The Times-Picayune 04-24-2026

1dead, 5wounded in BR shooting

Disputebetween groups at mall turned violent, police say

BY ANDREAGALLO, AIDAN McCAHILL, PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER and JANRISHER Staff writers

One person was killed and five others injured Thursday as gunfire rang out at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge when an argument

between two groups of people in the food court escalated into violence, police said.

Bystanders,including threeAscension Episcopal School students from Lafayette who visitedthe mall on their “senior skip day,” were struck by bullets in the crossfire. They and others were rushed to hospitals with injuries. By later

Thursday,law enforcement and hospital officials said one had died, another was in critical condition and the rest were stable.

Law enforcementdescendeden masse to the mall after receiving the “shots fired” report at 1:22 p.m.

Police initially warned at least one shooter was at large, and by late afternoon, they announced they

had taken five people into custody

By Thursday night, policesaidthat while they had detained people involved, they had not officially madearrests yet.

Authorities said they were still trying to piece together the argument that led to the shooting, but Baton Rouge Police Chief T.J. Morsesaid it “lookslikegunswere pulled after words exchanged.”

“This was adisagreement, afight between two groups of people that

we are still trying to unravel,” Morse said. “Unfortunately,innocent victims gotcaughtinthe crossfire.”

After shots echoed through the food court and sirens began blaring outside, shoppers sprinted out of the mall. Some women donned nylon capes as they darted out of the JCPenney hair salon, their hair half-done. At the jewelry store

ä See SHOOTING, page 12A

Raye shines

Britishsinger-songwriterprovides soulfulkickoff of Jazz Fest

BY KEITH SPERA Staff writer

The British singer-songwriter Raye,late at the 2026 New Orleans Jazz &Heritage Festival’sShell GentillyStage on Thursday,asked thebig crowd to repeat “everything’s gonna be all right.”

That wasn’talways certain

Earlier,she and her horn-and string-ladenband vamped during “Skin &Bones” as she gave medicaland security personnel time to attend to an audience member in distress. Troubling news from theoutside worldtrickledin throughout the day.But music,and Jazz Fest, are ultimately about joy Raye, whose personality was every bitasdelightful as her big, tuxedo-and-white-tennis-shoes-wearing band, supplied plenty of it.

She was nearly brought to tears when acouple in the audience got engaged. She promised to bring them onstage later when she sang “Where Is My Husband?” Which she did.

The first of the2026 Jazz Fest’stwo four-dayweekends opened at asun-splashed Fair Grounds.The festival site has some new wrinkles, such as the six second-story “skybox” cabanas at theShell Gentilly Stage.

But even as terriblenews trickled in from theoutside world, Jazz Fest felt like Jazz Fest

THURSDAY @ JAZZ FEST ä See RAYE,

Former officerplanned mass shooting in N.O.,policesay

He wanted to attack an unnamed event, report reveals

BYJOHN SIMERMAN Staff writer

Police in Burlington, North Carolina, sent out adisturbingbulletin Wednesday.Aformer policeofficer from that region wasmissing, potentially suicidal and headed

for New Orleans. Family said he’d made “recent threats to harm ‘Black people.’” By then, Christopher Gillum 45, wasalready 700 miles intohis journey,onthe Gulf Coast of Florida, armed with a handgun and afew hundredrounds of ammunition, authoritiessaid. He’d told aFlorida sheriff’s offi-

cial who had stopped him earlier, before his alleged intentions were known,thathe’d plannedtoreach theCrescent CityonThursday Gillum never got that far before police and federalagentsinthree states orchestrated his arrestlate Wednesday at aDestin, Florida, hotel. On Thursday,hewas slated to be extradited to Louisiana to face state charges related to “terroristic threats” from an investigation led by theFBI and Louisiana StatePolice.

Sheriff’sofficials in Okaloosa County, Florida, said that Gillum wanted tocommit amass shooting at an unnamed NewOrleans festival, then die from police bullets. He didn’t namethe festival, authorities said, but Thursday was opening dayfor the city’sbiggest: the New Orleans Jazz &Heritage Festival.

Mayor Helena Moreno and Gov.Jeff Landry were among the officials heaping praise on law enforcement for successfully

thwarting what wasdescribed as a potential mass killing, in acitythat spent much of 2025 grappling with the Jan. 1vehicle attack on Bourbon Street that left 14 NewYear’s revelers dead. Louisiana State Police confirmed Thursdaythata suspect was arrested as part of an ongoing investigation with the FBI. Following Gillum’s arrest, an FBI spokesperson declinedtocomment on the

ä See PLANNED, page 14A

Gillum

STAFFPHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK

Raye performs on the Shell Gentilly Stageduring the first dayofthe NewOrleans Jazz&HeritageFestivalatthe Fair GroundsonThursday

At least 17 Somalis die after boat capsizes MOGADISHU Somalia A boat capsized in waters between Algeria and Spain, leaving at least 17 Somali migrants dead, Somalia’s ambassador to Algeria said Thursday Ambassador Yusuf Ahmed Hassan told Somali state media that he was contacted by distressed parents searching for information about their missing relatives. The victims include 12 men and five women who drowned when their boat capsized while attempting the oftendangerous journey to Europe “I was reached by parents who were looking for their children and wanted to know their whereabouts,” he said.

Hassan said that he then contacted the Algerian Foreign Ministry, which informed him that a group of African migrants had died in a coastal province about 60 miles west of the capital, Algiers.

The route between North Africa and Spain is one of several commonly used by migrants seeking to reach Europe, often involving overcrowded and unseaworthy boats.

Shipwrecks are frequent along these routes particularly in the western Mediterranean and Atlantic corridors, where thousands of migrants risk their lives each year fleeing conflict, poverty and climate-related hardships.

Somali migrants are among those increasingly undertaking such journeys, driven by insecurity, limited economic opportunities and prolonged drought conditions at home.

Algerian authorities haven’t yet released full details about the latest tragedy, including the total number of passengers on board or how the boat capsized

Marker in N.C. town

honors Andre The Giant ELLERBE,N.C.— Andre The Giant, a towering menace in the wrestling ring but a gentle giant on the movie screen, is being honored with a roadside marker in his beloved adopted small town in North Carolina.

Officials unveiled the marker Thursday in Ellerbe, North Carolina, a community of about 1,000 people where the wrestler born Andre Rene Roussimoff lived on a ranch just outside town.

Roussimoff was billed at 7-foot-4 and 520 pounds during his time wrestling for the WWE in the 1970s and 1980s A larger than life villain, Roussimoff was touted as unbeatable until he faced Hulk Hogan in a match in 1987 at WrestleMania III that launched the once regional wrestling company into a nationwide entertainment force.

Later that year, Roussimoff appeared on film as the giant Fezzik in “The Princess Bride.” Fezzik was the gentle-hearted muscle for the antagonist and needed rhymes to remember his instructions.

Roussimoff was born in France. But as he wrestled around the U.S. South he fell in love with the region, buying his North Carolina ranch and raising cattle on his land about 60 miles east of Charlotte.

He became a critical part of the Ellerbe community In 1990, he taped TV and radio spots against a possible low-level radioactive landfill nearby A pair of his size-26 cowboy boots are kept at a museum.

Roussimoff died in 1993 at age 46 in France where he was visiting for his father’s funeral. They had a service for him there, but his body was cremated and his ashes spread at his beloved ranch.

Trump orders Navy to ‘kill’ boats

President says Iranians are deploying mines to block traffic in Strait of Hormuz

BY JON GAMBRELL, JAMEY KEATEN and AAMER MADHANI Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates

President Donald

Trump has ordered the U.S. military to “shoot and kill” small Iranian boats that deploy mines in the Strait of Hormuz, he said Thursday, a day after Iran again displayed its ability to thwart traffic through the channel.

Trump’s post on social media came shortly after the U.S. military seized another tanker associated with the smuggling of Iranian oil, ratcheting up a standoff with Tehran over the strait through which 20% of all crude oil and natural gas traded passes.

“I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump posted, adding that U.S minesweepers “are clearing the Strait right now.”

“I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level!” he added.

Meanwhile, it was still unclear when, or if, the two sides would meet again in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, where mediators are trying to bring the countries together to reach a diplomatic deal.

Negotiations initially planned for this week have not happened. Iran insists it will not attend until the U.S ends its blockade on Iranian

ports and ships. America insists it will not take part until Tehran opens the strait to international traffic.

Footage shows U.S. forces on deck of tanker

The Defense Department released video footage earlier Thursday of U.S. forces on the deck of the Guinea-flagged oil tanker Majestic X, which was seized in the Indian Ocean.

The footage emerged a day after Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard attacked three cargo ships in the strait, capturing two of them, in an assault that raised new concerns about the safety of shipping through the waterway

The powerful head of Iran’s judiciary, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei, said three “violating ships” in the strait were “subject to enforcement” on Wednesday

“The show of strength by the armed forces of Islamic Iran in the Strait of Hormuz is a source of pride,” he wrote Thursday on X, claiming that the Americans “lack the courage” to approach the strait.

Ship-tracking data showed the Majestic X in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Indonesia, roughly the same location as the oil tanker Tifani, which was seized earlier by American forces. It had been bound for Zhoushan, China.

The vessel previously had been named Phonix and had been sanctioned by the U.S Treasury Department in 2024 for smuggling Iranian crude oil in contravention of U.S. sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Trump claims leadership rift in Iran

Trump this week extended a ceasefire to give the battered Iranian leadership more time to come up with a “unified proposal” on ending the

war, while maintaining an American blockade of Iranian ports.

In a separate post Thursday, Trump claimed a leadership rift between moderates and hardliners was confounding Iran.

“Iran is having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is! They just don’t know!” Trump said.

The president has repeatedly said over the course of the ceasefire that began on April 8 that his team is dealing with Iranian officials who want to make a deal, while acknowledging that his decision to kill several top leaders has come with complications.

Iran’s president and its parliament speaker posted almost identical statements on social media declaring that the country has no hardliners or moderates. “We are all Iranians and revolutionaries,” they said.

Threats to shipping persist

Since the Feb. 28 start of the war between Iran, Israel and the United States, over 30 ships have come under attack in the waters of the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman.

The threat of attack, rising insurance premiums and other fears have stopped traffic from moving through the strait.

Jakob Larsen, the head of maritime security for BIMCO, the largest international association representing shipowners, said in a note Thursday that most shipping companies need a stable ceasefire and assurances from both sides of the conflict that the strait is safe for transit. The threat of mines, he wrote, was a “particular concern” if traffic might return to normal levels one day

Trump: Lebanon, Israel agree to extend ceasefire

BY MATTHEW LEE and BASSEM MROUE Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend a ceasefire between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group by three weeks after talks at the White House on Thursday

Trump said the meeting between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to the United States, the second in the past week, went “very well,” but during an Oval Office gathering he acknowledged that “they do have Hezbollah to think about.” The Iranian-backed group has opposed the talks, and since the initial ceasefire went into effect last Friday, there have been multiple violations by both sides. Despite that, these were the first direct diplomatic talks in decades between Israel and Lebanon and represented a major step for neighboring countries that officially have been at war since Israel’s inception in 1948. The initial 10-day ceasefire had been due to expire Monday

“The United States is going to work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself from Hezbollah,” Trump said in a social media post. He added later in the Oval Office that he expects to meet in Washington with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Leba-

nese President Joseph Aoun in the next couple of weeks. Trump told reporters, while surrounded by the ambassadors as well as Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, that Israel has a right to defend itself “if they’re shot at, and

State-licensed medical marijuana reclassified as less-dangerous drug

BY ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and GENE JOHNSON Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump’s acting attorney general on Thursday signed an order reclassifying statelicensed medical marijuana as a lessdangerous drug, a major policy shift long sought by advocates who said cannabis should never have been treated like heroin by the federal government.

The order signed by Todd Blanche does not legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use under federal law

But it does change the way it’s regulated, shifting licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I — reserved for drugs without medical use and with high potential for abuse to the less strictly regulated Schedule III. It also gives licensed medical marijuana operators a major tax break and eases some barriers to researching cannabis.

The Trump administration also said it was jump-starting the process for reclassifying marijuana more broadly, setting a hearing to begin in late June.

Trump told his administration in December to work as quickly as possible to reclassify marijuana. On Saturday, as the Republican president signed an unrelated executive order about psychedelics, he seemed to express frustration that it was taking so long.

Blanche said Thursday that the Department of Justice was “delivering on President Trump’s promise” to expand Americans’ access to medical treatment options “This rescheduling action allows for research on the safety and efficacy of this substance, ultimately providing patients with better care and doctors with more reliable information,” he said in a statement.

Blanche’s action largely legitimizes medical marijuana programs in the 40

states that have adopted them. It sets up an expedited system for state-licensed medical marijuana producers and distributors to register with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

It makes clear that cannabis researchers won’t be penalized for obtaining state-licensed marijuana or marijuanaderived products for use in their work, and it grants state-licensed medical marijuana companies a windfall by allowing them, for the first time, to deduct business expenses on their federal taxes.

Any marijuana-derived medicine approved by the Food and Drug Administration is similarly listed in Schedule III, it said.

The order represents a major policy shift for the U.S. government, which has continued its longstanding prohibition dating to the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 — even as nearly all the states have approved cannabis use in some form.

Two dozen states plus Washington, D.C., have authorized adult recreational use of marijuana, 40 have medical marijuana systems, and eight others allow low-THC cannabis or CBD oil for medical use. Only Idaho and Kansas ban marijuana outright.

The Trump administration’s decision drew derision from marijuana legalization opponent Kevin Sabet, the chief executive of Smart Approaches to Marijuana. Sabet said that while marijuana research is necessary “there are many ways to increase our knowledge without giving a tax break to Big Weed and sending a confusing message about marijuana’s harms to the American public.”

“With this move, we are now confronted with the most pro-drug administration in our history,” Sabet said in a text message. Marijuana or marijuana-derived products that are not distributed through a state medical marijuana program will continue to be classified in Schedule I.

they will.”

Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad thanked Trump “for all your effort to help and to support Lebanon.” She referenced his “Make America Great Again” slogan when she said, “And I think with your help, with your support, we can make Lebanon great again.” Preparations were being made for wider-reaching negotiations. The aim of the future talks is to “fully” stop Israeli attacks, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon, release of Lebanese prisoners held in Israel, deployment of Lebanese troops along the border and beginning the reconstruction process, Aoun said in comments released by his office.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has called on Lebanon to work with Israel to disarm Hezbollah. On Wednesday Amal Khalil, a well-known Lebanese journalist covering southern Lebanon, was killed by an Israeli strike. Lebanese health officials said the Israeli military opened fire on an ambulance that responded to the scene, preventing rescuers from reaching her

PROVIDED PHOTO

A newly erected historical marker on a highway near Ellerbe, N.C., celebrates Andre the Giant

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MOHAMMED ZAATARI

Mourners hold posters that show portraits of Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil, who was killed Wednesday in an Israeli airstrike, during her funeral procession in the village of Baysariyeh in southern Lebanon on Thursday.

Smokingpot near La.campuscould become felony

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

Louisiana could soonmake it a felony to smoke marijuana within 2,000 feetofany schoolorcollege campus in Louisiana, as somestate leaders say people are flagrantly violatingdruglawsatcollege football games and other school events.

But opponents, including some Republicans, say it’stoo harsh to put people in prison for using pot when most of the country is scaling back enforcement against the drug.

“House Bill 568 is about one simple principle: drug-free school zones should actually be drugfree,” said Rep. Gabe Firment, R-

Pollock, while presenting his bill before Louisiana House members

Wednesday.

“What law enforcement is seeing onschool campuses andduring large public events like college football games is open, visible marijuana use in frontoffamilies and children with little meaningful consequence,” hesaid.

Firment said he is sponsoring the bill “in collaboration” with the officeofGov.Jeff Landry

But Democrats and some Republicans were leery of the harsher penalties.

“Have you ever been to an LSU football game?” Rep. Barbara Freiberg,R-Baton Rouge, asked Firmentduring debate on thebill.

“I think that’s the impetus for the bill,” Firment replied.“Theenvironment is not necessarily family friendly.”

Frieberg continued: “Soacollege student who might be smoking marijuana outside Tiger Stadium

could get afelony conviction?”

“If he is observed smoking or vaping marijuana, correct,” Firmentsaid.

Cracking down on pot

Currently,first-timepossession of marijuana is amisdemeanor.Possessionof14grams or less comes withamaximum fine of $100.

UnderHB568,felonycharges could be brought against anyone who is “smoking, vaping or otherwise abusing” marijuana on the propertyofany school,college or university in Louisiana, on property being used for school purposes,orwithin 2,000 feet of such a property.The punishment for such afelony could be up to ayear in prison and up to a$1,000 fine.

Firment said thelegislation would give law enforcementofficers theability to make an arrest based on observable behavior,and that would make enforcement easier

Lawmakerspause bill adding exemptions to recordslaws

Measurewould havelimited public information

BY ANDREA GALLO Staff writer

Some leaderssay drug laws violated at football games Abraham

limit the number of jobs that thenew law would affect

“It’sthe visible, observable smoking or vaping that cantrigger theenforcement,” he said. “It is more difficult for law enforcement to prosecute or to enforce possession.”

Rep.Kyle Green, D-Marrero, noted that some homesare located within 2,000 feet of aschool and asked if homeowners could be charged with afelony forsmoking marijuana on their own property

“If you arecommitting acrimein within 2,000 feet of aschool zone, youwould be subject to prosecution under this bill,” Firment said.

Firmentinaninterview said the harsher penalties would not apply to people at homeonprivate property who have medical marijuana cards.

“My bill does not touch or impact medicalmarijuana in theleast bit,” he said.

Even with amedical marijuana card,it’sgenerally illegaltosmoke marijuana in public or in amoving

BY SOPHIE BATES Associated Press

vehicle on apublic road.

Rep. Denise Marcelle, D-Baton Rouge,asked why Louisiana was seeking to increase penalties for marijuana use whenstatesacross the country aremoving to lessen or eliminate them all together Firmentsaidhewasn’tconcerned about policies in other states andthatseveral teachers have told him “the smell of marijuana is just overwhelming” when parents are in the car line waiting to pick up their children after school.

Firment said he wanted to “create asufficient deterrent so that these crimesare notbeing committed in frontofchildren and grandchildren and families and destroyingthe environmentat football games and elementary schools.”

HB568 advanced out of the Louisiana House on 59-34 vote, just clearing the 53-vote threshold needed to pass.

in the Mississippi Delta which includes the western portion of central and north Mississippi.

sociated Press’ questions about Gaines’ employment status.

Alegislative House committee on Thursday pumped the brakes on abill that would add several exemptions for universities to Louisiana’s public records laws, saying the proposed law needed to be reworked.

Senate Bill 289, from Sen. Mark Abraham, R-Lake Charles, couldlimit how much information the public can receive about who’s in the running for top leadership positions at universities, as well as wall off donor information from the public.

WhileAbraham’s original bill would have kept university presidential search records entirely secret, he added ahandfulofamendments during Thursday’s House and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing They included changes that would require universities to reveal at least three finalists for top jobs, as wellas

Originally,the bill said universitiescouldhold secret searches for positions “including but not limited to” university presidents, chancellors,senior vice chancellorsand athletic coaches. Abraham stripped that phrasefrom the bill, designating those as theonly positions whereuniversities could block public release.

He said he also decided to spell out that universities would havetoname at least three finalists after hearing that some universities —including LSU and theUniversity of Louisiana at Lafayette —have named lone finalists for top jobs

“It’smuch more transparentthatway,” Abrahamsaid. Still, the amendments were not enough to persuade staterepresentatives to move thebill forward.They questioned its potential negativeimplications

“What areas can we find a way to make this cleaner?” asked state Rep. Ed Larvadain, D-Alexandria.“Because as an ethicsbody, we don’twant people tobeinthe dark.”

He said he wasworried about “dark money” affecting universities. He said lawmakers needed to balance thepublic interest with protecting universities

ScottSternberg, aFirst Amendment attorney,testified thatAbraham’samendments improved the bill, but still questionedwhy the bill was necessary.Sternberg often representsThe TimesPicayune |The Advocatein lawsuits, and was one of the attorneys who sued LSU in 2013 over its secretive presidential search. That lawsuit ended with an appeals court ruling thatLSU had to release names of finalists.

“Wespend alot of money on higher educationinthis state, and we pay thesefolks alot of money,” Sternberg testified. “Determining how that personwas selected is getting harder and harder for thepublic.”

Abrahamsaid he worries thatapplicant pools are less qualified for university presidential jobsbecause candidates fear their names being made public. He also said that donors to university foundations are given anonymity if they request it, but that if universities want donorinformation transferred over,itcould then becomepublic.

“The donations arewhere you’re losing me,” said state Rep.Beau Beaullieu,R-New Iberia.

Beaullieu, the committee chair,later advised Abraham to workwith opponents to rewritethe bill.

JACKSON,Miss. Six current or former Mississippi law enforcement officershave pleaded guilty to date and another has been found not guilty in an allegeddrug trafficking bribery scheme that ensnared 20 people, including two sheriffs. Federal indictments filed in Octoberallege 14 current or former Mississippi law enforcement officers took bribes from an FBI agent posing as amember of a Mexican drug cartel in exchange for helping to transport 55 pounds of cocaine through Mississippi Delta counties and into Memphis. Six other people —three in Mississippi and three in Tennessee —werealso charged. The indictments included officers frommultiple lawenforcementagencies

Chaka Gaines, who was a police officer at theGreenville Police Department, was found not guilty by a jury on Wednesday Gaines had been charged with aiding and abetting the possession, transportation and distributionofillegal narcotics and using a firearm in relation to adrug trafficking crime. During Gaines’ trial, a judge dismissedthe gun chargefor insufficient evidence.

“This verdict reflects a fundamental principle that the government must prove that acrime occurred; it cannotcreate one,” said lawyer Bridgette Morgan, whorepresented Gaines. TheGreenvillePolice Department did not immediately respond to The As-

Martavis Moore, Jamario Sanford, Marvin Flowers, Dequarian Smith, Brandon Addison and Javery Howard —who were employed as law enforcement officersatthe time of the alleged crimes —have since accepted plea deals. They pleaded guilty to conspiracy to aid and abet the possession, transportation and distribution of illegal narcotics. Sean Williams, whowas also alaw enforcementofficer at the time, has filed anotice of his intent to change his plea. The remaining lawenforcement officers, including Washington County Sheriff Milton Gastonand Humphrey’sCounty Sheriff Bruce Williams, and six others indictedalongside them are scheduled to face trial this summer

By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON Six people have been charged with plottingtosteal at least 20 cars from the Washington, D.C.,areaand sell them to buyers in the United States and GhanainWest Africa, according to a federal indictment unsealed Wednesday Investigators suspect members of the car theft ring have stolen more than 100 cars in the District of

Columbia and more than 30 others in Maryland’sPrince George’sCounty,U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’soffice said in anews release. Authorities on Tuesday searched an automobile storage facilityinDecatur Georgia, that they believeto be linked to the ring, accordingtothe statement

Ayearlong investigation found that ring members used devices allowing them to reprogramcarstoacceptblank key fobs. Stolen

vehicles were takentoa Washington parking garage where suspects swapped their license plates andobscuredvehicle identification numbers anddisabled securityfeatures, Pirro’s office said.

Pope urgesU.S., Iran to return to peacetalks

LeoXIV also issues condemnation of capitalpunishment

BY NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press

ABOARD THE PAPALPLANE Pope Leo XIV urged the United States and Iran to return to talks to end the war Thursday andcondemned capital punishment, in awideranging news conferenceenroute home from his trip to Africa.

Leo also asserted that countries have the right to control their borders but mustn’ttreat migrants worse than “animals,”and lamented that the church’smorality teaching is often reduced to sexual issues.

Iran,capital punishment,peace After atrip that was dominated by the very publicback-and-forth between Leo and U.S. President Donald Trump over the war,Leo urged the United States and Iran to return to negotiations.

He called for anew “cultureof peace” to replace the recourse to violence wheneverconflictsarise.

Equatorial Guinea, on Thursday,the last dayofhis 11-day pastoral visittoAfrica.

his plane. “I would like to encourage everyone to find responses that comefrom aculture of peace and not hatred and division.”

Asked if he condemnedIran’s recent executions, Leo said he condemned “all actions thatare unjust”and included capital punishment in thelist

Migrationand rights of states

invitation by Cardinal Reinhard Marx, archbishopofMunich, for thepriests and pastoral workers in his archdioceses to adopt a set of guidelines formalizing and ritualizing blessings of same-sex couples.

The guidelineswere approved last year by acontroversial German church governing body made up of the German bishops’ conference and aCatholic lay group that hasbeen working to have agreater say in church decision-making.

The Vatican in 2023 allowed for such blessings, but it made clear that they were not to be formalized or ritualized. The Vatican allowed them to be offered spontaneously andinformally,asa priest givesa final blessing to all people at the end of Mass.

Leo saidthe Holy Seehad made clear to German bishops that “we do not agree withthe formalized blessing”ofgay couples or couples in other “irregular situations.”

“And in reality, Ibelieve that there are much greater andmore important issues such as justice, equality,freedomofmen and women, freedom of religion that would all take priority before that particular issue.”

Thecomment wassignificant because it suggested that even though he is American,Leo believes the church in the U.S. and theWest hasexcessively reduced its moral teachings to revolve only around sex at the expense of other pressing issues.

Keepinganeye on coverage

CO IN T MI EAST NFLICT HE DDLE AST

He said thequestion wasn’twhether the Iran regime should change or not. “The question should be about how to promote the values we believe in without the deaths of so many innocents.”

He revealed that he carries with him the photo of aMuslim Lebanese boy who had been killed inIsrael’srecent war with Hezbollah. Theboy hadbeenphotographed holding asign welcoming the pope whenhevisited Lebanon last year “As apastorIcannot be in favor of war,” he told reportersaboard

“I condemn the taking of people’s lives. Icondemn capital punishment.I believehuman life is to be respected and that all people from conception to natural (death), their lives should be respected and protected

“So when aregime, when acountrytakes decisions whichtake away the lives of other people unjustly,thenobviously that is somethingthatshould be condemned,”

he said Pope Francischanged the church’s social teaching to declare capital punishment immoral in all cases.

Leoaffirmed the right of countriestoimpose immigrationcontrolsontheir borders and acknowledged that uncontrolled migration had created situations “thatare sometimes moreunjustinthe place where they arrive than from where they left.”

“I personally believe that astate has the righttoimpose rules for its frontiers,” he said. “But saying this,I ask: ‘Whatare we doingin the wealthier countries to change the situation in poorer countries’ to provide opportunities so that people aren’tcompelled to leave?”

Regardless, he said migrants are human beings and deserve tobe respected in their human dignity andnot be treated “worse than house pets, animals.”

LGBTQ+ blessingsand morality

Leo was asked about the recent

TheVatican’s2023 declaration allowing an informal blessing, promulgated with virtually no consultation outside the Vatican, sharply divided the church, with African bishops delivering acontinent-wide dissent and refusing to implement it. Homosexual activity is criminalized in several African countries.

Askedhow he would handle keeping thechurchunifiedover such adivisive issue, Leo spoke broadly about how culture war questions of sexual morality had dominated church discourse, particularly in the West, fartoo much.

“I think it’s very importanttounderstand that theunity or division of the church should not revolve around sexual matters,” he said.

“Wetendtothink that when the church is talking about morality thatthe only issue of morality is sexual.

History’s first U.S. pope showed himself keenly aware of how his Africa trip had been reported and interpreted, including about his sometimes tame public addresses to African leaders whoare accused of corruption or authoritarianism. With afew notable exceptions, Leo kept his political remarks to the leaders largely diplomatic, using alanguage of encouragement and subtle messaging rather than headline-grabbing condemnations.

He also allowedsome of thecircumstances of his visit to speak louderthanhis words: achoreographedsongand danceroutine by prisoners in acountry known for gross human rights abuses, or the extravagant luxury of a president’shometown in acountry where more than half the population lives in poverty

Leoinsisted thathis primary reason forvisiting Algeria,Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea was as apastor,toaccompany his flock in their faith.

He added that the Holy See can sometimes achieve more behind the scenes via its diplomatic work, including through the release of political prisoners, than with “great proclamations criticizing, judging or condemning.”

BY HALLIE GOLDEN and KONSTANTIN TOROPIN Associated Press

WASHINGTON AU.S. special forcessoldier involved in the military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been charged with using classified information about the mission to win more than $400,000 in an online betting market, federal officials announcedThursday GannonKen VanDyke was part of the operationto capture Maduro in January and used his access to classified information to make money on the prediction market sitePolymarket, the federal prosecutor’soffice in New York said. He has beenchargedwith unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and makingan unlawful monetary transaction. He could face years in prison.

VanDyke, 38, was involved in the planningand execution of capturing Maduro for about amonth beginning Dec. 8, 2025, according to the federal prosecutor’s office. He signed nondisclosure agreements promising to not divulge “any classified or sensitive information” re-

lated to theoperations, the office said

Officials allege that Van DykecreatedaPolymarket account toward the end of December and made about 13 bets that took the “Yes” position on such wagers as U.S.Forces beinginVenezuela and Maduro beingout by Jan.31, 2026.

“This involved aU.S. soldier who allegedlytook advantage of his position to profit off of arighteous military operation,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in apost to social media.

Officials allegethat shortly after the operation,Van Dyke put most of the funds he won in aforeign cryptocurrency vault andthen into anew brokerageaccount. He also asked Polymarket to delete his account,saying he had lost access to his email associated with theaccount, according to the federal prosecutor’soffice.

Atelephonenumber listed forVan Dyke in public records was not in service. It is unclear ifhehas legal representation.

Polymarket said ithad found someonetradingon classified government information, alerted the U.S. DepartmentofJusticeand “cooperated with their investigation.”

“Insider trading has no place on Polymarket,” the

company said in astatement on the social platform X. VanDyke joined theArmy in 2008 and, in 2023, was promoted to therank of master sergeant, the second-highest enlistedrankinthe Army, according to theindictment.

Federal prosecutors confirmedthat he was asenior enlisted soldier who was part of the special forces community and stationed at FortBragg in Fayetteville, North Carolina, but their indictmentoffered little other detailsabout hismilitary service.

However, thedocument says that VanDyke was photographed following the raid on thedeck of aship “wearing U.S.militaryfatigues and carrying arifle, standingalongside three other individuals wearing U.S. militaryfatigues.”

The Pentagon referred questions on the casetothe Army andthe Department of Justice.

Army officials declinedto provide VanDyke’sservice record. Typically,the militaryservices are reticent to offerdetails aboutmembers of thespecial forces and take measures to keep their identities secret.

Earlierthis month, The Associated Pressreported that agroup of newaccounts on Polymarket made highly specific, well-timed bets on

whether theU.S. and Iran would reach aceasefire on April 7, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits for these new customers. On thesameday theAPpublished thereport, theWhiteHouse warned

staff against using private information to trade on prediction markets. On Wednesday,another prediction market, Kalshi, fined and suspended three congressional candidates who the company said wa-

gered on the outcomeof their own elections. Prediction markets let people wager on everything from sports to elections and have prompted bipartisan scrutiny from Congress and calls for stricter regulations.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MISPER APAWU Pope Leo XIV arrives to celebrate Mass at the Malabo stadiumin Malabo,

Senate all-nighterputsICE in Johnson’s court

BY SAVANNAH BEHRMANN and VALERIE YURK CQ-Roll Call (TNS)

WASHINGTON— Congress got one step closer this week to funding immigration enforcement for the rest of President Donald Trump’s term, while House lawmakersdealt with moreethics fallout and wrangled behind closed doors over akey surveillance authority But the path forward once again depends on whether Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, can whip votes within his own party

Skinny reconciliation

The Senate in the wee hours Thursdaymorning narrowly adopted aGOPwritten budget resolution, 50-48, markingthe first move toward providing roughly $70 billion for Immigration andCustomsEnforcement and the Border Patrol.

“Republicans are going to deliver for you,”saidMajority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., as theGOP looksto sidestep afunding standoff with Democrats over guardrails at the agencies by re-

Republicans demand privacy safeguards. While new bill text released by GOP leaders Thursday seems to fall short of some of the privacy hawks’ demands,the RulesCommittee is scheduled Monday to prep it for floor consideration.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.,told reporters on Wednesday that the House had until theend of this work weekto“come together behind something” andifnot, theSenate is ready tolead and “prepared to movehere.”

As abackup plan, Thune on Thursday filed cloture on athree-year clean extension.

BettingonBanking

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., has describedthe DOJactions as apressure campaign on the Fed’scurrent chairman, Jerome Powell. During aTuesdayhearing, Tillis reiterated that he would notvote to advance Warsh’snominationaslong as the DOJprobe continues, even though he sees Warsh as qualified.

Tillis,who’s retiring, told CBSNews on Wednesday, “I have alittle over 260 days left in theU.S.Senate. And if that investigation is still goingon, in the260th day, then I’mpretty certain Kevin Warsh hasnot been confirmed.”

AUMF angst

lyingonthe reconciliation process. Once the budgetresolution is adoptedinbothchambers, more detailed work can begin. While Johnson is readying it for the floornext week, some House Republicans are trying to tap the brakes. Rep. Chip Roy,R-Texas, forone, said he wantstosee aresolution with abroader scope. Those holdouts couldbe aheadachefor Johnson,

who won’tbeable to rely on any Democratic votes and is workingwitha slim GOP majority FISA feud

Behind the scenes, Johnson alsotriedtostraighten outsupport for extending section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The controversial spyauthorityisfacingan April 30 deadline,assome

Thune rubber-stamped a plan to trytohelp get Kevin Warsh confirmed as Federal Reserve chairman, promising “accountability.”

Thune saidWednesday theSenate Banking Committee will probe aFederal Reserve headquarters construction project thathas runover budget,while the Department of Justice conductsits owninvestigation.

