The Times-Picayune 09-13-2025

CharlieKirkkilling suspectarrested

22-year-old Utah manhad become ‘morepolitical,’ governor says

BY ERICTUCKER, ALANNA DURKIN RICHER, JESSE BEDAYN and HANNAH SCHOENBAUM Associated Press

OREM, Utah

A22-year-old Utah man who was arrested and booked on murder charges in the assassinationofCharlie Kirk helddeep disdain for the conservativeactivist’sprovocative viewpoints and indicated to afamily member that he was responsible for the shooting, authorities said Friday.

Thearrest marked a major break in acase that shocked thecountry andraised fresh alarms about political violence in adeeply polarized United States.

Tyler Robinsonhad become“more political” in the run-up to the shooting andmentionedduring adinner with family that KirkwouldbevisitingUtah, Gov.Spen-

cer Coxsaidatanews conference. The Republican governor cited as evidence engravings on bullet casings found in the rifle that authorities believe was usedin the attack, as well as chat appmessages attributed to the suspect that aroommate shared with law enforcement.

The governor credited Robinson’sfamily with helping turn him over to authorities

ä See SUSPECT, page 7A

Cantrell’s former bodyguard Vappie pleads notguilty

BY ALEXLUBBEN |Staff writer

Utah’sgovernor urgesAmericans to find ‘off-ramp’ from political violence.

BYJAMES FINN |Staff writer

Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s former police bodyguard mounted afiery defense Friday against new federal corruption charges,with his defense attorney calling the retired cop collateral damage” in the government’s lengthy investigation into the city’stop elected official.

Prosecutors secured an 18-count indictment of Cantrell andformer officer Jeffrey Vappie on Aug. 15, charging themwithconspiracy, wire fraud and false statements. The 44pagedocument alleges that the pair spent thousands of taxpayer dollars on romanticvacations and then schemed to conceal their illicit relationship.

On Friday,before Vappiepleaded notguiltybefore afederal judge,his lawyers —both veteran white collar defense attorneys andformer federal prosecutors —said the fedsare going

after their client for astrictly personal matter.

“Contrary to the U.S. Attorney’s rhetoric, what thegovernment has charged Jeff withare matters of per-

sonal conduct,” attorney ShaunClarke said on the courthouse steps. “They are not federal crimes. Jeff will walk into court today with his head held high. And he will plead not guilty, because he is not guilty of the crimes charged.” Before the superseding indictment was returned last month, Vappie already faced wire fraud andfalse statementcounts that prosecutors secured against him last summer.Ittook over ayearfor thegrand jury to charge Cantrell,too, forher allegedrolein thesame scheme. His denial of the new counts means both Vappie andthe mayor will likely face long court battles as they try to beat thecharges.Cantrell pleaded not guiltyonWednesday Vappie wore ablue suit and sunglasses as he walked intothe Hale Boggs Federal Building on Poydras Street shortly before 10 a.m. Friday,flanked by his lawyers Former U.S.Attorney Harry Rosenberg said his client “respectsthis

See VAPPIE, page 4A

The policechiefatNew Orleans’ flood protection authority says he hassaved theagency “millions upon millions” of dollars, but records show he plans to sharply increase spending on policing this year,including fora fleet of new vehicles.

Theagency’spolicebudget hasincreased by $3.7 million, according to records. Before Joshua Rondeno’sarrival as chiefinJuly 2024, the agency budgeted $8 million for police. This year,itplans to spend nearly $12 million. Rondeno and other agency leaderssay the spending is long overdue. It is needed, they say,toprofessionalize its police force, whose officers were previously required to use their personal firearms, amongother issues. But it comes with state legislators and government watchdog groups questioning changes at the agency,including amajor pay increase forRondeno. Included in the budget are funds for anew police drone and 16 new vehicles, including an

BY DAVID J. MITCHELL |Staff writer

Louisiana hasauthorized the construction of itsfirstcarboncaptureand storagewell, opening theway to anew industry that could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from industrial plants, but which has drawn serious concerns from residents who question its long-term impacts. The order from the state Department of Energy andNatural Resourcescomes more than ayear and ahalf after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencygranted it authority to permitwells forthe technology,which injects highpressure carbon dioxide in anear liquid state into formations deep underground. Issued based on welldrilling, seismic

Rondeno

STAFF PHOTO By CHRISGRANGER

JeffreyVappie, center,the former NewOrleans Police Department bodyguard forMayor LaToyaCantrell, walksfromthe Hale BoggsFederal Building courthouse in NewOrleans,where he pleadednot guilty to fresh corruption chargeson Friday.

Tyler Robinson

Cantrell

PHOTO PROVIDED By DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS

Men stand outside an Ebola treatment center Sept. 7 in the remote Bulape Health Zone, Kasaï province, Democratic Republic of Congo, that was set up following the outbreak of the Zaire

Ebola vaccine reaches epicenter of outbreak

KINSHASA Congo Limited access and required funding are the key challenges facing health officials trying to respond to the latest Ebola outbreak in southern Congo, the World Health Organization said on Friday It is the first Ebola outbreak in 18 years in Kasai province, a remote part of Congo with poor road networks, which is more than 621 miles from the nation’s capital of Kinshasa.

A United Nations peacekeeping helicopter was used to help deliver 400 vaccine doses to the epicenter, in the locality of Bulape, on Friday, Patrick Otim, WHO’s program area manager, said at a briefing in Geneva.

An additional 1,500 doses will be sent from the capital of Kinshasa, he said.

“We have struggled in the last seven days with access but are collaborating with MONUSCO (U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo) now,” Otim said. While the WHO and Congolese authorities have “ramped up efforts to have a full scale response” on the ground, “we need to be able to pay for the operations,” he added.

Since the outbreak was confirmed on Sept. 4, the number of suspected cases has increased from 28 to 68, Africa’s top health agency said on Thursday The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or Africa CDC, has so far reported 16 deaths.

WHO’s projected cost for the current outbreak over the next three months is $20 million while Congo’s national response plan is estimated at $78 million, said Otim.

A major concern has been the impact of recent U.S. funding cuts. The U.S had supported the response to Congo’s past Ebola outbreaks, including in 2021 when the U.S. Agency for International Development provided up to $11.5 million to support efforts across Africa.

At least 193 killed in 2 Congo boat accidents

KINSHASA Congo Two separate boat accidents this week in northwestern Congo killed at least 193 people dead and left scores missing, authorities and state media reported Friday The accidents happened on Wednesday and Thursday in the Equateur province.

One boat with nearly 500 passengers caught fire and capsized Thursday evening along the Congo River in the province’s Lukolela territory, Congo’s humanitarian affairs ministry said in a report. The report said 209 survivors were rescued following the accident, involving a whaleboat near the village of Malange in Lukolela territory

A day earlier, a motorized boat capsized in the Basankusu territory of the province, killing at least 86 people, most of them students, state media reported. Several people were missing, but the reports did not give a figure of how many It was not immediately clear what caused either accident

U.N. votes for two-state solution

BY EDITH M. LEDERER Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS — The U.N General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Friday to support a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict and urge Israel to commit to a Palestinian state, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vehemently opposes.

The 193-member world body approved a nonbinding resolution endorsing the “New York Declaration,” which sets out a phased plan to end the nearly 80-year conflict. The vote was 142-10 with 12 abstentions.

Hours before the vote, Netanyahu said “there will be no Palestinian state.” He spoke at the signing of an agreement to expand settlements that will divide the West Bank, which the Palestinians insist must be part of their state, saying, “This place belongs to us.”

The resolution was sponsored by France and Saudi Arabia, who cochaired a high-level conference on

implementing a two-state solution in late July, where the declaration was approved. The nearly two-year war in Gaza and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict are expected to be at the top of the agenda of world leaders at their annual gathering at the General Assembly starting on Sept. 22. The Palestinians say they hope at least 10 more countries will recognize the state of Palestine, adding to the more than 145 countries that already do.

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. ambassador, said the support for the resolution reflects “the yearning of almost everyone, the international community to open the door for the option of peace.”

Without naming Israel, he said, “We invite a party that is still pushing the option of war and destruction, and attempts to eliminate the Palestinian people and steal their land, to listen to the sound of reason — to the sound of the logic of dealing with this issue peacefully, and for the overwhelming mes-

sage that has resonated in this General Assembly today.”

But Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon dismissed the resolution as “theater,” saying the only beneficiary is Hamas.

“This one-sided declaration will not be remembered as a step toward peace, only as another hollow gesture that weakens this assembly’s credibility,” he said.

The United States, Israel’s closest ally, reiterated its opposition to the New York Declaration and the General Assembly resolution endorsing implementation of the two-state solution.

The resolution “is yet another misguided and ill-timed publicity stunt that undermines serious diplomatic efforts to end the conflict,”

U.S. Mission counselor Morgan Ortagus said. “Make no mistake, this resolution is a gift to Hamas.”

The declaration condemns “the attacks committed by Hamas against civilians” in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, a rare condemnation by Arab nations of Hamas.

World’s tallest sunflower is a tribute to Ukraine

BY CHRISTINE FERNANDO and OBED LAMY Associated Press

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — When Ukrainian immigrant Alex Babich stands in his Indiana backyard craning his neck to look 35 feet into the sky he isn’t just staring at a sunflower He is looking at his roots — and his future legacy

The flower, nicknamed “Clover” and confirmed Wednesday by Guinness World Records as the tallest sunflower ever measured, stretches as high as a telephone pole.

Achieving the feat holds special significance for the 47-year-old Babich since sunflowers are the national flower of Ukraine.

Born and raised in Ukraine, he immigrated to the U.S. at age 14 in 1991 after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster Seven years ago, he started growing sunflowers as a symbol of his love for his home country Babich’s

first sunflower was 13 feet tall, then 15, then 19.

Quickly, he began asking himself, “How far can we take this?” Babich said the record-breaking flower was the result of “trial and error over years.”

“It’s one of my kids,” he said. “You’re out there every day taking care of it.”

Babich’s 10-year-old son also had an important contribution that earned the towering flower its name.

He would climb onto the scaffolding and place fourleaf clovers on the sunflower’s leaves, for good luck.

“I’m going to die someday, but the stories of this flower will live on,” he said.

When measuring day came on Sept. 3 Babich was nervous.

Alex

About 85 people had gathered to watch, including several master gardeners from a local university and representatives from the Allen County Department of Weights and Measures. Babich was on a WhatsApp call with a representative from Guinness World Records. A camera crew was filming, and a drone flew overhead.

Even Icy D. Eagle, the mascot of the Fort Wayne Komets minor league ice hockey team, was there, according to Guinness.

They used a 40-foot cherry picker to measure the flower Clover was 35 feet and 9 inches, 5 feet taller

than the previous world record holder in Germany

“It’s very emotional,” Babich said. “It’s as good as it gets for someone who grows giants.”

Growing up amid food shortages in Ukraine sparked Babich’s love for gardening. His affection for sunflowers deepened after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

“We just pray that the war will end, that the killing will stop,” Babich said.

The sunflower has long been a national symbol representing peace in Ukraine, and since 2022, it has become a symbol of solidarity with the country

Judge releases redacted document used to justify search of Bolton home

BY ED WHITE Associated Press

A judge on Friday released a heavily redacted document used to justify a recent search of the home of John Bolton, who was national security adviser during the first Trump administration, saying that revealing more could harm a criminal investigation

The FBI’s search warrant affidavit said there was probable cause to believe classified information and national defense information were being illegally kept at Bolton’s Maryland home. Bolton has not been charged with a crime.

A coalition of news organizations had urged a judge in Maryland to unseal records related to the Aug. 22 search, citing a “tremendous public interest” that outweighed the need for continued secrecy

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy Sullivan, however, said limits were necessary

“The investigation involves matters of national security and highly classified materials to which the public has no right of access,” Sullivan said.

More than a dozen pages in the affidavit have partial or full redactions. The FBI seized phones, computer equipment and typed documents.

Bolton served for 17 months as national security adviser during President Donald Trump’s first term, clashing with him over Iran, Afghanistan and North Korea before being fired in 2019. He has criticized Trump’s approach to foreign policy and government, including in a 2020 book, “The Room Where it Happened,” that portrayed the president as ill-informed.

The search warrant affidavit says a National Security Council official had reviewed the book manuscript and told Bolton in 2020 that it appeared to contain “significant amounts” of classified information, some at top secret level.

The Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people, mainly Israeli civilians, and took about 250 hostage. Of those, 48 are still being held, including about 20 who are believed to be alive.

It also condemns Israel’s attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Gaza and its “siege and starvation, which have produced a devastating humanitarian catastrophe and protection crisis.” Israel’s offensive against Hamas has killed over 64,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants.

The declaration envisions the Palestinian Authority governing and controlling all Palestinian territory, with a transitional administrative committee immediately established under its umbrella after a ceasefire in Gaza.

“In the context of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority,” the declaration says.

Administration to award contract on research into vaccines and autism

BY MIKE STOBBE Associated Press

NEW YORK Federal health officials intend to award a contract to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to investigate whether there is a link between vaccinations and autism, according to a government procurement notice.

The Troy, New York, engineering school is getting the no-bid contract because of its “unique ability” to link data on children and mothers, according to the notice posted this week.

Officials at the Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to questions about the notice, including how much the contract is for or what exactly the researchers intend to do.

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a leading voice in the antivaccine movement before President Donald Trump selected him to oversee federal health agencies, announced in April a “massive testing and research

effort” to determine the cause of autism by this month. He has repeatedly tried to link vaccines to the condition.

An RPI biotech engineering professor, Juergen Hahn, has used artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to look for patterns in blood samples of children with autism. Hahn “is renowned for the quality and rigor of his research,” RPI officials said in a statement acknowledging the intended grant. “If this project is awarded, he intends to publish the results of his work at the conclusion of the project,” the statement added. The notice raises many questions, said Alycia Halladay, who oversees research activities and grants for the Autism Science Foundation. Scientists have ruled out a link between vaccines and autism, finding no evidence of increased rates of autism among those who are vaccinated compared with those who are not.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MICHAEL CONROy

Babich climbs on the structure that surrounds his nearly 36-foot-high sunflower that holds the world record for the tallest flower at his home in Fort Wayne, Ind., on Thursday.

strain of the Ebola virus.

Trump says he’ll send Guard to Memphis

BY JONATHAN MATTISE Associated Press

President Donald

NASHVILLE,Tenn.—

Trump said Friday he’ll send the National Guard to address crime concerns in Memphis, Tennessee, his latest test of the limits of presidential power by using military force in American cities.

the community without distracting from ongoing law enforcement efforts. He said federal officials should aim at the “root source of violent crime” and mentioned rehabilitation and mental health services, jobs and housing needs.

Gov Bill Lee said he planned to speak with the president on Friday to work out details of the mission

He said he’s still ironing out the best role for the National Guard alongside the FBI state Highway Patrol, city police and other law enforcement agencies.

Speaking on Fox News, Trump said “the mayor is happy” and “the governor is happy” about the pending deployment. Calling the city “deeply troubled,” he said “we’re going to fix that just like we did Washington,” where he’s sent the National Guard and surged federal law enforcement. Tennessee’s Republican governor embraced the troop deployment as part of a broader law enforcement surge in Memphis, however Trump’s assertion drew pushback from the Democratic leader of Memphis, which is majority Black.

“I did not ask for the National Guard and I don’t think it’s the way to drive down crime,”

Mayor Paul Young told a news conference Friday, while acknowledging the city remained high on too many “bad lists.”

Several Memphis leaders said they welcome federal help but don’t think it needs to involve the military Young committed to trying to help the deployment strengthen

“I’m grateful for the President’s unwavering support and commitment to providing every resource necessary to serve Memphians,”

Lee said in a statement. “Memphis remains on a path to greatness, and we are not going to let anything hold them back.”

The governor’s consent to the National Guard stands in sharp contrast to Democratic leaders in states like California and Illinois, who argue similar deployments undermine local authority and inflame tensions. The president has also suggested he could send soldiers to New Orleans, another majority-Black city led by Democrats in a Republican-leaning state.

Crime down, but troops coming

Since deploying the National Guard to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., Trump has openly mused about sending troops to some of the nation’s most Democratic cities — including Chicago and Portland, Oregon — even as data shows most violent crime in those places and around the country has declined in recent years.

Trump said Friday he decided

to send troops into Memphis after Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena — who regularly visited the city while on the board of FedEx urged him earlier this week to address crime there.

The president’s announcement came just days after Memphis police reported decreases across every major crime category in the first eight months of 2025 compared to the same period in previous years. Overall crime hit a 25-year low, while murder hit a six-year low, police said.

Memphis high-profile killings

Despite the overall decrease, Memphis has dealt with stubborn gun violence problems for years. In 2023, the city set a record with more than 390 homicides.

Memphis has also seen several

high-profile killings in recent years. Rapper and independent music label owner Young Dolph was fatally shot at a cookie shop in November 2021.

In September 2022, schoolteacher Eliza Fletcher was kidnapped during an early morning run, and her body was later found near a vacant duplex. Days later, a man went on a daylong shooting rampage as he drove through the city leading to a citywide shelter-inplace order Three people were killed and three others wounded.

Republican state Sen. Brent Taylor, who backs the Memphis troop deployment, said Friday the National Guard could provide “administrative and logistical support” to law enforcement and allow local officers to focus on policework. The state’s two Re-

publican U.S. senators support the intervention.

The governor said Thursday the deployment would add momentum to an ongoing FBI operation in Memphis alongside state and local law enforcement which “has already arrested hundreds of the most violent offenders.”

The legal details

Asked Friday if city and state officials had requested a National Guard deployment — or had formally signed off on it — the White House didn’t answer It also didn’t offer a possible timeline or say whether federal law enforcement would be surged in connection with a guard deployment, as happened when troops were deployed to Washington.

Hina Shamsi, director of the ACLU’s National Security Project, said in a news conference Friday that she could not speak directly to the legality of sending National Guard troops to Memphis because she doesn’t know whether the troops would be deployed under state or federal authority and what the legal justification would be.

Using soldiers for civil law enforcement, she said, “leaves our Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights searches, seizures, due process safeguards — in the hands of people who are not trained to uphold them, and it can chill the exercise of our First Amendment rights.”

In Washington, D.C., where the president directly commands the guard, Trump has used troops for everything from armed patrols to trash cleanup without any legal issues.

Landry wants leftover broadband funds kept in La.

Money would go toward state initiatives

BY JENNA ROSS Staff writer

A new plan for spending Louisiana’s share of a $42 billion federal grant program for speedy internet will cost less than before.

Gov Jeff Landry wants that leftover money to stay in Louisiana

In a letter to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick this week, Landry heaped praise on the Trump administration and requested that leftover Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment grant funds be spent on “state-led initiatives” in Louisiana that advance national goals around artificial intelligence, education and workforce training.

“This approach would vividly demonstrate the business and financial savvy that is a hallmark of your department and the Administration overall,” Landry wrote before conjuring a potential headline: “’President Trump and Secretary Lutnick to reinvest billions of dollars of program efficiencies in AI and America First Poli-

cies,’ focused on rural/urban economies while generating an even higher return for the taxpayer.”

Louisiana had been set to get $1.35 billion in funding from the bipartisan BEAD program, created under the Biden administration in 2021 to build high-speed internet connections across the country This year, the Trump administration overhauled the grant program’s rules.

The state’s new plan, submitted in August, would spend $499 million to connect households across the state, about $250 million less than its previous proposal. (The first plan also included $500 million for “nondeployment” funds, including for rural health care and virtual education.)

“The current administration has done the right thing in ripping out a lot of the regulations and red tape,” said Veneeth Iyengar, executive director of the state broadband office, in an interview Friday “We were efficient before. We’re even more efficient now.”

The state wants to spend the remaining grant funds via its state agencies toward federal goals outlined in Landry’s letter “Congress granted NTIA clear authority to pursue this path,”

Landry wrote, citing language in the law that allows the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, an executive branch agency overseeing the BEAD program, to “make available to the eligible entity the remainder of the grant funds allocated …”

“We achieved another $250 million in savings,” Iyenger said Friday “And we think it’s an awesome opportunity to leverage those dollars to create a one-plus-oneequals-five opportunity.”

The funds could go to state agencies to push “cutting-edge efforts” to improve outcomes in areas of health care where Louisiana struggles, he said, including maternal health care and chronic disease.

Louisiana was the first state to submit its revamped plan to the NTIA, which has not yet approved it, Iyenger said.

States’ plans were due to the NTIA in early September Last week, the NTIA announced that 36 of the 56 states and territories had submitted their final proposals.

Others requested extensions.

“In the plans submitted today, states are already projecting savings of at least $13 billion for American taxpayers,” the NTIA said in a news release, “driven by a rise in

ICE officer shoots suspect after being dragged by car in Illinois, officials say

BY CHRISTINE FERNANDO and REBECCA SANTANA Associated Press

CHICAGO A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot a suspect who tried to evade arrest Friday in a Chicago suburb by driving his car at officers and dragging one of them, officials said The shooting outside the city follows days of threats by the Trump administration to surge immigration enforcement in the nation’s third-largest city and less than a week into an operation labeled “Midway Blitz” by federal officials targeting the so-called sanctuary policies in Chicago and Illinois.

The Department of Homeland Security said in a news release that the officer was trying to arrest a man with a history of reckless driving who had entered the country illegally, but he refused officers’ orders and instead drove his car at them. An ICE officer who was hit and dragged by the car felt his life was threatened and opened fire, the department said. ICE said both the officer and the driver from the shooting in the majority Hispanic suburb of Franklin Park, about 18 miles west of Chicago, were taken to a local hospital, where the suspect was pronounced dead.

ICE identified the suspect as Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez. The Associated Press was not able to immediately reach Villegas-

Gonzalez’s family members. Immigration advocates and local officials said they knew little about him as of Friday afternoon. The officer has not been identified.

“We are praying for the speedy recovery of our law enforcement officer He followed his training, used appropriate force, and properly enforced the law to protect the public and law enforcement,” Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.

Illinois Gov JB Pritzker said he is aware of the shooting and demanded “a full, factual accounting of what’s happened today to ensure transparency and accountability.”

Video from the scene shows police tape and traffic cones blocking off parts of the street where a large food distribution truck and gray car can be seen from a distance. Multiple law enforcement vehicles were surrounding the area.

At a Friday news conference, immigration advocates argued that the Chicago area shooting represents how militarized immigration enforcement harms communities and demanded transparency and accountability from ICE agents involved in the shooting.

“The Trump deportation machine is out of control and operating with no transparency or accountability and leading to senseless harm to our communities,” said Lawrence Benito, executive director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

participation by the private sector, increased matching commitments by subgrantees, and a surge of innovative technology solutions to deliver high-speed connectivity.”

Some analysts have pointed to signs that the Trump administration could favor returning excess funding to the U.S. Treasury

“Since the beginning of the Trump Administration the Commerce Department has sent numerous signals that the states will have to return all funds not spent on connecting unserved and underserved locations,” Blair Levin, an analyst for New Street Research, wrote this week, according to an Ars Technica report. But it’s likely states would push back on such a stance. Iyengar said Friday that he expects other governors to follow Landry’s lead, making their own formal or informal requests. Landry asks Lutnick to issue guidance on the use of the remaining funds by Oct. 1.

Young Trump

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JOSE LUIS MAGANA

Members of the Louisiana National Guard patrol the grounds of the Washington Monument at the National Mall in Washington on Sunday

VAPPIE

Continued

court” and “respects the legal process.”

“Mr.Vappie wants to go forward with the proceedings so that he can clear his name once and for all, because this has just tarnished Mr.Vappie unfairly,” Rosenberg said.

Vappie did not comment beforeorafter the hearing. In court, he spoke only to reply “notguilty”when federal Magistrate Judge Karen Wells Roby asked how he wished to plead.

Vappie and Cantrell were set to be arraigned in the same hearing, but Vappie’s attorneys requested atwoday delay The New Orleans Police Department veteran most recentlyserved on the ExecutiveProtection Unit, asquad of officers who provide security for the mayor.Heretired from the

department in June 2024 AllegationsthatVappie andCantrell were pursuing anaffair while on theclock hadswirled for months, fanned by coverage of the pair’svisits to acity-owned French Quarter apartment.

Vappie’swifealsoaccused

himofhaving an affairina divorcefiling. On July 19, 2024, agrand jury returnedits first indictmentagainst Vappie, which included eight wire fraud and false statement counts.

Thatindictment de-

scribed Va ppie and Cantrell deleting messages andperforming internet searches about aNashville, Tennessee, mayor whowas criminally charged under similar circumstances several yearsago,plusother measures prosecutorssay

JeffreyVappie, the former NewOrleans Police Department bodyguard for Mayor LaToyaCantrell, walks outside the HaleBoggs Federal Building courthouse in NewOrleans, where he pleaded not guilty to fresh corruption charges on Friday

were meanttohidetheir relationship.

The numerous mentions of Cantrell in the document fueled speculation that she, too, might face criminal exposure for therelationship

That proved out when the grand jury returnedits su-

perseding indictmentlast month, marking the first time asitting NewOrleans mayor hasfaced criminal charges.

The new counts allege that Vappie and Cantrell misusedabout $70,000 on food, drinkand other costs related to trips to Scotland, Martha’sVineyard and Napa Valley Cantrellisaccused, too, of lying to afederal grand jury last summerabout evidence related to the case. Shewas describedextensively in another corruptionindictment last fall, of aprivate electrical inspector accused of bribing the mayor with game tickets and other itemsin exchange forher firing of acity official.But Cantrell has not been charged in that scheme.

Theelectrician, Randy Farrell,pleaded not guilty and is headed to trial.

EmailJames Finn at jfinn@theadvocate.com.

testing, computer modeling and other data, the new Class VI permitnearHackberry would allow an arm of Sempra Infrastructure to build awell that could pump up to 2million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually for 20 years under Black Lake southwest of Lake Charles.

Creating more than 200 construction jobs and up to 10 operating jobs, the project will include aproposed well site, compression facility and a9-mile pipeline routed along existing rights of way to minimize impact.

It is among 33 being proposed statewide, according to aJune 20 state tally. While it is the first approval in Louisiana, ahandful have been permitted nationwide.

The storage operation by the Sempra arm, Hackberry Carbon Sequestration, would allow the company to cut thecarbonintensity of its nearby liquefied natural gas facility,Cameron LNG, in a remote corner of Cameron Parish. The LNG is exported overseas.

Hackberry Carbon officials said the permit is an important milestone, but cautioned that the project needs additional engineering, commercial agreements and other approvals before the company can seek state authority to inject CO2 underground “If that authorization is received, the project could reach final investment decision (FID) and then would move forward with the construction and commissioning of the CO2 pipeline, and thecaptureand compression facilities,” officialssaid in a statement.

They said they would follow the highest industry standards, “using proven and highly regulated protocols.” The storage area has the capacity to accept CO2 from other companies besides CameronLNG,the officials added.

State officials said theau-

thorization to inject is more of an in-house permit that comes after drilling verifies well conditions are as expected.

The CO2 would be stored approximately5,000 to 10,000 feetbelow theearth’s surface in aseriesoflayers separated by what geologists believe to be impermeable shale rock, accordingtoa well application.

The storagelayers between the shale contain highly concentrated brine that isn’t suitablefor drinking. The nearest freshwater aquifer stops at 1,090 feet underground. Theapproval is thefirst for an actual, operating well in Louisiana.Previousapprovalsbythe state were for test wells.

At the end of 20-year injection period, thetotal sizeof theunderground plume has beenmodeled at 1,989 acres, accordingtoapermit application. But the CO2 plume is also expectedto keep growing to the west, projected to cover 2,325 acres in 120 years.

Hackberry Carbon’s modelingshowed,however,that the highestpressure carbon dioxide, which wouldbeat concentrations that could escapetothe nearest drinking water aquifer if an underground pathwaywere available, would coverafar smallerareathanthe full CO2 plume

This concentratedarea would be amile or more from thenearest underground faults or oil and gas or other wells, thecompany’s consultantsays

Long-term CO2 plume projections have important implicationsfor Louisiana’s governmentand its future taxpayers. Under statelaw, the sequestration operations and their massive reservoirs of undergroundCO2 become theresponsibility of thestate 50 yearsafterinjectionends

State officials say they are making sure measures are in placetoprotect taxpayers long-term and avoid the kind of liabilityLouisianacurrently has with orphaned oil and

gas wells.

Ruralopposition

Grassroots opposition has grown in some areas of conservative-leaning rural Louisiana where themajor storage operations areproposed. Thoseproposals rangefrom southwest Louisiana to Livingstonand Tangipahoaparishesbetween Baton Rouge and New Orleans

Skepticism of climate change, feared impacts on water aquifers, CO2 pipeline leaks, land expropriation for pipelines and taxpayer support for projectshave blended into astew of opposition for some ruralresidents.Environmentalists alsooppose thetechnology because they say it is unproven andwill help prevent the transition away fromfossil fuels to clean energy

Industry officials and scientists say the technologyis sound, well-suitedfor Louisiana’sgeology and would allowimportant industries to decarbonizeand be more competitive in foreign markets.

Though theprojects may need other permits for pipelines, wetland impacts and other needs, DENR is the sole agency examining the nutsand boltsofthe injection and storage facilities. The administrative process, with some public input, has requiredcompanies to drill test wells and collect proprietary seismic data to understand the underlying geology,produce modeling of carbon plumes and lay out methods for long-term monitoring

Some seismic data remains secret even after projects go out for public hearings

DENR issued the permit Sept. 5, butitwasn’tposted online until this week.

DENR officials detailed ways that they andHackberry will be able to track themovement of the CO2 plume through theyears, primarily throughseismicand microgravity testing. The agency noted this and other continuedtesting should catch something thatdoesn’t

match the modeling Department officials added they’vereviewed geologic dataand Hackberry Carbon’sstill-confidential seismic information and are confident the plumewill move westover thedecades, noteast toward existing wells, andthat“no mapped” underground faults are “expected to impact movement or containment of the carbon dioxide plume.”

Aftera carbon injection well in Illinoisleaked, federal officials recommended thatthe protective metal casings needed higher levels of chromium than previously required to resist corrosion from theacidic combination of CO2and water Hackberry plans to have these chromium-heavy casings anywhere thewellbore touchescarbondioxide and in other pieces of well equipment, as well as corrosionresistant cement. Long-term monitoring for equipment failure is required.

“Portionsofthe wellthat will not be in contact with carbon dioxide won’t be exposedtothe same type of corrosive environment, so construction usingother types of materials is acceptable,” departmentofficials said.

Earlierthisyear, former DENR chief Tyler Gray faced questions about the speed of permitting from some legislators. But agroup of rural legislatorsalso pushed during the spring session, with limited success, for bills thatwould block or restrict carbon storage and its delivery pipelines.

Speaking this month before industryexecutives, Dustin Davidson, the current secretary of DENR,acknowledged thatthe review processwas taking “a long time,” though the department was working to expedite applications Davidson said he wasn’t “going to sugarcoat it,”but the review process for carboninjection wells hasbeen difficult.

Complicationsinclude Louisiana’smore complex and varied geology,the new-

ness of carbon capture technology for DENR and the proximity of some projects to communities.

“So,wehavebeentaking our timetoensure not only that we do it,but we getit right because, at the end of the day,the mostimportant thing whenitcomes to these permits is having defensible standard,” Davidsonsaid.

‘Landmarkdecision’

Some industry groups hailedthe permit as key in anecessary transition for Louisiana companies, while one environmental groupaccused the state of charging headlong into an unproventechnology

Scott Eustis, community science director for Healthy Gulf, said DENR “is undertaking anew era of destruction of our waters and our coastal wetlands before fixing the hundreds of idle and broken oilwells in Black Lake, or ensuring the drinking water for Sulphur.”

He notedatleast149 inactiveorolder oiland gas wells arewithin 2.5 milesof Black Lake and 259 active drinking wells north of the injectionzone. Eustissaid Hackberry should have to plug those inactive wells, though the company’s application says they are far from the projected plume.

He also raised concerns aboutthe safety of an associated CO2 line near La.27, posing arisk to akey evacuationroute Industry groups, however,pointed to the large economic impact. State economic development officials have said that Louisiana has

seen $61 billioninnew projects with carbon capture storage or carbon capture utilization and storage, or CCUS, sinceJanuary 2024. Somewhat different from permanentcarbon storage, like Sempra’sproject, CCUS involvesthe reuse of carbon dioxide stored undergroundfor things like enhanced oil recovery,in which CO2 pushes outmore oiland gasfromdepleted fields.

“This landmark decision not onlycements Louisiana’sroleasa front-runner in carbon captureinthe U.S., but also directly addresses surging global demand for lowtozero-carbon products,”saidDavid Cresson, president andchief executive officer of theLouisiana Chemical Association andLouisiana Chemical Industry Alliance.

There’s also acompetitive aspect to winning these permitsand makingvast storage areas available for use.GregUpton,executive director of the LSU Center for Energy Studies, pointed to an analysisshowing the state may only need five to seven storage hubs to see meaningful carbon dioxide reduction.

Environmentalists and others have criticized the CCUS aspect of CO2 storage as nottruly keeping planetwarming carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. The One Bill Beautiful Bill Act, which Congress adopted in July with the advocacy of President Donald Trump, increased tax credits for CCUS, potentially enhancing incentive to pursue this versionofcarbonstorage. CF Industries near Donaldsonville recently announced plans to pump carbon dioxide from some of its operations into old oil fields for enhanced recovery.Sempra’sHackberry project, instead, proposes permanentunderground storage

David J. Mitchell can be reached at dmitchell@ theadvocate.com.

Southern law professor’s social media post probed

Online comments made about Charlie Kirk’s death

BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT Staff writer

Southern University officials are investigating a law professor after she allegedly made comments on social media about Charlie Kirk’s death. The probe comes amid a nationwide crackdown on jokes about his death or remarks critical of Kirk, a conservative commentator assassinated Wednesday in Utah.

In Louisiana, Acadian Ambulance said an unnamed employee who posted a comment mocking Kirk’s death was fired Across the country,

teachers, firefighters and an MSNBC contributor have reportedly been investigated or terminated for comments.

At Southern University, Law Center Communications Director I’Tyonnie V. Jackson said the center “is aware of a recent social media post involving one of our employees that has raised concern.”

“The views expressed in that post are the individual’s own and do not reflect the values or positions of the Law Center. We are reviewing this matter in accordance with the institution’s personnel policies and procedures,” she wrote. “The Law Center is committed to fostering an environment of respect, inclusivity and professionalism both online and offline.”

Southern did not name the professor The posts appear to have been

deleted from social media.

In screenshots widely circulating online, the posts in question include a description of Kirk as “an evil person” and the statement that the poster “will 1000% wish death on people like him.”

“I can have empathy for his children, but nothing for him,” the post read. “Sorry not sorry This is a man who degrades women on the daily Under the guise of Christianity.”

According to WAFB TV Southern University Board Chairman Tony Clayton said the professor was suspended.

“She has been suspended effective immediately based on the cause that she participated in conduct that was prejudicial to the university,” Clayton told the station. “The school will investigate this

matter to finalize terminating her from the university.”

In response to the posts, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill released a statement in which she called them “abhorrent.”

“Whatever your opinion is of Charlie, his assassination marked a dark day for all Americans and should be resoundingly condemned,” she added. “This individual has a constitutional right to have opinions and social media amplifies them. But she does not have a right to teach at a public law school.”

Murrill made similar remarks following reports that a New Orleans firefighter posted comments about Kirk. In those, she said Kirk’s “life work was promoting free speech and thoughtful, prepared civil discourse.” But the Foundation for Individual

Rights and Expression, a college campus free speech organization, called the national firings “a cancel culture that undermines American values.”

“Charlie Kirk’s assassination was an attack on free speech and open discourse. In a free society, we must not be afraid to express our views, no matter how strongly some might oppose them,” the organization said. “That’s the point of free speech. But it is precisely for that reason why we must not respond to mockery of Kirk’s assassination by canceling everyone who offends us: because that too creates a society where people are afraid to express themselves.”

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

Critics see Supreme Court bowing to Trump

BY MARK SHERMAN Associated Press

WACO, Texas Justice Brett Kavanaugh says the genius of the American system of government is that no one should have too much power even as he and other conservatives on the Supreme Court are facing criticism for deferring repeatedly to President Donald Trump.

Invoking the list of grievances against King George III that the nation’s founders included in the Declaration of Independence, Ka-

vanaugh said Thursday the framers of the Constitution were set on avoiding the concentration of power

“And the framers recognized in a way that I think is brilliant, that preserving liberty requires separating the power No one person or group of people should have too much power in our system,” Kavanaugh said at an event honoring his onetime boss, Kenneth Starr, a former federal judge and solicitor general celebrated by conservatives who died in 2022.

Trump’s aggressive effort to remake the federal government did not come up inside a gymnasium on the campus of McLennan Community College in Waco.

Across the street from the event, though, several dozen protesters

offered a different view of Kavanaugh and Trump.

“Basically, the Supreme Court has handed the country to Trump,” said J.W La-Strape, the head of the Baylor University Democrats who was among the protesters.

“BK- Trump Flunky,” one banner said. “Shame on You. No One is Above the Law,” a placard read in a reference to the court’s 2024 decision, which Kavanaugh joined, that helped Trump avoid prosecution for his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss.

The court’s liberal justices also have objected to the conservatives’ repeated votes in favor of Trump’s emergency appeals to the Supreme Court, including the most decision this week to allow the resumption of sweeping immigration opera-

AGENCY

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$80,000 Chevrolet Tahoe for Rondeno.

The agency’s board of commissioners approves the budget, but board members said they were not made aware of the purchase of new vehicles or of Rondeno’s raise. The board gave its approval without much questioning of the large increase in police spending at public meetings.

