The Advocate 09-25-2025

1 killed, 2 wounded in shooting at ICE facility

Authorities say shots fired from roof onto location in Dallas

BY JAMIE STENGLE and JACK BROOK

Associated Press

DALLAS A shooter with a rifle opened fire from a nearby roof onto a U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement location in Dallas on Wednesday killing one detainee and wounding two others in a transport van before taking his own life, authorities said.

The suspect was identified by a law enforcement official as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn. The official could not publicly

Side deals remain a sticking point

disclose details of the investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity

The exact motivation for the attack was not immediately known. FBI Director Kash Patel posted a photo on social media showing a bullet found at the scene with “ANTI-ICE” written on it.

The attack is the latest public, targeted killing in the U.S., coming two weeks after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed by a rifle-wielding shooter and as heightened immigration enforcement has

in the making. The Superdome lease itself has been ready for days, negotiators say It runs for 10 years and gives the Saints the option to extend every five years through 2055, a deal meant to secure the team’s future in New Orleans for a generation. But as of midweek, nothing has been signed because of a sticking point familiar to anyone who has tracked the team’s history with the state: real estate. The two sides have been deadlocked over how to handle leases

prompted backlash against ICE agents and fear in immigrant communities.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association called the shootings “a stark reminder that behind every immigration case number is a human being deserving of dignity safety and respect.”

“Whether they are individuals navigating the immigration process, public servants carrying out their duties, or professionals working within the system,

ä See SHOOTING, page 5A

Concerns raised over bounty hunters

BY AIDAN McCAHILL Staff writer

for Benson Tower, Champions Square and the Saints’ practice complex in Jefferson Parish. The team insists those agreements, worth millions annually, be finalized alongside the stadium contract The state wants to separate them and move the Dome lease forward first. However, negotiators said Wednesday that they believe the issues will be resolved within a few days.

In August, three men were arrested for breaking into a Baton Rouge apartment in the middle of the night. Among them was a former sheriff’s deputy from Plaquemines Parish and a convicted felon.

The trio was working as bounty hunters, but had raided the wrong address. Despite the felony charges they face, all three are allowed to keep working in the little-known industry Brian Green, 41, of Belle Chasse, and Roderick Larkins 31 and Jhustyn Garrett, 31, both of Slidell, were arrested by Baton Rouge police and charged with aggravated assault with a firearm and home invasion. Garrett, who has a prior domestic abuse conviction, also faces a count of firearm possession as a felon.

Under Louisiana’s cash bail system, judges set a dollar amount defendants must pay to avoid languishing in pretrial detention. If paid in full and court orders are followed, the court returns bail after the case concludes, even if the person is convicted of a crime. Defendants who can’t afford bail may hire a licensed bail bond agent, who covers the total amount in exchange for a 12% fee. If the defendant meets all court requirements, the court repays the bondsman,

Despite facing felony charges, trio retain licenses ä See BOUNTY, page 4A

ä See SUPERDOME, page 4A A new lease for the Superdome would run for 10 years and give

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JULIO CORTEZ

Law enforcement agents look around the roof of a building near the scene of a shooting at a U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Dallas on Wednesday.

Drone strike on market in Sudan kills 15

CAIRO — An aid worker and a local group in Sudan said a drone strike by the Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces killed 15 people at a bustling market in the besieged city of el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur

The strike on Tuesday came only a few days after the RSF reportedly struck a mosque in the city, killing at least 70 people, including worshippers and three medical personnel.

The latest drone strike also wounded 12 people, an aid worker with the Emergency Response Rooms, or ERR, told The Associated Press on Wednesday, citing doctors and other ERR team members on the ground. He spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution from the RSF

The RSF didn’t mention the incident on their Telegram channel but said that its fighters are making advances in the city and claimed it was evacuating “hundreds of civilians from el-Fasher,” without providing evidence.

Humberto forms and Gabrielle races to Azores

MIAMI Tropical Storm Humberto formed in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday at the same time Hurricane Gabrielle was racing across the ocean toward the Azores islands, forecasters said.

Gabrielle, a Category 2 storm, is forecast to weaken but could cause significant coastal flooding in the island chain, National Hurricane Center forecasters said. From Thursday into Friday, Gabrielle may bring up to 5 inches of rain across the central and western Azores.

Gabrielle was centered about 1,010 miles west of the Azores on Wednesday afternoon. It had maximum sustained winds of 100 mph and was traveling to the east at 28 mph.

Waves generated by Gabrielle will continue to affect Bermuda, the U.S. East Coast from North Carolina northward and the Atlantic coast of Canada, forecasters said. Life-threatening surf and rip currents are possible.

Tropical Storm Humberto was located 550 miles east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, the weather center said. Humberto is expected to affect the eastern coast of the U.S. within the next five days.

Students charged with pork-related hate crime

Two Syracuse University students are facing hate crime charges after allegedly tossing a bag of pork into a Jewish fraternity house during a Rosh Hashanah celebration.

The incident occurred around 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Zeta Beta Tau house, where the fraternity brothers had gathered for the Jewish New Year

Zeta Beta Tau is a historically Jewish fraternity Jewish dietary law prohibits the consumption or touching of pork

Samuel Patten is accused of entering the house and throwing a clear plastic bag of meat, splattering the contents on a wall and the floor

He then fled the house and got into a Jeep Wrangler driven by Kyle Anderson, police said They were captured soon after and charged with burglary as a hate crime and criminal nuisance.

Both suspects are 18 years old.

‘Very mean squirrel’ has sent 2 people to the ER

SAN FRANCISCO Residents of a San Francisco Bay Area city are on the lookout for an aggressive squirrel that has sent at least two people to the emergency room for medical treatment.

Joan Heblack told ABC affiliate KGO-TV that she was walking in the Lucas Valley neighborhood of San Rafael when a squirrel seemingly came out of nowhere and attacked her leg, clawing and biting.

“It clamped onto my leg. The tail was flying up here. I was like, ‘Get it off me, get off me!’,” Heblack said. Isabel Campoy also said she was attacked while walking in the same area. The squirrel launched itself from the ground to her face and wound up on her arm, leaving it bloody, she said

DOJ scolded over Mangione posts

Officials could face sanctions for statements in CEO murder case

BY LARRY NEUMEISTER and MICHAEL R. SISAK Associated Press

NEW YORK — At least two senior Justice Department officials likely broke court rules governing the conduct of prosecutors by reposting comments President Donald Trump made about Luigi Mangione, the man accused of assassinating the CEO at UnitedHealthcare, a federal judge said Wednesday Judge Margaret M. Garnett said in an order that the officials probably violated a local rule limiting what prosecutors can say publicly about the guilt or innocence of a defendant before a trial.

On Sept. 18, Trump went on Fox News and called Mangione “a pure assassin.” “He shot someone in the back as clear as you’re looking at me,” Trump said. “He shot him right in the middle of the back, instantly dead.”

A video clip of Trump’s remarks

was then posted on the social platform X by the White House, and then reposted by Chad Gilmartin, a Justice Department spokesperson, who added the comment, “@POTUS is absolutely right.” Gilmartin’s post, which was later deleted, was then reposted by Brian Nieves, an associate deputy attorney general. The judge asked the department to explain how the violations occurred and what steps are being taken to ensure it doesn’t happen again. “Future violations may result in sanctions, which could include personal financial penalties, contempt of court findings, or relief specific to the prosecution of this matter,” the judge wrote.

In an email, a Justice Department spokesperson said there would be no comment.

Earlier this month, defense lawyers for Mangione had asked that his federal charges be dismissed and the death penalty be taken off

the table as a result of public comments by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to state and federal charges in the fatal shooting of Thompson on Dec. 4 as he arrived at a Manhattan hotel for his company’s annual investor conference.

In the federal case, Mangione is charged with murder through use of a firearm, which carries the possibility of the death penalty, as well as stalking and gun offenses.

Defense lawyers argued in a written submission to Garnett earlier this month that Justice Department officials poisoned the case when Bondi declared prior to his April indictment that capital punishment is warranted for a “premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America.” Bondi announced in April that she was directing Manhattan federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty for Mangione.

Drone fired from Yemen hits southern Israeli city

BY IBRAHIM HAZBOUN Associated Press

JERUSALEM A drone fired from Yemen struck the southern Israeli city of Eilat on Wednesday Israel’s military said. Medics said at least 22 people were wounded, two of them seriously It wasn’t immediately clear if they were hurt by the drone or an interceptor In the Gaza Strip, at least 19 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire, according to local hospitals.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have regularly fired drones and missiles at Israel and attacked international shipping — in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The vast majority of the fire directed at Israel has been intercepted or fallen in open areas without wounding anyone.

The Houthis claimed the latest attack, saying in a statement that they had fired two drones at Israel.

Israel has carried out retaliatory airstrikes on Yemen after past attacks. Defense Minister Israel Katz, in a post on X, warned the Houthis that “anyone who harms Israel will be harmed sevenfold.”

The Israeli military said that “interception efforts were made.” The Magen David Adom rescue service said that the wounded were taken to a nearby hospital, two of them with “severe shrapnel injuries to their limbs.”

In Gaza, an Israeli strike hit a group of Palestinians in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp, killing at least 12 of them, according to the Al-Awda Hospital. Another 18 people were wounded, it said. The Israeli military didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Another four people two children and their parents — were killed in a strike on their home in Nuseirat, according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the nearby city of Deir al-Balah.

Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza said that it received the bodies of three people killed by gunfire while seeking aid. Health officials in Gaza and the U.N. human rights office say hundreds of people have been killed by Israeli fire while seeking humanitarian aid in recent months.

The military has said it only fires warning shots when people approach its forces in what it considers a threatening manner

Trump presents Gaza peace plan

BY DAVE GOLDINER

(TNS)

New york Daily News

President Donald Trump presented a new plan to end the war in Gaza and vowed to block Israel from annexing the West Bank in a meeting with Arab and Muslim leaders. Trump’s proposal to win the release of all remaining hostages held in Gaza in exchange for a permanent ceasefire was greeted enthusiastically by Muslim allies at the meeting on Tuesday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York

“I view it as an important foundation upon which we can build further in the coming period to achieve peace,” Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi said Wednesday Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the meet-

ing with Trump “fruitful,” without elaborating.

Trump assured the leaders that he would not allow Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to annex the West Bank, most of which is now governed by the Palestinian Authority, although it was not clear if he would forcefully object to annexation of parts of the territory

Arab allies warned Trump that annexation of the West Bank could cause them to scrap the Abraham Accords, a 2020 pact under which some conservative Arab nations normalized diplomatic ties with Israel.

Despite Trump’s frequent remarks about the war in Gaza, the white paper marks the administration’s first formal policy plan for ending the war

It includes a seven-point plan calling for a perma-

nent ceasefire along with release of all hostages, a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, Muslim and Palestinian security forces and a future government of the coastal enclave without Hamas but including the participation of the Palestinian Authority Axios reported.

The plan does not include any elements of Trump’s own much-hyped controversial plan for the U.S. to “take over” Gaza and rebuild it as a coastal luxe “Riviera of the Middle East,” while somehow forcing or convincing the Palestinian inhabitants to leave.

Arab leaders denounced the plan as a fig leaf for a campaign of ethnic cleansing aimed at ousting all the Palestinians from Gaza, where they have lived since Israel’s independence in 1948.

His lawyers argued that Bondi’s statements and other official actions including a highly choreographed perp walk that saw Mangione led up a Manhattan pier by armed officers, and the Trump administration’s flouting of established death penalty procedures — “have violated Mr Mangione’s constitutional and statutory rights and have fatally prejudiced this death penalty case.”

Defense lawyers sent Garnett a letter on Tuesday saying the government was continuing to prejudice their client’s right to a fair trial with the repostings on social media of Trump’s comments. They said Mangione was unjustly described by the White House press secretary as a “left wing assassin” and by another White House official as an “anti-facist” and had been referenced in a news release Monday when Trump designated a decentralized movement known as antifa as a terrorist organization.

New Jersey PBS to go dark in 2026

BY ROB TORNOE The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS)

PHILADELPHIA New Jer-

sey PBS, the state’s only public television station, will shutter next year after suffering “very significant” budget cuts implemented by the Trump administration, the company announced.

“We have been proud to serve the state of New Jersey with content that inspires, educates and informs,” WNET, which manages New Jersey PBS, said in a statement. New Jersey PBS will remain on the air through June 2026. NJ Globe’s David Wildstein was first to report the news of NJ PBS shutting down.

New Jersey PBS was formed 14 years ago, after New Jersey lawmakers and former Gov Chris Christie shut down the New Jersey Network (NJN), a state-run public media company While several of NJN’s former radio stations were sold to WHYY in Philadelphia, WNET took

over management of NJ PBS in 2011. In addition to the federal cuts, New Jersey cut state funding of NJ PBS by 75% in its 2025 budget, from $1 million to just $250,000.

“This is a big loss for New Jersey, which suffered a dearth of TV news coverage well before the internet ravaged the industry,” wrote Politico’s Matt Friedman, who has covered state politics since 2007.

New Jersey PBS is down to about 27 employees following a round of layoffs last month that cost about 11 staffers their jobs. At the time, the station said they “remain committed to providing New Jersey with news and content.” NJ PBS’s closure comes on the heels of Penn State’s decision to shutter WPSU, the university’s NPR and PBS affiliate.

WPSU’s closure will reduce the number of public television stations in Pennsylvania down to six, including WQED in Pittsburgh, the home of “Mr Rogers’ Neighborhood.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ABDEL KAREEM HANA

Displaced Palestinians flee northern Gaza Strip as they walk carrying their belongings along the coastal road near Wadi Gaza on Wednesday.

Chinaannounces newclimate goal to cutemissions

BY SETH BORENSTEIN and MELINA WALLING Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS With China lead-

ing the way by announcing its first emission cuts, world leaders said Wednesday they are getting more serious about fighting climate change andthe deadly extreme weather that comes with it

At the United Nations high-level climate summit, Chinese president Xi Jinping announced the world’s largest carbon-polluting country would aim to cut emissions by 7% to 10% by 2035.China spews more than 31% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions, and they have long been soaring.

The announcement came as more than 100 world leaders gathered to talk of increased urgency and the need for stronger efforts to curb the spewing of heat-trap-

ping gases. With majorinternational climate negotiations in Brazil 61/2 weeks away,the United NationsSecretary-General Antonio Guterres convened aspecial leaderssummit Wednesday during the General Assembly to focus on specificplans to curb emissions from coal, oil and natural gas.

In avideo address, Xi pledged that Chinawould increase its wind andsolar power sixfold from 2020 levels, make pollution-free vehiclesmainstream and“basically establish aclimate adaptive society.” Europe then followed with aless detailed and not quite official new climate change fighting plan. Ursula von der Leyen, president of theEuropeanCommission, said theirinfrastructure andinvestment in renewable energy and the priceofcarbonhad all increased, and their emissions aredownnear-

ly 40% since 1940. Lastweek, member states agreed that their nationally determined contribution would range between 66% and72%,and that they would formally submit their plan beforethe November negotiations, she said.

Xi andBrazil’sleader alsotook thinly veiledswipesonWednesday afternoon at U.S.President Donald Trump’sattacksaday earlier on renewable energy and the concept of climatechange. “While some country is acting against it, the internationalcommunity should stay focused on theright direction,” Xi said.

Guterressaid, “the sciencedemands action. Thelaw commands it. The economics compel it. And people are calling for it.”

MarshallIslands President Hilda Heine saidshe was there to issue “a demand for us alltowakeup

from acommunity whose hospitals and schools arebeing destroyed” by rising tides. Shesaidshe has regularly been awakened by floods anddrought emergenciesinher smallisland nationand that it will soon be others’ turn.

Anthony Albanese, primeminister of Australia, called this adecisive decadefor climate action and said Australians know the tollof more frequent andextreme weather events likecyclones,floods, bush firesand droughts. “Australia knows we are not alone,” he said.

“Warming appears to be accelerating,” climate scientist Johan Rockstrom said in ascience briefing that started the summit. “Here we must admit failure. Failure to protect peoples andnations from unmanageable impactsofhumaninduced climate change.”

BY EDITH M. LEDERER Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS

Ukrainian

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy toldglobal leaders Wednesday that theworld is in “the most destructive arms race in human history” and urged theinternational community to act against Russia now,asserting that Vladimir Putin wants to expand his war in Europe.

In ableak view of today’s world, he told the annual high-level meeting of the U.N. General Assembly that weak international institutions including the United Nations haven’tbeen able to stop wars in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan and elsewhere, and international law can’t help nations survive.

“Weapons decide who survives,” the Ukrainian leader said. “There are no security guarantees except friends and weapons.”

Zelenskyy spoke from the podium of the vast assembly chamberaday after he met with President Donald Trump, who expressed sup-

port for Ukraine’sefforts and criticizedRussia.Trump said Tuesday that he believed Ukraine could win back all territory lost to Russia, a dramatic shiftfrom the U.S. leader’srepeated calls for Kyiv to make concessions to end the warsparked by President VladimirPutin’s February 2022 invasion.

Zelenskyy did not comment onthe surprise U.S. pivot,saying only that he

had “a good meeting” with Trumpand withmany other “strong leaders.”

“Together,wecan change alot,” he said, expressing appreciation for support from the United States. and Europe andurging allU.N. member nations to condemn Russia while it “keeps dragging this war on.”

If Putin isn’tstopped now, theUkrainian president warned theassemblythat

Some leadersatU.N.condemn‘sick expression of joy’

BY MEG KINNARD Associated Press

The reaction over Charlie Kirk’sassassinationtouched yet another constituency this week: the collection of world leaders gatheredat theUnited Nations.

Twoweeks after Kirk was shot and killed in Utah, several of the world leaders gathered at for the U.N. General Assembly this week referenced the conservative activist’sslaying —and some of the divisive outpouring of reaction to it —as evidence of deeper fissures in global society

Decrying the “sick expression of joy for the crime committed against an innocent person,” Serbian President Alexsandar Vucic told assembled leaders on Wednesday that reaction to

at Kirk’s killing

Kirk’s deathrepresents “the best confirmation of that.”

Social media lit up in the days after Kirk’sSept. 10 death with peoplemourning hisloss— some of whom said they disagreed with Kirk’s ideological stances but supported his right to voicethem—aswell as those celebrating it It set off anational discussion about freedom of speech.Commentsled to the firings ofnumerous people, frompoliticalanalysts and opinion writers to school employees. Several conservative activists sought to identify social media users whose posts about Kirk they viewed asoffensive orcelebratory, targeting everyone from journalists to teachers.

On Wednesday,Vucic said reaction to the conservative activist’sassassinationwas

demarcated “less by ideological butmuchmore by emotional hate-driven differences.”

“He was savagely assassinatedjustbecausehis killer didnot like hisideas,”Vucic said of Kirk, suggesting that some of thereaction in the slaying’saftermath caused yet more damage in terms of thedivisionitsowed.“He was shoteven after deathby thesame ones who had preparedpolitical andmedia grounds forhis assassination.”