As RepublicansinCongress face questions about howmuchlongertheywill support Trump’swar in Iran, senators once again defeated awar powers resolution that sought to rein in the military operation. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky wasthe only Republican to vote in favor

The war is approaching the 60-day mark, meaning the president is supposedtoseek congressional authorization

to proceed underthe 1973 WarPowers Resolution law

Sen. Josh Hawley,R-Mo., said, “Well, let’shope that this will be over by that point,” when asked Wednesday if Congress needed to pursue an authorization for the use of military force. If not, “The administration has options under the statute to come back to ask for an extension under certain terms,”hesaid. “But the best thing would be that we would be at an end to it. And Ithink the White House is working toward that.” Senate turnsfromSAVE Following five weeksof lackluster “extended debate” on their marquee election overhaul bill, Senate Republican leadership has now quietlyset aside what’s known as the SAVE America Act. It’sunclear what the future looks like for the legislation, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and photo ID at the polls. Republicans haven’tgarnered the Democratic support they would need forpassageunderthe chamber’s60-vote threshold.

BY MICHAEL R. SISAK and JOSH FUNK Associated Press

NEW YORK Afirefighter

whose truck collided with an Air Canada Express jet last month on arunway at New York’sLaGuardia Airport, killing both pilots, heard an airtrafficcontroller warn “stop, stop, stop” but didn’t know who it was for,federal investigators said Thursday.

Just seconds earlier,the controller had cleared the fire truck to crossthe runway,but the truck started moving while warning lights that actasastop sign for crossing traffic were still lit, the National Transportation SafetyBoard saidin apreliminary report on the March 22 crash.

Because the truck lacked a transponder,asurface monitoring system in the control tower was unable to reliably determine itsposition, “did not predict apotentialconflict”withthe landing plane and did not generate an audio or visual alert, the report said, pointing to aseries of failures that contributedto the crash.

“There were so many opportunities where thisaccident couldhave been prevented,” aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti said after reviewing the report.

In addition to the control tower and truck driver,he said the report suggests the pilots had achancetorecognize the danger and pull up. But, he said,they mayhave been too dialedinto landing

After the air traffic controller’sinitial stop warning, the fire truck’sturret operator heard the controller say, “Truck 1, stop, stop, stop,” and realized he was telling the truck to halt, the report said. By then, the truck was already on the runway as Air

Canada ExpressFlight8646 was landing and speeding toward it.

Aviation safety consultant John Cox, CEO of Safety Operating Systems, said it might be understandable that the truck driver didn’t recognize the first “stop” callwas meant for himbecause the controller had just been directing aplane on ataxiway and didn’tsay Truck 1atthe start of the command

The turret operator,one of two crew members in the fire truck, toldinvestigators that as the vehicle turned left,he sawthe airplane’s lights on therunway, the report said. Theplane registered aspeed of 104 mph just before the collision. Thetruck wasgoing about 30 mph

Thefire truckwas leading aconvoy of vehicles, includingfour fire trucks, a police car and astair truck, responding to an emergency involving astrong odor that was makingflight attendants feel ill aboard adeparting United Airlines jet

Theair traffic controller cleared the truck to cross the runwayjust12secondsbefore theplane touched down, investigatorssaid. About eight seconds later,the controller frantically began calling for the truck to stop.

Pilots killed,39 people hurt Theplane,aCRJ900 regionaljet from Montreal, was carrying 76 people Pilots Antoine Forest,30, and Mackenzie Gunther, 24, were killed.Itwas thefirst deadly crash at LaGuardia in 34 years.

In addition, 39 people were taken to hospitals, including six described as seriously injured. The two fire truck crew members arerecovering at home after being

releasedfrom the hospital, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey,which operates LaGuardia.

Aflight attendant still strappedinher seat survivedafter being thrown onto the tarmac.

The PortAuthoritysaid it is conducting acomprehensive review of the NTSB’s initial findings

LaGuardia was busier than usualthe night of the crash because flight delays pushed the number of arrivals anddepartures after 10 p.m. to more than double what was scheduled, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. Twoair trafficcontrollerswere on duty,consistent with normalscheduling, thereport said.

Planes werelanding every few minutes, with adozen flights arriving between 11 p.m. and when thecrash happenedlessthan40minutes later.Atthe sametime, the controllers hadtoshuffle their duties because of the odor issue on the United plane.

While themore senior controller coordinated the United emergency response, the other controller took over directing vehicles on the ground while continuing to authorize takeoffs and landings.

“These controllerswere just way busy,just too busy,” Guzzetti said.

Advanced warningsystem

Thewarning lights known as runwayentrance lights— werelit until the firetruck reached the edge of therunway,about three seconds beforethe collision,the report said. By

design, theyturn off two or three seconds before aplane reaches arunway intersection,the report said.

The runwaywarning lights in place at 20 of the nation’sbusiestairportsare one of the backup systems designed to help prevent acrash. Cox said the truck should have never entered the runway while the warning lights were illuminated.

LaGuardia is one of 35 majorU.S. airports with an advanced surface surveillance system that combines radar datawithinformation from transponders inside planes and ground vehicles to help prevent runway incursions. Controllers have adisplay

in the tower that’ssupposed to show the location of every plane and vehicle.

Thesystem,known as ASDE-X,didn’tsound an alarmpartlybecause the radar had trouble distinguishing thecloselyspaced trucks and the radar targets intermittently merged on the display.Only twotargets were displayed just before the crash, even though there were seven vehicles. None wereequipped with transponders that would have helpedthe system to precisely track their movements.

According to air traffic control transmissions, Flight 8646 was cleared to land on

Runway 4at11:35 p.m

About two minutes later —and 25 seconds before the crash —the fire crew asked to cross the same runway, whichwas between the airport’sfire station and where the United Airlines jethad parked. Five seconds later,with Flight 8646 approaching the runway alittlemore than 100 feet above the ground, an air traffic controller cleared the fire truck to cross. Then, just nine seconds before the crash, the controller frantically told the fire crew: “Stop, stop, stop, stop. Truck 1. Stop, stop, stop, stop.” Asecond later,the plane’s landing gear touched down.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE

Speaker of the House MikeJohnson, R-Benton, left, listens as Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., chair of the House Republican Conference, right, speaks Tuesdayatanews conference at the Capitol in Washington.

DOJ watchdog reviewing compliance with Epstein law

BY ERIC TUCKER Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Justice Department’s internal watchdog announced a review Thursday of the department’s compliance with the law mandating the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, stepping into a politically sensitive saga that has shadowed the Trump administration over the past year

The audit from the inspector general’s office will focus on how the department collected, reviewed and redacted materials in preparation for their release, as well as its process for addressing concerns that arose after the files were made public, when Epstein survivors complained that personal information about them had

been disclosed.

The review will revisit the department’s staggered and uneven release of millions of records from the Epstein sex trafficking investigation, a process that exposed it to accusations that it was attempting to protect President Donald Trump, who decades ago was friendly with the financier It marks by far the watchdog office’s most significant effort since Trump took office for a second time to scrutinize the actions of a department that has been riven by tumult, including mass firings of employees and allegations of politicization of investigations.

The audit will be overseen by Don Berthiaume, a former career attorney in the department’s watchdog office who was formally

nominated by Trump this week to serve as inspector general.

The records were released starting late last year in compliance with a bill passed by Congress and signed into law by Trump, who bowed to political pressure from his own party after initially resisting efforts to disclose additional files. That November law required the release within 30 days of records related to Epstein, as well as any information about the investigation into his death in a jail in 2019, and also allowed for redactions of information about victims.

But problems with the department’s process soon emerged.

Officials released only a fraction of records within the deadline, later disclosing they would need

Debris from Helene helps fuel wildfires in Georgia

BY EMILIE MEGNIEN and RUSS BYNUM Associated Press

NAHUNTA, Ga. — The destructive wildfires tearing through Georgia this week are being fed by not only a persistent drought, but also by fallen trees and limbs scattered across the South by Hurricane Helene well over a year ago.

Blustery winds also are helping ignite and expand the fires in Georgia and Florida that have blanketed parts of several states in smoke, leading to air quality warnings Thursday in cities far from the blazes. Hundreds of residents have been forced from their homes near Georgia’s coast, where a wildfire destroyed more than 50 homes and threatened many more. Georgia’s biggest fire near the Florida state line doubled in size in less than a day and by Thursday had burned through a sparsely populated area that’s twice the size of Manhattan.

Images from the devastated areas show the shells of charred cars and trucks sitting next to the smoldering ruins of homes nestled among blackened trees.

Many who were forced to flee this week were left distraught about the homes and animals they left behind

“I don’t know if I have a house standing or not,” said Denise Stephens, who evacuated her home near Hortense because of the fast-moving Brantley County fire. “I know what it’s taken from other people, but I don’t know what I have left standing.” Wood debris littering the state’s southern half since Hurricane Helene churned through in September 2024 has enabled Georgia’s two biggest fires to spread and intensify quickly, officials said “There’s a ton of old Hurricane Helene de-

bris down in the woods,” said Seth Hawkins, a Georgia Forestry Commission spokesperson. “It’s lying around and it’s just a tinderbox out there.”

The forestry commission estimated that Helene swept across nearly 14,000 square miles of forestland statewide, striking areas where trees are grown for paper and lumber.

In Helene’s wake, cleanup efforts were rolled out across southern Georgia. The state put up roughly $135 million to help private timberland owners remove fallen trees, and the Army Corps of Engineers hauled off millions of cubic yards of debris.

But they couldn’t get everything.

“The way Helene just threw everything down like matchsticks, there’s only so much you can do short of bulldozing everything,” Hawkins said. “There are big pockets of woods out there where people don’t walk around too much. So it just kind of gets left there.”

It isn’t known yet how the wildfires started, but the bottom half of Georgia and northern Florida are both extremely dry

In Florida, firefighters were battling more than 130 wildfires, mostly in the state’s northern half. Fire crews in Georgia responded to 34 new and relatively small blazes Wednesday, the forestry commission said.

Smoke was drifting across a large area of the Southeast, making the air unhealthy on Thursday for children and those with lung or heart problems in cities as far as Columbia, South Carolina. A haze hung over Atlanta’s skyline a day earlier and there was a smoky smell across the metro area.

There’s a 30% to 40% chance of showers or thunderstorms in the area of both big Georgia fires this weekend, according to the National Weather Service

several more weeks because of the abrupt discovery of a massive tranche of records tied to the case.

In late January, the department released what it said were 3 million pages of records, but subsequently withdrew several thousand documents and “media” after lawyers told a judge that the lives of nearly 100 abuse survivors had been “turned upside down” by careless redactions. The exposed materials include nude photos, with faces visible, as well as names, email addresses and other identifying information that was either unredacted or not fully obscured. The department blamed it on “technical or human error.”

The scrutiny continued after several news organizations reported that some records involv-

ing uncorroborated accusations made by a woman against Trump were not among those released to the public. The accuser was interviewed by the FBI four times as it sought to assess her account but a summary of only one of those interviews had been included in the publicly released files.

The department said those files had been “incorrectly coded as duplicative” and therefore were inadvertently not published along with other investigative documents.

Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.

Authorities say Epstein killed himself in a New York jail cell in August 2019, a month after being indicted on federal sex trafficking charges.

DeSantis signs Florida law banning local DEI funding

BY MIKE SCHNEIDER Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. — White men have been discriminated against through diversity equity and inclusion programs, Florida Gov Ron DeSantis said Wednesday after signing legislation which prohibits counties and cities from funding or promoting DEI initiatives.

The Republican governor defined DEI at a news conference as “an ideological construct that is designed to promote a particular political agenda, particularly to the detriment of disfavored groups.”

“The disfavored groups, No. 1, obviously, would be White males, and I think they’ve been discriminated against,” DeSantis said in Jacksonville “And it’s like a lot of people are, ‘Oh that’s fine. That’s fine.’ No, it’s not fine. It’s wrong.”

While the governor is entitled to his opinion, his views differ from “everyone else’s,” said Evelyn Foxx, president of the NAACP branch in Gainesville.

“If you talked to 100 White men, they wouldn’t feel the same way” as DeSantis, Foxx said when asked Wednesday about his comments. “The governor is out of touch with people, and that is the bottom line.”

Supporters say the purpose of DEI is to remedy the effects of long-term discrimination against certain groups A nationwide push by conservatives to limit diversity programs has led many companies,

schools and governments to pull back on those initiatives, particularly during the current Trump administration, and DEI has been a frequent target for the governor DeSantis also said that Asian Americans had faced discrimination in university admissions and that people should be judged on their merits not their demographic backgrounds. If people still face barriers because of discrimination, there should be policies to “even the playing field,” he said.

“But that is not the same as trying to socially engineer certain outcomes to the detriment of groups that some of the intellectual elite disfavor,” DeSantis said.

During his two terms in office, DeSantis’ administration has championed legislation which prohibits public colleges and universities from spending money on DEI programs and promoted the “Stop WOKE Act,” which restricts how race and sex are taught in schools.

Democratic lawmakers have warned that the legislation was overbroad and potentially unconstitutional.

Under the legislation, residents can sue local governments for violations. If local officials are found to have funded DEI initiatives in violation of the law, they can be removed from office.

“When people know there is accountability they are much more apt to toe the line,” DeSantis said.

PHOTO PROVIDED By GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL

Pandora, workers andcustomers huddled together in aback office for nearly two hours. Nearby schools and businesses went on lockdown.

Mall worker Signi Dreyer was cleaning the food court’scolorful carouselwhenshe heard the gunfire.

“I heard this loud ‘bang bang bang,’ and Ithought someone wasshooting fireworks,”she said Whenshe turned, she saw that everyoneinthe food court had dropped to the floor Videos postedtosocial mediain the immediate aftermathshowed blood on the mall’stile floor while first responders performed chest compressions and attended to victims. Helicopters patrolled overhead while police cased thescene.

ABRPD officer who was already patrolling the mall ran toward the gunfire, Morse said, while dozens of otherlaw enforcementofficers and EMS workers darted to the scene. They recovered one handgun, and Morse saidtheyare looking for more.

“Their rapid action saved lives,” saidEast BatonRouge MayorPresident Sid Edwards

The mallremained closed in the hours after the shooting.GGP,the retail arm of BrookfieldCorporation, which owns the mall, released astatementsaying they areworking with BRPD on the investigation.

“Weare heart broken and angered thatour shopping center was thelocation for today’shorrific incident,” the statement reads.

“This has beenafrightening day for our shopping center community,and our thoughts are withall of those who were impacted by this senseless act of violence.”

The shooting came during a week fullofgun violence and threats in Louisiana.

Shreveport experienced the deadliest mass shooting in thenation in more than two years last weekend, when Shamar Elkins shot and killed eight children, seven of them his own.

And aNorth Carolina man was arrested Wednesday after threatening amass shooting in New Orleans during afestival.Jazz Fest began this week.

‘Shotprettybad’

OurLadyofthe LakeRegional

Medical Center said their staff treated five victims, including the one who died. They reported Thursday afternoon thatthe re-

maining four they treated were in stable condition. Another victim is in critical condition, policesaid late Thursday

Jolene Sizemore, of Denham

Springs, said she got acall in the afternoon that her niece from Lafayette had been shopping in the mall with friends when the shootinghappened. Her niece wasone of thestudents from Ascension Episcopal.

Sizemore rushed to get there.

“Oneofher friends has been shot pretty bad,” Sizemore said as she waited outside the mall andasked law enforcement officers to let her in to be with her niece.

Lafayette ParishMayor-President Monique Blanco Boulet confirmed threevictims were Ascension seniors and described the violence as senseless. Families connected to the school held a prayer service Thursday evening, anda school spokespersonasked for prayers.

Shoppers who weren’tinthe food court said they struggledtopiece together what was happening as a wave of people ran forexits.

Courtny Hawes said she was in adressing room, shopping for

clothesfor ajob she will soon start.

“When they did start pushing everyone to get out, nothing had comeover the loudspeakers or anything,” Hawes said. “I didn’t know there wasashootinguntil I got outside.”

Law enforcement officials encouraged the public to come forward withany tips aboutwhathappened, saying they believe more people are involved.

Four suspects hadturned themselves in by Thursday evening.

Lawenforcement officerscased aneighborhood in Watson where they took another suspect into custody.Nobody who wasshot is currently asuspect, police said.

“Tothe thugs that did this, we’re going to catch you,” Edwards said earlierinthe day. “We’renot going to have this in Baton Rouge. We’re going to grab these guys andget them out of the street.”

Louisianaofficialsrespond

As word spread of theshooting, Gov. Jeff Landry saidhewas coordinating with law enforcement.

“Sharon and Iare praying for those affected and are grateful fora quickresponsebyour lawenforcement officials,” the governor said in asocial media post.

Attorney GeneralLiz Murrill pledged to hold the shooters accountable “tothe fullest extent of the law.”

“This kind of violence in aplace where my family and so manyothersroutinely shopiscompletely unacceptable,” she said. “Noone’s life shouldbeatrisk when simply going shopping at the mall.”

And as members of the Louisiana House of Representatives gatheredinthe chamber to vote on legislation Thursday afternoon, astate representative asked for prayers.

“We’re gonna ask that you keep our city in prayer,” said state Rep. Vanessa LaFleur,D-Baton Rouge “Wehave been advised of amass shooting at the Mall of Louisiana.”

U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, D-Baton Rouge, said he would push in Congress to address gun violence.

“Whatshould have been an ordinary afternoon for families and shoppers turned into afrightening ordeal,and Iamkeeping allthe victimsinmythoughts as they receive care,” Fields said in astatement.

Staff writersIanne Salvosa, MargaretDeLaney,EmmaDischer, Haley Miller and Ashley White contributed to this report.

For years, the Loyola University Jazz Ensemble has opened the WWOZ Jazz Tent on the first day of Jazz Fest. That tradition continued Thursday, with one decidedly nontraditional student: 49-year-old drummer Jason Marsalis In the 1990s, Marsalis was working toward a music degree at Loyola. But his band Los Hombres Calientes took off. Too busy to fully commit to his studies, Marsalis dropped out in 1998. He spent the next two decades working as a musician all over the world

But when touring shut down during the pandemic, he started taking classes at Loyola again He’ll finally graduate in May

Because he’s once again a Loyola student, he was invited to sit in with the Loyola Jazz Ensemble at Jazz Fest.

His red tie and blue dress shirt contrasted with the college casual look of the younger student musicians. Even Gordon Towell, Loyola’s jazz studies area coordinator, sported a Hawaiian-style shirt onstage.

With a photo of older brother Wynton hanging from the Jazz Tent rafters near the stage, Marsalis powered the band through “Aloysius.” A brief drum solo, heavy on the floor toms, earned Marsalis an appreciative cheer from the audience for his one-song appearance.

“That’s a good way to end his Loyola career,” Towell said, “but we’re going to keep him around anyway.”

A music memorial

Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes covered a Talking Heads song on the main Festival Stage. At the Gentilly Stage, singer Maggie Ko-

erner, in a long, satiny, sky-blue dress, delivered a sumptuous, dreamy “Blue Bayou,” accompanied by cello and pedal steel guitar

Clad mostly in white, members of local Afro-Cuban ensemble

Moyuba celebrated the spirit of co-founding percussionist Michael Skinkus, who died in January Hand percussion instruments, shakers, a small drum kit and an electric bass interlocked on one churning rhythm after another as vocalists Nana Sula and Margie Perez danced, sang and spoke up front.

Sula urged audience members to place their hands on the ground, “the highest level of honor” for a

departed “ancestor.”

“This is the last day we’re going to grieve for Michael Skinkus,” Sula said of her bandmate of more than 25 years. “We need you to dance for this man. We need you to speak well of this man. We need you to honor this man.”

Before the final “Egun” — the Yoruba word for “ancestors” she noted that Skinkus had been “very, very sad for some time.” She encouraged anyone in the audience who was carrying grief to select a small stone from the makeshift altar at the edge of the stage and drop it on the ground, thereby symbolically discarding the sadness

PLANNED

Continued from page 1A

investigation but said there were no outstanding “direct threats to any festivals in Louisiana.” Gillum had worked as a police officer in North Carolina as recently as September, agency officials said, having bounced between a pair of law enforcement agencies there in recent years The Chapel Hill Police Department confirmed he was an officer there from 2004 to 2019. In 2023, Gillum went to work for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office as a detention officer, a spokesperson said. He returned to the Chapel Hill police force as a nonsworn employee the next year, then was hired again by the Sheriff’s Office in January 2025, spokesperson Alicia Stemper said. Gillum resigned in September with “nothing disciplinary in his file,” according to Stemper Okaloosa County sheriff’s deputies were unaware of the alleged threat of violence from Gillum when they stopped him early Wednesday, prompted by a 10 a.m. call from his family, a sheriff’s official told WWL Louisiana.

Deputies found no reason to detain him, according to the police bulletin from Burlington. The former police officer “did not present

any grounds for involuntary commitment or criminal charges.” He was removed from a national database and “allowed to continue,” the bulletin states.

But his arrest later in the evening Wednesday followed a hurried investigation spanning agencies in three states.

It involved Project Nola, the network of thousands of private crime cameras blanketing New Orleans, said director Bryan Lagarde.

In a prepared statement, Lagarde said he received information on Gillum about 1 p.m. Wednesday, before the bulletin went out, from a “partner law enforcement agency in North Carolina regarding a credible threat to the New Orleans area.”

He said the information was that Gillum was “reportedly suffering from PTSD,” and “believed to be traveling to the city with the intent to commit a mass-casualty event at a local festival and engage in ‘suicide by cop.’” Lagarde said Project Nola alerted Louisiana State Police, which began coordinating with New Orleans police and federal authorities along with agencies in other states.

The system has a national reach as a “real-time crime/ fusion center,” which came into play as authorities went looking for the suspect, Lagarde said in a statement.

As a precaution, Gillum’s face was entered into Proj-

ect Nola’s facial recognition database in New Orleans in case he managed to evade capture.

He didn’t, and the arrest drew praise from Moreno for “tremendous coordinated and swift work” by the FBI, Louisiana State Police and others.

Landry meanwhile, called securing New Orleans a priority in the aftermath of last year’s terror attack.

“We are going to continue to ramp up our security to protect people,” he told WDSU.

Following the Bourbon Street attack, city leaders enlisted former New York City and Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton to lead an intensive review of security in the city, particularly during major events such as Mardi Gras.

The result was a 43-page report recommending broad plans to improve road barriers and communication between law enforcement agencies.

Jazz Fest, which drew a little under half a million people last year, is never mentioned by name in that report, and no specific recommendations came out of it for the city’s festivals, though NOPD has ramped up security over the last year at large-scale events.

“Jazz Fest is grateful to all law enforcement partners for their dedication and exceptional service in protecting our community,”

pan, he flew to London, then Marrakech, Morocco, then Paris, then Las Vegas, then Los Angeles, then New York and then New Orleans.

“That’s one example,” Batiste deadpanned. In those cities, he was variously performing, mentoring students and fine-tuning his score for Michael B. Jordan’s upcoming remake of “The Thomas Crown Affair.” He’s also working on albums devoted to the music of Mozart and jazz composer and pianist Thelonious Monk.

Asked if stretching himself too thin might affect the quality of the work, Batiste spoke about “different seasons of artistry” and “different times,” and the importance of making the most of each time. “The work that comes out of that time speaks for itself.”

Fans will get to see for themselves when Batiste headlines the Festival Stage on Friday, then closes the Blues Tent on Sunday

A big finish

As Thursday wound down, Stephen Marley reprised his dad Bob’s “Get Up, Stand Up” at the Congo Square Stage.

Jon Batiste speaks

Homegrown star Jon Batiste drew one of the biggest crowds ever for a musician interview at the Allison Miner Music Heritage Stage in the Grandstand. Above the packed bleacher seats, fans stood six deep, craning necks, hoping to catch a glimpse of Batiste chatting with longtime Rolling Stone writer and current SiriusXM “Writer’s Block” host David Fricke. It wasn’t necessary to actually see Batiste to enjoy his stories. When Fricke asked what a typical work day was like, Batiste described his travel schedule over the past couple weeks. From Ja-

Kings of Leon brought arena rock to the Festival Stage. With their own lighting rigs covering the Jazz Fest logo at the back of the stage, they bore down on “Sex On Fire.” And back at the Gentilly Stage, Raye referenced throwback jazz and big band music while still coming across as contemporary Her Oscars-worthy green gown, she quipped, cut off 30% of her lung capacity But her voice was every bit as nimble as her band for the bouncy jazz of “I Hate the Way I Look Today” and the classic “Fly Me to the Moon.”

When Raye said everything’s going to be all right, she made you believe her

Email Keith Spera at kspera@

festival organizers said in a statement.

This year’s festival was set to have 220 officers patrolling streets in the Fair Grounds neighborhood over the two weekends, and large concrete barriers have been set up near the festival gates.

Visitors are required

to pass through security screenings and bag checks to enter festival gates set up along the Fair Grounds race course. Large chairs, tents, coolers, weapons and illicit substances are banned from the festival grounds.

Word of the arrest and Gillum’s purported intentions wafted through the Fair

Grounds on Thursday “You have to be on alert,” said Big Chief

the 75-year-old

Fi Yi Yi Spirit of the Mandingo Warriors. “But this whole country has to be on alert.” Staff writers Julia Guilbeau, Marco Cartolano, James Finn and Jenna Ross contributed to this report.

Victor Harris,

founder of

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Kings of Leon perform on the Festival Stage during the first day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds on Thursday.

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER Lisa and David Wurtzel dance in front of the Fais Do Do stage on Thursday

STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK

Melissa Guerrero from the Hastier tribe, who traveled from Dallas, dances during the first day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds on Thursday.

Bill OK’d to merge Orleans court clerks

Legislation returns to Senate with amendment

BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer

A controversial bill to substantially reshape the courts system in Orleans Parish received final approval in the Legislature on Thursday House Republicans voted for Senate Bill 256, a measure to merge the parish’s civil and criminal clerk of court offices that Gov Jeff Landry has pledged to sign into law The bill passed by a 63-28 vote over a last-ditch effort by Democrats in the House to convince their supermajority Republican colleagues to change course. It will return with an amendment to the Senate before reaching Landry Should it pass, the criminal clerk seat will be abolished days before former life prisoner Calvin Duncan assumes office. Duncan handily defeated incumbent Criminal Clerk Darren Lombard last November Since then, Landry has prioritized downsizing and merging the Orleans Parish courts. Senate Bill 256 is among a group of bills that Sen. Jay Morris, R-West Monroe, introduced aimed at the parish’s judiciary One would reduce judgeships in criminal and juvenile courts in the city Civil, criminal and juvenile courts currently operate in-

DRIVING THE PAST

Trumpet player stabbed on Frenchmen

NOPD offers no updates on probe

BY MISSY WILKINSON Staff writer

For trumpet player Emanuel Mitchell, the night of April 15 started like many of the others he’d spent on Frenchmen Street, where he’d performed since he was a child. He and eight musicians — two other trumpet players, two trombones, a tuba, two snare drummers and a bass drummer — met up shortly after 8 p.m. and played a set that included Hot 8 and Rebirth Brass Band songs. With crowds gathering for the upcoming French Quarter Fest, they had high hopes to do well during the most lucrative season for musicians. During the set, a man who is “not a musician in any way, shape or form” sat in uninvited with a snare drum, Mitchell, 26, said.

“He does that pretty often with different bands,” said Mitchell, whose New Breed Brass Band is a two-time Grammy nominee in the

BY BEN MYERS Staff writer

The Louisiana House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday to give the New Orleans City Council broad authority over the Sewerage & Water Board, which could lead to a dramatic shift in who oversees the city’s drainage, sewerage and drinking water systems.

House Bill 1243 — formerly

BY BLAKE PATERSON Staff writer

A dozen current and former Regional Transit Authority employees in a workplace discrimination lawsuit say the agency’s CEO violated state and federal free-speech protections when she told staff in an email last week not to talk to the media. In an amended lawsuit filed on Monday, the current and former

House Bill 573 — sponsored by state Rep. Stephanie Hilferty, R-New Orleans, would allow the council to pass ordinances giving itself oversight over S&WB budgets, staffing, funding and the composition of its governing board.

communication, delayed projects and lack of accountability,” Hilferty said on the house floor before the vote.

“For too long, the people of New Orleans have dealt with problems they should never have to accept from a public utility — billing chaos, poor

The bill passed 89-8, with Rep. Mandie Landry D-New Orleans, among the nay votes. Landry said fellow lawmakers and the public haven’t been given enough opportunity to weigh in on the changes.

The bill still needs approval by the state Senate and Gov Jeff Landry to become law, but the vote on Thursday marked a significant step forward for a measure that Mayor Helena Moreno and a unified City Council say is

necessary to stabilize the troubled agency The mayor’s office issued a statement saying the change would bring the city in line with other parishes and improve “transparency, accountability and outcomes.” City Council members on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution to support the bill with little discussion, and it’s not clear what exactly the council might do with its new powers if the bill becomes law The idea of giving the council

employees argue they deserve additional damages from RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins and the agency, who they say trampled on constitutionally protected speech. Hankins sent an email to staff on April 16 with the subject line “RTA in the News,” in which she tells employees to “refrain from engaging with or responding to media inquiries on behalf of the

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

A vintage Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme travels northbound on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway near Metairie on Wednesday.

Hilferty

Former Southern Chancellor James L. Llorens dies

Official served BR in multiple government roles

BY OLIVIA TEES Staff writer

Former Southern University Chancellor James L. Llorens died on Tuesday, according to the school.

Llorens, 79, was appointed as chancellor by the Southern University Board and served between 2011 and 2014. He was a dedicated leader and champion of higher education in the community, the university said in a news release.

A native of Alexandria, Llorens led the campus to academic excellence and

RTA

Continued from page 1B

workplace for all staff,” the RTA said in a prepared statement Wednesday about the amended complaint.

Mayor Helena Moreno, who has said the lawsuit’s original claims underscore the need for “meaningful reform and structural change” at the RTA, said on Thursday that she has directed new RTA Board Chair Ann Duplessis to audit the agency’s leadership team and finances. She has also connected her with Louisiana Legislative Auditor Mike Waguespack, who is doing a deep dive into the city’s budget.

The RTA’s problems,

CLERKS

Continued from page 1B

Critics have characterized the measures as thinly veiled thrusts by policymakers from other parishes to seize control of New Orleans.

SB256, by Morris, is poised to pare the two clerks offices down to one as part of that initiative.

Chelsea Richard Napoleon,

S&WB

Continued from page 1B

a broad mandate over the S&WB is stirring concern among some infrastructure officials, S&WB employees and others who worry it will cast political uncertainty over a utility that is currently structured to be insulated from politics.

“To pass all that power to a board of politicians is really giving me a lot of heartburn,” Landry said on the House floor before the vote. “I think we need to think a little more carefully about what a big change this is.”

The S&WB is subject to both state and local laws, and is overseen by an independent governing board whose members serve in staggered four-year terms. The mayor

STABBED

Continued from page 1B

“Regional Roots” category

“He will pretend he is for the love, and then at the end be like, ‘Y’all not paying me’ and go crazy.” After the set ended, the man threatened Mitchell, demanding money He pulled out a 4-inch switchblade and stabbed Mitchell in the head, shoulder and neck, severing his ear “It was so close to my windpipe,” Mitchell said.

“I still can feel the pain, shock and impact from those stabs I could just describe it as very hot. It stung real bad.” The man missed Mitchell’s jugular vein and carotid artery by centimeters. Cut there, he would have bled out in minutes.

Mitchell called his partner, Kirsten Theodore, who was at home practicing alto sax-

ron Weston Broome.

upheld his commitment to student success, alumni engagement and institutional advancement, according to the release.

Before becoming chancellor, Llorens served the university in various positions such as dean of graduate studies, chair of the political science department and associate professor of public administration

Llorens also served the city of Baton Rouge in multiple city-parish government roles. He was human resources director under Mayor-President Pat Screen, assistant chief administrative officer under Mayor-President Melvin “Kip” Holden and interim chief administrative officer under Mayor-President Sha-

Moreno said, seem to stem from the fact that Hankins has been “calling the shots,” with previous boards “rubber-stamping” her decisions. She said it should be the other way around.

“The board should be setting the priorities and then it is up to the executive director to make sure that those priorities are met,” Moreno said.

Free speech questions

Waguespack on Thursday said his team met with Duplessis on Wednesday and that he expects to begin diving into RTA operations and finances in May Duplessis on Thursday said that she was made aware of the amended complaint on Wednesday but hadn’t reviewed it. The lawsuit argues that the

Orleans Parish’s civil clerk of court, would be installed as a parishwide clerk and oversee a “consolidated judicial expense fund” created to cover operational costs for the merged office. Meanwhile, Duncan’s seat would fall by the wayside. Landry has made no secret that he plans to sign the bill into law, which would take effect upon the governor’s signature. Morris made that change to the proposal midway through

serves as president and appoints most board members, but the mayor does not have the power to remove members.

That setup was meant to insulate the board from politics and focus on the agency’s infrastructure and operations. City Council Presiden t JP Morrell, who pioneered the 2013 state law creating the current board structure, said it has failed.

“The idea was that it would have better outcomes, and it has had worse outcomes,” Morrell said in an interview this week.

Morrell said he doesn’t think the council is interested in substituting itself for

ophone for the culminating recital for her master’s program at Tulane University She met him at the hospital.

“I hopped out of my car and started screaming,” Theodore said. “He was covered from head to toe, down to his underwear, in blood.”

Broome released a statement Wednesday night marking Llorens’ death, saying he “served with distinction” as chief administrative officer and brought “a depth of knowledge about CityParish government that was unmatched.”

“More than a colleague, he was a trusted adviser, someone whose counsel I valued deeply and whose perspective helped guide important decisions for our community I had the utmost respect for him, and I am grateful for his service and his steady leadership,” she said in the statement.

Llorens earned a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University in New Orleans and a Ph.D. from LSU. He

directive violates the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and chills protected speech.

The amended complaint also cites as evidence an audio recording from a March 31 meeting in which Hankins allegedly characterizes the pending litigation as “some ambulance-chasing bulls***.”

The lawsuit compares that with Hankins’ April 16 email, in which she assures staff that executives “take these matters seriously” and would respond “through proper legal processes” and that the RTA “is committed to ensuring a safe, respectful and healthy work environment for all employees.”