Stacy Gilmore, a spokesperson for the flood authority, said that the increase in the police budget was the result of “timing and recruitment needs.” As a comparison, the agency plans to spend more than $26 million to operate and maintain the flood protection system, which includes levees, outfall pumps, and flood gates

All told, the agency plans to spend $56 million on its operations this year, up from $48 million last year, a 15% increase Revenue, which largely comes from local taxes, has not increased and the agency is drawing down its cash reserves to fund the additional spending.

The agency responded to a list of questions from The Times-Picayune but did not make Rondeno available for comment. At an Aug. 19 legislative committee hearing, Rondeno justified his raise through the savings he says he brought to the agency

“We have significantly reduced the financial footprint of the agency regarding liability by millions upon millions of dollars,” he said.

“That is documented, tried, true.” At that hearing, Rep. Stephanie Hilferty, R-New Orleans, requested details on Rondeno’s cost savings.

She said on Friday that she has not received them.

“It appears that we’ve gotten some information we requested but not all of it, and we still have a lot of questions,” said Sen. Kirk Talbot, R-River Ridge, who was also at the hearing.

‘Tough on crime’

The spending increases are part of sweeping changes to the agency Gov Jeff Landry has pursued since taking office, drawing outcry from government watchdog groups and some politicians concerned that its flood protection role is being diluted.

“Increased spending on the police force is further evidence that the leadership at the flood authority is not focused on its sole mission of protecting the area from catastrophic flooding,” said Blair duQuesnay, chair of Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans, an organization that pushed flood policy reforms after Hurricane Katrina. “It also does not align with the governor’s mandate to make government more efficient.”

The Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East is tasked with maintaining and operating the hurricane protection system in Orleans, St. Bernard, and Jefferson Parishes. It also has a small, 50-officer police force, primarily tasked with patrolling the region’s flood control systems, though Landry’s administration has sought to expand its role with a greater emphasis on law enforcement.

After a recent raise, Rondeno makes $208,000, more than many law enforcement officials in the New Orleans area who oversee larger police forces and nearly twice the salary of his predecessor He and his supporters say that is due in part to his expanded role.

In addition to serving as superintendent of police, Rondeno is now the agency’s chief compliance officer, a role that he described to lawmakers as similar to an internal auditor at the agency Shane Guidry, Landry’s unofficial adviser in New Orleans who has been directing changes at the flood agency, argued that crime data justified the increase in spending.

“Look at the crime statistics,” Guidry said. “They’re down for one reason only. You’ve got a governor who’s tough on crime and giving the police what they need to do their job.”

Vi ole n t cr im e ha s dropped significantly in cities across the U.S. since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic Crime began to decrease in New Orleans before Landry took office and has continued to fall since then.

‘As efficient as possible’

At the legislative committee meeting last month, Rondeno said his job description now includes making sure “that we’re

being as efficient as possible and financially responsible.” He argues that his spending will save money in the long run by reducing lawsuits and professionalizing the agency He said he bought bodyworn cameras for officers to reduce the risk of lawsuits. He has settled employment-related lawsuits. He purchased agencyowned firearms for his officers, who previously used their personal firearms on the job. And he has installed GPS trackers on agency vehicles to prevent their misuse by staff.

The new Tahoes are replacing vehicles that have, on average, about 95,000 miles on them, according to the agency’s budget. That appears to be standard practice: Police vehicles in most jurisdictions are replaced every five years at around 100,000 miles. The new vehicles will cost $1 million to purchase, a cost that the agency justified by saying that “the previous administration decided not to purchase vehicles, which deferred those costs.”

Rondeno also oversaw raises to rank-and-file officers — $8,000 on average — adding about $2 million in spending on police salaries. The agency also spent $14,000 on a police drone.

The flood control agency’s policies state that the police superintendent can only authorize purchases up to $10,000. But agency officials said that Rondeno was temporarily granted the ability to approve purchases up to $150,000 while the agency was without a regional director ‘Pump the brakes’

Rondeno was initially assigned a white 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe before purchasing a new one, which was delivered in April. The agency will spend $1 million on 16 vehicles. Rondeno’s black SUV was the first to be delivered.

Internal emails indicated some confusion over the purchasing process. In one exchange about buying the car an employee wrote: “Yeah, pump the brakes on this one This needs to go backwards and start over again.”

The proper paperwork had not been provided for the vehicle’s purchase, the emails indicate.

After the vehicle was received, it was outfitted with what appear to be standard

tions in Southern California.

Kavanaugh’s appearance in Waco highlighted Kavanaugh’s long history with Starr, most notably his stint as a prosecutor in Starr’s independent counsel investigation of President Bill Clinton.

Starr became a household name in the late 1990s because of his investigation of Clinton’s affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky Kavanaugh pushed Starr to ask Clinton in graphic detail about phone sex and specific sexual acts, according to a 1998 memo.

At a dinner honoring Starr a year later, Kavanaugh said Starr deserved a seat on the Supreme Court, though he acknowledged it was unlikely In 2018, Starr was among those who publicly defended Kavanaugh, then a Supreme Court nominee, as he faced sexual misconduct allegations, including from Christine Blasey Ford, who said he groped her at a party when they were teenagers and tried to remove her clothes.

“The President has disgraced his office, the legal system and the American people by having sex with a 22-year-old intern and turning her life into a shambles — callous and disgusting behavior that has somehow gotten lost in the shuffle,” Kavanaugh wrote. Starr followed Kavanaugh’s advice and his report, filled with the salacious details, was released in full by House Republicans, who ultimately impeached Clinton for lying under oath. The Senate acquitted him.

police upgrades, such as lights and sirens. Making the payments for those upgrades seems to have caused additional confusion over the process.

“The police have been ordering that stuff and have not been doing it right,” one

email stated. The agency said the confusion was eventually resolved.

Five police SUVs were delivered to the agency on Aug. 19, the same day that Rondeno and the agency’s top brass were answering

lawmakers’ questions in Baton Rouge. The remaining 10 vehicles are on order and will be received in the coming months.

Email Alex Lubben at alex.lubben@ theadvocate.com.

Forfive decades, Arthur Hardyhas been our neighbor, our guide,and the keeper of our Carnivalmemories. From his Gentillykitchen table in 1977 to receiving the keytothe city in 2024,Hardy transformed himself from aBrother Martin band director into the man we allabout Mardi Gras. Hisannual guide has reached over 3million readers, but for us locals, Arthur is family, the trusted voice whogets it right,who rodewithRex after documenting them fordecades, whostood with us throughthe police strikeof’79,Katrina’saftermath, and everymagical momentin between. This 112-page celebration bringstogether the stories onlyArthur could tell, filled with photographs that capture the paradesyou remember,the krewesyou cheered for, and the moments thatmade youproud to be apart of Mardi Gras.

Open these pagesand relive the Carnivalseasons thatshapedour city throughthe eyes of the manwho chronicled them all. From the female krewe revolutionthatsaw Iris grow largerthan Endymiontothe emotional 2006 return when parade-goers held signs saying simply “Thank you,” Arthur shares the intimate stories behind fivedecadesof purple,green, and gold. Whether youremember saving throws from the ’80s,bringing your children to their first parade in the ’90s, or celebrating our resilience in recentyears, this bookhonors your memories and the traditions you’ve passed down. Arthur Hardyhas preservedthe soul of what makes us NewOrleanians, making this the perfect holidaygift for anyone whobleeds the purple,green, and gold of Mardi Gras. Booksship in time for holidaygift-giving!

BY MICHELLEL.PRICE Associated Press

WASHINGTON— In aweek when Americans witnessed apublic political assassination,oceans of angrywords and acollective senseofhorror and exhaustion, one man stepped up to amicrophone and said something that stood out: It doesn’thave to be like this. That man, Utah Gov.Spencer Cox, appeared weary, emotional, at times angry and on the verge of tears Friday.While he had the country’sattention, he used the moment to ask his fellow Americans to turn down the temperature. Cox, long an advocate for civility,said he didn’t“want to get too preachy.” But he described the moment as one where the country’svery ideals were on the line. He made an impassioned plea for Americans and youngpeople in particular to use the hor-

SUSPECT

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“Ladies and gentlemen, we got him,” Cox said soon after the arrest was first heralded by President Donald Trump on the Fox News show “Fox &Friends.”

Robinson is believed to have acted alone,and the investigation is ongoing,Cox said. He was arrested on suspicion of capital murder, weapons and obstruction offenses. He was expected to be formally charged Tuesday ahead of an initial court appearance.

Robinson’sarrest late Thursday cappeda frenetic day-and-a-half search that just hours earlier seemed stuck when authorities pleaded fortipsand leads from the public. The assassination while Kirk was speaking at Utah Valley University reverberatedacross the country because of his outsize influence in conservative circles, his close connections with Trump and because of the questions it raised about the escalating toll of political violence that hasspannedthe ideological spectrum.

“This is our moment:Do we escalate or do we findan off-ramp?” Cox asked, making an impassionedpleafor youngpeople to bridge differences through common ground rather thanviolence. “It’sachoice.”

Newdetails

Authorities, who have yet to reveal amotive, described evidence they said shed potential light on the slaying.

Ammunition foundwith the weapon was engraved with taunting, anti-fascist and meme culture messages, includingone bullet casing that said, “Hey,fascist! Catch!” Cox said. In addition, aroommate shared with authorities messages from the chatting app Discord that involved acontact named Tyler and

ror of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination as an inflection point to turn the country away from political violence anddivision.

“This is our moment: Do we escalate or do we find an off-ramp?” Cox told anews conference in Utah as he announced authorities had asuspect in Kirk’skilling in custody.“It’sa choice.”

Throughout his political career,Cox,a two-term Republicangovernor, hasissued pleas forbipartisan cooperation and at times drawn nationalattentionfor hisempathetic remarks. His speech on Friday washis most emotional and prominentexampleyet,as he urgedanappeal to commonground and humanity to forgeabetter society.It was amarked departure from the bellicose rhetoric oftenemployed in recent years by U.S. politicians, especially President Donald Trump,who is knownfor

provocativelanguage and has blamed Kirk’skilling on “radical left” rhetoric. ‘Politicsfeels like rage’

On Wednesday,after Kirk’s killing, Cox madeaninitial plea. On Friday, acknowledging he was running on only 90 minutes of sleep after days of the manhunt for Kirk’s killer and heated rhetoric unfurling online, he went further

Hisvoice appearing to break at times,Cox said that theresponse to violence and hatecan be moreviolence and hate. “Andthat’s the problem withpolitical violence,” he said. “Itmetastasizesbecausewecan always pointthe fingeratthe other side. And at some point, we have to find an off-ramp,or it’sgoing to getmuch, much worse.”

“History will dictate if this is aturningpoint for our country,”hesaid. “But everysingle one of us getsto

discussed arifle wrapped in atowel, engraved bullets and ascope, the governor said. AMauser .30-caliber, bolt-action rifle wasfound in atowel in awooded area along the path investigators believe Robinson took after firing asingle shotfroma distant roof and then fleeing. Theclothesthe suspect wore when confronted by law enforcementlate Thursday matched what he hadonwhen he arrived on campus, and afamily memberconfirmedhedrove a gray Dodge Challenger like the one seen in surveillance videothatrecordedRobinson driving to the university the day of the shooting, Cox said.

Robinson’sfather recognized him from the photos released by the FBIand told him to turn himself in Robinsonrefused at first, but then changed his mind, according to alaw enforcement officialwho spokeon thecondition of anonymity to discussanongoing investigation. His father contacted their youthpastor, whoalso occasionally works withthe U.S. marshalsand called the agency so Robinson could turn himself in Meanwhile, investigators continuedtodig into the background of Robinson, who was admitted to Utah State University, about 80

miles north of Salt Lake City,onaprestigious academic scholarship, according to avideo of him reading his acceptance letter posted to afamily member’ssocial media account. However, he attendedfor only onesemester in 2021, auniversity spokesperson said.

Robinson currently is enrolled in an electrical apprenticeship program at DixieTechnical Collegenear his hometown,asuburbof St.George in southern Utah. He is registered as an unaffiliated voter and does notappear to have aprior criminal record. His address was still listed as his parents’ home, about a31/2-hour drive southofthe campus where Kirkwas shot.

Family members of Robinsondid notimmediately return messagesseeking comment. It was notclear if he had alawyer At his family’shome, windowcoverings were drawn, and apickup truckblocked access to the driveway.There was aheavy law enforcement presence, with several police vehicles parked along the street, which was closed at bothends

‘Hedidn’tdeserve this’

Kirk was aconservative activistwho became apowerfulpolitical force by rallying youngRepublican voters

choose right nowifthisisa turning point for us.”

The 50-year-old governor, whohas fourchildren who are teenagers andyoung adults, directed some of his remarks to young people: “You are inheriting acountry where politicsfeels like rage. It feelslike rage is the only option.”

But, Cox said, adifferent pathispossible: “Your generation hasanopportunitytobuild aculture that is very differentthanwhatwe are suffering through right now.”

He said the 22-year-old suspect in Kirk’skilling hadbecome “more political” in the run-up to Wednesday’sshooting on auniversitycampus Coxalso spokeofthe harms of social media and said it was terrible that Kirk’sslaying was “so gruesomely displayed” foreveryone to watch online.

“Weare not wired as human beings biologically,his-

torically we have notevolved in away that we are capable of processing those types of violent imagery,” Coxsaid.

“This is notgoodfor us.Itis notgoodtoconsume. Social media is acancer on our society right now.”

Nothingnew forCox

As governor, Coxhas sought to curb the harms of social media on young people,signinglaws that require social media companies to verifythe ages of their users anddisable certain features on accounts of minors.

Though he lives in heavily Republican Utah, where little bipartisan action is needed for his party to enact its agenda, Cox has for years emphasized respect and unity.Asgovernor,hehas consistently invoked aneed forcivility —atrait that’sat home in the culture of the ChurchofJesus Christ of Latter-daySaints, afaith to

andwas afixture on college campuses, where he invited debate on social issues. Kirk co-founded the nonprofit political organization Turning Point USA, based in Arizona. He had been speaking at acampus debate on thefirststopofhis “American Comeback Tour”atthe

time of Wednesday’s shooting. He wastaking questions from an audience member about gunviolence when a shot rang out. Kirk reached up with his right hand as blood gushedfrom theleft side of his neck. Twodayslater,law en-

whichCox and manyinthe state belong. His more moderate tone becamerarer as Utah’spolitics drifted rightward in the Trump era. At astatewide convention of Utah Republicans in April 2024, Cox was booed. “Maybe youhatethat Idon’thate enough,” Cox told the crowd. He still won his state’sGOP primary and reelection in November In 2016, Cox drew national attentionfor his remarks after amass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.Then, he called for people to come together and appealed to their “better angels.” He also apologized for having been unkind while in high school to students he later learned were gay He alsodrewattention during his 2020 campaign forgovernor,inwhich he appeared in television ads with hisDemocraticopponentas they pledgedto“disagree without hating each other.”

forcement officers continued to sweep the UtahValley campus forevidencewhile the announcementofanarrest brought some relief.

“There’s been this like really heavy, dark weight pressedovermyheart and soul for the last two days, and waking up to the news of the shooter being capturedtoday,itisagreat thing,”said Creighton Baird, whowas close enough to the stage to see horrific imagesthat continue replaying in his mind. Trump, who was joined by Democrats in condemning the violence, said he would award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom,the nation’shighest civilian honor Vice President JD Vance andhis wife,Usha,escorted Kirk’scasket to his home state of Arizona aboard Air Force TwoonThursday “Hewanted to helpyoung people, and he didn’tdeserve this,”Trump said Friday. “He was really agood person.”

comeasa shock, leading people to put offorevengowithout care. Simply put—without dentalinsurance, there maybe an importantgap in your healthcare coverage.

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTO By LINDSEy WASSON

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox speaks Fridayata news conference as Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason, left, and FBI Director Kash Patel listen in Orem, Utah.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByLINDSEy WASSON

WendyLucas, aUtah ValleyUniversity student, kneels at a memorial set up for Charlie Kirk at Utah ValleyUniversity in Orem, Utah, on Friday

with meteorologist Damon Singleton

so we’re not expecting much rain at all Saturday or Sunday. The afternoon UV Index will remain “very high” this weekend, so protect yourself from the sun. We’re watching a tropical wave off the West African coast.

BY DAVID A. LIEB Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY Mo. — Missouri

Republicans handed President Donald Trump a political victory Friday giving final legislative approval to a redistricting plan that could help Republicans win an additional U.S. House seat in next year’s elections.

The Senate vote sends the redistricting plan to Republican Gov Mike Kehoe, who said he will sign it into law soon. But opponents immediately announced a referendum petition that, if successful, could force a statewide vote on the new map.

“This fight is not over Missouri voters — not politicians — will have the final say,” said Elsa Rainey, a spokesperson for People Not Politicians, which is leading the referendum effort

U.S. House districts were redrawn across the country after the 2020 census to account for population changes But Missouri is the third state to take up mid-decade redistricting this year in an emerging national battle for partisan advantage ahead of the midterm elections. Republican lawmakers in Texas passed a new U.S. House map last month aimed at helping their party win five additional seats. Democratic lawmakers in California countered with their

own redistricting plan aimed at winning five more seats, but it still needs voter approval.

Democrats need to gain just three seats to win control of the House, which would allow them to obstruct Trump’s agenda and launch investigations into him.

On his social media site Friday

Trump touted Missouri’s “much fairer, and much improved, Congressional map” that he said “will help send an additional MAGA Republican to Congress in the 2026 Midterm Elections.”

Republicans currently hold

six of Missouri’s eight U.S. House seats. The revised map passed the Republican-led state House earlier this week as the focal point of a special session called by Kehoe that also includes a proposal making it harder for citizen-initiated constitutional amendments to win voter approval. That proposal, which still needs voter ratification, would require future initiated amendments to pass in each of Missouri’s congressional districts instead of by a simple statewide majority No

Mo. maps advance; lawsuits ahead

other state has such a standard. The Republican-led Senate passed both measures Friday after changing the chamber’s rules, then shutting off Democratic opponents. Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck said afterward that he plans to help gather the more than 100,000 signatures needed in 90 days to force a referendum on the redistricting plan.

Kehoe has promoted the reshaped districts as a way to amplify “Missouri’s conservative, common-sense values” in Washington, D.C. Missouri’s revised map targets a seat held by Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver by shaving off portions of his Kansas City district and stretching the rest of it into Republican-heavy rural areas. The plan reduces the number of Black and minority residents in Cleaver’s district, partly by creating a dividing line along a street that has served as a historical segregation line between Black and white residents.

Two lawsuits already have been brought, including one filed Friday on behalf of voters that contends mid-decade redistricting isn’t allowed under the Missouri Constitution. A hearing is scheduled for Monday on another lawsuit previously filed by the NAACP

Democrats want health care demands met to avoid shutdown

BY MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press

WASHINGTON Senate Democratic Leader

Chuck Schumer weathered backlash from Democrats earlier this year when he voted with Republicans to keep the government open. But he’s now willing to risk a shutdown at the end of the month if Republicans don’t accede to Democratic demands. Schumer says he and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries are united in opposing any legislation that doesn’t include key health care provisions and a commitment not to roll them back. He argues that the country is in a different place than it was in March, when he vigorously argued against a shutdown, and he says he believes Republicans and President Donald Trump will be held responsible if they don’t negoti-

ate a bipartisan deal. “Things have changed” since the March vote, Schumer said on Thursday. He said Republicans have since passed Trump’s massive tax breaks and spending cuts legislation, which trimmed Medicaid and other government programs, and Democrats are now unified. A shutdown, Schumer said, wouldn’t necessarily worsen an environment in which Trump is already challenging the authority of Congress. “It will get worse with or without it, because Trump is lawless,” Schumer said. Schumer’s threat comes as Republicans are considering a short-term stopgap spending measure to avoid a Sept. 30 shutdown and as Democrats face what most see as two tough choices if the parties can’t negotiate a deal vote with Republicans to keep the government open or let it close

indefinitely with no clear exit plan. It also comes amid worsening partisan tensions in the Senate, where negotiations between the two parties over the confirmation process broke down for a second time on Thursday and Republicans are changing Senate rules to get around Democratic objections to almost all of Trump’s nominees. Trump said Friday to not “even bother” negotiating with Democrats “If you gave them every dream, they would not vote for it,” Trump said.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has repeatedly said that Schumer needs to approach Republicans with a specific proposal on health care, including an extension of expanded government tax credits for many Americans who get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act.

States taking steps to ease access to COVID vaccines

BY GEOFF MULVIHILL Associated Press

The governors of Arizona, Illinois, Maine and North Carolina on Friday joined the growing list of Democratic officials who have signed orders intended to ensure most residents can receive COVID-19 vaccines at pharmacies without individual prescriptions. Unlike past years, access to COVID-19 vaccines has become complicated in 2025, largely because federal guidance does not recommend them for nearly everyone this year as it had in the past.

CVS Health, the biggest pharmacy chain in the U.S., says its stores are offering the shots without an individual prescription in 41 states as of midday Friday But the remaining states — Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, North Carolina, Oregon, Utah and West Virginia, plus the District of Columbia — require individual prescriptions under the company’s interpretation of state policies. Arizona, Maine and North Carolina are likely to come off that list as the new orders take effect there.

“I will not stand idly by while the Trump Administration makes it harder for Maine people to get a vaccine that protects their health and could very well save their life,” Maine Gov Janet Mills said in the statement. “Through this standing order, we are stepping up to knock down the barriers the Trump Administration is putting in the way of the health and welfare of Maine people.”

At least 14 states 12 with Democratic governors, plus Virginia, where Republican Glenn Youngkin is governor have announced policies this month to ease access. North Carolina’s orders were narrower than most They apply to everyone age 65 and over and people who are at least 18 and have a risk factor Other adults would still need prescriptions. Officials said the order takes effect immediately, but that all pharmacies might not have supplies on hand right away In past years, the federal government has recommended the vaccines to all Americans above the age of 6 months.

This year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved them for people age 65 and over but said they should be used only for children and younger adults who have a risk factor such as asthma or obesity

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy fired the entire Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in June, accusing of them of being too closely aligned with the companies that make the vaccines. The replacements include vaccine skeptics.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By DAVID A. LIEB

Opponents of a Republican plan to redraw Missouri’s U.S. House districts march through a hallway outside the state Senate chamber in Jefferson City, Mo., on Wednesday.

NOLA.COM | Saturday, September 13,2025 1bN

Airbnb to appeal courtdecision

Case joinsothersin5th Circuitonshort-termrentals

BY ANTHONY McAULEY Staff writer

Airbnb said it plans to appeal a federal court decision that upheld nearly all of New Orleans’ tough short-term rental rules.

The decision, made last week in U.S. District Court for theEastern District of Louisiana, marked the

Poll shows Moreno’s lead growing

Thomas gaining in N.O. mayoral race

BY JAMES FINN Staff writer

Amonth before New Orleans’ municipal primary,Helena Moreno has grown her lead in the mayoral race whileOliver Thomas has regained his second-place position, accordingtoanew poll.

The poll performed by MasonDixonPolling and Strategy shows 51% of voters would back Moreno in the race, the first publicly available data showing her results above 50%. The City Council vice president has hovered afew percentage points shy of that figure in aseries of recent publiclyreleased voter surveys.

Candidates need to secure more than half the vote to win the race outright in the Oct. 11 primary.Ifnecessary,a runoff will be held on Nov.15. Thomas, who representsDistrict Eonthe City Council, polled second to Moreno at 16%, according to WVUE-TV,which funded the poll. State Sen. Royce Duplessis, whoentered the race in late June and later surpassed Thomas in apairofpolls, slidtothird place with 11% of voters identifying him as their choice.

Mason-Dixon, aJacksonville, Florida-based nonpartisan political consulting and polling firm, performed the survey between Sept. 8and 12. The firm surveyed 625registered New Orleans voters by phone in that time, accordingto the television station.

WVUE-TV publishedpartial results on its website Friday.Brad Coker,the pollster for Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy who ran thesurvey,confirmed theresults to The Times-Picayune. With Thomasleapfrogging Duplessis, the resultsshowa volatile, still-shifting field as the window closesbeforethe October primary.Fifteen percent of surveyed voters remain undecided in the race. Among Black voters, 22% said they have yettochoosewho to vote for comparedwith just6%of White voters.

latest chapterinthe city’s long fight to rein in vacation rentals, which city officialsarguehave made housing less affordable and eroded the character of neighborhoods.

JudgeJay Zainey dismissed most of the claims brought by Airbnb and local property owners, siding with the City Council on an

ordinance that includespermitting caps, verification rules andblockby-block limits. His lone exception was afinding that someofthe city’s reporting mandates —requiring Airbnb to turn over transaction andrevenue data —ran afoul of constitutional protections against unreasonable searches.

“Werespectfully disagree with

the ruling and will take our case to the Fifth Circuit CourtofAppeals,” Airbnb spokesperson Jessica King-Garcia said via email on Friday

By pledging to appeal, Airbnb is sending the fight into the court that has become the country’slegal hot spot forshort-termrental battles

The 5th Circuit, which covers

Louisiana, Texasand Mississippi has several closely watched cases that are seen as crucial tests of the limits of property rights andmunicipal zoning power

In Marfil v. CityofNew Braunfels, Texas homeowners are challenging anear-total shortterm rental banthatwas upheld by alower court twoyearsago.The homeowners are arguing that the restrictions go so farthey amount

N.O. to clearSix Flagssite

$5Mdealtorestore infrastructure for redevelopment

BY DESIREE STENNETT Staff writer

New Orleans City Council members have agreed to spend $5 million on infrastructure work on theformerSix Flags site in New Orleans East,asthe Bayou Phoenixredevelopmentteam workstobring the site back into commerce

BayouPhoenix hasalreadystarted demolition on theamusementrides andbuildings at theformer theme park site, abandoned since Hurricane Katrina. The site has faced many obstacles to redevelopment over the past two decades.

Thedeal, approved by the council

in aunanimous vote on Thursday,is between thecity andthe NewOrleans Redevelopment Authority,which ownsthe land. Thecity will issue $1 million to NORA this year and the remaining $4 million in 2026.

The money will be used to clear 20 years’ worth of overgrown trees, weedsand grass on thesite. The authority will reactivate stormwater drainage, restore pumps,clear and restore catch basins and intake pump lines. It will also install solar lighting, repair and replace perimeter fencing and install subsurface drainage, District Ecouncil member Oliver Thomas said at the meeting.

Thomas, who is running for mayor, said the approval marked progress in the city’slong-overdue effort to mitigate blightonpublicly ownedland. The city’sefforts will make the site more desirable to investors, he said, as Bayou Phoenixaims to bring its vi-

Mosquito agency files complaintagainst DA

Conflictofinterest stemsfrom finance review,board says

BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer

The St. Tammany Mosquito AbatementDistrict has filed a disciplinary complaint against northshore DistrictAttorney Collin Sims, alleging aconflict of interest stemmingfrom his review

of themosquito district’sfinances for St. Tammany’sDOGE-like transparency committee. TheAug. 20 complaintaddressed to theLouisiana Attorney DisciplinaryBoard and signed by Vicki Traina-Dorge, who chairs themosquito district’sBoard of Commissioners, alleges that Sims, who is the district’slegal representative, “spearheaded an adversarial and invasive investigation.” The letteralso claims

sionoffilm studios,ayouth athletic complex, two hotels and awater park to fruition.

“When you talk about the Six Flags site —asite that we control —even if you didn’thave adeveloper,the city owns that property,” Thomas said. “Why wasn’tthe city mitigating the blight there? Why weren’twe investing in making sure the utilities wereback intact, that you were clearingthe site?…The city needed to be more responsible about howit maintained property that it wanted developed.”

The Bayou Phoenixteam’splan for the 225-acresite could cost more than $500 million and is still years away from completion.

“The role of this public-private partnership is for the city to assist with thestabilization of the property,” said

BY JILLIAN KRAMER Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO By JOHN McCUSKER

The NewOrleans CityCouncil voted Thursdaytoapprove $5 millioninfunding to help clearthe former SixFlags site in New Orleans East on Friday. The money, which will be given to the NewOrleans Redevelopment Authority overtwo years, will be used for site clearing,reactivating stormwater drainage, restoring pumps, clearing

restoring basins, installing solar lights and repairing and replacing perimeter fencing.The site, which has

Duplessis

Moreno

Thomas

to an unconstitutional taking of property without compensation.

Meanwhile, in a separate case from New Orleans that also made its way to the 5th Circuit, a group of property owners have challenged the city’s 2019 short-term rental rules, arguing that the requirement for hosts to live in their rental homes was unfair to out-of-state owners.

A federal district judge mostly sided with the city in that case, Hignell-Stark et al. v. City of New Orleans, but in 2022 the 5th Circuit struck down the residency rule, calling it unconstitutional because it discriminated against non-Louisiana owners. That ruling forced the City Council to rewrite its short-term rental ordi-

SIX FLAGS

Continued from page 1B

Troy Henry, the project’s developer “We’re not asking them to be investors necessarily in a hotel or something like that, but assisting with the infrastructure necessary to get the site into a developable condition is really the primary role we envision for the city and NORA.” Henry said negotiations are underway with a possible partner to operate the site’s youth athletic complex. He said he hopes to be able to announce the new partnership by the end of the year Brenda Breaux, executive director of the authority, said work still needs to be done at the site but progress, which can be seen from Interstate 10 near the area, has been made in demolition.

“I know many of you all have driven the I-10 going east and you would see that some of the big pieces of equipment that were nuisances are down,” she said. “We just took a tour of the site and the site has been clear, with the exception of a few buildings that will be retained on site.”

The remaining buildings were saved at the request

POLL

Continued from page 1B

Coker called the large percentage of undecided Black voters the poll’s “most important takeaway.” Black voters account for more than 80% of the total undecided vote, he said.

“A lot of Black voters are trying to figure out which island to land on,” he said.

“There’s a lot of volatility and therefore gains for candidates to make there.”

MOSQUITO

Continued from page 1B

that Sims “repeatedly refused” to recuse himself and was “obstructionist” in the district’s efforts to retain another legal representative, according to a copy of the complaint obtained from Mosquito Abatement Director Kevin Caillouet in response to a public records request.

This spring, St. Tammany Parish government launched a transparency committee and designated Sims as the committee’s “fact-finder.” The committee was formed amid increasing pressure for the parish government to find money for criminal justice system costs and aimed to scrutinize all government agencies’ budgets.

The committee chose the mosquito district for its first review leading to a tense back-and-forth between Sims and Caillouet, as Sims worked with a forensic auditor to study the district’s finances.

Caillouet has said that al-

STAFF FILE PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Moving trucks were seen July 13, 2023, around the corner from the 1400 block of Carondelet Street in New Orleans where many recently built homes were being used as short-term rentals.

nances in 2023. The same plaintiffs filed suit again after the rules were updated The fight has continued in federal court over the new rules, with city winning on some points such as limits on who can

hold a rental permit — while other challenges remain active at the 5th Circuit.

Homeowners’ appeals

Legal scholars at the Tulane Law Review have highlighted the Hignell-Stark

case as significant because of the broader legal matters it contains. It would likely be the first federal appellate decision applying the Dormant Commerce Clause to the short-term rental market, which weighs whether local regulations improperly interfere with business that crosses state lines.

“The primary thing at issue is what homeowners — not commercial businesses, but homeowners can do with their property,” said Dawn Wheelahan, a lawyer for the plaintiffs in the Hignell-Stark case.

Other state courts have also weighed in, producing decisions that while not binding in the 5th Circuit, influence how courts nationwide think about short-term rental rules.

The Idaho Supreme Court struck down a city’s owneroccupancy requirement as preempted by state law, and Hawaii’s high court barred

short-term rentals in agricultural districts.

For New Orleans, Zainey’s ruling means city officials can continue enforcing rules that took effect last year, including a lottery system for issuing permits and a requirement that platforms police their own listings.

When the ruling came down, Mayor LaToya Cantrell and the City Council hailed it as a clear validation of their authority

“This is a massive win for the residents of New Orleans,” City Council President JP Morrell said. “Airbnb has fought us tooth and nail to keep the City Council from regulating short-term rentals, and this ruling is a resounding judgment in favor of that regulatory authority.”

Council spokesperson

Samuel Myers said Friday that the council had no comment on Airbnb’s decision to appeal.

of composer Elvin Ross, the first tenant to sign a formal lease to build a film studio on the site, Breaux said. Ross’ team plans to use the buildings as part of their plan to

Asked for comment on the poll, Moreno said she is “inspired by the continued excitement to move our city in a new direction.”

“My focus remains steadfast and we will leave no stone unturned to earn the support of every voter wanting change for a better city with improved services,” she said in a statement. “It’s time to move on from what has been and forge a new path to a brighter future for New Orleans.”

Thomas’ campaign on Friday called the results

though he has no problem with a financial review, he believes Sims was not impartial or qualified to do the review and that the review posed a conflict of interest since Sims is Mosquito Abatement’s legal representative.

Against Sims’ wishes, the Mosquito Abatement board voted in May to hire other legal representation The Aug. 20 complaint also accuses Sims of a “misuse of public funds” in undertaking the investigation, “operating outside of statutory scope,” and “intimidation by use of elected office,” among other allegations.

“It is unfortunate that Mr Sims has neglected his duty to the taxpayers by not representing their dedication of taxes for mosquito abatement services and attacking this critical service in an effort to find funds for his office,” Caillouet said in a statement to The TimesPicayune.

Sims has in the past acknowledged he played an awkward role on the transparency committee, which also prompted concern

build out a studio, parking lot and event space, she added.

Jeff Schwartz, director of economic development for the city, said the approval will help bring

a sign of his continued upside, and took a jab at Moreno’s governing and social media strategy

“Oliver Thomas is the statesman best suited to lead us through a critical period in New Orleans’ history,” said his campaign manager, Ethan Ashley. “With less than a month to go, and an opponent unloading a million dollars in advertising, our message to voters is simple: Don’t be fooled You can’t govern the city from ribbon cuttings and Instagram reels.” A campaign strategist for

from some fire and recreation districts, but he has argued his larger goal is to improve the way taxes are structured in a parish where many independent taxing agencies like the fire districts and mosquito district have their own taxes and control their own budgets.

“I think all of this is a distraction from the bigger picture of how to save the citizens of St. Tammany Parish money, and using their money for all things that are important and not asking them for more money,” Sims said in an interview

He called the complaint an “act of desperation.”

“I am merely looking at what every citizen is entitled to see,” he said of his review of the mosquito district’s finances. “I have a responsibility to the citizens of the parish that all things work for all citizens and to help be a problem-solver.”

The transparency committee has been retooled in recent months, according to St. Tammany Parish Council member Joe Impastato, and he said a meeting with some

about long-awaited development at the New Orleans East site.

“This lays the groundwork, hopefully, for the Bayou Phoenix team to continue to advance, but

Duplessis, Tyronne Walker, said the results were “not consistent with any polling we have seen.”

“Sen. Duplessis has been all over the city from Tremé to the 9th Ward to Algiers, and the feedback he is receiving every day from actual voters is amazing,” Walker said. “It’s clear our people want to turn the page on the chaos at City Hall.”

Thomas and Duplessis launched barbs at the front-runner in recent days as they seek to push her into a runoff — Duples-

of the parish’s different taxing agencies is scheduled for Sept. 18. Sims said he is not a part of the committee.

Board resignation

Around two weeks after the complaint was filed, Terri Lewis Stevens, a Mosquito Abatement District board member and vocal critic of Sims’ investigation into the district, resigned from the board.

In her Sept. 5 resignation letter, Stevens alleges Parish President Mike Cooper asked her to resign in response to “repeated requests by D.A Sims and/or his staff and Council allies,” according to a copy of the letter Stevens shared.

Stevens said in an interview that when the board voted on whether to file the disciplinary complaint, she voted against it because she worried that a retaliatory measure would result “It subsequently occurred, just as I predicted,” Stevens said.

“I won’t comment on Ms. Stevens’ resignation directly but will say this: we need members on these boards to remember this is the

this is a worthy public investment in a publicly owned site,” he said.

Email Desiree Stennett at desiree.stennett@ theadvocate.com.

sis through a critical TV ad aired last weekend, and Thomas through a statement criticizing former Congressman Cedric Richmond’s and District Attorney Jason Williams’ public support for Moreno.

It’s too far from election day for Moreno to comfortably assume her 51% lead will hold, said Coker

“I wouldn’t put a big bet on her winning” outright on Oct. 11, Coker said.

Email James Finn at jfinn@theadvocate.com.

people’s money and OUR money should be spent on what we need not spent on what we want or spent because we can,” Sims said in a statement.

After a complaint is filed with the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board, the board screens it and sends it to the respondent, who then has the opportunity to respond to the allegations, according to Loyola University legal ethics professor Dane Ciolino.

The board then decides whether to drop the complaint or file formal charges.

The process, which is out of the public eye unless formal charges are filed, can take anywhere from two months to multiple years, Ciolino said. Disciplinary sanctions can range from private admonition to suspension of a lawyer’s license for impermissible conflicts of interest, he said. Sims said he has not yet been asked to respond to the complaint.

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

from page 1B

in his Algiers neighborhood. Investigators swabbed the vehicle’s steering wheel for DNA, which prosecutors said matched Harrison, then 17 years old.

Harrison’s first trial began in 2014, when Louisiana still allowed nonunanimous jury verdicts, and the DNA test used in his case was considered cutting-edge. That test, prosecutors argued at the time, left only a 1 in 73.7 million chance the DNA belonged to another Black man.

The woman who was carjacked that morning did not identify Harrison when shown a six-photo lineup. Neither did a man in the neighborhood who saw the robbery and reported it to police. A composite sketch drawn from witness descriptions bore little resemblance to Harrison.