Paraguayan President Santiago Peña also mentioned Kirk in hisspeechWednesday,saying in Spanishthat he was “shaken, saddened, and distressed” by Kirk’s killingand arguing that the “macabreresponsemust awaken us fromour sleepy stateofcomplacency.”

“We’redangerously close to triggering fundamental and irreversible change,” Rockstrom said. TexasTech climate scientist Katharine Hayhoetoldleaders that everytenth of adegreeof warmingisconnectedtoworsening floods, wildfires, heat waves, stormsand manymore deaths: “What’satstake is nothing less than everything and everyone we love.” Under the 2015 Paris climate accord, 195 nations are supposed to submit newmorestringent fiveyearplans on howtocurb carbon emissions from the burning of coal, oil and naturalgas. Technically the deadline wasinFebruary andabout 50 nations —responsible forone-quarter of the world’scarbon emissions —have filed theirs.

he will keep driving the war forward, “wider anddeeper.”

“Ukraine is only the first, and nowRussian drones are alreadyflying across Europe, and Russianoperations arealready spreading across countries,” he said.

Zelenskyy saidneighboring Moldova is defending itself again from Russian interference andshould not be allowed to move toward dependencyonRussia as Georgia andBelarusare.

“Europe cannotafford to loseMoldova, too,” he said, stressing that thecountry needs funding and energy support, not just “political gestures.”

Zelenskyy saidweapons and especially drones “are evolving faster thanour ability to defend ourselves.”

While drones previously wereusedbymajor countries, he said, “Now,there aretens of thousands of people who know how to professionally kill using drones.”

Recently,European airportshad to shut down because of drones,Zelenskyy said, andlast week North

Former U.S. President Joe Bidensubmitted America’splan late last year before leaving office and the Trumpadministration has distanced itself from the plan.

Korea announced the test of “a tactical drone” which meansevencountries with limited resources can build dangerous weapons.

“Weare now living through the mostdestructive arms race in human history, because this time it includes artificial intelligence,”hesaid. “Companies are already working on drones that can shoot down other drones, and it’sonly a matter of time —not much —before drones are fighting drones, attacking critical infrastructure andattacking people all by themselves fully autonomous and no human involved except the few whocontrol AI system.”

Zelenskyyechoed U.N.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in calling forglobal rules on how AI can be used in weapons, stressing that “this is just as urgent as preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.”

Stopping Putin now is cheaper than trying to protect every port andairport and every ship from drone attacks, and having to build

undergroundschools and health centers as Ukraine has been forced to do to protect its citizens, he said.

“Stopping Russia now is cheaper than wondering who will be the first to create asimple drone carrying anuclear warhead.”

“So we must use everything we have togetherto force the aggressor to stop, and only then do we have a real chance that this arms race will not end in catastrophe forall of us,” the Ukrainian leader said. The Ukrainianleader said his country doesn’thave “big fatmissilesdictators love to show off in parades” but it is producing drones that can fly 2,000 to 3,000 kilometers which have been used against Russia.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine is building anew security architecture, and morethan 30 countries are part of its coalition, and“we have decided to open up for arms exports —and these are powerful systems tested in areal warwhen every international institution failed.”

The LSED, known as the Superdome Commission, wanted to authorize Chair Robert Vosbeinto sign so that another board meeting won’thave to be convened before the next scheduled one in October, at which the full seven-member board would be expected to ratify the new stadium lease deal. The vote Wednesday was unanimous from thesix commissioners in attendance.

“Weare getting very close andI think the deal will be reached very soon,” Vosbein said at Wednesday’s meeting. He said the board vote would give him the legal authority to sign the deal when it is reached though it would stillrequire avote of the full seven-member Superdome Commission to be ratified.

The deal on BensonTower, wheretenants are almostentirely state agencies, is with the state of Louisiana and has to be approved by Gov. JeffLandry’s administration.

Saints spokesperson Greg Bensel on Wednesdaypointedto an earlier statement thatsaid the

BOUNTY

Continued from page1A

whokeeps the fee andany possible interest as profit. If adefendant violates court terms, bondsmencan employ bounty hunters, formally known as fugitive recovery agents, to return them to custody and reclaim the bail money.Some contracts permit bondsmen to enter homes without notice, according to the national nonprofit the Bail Project. Bond agents in Louisiana have faced scrutiny for requiring defendants to wear ankle monitors. State law requires that bounty hunters wear “identifying clothing” and notify local police before conducting operations. No other formal protocols exist.

In July,shortly after 1:30 a.m., Green, Larkins and Garrett arrived at Alight Baton Rouge, a complex on West McKinley Street that caters to LSU students. According to their arrest warrants, they were armed and in search of a

organization was “fully committed”toalong-term partnership with thestate so that the team can be successful

Thelengthy back-and-forth betweenthe state and the Saints appears to benearing resolution

Negotiators on bothsides say they have cleared most of the major hurdles and now expect to sign a dealwithin days

The remaining disagreements trace back toa 2009 arrangement struck by then-Gov.Bobby Jindal’s administrationand Superdome Commission ChairRon Forman with late owner TomBenson —a deal Forbes once described as “the most complex —and lucrative stadium lease agreement in the NFL.”

That package gave theSaints wide-ranging revenue streams, includinga $5 millionbonus when theDomehosted aSuperBowl, 42% of gameday concessions, a cutofnon-football events, naming rights, parkingrevenues andrent from Champions Square. It also obligatedthe state to leaseoffice space in Benson Tower,aprovision that has long been contentious.

Auditors over the years have criticized the state for paying abovemarketrates at the tower

defendant who hadskipped acourt appearance but didnot notify local law enforcementofthe raid.

After kicking down all thelocked doors in the apartmentand finding ayoungwoman hiding in her bathroom,theyrealizedtheyhad the wrong address, accordingto records.

“She’sscared to death,” said BatonRouge District AttorneyHillar Moore, referring to the tenant.

“This could have been extremely badand tragic, depending on how thevictim in this case reacted.”

The Louisiana Department of Insurance, which oversees bail bond producer licenses, issued cease-and-desist letters to the men last month,warning them to stop conducting raids without notifying lawenforcement. But an Insurance Department spokesperson confirmed they stillholdlicenses that allow them to continue bounty hunting.

“This is an ongoing investigation, and we areworking with theDistrictAttorney’sOffice to obtainadditional evidence as this case makes its way through the legal process,”

The Saintscounter thatwhen parking,upgradesand operating expensesare included, the effectiverateisinline with themarket

Saintsspokesperson Greg Benselhas characterized the real estate deals as “the financial backbone”ofthe overallstadium deal that makes the Saints viable in one of the smallest of theNFL’s 32 markets.

Thoseside deals remainthe most sensitive pieces of the puzzle, but negotiators now say solutions are on thetable. Vosbein hasauthority to sign the lease once the final details are ironed out,and both the stateand the team say they are determined to get there quickly

The urgency is heightened by looming NFL deadlines.Without a signed deal, NewOrleans riskslosingits shot to host the2031 Super Bowl,which could delay thecity’s next chance until 2038.

Saintsofficialssay ownerGayle Bensoncould appeal directly to Commissioner Roger Goodell if thedeal comes together soon.

Staff writers JeffDuncan and Tyler Bridges contributed to this report.

Email Anthony McAuley tmcauley@theadvocate.com.

“When we startallowing individuals to pursue and seize human beings, we not

only need to have strictpolicies, but enforce those policies.”

FRANZ

BORGHARDT,Baton Rouge criminal defense attorney

wroteJohn Ford, aspokesperson for the Insurance Department,in an email. “Wewill determine what furtherregulatoryactioniswarranted after afull review of the evidence in this matter.”

Baton Rouge criminal defense attorney FranzBorghardt called thelack of stricter oversight troubling. “Theoretically,they can still bountyhunt,” he said. “When we start allowing individuals to pursueand seize human beings, we notonlyneedtohavestrict policies, butenforcethose policies.”

Both bailbondsmen andbounty hunters are licensed as bond producers, acategory that includes more than 1,000 people across Lou-

isiana —a state thatconsistently ranks at thetop of thenation in pretrial detention rates.

“It’s avery powerful lobby that has alot of influence in the LouisianaLegislature,” saidBorghardt, speaking about the broader bail bond industry To qualify fora license,applicants must complete athreemonth apprenticeship;takean eight-hour course on law, underwriting and ethics; and pass an exam. Convicted sex offenders are barred from licensure,but convicted felons are not. Garrett, despite his criminalrecord, was issued his license in October 2023. Borghardt says there should be more thanasimple licensing process foroverseeing bounty hunters.

“It’savery unregulated industry. …It’sripewithcorruption, he said, noting he has seen cases where bounty hunters arrive to make an arrest but instead demand bribes after the defendant agrees tosurrender voluntarily Green, whowas firedfrom the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Of-

fice in 2018due to his connections to the far-right group Proud Boys, appeared to be recruiting potential apprentices on Facebook before his arrest. In October,heposted, “Hey! Anybody interested in getting started in acareer in Fugitive Recovery (Bounty Hunting)? Drop me alinefor the info!” In May, wrote he wasseeking people interestedin“gettingintothe exciting world” of fugitive recovery Meanwhile, Garrett liked to post aboutbounty hunting on social media,including TikTok videosofhim wearing fugitive recovery gear liketactical vests. In one caption, he wrote, “Real Mandalorian.” Green, Larkins and Garrett are set to first appear in court in October

“There is alegitimate reason to have these folks,” Moore said, referring to bounty hunters. “But obviously they have to be trained and held accountable foractions just like any other law enforcementofficer would be.” Email Aidan McCahill ataidan. mccahill@theadvocate.com.

alldeserve to be free from violence and fear,” the group said in astatement.

The Department of Homeland Security said in astatement that shots were fired “indiscriminately at theICE building, including at avan in the sallyport,” asecure and gated entryway

The wounded detainees were in critical condition at ahospital, said DHS, which previously said two detainees were killed and one was wounded before issuing a correction.

No ICE agents were injured.

By the evening,Homeland

Security Secretary Kristi

Noem ordered more security at ICE facilities across the U.S., according to apost by DHS on the social platform X.

At amidday news conference, authorities gave few details about the shooting and did not release the names of the victims or the gunman.

The FBI said it was investigating theshooting as “an act of targeted violence.”

Officers responded to acall to assist an officer on North Stemmons Freeway around 6:40 a.m. and determined that someone had opened fire at agovernment buildingfrom an adjacent building, Dallas police spokesperson Officer Jonathan E. Maner said via email.

The gunman used aboltaction rifle, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity Edwin Cardona, an immigrant from Venezuela, said he was entering the ICE building with his son foranappointmentaround

6:20 a.m. when he heard gunshots.

An agent took people who were inside to amore secure area and said there wasan active shooter “I was afraid for my family, because my family was outside.Ifelt terrible, because Ithought something could happentothem. Thank God, no,” Cardona said.

Cardona said they were later reunited.

The ICE facility is along Interstate 35 East,just southwest of Dallas Love Field, alarge airport serving the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, and blocks from hotels.

Hours after the shooting, FBI agents gathered at a suburban Dallas homethat public records link to Jahn It sits on atree-linedculde-sacinaneighborhood dotted with one-and two-story brick homes. The street wasblocked by aFairview

police vehicle, but officials wearing FBI jackets could be seen in the frontyard.

Aspokesperson forCollin College, innearby McKinney, said via email that a Joshua Jahn studiedthere “at various times”between 2013 and 2018.

Martyna Kowalczyk, CEO of Texas-based Solartime USA, said in astatement that Jahnworkedfor her companyfor less than afew months “many years ago.”

In late 2017, Jahndrove cross-country to work a minimum-wage job harvesting marijuana for several months, according to Ryan Sanderson, owner of alegal cannabis farm in Washington state.

“He’sayoung kid, athousand milesfromhome, didn’treally seem to have any direction, living out of hiscar at such ayoung age,” Sanderson told AP. “I don’t remember him being that abnormal. He didn’t seem to fight with anyone or cause trouble. He kept his head down andstayed working.”

Sandersonsaidhetriedto keep Jahnlonger because he “felt bad for him.”

Shortly after the shooting and before officialssaidat least one victim wasa detainee, Vice President JD Vance posted on Xthat “the obsessive attack on lawenforcement, particularlyICE, must stop.”

Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, whorepresents Texas, continued in that direction, calling foranend to political violence.

“Toevery politician who is using rhetoric demonizing ICE and demonizing CBP: Stop,” Cruz told reporters, referencing Customs and Border Protection

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson called the shooting not just an attack on lawenforcement and the victims but “an attack on our communityand on our nation’s heritage of civil anddemocratic discourse.”

TheCatholic LegalImmigration Network, an advocacy group, saidthe shootings are “a heartbreaking reminder of the violence and fear that too often touch thelives of migrants and the communities where they live.”

“Violence must never be allowed to define how we respond to migration,” said Anna Gallagher,the group’s executive director

The Rev. AshleyAnne Sipe, who prays outside the DallasICE facility every Monday said: “Violence doesn’theal anything.”

Sipe and other local faith leaders whohavedecried deportations hold weekly vigils andserve as “moral witnesses.” They prayand observe forabout three hours, watching as immigrants enter the building to meet withadvisers and report for check-ins.

Sipe said shehas noticed in recent months thatpeople who enter are shuttled away on buses.

“They’re taking them away,and we don’tknow where they’re takingthem,”

Sipe said.

Noem noted arecentuptick in targetingofICE agents.

On July 4attackers in black,military-styleclothing opened fire outside the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, southwest of Dallas,federal prosecutors said. One police officer was injured. At least 11

of arrests. Ahead of thelatestimmigration operation,federal officials boarded up windows at thecenter.Sixteen people have been arrested outside, according to authorities whocalled the activists “rioters.”

Dozensoffield offices acrossthe country house administrative employees and are used forpeople summoned for check-in appointments andtoprocess people arrested before they are transferred to long-term detention centers. They are not designed to hold people in custody Security varies by location, with some located in federal buildings and others mixed with private businesses, said John Torres, a former acting director of the agency and former head of what is nowcalled its enforcement and removals division.

people have beencharged in connection with the attack.

Days later aman with an assault rifle fireddozensof rounds at federal agents leaving aU.S.Border Patrol facility in McAllen. The man,identified as Ryan Louis Mosqueda, injured apolice officer who responded to thescene before authorities shot and killed him

And in suburban Chicago, federal authorities erected afence around an immigration processing center after tensions flared with protesters. President Donald Trump’sadministration has stepped up immigration enforcement in the Chicago area, resulting in hundreds

Some, like Dallas, have exposedloading areas for buses, whichpose risks for escape andoutside attack, Torres said. Other vulnerabilities are nearby vantage pointsfor snipers andlong lines forming outside without protection.

“I would assure you that ICE, after today,isgoing to be ataking ahard look at physical security assessments for all of their facilities,” said Torres,currently head of security and technology consultingatGuidepost Solutions.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS By JULIO CORTEZ

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Stocks slip as Wall Street rally loses steam

U.S. stock indexes drifted lower on Wednesday as a seemingly relentless rally on Wall Street takes at least a pause.

The S&P 500 slipped 0.3% for a second straight, modest loss.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 171 points, or 0.4%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.4%. All three are still near their all-time highs, which were set on Monday

It’s a slowdown following the U.S. stock market’s blistering run since hitting a low in April, fueled by hopes that President Donald Trump’s tariffs won’t derail global trade and that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates several times to boost the U.S. economy The rally was so big that it raised concerns about stock prices shooting too high and becoming too expensive, particularly if the Fed does not deliver as many cuts to rates as traders expect.

Demonstrating the weight of high expectations, Micron Technology’s stock fell 2.8% even though it reported a better profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected. The computer memory company also gave a forecast for profit in the current quarter that blew past analysts’ expectations.

Typically, such a performance would send a stock higher But Micron’s stock came into the day with an atypical, stunning gain of 97.7% for the year so far Freeport-McMoRan sank 17% for one of the market’s larger losses after the miner said it expects sales of copper to be 4% lower in the third quarter than it had earlier forecast. It also said sales of gold will likely be roughly 6% lower than earlier expected.

Jeep cancels plan for plug-in hybrid pickup

Jeep has canceled plans to build a plug-in hybrid version of its Gladiator midsize truck, a move that comes shortly after parent Stellantis NV also halted plans for an all-electric Ram pickup.

“As customers’ propulsion preferences for battery-electric trucks continue to evolve, Stellantis is reassessing its product strategy and will no longer include an electrified Gladiator variant in the Jeep lineup,” said a company statement sent by spokesperson Andy Bowman. Jeep, which recently notified suppliers of the cancellation said it will continue investing in the Gladiator The pickup is expected to be built at least into 2028.

The Gladiator 4xe was initially expected to come out this year, joining the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee SUVs that have offered plug-in hybrid models for the last few years. But planning and production timelines for the new variant had been delayed at the Toledo Assembly Complex, where both the Gladiator and Wrangler are built, United Auto Workers officials previously said.

Disney to raise prices on streaming services

Disney announced on Tuesday it will raise the subscription prices for its streaming services, amid widespread calls for a boycott following Jimmy Kimmel’s abrupt suspension from Disney-owned ABC. The increase is set to go into effect for new subscribers beginning Oct. 21. Current subscribers will see the change to their first bill on or after that date.

Disney+ with ads and Hulu with ads will both increase by $2 to $11.99 per month, while Disney+ Premium will increase by $3 to $18.99. The Disney+ with Hulu bundle is

U.S.

cuts tariffs on EU cars to 15%

Deal on trade agreement sealed

BY JOSH WINGROVE and ALBERTO NARDELLI Bloomberg News (TNS)

The U.S. lowered tariffs on auto imports from the European Union to 15% retroactive to Aug. 1, cementing terms of the framework trade agreement the two sides struck almost two months ago.

The Department of Commerce and Office of the U.S Trade Representative published a document online on Wednesday detailing

the changes, reducing duties on a range of goods.

The order will help to further ease tensions between Washington and Brussels, as the two sides work through implementing the details of the trade deal they announced at one of President Donald Trump’s golf courses in Scotland.

Europe’s auto industry has been waiting for several weeks for the lower duties to be adopted.

The changes laid out in the filing include a list of exemptions for sectors including aircraft, aircraft parts and generic pharmaceutical drugs plus ingredients, as well as “unavailable natural resources”

such as cork and certain metals and ores, effective Sept. 1. Those goods will maintain lower so-called most-favored nation rates.

Most of the new rates take effect for EU goods shipped starting Sept. 1, but the relief for automobiles and parts was contingent on the EU introducing legislation to lower tariffs on American industrial goods and some non-sensitive agricultural products.

The bloc followed through with that action on Aug. 28 and is currently in the process of implementing its concessions, paving the way for the Trump administration to backdate the new auto charge.

Previously those vehicles faced a 25% U.S duty on top of prior levies of 2.5%. As part of the arrangements in the trade deal, the EU faces a 15% tariff ceiling on most of its exports. That rate doesn’t stack on top of any existing industry-specific tariffs, and the EU expects it to also cover any future sectoral levies that may be introduced on drugs and chips.

However, the two sides have yet to make much progress on reaching an accord to lower tariffs on steel and aluminum, where the bloc is currently facing 50% duties on its exports.

