEMENTS
The Director may enter into aformal installment payment agreement with ataxpayer for the collection of past due tax,penalty and interest,when in his opinion it is in the best interest of the taxing jurisdiction to do so.
Section 31. CLAIMS FOR REFUND
a. In the event purchases arereturned to the dealer by the purchaser or consumer after the tax imposed by this ordinance has been collected or charged to the account of the consumer or user,the dealer shall be entitled to reimbursement of the amount of tax so collected or charged by him in the manner prescribed by the Director,and in case the tax has notbeen remitted by the dealer to the taxing jurisdiction, the dealer may deduct the same in submitting his return. Upon receipt of aswornstatement of the dealer as to the gross amount of such refunds during the period covered by such swornstatement, which period shall not be longer than ninety (90) days, the taxing jurisdiction, through the Director,shall issue to the dealer an official credit memorandum equal to the net amount remitted by the dealer for such tax collected. Such memorandum shall be accepted by the taxing jurisdiction at full face value from the dealer to whom it is issued in the remittance for subsequent taxes accrued under the provisions of this ordinance.
b. If the dealer has made an overpayment of his taxes, he may at any timewithin three (3) years from December 31 of the year in which the tax became due or within one (1) year from the date the tax was paid, whichever is later,onany original or additional tax assessed against him, file with the Director aclaim under oath for refund, in such form as the Director may prescribe, stating the grounds thereof;however no claim for refund shall be required or permitted to be filed with respect to atax paid, after protest has been filedwith the Director as hereinbeforeprovided, or after proceedings on appeal have been finally determined. For this section, “overpayment” means apayment of tax,penaltyorinterest when none was due, or the excess of the amount of tax,penalty or interest paidover the amount due. The Director is authorized to deduct travel expenses associated with conducting refund audits.
c. If uponexamination of such claimfor refund, it shall be determined by the Director that therehas been an overpayment of tax,the amount of such overpayment shall be credited against any liabilityofany dealer under this ordinance, and if thereisnosuch liability the dealer shall be entitled to arefund of the tax so overpaid. If the Director rejects the claim for refund in whole or in part, he shall make an order accordingly and serve written notice upon such dealer.A dealer may appeal against any such rejectionasprovided in Section19hereof, provided saidappeal is taken within thirty (30) days from the date of such notice.
d. Wherenoquestion of fact or law is involved, and it appears from the records of the taxing jurisdictionthat any monies have been erroneously or illegally collected from any dealer,orhave been paid by any dealer under amistake of fact or law,the Director may,atany timewithin three (3) years from December 31 of the year in which the tax became due or within one (1) year from the date the tax was paid, whichever is later,upon making arecordinwriting of his reasons therefore,certify that any dealer is entitled to such refund, and thereupon, the Director shall authorize the payment thereof from the current year revenues. No claim for refund shall be allowed after a lapse of the three (3) year or one (1) year period.
e. When, to securecompliance with any of the provisions of this ordinance, any monies shall have been deposited with the taxing jurisdictionbyany dealer,and shall have been paid over to the taxing jurisdiction, and the Director shall be satisfied that such dealer has fully complied with all such provisions, the Director shall so certify and authorize repayment from the current year revenues to such dealer of such monies, or such part thereof as the Directorshall certify has not been applied by him to the satisfaction of any indebtedness arising under this ordinance.
f. (1) Whenever the unpaid balance of an account due the dealer for the purchase of tangible personal property or the sales of services subject to sales taxationhas been found to be bad in accordance with Section166 of the United States Internal Revenue Code and has actually been charged offfor federal income taxpurposes, the dealer shall be entitled to reimbursement of the amount of tax previously paid by the dealer on such amounts.
(2) The refund shall be granted whenever the Louisiana Department of Revenue and Taxationhas found the dealer to be entitled to a tax refund in accordance with R.S. 47:315(B)(4).
(3) The prescription on such refund shall begin to run from the date of signatureonthe federal income tax return charging offsuch debt.
(4) Whenever the balance of an account that had been determined to be worthless and sales tax refunded is recovered later,the payment shall be reportedasanew sale in the monthrecovered for sales tax purposes.