Even so, a nonunanimous jury found Harrison guilty of second-degree murder and armed robbery It was a sign, attorneys say, of the strength of the DNA evidence at the time. A judge sentenced Harrison to life in prison.

But since then, the state has abolished split-jury convictions, standards for evaluating forensic evidence have tightened and DNA testing itself has grown more precise And by the time Harrison’s conviction was overturned in 2022 and his case was sent back to Orleans Parish Criminal District Court to be retried, what prosecutors once described as near-certain proof no longer carried the same force.

“As is often the case in older matters, the passage of time present significant challenges for prosecutors,” District Attorney Jason Williams said in a statement Friday. “Witnesses’ memories fade, witnesses may become unavailable and critical evidence must often be retested under modern standards.”

A retest using the latest technology found the odds that the DNA came from a Black man other than Harrison had dropped to 1 in 123,000 far weaker evidence, Harrison’s defense attorney, Scott Sherman, told a jury this week. The jury deliberated for about an hour before returning its verdict of not guilty on Thursday Sherman said Harrison was “grateful that the system — although it went slowly finally did the right thing.”

He added that the DNA test results were “by far the weakest match value I have ever seen.” Harrison remained incarcerated while his case wove through New Orleans’ court system. He was released from the city’s jail Thursday

“Although the jury ultimately determined that the evidence was not compelling enough to convict in this retrial, our office stands firmly committed to pursuing justice for every victim and family,” Williams said. Attempts to reach a member of Ainsworth’s family were not unsuccessful.

Authorities have said Ainsworth, a father of three, was dropping his two sons off at a bus stop when he heard a woman scream. He ran to the 500 block of Vallette Street, where he saw a man attempting to drive off with the woman’s vehicle.

Ainsworth threw himself atop the car, authorities said, and the robber shot him through the windshield with a 9 mm handgun.

Email Jillian Kramer at jillian.kramer@ theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By JOHN McCUSKER

The New Orleans City Council’s deal to help clear the former Six Flags site in New Orleans East was approved by the council in a unanimous vote on Thursday and is between the city and the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority, which owns the land. The city will issue $1 million to the authority this year and the remaining $4 million in 2026. The money will be used to clear 20 years’ worth of overgrown trees, weeds and grass on the site.

NewOrleans chiropractor sentencedto7years

Tekippebilked insurer$2.3M in fraudscheme

BY MISSY WILKINSON Staff writer

ANew Orleans chiropractor who

bilked Blue Cross and BlueShield of Louisiana out of $2.3 millionto bankroll luxury shopping, travel and gambling wassentenced Friday to seven years in federal prison, according to the U.S. Depart-

ment ofJustice. In April, afederal jury convicted Benjamin Tekippe on six countsof health care fraudand one count of wire fraudand ordered him to pay $753,794 in restitution.

“While thedefendant lounged on abeach in Aruba or sat incarcerated inajailcell …heled insurance companies …tobelieve he was right here …inLouisiana, personally performing chiropractic adjustments on his patients,” federal prosecutor Samantha Usher said in her opening remarks in U.S.District Court for the Eastern

District of Louisiana on March 24.

“The insurancecompanypaidout andultimatelyfundedthe defendant’s lavish lifestyle.”

Tekippe, 40, lured patientsto his Metairie and Westbankclinics with promises of afree massage, according to court documents. Someherecruited from parade routes,othersfromhis personal life. At Metairie Chiropractic & Rehab, patients were treated to hourlong massageswith spalike elementsincluding music, coconut oil and mood lighting.

“Although that may sound re-

laxing and wonderful, it was not a medical service,” Usher said.

Tekippe billedinsurance companies for additional services, including spinal manipulation, electrical stimulation, mechanical traction and therapeutic exercises —most of which he never performed. Of the$2.3 million he billed, he pocketed $740,000, according to the Department of Justice.

AfteraBlueCross and Blue Shield of Louisiana audit prompted by the number of massage therapy codes billed at the prac-

5arrestedincheck fraudscheme

Victim was Kenner police chief

BY MICHELLEHUNTER Staff writer

Five Georgia residents are behind bars after they unknowingly targeted the mailboxofthe Kenner chiefofpolice, authorities say, to steal mail as part of acheck fraudscheme.

Suspicions were raised when Chief KeithConley got aphone call on Tuesday from Shauntell Porter, an employee at abank in New Orleans,asking him to verify whether he’d written alarge check that someone had just come in to cash.

“When acustomer doesn’tusually write large checks likethat, it raises flags for me,” said Porter, afinancecenter supervisor whotrains employees to spot fraud. “I thought, ‘Let me reach out and dig into this alittle more’because it didn’tfeel right.” Kenner police say Porter’ssuspicions were on themoney Conley had indeed written acheck that very morning and placed it in his mailbox for pickup by his postal carrier.But the amount had been altered and increased, Kenner Police Deputy Chief Mark McCormick said. Conley immediately reviewed his home surveillance camerasand found video of acar pulling up to his mailbox and stealing the contents.

The nervous thief grabbed his belongings and fled the bank before authoritiesarrived, McCormick said. But Kenner police used details from the chief’s surveillance video and licenseplate recognition cameras to identify and track the suspects’ vehicle —a black Nissan Altima —to ashort-term rental apartmentinNew Orleans, McCormick said.

By Tuesday night, five suspects had been arrested at the location: Christine Smith, 57; Anthony

Lowe, 61; Pierre Watson, 39;Anthony Ferrell, 42; andStevenChandler Jr., 42, all of Georgia, McCormick said Investigators with the MajorCrimesTaskForce, theU.S.PostalInspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations helped servea search warrant at the rental property and seize stolen mail, including checks andequipment used to createfake checks, according to authorities.

The suspects were being held Friday at theOrleans Parishjail. Once transferred to JeffersonParish, theywill be booked with three counts of mail theft, McCormicksaid.

Local and federal authorities have been battlinglarge-scale mail theft forthe past fewyears. Crooksalter checks to stealcashfrombankaccounts or use identifying information in the letters to apply forcredit cards or commit other financial crimes, authorities said.

TheJeffersonParish Sheriff’s Officein2022 went as farastowarn the public to stopusing blue U.S. PostalService collection boxes for outgoing mail after the boxes wererepeatedly looted by thieves

Since then, USPS has worked to secureits blue boxes or removethem from use in somelocations altogether,accordingtoMcCormick

“I think that kind of killed alot of the way (mail thieves)did their business,” he said. “They hadtoevolvefromthere.”

Investigators suspect thecrew from Georgia, and others whotarget mail,followed daily delivery routes, checking neighborhoods for home mailboxes with raised flags signaling outgoing mail.

“It’skind of ared flag,” McCormick said.

Curbside mailboxes areparticularly vulnerable becausethieves don’t even have to approacha house. They can just pull up andopenthe mailbox Thus far,Kenner inves-

tigatorshave identified threevictims whose mail was stolen by the suspects from Georgia.Authorities are trying to identify the othervictims in the case. Police knowthe suspects paid visits to Chateau Estates and Grandlake Estates in Kenner,aswell as some areas in Metairie, McCormick said.

Kenner police are asking residents to review their surveillance video around Sept. 9for the suspects’ blackNissan Altima,which hasaFlorida licenseplate

Residents should also check their bank accounts forany suspicious activity,including checks cashed for inappropriate amounts.

“Now is thetime. We have themincustody,and we can make them responsible for thecrimes they’ve committedif

those victimscome forward,”McCormick said. Conley stopped by Porter’sbankbranch on Friday to thank herfor her actions, which prevented others from havingtheir money stolen. He came bearing cookies, ateddy bear and other Kenner policeswag.

In addition to routinely checking their accounts, Porter said residents can ward off fraud by asking their bank to notify them whenever checksofa certain amount or higherare submitted.

“I want everybody to be alert,” Porter said. “It’s so inconvenient when someone takes money that people go outevery day and work hard to earn.”

Email Michelle Hunter at mhunter@theadvocate. com.

BY ELYSE CARMOSINO Staff writer

tice, Tekippe instructed his staff to handwrite fake medical records, whichhesubmitted to the insurance company to back up his billing.

Tekippe fired amassage therapist who refused to forge notes about patients she’d neverseen. He falsely claimed his clinic was closed during the pandemic to collect $12,952 in unemployment benefits while billing forchiropractic services. He also did not disclose to the Louisiana BoardofChiropractic Examiners the nine arrests he accrued from 2002-19.

JeffersonParish teacher

Melanie Cade haslongwanted aspinning chairfor her kindergarten classroom, designedtohelpstudents with sensory issues focus. But after spending hundreds of dollars out of her ownpocket every summer to stock up on classroom necessities, she’s never had enough left over to cover the chair’s$150 price tag —until now This year,Jefferson Parish will more thandouble the amount it reimburses teachers for classroom essentials under anew agreement between the local teachers union and the School Board.

As of July 1, teachers in the district will receive up to $250 persemester as reimbursement for classroom purchases —a150% increase over the $100 they previously received.

Louisiana teachers spend an average of $540 of their own money annually on school supplies fortheir classrooms —morethan teachers in bordering states, according to a 2023 report by theLearning Policy Institute.

“I’m super excited,” Cade said,adding thatthe former stipend barely covered the cost of the dry-erase markers, Sharpiesand otheroffice supplies she needs to buy each year.“We can actually get some good things for the classroom.”

Theagreement, which was finalizedoverthe summer, also includes anew policy that requires thedistrict to pay teachers who substitute for their colleagues $20 per hour

It saysthe reimbursements can be put toward classroom decorand organizational products, suchasstorage bins; student learning tools, includingmath counters andletter tiles; technology accessories, likeheadphones; books and

otherinstructionalresources andgeneral classroom supplies. It can also cover registration fees for pre-approved conferences and workshops. The funds cannot be used to purchase personal items or accessories, gifts for staff or students, party decorations or cleaning supplies.

Teachers must submit their receipts by the last weekday of Novemberorthe last weekdayofApril to receive their reimbursement each semester.Unlike previous years, teachers who do notuse the entirety of theirallocation during the fall semester will not be allowed to roll over the unspent amount to the next semester,the agreementsays. The extra money will go alongway towardmaking classroomsmore welcoming for students, Cade said. Some of her colleagues told her they also plan to purchase sensoryfriendly items for their students, like small toys they can use to keep their hands busy during lessons or light covers to soften the fluorescent lighting in classrooms.

“It does make our job easier,” Cade said. The increase comes amid ongoing talks at both the districtand state levelabout boosting teacher salaries. Louisiana educators make almost $5,000 less on average than their counterparts in other Southern states,and JeffersonParish teachersalso makeless than their peers in neighboring districts with an average starting salary of around $51,000.

School Board president Chad Nugent said that while raising educator salaries would be ideal, increasing the amount they’re reimbursed for suppliesisanother way to compensate them andwill also ultimately benefit Jefferson Parish students.

Teachers “give alot to their classrooms,” he said, “and at the endofthe day, I’m happy thatwecan reimburse them for doing that.”

Email Elyse Carmosino at ecarmosino@theadvocate. com.

PHOTO PROVIDED By KENNER POLICE

Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley, left, presents cookies and gifts to Shauntell Porter,a bank employeeinNew Orleans, whonotified Conleypersonally that someone tried to to cash astolen check in his name.

Barrios,Dawn

FalconerJr.,Ramsey

Freeman,Rita

Johnson, Louise

Lieteau,Theyon

Scholl, Vita

White,Reginald

NewOrleans

Lake Lawn Metairie

Barrios,Dawn

Scholl, Vita

Majestic Mortuary

Lieteau,Theyon

St Tammany

EJ Fielding

FalconerJr.,Ramsey West Bank

Robinson FH

Johnson, Louise

Obituaries

Barrios, Dawn Mary

Dawn Mary Barrios passed awaypeacefullyat home on September 6, 2025, surrounded by her family, after avaliant fight against cancer. She was 72. She is survived by her three sons, Zachary Wool, Harrison Wool (Jen), and Spencer Wool; her ex-husband, Brandon Wool; her brother, Bruce Barrios (Val); her niece, Blaire Barrios Green (Shaun); her nephews, Byron Barrios (Ashley), Brett Barrios and Barrett Jacocks; many cousins; her granddog, and her grandcats. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Joycelyn; her beloved godson, Declan Green; and her granddogs, Jax and Pudge Dawn was atrailblazer. She attended Tulane Law School at atime where there was no bathroom for women in the law school. Her first job was clerking for Chief Justice Joe Sanders of the Louisiana Supreme Court, one she got by lying that she knew how to type (a fib that required her to furiously learn how to from her mom, who had fortunately been asecretary, before shestarted at the Court). She then entered private practice. Immediately after one of her early trials, the judge asked for apicture with her as proof for his friends that awoman actually tried acase in front of him. She achieved much personal and professional success in her life, but she never lost sight of the adage "to whom much is given, much is expected." She cherished mentoring young lawyers and helping them navigate the profession and life. No matter how busy she was, she was always ready and willing to help. Her spirit of generosity towards others will live on in those who knew her. A Celebration of Life willbe held on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 12:00 PM at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home in NewOrleans. Friends and family will have an opportunity to share stories about her generosity of spirit towards others. A reception will immediately follow until 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, her sons ask that donations maybe made in her memory to causes she held dear: A Studio in the Woods, an artist residency program (astudiointhewoods.org); Children's Hope, an orphanage in Haiti (www.childrenshope.com); WYES, the New Orleans PBS station; or Second Harvest Food Bank.

Mr.RamseyAugustus Falconer, Jr., knownas Bookie”tohis close friends andfamily, passed fromthisearth on Tuesday, August26, 2025. He was bornonOctober 21,1932 inBaton Rouge, Louisiana, six weeksprior to hisdue date, as theonlyson of RamseyAugustusFal‐coner,Sr. and Eunice Miller Falconer. He waspreceded indeath by hisparents one grandchild Morgan Keith Falconer,and in 2007 byhis wife of 52 years, MarthaNettles Falconer Heissurvivedbytheir two children, Ramsey Reid Fal‐coner (Celeste Falconer) and ElizabethHall(Michael Hall); five grandchildren, DrewFalconer(Lisa), Caro‐lineFalconerFreeland, Cayla Willingham (Matthew), Ryan Hall (Amanda)and John Hall (Rachel); eleven greatgrandchildren;a largefam‐ily of aunts, uncles,and cousins spread outacross the countryand alifetime offriends andcolleagues. Ramseygraduated from Baton RougeHighSchool in1950 where he played on the basketball team that won the statechampi‐onship. He went on to fin‐ish LSUin1954 with ade‐greeinphysicaleducation inone hand anda commis‐sioninthe US AirForce in the other, andhepromptly reported to Mariana Florida forpilottraining. In 1955 he andMarthawere married at theBaptist Stu‐dentUnion on the campus ofLSU.After histourof dutyinthe service, Ram‐sey andMarthasettled backinBaton Rougewhere hejoinedthe staff of West‐daleJunior High School and begana lifetime of service Afterhis time teachingand coaching, Ramseyjoinedthe YMCA where he served in Baton Rouge,and Knoxville, Ten‐nessee. He wasthe found‐ing director of theY in Greeneville,Tennessee, and went on to servein Houston andBeaumont, Texas,eventuallyretiring fromthe YMCA.Ramsey was adevoted follower of Jesus Christ,havingre‐ceivedhis licenseto preachearly in hiscareer and remaininganactive memberofthe Methodist Church in theeachofthe communities where they lived,and finallyMemorial Drive UMC in Houston. He was always readytoteach a Sunday School Class, offera prayer,orsinga hymnwithenthusiasm. Re‐tirementoften found him inthe marshesaround Houston shootingducks doves,and geese, fishing inthe gulf,orsailinghis sailboat, theAlizé. At the age of 78 he completedhis solo flight to once again qualify forhis airplane pilot’s license. Ramseywas known by allwho knew him forhis boundless en‐thusiasm, hiskindness, his engaginghumor,and his loveofpeople. Forhis work inthe community,his ser‐vicetohis faith, andhis in‐spiration to hisfriends and familyhewillbeforever missed. Hismotto through good timesand difficult times always remained “I choosetobehappy.” The familywishestothank the staff of TheWindsor,The Peristyle at Beau West, and PassagesHospice fortheir lovingcare. In lieu of flow‐ers,contributions in mem‐ory of Mr.Falconermay be madetothe PermanentEn‐dowment Fund of St.Timo‐thy on theNorthshore Methodist Church.Rela‐tives andfriends arein‐vited to attend thegrave‐sideservicesatResthaven GardenofMemories, 11817 Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge,Louisiana,70816, on Tuesday,September 16, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.,the Rev‐erend JamesMitchelloffi‐ciating.E.J.FieldingFuneral Home, 2260 W.21st Avenue Covington,Louisiana 70433, has been entrustedwith funeralarrangements. The FalconerFamilyinvites you toshare thoughts,fondest memoriesand condo‐lencesonlineatE.J.Field‐ing FuneralHome Guest Book at www.ejfieldingfh com

Freeman,Rita Celestine

Rita Celestine "Cel" or "Sally"Freeman, age94, of NewOrleans, LA, entered eternal rest on September 4, 2025. BornonFebruary 18, 1931, she liveda long and full life rooted in faith, love,and devotiontoher family.A proud alumna of St.Mary's Academy, Rita went on to serveasa Special Education Teacher's Assistant and became arenowned seamstress, lending care, skill, and attentiontoevery endeavorshe pursued.She was thebeloved wife of thelateSamuel FreemanII, with whom she shared many years of love and partnership.Together, they builta family grounded in strength,compassion,and resilience. Rita was theproud mother of four children: Samuel FreemanIII,the late Kevin Freeman, JudyFreeman, and MarciaFreeman. She is also survivedbyher sister, Ursula Johnson, and sister-in-law, Marion Briscoe. She was preceded in deathbyher parents, AlphonseSr. and Beatrice SamBriscoe; her son Kevin; her sister Leatrice; and threebrothers, AlphonseJr.,Charles, and Anthony. She is also survivedbyher granddaughter, Jeannine Therese FreemanDukes, and three great-grandchildrenJaden, Jordan, and JaliaDukes who were thejoy of her lateryears. Her "extended village" included her cousin-turned "adopted" granddaughter,Karima HillsHopkins,( Derrick) their children: Lamont, Trinity, Davhian,and Kasiyah. Affectionately known as "Grammy" to a wide circleofcousins, nieces, nephews, and "adopted" grandchildren, AMass of ChristianBurial willbecelebrated on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at St.RitaCatholic Church, 2729 Lowerline St., NewOrleans, LA 70125. Visitation willbegin at 9:00 a.m.,followedbyMass at 10:00 a.m. Interment Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery

Johnson,LouiseJenkins

StephenFullGospelBaptist Church locatedat5600 ReadBlvd.,New Orleans LA. 70127. Thevisitation willbegin at 10:30AM fol‐lowed by an 11AMservice PastorDebra B. Morton will officiateand intermentwill followinHoltCemetery New OrleansLA. Funeral planningentrusted to RobinsonFamilyFuneral Home, 9611 LA-23, Belle Chasse LA.70037 (504) 2082119. Foronlinecondo‐lencespleasevisit www robinsonfamilyfuneralho me.com

Theyon Marion Lieteau entered into rest on Sun‐day,August31, 2025. She was born in NewOrleans, LA. On January5,1928 to parents,Johnand Thelma Jackson Doucette.She at‐tendedCorpusChristi Ele‐mentary School,HolyMary HighSchool.Theyonen‐joyed both basketball and track teams. Aftergraduat‐ing High School shebegan working at Haspel factory Theyonmarried Halvan (Hal) Lieteauand began her sixty-threeyears of traveland adventurein‐cluding,Brazil, Japan, Korea andItaly.Halvan, serving in theUnited StatesArmywas stationed inNew York City.Halvan and Theyon raised two childreninNew York City, Hallene andLawrence, re‐sidinginQueens. Theyon was employed by AT&T makingither career until she decidedraising her familywas thepriority. Theyonremainedfocused, working part time at a local department store, raising herchildrenand maintaining herdeeply re‐ligious values.She regu‐larly attended St.Theresa ofAvila Parish in Queens, takingonanactive fundraisingrole. Hallene and Michael, son-in-law presented Theyon with two grandchildren,Marrissa Roseand Harrison Joseph, whomshe loveddearly. Theyon, knownaffection‐ately as T.T. Tee, Tedie, Tia, alwaysfostereda wel‐come, warm andentertain‐ing home.The true NewOr‐leans “Laissez lesbon temps rouler”ruled theLi‐eteau residence. Theyon was adevoted wife for63 years,Halvanpassedin 2016 andismissedevery day.Theyonwas theoldest of8 siblings andwas pre‐deceasedbysiblings, Ed‐ward, John, Huey,Dean (Clavo),Donald, Walter and Edith (Richardson).Being Louisiana Creole,many nieces, cousinsand friends.Relatives and friends of thefamilyare all invited to attend aMassof Christian Burial on Mon‐day,September 15, 2025 at 11:00 am at St.Martinde PorresCatholicChurch, 5621 ElysianFieldsAve New Orleans, Louisiana 70122. Visitation will begin at9:00am. Burial will be private.Inlieuof flowers, pleasemakea donation to a charityofyourchoice. Professionalarrangements entrusted to Majestic Mor‐tuary Service, Inc. (504) 523-5872.

Louise JenkinsJohnson was born on July 12, 1947 and transitioned into eter‐nal rest on Monday August 25, 2025 at theage of 78 She wasa native andlife‐longresidentofNew Or‐leans LA.Daughterofthe lateNoble andEvelina BarnesJenkins.Wifeofthe lateJimmieLee Johnson. Motherofthe late James Lee JohnsonIII. Grand‐motherofLaKeishaCrosby, Jamesha Harang and James Walker.Great grandmother of Layla Keyes,SterlingKeyes III, Lilyana Keyesand Byron Kelly Jr.Bonus grand‐motherofTyece and Te'Saun Walker.Sisterof Mae HelenLewis andthe lateFlorencePellerin, Mary Jenkins,IrmaJenkins Josephine Singleton, Ethel Manuel, Thelma Lanella Jenkins Manning, Johnny Jenkins,Frank Jenkins, RobertJenkins,Andrew Jenkins andArthur Jenkins. Sisterinlaw of Charlene Johnson andOllie Johnson. Mrs Johnsonisalsosur‐vived by severalnieces, nephews,cousins,other relatives anddevoted friends.Relatives and friends of thefamilyare in‐vited to attend thefuneral service of Saturday Sep‐tember 13, 2025 at GreatSt. Ready to Downsize& SecureaStress-FreeFuture? Let this SeniorsReal Estate Specialist® Help....

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Scholl, VitaRoseSpence

Vita Rose Spence Scholl of Covington, Louisiana, passed away on September 3, 2025, at the age of 79. She is preceded in death by herparents, Tom P. Spence andRita R. Lanson Spence,her sister KathleenA.Rathey, and herhusbandof51years, John A. Scholl.Vitaissurvived by herbrother, Matthew P. Spence,nieces Elizabeth R. Spence, Stephanie Scholl (Rick), Dorothy Scholl,and nephew JefferyScholl (Jessica),aswellas5 great nieces andnephews. Born on November 27, 1945, Vita wasa native of New Orleans, Louisiana and spent thelast 20 years in St,TammanyParish.She graduatedJohnMcDonogh Senior High School. A longtime member of St Benedict'sCatholic Church,Vita also participated in the Kaycettes, Pontchartrain Astronomy Society, andthe Pontchartrain Garden Club. Sheloved collecting panadas andwon Kaycettes'sLady of the Year in 2018. Herworkhistory includesWilliam B. Coleman, andBourbon French Perfume Shop. She also wasthe long-time caretaker of herMother-inLaw.She will be greatly missed and fondlyrememberedbyall that knew and lovedher.The family wouldliketoexpress their gratitude to longtime caretakerand friend, Ms. Lucy Gordon, as well as nurses, Ms. Sandy Bodin, Ms. Amy Crosby,Ms. Toya Rideau, andMs. Jessica Vinning Vita'sserviceswill take place on Monday, September 15th at Lake LawnMetairie,with visitation beginningat8:30am followed by amass at 10am. Vita willthenbe laidtorest next to herhusbandatSoutheast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery at 12:30pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Special Olympics or St

Jude Children'sHospital in Vita'sname.

White, Reginald Brant'Reggie'

Reginald'Reggie'White age 43, enteredintoeternalrest on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. Relativesand Friends are invited to attendhis service on Saturday September 13, 2025 at 11am. Serviceswill be held at Restoration &Healing Ministry, 1490 WGause, Slidell La. Reginald is precededindeathbyhis parents Kishaand Albert Farrier. He is survivedby histwo children George MartinIII,Reginald White Jr.Three grandchildren Aiden andAubreeMartin, andJace Magee. Threesisters, KartoriaWhite, Shana White-James, andGabriel WhiteFarrier, Twobrothers, AlbertWhiteFarrier andKerry WhiteFarrier andahostofrelativesand friends. Arrangements are entrusted to Affordable Funeral Home.

Lieteau, Theyon Marion

BRIEFS

Nexus’ DevDays features $5K prize

Nexus Louisiana is calling for innovators across the state to solve industry issues.

DevDays will hone in on Louisiana’s key industries like health and energy in a competition for a $5,000 prize. It’s the second programming series the organization has announced for this fall and will run in tandem with its Tech Tailgates, an invitation-only networking event at LSU football home games.

Louisiana has the most important raw ingredients for innovation: real-world problems and experts to solve them,” Nexus Louisiana CEO Tony Zanders said in the release. “DevDays is a scalable attempt to partner with industry to increase our ecosystem’s shots on goal, and do so in a way only Baton Rouge can do.”

The competitions will take place on Fridays at Nexus headquarters and winners will be announced the next day at Tiger Stadium. Competitors will also have VIP access to the Tech Tailgates. Zanders said earlier this month that the Tech Tailgates will tap into Baton Rouge’s love for football.

The first challenge on Oct 24 will center on ClimateTech, in partnership with technology company Baker Hughes, and competitors will search for carbon management solutions.

Nexus is working with Future Use of Energy in Louisiana (FUEL), a statewide initiative focused on accelerating the clean energy transition, for the event.

Consumer sentiment falls on job worries

U.S. consumer sentiment fell in September to the lowest since May and long-term inflation expectations rose for the second straight month, as concerns about the labor market and prices weighed on the economic outlook.

The preliminary September sentiment index declined to 55.4 from 58.2 in August, according to the University of Michigan. That was below all but one economist’s forecast in a Bloomberg survey

Consumers expect prices to rise at an annual rate of 4.8% over the next year, unchanged from the previous month, data released Friday showed. They saw costs rising at an annual rate of 3.9% over the next five to 10 years, a jump from the 3.5% rate seen last month.

U.S. employers added just 22,000 jobs in August, and consumer prices rose at the fastest pace since the start of the year Costs of several key household expenses like groceries and gasoline climbed

Boeing workers reject latest contract offer

Another contract proposal has been rejected by Boeing workers who have been on strike for nearly six weeks at three Midwest plants where military aircraft and weapons are developed

The vote on Friday refusing the latest proposal sends the workers back to the picket lines, according to the union representing the 3,200 striking workers who build fighter jets, weapons systems and the U.S. Navy’s first carrier-based unmanned aircraft. Fifty-seven percent of members voted against the proposal, the union said.

“Boeing’s modified offer did not include a sufficient signing bonus relative to what other Boeing workers have received, or a raise in 401(k) benefits,” the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 837 said in a statement.

“We’re disappointed our employees have rejected a 5-year offer, including 45% average wage growth,” said Dan Gillian Boeing Air Dominance vice president and general manager, in an emailed statement

“We’ve made clear the overall economic framework of our offer will not change.”

Stocks end week near record

BY STAN CHOE Associated Press

NEW YORK — Wall Street coasted to the finish of its best week in the last five on Friday as U.S. stocks hung near their record levels.

The S&P 500 barely budged and edged down by less than 0.1% from the all-time high it set the day before. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 273 points, or 0.6%, while the Nasdaq composite added 0.4% to its own record set on Thursday Stocks have rallied with expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut its main interest rate for the first time this year at its meeting

next week. Such a move would give the economy a kick-start, and mortgage rates have already dropped in anticipation of it Expectations for a cut have built as recent reports suggested the U.S. job market could settle into the precise balance that Wall Street has been betting on: slow enough to convince the Fed that it needs help, but not so weak that it will mean a recession, all while inflation doesn’t take off.

A lot is riding on whether that bet proves correct. Stocks have already soared on it And if the Fed ends up cutting interest rates fewer times than traders expect, in-

cluding three this year the market could retreat in disappointment That’s even if everything else goes right, and the economy does not fall into a recession and President Donald Trump’s tariffs don’t send inflation much higher Oracle sank 5.1% and was the single heaviest weight on the S&P 500 index. But that shaved only a bit off its surge from earlier in the week, when it soared to its best day since 1992 amid excitement about its winning multibillion dollar contracts related to artificial-intelligence technology Another company that’s benefited from the AI frenzy, Super Micro

Computer rose 2.4% after saying it’s begun high-volume shipments of racks using Blackwell Ultra equipment from Nvidia that can be used for AI.

Microsoft climbed 1.8% after European Union regulators accepted the tech giant’s proposed changes to its Teams platform, resolving a long-running antitrust investigation. The European Commission said Friday that Microsoft’s final commitments to unbundle Teams from its Office software suite, including further tweaks following a market test in May and June, are enough to satisfy competition concerns.

Soybean farmers face ‘dire’ export orders due to tariffs, seek bailout

BY CHRISTOPHER VONDRACEK, J.P LAWRENCE and BROOKS JOHNSON

The Minnesota Star Tribune (TNS)

WASHINGTON It’s a bad year for a good soybean harvest as tariffs decimate export orders Minnesota farmers were in the nation’s capital this week pleading for a bailout Historically, Minnesota sends two out of every three rows of soybeans overseas, typically to feed livestock. China has often bought the bulk of those exports.

As of early September, Chinese buyers have yet to book any shipments of American soybeans from the upcoming harvest That’s a far cry from the 12 million to 13 million tons they’d booked by this time last year traders told Reuters this week.

For Gail Donkers, who farms in southern Minnesota, it hurts to see plentiful four-bean pods growing waist-high — a sign of a robust season.

Without solid customers, she has held off selling her beans, hoping to avoid a loss. Donkers, chair of the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, flew to Washington this week to meet with Minnesota’s congressional delegation.

Because of the trade war with China, U.S. soybeans cost about 20% more than South American beans. That’s due to trade duties imposed by the Chinese government in response to President Donald Trump’s increased tariffs on goods bound for the U.S. market.

China is buying cheaper Brazilian soybeans, dragging down prices for American soy farmers

“Brazil can fill almost all of China’s needs that leaves all of us American producers sitting here holding the bag,” said Dennis Fultz, a farmer in southwestern Minnesota’s Lyon County In 2016, China bought more than 40% of its soybeans from U.S farmers. As of last year, that had dropped to about 20%, customs data shows.

Earlier this week Rep Glenn “GT” Thompson, a Pennsylvania Republican and the House Agriculture Committee chair, told Agri-Pulse Newsmakers that he could see a future Farm Bill repurposing tariff revenue for farm aid.

“I’m advocating that, just a fraction of that money would be invested in our farmers,” Thompson said.

During the first Trump administration’s

trade war with China, farmers received $23 billion in cash bailout payments in 2018 and 2019.

From the basement of a hotel on Capitol Hill, Donkers said Wednesday she’s wondering exactly when Washington will offer aid, since the current market drop is due to the tariff war

“We have to have something,” she said “We never want to take a payout. But we’ve been working for 40 to 50 years to build these relationships across oceans.

The futures price on soybeans sits just over $9 a bushel now down from highs closer to $15 at the beginning of the decade.

Across the Upper Midwest, early-season anxiety has given way to panic, especially as median farm income is expected to be in the red across the board this year

“It’s a pretty dire situation,” said Darin Johnson, president of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association “We’re in a tough spot.”

Like other farmers, Johnson is “sitting on a fair amount of soybeans” that in past years would be headed on railcars toward the Pacific Northwest, and then Asia.

The China-sized hole in American farm

Unemployment, GDP growth will be worse

BY FATIMA HUSSEIN Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump’s tariff policy, immigration crackdowns and sweeping tax and spending law are expected to increase jobless rates and inflation and lower overall growth this year before they improve next year, according to a new report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

The CBO on Friday released new economic projections for the next three years, updating the outlook it originally released in January, before Trump’s inauguration.

The latest figures, which compare fourth quarter changes, show the unemployment rate, inflation and overall growth are expected to be worse this year than initially projected, while the economic picture is expected to steady in subsequent years.

The CBO outlooks attempt to

set expectations for the economy in order to help choices made by congressional and executive branch policymakers. It does not forecast economic downturns or recessions, with its estimates generally reverting back to an expected average over time.

But Friday’s outlook showed the degree to which Trump’s choices are altering the path of the U.S. economy, suggesting that growth has been hampered in the near term by choices that have yet to show the promised upside of more jobs and lower budget deficits.

Kush Desai, a White House spokesperson, told The Associated Press, “Americans heard similar doom-and-gloom forecasts during President Trump’s first term, when the President’s economic agenda unleashed historic job, wage, and economic growth and the first decline in wealth inequality in decades.”

Overall, the CBO expects real

exports’ balance sheet means farmers like Johnson will need bins to store beans until prices improve. But there is only so much space to store grain for long periods, and an ample corn harvest is also on the horizon. Johnson said farmers are hoping for some signal from the federal government to calm their anxieties.

“I think we’re at the stage if we don’t have any trade deals that are officially signed in the very near future yes, we’re going to need some aid of some sort,” Johnson said A Department of Agriculture spokesperson in an email did not address the current situation but blasted the Biden administration for handing off a $50 billion agricultural trade deficit. America ran a trade surplus for decades until 2019, during Trump’s first administration

The spokesperson said the agency is refocusing its efforts on farmers, pointing to $10 billion in emergency aid to crop farmers at the beginning of the season to help finance this year’s planting, based on results in 2024. There is talk on Capitol Hill that another aid package for farmers is in the works — but it’s unclear whether that would come from Congress or the administration

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By GLEN STUBBE Minnesota farmers have few to no buyers for a high-yield year for soybeans, mainly because China is buying its soybeans from South America, not the U.S., as a tariff war continues.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By J SCOTT APPLEWHITE The

ANOTHERVIEW

Thepolitics of Trump’s health

Chatter continues aboutDonaldTrump’shealth. Is he sick?Ishedying? Has he died? Socialmediahas been full of speculation.

Some of the speculation is just part ofthe nation’s obsession with the current president. Said comedian JonStewart, “It does say something about the ubiquity of DonaldTrump in our livesthatwe don’thear from him for20minutesand we’re like: ‘He’s dead!’”

Ron Faucheux

Trump’sfans see this obsession as an unfair attempt by the media to weaken confidence in his leadership. His foes fear the endless torrent of information about him camouflages more important things, suchasthe president’smishandling of majorissues Your guess is asgood as mine when it comes to Trump’shealth. We knowhehas anunhealthy diet,lives under amountain of stress,gets little sleep, has chronic venous insufficiency and is nearing 80. But that doesn’tmean he’sdying or incapacitated.

Rumors about presidentialhealth are nothing new. Joe Biden’smental and physical condition was debated forhis entire term —but it wasn’tuntil his woeful 2024 debate performance that the fitness issue detonated live, in living color, for alltosee

Unfortunately,presidents hiding serious health issues is nothing new.Rememberthe president who had secretcancersurgery on ayacht?Few Americans do. Duringhis second term, the56-year-oldGrover Clevelandfeltasoreness on the roof of hismouth It was cancer.Ostensibly to avoid apanicthat could worsen the nation’stroubledeconomy,Cleveland decided to have surgery under the guise of avacation cruise His doctors removed part of his upper jaw andpalate. Later,theyfitted hismouth with adental prosthesis so he’d look and sound as he did before the operation. Cleveland’sstaff liedabout it. They saidhesimply had two teeth pulled. Cleveland served out his presidential termand lived 15 additional years. Only afterhis death did the public findout what happened.

How about the president who had astroke thatleft him partially paralyzed,damaged hisvision and likely impaired his judgment?

Woodrow Wilson suffered two mild strokesbefore he entered politics. While traveling across thenationselling his plan to create aLeague of Nations afterWorld WarI,hewas felled by athird and more seriousstroke, which paralyzed his left arm, leg and face.His wife physician and private secretary meticulously hid the 63-year-old president’scondition. For months, they carried out presidential duties behind closeddoors. Wilson died three years after he left office At 39,FranklinRoosevelt was diagnosedwith poliomyelitis. From then on, he was unable to walk, stand or do common chores unaided. As president,hecarefully hid the extent of his paralysis. The nation’snews media helped by not showing awkwardpictures or news reels Roosevelt,the master politician, created the “illusion of mobility” to changethe optics, if notthe reality,of his disability.His brightsmile, cigarette holder and crinkled hat were props to shiftfocusaway from his paralyzed bottomhalf toward his strongerupperhalf. Achain-smoker,FDR’s health started declining in the early days of World WarII. In 1944,shortly before he was elected to afourth term, medical testing showed he had severe hypertension, coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure. He lookedincreasingly sick and alarmingly older than his 62years. His physicianmisledthe press —and maybe evenRoosevelt himself—about hisprecarious condition. Struggling to keep up with official duties during the final months of the war, he died just11weeksinto his fourth term. Seen as ayoung and vigorous leader, John Kennedy hadchronic healthproblemsthroughout his 46 years; most werekept secret during his lifetime. At 30,Kennedy was diagnosedwith Addison’sdisease, an adrenal insufficiency. Hisphysician estimated he’d live less than ayear.Healso sufferedfromback pain and numerous other ailments; he receivedthe last rites multiple times.Todull pain and keepgoing, he used numerous medications, some dangerous, that could lead to impaired judgment, nervousnessand moodswings.The fullstory of JFK’s healthwasn’ttold untilafter his assassination.