A TOMB RAIDER THREAT

AI was used to clone character Lara Croft’s voice, angering fans, actors

BY JOHN LEICESTER and NICOLAS GARRIGA Associated Press

PARIS A lifelong fan of Tomb Raider, French gamer Romain Bos was on tenterhooks when an update of the popular video game went online in August.

But his excitement quickly turned to anger.

The gamer’s ears — and those of other Tomb Raider fans — picked up something amiss with the French-language voice of Lara Croft, the game’s protagonist.

It sounded robotic, lifeless even — shorn of the warmth, grace and believability that French voice actor Françoise Cadol has given to Croft since she started playing the character in 1996.

Gamers and Cadol herself came to the same conclusion: A machine had cloned her voice and replaced her

“It’s pathetic,” said Cadol, who straight away called her lawyer “My voice belongs to me. You have no right to do that.”

“It was absolutely scandalous,” said Bos.

“It was artificial intelligence.”

AI encroaching ‘everywhere’

Aspyr, the game developer based in Austin, Texas, didn’t respond to emailed questions from The Associated Press.

But it acknowledged in a post last week on its website that what it described as “unauthorized AI generated content” had been incorporated into its Aug. 14 update of Tomb Raider IV–VI Remastered that angered fans.

“We’ve addressed this issue by removing all AI voiceover content,” Aspyr’s post said.

“We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.”

Still, the affair has triggered alarms in the voiceover community, with campaigners saying it’s a sobering example of dangers that AI poses to human workers and their jobs.

“If we can replace actors, we’ll be able to replace accountants, and a whole range of other professions that could also be automated,” said Patrick Kuban, a French-language voice actor who is also a co-president of United Voice Artists, an international federation of voiceover artists.

“So we need to ask ourselves the right questions: How far should we go, and how do we regulate these machines?”

“Actors’ voices are being captured, either to create voice clones — not perfect ones — but for illicit use on social media by individuals, since there are now many apps for making audio deepfakes,” Kuban said in an Associated Press interview

“These voices are also being used by content producers who aren’t necessarily in the same country,” he said. “So it’s very difficult for actors to reclaim control over their voices, to block these uses.”

Cadol said that within minutes of the release of the Tomb Raider update, her phone began erupting with messages, emails and

social media notifications from upset fans.

“I took a look and I saw all this emotion — anger, sadness, confusion. And that’s how I found out that my voice had been cloned,”

she said in an AP interview

Cadol’s Paris lawyer, Jonathan Elkaim, is seeking an apology from Aspyr and financial redress.

Grammar error

In the update, new chunks of voiceover appear to have been added to genuine recordings that Cadol said she made years ago.

Most notably, fans picked up on one particularly awkward segment.

In it, a voice instructs players how to use their game controllers to make Lara Croft climb onto an obstacle, intoning in French: “Place toi devant et appuyez sur avancer” — Stand in front and press ‘advance.’

Not only does it sound clunky but it also rings as grammatically incorrect to French speakers — mixing up the polite and less polite forms of language that they use, depending on who they’re addressing.

Gamers were up in arms. Bos posted a video on his YouTube channel that same evening, lamenting: “It’s half Françoise Cadol, half AI. It’s horrible! Why have they done that?”

“I was really disgusted,” the 34-year-old said in an AP interview “I grew up with Françoise Cadol’s voice. I’ve been a Tomb Raider fan since I was young kid.”

Social Security will stop issuing paper checks in October

COLA announcement will be Oct. 15

online account. If you don’t have a bank account, you can request Direct Express, a debit card on which the federal government will deposit your benefits. It can be requested at (877) 874-6347. The official COLA announcement

ries receive their increase in December because Jan. 1 is a holiday A considerable portion of the So-

which would mean about $54 more per month on average in retirees’ checks, with retirees beginning to receive the increase in January SSI beneficia-

‘My voice belongs to me. you have no right to do that,’ said actress Françoise Cadol, who voices the character of Lara Croft.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

An attendee dressed as video game character Lara Croft, from Tomb Raider walks through the 2023 New york Comic Con in New york. Aspyr, the game developer acknowledged in a post last week on its website that what it described as ‘unauthorized AI generated content’ had been incorporated into its Aug. 14 update of Tomb Raider IV–VI Remastered.

Kimmel’s return gets big ratings

BY DAVID BAUDER AP media writer

NEWYORK Jimmy Kimmel is back on his ABC late-night show, but it’s still a mystery when or if viewers in cities such as Washington, New Orleans and St. Louis will be able to see him again on their televisions.

ABC stations owned by the Nexstar and Sinclair corporations took Kimmel off the air last week on the same day the network suspended him for comments that angered supporters of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Those stations kept him off the air Tuesday, when ABC lifted the suspension.

Kimmel returned with no apologies, but in an emotional monologue where he appeared close to tears, the host said that he was not trying to joke about the assassination. He also paid tribute to Kirk’s widow

And it got a large audience, with ABC reporting nearly 6.3 million people tuned in to the broadcast alone, despite the blackouts in many cities. As is often the case with late-night hosts’ monologues, there was a larger audience online, with more than 15 million people watching Kimmel’s opening remarks on YouTube by Wednesday evening. ABC says more than 26 million people watched Kimmel’s return on social media, including YouTube.

Typically he gets about 1.8 million viewers each night on television. The numbers released by ABC do not include viewership from streaming services.

A spokesman for Nexstar said Wednesday that Kimmel will continue to be preempted from its stations while the company evaluates his show Together, the Nexstar and Sinclair groups account for about a quarter of ABC’s affiliates.

The dispute focused attention on the business relationships between television networks and the local sta-

BY BRENDAN RASCIUS Miami Herald (TNS)

A pair of House Republicans are pushing to include Charlie Kirk’s likeness on U.S. currency

RANDy HOLMES

DISNEy PHOTO By

ABC reports nearly 6.3 million people tuned in to the ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ broadcast Tuesday night, despite the blackouts in many cities.

tions that carry their programming. In the past, local stations occasionally balked at airing a network show, but it was usually an individual market or two worried about pushing boundaries in language or sexual content, said Ted Harbert, a former top executive at ABC and CBS.

What’s different this time is groups that have gobbled up multiple stations acting collectively on content for largely political reasons.

“This is how much the country’s political divisions have seeped their way into something that has been, for the last 50 or 75 years, a relatively orderly business,” Harbert said.

Leadership of ownership groups is generally more conservative than the media and entertainment figures on the stations they broadcast, said Ken Basin, author of “The Business of Television.” Both Sinclair, with conservative political content, and Nexstar have reason to curry favor with the Trump administration, he said. Nexstar is seeking regulatory approval for the purchase of a rival, he said.

It’s possible that Disney could play hardball if negotiations on Kimmel’s return drag on, such as threatening to withhold other ABC programming —

Texas Rep. August Pfluger and Arizona Rep. Abe Hamadeh told Fox News they will introduce a bill instructing the Treasury Department to create 400,000 dollar coins memorializing the deceased conservative activist. Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed on Sept. 10. His memorial service, held on Sunday in Arizona, attracted thousands of attendees, including President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Tucker Carlson and Elon Musk.

even the “nuclear option” of football games. Its unclear how the affiliate agreements are worded.

But Matt Dolgin, senior equity analyst at Morningstar Research Service, said he doubts the dispute reaches that point. The station groups have a far less diversified business portfolio than Disney, and the expiration of affiliate agreements next year looms as a deadline, he said. They have few good options if they lose ABC programming.

Last week, Kimmel seemed to be in real danger of losing his show entirely until advocates for free speech protested, including many who canceled subscriptions for Disney services

“The backlash was stronger than they expected, stronger than I expected,” Basin said. “There was a sense of despair within the industry that this was a ‘canary in a coal mine’ moment.”

Four Democratic senators said late Tuesday that they wanted to look into what happened with the station groups.

“If Nexstar or Sinclair traded the censorship of a critic of the administration for official acts by the Trump administration, your companies are not only complicit in an alarming trampling of free speech but also risk running afoul of anti-corruption law,” Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey, Ron Wyden and Chris Van Hollen wrote to the companies.

In his monologue Tuesday Kimmel tried to thread the needle between both sides in a raw political moment, and seemed to realize its difficulty

“I don’t think what I’m going to say is going to make much of a difference,” he said. “If you like me, you like me. If you don’t, you don’t. I have no illusions about changing anyone’s mind.”

Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson for Turning Point USA, the organization that Kirk founded that is now headed by his widow, posted on X that Kimmel’s monologue was “not good enough.”

“Charlie Kirk inspired millions of Americans and his impact deserves permanent recognition,” Pfluger wrote on X on Wednesday The silver coins — which would be recognized as official currency — would feature Kirk’s face on one side and the phrase “Well done, good and faithful servant” on the reverse, according to Fox News.

First lawsuit filed in D.C. plane crash

BY JOSH FUNK AP transportation writer

The family of one of the 67 people killed when an airliner collided with an Army helicopter over Washington, D.C., sued the government and the airlines involved on Wednesday, saying they didn’t recognize the warning signs after more than 30 documented near misses in the area.

Other families are expected to join this first lawsuit seeking to hold the Federal Aviation Administration, the Army, American Airlines and its regional partner, PSA Airlines, accountable for the deadliest U.S. plane crash since 2001. PSA Airlines operated Flight 5342 that crashed Jan. 29. The lawsuit says they “utterly failed in their responsibilities to the traveling public.”

The Army declined to discuss the details of the lawsuit, while American and PSA said they would fight any allegation that they caused or contributed to the collision.

“Flight 5342 was on a routine approach to DCA (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport) when the Army helicopter — that was above the published helicopter route altitude collided with it,” the airlines said in a statement. “American has a strong track record of putting the safety of our customers and team members above everything else.”

The FAA said it “acted decisively” to improve safety by further restricting helicopter flights around Reagan. Air traffic controllers also stopped relying on pilots to maintain visual separation with other aircraft within 5 miles of the airport.

The lawsuit was filed by Rachael Crafton, the widow of Casey Crafton, who was killed in the collision Her lawyers represent most of the victims’ families.

The National Transportation Safety Board has listed many issues that may have contributed to the crash, although its final report won’t be ready until next year

The Black Hawk helicopter was flying above the 200-foot limit, but even if it had been at the correct altitude, the route it was flying provided a scant 75 feet of separation between helicopters and planes landing at Reagan airport’s secondary runway The helicopter’s flight data recorder indicated it was flying 80 feet to 100 feet higher than its altimeter showed before the two aircraft collided.

The NTSB also said the FAA failed to recognize an alarming pattern of close calls near the airport in the years before the crash, and ignored concerns about helicopter traffic its own controllers raised years earlier Investigators also said overworked controllers were regularly squeezing as many planes as possible into the landing pattern with minimal separation.

The lawsuit says the airlines failed in their duty to protect their passengers because the pilots had not been adequately trained to handle close-flying helicopters and the airline didn’t effectively mitigate the risks.

“There is clear evidence that there were dozens of near misses and thousands of reports of congestion between commercial aircraft and military aircraft at Reagan National that were being ignored by the airlines,” said lawyer Bob Clifford, who is representing the families. The lawsuit says the PSA pilots, who received an alert about traffic in the area 19 seconds before the crash, should not have waited until the last second to pull up. The lawsuit says the pilots’ warning system showed the relative direction and altitude of the helicopter

TheFirstAmendmentguidesusandforgesourbelief thatreportingthetruth–forourreaders,forourcity–isa responsibilitywemustfulfillnomatterthecost.

‘No’ vote stalls BR insurance switch

Dissent leads to special council meeting for revote

BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER Staff writer

An East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council member’s lone vote Wednesday hamstrung an insurance switch drawing backlash from colleagues who said he’s stalling a plan that could save millions in taxpayer dollars. With only seven council members in attendance Wednesday every member present needed to vote for it to pass.

However, Darryl Hurst’s vote against the measure to change the city-parish insurance plan for retirees stalled it, as an Oct. 1 deadline looms.

Hurst said he feared it could cause the cityparish civil fees if retirees sued, despite opinions from attorneys, council members and insurance

consultants who said other cities have made the switch and they did not see any legal issues.

“Why wait until this vote came up?” Racca said, “We’ve all talked about working on this for two years, five years.”

Democrats Twanha Harris, Cleve Dunn Jr., Anthony Kenney and Carolyn Coleman were all absent and instead at a Congressional Black Caucus event in Washington, D.C. Mayor pro tempore Brandon Noel, a Republican, was also ab-

sent. Hurst said he could not vote to approve until he had an opinion from the Louisiana attorney general.

“I believe in a special meeting, and it may pass, but like many things on this council, they pass without me,” Hurst said. The plan could save the cityparish up to $19 million annually, city-parish officials have said, through a switch to the Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Advantage Plan, which council members believe offers better benefits and comes at a lower cost.

“It’s kind of ironic that the member who is against saving this money is the one who has no problem spending it,” said council member Aaron Moak after the meeting, referring to Hurst’s controversial purchase of an off-road vehicle with district funds.

Although the insurance switch was first introduced to the council over two months ago, as of Wednesday evening, Hurst had still not placed a request for an attorney general’s opinion on wwthe Metro Council agenda.

LOUNGING LIZARD

Brother of Darrow shooting suspect arrested

The older brother of a suspect in connection with a fatal shooting that happened in Darrow last month was arrested Tuesday by Ascension Parish sheriff’s deputies. Charles Ray Jackson, 31, was booked into the Ascension Parish jail on a count of accessory after the fact to seconddegree murder Charles Jackson is the older brother of Peyton Jackson, 17, who was arrested Sept. 4 on counts of second-degree murder, illegal use of weapons and obstruction of justice.

The Jacksons were arrested in connection with the death of Tyjon Comery, 18. Deputies originally responded to a homicide at a residence on Brown Extension Road in Darrow on Aug. 28, where they found Comery dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Detectives said Comery was a close acquaintance of Peyton Jackson.

As their investigation progressed, detectives said they learned that Charles Jackson

Officers reinstated after shooting

lunged at police.

BY QUINN COFFMAN Staff writer

The Baton Rouge Police Department has reinstated two officers who were involved in the July fatal shooting of a Baton Rouge man who armed himself with scissors and allegedly

An internal BRPD investigation into the officers’ conduct found they did not break department policy and that the use of lethal force was justified. The officers have since returned to uniformed patrol.

The officers were called to a residence in the 5100 block of Washington Avenue just before 4 a.m. on July 5. Minutes after their arrival, one officer shot and killed Anthony Pursley, 38, who was armed with scissors, inside

the residence. A second officer was armed with a Taser, per department policies. One of Pursley’s cousins called 911 and told police that Pursley was high on crack cocaine, had known mental health problems and was inside the residence with his 88-year-old grandmother BRPD Chief Thomas Morse summarized the killing in a statement when the department released police body camera footage of the shooting, saying that Pursley lunged at officers while

armed with a pair of scissors.

“I have shared the video with representatives of the family and my condolences go out to them, as it is tragic whenever a life is lost under any circumstances,” Morse said at the time. “Both Officers involved are currently on administrative leave, per Department policy. More updates will be released as the investigation continues.”

That investigation involved

BY JOSIE ABUGOV Staff writer

diseases.

PHOTO

HILARy SCHEINUK

green anole lizard enjoys the warmth of the rising

in Baton Rouge.

Hurst

N.J. bishop named to lead Archdiocese of N.O.

James Checchio, a scholar of church law, has previously spent years at the Vatican

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

The Most Rev James F Checchio, bishop of the Diocese of Metuchen in New Jersey, has been named the next archbishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans by Pope Leo XIV, taking over from retiring Archbishop Gregory Aymond.

A scholar of church law and the former leader of the American seminary in Rome, Checchio, 59, will serve alongside Aymond as coadjutor archbishop before taking the reins of the nation’s secondoldest Roman Catholic diocese in the coming months, the Vatican announced on Wednesday

His appointment comes 10 months after Aymond, 75, reached the mandatory retirement age for bishops. Aymond is also close to wrapping up the local church’s long-running bankruptcy case, and he af

firmed in a letter Wednesday that he plans to conclude that process before passing responsibility for the region’s half-million Catholics to his successor

A New Jersey native, Checchio was ordained in Camden in 1992 and will bring extensive credentials and experience to his new post.

In addition to his doctorate in canon, or church, law, he holds an MBA as well as two undergraduate degrees. He served in several administrative positions in the Diocese of Camden early in his career and spent 12 years at the Vatican, including a decade running the Pontifical North American College in Rome the city’s official seminary of the American Catholic church, before being named by Pope Francis as Bishop of Metuchen in 2016.

When Aymond steps down completely, Checchio will inherit a diocese that has struggled since Hurricane Katrina with financial challenges brought by a shrinking population and, more recently, fallout from a clergy sex abuse crisis and a related bankruptcy case that is one of the costliest in the country

Still, New Orleans remains a deeply Catholic city with religion intertwined into its culture. Some

COUNCIL

Continued from page 1B

Attorneys and insurance consultants explained that employees could opt out of the new plan and return to their old one if they didn’t like it.

Hurst’s dissenting vote means the council will hold a special meeting next week to vote again with more people present. That meeting will take place on Monday at 4 p.m.

“It’s a waste of taxpayer dollars and time,” Racca said “We’re going to have to do it all over again.”

neighborhoods have vibrant parishes with rising Mass attendance.

Archbishops have remained prominent spiritual and civic leaders.

Checchio was welcomed to his new home at a 10 a.m. gathering in Schulte Hall at the Notre Dame Seminary Seminarians, prominent Catholic civic leaders and more than 150 employees of the archdiocese gave Checchio a standing ovation as he walked to the podium with Aymond and retired Archbishop Alfred Hughes, shaking hands along the way

“I pledge to you, the church of New Orleans, my love and my daily prayers as we labor together to build up this historical portion of the people of God,” Checchio said in remarks to those in attendance.

Lengthy résumé

Checchio will be the 15th archbishop to lead the Archdiocese of New Orleans since it was formed in 1794 Though he met and worked with thousands of American clergy in his years at the Vatican, he has no direct ties to New Orleans or Louisiana. He takes over a diocese that is similar in size to that of the Diocese of Metuchen, a middle-class and affluent community about 30 miles south of New York City The Archdiocese of New Orleans has

roughly 500,000 faithful and 104 parishes. The Diocese of Metuchen has 650,000 Catholics and 90 parishes. But as Checchio noted in his remarks Wednesday, the Diocese of Menuchen is one of the newest in the American church, while New Orleans’ is the second oldest. Checchio was born in Camden in 1966 and grew up in a nearby suburb in a family of four children, including two sisters and a brother He attended Pope Paul VI High School, a private, coed Catholic school, and received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Scranton, a Jesuit institution. After his ordination, Checchio spent several years as a parish priest in the Diocese of Camden before moving into administrative positions. He received his MBA from LaSalle University and his doctorate of canon law and bachelor of sacred theology degrees from the University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome.

Outside of his years in Rome, his career has been spent almost entirely in New Jersey, surrounded by a close-knit community of family and friends. His mother, Helen Checchio, 88, still lives in the area, and he is planning a trip to France with her and his sister and brother-in-law next week. He

regularly visits a retirement home in Metuchen to check in on one of the retired nuns who taught him in eighth grade.