The lawsuit argues that Hankins’ email is “materially inconsistent” with her

the process, aiming to keep Duncan from ever assuming office and potentially delaying a court consolidation.

“It’s time for the parish of Orleans to be treated like every other parish,” Landry said Friday “If they think that they need to have two clerks, then we should have two clerks in every parish.”

At least two dozen House Democrats stood united at the front of the chamber’s

the governing board, nor in asserting executive control of the agency He said he instead wants the flexibility to adopt any rules and regulations necessary to force the agency to operate more efficiently and transparently

“The council doesn’t directly, every month, run every department in the city of New Orleans, but we have oversight that, when things are wrong, we can work with that department to solve that problem. We have ordinances to solve it,” Morrell said, speaking for himself and not the council as a whole.

Morrell said the council would likely solicit a thirdparty evaluation before adopting any ordinances. He said he is worried about the future of the S&WB, since it consistently ranks as the least popular city institution.

also held a Master of Science from the University of Wisconsin and a postdoctorate in public policy and minority communities from the University of Minnesota.

LSU Executive Vice President and Chancellor Jim Dalton released a statement Thursday marking Llorens’ death as well.

“On behalf of LSU A&M, I extend my condolences to the Southern University community and to the family and loved ones of Dr James L. Llorens. Dr Llorens devoted much of his career to public service and higher education in Baton Rouge, including his leadership of Southern University, and we join Southern in honoring his life and legacy,” Dalton said.

remarks on the audio recording two weeks earlier

The email, the suit argues, “was therefore not a legitimate agency communication but a retaliatory act designed to suppress protected First Amendment activity.”

The March 31 recording also captures Chief Legal Officer Tracy Tyler discussing the RTA’s litigation strategy, the lawsuit states. She allegedly acknowledges the plaintiff’s pre-lawsuit demand of $50 million, states that it will take “a lot of money on legal fees” to resolve and adds that the plan is to break the lawsuit up into individual cases.

The lawsuit, which seeks damages and other compensation, names as defendants the RTA, 13 RTA employees and one former employee. Nine plaintiffs are employ-

floor in fierce opposition to the bill, saying it crossed a “constitutional line” by subverting the will of some 38,000 voters who backed Duncan.

“You do not change the rules of the game after the game has been played,” said Rep. Candace Newell, D-New Orleans, one of 10 Democrats who spoke out against the bill on Thursday Rep. Dixon McMakin, RBaton Rouge, presented Morris’ bill on the House

With the council seen as the responsible caretaker, Morrell said the S&WB has a better shot of passing a critical millage renewal vote next year that provides for about one-third of its drainage revenue.

“If (the vote) were today, it would fail, and that would be the apocalypse for how we deal with drainage in the city,” Morrell said.

Morrell, along with Moreno and other council members, has criticized S&WB Executive Director Randy Hayman, who could theoretically be removed by the council under the bill. Asked if he wants to fire the executive director, Morrell replied that he wants “to have someone that’s not the current board evaluate his work product.”

In meetings this week, current board members puz-

After six hours, Mitchell was discharged and sent home to recover The laceration on his neck makes it difficult for Mitchell to blow his horn, so he’ll miss the festival season gigs where he’s been a mainstay for years, since he was the poster child for the Neighborhood Story Project’s book “Talk That Music Talk.” A native of the 9th Ward, Mitchell grew up playing music at the First Good Baptist Church on France Street He attended Martin Luther King Junior High School and the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. For the past eight years, he has worked as a touring musician “I have been the sound of New Orleans, representing New Orleans and putting this on since I was 12 or 13,”

ees, and three are former employees. Five plaintiffs have filed concurrent Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaints against the agency, the suit states.

The attorney representing the current and former RTA employees, John Love Norris of The King Law Firm, declined to comment.

Board will discuss Hankins

The board — which held its first meeting earlier this month under the leadership of Moreno’s appointees — is scheduled to meet again on Tuesday, where it is expected to discuss Hankins’ employment contract in executive session.

At a meeting Thursday of the board’s executive committee, board member Bar-

floor and said it was a necessary change. McMakin was set to also present his own bill Thursday seeking to combine the three trial courts in New Orleans into a consolidated 41st Judicial District. He pulled back on that schedule after lengthy debate on SB256.

“We have to do something that legislators before us should’ve done,” McMakin said. “We’re aligning them with every other district,

zled over how the bill might impact the agency’s already precarious financial position and its workforce. Board member Tyler Antrup said the bill could give the council an unlimited mandate, even as the body changes over the years.

“The current council is only there for four years. The changes that are being proposed in theory could last forever So I think it’s actually not especially useful to understand what their specific intent is, because we will have to deal with whoever happens to be in those seats,” Antrup said at the S&WB meeting on Wednesday

An S&WB employee, Anthony Jeanmarie, said “an overwhelming majority” of S&WB employees are strongly opposed to the bill, adding that he and his co-

Mitchell said. New Orleans police had no updates about their investigation into the stabbing as of Thursday morning. Mitchell did not name the suspect, who remains at large.

Mitchell said he and other young Black street musicians are often targeted by predators drawn by the lure of fast cash. They’re also overlooked by officers who he said too often fail to protect them because of their race.

“It’s one of the most vulnerable spots in the city Take it from someone who is out there every day,” he said. “Response times are slow to drama, and there’s not enough patrol on that specific corner.”

“This has been a nightmare,” Theodore said. “But we are focused on recovery.”

She has created a GoFundMe to support Mitchell, who hopes he can return soon to

bara Major said she plans to introduce a resolution Tuesday that would require Hankins to receive board approval for any expenses above $25,000. The current threshold is $100,000. “We’ve got to get our arms around this agency fiscally,” Major said.

The seven-member board will be down one less commissioner Louis Colin, who was appointed to the governing body in 2024 by state Rep. Delisha Boyd, resigned on Wednesday Reached by phone, Colin cited personal reasons.

Email Blake Paterson at bpaterson@ theadvocate.com or send him an encrypted message on Signal at blakepaterson.504.

every other parish in the state of Louisiana. And I’m going to vote for this today, I’m going to vote for it tomorrow And I’m going to vote for this bill the rest of my life. Morris did not speak on the House floor Thursday and was not seen in the chamber He was not immediately available for comment after the bill passed. Email Matt Bruce at matt. bruce@theadvocate.com.

workers are “quite shocked that (the council) would have the temerity to seek an expansion” of its power over the agency Concerns over the bill also surfaced Thursday at a meeting of the Infrastructure Advisory Board, an independent body that oversees tourism taxes derived from the city’s 2019 “fair share” deal with state officials. A member of the infrastructure board, Elisa Speranza, said she is worried the bill could lead to dismantling the S&WB “without a clear understanding of what will take its place.”

“This kind of uncertainty, political risk, I think is something in my experience, in 40 years in the business, bond rating agencies don’t like that very much,” Speranza said.

Frenchmen Street and his horn.

“It’s a unique experience of musicians being able to come together where some of the best music originated from in New Orleans,” Mitchell said. “We can play freely, express ourselves, have fun and provide for our families if we need money.”

LOTTERY

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2026 PICK 3: 3-7-7 PICK 4: 1-1-1-2 PICK 5: 0-0-9-1-4 EASY 5: 15-17-23-27-32 LOTTO: 20-25-28-31-35-41

PHOTO PROVIDED By EMANUEL MITCHELL

Grammy-nominated trumpet player Emanuel Mitchell, 26, was looking forward to a lucrative fest season last week and jamming with his band on Frenchmen Street when he was stabbed four times.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Former Southern University Chancellor James L. Llorens died Tuesday at age 79, according to the school.

Morrell

Aaron, Veronica

Bennett,Debbie

Bontly,Marlene

Culbreth,Constance

Davis, Joyce

Davis, Willie

Dupar-Fields,Florence

Fleming, Huey

Gaddis, Lillian

Girtley, Kenneth

Gorum, Dwight

Harvey Sr., Kenneth

Henry, Rondia

Jackson, Brianna

Johnson, Donald

KellerSr.,Gerald

Magee, Olga

Roche',Dana

Saulny,Melanie

Schenall Jr., Roger

Skipper-Smith,Shirley

Smith Jr., James

Snipes,Barbara

Sonia, Patricia

Swington Jr., Willie Young, Hillery

EJefferson

Garden of Memories

Smith Jr., James

Richardson FH

Schenall Jr., Roger

Snipes,Barbara NewOrleans

Boyd Family

Bennett,Debbie Young, Hillery

Charbonnet

Culbreth,Constance

Jackson, Brianna

Magee, Olga

Roche',Dana

Skipper-Smith,Shirley

DW Rhodes

Girtley, Kenneth

Gorum, Dwight

Saulny,Melanie

Littlejohn FH

Gaddis, Lillian

Veronica JohnsonAaron transitionedtobewithour LordonThursday,April 9, 2026, at theage of 78.She was alifelongnativeand residentofNew Orleans, LA. Veronica wasa gradu‐ate of George Washington CarverSeniorHighSchool Class of 1965, andshe re‐ceivedher medicalassis‐tantcertification from Bry‐man Collegein1999. She retired in 2013 from Ochsner MedicalCenter MainCampusneurology departmentclinic.Beloved motherofStevenR.(Robin H.) Aaron, Sr KendallA Aaron,RenellL.Aaron,and the late Ryan L. Aaron. Grandmother of Steven,Jr. RyanG Alexis,India Ciara,Kendall,Jr.,Rhonda, Laila,Doreain andthe late Koure’R.Aaron.Great great grandmotherofthe lateSwedenD.Aaron Daughterofthe late Nelson Johnson,Jr.,Lucille Harris Johnson,Emily J. Johnson. SisterofWalterM.John‐son,Sr.,EvelynJ.Johnson, GloriaJ.Harris, andthe lateEdwardJ.Johnson,Sr., Alton,Peter,and Gregory Johnson,EllaJ.Richardson, and DorisJ.Russell. De‐voted friend of Henryand Lynette Hampton, Shannon Stanley,Wilfred Samith Zackary,Sr. andTamera Taylor, also survived by a hostofnieces, nephews, cousins,other relatives and friends. Relativesand friends of thefamilyalso priestand parishioners of All Saints andSt. Katerine DrexelCatholicChurches and neighboringchurches; employees of Ochsner ClinicFoundation-Neurol‐ogy Department,Caesars Superdome,NotocoIndus‐tries,U.S.Air Force, Our Ladyofthe Lake Hospital, members of St.Francis De‐Sales Golden Voices Choir, Knights PeterClaver, LadiesAuxiliary Court325 are invitedtoattend the Celebration of Life at All SaintsCatholicChurch 1441 Teche St.New Or‐leans,LAonSaturday, April 25, 2025 at 11:30a.m.Father FredKaddauCelebrant Visitationwillbegin at 10:00a.m. Interment: Wood‐lawnParkMemorialCeme‐tery-Westwego,LA. ArrangementsbyDavis MortuaryService 230Mon‐roe St.Gretna, LA.Toview and sign theguestbook pleasegotowww.davismo rtuaryservice.com

Bennett, Debbie

Marlene O. Bontly was called home by her Savior on April21, 2026, following anine-year battle with Alzheimer's. Born in New Orleans, LA on July24, 1937, she was 88 years old. Shewas marriedtoher high schoolsweetheart, Louis A. Bontly,Jr. for69 years. Marlene lovedmusic and dance and relished theNew Orleans culture of good food,jazzmusic, and festivities. Along withher family,Marlene rode in the Elks Parade on Mardi Gras dayfor 20 years, helping to decorate thefloatsand sewing costumes.She was primarilya homemaker whileher sons were growing up butlater did secretarialworkfor areal estate company and her church. BesidesNew Orleans, Marlene and Louis also livedinGautier, MS; Germantown, TN; Summerfield, FL; Ocean Springs, MS; and Albuquerque,NM. Marlene willberemembered as a devoted wife, loving and proud motherofthree sons, fun-to-be-around grandma, and for her lifelong love of dance. She was akind, generous, and caring soul and willbe greatlymissedbyall who knew and lovedher. She is survivedbyhusband Louis A. Bontly Jr.; her sons, Glenn D. Bontly,GreggS Bontly,and Gary J. Bontly; and her sons' wives, children,and grandchildren.

andChadDavis;grandchil‐

dren, Chad Davis, Jr Chase Brown, AmbrielSellers, Genesis Jonesand Sevyn Bentley,aswellasa host ofother relativesand close friends.A Celebrationser‐vicehonoringthe life and legacyofthe late Joyce Mae Daviswillbeheldat Bethlehem BaptistChurch 111 BethlehemWay,Braith‐waite,LAonSaturday, April 25, 2026 at 11 am,Rev Dr. MichaelWadeJiles, Sr Officiating. IntermentEng‐lishTurnCemetery, 3051 English Turn Road,Braith‐waite,LA70040. Visitation 9 am in thechurch.Please signonlineguestbook at www.charbonnetfuneralho me.com. Finalarrange‐ments entrustedtoChar‐bonnetFamilyServices (504)302 1520.

Davis, Willie Edward 'Cut'Up'

Willie Edward Davis (Cut 'Up Colaaka Knoxemail:) Davis,age 51, passedaway peacefully on April 12, 2026. SonofHoward Springer Davis Jr andAnn Marie ColaGreen, husband of Dekisha Davis,Wilie is survivedbyhis children, brothers, sisters and a host of otherrelativesand friends.

Funeral Service will be held on Saturday April 25, 2026, at 10:00 am at St. MichaelCatholicChurch 6476 LA 44 Convent, La., Deacon Alfred Adams Officiating.Rosary 88:30am. Viewing at 9am until servicetime. Interment in Church Cemetery Convent, La.

Dupar-Fields,Florence Mae

PercyFleming, Sr., age 90, departed this life on April 13, 2026. Sonofthe late Louise BaloneyBurl Fleming andLouis C. Fleming. Husband of late Evelyn Stevens Fleming. Father of Huey(Rallo)Jr., Darryl Sr., DwayneSr, Deidre,Macy (Bam) Fleming, Laverne Songy, Rosalyn Powell and Gwendolyn Jones, Grandfatherof35grandchildren, 32 great grandchildrenand 3great- great grandchildren.

ACelebrationofLife will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 12:00 noon at Milesville Memorial COGIC, 129 Apple St LaPlace, LA 70068. Bishop Ronald Frank,Pastor/Officiant. Viewingfrom4-6 on Friday and10:030am on Saturday untilService time

Professional Service entrustedto caringstaff of Hobson Brown Funeral Home 134 Daisy Street Garyville,La70051

Gaddis, LillianToney

Majestic Mortuary

Dupar-Fields,Florence Henry, Rondia River Parish

Hobson BrownFH

Davis, Willie

Fleming, Huey

PatrickH Sanders

KellerSr.,Gerald

St Bernard

CharbonnetLabat

Davis, Joyce West Bank

DavisMortuary

Aaron, Veronica

Robinson FH

Harvey Sr., Kenneth Sonia, Patricia

Debbie Bennettpassed awayonApril 05,2026, at the ageof73. DebbieBen‐nettissurvivedbyher daughterTanglaBennett Norris(Dexter Norris), and grandchildren ShawnBass, Alayciea, Nolan,Khadeja Favaroth, Dymond,Nolan, SyrinityBennett, Damien Bernard Norris,Tyrielle Smith,and SavonyaRobin‐son.Alsosurvived by a hostofother relativesand friends.Precededindeath byhusband andson Nolan Bennett Sr andNolan Ben‐nettJr.,MotherGloriaCole‐man,and Father Louis Jones Sr.Familyand friends areinvited to at‐tendThe Celebrationof LifeService on Saturday April 25, 2026, for1:30p.m atThe Boyd Family Funeral Home, 5001 Chef Menteur Hwy,New Orleans, LA 70126. Visitation will begin at12:30 pm.PastorBennie Scott, officiating. Inter‐mentisprivate.Guestbook Online: www.anewtraditi onbegins.com(504)2820600. Linear BrooksBoyd and DonavinD.BoydOwn‐ers/FuneralDirectors

Constance“Connie Lefitte Culbreth passed awaypeacefully on Tues‐day,April 14, 2026, at the age of 76. Born on March 20, 1950, shelived alifede‐finedbydevotiontoher family, commitment to ed‐ucation andservice to her community.Cherished daughterofthe late Michael,Sr. andRubyCul‐breth.Alsoprecededin death by siblings,Deborah and MichaelCulbreth, Jr "Connie" leaves to honor and cherishher memory a lovingdaughter, Natalie Michelle Perkinsand sonin-law, Jerald Perkins. She isalsoa proudgrand‐mother, great-grand‐mother, Godmother, sister aunt andbeloved friend Alsosurvivedbya host of other relativesand friends. Constance wasa graduate ofWalterL.Cohen Senior HighSchool andcontinued her academic journeyat SouthernUniversityatNew Orleans (SUNO) andSouth‐eastern LouisianaUniver‐sityinHammond,LA. Rela‐tives andfriends arein‐vited to attend thefuneral A Celebrationservice hon‐oring thelifeand legacy of the late Constance"Con‐nie"Lefitte Culbreth will be heldatHistoricSt. James AME Church,222 N. Roman St.,New Orleans, LA 70112 onSaturday, April25, 2026 at10am, RevJeffrey Ed‐mondBruce of Prophetic EdgeMinistries, Officiat‐ing.Interment Lake Lawn MetairieCemetery, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., New Orleans,LA70124. Visita‐tion9 am in thechurch Pleasesignonlineguest‐book at www.charbonnetf uneralhome.com. Charbon‐net LabatGlapion,Direc‐tors(504)581 4411.

LillianToney Gaddisen‐tered eternalrestApril 9, 2026, born September23, 1938, NewOrleans,La, a lifelongresidentofMar‐rero. Sheleavestocherish her memories 5children, EdwardJr. (Sonita),Donnie (Keisha), Leroy(Betty), and Margene Gaddis.2 sisters, ElviraJones andPatricia Banks.1 brother, Thomas Toney,14Grandchildren,38 Great Grandchildren, 22 Great GreatGrandchildren and ahostofnieces, nephews,familyand friends.Precededindeath byparents Albertaand WalterToney,her husband EdwardGaddisSr.,her daughter, Latricia Gaddis, her auntsGracieWhite, LettieBrown, soninlaw Ray DavisJr.,1 grandson, Eldon Gaddis, mother-inlaw Edna Gaddis,father-inlaw LeroyGaddis, 4sisters, and 6brothers. Shewas a deaconess at NewZion Baptist Church.Familyand Friends areinvited to at‐tendthe Home GoingCele‐bration on Saturday,April 25, 2026, at 10am, Rev. Jor‐dan Robinson,Officiating Pastor, NewZionBaptist Church,1131 Garden Rd Marrero,La. Church visita‐tion9am until servicetime. Interment: Restlawn Ceme‐tery. Professional Services Entrusted to:LittlejohnFu‐neral Home,Cal K. John‐son,Manager/Funeral Di‐rector.Info: 504-940-0045.

Girtley, Kenneth KennethGirtleypassed away on April 16, 2026 at the age of 76. Relativesand friends of the familyare invited to attendhis Funeral Service at Marineand Mt Moriah MBC., 3034 Andover Street on Saturday at 10:00 am. Visitation will begin at 8:30 am. Arrangements by D.W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Avenue. Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.com to sign the guestbook.

Johnson, Donald Gorum,Dwight

Davis, JoyceMae

JoyceMae Davis, age69, departedthislifeonSun‐day,April 5, 2026. Shewas bornonAugust21, 1957 in Braithwaite LA to thelate Edwardand JoyceMae Lewis Ceaser.Survivors in‐cludeher children,Triniece

Florence MaeDuparFields departed this life on March31, 2026, in NewOr‐leans, Louisiana. Shewas thebeloved wife of thelate Amzie Fields Jr., andthe cherisheddaughterofthe late Robert Wesley Dupar Sr.and PearlJones Dupar. Florence Dupar-Fields leaves to cherishher mem‐oryher loving children: Darren Dupar, Neal Dupar (Debra), Brenda Crowley (J.P.),SharonFields, and D’WayneFields(Elizabeth). Shewas adevoted sister to Hebert Dupar, Robert Wesley DuparII, Ernest Dupar, Joseph Dupar, and survivingsisterOlivia Dupar-Dotson.She also leaves behind alasting legacy throughher 23 grandchildren, 32 greatgrandchildren, anda host of nieces,nephews,ex‐tended family,and dear friendswho will continue to honorher memory.Flo‐renceDupar-Fieldswillbe deeply missedand forever remembered forher love strength,and thelegacy sheleavesbehind. Family friends, andall whoselives sheimpactedare invitedto attend herCelebration of Life on Saturday,April 25, 2026, at 10:00am at Mt Zion Community Baptist Church,6025 N. Robertson Street,New Orleans, LA 70117. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m.,withfuneral services to follow.Rev PatrickMcDowell, Officiat‐ing. Intermentwillfollow at ResthavenMemorial Park on OldGentillyRoad. Professional arrangements have been entrustedto Majestic Mortuary Service Inc. (504)523-5872.

Fleming, Huey Percy'UncleP'

KennethT.Harvey, Sr peacefully left this earth on April10, 2026, sur‐rounded by theloveofhis daughters, at theage of 82. AlifelongresidentofNew Orleans, Louisiana, Ken‐neth wasa proudgraduate of PhoenixHighSchool in Phoenix, LA,inPlaquem‐ines Parish.Asa young adult, he wasemployedby Bass Enterprise before building adistinguished career with ChevronCor‐poration,where he served as an Operator.Following hisretirementfrom Chevron, he chosetore‐main active by working with family at DenetTow‐ing, where he wasaffec‐tionatelyknown to allas "Big Dog."Kenneth was thebeloved husbandofthe late Anna RodgersHarvey. He wasa devotedfatherto Courtney (Melvin) Polite, Deana(Reginald)Howard, andKemisha Harvey.He cherishedhis role as grandfathertoAllanaAn‐derson,BrandyRobertson Kristen Deruise, Jasmine Banks, Darryl Banks, Jr., Reginald Howard,Jr.,Trevis Deruise, andTrevon Deruise. He is also survived by hisbeloved godchildren, JimmyMarshall, Shari RodgersGriffin, Ellied Riley, Nicholas Cornin,and Cherisse BrownReid, along with numerous greatgrandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, anda host of otherrelativesand friends. He is furthersur‐vivedbyhis sisters-in-law Elois(Clifford)Brown, Betty Rodgers, andShari Harvey.Kenneth waspre‐cededindeath by his belovedwife, Anna RodgersHarvey; hisfather, Milton Harvey;his mother, AnnieEncaladeEdgerson; hismother-in-law, JosephineKirklandHarvey; hisbrothers, CharlesHar‐veyand Paul Harvey;his sister,CaroleEncalade Jones; hissons,Troy Mashon Harvey andKen‐neth Harvey;and hissister, FrancesLacour. Hismem‐orywillbeforever trea‐suredbyall who hadthe privilege of knowinghim Relativesand friendsofthe family areinvited to attend aMassofChristian Burial at St.Peter Claver Catholic Church,1923 St.Philip Street,New Orleans, LA,on Saturday,April 25, 2026, at 11:00 AM,withFatherSid‐neySpeaks officiating. Vis‐itationwillbegin at 9:00 AM,withthe Holy Rosary at 10:00 AM.Entombment will follow at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery Funeralplanningentrusted to Robinson Family Funeral Home,9611 LA -23, Belle Chasse,LA70037 (504) 208 -2119. Foronlinecondo‐lences please visitwww robinsonfamilyfuneralho me.com

Dwight Gorum departed this life on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. Relativesand friends of the familyare invited to attenda Funeral Service at D. W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Ave.New Orleans, La 70125 on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 2:00 pm. Visitation will begin at 1:00 pm. Arrangements by D.W. Rhodes Funeral Home Please visit www.rhodefuneral.com to sign the online guestbook. Funeral canbe livestreamed @ www. fac eb ook.com / D.W.RhodesFuneralHome/ live

Rondia Henryentered intorestonMarch 22, 2026 She wasborninNew Or‐leans,La. Thedaughterof Cladman andJoanMarie Henry.She is survived by three children Eugennia Eugene, RongeneHenry Her GrandkidsZacaria,Za‐kerria, ZakiyahLambert, EugeneJr.,Queen Marie Henry,Rongene Jr.and Ty'rielle Henry. Shealso leavesbehindthree sib‐lings Tina,Noel, Evangela Henry anda host of nieces nephews,close relatives and friends. Relativesand Friends of theFamilyare all invitedtoattend theFu‐neral ServiceonSaturday, April 25, 2026 at 11:00am at Pilgrim Rest BaptistChurch #2, 2200 LouisianaAve NOLA70115. Pastor Michael C. Barlow Sr., offi‐ciating.Visitationwill begin at 10:00am.Inter‐mentwillbeinProvidence MemorialPark. Profes‐sionalArrangementsen‐trusted to Majestic Mortu‐ary Service, Inc. (504)5235872.

Bontly, Marlene

Harvey Sr., Kenneth T.

Aaron, Veronica Johnson

Culbreth,Constance

Lefitte 'Connie'

Henry, Rondia

Jackson, Brianna AllenTrufant

With greatsorrow, we announcethe passingof Brianna AllenTrufant Jack‐sonatthe ageof39, at Our Lady of theLakeHospital in BatonRouge,LAonApril 11, 2026. Brianna wasa na‐tive of NewOrleans,LA. Shewas thedaughterof Sondra Allen-Borneand thelateRobertH.Trufant, III. Brianna is survived by herhusband,VictorD Jacksonand sons,Brock andBeauJackson;brother, TristanM Borne(Lisa)and sisters, XiomaraTrufant Smith(Lawrence), Na’Dya Allenand Anya Trufant. Sheisalsosurvivedby aunts, greatniece, nephews, cousins, anda host of otherfamilymem‐bers anddearlycherished friends. Briannawas a graduate of McMain High School andreceivedher Bachelor of ScienceDegree andcredits towardsthe near completion of her Master’s in Psychology De‐gree bothfromCapella University.Familyand friendsare invitedtoat‐tend aMassofChristian Burial,honoringthe life of Brianna JacksonatOur Lady of Guadalupe& Inter‐national Shrine of St.Jude Church,411 N. RampartSt. NewOrleans,LAonSatur‐day, April25, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Visitation at 8:30 a.m.

Officiate: Pastor Tony Rigoli, OMI. Interment: Mt Olivet Cemetery,4000 Nor‐manMayerAve NewOr‐leans, LA.Pleasesignthe online guestbook at www charbonnetfuneralhome. com. Charbonnet Labat GlapionDirectors,(504) 581-4411.

Donald Johnsonwas bornonJanuary 8, 1942,to the late Andrew Johnson Sr. andMaryBeatriceEd‐wards Johnson, peacefully departedhis earthlyhome onTuesday,April 7, 2026 Donaldwas atrueNew Or‐leans original.Throughout the communities of our beloved city,hewas affec‐tionately knowntoall as "Duck"or"Ducky,"a testa‐menttohis charismatic and memorablepresence. Hewas educated in the New OrleansPublic Schoolssystem, proudly graduatingfromBooker T. WashingtonHighSchool Donald'senduringspirit lives on throughthe cher‐ished memories he created and thelovingfamilyand friends he leaves behind.A Celebration of Life Service willbeheldSaturday, April 25, 2025, for11:00 a.m. at Philips Memorial -Bless‐ingsBeyondInternational Church, 3236Burdette Street,New Orleans, LA 70125, RevLance Eden,offi‐ciating.Church visitation 10:00 a.m. until service time. Arrangements En‐trusted to Littlejohn Fu‐neral Home,2163 Aubry Street,New Orleans, LA 70119.

KellerSr.,Dr. Gerald J.

Dr.GeraldJ.Keller, Sr passedawayonThursday, April16, 2026, age85. Dr Gerald J. Keller, Sr.was a lifelong resident of Re‐serve, Louisiana, andthe German Coast. Adevoted educator andhistorian,he attended Southeastern LouisianaUniversity, Tu‐lane University,Louisiana StateUniversity, earning hisPh.D. from theUniver‐sity of NewOrleans.Dr. Kellershareda loving mar‐riageofsixty-one years with Cheryl Michel Keller Together they raised four children:Dr. Lisa Keller Watson (Darroch), Gerald Keller, Jr., DavidKeller

(Stacey),and Steven Keller (Tami).Hewas theproud grandfatherofSkyler Boudreaux, Kate Watson De La Rosa,LaurenRoy, Dana Watson,Kaiden Keller, MadalynKeller, Liam Marsters,and Lola Hansen,and thegreatgrandfatherofDominic Calderon, NikolaiDeLa Rosa,James Lozier,and Rori Keller. He wasprede‐ceased by hisparents, Odette Gueret Kellerand Sidney Keller; andhis sib‐lings, S.J. Keller, Therese Vicknair,GloriaPerilloux, Morgan Keller, Dolores Keller, andGeneKeller. Dr Kellerdedicated hispro‐fessionallifetoeducation He served as afaculty member andadministrator at Leon Godchaux High School,ReserveJunior High School,EdgardHigh School,and Southeastern LouisianaUniversity, wherehetaughtcourses in School Law, Historyof American Education, School Finance, Public School Administration,and more.His leadership roles included servingasprinci‐pal, school superintendent andschool boardpresi‐dent in St.Johnthe Baptist Parish.A respectedhisto‐rian andauthor,Dr. Keller wrotethree booksonSt. John theBaptist Parish and wasrecognized as an ex‐pert on German Prisoner of WarCamps in Louisiana during WorldWar II. He wasanactivememberof many civicand cultural or‐ganizations, includingthe German-Acadian Coast Historical andGenealogi‐calSociety,the Louisiana Historical Association, Phi DeltaKappa,Deutsches Haus,Msgr. JeanEyraud KnightsofColumbusCoun‐cil#2436, andthe God‐chauxHouse Restoration Project. Dr.Keller’slifewas definedbyhis love of learning,commitmentto community,and deep de‐votion to family.His influ‐ence as an educator and historianwillcontinue to resonate throughout the region he so passionately served.Relatives and friendsofthe family,Priest andparishionersof St PeterCatholicChurch,all neighboringchurches and employees of theSt. John theBaptist Parish School Boardare invitedtoattend theFuneralMassat11:30 am on Saturday,April 25, 2026, at St.Peter Catholic Church,1550 LA-44, Re‐serve, LA 70084. Rev. Ray Hymel-Celebrant. Visita‐tion will be from 8:30 am until thetimeofMassat theabove-named church Entombment St.Peter Catholic Church Mau‐soleum,Reserve,LA. Final arrangements entrustedto PatrickH.Sanders Funeral Home &FuneralDirectors, LLC, 605 Main Street Laplace, LA 70068, 985-3591919. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St.Peter Catholic Church in Reserve, Louisiana.

Olga MaeMagee, en‐tered eternalrestpeace‐fully at herhomeinNew Orleans on Thursday,April 9,2026 at theage of 89. She was born at CharityHospi‐tal in New Orleans, LA on January 29,1937 to thelate RachelWashingtonand WilliamRaymond Sr.Olga was educated in theOr‐leans Parish School system and spenther secondary education yearsattending Booker T. Washington High School.She accepted Christatthe ageof20at Church of Christ Louisa Street,where shelater be‐came amember. During her adultyears shewas employedatK&B (Katz& Bestoff)where sheworked onthe assembly line as an ice creampacker. Shelater servedasa custodianfor multipleschoolsacrossOr‐leans Parish,StuartR Bradley Elementary and GentillyTerrace Elemen‐tarytonamea few. Olga was preceded in deathby her late husband,JasperL Magee Jr whomshe mar‐riedonApril 19,1971 MotherofDarrell Nealy (Jasyline Nealy),Angela Magee-Keller, ToreyMagee and thelateLionell Wash‐ingtonSr. Sister of Lester Washington, thelate Yvette Tramontano,Ruby Phillps (RenePhillps), ElveraWilliams(Claude Williams)and William Washington, Jr.(Barbara Washington).Grandmother ofTyreone Taylor,Zyria Keller, ToreyMagee, Jr Li‐onel, Jr., Raina, Tyrusand Perry Washington,Anthony Otkins andthe late Jarrell

Smith. Also survived by a hostofgreat-grandchil‐dren, otherrelatives and friends.Relatives and friends of thefamily; Pas‐tor andmembers of Church of Christ,Crowder Blvd. andLouisaStreet lo‐cations;Employees of Jen CareSeniorMedical Center Mid City,EastJefferson General Hospital,Zup‐pardo’s Family Supermar‐ket,UniversityMedical Center, Richard’sDisposal Inc.,Chateau De Notre Dame, CompassusHospice Careand OrleansParish Schoolsare invitedtoat‐tendthe funeral. ACele‐bration servicehonoring the life andlegacyofthe lateOlgaMae Mageewill beheldinthe Chapel of CharbonnetLabat Glapion FuneralHome, 1615 St PhilipStreet,New Orleans, LA70116 on Saturday,April 25, 2026 at 10 am.Inter‐mentProvidenceMemorial Park& Mausoleum, 8200 Airline Dr.Metairie, LA 70003.Visitation 9aminthe chapel. Please sign online guestbook at www.char‐bonnetfuneralhome.com Charbonnet LabatGlapion, Directors (504)581 4411.

Dana MarieRoche began herjourney to be withGod in Hiseternal homeonTuesday,April 14, 2026, at theage of 55. She was born in NewOrleans, LAonJune 17, 1970, to the lateWilbert Roche',Sr. and Shirley LemelleRoche'. She issurvivedbyher brothers, WilbertRoche', Jr Alton Roche', andJeffrey Roche'; sisters-in-law, Jacqueline Roche'and RobinRoche'; and god-daughter, Tylar Warren. Sheisalsosur‐vived by ahostofaunts, uncles, cousins, familyand friends.Priestand parish‐ionersofCorpusChristiEpiphanyand St.Ray‐mond/St.Leo Catholic Churches,Delta Airlines, family, andfriends arein‐vited to attend aMassof Christian Burial honoring the life of Dana Marie Roche'atCorpusChristi Catholic Church,2022 St Bernard Ave.,New Orleans, LAonSaturday, April25, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Visita‐tionat8:00a.m.Interment: St. Louis#3Cemetery, 3421 Esplanade Ave.,New Or‐leans,LA. Please sign the onlineguestbook at www charbonnetfuneralhome com. Charbonnet Labat Glapion Directors, (504) 581-4411.