“The report of my death hasbeengreatly exaggerated,” said Mark Twain In the modern world of instant communications, sois everything else.

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

Keep Katrinalevee failures frontand center in coverage

Desiree Stennett chose afascinating subject for her Aug. 14 article, “20 years later,the children of Katrinahave grown up. Here’show the storm shaped their lives.” An entire generation of children was affected by thetraumatic upheaval of that event, and I’m glad that Stennett chose to writeabout it

The reference to Hurricane Katrinahaving “drowned thecity” was poetic, but concerning in that it implies that the catastrophic flooding of New Orleanswas an inevitable result of the storm.Iwas relieved when, about halfway through the article, Ifinally saw areference to “the floodwall and levee failures.” As new generations comeup, and older generations leave us —taking their

knowledge withthem —itisimportanttocontinually reiterate the fact that the flooding of NewOrleans was aman-made disaster caused by the failure of our levee system due to mismanagement by the ArmyCorps of Engineers. As Ritchie Blink says in the final sentence of the story,“Ithink we’ve gotten better.…But Ithink we’ve forgotten some of those lessons.” News articles such as Stennett’scan help refresh our collective memories so thepublic can continue to hold our governmentand the Army Corps of Engineers accountable for keeping us safe as we head into the ever-uncertain future.

SANDYPARKER NewOrleans

Microphone isn’tequal to amedical degree

So U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, RLafayette, andRobert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of Healthand Human Services, two bright medical minds, are against vaccinations? Wait! Neither of them has any medical training of any substance whatsoever.So, why should anyone give an iota of credence to their opinions, which fly in the face of the opinions of actual medical doctors, such as the Ameri-

can Academy of Physicians, who vouch, on the basis of actual evidence, for thenecessity and safety of these vaccines, even forinfants and children? Unfortunately,just having apublic podium does not confer ascientific IQ on any politician. We should beware of those who think it does.

CYNTHIA CAMPBELL Marrero

Papercan’t printliestomakeIsraellookbetter

In an Aug. 20thletter,author Susan Levin expressed that she had “grown rather weary” of the newspaper’spublishing reportsthat from July 10-21, 369 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza. She noted correctly that the terrorist organization known as Hamas had committed anumber of atrocities over the years against Israel, but during this July period, she specifically referred to five Israeli casualties reported. She concluded by requesting that the newspaper provide

more“balance” in its coverage. I’m not quite sure what the newspaper can do short of misinformation to achieve this “balance.” News needs to remain actual newsand theidea of “balanced”newsisafantasy.And “fair andbalanced” news requires even more mental gymnastics and additionally carries the risk of being taken to court and heavily fined for themisinformation it takes to create the illusion.

JIM WRIGHT Baton Rouge

Columnistcapturedwhatmakes La.culture

This is athank-you notetoKateb Nuri-Alim Shunnar regarding “Between Stories and Steam”inthe newspaper Aug. 18. Howrefreshing it is to be able toenjoy reading such awell-written article which places

special

great value on cherishing and preserving theculture of our families of origin and valuing the wisdom of our parents and grandparents.

SANDRA CLEMENT Thibodaux

In Louisiana, nearly 1million people depend on Medicare for their health coverage, but our doctors are struggling to keep up. That’sbecause the way Medicare pays physicians is fundamentally flawed. Unless lawmakers institute significant changes, the consequences of this chronic underpaymentwill prevent patients from accessing critical care.

When adjusted forinflation, Medicare reimbursement to doctors has declined by 33% since 2001. These inadequate payment rates, coupled with aworkforce shortage, rising costs and burdensomeadministrative red tape, are hurting independent clinicians. Many are deciding to stop seeing Medicare patients or shut down their practices altogether rather than fight this uphill battle.

Iimplore Sens. John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy to address Medicare payment reform and help Louisiana doctors. An inflationadjusted payment system would enable physicians to maintain their practices and continue delivering high-quality care to all patients.

ANITADHANRAJANI pediatric rheumatologist

No need forregret; Trumphas lowered priceofeggs

Responding to the person who wished she hadn’tvoted forPresident Donald Trumpbecause her coffee prices are up: Maybe you could use the money you saved because your eggs have dropped 39% in the past six months, cereal, sugar and dairy are now at fiveyear low prices, Gasoline is down 29% and other energy sources are also dropping. Maybe you could give this president your support and see the policies go into action and benefit the entire American public. And enjoy your reduced federal taxes. With those savings, maybe you could buy your coffee and drink it, too.

SHARON BOSTWICK Mandeville

GAMEDAY

An ACL injury sidetracked Harold Perkins’ dream of reaching the NFL, but a new position and return to health have put him back on his path

By TANyA RAMIREZ

HBY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer

e felt his right knee shift and the discomfort that followed, but as he slowly walked toward the locker room inside Tiger Stadium with a towel draped over his head, Harold Perkins thought he avoided the worst

That’s what he told himself at first. Maybe his knee was tweaked or hyperextended. One coach recalled hearing that might be the case, only for an athletic trainer to tell him a few minutes later that Perkins likely had a torn ACL

“He was trying to go back out,” said Perkins’ mother, Bertha Walton. “I said, ‘Son, you can’t go back out there. It’s OK to sit out the remaining couple of minutes.’ He was like, ‘No.’ And I was like, ‘Son, you can’t do it.’ ” His adrenaline was still pumping when Perkins went home after LSU beat UCLA on Sept. 21. At least 20 family members had come over from Houston and New Orleans. Perkins said he can get close to 50 at some games, and they always meet up at his house. They tried to keep things normal. Walton cooked smothered oxtails, cabbage and cornbread. They cracked jokes. He walked around like nothing was wrong, holding out hope even though his knee was swollen. He didn’t want anyone to feel sorry for him.

“Bro, I think I’m really good,” Perkins said Perkins stayed up late that night. He usually does after games, sometimes until 4 a.m., because it can be hard for him to relax again Once he awoke, the adrenaline had worn off. That’s when he realized, “Oh, yeah, I’m messed up.” An MRI later that morning confirmed the diagnosis of a torn ACL. His junior season ended after four games.

When he signed as a five-star linebacker in the 2022 recruiting class, Perkins thought he would graduate and leave LSU in three years The injury changed his plan. Although Perkins said he received a second- or third-round NFL draft grade, he returned to LSU for his senior year

ä Florida at LSU 6:30 P.M. SATURDAy ABC

“What I’m rushing for, you know what I’m saying?” Perkins said. “Rushing for nothing. I got unfinished business here. That’s really how I looked at it. I can’t leave here with unfinished business.”

Everyone has seen what Perkins is capable of. With rare closing speed, he became one of the best defensive players in college football during the second half of his freshman year His debut set high expectations for the rest of his career and Perkins has been pursuing them ever since.

A year after the injury, he may finally chase them down.

‘In a dark space’

One day in August, Perkins sat in LSU’s team room. He mindlessly rubbed his right knee as he talked about the injury

“It’s just a habit,” he said. “When I was hurt, this is all I used to do. It’s like me biting my nails. Just found something else to do.” Perkins had been hurt before. He has scars from getting cleated, and he practiced with a brace on his left arm one spring. But he believes there’s a difference, as coaches have often told him, between hurt and

ä See LSU, page 2C

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON/ILLUSTRATION

LSU GAMEDAY

LSU vs. Florida

Continued from page 1C

injured. This was the first time he had ever been injured and needed a major surgery

“I wouldn’t say I was scared, but I was worried,” Perkins said. “I was raised good, raised to lean on the Lord. But at the end of day, I’m human So you’re gonna have a bunch of bad thoughts run through your head, like I did at the time.”

When Perkins heard the diagnosis, his mom said she “could see the devastation on his face.”

People who know him well never had seen him like that before. He’s usually upbeat. He has an easygoing smile. Former LSU safety Major Burns, a close friend and Perkins’ roommate the previous two years, said people gravitate to him because of his energy

For about a month after the injury, Perkins withdrew He struggled to accept what happened. He said he was “in a dark space.” He didn’t want to talk. He couldn’t decide whether he wanted to cry or fight. He got tired of hearing people tell him everything happens for a reason. Unless they had gone through something similar, he thought they couldn’t really understand.

Most of all, Perkins felt like he let everybody down. He’s a people pleaser to the point that LSU coaches have talked to him about learning how to relieve the pressure he puts on himself. They don’t want him to think he has to make every play or support everyone, but Perkins feels responsible for his family and team.

In 2005, Perkins was a baby when his family waded through the water in Uptown New Orleans to evacuate after the levees failed during Hurricane Katrina. His mom resettled their family in the Houston area. They stayed as others returned home because she wanted to raise them somewhere she thought was safe.

Walton, a single mother, worked 16-hour shifts as a certified nursing assistant. She told her six children to keep God first and move forward when times got tough. When Perkins was 7, she taught him how to cook for himself He would clean the house and iron clothes so she didn’t have to when she got home.

“He always did it,” Walton said. “He always has been like that. He big on family.”

After the injury, he couldn’t for a while.

“When I was in that phase, I just didn’t want to be bothered because, like I said, I was hearing the same stuff from everybody,” Perkins said. “It’s like, I hear what y’all saying, but I’m just not trying to hear that right now, for real.”

Road to recovery

Two days after the injury, Perkins’ grandfather visited him in Baton Rouge. They talked while they watched Monday Night Football.

“Very encouraging,” Walton said, “because my dad, he don’t leave the house for nobody.”

Near the end of his life, Alvin Walton Sr used a cane because he developed a limp after falling

STAFF PREDICTIONS

WILSON ALEXANDER

LSU 20, FLORIDA 17

The LSU defense looks like the strongest unit on the field, and Florida quarterback DJ Lagway has to make his first SEC road start at night in Tiger Stadium That will make the difference in a lowscoring game Florida still has enough talent to beat anyone on its schedule, and the LSU offense hasn’t proven itself yet So, as Lee Corso would say, closer than the experts think

REED DARCEY

LSU 27, FLORIDA 20

Florida’s loss last week wasn’t as bad as it looks South Florida is a good team — and now a bona fide College Football Playoff contender The problem for the Gators is almost every opponent left on their schedule is better than the Bulls. A lot better. Their gauntlet starts with a nighttime road game at LSU, which uses the opportunity to prove that its defense is legit.

when he suffered a minor stroke. Going up steps was tough. He couldn’t handle the ride to Tiger Stadium or sitting in the stands, so he never came to Perkins’ LSU games. When family members tried to persuade him to go, Perkins defended his grandfather’s decision.

Walton Sr was a Vietnam veteran who served in the Marine Corps. He later became a carpenter and painter He and his wife, Carolyn, were married for 49 years. He influenced Bertha Walton’s parenting style, and he was the person she called when she needed advice. When he was hard on Perkins, she wondered why

“He said Harold had a lot of potential in him,” Bertha Walton said. “If you don’t be hard on him, his potential’s not gonna come out. He said, ‘I don’t want him to be a follower because he was born and created to be a leader.’ “

Three weeks later, Perkins woke up after surgery in Dallas with the urge to use the restroom. He told the staff he needed to pee. “I’m talking about bad,” Perkins said They told him to get up and walk with his crutches. Perkins was confused. Could he really put pressure on his knee? They reassured him that the ligament was repaired, but he didn’t trust it yet.

At first, Perkins hesitated to push himself He asked his mom to tie plastic sleeves around his leg before he took a shower Pretty soon, she pointed out nothing was wrong with his hands. Bertha Walton dealt with him like her other patients She and his uncle, Alvin Walton Jr., bought him a chair for the shower

“Mom, you don’t know,” Perkins’ mom recalled him saying. “It hurts.”

“I know it probably do hurt, son, but it ain’t going to hurt for a long time,” she said. “This is a temporary hurting.”

He needed to move so his knee wouldn’t get stiff. Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice was in Dallas rehabbing a knee injury at the same time, and he encouraged Perkins. Talking to others who had gone through season-ending injuries, like Burns and former LSU defensive tackle Maason Smith, helped him understand he wasn’t alone. He read his Bible and prayed a lot.

“That’s really what changed my mindset, let me know that you’re still worth it,” Perkins said. “It’s all about confidence And that’s what I felt like it really was. My confidence was just gone because, like, I’m not myself no more.”

Perkins stayed in Dallas for about a week as he started his rehab. Two days after he got home, his grandfather died on Oct. 26. Walton Sr., 72, had been diagnosed with colon cancer, something he hid from his family

Around the same time, Perkins began to pull himself out of his funk. And when LSU played Clemson in the season opener, he wrote “LLPAPA” on a piece of eye black.

Long Live Papa

Regaining his confidence

Last fall, Perkins had to make a decision about the NFL draft. He entered his junior season viewed by some analysts as the top linebacker

SCOTT RABALAIS

LSU 24, FLORIDA 16

The Gators are a desperate team. Lose to the Tigers and their season likely spirals out of control and Billy Napier eventually gets fired Despite its issues, LSU has proven dominant in some respects against Clemson and Louisiana Tech In a low-scoring tug of war, the Tigers defense rises to the challenge, giving the LSU offense time to put together enough drives to win a one-score game.

KOKI RILEY

LSU 21, FLORIDA 17

The LSU offense struggled last weekend against Louisiana Tech, but Florida’s attack looked even worse against South Florida. The Bulls are a quality team, and the Gators are bound for some offensive improvement, but LSU has lost in Death Valley just once on a Saturday night since Brian Kelly took over in Baton Rouge Tigers take this game in a close, low-scoring affair.

LSU

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU linebacker Harold Perkins poses for a photo on June 18 at the team’s practice facility Through two games, Perkins has eight tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and three hurries.

in the class, but that wasn’tthe case by thetime he got injured.There were questions about his position, and it was unlikely that he couldparticipate in the pre-draft process.

Minh Luu, the director of Ollin Athletics and Sports Medicine in Houston, showed Perkins messages from scouts he knew saying they would draft Perkins high without himrunning the 40-yard dash. His momtoldhim he could declare anyway, too. He would show everyone what he could do once he got to theNFL Perkins felt just as confident in himself, saying, “I just needed to get my feet in the door Once my feet was in the door,Iwas going to kick that b**** down.”

Perkins said it took time to decide, though an LSU source said the team knew early onhewould stay.Hetold Luu, who he has trained with for a couple years, that he had alot to prove.Hethought of himself as afirst-round pick, and he wanted to guarantee teams viewed him the sameway “I want anormal, slow recovery,” Perkins’ mom recalled him saying at one point. “If it healsnormally,next year around this time, I’ll be ready.I don’thave to worry aboutnothing getting reinjured or nothing getting retorn. Idon’t want nothing but God to heal my legnormally in His time.” By coming back, Perkinsthought he could put himself and his family in abettersituation. He declined to discuss his compensation fromNIL and revenue sharing.

“It’slike, man, Icould leave. Icould trust myself and bet on myself. Icould dothat. But why do that when my main goal here was to come here and leave alegacy?” he said, gesturing toward abuilding where LSUhas photos of itsbest players on the walls. “Something thatwhenI have my kids, Icould come back andtheycould see me all over.” By the end of the spring, Perkins wasfully cleared. He didmostofhis rehab at LSU, butwhenever theteam had abreak, he returned toHouston. In the mornings there, he sawLuu, who coordinated with LSU’sathletic training staff, for physical therapyand strength andconditioning. In the afternoon, he worked with defensive backs coach Jacory Nichols or pass rush specialist Brandon Jordan on skill development. He wanted to do so much that they had to keep him offthe field sometimes.

“He’sreally amutant, man,the way he’sable to be great at everything he does,” said Jordan, whose company says it has trained more than 200 NFL pass rushers. “But you can see why he’sgreat at everything he does because he’sout there working. Idon’tknowtoo many people that workharder than Perk.”

At first, Perkins still didn’ttrust his knee. Nichols and Jordancould tell when he tookextra,choppy steps coming out of abreak. He had to learn his knee could handle the pressure, and as the summer rolled around, he began to move like he used to.

Nichols put him through the same drills as the defensive backs, even though he was the only linebacker at the sessions. Jordan taught him to run withhis hands up, refining his pass rush technique. With linebacker drills in between, he prepared for all three levels of the defense. Multiple coachessaid it’srare for one player to work on all of that at once, especiallyata high level.

It’slike,

LSU linebacker Harold Perkins, left, celebrates withlinebacker Whit Weeks after abig stopin thesecond half of their game against Louisiana Tech on Sept.6 at TigerStadium.

Where Perkins should play has been an ongoing debate.Whenhebroke out as afreshman with 71/2 sacks and13tackles forloss, LSUprimarily used him as an edge rusher and spy linebacker.But he was recruited withthe idea that he would develop at inside linebacker,aposition LSUhead coach Brian Kelly has often saidhe would need to play in the NFLbecause of his size.For twostraight offseasons, LSUtried to turnhim into one.

Theposition did notstick. Perkins lastedone gamehis sophomore year before moving to outsidelinebacker,and he returned to inside linebacker when Baker was hired to replace Matt House. Baker thoughthecould play there. One coach said there were times that Perkins would shut down preseason practice last year because he was so dominant. When theseason started, what they sawinpracticedid notfollow. Perkinsplayeda coupleof games at inside linebacker before getting movedaroundagain. He recorded 17 tackles, 11/2 tackles for loss, no sacks and no hurries beforethe injury.The past two years, his momthought he put too much pressure on himself to try to carry theteam.

man, Icould leave. Icould trust myself and bet on myself. Icould do that. But why do that when my main goal here wastocome hereand leave alegacy?”

HAROLD PERKINS LSU linebacker

“Top five,” Nicholswould tell him. “Top five.” Prepared fora breakout

Around the end of the 2024 season, Perkins met with LSU defensivecoordinator Blake Baker.Asthey talked, Baker asked Perkins what position he wanted to play.Baker oftenposes this questiontohis players becausehewants themto be where they feel most comfortable.

“Whatever you want me to play,coach,” Perkins replied.

“No, Harold, what do you want to play?” Baker said.

“Coach,”Perkinssaid,“IthinkI’llbebestatStar.” Baker called Perkins“tailor-made” forthe position,a hybrid role usuallyfilled by defensive backs. He gets to blitz and drop intocoverage whileplaying in space, which Perkins thinks shows off his versatility.Baker moves him around in different packages. Burns, who played Star last season, believesPerkins can “shut down half the field” from the spotbecause of his athleticism.

“I don’tfeel like it didn’twork out,” Perkins said. “I feel like different strokes for different folks. Icould do it.But Iain’t trying to have people reaching up to me when the ball snapped. I’m trying to be free and go makethe plays. That’swhy Ireally felt like Star was better for me because it’s read and react ” Perkins thought the LSU coaches over thepast two years tried to put him in aspotthatwould makehim successful. He wanted to do whatever was asked of him Burns said “if they needed him to put his hand in thedirt, he would.” But this year, he has tried to speak up more aboutwhathesees and thinks.

“If Iwas the type of person to be like, Igot to have s*** my way,wewill always bump heads,” Perkins said. “I never been that type of person. I’ll play nose guard if it was best for the team.”

Through two games, Perkins has eight tackles, twotackles for loss, one sack and threehurries beforeNo. 3LSU plays Florida. Going into the year,Burns wondered whether people hadforgotten Perkins could wreck agamebecausehe wasout forsolong. If theydid, Perkins reminded them at the end of LSU’s17-10 win at Clemson.

With Clemson at LSU’s 14-yardline anda minute left in thefourth quarter,Perkins and junior linebacker Whit Weeks blitzed on fourthdown. As soon as quarterback Cade Klubnik rolledout, Perkins sprinted from the other side of the line. He chased down Klubnik and forced an incompletion, apotential sign of what’stocome.

“I think he’s even better now,” Weeks said, “thanhewas his freshman year.”

games

EAST Towson (2-0) at Maryland (2-0), 11 a.m.

Lehigh(2-0) at Duquesne (1-1), 11 a.m. Sacred Heart (1-1)atLIU Brooklyn (1-1),11a.m.

St. Francis (Pa.) (0-2)atCCSU (1-1),11a.m.

Howard (1-1)vs. Morehouse (0-0) at E. Rutherford, N.J., noon Lafayette (1-1) at Georgetown (2-0), noon

Marist (1-1) at Wagner (0-2), noon Rhode Island (2-0)atHolyCross (0-2), 1p.m.

Bowie St. (0-0)atDelaware St. (1-1), 2p.m.

Uconn (1-1) at Delaware (1-1), 2p.m. Norfolk St. (1-1) at Rutgers(2-0), 2:30 p.m. Pittsburgh(2-0) at West Virginia (1-1), 2:30 p.m.

Fordham(0-2) at StonyBrook (0-2),2:30 p.m.

VMI (1-1) at Bucknell(1-1), 2:30 p.m.

Stonehill (0-2)atMaine (0-2), 5p.m. West Liberty (0-0) at RobertMorris (0-2), 5p.m.

Bentley (0-0) at Bryant (1-1), 5p.m. E. Kentucky (1-1)atMarshall(0-2), 5p.m.

Haven(0-2) at Albany (NY) (0-2), 6p.m.

(2-0) at Troy (1-1), 11 a.m.

&Mary (1-1) at Virginia (1-1), 11 a.m.

Davidson (0-2) at Tennessee Tech (2-0), noon

Elon (1-1)atW.Carolina (0-2), 1:30 p.m.

Tuskegee (0-0)atJackson St. (1-1),2 p.m.

Georgia (2-0) at Tennessee(2-0), 2:30 p.m. Richmond(1-1) at North Carolina(1-1),2:30 p.m.

Furman (1-1)atCampbell(0-2), 2:30 p.m.

Lindenwood (Mo.) (0-2)atCharleston So.(0-2),3 p.m.

Alabama A&M (1-1)atTennessee St. (1-1), 3:30 p.m. Miles (0-0)atAlabama St. (1-1), 4p.m. FAU(1-1) at FIU (1-1), 5p.m.

Fayetteville St. (0-0)atNCCentral (1-2),5 p.m.

Bethune-Cookman (0-2)atSCState (1-1), 5p.m.

Monmouth (NJ)(2-0)atCharlotte (0-2), 5p.m.

Merrimack (1-1)atKennesaw St. (0-2), 5p.m.

Stetson (1-1) at Chattanooga (0-2),5 p.m.

Wofford(0-2) at Mercer (0-1), 5p.m.

Alcorn St. (0-2)atMississippi St. (2-0), 5p.m.

Appalachian St. (2-0)atSouthernMiss. (1-1),6 p.m.

Morehead St. (1-1)atAustinPeay(1-1),6 p.m.

AlbanySt. (Ga.) (0-0)atFloridaA&M (0-2), 6p.m.

Old Dominion (1-1)atVirginia Tech (0-2), 6p.m.

Hampton (1-1) at NC A&T (0-2), 6p.m.

Erskine (0-0)atPresbyterian (2-0), 6p.m.

S. Illinois(1-1)atUTMartin(0-2), 6p.m.

Jacksonville St. (1-1)atGeorgia Southern (0-2), 6p.m.

Murray St. (0-2) at Georgia St. (0-2),6 p.m.

The Citadel (1-1) at Gardner-Webb (1-1),6 p.m.

Northeastern St. (0-0)atNorth Alabama(0-2),6 p.m.

Weber St. (0-2)atMcNeeseSt. (1-1), 6p.m.

(0-2)atKentucky (1-1),6:30 p.m. East Carolina (1-1)atCoastal Carolina (1-1), 6:30 p.m. New Mexico St.(2-0) at LouisianaTech(1-1),6:30 p.m. Duke(1-1) at Tulane (2-0),

(2-0),2:30 p.m.

(0-2)atToledo(1-1),2:30 p.m. SMU (1-1)atMissouri St.(1-1),2:30 p.m. Youngstown St. (2-0)atMichigan St.(2-0),2:30 p.m. SE Missouri (1-1)atN.Dakota St.(2-0),2:30 p.m. UL (1-1)atMissouri (2-0),3p.m. E. Washington (0-2)atN.Iowa(1-1),4 p.m. Liberty (1-1)atBowlingGreen (1-1), 4p.m. Drake(1-0) at S. Dakota St. (2-0), 6p.m. Valparaiso (1-1)atW.Illinois(0-2),6 p.m. Umass (0-2)atIowa(1-1),6:30 p.m. SOUTHWEST Samford(0-2) at Baylor(1-1),11a.m. Washington St.(2-0) at North Texas(2-0),2:30 p.m. Incarnate Word (1-1)atUTSA(0-2),2:30 p.m. Oregon St. (0-2)atTexas Tech (2-0),2:30 p.m.

STAFF PHOTO By HILARySCHEINUK

THENATION

THINGS TO WATCHINWEEK3

Who, what andwhere to keep an eyeoninthisweek’sgames around thenation

Crimson Tide to test Badgers defense No.19Alabama (1-1) lost at Florida State in its opener before rolling to avictoryover UL-Monroe last week.Wisconsin (2-0) wanted to upgrade adefense that slipped into mediocrity last year.The Badgers have responded by shutting out Miami (Ohio) 17-0 and beating Middle Tennessee 42-10 in their first twogames. Nowcomes a much bigger test,as Wisconsin is 0-6 against Top25teams during coach LukeFickell’s three-year tenure, including a42-10 home loss to Alabama last year

1. LSU Record: 2-0overall, 0-0 SEC

Previous rank: 1

Bulldogs look to sustain win streak over Vols Georgia hasreeled offeight straight wins over the Vols for its longest streak in arivalry that started in 1899. Coach KirbySmart’s lone loss came in hiscoaching debut in 2016 on alast-second Hail Mary. The defending SEC champcomesinto the conference openerfor both teams ranked sixth.No. 15 Tennessee (2-0) scored aprogram-record 72 pointsina rout of East Tennessee State. At NeylandStadium, the Vols have wonnine straight andare 21-1 since the startofthe 2022season.The lone loss? Georgia.

Irish seek first win of seasonvs.Aggies No.8 Notre Dame (0-1) will spend Saturday tryingtoget its season back on track when No. 16 TexasA&M (2-0) comes to town Coach Marcus Freeman is more willingtounleash CJ Carr against the Aggies knowingan 0-2 startcouldknock the Irish out of the playoff picture early on.The Aggies rely heavily on QB Marcel Reed, whoaverages 5.8 yards per carrywhile throwing for509 yards and seven TDs in the first twogames. But the challenge will be facinganopponent as talented as the Irishafter opening with UTSA and Utah State. 2 1 3

—AssociatedPress

DJ

second half of their game Nov. 16

Rivalryampsupasannualgameindoubt

It was always going to be ahuge game No matter the records. No matterwhathappened in the first two weeks ofthe season. Why? Because it’sLSU versusFlorida That’swhy.It’sbeen aseason-defining game on both teams’schedules for seemingly forever. The rivalry,the animosity,is simmering like atailgate gumbo(accompanied by adiced alligator tail appetizer, of course).

“I’m not abig fan of theFlorida Gators,” LSUquarterback GarrettNussmeiersaid Tuesday,asly smile curling across his face. “I can’twait to get in DeathValley and feel that environment. It’s goingtobe awesome. It should be everythingthat makesLSU football so compelling: atraditional rival, anight game (mostly) and a packed house inside Tiger Stadium (6:30 p.m., ABC)

Allweek long, both teams engaged in a long-distance tango of dueling availability reports, moving acouple of key chess pieces into position for Saturday’sshowdown. Mostnotably,LSU says center Braelin Mooreisprobable after spraining his ankle on theTigers’ first offensive play against Louisiana Tech. Florida counters with defensive lineman Caleb Banks, theiceberg of LSU’stitanic 27-16 loss in Gainesville last year, who will apparently see his first action of the year after suffering alowerleg injury in preseason camp.

ning under theclassic “Wehate you/We hate you more” emotions. There’sthe knowledge that this year’sgame could be theend of an era of sorts, and we’re not talking about Napier’shot seat.

Last week: DefeatedLouisiana Tech 23-7

Thisweek: vs.Florida, 6:30 p.m. Saturday (ABC)

2. GEORGIA

Record: 2-0overall, 0-0 SEC

Previous rank: 2

Last week: DefeatedAustin Peay 28-6

Thisweek: at Tennessee, 2:30 p.m. Saturday (ABC)

3. TEXAS

Record: 1-1overall, 0-0 SEC

Previous rank: 3

Last week: DefeatedSan Jose State38-7

Thisweek: vs.UTEP,3:15 p.m. Saturday(SEC Network)

4. OKLAHOMA Record: 2-0overall, 0-0 SEC

Previous rank: 9

Last week: DefeatedMichigan 24-13

Thisweek: at Temple, 11 a.m. Saturday (ESPN2)

5. AUBURN Record: 2-0overall, 0-0 SEC

Previous rank: 5

Last week: DefeatedBall State 42-3

Thisweek: vs.South Alabama, 11:45 a.m. Saturday(SECNetwork)

6. MISSOURI Record: 2-0overall, 0-0 SEC

Previous rank: 12

Last week: DefeatedKansas 42-31

Thisweek: vs.UL, noon Saturday(ESPN+ SECNetwork+)

7. VANDERBILT

Record: 2-0overall, 0-0 SEC

Previous rank: 13

Last week: DefeatedVirginia Tech 44-20

Thisweek: at South Carolina, 6:45 p.m. Saturday(SECNetwork)

8. SOUTHCAROLINA

Record: 2-0overall, 0-0 SEC

Previous rank: 6

Last week: DefeatedSouth Carolina State 38-10

Thisweek: vs.Vanderbilt, 6:45 p.m. Saturday (SECNetwork)

9. MISSISSIPPISTATE

Record: 2-0overall, 0-0 SEC

Previous rank: 16

Last week: DefeatedArizona State 24-20

Thisweek: vs.Alcorn, 5p.m. Saturday (ESPN+, SECNetwork+)

10.TENNESSEE

Record: 2-0overall, 0-0 SEC

Previous rank: 7

Last week: DefeatedETSU 72-17

TheGatorsmay have been an upset victim to South Florida last week, 18-16. And LSU may have pulled off one of theseason’s biggest wins for anyschool two weeks ago at Clemson, 17-10. But that’sall pre-show diversions waiting in line for aDisney World headliner attraction now.This is the Southeastern Conferenceopener for bothteams. Thebig leagues. And it means so much once again. No. 3LSU is trying to getthe wind back in itssails from the Clemson game, awind that was deflated somewhat bylast week’s uneven23-7 win over LouisianaTech. Florida is likely trying to saveits season and thejob of fourth-yearcoach Billy Napier.Eight of the Gators’next 10 opponents are ranked, five of them in thetop 10. If Florida lets another win slip through its fingers then there is little if anyhope forthe rest of the season.

The Tigersremember last year’sdismantling in The Swamp, thethird of three straight defeats last season that trap-doored LSUfrom thetop 10 to out of CFPand SEC contention. Not that revenge seems to be part of the equation for the Tigers this week. They know Floridahas enoughfirepower to be dangerous. No need to get overly worked up about what didn’t work last year

LSUcoach Brian Kelly had aterm for it

Thursdayonhis weekly radio show:

“Wedon’twant abunch of show dogs” against the Gators, Kelly said. “Wewant hunting dogs.”

Forwhatever reason, LSU dogged it against Louisiana Tech, agame played in the emotional trough between Clemson and Florida.

The Tigersmadeittheir ever-present goal for months to be 1-0 after Clemson. Now they try to point their effortstowinning agame that, with Southeastern Louisiananextweek, would be 99.9% likely to putLSU at 4-0 going into theseason’snext bigshowdown with Ole Miss.

Butasbig as it is when the Tigers play the Rebels, or Alabama, or Texas A&M, for generations of LSUfans, Florida is the gold standard of SEC rivalries.

There’sanother facet to this game run-

LSUand Floridahave played each other every year since 1971, but that is likely coming to aclose. The SEC finally adopted anine-game conference schedulestarting in 2026, with three permanentand six rotatingopponents. No word is expected who those permanent opponents will be until sometime after theregular season, but it seemsgeographically unlikelythat one of those three will be LSU-Florida.

That’sfairer in some waysfor LSU, which for years had to deal with the Gators and the gauntlet that was the SEC West every season. Now that divisions are gone, theannual East-West LSU-Florida rivalry remains, but perhaps in itslast annual go round.

The SEC needs to play ninegames, but it’salso sadthat this rivalry that has produced so manygreat games is acasualty of progress.

Just to recall afew: 1982, the debut of theDalton (Hilliard) and (Garry) James gang as LSU stuns No. 4Florida 24-13 1997, LSU takes down No. 1for the first time, beating Florida28-21 …2007, LSU wins 28-24 over eventual Heisman winner TimTebow,converting five fourth downs …2020, The Shoe Game, Marco Wilson sends Kole Taylor’scleat flying through the foggy Gainesville air as LSU stuns No. 6 Florida 37-34. Will this game add achapter to the list?

When it’s LSU-Florida, that’salways what is expected.

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

Thisweek: vs.Georgia, 2:30 p.m. Saturday (ABC)

11.OLE MISS

Record: 2-0overall, 1-0 SEC

Previous rank: 11

Last week: DefeatedKentucky 30-23

Thisweek: vs.Arkansas, 6p.m. Saturday (ESPN)

12.TEXAS A&M

Record: 2-0overall, 0-0 SEC

Previous rank: 10

Last week: DefeatedUtah State 44-22

Thisweek: at Notre Dame, 6:30 p.m. Saturday(NBC)

13.ARKANSAS

Record: 2-0overall, 0-0 SEC

Previous rank: 14

Last week: DefeatedArkansas State56-14

Thisweek: at Ole Miss, 6p.m. Saturday (ESPN)

14.ALABAMA

Record: 1-1overall, 0-0 SEC

Previous rank: 8

Last week: DefeatedUL-Monroe 73-0

Thisweek: vs.Wisconsin, 11 a.m. Saturday (ABC)

15.FLORIDA

Record: 1-1overall, 0-0 SEC

Previous rank: 4

Last week: Lost to South Florida 18-16

Thisweek: at LSU, 6:30 p.m. Saturday(ABC)

16.KENTUCKY Record: 1-1overall, 0-1 SEC

Previous rank: 15

Last week: Lost to Ole Miss 30-23

Thisweek: vs.Eastern Michigan, 6:30 p.m. Saturday(ESPNU)

Scott Rabalais

STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

LSUlinebacker Whit Weeks, right, pursues Floridaquarterback

Lagwayinthe

at BenHillGriffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla.

SPORTS

Tulane defensivebacks Jahiem Johnson, left, and Javion White celebrate White’sinterceptionagainst Northwestern on Aug. 30 at yulmanStadium.

coach JonSumrall has stressed all week the importance of winning the turnoverbattle in Saturdaynight’s game against Duke

WINNINGBLUEPRINT

Tulane says turnover battle,loudcrowd keytodefeating Duke

BY GUERRYSMITH

Contributing writer

Teamscommitting fewer turnovers than their opponentswon 80% of the time in thefirsttwo weeks of thecollege football season Tulane coachJon Sumrall drove that pointhomeinameetingwithhis players Thursday as the Green Wave (2-0) prepared forSaturday night’sbig matchup with Duke (1-1) andDarian Mensah at Yulman Stadium (7 p.m., ESPN2). Never mind theMensah factor,with fans expected to boo thetalented transfer quarterbackearly andoften after he left for Duke andareported massive

Living up to thelabel

Tulane statistics

Guerry Smith’s prediction

NIL deal last December

Don’t worry about the Power Four versus Group of Five angle, either,as the Wave tries to follow its 23-3 trouncing of Northwestern with asecond home victory againstamajor-conference foe.

If thisgame follows wellestablished trends, thewinner will be the team that takes care of the ballbetter.Itisthat

simple, andthe correlation hasbeen even stronger for Sumrall.

In his first game as acoach, Troy lost to Ole Miss 28-10 despite winning the turnover battle 3-2. Sincethen, he is 21-0 in thatsituation, going 5-0 forthe rest of 2022, 6-0 in 2023, 8-0 last season after moving from Troy to Tulane and 2-0 to start thisyear,with quarterback Jake Retzlaff’s first-quarter fumble at SouthAlabama the only miscue. Conversely,the Wave went1-5 in 2024 when it had moreturnovers than its opponents.

“Wewon’twin thisgameifwe’re not in the positive in the turnover margin,” Sumrall said. “Not all turnovers are the same, but we need to be on the right

side of the ledger to have achance.”

Duke wascareless last Saturday against Illinois. Mensah threw an interception and lost fumbles both times he was sacked.Receiver Sahmir Hagans coughed it up at the end of a24-yard gain. The Blue Devils muffed apunt. Combine those miscues with an illegal participation penaltyfor havingtwo playersonapunt returnwearing the same jerseynumber, andDuke lost by the lopsided score of 45-19 despite outgaining Illinois 438-423 while registering four sacks and 10 tackles forloss.

“When youlook at that game, youcan take out two or three plays and they (the

See TULANE, page 7C

Saints special-teamer Stalbird provingworthyofhis ‘37’ evaluation

Jeff Duncan

When Saints coaches scout college players for the NFL draft, they tag elitespecialteams prospects with aspecialcode: 37. That, of course, is the jersey numberworn by Saints special teams legend Steve Gleason. To no one’ssurprise, Isaiah Stalbird earned a“37” tag last year when the Saints evaluated the speedy linebacker from South Dakota State. The tag fits. In manyways, Stalbird is acarbon copy of Gleason. Elite multisportathlete. Undersized but productivecollege linebacker.Undrafted free agent who wasn’tinvitedtothe NFL scouting combine.