He had just returned from such a visit to the retirement home last Wednesday when he got the call that he was being asked to serve in the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

Just one week later he stood before his new community, still musing over the sudden turn his career path has taken.

“Last February, I came to New Orleans for a long weekend during the Super Bowl and we had a great visit,” he said. “I have visited many times. It never entered my mind once that I would live here.”

Worship and ministry

At 59, Checchio is one of the younger bishops in the U.S. In 2020, there were more than 440 bishops, one-third of whom were over age 75 but still serving.

His biography suggests that a background in church finances has proved instrumental in his career He currently serves as treasurer of the powerful United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the national organization of Catholic bishops in the U.S He also chairs the USCCB’s budget and finance committee and serves on its executive and membership

committees. Under Aymond, who became archbishop in 2009, the Archdiocese of New Orleans refinanced $40 million in debt that had accrued under his predecessors. The archdiocese also began selling off various properties to raise money for the bankruptcy settlement. In 2023, Aymond closed or consolidated 13 of the then 111 parishes across the archdiocese, citing poor financial performance, dwindling attendance at Mass and other sacraments and shifting demographics in an aging and shrinking city

Shortly after he was ordained as a bishop in 2016, Checchio visited all 90 parishes in the Diocese of Metuchen and met with community members and schoolchildren, according to his letters on the diocese website. In his years there, he was known for the active and highprofile role he played throughout the diocese and for getting out into the community He is already embarking on a similar path in New Orleans. His packed itinerary Wednesday included visits to St. Augustine High School and St. Catherine of Siena Parish, as well as lunch with seminarians, a meeting with Catholic Charities officials and evening vespers. Once he assumes his new role as coadjutor archbishop, he said he looks forward to touring the archdiocese’s parishes and 65 Catholic schools.

In pastoral letters, Checchio has emphasized both traditional worship and Catholic social teaching. He has encouraged the faithful of Metuchen to spend more time in prayer while also calling on them to welcome Hispanic immigrants into their community

The motto he chose upon his ordination, which is customary for Roman Catholic bishops, is “Reconciliamini Deo,” a Latin phrase that means “Be reconciled with God,” which comes from a passage in the New Testament in which St. Paul is writing to the Christians in Corinth.

“Please join me in the ministry of evangelization,” he wrote in early 2017 in his first apostolic letter to the faithful. “Together we will serve as ambassadors for Christ! You and I are privileged to be called to carry on the very work of Jesus, reconciling the world to the Father.”

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

“The council as a whole did not get it passed. But was it his fault? Yes. Was it unnecessary? Yes,”

Moak said.

Racca and Moak both said Wednesday was the first time they had heard these legal concerns from Hurst related to the plan switch.

Racca said the council “did the city-parish employees a disservice” on Wednesday by not passing it, and while her colleague Moak agreed the body as a whole failed, he had no problem pointing a finger at Hurst individually

OFFICERS

Continued from page 1B

reviewing body camera footage, reinterviewing witnesses, examining the service weapons involved, and seeing if “anything could have been done different,” according to Sgt. L’Jean McKneely, BRPD spokesperson He described the investigation process as partially “verifying everything we saw in the bodycam,” including whether Pursley did indeed have a dangerous object in his hand.

BRPD’s General Order 131, which outlines the officers’ legitimate usages of deadly force, states deadly force by officers is justified “only in defense of their own lives or in defense of the life of another person.”

“It is essential that the employees reasonably believe that he or some other person is in immediate and apparent danger of suffering death or great bodily harm and that the use of deadly force is the only prudent preventative measure available to him,” the order reads.

Body camera footage

Less than a week after the

Though the council had been working on the switch for months, Hurst said he still need-

shooting, BRPD police released an edited summary of body camera footage from the incident.

In it, hooting and shouting can be heard from inside as officers approach the residence. The officers then request backup as well as EMS services.

One officer can be heard saying he is prepping a nonlethal device, in this case a Taser. According to Morse’s statement, the other officer armed himself with his handgun, following BRPD training and policy

As officers open the door, Pursley can be seen shirtless, in shorts, and carrying a pair of scissors at his side. Officers cannot be heard identifying themselves as police when they enter

One officer begins to speak to Pursley saying “Hey Anth-” before seeing the scissors and yelling for Pursley to drop them. The officer points his Taser Pursley raises the scissors, pointing them at officers as he yells back something incoherent.

In the seconds before Pursley is shot, he sways back and forth on his feet, refuses to drop the scissors and continues to speak incoherently

In Morse’s statement, he describes Pursley’s next action as lunging toward officers with the

ed more information before he could approve it and was OK being the only no vote.

“I’m okay with being like Jesus and being on an island by myself and focusing on people first, over politics,” Hurst said.

At least one of Hurst’s colleagues did not buy the argument.

“He’s grandstanding and did that to prove a point,” Moak said. “I think he did that on purpose. I think he knew several colleagues were out of town; he knew we were tight as far as quorum. And I think he knew he had his opportunity.”

scissors. The video shows this action in slow motion, with Pursley stepping back before leaning forward. The edited video highlights how close Pursley’s scissors came to one of the officers, saying they nearly reached him.

In Morse’s statement, he said that both officers were forced to fire their weapons almost simultaneously as Pursley lunged toward them in an “apparent attack.”

Previous statements from police characterized the shooting as having followed the use of a Taser that failed to subdue Pursley In the video, the officers report shots fired and begin to administer emergency medical aid to Pursley One officer opens and applies a “vented chest seal,” a special plastic bandage meant to be applied to both an entry and exit wound to the abdomen. Officers can be heard saying “C’mon Anthony, stay with me” while requesting EMS to arrive sooner Text over the video states officers continued to apply CPR for approximately eight minutes until EMS arrived. Pursley was pronounced dead at the scene.

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

BLOTTER

Continued from page 1B

assisted his younger brother after the homicide, Ascension sheriff’s officials said. No further details were immediately released.

Baton Rouge man faces arson counts

A man arrested Tuesday in connection with a house fire in the 4000 block of Glen Oaks Drive was

known by the homeowners, Baton Rouge Fire Department investigators said.

Joseph M. Morgan IV, 32, of Baton Rouge was arrested at a local hospital on Tuesday before being booked into the parish jail on a single count of simple arson.

The house fire started just before midnight on Sept. 5. On arrival, firefighters saw smoke coming from the house with multiple points of origin.

Morgan was identified as a suspect after investigators learned the occupant of the home knew him.

SKUNK

Continued from page 1B

can better understand where they may occur, if they still occur in the state of Louisiana,” Hogue-Manuel said. She noted that the state has been pushing this notice every year or every few years.

Handstanding skunks?

Smaller than the typical striped skunk, the Eastern spotted skunk is around the same size as a large squirrel with an upside-down triangle on the forehead and a bushy tail with white tips.

But another characteristic might be the most helpful for identifying the rare species: a handstand. One of their most distinguishing characteristics, Hogue-Manuel said, is a “defensive posture” on their two front hands that they assume when startled or scared.

“If you see this animal that’s doing this little handstand out in the woods, it couldn’t be anything else,” Hogue-Manuel said. Photos and videos of the unusual acrobats can be found easily online.

Beyond handstands, the nocturnal animals prefer brushy habitats, though they appear adaptable to varying terrain, and might be seen crawling around farmland or burrowing under logs. They eat mice, rats and insects, which can make them good

to have around to help control the pest populations, Hogue-Manuel noted.

She said that scientists are not certain about why the number of these “rare and elusive” skunks has declined, though rises in rodenticide use and the skunk’s susceptibility to an extremely contagious disease, known as canine distemper are some of the likely factors. It has been listed as a vulnerable species, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. While the species has not been spotted in Louisiana since 1985, a game camera caught a sighting in 2019 from a Mississippi county neighboring part of northeast Louisiana. The spotted skunks occupy a wide-ranging distribution as far north as the southern parts of British Columbia and as far south as Costa Rica.

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

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STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

The Most Rev. James F Checchio meets students at St Catherine of Siena in Metairie during his introduction as the next archbishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans on Wednesday.

Racca

Moak

Funerals Today AirlineHwy, Gonzales, Louisiana 70737, followed by afuneral service at 11:30AM. Linda will be laid to rest in Hope Haven Garden of Memory, 604 E. Hwy 30, Gonzales,Louisiana 70737.

theBaptistCatholic Church Bruslyat10am.

Vicari, Jeffrey

OurLadyofMercy at 1pm Yelverton, Murphy

OursoFuneralHomeinGonzales, Louisianaat12pm

Obituaries

Belleu, Linda Marie

Linda Marie Belleu, a longtime resident of Gonzales, Louisiana, passed away peacefullyinher sleeponSeptember 23, 2025, at The Parc assisted living facility. She was 77 years old. Born in Lacassine, Louisiana,Linda grew up in Welsh and made Gonzales her home for the past 58 years. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Bill; her parents, Theophil and Lilly Leger; and her brothers Jimmy, Ken, and Joey. She is survived by her brother Tony Leger; sisters Kathy Brimer and Brenda Leger; and her children: Bill and his wife Rae (Sheets), John and Amanda (Decoteau) , and Roman and his wife Emily (Freund). Linda also leaves behind five grandchildren: Jack, Trey (Michelle),Cade, Sophia Hildon (Landon), and Audrey. She had one great grandson, Brooks Belleu Linda had adeep love for Cajun culture and language, which she proudly celebrated throughout her life. She was an avid collector of Depression glass, miniature tea sets, and antique toys. In her younger years, she was actively involved in scouting alongside her husband and children, creating lasting memories and bonds within the community. For many years, Linda owned and operated alocal trophyshop. Her work lives on in the plaques and awards stillhanging in homes and offices throughout Gonzales. She was adevoted memberof St. Theresa of Avila Catholic Church and touched many lives with her warmth, creativity, and generosity. Linda will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all who had the pleasure of knowing her. Avisitation for Linda will be held Friday, September 26, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM at Ourso Funeral Home, 13533

Green, Glenn Alfred Glenn AlfredGreen passed awaypeacefully on Wednesday,September 17, 2025,atthe ageof73. Glenn was reared in the communityofSeymourvilleinPlaquemine, LA. He was aproud graduate of IbervilleHigh School, Classof1971. Family and friendsare invited to attend aVisitation on Saturday,September 27, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 11:00AMatHallDavis and SonofPlaquemine, 58790Iron Farm Rd., Plaquemine, LA. AFuneral Servicewillimmediately follow, officiated by Pastor Chris Butler. Glenn willbelaid torest at Grace Memorial Park, Plaquemine, LA. Services EntrustedtoHall Davis and SonFuneral Service www.halldavisandson.com

Shirley Bradley Johnson was born to the union of Edward and PearlM Bradley on July 21, 1940, in Gloster, Mississippi.She passed awayonWednesday, September17, 2025. Shirley was baptized at an earlyage byRev.R.J Tyson at NewHope Baptist Church. As an adult, she joinedMt. Canaan Baptist Church under the leadershipofRev.Johnny Cyrus. Shewas adedicated member of the senior usher board. Shewas marriedto the late Elijah ThomasII and Albert Johnson. From her marriage to Elijah Thomas, she had two children, Elijah Thomas III and Dwana (Thomas) Webb. From her unionwith Albert Johnson, she had one child,Garland Johnson. Shirley was blessed with seven grandchildren: Jordan Johnson,Marcus Webb, Jana Webb, Parker Johnson, Peighton Ashley, Anaya Thomas, and Aliyah Thomas. Her great-grandchildren are Shareef Johnson, Bentley Johnson, Alani Cook, aniece (KarenAsberry), two nephews (Aaron Asberry andDarryl Asberry), two daughters-in -law (ShannonA.Johnson

and JudyGabriel Thomas), and one sister (Yvonne Asberry). She was survived by aspecial friend, James Collins, and ahost of friends and relatives. She was preceded in deathby her mother, PearlBradley. Avisitationfor Shirleywill be held Friday, September 26, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM with afuneral servicetofollow at 12:30 PM at Greenoaks Funeral Home &Memorial Park, 9595 FloridaBlvd, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70815. Burial willimmediately followinGreenoaks Memorial Park.

Robert "Bobby" S. Jordan, Sr.passedaway after abrief illness on Friday, September 19, 2025. He was 79 years old. Bobby enjoyed listening and dancing to '50'smusic, camping,traveling and going to Cruisin' theCoast to find that one special classic car. He is survived by his cherished love,Mary Anne,withwhom he embracedlife;brothers, Larry (Peggy) Jordan, and Chuck Jordan; sister, Sandy Wilkes; as wellasa niece and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Johnnie T. and Mattie Jordan; sons, Robbie Jordanand RickyJordan; brother, Clayton Jordan; and sister-in-law, Sheila Jordan. Bobby enjoyed working as aSheriff's Deputy and proudly retired fromthe East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Department.Family and friends are invitedtojointhe family forvisitationat Resthaven Funeral Home, located at 11817 Jefferson Hwy, Baton Rouge, LA, on Friday, September 26, 2025, from 10:00-11:00am until Funeral Servicesat 11:00am. Burial willfollow in Resthaven Gardens of Memory. The family asks that memorial donations be madetoSt. Judeand theAmerican CancerSocietyinlovingmemory of Robert S. Jordan, Sr.

Lucy Murray will be held Friday, September26, 2025 atBelfairBaptist Church, 4444 FairfieldAve.A public visitationwillbeheldfrom 9:00a.m.until 10:00 a.m. withreligious services be‐ginning at 10:00 a.m. Inter‐ment: LouisianaNational Cemetery, Zachary, LA Professionalservicesen‐trusted to CharlesMackey FuneralHome.

Perry, John'Pete'

John "Pete"Perryentered intoeternal rest at Baton Rouge GeneralHospital- Bluebonnet,Baton Rouge, Louisiana surrounded by his family on September 20, 2025. He was known as aGentle Giant as he expressedhis workwithhis handsand mind as a"Master Carpenter."

Viewing at Mount Hope Baptist Church, 9654 Hwy 10, Ethel, LA on September 27, 2025; at 9:00am11:00am Funeral services following conductedby Rev. LL Harris. Survivors includewife,Jacquelyn W. Perry, children Makeba Perry, Damien Perryand SherandaLockwood, his

nine (9) grandchildren,one (1) great-granddaughter, andhis eight(8) siblings. Arrangements entrusted to Richardson's Funeral Home of Clinton,LA.

Slay Jr., James Robert 'Bobby'

JamesRobert"Bobby"

Slay Jr., aresident of Baton Rouge,passed away on Sunday, September21, 2025, at theage of 67. He wasbornonMarch3,1958, in NewOrleans,Louisiana. He attendedLouisiana State University and workedasa Senior Vice presidentofSales at H&E andWaukesha-PearceIndustries (WPI). Bobby was aman of many passions, including hisLSU Tigers, music, andgardening.But above all,Bobby cherished hisfamily, he adored being agrandfather,and held a special place in his heart for hisdogs Dapperand Snapper. He is preceded in death by hisparents, JamesRobertSlaySr.,and TheresaFedyk Slay; and brother-in-law, ZaneZeno. Bobby is survivedbyhis loving wife of 20 years, Kimberly Slay; daughters Amanda Kaltakdjian (Serop), BrittaniThompson,and Tiffani Mistretta; son, Austin Thompson (Shannon); sister,Cindy

Slay Zeno; brother, Chris Slay (Cindy); grandchildren,Eva Kaltakdjian,Ana Kaltakdjian,Brees Thompson, Tatum Thompson, Cali Martin, Wesson Sanders, andJayda and Blane Dibendetto; Nieces; Katelyn Slay Dedman, Stephanie Slay, and Christie Slay; and numerousfriends and family members, including Henri Guertin.The familywould like to give special thanks to Bobby's friends andcolleagues at H&EEquipment Services, wherehis legacy started, and WaukeshaPearceIndustries, where hislegacycontinued.Visitationwill be held at ResthavenFuneral Home on Saturday, September 27, 2025, from 12:30 p.m. untilMemorialServicesat 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donation canbemade in honor of James"Bobby" Slay Jr., to St.Jude and WoundedWarriors, organizations in which are close to hisheart

Jordan Sr., Robert S. 'Bobby'

Johnson, Shirley

Regardless of one’spolitical persuasion,we should all be able to agree that theconditionof the East BatonRouge Parish jail deserves attention. The current facility,nearly sixdecades old, is not safe for inmates, almost allofwhomare awaiting trial. Water seeps through the ceilings,rusted bars and pipes lurk throughout and entire wings must sometimes becloseddue to breakdowns. Rats arecommon, eveninareas where food is served.

It’snot safe for guards and staff, either.Inher office,Warden Cathy Fontenot keeps amacabre collection of bitsofmetalfencing,walls, doors, pipes and other pieces that have been fashioned into weapons. She worries about them being used by inmatesagainsteach otheroragainst jail personnel.

And it’sabad deal all around.East Baton Rouge residents are paying morethan $360,000 permonth to houseinmatesinother parishes. That’salmost four times what it paid forthe same thing just five years ago. Bythe endofthe year,the city-parish is expected tospend about $4.4 million to send local inmates to other jails.

That’sabout $12,000per day

Factor in another estimated $4.7 millionthis year forrepairs and basic maintenance, andany way you look at it, keepingthe current facility running is abad deal for everybody.

But fixing these problems is atricky prospect. While Sheriff Sid Gautreauxoperatesthe jail, thecity-parish owns it and is responsible for maintenance and upkeep

The obvious solution is to builda newjail. But that is aproblem for EastBaton Rouge Parish leaders, who are grapplingatthe momentwith amuch broader financialcrisis spurred, in part, by the creation of the cityofSt. George. Thecity-parish does nothavethe money for a new facilitythat wouldcost in the hundredsof millions of dollars.And getting anew tax past voters is, to say the least,a daunting prospect. These problems are not new.About adecade ago, theMetro Council rejected aplantobuild anew jail and juvenilejustice center that was projected to cost $250 million.

Right now,most in city-parish government are focused on the three-pronged Thrive EBRtax proposal that will go before votersinNovember No part of that plan aims at fixing the jail’sproblems, but aspokesperson formayor-president said the facility’sissues are certainly on his radar

That’sgood to hear.Noone expects jails to have luxurious accommodations, but that doesn’tmean inmates should behousedinsqualor.Treating the accused withdignity is ahallmark of civilized societies.

Baton Rouge’sleadershavea lot on theirplate right now.But fixing the jail —for inmates, employees and taxpayers—shouldbe not justa financial priority,but amoral one.

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE AREOUR

GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’scity of residence TheAdvocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address andphone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor,The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com. TO SEND US A LETTER, SCANHERE

Irecently read an article analyzing a report from theLegislative Auditor’s office concerning driver’slicense reinstatement fees, which are incurred due to thedriver’sfailure to maintain insurance on his/her vehicle. The audit apparently suggests that thereinstatement fee is too high. The current minimum fee is $150. About 82% of license reinstatement fees are related to insurance cancellation.