Saulny, Melanie Carter Melanie Carter Saulny passed away on April 6, 2026 at theage of 77. Relatives and friends of thefamily are invitedtoattend aFuneralService at D.W.RhodesFuneral Home,3933 Washington Avenue at 11:30 am. Visitationwillbeginat 10:30 am. Interment: Private. Arrangements by D.W.RhodesFuneral Home,New Orleans, LA Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.com to signthe guestbook.

Schenall Jr., Roger

RogerSchenall Jr., age 76, departedthislifeon Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Son of thelate IreneMarshall Schenall and Roger Schenall Sr. Father of Quandail, RogerIII,Shana, and Brian Schenall ShemetrisBaker, and TerrellMalloy. Grandfather of 21 grandchildrenand 7 great-grandchildren. Acelebration of life will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 10 a.m.,at Richardson FuneralHome, 11112 JeffersonHwy, River Ridge, LA 70123. Bishop PeterBatiste, Pastor/

Officiant. Viewing from 910 a.m. Interment willbeon Monday, April 27, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, 34888 Grantham College Dr., Slidell, LA 70460. Professional services entrusted to Richardson Funeral Home of Jefferson, 11112 Jefferson Hwy., River Ridge, LA 70123. www.richa rdsonfuneralhomeofjeffers on.com.

On Wednesday, April15, 2026, Godinhis infinite wisdomand boundless mercy,smiledand called one of hisangel's home to rest. ShirleyMae SkipperSmith wasbornonMarch 21, 1955 to Carrie Hillsand the late HalSkipper,Sr. She acceptedChristasher personalSavioratanearly age.Shirley waseducated inthe OrleansParishPub‐lic School System.She met Larry Matthewsand from thisrelationship, twosons wereborn, Orlando, Sr.and TjamasMatthews. Shirley was laterunitedinHoly Matrimony to KevinSmith, who preceded herindeath In addition to hermother and sons,she also leaves tocherish fond memories, her siblings,Betty Hamil‐ton (Joe), DebraParks (Harold), KarenFields, Gre‐gorySkipper (Dawan), Hal Skipper, Jr.and Jimmie Skipper; daughtersinlaw Jenniferand Jamie; sisters and brother-in-law Vanessa Smith, Lynette Houser, Lisa Vilafane (Franklin)and BrianSmith (Carolyn);grandchildren, TinikaSmith,Alanti Maxwell, Jashon Flowers, Jawan Copeland,Jada Carter, Thomas ,Jackson and Justin Matthews; five great-grandchildren,a host ofaunts, uncles,nieces, nephews,cousins and friends.Inaddition to her husband andfather, Shirley is also preceded in death by hergrandson, Or‐lando Matthews, Jr.and brother-in-law, TomSmith Jr. Relativesand friends are allinvited to attend the funeral.A Celebrationser‐vicehonoringthe life and legacyofthe late Shirley Mae Skipper-Smithwillbe heldatNew Home Min‐istries,1616 Carondelet Street,New Orleans, LA 70130 on Friday,April 24, 2026 at 10 am.Interment ProvidenceMemorialPark & Mausoleum. Visitation withfamilywillbegin at 9:30aminthe church Pleasesignonlineguest‐book at www.charbonnetf uneralhome.com. Charbon‐net LabatGlapion,Direc‐tors(504)581-4411

On Sunday,April 12 2026, JamesOleySmith Jr. entered hiseternal rest at the ageof47. He wasa na‐tiveand resident of New Orleans,Louisiana.James was born September3, 1978, to Shelia M. Smith and JamesO.Smith Sr.He receivedhis educational foundationinthe NewOr‐leans Public School System hereinNew Orleans. James is survived by his lovingMother, Shelia M. Smith,father, JamesO Smith Sr hissister, JacquelineSmith,godson, Bryce Nolanand ahostof aunts, uncles,cousins, familyand friends. Rela‐tives andfriends arein‐vited to attend amemorial honoringJames Oley Smith Jr. at Garden of Memories FuneralHome; 4900 Airline Dr.,Metairie, La., 70001 on Saturday, April25, 2026, be‐ginning at 10:00 am.Burial willbeprivate

Ann

Barbara Ann Snipes, 78, enteredintoeternal rest on Monday, April 13, 2026, surroundedbythe love of herfamily. Sheleaves a legacydefinedbystrength, generosity, andsteadfast devotion to herfamilyand herfaith. Shewas the beloved daughterofthe lateWillie Henderson and Ruby Joseph Henderson. Sheislovingly rememberedbyher two sons, Brian Snipes(Velvet)and DwayneSnipes(Sharron); hergrandchildren, Jonquil Chambers (Michael), Jordan Snipes, Zyon, Paradise,Syncere, and Legacy Snipes; hergreatgrandchildren, Jae'lyn Jones, Malaysia andMason Chambers. Sheisalso survivedbyher sisters, Ann Baker and Carolyn Cephus; herbest friend, Maxine Saulsberry; hergodson, Isaiah Nickolson;and a host of nieces, nephews, otherrelatives, and friends whowill cherish hermemories. Shealso shared a special familybond with PennyHall, motherof Brian's children. Afuneral service will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Solid Rock Christian Fellowship, 1817 Rev. Richard Wilson Dr Kenner,LA70062, with Pastor Darrell Wilsonofficiating. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. Intermentwillfollow at ProvidenceMemorialPark, 8200 Airline Dr., Metairie, LA 70003. Arrangements are entrustedtoRichardson Funeral Home of Jefferson, RiverRidge, LA.www.richa rdsonfuneralhomeofjeffers on.com

Patricia LouMitchell Sonia departed this life peacefully on Thursdays, April 9, 2026 at West Jeffer‐son Hospital in Marrero LA.,she was73years old and aresidentofMarrero Daughterofthe late Ed‐wardMitchellSr. andthe lateOnita RoyalMitchell. Wife of thelateSamuel Henry Sonia. Devoted motherofCharlene, Lakei‐tha (Cory),and Javon Mitchell, Theron,Dwayne and Andron Sonia. Sister of Elenora Clinton(Joseph), Gwendolyn Waits, Edward Jr.,Lionel, ClarkRay,and RoderickMitchelland the lateMaryLouiseMitchell. Godmother of Kirk Bovie. Mrs.Sonia is also survived by19grandchildren (one predeceased herTraivian Mitchell),13great grand‐children, severalnieces, nephews,cousin, otherrel‐ativesand devotedfriends She wasprecededindeath byher sistersinlaw;Ger‐maine andDorothy Mitchell, nieceand nephews;Darlene Tory,El‐dridgeMitchelland Nelson Waits III, andher children's father; Ernest Dorsey.Rela‐tives andfriends of the family, officers andmem‐bersofTrueVineB.C., em‐ployesofFresenius Kidney CareofMarrero,Moler BeautyCollege,and Lafitte FrozenFoods areinvited to attendthe funeralService onFriday, April24, 2026 at HistoricTrueVineBaptist Church 249 Sala Ave.,West‐wegoLA. 70094. Thevisita‐tionwillbegin at 9AMfol‐lowed by a10AMservice officiated by Pastor Lean‐der Johnson. Intermentwill followinRestlawnMemor‐ial Park in Avondale.Fu‐neral planning entrustedto RobinsonFamilyFuneral Home. Foronlinecondo‐lencespleasevisit www robinsonfamilyfuneralho me.com

Willie Swington,Jr., age 87, departed this life on Friday, April 17, 2026. He wasa longtime resident of Jefferson, Louisiana, where he lived formore than 60 years. Though he was never married, Willie leaves to cherish hismemory his belovedchildren: three sons, Ray Charles Wells, Lornell (Joan)Bates, and Stanley Martin; andsix daughters, Sarah Goffney (husbandGerald,deceased), Mary Hobson (husbandJerome,deceased), Wilesta (Ronald) Shaw, Wilette Swington, Shannon Brown, and Tabatha (Michael)Wells. Afuneral service will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Mt.AiryBaptist Church,13635 Old Spanish Trail, Boutte, Louisiana 70039. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m., followed by theservice at 11:00 a.m. Intermentwilltake place at Mt.AiryCemetery in Boutte, Louisiana. Services are entrustedtoDennis Funeral Home (504-8998252).

HilleryYoung wasborn onNovember6,1953, to the lateCharlie H. Young,Sr. and Hattie Anderson Young.Hillery accepted Christatanearly age, be‐ginning alifelongjourney offaith.OnApril 29, 1981 Hillery wasunitedinmar‐riage to LendellYoung in New Orleans, Louisiana. Their 45-year unionwas blessedwiththe birthof their daughter,Ingrid Young,and alegacyofun‐waveringlove. Hillerywas precededindeath by his parents,Charlie andHattie Young; five brothers: Leonard,Thomas, Willie, Charlie,and John Young; one sister-in-law, Elaine Young;one brother-in-law Willie Arthur Barnes;three nieces, Jane Lynette Wolf Tonya Barnes,and Patrica Parker. He is survived by his belovedwife, Lendell Young of Farmersville, Texas;and histhree daughters:Nichole Davis ofTerry,Mississippi; Tonique Ruffin(Ernest)of Memphis,Tennessee; and Ingrid Young (Lafiere) of Farmersville, Texas. He alsoleavesbehindtwo sis‐ters: DorothyBarnesof Houston,Texas,and Daisy Jones (James)ofNew Or‐leans,Louisiana.Hillery helda specialrelationship withtwo cousins, Alfonso Masseyand LeoGriffin. His legacylives on throughhis elevengrandchildren: Christopher Davis, Kyle Horton, Erin Horton,Anaya Ruffin, NiaRuffin, Ashanti Williams,Zaria Carter,Zay‐lon Pointer, Xa’Vion, Lafiere, andDamaniWard, great-grandson, Mazi Jami‐son,God daughter Jenelle Hughesand ahostof nieces, nephews, and cousins.Familyand friends are invitedtoattend the Celebration of Life Service onSaturday, April25, 2026, for 1:00 p.m. at Gentilly Baptist Church,5141 FranklinAve,New Orleans, LA70122. Visitation will begin at 12:00 p.m. Rev‐erend EdwinC.Scott,offi‐ciating.Interment is pri‐vate. Guestbook Online: www.anewtraditionbegins com (504)282-0600. Linear BrooksBoydand Donavin D.BoydOwners/FuneralDi‐rectors

Snipes,Barbara

Swington Jr., Willie

Skipper-Smith, Shirley Mae

Roche',DanaMarie

Young,Hillery

Johnson,Donald

Sonia, Patricia LouMitchell

Magee, Olga Mae

SmithJr.,James Oley

OPINION

Lowering loan limits on public health degreesabad idea

Excluding public health students from professionaldegreeloan benefits willreduce the number of graduates prepared to improve population health, respond to emergencies and support thestate’seconomic and health care systems.

Edward Trapido GUEST COLUMNIST

The U.S. Department of Education’sproposalto exclude public health degrees from the definition of “professional degree”under HR 1threatens both Louisiana students’ access to higher education and the longterm health of the state. The proposal inexplicably removes publichealth, nursing, social work and other essential fields from eligibility for higher federal loan limits. Although controlling the cost of higher education is a reasonable goal, creating financial barriers for students entering vital health professions will destabilize workforce development and undermine Louisiana’sability to meet fundamental public health needs. Louisiana already suffers from some of the nation’sworst health outcomes, with high rates of preventable disease, maternal mortality and chronic illness.

Thomas LaVeist GUEST COLUMNIST

Amy Thierry GUEST COLUMNIST

Reversing thesetrends requires astronger,better-trained public health workforce.

Public health programs are rigorous, skills-based curricula that clearly meet thedefinition of “professional degree.” They prepare studentstoenter specialized fieldssuchasepidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health,health policy, emergency preparedness, industrial hygiene, health administration and disease prevention andcontrol.

Theimportance of this training is evident in nearly every dimension of community health. Public health professionals identify and contain disease outbreaks, monitor and protectair and water quality,investigatethe causes of maternal deathsand design policies that make childbirth safer.Theyhelphospitals operate

moreefficiently,lead clinics and government agencies and serve on the front lines of disaster response.

Their research drives improvements in chronic disease prevention,infectious disease control, environmental safety and quality of care.

Restrictingfinancial support for students pursuing these careers would weaken Louisiana’s capacity to respond to ongoing and future health threats.

Workforce shortages are already serious, especially in rural and underserved areas. Without reasonable federal loan options, these gaps will widen. Communities could face problemsthat strong public healthsystemsare specifically designed to mitigate.

At theLSU School of Public Health, manystudentsare the first in their families to attend college or pursue graduate training. Others come from rural Louisianaand plan to return hometoserve their communities. If public health loses its professional-degree designation, these studentswould no longer qualify for higher loan limits, putting graduateeducation beyond reach. Enrollment declines would shrink

Fixing parish’s sewers is key to unlockingmorehousing

America’shousing crisis is often described in the abstract: distant supply chain breakdowns, zoningcodes frozen in amber,ashortage of two to 20million homes. But for local officials like me, the problems are unmistakably concrete. In Lafayette, thebiggest obstacle is beneath our feet. And it is broken. For decades, Lafayette has struggled to add housing, notfor lack of demand or developer interest, but because our agingsewers are overburdened. Frequent storms have made flooded streets afamiliar sight. Crumblingpipes lie below private property in our oldest, poorest neighborhoods,where homeowners cannot afford costly,unpredictable repairs. The result is paralysis: no homes, no growth, no one abletomovefirst. Municipalities nationwide face the same dilemma in different guises —legacy infrastructure built for anotherera,buckling under today’sdemands. Lafayette’s shift —from treating these failures as fixed constraints to designing aprocess that can solve them —pointstoaway forward. When Itook office, bandaging abroken system wasn’tworking,but anunconventional idea might: The city could repair the private sewer lines itself

thepipeline of professionals prepared to workinpublic health jobsacross the state. Tulane University’sCelia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health&Tropical Medicine would face similar challenges. Tulane trains students in epidemiology,tropical medicine, environmental health, disaster response and other critical fields. Many rely on federal loans to access graduateeducation. Tulane has recently invested in strengthening the statewide workforce pipeline, and forthe past five years, has offered ascholarship covering 35% of tuition forany Louisianapublic health student. Although Tulane is not astate institution, it provides these benefitstobroaden opportunity and support statewide health improvement.

Xavier University of Louisiana’smaster of public health in healthequity program plays a critical role. Itsstudents intern in local health agencies and communityorganizations, contributing directly to the region’spublic healthinfrastructure. Many graduates remaininNew Orleans and throughoutthe state, committed to addressing deep health dispari-

ties. The program’s growth is tied to Xavier’srapidly expanding undergraduate public health major, reflecting strong student interest in the field. Removing public health from the list of federally recognized professional degrees would jeopardize both programs and weaken avital pipeline of practitioners and future leaders. Public health students are, by every measure, pursuing aprofessional field. Excluding public health from the federal definition of “professional degree” is shortsighted and dangerous. It erects new barriers forLouisiana students, weakens the state’sfuture workforce, and undermines efforts to improve community health. The Department of Education should revise its definition to ensure public health is recognized and supported as the essential professional training it is.

Edward Trapido is thedean of theLSU School of Public Health. ThomasLaVeist is dean of theTulane Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health &Tropical Medicine. AmyThierry is an associate dean of theXavier College of Arts &Sciences

To limithomelessnessinN.O., prevention,not jail,isthe answer

enabledevelopment sooner than building newpump stations. Our team would manage the contractors and engage affected areas, removing the burden from individuals and creating aprocess forefficient repairs. Critically,the upgrades would be fully covered; homeownerswouldn’thave to pay adime. The concept wasn’tflashy.But it wasnovel and, if successful, scalable and replicable.

Lafayette was selected from more than630 applicants as one of 50 finalistcities.Inaddition to $50,000 in seed funding to testand hone our solution, we gained expert guidance andanetworkofpeersatBloomberg Philanthropies’Ideas Camp in Bogotá, where we readied plans to pilot our conceptand exchanged strategieswith 200 fellow officials from around the world.

Our engineers ran calculations to confirm thatrehabilitating these lines would cost half as much as building new lift stations —unlocking treatmentcapacity for up to 13,000 morehomes,asignificant boost forour population of 122,000.

And, critically,wereached out to Lafayette’s people. Their perspective had to be at theheart of the futureweare trying to build.

On March 10, The Times-Picayune reportedthatNew Orleans policemay begin arresting people for obstructing public sidewalks or entryways in theFrenchQuarter. While homelessness is agrowing issue acrossthe city, this conversation is starting at the end of the story.

New Orleans police have cited repeated offenses as the reason for ramping up enforcement.Violations arepunishable by fines of up to $500, six months in jailorboth.

The department has acknowledged thatmany individuals have already declined assistance, making enforcement “thenext logical step.”

remember that intervention is possible.Federal research has repeatedly shown thata Housing First approach and rapid rehousing help people exit homelessness more quickly and improve housing stability

At STARTCorporation, we knowfrom four decades of experience that integrated, wraparound care that prioritizes both housing and health care brings tangible outcomes in keeping families out of homelessness.

To do that, we’d need capital, capacity and partners. We foundthemall in Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Mayors Challenge Now in its sixth iteration,the competition calls on city halls to bolsteressential services and offers an engine ofsupport through itsGovernment Innovationprogram to bring the boldestproposals to life. In ourapplication, we described our present reality: cracked claypipes under private property and blocks underwater afterdownpours.Housingshortfalls in our urban core forcingoutwardsprawl. Nearly half of renters spending more than 30% of income on their homes; many more out-priced from living nearjobs or loved ones. Storied neighborhoods had stagnated, diminishing thevitality of Lafayette as awhole.

Working backward fromour goal of more homes, our idea was clarified through the application process: apublicprivate partnership to fix the pipes. The leaky lines, which allowedrainwater to infiltrate our system, limitedtreatment capacity.Estimates showed that restoration would cost less,work better and

All told, oursmall team aligned authority, expertise, incentives and accountability.Webrought together actorswho rarely work together.And we got comfortable with risk. Now,asone of 24 Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Mayors Challenge winners, we will receive $1 million, multiyear assistance and additional funds for dedicatedstaff to execute and expand our plan with theprogram’ssupport

To be sure, our work is justbeginning. Fully repairing our sewer system will cost up to $25 million. But theroad to more housing, stronger infrastructure and better lives is being paved. By refusing to treatbrokenframeworks as immovable, we won’t just mend ailing pipes, we will create theconditions for Lafayette’snext generationtolay down roots.

City,state and national leaders can do the same by bending government toward the problems of the present When it does, theresults won’tbetheoretical. Theywill be built and felt from theground up.

Monique Boulet is the mayor-president of Lafayette.

The frustration is real. Business owners, workersand families deserve safe, walkable streets However,public safetyand preventionare not competing goals. The real questionis whether arrestsand sweeps reduce homelessness or simply relocate it temporarily

In 2025, UNITY of Greater New Orleans reporteda16% rise in thenumber of people living in homeless shelters from the previous year Additionally,the United Way’sALICE Report confirmedthat of Orleans Parish households in 2023 wereliving in poverty, compared with the state average of 19% By the timesomeone is lying on asidewalk, theyhave already survived aseriesof failures. This could mean ajob loss, ahealth crisis,arelationship that collapsed or an eviction that came faster than the next paycheck. The root causes of thatinstability did not begin on the street.

If we only respond once someone is in crisis, we arechoosing themostvisible and expensive point of intervention. Enforcement without investment in prevention doesn’t solve homelessness. It manages its visibility while the underlying pressures continue to grow

Research shows us that thelonger apersonremains unsheltered, the greater their exposuretotrauma, substance use and serious mental illness.

The longer the exposurelasts, the harder and moreexpensive therecovery becomes. As acommunity,wepay every year in emergency room visits, incarceration and lost productivity. We mustprioritize investment in prevention and early intervention before the entirecommunitypays theprice.

On April 8, Igathered withfellow advocates and leadersinBaton Rouge for Homelessness Advocacy Day

As we worktouplift New Orleanians and communities acrossthe state, we must

Programssuch as Assertive Community Treatment, or ACT,teams, rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing, substance use treatment and veterans’ services support the whole person before acrisis deepens. These programs are not aluxury They are essential civic infrastructure.In the same waythat we invest in roads and drainage to prevent larger structural failures, we must invest in behavioral health, housing and wraparound services to prevent challenges like those unfolding in the French Quarter

The question New Orleans should be asking right now is not only how we respond whensomeone is lying on the sidewalk. We should also ask what policies, resources and funding we are putting in place before they ever get there. Are we fully supporting community-based organizations doing prevention work? Are we expanding access to mental health care, substance use treatment and housing support for families on the edge? Are we making it easier,not harder,for people to get help early?

That question is even more urgent as safety nets weaken.

Approximately half amillion Louisianans have lost Medicaid coverage since 2023, and Louisiana is facing cuts to SNAP benefits that will hit working families, older adults and people with disabilities especially hard. When those supports disappear,housing instability becomes more likely

We will notsolve homelessness in New Orleans through arrests and relocation alone. We will solve it by reducing the numberof people who fall into crisis in the first place and by moving faster whenthey do. Prevention is practical and cost-effective, and it starts with systems that keep people housed, healthy and stable long before facing asidewalk arrest.

Tanasha Minoristhe vice president of theGreater NewOrleans Region forthe nonprofitStart Corporation

Tanasha Minor GUEST COLUMNIST

Monique Boulet GUEST COLUMNIST

COMMENTARY

ISSUE OF THE WEEK POPE V. TRUMP

As the war in Iran rages, Pope Leo XIV and President Donald Trumphaveexchanged words on the justifications forthe conflict.The pope, the first American to leadthe Catholic Church, called on worldleaderstoworkfor peace and rejected the assertion by Defense SecretaryPete Hegseth that God is blessing U.S. militaryactions.Thepresident sharply rebuked the pope, and members of hisadministration suggested the pope should not strayinto political matters.What does the episode reveal about the pope’sunique role in worldaffairs? Here are twoperspectives.

Morality stillmatters despite view of Trumpadministration

Vice President JD Vance, arecentconvert toCatholicism, berated Pope LeoXIV about his doctrinal duties. The Supreme Pontiff, Vance lectured, should “sticktomatters of morality” and avoid politics. Well, yes, the pope is clearly focusing on “matters of morality,” and that’sprecisely why his voice is so valuable. When Leo laments the bombing of civiliantargets in Iran or the mistreatmentofimmigrants in America, he emphasizes values that President Donald Trump openly derides and dismisses. Trump views all relationships anddecisions as purely transactional. He measures consequences on only onescale: how they help or hurt him. Andhescornsany moral principle that contradictshis own judgment or benefit. When New York Times reporters asked Trump last January “ifthere were any limits on his global powers,” the president replied: “Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality.Myown mind. It’s theonlything that can stop me.” He then added, “I don’t need international law.” Force and powerhave always been a primary part of politics. But if theyare the only influences,ifmight always makes right, then the inevitable result isa climate of constant chaos and permanent peril. That’swhere the pope comesin. Born Robert Francis Prevostin1950s Chicago, he knows more about American politics than any previous pontiff. Leo has denounced Trump’scrackdown on undocumented immigrants as “extremely disrespectful” and noted that many of them have been “living good lives” in this country “for 10, 15, 20 years. The pope condemned Trump’sthreat to annihilateIranian civilizationas“truly unacceptable,” and on PalmSunday preached that God “does not listen to the prayersofthose who wage war,but re-

jects them.”

Thepope, threecardinals and agreementonthe Iran war

“War is Hell,”said Union General William Tecumseh Sherman in 1879.

Steve Roberts

Trump haslashed back, posting, “I don’t want aPope who criticizes the President of the United States” and adding: “I don’t thinkhe’sdoing avery good job. Iamnot afan of Pope Leo.” The animosity is clearly mutual. Leoborrowed amedia trick from Trump, tellingreporters on his planeasheflew to Algeria: “I have no fear of theTrumpadministration or speaking out loudly of the message of theGospel, which is what Ibelieve Iamhere to do.”

The Rev.Antonio Spadaro, aprominent Vatican official, described thepope’srole in asocial media post: “This is where the Church’smoral force emerges. Not as a counter-power,but as aspace in which power is judged by astandarditdoes not control. Leo does not respond on the terrain of polemics, and for that very reason remains beyond its grasp. He is free. And that freedom —unarmed and disarming —isperhapswhat mostunsettles.And, at the same time, what mattersmost.”

This matters mostbecause Trumpis squandering one of this nation’smost valuable assets: its reputation. Instead of making America great again, he is doing the opposite, degrading America’srole in the world as the primary defender of human rights and the rule of law

Americans are starting to grasp the dire consequences of having aleader who lacksamoral center.When arecent

YouGov poll asked voters to pick words that apply to Trump, clear majorities said “arrogant,” “opportunistic,”“reckless,” “dishonest” and “corrupt.” Only 27% described him as “honest”and 23% as “compassionate.” So it’strue. Pope Leo is sticking to “matters of morality.”

And thank God he is.

Email Steven V. Roberts at stevecokie@ gmail.com

PopeLeo and three cardinals of the Catholic Church who appeared last Sunday on “60 Minutes,”agree. The problem for these theologiansis that for them it appears waris only Hell when it is engaged in by the United States and for the best of reasons. They have little to say about the terrorist regime in Iran or for that matter the slaughter of civilians by Vladimir Putin’sarmy in Ukraine.

lution: “The American Revolution represented alooming crisis to the Pope, forits success wasunderstood as adegradation of freedom, not an achievement.” Pope Pius XII failed to speak out against the Holocaust. Recently opened Vatican archives suggest he knew of the massmurder of Jews by the Nazi regimeby1942, but feared public protest would worsen persecution and endanger Catholics.

These church leaders seem to be engaging in akind of immoral equivalency.Do they not know that the Islamic regime hates Christians and Jews andbelieves their deity demands they be killed? American Catholics have frequently disagreed withtheir popes, especially on issues such as abortion and traditional marriage. Consider Rep.Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and former President Joe Biden, among the high-profile adherents to that faith. Both,along with other Democrat politicians who are Catholic, disregarded their church’steaching on these issues. PopeLeo began theyear criticizing America’smilitary action in Venezuela, which removed thedictator and election cheat Nicolas Maduro from power and offered at least thehope of morefreedom to thenation’spopulation. How is repression aCatholic or even abiblical norm?Previous popes, notably John PaulII, were vociferous opponentsofcommunism and especially theSoviet Union. Ronald Reagan famously called theSoviet Union an “evil empire.” He knew evilwhen he saw it.The samemight be said forPresident Trumpwhen it comes to Venezuela, Iran and possibly Cuba, which Trumphas hinted may be next on his “hit list.”

At thetime of the American Revolution, another pope —Pius VI —was on the wrong side of history.AsBrady J. Crytzer writes in Journal for theAmerican Revo-

Since 1979, the ayatollah regime in Iran and its proxies have been responsible fornumerous American deaths through targeted attacks, bombings and hostage crises. Major incidents include the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing, the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing and ongoing proxy actions in Iraq, Syria and Yemen,with thousands of U.S. troops wounded or killed over their four decades in dictatorial power Is wartostop future atrocities —with a promise of worse to come, including the possibility of nuclear war which would kill millions —not on Pope Leo’sunbalanced moral scales?

The theory of ajust war, which is likely familiar to the pope, says warcan be justified under the following conditions: “having ajust cause (for example self-defense), right intention (peace), legitimate authority,last resort, proportionality and probability of success.”

The Iran warisapre-emptive strike to prevent the regimefrom obtaining a nuclear weapon and using it to kill millions. If that does not justifywhat is currently taking place, what does? As mentioned on previous occasions, popes have been wrong as the outcomes of some wars andrevolutions have shown.The first American pope cannotbeignorantof this history

EmailCal Thomasattcaeditors@tribpub. com.

Cal Thomas

ASSOCIATEDPRESS

PHOTOByTHEMBAHADEBE

Pope Leo XIV walks priortohis departure for Equatorial Guinea, in Luanda, Angola, on Tuesday

Springer, Smalley tierecord at Zurich Classic

BY SCOTT RABALAIS

Staff writer

ä Zurich Classic 2P.M. FRIDAy,GOLF CHANNEL

He may be one of those “Not abig name yet” guys in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans field, but ridiculously low scores seemto followHayden Springer around. Heshot a59two years ago in the 2024 John Deere Classic Thursday,heand playing partner Alex Smalley went on abirdie (plus one eagle) binge in score-friendly conditionsatTPC Louisiana. They tied the tournament record witha 14-under par58, giving them aone-stroke lead overDavis Thompsonand Austin Eckroat. Three teams —Sam Stevens andZach Bauchou, Eric Cole and Hank Lebioda and NickDunlap and Gordon Sargent —weretwo back at 60 It was the first time for Springer andSmalley playing together in this, thePGA Tour’s only regular-season team event, but Smalleyand Springer had somesubtle chemistry going in. Smalley’scaddie, MichaelBurns, used to be on the bag for Springer

“They’re still really good friends,” Smalley said. “Weknew we would havea good time out there,and we did.”

Attacking the Avondale courseinthe more

ä See ZURICH, page 5C

LSUbaseball runningout of time to turn season around

BYKOKI RILEY Staff writer

Jake Brown immediately started to shake his right hand as he walked out of the batter’sbox.

ä LSU at Mississippi State 3P.M.FRIDAy, SEC NETWORK+

The moment seemed inconsequential. It was just afoul ball, after all. The junior right fielder was looking to get ahit, something that couldspark LSU baseball’soffense and climb the Tigers out of their 5-0 deficit on Sunday against Texas A&M. ButonceBrown started quiveringhis hand, the score became the least ofcoach Jay Johnson’sconcerns

“I saw him shake his hand,” Johnson told TheAdvocate, “andIwas like,‘That’s not good.’ I’ve seen that before.” Johnson’sworst fear came true. Brown had broken his hamate bone, acommon injury for hitters but one that would likely sideline him for the restofthe season. Losing Brown, who leads the team with 16home runs, was the last thing LSU couldafford in its late push for aspot in the NCAA Tournament. Combinedwiththe news of junior righthandedstarterCooperMoore gettingshut

ä See LSU, page 2C

PICK IS IN

BY MATTHEWPARAS Staff writer

In theminutes after he received a phone call from the New Orleans Saints, Jordyn Tyson became overwhelmedwith emotion.

As he walkeddown thetunnelon hisway to greetcommissioner Roger Goodell at theNFL draft in Pittsburgh, the former Arizona State wide receiver stopped to get down on one knee —fittingly right by the Saints’ logo. When he arose, his eyes werered fromcrying.

Spit flewfrom his mouth.But in the moment he put on the cap of his new team, Tyson was nothing but appreciative.

The Saints were thankful, too. With the No. 8pick, they got theplayer they hope

will take their offense to another level.

“It’s like amatch madeinheaven,” Tyson said withasmile in avideo call with reporters. “And we’re theSaints, so.”

The Saints prioritized getting quarterback Tyler Shough some help Thursday, notably preferring to take Tyson over other prospects such as Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and Miami edgerusher RuebenBain.

ä See SAINTS, page 4C

The Saints entered the draftwith three clear needs—wide receiver,edge rusher and cornerback —but basedontalent alone, it was not hard to see whyNew Orleansbecame infatuated with the 6-foot2, 203-pound receiver At his best, Tysoncan line up at a ä See WALKER, page 4C

in his second NBAseason, finished with acareer playoffhigh of 13 points. Meanwhile, Jordyn, a6-foot-2

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Alex Smalley, left, and Hayden Springer shakehands after finishing the first round of the Zurich Classic on ThursdayatTPC Louisiana in Avondale.

On TV AUTO RACING

6p.m. NHRA: Qualifying FS1 COLLEGE BASEBALL

7p.m. UTSA at Tulane ESPNU

7p.m. Arkansas at Missouri SECN

MEN’S COLLEGE LACROSSE

1:30 p.m. Drexel at Virginia ACCN

6p.m.Loyola (Md.) at Navy CBSSN

WOMEN’S COLLEGE LACROSSE

2p.m. Michigan vs. NorthwesternBTN

4p.m. Syracuse vs. North CarolinaACCN

5p.m. Johns Hopkins vs.Maryland BTN

7p.m. Clemson vs. Stanford ACCN

COLLEGE SOFTBALL

5p.m. Texas at Kentucky SECN

6p.m. Texas A&M at South CarolinaESPN2

8p.m. Texas Tech at Arizona St. ESPN2

9p.m. UCLA at Washington BTN GOLF

10 a.m.LPGATour:Memorial Park GOLF

2p.m. PGATour:Zurich ClassicGOLF

5p.m. LPGA Tour:Memorial Park GOLF

HORSE RACING

noon America’s Dayatthe Races FS2 MEN’S IIHF HOCKEY

9a.m. U.S. vs.Denmark NHLN MLB

6:15 p.m. PhiladelphiaatAtlanta APPLETV

9:10 p.m. Cubs at Dodgers APPLETV

NBA

6p.m.Boston at Philadelphia PRIME

7p.m.L.A.Lakers at Houston PRIME

9:30 p.m.San AntonioatPortland PRIME NFL

6p.m.NFL Draft: Rounds 2-3 ABC, ESPN NHL

6p.m.Tampa BayatMontreal TNT

8:30 p.m.Vegas at Utah TBS

9p.m.Edmonton at Anaheim TNT MEN’S SOCCER

2p.m.Nottingham at Sunderland USA

6p.m.Wanderers at Supra du Québec FS2 UFL

7p.m.DCatBirmingham FOX

Edwardsgetting hotfor Tigers

Firstbaseman leads LSUinkey series at Mississipi State

BY JIM KLEINPETER

Contributing writer

As aredshirt freshman in 2025

first basemanTori Edwards exploded onto the LSU softball scene.