Stalbird arrived in New Orleans with littlefanfare. But, like Gleason, once he steppedonthe field, his effort andplaymaking ability were impossible to ignore. “All he’sdone since he got here was showupin practice andmake flash plays,” special teams coordinator Phil Galiano said.“Ikept telling our guys (coaches, scouts), ‘This guy can be special.’ ” Stalbird hasbeenjustthat so far.Afterearning a spot on the 53-man rosterbyleading the Saintsin special teams tacklesduring the preseason, he was dominantinthe season opener against Arizona

49ers at Saints NOON

Stalbirdwas credited with four of the team’s six special teamstackles, including akey stoponthe Saints’ final kickoff that penned the Cardinals at their own 26-yardline.

Stalbird’sfreaky athleticism paired with what coaches and teammates say is an insatiable desire for film study and game-plan preparation have vaulted him to the front of the special teams units. He’squickly become aplayer on coverage units thatopponents have to identify and preparefor

“I think Isaiah has the potential to be an All-Pro special teamsplayer,” Galiano said.“I’m excited about him. Ithink he’sgoing to be areally good player in this league for along time.”

ä See DUNCAN, page 6C

BY ROBMAADDI AP pro football writer

JoshAllenand Lamar Jackson didn’tplaya snapinthe preseason. They didn’tneed it. Allenand Jackson werespectacular in their first game action of theseason. Jacksonled the Baltimore Ravenstoa15-point, fourth-quarter lead only to watch Allenrally the Buffalo Bills to a 41-40 victory So much forrust. Allen was33-of-46 passing for 394 yards with two touchdown passes and two more rushing. Jackson was14-of-19 passing for 209 yardsand twotouchdowns plus70yards rushing and another score.

“It’strusting, trusting our process,trusting ourother 10 guys on thefootball field, trusting what Joe’s(offensive coordinator Joe Brady)calling, and really sticking to our fundamentals and how we worked duringtraining camp, and really just trying to pickup where we leftoff from last year,” Allen said.

The reigning NFL MVP sat out the entire preseason for the first time in his career,but Allen was

sharp against atough defense. He had251 of hispassingyards in the fourth quarter Jackson, atwo-time MVP and three-time All-Pro, hasn’tplayed in thepreseason since 2021. He just steps on the field and dazzles whenever he gets an opportunity NFLcoaches have to makedifficultdecisions each preseason, choosing whether to rest starters or put quarterbacksinharm’s way in meaningless games. Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love injured his hand in an exhibitiongame but was readytoplay in Week 1. Sitting out doesn’tmeanguys will be ineffective.Allenand Jackson demonstrated that. So did Aaron Rodgers.

Playing in preseason games doesn’tguarantee success early in the season, either Footballisateam sport.There area lotoffactors that determine aquarterback’s performance and whether an offense clicks right from the start. Rodgers was amongthe 10 starting quarterbacks whodidn’t get any reps in exhibition games. He was outstanding in theopener,

No preseasonplay, no problemfor many QBs ä See PRESEASON, page 10C

STAFFPHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Green Wave

STAFF PHOTO By BRETTDUKE

Saints linebacker Isaiah Stalbird reacts after making a stop againstthe Jacksonville Jaguars on Aug. 17.

6:30

3p.m.KornFerry:Open

5p.m.PGA:

10

3p.m. N.y.yankees at Boston MLBN

BROADCASTHIGHLIGHTS

7p.m. St. LouisatMilwaukee Fox

9p.m. L.A.Angels at Seattle MLBN RODEO

7p.m. PBR: Team Series CW WOMEN’S RUGBY

8:55 p.m. NewZealand at Wests FS2 MEN’S SOCCER

11:30 a.m.Tottenham at West Ham U. NBC

2p.m. Chelsea at Brentford USA

6p.m.Vancouver FC at PacificFCFS2 WOMEN’S SOCCER

11:30 a.m.Angel City at North Carolina CBS

4p.m.Bay at Orlando ION

6:30 p.m.Washington at Kansas City ION TENNIS

1p.m.Davis CupQualifiersTennis TRACK AND FIELD

2p.m.World Athletics Championships NBC

Rookie SSankerready forhis shot

BY MATTHEW PARAS and LUKE JOHNSON Staff writers

With the waythe New Orleans Saints structured training camp, defensive coordinator Brandon Staley said no group on the defense received more reps than the unit’s rookies

The Saints used five of their nine draft picks on Staley’sside of the ball.And even though none of thoseplayers started in last weekend’sseason opener,the goal of the heavy workload in camp was to get them up to speed in case they were suddenly forced to play Jonas Sanker is the first test case to see whether the approach pays off.

“We’re not afraid of playing young guys,” Staley said. “I know he’ll maximize his opportunity.” Sanker,athird-round pick out of Virginia, will get an opportunity to startatsafety Sundayafter veteran JulianBlackmon suffered a season-ending shoulderinjuryin last weekend’sloss to theArizona Cardinals.

The Saints, who host theSan Francisco 49ers this weekend, turnedtothe rookiebecause of how he came on strong throughout the summer,notablyrecordingan

DUNCAN

Continued from page 5C

That Stalbird even made it to the NFL might be considered an upset.

He was born in Chicago, the youngest of four childrenraised by his mother, NicoleStalbird. Soon after,Nicole moved the familycloser to her Nebraska roots in BrokenBow,Nebraska.

In 2005, amove to Minneapolis led to astint at Mary’sPlace shelter,where Nicole sought protection from atroubled relationship. She then moved the family to Kearney,Nebraska, to regroup andrebuild their lives, andIsaiah entered fostercare. It wasthere that Isaiahmet Cathy and Larry Mohlman,who were friends with hisfoster parents. Nicole later enrolled Isaiah in Cathy’sin-home day care, where his bond with the Mohlman family grew In 2013, after Nicole welcomed Isaiah’syoungest sibling, Gabriel, into the family,heeventually moved in with them at Nicole’s suggestion.Fouryearslater, when Isaiah was asenior at Kearney High School, he officially becamethe adoptedson of Larry andCathy Mohlman

“I knew that for him to have afighting chance,heneeded to be in adifferent environment,” Nicole Stalbird said. “He needed to learn how to be aman. God placed (theMohlman) family in our path early on for areason.” Larry,afinancemanager at a Kearney auto dealership,and Cathy,ateacher,had three children of their own:Dakota, Sierra and Savannah.Buoyedby the stability, discipline andsupport he needed, Stalbird thrived in his new surroundings. He starred in football, track and wrestling at Kearney High School, where he earned all-state honors as a5-foot-11,190-pound safety and wide receiverfor the Class Astate runner-up Bearcats. In the state championshipgame, he blocked apunt for atouchdown,but it wasn’t enough. Omaha North defeated Kearney 27-20

“He was devastated,” Larry Mohlman said about the loss.

“As he sat there and watched (Omaha North) celebrate, Iput my arm aroundhim and told him,‘Watch what they’re doing. Forthem, it’sthe peak. For you, there’smore coming.’ ” Mohlman’s wordsproved prophetic. Stalbird elected to walk on at Nebraskainstead of accepting scholarship offers from

interception in apreseason game against theJacksonville Jaguars.

Staley said Sanker hada “really big jump”inthe last two preseason games and against New Orleansfirst-team offenseinpractice when the 1’swould face the 2’s. That caused Sanker to leap up the depth chart, passing Jordan Howden, Terrell Burgess and UgoAmadi along theway

“I’mjust excited,” Sanker said. “I’ve just been preparing all summer. Ihad alot of time to get used to the systemand get used to the waythey do things.Soreally just excited and ready to get rolling.

At Virginia, the 6-foot, 206-pound safety mostly played in the box meaning he’d be near thelineof scrimmage to wreakhavoc with physicalhits.

Butthe Saints signed veteran Justin Reid this offseasontoplay in the box, so to avoid overlap, the coaching staff had Sanker focus more on the backend. That spot was more uncertain given Blackmon’sinjury history and Tyrann Mathieu‘s retirementbeforetraining camp

Now,the Saints hope Sanker can provide stability. He playedjust onedefensivesnap in his debut.

Fuagaquestionable

Taliese Fuaga is questionable to play in the againstthe San Francisco 49ers on Sunday,and three

other starters have been ruled out

Chase Young (calf) and Trevor Penning (toe) will bothbeheld out for the second straight game after neitherpracticed this week. Blackmon alsowill not play,and coach Kellen Moore suggestedFridayhe likely will be placed on injured reserve this weekend.

Fuaga missed the fourth quarter of last week’s game and then was held out of practice Wednesday, but he participated in alimited capacitybothThursdayand Friday. He suggested earlier this week thatthe knee issue —aninflamed patellar tendon —ismanageable and that he expected to play

Speaking to reportersFriday, Moore said Fuagamay be on a “maintenance program”throughout this season if the issue persists, which is another way of saying load management.

The rest of theinjury report contained some good news. Running back and kick returner Velus Jones (knee) was upgraded to a full participant,and so waslong snapper Zach Wood (elbow).Neither carried an injury designation, and bothwill play Sunday Purdyout;Jones in

With regular starting quarterback Brock Purdy dealing with toe andleft shoulder injuries,the 49ers are going to start Mac Jones againstthe SaintsonSunday in the

the

Isaiah and Nicole Stalbird hold their son

Superdome last season.

“We really liked him coming out of college.His physical traits, he’sveryexplosive, he’svery fast, and he’sstronger than you think. He has the‘it factor’ for special teams.”

PHILGALIANO, Saints special teams coordinator

Nebraska-Kearney and Wayne State and apreferred walk-on opportunity at Wyoming. He blocked two punts as aredshirt freshman before electing to transfer to South Dakota State, apowerful FCS program in Brookings, South Dakota. Stalbird blocked apunt in his first game at South Dakota State. He moved to linebacker and became aleader on anationally ranked defenses.

“Transferring to South Dakota State was ablessing for him,” Nicole Stalbird said. “The coaches there really poured themselves into him as aperson, not just as afootball player who could help them win games. Stalbird’sathleticism and production landed him on the radars of NFL teams. But his “tweener” size —smaller than most NFL linebackersand too big to play safety —led most teamstoview himasalateround or undrafted freeagent prospect.

The Saints signed him as an undrafted free agent, and he yoyoed between the practice squad and active roster for most of his rookie season. He finished with

Isaiah Stalbird wasa standout linebacker at FCS powerSouth Dakota State butwas considered a‘tweener’ in the NFL— smaller than most NFL linebackers and too big to playsafety

three special teamstackles in three games.

“Wereally liked him coming out of college,”Galiano said “Hisphysical traits, he’svery explosive, he’svery fast, and he’sstronger than you think. He has the ‘it factor’for special teams.”

Stalbird plays with enthusiasm that is noticeable to observers and infectious to teammates.After almost each of his four tackles againstthe Cardinals, Stalbird was mobbed by teammates on the sideline, atestament to his popularity “I want my teammates to feed offme,”hesaid. “The big thing on (special) teamsisjust the

Caesars Superdome.

Purdy played eachofthe 49ers’ 76 offensive snaps last week againstSeattle,but he did not practice this week.

That is potentially abig boon for theSaints,who now get to face Jones, the2021 first-rounder who is trying to revive his career with his thirdNFL franchise.

This will markJones’ 50th career start, but his first appearance withSan Francisco. He spent the first four yearsofhis career with theNew England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars, but he has struggledsince astrong rookie season.

His teams have gone 20-29 in his starts, includinga2-5 mark lastseason when he filled in for injured Jaguars starter Trevor Lawrence.He’sthrown 46 touchdowns against 36 interceptions in his career,withan84.9career passer rating.

“The athleticism and mobility is probably whereit’sdifferent withBrock,because he’ssuch an effective playmaker outside the pocket on the edges,” Staley said. “But they’re going to run their offense.”

San Francisco has gone 24-13 in games Purdy has started since he took over as the starter midway through his 2022 rookie season. In that span, the 49ers have gone 0-3 in games Purdy did not start.

want-to, the effort.”

It helps to have afearlessattitude, 4.4 speed and the quicktwitch explosiveness of a37½inch vertical leap.

Mostofall, Stalbirdhas embraced his role. He has akeen understanding of his strengths and weaknesses as aplayer and has impressed the Saints with his drive to improve. His teammates and coaches rave about his humility and professionalism, qualities forged by his extraordinary life journey

“I could havelooked at (life) goals and said, my life’snot going to be anything, I’m going to fall into the same cycle —but I knew Iwanted to change that,” Stalbird said. “I wanted to write my own narrative. Knowing my background and the things that have happened in my life, theoretically,I’m not supposed to be here. But if you put in the work and believe in yourself and stay grounded in faith, anything’s possible.”

It’sa message he repeats often when asked to speak to schools or youth groups.Hedelivered a similar message to the football team at Long Beach (Miss.) High School on Tuesday,where he spent part of his off day,surprising the playerswith $15,000 in donated footballequipment from alocal moving and warehousing company

“Asa mom, I’m just infinitely proud of the down-to-earth, kindhearted person he’sbecomeon and offthe field,” Nicole Stalbird said.

Added Larry Mohlman: “Seeing his determination and having that dedication to do what it takes to be the bestand understanding that it’snot just about football. If anybody deserves a shot, it’sIsaiah.”

The Saints have arich history of great special teams players. Gleason, Tyrone Hughes,Michael Lewis, Fred McAfee, Chris Banjo and J.T.Grayset astandard of excellence that earned the Saints league-wide respect and recognition. Stalbirdhopes to follow in those large footsteps and live up to the“37” legacy

“It’sjust ablessing for me to be here in an NFL locker room,” he said. “I know that whatever circumstances Ihad, Iknow I didn’thave it the worst. Hopefully,mystory can inspiresomeone elsewho is going through some (tough) circumstances of their own. It took avillage for me to get here, and Iwouldn’t trade it for anything.”

EmailJeff Duncan at jduncan@ theadvocate.com.

IN BRIEF FROM STAFFAND WIRE REPORTS

Commanders’ Wise out for season; Ekeler injured Washington Commanders defensive end DeatrichWisewill miss the rest of the season after having quadriceps surgery,and the team believes running back AustinEkelertore his right Achilles tendon in aloss to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday but is awaiting tests to confirm the severity of that injury, apersonwithknowledge of the situations told The Associated Press on Friday Wise is a31-year-old in his ninth NFLseason whojoinedthe Commanders this offseason after playing his entire career with the New England Patriots.

He wasinjured in the first half of Green Bay’s27-18 victory while trying to block an extra-point attempt.Wise wasdrivenoff the field and raised his right fist as he wastaken away

FanDuel to pay Jaguars about $5M in theft fiasco

FanDuelhas agreed to paythe Jacksonville Jaguarsroughly $5 million to help offset thenearly $20 million that aformer employee stole from the NFL franchise and deposited at the sportsbook, aperson familiar with discussions said Friday

Thedeal wasfinalized earlier this year,the person said. It came ayear after financial manager Amit Patel pleaded guilty to stealing $22 millionthrough avirtual credit card system the team used forexpenses.

FanDuel is one of the NFL’sofficial gambling partners, so it made sense to find an amicable resolution with theJaguars and avoida potentially expensive legal battle.

The Jaguars declined comment, as wellasFanDuel.

Philliespitcher Alvarado out for restofthe season

Relief pitcher Jose Alvarado of the Phillies will miss the remainder of the season after being placed on the15-dayinjuredlist with aleftforearmstrain Friday Alvarado was4-2 with a3.81 ERA in 26 innings pitched over 28 appearances this season. He served an 80-gamesuspension for performance-enhancing drugs fromMay 18 to Aug. 18 aftertesting positive for exogenous testosterone.

He was 4-1with a2.70 ERA and seven saves at the time of the suspension,usually servingasthe club’scloser.

The Phillies acquired closer Jhoan Duranfrom Minnesota at the July 31 trade deadline, and he hasdominated in the role ever since.

Matsuyama leads BMW PGA Championship

Hideki Matsuyama made two eagles in shooting 8-under 64 to take aone-stroke lead over atrio of European Ryder Cup players after the second round of the BMW PGA Championship on Friday Matsuyama made 11 birdies this week along with eagles at twoof the four par-5s in the second round to be 12 under for the tournament. At the 17th he chipped in from the edge of thegreen to jump into the lead late in the day.Viktor Hovland (66), Ludvig Åberg (69) and Justin Rose (66) were leading the pursuit of Matsuyama in their last event before the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black from Sept. 26-28. There are 11 members of the Europe team playing this week and only rookie Rasmus Hojgaard(5 over after 75) failed to make it.

Astros place McCullers on 15-dayILwith soreness

The Houston Astros placed righthanderLance McCullers on the 15day injured list with soreness in his pitching hand, general manager Dana BrownsaidFridaybeforethe Astros opened athree-game series in Atlanta McCullers flew back to Houston from Toronto to havehis handevaluated. McCullersmade two relief appearances in September, includingone Thursday in a6-0 loss to the Blue Jays. He is 2-5 with a6.88ERA with 12 startsin15appearances this season.

Rookie left-hander Colton Gordon (4-4,5.67) wasrecalled from Triple-A Sugar Land and is available to pitchagainst the Braves on Friday. The Astros alsopromoted outfielder Zach Cole, who was set to makehis major league debut Fridayinleft field andbatting eighth.

PROVIDED PHOTOS

Kendrixx in

Caesars

GAMEDAY

SouthFlorida securesanother notch

BY GUERRYSMITH Contributing writer

South Florida struck another blow for theAmerican Conference, beating Floridafor thefirst time in program history with a chip-shot field goal as time ran out. The Bulls’ second marquee victory (theyclobbered Boise State) put whoever wins the league championship within spitting distance of aCollege Football Playoff berth.

It already led to speculation on one national podcast about adream matchup of 12-0 South Florida and 12-0 Tulane in thetitle game since they will not meet in theregular season. Theyignored how incredibly harditistogoundefeated, but the American definitely is gettingpositive publicity with the Bulls’ unexpected rise to No. 18 in TheAssociated Press pollheading into agame at Miami

1. SouthFlorida

Record: 2-0, 0-0 American

Previous rank: 2

Last week: defeated Florida 18-16

This week: at Miami, 3:30 p.m. Saturday (CW Network)

TULANE 27,DUKE24: TheGreen Wave offensivelinewillfacebyfar itsbiggest test Saturday against atalented, playmaking defensive front. If theblockingholdsup, the Wave’s superior ball security,bigger commitment to therunning game and home-fieldadvantage should make thedifferenceina closegamethat will charge theatmosphereinDarian Mensah’s return to yulman Stadium. Mensah will make plays, butthe Blue Devils will make acostlymistake in crunch time that Tulane QB Jake Retzlaff will avoid.

Guerry Smith

Extrapoints: Shades of 2007, when the Bulls rose to No. 2inthe AP poll after beatingNo. 17 Auburn and No. 5West Virginia during a 6-0 start. They want to avoid what happened next, though. That team lost three in arow,got waxed in a bowl and finished unranked.

2. Tulane Record: 2-0, 0-0 American Previous rank: 1

Last week: defeated South Alabama 33-31

This week: vs.Duke, 7p.m. Saturday(ESPN2)

Extra points: Wasthe scare against theJaguars aneeded wakeup call for atalented team that was alittle toofull of itself after an easy winagainstNorthwestern? Or was it asignofsomething more concerning? We willfind outina tough, emotion-filled home game against Dukeand Darian Mensah that is rated as atoss-up.

3. Navy

Record: 2-0, 1-0 American

Previous rank: 3

Last week: defeated UAB 38-24

This week: at Tulsa, 7p.m. Saturday(ESPN+)

Extrapoints: Atougher-than-expected conferenceopener against UAB was tied at 24-24 before the Midshipmen blanked the Blazers in the second half. Blake Horvath threw for 168 yards and ran for 72 as Navy rolled up 295 yards on the ground. Tulsa should offer minimalresistance.

4: Memphis

Record: 2-0, 0-0 American Previous rank: 4

Last week: defeated Georgia State 38-16

This week: at Troy,11a.m. Saturday(ESPNU)

Extrapoints: The Tigers’ unusual tourofSun Beltvenues continues with an intriguing game against the Trojans, wholed Clemson 16-3 at halftime before succumbing2716. Memphis, which has won 12 in arow against SunBelt opponents, will be tested if Troy has anything left.

5. Army

Record: 1-1, 0-0 American Previous rank: 9

Last week: defeated Kansas State 24-20

This week: off

Extrapoints: Notonlydid Army give the American its third win

TULANE

Blue Devils) probably would have wonbytwo touchdowns,” Sumrall said.“In particular the first half, they won the line of scrimmage decisively. They are really good.

We’ve got our work cut out for us.”

Sumrall’steams are 27-0 when outrushing their opponents, including 9-0atTulane, andthat trendappliestocollege football as awhole. He pointed out teams are 50-1 this season when winningthe turnover and rushing battle (lone exception:Massachusettsagainst Bryant).

Duke averages 120.5 yards rushingcompared to Tulane’s 255. The key will be eliminating the mistakes the defensemade in Saturday’s33-31 escape at South Alabama, which included a65yard touchdown pass in the first

against aPower Fourschool —the other four Group of Five conferences have combined for two but it produced thewildeststat in college football this year.Inhis first start,quarterback Cale Hellums carried apreposterous 41 times for 124 yards.

6. East Carolina

Record: 1-1, 0-0

American Previous rank: 7

Last week: defeated Campbell 56-3

This week: at Coastal Carolina, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN+)

Extrapoints: Katin Houser threw for 314 yards against the overmatchedCamels,who fell to Rhode Island aweek earlier Basedoncomparative scores, whichare notoriously unreliable, the Pirates should win at Coastal Carolina. ECU losttoNCState 24-17. NC State beat Virginia 3531. Virginia beat Coastal Carolina 48-7.

7. NorthTexas

Record: 2-0, 0-0 American

Previous rank: 6

Last week: defeated Western Michigan 33-30 in OT

This week: vs.Washington State, 2:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPNU)

Extra points: TheMeanGreen’s first lead at Western Michigan cameonits game-winning touchdown in overtimeafter rallying from 10 down in the fourth quarter to tiewith1:34 left. It was the first victory in programhistory when North Texas never led in regulation.

8. Texas-SanAntonio

American

Record: 0-2, 0-0

Previous rank: 5

Lastweek: lost to TexasState 43-36

This week: vs. IncarnateWord, 2:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN+)

Extrapoints: Houston chose wisely when it took Willie Fritz instead of Jeff Traylor as coach two years ago. UTSA, whichhas dropped

quarterwhen cornerback Jahiem Johnson made abad playona deep ball down the sideline and failed to make the tackle afterthe catch.

“It was just abunch of unforced errors,” Sumrall said. “This team (Duke) is good enough to beat you when you’re doing things the right way. We can playreally good football andstill lose aplay. We have to makethem earn the plays they get.”

Mensah, whose averageof361.5 yards passing ranks secondnationally,has completions of 62, 46, 44 and 35 yards this season.

“Our main goal is to eliminate the explosives,” said safety Jack Tchienchou, Tulane’ssecondleading tackler.“That’skind of what their game is built on.”

Playing at home shouldhelp. Tulane was better across theboard againstNorthwesternatYulman Stadium than it was at South Alabama, and attendance should be better than the22,103 for the

seven regular-season road games in arow,fellathome forthe first timesince September 2023 and for the secondtimeintwo years to Texas State.

9. UAB

Record: 1-1, 0-1 American

Previous rank: 11

Last week: Lost to Navy 38-24

This week: vs. Akron,7:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN+)

Extra points: TheBlazers held up forahalf against Navy,getting two Jalen Kitna touchdown passes and scoring 24 points. Then they misseda field goal on theiropening possession of the third quarter and committed three turnovers as Trent Dilfer’soffense imploded.

10.Rice

Record: 1-1, 0-0 American

Previous rank: 8

Last week: lost to Houston 35-9

This week: vs Prairie View,6 p.m Saturday (ESPN+)

Extrapoints: Twoyears after ending aseven-gameskid against its crosstown opponent, Rice finishedwith only 228 yards and allowed 21 fourth-quarter points as areasonably close game got outofhand againstHouston.The Cougars limited new coach Scott Abell’soption offense to 3.3 yards per carry

11.Temple

Record: 2-0, 0-0 American Previous rank: 10

Last week: defeated Howard 55-7

This week: vs. Oklahoma, 11 a.m Saturday (ESPN2)

Extrapoints: The Owls, 2-0 for the first time since2019, getarare opportunity to face aPower Four opponent at home. They hope to fare better against the Sooners than last year’s51-3

opener.The number of fanswho stuckaround forthe secondhalf was considerably lower vs. Northwestern.

“I’mexcited to get this place rocking,”Retzlaff said. “I was a little disappointed with the wayit looked in the second half in Week 1, I’m notgoing to lie. Hopefully everyone sticks around no matter what the score is and can cheer in thefourth quarter.”

With the point spread hovering around 1-2 in Tulane’sfavor,this one is expected to be tight to the finish. Despite aslow start and finishatSouth Alabama, Retzlaff liked what he saw when the Wave respondedtoa14-0deficitwitha 33-3 run.

“Itwas an incredibly good stretch,sothat’swhat we can do,” he said. “We’re just going to lean into that part of the game. People talk about the middle part of the game, andfor us it was really the

trouncing on the road.Oklahoma is favoredby211/2 points, which seemslow

12.Florida Atlantic

Record: 1-1, 0-0 American Previous rank: 12

Last week: defeated Florida A&M 56-14

This week: at Florida International, 5p.m. Saturday (ESPN+)

Extrapoints: The Owls have beaten FIU seven straight times, winning by at least 18 points and an averageof30. The 18-point margin game was last season, though, so FIUmay be closing the gap. Both teams firedtheir coaches at the end of 2024.

13.Tulsa

Record: 1-1, 0-0

Previous rank: 13

Last week: lost to New Mexico State 21-14

This week: vs.Navy,7 p.m.Saturday (ESPN+)

Extra points: The Golden Hurricane blew achance fora 2-0 start whenNew Mexico State scored the winning TD with 3:23 left. Tulsaisa two-touchdown underdog to Navy and likely will not have ashot to win another game until homecoming against Temple on Oct. 25.

14.Charlotte

Record: 0-2, 0-0 American

Previous rank: 14

Lastweek: lost to NorthCarolina 20-3

This week: vs.Monmouth, 5p.m. Saturday (ESPN+)

Extrapoints: Newcoach TimAlbin dresses better than predecessor Biff Poggi, who took the casual look to the extreme. But while Albin will stand on the sideline of a 15,000-seat stadium against Monmouth, Poggi will be Michigan’s interim coach against Central Michigan in front of 105,000 fans. Advantage, Poggi.

middle 45 (minutes) we crushed them,sowhy not do it for60minutes? That’sthe goal this week.”

Sumrallravedabout Duke receivers Cooper Barkate, Andrel Anthonyand Que’Sean Brown and Hagans, who have combined for 32 catches for 511 yards and fivetouchdowns. He praisedthe Blue Devils’ aggressive defense, which is tied for fifth in the FBS in tackles forloss. The antidote is limiting mistakes behind aloud crowd.

“Itneeds to be araucous environment,which it should be,”Sumrall said. “Weonly get six home games, so we need the stadium to be electric. We’re playinganACC team that haswon nine games twice in the last threeyears. We should be emotionally ready “Wejust have to play good, clean football. If we do that, we’ll give ourselves the best chance to have success we can.”

South FloridaBulls coach Alex Golesh signals from the sideline during the first halfagainst the Tulane Green Wave at yulman Stadium on Sept. 28.

VARSITYZONE

Raiders poundCubs

Powerful ground game helpsRummel pull away from U-High

BY CHRISTOPHER DABE Staff writer

Jaden Terrance let the kickoff hit off his shoulder pads and bounce toward the goal line.

But once he picked it up,hesaw nothing but open field as he ran from one end of the Cesars Superdome turf to the other for aleadchanging touchdown as first-half time expired.

The Raiders added another three touchdowns in the second half on the way to a30-17 victory on Fridaythatmarked thefourth consecutive win over University High in as many seasons.

The first three meetings had close scores. This time, the Raiders leaned on the strength of their overpowering offensive linealong with the patient runningofTerrance and junior Coryan Hawkins, who combined for 231 yards on the ground.

Hawkins ran 22 timesfor 118 yards and scored on a20-yard touchdown run less than two minutes into the fourth quarter Terrance, whose kickoff return touchdown put Rummel(1-1) ahead 10-7 goinginto the half, ran 19 times for 105 yards, not includingthe twotouchdown runs that werenegated by holding penalties.

“I think the biggest thing was the second half, we were leaning on them alittle bit,” Rummel coach Nick Monica said. “I don’tknow if we wore them down or if we executed better.Both of our guys are good, and the o-line is what it needs to be.Wehave to rely on those guys, especially in thesecond half.” Rummel quarterback Tyler Holden completed 12 of 17 passes for 108 yards and two touch-

downs—one each to junior Mark Shezbie andsophomore tightend Ja’MarcusJones. Before the kickoff return touchdown, U-High (1-1) had taken a7-3 lead when seniorLawson Dixon reached over the head of aRummel defender for an 8-yard touchdown reception with 17 seconds remaining in the half. That was one of several catches by Dixon, who finishedwith 12 receptionsfor 121 yards andtwo scores— the second one coming in the closingminutes. Dixonalso ran 39 yards fromthe upback position on afakepunt that positioned U-High to kick afield goal that tied thescore at 10-all in the third quarter Rummel responded with along scoring drivethatended witha19yard touchdown passcaught by Shezbieashefell to his knees just inside thegoal line.

Ashort U-High gave Rummel favorable field position, and Hawkins ran 20 yards for atouchdown that capped athree-play drive for a2410 lead.

“Theywere more physical than us,” U-High coach Andy Martin said. “Wehad some guys going out and cramping up alittle bit, but that’snot an excuse. We have to have other guys that are ready to step up. They weremore physical than us tonight.”

On the kickoff return touchdown, Terrance felt like he “had to make the playbecause that’sa big mistake by me,” he saidabout letting the ball hit off his shoulderpads. “When Igot it, Iseen thehole and Iknew no onecould catch me.”

Next for Rummel is theMegaphone game against Shaw while U-High takes on Catholic-Baton Rouge.

Riversidehangs on to beat Newman

BY SPENCERURQUHART

Staff writer

Riverside and Newman both had strongdefensive showings in aWeek 2nondistrict matchup on Friday at Michale Lupin Field No points were scored until the end of the second quarter when Riverside senior quarterback Brock Bourgeois found the end zone on aquarterback sneak. Newman scored apair of secondhalf touchdowns and waswithin sixpoints in the closing minutes, butRiverside held on for a19-13 win. Newman senior quarterback Jake Randle led ascoring drive and found freshman Jake Irving fora 9-yard receiving touchdown to cut the lead to six. The Newman offense was unable to deliver again, as aturnover on downs allowed Riverside to run out the clock with less thanaminute to go.

“Our defense played unbelievable,” Riversidecoach Lee Roussel said. “Every time we needed a stop, they made it. We were physi-

cal in how we ran theball. That’s a goodoffensethat hasareally good player(JakeRandle) touchingthe ball every snap. To limit himlike we did, Ithought our defense playedamazing.” Riverside was able to takea13-0 lead in thethird quarter after senior running back Jace Trosclair found the end zone from 3yards out.Trosclairisalsoastandout player ondefenseand finished as Riverside’sleadrusherwith 79 yards on17carries.

Newman was able to getonthe board afterRandlefound senior wide receiver George Loop for an 11-yard touchdown strike. Randle, aTulane commitment who was expected to beNewman’s starting running back this season but is now under centerprimarily,finished with ateam-high 147 rushing yards on15carries.

“I thought we had some opportunities early,” Newman coach Aaron Vice said.“We gotback in the game. When things got tough, we didn’tback down. I thinkwegrew from this andwill

Royalputsonashow forBrother Martin

BY MIKE GEGENHEIMER

Contributing writer

Easton Royal showed Friday why he is one of the mostsoughtafter recruits in the state.

TheBrother Martin junior receiver sliced through atough St. Paul’s defense for 243 yards and three touchdowns on nine catches, liftingthe Crusaderstoa 37-27win

From the opening kick, Royal proved he wasworthy of his fivestar rating. He started with an 11-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter.Inthe second, he took aslant 73 yards foranother score. In the third, he slipped past thedefensefor 81 yards.And then he finished the night with a 6-yard passing touchdowntoRex LeBlanc in the fourth quarter. LeBlanc barely cleared thedefender’soutstretched arms. The Wolves, typically astaunch defense,simply hadnoanswer for the 6-foot pass catcher as he slowly took over thegametopull ahead in the second half

Thetwo sidestraded blows throughthe firsttwo quarters with thegametied20-20 at the break. St. Paul’sopened the game with its own explosive play when running back Cody Corales took the third play of the game58 yards foratouchdown.

TheWolves wereeffectiverunning the ball in the first half with

195 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries. Corales alone accounted for 125 yards and two scores. Running back Troy Willis postedthe other touchdown in the first half with a3-yard run early in the second quarter Meanwhile, Brother Martin took advantage of astrong special teamsperformance to keep the game in reach. Kicker Maximo Barrios made kicks from 40 and 36 yards in the first half But that back and forth quickly ended in the second half as Brother Martin and Royal took control. St. Paul’stotaled only 137 yards in the third andfourth quarters while the Crusaders marched for 240 over the samestretch. Brother Martin quarterback Hudson Fields finished with 283 yards on a15-of-18 passing clip. Backup quarterback Justin Morgan also tossed atouchdown when he connected with Royal forhis first trip to the end zone. LeBlanc reeled in five catches for46yards and atouchdown for the Crusaders.

St. Paul’smanaged to close the gaplate in thefourth quarter when quarterback Brady Piersonconnected withAdamConnellwith20seconds to playona 4-yard pass in theend zone.But the ensuing onside kick wasunsuccessful, clinching thegame forthe Crusaders.

Jesuit defensepicks up slackagainst E.D. White

BY ANDREW VALENTI Contributing writer

The Jesuit offense did not have it for muchofits game against E.D.White on Friday night at Tad Gormley Stadium But its defense held apotent Cardinalsoffenseto259 yards and snuffedout alatefourthquarter drive in a24-21 win.

E.D. White (0-2) took possession at the25-yard line after forcing aturnover on downs with a little morethan two minutes left in the game. Grant Barbera used his arm andlegs to pick up three first downstoput his team at the Jesuit 29. The Blue Jays then forced four straight incompletionstoseal the win.

The seniorsignalcallerled E.D. White with 166 yards passing andatouchdown and 69 yards on the ground.

WhileJesuitforcedone turnover,afumble recovery in the third quarter,the defense allowed just one offensive touchdown —a 64-yard catch-and-run from BarberatoReece Lafont thatinched the Cardinals within 24-21 with 4:31 leftinthe contest.

“Our offense didn’tdogreat,” Jesuit defensive back Cole Puneky said. “Everyone saw that, but it didn’tmatter because our defense was able to prevail. We gave up acouple of big plays, but it was nothing major.Itwas acollective effort.”

The Jesuit offense turned the ball over five times, with four interceptionscoming offthe armofquarterback Taylor Nor-

ton and astrip-sack fumble that E.D. White’sAlexander Percle raninfor atouchdown fora 7-0 lead with 10:32 left in the opening quarter

Butthe BlueJays (2-0) made plays when theyneeded to.Norton found Roman Larre on a48-yard completion in the fourthquarter Gavin Palmisano foundthe end zone on the next play from 31 yards out to put the Blue Jays ahead 24-13 with 5:21 left in the game.

Palmisano had a14-yard touchdown run where he bounced off numerous defenders before crossing thegoal line that gave Jesuit its first lead at 17-13 with 4:41 to play in the third quarter Palmisano paced the ground game with 77 yards andtwo scores.

“All three phases did enough for us to win,” Jesuit coach Ryan Manale said. “It’sgreat for us to get awin,and there are plenty of lessons forustolearn in tomorrow’s meetings. (Norton) hada rough night,and it wasprobably oneof the roughest nights he’s hadina Jesuit uniform. He made that big throw,and for him to battle back andmakeabig play likethatinthe second half was very good to see.” E.D. White —the DivisionIIselect runner-up last year —scored itsother points on twofirst-half field goals off the foot of kicker Jonathon Lee. Jesuit scored a first-quartertouchdownona 14yard pass fromNortontoBenjamin Neff, and Ethan Cabos kicked a29-yard field goal to bring the Blues Jays within 13-10 with nine seconds left before halftime.

get better.” Randle threwtwo interceptions in thefirst half but was able tofind arhythm in the second half, completing 8of20passes for 97 yards andtwo touchdowns. Loopwas Newman’s receivingleader with 67 yards on five catches. Riverside was able to take atwoscore lead in the fourthquarter when Bourgeois found sophomore wide receiver Kenric Johnson in the endzonefrom 27 yards out. Nicknamed “Boogie,” Johnson finished with six catches for 61 yards andadded 69 rushingyards on nine carries. Johnson also made an impact on defense by coming up with oneof Riverside’stwo interceptions. The other interception was caught by freshman defensive back Breaux Brock. Riverside (1-1) got itsfirst win of theseason and will look to make it twoina rownext Fridayagainst Prairieville at home. Newman (02) is still searching for its first win and will be back at home next Friday against Sophie B. Wright

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Rummel running back Jaden Terranceruns with theballawayfrom the U-Highdefense during the firsthalf of thegame FridayatCaesars Superdome. The Raiders won30-17.

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Rummel running back Jaden Terrance runs withthe ball before he is tackled by aU-High defender duringthe second half on Friday at the Caesars Superdome.