As someonewho has been in two accidents where theother driver was at fault and had no insurance, Istrongly disagree withlowering the reinstatementfee for failure to maintain insurance coverage. The report by LegislativeAuditor Mike Waguespack is completely tone deaf, as he is apparently completely oblivious to the challenges that lawabiding citizens face with regard tove-

hicle insurance. The real “challenge” is law-abiding drivers having to pay vehicle insurance premiumsinLouisiana. Those who drive and do not carry vehicle insurance are amenace to society,and they are one of the reasons we pay thehighest vehicle insurance premiumsinthe country.Tojustifythe conclusion that the feeinLouisiana is too high, thereport compares the reinstatement fee in Louisianatothe feein other states. Once we have insurance premiumscomparable to other states, then perhaps we should consider having the reinstatement feecomparable. Until then, the penalty forfailure to have insurance shouldbethe highest, and those individuals whofail to maintain insurance coverage should lose their driving privileges.

T. DENNIS BICKHAM III

Zachary

Moments like this don’tcome around often. Communities rarely get chances to correct past missed opportunities and set abold, new course forthe future. East Baton Rouge is standing at that crossroads right now

We have before us the possibility of amajor new arena investment at LSU. We have the momentum to breathe new lifeinto an outdated River Center facility.Wehave the proposed redevelopment of Memorial Stadium into atrue sports entertainment destination. And we have Thrive!EBR on the November ballot, aplan to reorganize existing millages and finally prioritize infrastructure without raising taxes. These opportunities are not separate. They’re connected. Together,they represent apivotal momenttoreimagine our parish’sfuture. But as the saying goes: Everyone wants change, until things aren’tthe same.

Inevitably,voices have emerged to resist each of these proposals. That hesitation has cost East Baton Rouge before, and we can’tafford to let a pivotal momentlike this pass us by again.

The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, weakened by poor economic decisions and its costly war in Afghanistan. Ukraine, newly independent, inherited Soviet nuclear weapons but gave them up under the1994 Budapest Memorandum in exchange for securityguarantees from Russia, theUnited States and the United Kingdom.

Vladimir Putin rose to power in 2000 after decades as aKGB officer,bringing with him the mindset and tactics of Soviet intelligence. Since then, he has dealt withevery U.S.president, often using charm or pressure to his advantage.

He tested George W. Bush by invading Georgia in 2008 with little consequence.

In 2014, during theObamaadministration, Russia annexed Crimea. Ukraine’spro-Russian president at the time offered no resistance, Ukrainians rebelled, and he fled to Russia. Putin then backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, while Donald Trump—unlike Barack Obama —approved lethal weapons for Ukraine’smilitary

In February 2022, Putin launched afull-scale invasion of Ukraine,

expecting aquick victory.Instead, Ukrainians fought back fiercely,usingTrump-supplied Javelin missiles to devastateRussian armor.By2023, Russia had suffered staggering casualties —estimates exceeding 600,000 —while Wagner mercenaries briefly threatened Moscow,terrorist attacks hit thecapital, and morethan 650,000 Russians fled Russia. Sanctions and war costs crippled the economy,leaving Putin far from the “genius” that Trumpcalled Putin when he invaded Ukraine.

Yet, instead of breaking, Putin turned to Iran for drones, North Korea for artillery and China foreconomic lifelines. Now he demands Ukraine’s mineral-rich lands —worth $12 trillion —asthe price for “peace.” Appeasing him would echo Chamberlain’s1938 concessions to Hitler,which only emboldened aggression. Ukraine’sstruggle is morethan national survival. It is a fight forfreedom against authoritarian rule, and abandoning it would endanger global security.

LINTON NAQUIN Baton Rouge

As each of these opportunities advance, we must remain committed to transparency that brings the community into each conversation. But transparency cannot equal paralysis. We must moveboldly and decisively, not with abusiness-as-usual mindset. This momentisn’tjust about new buildings or government reform. It’s about securing our economic future, keeping our best and brightest here, and investing in anchor institutions that attract talent, families, and visitors alike.

Communities that thrive are those that take bold steps when the momentcalls forit. They invest in themselves. They take risks. Baton Rouge has the talent, the heart and, without adoubt, we have the battle scars. What we need now is the courage to lean into this moment, to say yes to progress and to believe we can be exceptional. Let’snot leave our children, 20 years from now,wondering how we let this unique momentslip away Let’sembrace our moment.

ROWDYGAUDET East Baton RougeMetro council member

Days like these, Iwish Icould goback and meet you on thatmuddy chenier. The data to pore over would relatenot to war,gun violence or hatecrimes. No time to argue over what constitutes wasteful governmentspending. Instead, we would attend to how water rises, whyhomes float, where mold spreads, the way mosquitoes rise from the marsh as athin, black veil. Idonot wish another natural disaster upon us, butunmistakable is this lesson from 20 years ago: When you are forced to witness the elemental, you havenoenergy for hate Twoweeks after Hurricane Katrina forever changed New Orleans, Hurricane Rita—the strongest storm ever recorded in the Gulf, thefourth largest in the history of the Atlantic,the one you may not remember —tore into the other side of Louisiana, cracked open my home coast. Thestraightsteel of barn posts tangled ina loose braid.The trunks of live oaks, hundreds of years old, cracked open, shot skyward.Sports trophies and family photos littered the marsh. Sheet metal crunched uplike a paper towel and was thrown in abed of cattails. Schools, offices, even hospitals drowned, if not washed away,and we were left with anexistence remade. We were smaller,infinitesimal, more minuscule. In the aftermath, oursenses expanded.Anew dark, sanselectricityand not willingtowaste generator fuel.Anew hush,birds still gone, noleaves left to rustle, nothing to say between us. Anew texture at hand,probably from putting allthat laundry on amakeshift clothesline. Anew ache, muscles liftingtoo heavy for too long for toomany. Then only 14,I would spend the next two decades studyingthe limitsofthe sayable. Iwould become an expertin how our bodies hold more than words canencase.Iwould interview scientists, asking how we can understand the waynature —its beauty, itshorrors, itswhims —changes us. All that study, and here is what Iknowtobetrue: The source of our present discontent derives from our living outofsync with the rhythms of nature. How would we live ourlivesdif-

ferently if we asked what trees remember? What might our segregated cities become if we modeled our way of conversation after how humpback whales teach their songs to one another so that, at some point, all humpback whales are singing basically the same song? There is away of knowing deep within us found only when waters rise, whirlwinds descend and the ruin of everything we spent our lives building matters less than the gift of simply being with oneanother Indeed, theresult of this new existence is not one Ibemoan; these storms making clear what may be our uniquely human gift of theabilitytohold and behold. Take that time 20 years ago when my childhood friend woke to the screams of his grandmother.Arms outstretched against abright blue sky warm Gulf water that should have been 15 miles south washing her toes,her body theonly intermediary between the depths of these waters and the graces of heaven, she screamed at least ahundred times: “Hold thewater.”

Almostcertainly,she was issuing a prayer.She meantsomething different than what was said, something closer to hold back the water,contain the water,

keep thewater away.But what truths spill forth in these moments when our lives become liminal are worth attending. While losing her home, this woman issued an imperative to us all.

The word “hold” in Old and Middle English was not about grasping, possessing, building walls to contain some andkeep others away

In its earliest usage, “hold” meantto behold, to keep in being or existence, to carry on. Behold the water.Respect thevast force of this liquidity.Carry on, overflow,change form as frequent as thesea.

Because, of course, the way of water will win every time, of course, the Gulf will outlast our homes, of course, the panoply of existences gathered with us in this world defy our human control. Would that we might heed these lessons. That instead of fighting and refusing —whether water or one another —we might hold and behold. No doubts when allelse is stripped away: What matters is not comfort, prosperity,power So, today,inmemory of hurricanes then and to come, in hope forafuture where none of us have to fight forthe right to exist or be free, could you do us all afavor? Hold thewater

Megan Poolewas born and raised in Cameron Parish and writes about howhurricanes are changing cultures and about the realities of climate changeand climate migration in Louisiana. As aprofessor whospecializes in the rhetoricofscience and environmental communication, her writing has been published in several academicvenues. Her latest book,“Listening to Beauty,” looksathow attempts to understand the natural worldare always more than simply rational.Itwas just released by The University of ChicagoPress.

Throughout August and September,weare featuring reflections on the 20th anniversary of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, two storms that changed Louisiana forever

FILE PHOTOS By JENNIFER ZDON

Cameron Parish fightsits wayback tolife after Hurricane Rita flattened many of its homes, stores and schools.

After Hurricane Rita, alargeditch retains water where ahouse used to sit in Holly Beach.

Baton RougeWeather

SPORTS

CB Riley’s growth reflects Saints’ youth movement

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

Before he was hired to coach the New Orleans Saints, Kellen Moore was interviewed thoroughly about his plan to develop players.

ä Saints at Bills NOON

General manager Mickey Loomis wanted to know the candidate’s exact way of bringing prospects along — particularly once the regular season got rolling and on-the-field snaps would be hard to come by if they were in a backup role.

SUNDAy CBS

“Every coach has a development program,” Loomis said last month. “They do. But some are more effective than others.”

Entering the fourth week of the season the SaintsarestartingtoseeMoore’splaninaction.

Look no further than Quincy Riley Riley, a fourth-round cornerback, played 18 defensive snaps in Sunday’s blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks. But the rookie’s playing time did not solely come late in the fourth quarter when the Saints pulled their starters for a game well out of reach. Rather, they sprinkled him in for two snaps in the

ä See SAINTS, page 4C

Brees takes first step toward pro Hall of Fame

BY JEFF DUNCAN Staff writer

Brees

Drew Brees heads the list of first-year-eligible candidates among the 128 modern-era players nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026, officials announced Wednesday Brees, who retired from the Saints in 2020, is among a strong group of new candidates that includes receiver Larry Fitzgerald, quarterback Philip Rivers and running back Frank Gore. Brees is trying to become the first Saints player to ever be elected on the first ballot of his Hall of Fame candidacy He would join Rickey Jackson (Class of 2010), Willie Roaf (2012), Morten Andersen (2017) and Sam Mills (2022) on the list of Hall of Famers who played the majority of their careers in New Orleans.

Jahri Evans, who has been a finalist each of the past two years, is also among the candidates, as is former John Ehret High School standout Reggie Wayne. Other former Saints under consideration are defensive tackle LaRoi Glover (1997-2001) and fullback Lorenzo Neal (1993-96) Modern-era candidates with local ties include quarterback Jake Delhomme (Breaux Bridge, UL); running back Warrick Dunn

See BREES, page 4C

BY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer

The first time LSU faced a short-yardage situation against Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday, it used a formation that has become a rare sight ever since it installed a spread offense.

Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier went under center

A decade ago, one might have clamored for LSU to do anything but that as its offense struggled to evolve in the mid-2010s, but now that the No. 4 Tigers are having trouble running the ball for the second straight year, they have returned to some of their old ways.

LSU has gone under center 16 times through four games. Seven of those plays happened against Southeastern, which could mean it was part of the plan for one game or an indication that direct snaps will continue to be used.

“It’s proven to be effective for us,” LSU coach Brian Kelly said. “So, I think you’ll see more of it.”

The first two years of the Kelly era, LSU almost never

LSU taking more snaps under center, like ‘how they used to play’

went under center because its running game was built around quarterback Jayden Daniels’ ability to gash defenses on zone reads. LSU still rarely did it in Nussmeier’s first year as the starter, when it averaged only 116.38 yards rushing per game. So far this season, going under center has become a small part of the offense. Though LSU still primarily operates out of the shotgun under second-year coordinator Joe Sloan, direct snaps have crept back into the scheme, especially in short-yardage situations.

Kelly said going under center could make it easier for running backs to reach the C gap off tackle. At the moment, LSU has averaged 116.75 yards rushing per game, which ranks 112th nationally, so it needs to find something that works before it plays No. 13 Ole Miss.

“What we’re trying to do from an offensive perspective is that we want to strike on a wide front with that run game,” Kelly said. “And sometimes if you’re in the pistol or if you’re in shotgun, it’s hard to hit the C gap and ä See LSU, page 5C

McMahon talks new-look roster as LSU practice begins

BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

Dedan Thomas tilted his head up as he dribbled during a half-court drill.

The 6-foot-1 point guard for the LSU men’s basketball team was eyeing an alley-oop to his sophomore teammate, Robert Miller

The 6-foot-10 forward, with every bit of a 7-5 wingspan, caught the delivery and swiftly threw down a dunk in the 2-on-1 phase of Wednesday’s practice.

That was one of a couple of alley-oops the duo connected on during the team’s first official practice ahead of the 2025-26 season.

The Tigers’ first game is Nov 5 against Tarleton State at home.

Fourth-year coach Matt McMahon answered questions for about 20 minutes before the practice, and he also gave an update on redshirt junior Jalen Reed’s status after he tore his right ACL on Dec. 3 against Florida State. Reed, one of only two returners along with Miller isn’t cleared for 5-on-5 play but is “ahead of schedule,” McMahon said. No

date was given for when he will be cleared for full action, but he should be ready for the start of the season. Reed was a participant for most of the action Wednesday, including contact drills in the half court that included 4-on-4 drills. This section of practice had intensity reminiscent of a normal game.

LSU is counting on Reed to produce again after he averaged 11.1 points and 6.5 rebounds in the eight games he played last season. His play is key if LSU wants to reach the postseason for the first time in McMahon’s tenure. “I think when you’re at LSU, the goal is always to get to the NCAA Tournament and to win games in the NCAA Tournament,” McMahon said. “So that’ll be the North Star for this group.” When asked whether there is any heightened pressure to accomplish that entering his fourth season, McMahon said no. “I think when you look at college sports in general, whether you’re a coach or a player,

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Saints cornerback Quincy Riley, center celebrates a stop against the San Francisco 49ers with his teammates on Sept. 14 at the Caesars Superdome.

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

6:30 p.m. Army at East Carolina ESPN

WOMEN’S COLLEGE SOCCER

6p.m.

9:30

5:30 p.m. Washington at PurdueBTN

7:30 p.m. Michigan St. at Minnesota BTN

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

11:30 a.m.Pittsburgh at Cincinnati MLBN

2:30p.m. L.A. Dodgers at Arizona MLBN

6:30p.m. N.y.Mets at ChicagoCubs MLBN NFL

7:15 p.m. Seattle at Arizona PRIME NHLPRESEASON

6p.m. N.y.Islanders at N.y. Rangers NHLN

9p.m.Utah at VegasNHLN MEN’S SOCCER

11:45 a.m.Brann at Lille CBSSN

2p.m.Bologna at Aston Villa CBSSN TENNIS

6a.m.Tokyo-ATP first round Tennis

9p.m.Tokyo-ATP second round Tennis

RyderCup gamesmanship starts

BY DOUG FERGUSON AP golf writer

FARMINGDALE, N.Y.— The opening tee shot still twodays away,the gamesmanship at the Ryder Cup began Wednesday when European captain Luke Donaldtook afew subtle jabs on pay-for-play during his speech at the opening ceremony

“We’re fueled by something money cannot buy,” Donald said. Europe, 1up. And then U.S. captain Keegan Bradley made the firstbogey of these matches when he spokeof being around the 17th green at Brookline in 1999 for one of the biggest momentsinRyder Cup history,only to mistakenly say Justin Rose —not Justin Leonard —made the 45-foot putt Europe, 2up.

The actual golf doesn’tstart until Friday morning at rowdy Bethpage Black. More than 5,000fans who attended the ceremony made their presence feltwith constant chants of “U-S-A!” and asmatteringofboosfor theEuropeans.The strongest booing was when both captainsthanked New York Gov. KathyHochul, who attended the ceremony President Donald Trump was due to attend the openingsession Friday Donald is the first European to be captain in consecutive Ryder Cup matches since BernardGallacher (1991-95). He was polished in Rome,usingperfect Italian in ashort message to the fans, and he was equally distinguished in sending aclear message whatthis week is all about.

Europe has practically owned the Ryder Cup in the modern era that dates to 1979, and it hasbuilt a legacy that has equipped its team with supreme confidence.

“The American teamisrightly proud of their heritage, butsoare we,” Donald said. “Our European legacy is rooted in resilience, in togetherness and in proving people wrong. Time and again, we’ve shown that when we come together as one with ashared purpose, we can achieveremarkable things.”

Donald wasted little time in bringing money into the conversation, saying the Ryder Cup“is not about prize money or world rankingpoints. It’sabout pride.”

TheAmericanshavereceived $200,000 to donate to charity since 1999. This year thecharity

UnitedStatescaptain Keegan Bradleyspeaks during the opening ceremonies for the Ryder Cup tournament on Wednesdayatthe Bethpage Black golf course in Farmingdale, N.y

amountis$300,000, alongwith a $200,000 stipend. The American players have said from the start they would be donatingthe entire $500,000 to charities in their communities

Still, thatwas ampleammunition forEuropeanstosay they didn’tneed compensation to compete for a17-inch gold trophy, suggesting it was an example of whythe Ryder Cup meantmore to them than the Americans.

Europe has won 10 of thelast 14 times against Americanteams thattypically look stronger on paperinterms of worldranking andmajor championships.Itnow tries to win forthe fifth timeon U.S. soil. The Americans have not won in Europein32years.

“Wedidn’tcomeherejusttobea part ofthe show.Wecame here to earn our place in Ryder Cup folklore,” Donald said. “We’re not just playing to win, we’replayingfor each other and foreveryyoung golferback home who dreams aboutone day representing Team Europe.

“Weknow it won’tbeeasy.Winning away neveris,”Donaldsaid “The toughest roads lead to the greatest rewards.”

Bradley,who had to wait for the chants to die, spoke mainly about his own history as the New England son of aPGA professional hisaunt, Pat Bradley,isanLPGA

Tour great in the WorldGolf Hall of Fame —who played at St John’s andplayedatBethpage Black when histeammates were restricted to Nos.3through 14 on the other side of Round Swamp Road He even droppeda local reference while introducing his team, announcingworld No. 1Scottie Scheffler from New Jersey That’swhere Scheffler was born andlived untilhis family moved to Dallas when he was 6. Bradleysaid the RyderCup became personal at those 1999 matches when he was 13, sitting on hisfather’sshoulder“watching Justin Rose’smiracle putt drop on 17”and how his father let him join the celebration when the match ended on the 18th.

“Thatwas the momentgolf stopped being agame and started being acalling,” Bradleysaid. “That day changed mylife.” Bradley hadcontemplated being the first playing captain since Arnold Palmerin1963.HefinishedatNo. 10 in thestandings andevennow has abetter world ranking than fourofthe players on his team.

Ultimatelyhedecided he was chosen to be thecaptain, viewed as aselfless move that showed his only concernwas leaving Bethpage Black with the Ryder Cup. Bradley andthe rest of the

Americansare counting on plenty of crowd support. Bethpage Black has hosted two U.S. Opens, aPGA Championship and two FedEx Cupplayoff events on the PGA Tour.The one theme is agallery thatholds nothing back in telling thegolfers on “their” course what they think. Sergio Garcia wasso annoyed he pointed his finger— yes, themiddle one.

But nowthere are flagsinvolved in amatch thatwas packed with emotion from the start.

“Bethpage Black is known as the People’sCountry Club. It’sbeen called New York’shome course,” Bradley said. “But this week, with your passion andyour energy, you’re going to makeitAmerica’s homecourse.”