(5) The provisions of this Sectionshall apply to debts that areincurred on or after September 3, 1989.
g. Claimsfor creditorrefunds as mentioned herein without Council approval will be limited to $10,000.
h. Interest shall be allowed on such refunds or credits as provided by R.S. 33:2718.
Section32. CRIMINALPENALTIES
a. Whoever violates the provisions of this ordinance shallbeguilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not morethan Five Hundred and No/100 ($500) Dollars or imprisonment
in jail for not morethansixty (60) days, or both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.
b. The following specificoffensesshall be punishable as set out in Subsection a. above:
(1)Any person who, as apurchaser,isobligated to report andpay the taximposedupon anypurchase made by him underthe foregoing circumstances of Section 7a of this ordinance, andwho fails, neglectsand refusesto file areturnthereof with the Director and pay the taximposedthereon, within the time stated, as required by this ordinance, aftersuchsaleismade, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor;
dealer who fails, neglectsorrefusestocollect
to be made, or failing or refusing to furnish asupplementalreturnorotherdata required by the Director shall be guilty of amisdemeanor
(6)Any dealer required to make, render, sign or verify anyreturnas aforesaidinthe provisions of this ordinanceand who makes a false or fraudulent return, with intent of evading the taxhereby levied shall be guilty of amisdemeanor.
(7)The president, executive officers, managers anddirectors of any corporation who shall violate anyprovision of this ordinancewith the intent to evade the taxlevied underthis ordinanceshall be guilty of amisdemeanor.Suchconviction shall in no wayprevent other action against the corporation for the recovery of the tax, interest andpenaltiesthatmay be due.
(8)Any dealer who imports or ships by truck, automobile,orother means of transportation otherthancommon carrier andwho violates Section 9a,b,orcofthis ordinanceshall be guilty of amisdemeanor,and each such importation or shipment shall constitute aseparateoffense.
(9)The failureofany dealer,wholesaler,jobber, transportation company,agencyor firm in the taxing jurisdiction to keep, preserve, andallow inspection of the !recordsrequired in Section 11 andSection 12 of this ordinance, shall be deemed a misdemeanor; the failuretokeep such recordsfor each andevery taxreportingperiod as required by this ordinanceshall constitute aseparateoffense.
Section 33. SEVERABILITY
If anysection, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance be held invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. The Baker Council hereby declares that it would have passed this ordinanceand each section, subsection, sentence, clause, andphrase thereof, irrespective of the fact thatanyone or moresections, subsections, sentences, clauses, or phrases may be so declared invalid.
Section 34. SAVINGS CLAUSE
a. Nothing in this ordinanceshall be construedtodeprive anydealer of anyremedy in the review of the taxes levied herein, or in any proceedings to collect such taxes givensuchdealer by anyotherlaw or to deprive the taxing jurisdiction of anyremedy for the enforcement of this ordinancethrough anyprocedure or remediesexpressly permitted herein or by anyotherlaw
b. Nothing herein shall be construedasrepealing or alteringany ordinance levying such taxes for periods prior to the effective date hereof.
Section 35. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
a. SupplementalNatureofTax. The taxlevied herein is declared to be supplemental andinaddition to allothertaxes levied by andunderthe authority of the Council of the City of Baker, Louisiana,ofany kind or nature b. Citation. This ordinancemay be cited, or otherwise referred to, as the Baker Salesand Use TaxOrdinance.
c. WorkingArrangements -East Baton Rouge Parish.Tofacilitate the enforcementofthis ordinanceand to make it moreconvenient for the dealers to comply with the provisions of the ordinancedealing with the collection of the taxes levied herein, the City Treasurerisauthorized andempowered to availhimself of the services andassistance of the Director of FinanceofEast Baton Rouge Parish andtomake working agreements as arenecessary for the proper enforcementofthis ordinance.
d. Disposition of Proceeds. The proceeds to be derived from the taxes levied herein aretobe usedfor works of public improvement andfor lawful corporate purposes andall such taxrevenuesand avails are hereby irrevocablyand irrepealablydedicated to being usedsolely for such purposes.
This ordinance having been submitted to avote,the vote thereon was as follows: YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Vincent, Young NAYS: None
ABSENT:None
ABSTAIN: None