Her .383 batting average, 18 home runs and 73 RBIs earned her SEC Freshmanofthe Year honors and apreseason All-America tag this year

It also moved her to thetop of every opponent’s scouting report, underlined in red and surrounded with “danger” emojis. With that extra attention, Edwards numbersare down this season, but she showed clearsigns of breaking out with six hits, three of them homers, and eight RBIs in last weekend’ssweep of Ole Miss.

That’sgood news for the No. 20 Tigers (32-14, 9-9 SEC) whogoto Starkville, Mississippi, this weekend for akey series against the No. 17 Bulldogs (34-14, 6-12)with postseason landing spots coming into focus.

“She’sbeen continuing to work and never given in,” coach Beth Torina said. “She’sgoing through herprocess andisina good spot with her confidence.Itkeepsimproving as the season goeson.” Edwards’ numbers have been respectable.She leads the team in homers (11) and RBIs (36). But the telltale number is ateam-best 38 walks, one more than all of last season. Often with first base open, she won’tsee asingle strike. Known among her teammates as professional about herpreparation, her temperamentisalso

LSU

Continued from page1C

down for the remainder of the season with astressfracture at the tip of his right elbow,and LSU dropping its sixth consecutive game in Southeastern Conference play on Sunday,the Tigers’ postseason hopes had gone from worrying to almost non-existent in amatter of days.

The Tigers still have four weekends remaining in their SEC slate and get back into the NCAA Tournament picture, starting on Friday in Starkville, Mississippi, against Mississippi State (6:30 p.m., SEC Network+). But Johnson’steam, in all likelihood, has alreadyrun out of time.

LSU is 24-18overall, 6-12 in SEC play and is the No. 63 teaminthe RPI. The Tigers still have to face the No. 12 (Florida), No. 18 (Mississippi State) and No. 20 (Georgia) RPI teams on their schedule, giving them ample opportunities to make up ground in the schedule-based metric. The injuries and their play up to this point in the season, however, suggest that anythingmore than acouple of wins over those teams would come as a big surprise.

LSUhasa16-18recordsincestarting the season at 8-0. The Tigers are 1-8 against top-20 teams inthe RPI, and they did not crack D1Baseball or Baseball America’slatest NCAA Tournament projections.

“I live for the NCAA Tournament. Like,(that) mightbesuper shallow-minded, but Ido,” Johnson said. “And they know the work that they have to do. They’ve known for four weeks, honestly,totry to create that sense of urgency.But it’s really just about how we play.”

LSU has made alate push into the tournament under Johnson, makingthe field in 2024despite starting SEC play 3-12. But that team was healthier,had fewer

solid. She hasn’t gotten frustrated “I continued to trust my preparation through theseason,”Edwards said. “I told myselfatthe beginning of theyear,ifI didn’t come out (strong)and got hot in May,that’sthe best thing for the team. I’m continuingtokeep moving forward.

“If me getting on basewith the

nonconferencelosses weighing down its resume anddidn’thave the toughest games on its schedulestill remaining.

When asked if he thought this year’steam was facing circumstances similar to the ones in 2024, Johnson dismissedthe idea entirely

“Not the same circumstances,” Johnson said after LSU’slosslast Friday to TexasA&M. “Whatwill be the same is how Jay Johnson shows up, and how Jay Johnson prepares histeam to try to give them the best chance of success.

“And how tomorrow,even thoughitmay notmove the needle, I’m going to coach it like a flood’scomingthrough town if we don’twin, and it’sgonna wreck everythingand wreck everybody

Andthat’sthe effort Iwill (have) to prepare my team tomorrow.”

Johnson made it clear again on Tuesday that he doesn’t plan on givingupjust yet, constructinga lineup for Tuesday’s gameagainst UNO that he thought gave the Tigers thebestchancetowin.But as

walks is therole Ihave to fill, that’smymentality.I’m not gettingfrustrated that I’mnot hitting the samenumbersaslastyear.I continue to trust the process. Whatever they give me,I’m going to continue to take advantage.” Partofthe issuewas multiple new faces in thelineup and other players knowing their roles.

Shortstop Kylee Edwards (no

ON DECK

WHO: LSU (24-18, 6-12 SEC) at Mississippi State(31-10, 10-8SEC) WHEN: 3p.m. Friday

WHERE: DudyNoble Field

ONLINE/TV: SECNetwork+

RADIO: WDGL-FM,98.1 (Baton Rouge); WWL-AM, 870 (NewOrleans); KLWB-FM, 103.7 (Lafayette)

RANKINGS: Mississippi StateisNo. 15 in D1Baseball’stop-25 rankings

PROBABLESTARTERS: LSU —RHP Casan Evans (2-2, 5.47 ERA); Mississippi State—LHP Tomas Valincius PREGAME UPDATES: theadvocate.com/lsu ON X: @KokiRiley

WHATTOWATCH FOR: Evans allowedsix earned runs in five inningslast weekend against Texas A&M.The sophomore has gottenthrough at least five inningsin eachofhis last five outings.Valincius surrendered three earned runs in eachof his last twostarts against Tennessee and SouthCarolina. He hasn’t allowedmore than threeearned runs in an outing this year

—Koki Riley

he demonstrated after the Aggies took down his team lastFriday,his frustrations with this team have only grown since they started struggling in nonconference play

“I made some mistakes in constructing theteam,” Johnson said when asked aboutLSU’s two-out hitting issues. “And trying to replace two guys that wereirreplaceable, whereweshouldhave looked for replacing them through guys that were already in the program.”

LSU’slackluster campaign has likely put it in aposition it hasn’t been in since 2007, when the Tigers only won 29 games and didn’t come close to reaching the NCAA Tournament.LSU also missed the tourneyin2011, but it was in the thick of the race until the endof theyear andonlylost three non-

Florida baseball team names field after Bertman Ahigh school baseball park in MiamiBeach,Florida,has renamed its field after LSU baseball legend Skip Bertman.

On Thursday,the Flamingo Park Baseball Field honoredthe fivetime national championship-winning head coach of the Tigers by renaming the field Stanley “Skip” Bertman Field. Bertman graduated from Miami Beach High in 1956 andled theprogram to astate championship as thehead coach in 1970.

“Coach Bertman is afantastic role model for our children to see what can be accomplished in sports and in life,” Miami Beach Vice MayorLaura Dominguez said in an LSU press release. He also guided the school to two runner-up seasons before becoming acollege coach.

ä LSU at Mississippi State.

2P.M.FRIDAy,SECNN+

relation) and right fielderAlix

Franklin have comeonstrong and now bat in front of Edwards, who is in the five hole.

TheTigershavewon nine of their past 11 games to reach .500 in conference games forthe first time after a1-5 start.

“Theteam is really understanding whotheyare, theirroles,”Torina said. “People whose role isn’t what they set out forittobehave embraced how they can helpthis team. We’re getting so much help from one through 23. Everybody owns their roles.

“This team has grownthroughout this year morethan any other I’ve had, slow starting but also understanding each other and their jobs. The adversity we faced early provided us with toughness and ability to weather some storms as we go into the postseason.”

The Tigers and theBulldogs will be fighting forregional host sites, andthisweekend’s gamescould turn out to be atiebreaker.LSU’s RPI is 10 and State’sis19, but that could change thisweekend.

The Bulldogs boast twoofthe best armsinthe SEC in Peja Goold (14-9, 2.09 ERA) and Alyssa Faircloth (10-5, 2.42). Faircloth leads the SEC with195 strikeouts and Gooldisfourth with146. Outfielder Kiara Sells is batting .384 with 14 homers and 29 RBIs.

“Two of the best armsinthe league, hands down. They’ve given everybody problems, Torina said. “We’re not just in the running to host, we’re in the running against them.They’re in the sameareaweare. Anytime you go head to head againstanopponent like that you want to have the tiebreaker on them.”

conference games.

“I’d rather be able to walkoff the field knowing thatsomebody beat us than we beat ourselves,” Johnson said. “And there’sso much to that and (I have an) unmeetable standard with it, but I thinkthat’show youhavetobe here,otherwise you’re notgoing to last… I’m talking about everybody,coach, player, administrator, social media team.”

Even if the 2026 season hasalready been lost, muchofwhat happens in thenext month will influence what the Tigers will look like in 2027. Fans got ataste of what’s to come on Tuesday, when Johnson started three freshmen and brought afourth off the bench.

Outfielder WilliamPatrick, catcher Omar Serna, first baseman/outfielder Mason Braun and infielder Jack Ruckert combined to go 5for 10 with six RBIs against UNO. SophomoreCadeArrambide also blasted his 11th homer of theyear,and sophomore John Pearson hit asingle.

Meanwhile, only one player LSU brought in from the transfer portal last summer started on Tuesday None of those transfers started on Saturday against Texas A&M.

“It takes some time to get (how to play here),” Johnson said. “That’s(why) it’ssovaluable that those (freshmen) get in there and get achance to play.”

Over 200 teams will miss the NCAA Tournament this year.But for LSU,a program that haswon two of the past three national championships, this nightmare season hasitfacing aprobabilitynobody could’ve imagined in February

Not playing baseball in June.

“I knowthey like being together,” Johnson said. “So,I’d hate that we’donlyhavefourand ahalf weeks left if that wasthe case.”

Email Koki Rileyatkoki.riley@ theadvocate.com. For more LSU sports updates, signupfor our newsletter at theadvocate.com/ lsunewsletter

Wembanyamawill travel with SpurstoPortland

SAN ANTONIO Victor Wembanyama will travelwith theSan Antonio Spurs to Portland for games this weekend while continuing to completethe steps mandated by the league’s concussion protocol. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson stoppedshort Thursday of saying Wembanyamawill play in Game 3. Wembanyama is “progressing,” Johnson said, but his status against the Trail Blazers remains uncertain. Wembanyama was at theteam’s practice facility fora second consecutive day Thursday,walking around in ablack hoodie and gray sweatpants. He even got afew shots up, teammate Julian Champagnie said Wembanyama was theleague’s first-ever unanimous Defensive Player of theYear.

Patriots coachVrabel will miss Day 3ofNFL draft

NewEngland Patriots coach

Mike Vrabel is seeking counseling and will not be with the team forDay 3ofthe NFLdraftonSaturday,following the publication of photosofthe coach andlongtime NFL reporterDianna Russini at an Arizona resort.

“As Isaid the other day,I promisedmyfamily,thisorganization and this team that Iwas going to give themthe best version of me that Ican possibly give them. In order to do so, Ihave committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend,” Vrabel told ESPN on Wednesday night.

The Patriots confirmed Vrabel will missthe thirdday of thedraft. The NFLsaidlastweekendthat it is notinvestigating Vrabel’sbehavior

Dybantsa declares for NBA draft, is top pick contender

AJ Dybantsahas made it official: He’senteringthe NBA draft.

The BYU forward —widely expected to be atop candidateto be the No. 1pick —made the announcement Thursday.Dybantsa ledthe nation by averaging 25.5points per game in hislone college season, along with 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. He’sthe first player to have a season with all those averages and be named aconsensus AllAmerican since Larry Birddid it for Indiana Statein1978-79. Dybantsa made theannouncement at theDavis School in his hometown of Brockton, Massachusetts —the home of boxing greatsRocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler,among others.

Hall of Famer Koufax wins Lifetime AchievementAward NEWYORK— Sandy Koufax has won the sixth Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Baseball Digest. The HallofFame pitcher was honoredThursdaywith an annual distinction that “recognizes aliving individual whose career hasbeenspent in or around Major League Baseball and who has demonstrated outstandingcharacterand hasmadesignificant contributions to the game.”

Willie Mays won the inaugural awardin2021, followed by Vin Scully (2022), Joe Torre (2023), DustyBaker (2024) and Bob Costas (2025).

“It’sagreat honor to be recognizedalong with theprevious award winners,” the 90-year-old Koufax said in anews release. “I thank the distinguished panel.”

PHOTO By MICHAEL BACIGALUPI

LSU coachJay Johnson watches aplayfrom thedugout during agame against TexasA&M on SundayatAlex Box Stadium.

PHOTO By PATRICK DENNIS

LSU firstbasemanTori Edwards gets asingle in the first inning of LSU’s 8-5 win overOle Miss on Sunday at TigerPark.

Rummel clinches series vs.St. Paul’s

BY CHRISTOPHER DABE Staff writer

Rummel pitcher BrennanRamon ended his school’s playoff series-clinching victory over St. Paul’swith astrikeout —but not before theseniorrelieverfound some luck. With the bases loaded and two outs in aone-run game, Ramon threw a3-1 pitch thatsailed over the head of batter Will Clements. Thebatter ducked, andthe ball deflectedoff his bat,turning what would have beena runscoring walk into afouled strike two Clements ripped the next pitch foul, and Ramon followed with an outside fastball for acalledstrike three —earning Rummel a5-4 victory that completed an LHSAA Division Iselect regional-round series sweep Thursday at KirschRooney Stadium.

“I went in there, made thepitch,” Ramon said. “Obviously alittle bit of luck with the foulballoff the bat.” The win advanced fifth-seeded

Rummel (27-8) to the state quarterfinals,wherethe Raiderswill face the winnerofa series betweenNo. 4St. Thomas More and No. 13 Lafayette High. Rummel and St.Paul’s(20-10) played twoone-run games, thefirst one a3-2 victory aftera St. Paul’s baserunner slippedand fellashe rounded third, keepinghim from scoring the tying runinthe seventh inning Rummelbroke a3-3 tie in the seventh inning when Rummel’s Jack Hurd andBeau Stevens each hitRBI singles withtwo outs for a 5-3 lead

St. Paul’s drewtwo walksinthe bottomofthe inning, and abouncer to the first baseman for what would have been the thirdout resulted in two-base throwing errorthatlet onerun score. An intentional walk loaded the bases, setting the stage for Ramon’s dramatic finish.

“I thoughtitwas agreat pitch,” Rummel coach Frank Cazeaux said of the game-ending strikeout “Three-two count. (Ramon’s) a toughkid. (StartingpitcherGrayson) Schexnaildre is atough kid.

(RelieverBrody) Bertucci is a tough kid too.”

All four runs for St.Paul’swere batters that reached on walks, as three Rummel pitchers combined forsix (one intentional) andone hit batter Rummelopenedthe scoringwith Joel Morange’stwo-RBI single in thetop of the first. After St. Paul’s drew even in the third, Rummel regained thelead when Hurd struck outand reached first on awild pitch and scoredonIan Smith’s single.

No.12St. Paul’s won 20 games for the first time since the 2019 statechampionship season.

“Weplayedour buttsoff all year long,”first-year St. Paul’s coach Mike Scanlon said. “The senior class is really special. They changedthe program. Itoldthem they should be proud.”

Asked aboutthe high pitch that hit offClements’ bat for strike two: “It is what it is,” Scanlon said.“Hats offto(Ramon) to make apitch (forthe strikeout). I’m not going to let that define our season.”

LSUtransferReedcommits to Michigan

BY TOYLOYBROWN III Staff writer

Former LSU forward Jalen Reed is transferring to Michigan, his mom, Falena Hughes, told The Advocate.

The redshirt junior is the second transfer portaladdition for Michigan(37-3, 19-1 Big Ten), which won the NCAA men’sbasketball championship under second-year coach Dusty May last season.

The 6-foot-10, 245-pound Reed is coming off two straight seasonendinginjuries.Hesuffered aleft Achillestendon injury in the sixth game of last season. The year before, he torehis rightACL during the eighth game of the 2024-25 season.

Entering last season, Reed was expected to be the Tigers’ secondbest player,averaging 11 points on 60.6% shooting and 6.0 rebounds in the first five games. In the seven games Reed played during the 2024-25season, he was averaging 12.4 points on 59.6% shooting and 7.4 rebounds. Thosefigures would’ve made him the team’s second-leading scorerand leading rebounder that season. Reed, anative of Jackson,Mississippi, entered the transfer portal the same day Will Wade replaced formerhead coach Matt McMahon at LSU on March 26. He was the first recruit that McMahon brought to the program in the 2022 recruiting class. Reed previously said that he remained loyal to LSU

STAFF FILE PHOTO By

Former LSU forwardJalen Reed is shown in action againstTarleton State on Nov. 5at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center

because of the trust McMahon showed himasearly as his freshman season, when he started 11 games. His last full season without injuries was as atrue sophomore in 2023-24, whichwas the best season under McMahon. The Tigers finished 9-9 in SEC play and 17-16 overall. Reed started 20 games that year,averaging 7.9 points and 4.1 rebounds in 22.2 minutes. Theformer Tigers forward is one of nine players to enter the

transfer portalthisoffseason,joining Dedan Thomas,Mike Nwoko, Jalen Reece, Robert Miller,Ron Zipper,Mazi Mosley,Matt Gilhool and Marcus Vaughns. Wade has added only one playersincethe transfer portal window opened on April7.That player is Kentucky transfer Mo Dioubate,who averaged8.8 pointsand 5.5rebounds mostly off thebench LSUfinished last season 15-17 overall and 3-15 in the SEC last year

Move to leadoff spot perfectfor Tulane’s Wood

BY GUERRYSMITH Contributingwriter

TyeWood is aman of few words but aslewofattributes that can help the Tulane baseball team win.

Wood,a switch-hitting graduate transfer fromNew Mexico, is batting.313with an on-base percentage of .421, nine runs scored, five doublesand sevenstolen bases since coach Jay Uhlman elevated him to the leadoff spot against East Carolina eight games ago. He also saved ahomerun with a leaping catch at the left field wall. He just is notparticularly expansive whenextolling hisobvious virtues, other thanagreeingthe leadoff spot suits himwell as Tulane(21-21, 7-8) gets ready for its pivotal weekendhomeseries against American Conference co-leader Texas-San Antonio(27-13, 10-5).

The opener is Friday at 7p.m and will be televised by ESPNU. Themiddle game is Saturdayat 6:30 p.m., with the finale set for Sunday at noon.

“I feelcomfortable in any spot, but leading off, Ifeel like Ican play my full game there andjust do what Ican do,” Wood said. “I can go out there and get extra-base hits, or if Iwalk,there’sanopenbase Ican steal. It’sjust easier formetoplay my game in that spot.” Wood is theGreen Wave’s best running threat in along time. With 18 stolen bases (in 20 attempts), he should pass Collin Burns’ 20 in 2021 shortly andiswithin range of Stephen Alemais’ 27 in 2015 —the team’s highest total since Josh Prince’sunapproachable 48 in 2009 (the school record is 52 by Andy Cannizaro in 2001).

It is nothing new forWood, who stole 23 bases in each of his two years at JUCO power Iowa Western in 2022 and2003 and another 20 at New Mexico in 2024, but it already is easily the mostinUhlman’s four-year tenure as coach.

“He’sjustbeen tremendous,” Uhlman said. “When he gets on first,hecan steal both bases. He can score fromsecond. He can

ä UTSA at Tulane. 7P.M.FRIDAy,ESPNU

score from first. He’sjust areal weapon.”

Leading offthe ninth inning with atight 6-4lead at Florida Atlantic on Sunday,Wood drew a walk, stole second and third and scored on the catcher’serrant throwthere,setting offa six-run explosion.

In his first gameleading off, he reached on athrowing error leading, stole second, went to third on aflyball and scored on agroundout for the initial run in Tulane’s 4-1 victory against East Carolina.

“It’sahuge part of my game,” he said. “I feel like Ican steal bases every time I’m on first. It helps outthe guys hitting after me get RBIs.”

For that reason, he has become anightmare forpitchers.

Although Wood felt like he fit in right away afterarriving at Tulane, he still needed sometime to getacclimated on thefield. His batting average hovered just above the Mendoza Line through 15 games (.214), and it was only .234 after a3-of-22 slump near the end of March. He has hit .373 since then, raising his average to .283.

“He’sgetting his hands intoposition andhas really taken off,”Uhlman said. “Wehad athing oneday Itold him if you hit the ball on the ground, you are going to oweme five push-ups, andthe light came on forhim. From that point on, his batting practice has gotten really elite. The confidence is building andcarryingintogames.”

Wood says he is equally comfortable batting from the leftand right side.Hetook it uponhimself to becomeaswitch-hitter around age 11 or 12 as aformer righty and has stuck with it. His only regret is not ending up at Tulane earlier in his career

“This place feels like home for me,”hesaid. “I love everybody around here. Iknow everybody has my back, and they’re all brothers to me.”

PREP REPORT

STAFF FILEPHOTO By BRETTDUKE

Rummel coach Frank Cazeaux argues acall duringthe game against Holy Cross on April 4, 2025, in Metairie. On Thursday, theRaiders swept abest-of-three DivisionI select regional series against St. Paul’switha5-4 victory.

HILARySCHEINUK

NFL DRAFT

Chiefs trade up to No. 6 to select LSU CB Delane

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the No. 6 overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft Delane, in his only season in Baton Rouge, became arguably the best cornerback in college football. He had seven pass breakups and allowed just 14 catches for 165 yards, according to Pro Football Focus, and had two interceptions without surrendering a touchdown all year

“They made the best move in the draft,” Delane said of the Chiefs, “and I’m excited.” He was a unanimous All-American and a first-team All-SEC player, becoming the first LSU cornerback to earn a unanimous AllAmerican selection since Greedy Williams in 2018. He was also a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is handed to the nation’s top defensive back.

With this selection, Delane becomes the 54th player in LSU history to be selected in the first round of the NFL draft. The Tigers had one player selected in the first round last year in offensive tackle Will Campbell, who went to the New England Patriots.

Delane only missed one game

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C

variety of spots and his quickness allows him to break open with crafty route running — the latter of which Tyson said developed as the result of being 5-foot-4 as a sophomore in high school. Tyson’s hands are also one of the standout aspects of his game. In 2024, when Tyson played a career-high 12 games, the Arizona State product hauled in 75 catches for 1,101 yards.

“He does a great job at the line of scrimmage,” Saints coach Kellen Moore said. “Obviously, he’s got the social media clips that I’m sure everyone’s seen of him making plays downfield. And I think credit to him, the thing that I was really excited about when we had a chance to evaluate was the biggest games, he came up in those big-time moments.”

But the pick could come with risk. At Arizona State, the 21-yearold dealt with a variety of injuries — from missing three games last season with a hamstring injury to a serious knee injury in 2022 that kept him out for most of the following year Even in his career year Tyson missed two games with a broken collarbone.

Tyson’s hamstring injury lingered into the pre-draft process, with Tyson not working out for NFL teams until last week

Still, the Saints were comfortable enough with the wideout’s medical history to make the selection. They attended his private workout, hosted him for a top 30 visit and met with Tyson at the NFL scouting combine. Moore said he was also impressed by how Tyson gutted through his hamstring injury, finishing with 10 catches, 105 yards and a touchdown against Texas Tech. Tyson, for his part, said he’s committed to doing the work to stay as

this past season, sitting out LSU’s win over Western Kentucky with a core muscle injury It was an ailment he had been playing with since the fourth week of the season.

Delane transferred to LSU after spending three seasons at Virginia Tech. With the Hokies, he had four interceptions and four pass breakups as a junior, allowed only 23 receptions as a sophomore and had six pass breakups as a freshman.

He started four games as a freshman, but was a full-time starter for Virginia Tech as a sophomore and junior He came out of high school as a three-star recruit and the No. 59 cornerback in the nation, according to the 247Sports Composite He attended Archbishop Spalding High in Maryland.

Delane is the first LSU player selected in the draft, but he isn’t expected to be the last.

Fifth-year senior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and senior safety AJ Haulcy are projected to be picked in the second or third round of the draft Redshirt junior linebacker Harold Perkins is also expected to be selected.

Wide receivers Barion Brown (senior), Aaron Anderson (redshirt junior), Zavion Thomas (senior)

and Chris Hilton (fifth-year senior) were all invited to the NFL combine and could hear their names before the end of the weekend The same goes for senior edge rusher Jack Pyburn, fifth-year senior tight end Bauer Sharp and fifthyear senior edge rusher Patrick Payton. The Tigers had 11 players invited to the combine, tied with Ohio State for the third most in the nation. Texas A&M had the most invitees with 13, while Alabama was second with 12. Delane was the leader of a young LSU cornerbacks room that leaned on him, freshman DJ Pickett and sophomore PJ Woodland in 2025. Although the Tigers struggled, finishing the season with a 7-6 record, their secondary was arguably the strength of the team. Without Delane, LSU will lean on Woodland and Pickett to lead the cornerbacks in 2026. The projected third cornerback is redshirt junior Ja’Keem Jackson, who saw limited action last season after transferring to LSU from Florida. Delane’s brother Faheem, also joined the Tigers this winter after spending his freshman year at Ohio State. The safety and sophomore is expected to compete for playing time this fall.

started with the New York Giants at No. 5 and could last possibly until the 11th pick, initially held by the Miami Dolphins.

To pass the time, Tyson watched Game 3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors with a keen interest — Jordyn’s brother, Jaylon, is a small forward for the Cavaliers.

The Saints, too, had to wait and see what happened in front of them. Before New Orleans made its selection, rumors swirled that the Saints would be interested in trading up as high as No. 3 potentially to grab a pass rusher such as Ohio State’s Arvell Reese.

Raiders select Mendoza with first overall pick

BY ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer

PITTSBURGH Fernando Men-

doza’s journey from overlooked two-star recruit to the top of the NFL draft is complete after the Las Vegas Raiders took him with the first pick on Thursday night. Turning the Raiders into a contender is the next challenge for the Heisman Trophy winner who led Indiana to its first national championship. The 22-year-old quarterback wasn’t in the Steel City for the festivities, choosing instead to celebrate with family and friends at home in Miami.

Mendoza flashed a big smile after Commissioner Roger Goodell announced his name, put a Raiders cap on and began hugging his family while seated on the couch, saving the warmest embrace for his mother

He’ll be heading to Las Vegas on Friday to begin an NFL career that may have seemed improbable when few colleges were interested in him coming out of high school.

“The last five months have been such a blessing by God, and I can’t thank Him enough,” Mendoza said. “I’m just looking forward to get to work, prove it at the next level. College was fantastic. I’m so blessed to have that career but now I step into a great game, the NFL. Look forward to proving and earning it every single day.”

Mendoza wasn’t even a prominent prospect at this time last year But he had a sensational season with the Hoosiers, completing 72% of his passes for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns and just six interceptions.

Still, there are plenty of doubts about him in a quarterback-thin draft class He’s determined to prove any critics wrong again.

The Los Angeles Rams surprised draft experts by taking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th pick. Simpson, who started just 15 games in college, was among 16 prospects who came to Pittsburgh even though

WALKER

Continued from page 1C

receiver out of Arizona State, begins his NFL journey

many draft boards had him going in the second round. Simpson exuded confidence when he walked the red carpet.

“Absolutely, I am confident,” Simpson said. “That’s why I decided to come out. You know with the offensive infrastructure we had in Alabama with other coaches and the offensive system, the weight room, everything was set up to better you for the NFL. And that’s why I stayed at ’Bama.”

Mendoza’s selection was expected for months. The intrigue began at No. 2 with the New York Jets, who selected Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey over Ohio State edge Arvell Reese.

“It’s surreal to me,” Bailey said. “It’s an awesome opportunity I just want to get in there and be a sponge and soak up everything.” Arizona took Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the third pick. Love is the highest running back selected since Saquon Barkley went No. 2 to the New York Giants in 2018.

Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate was picked fourth by Tennessee in a surprise move that gives QB Cam Ward — last year’s No. 1 overall pick a top target.

The Giants took Reese at No. 5, adding a potential elite rusher less than a week after trading three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to Cincinnati.

The Chiefs traded up to No. 6 to take LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane Kansas City sent Cleveland the ninth pick along with Nos. 74 and 148 to move up. Ohio State linebacker Sonny StyleswentseventhtoWashington, improving a defense that allowed the most yards in the league last season. New Orleans selected Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson at No. 8, giving QB Tyler Shough a 1-2 punch with Chris Olave.

Utah’s Spencer Fano was the first offensive lineman chosen, going to Cleveland with the ninth pick.

tended by 18 teams.

healthy as possible. From doing everything he can in the weight room to working with a private chef, Tyson said he’s going to have his “regimen down to a T” in the NFL.

He said he also thinks he identified what led to his hamstring injury

“My hips were super tight — I was so strong in the hips that I would just overcompensate for the tightness,” he said. “So I’ve been getting my hips real loose. My glutes weren’t activating, so we’re working on like the whole (body) because it’s all connected I got a good team behind me.”

Along the way, Tyson could tell there was interest from the Saints.

He recalled how at the combine, for instance, Saints assistant general manager Jeff Ireland tried to get under his skin by telling him something that “wasn’t the truth” to see if the wide receiver would agree with him. During his individual visit, he noticed how “everyone was real” even Saints wide receiver sat in on his meeting with receivers coach Keith Williams.

He left with the impression that the Saints could very well be one of the teams that drafted him Tyson said he thought his draft range

But the Saints ultimately stayed put, which backed up what general manager Mickey Loomis said Wednesday at his pre-draft press conference when the executive declared the team was not “one player away” from Super Bowl contention. Still, there were plenty of draft surprises. The Arizona Cardinals did not trade the third pick, preferring to take Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. While Arizona’s interest in Love was rumored in the days before the draft, the Tennessee Titans’ selection at No. 4 Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate — was not.

Then, with Reese sliding, the Giants jumped at the chance to grab the Ohio State rusher, even with a loaded defensive line The Kansas City Chiefs then jumped up to acquire the sixth pick from the Cleveland Browns so they could take LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane, while the Commanders drafted Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles at No. 7.

TheSaints,though,weremorethan happy to land Tyson. He joins a wide receiver room headlined by Olave, Devaughn Vele and Ja’Lynn Polk.

“This guy’s a really tough football player,” Moore said. “He’s battled some things, and I think all that’s positive. He worked out through this whole process, kind of recovered and he’s in a great place.

“A dream come true,” Jordyn Tyson said. “It’s amazing having a brother playing in the NBA and me in the NFL. He was the blueprint for me. It’s everything to us. I know my parents are super duper happy I feel like they can have a little sigh of relief now.” And so can Saints general manager Mickey Loomis. The Saints landed a high-profile wide receiver filling a muchneeded void on their roster to pair alongside Chris Olave. Now they can turn their attention to an edge rusher and cornerback on Day 2 of the draft, Friday Tyson was considered by many experts to be the top receiver in this draft class. He was the second receiver selected, four spots behind Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, who was selected fourth by the Tennessee Titans. The one red flag on Tyson is his injury history He tore his ACL his freshman season at Colorado and missed most of the following season rehabbing the injury when he transferred to Arizona State. He also missed three games this past season, nursing a hamstring injury Picking him at No. 8 is risky But if Tyson can avoid injuries, the Saints may have hit a home run. They need to hit on their first-round pick this season just like they did each of the past two years when they drafted tackles Taliese Fuaga and Kelvin Banks. This is the third straight year they used a first-round pick for an offensive player Now they have given promising quarterback Tyler Shough another weapon.

It’s just the fourth time the Saints have chosen a receiver in the top 10 of a draft and the first time since Wes Chandler was chosen No. 3 overall in 1978. Despite the injury history, Tyson steadily rose up draft boards since the season ended. He removed any doubts last Friday at a private workout at-

“I know there were still some question marks over my head,” Tyson said. “I just wanted to answer as many as I possibly could. I’m going to give myself the best opportunity to stay on the field and be healthy.” His love for the game was also a plus.

“You felt the football junkie in him,” said Saints head coach Kellen Moore.

Tyson was emotional as he stood on the stage in his Saints cap Thursday night. Why?

“Just where I came from,” Tyson said. “I wasn’t supposed to be here. I was 5-foot-4 in my sophomore year (of high school). No work ethic until my junior year I’m not supposed to be here.”

An 8-inch growth spurt between his sophomore and junior year of high school helped him reach his dream. It also helped that he comes from a family of athletes. His father, John, played football at Florida A&M. His older brother, Berron, played running back at the University of South Alabama. And then there’s Jaylon, drafted with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft by the Cavs. Jaylon texted Jordyn during halftime Thursday night to congratulate him.

“We are just ready to go,” Tyson said. “We are a close-knit family It’s just us. We don’t have too many outsiders. We are going to pour everything into the Saints.”

Tyson, who grew up in the Dallas, Texas, area, has only visited New Orleans once. That was for his visit with the Saints. He specifically remembers a trip to Drago’s and eating the oysters.

“It was fire,” he said. Now he’s looking to return to the Big Easy to begin his journey as the second Tyson brother to play a professional sport. Big brother Jaylon and the Cavs lost 126-104 Thursday night. But the Tyson family as a whole won by hearing Jordyn’s name called in the NFL draft.

“I’m ready to hit the ground running,” Tyson said. “I’m ready to do some special things.” The Saints are counting on it.

AP PHOTO By JEFF ROBERSON Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson puts on a Saints cap after being chosen by New Orleans Saints with the eighth overall pick during the NFL draft on Thursday in Pittsburgh.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By GENE J PUSKAR

Former LSU defensive back Mansoor Delane with a Chiefs jersey after being chosen Kansas City Chiefs with the sixth overall pick of the NFL draft on Thursday in Pittsburgh.

ZURICH CLASSIC

FROM THEGALLERY:WEATHER,TICKETS,TV, PARKINGINFORMATION FORTOURNAMENT

WEATHERPOWER PAIRING TOURNAMENT FORMAT TICKETS/PARKING TV/STREAMING

Friday in Avondale: Moderately neat-o …Partly cloudy with slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms.Winds south 8-14 mph. High 83.

WorldNo. 3MattFitzpatrickand his brotherAlexbothhit their second shots in the water on thepar-5 18th, making bogeys to finish at 8-under par 64.Their playing partners,former Zurich champion Shane Lowryand fivetime majorwinner BrooksKoepka, teamed fora 66.

Two-man teamsplaythe following format:

Thursday: Four-ball (best ball)

Friday: Foursomes(alternate shot) Saturday: Four-ball(best ball) Sunday: Foursomes(alternate shot)

Daily tournament tickets are $45 each.Activemilitary are admitted free, as are children under 15 with apayingadult at the Lapalco Boulevard gate only.Public parking is at NOLA Motorsports Park, 11075 Nicolle Boulevard,with an entrance near the third green.