Theopeningceremony typically is Thursdayafternoon,which concludes with captains announcing the lineups for the opening foursomessession. It wasmoved up aday because of aforecast of rain, giving players one moreday —how much golf theycan play depends on theweather —before Donald andBradleydeliverthe lineups.

It’s been along twoyears since Europe trounced theAmericans in Rome. It’s been alongthree days waiting for Friday

NewYorkers readytobeloudatBethpage

BY BRIAN MAHONEY AP sportswriter

FARMINGDALE, N.Y.— NewYork sports fans have been so starved for something to celebrate that they poured out of Madison Square Garden onto thestreets and snarled citytrafficinMay,all because theKnicks simply gotout of the second round of the NBA playoffs. They’re already resigned to the Giants and Jets being bad, aware the Yankeesand Mets might not be good enough. They need ateam to pin their hopes on.

TheU.S.squad playinginthe Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, a place revered by locals in ways no arena ever could, could beit. The Americans might as well trade their red, white and blue for Yankee pinstripes, becausetheir support comes NewYork style: loud, loyal and liquored up. “There’snot going to be alack of alcohol consumption,” U.S.player Ben Griffinsaid. “Fans are going to be loud. New York people love their sports.”

New York sports fans keep on waiting for wins New York teams have iconic championshipmoments likeJoe Namath guaranteeing victory in the Super Bowl in 1969 and WillisReedlimping to thecourt to play Game 7ofthe NBA Finals a year later,but the Jets and Knicks haven’twon since those guys were on the team.

Fans wept in the stands at MSG when the Rangers won theStanley Cup in 1994, ending a54-year drought. Now they’re working on

another one of 31 years and counting.

Even theYankees don’twin like they usedto, with only two World Series titles in the 2000s —and one came against theMets, so a portion of New Yorkers hated the whole thing

It can make even longtime New York fans wonder if theycan keep hanging in there. John McEnroe questioned why he didn’tswitch allegiances after watching the Showtime Lakers when he was living in Californiaand befriended team executiveJeanie Buss, but theHallofFame tennis player could never quit theKnicks.

So he remainsaregular at Madison Square Garden with Spike Lee, Ben Stiller and all the other fans who cometocheer on their Knicks. (Well, usually cheer.)

“Listen, I’ve been in all of these arenas. If thingsare going bad in Indiana,the Indiana fans aregoingtotry to rally their team back.

The Knicks fans are going to boo their team,” said Stan VanGundy, an NBA coach andbroadcaster whose brother,Jeff, coached the Knicks to their most recent NBA Finals appearance in 1999.

True,New Yorkers sometimes struggle to hide their disappointment. Giants fans couldn’t, booingthroughout theirhome opener Sunday,and some Jets fans wore paperbagsovertheir headsat MetLife Stadium last year

But when things are good, players say noplace compares.

“Everything is heightened, everything is betterhere,” the Knicks’ Josh Hart said. “Withall due respect to other places I’ve

Fans react during apractice round for the Ryder Cuptournament on TuesdayinFarmingdale, N.y., at BethpageState Park’sBlack Course.

played,New York, it’s the mecca, andwhenyou havepeoplethat really wear theirheart on their sleeves and they go out there and they’re really passionate about sportingevents of theirteams, they come to show love andthat energyiswhatmakes youfeel that difference.”

Somefansalreadystarted, booing loudly Tuesday morning as their shuttle bus passed Team Europe’sblue and yellow coach. Bethpage Black is hard, just the way New Yorkers like things.

Bethpage Black is the public course that New Yorkers arrive a dayearlytoand sleep in their cars overnight fora chance to play It’s not one of those hotel resort

coursespeopleplayonvacation where there’snotrouble unless they drive it behind apalmtree. TheBlack is long andit’shard. Arms get sore andlegsfeel weary. It hurts like playing against Lawrence Taylor’sGiants.

But hard is how New Yorkers want things.

“Everything we do, we grind. We grind every day.It’ssoNew York,”said David Caleca, the president of Bonnie Briar Country Club in nearby Westchester County Besides playing Bethpage, Caleca was there when New York fans heckled Sergio Garcia during the2002 U.S. Open. He’salso been in Shea Stadium when fans would bootheir ownMets players, so knows emotionscan swing in a New York minute.

He thinks theU.S.team will receive ahuge backing not only because it’sBethpage but because of captainKeeganBradley, who is a New Englander but played collegiately at St. John’sand displays thepassion of someone whomust be from Brooklyn or the Bronx.

“He’s thekind of guy that New Yorkers love because he wears his emotions foreveryone to see,” Caleca said.

Some fans may be cheering as much forthe course as Bradley’s team. He knows howNew Yorkers feel about Bethpage, aplace they learned the game from their fathers or spent summers caddying.

“It’smuch more than agolf course to alot of these people,” Bradley said. “When youadd all these things up, you’re going to get fiery fans.”

IN BRIEF FROM STAFFAND WIRE

Time set for Dec. 4clash between LSU,Duke women

On Wednesday, ESPNannounced thatthe LSUwomen’sbasketball team’sDec. 4road clash with Duke will start at 8p.m. Central on ESPN.That gameispart of the annual ACC/SEC Challenge, which LSU has played in for each of the last twoseasons. Last year,Duke won the ACC Tournament and reached the Elite Eight. The Blue Devils are led by sixthyear coach Kara Lawson, the new coach of the U.S. women’snational team LSU is goingonthe road to play itsACC/SECChallenge game for the first time.Intheir 2024 matchup, the Tigers beat Stanford in overtime. In 2023, they defeated Virginia Tech in arematch of one of the 2023 national semifinal games.

Ravens’ Madubuike out for game againstChiefs Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike will miss anothergame this week, and coach John Harbaugh admitted he’s “concerned” about the twotime Pro Bowler’sinjury Madubuike was out Monday night with aneck injury,and the Ravens lost 38-30 to aDetroit team thatrushedfor 224 yards. Now Harbaugh haswasted no timeruling the 27-year-old lineman out for this weekend’smatchup at Kansas City

The 27-year-old Madubuike is in the second year of afour-year contract extension. He’shad 30 sacks in five-plus seasons.

His absence against the Lions left Baltimore with averylimited pass rush.

Eagles place LB Smith, two moreoninjured reserve

The Philadelphia Eagles placed linebacker Nolan Smith andtwo other players on injured reserve ahead of Sunday’sgame at Tampa Bay TheEagles (3-0) also put rookie wide receiver Darius Cooper and cornerback Jakorian Bennetton IR. The three players are not expected to need surgery and are expected back around the bye week. Smithhad 61/2 sackslastseason and added four more in the playoffs. He does not have asack this season after he suffered atriceps injury in theSuper Bowl.Itwas unclear when Smith was hurt in last week’s comeback win against the Los Angeles Rams. Cooper left the Ramsgame after he hurt ashoulder in thesecond half.Bennett’sinjury is unclear

Loyola Chicago chaplain

Sister Jean retiresat106

Longtime chaplainfor the Loyola Chicago men’sbasketball team, SisterJean,has retiredat 106because of health concerns. The school’s student newspaper, TheLoyola Phoenix, announced her retirement earlier this month. Sister Jean rose to the spotlight duringLoyola Chicago’striptothe Final Four in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. She wasspotted cheering courtside throughout the Ramblers’ improbable run.

She published amemoir in 2023, and Sister Jean turned 106 on Aug. 21. SisterJean served as theteam’schaplain for30years, providing players with support, mentorship andencouragement. She becameabeloved figure at the university and alocal celebrity in the community

Cleveland’sFry

suffers broken nosefrom pitch

Cleveland Guardians designated hitterDavid Fry wasreleasedfrom the hospital Wednesday afternoon and resting comfortably after he was hit in the face by apitch from Detroit’sTarik Skubal in the sixth inning of Cleveland’s5-2 win over theTigersthatdeadlockedthe AL Central division race. Fry tried to bunt a99mph fastball from Skubal on Tuesday night, but the pitch struck him in the nose and mouth area. The Guardians said imaging and clinical examination showed Fry suffered multiple, minimally displaced, left-sided facial and nasal fractures. Atimeline forrecovery is sixto eight weeks without the need for surgery.Fry was placed on the 10-day injured list with outfielder JohnathanRodríguezcalledup from Triple-A Columbus.

ä Ryder Cup. 6A.M. FRIDAy,USA

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByLINDSEy WASSON

AP PHOTO By ROBERT BUKATy

BY RODWALKER Staff writer

For Tr ey Murphy, Wednesday was the first day of his fifth training camp withthe NewOrleans Pelicans

This one felt alittle different than the previous four.

“One of the highest vibes I’ve seen in my five years,” Murphy said after practice.

“It was definitelyone of the more energetic practices we’ve had to start camp, so I’mreally excitedtoget started.”

There were no wins or losses Wednesday,but it inched the Pelicans astep closer to the Oct. 22 season opener in Memphisagainst the Grizzlies.

Getting achance to removethe bitter tastefrom adisappointing, injurymarred21-61season can’t gethere fast enough.

“It’srefreshing,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “Weall understandthat last season was not aseason we expected to have.

“Now we are turning the page. That’sthe biggest thing Isaw from this group today.” Zion Williamson and Herb Jones addressed theteam beforepracticetohelp set the tone. Williamson wouldn’t givethe specifics ofhis message, but he summed it up.

“Have fun, let’sput this work in and see how far we can go,” Williamson said. Williamson, like Murphy, likes what he sawduring the firstpractice.

“A lot of spacing, alot of speed,” Williamson said. “It’sgoing to be alot of fun. Thefocus was there. Even with that high level of focus, everybody washaving fun.” There were plenty of new

SCOREBOARD

“Inthat first practice, you’re trying to get everything in that you can. Probablyovercoachinga littlebit. Those guys were locked in. It wasintense.”

WILLIE GREEN,Pelicans coach

faces in thepractice facility.Jordan Poole and Saadiq Bey,acquired in atrade from the Washington Wizards in July,are now apart of the mix. So is Kevon Looney,a longtimemember of theGolden State Warriors during theirchampionship run.

There are also rookies such as Jeremiah Fears, Derik Queen and Micah Peavey

“A lotguys at media day (Tuesday) mentioned how goodofa groupthisisand how good the energy is and how well we get along with eachother,”Poolesaid.

“The vibes are good.

“I think we are just ready to get back on the court. We’re acompetitive team,

and guys want to get going early and want to find a waytoexpedite our learning curve.”

Joe Dumars, hired in April as executive vice president of basketball operations, is hoping the pieces he brought in mesh. Dumars andGreen sat together on the baseline at the end of practice.

“Guys were locked in,” Green said. “Wethrew alot at them today.”

Green and his staff will add even more leading up to apair of exhibition games in Australia on Oct. 3and 4.

“Inthatfirst practice, you’re trying to get everything in that you can,” Green said. “Probably overcoaching alittle bit. Those guys were locked in. It was intense.”

The playerswelcomed the intensity

“It’sdefinitely abreath of fresh air to have a first day like that,” Williamson said. “That’sall you can ask for.”

Email Rod Walker at rwalker@theadvocate.com

NFL

SAINTS NOTEBOOK

Saints OT Fuaga returns to practice in limited capacity

BY LUKE JOHNSON and MATTHEW PARAS Staff writers

Last week marked the first time in Taliese Fuaga‘s NFL career that he missed a game because of an injury, but he may be back in the fold for the New Orleans Saints’ Sunday game against the Buffalo Bills.

Fuaga, who is dealing with back and knee injuries, was back on the practice field Wednesday afternoon. It was the first time Fuaga had practiced since the Friday before the Week 2 game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Officially, Fuaga was limited in practice.

“He’s just in a maintenance stage now, as far as taking it and having a really good plan each and every week to put yourself in a really good position to play on Sunday,” coach Kellen Moore said.

Defensive end Chase Young continued to miss practice with a calf injury that has lingered several weeks into the season.

Young signed a three-year extension this offseason after playing in all 17 games for the first time in his career last season, but he suffered his injury during practice just days before the season opener Moore said after Wednesday’s practice that he believes Young is “close” to returning.

“He’s progressing,” Moore said.

“These injuries again, we always try and put a timeline on these, and that’s always a thing we have to be careful of. These things take different timelines, they take different experiences. He’s doing everything he can.”

Wide receiver Trey Palmer (ham-

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C

second quarter And then, when he did enter in the fourth quarter, Riley got to play with the majority of the team’s first string.

Moore said the Saints approached the Seahawks game with the intention of giving Riley more playing time, similar to how the team featured third-round defensive lineman Vernon Broughton in Week 2. Broughton then suffered a season-ending hip injury, but Moore said the original idea was to increase his workload as the season progressed.

Moore liked what he saw from Riley “A lot of these guys have different times, and we’re trying to get as many exposures as we can for those young guys in particular because these are long seasons,” Moore said. “A lot of guys are going to play I thought Quincy went in there and did some good things.” Moore was encouraged by how Riley forced Seahawks running back George Holani to fumble, leading to a Saints’ recovery The first-year coach knew that the cornerback had a knack for securing the ball in the passing game — Riley had eight career interceptions at Louisville but Moore indicated the Saints were hoping to see

string) also returned to practice after missing two sessions last week He and fellow receiver Devaughn Vele (hip) were limited.

Offensive lineman Trevor Penning (toe), who was active last week but only in an emergency capacity, was a full participant, signaling he could be in line to debut this week. Defensive end Cam Jordan (groin) was also on the injury report, but he was listed as a full participant.

Offensive lineman Dillon Radunz (toe) did not participate in Wednesday’s practice. Radunz started the first two games of the season at left guard in place of Penning, but he has now missed four straight practices.

Three starters for the Bills were held out of practice: tackle Spencer Brown (calf), linebacker Matt Milano (pectoral) and defensive tackle Ed Oliver (ankle)

Transactions

The latest turn in the Hunter Dekkers’ saga was an interesting one, as the Saints placed the rookie quarterback on injured reserve Wednesday with a shoulder injury

Dekkers has made a dozen appearances on the Saints’ transaction wire, with the Saints releasing him a handful of times to shore up other areas of the roster only to bring him back.

“We finally got him practicing and going and a shoulder thing came up,” Moore said “We’ve just got to navigate it as best as we can and try and still do what we can to help him develop.”

Receiver Kevin Austin took Dekkers’ spot on the practice squad.

Austin was signed to the active

that kind of progress in the run game. On that play, Riley fit the run perfectly to jar the ball loose.

“It was a really good example of his growth,” Moore said.

The Saints needed to see that growth before increasing the Riley’s responsibilities which is partly why veteran Isaac Yiadom was named a starter heading into the season In training camp, Yiadom rarely seemed in danger of losing his spot as the coaching staff did not rotate Riley in with the first team.

Riley’s lack of first-team reps in camp was intentional for another reason. As the summer progressed, Moore began rotating the first-team offense against the second-team defense and vice versa. And that coaches believed, would contribute to the development of the younger players.

“We wanted to get Quincy the reps against our best players because that’s the way he’s going to improve the most,” defensive coordinator Brandon Staley said.

“Our young players in training camp got more reps than anyone on our entire defense, all of our rookies. Quincy’s improved a lot since he’s been here.”

One of the fascinating subplots of the next few weeks is whether Riley works his way into a starting role. With the Saints’ 0-3 and at the beginning of a seeming rebuild,

QB Daniels says he feels good, hopes to play vs. Falcons

BY HOWARD FENDRICH AP national writer

ASHBURN, Va. Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels said he feels like himself while recovering from an injured left knee that kept him out of the lineup for the first time since he entered the NFL last Sunday, but he also noted Wednesday that “it’s up to the doctors” whether he can play this weekend against the Atlanta Falcons.

Asked how much running and cutting he’s been able to do since getting hurt Sept. 11, Daniels replied: “Enough to feel good about playing on Sunday (But) like I said, it’s not my decision.”

As for how the injury limits him the most, Daniels said: “I feel good, so I don’t think it affects me.”

The Commanders (2-1) play at the Falcons (1-2) on Sunday

During the portion of Wednesday’s practice open to the media, Daniels — who sat out last weekend’s 41-24 victory against the Las Vegas Raiders took part in throwing drills with the other quarterbacks, including primary backup Marcus Mariota.

end of the day,” Daniels said. “You might take some shots here and there, and it wasn’t stopping me from going out there and finishing the game, so I finished the game.”

roster last week to make up for Vele being held out of the Seattle game with a hip injury but Austin was waived after the game. He appeared in 22 offensive snaps and was targeted once vs. the Seahawks.

Boss visit

Fresh off their worst loss of the season, the Saints had a noteworthy visitor at Wednesday’s practice — owner Gayle Benson Benson chatted with Moore throughout the media’s viewing portion of practice which is limited to between 20-30 minutes during the regular season. She also attended the next-door practice of the New Orleans Pelicans, the NBA team that she also owns.

The Saints are 0-3 to start the season.

“Mrs. Benson’s awesome; she likes to pop in during practice on occasion and so it’s always fun to see her,” Moore said. “She does so many awesome things supporting us in every possible way she can. And you can’t ask for a better situation.”

How did she react to Sunday’s 44-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks?

“She cares,” Moore said. “The special thing is she cares deeply about the emotions of the players and the coaches Everyone puts so much work into it. For it to go the way it did on Sunday, there’s an emotional toll that goes into each player and each person that’s a part of it.

“Her support and her appreciation for everything that everyone’s doing, all understanding, yeah, we got to find ways to find solutions and get better She’s right there with us, though, which is awesome.”

In his first NFL start since 2022, Mariota went 15 for 21 for 206 yards with one TD through the air, and he ran six times for 40 yards with another score on the ground. He also fumbled once.

“Super happy for him,” Daniels said. “He deserves everything. He’s been my biggest supporter, so it was my turn last week to be his.” Wednesday marked the first time Daniels had spoken with reporters since the night of the 2718 loss at the Green Bay Packers in Week 2. He said he didn’t know he was injured during the game.

“I’m a football player at the

BREES

Continued from page 1C

(Baton Rouge Catholic High School); cornerbacks Patrick Surtain (Edna Karr High School) and Charles Tillman (UL); and special teams standout Brian Mitchell (UL). Other first-year-eligible candidates include defensive linemen Geno Atkins, the son of former Saints defensive back Gene Atkins; quarterback Alex Smith; tight ends Greg Olsen and Jason Witten; running back LeSean McCoy; offensive linemen David DeCastro and Maurkice Pouncey; and linebacker Thomas Davis. The Hall’s screening committee will reduce the list to 50 in midOctober From there, the Hall’s 50-person selection committee will vote to reduce the list to 25 semifinalists in November and again to 15 finalists in December

there is a natural tendency to wonder if, or when, Moore and his staff will completely lean into a full-on youth movement. The Saints already have first-round tackle Kelvin Banks and third-round safety Jonas Sanker as full-time starters Riley’s situation also could be complicated by factors outside of his control. On the surface, the

Saints may be incentivized to play him sooner rather than later to negate whether Yiadom would qualify as a compensatory free agent.