THE VARSITYZONE

Pick-six sparks Tigers

interception return keys Holy Crosswin againstDeLaSalle

BY CHRISTOPHER DABE Staff writer

First-year starting cornerback Savoy Guidry intercepted ashortpassnear the sideline and ran nearlythe full length of the field for atouchdown

With that, De La Salle wentfrom having achance to take a lead late in the first half to suddenly being down by two scores, which proved insurmountable as Holy Cross completed a20-0 victory Thursday at TadGormleyStadium

The 84-yard interception return cameafter senior Ke’Rynn Smith ran for atouchdown earlier in the second quarter. Senior CarsonChiappetta scored the final touchdown on a74-yard pass from Jokoby Farria, who completed13 of 19 passes for 201yardsinhelping the Tigers (2-0) open the season witha second consecutive victory

“Credit to our guys playing in abig environment,” Holy Cross coach Scott Wattigny said. “At E.D. White (in Week 1), winning that game by one, coming here on ashort week and beating a good team.”

The Holy Crossdefense came away with threeinterceptions— theother twobyjuniorlinebacker JonahWeir on the first De La Sallepossession and the other by freshman defensive back Brandon Green on the final defensive play

first downs on the ensuing possession andhad achance to take the lead before theinterception.

“That was atremendous play,” Wattigny said. “Really was aplay thatwe absolutely needed.”

Thecoach describedGuidry,a junior as “oneofthe top guys in thecountry in his class at his position.”

On the botched screen pass,DeLa Salle “didn’tblock it correctly,”coach Graham Jarrott said. “Itwas amess-up offensively “Wewere driving the ball. We were only down one score. Amess-up on offense cost us big.”

De La Salle successfully moved the ball at times with juniorEamon Williamsasthe leading rusher with 67 yards on 13 carries. Robert Lewis rushed seven timesfor 53 yards and Charles Irwin 10 times for 45.

The interception return touchdown by Guidry came on abotched screen pass attempt with the ball inside the Holy Cross 20.

Guidry steppedinfront of theshort pass attempt near theright sideline when and raced up the field withnobody in hisway

“Itwas surreal because it was my first pick-six, youknow, in my first yearstarting,” Guidry said. “I just soaked it all in.

“I’m glad Imade the play.”

Holy Crossled 6-0after Smithscored on a12-yard run but missed the extra point. De La Salle (0-2) picked up four

TheCavaliers rotatedsenior Noah Rogers and sophomore AlericqValentine at quarterback for thesecond week in arow De La Salle reached thered zone one othertime in the second half andended with aturnover on downs.

For Holy Cross, Smithrushed 13 times for 45 yards while Chiappetta had three receptionsfor 91yards. Junior Talon Meyers had five catches for 53 yards and senior Jaydin Smithhad three catches for 45 yards.

Holy Cross will face Chalmette next week while De La Salle takes on St. Paul’s Scores

By The Associated Press

NEW YORK Jacob deGrom received asix-run lead before throwing apitchin his return to Citi Field, and the Texas Rangers beat the Mets 8-3onFridaynight to give NewYork its third seven-game losing streak this year

BY HOWARD FENDRICH AP national writer

WASHINGTON It’sonly been two gamessofar, but Jayden Daniels and the rest of the Washington Commanders havelooked more like the oldest team in the NFL and less like the club that went12-5 and made it all the way to the NFC title game last season.

The offense is nowhere near as explosive or as efficient as it was as the former LSU star earned AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. And the defense, which was supposedly going to be better after additions such as VonMiller and Javon Kinlaw,was not up to the task in a27-18 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday nightthat dropped Washington’s

record to 1-1 after awin against the lowly New York Giants in Week 1.

“It is early in the season,” said Daniels, who was 24 of 42 for 200 yards through the air and ran seven times for just 17 yards, while beingsacked four times. “I wouldn’texpect anyone in this locker room to hitthe panic button.”

His two touchdown passes both cameinthe fourth quarter,after the game was pretty much out of hand.

“Overall, just atough night,” coach Dan Quinn said, “in terms of style and attitude of how we want to play,identity It just felt likewemissed the mark.

That’s true. The first quarter was particularly poor for the Commanders: Their 11 total yards were the club’s

fewest in that period since 2018, when they had 2ina Week 17 game. At one point in the second quarter,Green Bay led 14-0 and had outgained Washington 243 yards to 23, with 12 first downs to one. “All in all,”Packers coach Matt LaFleur said, “I thought we were in control of the football game for a majority of the game.”

DeGrom (12-7), atwotimeCyYoung Award winner while pitching for the Mets from 2014-22, allowed three runs and four hitsin seveninnings, retiring his last 15 batters. Texas has won 15 of 19 andfive straight, despite missing CoreySeager, Marcus Semien, Evan Carter and and Adolis Garcíabecauseofinjuries. The Rangers began the night two games back of Houston and Seattle in AL West and twogames behind of Astros and Seattle for the last AL wild card. New York, starting its final homestand, haslost sevenstraight games three times in aseason for the first timesince 1980, prompting repeated boos. TheMets’ lead forthe last NL wild card was 11/2 games at the start of the night, Jonah Tong (1-2) gotjust twooutsinhis third major league start. The 22-yearold right-hander walked three —all on changeups —and allowed six runs and four hits in abrutal top of the first that lasted 22 minutes. Josh Jung and AlejandroOsuna hitRBI singles, Cody Freeman hadatworunsingleand MichaelHelman atwo-run double. Tong’souting wasthe shortest foraMets starter since David Peterson got one out on Sept. 14, 2022.

Holy Cross receiver Carson Chiappetta runs aftera catch as De La Salle’s Brenden Guidroz tries to makethe tackle.

STAFF PHOTOSByJOHNMcCUSKER

Holy Cross wide receiver Jaydin Chambers runs afteracatch against De La Salle on Thursday night at TadGormleyStadium

The Tigers improvedto2-0 with a20-0 victory.

SCOREBOARD

STATE FOOTBALL CAPSULES

contest 28-26 in Ogden, Utah. ... McNeese is 14-9 all time against Big Sky Conference opponents. Kentucky State at Grambling WHEN: 6 p.m. Saturday WHERE: Eddie Robinson Stadium (19,610), Grambling ONLINE: SWAC

New York aims to repeat; Minnesota seeks redemption

BY DOUG FEINBERG AP basketball writer

face expansion Golden State in the opening round.

Qu

5 pass from Love (McManus kick), 4:39. Second Quarter

GB_Jacobs 2 run (McManus kick), 7:33

Was_FG Gay 51, 4:27. Third Quarter

GB_FG McManus 22, 6:37. Fourth Quarter

Was_Ertz 20 pass from Daniels (Gay kick), 13:45. GB_Kraft 8 pass from Love (McManus kick), 8:57.

GB_FG McManus 56, 6:42.

Was_Samuel 10 pass from Daniels (McCaffrey pass from Daniels), 2:53

A_77,289. WasGB

First downs 15 22

Total Net Yards 230 404

Rushes-yards 19-51 30-135 Passing 179 269

Punt Returns 3-50 3-1

Kickoff Returns 3-103 2-57

Interceptions Ret. 0-0 0-0

Comp-Att-Int 24-42-0 19-31-0

Sacked-Yards Lost 4-21 2-23 Punts 4-46.75 4-53.25

Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0

Penalties-Yards 5-30 10-77

Time of Possession 27:34 32:26

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING_Washington, Croskey-Merritt 4-17, Daniels 7-17, Ekeler 8-17. Green Bay, Jacobs 23-84, S.Williams 2-24, Golden 2-15, Love 3-12

PASSING_Washington, Daniels 24-42-0-200. Green Bay, Love 19-31-0-292.

RECEIVING_Washington, Samuel 7-44, Ertz 6-64, McLaurin 5-48, Ekeler 2-7, McCaffrey

1-19, Brown 1-9, Sinnott 1-7, Lane 1-2. Green Bay, Kraft 6-124, Wicks 4-44, Doubs 3-28 C.Brooks 3-27, Musgrave 2-32, Heath 1-37 MISSED FIELD GOALS_Washington, Gay 58, Gay 52. Green Bay, McManus 48. College football

Thursday’s games

SOUTH NC State 34, Wake Forest 24 Friday’s games

EAST Colgate at Syracuse, n MIDWEST Indiana 73, Indiana St. 0 SOUTHWEST Colorado at

Southern. Idle: Nicholls State, UL-Monroe

The WNBA playoffs are set to begin Sunday with New York looking to become the fourth team to repeat as champions and Minnesota trying to avenge last season’s heartbreaking loss in the Finals. Indiana is back in the playoffs, but missing star guard Caitlin Clark, who has been sidelined for the last two months with a groin injury and will miss the postseason. The Liberty will have a difficult road as they are the No. 5 seed and open up at Phoenix on Sunday After starting out 9-0, injuries decimated New York and left the Liberty in the difficult position of having to win at least one game on the road in each series to win a second straight title.

The Fever finished the season over .500 for the first time since 2015 and did it without Clark playing for the last two months. The Fever lost five players to season-ending injuries over the last two months and will have to figure a way to advance out of the first round for the first time in a decade They’ll open up against the third-seeded Atlanta Dream.

Minnesota, which lost in overtime in a decisive Game 5 to New York last year, is the No. 1 seed and has looked like the best team for much of the season. The Lynx have made it their mission to win the franchise’s first championship since 2017. The team has been led by Napheesa Collier, who became the second player in WNBA history to record a season where she shot over 50% from the fiield, 40% from behind the 3-point line and 90% from the free throw line.

She’s one of the top candidates to win the league’s Most Valuable Player award. Minnesota will

PRESEASON

tossing four touchdown passes to lead Pittsburgh to a win. Some of the others had slower starts. Baker Mayfield was out of sync early for Tampa Bay but made clutch throws to rally the Buccaneers to victory Dak Prescott posted a 76.6 passer rating, though the Cowboys had several dropped passes.

Jared Goff and the entire Detroit offense had a rough time against Green Bay in John Morton’s first game as offensive coordinator Meanwhile, quarterbacks who played in the preseason had mixed results. Joe Burrow threw for just 113 yards and one touchdown, but Cincinnati still edged Cleveland 17-16. Patrick Mahomes lost another wide receiver to an injury and needed a while to get the Kansas City offense going in a loss to the Chargers in Brazil.

Tua Tagovailoa had one of his worst games as a pro, tossing two interceptions in Miami’s lopsided loss to Indianapolis. Bo Nix threw two picks but Denver held on to defeat Tennessee.

“It’s probably the toughest part of our position, in my opinion, is bouncing back from the negative because you work really

Standing in the Lynx’s way of a title could be the Las Vegas Aces — the last team to repeat as champions in 2022 and 2023. Las Vegas is the hottest team heading into the postseason with a 16-game winning streak. That’s tied for the second longest winning streak in the league’s history Both Los Angeles (18 games) and Phoenix (16 games) went on to win the championship in those years. The Aces will play Seattle in the opening round. Here are a few other tidbits from the playoffs:

Format change

The WNBA changed its format this season with the first round best-of-3 series playing the first two games on each team’s homecourt with a decisive third game at the better-seeded team if necessary The WNBA Finals will now be a best-of-7, up from the best-of-5 it’s been for the last two decades. Familiar place

Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner are no stranger to the postseason, guiding Connecticut to at least the semifinals the past six seasons. Both left the franchise this offseason and reunited in Phoenix with Bonner having a brief time in Indiana. Now they’ll try and get the Mercury back to the championship round for the first time since 2021.

Thomas had an incredible season, retaking the single-season assist mark from Clark. She finished with 357.

Welcome newcomers

Golden State became the first expansion team to make the postseason in its inaugural year The Valkyries were a surprise all season led by Veronica Burton, a leading candidate for the league’s Most Improved Player Award. The Valkyries went 23-21.

hard, you get one shot at it, and every once in a while when you miss it, it’s tough because that’s what you just want to think about it, you just want to fix it so bad that that’s what you’re thinking about,” Nix said. “The real advantage, the real edge, is when guys can just go to the next play, move on. Glad it’s Week 1, not Week 21, and make these mistakes now and learn from them.”

Justin Herbert played in his first career preseason game this season and came out firing against the Chiefs. He finished with 318 yards passing, three TDs and had a 131.7 rating for the Chargers.

Geno Smith appeared in all three preseason games and looked like he was in midseason form in Week 1. Smith threw for 362 yards to lead Las Vegas to a win.

“I think it’s all the time we spend together, all the time in the meeting rooms, just hearing his voice and directly from him exactly what he wants to get accomplished with each and every play,” Smith said about building chemistry with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly “When I think about Chip, man, like he’s so cerebral and such a smart coach, and he’s always thinking of the next thing, the next layer to attack the defense. And that’s something that I’m always doing as well.” Week 2 could bring different results for everyone, but no preseason won’t be an excuse for anyone.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By LINDSEy WASSON New york Liberty forward Breanna Stewart holds the ball during a game against the Seattle Storm on June 22 in Seattle. The Liberty will try to repeat as champions.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Open discussions will help youdetermine your next move. Mix business with pleasure, and something unexpected will offerthe boost you need to reach your target.

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cAncER(June 21-July22) Jumping to conclusions will lead to trouble. Be open, ask questions and determine what's bestfor you beforeyou engage in events or activities that are costly or indulgent

LEo(July 23-Aug. 22) The changes you implementwill have alasting impact on how you live and those withwhom you spend the most time. Don'tshare personal dataorfamily secrets.

Thehoroscope, an entertainmentfeature, is not based on scientific fact. ©2025 by nEa, inc.,dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication

CeLebrItY CIpher For better or For WorSe

beetLe bAILeY

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

LAGoon

bIG nAte

Sudoku

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

THewiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

CurTiS

Bridge

By PHILLIPALDER

Robert Fitzgerald, atranslator of ancientGreekandLatinwhodiedin1985, said,“The test of agiven phrase should be: Is it worthy to be immortal? ‘I guess I’ll split’ is not going to be immortal.”

Bridge players occasionally have to guessabout asuitsplit.But they prefer not to need afavorable split to get home. This deal, as if you couldnot guess, is an example.

South is in five diamonds. West starts with the spade ace and another spade Declarer takes the trick andcashes the diamond ace, West discarding aspade Howshould South continue?

South was too strong to open one notrump, showing 15-17 points. WhenWest leaped majesticallytothree spades, indicating aseven-card suit andsome 6-10 high-card points, North bravelycompeted with four diamonds. Now South wondered about suggesting aslam, but had alot of losers.

Declarer had twoaces to concede, so needed the club finesse to work. He also could not afford asecond heart loser, but did not wish to rely on a3-3 break or the 10 dropping doubleton.

South played adiamond to dummy’s king andcalled for the 10. To keep declarer out of the dummy, East covered with his jack. South wonwith his queen, played adiamond to dummy’s

wuzzles

eight, andtook the clubfinesse.When it won, declarer cashed the club ace and now carefully led the heartjack. East won andreturned aheart, but South thenled dummy’s clubjack and ruffed away East’sking.Backtodummy with aheart, declarer cashedthe club10and discardedhis lastheart. Nicely done! ©2025 by nEa, inc., dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication

Each Wuzzleisa word riddle which creates adisguised word,phrase, name,place, saying, etc. For example: nOOn gOOD =gOOD aFTErnOOn

Previous answers:

word game

InstRuctIons: 1. Words mustbeoffour or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters 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 words are not allowed.

toDAy’sWoRD nItRIFIEs: NYE-trih-fyes: Oxidizessalts to nitrites.

Average mark 28 words

Time limit 60 minutes

Can you find56ormore words in NITRIFIES?

yEstERDAy’sWoRD —VAnQuIsHInG

thought “And why call you me, Lord, Lord, anddonot thethingswhich Isay?”Luke 6:46

loCKhorNs

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

dIrectIons: make a2-to 7-letter word from theletters in each row. add pointsof each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus “Blanks”used as any letter have no point value. allthe words are in theOfficial sCraBBlE® players Dictionary, 5th Edition.

ken ken

WiShinG Well

InstructIons: 1 -Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1thorugh4(easy) or 1through 6 (challenging) without repeating. 2 -The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners. 3 -Freebies: Fill in the single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner HErE is aplEasanT

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

Scrabble GramS

Get fuzzy

jump Start

roSe iS roSe

GREENTHUMB: What to do, and when to do it

Page 8

HOME WORK

WITHLOUIS: Tablescapes that tell your story Page 4

Tell us aboutyourspaces

HOME | DESIGN | GARDEN | REAL ESTATE

Ahomethat’sworth thewait

An 1890s Mandeville cottage has finally been revived after Hurricane Katrina. Brian and KristyBall bought the ruined home 15 years after the storm, raised it 11 feet and more thandoubled itsspace, all while preserving the historic feel. Jyl Benson has their story on Page 14. Are you acollector of art, trinketsorotheronly-in-youreyes treasures? If so, you’ll

want to read interior designer Louis J. Aubert’scolumn on turning your smallgems into tablescapes that reflect the real you. That’s on Page 4. If your home could use a good weeding out,you’ll want to read this week’s guest column by Marni Jameson. Getting readytomove into a new home, she’sinfull purge mode. Find her tips on Page 12.

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

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

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:

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

COVER DESIGN: AndreaDaniel

COVER PHOTO: Jeff Strout

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

HOMEWORKWITHLOUIS

Tablescapes elevateyour favoriteobjects. PAGE 4

INSIDE INFO

Home and garden happenings. PAGE 6

IN DETAIL

Mailing it in to New Orleans. PAGE 7

GREENTHUMB

Thegarden: Yesterday, todayand tomorrow. PAGE 8

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

AT HOMEWITHMARNI

Purging before amove— yikes! PAGE 12

COVERSTORY

Acottage reborn in Mandeville. PAGE 14

INSIDE STORY

Howtoimproveyour interiorlighting. PAGE 18

REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS

Recent transactions in the metroarea. PAGE 19

Karen Taylor Gist

216Rue MonJardin •Les Bois Subdv/Madisonville$595,000

Stunning5Bd, 3Ba, 3,266Sf home on quietcul-de-sacw/open floorplan, granitekitchen,&spaciousden w/ frplc, formal dining,office &bonus room, plantation shutters &freshly paintedoversized bdrms. Enjoya screenedporch, travertine patio&ingroundpooloverlooking awoodedgreenspace. Located in atop schooldistrict&CFlood Zone —perfect forliving& entertaining!

GayleSisk504-236-6544

Reve |Realtors•Northshore 504-300-0700

404AthertonDrive •Old Metairie

343CarrDrive•Slidell

$599,000

Oversized lotlocated directlyonthe Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain,home offerspanoramic viewsfrommostevery room.Shorelineisreinforcedw/riprapto help preventerosion&maintainintegrity of theland. Inclds add’lwater frontage acrossCarrDronthe canal,whichcould be used to build watercraft strge&other propertyamenitiesforoutdoorlifestyle Luxurydetailsgalore…AMustSee!!! Chip Gardner•504-236-3891Herbert Dubuisson •228-216-8456 COMPASS•985-626-5695www.chip-herbert.com

$895,000

Welcome Home!This is theone youhavebeenwaiting for! Offeringa most desirablelocation, 4Bd, 3.5Ba, 2,887SqFt, multi-generationalliving,anopen floorplan&low-maintenance landscaping…this home likely checks all theboxes!Gourmet kitchen,formaldiningroom, largeden,all hdwd &tile flooring.Plusexpansive coveredpatio &muchmore! Trulymove-in ready!

Courtney Kattengell •504-214-9830TiffanyRiddle •504-289-4696

TCKRealty504-504-613-6560

3225 BienvilleStreet• Mid-City /Bayou St.John$499,000

Yes, youcan have it all! Newer construction,fabulousneighborhood, prkg &yardsale do exist! Lookingfor awalkablenghbrhd,can’t beat being this closetoBayou Wine &BeerGarden&Parkway Bakery.You like outdoor space, front&backporches were recently refinished. Oversizedbackdeck is cov’d. Theinteriorlayoutisperfectfor everyone!3Bd,2.5Ba,1,683SqFt Leslie Heindel• 504-975-4252Heather Shields• 504-450-9672 Be NewOrleans/CrescentCityLiving 504-327-5303

Modern bungalow in New Orleans’ most affordable, community-focused neighborhood!Move-in readywithopen floorplan, naturallight,wood floors, &astunningkitchen.Spaciousprimary suite, huge closet,and luxe bath.Enjoy alarge fenced yard,pergola deck,&top location near UNO, Lakefront, I-10/610. This is arare find –a ModernHome in aHistoricCity, ComfortMeets Culture! Michelle Sartor 504-723-8057 COMPASS|Latter& Blum •Uptown504-866-2785

replaceplusexpansive windowsovrlking back deck,guest house&pool…great forentertaining! Also haspond, barns, pastures &abundantwildlife. Ideal forcattle, horses,hunting,orprivate retreat. ChipGardner • 504-236-3891 HerbertDubuisson •228-216-8456 COMPASS•985-626-5695www.chip-herbert.com

HOMEWORKWITHLOUIS

TABLETALK

Give aroompizzazz by displaying your favorite objects

Tablescapes are perhaps the easiest and most enjoyable way to express your personality in aroom.

Think of the carefularrangement of objects on atable as painting apicture, with each piece adab of color and texture.

While furnishings in aroom

may remain unchanged, tablescapes allow you the pleasure of enjoying variedobjects or collections alongwith the ease of swapping them out as desired. Tablescapes also allow the collector in us torotate objects without falling into the category of clutter

The term “tablescape” was coined in the 1960s by legendary British designerDavid Hicks (1929-1998). This refers to the arrangement of objectsin tableaux on aflat surface such as atable, chest,console or atop afireplace mantel.

Influenced as achild by museum displays, Hicks developed adistinctive manner in which to arrange objects. Sometimes, all of asingle period, and at other times, diverse objects came into apleasing composition.

“What is important is not how valuable or inexpensive your objectsare, but the care and feeling withwhich you arrange them,” Hicks said.

This is apart of design where personal taste and creativity collide and can run rampant Objectstake on greater significance when paired and carefully arranged with other objects.

Groupings maybebased on color,material or ethnicity. For example, avaried collection of heads —stone, bronze, glass, terra cotta or carved wood —or acluster of candlesticks might constitute atablescape. Perhaps add the softness of plant material and afew books as liftsand you’re on your way to apleasing arrangement.

Grandma’scluster of family photos with afew Carnival knickknacks in her “front room” was an accidental tablescape. They are all around us, but do we pay themthe attentionthey deserve?

Findinginspiration

It is said that three of anything constitutesa collection. Any collection can be the starting point for apleasing tablescape.

Small objects clustered on a trayhave greater impact than individual items. Consider

Louis J. Aubert

Don’t overlook thesimple things. Abowl filled with seashells will evokehappy memories, as will aseasonal displayofMardi Gras beads.

paperweights, mercury glass or small silver or glass pieces arranged on asilver, toleor wooden tray.

Color might inspire, starting with books in colorfuldust jacketsorinvery neutral tones. There are actually blank books bound in linen-likeneutral tones for the tone-on-tone enthusiast. The premise is that thehappy neutral soul will journal while seated in their neutral room

Either the subject or color of a book may be repeated in objects utilizing both shape and texture in an interesting arrangement.

Wheretostart?

Check out your stash of coffee table books or hit abookstore or charityoutlet forsomething of interest.You might consider leaving abook open to an illustrationthat you find particularly interesting. Black-and-white photography can be striking.

The kitchen anddining room may hold small treasures stashed and forgotten. Seashells, small giftsand odd

pieces pickedupalong theway can be charming whenseen in a fresh light

Don’toverlook thesimple things.Abowl filledwithseashells will evokehappy memories, as will aseasonal displayof MardiGras beads.

Tablescape tips

n Select objects based on the size andscaleofyour table’s surface.

n Don’thesitate to uselargerthan-expected objects.

n Select an oddnumberfor your composition:3,5,7or9is morepleasing to theeye than an even number in thegrouping

n Gathersmall objects on a tray forgreater impact.

n Usestacksofhardcovered books, or use them as liftsto elevate other objects.

n Don’tforget texture and contrast: light/dark,shiny/ matte, smooth/textured.

n Considerincluding seasonal objects as tablescapes can, and should, change on occasion.

n There are no rigidrules. Havefun displaying whatappealstoyou

n Be creative anduse your personal treasures.

n Leaveroom forentertaining, as no onewants to hold a glass allevening.

Louis J. Aubert is a professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers and an avid preservationist. Some of his most visible New Orleans projects include making interior color selectionsfor GallierHall, Trinity Episcopal Church and the Louisiana Supreme Court Royal Street Courthouse, and both interior and exterior selectionsfor St. Stephen’sBasilica. Contact himatmrcolour@aol.com.

HOMEWORKWITHLOUIS

WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

To illustrate how differently a tablescape may appear, we’ve photographed the same cluster of four, bespoke cube-like tables topped with glass in three different ways using a variety of objects.

PHOTOS By JEFF STROUT

ARTSY NEUTRALS: In this example, a symphony of pale tones unites several seemingly disparate objects, including pieces by two local artists: A Brian Mavor kinetic sculpture is joined by a vintage whale vertebrae and complemented by a palette sculpture by Marika Menutis.

The tables themselves are very neutral, painted a linen-like shade in a room drenched in the same color, with a bleached oak floor. This allows the tablescapes to take center stage with their varied colors, textures and materials.

WORLD TRAVELED: The colors of the dust jacket of ‘Art Now’ are repeated in disparate necklaces (one from Morocco, the other from Beverly Hills), while a clay platter from rural Alabama cradles Italian marble walnuts. The pale color of the box by local artist Christopher Maier stands in contrast to the dark vessels, Japanese iron box and the Grand Tour souvenir bronze of a Roman lamp in the form of a sandaled foot.

COLORFUL GLASS: The blue-colored jacket of the book ‘Where Art Meets Nature: The Sydney and Walda Bestoff Sculpture Garden’ is repeated in the small blue glass bust by Stephan Paul Day. Rounding out the composition are a cluster of glass balls by Mitchell Gaudet complemented by two John Darien paperweights (a green apple and red coral) All three artists are local.

Free paper shredding in New Orleans

New Orleans’ Sanitation Department is holding a papershredding event for Orleans Parish residents from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Recycling Drop-Off Center, 2829 Elysian Fields Ave. Residents can bring up to 50 pounds of personal or sensitive documents to be shredded safely and securely on-site.

Given the high demand for shredding events, arrive early.

Also, the weekly drop-off of recycling can include paper, corrugated cardboard, boxboard, No. 1 and No. 2 plastics, batteries and electronics. See details at nola.gov/recycling-drop-off or call 311.

Find what it’s like to live in Vieux Carré

The Vieux Carré Property Owners and Residents Association, French Quarter Journal and the Historic BK House & Gardens on Wednesday present an evening in which residents, business owners and community members share stories about the sector

The event starts at 6 p.m. at 1113 Chartres St. Tickets start at $10. Visit bkhouse.org.

Children’s Museum sets ‘play with a purpose’

Inspiring children and families to explore sustainability through hands-on activities is the goal of the third annual Environmental Rescue from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Louisiana Children’s Museum in City Park.

Activities at the “play with a purpose” include building a cardboard city, creating art from recycled electronics and learning about composting, plus a scavenger hunt.

On hand will be Rocky and Skye from “PAW Patrol” for photos.

There will also be an e-cycling drop-off for small electronics from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For information, visit lcm. org.

The Historic New Orleans Collection is renovating the former K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen building, 416 Chartres St., in the French Quarter

BK House symposium looks at textiles

The annual Beautiful Spaces Symposium is from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at the BK House & Gardens, 1113 Chartres St., in the Vieux Carré.

Sessions will explore fabrics for the home, the significance of textiles in design, cultural identity and regional aesthetic style.

Tickets start at $55. For information, visit bkhouse.org.

Visit the old K-Paul’s with PRC in September

The Preservation Resource Center’s next Beams and Brews tour is taking a peek inside the French Quarter building that once housed the famous Paul Prudhomme restaurant, KPaul’s.

The Historic New Orleans Collection is renovating the building, formerly two separate structures, to stabilize, reroof and update interiors at 420 Chartres St.

View the ongoing construction and hear from project managers — plus have a beverage from Urban South Brewery — at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 24.

Tickets are $10. Visit prcno. org.

Fall Garden Festival set for City Park garden

The New Orleans Botanical Garden will be alive with gardening gurus from all over the Southeast from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 4 as the Fall Garden Festi-

val takes over the grounds at 1 Palm Drive in City Park.

It will include plant sales, educational programs, arts and crafts, live music and over 50 vendors.

Admission is $15, $7 for children ages 3-12 and free for Friends of City Park members.

Registration open for tree school

Registration is open for the 25th annual Tree School in Jefferson Parish to be held Oct. 7.

The Carey Hammett Tree School, hosted by Friends of Jefferson the Beautiful, looks at the care and preservation of the parish’s tree canopy.

The one-day workshop will feature Diane Jones Allen, professor and program director of landscape architecture at the University of Texas at Arlington.

Admission is $12.50 and free to professionals in the landscape and building sectors.

The school is from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. and includes lunch at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center, 6400 Airline Drive, in Metairie.

Visit friendsofjeffersonthebeautiful.org

Volunteer projects abound at City Park

A variety of cleanup days and initiatives are on tap at City Park to improve and maintain the extensive urban green space. Those coming up include:

n Urban Forest Support Initiative: 9 a.m. Saturday and Sept. 20. Volunteer Center, 1031 Harrison Ave.

n Litter Cleanup Krewe: 9 a.m. Tuesday. Volunteer Center.

n Big Lake Native PlantTrail Restoration Project: 9 a.m. Friday. Big Lake Native Trail near 7 Friedrichs Ave.

n Graffiti Cleanup Krewe: 9 a.m. Thursday Volunteer Center Register for the programs and find out more about what to bring at friendsofcitypark. volunteerhub.com.

Have a home and garden event coming up? Send it to events@theadvocate.com.

chute Oh,

By JOHN McCUSKER

It’s hard to imagine, but it was over 160 years ago when home mail delivery started in the United States. About 60 years later, in 1923, the U.S. Post Office Department made mailboxes or letter slots mandatory on all homes. Here in New Orleans, the old and decaying meet up with the shiny and new every day, and even our mail receptacles seem follow the pattern.

— Karen Taylor Gist

STAFF PHOTOS

GREENTHUMB

GARDEN TIPS

WEED NOW: Manysummerweeds are setting seeds now. Do not letthis happen! Pull these weeds and dispose of them to reduce weed problems next year.Inparticular,stayontop of gripe weed or chamberbitters.This weed looks likealittle mimosa treeand sets copious amounts of seeds. Pull them up promptly whereveryou seethem in beds and makesurethe mulch is about twoinches thicktoprevent them from growing back.

COOL FLOWERS: Petunias, snapdragons, nicotiana, alyssum, calendula and dianthusare among themore heat-tolerantcool-season bedding plants.Theycan be planted in September when while daytime highsstaydowninthe 80s.Moreheatsensitivecool-season beddingplants, such as pansies, are best planted when daytime highs are in the 70s or lower and nighttime lows are in the 60sor lower.

SPIDER LILIES: Known asred spider lilies, hurricane lilies or nakedladies, Lycoris radiata blooms this month with clusters of red flowersarising on bare stems from the ground.When the flower stalks of this traditional Southernbulb have faded, trim the stems to the ground.Watch for the narrow, dark green, silver-striped foliage to appear,and be sure not to cut it back during its growingseason this winter and spring

WATCH FOR GRUBS: When turning the soil to plant flowers or vegetablecrops youmay encounter white,C-shaped beetle larva called grubs.They are very common and feed on the roots of plants. Generally,populations are not that high and simply picking themout and disposing of them is all the control youneed to do.

FERTILIZE TROPICAL PLANTS

Timing is everything

Thecalenderiscrucial forplanting, pruningand fertilizing in thegarden

Gill GREEN THUMB

Theproper timingofgardening work has areal impact on getting the desired results. Oneofthe challenges of gardening in southeast Louisiana (or anywhere) is learningwhen activities like planting, pruning or fertilizing are best done

I’ve recently been getting questions on those three activities.

As it turns out, we areata transitional time in thegardening yearwhensome of these activities need to be done immediately.Inother cases,the proper time has come and gone,and it is toolate to take action.And forother plants,it’s too early forsomeofthisgardening work to be done.Let me explain.

ä See TIMING, page 10

FILE PHOTOByJ.T.BLATTy

Honeysuckle, anativeplant, adds apop of color to the landscape. It’samong the tropical plants that canstill be fertilized now.

Dan

GREENTHUMB

Nasty‘fungus’onJapanese magnoliasisreallyscale insects

BY DANGILL Contributing writer

My Japanese magnolias have this horrible disease that causes tancolored growths that look likeboils on the branches and attract flies. Ablack mildew is on the leaves, and the leaves eventually die. What is this and how do Itreat it? Acopper-based fungicide used for fruit plants has not worked. —Joseph

The problem with your Japanese magnolias is an insect problem, not adisease. The tan growths are magnoliascale insects. They are sucking the sap from the tree. Heavy populations can significantly damage branchesand even the overall health of the tree.

As they feed on the sap, the scaleinsects excrete asugary liquid called honeydew. This liquid accumulates on the leaves, twigs and branches, and is attractive to flies, wasps, ants and other insects. Agroup of fungi use the sugary honeydew as foodand grow on it, which produces a condition called sooty mold the black stuff. These fungi, however,are not attacking the tree. The sooty mold is living on the excretions of the scale insects and will eventually disappear when the scale are dealt with.

For control, spraythe trees twice with aparaffinic horticultural oil (Year Round Spray Oil, All SeasonsOil, Year Round Oil Spray) following label directions and thoroughly coating the tree. This will help kill the scale (by coating and suffocating them) as well as helping the sooty mold slough off somewhat faster (it will take some time for it to weatheroff even after the scale are controlled). Also, treat the trees witha systemic insecticidal drench,

Blooming Japanese magnolias are athing of beauty,but if yours is being attackedand sickened by scale insects, there’sa wayto fight back

like BayerAdvanced Tree and Shrub Insect Control and other brands. Thisisapplied tothe soil base of the trees. If spraying the trees is not practical, you can just use the drench, and it will do thejob. Once absorbed by the roots, the insecticide getsinto the tree’ssap and the scale are

ISLE

Well-Established, Successful Offersa Cozy &Casual Atmosphere with afocus on localSeafood &Cajun Cuisine.

killed when they feed on the sap.Essentially,the trees become toxic to the magnolia scaleinsects,and they die. Be aware that the scaleinsects may stay adhered to the tree even when dead. The sooty mold will eventually weather off of the branches.

I’m looking for good reference books on vegetable gardening in our area. Is there something you wouldrecommend?

—Jeremy

The LSU AgCenter has a large amount of free information on vegetable gardening in Louisiana online. Do an internet search using —LSU AgCenter home vegetable gardening —toaccess links to many publications. Youmay also do asearch using LSU AgCenter plus the name of the vegetable you want information on.

The LSU AgCenter alsohas an excellent book for sale called “Louisiana Home Vege-

Includes 2Adjoining Commercial and/or

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BILL FEIG

TOOLATE PRUNINGSPRING-BLOOMING SHRUBSAND TREES

GREENTHUMB

Azaleas have alreadyset their flower buds for next season. If you prune them now, you’ll have fewer flowers later.

HILARy SCHEINUK

TIMING

Continued frompage8

What to do now

FERTILIZE IF YOUNEED TO: Be careful about fertilizingnow. We stop applying fertilizers to most landscape plants and lawns in early September. Here’swhy: Typical granular fertilizers we use to fertilize our lawns and landscapes will provide nitrogen for about six to eight weeks. Fertilizer applications made after early September,especially with nitrogen, may keep plants actively growing into early winter.

This increases the possibility of cold damage even to plants that would normallybehardy. This is especially true here, because fall temperatures are

generally warm and do not give plantsastrong signalto go dormant.

n Althoughsomewhat late, you canmake alast fertilizer application to yourlawn if you do it immediately.But only do this for lawnsinpoor vigor or where you need to stimulate growthorimprove thecolor

n Youmay makealast fertilizer application to tropical plantssuch as hibiscus,angel’s trumpet,tibouchina, bougainvillea, cape honeysuckle and night-bloomingjasmine. They will continue to grow and bloom until the weather gets cold.

Iamnot sayingthat you necessarily need to goout and fertilize plantsinyour landscape now. If your lawn and other plantings look healthyand have grown wellthis summer, there is no need.

PRUNING: If you need to prune or shear shrubs not grown for their flowers, such as hedges or plantings of ligustrum, holly,boxwood, dwarf yaupon, photinia, viburnum and others, do it now.When you prune or shear these plants, it stimulates aflush of new growth. This growth needs time to mature before winter freezes to avoid damage. Pruning these shrubs in October or November can stimulatelate growth that is prone to cold damage from early freezes.

n Don’tforget that you need to prune back your repeatflowering roses in early Sep-

tember.This prepares them for theOctober to early December bloom period. Do not delay gettingthis done. Roses may alsobefertilized now

n Tropical plants that have gotten too large, such as hibiscus, tibouchina, brugmansia and night-blooming jasmine, may be trimmed now.The farther back you cut them,the longer it will take forthem to come back into bloom.So, trynot to cut back morethan about one-third of their height.

n Tropicals may be pruned anytime during the summer, even when blooming, and it is better to trim lightly occasion-

TOOEARLY PLANTING TREES

It’s too soon for planting trees. The optimum time is NovemberDecember,sothe roots have time to grow and theycan sustainthe tree in the summer

ally than severely after they get way overgrown. Shoots of cannas and gingers that have already bloomed may be cut to the ground to keep the clumps looking tidy.