ESPN+ is streamingits first-round coveragestarting at 7:45 a.m Friday. Golf Channel beginsits coverageat2 p.m.

Blades Brownhas thegametobackupname

Minutes afterfinishing his opening round at the Zurich Classic, BladesBrown was asked to sign asoccer ball for an eager 10-year-old boy,who’d been waiting patiently in the gallery outside the scorer’stent. Brown happily obliged, much to the delightofhis freckle-faced fan “I love it,” Brown said.“That usedtobeme—literally,like about 8years ago.” Brown wasn’texaggerating. Of all the precocious,young players at the Zurich Classic this week, none is younger or more precocious than Brown. The 18-year-old phenom from Nashville, Tennessee, doesn’t just have one of the best names at the tournament —healso hasone of the best games. He andteammate Luke Clanton form oneof the most compelling teamsinthe 148-man field, largely because of Brown’ssurging reputation.

Brown andClanton carded an opening-round scoreof6-under 66 in best-ballplay on Thursday They’re eight strokes behind leaders Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer as the field heads into alternate shot play on Friday “For best ball, it’snot necessarily the best, but Luke andI love alt-shot (play),and thisgolf course has alot of birdiesinit, Brown said. “The reason whywe teamed up is because we knew we could make alot of birdies.” Brown andClayton played with the veteran duo of Aaron Rai and Sahith Theegala, one group behind the fab foursome of Brooks Koepka, Shane Lowry and the Fitzpatrick brothers (Alex and Matt),which attracted thelargest gallery of the day.Bycomparison, Brown and Clanton played in

young man and has played exceptionally well. To shoot 60 at the AmEx (American Express Championship) and end up in the final group with Scottie Scheffler? That’salittle different.”

With anamelike Blades, you’d think he was destined for the sport. The real story,though, is rooted in serendipity.Blades is his mother’smaiden name. His mother,Rhonda (Blades) Brown was astandout basketball player,who led Vanderbilt to its only Final Four in 1993 and became the first pick in the 1998 WNBA expansion draft. Now a coach, she has led Brentwood Academy in suburban Nashville, Tennessee, to five state titles in 23 seasons.

With such astrong athletic pedigree, the younger Brown took to golf at ayoung age and developed into aprodigy in Tennessee. He wonthe Tennessee State Junior Championship by 12 shots and took homethree state titles at Brentwood Academy.

He turned pro last year and is on track to earn his PGATour playing card by next season. He is playing in the Zurich on asponsor exemption, one of five in the tournament.

relative anonymity. Amongtheir gallery was hisfather,Parke, a Nashville businessman.

Throughout hisbogey-free, three-birdie round, Brown flashed thetalentthat has earned him areputation as one of thebest young talents in thesport.Onthe 561-yard,par-5 No. 7, he drove the green in two shotsand two-putted for birdie. On the372-yard par-4 No. 8, hestuck his approach shot from 128 yards outwithin 10 feet to set up abirdie.

“He is very professional in what hedoes,” said Clanton, 22. “I mean, when Iwas 18, Iwas playing videogames ‘til 12 a.m. at

night,sotosee him out here and what he’sdoing, working around thegolf course, is pretty impressive. It’sawesome. I’m happy to be on his team.”

Brown is exactly the kind of ascending talent Zurich officials targeted when they looked to fill out thefield this year.With many of theTour’sestablished stars electing to skip the event this year because of scheduling issues, tournamentofficials targeted future stars like Brown to boost the field’sQ Rating. Blades landed on the national golf scene two years ago, when, at the age of 16, he became

Saints kicker Smythgains anew faninLowry during Zurich Classic

Duncan BYJEFF DUNCAN Staff writer

TheNew OrleansSaintshavea new fan in Shane Lowry.

The PGA Tour star saidWednesdayheisconsidering switchinghis allegiance from the Chicago Bears to the Saints because of fellow Irishman Charlie Smyth’sheroics as the New Orleans kicker

“His story is incredible,” said Lowry after meeting Smyth during the Pro-Am Tournament at the Zurich Classic Wednesday at the TPC of LouisianainAvondale.

“It’snice to see Irish peopledoing well, especially over here in America.”

Smyth was one of the beststories in the NFL last season. He had no experience in American football before signing with the Saints in 2024 through the International Player Pathway program. He earned aspot on the practice squad as arookie, then took over thestarting place-kicker job in Week 12 last season. He appeared in the final six games and made 12 of 16 fieldgoals, includinga 57-yarder

“I’ve been following what he’s been doing,” Lowry said. “A lot of Irish people were. It createdbig news back home.” Lowry is from Clara, County Offaly,inthe Republic of Ireland, about 100 miles southwestof Smyth’shometown of Mayobridge, County Down in Northern Ireland. Lowry andSmithshare strong roots in Gaelic games. Lowry’s father was an All-Ireland winning Gaelic footballer for Offaly,and Smyth was astandout goalkeeper for Down before joining theNFL

“(Smyth) kicked his first football, American football, only in

Lowrytees

2023, and now he’skickingfor the Saints,” saidLowry,who is ranked 35th in thelatest World Golf Rankings. “It’sapretty quick rise to that level of that sport. Idon’tthink people at home even realize how bigitis. It’spretty cool. Obviously, I’ll be watching him fromhere on in.” Lowry and Smyth hadnot met

before thetournament. Smyth followed Lowry and his playing partner, BrooksKoepka, for several holes on Wednesday,and the Irishmen chatted between shots. Lowry saidthe two were scheduled to have lunch after hispostround interviews. “I think we’llstayintouch after this,”Lowry said.

theyoungest medalist in U.S. Amateurhistory,breaking Bobby Jones’ 103-year-old record.

At theAmerican Express Championship in January,he came within inches of becoming just the16thgolfer in PGATour history toshoot a59, but he just missed his6-foot birdie putt on No. 18 and settled forasecondround score of 60.

“I mean, 18 years old, playing on the PGA Tour,traveling theworld, pretty amazing,” said Steve Worthy,the CEO of the Fore!KidsFoundation, which operates thetournament forthe PGA Tour.“He’savery mature

ZURICH

Continued from page1C

gettable best-ball format, Smalley got theteam offtoarapid start with a161/2 birdie putt on the par-4 first hole, an eagle from 19 feet on the par-5 secondand abirdie from 61/2 feet on thepar-3 third.

Springer helped them thunder to thefinish, makingbirdies on the final four holestoallowtheir team to tie the course and tournament record setbyIsaiahSalinda and Kevin Velo in last year’sfirst round.

“I’ve known Alex forquite a while now,”Springersaid. “He’s an unbelievable player. To be able to team up with him is great.”

Thompson and Eckroat were idling along at 2under through their first sixholes before they arrivedattheir round’slaunch pad, the par-5seventh. Thompson made birdie,but Eckroat eagled from 171/2 feet to getthemto4under Thepair proceeded to birdie the next eight holes, four by each of them.Theyaddedanotherbirdieon the difficult par-3 17th to break 60.

“I felt like we kind of eased our way into the round,”Thompson said. “Made afew birdiesearly, then seven through the rest of the way we just rode the momentum andmade abunch of birdies. Just road the wave and had alot of fun.”

Almost every player in the field could say something to thateffect Seventy-three of the 74 two-man teamsbrokepar.Twenty-three eagleswererecorded, including the ones by Smalley/Springer andThompson/Eckroat, and the entire field averaged shooting nearly8-under par (64.160). It’stournament golf, so there were frustrations. Thebrother team of world No. 3Matthew Fitzpatrick, who won last week at theRBC Heritage, and Alex Fitzpatrick were at 9underwith achance to get to double digits underpar at the par-5 18th. But bothhit their second shots into

“It’sbeen great,” Blades said of the spectacular start to his professional career.“If you would have told me at the start of the year,I’d get to play in afinal group with Scottie Scheffler and Si WooKim at the American Express, I’dhave said ‘Heck, yeah.’ I’mjust so focused on getting better and improving every single day,and because of that, if that’s what Icontinue to chase after, everything else will kind of fall into place.” No one whohas seen him play doubts he will get there. With a namelike Blades, it seemsdestined to happen.

the alligator-infested lake running the length of the hole’sright side and madebogey to shoot 64.

“Really disappointing way to end with two balls in perfect position,”MattFitzpatrick said,referring to their tee shots. “It’snot good enough, really.”

Their playing partners, 2024 Zurich Classic winner Shane Lowry and five-timemajor champion Brooks Koepka, started well with birdies on fiveoftheir first seven holes. But they only made one morebirdie after that on the par-4 10th and camehomein66, good only foratie for50th place. The field will be cuttothe low33 teams andtiesafterFriday’ssecond round, which will be played in the more difficult alternate shot format.

The Fitzpatricks, who have alot of experience at alternateshot, being fromEngland, hopedthat would give them something of an edge on the field.

“I definitely feel like that helps,” Matt Fitzpatrick said. The shot of the day cameearly in the round from Michael Brennan, a nativeofLeesburg,Virginia,andno relation to the famous New Orleans restaurant-owningBrennanfamily He hithis secondshottothe right of the 18thgreen (their ninth hole of the day) at the edge of thelake, but withteammate Johnny Keefer just short of the green in two, Brennan decided to try to blast out.Hestrippedoff his shirt and sent water,debris andmud flying before picking up his ball. Keefer made paren route to a61that had them tied forsixth with alargegroupthat included TomHoge and two-time Zurich champion Billy Horschel. Brennan said he didn’tthink he’d ever gone “viral”for anything.

“He’sabout to,” Keefer said.

“I was (takinga penaltydrop) if Iwas just playing in anormal tournament,” Brennansaid. “But Johnny hada birdie putt so Iwas like, well, Iguess Ican try it. It was fun.”

ScottRabalais

STAFFPHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Blades Brown lines up aputt on the sixth hole at the Zurich Classic on ThursdayatTPC Louisiana in Avondale.

Jeff

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MATTHEWHINTON Shane

off on the first hole during the first round of Zurich Classic on ThursdayatTPC Louisiana in Avondale.

BY KEITHSPERA Staff writer

Singer andpianist Judith Owen is her‘authentic’ self on her new‘Suit Yourself’album

Common threads

Multi-talented pianist, singer,songwriter and bandleader JudithOwen’s longtime musical collaboratorDavid Torkanowsky refers to her,affectionately,as“agreat bunch of girls.”

By her own admission, on any given day,she can be “any number of the girls and women that inhabit this body.”

Armedwith aformidable and funny Welsh wit, she is, in general, irrepressible. She has channeledthatabundant creativeenergy, coupledwith hard-won perspective, into a series of increasinglysophisticated and ambitious albums. Her latest, recorded in her adopted hometownofNew Orleans, is the aptly titled “Suit Yourself.” It sums up everything she’sdone in recent years, from solo piano songs

to jazzsextet songs to big band songs. She’llcelebratethe release of “SuitYourself” at theNew Orleans Jazz &BluesMarket in Central CityonSaturday, performing with her J.O. Big

ä See OWEN, page 2D

The Meters—from left, George Porter Jr., Zigaboo Modeliste, ArtNeville and Leo Nocentelli —ina promotional image used on the back of their 1969 second album, ‘Look-Ka Py Py.’

PROVIDED PHOTO

She’ll perform multiple times throughout the 2026 New OrleansJazz& HeritageFestival

@ JAZZ FEST

ä First Friday cubes. Page 3D ONLINE

From Mick Jagger defending them to asnake terrorizing them to writing‘Fire On theBayou’ spontaneously onstage, membersof TheMeters delvedeepintothe funkypast

THE METERS’ BASSIST AND PERCUSSIONIST/VOCALIST

BY KEITHSPERA | Staff writer

NEVILLE

In the spring of 1976, New Orleans funk band TheMetersembarked on aEuropean tour opening forthe Rolling Stones.

Fifty years later,the Meters are writing another improbablechapter in their tumultuous, complicated history, ahistory that spansbreakups, bad business deals, brief reunions, offshoot bands, bitterdisagreements and some of themost influential,important and enduring recordings ever made by aNew Orleansband.

The coverofthe Meters’ 1969 album ‘Look-Ka Py Py

For the first time since the 2019 death of keyboardistArt Neville, the surviving Meters —bassist GeorgePorter Jr., drummer Joseph“Zigaboo” Modeliste, guitarist Leo Nocentelli and percussionist/vocalist Cyril Neville, plusIvan Neville filling in for his late uncle Art— agreedtoperform.

STAFFFILE PHOTOByDAVID GRUNFELD

The Meters featuringCyrilNeville, left,and GeorgePorter Jr.perform on the Acura Stageduring the 2015 JazzFest.

On Friday,they’ll funk up the Fillmore with opening act Dumpstaphunk, featuring Ivan Neville and Art’sguitarist son Ian; at press time, remaining tickets started at $150. Then on May 2, The Meters headline asold-out Saenger Theatre. Earlier this year,I sat downwith George Porter Jr.and Cyril Neville foranuproarious, hourlong conversation in front of an audience aboard the Big Easy Cruise. The duo shared manylaughs as they told tales of Mick Jagger defending ä See METERS, page 2D

Singer and pianist Judith Owen in a 2026 promotional photo forher ‘Suit yourself’ album.

PROVIDED PHOTO

By The Associated Press

Today is Friday, April 24, the 114th day of 2026. There are 251 days left in the year

Today in history: On April 24, 1916, Irish republicans launched the Easter Rising, a rebellion against British rule in Ireland. Though the rebels surrendered to British forces six days later, the uprising set the stage for republican victories in the Irish general election of 1918 and the establishment of the Irish Free State via the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1922.

Also on this date:

In 1800, President John Adams signed legislation providing $5,000 for books for use by Congress, effectively launching the Library of Congress that would later become one of the world’s

largest public collections of millions of catalogued books and items including manuscripts, maps, sheet music and sound recordings.

In 1915, in what is considered the start of the Armenian genocide, the Ottoman Empire began rounding up Armenian political and cultural leaders in Constantinople.

In 1960, rioting erupted in Biloxi, Mississippi, after Black protesters staging a “wade-in” at a Whites-only beach were attacked by a crowd of White people.

In 1967, Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov was killed when his Soyuz 1 spacecraft smashed into the Earth after his parachutes failed to deploy properly during reentry He was the first human spaceflight fatality

In 1980, the United States launched Operation Eagle Claw an unsuccessful attempt to free 53 American hostages in Iran that resulted in the deaths of eight U.S. service members. In 1990, Space Shuttle Discovery blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying the $1.5 billion Hubble Space Telescope.

In 1995, the final bomb linked to the Unabomber exploded inside the Sacramento, California, offices of the California Forestry Association, killing chief lobbyist Gilbert B. Murray (Theodore Kaczynski was later sentenced to four consecutive life terms in prison for a series of bombings that killed three people and injured 23 others; he died by suicide in 2023.)

In 2013, in Bangladesh, a shoddily constructed eight-story com-

mercial building housing garment factories collapsed, killing more than 1,100 people.

In 2018, former police officer Joseph DeAngelo was arrested at his home near Sacramento after DNA linked him to crimes attributed to the Golden State Killer; authorities believed he committed 13 murders and more than 50 rapes in the 1970s and 1980s. (DeAngelo would plead guilty in 2020 to 13 counts of murder and be sentenced to life in prison without parole.)

In 2021, the United States formally declared the systematic killing and deportation of more than a million Armenians by Ottoman Empire forces in the early 20th century was “genocide.” President Joe Biden used that exact word after the White House

had avoided it for decades for fear of alienating its ally Turkey Today’s birthdays: Actor Shirley MacLaine is 92. Actor-singerfilmmaker Barbra Streisand is 84. Fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier is 74. Actor Eric Bogosian is 73. Actor Michael O’Keefe is 71. Actor-comedian Cedric the Entertainer is 62. Actor Djimon Hounsou is 62. Actor Aidan Gillen is 58. Actor Rory McCann is 57. Latin pop singer Alejandro Fernandez is 55.

Ko is 29. Singer Skylar Simone is 24.

METERS

Continued from page 1D

them from hostile audiences, the dressing room origins of “Fire On the Bayou” and the snake that terrorized them during an album cover photo session in a swamp Cyril Neville, who officially joined the Meters in 1975 ahead of an American tour with the Rolling Stones, recalled that whenever the original quartet got together, “whatever they do turns into this beautiful rhythmic adventure.”

For his part, Porter hoped the band’s two-show reunion during the 2026 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival enables them to showcase long-lost songs from their collective catalog.

“If this band was gonna play again, especially without Artie, we should play more of the music that we recorded,” Porter said. “As musicians, we should not only feel good about what we do but present what we have done in its better light.”

Continued from page 1D

Band, her small jazz ensemble The Callers and the gospel group the Tonya Boyd-Cannon Singers. Show time is 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $44. Owen will also perform as part of WWOZ’s Piano Night at the House of Blues on Monday; at the Columns Hotel on Tuesday; at the 2026 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival’s Economy Hall Tent on Thursday; at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro on May 3; and at the Louisiana Music Factory on May 4. No longer Gentlemen

The following interview was edited for clarity and length.

What changed to make a Meters reunion possible?

Porter: I think the dead presidents lined up. I never say never, but sometimes I can be encouraged.

Art Neville was the original band’s senior member Neville: (George) and Zig grew up together Me and Zig are the same age. We went to school together Walter L. Cohen was the high school we hung around.

(New Orleans songwriter and guitarist) Earl King lived right across the street, so we spent a lot of time sitting on Earl’s porch and listening to him tell stories. We learned a lot more on Earl’s porch than we would have ever learned in a schoolhouse.

Porter: I was a year older than you all. Leo’s a year older than me. Artie was 10 years older than I am.

Neville: We all started doing the Neville Sounds at Art’s house on Chestnut Street George, Zig, Leo, me, Art, Charles and Aaron

(Neville) were Art Neville & the Neville Sounds. That was before the Meters.

That band played at the Nite Cap on Louisiana Avenue.A smaller version moved to the Ivanhoe on Bourbon Street and evolved into the Meters.

Porter: It was five of us — Gary Brown was the saxophone player The Neville Sounds name came from a disc jockey One particular Saturday he had too much libation and he wanted to introduce the band for the last set. He jumped up onstage and said, “We gonna bring to the stage Art Neville and the Neville Sounds band!” That was the first time we heard that name. Cyril, what impressed you when you first heard George Porter’s bass playing?

Neville: George gave me an acoustic guitar with four strings on it. At that time, that’s how many strings I thought a guitar had. I took that, tuned it a certain little crazy way where I could put my fingers across the frets and make chords, and I started writing my own songs from that.

(Porter) and Zig was doing the same thing I was doing,

absorbing everything around them. We wound up with our own little band. We had a gig at a place on Rampart Street. We would get off after sunrise, hurry back Uptown, run inside, get a shower, eat a little breakfast and then go to school and sleep in class. We were still in junior high school.

George, did you and Zigaboo lock into the Meters’ syncopated rhythm right away?

Porter: Everyone has a job within a band. Musicians are paying attention to each other That job got easier for me when I first started playing with Zig.

As a bass player, I knew I had to lessen the chaos of a drummer who was as syncopated as Zig. I had to lessen my part. I was a busy bass player I thought that I had to get as many notes in that bar (as he could). I realized that all those notes were just getting in the way (Producer) Allen Toussaint always said, “It’s not what you play, it’s what you don’t play that is going to make this song work.” That resonated, because I knew I had to lessen my part for me and Zig

to be a unit.

We were playing together four nights a week at the Nite Cap.

When we moved to the Ivanhoe, we played six nights a week.

When we had Sunday night off, Zig, Leo, myself and a sax player would go farther into the French Quarter and play bebop. So we were playing seven nights a week. The formula between bass and drums got tighter and tighter

A lot of Meters songs were written around Zig’s pocket, the groove that he would play Leo might come in with an idea; that idea didn’t really work until Zig put his part down. A lot of times, my bass lines were usually dictated — they would give me a line to play Then I would make that line work with the pattern Zig was playing. Once that pocket becomes a real pocket, the band is open to do anything guitars, keyboards, horns, singers. They could go anywhere because Zig and I got where the “one” is.

ä See METERS, page 3D

That was especially true on Dec. 16 when she and Shearer hosted their annual “Christmas Without Tears” variety show fundraiser at the Orpheum Theater Barely 48 hours earlier, the couple’s close friends Rob and Michele Reiner had been killed in Los Angeles. Rob Reiner first directed Shearer in the original “This Is Spinal Tap” mockumentary in 1984. They collaborated again on the 2025 sequel, “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues,” which was mostly filmed in New Orleans. Setting aside shock and grief, Shearer and Owen went on with the 20th anniversary “Christmas Without Tears.” Both naughty and nice, the show featured John Goodman, Rickie Lee Jones, Irma Thomas, Bryan Batt and many others.

“They both said it was fine,” she cracked. “The thing about covering the greats is I wouldn’t dream of covering Aretha like Aretha. It’s about hearing it through my mind and my voice, my throaty, rich, Welsh voice.”

Songs she covers “have to be about my life. I am an autobiographical person. ‘Evil Gal Blues’ is me, too. I’m quite the handful in many ways, and I have a wicked sense of humor.” She collaborates with New Orleans singer and pianist Davell Crawford on “Today I Sing the Blues.” When she first heard Crawford in person in the 1990s, he blew her away in the same way the late gospel singer Raymond Myles did.

Owen’s band at the time was The Gentlemen Callers Now they’re just the Callers. “I found out very quickly on the road that they’re not gentlemen at all,” Owen joked. The Gentlemen Callers’ name “was really good for ‘Come On & Get It,’ when I was in my 1940s and ’50s guise. It sounded sort of Jane Austen.

“But it turns out Judith Owen & The Callers is also a pretty great name. Because only in New Orleans have I ever experienced being on a stage with people who, if I sing something, they’ll call out to me. (Trumpeter) Kevin Louis is

A native of Wales, Owen grew up with a mother who was a big band fan and dancer and a father who was a renowned opera singer. He collected blues and jazz records, which he shared with his young daughters. Owen eventually developed her own career as a piano-playing singer-songwriter, alternating original compositions with her cocktail lounge reinterpretations of pop songs. She and her husband, Harry Shearer, who voices numerous “Simpsons” characters and costarred in the two “Spinal Tap” movies and other films, first visited New Orleans in the 1990s. They eventually bought a home in the French Quarter On her 2022 album “Come On & Get It,” her 13th overall, Owen was in full-on chanteuse mode She put a sexy, seductive spin on classic jazz and blues songs from the 1940s and ’50s by the likes of Julia Lee, Blossom Dearie and Nellie Lutcher women who unapologetically sang about sex via double-entendres.

always like, ‘Yeah, ma, sing it!’ If somebody else does something really good, they call out. Now I call out. I’ve caught it.” New Orleans, she’s learned, “is such a loving community of musicians. It gave me the encouragement to feel so at home and so safe and held in such a secure place onstage with these guys, where I get to be the big and bold entertainer that I am.” That entertainer is fully present across the 13 songs on “Suit Yourself.” She could have only recorded “Suit Yourself” in New Orleans because, at its core, the album is about “finding joy in the face of adversity There’s no city on earth that knows more about finding joy and celebrating life in the face of adversity.”

“I would not have dreamt of not doing it,” Owen said. “For a split second, I thought, ‘Can I do this?’ Within that second came the answer: You absolutely must.

“That was the most extreme version of, ‘How badly do I need to sing? How badly do I need to smile and laugh and feel the love of this audience and us being in this conversation together?’

“But that’s what music has always been to me. I’ve used music since I was a child to get through the hardest and saddest and most painful things in my life. It has saved me over and over again.” Crawford, Bonamassa join in On “Suit Yourself,” she takes on Aretha Franklin’s “Evil Gal Blues” and Etta James’ “Since I Fell For You.”

“They both had a direct contact with the higher place,” she said. “I’m not a religious person, but I found the higher place.” Guitarist Joe Bonamassa, a big fan of Shearer, contributes to her cover of Mose Allison’s “Mind Is On Vacation. “What it needed was a classic bluesman solo and he brought it,” she said.

The album concludes with “Inside Out” featuring gospel singer Tonya Boyd-Cannon.

“It says everything. It says, ‘Show who you really are. Be authentic. Be yourself. Share it with people, because they’re probably going through the same struggles you’re going through.’

“That takes you to the heart of the reveal, which is finding that humanity and joy It could not have come from anywhere else (other than) right here in New Orleans.”

Baseball Hall of Famer Chipper Jones is 54. Actor Derek Luke is 52. Singer-TV personality Kelly Clarkson is 44. Country singer Carly Pearce is 36. Actor-musician Joe Keery is 34. Actor Jack Quaid is 34. Actor Jordan Fisher is 32. Golfer Lydia

STAFF FILE PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

The Meters featuring Art Neville, Leo Nocentelli, George Porter Jr., Joseph ‘Zigaboo’ Modeliste and Cyril Neville perform on the Acura Stage during the 2015 Jazz Fest.

OWEN

PROVIDED PHOTO By STEVE RAPPORT

Judith Owen performs during the 20th anniversary ‘Christmas Without Tears’ concert at the Orpheum Theater in New Orleans on Dec. 16.

METERS

Continued frompage2D

The Meters early albums on JosieRecords were mostly instrumental

Porter: Almost every oneofthose songs was written in the studio. It wasn’tuntil the “Rejuvenation” record (in 1974) where individual songwriters, mostlyZig andLeo, were coming into the sessions with somewhat completed thought-out songs. Before then, we were just playing off each other Who came up with thesignature parton “Cissy Strut”?

Porter: Those parts were by Leo. The only parts of the song that we individually put out was in the organ solo. Where we wentinthat organ solo as aband was,“Whoa, OK, ya’ll can get away withthat?”

The Meters worked for years onthe “chitlin circuit” of Black nightclubsand theaters.That changed in 1975 when the Rolling Stones picked the Meters to opena dozen or so arena shows on the Tour of the Americas.Wasittrickytoadjust?

Porter: Cyril, why don’tyou answer that? Because that tour was when Cyril became officially a member of the band.

Neville: Iwas in New York when Igot that call.Me, Charles and Aaronwere performing in New York as the Wild Tchoupitoulas. As far as (the Rolling Stones), I didn’tknow who that was, Ididn’t care who that was. Iwas gonnabe back with George, Leo, Zig and Art? Where do Ihave to be?!?

They are musical alchemists. They’re all magicians andthey know how to make their magic come together

Porter: It was just the fourofus when the Stonesinvited us to do the tour.Weweren’tabandthat dancedand did flips and stuff like that. We just went out and played; the music spoke for itself. We weren’tshowmen.

(A Meters manager)said, “Y’allneed afront guy to go out and competewith Mick Jagger.” Artie, ever since Cyril performed afew songs on the “Cabbage Alley” record, had always envisioned his brothersbeinginthe band. But what Cyril didn’tknow is that they wanted him torun around thefront of the stage. He was apercussionist.

Neville: First of all, my name ain’tMick. Ihad to be for this band what Mick is for that band, by any means necessary.It was the opportunityoflifetime, no

FILEPHOTO By MICHAEL P. SMITH

Cyril, Ivan and Aaron Neville performingwith the Wild Tchoupitoulas Mardi Gras Indian Tribe at the 1977 NewOrleans Jazz &HeritageFestival.

doubt about it. Ilove (the Rolling Stones’) musicnow,and Ilove all of them after meeting them. (Back then)Ihad no idea who they were anddidn’tcare —I was goingonthe road with the Meters!

Porter: On the’75 tour,some writers said,“Finally theStones got a band in front of them that makes them comeout and play.” When the’76 (RollingStones) tour of Europe came up,wewere invited to do thewholetour. The Stones wanted ustoplay in front of them because we made them work. There were two ramps coming off the stage (into the audience). Technically speaking, we weren’t supposed to go out there. Butthisone night,Leo was ripping one of his really great rhythm solos, where he’splayingrhythm againstZig’sdrums, and Art’scomping. Iput my bass down, Cyril wentdown theright ramp and Iwent down the left ramp. We looked at each other, took acouple stepsback, and we jumped.

From one ramp to the other?

Porter: We gotthe wordthe next morning: “Don’tyou EVER do that again!”

Neville: They were like, “Our insurance don’tcover that.”

Every moment of that (tour) was special. Onenight, (the audience) started throwing ice. Then it was cups. Then it was beer cans. Then they started flattening thebeer cansand throwing them (likefrisbees).

Porter: It happened afew places. Ithink it was originally France when we started getting that cra-

ziness. We left the stage. AndJagger walked back out onstage with us and basically told theaudience, “Y’all shut up and listen. You’re going to likethese guys.”They stayed onstage with us and sang “Fire On theBayou.”

Neville: Mick basically told them, “These guys are someofthe best musicians in theworld. They’re my friends. Do y’all want to hear theStones tonight? Then sit down and listen!”

That’swhen Ifound out who Mick Jagger was.

Porter: When we opened for the Stones in ’75 in Baton Rouge, the local promoter put us in the girls’ shower room,pretty much two blocks from thestage.

When Jagger and KeithRichards got to thesite, they were like, “Where are the Meters?” Somebody brought them to where we were. Iwas standing in the shower,running thehot water to cover up my pot smoke. Iwas so angry at how we were being treated.

Jagger and Richards come into theroom and Jagger says, “This is the way they treat you guys?” He told us to get our stuff.

So we’re walking back towards theStones’ (backstage) area. As we get closer,wehear birds and we’re walking on Astroturf it was like we were on atropical island. Those guys were fans of the band, they were fans of New Orleans. Europe always seemed moreopen to themusic of the Metersthan theU.S. was.Musicians knew about us, but everyday people didn’tknow about us because

we weren’tonthose everyday people’sradio stations.

The bandmembers didn’tsee the cover of “Rejuvenation” before the album came out.

Neville: Iwas living in NewYork. Coming up out of the subway going back to where Ilived in Brooklyn, there was alittle record storeonthe corner; they used to have speakers outdoors. Unmistakably,I heard something very familiar coming out of those speakers. It was“What’cha Say.”

Isaid, “Where’sthe record?” “Back there in the bin.” “Where?” “You’re standing right in front of it.”

There’sanalbum cover with a young lady sitting on asofa with her foot on the coffee table. On thecoffee table is afifthofRipple wine and awatermelon. Iwould have never put that (cover) with themusic.

Porter: That wasthe first cover where our wives scrutinized our record covers. They wanted to know who thegirl was The cover of the 1976 album “Trick Bag,” with its closeup of abooty hanging outof cutoff jean shorts, caused problems too.

Porter: The “Trick Bag” album was even moreofa trick —it wasn’tayoung lady on the cover It was ayoung guy roller skating on Rodeo Drive. The record company air-brushed someextra butt hanging out.

The women in our lives got really upset. When they found out it was aboy,they got even more upset:“What are you guys letting these people do?”

The band posed in aswamp forthe cover of “Fire On the Bayou.”

Porter: We get on an airboat and go out into theAtchafalaya Basin. We got out of theboat onto alittle island.

We’restanding on atree. And this tree had anest of king snake eggs under it. We’re shooting (pictures) and all of asudden you hear this sound coming at us was this huge kingsnake upset that we’re standing on her eggs. There’s(photos) of us scattering.

Neville: That snake raisedup taller than Icared to stay there and see if it wasgoing up any further.Itwas like a“Three Stooges”movie —meand Zig and Art were trying to climb the same tree. The title song wascalled“Fire On the Bayou.”Whenthe Neville Brothers later recorded it, the title became “Fiyo On the Bayou.”

Porter: This always happens with guys from NewOrleans, especially with record labels

from the northeast or California. They want to correct our spelling. That’sprobably what happened with someofthe titles.

Neville: We had alot of gigs early on where the dressing room was way in the back and we’d have to walkthrough the audience to get to the stage. Zig came up with this idea: “We’re from New Orleans. Why not second-line to the stage?” We got acowbell and (sang) “Fire…on the bayou.” Porter: The first timethat happened wasinThibodaux. We were opening forDr. John at atheater I’ve got aphotograph of us sitting in the dressing room,smoking joints, singing that line “fire on the bayou” and beating on cowbells.

We worked our waytoward the stage singing “fire on the bayou,” got onstage and Art Neville wrote the lyrics off the top of his head. We werelooking at him singing, (waiting) forthe next timewe could sing “fire on the bayou.” When he got to the end of his verse, he looked at us and we said, “Fiiiire!”

Neville: Musical magic.

“They All Ask’d ForYou”islistedonthe album coveras“They All Ask’d About You. Is that another example of the record label correcting the English?

Neville: That’sthem NewYork boys.

You first heard that song when the great New Orleans jazzguitarist and raconteur DannyBarker played it at aparty?

Porter: Zig’sparents used to have what they would call “adult parties” back then. We cleaned (the song) up. It was“ass.” It was“the monkey’sass, the tiger’sass, and the elephant’sass foryou.”

Neville: Me and Zig waswalking through the yard on our way to agig at aplace on Magazine and Jackson. The band struck that song up and Iwound up having to go homeand change clothes because Ifell in the grass laughing and got grass juice all over my pants. It wasthe funniest thing I’d ever heard in my life. And looking at whoitwas coming from, these old gentlemen. ...it had to be Danny Barker!

(During the recording of “Fire On the Bayou”) when they asked if we had one moresong, Zig said, “I got one foryou.” Fifty years later,are youstill happywith “Fire On the Bayou”?

Neville: I’mgrateful forevery momentI got to spend with these guys, on and off the stage.

Email KeithSpera at kspera@ theadvocate.com.

BRIEFS

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Meta slashes workforce, Microsoft offers buyouts

Meta is laying off about 8,000 workers, or about 10% of its workforce, the company said Thursday as it continues to ramp up spending on artificial-intelligence infrastructure and highly paid AI-expert hires.

The company said it was making the cuts for the sake of efficiency and to allow new investments in parts of its business, as first reported by Bloomberg.

Also Thursday, Microsoft said it was offering voluntary buyouts to thousands of its U.S. employees.