According to Over The Cap’s Nick Korte, the Saints may miss out on a fourth-round compensatory pick for Paulson Adebo’s departure if Yiadom plays more than 35% of the snaps. Adebo left

Daniels has worn a knee brace at the Commanders’ facility; he said he’s never played with one before, but he also noted that the team’s medical staff hasn’t told him whether he would need to use one in a game.

Washington coach Dan Quinn said before practice that Daniels would participate in a limited way Wednesday “He is doing everything you possibly can,” Quinn said. Wideout Terry McLaurin missed practice on Wednesday which Quinn had said would be the case, but another player who sat out was a surprise — rookie running back Jacory CroskeyMerritt. He was listed on the Commanders’ injury report with a knee injury

The selection meeting is ahead of Super Bowl LX in San Francisco. The Class of 2026 can consist of three to five modern-era players under the Hall of Fame’s bylaws. In addition to 15 modern-era finalists, the selection committee will discuss three seniors finalists, a coach finalist and a contributor finalist as potential members of the Class of 2026. Finalists must receive at least 80% support from the selection committee to join the Class of 2026.

Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri automatically advance to the final 15 for the Class of 2026 because they were among the top seven vote-getters as finalists for the Class of 2025. The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 will be enshrined in August.

Email Jeff Duncan at jduncan@theadvocate.com.

in free agency to join the New York Giants, while Yiadom signed a three-year, $9 million contract to return to the Saints.

In Korte’s projection, the Saints aren’t slated to have any comp picks because they lost the same number of qualified players (three) as the ones they signed. The NFL annually awards additional draft picks to teams based on the outcomes of free agency Yiadom has played nearly 66% of the defense’s snaps through three games.

“I don’t think the coaches are thinking, ‘Yo, let’s do this so we can get a pick,’ ” Yiadom said. “We’re trying to win today We’re trying to win Sundays, so I would be surprised if that goes into anything.” Yiadom understands that if Riley plays, it would likely be at the expense of his playing time. But the cornerback embraces playing the role of a mentor adding he’ll do whatever it takes to win.

Yiadom said he would first selfanalyze how he could have done better, if he’s benched.

“At some point, they’re going to have to develop their players,” Yiadom said. “Whenever that point is, as a vet, you’ve just got to bring them along. Just like my vets handled me, taught me the game, that’s the same thing I’mma do, to teach him the game, help him grow and make sure that when he do get out there, he’s helping us win.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By GERALD HERBERT

Saints cornerback Quincy Riley, top, is tackled by Denver Broncos guard Quinn Meinerz after Riley hauled in an interception during a preseason game on Aug. 23 at the Caesars Superdome.

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Saints offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga, center, tries to make room for running back Alvin Kamara to run against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of their game on Sept. 14 at the Caesars Superdome.

AP PHOTO By NICK WASS

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels watches teammates warm up before a game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday in Landover, Md.

Kelly labels RB Durham questionable vs. Rebels

BY REED DARCEY and WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writers

Running back Caden Durham was listed as questionable to play in LSU’s road game against Ole Miss on the No. 4 Tigers’ first availability report of the week.

LSU notebook

Durham suffered an ankle sprain near the end of the second quarter of LSU’s 56-10 win over Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday Coach Brian Kelly said tests the next day did not “show the signs of a high-ankle” sprain.

“I think we’re gonna list him as questionable today, and then we’ll see how he progresses through practice,” Kelly said on Wednesday “We could go from questionable to out or questionable to probable, depending on how he moves through the remainder of practices. And we won’t make those assessments until we see the full body of work during practice.”

LSU’s leading rusher this season, Durham has 52 carries for 213 yards and two touchdowns. He also has eight receptions for 39 yards. Behind Durham, sophomore Ju’Juan Johnson has emerged as the top backup.

He had eight carries for 43 yards and two touchdowns against Southeastern. He also has caught seven passes for 49 yards this year LSU also has five-star freshman Harlem Berry, who has 15 carries for 87 yards, and junior Kaleb Jackson in the backfield.

Wide receivers Zavion Thomas and Barion Brown have multiple carries as well, with Thomas recording 86 yards rushing so far Ole Miss has allowed 190.5

Continued from page 1C

bounce things out. I think direct snap gives us a lot more variety to the run game.”

The

first indication LSU would go under center more this year happened in the 17-10 seasonopening win against Clemson. Sloan called five plays with a direct snap, usually to run the ball in short-yardage situations. Three of them came within Clemson’s 5-yard line, and four of them were runs. Sophomore running back Caden Durham was tackled for no gain twice, but he also scored a touchdown. Nussmeier went under center for a quarterback sneak and threw an incompletion off of play-action.

LSU went under center only four times over the next two games, but the one time it did against Florida was on third and 1 late in the fourth quarter Defensive end Jack Pyburn and tight end Bauer Sharp lined up as fullbacks in a jumbo I-formation, and Durham bounced outside to gain 51 yards.

A week later, LSU went under center when it faced a shortyardage situation — as defined here by 3 yards or less from the line to gain — six times, and five of the plays were successful Two were quarterback sneaks for touchdowns. The first two

yards rushing per game this season, which ranks 122nd in the country and last in the SEC.

Ole Miss chooses QB

Before Wednesday, it was unclear which quarterback would take the first snap of Ole Miss’ top-15 clash with LSU on Saturday — injured starter Austin Simmons or dual-threat backup Trinidad Chambliss It appears the Rebels have made up their mind

Reports on Wednesday said

Chambliss is expected to make his third consecutive start in place of Simmons, who injured his ankle in a Week 2 win over Kentucky

Coach Lane Kiffin did not name a starter Wednesday on the SEC coaches’ teleconference, but he did say that Simmons’ injury, combined with Chambliss’ emergence, has his team trying to figure out which quarterback will start against LSU.

“That could go through at least longer than a day,” Kiffin said.

“Both guys did great today so we’re really letting them compete it out. I would always take everything into consideration, so we’ll see as we get closer.”

Simmons was available to play in an emergency role after he suffered his initial ankle injury On one of the four snaps he logged in a Week 3 win over Arkansas, he threw a 4-yard touchdown pass.

But he also reaggravated the injury, enough for him to sit the entirety of the Rebels’ next game against Tulane.

Chambliss, a senior transfer from Division II Ferris State, excelled in his first two starts.

Against Arkansas he completed 21 of 29 passes for 353 yards and a touchdown while also adding 15 carries for 62 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Then

times LSU faced short third downs, it handed the ball off from under center to move the chains.

“It’s just a whole different threat,” Nussmeier said Saturday “I think we can do a lot of different things out of that. As I said, I thought coach Sloan did an awesome job tonight putting us in different packages in different situations.”

he connected on 17 of 27 pass attempts for 307 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-10 win over the Green Wave. He also rushed for 112 yards on 14 carries.

On Monday, Kelly compared the Ole Miss quarterback situation to the one his team faced last year when it played Texas A&M The Aggies started quarterback Conner Weigman in that game, then pulled him in favor of then-freshman Marcel Reed, whose three rushing touchdowns propelled the Aggies to a 38-23 win.

“It changes you dramatically,” Kelly said. “This week, both of these quarterbacks are similar They have different skill sets, but they can run the same offense with both of these players.”

Simmons, a redshirt sophomore, has completed 61% of his passes this season for 580 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions. He did not appear on Ole Miss’ initial availability report, which means he’s on track to suit up against LSU.

Weeks, Green probable

LSU listed both tight end Trey’Dez Green (knee) and linebacker West Weeks (calf) as probable to play against Ole Miss. Green sprained the MCL in his right knee in the Tigers’ win over Louisiana Tech. Weeks strained his calf the next week against Florida. Kelly had previously said that Green would play on Saturday and that Weeks was trending toward suiting up.

“I think we got (Weeks) at 90%,” Kelly said Monday, “so I would say that he is probable for this game leading into it.” LSU also ruled out Gabe Reliford the defensive end who may soon undergo surgery after he suffered a subluxation of his right shoulder against Southeastern.

Donovan Green motioned across to overload the right side of the offensive line. LSU sealed the edge, and sophomore running back Ju’Juan Johnson gained 8 yards.

Southern QB McCoy set to face old team

BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

Quarterback Cam’Ron McCoy and the rest of his Southern teammates have used the bye and this week to prepare for their most important test so far against Jackson State.

Southern (1-3) is playing the reigning Celebration Bowl champions, who are the No. 1 HBCU team on both BOXTOROW’s media and coaches poll.

Southern is itching to win against Jackson State (2-1) at 6 p.m. Saturday at A.W Mumford Stadium because it’s against a rival and will be the first contest to matter in the Southwestern Athletic Conference standings.

Coach Terrence Graves said McCoy may have some extra motivation. The junior transferred from Jackson State and will play for the first time against familiar faces.

“Of course, as a competitor, you always get excited when you play against a team where you come from,” Graves said.

McCoy, who wasn’t made available to reporters this week, entered the transfer portal on April 16 and committed to the Jaguars on May 14. Along with Southern, he received offers from Middle Tennessee State, Bethune-Cookman and North Carolina A&T He previously said choosing Southern was an “easy decision.”

“Coach Graves really accepted me,” McCoy said Aug. 26. “Coach (Fred) McNair, I knew that I could learn a lot from him, so I wanted to step my game up and learn a lot from them.”

Jackson State coach T.C. Taylor said he’s pleased to see his former quarterback competing for his new team.

“I mean, I’m very proud of Cam’Ron, you know, able to find somewhere, a spot to land, and then also get an opportunity to play down there at Southern,” Taylor said. “Very proud and happy for the success Cam is having right now.”

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound quarterback started three out of eight games for Jackson State last season and completed 18 of 38 passes for 310 yards, four touchdowns and one interception He also had

24 carries for 208 yards and two touchdowns.

The St. Louis native has completed 32 of 64 passes for 316 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for Southern this season.

Graves said he hasn’t spoken to McCoy about his feelings about facing his former team.

“As far as us having a conversation about him being motivated excited, we haven’t had those conversations,” Graves said. “We’re preparing our football team to host (and) play a good Jackson State football team. That’s our focus. We’re not big on individual battles and things of that nature. We’re about the team, team-now concept.”

Graves hasn’t committed to a starting quarterback against Jackson State, but he shared that he’s comfortable using multiple signalcallers. Jackson State knows this, and Taylor said his defensive coordinator, Torenzo Quinn, will be prepared for whoever is under center

“Very special and gifted athlete, you know, he has the talent to beat you with his arm and his legs,” Taylor said. “We have to account for him in the run game. You know, if he gets outside the pocket with that speed he has, you know, he’s pretty much gone. It’s hard to get a hand on him. So we will do a good job of that.”

McCoy was gone on his first play as a Jaguar against North Carolina Central, taking off for a 69-yard rushing touchdown. According to speed and athleticism data company Reel Analytics, his peak speed was 21.6 mph on the carry, which was the third-fastest of any player through Week 1 of the college football season. His 177 yards rushing are the second-most of any quarterback and ninth overall in the SWAC. He’s averaging 5.9 yards per carry and has found the end zone twice on 30 attempts. Whether McCoy plays Saturday is still to be determined. What is certain is that Graves and his group are inclined to make whatever adjustments are necessary, especially at quarterback, to ensure a win.

PRACTICE

Continued from page 1C

“It’s just a whole different threat. I think we can do a lot of different things out of that. As I said, I thought coach Sloan did an awesome job tonight putting us in different packages in different situations.”

GARRETT

LSU did not always go under center in short-yardage situations against Southeastern, sometimes calling run-pass options instead. And it was not always successful when it did. At one point, LSU went under center on third and 1 from Southeastern’s 13yard line. It had offset tight ends on either side of the offensive line, which it has often done this year when going under center Sharp motioned across to overload the left side, but Southeastern defensive lineman Kaleb Proctor came through the middle untouched on a stunt for a tackle for loss.

NUSSMEIER, LSU quarterback

LSU went back under center the next play, this time on fourth and 2. It used the same formation, only this time, tight end

Nussmeier has gone under center four times this season when LSU wasn’t in a short-yardage situation. Those plays resulted in an incompletion, a 15yard end around, a 4-yard touchdown run and a sack on first and goal from the 6-yard line. All of them came against either Louisiana Tech or Southeastern, so LSU hasn’t tried a direct snap outside of a short-yardage situation yet against a power-conference team. On Saturday, Nussmeier was asked whether he has any issues with getting his eyes downfield after he takes the snap since he hasn’t gone under center for most of his LSU career

“That’s how they used to play it back in the day,” Nussmeier said.

“It ain’t nothing new.”

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

everything’s a one-year deal now essentially,” McMahon said.

“There’s a small group of untouchables out there in the coaching world. But I think every year is a reset at this point in college sports.

“Obviously, last year — and I’m not going to spend a lot of time on last year — but January, February, March, I didn’t get the job done at the level or the standard I want it done here, and we weren’t able to win at the level that is required. But this is a brand-new team, and I love our group.”

The group features 12 new players with an average age of 22 compared to the average of 19 for last year’s squad. The highest-rated transfer is Thomas.

“Everything starts with that quarterback position and for us, it’s the point guard, and we have an elite one in DJ Thomas,” McMahon said. “Incredible court vision, very unselfish and willing passer

“He’s been one of our hardest workers, by far He’s our winningest player in the program in all our summer and fall activities. So his leadership has been great there.”

McMahon is also thrilled with the experienced players at the wing position. LSU added a pair of 6-6 wings in Rashad King and Max Mackinnon, and 6-5 Ron Zipper a 22-year-old freshman from Israel.

McMahon said King added strength and is now 217 pounds. He has been leading the team in 3-point shooting so far, despite not being known for that during his three seasons at Northeastern. He shot only 31.9% from 3 during his junior season.

Mackinnon, a senior transfer from Portland, and Zipper were known as high-level shooters who shot 40% from beyond the arc in their most recent seasons of basketball.

In the front court, the main newcomers are Pablo Tamba from UC Davis, Marquel Sutton from Omaha and Michael Nwoko from Mississippi State. All three are upperclassmen who were starters on their respective teams.

McMahon said their experience and physicality are necessities in the Southeastern Conference. He is especially impressed by Nwoko, who is 6-10, 261 pounds.

“‘I’m really impressed with him, great size and physicality, but he’s more skilled than I expected,” McMahon said.

“Quite frankly, he finishes well around the basket, finishes with either hand. He’s been a great rim threat as a ball screenand-roll player.”

McMahon is excited by the talent and dedication of his team in the early going and wants the work to continue through the offseason.

“I love our group, and so we’re just going to put our head down and get to work,” he said. “Build our team, stack days here as we go through the preseason.”

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

LSU running back Caden Durham runs the ball up the left side against Louisana Tech on Sept 6 at Tiger Stadium.

PHOTO By JEVONE MOORE

Southern quarterback Cam’Ron McCoy throws against Fresno State on Sept. 13 at Valley Children’s Stadium in Fresno, Calif

THE VARSITY ZONE

By PATRICK DENNIS

Back where she belongs

New St. Joseph’s coach Pixley happy to be back on sideline

BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer

Donna Pixley loves the details. She took two years off from coaching high school volleyball after 21 years at Dunham to watch her youngest daughter, Caylin, compete at Mississippi College.

Pixley enjoyed watching her daughter compete, but watching from the stands made her recognize how hard it is not to coach

“I did not have a hard time just sitting up there and being quiet,” Pixley said, “but my brain was always working.”

Pixley made her return to high school volleyball as coach at St. Joseph’s Academy this season. She has more than 600 wins and 10 district titles over 21 seasons as coach at Dunham, winning two state titles.

She coaches club volleyball for Red Storm Volleyball, but there were aspects about the high school side she missed She enjoys getting to see her players every day, working toward a state championship. She can get to know her team better and make adjustments faster, seeing what they struggle with and where they need growth on the court.

St. Joseph’s rich tradition made the program appealing for Pixley to return to high school volleyball.

“Their desire to win and bring state championships back here,” Pixley said, “I wanted that challenge.”

The job brings many firsts for Pixley This is the first time she’s coached at an all-girls school. This is her first time she’s coached at the Class 5A level. And one of the most exciting firsts — she has 50 girls in her program. Her desire as a coach is to develop strong, independent young women who will speak out for themselves and earn self-respect and respect from others. She is excited about the opportunity to do that with a program of that size.

She has four teams split among the 50 girls, wanting them to have the opportunity to compete.

The chance to get better showed Tuesday night when Pixley started freshman Madison Mann against state power St. Thomas More.

The freshman earned her spot after standing out on the freshman team, which gave her the chance to work with her immediate peers in her first year of high school.

Pixley credited her coaching staff for helping her adjust to St. Joseph’s quickly and making sure everyone was on the same page.

She is just the fourth coach in the program’s history, with the former three being Hall of Famers.

“I have a little bit of I guess pressure, if you perceive it that way, to excel because that is the expectation,” she said. “But just being able to stay calm and work one day at a time.”

The expectation to win stays the same, but Pixley is focused on coaching her way She’s made changes to the program, including one her team has loved — riding the bus for road games

She also makes sure they don’t have their phones during bus rides to build bonds and learn to deal with issues after road losses.

“Just building the culture in my way,” Pixley said, “just what I’m comfortable with in my leadership has grown on the kids. As long as they understand the why behind what I’m doing, then I can get them on board.”

Changes, like the bus rides, have made the bond between the team much closer for seniors Emmy Neumann and Gracie Mann.

“The bus rides are the best thing,” Neumann said.

The two agreed that the best bus ride was to Dutchtown. The match ended in a 3-2 win for SJA, which made the bus ride back even sweeter

“We started playing, ‘All I Do Is Win,’ ” Neumann said. “The whole

bus was shaking. It was crazy.”

The DJ Khaled classic, “Breakin’ Dishes” by Rihanna is another staple track the team plays on bus rides.

Her coaching style is embraced by Neumann, who loves the challenges Pixley brings. If they mess up a drill, Pixley is quick to say to run it again, or the team is running.

“That brings respect to me,” Neumann said. “She knows I can do better It’s really just pushed me to be better and I think this is probably my best season.”

The desire to be better and force opponents into mistakes is what Neumann relishes about the sport.

“I’m a holly-jolly person out in the open,” she said. “But once I get onto the volleyball court, I can be as mean as I want. That’s where I get to release.”

She’s seen the most growth in her mindset under Pixley Her coach has helped spark confidence in the senior and given her the ability to believe in herself each time she plays. She sees that in her team too, noting this is the hardest they’ve worked in practice and in matches.

Mann said Pixley brought fresh energy and positive vibes into the program.

“(She’s) made us work really, really hard since Day 1 of the season,” Mann said. “You can definitely tell because we’ve already made so much progress this season.”

Mann added that the bond the team shares is the best she’s had with a team playing volleyball.

The bond and connection on the court are pieces of the puzzle toward helping Pixley find St. Joseph’s identity as a volleyball team. There’s pressure to win, but that only comes if the team is getting better each day

“Society tells you you’re a failure if you don’t win,” Pixley said. “I don’t believe that that’s necessarily true. You’re a failure if you don’t try.”

‘Sky

is limit’ for Donaldsonville’s 6-foot-5 DE Green

BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer

Donaldsonville defensive end

DeCaleb Green worked every day to get a college offer But when the first offer came, he didn’t even realize it.