Alreadytoo late

MORE ON PRUNING: There are plants forwhich it is too late to prune, however.Fall-, winterand spring-blooming trees and shrubs have already set their flower buds. Pruning now will reduce or eliminate blooming by removing those buds. This includes shrubs such as

ä See TIMING, page 11

STAFF FILE PHOTOBy

FILE PHOTO By APRIL BUFFINGTON

Hedges should be pruned by the end of September

ADVICE

Continued from page9

table Gardening.” It is $20 and may be ordered from the LSU AgCenter Online Store.

Ialso recommend abook by Kathryn Fontenotcalled “The Louisiana Urban Gardener.” Fontenot, director of the AgCenter Southwest Region, formerly was the state vegetable gardening specialist. This book covers vegetable gardening from the unique Louisiana perspective.

Do Igrow dill in fall or spring? Which monthsare usually best? —Dianne

Dill is acool-season annual herb grown for its flavorful foliage (dill weed) or seeds (which are commonly used in pickling).

Youcan plant transplants or seeds of dillanytime from September/October through February

Dill transplants are available at area nurseries and garden centersinthe fall. Since we generally just need

GREENTHUMB

TIMING

Continuedfrom page10

sasanqua, camellia, azalea, spirea, quince, Indian hawthorn, gardenia, hydrangea, banana shrub, philadelphus, red buckeye and deutzia, and trees such as Japanese and star magnolia, cherry,redbud, fringe tree, Southern crab apple, mayhaw, parsley haw and silver bell.

That does not mean you are forbidden to prune. It won’t actually hurt theplants. You just must accept the loss of flowers if you do so. If alow branch on aredbud tree is causing aproblem,you can removeitnow.You will lose theflowers that branch would have produced, but it will not affect the blooming of the rest of the tree. Pruning off afew wild shoots from an azalea will not affect the blooming of the rest of the bush.

SEEDING LAWNS: It’stoo late to establish alawn, such as bermuda or centipede, from seeds. But youhave until early October to lay St. Augustine,centipede, bermuda or zoysia sod —but at this point the sooner you do it the better It’s tooearly

TREE PLANTING: Our prime planting season for hardy trees, shrubs and ground covers runs from November through March. The high temperatures that are still occurring now mean it is best to wait to plant.Itiseasier on us and much easier on these plantsifwedelay planting at least until late October.Fall

afew plantstoprovide all the dill we need, transplants are agreat option. There’sno reason to plant apackage of 50 dill seeds if you just need afew plants. And transplants provide aharvest muchfaster.Blooming and seed formationtakes place in the spring from afall planting, generally in Aprilor May.The foliage

can be harvested allseason.

Dan Gill is aretired consumer horticulture specialist with the LSU AgCenter.Hehosts the “Garden Show” on WWL-AM Saturdays at 9a.m.Email gardening questions to gnogardening@agcenter.lsu. edu.

planting in November and early December is especially advantageous. So, if you are thinking about planting trees, shrubs or ground covers wait.

COOL-SEASON FLOWERS: Although you maysee coolseason bedding plants begin to appear in area nurseries in September,most of these plants would appreciate being planted in October when temperatures are more reliably cooler.Someofthe more heattolerant cool-season bedding plants that can be planted this month include dianthus, snapdragon, petunia, calendula, dusty miller, gaillardia and alyssum

STAFF FILE PHOTOBy BILL FEIG

PROVIDED ILLUSTRATION

By KELLy KAMOWSKI

PURGEPOWER

surefire ways to startdownsizingwhenit’stimetomove

Iamsoembarrassed. Allthese columns and books Ihave written on downsizing anddecluttering and, my,ohmy, the mess Iam in.Moving is the ultimate truth test. As Ipack up the house my husband, DC,and I have lived in foreight years, towers of boxes line the halls, packed and stacked like big-city skylines. Each room coughs up itscontents like a kid with acold. Ifear Imay never see aclear counter again.

Idon’tknow about you, but when Ifeel out of control —and believe me, this is one of those times —I cope by tackling tasks Ican control,

Marni Jameson AT HOME

Editor’snote: Remember Marni? Of course you do. She recently retired from writing theweekly column that ran in these pages but still contributes theoccasional missive. This is one of them.

like vigorously ironing tea towels

But that doesn’tget youtoo far, especially when you have awhole house to pack andmove.

Don’tlet me or anyone else kid you: Moving is avery badtime.

Actual conversation:

DC:“Well, you’re cranky.”

Me:“Look, I’mmiserable and I intend to make everyone around me miserable.”

DC: “It’sworking.”

The more Isorted,the more it seemed Ineeded to sort. Icleared severalclosets, and still hadmiles to go. The kitchen,the garage, the

pantry,the laundry room, each brought itsown avalancheofchallenges. Iforged on,miserably.Finally —six heaping-full trash cans, many trips to Goodwill, dozens of packed boxes, eight brokenfingernails andone bottleofAdvil later Iwas finished.

Here’s aminuscule sampling from my five-page itemized donationlist: 283 books(we’ll discuss), onefour-drawermetal file cabinet (purgedofall files, thank you), a standing desk (well-intentioned but neverhappened), three alarm clocks(we use cellphones), two

Snapshots from the pre-digital age are far more vulnerable than scanned images. Once scanned, you can store photos on your laptop for easy retrieval.

By SCOTT THRELKELD

dog collars, 11 neckties, four board games, six soup mugs, assorted yard tools, casserole dishes, bread boards, piles of clothes, lacrosse sticks (in what dream?), yesterday’s throw pillows, binoculars, a bag of costume jewelry, two hurricane lamps, two shot glasses (I may regret) and so on.

Although the stacks of evidence would suggest I need to take more of my own decluttering advice, as I slogged through my stuff, grumbling, I made some really tough cuts. I wrangled with all the irrational reasons that you and I cling (but it was expensive, but it’s still useful, but I might need it someday, but it reminds me of fill in the blank, but it was Mom’s, etc.), and came to terms with these eight items you can get rid of for sure:

1. BOOKS: Don’t hyperventilate. I, too, love books. But if you think of books as glorified magazines, which are really glorified newspapers, which we don’t have any trouble throwing out, giving them up becomes easier

Still, my husband and I have books in every room, plus a walk-in closet we turned into a library. As in many homes,

to benefit the library. Win-win.

2. SNAPSHOTS: Oof! Trust me on this. Once you scan your photos — and you will scan your photos, right? — you can toss prints. Snapshots from the pre-digital age are far more vulnerable than scanned images. One fire, flood or hurricane, and poof! They’re toast. Once scanned, you can store photos on your laptop for easy retrieval, send thumb drives full of photos to family members, store a copy in your safe deposit box (recommended, though I haven’t done that) and know that your photos are also in the cloud. And you can get rid of that box.

3. OLD TECH: If you have newer devices, old phones, laptops, scanners and fax machines can go. If your device has content you don’t want shared, take it to a computer store to recycle. I took my old laptop to Best Buy, where techs backed up the contents on an external hard drive and disposed of the computer.

books come in, but they don’t go out. They breed. If the past is the predictor, I am not likely to reread these books. I made the first cut.

I went through and pulled only the books I wanted to keep. (Note: If you choose what to keep rather than what to let go of, you will purge more.) DC took a second pass and pulled out what he wanted. Together, we culled the herd by more than half. I then took 283 books to my public library, which has a used bookstore that sells donated books

4. DUPLICATES: I had two round glass serving platters. One was plain, and one had dividers like a relish tray. I got rid of the second. The first one would do the same job. Plus, I never have been good at staying in the lines. When I caught DC hanging onto something we had more of, I kindly said, “Noah, we don’t need two of everything anymore.”

5. UNDERWEAR THAT RUBS: You know the underwear in your drawer that you push aside to get to the ones you like? You can get rid of those Same with

nonfavorite T-shirts and gym clothes.

6. FORMER LIVES: Is the corporate life in your rearview mirror? Have you hung up the tennis racket for good? If you have clothes that belonged to a past life (my riding breeches) or, worse, your kids’ past lives, ditch them.

7. ONE-TRICK WONDERS: Get rid of gadgets that hog space and do a job that another tool you have can do. We got rid of a never-used mandoline slicer because I have a good knife. Why have a popcorn popper in the age of microwave popcorn?

8.YOUR MOTHER’S WEDDING DRESS: Like many devoted daughters, I had my mother’s wedding dress under my bed. You know all the sentimental reasons why. But let’s analyze this. I never wanted to wear

this dress when I got married. My daughters both wanted pretty new wedding gowns when they got married. I am not the type to turn a wedding gown into a christening dress or a tree skirt, but you go ahead. Meanwhile, I have lots of photos documenting mom in her beautiful dress on her wedding day, when the gown looked a lot better So, what was this relic doing under my bed? Gathering dust. Yellow and brittle, it wasn’t even fit for a theater’s costume department. I cut a swatch, tucked it into mom’s wedding album, and tossed the dress.

Marni Jameson is the awardwinning author of seven books, including “Rightsize Today for Your Best Life Tomorrow.” Contact her at marni@marnijameson.com.

NEWORLEANS’LAKEFRONT LUXURY

Bywater2-story

Over 2600SF of exquisite spacewithtremendous views of the City,Lakefront andmarinafromthree balconies.3bedrooms /3 full bathroomsand onehalfbath. Coveredparking for3 vehicles!Generousroomsizes andcustomdecorator finishes throughout. Largegreat room leadstobalcony overlooking thewaterwayleading to Lake Pontchartrain.Beautiful primary suitew/its ownbalcony andlarge walk in closet.Third floor bedroom/den withits ownfullbath. Cathedralceilings. Lighthouse Harbor condos features newroofing andother recent improvements.Dining,shopping, bike andwalkingtrails andLakePontchartrain aresteps away

Kristi and Brian Ball raised and renovated this historic Mandeville cottage after Hurricane Katrina.

PHOTOS By

JEFF STROUT

COVER STORy

POTENTIAL SPOTTING THE

Remake of ruined 1890s cottage more than doubles its size

BY JYL BENSON Contributing writer

With a deep, gracious porch spanning the front of the house to catch the breezes off nearby Lake Pontchartrain and cushioned swings and benches at either end, the gallery of the Laurent-Cottage in Old Mandeville beckons with the embodiment of classic Southern charm from a lofty perch 11 feet in the air

It looks like it has always been there, basking quietly in its own gentility

Not, so. Just five years ago, the now graceful cottage was a derelict,

rotting hulk. Having taken on 6 feet of water during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the cottage was left to fester until Brian and Kristy Ball saw its potential in 2020. Their renovation more than doubled its size, with indoor and outdoor spaces to suit their relaxed lifestyle.

A plaque secured to the home’s wrought metal gate identifies The Laurent-Ball Cottage for the current homeowners as well as Joseph Laurent, who purchased the land from Bernard de Marigny de Mandeville in 1834 — the year the French aristocrat “founded” Mandeville and named it for himself — for a tidy sum of $240. Development

of the property came after a series of sales landed it in the hands of Joseph Rickert in 1890 during a period (1880-1920) historians refer to as Mandeville’s golden age.

Following the Civil War, by the late 1880s, western St. Tammany Parish became a popular weekend and summer destination for wealthy New Orleanians. The tres chic were serenaded by lively bands as they boarded steamboats, and later ferries, to cross Lake Pontchartrain on Friday afternoons and for the return trip on Sunday evenings.

ä See REMODEL, page 16

The entry foyer is part of the original 1,000-square-foot home. Nashville artist Charlotte Terrell, evoking the mysterious mists and original to the house. The lamps are antique

Murano glass. The

The kitchen cabinets are painted in a lively celadon green and finished with a subtle glaze. Save for the range, all the appliances are covered in cabinet panels for a clean, uncluttered look. The counters are of Calcutta Gold marble. The 8 x 4 seated island is topped with celadon green quartzite with a fine blush vein.

The walls are adorned with an opulent, moody mural by and foliage of the Louisiana swamp. The mahogany doors are e zebra hide is antique.

LEFT: The Balls’ back porch overlooks a deep, verdant rear yard. ABOVE: The mahogany door through which a primary bedroom is accessed is original to the home.

REMODEL

Continued from page 14

The area flourished, particularly in the summer, with visitors who sometimes stayed for months at a time. Numerous grand hotels, small inns, dance halls and restaurants thrived, as did supporting commerce.

Ferry service ended in 1936, and though some still traveled to the area via a rail service from the city through eastern St. Tammany, the mystique and luster were fading The 1956 completion of the first span of the Causeway Bridge, followed by the second in 1969, led to a northshore population boom, and the area morphed from a resort destination into a bedroom community.

However, in the older parts of the parish, including Old Mandeville, many of the area’s historic buildings and homes remained, and numerous bed-and-breakfast operations continued to imbue the bucolic charms of the Old South. Following Katrina, a second housing boom brought displaced homeowners from the southern shore. With them came more restaurants, upscale bars and shops to cater to their needs.

Developing a vision

When the Balls found the derelict abode, it would have taken the vision of a soothsayer to imagine what it has become today Both natives of the Crescent City, they were ready to flee their downtown New Orleans condominium for a more semirural life. Brian Ball is an anesthesiologist. He and Kristi Ball, a retired certified public accountant, are partners in Ketamine Infusion Center LLC, treating pain and

The spacious living room includes a well-stocked bar with a mirrored wall of mercury glass. Open brass racks to either side of the sink hold an abundance of glassware. The sink is of hammered antique brass.

PHOTOS By JEFF STROUT

The home’s spacious living room is part of a 1,700-square-foot addition. The slipcovered sofa and chairs are from Villa Vicci. The console is from St. Romaine in Covington. The chair under the window is a Swedish antique.

A short flight of wide stairs at the rear of the living area leads up to a guest suite and Kristy Ball’s painting studio, which doubles as another guest room via the use of clever Murphy beds that resemble armoires.

The home’s back porch features a full cooking area, shown, along with a dining table. Abench with ahinged seat for storage is aSwedish antique.

mood disorders.

Upon purchasing thecottage, juststeps from athriving, walkable business district, they elevated it to 11 feet on old, hard-tan brick piers and enclosed the underside to serve as storage, parking and aman cave for Brian Ball, where he chills out alonein his 10-foot-by-30-inch aboveground Intex swimmingpool after cutting the home’simpressive rear lawn.

After awide centralstaircase replaced the three concrete steps that once accessed the front of the house, it came to resemble the full-blown Italianate center hall cottage more thanthe humble Creole cottage it had once been mistaken for

One enters the home into a wide foyer,its walls adorned with an opulent, moody mural by Nashville, Tennessee, artist Charlotte Terrell evokingthe mysterious mists and foliage of the Louisiana swamp.

To either side of the foyer, two original rooms were converted to lavish dual primary suites. The handsome, towering mahogany doors through which the spaces are accessed are original to the home, as are the 111/2-foot ceilings,

which Brian Ball, actingasthe couple’scontractor,retained throughout the house.

The foyer flows into adining area. From this point, theremainderofthe home was part of aseamless 1,700-squarefoot addition to theexisting 1,000 square feet, undertaken during the Balls’ renovation, forwhichthey employed architect James Chauvin. Chad Gracie, of Gracie Interiors, was broughtontocreatea soothing palette of soft shades of blue, gray,green, pink and white while integrating fixtures, finishes, wall coverings andfurnishings.

“They are super relaxed people,” Gracie said. “They wanted everything to feel relaxed and comfortable. We wentwith amix of antique and contemporary finds presented in adeconstructed way.”

“Chad wasreally able to understand exactly what we wanted,” Brian Ball said. “He made it so easy.Hereally listened and kept theprocess so seamless andorganized.”

The diningarea gives way to an expansive livingroom on oneside, an open gourmet’s kitchen on the other,and a short flight of wide stairs at the rear that leadsuptoa

Oneofthe home’stwo primarysuites is painted apaleceladon green. The night tablelamp is by Visual Comfort, and both the antique French mirror and the antique French doors leading to the dressingarea are from Mac Maison Ltd. antiques on Magazine Street.

guest suiteand KristyBall’s painting studio, which doubles as another guest room via the use of clever Murphy beds that resemble armoires. The space spans therear of the western side of thehouse with abank of windows that offer aview of the green vistabeyond.

Throughout thehome, Gracie used carefree, 5-inch planks of engineered wood flooring designed to resemble faintly whitewashed pale oak.

Afocus on easy living

French doors at the rear of theliving room lead to aspa-

cious outdoor kitchen, dining and lounging area that overlooks averdant lawn. Alsovisible from the upper porch is aground-level patio surrounded by athriving garden of toweringbicolored Scheffleras and FicusLyrata, which Brian Ball said his wife obliges him to treat with what he calls amagic elixir,result-

The dressing area in Kristy Ball’s dressing area includes adeep soaking tub, far left,and wallpaper from Palm Orleans. The dramatic wall sconces to either side of the dressing table, left, are by Curreyand Co.

ing in their impressive size and beauty

“People talk about downsizing,” Brian Ball said. “Wewere after easy living, and that is how we designed this house. We wanted an abundance of both indoor and outdoor spaces. My wife is my best friend, and we hang out all over the house.”

INSIDESTORY

LAYERS OF LIGHT

Brighten up your spaces with these illuminating solutions

BY KAITLYN KEEGAN

Hartford Courant (TNS)

A gloomy, cloudy day comes along and makes you suddenly realize your home lacks enough lighting.

That can be true whether your home is 100 years old or a brand-new build.

According to Kellie Burke, of Kellie Burke Interiors, lighting is crucial.

“During new construction, the majority of people do whatever the architect or builder suggests, which is typically random canned lighting or flush mounts,” Burke said.

The opportunities and types of lights available, however, have expanded exponentially

because of the explosion of LED bulbs. Because they run cooler than the old fluorescent bulbs, lights can be used anywhere in the home.

“It’s all about how you want to feel in the space,” Burke said. “You can use a bright, white color in the space or use dimmers to make a room moodier.”

LED bulbs come in all kinds of colors and temperatures, from cool, medium and dark to daylight white, warmer white or more of an orange tinge.

Light it up

One of the biggest things Burke suggests is using dimmers.

“Use lamps in different sizes and shapes and get dimmers,” she said. “You can get ones with an on/off switch with an extension cord with a dimmer. On a gloomy day, you can make the room much more bold. In the evening, when entertaining, you can set it as a low mood rather than a bright, tasking feel.”

To change up an existing light, Burke suggests homeowners retrofit cans to get better lighting in an area. She also said not to be scared of recessed lighting.

“People used to hate the dots in the ceiling,” she said. “They are much more streamlined now and profiled. Recessed lighting is imperative.”

Besides the typical recessed lighting, there are now longer, more linear LED lights to run under cabinets or as uplighting along floors or kitchen toe kicks.

One chandelier in a room isn’t enough, Burke said. “Use some directional lights to hit artwork or specialty cabinets or any types of drapery or dark areas,” she said. “If you take art off the gallery wall, it loses its passion. It needs to be lit (individually). Think of a theater and what needs to be lit to get that wow pow factor.”

When looking at a room, Burke suggests starting from the base up and working your way out when considering

A main chandelier is joined by recessed ceiling lights, wall sconces and task lights over the bar.

FILE PHOTO By JEFF STROUT

STAFF FILE PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

A recessed light in the floor illuminates up a spiral staircase.

REALESTATETRANSFERS INSIDESTORY

Change up lighting spaces with longer, more linear LED lights to run under cabinets or as uplighting along floors or kitchen toe kicks. what needs light.

“Use hanging fixtures and sconces as mood lighting. These aren’t tech lighting. It’s the jewelry of the home and the little accent at the end,” she said. “If you aren’t doing construction, the more lamps the merrier.”

If you have dark corners in a room, she suggests thinking of interesting ways to light them, whether that be uplights hidden behind a sofa or chair, lighting up a plant or a lamp on a table next to a sofa.

“Large lamps are my jam. They are very dramatic,” Burke said. “I love taller lamps, too, when you can see through them. You can put a big, bulky lamp in a corner on a table with a sheer, light shade so the illumination can go through the whole lamp rather than just at the bottom.”

Sconces are a tool many homeowners forget about.

“You can get plug-in sconces so you don’t need an electrician. They can come in brass or chrome finished covers,” she said.

Ease of use

One of the modern technologies that has become available is smart bulbs. These make it particularly easy to turn lights on and off.

“Use a lot of battery-oper-

NEW ORLEANS

n TRANSFERS FOR AUG. 28 TO SEPT. 1

ANNUNCIATION ST. 1011, 1013, 1049, POEYFARRE ST. 920, UNIT 260: $215,000, Shannon Landry Brown to Roger L. Brown. CLEVELAND AVE. 3821-23: $465,000, Orleans-Cleveland Investments LLC to Magnolia and Palm LLC.

JULIA ST. 1001, UNIT 5-B: $809,050, A&E Investments LLC to Jumeaux Properties LLC.

MAGAZINE ST. 760: $235,000, Darin M. Arceneaux and Susan Richard Arceneaux to Patrick Edward Quinn II. ST. CHARLES AVE. 1750, UNIT 519: $390,000, Nina Kaden Lottick to Abigail L. Ruppel.

THALIA ST. 3915: $7,400, city of New Orleans to 2500 Pecan LLC.

DISTRICT 2

ated candle lights on timers,” Burke said “In the middle of the night, candles pop on and give an extra level of light and don’t compete in the space.”

Smart bulbs and smart switches make it easy to dim the lights and control the mood.

Design trends

As far as styling your lamps and lights, Burke said two strong trends are coming through.

“One trend is very industrial, very modern lighting and mixing it into an Old World home,” she said. “You can mix these very trendy, sleek, linear sconces with no bulbs into an older home.”

The other trend takes a bit of searching through antique shops.

“People are getting vintage lights and rewiring them,” she said. “They go to secondhand stores and look for these gorgeous lights and add a new shade or add a dimmer for a more modern look.”

However you do it, Burke said layering light is the important thing to remember

“It’s a design feature rather than just for a task,” she said. “You need lighting to make your room sparkle. It can make a home more dramatic and also tell your home’s story.”

TULANE AVE. 1111: $299,000, Drew Edward Moisant to Caitlyn Aerial Clarke.

BARRACKS ST. 718-20, UNIT 3: $437,000, Deborah Falkenthal Marino to Monica Monet Radelat Cook and Robert D. Cook Jr. CANAL BLVD. 6571: $383,300, Christopher E. Cabos, Mairin Casey Cabos and Mairin E. Casey

to Future Plans Investments LLC.

CANAL ST. 1201, UNIT 574, N. BASIN ST. 231: $270,000, Sevetri M. Wilson to Cody Rayne Johnson and Sabrina Angelena Lafford Johnson.

CHARTRES ST. 1317: $436,500, 600 Esplanade LLC and JCBC ä See ORLEANS, page 20

STAFF FILE PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

REALESTATETRANSFERS

ORLEANS

Continued frompage19

Properties LLCtoSamuel Richard Stringer.

ELAINE ST.3611: $545,000, Benjamin HamptonMarziale and Jacque Ann Marziale to Erin Trudeau Perezand Russell Perez.

EMERALDST. 432: $475,000, Paul MireMelancon III andSydney Elizabeth Smith Melancon to Emily Windes and Jeffrey Windes.

IBERVILLE ST.2001: $950,000, CM Flippers LLCtoHarvest Church of New Orleans.

MARSHAL FOCH ST.5615: donation, no value stated, BrettD. Dupuy to Teresa L. Donaldson.

N. LOPEZ ST.819-21: $362,300, North Lopez 819 LLCtoMagnolia and Palm LLC.

N. MIRO ST.412: $340,000, Eureka Homestead to Pamela A. Kelly Bullington and Robert A. Bullington.

N. RENDON ST.800, UNIT 202: $389,900, Rendon Partners LLCto Luong Family Trust.

ST.ANN ST.2738-40: $308,000, AlexandraKaramanova Huff and Jared H. Huff to James Charles Clifford.

VICKSBURG ST.6857-59: $345,000, 6857-59 VicksburgLLC to Carmen C. Canavier, Donald L. Canavier and KevinH.Canavier.

DISTRICT 3

ABERDEEN ROAD 8751: $12,000, Fredrick Del Stemley to Erica R. Mealy

ALMONASTERAVE. 2519: $5,875, city of New Orleans to Evelena Williams Jones.

ANDRYST. 1714: $15,000, Charles Edward Jefferson Jr. to Jorge Gomez Remodeling LLC.

BEAUVOIR COURT7110: $200,000, Leonzell V. BrownBoutte to Steven Yost.

CAFFINAVE.1: $5,820, city of New Orleans to Real Super HeroCare LLC.

CARDENAS DRIVE 4753: $6,020, city of New OrleanstoByron A. Tillman andPat S. Tillman.

DAVEY ST.4000, UNIT 407: $290,000, Cynthia Funck Morgan to Kathleen Muse.

DAUPHINE ST.3119: $740,000, Saige Lauren Pilgrim to Amanda Beth Muhlestein Black and RichardDean Black

DUPLESSIS ST.4417: $116,000, CascadeFunding Mortgage Trust HB13 to CompanyHouseX LLC.

ESPLANADE AVE. 1029: $100, ChristopherJ.Santilli and Susan M. Santilli toSusan M. Santilli.

EUNICE DRIVE4910: $160,000, Joint VentureInvestment LLCto Kim Ann Gardner.

FELICIANAST. 1824-26: $225,000, MFE Properties LLCtoVanguard Horizon Reit LLC

FELICIANAST. 1829: $10,000, PJD Houses LLCtoNisha Ambesh and Shantam Ambesh.

FELICIANAST. 1908: $19,400, Register Holdings LLCtoRiver State Properties LLC.

FRANKFORTST. 5000: $21,900, Gayle A. Dudley and JonetteDudleyBrowntoCarlos PollardJr.

FRENCHMEN ST.3401-03: $175,000, Curtis R. Doucette Jr. to Solomon Collins.

LAFAYEST. 6330: $24,170.20, City of New Orleans to Nationwide Real Estate Investments LLC.

LAKE BREEZE DRIVE 32, UNIT32:

$120,000, SuccessionofRodney Charles Culotta to Susan M. Barrosse.

LAMANCHEST. 49154: $6,007, city of New Orleans to Disciples of Christ Christian Fellowship Ministry LLC.

LAWST. 1989: $325,000, 1989-91 LawStreet LLCtoCody Martinie and Jonathan Tingley.

LAWST. 6114: $6,625, city of New Orleans to Antonio Leonel Maynardand CarrieRose Asch Maynard.

LIBERTY TERRACE DRIVE 113: $6,020, city of New Orleans to Erica Fortune Jacksonand Lucious Fortune.

LIZARDI ST.5023001: $5,925, city of New Orleans to Lloyd V. Clark Jr.

LOUISAST. 2510: $6,330, city of New Orleans to St. LukeAfrican Methodist EpiscopalChurch of New Orleans Louisiana.

LOUISAST. 2518: $6,075, city of New Orleans to St. LukeAfrican Methodist EpiscopalChurch of New Orleans Louisiana.

MARIGNY ST.3407: $50,000, Antoinette Lindsey Boissiere and RenardA.BoissieretoJose FerminPinto Portillo and Tabia DolkaSoles Jerry Pinto Portillo.

MEXICO ST.2262: $271,000, Crown Jewel Builders LLCtoBrittany Howard

MICHIGAN ST.7552: $50,000, Diante White,Dorian White,Myrian White and Selena WhitetoYeimi Belgica Flores Palada.

MURANO ROAD 4210: $125,000, Alcide C. Babineaux to Joseph GilmoreJr. and Terina Walker Gilmore.

MUSIC ST.1530-32: $300,000, Eric S. Khodavandi to Erica Keller and Robert Keller.

N. BROAD ST.1714: $245,000, Anna Quartermaine Bragg Waite to Donald Berry and Tricia Bushell Berry.

N. PRIEUR ST.1824: $5,870, city of New Orleans to Rita R. Barard.

N. RAMPARTST. 6320: $235,000, AIJ Contractors LLCtoJonathan Micheal Conner.

NOTTINGHAM DRIVE 4659: $110,000, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to T Investment Group LLC.

N. ROCHEBLAVE ST.4117-4119: $110,000, Robert W. NototoGibbs and Delavallade LLC.

OLD GENTILLYROAD11221: $355,659, TurtleBay Enterprise LLCtoPatterson Structural Moving and Shoring LLC.

ST.ROCH AVE. 3016: $110,000, ChanelMitchell to Jackie Ray Robertson and Patricia Ann Robertson.

SPAIN ST.915-17: $450,000, Brad J. Nevle to Gwen A. Henson.

TOURO ST.2204-06: $17,500, IPF22 LLCtoClouds Landscaping LLC.

VIOLA ST.4941: $157,000, DemetraMartin Baldwin to Emanuel Lloyd Isaac Sr

WINDWARD COURT7911:

$212,000, Jvesco Construction LLCtoCalvin LewisJr. and Crannetta L. Harrison Lewis.

DISTRICT 4

FELICITY ST.1214: $575,000, Marilyn Dupleix Duffy andWarren J. Duffy Jr. to Courtney Koch Bush and Fred C. Bush III.

JACKSON AVE. 3140: $185,000, Judy Roussell Hester and Lionel Hester Sr.toAdrienne Davis Recasner and Joseph Recasner.

JOSEPHINE ST.2106: $339,000, Sarah Upton Kopkin and Zachary

S. Kopkin to Shelby Howder. ST.ANDREW ST.2634: $6,925, city of NewOrleans to Sweet Images LLC.

DISTRICT 5

DELARONDE ST.627: $165,000, DelarondeLLC to BargeboardLLC FARRAGUT ST.1241-1243: $175,000, Harold J. LapeyrouseJr. to Victor ManuelMeneses.

HARBOUR TOWN COURT 68: $685,000, Mark D. Kappelman and Susan Kirchem Kappelman to ShonteJoseph.

VALLETTE ST.349: $625,000, DenverF.GrayIII to Allison BarinholtzMcCourt and John Francis McCourt IV.

DISTRICT 6

AUSTERLITZ ST.818-820: $689,000, MartinBensonand Otylia Finley BensontoErin Gardner Murphy. BROADWAYST. 1222-1224: $775,000, HensonProperties LLC to December Seven LLC.

CONSTANTINOPLE ST.1016-1018: $100, Leah Alexis Douglas to John Gardner,Mary Cammack Gardnerand Regan Odenwald.

JOSEPH ST.2507: $570,000, CourtneyHanna and Sean Burkett HolmestoCatherine Ferguson and Kevin Ferguson.

LASALLE ST.4370: $269,000, Frances B. Walls Lloyd Hughesand TheodoreSamuel LloydHughes to Crista Madisonand Jeffery Madison.

LOUISIANAAVE.717: $160,000, Margaret Ryan Pope to LCD InvestmentGroup LLC.

LOWERLINE ST.313: $865,000, Kimberly FieldMarvin and Michael J. MarvintoMegan King Weinmann and RobertHowson Weinmann.

MAGNOLIA ST.3429-31: $140,000, Yorsch Development Group LLC to Gosav Holdings LLC.

MAGNOLIA ST.5820: $545,000, Karyn NolesBewleyKearney to Hannah Wikoff Williams and John Alexander Williams.

NASHVILLE AVE. 1329: no value stated, MoayedIbrahim to Mary Ann McAnnally Milesand Samuel EgbertMilesIII.

PINEST. 625, UNIT 6: $375,000, Thalia Reisin Ziffer to Elizabeth Isreal.

ST.CHARLESAVE.4900: $299,000, CharlesC.Bass IV to Alexander Agnewand Leigh Agnewrevocable trust.

S. SALCEDOST. 1818: $109,000, Nola Buys Houses LLCtoF&M

ä See ORLEANS, page 21

REALESTATETRANSFERS

EAST JEFFERSON

n TRANSFERS FOR AUG. 28 TO SEPT. 5

HARAHAN

COLONIAL CLUB DRIVE 91: David D. Dawson to Maria L. Newton, $805,000.

RENPASS AVE. 26: Susan Dauzat to Lizette M. C. Moschella, $108,000.

JEFFERSON

CANTON ST. 761: Diane V. Latini to Alice I.L. Langdon, $229,000.

CENTRAL AVE. 245: Olga Ivanova to John D. Webster Jr., $355,000.

JEFFERSON HIGHWAY 2401: Sherryl J. Webster to S&R Shell LLC, $800,000.

ORLEANS BLVD. 4717: Alexis Guidry to J. Atkins Shaw Properties LLC, $334,000

SONIA PLACE 26: Orval E. Sifontes to Ckcc Bell LLC, $169,900.

SUNDOM ST. 3009: Ama Investment Group LLC to Lennsey Hilbert, $325,000.

KENNER

AVANT GARDE CIRCLE 21: Richard

ORLEANS

Continued from page 20

Real Estate Group LLC.

S. SALCEDO ST. 1824: $99,000, Nola Buys Houses LLC to F&M Real Estate Group LLC.

DISTRICT

7

COLAPISSA ST. 8924: $6,075, city of New Orleans to Team Wiltz Properties LLC.

EDINBURG ST. 8911: $160,000, Rachel Marie Lang to Jacquelynn E. Johnson.

FORSHEY ST. 8904: $7,341, city of New Orleans to Joce Ann Atkins.

FORSHEY ST. 9020: $5,875, city of New Orleans to Good Hands Prosperous LLC.

LAKE MARINE AVE. 300, UNIT 16-B: $250,000, Blackwell B. Evans Jr. and June B. Evans to Monnisa Maxwell Lewis and Richard Lynn Lewis.

NELSON ST. 9231: $5,855, city of New Orleans to Joseph Gabriel.

N. ROADWAY 147, UNIT 118: $445,000, Karen Maxwell Monson to Jonathan Hernandez.

R. Michel to Paul M. Ketry Jr., $115,000

CHATEAU LATOUR DRIVE 165: Barrett R. Stephens to Carmen M. Simons, $479,000.

DOLPHIN COURT 812: Darnell M. Deemer to Eber F, $275,000.

DUNCAN ST. 430-432: James Powell to CRC Property Management LLC, $52,500.

FLORIDA AVE. 2445: Alma O.S. Guerra to Fabl LLC, $150,000.

GRANDLAKE BLVD. 3309: Maria I. Aguilar to Gabriela Garcia, $175,000

GREENWOOD ST. 2716-2718: Stacy N. Taylor to Hannah E. Pecot, $240,000

HUDSON ST. 1116: Legacy Mortgage Asset Trust 2021 G.S.2. to Dilcia Y. G. Rodriguez, $174,000.

INCARNATE WORD DRIVE 210: Emilia Mejia to Queslin A.L. Hernandez, $260,000.

KENTUCKY AVE. 2300: Gary J. Daigrepont to Rainey D. Haggerty, $215,000

LOIRE DRIVE 4126B: Robert L. Grinstead Jr. to Soledad T. Morales, $170,000.

LOIRE DRIVE 4128: Katherine A. C. Little to Angelle M. Larrieu, $173,000.

OLEANDER ST. 7821: $61,809, city of New Orleans to Nationwide Real Estate Investments LLC.

ST. CHARLES AVE. 7608: $185,000, Scott D. Kushner to Clark Randall Zelenka and Katherine Eley Zelenka.

S. CARROLLTON AVE. 2708: $615,000, Amy L. Deris and John Barrett Deris to Brandon Olivier.

MARYLAND AVE. 1909: Beyond Renovation LLC to Victor Hernandez, $240,000.

MASSACHUSETTS AVE. 1213: Greg Plaia to Mark F. Lambert, $334,000.

OLE MISS DRIVE 3801: Carrington Mortgage Services LLC to Secretary of Veterans Affairs, $99,302. W. LOUISIANA STATE DRIVE 3665: Joseph K. Daniels to Josue E. Cerros, $195,000.

METAIRIE

ANDREWS AVE. 816: Gina H.G. Hawkins to Lawrence Trunk Jr., $263,000.

AURORA AVE. 910: Diane Mitchell to Cameron Norfleet, $193,000.

AURORA AVE. 234-236: Bonnabel Properties Inc. to HL2J Realty LLC, $4,000.

BELMONT PLACE 1101: Mary Weigand to Alex Kapesis, $360,000.

BEROT DRIVE 4012: Emmanuel J. Guillot Jr. to Lindsay Leiva, $435,000.

BONNABEL BLVD. 920: Santo P Baiamonte III to Courtney A.H. Holmes, $100,000.

BOUTALL ST. 5912: Lakeview Loan Servicing LLC to Federal National

S. ROADWAY ST. 332, UNIT N-33: $190,000, Joseph S. Nelson and Ramona Loch Nelson to Amy Wiegand Taylor.

W. ROBERT E. LEE BLVD. 312: $300,000, BRASP LLC to Elizabeth Sellers Barrios, Emily Barrios Frischhertz and Marc Lloyd Frischhertz.

Mortgage Association, $220,000.

BRIDGET ST. 6012: Melissa Thibodeaux to James F. Cusimano, $285,000.

BURKE DRIVE 5041: Sandra Bostick to Quinlivan Homes LLC, $255,000.

BUTTERNUT AVE. 1309: Danielle M.M. Middleton to Leo J. Webb Jr., $432,000.

CAMPHOR ST. 6112: John A. Latour II to Sara M. Arreola, $215,000.

CARIBOU COURT 24: Judd M. Patterson to Ricardo A. H. Montes, $190,000.

CARNATION AVE. 1016: Vikki A.N. Willumitis to Bertucci Investment Group LLC, $170,000.

CARNATION AVE. 1525: Alvin E. Piegts Jr. to B&M Property Investors LLC, $147,500.

CATHERINE AVE. 3815: Kristi W. Casse to David J. Casse, $185,000.

CHRISTOPHER COURT 1301: Brian T. Carr to Joseph P. Faroldi Jr., $221,000.

CHRISTOPHER COURT 1309: Laurie M.N. Burke to Danielle M. Middleton, $215,000.