The software giant plans to make the offers in early May to about 8,750 people, or 7% of its U.S. workforce, according to two people familiar with the plan who were not authorized to speak about it publicly

While an alternative to the sudden layoffs removing tech workers from peers like Meta and Oracle, the savings are likely tied to a similar industry upheaval that is requiring huge spending on the costs of artificial-intelligence. Meta has already warned investors that its 2026 expenses will grow significantly — to the range of $162 billion to $169 billion — driven by infrastructure costs and employee compensation, particularly for the artificial intelligence experts it’s been hiring at eye-popping pay levels.

Kellogg to put toys back into some cereal boxes

If you’ve missed rooting around in a cereal box for a toy, you’re in luck.

WK Kellogg Co. said Thursday it’s including toys with some of its breakfast cereals for the first time in more than a decade. Starting on Sunday, special edition boxes of Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops, Apple Jacks and Corn Pops will have plastic toys shaped like characters from Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 5.” The movie is scheduled to hit theaters in June.

Plastic toys used to be a mainstay in breakfast cereal, but they have gradually disappeared as manufacturers tried to cut costs and consumers worried about choking and other hazards.

Kellogg said it thought “Toy Story 5” was a good fit for the reintroduction, since it explores the role of toys in a tech-driven world.

“Bringing toys back inside the box reintroduces that sense of discovery through a simple, screen-free moment of play that parents can now share with their own kids,” said Laura Newman, a vice president of brand marketing at Kellogg.

T-Mobile reportedly in merger talks

Bellevue, Washington-based TMobile could become part of the world’s biggest phone company

The company is in talks with its German majority-owner Deutsche Telekom AG to combine under one holding company, according to a Bloomberg report Deutsche Telekom already owns a 53% stake in T-Mobile. The combined entity would be jointly owned by current investors and might seek a listing on a U.S and a major European exchange, according to Bloomberg T-Mobile and Deutsche Telekom spokespersons would not comment, saying the companies do not comment on speculation.

Bloomberg cited anonymous sources. But if the rumors are true, the deal would be the largest ever public merger, according to Reuters.

Average U.S. mortgage rate slips to 6.23%

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate dropped for the third week in a row

The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate fell to 6.23% from 6.3% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday One year ago, the rate averaged 6.81%. Meanwhile, borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also eased this week. That average rate dropped to 5.58% from 5.65% last week. A year ago, it was at 5.94%, Freddie Mac said.

BUSINESS

NOLA.COM/BIZ

Trump unveils deal with Regeneron

Drugmaker agrees to lower prices

BY ALI SWENSON Associated Press

President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a deal with drugmaker Regeneron to lower the cost of its pharmaceutical products as part of the White House’s signature drug pricing initiative.

The deal involves Regeneron lowering the prices of all its current and future drugs on Medicaid, according to Trump. It also involves selling a cholesterol drug called Praluent for $225 on the White House’s discounted drug website TrumpRx, according to the agreement first outlined by NOTUS and confirmed in a White House fact sheet. The deal comes as the Trump

administration has been touting efforts to provide economic relief ahead of November’s midterm elections, with Americans saying high costs for health care, gas, groceries and other basic needs are straining their budgets.

It’s one of many so-called mostfavored-nation deals the Trump administration has made with drug companies to bring U.S. pharmaceutical prices to the same level as other developed nations. Last July Trump publicly sent letters to executives at 17 major pharmaceutical companies about the issue. Regeneron is the final one of those companies to strike a deal with his administration. Speaking at the White House on Thursday to announce the deal, Trump touted the discounts on drugs and said, “It should be front page news.” He said voters in this

November’s midterm elections should reward his party because of the agreements with drugmakers.

“We should win the midterms, but it doesn’t work that way, unfortunately,” Trump said.

Trump also has a notable history with the drugmaker

During his first term in 2020, when he was hospitalized with COVID-19, he was given a dose of a drug that Regeneron was testing to supply antibodies in order to help his immune system.

After he was released, Trump posted a video of himself standing outside the White House in which he repeatedly lavished praise on Regeneron.

As part of the new deal, Regeneron has also committed to spending $27 billion in research, development and manufacturing in the U.S., according to the White House

fact sheet. Trump’s deals have historically offered companies relief from his tariffs if they make such commitments.

Regeneron also announced Thursday that Otarmeni, its new gene therapy for a rare form of congenital hearing loss, had been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and would be made available to clinically eligible individuals in the U.S. at no charge. The therapy received expedited approval from the FDA under the agency’s so-called Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher program. The program, which was not authorized by Congress, has been under scrutiny from Democrats for months. House and Senate lawmakers have noted that FDA vouchers have repeatedly gone to companies that agree to pricing concessions sought by the White House.

Shareholders OK Warner Bros. sale

$81B deal with Paramount still faces regulatory review

BY WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS

Associated Press

NEW YORK HBO Max, “Harry Potter” and CNN may soon find themselves under a new roof: Paramount.

That’s because shareholders of Warner Bros. Discovery approved an $81 billion sale of the company on Thursday Including debt, the proposed buyout valued at nearly $111 billion based on Warner’s current outstanding shares.

While the deal still faces regulatory review, the megamerger would vastly reshape Hollywood and the wider media landscape, further consolidating power in an industry already run by just a handful of major players. Paramount itself was acquired by Skydance just last year

Streaming

Paramount Skydance would own both Paramount+ and, with the sale approved by shareholders Thursday, Warner’s HBO Max. Company executives have said that they would combine these streamers into one platform What that combined service would look like (or be named) is unclear But Paramount CEO David Ellison suggested that HBO could still have some level of independence, at least production-wise Warner and its HBO streaming platform have a powerful lineup that includes “The Pitt,” “Game of Thrones” and “Sex and the City.” And beyond “Harry Potter,” Warner’s library lists blockbuster films such as “Sinners,” “Barbie” and “Superman” (the company also owns DC Studios). Titles like “Top Gun,” “Titanic,” “The Godfather” and “Yellowstone” fill Paramount’s catalog.

In the U.S., according to streaming guide JustWatch, HBO Max controlled about 12% of on-demand subscriptions in the first quarter of this year — compared to 3% for Paramount+. Combining those two services would still fall slightly below Prime Video’s 17% market share, and the 19% of the market commanded by Netflix. Disney owns about 27% of the market between Hulu and Disney+. Beyond HBO Max, Paramount would also acquire Warner’s smaller Discovery+ streamer Paramount owns Pluto TV and BET+, too. Critics are skeptical of consumer benefits touted by Paramount. A combination with Warner Bros. would mean fewer platform choices Critics warn that could actually mean higher prices at a time when the price of almost all subscriptions continues to tick higher Moviemaking, theatrical releases Paramount and Warner Bros. are two of

company to Paramount.

Hollywood’s oldest studios. A merger would mean fewer companies control legacy film production. Ellison has said he wants the combined company to grow a slate to more than 30 movies a year, keeping Paramount and Warner Bros. as standalone operations. And in a star-studded CinemaCon appearance last week, he promised a 45-day exclusive window for films in theaters, pledging a “complete commitment” to the industry Still, others are wary about what further consolidation could mean for jobs and which projects are greenlit down the road. Regulatory filings have indicated that the new ownership will be looking for ways to cut costs — including layoffs and downsizing some overlapping operations. Paramount is taking on billions of dollars in debt to finance the deal Warner Bros. just had a banner year of both major blockbusters and critical successes. The studio racked up 30 Oscar nominations thanks to “Sinners,” “Weapons,” and “One Battle After Another” (which took home the top best picture slot). Paramount received zero. And in 2025, Warner Bros. movies accounted for 21% of the domestic box office. Paramount’s market share was only 6%, driven largely by “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning.”

Almost 10 years ago, Hollywood’s big six became the big five when Disney bought most of 20th Century Fox. If the Warner sale goes through, a new “big four” era would be underway — with a bigger Paramount standing alongside Disney, Universal and Sony News

CNN would come under the same roof as Paramount-owned CBS. That would bring

together two of America’s biggest names in television news, although whether CNN would continue to operate as a separate brand from CBS has yet to be confirmed.

Regardless, there is a lot of anxiety about Paramount taking control of CNN — a network that has long attracted ire from President Donald Trump and his allies. Critics point to Trump’s close relationship with the Ellison family, particularly billionaire Oracle founder Larry Ellison, who is putting up billions of dollars to back the bid by his son’s company Since coming under Skydance ownership less than a year ago, CBS has already seen significant shifts in editorial leadership. It’s taken steps to appeal to more conservative viewers in its news operations, notably with the installation of Free Press founder Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief of CBS News. If the company’s proposed Warner takeover is successful, many expect similar changes at CNN. Some officials in the Trump administration have also made their opinions very clear about CNN’s future ownership. In March, the White House attacked CNN for its coverage of the U.S. and Israel’s war against Iran — and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told reporters that “the sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better.” Ellison has said that editorial independence “will absolutely be maintained” under Paramount ownership. “It’s maintained at CBS. It’ll be maintained at CNN,” Ellison told CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” in March, while noting that his company wants to speak to “the 70%” of viewers who he said identify as center-left or center-right.

The acting head of the U.S. Justice Department’s antitrust division has also said that its regulatory review will not be political

Former employee files lawsuit against MrBeast’s company

Woman alleges she was harassed for years and fired after maternity leave

BY CLAIRE SAVAGE and JAMES POLLARD Associated Press

A former Beast Industries employee is suing MrBeast’s media production company after she was allegedly fired from her social media manager job upon returning from maternity leave and following years of what she described as sexual harassment and workplace gender bias. The lawsuit, filed by Lorrayne Mavromatis in federal court in North Carolina on Wednesday, ac-

cuses MrBeastYouTube, LLC and GameChanger 24/7, LLC of violating federal law that entitles eligible employees to take unpaid, job-protected leave for qualifying family and medical reasons, including childbirth. Mavromatis also filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging discrimination on the basis of sex, pregnancy, and retaliation.

Mavromatis claims that she worked “nonstop” following her baby’s birth as well as while in the delivery room. “I was still bleeding, and I just had to show up,” Mavromatis told The Associated Press in an interview

Less than three weeks after she returned to work full time, she said she was fired.

A Beast Industries spokesperson called the lawsuit a “clout-chasing complaint” built on “deliberate mis-

representations and categorically false statements” in an emailed statement. Mavromatis’s position was eliminated, according to the spokesperson, when the new head of e-commerce reorganized her team.

In response to allegations that MrBeast failed to inform her of her rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act, the company shared a screenshot of her signature confirming receipt of the employee handbook including FMLA policies.

“We will not submit to opportunistic lawyers looking to manufacture a payday from us,” the statement said.

Mavromatis’ lawsuit raises disturbing allegations about the culture behind YouTube’s most popular creator as new company leaders seek to rapidly expand the media empire founded by Jimmy Donaldson under his MrBeast alias.

It portrays a toxic, misogynistic workplace that Beast Industries has recently tried to clean up as Donaldson’s media empire launches ambitious ventures into television and financial services.

Questions about Beast Industries’ internal culture surfaced two years ago after a social media firestorm over Donaldson’s past racist and homophobic language coincided with accusations that a longtime collaborator shared inappropriate sexual messages with minors. In an August 2024 email to employees, Donaldson said he recognized that he must “create a culture that makes all our employees feel safe and allows them to do their best work.” Beast Industries fired several employees following a third-party investigation that identified “isolated instances” of workplace harassment and misconduct.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By JAE C. HONG Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders on Thursday approved the $81 billion sale of the

TAuRus (April 20-May 20) Mixed emotions will leave you puzzled. Take amoment to step back, review andrevampyour plans. It's important that you have no reservationsmoving forward.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Curb your reactions, focus on what you can do and reach for the stars. Put more time and effort into updating your appeal,and it will feed your ego and boost your confidence.

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Get your facts straight before youact. Be savvy and getthings in writing. Know what and who youare up against beforeyou participate in something.Stay calm, be cool andfocusonhigh returns.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Take advantage of any opportunity you gettospeak with an expert or learn something new. Show passion in allyou do and say, andyou'll commandattentionand reap rewards.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Thepath to peace of mind involves dealing with organizations that hold your information and making sure important documentsare up to date.Leavenothing undone or to chance.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Simple choices will give you thehighest return. Engage in events that address your concerns, andyou'llgaininsight into better choices andmeet some interesting people scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) The more you learn, theeasier it becomes to reach

what your heart desires. Communicationiskey to lifestyle changes that promise ahealthyand stable future.

sAGITTARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Make changes thatare within your means Stick closetohomeand protect your privacy andpossessions. Acreative outlet will have acalming effect.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Take adeep breath and say no to anyone trying to exploit you. Callthe shots instead of letting others dictate what's next. Scammers will do theirbesttooutsmart you.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Achange to your surroundings that promotes peace of mind will stimulate originality anda path forward. Aim for greater independence, andeverything else will fallinto place.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Protect your health andwell-being. Don't attend events that put youatrisk. Concentrate on what'shappening and take apath that is practical andwithin your means. ARIEs (March 21-April19) Getphysical, socialize, be playful andenjoywhatlife has to offer.Choose to participate, share your dreams and makeplans that give yousomething to look forward to.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. ©2026 by nEa, inc dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication

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

ToDAy's cLuE:H EQuALs n

CeLebrItY CIpher

beetLe bAILeY

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

LAGoon

bIG nAte

Sudoku

InstructIons: sudoku is anumber-placingpuzzle based on a9x9 grid with severalgiven numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1to9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 boxcontains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the sudoku increasesfrom monday to sunday

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

THe wiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

CurTiS

By PHILLIP ALDER Bridge

On some deals, adefender will have a dilemma, not sure howtodefeat the contract. He must relyonhis partner. Against five diamonds,Westleads the spade two. How should declarer play? Suppose he wins withhis ace, plays a heart to dummy’s10, and runs the diamondnine to West’s king. How should West defend?

After two passes, East opened alight third-in-handonespade.Southovercalled twodiamonds. West made apre-emptive jump to threespades, showing four-card support and less than game-invitational values. (With astronger hand, he would have cue-bid three diamonds.) North doubledtoindicateamaximumpass,and South jumped to five diamonds. This is adifficult deal. It is tempting fordeclarer to assume that East holds thediamond king. But after the diamond finesse fails, West wonderswhether his side needs to take one diamond, one spade (when East has only five spades) and one club, or one diamond andtwo clubs (whenEast has six spades). He does not know,but East should. At trick four, West should shift to his club queen, andSouthplayslowfromtheboard.Now the spotlight is on East. From the spadetwolead, he knows that West has only four spades. So East should overtake withhisclubaceandcashthespadeking. What did declarer do wrong? It is better to cash his diamond ace at trick two. If thekingdrops, fine. Butwhenitdoes not, South turns to hearts, getting home if the defenderwiththe diamondking has at leastthree hearts.Declarer’s club loser evaporates on dummy’s fourth heart. ©2026 by nEa, inc dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication

Each Wuzzleisaword riddle which creates adisguised word,phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: nOOn gOOD =gOOD aFTErnOOn

Previous

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

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C. PiCKles

dIrectIons: make a2-to 7-letter word from theletters in each row. add pointsof each word, using scoring directionsat right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter havenopoint value.all the words arein theOfficial sCraBBlE® players Dictionary, 5th Edition. For more information on tournamentsand clubs, email naspa –northamerican sCraBBlE playersassociation: info@scrabbleplayers.org.Visit ourwebsite:www.scrabbleplayers.org. For puzzleinquiries contact scrgrams@gmail.com

andits

and

ken ken

InstructIons: 1 -Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1thorugh4(easy) or 1through 6 (challenging) without repeating. 2 -The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners. 3 -Freebies: Fill in the single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

sCraBBlE

WiShinG Well

HErE is aplEasanTliTTlEgamEthat will give you amessageeveryday.it’s a numerical puzzle designed to spell outyourfortune.Count thelettersinyour firstname. if thenumberofletters is 6ormore, subtract4.ifthe numberislessthan 6, add 3. The result is your key number. start at theupperleft-hand cornerand check each of yourkey numbers, left to right. Then read themessagethe checked figuresgiveyou

Scrabble GramS

Get fuzzy

jump Start

roSe iS roSe

animal crackerS

DuStin

Drabble

SERVITUDES, APPURTE‐NANCES AND ADVANTAGES THEREUNTOBE‐LONGING OR IN ANYWISE APPERTAINING, SITUATED IN THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA,IN THE CITY OF KENNER, IN THATPART THEREOF KNOWNAS PLACE PONTCHAR‐TRAINSUBDIVI‐SION, ANDIN ACCORDANCE WITH THEPLAN OFSUBDIVISION BYJ.J.KREBS & SONSINC DATED FEBRUARY,4 1993, REVISED MAY 24, 1993 AND JUNE 30, 1993, APPROVED

AHMADQ.SID‐DIQUIAND GUL‐NAZQAVISID‐DIQUI By virtue of and inobedience to a Writ of SEIZURE AND SALEfromthe 24thJudicial District Court,

Parish of Jeffer‐son,State of Louisiana,inthe above num‐bered andenti‐tledcause, dated Decem‐ber 5, 2025, I haveseizedand willproceed to selltothe high‐est bidder at publicauction atthe Jefferson ParishSheriff's Office Complex, 1233 Westbank Expressway, Harvey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday June 3, 2026 at 10o'clock a.m. the following described prop‐ertytowit: ONECERTAIN LOT OF GROUND, TOGETHERWITH ALL THEBUILD‐INGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON, AND ALL OF THE RIGHTS, WAYS PRIVILEGES,

COB2873, FOLIO

814, SAID LOTIS

DESIGNATED BY THENO. 28, AND MEASURES 75.00

FEET FRONTON

RUEST. MARTIN SAME WIDTHIN THE REAR,BYA DEPTHOF130.00

FEET BETWEEN EQUALAND PARALLEL LINES

ALLASMORE FULLYSHOWN ON SURVEY BY DADING,MAR‐QUES & ASSOCIATES INC.,DATED 7/25/97.

THEIMPROVE‐MENTS THEREONBEAR THEMUNICIPAL NO.4409 RUEST. MARTIN,KEN‐NER, LOUISIANA 70065.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit KATE SOTO‐LONGO Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III

Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: April24, 2026, May29, 2026

Apr24-may292t

COURT

OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:868-567

CHASEHOME LENDINGMORT‐GAGE TRUST 2024-RPL4 MORTGAGE CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2024RPL4 VERSUS SYBILANN KINCHEN

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND

SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedNovem‐ber13, 2025, I have seized and will proceed to sell to thehigh‐estbidderat public auction, at theJefferson Parish Sheriff's Office Complex, 1233 Westbank Expressway, Harvey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

andAssociates, C.E., datedOctober 9, 1963,ap‐proved by the JeffersonParish Councilunder Ordinance No.6566 adoptedApril 9, 1964, recorded in COB590; folio 940; andasre‐visedby plan of resubdi‐vision by DonA Garland, C..E., datedJanuary 22, 1982, ap‐proved by theJefferson Parish Council on February 17, 1982, under EmergencyOr‐dinanceNo. 15060 recorded under EntryNo. 1005497 in COB 1021, folio 405, in conjunction with OrdinanceNo. 15088 approved by theJefferson Parish Council on March17, 1982, recorded under theEntry No 1007502 in COB 1022, folio 434; andasfurther resubdivided by that plan of re‐subdivisionby J.J. Krebs& Sons,Inc., C.E.& S.,dated March17, 1984 approved by the JeffersonParish Councilunder OrdinanceNo. 16014 recorded under EntryNo. 8425173 in COB 1075, folio 890, more specifi‐cally describedas followstowit: Square 20A, Lot 13, which square is bounded by MorningGlory Lane,AzaleaDr, Honeysuckle Lane,and Dan‐delionDrive

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit AMYR.ORTIS Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: April24, 2026, May29, 2026 Apr24-may292t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:870-044

gether with all thebuildings and improvements thereon, andall of therights, ways,privi‐leges, servi‐tudes, appurtenances andadvantages thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in the Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in that part thereofknown as Stonebridge by resubdivision approved by Or‐dinance#15014, recorded in COB 1019,folio 674, in January1982 andall as more fullyshown on a plan of resubdivsion prepared by J. J. Krebs& Sons, Inc.,dated Au‐gust 31,1981,as Lot 353, Square 14, Section2,which measures as follows:

Said LOT353 OF SQUARE 14,is bounded by Lake Lynn Drive, Parcel 2A (120 LouisianaPower &Light Com‐pany Rightof way side), BayouBarataria and180' TrappCanal RightofWay side.Inaccor‐dancewith a survey of Gilbert, Kelly and Couturie,Inc datedJune 24, 1992,saidlot measures a first fronton37.06 feet anda second frontof 71.59 feet on Lake Lynn Drive, a firstwidth in therearof31.12 feet anda second width in the rear of 36.89 feet,bya depth alongthe north‐westerly most sideline of 181.19 feet,and adepth along the opposite sideline of 199.22 feet

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

EMILYA MUELLER Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson TheNew Orleans Advocate: April24, 2026, May 29, 2026 Apr24-may292t

seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOffice Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

y Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: April24, 2026, May29, 2026

Apr24-may292t

ROCKET MORT‐GAGE,LLC VERSUS DENNISH.COOK SR.A/K/A DEN‐NISH.COOK A/K/ADENNIS HENRYCOOK SR

STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:873-505

GITSIT SOLU‐TIONS, LLC, NOT IN ITSINDIVID‐UALCAPACITY BUTSOLELYIN ITSCAPACITY AS SEPARATE TRUSTEEOFGV TRUST2025-1 VERSUS PATRICIA ADAMSLINER

Plaintiff JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: April24, 2026, May29, 2026 Apr24-may292t

LOPINTO, III

Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: April24, 2026, May29, 2026

ACERTAIN PIECEORPOR‐TION OF GROUND,to‐gether with all thebuildings and improvements thereon, andall therights, ways privileges, servitudes,ad‐vantages andappurte‐nances there‐untobelonging or in anywise appertaining, situated in the PARISH OF Jef‐ferson,STATE OF LOUISIANA, in that part thereofknown as Floral AcresSubdivi‐sion Addition No.1 formerly designated as a portionofArea H, Live OakPlantation, in accordance with survey by AdloeOrr, Jr

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL

DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:873-274

LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC VERSUS ANTHONY DIXON

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedMarch 4, 2026, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOffice Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

ONE(1) CERTAIN LOTORPARCEL OF GROUND,TO‐GETHER WITH ALLTHE BUILDINGSAND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON. SITU‐ATED IN THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA, IN THAT SUBDIVI‐SION KNOWNAS STEEPLECHASE AT HOME‐PLACE.,PHASE 2A,AND BEING DESIGNATED ON THEOFFICIAL PLAT OF SAID SUBDIVISION, ON FILE ANDOF RECORD IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERKAND RECORDER OF SAID PARISH ANDSTATE AS LOT 6, SQUARE 32, SAID SUBDIVI‐SION,SAIDLOT HAVING SUCH SIZE,SHAPE AND DIMENSIONS ANDBEING SUB‐JECT TO SUCH SERVITUDES AS ARESHOWN ON SAID MAP.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedMarch 16, 2026, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOffice Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: OneCertain Pieceorportion of ground,to‐gether with all buildingsand improvements thereonand all of therights, ways,privi‐leges, prescrip‐tions, servitude, advantages andappurte‐nances there‐untobelonging or in anywise appertaining, situated in the Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in section 2, Town‐ship 16 South, Range23 East,Southeast‐ernLandDis‐trictof Louisiana, for‐merlybeing a portionofthe Jonathan Davis Plantation,now knownas BaratariaIsles Addition Subdi‐vision,as showninaccor‐dancewiththe subdivisionplan of J.J. Krebs& Sons,Inc dated May 11, 1981, ap‐proved forthe resubdivisionby theJefferson Parish Council by virtue of OrdinanceNum‐ber14790, adoptedon June 24, 1981, registered under entry Number 978842 andaccording to said plan said pieceor portionof ground is more particularly de‐scribedasfol‐lows,to-wit: Lot Number 82, measures 50` feet fronton DeborahAnn Drive, same width in the rear,bya depth of 145` feet be‐tween equal andparallel lines

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liens and privileges.

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:873-015

Apr24-may292t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL

DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:873-700

WILMINGTON SAVINGSFUND SOCIETY, FSBAS OWNER TRUSTEEOF CFS15 GRANTOR TRUST VERSUS CARL SCARKINO, JR. A/K/ACARL SCARKINO AND LOLA M. SCARKINO A/K/A LOLA SCARKINO

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedMarch 13, 2026, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOffice Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

MORTGAGE SO‐LUTIONSOF COLORADO,LLC VS SANJAY RAMAN By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedNovem‐ber6,2025, I have seized and will proceed to sell to thehigh‐estbidderat public auction, at theJefferson Parish Sheriff's Office Complex, 1233Westbank Expressway, Harvey Louisiana, 70058,on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: THAT CERTAIN PARCEL OF GROUND,to‐

ACERTAIN PIECEORPOR‐TION OF GROUND,TO‐GETHER WITH ALLTHE BUILDINGS, CONSTRUC‐TIONS, COMPO‐NENT PARTS, FIXTURES AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON, AND ALLOFTHE RIGHTS,WAYS, PRIVILEGES, SERVITUDES APPURTE‐NANCES AND ADVANTAGES THEREUNTOBE‐LONGING OR IN ANYWISE APPERTAINING, SITUATED IN THEPARISHOF JEFFERSON, STATEOF LOUISIANA, IN THAT PART THEREOF KNOWNAS WOODMERE SUBDIVISION SECTION4,PER PLAN OF RESUB‐DIVISION MADE BY J. J. KREBS &SONS, INC. CIVILENGI‐NEERS& SUR‐VEYORS,DATED DECEMBER 16, 1975, APPROVED BY THEJEFFERSON PARISH COUN‐CILBYORDI‐NANCENO. 12331, REGISTERED IN COB858, FOLIO 638, JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA, SAME BEINGDESIG‐NATEDASFOL‐LOWS,TO-WIT: LOT1161, IN SQUARE "AA", BOUNDEDBY SOUTHDEER‐WOOD DRIVE, ALEX KORNMAN BOULEVARD, IRWINKUNTS DRIVE, WOOD‐MERE BOULE‐VARD, DEERWOOD COURT, TIMBERS DRIVE, MERCER LANE,NORTH TIMBERS COURT, AND TIMBERSDRIVE THESAIDLOT 1161 COM‐MENCES 730 FEET FROM THECOR‐NEROFSOUTH DEERWOOD DRIVEAND ALEX KORNMAN BOULEVARD ANDMEASURES THENCE 60 FEET FRONTON SOUTH DEERWOOD DRIVE, SAME IN WIDTHINTHE REAR,BYA DEPTHOF100 FEET BETWEEN EQUALAND PARALLEL LINES ALLINACCOR‐DANCEWITHA SURVEY BY GILBERT, KELLY & COUTURIE, INC.,SURVEYING &ENGINEERING, DATEDDECEM‐BER2,1998, A COPY OF WHICH IS ANNEXEDTO AN ACT PASSEDBEFORE PAUL M. LAPEYRE,NO‐TARY PUBLIC, DATEDDECEM‐BER9, 1998, REGIS‐TEREDINCOB 2997, FOLIO 897, JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

RADERJACKSON Attorney for Plaintiff

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

TheNew Orleans Advocate: April24, 2026, May29, 2026 Apr24-may292t

CANDACEA COURTEAU

Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedMarch 12, 2026, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOffice Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: TWOCERTAIN LOTS OF GROUND,to‐gether with all thebuildings and improvements thereon, andall therights, ways, andprivileges, thereuntobe‐longing or in anywise appertaining, situated in the Parish of Jeffer‐sonState of Louisiana, in JeffersonDrive Subdivision, de‐picted upon a plan made by S. A. Calongne, C.E., datedDecem‐ber20, 1927,and beinga subdivi‐sion of original Lot5 andbeing apart of therearpor‐tion of former Rosedale Plan‐tation andlying within Section 45 T12, S, R10-E, South‐easternDistrict of Louisiana, which plan is annexedtoan actbefore RogerMeunier, N.P. datedJanu‐ary23, 1928, and accordingto a survey of R. L. Schumann, Land Surveyor, datedMay 10, 1974, annexed hereto and made apart hereof,saidlots of ground are designated and describedas follows: Lots 3 and4 of Square 25, bounded by N. Turnbull Drive (formerlyJeffer‐sonDrive,31st and33rd Streets, and easternlineof thesubdivision which said lots adjoin each otherand said Lot3 being closer to the corner of N. Turnbull and 33rdStreet and said lot commences at a distance of 50 feet from the corner of N. Turnbulland 33rdStreet andeachlot measures thence 25 feet frontonN.Turn‐bull Drive, same widthinthe rear,bya depth of 110 feet be‐tween equal parallel lines

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

THAT CERTAIN PIECEORPOR‐TION OF GROUND,to‐gether with all thebuildings andimprove‐mentsthereon andall the rights,ways, privileges, servitudes, appurtenances andadvantages thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in the Parish of Jeffer‐son, in theState of Louisianain that part thereofknown as GREENLAWN TERRACESUBDI‐VISION (High‐wayPark),said portionbeing designated as LotL of Square 63 accordingto aplanbyJ.J Krebs& Sons, Inc., datedMarch 25, 1969, Square 63 is bounded by California Av‐enue,40th, Arkansas Avenue,and 41st Avenue LotL formsthe Corner of Cali‐fornia and40th Street andmea‐suresthence58 feet frontonCalifor‐niaAvenue, same widthin therear, by a depth and frontage on 40th Street of 120 feet,and by a depthonthe opposite side‐line of 120 feet

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:868-068 PLANET HOME LENDING, LLC VERSUS LARRYPRICE AKALARRY D. PRICEAND VEL‐VARREIMO‐NENQ

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedAugust 22, 2025, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOffice Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, April29, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

ELIZABETHC PRICE Attorney for Plaintiff JOSEPH P. JUDICIAL

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

THAT CERTAIN LOTORPARCEL OF GROUND,lo‐catedinthe Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in that part thereofknown as LIVE OAK PLANTATION ES‐TATES SUBDIVISION, ADDITION No.2 as shownon a Plan of Subdivi‐sion by Rich‐mond W. Krebsapproved by theJefferson Parish Council Ordinance 22817, regis‐teredas Instrument # 10648932 andas shownthereon said lotorpar‐celisdesig‐natedas:

LOT54SQUARE 2: subjecttore‐strictions,servi‐tudes, rights-ofwayand out‐standing mineralrights of record affect‐ingthe prop‐erty

TheImprove‐mentsthereon bear theMunici‐palNo. 9509 East Terran Lane, Waggaman, LA 70094. This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

U.S. BANK TRUSTNA‐TIONAL ASSOCI‐ATIONAS TRUSTEE FOR PADANNEX SERIES VI TRUST VERSUS TERRENCE GEORGE WOODS ANDDANIELLE WILLIAMS WOODS By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedFebruary 23, 2026, Ihave

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

RADERJACKSON Attorney for

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT 24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:873-317

TheNew Orleans Advocate: April24, 2026, May29, 2026 Apr24-may292t

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit CANDACEA COURTEAU Attorney for Plaintiff

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit CANDACEA COURTEAU Attorney for

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

TheNew Orleans Advocate: March20, 2026, April24, 2026 Mar20-apr24-2t

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON JUDICIAL

DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA

NO:868-187

LAKEVIEW LOAN

SERVICING, LLC

VERSUS MICHAELEU‐

GENE DONALD ANDKELSEY

LYNN MOUNIER

By virtue of and in obedienceto

aWritof SEIZUREAND

SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedSeptem‐ber2,2025, I have seized and will proceedto sell to thehigh‐estbidderat public auction, at theJefferson Parish Sheriff's Office Complex, 1233 Westbank Expressway, Harvey Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, April29, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

THAT CERTAIN LOTORPARCEL OF GROUND,to‐gether with all thebuildings and improvements thereon, andall therights, ways privileges, servitudes,ap‐purtenances andadvantages thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐tainingsituated in theParish of Jefferson, Stateof Louisiana, in that part thereofknown as RanchEs‐tates Subdivision, and accordingto a survey by J.J. Krebs& Sons Inc.,C.E., dated 11/30/71, resur‐veyed12/27/71 and01-11-74, said Lotisdes‐ignatedasLot 35, andis situated in the square bounded by Delery Drive, theSouth Boundaryofthe Subdivision, MorningGlow Driveand Ram‐seyStreet and commences at a distance of 606.10 feet from the first pointofcurva‐ture at theinter‐sectionofRam‐seyStreet andMorning Glow Drive, and measures thence 52 feet frontonRamsey Street,the same width in therear, with a depth of 100 feet between equaland paral‐lellines; subjecttore‐strictions,servi‐tudes, rights-ofwayand out‐standing min‐eral rights of record affecting theproperty. Improvements thereonbear theMunicipal: 2405 Ramsey Drive, Marrero, Louisiana70072

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

ZACHARYGAR‐RETT YOUNG

Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P.