Before the Tigers’ Week 3 game against West St. John, South Alabama offered Green a scholarship.

“(It) just said, ‘I want you to be a Jag,’ ” Green said. “I didn’t process that at first until I confirmed it with the coach after the game.”

The junior said getting an offer from any college is a blessing, but for his first offer to be from an FBS school showed that his hard work is paying off. The 6-foot-5, 185-pound edge rusher has compiled 12 tackles, seven tackles for loss and five sacks through the first three weeks of the season. Green is looking to build off of a sophomore season when he finished with 55 tackles, 22 TFLs, 11 sacks and nine forced fumbles.

His love for football stemmed from his three older brothers, who all played the sport. While two went on to play college football, none of them played at the FBS level, which gives Green more motivation to do the things they weren’t able to.

“I look up to my brothers a lot,” Green said. “I just want to do things that they couldn’t do. I want to make a name for myself.”

Green knows he might be deemed under weight for his position, but he makes up for it in speed and motivation.

“I already have a DI mindset,” Green said. “But I feel like I need to have more like an LSU mindset, Alabama mindset. A Heisman mindset. I want to be the best of the best.”

His attitude toward football has helped him become a better person and a stronger teammate. Despite getting his first offer it’s not enough for Green. He wants to keep working toward winning games and being the best player he can be.

Coach Darnell Lee said Green is a fun player to coach. The junior is a vocal leader with a high ceiling as a football player

“Everything he does is 100%,” Lee said. “It’s hard to play next to him and not give your all because you’ll stand out like a sore thumb.”

Lee said Green sets the tone in games and practice with the energy he brings, his emotion and the way he plays football.

He remembers the first time he saw Green play Lee was shocked at how long he was.

In practice, the offense ran a zone read. Green froze between the quarterback and running back. He reached out to grab the running back, then when he saw the quarterback kept the ball and let go, and still managed to take the quarterback down.

“I really think the sky’s the limit for him,” Lee said. “I can only imagine where he’ll be a couple of years from now.”

Off the field, Lee said Green watches as much film as the coaches do. He also views the game from a coach’s perspective, often providing the same feedback that coaches give when they review the tape.

“He’s all in,” Lee said. “He’s almost a fanatic, as far as wanting to be the best and wanting to win.”

Even when he gets to college, Green is ready to keep working until he’s at the top.

Playing for his family and his team are two pillars of Green’s mindset when he steps out onto the field each day and the college offer isn’t changing that.

“Football is not about how big you are,” Green said. “It’s about the heart and the love you have for it. What are you willing to do for you, your family and the team? Football is not a me sport, it’s a we sport.”

No. 17 Alabama seeking victory at No. 5 Georgia

Tide 2-5 away from home since start of ’24

BY KENNINGTON LLOYD SMITH III

Associated Press

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Quarterback

Ty Simpson and No. 17 Alabama are feeling much more comfortable than they did a few weeks ago.

Lopsided wins against ULMonroe and Wisconsin, plus a bye week, will do that. A much bigger — and likely less relaxing — challenge comes at No 5 and undefeated Georgia on Saturday The stakes are understood, with Southeastern Conference and College Football Playoff implications on the line There’s another hurdle for Alabama to clear: winning on the road. Alabama’s only game away from Bryant-Denny Stadium this season ended in a 31-17 drubbing at then-unranked Florida State

The Tide (2-1) looked overmatched as double-digit favorites in the season opener

The focus since has been channeling a negative road experience into a more positive outcome.

“I think the first game we didn’t really know what to expect,” Simpson said. “Having a couple of games under my belt definitely helps understand what I need to do to prepare better, understanding what to do to play better and understand my game better So it’ll be exciting.” Playing outside Tuscaloosa has been the most difficult part

of coach Kalen DeBoer’s brief tenure at Alabama. The Crimson Tide is 2-5 away from home since the start of last season — including stunning losses at Vanderbilt and Oklahoma in 2024 — and those losses have been by an average of 10.6 points.

Conversely, Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC) has one of the strongest home-field advantages in college football. The Bulldogs have won 33 consecutive at Sanford Stadium, which is the longest active streak in the country and the second-longest home-winning streak in SEC history Alabama won 57 in a row between 1963 and 1982.

“I think it’s on the forefront of all of our minds,” Tide defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said “We’ve talked about it and made an emphasis, and yet at the same time, you’ve got to take the next steps forward. Having a mentality of ‘adversity is coming’ and how you’re going to be responsive and not reactionary to adversity is a major aspect to overcoming adversity on the road.”

Avoiding any kind of hardship is the key to reversing the trend. Alabama trailed at halftime in four of its five road losses including first-quarter deficits of 13-0 and 16-0 to Vanderbilt and Michigan, respectively In total, Alabama has been outscored 66-41 in the first half of its away losses

PHOTO

St. Joseph’s coach Donna Pixley gives instructions to her players during a match with St. Thomas More on Tuesday. A longtime coach at Dunham, Pixley returned to coaching this season with the Redstickers

Foranalfrescofalldinner, trya composed salad, saffronshrimpriceand orange cake

The weather is finally starting to break. It isn’t quite cool, but it is gettingcooler.It is that time of year when we can have apleasant time eating outside. It is fun to have aproper meal outsideonthe patio without having to lug baskets and ice chestsoff to the park. Think about what to anticipate —willyou need candles or should you eat early enough to enjoythe fading light during dessert? Are mosquitoes still lingering in your yard in the evening? Just prepare for them with abit of repellent. Use atablecloth and cloth napkins, and you canhave alovely meal outdoors.

Liz Williams TIP OF THE TONGUE

The basis of thecomposed salad is shaved fennel and oranges.But if you find some lovely avocados or mangos at the store, they could easily be added. The salad is composed, so youcan just dress thecomponents separately and add them all to abigger platter.It makesaninteresting starter

thatperks up your taste buds for the rest of the meal.

As much as Ilove paella, it is abig deal to fixit. No wonder it is usually madein very large pans. If you add thechicken, shrimp, scallops, sausage, onions, garlic, peas, roasted peppers and all the other ingredients, it makes for an expensive and timeconsuming meal.

Butifyou slowly saute onions, add shrimp and flavor your rice withsaffron, you have something very flavorful without much hassle or expense. This recipe is high in flavor.You can serve

ä See AL FRESCO, page 2D

SaffronRice with Shrimp and Onions

4to6servings.

1teaspoon saffron threads

1pound peeled shrimp, peels reserved

1tablespoon unsaltedCreole seasoning

½cup dicedonion(about half an onion)

1cup Louisiana rice, uncooked 1cup frozenbabygreen peas, defrosted and drained

1teaspoon salt ½cup chopped parsley for garnish

1. Place the saffron threads in asmall cup with ¼cup warmwater.Set aside.

wish to omit the step of making ashrimpstock with the shells, you mayuse chicken broth instead.

3. Strain the shrimpshells andkeep the water. Measure 1¾ cups of water andreplace in the pot withthe reserved saffron water.There is no need to strain out the saffron threads. Bring to a boil and add the diced onions and rice. Reduce to a simmer.Cookfor 12 minutes,covered.Atthispoint, uncover the potand add the peas andthe shrimp.Stir. Replace the lid and cook another 10 minutes.

2. Bring 3cups of water to aboil. Add the shrimppeels. Add the Creoleseasoning. Cook at asimmerfor 30 minutes. (If using frozen peeled shrimp, allow to defrost and reserve any liquid.) If you

4. Remove from thestove and place into aserving bowl. Using 2forks, fluffthe riceand the otheringredients. Sprinkle with the parsley and serve.

BY BETH DOOLEY

The Minnesota Star Tribune (TNS)

It’s hard to imagine my late summer kitchen without eggplant. Strolling the farmers markets, Ican’thold back and pile my basket with eggplant in all shapes andsizes —black, thin and footlong; bright fuchsia; magenta with white striations; pale violet; light green; egg-shaped ivory Given its mild flavor and densetexture,there’s alot eggplant can do.Itoftenstands in formeat whensauteed or

Recipe

Eggplant Caponata 2D

Saffron Rice with Shrimp and Onions

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

OrangeOlive Oil Cake

2. Mix together the dry ingredients flour through baking powder —ina bowl andstirwith awhisk tocreate ahomogeneousdry mixture. In aseparate bowl, add the rest ofthe ingredients andmix well with awhisk.

3. Gradually add the dry ingredientstothe wetbowl and incorporate them into a batter with awhisk. Donot overbeat.

Bakefor 50 minutes,oruntilthe top is golden and a toothpick comes out clean. If either thetoothpick or the cake topisnot ready,bake for up to 10 more minutes

Reusingholiday cardsastags

Dear Heloise: Likemany have submitted,Ialso have ahint for reusing Christmas cards. You might have printed this before, but maybe it’s worth repeating. Igive new life to my old cards by using them as gift tagsthe next year.Itisnice to reread them, and my tree always looks unique. Usually,Iwill cut the cards using themost interesting parts. Sometimes you can get acouple of tagsfrom one card. —Pixie, in SimiValley, California Mouthwash fordisposal

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.

Serves 4to6

1largefresh fennel bulb,sliced thinly 2oranges, peeled and sliced very thinly

2medium vine-ripened tomatoes, slice verythinly

½cup chopped Kalamata olives

Several grinds of apepper mill ¼cup unsalted pistachios, roughly chopped

1. Place the fennel slices, orange slices and tomato slices in different bowls. Drizzle 1to2tablespoonsof dressing in each bowl and

AL FRESCO

Continued from page1D

it with roasted chicken with lemon, apork loin or tenderloin witha mustard sauce.You’ll be astar

4. Butter theinterior sides of a9-inch round panthat is at least2 incheshigh, and butter aroundofparchment paper to cover thebottom. Pour in the batter.Place the pan into the preheated oven.

Composed Salad

toss gently to cover 2. On aplatterorlarge plate,arrange the dressed vegetables attractively Spread the olives evenly over theslices. Grind some black

5. Removethe cake from the oven, run aknife around the outside of the pan, and invert thepan over acakerack. Remove the pan and allow the cake to cool for30minutes.Drizzle half theorange liqueur over the top of the cake and wait five minutes. Then drizzle the remaining liqueur over thecake. Allow to curefor 45 minutes

6. Spread theberries over thetop of the cake and serve.

pepperoverthe slices and finishwitha sprinkle of the pistachios. Topwith dressing, below,before serving.

DRESSING

1teaspoon Dijon mustard

½cup olive oil

2tablespoons red wine vinegar 2garlic cloves, mashed in a garlic press

1teaspoon ground coriander Place all ingredientsina jar, replace the lid and shake well. It’sbest if the dressing sits for an hour beforeusing.

This olive oil cake is moist and fruity.Ilikestrawberries and blueberries, but usewhatisavailable. You can makeitaneven better celebration if you havea glass of Madeira. The olive oilkeeps the cake moist for days, but don’tworry,itwon’t last that long. Youcan raise aglass to toast the waning summer andthe coming of the celebration season.

Liz Williamsisfounder of the Southern Food & Beverage Museum in New Orleans.Listen to “Tip of the Tongue,” Liz’spodcast about food, drink and culture, wherever you hear podcasts. EmailLiz at lizwillia@gmail.com.

Eggplant Caponata

Serves 4to6.Recipe is from BethDooley.Eggplant’sneutral flavor and dense texture act like asponge in this pungent Sicilian versionofratatouille. Make it aday or so ahead to allowall the componentstomarry.Serveitatroomtemperature on topofcrostini layered with soft cheese (chevre, cream cheese,mozzarella …whatever you please).

Extra-virgin olive oil

2eggplants (about 2pounds) cut into 1-inch cubes

Coarse salt and freshly ground blackpepper

1onion, chopped 2cloves garlic, smashed

1largefennel bulb,diced (about 1cup)

¼cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil

¼cup pittedblack olives, chopped

2tablespoons capers, drained

¼cup raisins or currants

Generous pinch crushed red pepper

1bay leaf

¼cup red wine vinegar

Generous pinch brown sugar,to taste

1. Generously film awide, heavy skillet with oil andset over medium heat. When the oilbecomes wavy,add the eggplant cubes andsizzle untilthey become brown on all sides, turning frequently about5to7minutes. Removethe cooked eggplant to aplate and sprinkle with salt and pepper

2. Add more oil to the pan as needed and continue sauteing the onion, garlicand fenneluntiltheybegin to

EGGPLANT Continued from page1D

SPAFRA/DREAMSTIME/TNS PHOTO

Given itsmild flavor and dense texture, there’sa lot eggplant cando. It often stands in for meat when sauteed or in casserolesor on thegrill.

color.Lower the heat and coverthe pantosteam the vegetablesand cook until they soften and release their juices, about 3to5 minutes. Remove the coverand add thesun-driedtomatoes with theiroil, olives, capers,currants, apinch of red pepper, bayleaf andthe vinegar

3. Return theeggplantto theskillet and stir.Cover and simmer untilthe vegetablesare very tender,about 5

minutes. Check to see if the pan becomes too dry,adding alittle water as necessary,1 tablespoon at atime. Season to taste with brown sugar and more salt and pepper as needed.

4. Transfer the eggplant to abowl andallow the flavors to mellow for aboutanhour at room temperature before serving or transfer toacovered container and refrigerate.

from Heloise

easier solution: Ijust go to dollar store and buy cheap mouthwash. Iuse different flavors and scents. (Cinnamon is my favorite.) Ipour about one-fourth of the bottle in with the garbage disposal turned on. The garbage disposal is then refreshed. —BunnyK., in Kensington, Connecticut

Two-servingleftovers

Dear Heloise: Rhonda W. wrote about baking soda and vinegar for astinky garbage disposal. Ihave an

Dear Heloise: In response to the lady whose husband would not eat leftovers the next day,I freeze leftovers in freezer-proof containers with twoservings in each, then thaw and reheat them during the next week or month. Almost anything

TODAYINHISTORY

By The Associated Press

Today is Thursday, Sept.25, the 268th day of 2025. There are 97 days left in the year

Todayinhistory: On Sept.25, 1957, nine Black studentswho had been forced to withdraw from Central High School in Little Rock,Arkansas, because of unruly White crowds were escorted to class by membersofthe U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division and the National Guard.

Also on this date: In 1513, Spanish explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa crossed the Isthmus of Panama andsighted the PacificOcean.

In 1789, the first United States Congress adopted 12 amendments to the Constitution and sent them to thestates for ratification. (Ten of the amendments becamethe Bill of Rights.)

In 1956, the first transAtlantic telephone cable officially went into service

with athree-way ceremonial call between New York, Ottawaand London.

In 1978, 144 people were killed when aPacific Southwest Airlines Boeing 727 and aprivate plane collided over San Diego.

In 2005, in the presence of disarmament observers, the Irish Republican Army decommissioned its arsenal of weapons, officially ending a36-year armed campaign foraunified Irish state.

In 2012, President Barack Obama, speaking to the U.N. General Assembly, pledged U.S. support for Syrians trying to oust President Bashar Assad, calling him “a dictator who massacres his own people.”

In 2018, Bill Cosby was sentenced to three-to-10 years in prison fordrugging and molesting a womanathis suburban Philadelphia home. (After serving nearly three years, Cosby wentfree in June 2021 after the Pennsylvania SupremeCourt over-

can be frozen and tastes great later —Marilyn Smith, in Somis, California Pizza-cuttingtrick

Dear Heloise: It took me way too manyyears to figure this one out. This hint will easily help you slice a pizza in away where all the slices come out nice. When cutting apizza with apizza cutter,start just inside the crust and

Hints

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) If you hesitate, someone will take advantage of you. Be direct, nonconfrontational and upbeat regarding what you want and how you plan to move forward. Call the shots instead of following someone else's lead.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Go about your business, finish what you start and be the one to make a difference. Refrain from letting someone's opinion eat away at you or cause your hackles to rise.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Work quietly behind the scenes, where you can achieve the most. If you're seeking a professional or financial change, speak up; if it's personal, sit tight and wait.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Update your information, documents and skills to meet demands. Don't feel the need to pay for others or volunteer to take on responsibilities that aren't your problem.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Let your creativitysoarandyourmindwander.What you devise may not pan out, but it will spark your imagination and encourage you to head in a direction that changes how you live or work.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Refuse to buy into the hype you encounter today. Foster your desire to make the most of yourself, utilizing the skills you have diligently developed to serve your needs.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Finish what you start and do your fair share. Overreacting will not solve anything, but effective communication, transparency and

a clear plan that outlines your responsibilities will help.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Keep the momentum flowing. A gentle nudge will help by sending a signal that shows your intent. Too much idle time can lead to anxiety and an increased likelihood of making unnecessary fusses.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Positive change is a heartbeat away. All you must do is engage in what makes you who you are, and you'll make a difference. Using social media strategically will help you establish your next move.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) An open and honest approach will build strong relationships and help you make new connections. Participate in events that help you represent who you are and what you can offer. Don't hesitate to send out your resume.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Gauge situations before entering a conversation. If it's regarding personal or domestic matters, you're best off remaining calm and refusing to let anyone bait you into a fight.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Ifyouwantsomething, go after it. Harness your energy and emotions to turn your desires into tangible outcomes. You cannot measure experience by loss or gain, but by what you learn in the process.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2025 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

FAMILY CIrCUS

zodIAC

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

TODAy'S CLUE: E EQUALS G

CeLebrItY CIpher

For better or For WorSe

FrAnK And erneSt

SALLY Forth

beetLe bAILeY

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon

bIG nAte

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1to9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

BaBY BLueS

Bridge

BY PHILLIP ALDER

It is afact of modern bridge that pairs trytosteal deals.They sound strong when their hands arenot, hoping to dissuade their opponents from bidding the full value of their cards.

Sometimes, though, thelogic of the auction makes it clear which side is sacrificing. Then the other pair, if not bidding higher, must extract as much as possible by doubling for penalty.

What do you think about the auction in today’s deal?

North’s pass and East’s one club were clear-cut. Then South was wimpy in not biddingthreediamonds.Yes,herpartner was apassed hand and shewas vulnerable —sowhat?

West’s two-spade responsepromised 10-plus points. Then Northcompensated for his partner, leaping to five diamonds This, in theory,contravened the Lawof Total Tricks, because he could assume only a10-card fit, so should have settled for four diamonds. But he thought the opponents could make at leastfour spadesandwantedtobeasbiganuisance as possible. He was pleasantly surprised when there were three passes.

East passed because he was happy to hear his partner bid five spades. But West should nothavepassed. She knew her side had the balance of points and should have doubled or bid higher.

Five diamonds went the obvious down two.Butminus200wasverycheapwhen

compared with the easy gameavailable the other way. And with great guessing, East-West could make six clubs or six spades. As Zia Mahmood says,“If you never double amaking contract, you are not doubling oftenenough.” Do notlet the opponents steal the pot.

©2025 by NEA,

Inc dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

Each Wuzzle is awordriddle whichcreates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example:NOON GOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON

Previous answers: wuzzles

word game

InsTRucTIons: 1. Words mustbeoffour or

ToDAY’sWoRD

Average

Time

Can

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

hidato

mallard