CODIFER BLVD. 508: Francis P. Barovechio to John J. Flanagan, $626,500.

COLONY ROAD 1909: Richard J. Dubea Jr. to Michael J. Fieramusca, $325,000.

CYPRESS ST. 3730: Mary B. Amedee to Kayla W. Elmer, $155,000.

DANVILLE ST. 3712: Cecelia A. Morise to Charles B. Montgomery Jr., $285,000.

FAIRFAX AVE. 1700: Mark E. Krulisky to Calamari Properties LLC, $220,000.

EAST

Continued from page 21

HARING ROAD 4104: Lindsay M.L. Scholl to Meryl Casadaban, $275,000.

HELIOS AVE. 315: Luis R. Arencibia to Marcomb LLC Ryan C., $390,000.

HOWARD AVE. 1312: Donna M. Patterson to Micaza Properties Inc., $50,000.

JASPER ST. 5028: Jennifer Nowak to Lauren P Genova, $324,680

LABARRE DRIVE 305-307: Brian Riedlinger to Sheree Daigle, $326,000.

LABARRE DRIVE 333: Shelley M. Catalanotto to Arthur Dupre, $849,000.

LAKE AVE. 309: David S. Sheehy to K. Low LLC, $650,000.

LAKE AVE. 1161 UNIT 309: Richard S. Murphy to Gerard Guidroz, $40,000.

LAUSAT ST. 3045: MJM New Orleans Investments LLC to French Market Supply LLC, $198,000

LAUSAT ST. 3045: MJM New Orleans Investments LLC to Picture Perfect Design Upholstery LLC, $300,000.

LOVELAND ST. 4608: Tiffany G. Coulon to Caroline D. Hartdegen, $277,000.

METAIRIE HAMMOND HIGHWAY

420 UNIT 112: John W. Scott Jr. to Janice M. Leaumont, $250,000.

METAIRIE HEIGHTS AVE. 3107: Carole L. M. Current to John W. Pastor III, $238,000.

METAIRIE HEIGHTS AVE. 3709: Marilyn G. Claret to Jenny G. Strain, $700,000.

MORALES ST. 4509: Victor I. Tal-

REALESTATETRANSFERS

bert to Hadygah Ali, $475,000.

MORTON ST. 6112: Elora C.F. Abboud to Marlene C. Morel, $102,000

NAPOLI DRIVE 3817: Mary G. Short to New Orleans Property Ventures Inc., $252,000.

N. CAUSEWAY BLVD. U209 3801: Todd Kirschenheuter to Nichols Investments LLC Macke, $130,000

N. CUMBERLAND ST. 216: Maria M. Valera to Corey Mercer, $157,000

N. TURNBULL DRIVE 3901: Sarah Batte to Carly Varnado, $364,500.

N. UPLAND AVE. 1128: Catherine S. Champagne to Tiffany Z. Hebert, $220,000.

ORPHEUM AVE. 310: James

B. Harper III to Rachel Latta, $510,000.

PAGE DRIVE 3516: Sherry Hoctel to Naeem Faraj, $112,000.

PARK DRIVE S. 4707-06: Brenda P. Foret to Celso E. Hernandez, $250,000

ROCKFORD HEIGHTS DRIVE 3733: Judy Light to Stacey Zimet, $327,000.

ROMAN ST. 3830: Jacqueline K. Schwartz to Scott Tillman, $175,000.

RUE DECATUR 804: Gayle Wille to Eight Hundred Four Rue Decatur LLC, $665,000.

RUE ROYAL 805: Ina L. Edrehi to Janice Magnus, $795,000.

RUE ST. PETER 317: Carey S.H. Okelley to Bryan Blades, $690,000.

SANFORD ST. 5245: Catherine C. Gauthier to Franklin J. MejiaSolano, $370,000.

SATSUMA AVE. 2013: New Orleans Property Ventures Inc. to Victoria Padilla, $315,000.

TARTAN DRIVE 3617: Alec Simonson to Bryce Barbaro, $244,500.

TOBY LANE 4425: Centurion Development Inc. to Wayne Pritchett, $350,000.

TRUDEAU DRIVE 308: Manuela A. Campos to Lauren D. Tran, $405,000.

VEGAS DRIVE 1524: Sandra L. Castillo to Dina J. Solito, $246,000.

VERSAILLES ST. 8130: Curtney S. Vaughn to Bertucci Investment Group LLC, $205,000.

WAVERLY PLACE 9: Susan A. Webber to Dorothy K. Locascio, $937,500.

W. WILLIAM DAVID PARKWAY 805: Joyce Yaeger to John D Quave, $299,000.

WHITNEY PLACE 2704: Cynthia A. Balu to Lisa L. Ragas, $144,000.

WHITNEY PLACE 2712: Gary L. Gilmore to Louis S. Dabdoub III, $160,000.

WHITNEY PLACE 2732: Kimberly S. Bradshaw to Bill Mitchell, $123,500.

WHITNEY PLACE 2708 UNIT 701: Nancy A. Storey to Janis E. Grieshaber, $140,000.

WILSON DRIVE 5116: Lem Investments LLC to Wesley Winters, $414,225.

WISTERIA DRIVE 1413: Marie J. Merriman to Austin M. North, $272,500.

RIVER RIDGE

ELIZABETH AVE. 132: May R.S. Wool to Jordan C. Thomas, $235,000.

LASSALLE DRIVE 509: Greggory G. Obrian to Madushika N. W Pathiranage, $51,249,500.

VALERIE ST. 159: Brook H. Yeaton to Benny S. Smith, $339,000.

WEST JEFFERSON

n TRANSFERS FOR AUG. 28 TO SEPT. 5

AVONDALE

FELICIA DRIVE 133: Sandy A. Marlbrough to Lindsey N. Difebbo-Duhe, $210,000.

GARDEN ROAD 321: Joseph Davis to Terrell Davis, donation, no value stated.

GOODWOOD COURT 4132: DSLD LLC to Emon Thornton, $267,990.

HOMEPLACE DRIVE 4012: DSLD LLC to Maria Ogando, $273,985.

LINDSEY COURT 4128: DSLD LLC to Glenda L. Garcia, $267,990.

PHYLLIS DRIVE 541: Mahon Tammy I.R.A. to Dariean Blake, $190,000.

BARATARIA

ARTHUR LANE 4920: Gerald J. Guidry Jr. to Trace Caulfield, $290,000.

GRAND ISLE

BIRD REEF COURT 39: Melisa Evans to LJH Ltd., $290,000.

LA. 1 NO. 9 1851: Addy C. Melancon to First American Exchange C.O., $775,000.

LA. 1 NO. 9 1851: Grand Poisson LLC to Addy C. Melancon, $875,000.

TROPICAL LANDING LANE 179: Grand Isle Life LLC to Kyle A. Billiot, $162,000.

GRETNA

ALISON DRIVE 1491: Aaron M.

Moore to Freedom Mortgage Corp., $166,667.

DERBES DRIVE 14: Quang Trinh to Michele Monte, $315,000.

FAIRFIELD AVE. 657: Pamela H. Howell to Sarah A.R.M. Mustapha, $390,000.

FAIRLAWN DRIVE 704: Diane R. Kumpf to Patrice T. Williby, $255,000.

FARMINGTON PLACE 1905: Lauryn Barthe to Rafael A. Fuentes, $190,000.

HANCOCK ST. 1400: Sherita Delatte to Robert J. Scully, $129,000.

KEPLER ST. 1025: Antoine Mcpherson Sr. to Mary T. Duhon, $71,000.

LAFAYETTE ST. 2407: Maurice Pierce to Mi Group LLC, $109,000. LAKE FRANCES DRIVE 1000: Triet T.T. Huynh to Ricky Jeansonne, $380,000.

MARIE DRIVE 76: Shirley M. Kleinpeter to Olivia G. Kirchner, $350,000.

MONROE ST. 1104: Mary D. Bordenave to Kay Isemann, $235,000. PALFREY ST. 1313: Leslie S. Turner to Akd Ventures LLC, $155,000. PARK LANE 2408: Louicitta J. Saintal to Berdini Saintal, donation, no value stated.

SUGARPINE DRIVE 345: Jody S. Loga to Kenner Rogers, $251,000.

TAYLORBROOK DRIVE 661: R. Acosta to Maira C. Martinez, donation, no value stated.

WILLOWBROOK DRIVE 149: Maira C. Martinez to R. Acosta, donation, no value stated.

HARVEY

ALEX KORNMAN BLVD. 2316: Joseph Dright to KJV Partners LLC, $83,000.

ALEX KORNMAN BLVD. 3820: Mt. Laurel Properties LLC to Edward M. Smith, $267,000.

BROWN AVE. 1008: Terrilyn Hunter to Leonard Family Investments LLC, $95,000.

CHRISWOOD LANE 3804: Patricia Wren-Dukes to RTR Holdings LLC, $106,000.

CHRISWOOD LANE 3821: Smail Property Development Ltd LLC to Renee Bush, $265,000.

DOGWOOD DRIVE 1321: Waycar Enterprises LLC to Carmen Walters, donation, no value stated.

MARION AVE. 455: Insurance Claim Lawyers Inc. to Catherine Miller, $136,695.

MARS ST. 2157: Joshua A. Moore to Math Properties LLC, $575,000.

N. HARPER DRIVE 2231: Carlina R. Kuy to Natalia Castillo, $359,000.

PRICE DRIVE 1020: Heath W. Fontenot to Bank of America N.A., $25,400.

SHERBROOKE COURT 7: Iseed Iseed to Waleed Abdelfattah, $600,000.

TATTERSALL DRIVE 2445: TD Rental LLC to Patrick L. Russell, $220,000.

MARRERO

ACRE ROAD 6301: Jesse R. Borges to Six Thousand Three Hundred One Acre Rd LLC, $467,500.

ANCHOR DRIVE 2641: David Peranio to Collin R. Camardelle, $295,000.

ANNETTE DRIVE 2753: Mandy L.P. Hebert to Breck Forestier, $10,000.

ARMAGH DRIVE 1705: Lydia L. Ehret to Trenell A. Richardson, $272,500.

ARMSTRONG DRIVE 2012: Housing Corp. of America to Bramex Homes LLC, $22,500.

AVE. K 449: Belinda M.F. Lipovsky to Edward J. Vicknair III, $85,000.

BARATARIA BLVD. 4540: Daniel M. St Pierre to Gerald J. Guidry Jr., $550,000.

BARATARIA BLVD. 7368: Jerry Sevin to Shellpoint Mortgage

Servicing, $166,667.

REALESTATETRANSFERS

CEDARLAWN DRIVE 2513: Gloria T.L. Zehner to Theresa Nguyen, $262,500

CELTIC DRIVE 1604: Catherine Babin to Annette Coley, $299,000.

FOURTH ST. 6300: DCAD LLC to Davis Dump & Go LLC, $380,000.

FOURTH ST. 7301-7303: Palminsano Family Properties LLC to Kim B. Fontenot, $110,000.

HUGO DRIVE 4016: Jack A. Childers to Betty Roberts, $275,000.

LINCOLN AVE. 1220: Renard S. Jones to Day One Enterprises LLC, $22,000.

LONG BRANCH DRIVE 2600: Smail Property Development Ltd. LLC to James Behn, $265,000.

LYDIA COURT 713: Michele Toups to Dean Relford III, $190,000.

MARISHA COURT 2724: Olivia E. Dupuy to Michelle B. Swenson, $191,000

RUSSELL DRIVE 2717: Tyronne C. Morris to Gage A. Orgeron, $165,000.

SILVER LILY LANE 1217: Clara H. Walker to Ryan Jones, $87,500.

SILVER LILY LANE 1401: Hattie A. Butler to Megan Bradberry, $130,000.

VICTORIA DRIVE 2841: Marco Asencio to Marcelina Asencio, donation, no value stated.

WATERGATE WAY 2628: Tracy N. Poche to Ladarrius Rawls,

$295,000.

WATERS DRIVE 2088: Housing Corp. of America to Bramex Homes LLC, $22,500.

WESTMINISTER BLVD. 1724: Cynthia S. Delagueronniere to Marlon Chukumerije, $205,000.

TERRYTOWN

HOLMES BLVD. 323: Horton Inc. Gulf Coast D.R. to Rusty Stcyr, $279,900.

HOLMES BLVD. 325: Horton Inc. Gulf Coast D.R. to Sandar, $310,900.

WRIGHT AVE. 307: Geral L. Chisolm to Andrzej Uscilowski, $245,352.

WAGGAMAN

JEFFER DRIVE 304: Jada M. Pierre to Brigette Crovetto, $227,000.

WESTWEGO

CABILDO LANE 9416: Gitsit Real Property Bbplc1 LLC to Pine Pots LLC, $81,000.

JAMIE BLVD. 248: Gwendolyn L. Mcwhorter to G&L Residential LLC, $70,000.

KENNY DRIVE 1338: Colt B. Miller to Christian Munch, $186,000.

VIC A PITRE DRIVE 601: Nora Adkins to Ryan J. Adkins, donation, no value stated.

W. KERI LANE 9554: Donna G. Vlasak to Robert J. Conklin, $395,000.

ST. TAMMANy

n TRANSFERS FOR AUG. 18-22

ABITA SPRINGS

LA. 59 70259: Succession of Robert J. Tranchina Sr. and Joanna D. Tranchina to Meifeng Guo and Fangwu Lin, $383,000.

SEVENTH ST. 22196: Antoinette C. Bergeron to Kathleen E. Shirer, $367,100.

COVINGTON

10TH ST. 70437: St. Tammany West Inc. to Kariyal M. Magee, $229,900.

ARLINGTON AVE. 373: Terra Bella Group LLC to Kevin L. Morgan, $120,000.

BELLE TERRE BLVD. 122: Lillian Van Buren Hornsby to Justin Douglas, $216,000.

C ST. 70378: LBL Real Estate LLC to Joseph D. Gaines and Corinne E. Hall, $242,900.

CERCLE DU LAC 470: Rockwell Builders LLC to John H. Bagley and Mary C. Bagley, $1,212,897.

CHANDLER DRIVE 20226: Tracy J. Clairain to Robert G. Welch and Lisa S. Welch, $265,000.

EAGLE LANDING DRIVE 113: Jordan E. Schaefer to Suzanne Baker and Russell Baker, $273,000.

EMERALD FOREST BLVD. 350, UNIT 21103: Malcolm E. Simmons to Edward C. Gits and Pamela Cooke Gits, $137,000.

ESTELLE COURT 3061: DSLD Homes LLC to Rodrigo de Almeida Gismondi and Stella do Carmo Santos Motta, $300,600.

GRAND TURK COURT 909: Seither Living Trust to Tillie C. Anzalone, $530,000.

HARDY LANE 1128: Paul R. Alker Jr. to Joseph F. Deynoodt III, $530,000.

JOYCE DRIVE 75561: Michael Fairburn to Metaxia E. Fairburn, donation, no value stated.

K ST. 70380: John Chetta and Robyn S. Chetta to Thomas M. Bodin, $245,000.

LINDEN ST. 20051: Jake A. Broggi to Christian Allison and Margaret G. Spadafora, $288,000.

MAGNOLIA GARDENS DRIVE 75: Robert E. Roux and Dyalthia B. Roux to Cameron Payne and Adam S. Payne, $508,000.

MALLARD GLEN DRIVE 211: Willard G. Gray Jr. and Andra A. Gray to Susan M. Shaw, $309,000.

MOUNT HOPE COURT 537: Highland Homes Inc. to Russell T. Smith and Jennifer A. Smith, $604,857.

NEAR COVINGTON, PORTION OF GROUND: Ryan C. Gravolet to Michael J. Martin, $25,000.

PENN MILL LAKES SUBDIVISION, PHASE 2B, LOT 150: Midway Investments LLC to Barry G. Hallner Sr. and Susan A. Hines Hallner, $192,500.

PIPES LOOP 3: Neil G. Blanchard

ä See TAMMANY, page 24

SHERRYL.OWEN CRS, GRI, SFR, ABR 228-760-2815 •228-822-9870

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TAMMANY

REALESTATETRANSFERS

LACOMBE

Continuedfrom page23

and ShannonB.Blanchardto Vincent A. Vaccaroand Kellie C. Vaccaro, $338,500.

ROBINDALE DRIVE 72690: Michael C. Jaeger and Terri L. Jaeger to BlakeA.Schultis and Camryn R. Schultis,$327,000.

ROSALIE COURT1865: DSLD Homes LLCtoPhillippaN.Mitchell, $307,920.

SECOND CONNOLLYADDITION TO COVINGTONSUBDIVISION, LOT B, SQUARE 60: Joseph A. Fletcher Jr. to Joshua A. Pazosand Laci Brehm Decker, $25,000.

SHADYLAKE DRIVE 71051: Lesley N. Brouillette to JeremyM.Brouillette and Lauren C. Brouillette, $102,000.

SOLOMON DRIVE 715: Phillip Kent Haynie and Jane Wingerter Haynie to Philip Kent Haynie, donation, no value stated.

ST.GERTRUDE DRIVE 17200: Robert F. BonnerJr. to Byron A. Pittman and Kelly B. Pittman, $486,000.

TAMMANY HILLLS SUBDIVISION, LOT35A, SQUARE 66: Jesse S. Clarke and Briana H. Clarke to LaVeria Johnson,$192,500.

TOWNOFALEXIUSVILLE, LOTS 1, 2, 4, SQUARE 180, LOT1,2, SQUARE 203: Patricia G. Lane to RAM Covington Properties LLC, $40,000.

W. 30TH AVE. 120: Paul F. Esser and Wanda F. Esser to Joseph J. Bonono Jr., $274,000.

W. 30TH AVE. 126: Plumb Properties LLCtoJoseph J. Bonono III, $1,000.

E. ELM ST.26050: Brian S. Pichon to Lance D. Pichon, donation, no value stated.

FISH HATCHERYROAD61553: Michael J. Buras and Dena Wilcox Buras to Brent Pichon, $225,000.

JACKSON ST.27392: Anisoptera LLCtoJoshua A. Bordelon, $20,000.

MARKHAM DRIVE 66337: Karen E. PellegrintoZander LandLLC, $70,000.

SUNSET OAKBLVD. 60392: DSLD Homes LLCtoMarcus Burdisand Tiasha Burdis, $289,995.

MADISONVILLE

BRYANT ST.111: Covington Kitchen &Bath Inc. to Zachariah J. Ivy and Casey Francis Bousegard-Ivy,$236,000.

REX AVE. 41: Aaron D. Davis to Haley A. Jenkins and Garrald D. McDowell, $267,000.

SPIKEDRIVE 71509: DSLD Homes LLCtoScott Lambert, $238,075.

SPIKEDRIVE 71737: DSLD Homes LLCtoNathan Stoddard, $222,380.

TAVERNY COURT69009: Joseph L. Bowers and Marcela E. Bowers to John W. Sullivan Chetta and RobynS.Chetta, $267,500.

MANDEVILLE

AUDUBON DRIVE 141: Dalmado Family Investments LLCtoBrett Brooks, $235,000.

BEAUCHENE SUBDIVISION, PHASE1,LOT 456: Jade L. Rung and CassandraYemelos Rung to LindaJ.JosephVollman, $1,100,000.

BROOKSIDE DRIVE 165: Adana W.

MolonguettoWillie R. Beverly III, $340,000.

CAROLINE ST.1819: Katherine P. QuayhagentoAndrewW.Thiess and Laura L. Thiess, $226,125.

CASTINEOAKS SUBDIVISION, PHASE 1, LOT3: National Residential NomineeService Inc. to William C. Anderson and Sarah Anderson, $425,000.

CASTINEOAKS SUBDIVISION, PHASE 1, LOT3: Matthew Fraher and Ashley Blumentritt Fraher to National Residential Nominee Services Inc., $425,000.

CHERRYRIDGE COURT 1580: GilbertG.Gonzalez Jr. and Taylor Zeringue Gonzalez to Jason A. Bryan,$360,000.

EASTST. 328: Matthew Grimm to Heather C. Grimm, donation, no value stated.

EVANGELINE DRIVE 267: Donna M. Caronna CrowetoAndrewR. Schwing and Dey M. CaronnaSchwing, $100 and othervaluable consideration.

JULIET LANE416: Pamela M. Hancock to Ansley Tullis,$237,900.

KELLYROAD70140: KatieA.Cloud to Camille B. Rizzuto, $289,000.

LOGAN LANE1892: Kyle Skatberg and BrittanyT.Dugas to Jeffrey L. Crawford, $698,000.

LOTUS ROAD 1645: Chad M. Williams to KolbyHodge and Paul G. Hodge, $815,000.

MADISON ST.1824: AnthonyScurria to RobertL.Patin, $695,000.

MAKONAKODRIVE 226: Paul G. Hodgeand KolbyG.Hodge to Michael Karaty III andStephanie Karaty,$735,000.

MONROE ST.2625: Ronald A. Stewart and Ronald J. Stewart to Anne T. Waring and Antonio J. Waring III, $877,000.

NEAR MANDEVILLE,PORTION OF GROUND: Rafe G. Hewett and Latonyia J. Hewett to Benjamin W. Hood and BrittanyM.Hood, $630,000.

OAKLANE 216: Jeffrey D. Windes and Emily Upton Windes to DenverF.GrayIII andAlex Benton Drumm Gray,$660,000.

RIDGEWOOD CIRCLE 215: Dee H. Cole to Zachariah W. Dynesand Kimberly A. Dynes, $240,250.

ROSEDOWN WAY 100: Deette K. McClain to Wesley E. McClain, donation, no value stated.

RUE BEAUVAIS 1353: CodyA Evans and Kelcy B. Evans to Albert N. Norton Jr. and Melody D. Norton, $695,000.

SANCTUARYBLVD. 30: Samuel A. Blaizeand Cheryl Harris Blaizeto Paul Primeaux andErin K. Primeaux, $910,000.

SANCTUARYSUBDIVISION, PHASE 4A, LOT363: Ruel R. Gober Jr. and Virginia A. Gober to Joel T. McMullen and CatherineC McMullen, $1,125,000.

SAVOIE DRIVE 21: Rene L. Poche Sr. and AngelN.Poche toMichael W. Casey and Michael B. Casey,$570,000.

TCHEFUNCTACLUBESTATES, LOT283, SQUARE 37: Timoth J. Mawhinney Jr. and Nicole A. Laing to Milton E. Lavigne III, $640,000.

TCHEFUNCTACLUBESTATES, PHASE 3A, LOT842: Bryan E. Schexnayder and Donna Z. Schexnayder to DardelProperties LLC, $415,000.

THIRD STREET,LOTS39, 40: Paul Hyde Inc. to Donahoc Properties LLC, $45,000.

TOPS’LDRIVE 807, UNIT H-4: Gordon C. Hagan Jr.toElizabeth A. Burnett Hagan, donation,no value stated.

WILKINSON ST.768: Ruth M. Deus to Janet PiroBray, $241,000.

WOODLANDS SUBDIVISION, PHASE 9, LOT360: William E. Clements Jr. to Keary C. Kwasnicki, $570,000.

WOODSTONE SUBDIVISION, PHASE 2C, LOT41: Jigar N. Patel and Sweta S. Shah to Joseph Obeid and Jane Atallah, $735,000.

PEARLRIVER

CHANTILLYLOOP 164: Kim Danna and Wayne Danna to Brent Applewhite and KatelynApplewhite, $468,000.

HOWARD O’BERRYROAD37418: Brenda D. FarvetoBrandon L. Schirlls and Teri L. Thomas Schirlls, $30,000.

MILBANK LANE 201: Stephen M. Olave and Kelli D. Olave to Todd D. Bordelon andFalynnG. Florane Bordelon, $320,000.

OAKST. 39216: Sherry B. Legnon to SaraBeth Lee, $199,000.

STALLION RUN 105: Patrick D. O’Brien Jr. and Vera O’Brien to Paul Christianson and Deborah Christianson, $275,000.

WEST ALTONSUBDIVISION, LOTS 10, 11,12, SQUARE 7: McArthur J. MooretoVanessaB.Moore, donation, no value stated

WILD ST.36041: William C. LeeSr. and SaraW.Lee to Justin Sharp, $192,000.

REALESTATETRANSFERS

WINGFIELD SUBDIVISION, PHASE 1, PORTION OF GROUND: Joseph W. Bacon and MariaE.Bacon to Michael J. Bacon, donation, no value stated.

SLIDELL

ALISADRIVE 6737: Ricardo F. Griego to Michelle T. Toups Griego, donation,novalue stated.

AYSHIRE COURT102: German A. Almonte Hidalgo and Elina Delgado Hidalgo to Gaspar LoCiceroIII and BarbaraE.LoCicero, $595,000.

BAYOUOAKS SUBDIVISION, LOTS 5, 6, SQUARE 6: James E. Shields Jr. and MaryaC.FordShields to Rodney HerefordJr. andDarah Pitts Hereford,$24,000.

BENT CYPRESS LANE 760: Gage Verdin and VictoriaLarousse to Juanita Charles,$299,000.

BIRDIE DRIVE 2: Mary C. Demby to Philip J. Meyerand Ginger P. Meyer, $125,000.

CAMPANA LANE 34304: DSLD HomesLLC to JerlineWilliams, $264,980.

CAREY ST.3163: Kenneth J. Edmundsand GenevieveC. StewardtoRachelle A. Oubre, donation,novaluestated.

CASTLE DRIVE 112: Succession of Brent A. Herman to Balfour Wong, $195,000.

CATISLAND COURT644: Ethan Braun and Shayla Braun to Felicia A. Meranta, $260,000.

CHINCHAS CREEK ROAD 40807: Kali A. Luparello Durnin to David A. Luparello and Alison R. Luparello, donation, no value stated.

CITRUSST. 714: Bryan D. Levy Sr. and DebraAnn W. Levy to Bryan D. Levy Jr., donation, no value

stated.

CITY OF SLIDELL, PORTION OF GROUND: M.M.F.LLC and Randolph A. Boesch to DJPMarine LLC, $280,000.

CLAIRISE COURT1128: Penymac Loan Services LLCtoSecretary of Housing and Urban Development, $90,000.

COLLEGE ST.3039: Russell Chilton to Benjamin R. Farmer, $190,000.

CROSS CREEK DRIVE 185-B: Rudy Williams to Jean Baker Martin, $260,000.

CROYDON ST.3845: Ginger Sue Powell Meyer to Michelle E. Little, $219,500.

DALE DRIVE 677: Harry J. Hebert III and Shereel.Herbert-Simon DavistoStephen J. Trosclair and Roxann J. Trosclair, $190,000.

E. MARINA VILLA DRIVE 4000: DavidBailey and RalaiyaM.Bailey to Donnell Carroll Jr., donation, no value stated.

FRONTST. 2038: GavinR.Garrett and LisaC.Garrett to Front Street One LLC, $185,000.

HARBOR COVE 10: Frank D. Tournier EstatetoTyroneBastian and Marleesa Bastian, $425,000.

HOMELAND HEIGHTS SUBDIVISION, LOTS 13, 14, SQUARE 6: Succession of Wayne H. Jenevein to Sherry L. Doyle,Shawanda M. Doyle and Latisha M. Doyle, $13,000.

JAU ST.2521: Charles Primmto Bebo Realty LLC, $37,500.

KINGSCOURT120: Lloyd G. Westphal and Beatrice L. Westphal revocable living trust, Dana Westphal and Gary Westphal to Anycia Jefferson-Balthazar, $226,950.

LIVE OAKST. 1520: Elvin E. Steierwald Jr. to Carlo C. Zuniga Zamalloaand Kathleen S. Toohey,

$13,000.

LIVE OAKST. 1613: Xachary W. Militello to Steven Bourg and Courtney Bourg, $210,000.

MAPLE DRIVE 4207: CitizensBank NA to Federal National Mortgage Association, $80,823.

MORROWDRIVE 104: Willie M. Hulette to MatthewD.Eagle and Hali Ann Fiorello Eagle,donation, no value stated.

NEAR SLIDELL, LOT4A: Patricia P. FerraratoDevin M. Faciane, $55,000.

NEAR SLIDELL, PORTION OF GROUND: SilverbackHoldings LLCtoJuan C. Deras, $58,500.

NEAR SLIDELL, PORTION OF GROUND: MorrisJ.St. Angelo to City of Slidell, $216,000.

OAKAVE. 1368: BMRC Properties LLCtoDarneakia M. Jennings, $195,000.

PELICAN ST.2308: Patricia A.

Thibodeau and Jennifer M. Thibodeau to Amanda K. Hoover, $115,000.

S. CALEBDRIVE 579: Raymond T. Carter and Charlene B. Carter to Bradley J. Curreraand Stephanie D. Currera, $597,999.

ST.TAMMANY AVE. 1190: Bryan D. Levy Sr. and DebraAnn W. Levy to Ryan P. Bakay and KayleaLevy Bakay,donation, no value stated.

THIRD ST.37141: Federal National Mortgage Association to Rhonda Poplus,$59,900.

WASHINGTON COURT 1417: Jade Investments LLCtoKattie Everett, $305,000.

SUN/BUSH

MORNINGDOVE26318: Earl J. ShackelfordJr. and Dani I. ShackelfordtoJade L. Rung, $510,000.

With elderberries, it’s all about your perspective

By LSU AgCenter

There’s an old saying that one person’s trash is another’s treasure. It’s a similar story for elderberries — nuisance for some, valuable crop to others.

It’s true: Elderberries do behave like weeds in many ways

These large shrubs pop up along fences, in ditches, on vacant lots. They grow quickly, spreading with ease thanks to an extensive root system and numerous seeds. With unassuming white flower clusters, tiny berries and a scraggly growth habit, they aren’t much to look at.

And yet elderberries have their benefits. For one, their BB-sized berries are an important food source for all sorts of wildlife. They serve as a host plant for several moth species, and their plentiful flowers provide pollen and nectar for bees and other pollinators

People, of course, also make use of elderberries. Jams, jellies and syrups made from the berries have become trendy in recent years. Elderflowers are edible, too, often making an appearance in drinks in the form of elderflower liqueur

Elderberry shrubs are part of the Sambucus genus, and a few species are native to the United States. Here in Louisiana, you’ll find Sambucus canadensis

Right now, elderberries are ripening across our state

Whether you live in the city or

Elderberries grow near a fence and barn Elderberries prefer fertile, moist — but not waterlogged — soils. They’re deciduous and can die back to the ground in severe winters, but they’ll reliably come back in the spring.

the country, you shouldn’t have to look far if you want to harvest some.

“Pretty much everywhere that a bird’s been, you’ll see an elderberry,” said Clark Robertson, an LSU AgCenter horticulture agent in Livingston Parish.

That’s because birds love eating elderberries. They disperse the seeds, which germinate readily, through their excrement.

Unlike birds, most humans

won’t enjoy eating elderberries straight off the plant. Raw berries have an unpleasant, strong taste and can upset stomachs. People generally eat them cooked, and in this state, they have more of a blackberry flavor When foraging for berries, pay close attention to their color.

“You’ll want to harvest the whole inflorescence when the majority of the berries are a dark purple to black color,”

Robertson said. “When you’re processing the berries, you would want to remove any green to red berries, as they could potentially be toxic.”

If you’re interested in having an elderberry shrub of your own in your home orchard, AgCenter horticulturist Jason Stagg suggests sticking to wild types, avoiding the blackleaved cultivars at your local garden center

“In limited trialing at the

Harvest elderberries when they are dark purple to black. Do not eat green or red elderberries, which are toxic.

Elderflowers are edible, too, often making an appearance in drinks in the form of elderflower liqueur.

Hammond Research Station, we decided that those were not the best for our hot climate, as those have European genetics,” Stagg said.

Elderberries prefer fertile, moist — but not waterlogged — soils. They’re deciduous and can die back to the ground in severe winters, but they’ll reliably come back in the spring. They have few disease or insect pest issues and, true to their weedy tendencies, they don’t require much maintenance to grow successfully.

Plants usually reach about 10 feet tall in Louisiana and bloom multiple times in spring and summer

“You’ll have berries ripening throughout the summer,” Robertson said.

Now some of you are probably thinking, “I have more elderberries than I can stand! How do I get rid of them?”

To tame an elderberry infestation, chop the shrubs down and paint a stump killer containing the herbicide triclopyr onto the cuts to kill the root system. You also can keep an eye out for young elderberries, dig them up and discard them — or share them with someone who’d like to transplant them.

PROVIDED PHOTOS By LSU AGCENTER /OLIVIA MCCLURE

Always on thegiftlist, butnot theguest list

DearAnnie: Iwas invited to, and attended, bothanengagement party and abridal shower.I spent abit of money on gifts for both. Iwasn’tinvited to the wedding, which hurt me somewhat, but Iunderstood the couple was trying to keep it small.

previous gifts Igave.

Now,two years later,I’ve been invited to the baby shower.While I’m happy for this couple, Ican’thelp but feel like I’m being used as a money/gift grab. On top of that, Inever received athank-you note or acknowledgment forthe

Am Ibeing selfish or being taken advantage of?Thanks for hearing me out. —Feeling Used Dear Feeling Used: You’re not being selfish; you’rebeing honest about howyou feel. Keeping a guest list small is one thing, but notbeing thanked for your generosity —and also being left out on the big day —would leave anyone disheartened.

If you’d like to show support forthe baby and mom-to-be, youcould attendthe shower with acard and simply your presence. If that still doesn’t sit right, apolite decline is perfectly acceptable. Youdon’towe anyone agiftout of guilt.Real celebrations are about love and

TODAYINHISTORY

By The Associated Press

Today is Saturday,Sept. 13, the 256th day of 2025. There are 109 days left in the year.

Todayinhistory:

On Sept. 13, 1993, at the White House, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestine Liberation OrganizationChair Yasser Arafat shook hands after signing an accord granting limited Palestinian autonomy.

Also on this date:

In 1788, the Congress of the Confederation authorized the first national election and declared New York City the temporary national capital.

In 1948, Republican Margaret Chase Smith, of Maine, was elected to the U.S.Senate; she became the first woman to serve in both houses of Congress.

In 1971, afour-day inmate rebellion at the Attica Correctional Facility in western New York ended as police and guards stormed the prison; the ordeal and final assault claimed the lives of 32 inmates and11 hostages.

In 1997, afuneral was held in Kolkata, India, for Nobel peace laureate Mother Teresa.

In 2008, crews rescued people from their homes in an all-out search for thousands of Texans who had stayed behind overnight to face HurricaneIke.

connection, not tallying up what people bring.

DearAnnie: I’ve been married to my husband for 25 years. My mother-in-law is not anice woman. She will be lovely to someone’sface but thentalk trash about themthe moment theyleave.

Overthe years, she has repeatedly stopped talking to my husband over stupid things, like him not texting to check in on her or stopping by for avisit. Sometimes she’ll go months without speaking to him

Twoyears ago, Ihad an operation thatled to major complications. Iended up on life support, developed heart failure and spent more than six

months in the hospital.Since then, I’ve been hospitalized four more times. During oneofthose stays, my husband called his motherbecause he was overwhelmed and stressed about my condition. Her advice? That he’d be better off if he left me. Now my husbandhasn’t spoken to her in six months. I’m sure they’ll talk again at some point soon, but Ihave no desire to have arelationshipwithher after all this. What is your advice? —NoLove Lost

DearNoLove Lost: Idon’t blame you for not wanting arelationship with this woman.Whatshe said was cold and cruel,and her pattern of pettiness and silent treatment toward herown son

isn’tOKeither. Given everything you’ve been through, your health hastocome first. Protecting yourselffrom added stress isn’tselfish —it’snecessary. Your husband clearlyloves you, anditsounds like he’s reaching his breakingpoint withhis mother on his own If he chooses to rekindlethat relationship someday,that’shis decision. But youdon’thave to followhis lead.Some people are just too toxic to allowspace foratall. As painful as that is to accept, you owe it to yourselfto preserveyour peace of mind

Send your questions forAnnie Lane to dearannie@creators com.

In 2010, Rafael Nadalbeat Novak Djokovic to win his first U.S. Open title and completea career Grand Slam.

In 2021, school resumed for New York City publicschool students in the nation’slargest experiment of in-person learningduring the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today’sBirthdays: Actor Barbara Bainis94. Nobel Peace Prize laureateÓscarArias is 85. Rock singer David Clayton-Thomas (Blood, Sweat &Tears) is 84. ActorJacqueline Bisset is 81. Singer Peter Cetera is 81. ActorJean Smart is 74. Record

TONIVANZANDT

504-913-8665

toni@reverealtors.com

8623ZIMPLESTREET UPTOWN

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Newlyrenovated3Bd, 3Ba,2,150SfCamelback Sanctuarybehindaprivate cementwall/irongatew/ origlhdwdflrs,plusanewly added2ndflrprimary suite.Just1blockfromthe notableOakStCorridorof UptownNewOrleans

UPTOWN $2,165,000 Stunning3-Story PrivateOasisJustSteps fromSt.CharlesAve! LotsofRecentUpgrades GatedCompoundoffers over8,200totalsqft, including5Beds, 7.5Baths&prkgfor 6+vehicles&muchmore

producer Don Wasis73. Chef Alain Ducasseis69. Rock singer-musician Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) is 64. Olympicgold medal sprinter Michael Johnson is 58. Filmmaker Tyler Perry is 56. Fashiondesigner Stella McCartney is 54. Former tennis player Goran Ivanisevic is 54. Country musician Joe Don Rooney (Rascal Flatts) is 50. Singer-songwriter Fiona Apple is 48. ActorBen Savage is 45. Soccer player Thomas Müller is 36. Rock singer Niall Horan (One Direction) is 32. ActorLili Reinhart (TV: “Riverdale”) is 29.

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Annie Lane

DEAR ANNIE