LOPINTO, III

Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

March20, 2026, April24, 2026

Mar20-apr24-2t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:868-483

U.S. BANK TRUSTNA‐TIONAL ASSOCI‐ATION, ANDANY SUCCESSORIN INTEREST, NOT IN ITSINDIVID‐UALCAPACITY, BUTSOLELYAS OWNER TRUSTEEFOR MILL CITY MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2019-GS2 VS DEBORAH MONTGOMERY TEWIS By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedSeptem‐ber24, 2025,I have seized and will proceed to sell to thehigh‐estbidderat public auction, at theJefferson Parish Sheriff's Office Complex, 1233 Westbank Expressway, Harvey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday April29, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: SITUATED IN THEPARISHOF JEFFERSON, STATEOF LOUISIANA, in that part thereofknown as OwnYour OwnSubdivi‐sion,designated as LotNo. 7, Square 12, bounded by N. Cumberland Street,the side line of plot 136 N. Starrett Road and Balter Street, andmeasures 50 feet fronton N. Cumberland Street,the same width in therear, by a depth of 115 feet between equaland paral‐lellines.Lot 7 begins 300 feet from the corner ofN. Cumberland Street andBal‐terStreet.All in accordance with survey by Dad‐ing, Marques& Associates,Inc., datedOctober 23, 1992;subject to restrictions, servitudes rights-of-way andoutstanding mineralrights of record affectingthe property

Theimprove‐mentsthereon bear theMunici‐pal No.1525 N. Cumberland Street Metairie, Louisiana.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or PersonalCheck with Bank Letter of Credit

ZACHARYGAR‐RETT YOUNG Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III

Advocate: March20, 2026, April24, 2026

Mar20-apr24-2t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:868-883

STANDARD MORTGAGE CORPORATION VS BRANDIELYNN ROSSER

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedSeptem‐ber25, 2025, I have seized and will proceedto sell to thehigh‐estbidderat public auction, at theJefferson Parish Sheriff's Office Complex, 1233 Westbank Expressway Harvey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, April29, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: ONECERTAIN LOTOFGROUND, together with allthe buildings andimprove‐ments thereon, andall therights, ways privileges, servitudes and appurtenances thereunto belongingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in theParishof Jefferson, State of Louisiana, in that part thereofknown as Timber Ridge Subdivision,all in accordance with asubdivi‐sion plan by J. J. Krebsand Sons, Inc.,dated 4/8/1981, ap‐proved by theJefferson Parish Council by Ordinance No.14779.Ac‐cordingtosaid plan,said lotisdesig‐natedasfol‐lows:Lot 33 of Square “A”, which is bounded by Lac Bienville, LacSt. Pierre, andLac Du‐maineDrive,as well as theEast‐ern, Western, and Northern boundariesof theSubdivision; Lot 33 measures 56 feet fronton Lac BienvilleDrive, same width in therearby a depth of 140 feet between equaland parallel lines.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certified Check, Money Order, or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit.

FOERSTNERG MEYER

Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: March20, 2026, April24, 2026

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA

NO:871-833 BANKPLUS VERSUS GLENNE.LAMP‐TONAND JOYCE LAMPTON

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedJanuary 12, 2026, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOffice Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, April29, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

from theinter‐sectionofJeffer Driveand Robert Road andmeasures 56 48 feet front on Robert Road, andwith a width of 53 00 feet across the rear,bya depth of 102 48 feet on theside line nearestJef‐ferDrive,by a depth of 102 04 on theopposite side line

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges. TERMS- 10% down balancein 30 days

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

JEFFREYM TOEPFER Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

102.40` feet frontonNorth DarylCourt, thence on a curvea second front of 14.46` feet; thence athird frontona curve of 1.79` feet for atotal front of 118.65, with awidth in therearof 117.00` feet by a depth on the Northlineofthe Subdivision (side) of 164.84` feet by adepth on theopposite sideline nearest Modern Farms Road of 171.00` feet.SaidLot 7 commences 702.00` feet from theinter‐sectionof NorthDaryl Courtand Mod‐ernFarms Road Accordingto a Survey of Wilton J. Dufrene, Sur‐veyor dated 11/16/84, lotis bounded by NorthDaryl Court, theNorth line of theSubdivi‐sion (side),East line of theSub‐division and Modern Farms Road.All in accordance with aSurvey made by Gilbert, Kelly &Cou‐turie, Inc.,dated October12, 1991.

Wednesday, April29, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

TheNew Orleans

Advocate:

Mar20-apr24-2t

TheNew Orleans Advocate: March20, 2026, April24, 2026

Mar20-apr24-2t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:872-386

GATEWAY MORTGAGE GROUP, ADIVI‐SION OF GATE‐WAYFIRST BANK VERSUS TRACIE PERCLE SOWELL AND LARK ANDREW SOWELL

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

CANDACEA COURTEAU

Attorney for Plaintiff

p g andappurte‐nances thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in theParishof Jefferson, Stateof Louisiana, in that part known as Elmeer Place Subdivisionin Square 1, thereof, which square is bounded by Elmeer Avenue Metairie Road, Brockenbraugh Street andthe boundaryof Brockenbraugh CourtSubdivi‐sion,designated as Lots 11 and12ona sur‐veybyF.G Stewart, dated September16, 1955, andac‐cording theretoLots11 and12adjoin each together with each mea‐sure 25 feet fronton Elmeer Avenue, thesamewidth in therear, by a depthof120 feet between equal andparallel lines. Lot12lies nearer to and commences 50 feet from the corner of Elmeer Avenue andthe prolon‐gation of Brock‐enbraugh Street.All as more fully shownonsur‐veybyGilbert Kelly andCou‐turie, Inc.,dated 2/16/91, acopy of which is annexedto ActNo. 9113860.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: March20, 2026, April24, 2026 Mar20-apr24-2t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT 24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:872-526 FEDERALHOME LOAN MORT‐GAGE CORPORA‐TION,AS TRUSTEEOFTHE FREDDIEMAC SLST 2025-2 PARTICIPATION INTEREST TRUST VS DARRENM GUILLOTAND ANGELA COLE GUILLOT

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit CANDACEA COURTEAU Attorney for Plaintiff JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson TheNew Orleans Advocate: March20, 2026, April24, 2026 Mar20-apr24-2t

Allthatcertain parcel of land situated in the Parish of Jeffer‐son, andState of Louisiana, being knownasdesig‐natedasfol‐lows: In theSubdivi‐sion designated as Terrytown Subdivision, SectionNo. 8, all in accordance with aSurvey by AdloeOrr, Jr &Associates, C.E.,datdApril 22, 1964, approved by the JeffersonParish Councilunder OrdinanceNo. 6610, adopted May 7, 1964, and filed in Plan Book 51, Folio10A in the Office of the ClerkofCourt, Jefferson Parish, Louisianaand accordingto which said Lot of ground is designated as follows: Lot25insquare 155, which square is bounded by NewportCircle Holmes Boule‐vard, Nile Street,N NiageraCircle andNashStreet Lot25com‐mences at adis‐tance of 230.68 feet from theintersection of Holmes Boulevard, same widthin therear, by a depthbetween equaland paral‐lellines of 110 feet.All in ac‐cordance with Survey by AdloeOrr, Jr.& Associates,C.E datedMay 25, 1971. This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

JASONR.SMITH Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson TheNew Orleans Advocate: March20, 2026, April24, 2026 Mar20-apr24-2t

Situated in the Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in that part hereof knownas Live OakManor Subdivision, all as perplanof subdivisionby Subdivision Planning Engineers, Inc. datedMarch 16, 1959, revised June 9, 1959, ap‐proved under OrdinanceNo. 4152, adopted by theJefferson Parish Counsil, filed under EntryNo. 159252 in COB 486, folio469, as perAct of Dedi‐cation before Harold J. Zeringer,Jr. Notary Public, datedSeptem‐ber18, 1959, filedofrecord under EntryNo. 160982 in COB468, Folio 343, more par‐ticularlyde‐scribedas a portionofthat ground designated on theaforesaid plan of re subdi‐vision as “Com‐mercial”,for‐merlya portionofTract V, formingthe corner of Jeffer Drive, andRiver Road andsitu‐ated in thearea bounded by RiverRoad, Jef‐ferDrive,and theWesterly line of the subdivision, fur‐ther resubdivi‐sion as perplan of resubdivision by Surveys, Inc., dated July 5, 1974, re subdividingpor‐tion of Square 7 into LotA,said plan beingap‐proved by theJefferson Parish Council under Ordi‐nanceNo. 11709 on July 11, 1974. Recorded in COB___. Folio ___, andSquare 7, LotA being furtherresubdi‐videdinto Square 7, Lots A-1and A-2, as perplanofre‐subdivisionby J.J. Krebsand Sons,Inc., C.E.,& S, dated November 9, 1987, approved by theJefferson Parish Council under OrdinanceNo. 17411 on Janu‐ary13, 1988, filed under EntryNo. 89-56893, said lots beingmorepar‐ticularlyde‐scribedasfol‐lows,to-wit Square 7-B, Lot 25, which is boundedby Robert Road,Lot A-2-BofSquare 7(Side), LotB-1 of Square 7, Halle Place(Side), andJefferDrive andcommences 385 00 feet

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedJanuary 30, 2026, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOffice Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, April29, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: Onecertain pieceorparcel of ground,to‐gether with all thebuildings and improvements thereon, situ‐ated in the Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, FORMALLY 27 AND20AND PORTIONS OF LOTS 19 AND20, UNIT #1,MOD‐ERN FARMSSUBDIVI‐SIONSand now knownasWIL‐LOWWOOD SUBDIVISION, as per Plan by Wilton J. Dufrene, L.S., dated 7/15/82, andapproved by theJefferson Parish councilordi‐nance15329, adopted 11/3/82, and recorded under EntryNo. 039087, of therecords of Jefferson Parish,and ac‐cordingto which Subdivi‐sion Plan of said property is more particu‐larlydescribed as follows,towit: LOT7, which said lot measures

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedFebruary 9, 2026, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOffice Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, April29, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: TwoCertain Lots of Ground together with allofthe build‐ings andim‐provements thereon, andall of theservi‐tudes, rights ways, privileges d

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT 24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:743-653 THEBANKOF NEWYORKMEL‐LONFKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK,AS TRUSTEEFOR THECERTIFI‐CATEHOLDERS OF THECWABS INC., ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-26 VERSUS SUYAPA SOBAL‐VARRO SANCHEZA/K/A SUYAPA S. SANCHEZA/K/A SUYAPA SANCHEZ

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT 24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:851-267

LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC VS EDYA.NUNEZ A/K/AEDY NUNEZ

thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: That portionof ground,to‐gether with all thebuildings andimprove‐mentsthereon, and allofthe rights, ways,privi‐leges, servi‐tudes, appurte‐nances andad‐vantages thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in theParishof Jefferson, Stateof Louisiana, on theright bank of theMissis‐sippi Riverand forminga part of the original Ames Plantation,and duly resubdi‐videdand ap‐proved by the Jefferson Parish Police Jury,dated May 23, 1956, under OrdinanceNo. 3208 into Cy‐press GroveSubdivi‐sion,all in ac‐cordance with lotlayout, square layout, anddedication of streetsas showninaccor‐dancewiththe plan of J. J. Krebs& Sons, C.E.,dated April 19, 1956, revised May21, 1956; said Lotisdes‐ignatedasLot No.1 in Square J, bounded by Cardinal Drive, Dede Street Crestwood Sub‐division,and Lot G-314 of Ames Farms andEvieStreet andforms the northeastcor‐nerofCardinal Driveand Dede Street.Lot 1measures60 feet fronton Cardinal Drive, same widthin therear, by adepth of 80 feet between equaland paral‐lellines.All as more fully shownona survey by Don A. Garland, Land Surveyor,dated February 11, 1978, resur‐veyed September5, 1978. Allas more fully shownona plat of survey by Mandle Survey‐ing, Inc.,LandSur‐veyor, datedDe‐cember 28, 1989. This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

COREYJ.GIROIR Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: March20, 2026, April24, 2026 Mar20-apr24-2t

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedNovem‐ber7,2014, I have seized and will proceed to sell to thehigh‐estbidderat public auction, at theJefferson Parish Sheriff's Office Complex, 1233 Westbank Expressway, Harvey, Louisiana, 70058, on

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedFebruary 27, 2024, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOffice Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, April29, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:852-714 GMFS LLC VS CAITLYNCUIL‐LIER ANDCORY M. CUILLIER By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐

son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedApril 10, 2024, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOffice Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, April29, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: THAT CERTAIN PIECEORPOR‐TION OF GROUND,to‐gether with all thebuildings andimprove‐mentsthereon andall the rights,ways, privileges, servitudes, advantages and appurtenances thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐taining situated in the Stateof Louisiana, Parish of Jeffer‐son, in that part thereofknown as Live OakManor Subdivision, all as perplanof subdivisionby Subdivision Planning Engineers, Inc., datedMarch 16, 1959, revised June 9, 1959, ap‐proved under OrdinanceNo. 4152 adoptedby theJefferson Parish Council, filedofrecord under EntryNo. 159352 in COB488, folio 469 andasper actofdedica‐tion before Harold J. Zeringer,Jr. N.P.,dated Sep‐tember 16, 1959, filedofrecord under EntryNo. 160982 in COB 488, folio 343, beingfurther re‐subdivided as perthatplanof resubdivisionby J.J. Krebs& Sons,Inc., dated November 9, 1987, said plan being approved by the JeffersonParish Councilunder OrdinanceNo. 17411 on Janu‐ary13, 1988, filedunder EntryNo. 88 03105; beingfur‐ther re-subdi‐videdbyPlanof re-subdivision of Live Oak ManorbyJohn‐sonProfes‐sional Land Sur‐veyors,Inc., datedSeptem‐ber30, 2002 ap‐proved by Jef‐ferson Parish Councilunder Ordinance No.21864 on June 4, 2003 filedunder EntryNo. 1034337 being a re-subdivision of LotB-1,Square 7, Live Oak MANORSubdivi‐sion into Lots 5 throughand in‐cluding 30, Square 7Live OakManor.Lot 7, Square 7, Live OakManor is bounded by Rosa Street,Lot B-2 (side),Robert Road (side) and Jeffer Driveand measures a totalof 61.34 feet front on Rosa Street hasa width in therearof53.49 feet,has a depth on thesidelinead‐jacent to Lot6-A of 95 feet and a depth alongthe opposite side‐line of 80.83 feet.All in accordance with survey by JohnsonProfes‐sional Land Sur‐veyors, Inc.,dated June 28, 2004, resur‐veyedJuly26, 2004 to locate forms, resur‐veyed August 3, 2004 to locate slab resurveyed No‐vember 2, 2004 a copy of which is annexedhereto andmadea part h f bj

p hereof;subject to restrictions, servitudes rights-of-way andoutstanding mineralrights of record affect‐ingthe property

Commonly knownas: 49 Rosa St,West‐wego,LA70094

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

BRIGHAMJ

LUNDBERG Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: March20, 2026, April24, 2026

Mar20-apr24-2t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT 24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:862-317 NEWREZ LLC D/B/ASHELL‐POINTMORT‐GAGE SERVIC‐ING VS TIMOTHYK.RIH‐NERAND LAU‐RENSCHELL‐HAAS RIHNER By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the above num‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedFebruary 28, 2025, Ihave seized andwill proceedtosell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOffice Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, April29, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

y (25 ) fronton GroveStreet (also-knownas Massachusetts Avenue), the same width in therear, by a depth of one hundred twenty feet (120')between equaland paral‐lellines.Lot No 9isnearerto andbegins at adistanceof twohundred feet (200') from thecornerof GroveStreet (alsoknown as Massachu‐setts Avenue) and15h Street (formerlyDear‐born Avenue). This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit RADERJACKSON Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III

Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: March20, 2026, April24, 2026

Mar20-apr24-2t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA

NO:862-957 NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION VS PEGGYDIBAR‐TOLO

g COB426, folio 476, entryNo. 102 332 of the Conveyance recordsofJef‐ferson Parish; andaccording to said plan of survey said Lothereinde‐scribedisdesig‐natedasLOT

NUMBER SEV‐ENTY-FIVE (75) SQUARE NINE (9)and measures sixty (60')feet front on Orchid Drive, same width in therear, by adepth of eighty-three and50/100 (83.50) feet be‐tween equal andparallel lines; subjecttore‐strictions,servi‐tudes, rights-ofwayand out‐standing min‐eral rights of record affecting theproperty.

Theimprove‐mentsthereon bear themunici‐palnumber1316 Orchid Drive, Harvey Louisiana70058.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check withBankLetter of Credit

ASHLEY E. MORRIS Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: March20, 2026, April24, 2026

Mar20-apr24-2t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:863-150

BAYVIEWLOAN SERVICING VERSUS KM HOMES REAL ESTATE, LLCAND FIORELAL VASQUEZAKA FIORELA VASQUEZ TRIGUEROS

TWO(2) CER‐TAIN LOTS OF GROUND,to‐gether with all thebuildings and improvements thereon, situ‐ated in the PARISH OF JEF‐FERSON,State of Louisiana, in SQUARE NO 32 of MORNING‐SIDE PARK which square is bounded by Grove Street (also knownasMass‐achusetts Av‐enue), 15th Street-(formerly Dearborn Avenue), 17th Street (formerly VanBuren Av‐enue)and Michigan Av‐enue (formerly BlancheStreet). Said lots are designated as LOTNOS.9 AND 10 on asketch of survey made by ErrolE.Kelly, Surveyor,dated April20, 1963, a printofwhich is annexedtoand made part of an actpassedbe‐fore M.L. Dres‐ner, Notary Pub‐lic, datedMay 7, 1963, andac‐cordingto said sketch of sur‐vey. said lots adjoin each otherand mea‐sure each twenty-five feet ( )

TOWN SUBDIVISION, SECTION2 beingpartof OakdaleSubdi‐vision,Section 8, First Ward,all in ac‐cordance with thesurveyof AdloeOrr, Jr., & Associates,C.E., dated June 3, 1959, re‐visedSeptem‐ber16, 1959, and September18, 1959, approved by theParishof JeffersonParish Councilunder Ordinance #4544 adopted April21, 1960, registered in COB510, folio 522, Parish of Jefferson, Louisiana, on July 20, 1960, andin Plan Book 39/65 Office of the ClerkofCourt, Jefferson Parish,which said property is more fullyde‐scribedasfol‐lows,to-wit: LOT19in SQUARE 6, bounded by Ap‐pletreeLane, Athena Avenue Holmes Boulevardand Browning Lane, which said lot commences at a distance of 80 feet from thecorner of Appletree Lane and Athena Avenue andmeasures thence 60 feet frontonApple‐tree Lane,by a depth alongthe side line nearer Athena Avenue of 95 feet,bya depth alongthe oppo‐site sideline of 95 feet,by a firstwidth in therearof 36.06 feet to a point, thence an additional width in therearof 36.06 feet in accordance with survey of AdloeOrr, Jr.& Associates,C.E., March15, 1963, all more fully shownonsur‐veybyGeraldB Dunn, Surveyor datedJuly21, 1976, said lothas the same location, dimensions,and boundariesas setforth above; subjectto restrictions servitudes, rights-of-way andoutstanding mineralrights of record affecting the property

BAYVIEWLOAN SERVICING, LLC VERSUS KM HOMES REAL ESTATE LLC

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritofFIERI FACIAS from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedSeptem‐ber9,2025, I have seized and will proceed to sell to thehigh‐estbidderat public auction, at theJefferson Parish Sheriff's Office Complex, 1233 Westbank Expressway, Harvey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, April29, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

RCF2ACQUISI‐TION TRUST VERSUS HIEU VO TRUNG

PHAM A/K/A HIEU VO TRUNG A/K/AHIEUV TRUNGA/K/A HIEU TRUNG A/K/AHIEUVO PHAM A/K/A HIEU V. PHAM A/K/AHIEU PHAM A/K/A HIEU TRUNG

PHAM A/K/A

HIEU T. PHAM ANDTAN VAN

PHAM A/K/A TANV

COREYJ.GIROIR

Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III

Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: March20, 2026, April24, 2026

Mar20-apr24-2t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:864-238

PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC VERSUS LUCAS HARGROVE

Onecertain lot or parcel of ground,to‐gether with all buildingsand improvements thereon, andall of therights, ways,privi‐leges, servi‐tudes, appurte‐nances and advantages thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in theParishof Jefferson, State at Louisiana, in that subdivision known as PA‐TERNOSTRO SUBDIVISION anddesignated on theofficial mapthereof, a copy of which is on file andofrecordof theoffice of the Clerkand Recorder of the Parish of Jeffer‐son, State of Louisiana, as LOTNUMBER SEVEN(7) SQUARE FOUR (4)saidsubdivi‐sion; said lothaving such measure‐mentsand di‐mensions and beingsubject to such servitudes as shownonsaid map; subjectto restrictions servitudes, rights-of-way andoutstanding mineralrights of record affect‐ingthe prop‐erty

PHAM A/K/A TANPHAM By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedFebruary 10, 2026, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOffice Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, April29, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritofFIERI FACIAS from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedDecem‐ber30, 2025, I have seized and will proceed to sell to thehigh‐estbidderat public auction, at theJefferson Parish Sheriff's Office Complex, 1233 Westbank Expressway, Harvey Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

TON PLACE, COOPER ROAD (SIDE) ANDFAIRLAWN DRIVE (SIDE) ANDTHE SAID LOTCOM‐MENCES AT A DISTANCE OF 335.34 FEET FROM THECOR‐NEROF FARMINGTON PLACEAND FIELDING AV‐ENUE ANDMEA‐SURESTHENCE 60 FEET FRONTON FIELDING AV‐ENUE,SAME WIDTHINTHE REAR,BYA DEPTH OF 110 FEET BE‐TWEEN EQUAL ANDPARALLEL LINES, SUBJECT TO RESTRIC‐TIONS, SERVI‐TUDES, RIGHTSOF-WAY AND OUTSTANDING MINERAL RIGHTS OF RECORD AF‐FECTINGTHE PROPERTY

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

Municipalad‐dress: 6501 7TH STREET,MAR‐RERO,Louisiana 70072.

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24th Judicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedMarch 24, 2025,I have seized andwill proceedtosell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOffice Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, April29, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: ONECERTAIN LOTOFGROUND, together with allthe rights, ways,privi‐leges, servitudes,ad‐vantages and appurtenances thereuntobe‐longingorin anywise appertaining, situated,lying andbeing in the Village of Har‐vey, Parish of Jefferson, Stateof Louisianaand forming part of theFLORAL COURTSUBDIVI‐SION, according to a plan of survey made by AlvinE Hotard,C.E datedGretna, LA,April 22, 1957,ap‐proved by the JeffersonParish Planning and Zoning Commis‐sion on May14th, 1957, No.195-B, and approved by the Police Jury of Jefferson Parish,by OrdinanceNo. 3498, adopted June 11,1957, a copy of which plan is attached to said ordinanceand is registeredin

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND

SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedMarch 28, 2025, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOffice Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, April29, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: ACERTAIN PIECEORPOR‐TION OF GROUND,to‐gether with all thebuildings and improvements thereon, andall of therights, ways,privi‐leges, servi‐tudes, appurtenances andadvantages thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in the Stateof Louisiana, in the Parish of Jeffer‐son, in TERRY‐

Theimprove‐mentsthereon bear theMunici‐palNo. 341 Ap‐pletreeLane, Gretna, Louisiana70056.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

BRIGHAMJ LUNDBERG

Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: March20, 2026, April24, 2026 Mar20-apr24-2t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA

NO:863-619

COMMUNITY LOAN SERVIC‐ING, LLCF/K/A

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

BRIGHAMJ LUNDBERG Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson TheNew Orleans Advocate: March20, 2026, April24, 2026 Mar20-apr24-2t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:872-596

U.S. BANK TRUSTNA‐TIONAL ASSOCI‐ATION, NOTIN ITSINDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUTSOLELYAS OWNER TRUSTEEFOR

That certainlot of ground,to‐gether with all of thebuildings andimprove‐ments thereon, situ‐ated in the Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in that part thereof knownasWood‐land West Sub‐division,Phase 7, allinaccor‐dancewith a survey of S.K. Landry,Civil Engineer,dated March3,1977, approvedbythe JeffersonParish Councilby virtue of ordi‐nanceno. 13104, adoptedOcto‐ber12, 1977, a copy of which is on file in the office of the clerkofcourt, Parish of Jeffer‐son, in COB911, folio 254, entryno. 7967333 andis more fully de‐scribedasfol‐lows to-wit: Lot577, which said lotmea‐sures75feet frontonWest Friendship Drive, same width in therear, by a depthof110 feet between equaland paral‐lellines.Lot 577 is bounded by West Friendship Drive, Orbit Court, Orbit Court(side), andPar 3Drive (side),(formerly Horace Street). Said lotcom‐mences at adis‐tanceof475.41 feet from thecorner of West Friend‐ship Driveand OrbitCourt.All as more fully shownon survey by Wilton J. Dufrene, Land Surveyor,dated September26, 1985, November 12, 1985, andre‐datedJune 10, 1986, acopyof which is at‐tached to that act filedas COB1500, folio 36, entryno. 8629586 in the recordsofJef‐ferson Parish Louisiana.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

ACERTAIN PIECEORPOR‐TION OF GROUND,TO‐GETHER WITH ALLTHE BUILDINGSAND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON, AND ALLTHE RIGHTS, WAYS PRIVILEGES, SERVITUDES, APPURTE‐NANCES AND ADVANTAGES THEREUNTOBE‐LONGINGORIN ANYWISEAP‐PERTAINING SITUATED IN THE PARISH OF JEF‐FERSON,STATE OF LOUISIANA, IN THAT PART THEREOF KNOWNASTER‐RYTOWN SUBDI‐VISION, BEINGA PART OF OAK‐DALE SUBDIVISION SECTIONB, FIRSTWARD, ANDALL IN AC‐CORDANCE WITH SURVEY OF ADLOEORR, JR. ANDASSOCI‐ATES,C.E., DATEDAPRIL 30, 1959, APPROVED BY THEJEFFERSON PARISH COUN‐CILORD.NO. 4117, ADOPTED JULY 2, 1959, REGISTERED IN COB482, FOLIO 53, JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANAAND IN PLAN BOOK 36, FOLIO28, OF‐FICE OF THE CLERKOF COURTFOR JEF‐FERSON PARISH, LOUISIANAAND SURVEY OF ADLOEORR, JR.,AND ASSO‐CIATES JULY 11, 1960 ANDSUR‐VEYOFR.L FONTCUBERTA, SURVEYOR, DATEDMAY 17, 1971; ANDAC‐CORDINGTO SURVEY OF R. L. SCHUMANN & ASSOCIATES LAND SURVEY‐ORS, DATED JUNE 8, 1978, THE SAID PORTION OF GROUND IS FURTHERDESIG‐NATEDASFOL‐LOWS:LOT 8, SQUARE 74, WHICHSAID SQUARE IS BOUNDEDBY COOPER ROAD, SOUTH BOUNDARY OF TERRYTOWN, SECTION1 FIELDING AV‐ENUE,FARMING‐

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit CANDACEA COURTEAU Attorney for Plaintiff JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson TheNew Orleans Advocate: April24, 2026, May29, 2026 Apr24-may292t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT 24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:738-319 DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUSTCOM‐PANY,AS TRUSTEEFOR ARGENT SECURITIES INC., ASSET-BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2003-W2 VERSUS JAMIKA BASS A/K/AJAMIKA BASS HARRIS By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedJune 9, 2014, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOffice Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: ACERTAIN PIECEORPOR‐TION OF GROUND,to‐gether with all thebuildings and improvements thereon, andall of therights, ways,privi‐leges, servi‐tudes, advan‐tages, situated in the Stateof Louisiana, Parish of Jeffer‐son, in Town‐ship 14 South, Ranges 23 and24East, SoutheastLand District of Louisiana, West

of theMissis‐sippi River, knownasHar‐veyCanal Prop‐erty,formerly designated as Parcel Q-2-B, which said portionof ground has been resubdi‐videdinto WOODMERE SOUTHSUBDIV‐SION, SECTION3,all as perplanof resubdivision made by J.J. Krebs& Sons Inc.,C.E.& S.,dated Octo‐ber10, 1983, ap‐proved by·the JeffersonParish CouncilbyOrdi‐nance no.15784, recorded in COB 1064, folio 925, andasper Act ofDedication before Odom B. Heebe, Notary Public, datedFebruary 2, 1984, recorded in COB 1067, folio 270, same being designated as follows: LOT875, SQUARE S, which said square is bounded by Sweet Gum Drive, DestrehanAv‐enue,Primwood Driveand Cim‐wood Drive, and said LOT875 commences at a distance of 180.56 feet front thepoint of cur‐vature of Sweet Gum DriveintoDe‐strehanAvenue, andmeasures thence 60 feet frontonSweet Gum Drive, same in width in the rear,bya depth of 100 feet be‐tween equal andparallel lines; allasper survey made by J.J. Krebs& Sons,Inc L.S. datedNovem‐ber6 1986, resur‐veyedJanuary 12, 1987, to show improve‐ments. Improvements thereonbear theMunicipal No.3168 Sweet GumDrive,Har‐vey, Louisiana70058.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

CRIS R. JACKSON Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: April24, 2026, May29, 2026

Apr24-may292t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:861-398 NEWREZ LLC D/B/ASHELL‐POINTMORT‐GAGE SERVIC‐ING VS ELAINE LIEBEL A/K/AELAINE O'NEAL LIEHEL

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedFebruary 4, 2025, Ihave seized andwill proceedtosell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOffice Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday June 3, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

ONECERTAIN PIECEORPOR‐TION OF GROUND,to‐gether with all thebuildings andimprove‐mentsthereon, situated in the Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in that part thereofknown as Lake Vistaof Jefferson, being aresubdivision of aportion of ElmwoodLafreniere Plan‐tation;accord‐ingtoa survey made bySter‐ling Mandle, Surveyor,dated May28, 1981. Said lotof ground is delin‐eatedona plan of resubdivisionby BFMCorpora‐tion,dated Sep‐tember 2, 1982 approved by the JeffersonParish Councilon March23, 1983 under Ordi‐nanceNo. 15467, Title Change filedin COB1044 folio 680-681, Jeffer‐sonParish, Louisiana, and according theretosaidLot 15A measures as follows:

19thStreet)and Rebecca Boule‐vard.All as more fully shownonthe survey of Gilbert, Kelly & Couturie,Inc., datedAugust 26, 1983, resur‐veyed December 2, 1986; subjectto restrictions, servitudes, rights-of-way andoutstanding mineralrights of record affect‐ing theprop‐erty Forinforma‐tional purposes only,the Munic‐ipal Number bears: 4725 Re‐becca Blvd., Kenner Louisiana70065

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter ofCredit.

ZACHARYGAR‐RETT YOUNG Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson TheNew Orleans Advocate: April24, 2026, May 29, 2026

Apr24-may292t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:862-337

NEWREZ LLC

D/B/ASHELL‐POINTMORT‐GAGE SERVIC‐ING VS CURTIS D. SCROGGINSAND CRYSTALPERRY SCROGGINS

GROUND to‐gether with all thebuildings andimprove‐mentsthereon, andall the rights,ways, privileges, servitudes appurtenances andadvantages thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in the Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in that part thereofknown as MANSON SUBDI‐VISION,desig‐natedasLOTS1 AND2,of SQUARE 19-A, being bounded by Cleary Avenue, PharrStreet Ford Street,and Plots21and 114, which lots measures as follows:

LOTS 1AND 2 adjoin andmea‐sure 22 feet each fronton PharrStreet,the same with in therear, by 0 depth andfront on Cleary Av‐enue of 100 feet between equal and parallel lines, said Lot1 forms thecornerof Cleary Avenue and Pharr Street;all in accordance with asurveyof BFMCorpora‐tion,R.P Fontcuberta, Jr datedAugust8, 1983; subjectto restrictions, servitudes, rights-of-way andoutstanding mineralrights of record affect‐ingthe prop‐erty Improvements thereonbear theMunicipal No.3616 Cleary Avenue a/k/a 3900 Pharr Street,Metairie, Louisiana70002.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NO:862-539

NATIONSDIRECT MORTGAGE,LLC VS AMOS JENKINS, III

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND

SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedMarch 12, 2025, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOffice Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

Acertain piece or portionof ground,situ‐ated in theCity of Kenner Parish of Jefferson, State of Louisiana, in thesubdivision knownasMorn‐ingsidePark Subdivision, Square No.25, bounded by Taylor Street (formerlyGard‐ner),Roosevelt Blvd., Kentwood Street,and Dearborn Av‐enue,desig‐natedasLots17 and 18, and measuringas follows, to wit: Lots 17 and18 adjoin each otherand mea‐sure each 25 feet (for atotal of 50 feet) frontonTaylor Street,same width in the rear,bya depth of 120 feet be‐tween equal andparallel lines, allinac‐cordance with survey by J.J. Krebsand Sons datedAugust 13, 1978.

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:862-611 PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC VS KESSLER SMITH By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedMarch 18, 2025, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOffice Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

Advocate: April24, 2026, May29, 2026

Apr24-may292t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:852-823

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUSTCOM‐PANY AMERI‐CAS, AS TRUSTEEFOR RESIDENTIAL ASSETMORT‐GAGE PROD‐UCTS,INC MORTGAGEBACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-SL2 VS JUAN R. ESCO‐BAR(A/K/A JUAN ESCOBAR) ANDGIULIAAR‐RILLAGAESCO‐BAR (A/K/A GIULIA ARRILLAGA, GIU‐LIAESCOBAR)

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

EMILYE HOLLEY Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: April24, 2026, May29, 2026 Apr24-may292t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT 24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:868-381

Lot 15A,in Square No. 26,is bounded by Re‐becca Boule‐vard,39thStreet (late21st Street), Toby Lane and37th Street (late19th Street), and measures 75 feet fronton Rebecca Boule‐vard,same width in the rear,bya depth of 155.85 feet between equal andparallel linesand com‐mences at adis‐tanceof361.99 feet from the corner of 37thStreet (late

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedFebruary 27, 2025, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOffice Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: THAT CERTAIN PIECEORPOR‐TION OF

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

ZACHARYGAR‐RETT YOUNG Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson TheNew Orleans Advocate: April24, 2026, May29, 2026 Apr24-may292t

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

COREYJ.GIROIR Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: April24, 2026, May29, 2026 Apr24-may292t

ONE(1) CERTAIN LOTORPARCEL OF GROUND,to‐gether with all thebuildings andimprove‐mentsthereon situated in the Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in that subdivision knownasACRE ROAD CROSS‐ING, andbeing designated on the official plat of said subdivi‐sion,on file and of record in the office of the Clerk and Recorder of said Parish and State, as LOT12, SQUARE 2, said subdivision, said lot having such size,shape and dimensions and beingsubject to such servitudes as are shownonsaid map; subjectto restrictions servitudes, rights-of-way andoutstanding mineralrights of record affect‐ingthe prop‐erty

MunicipalAd‐dress: 1516 Gar‐denRoad, Mar‐rero,LA70072 This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

ZACHARYGAR‐RETT YOUNG Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson TheNew Orleans

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedApril 15, 2024, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOffice Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: THAT CERTAIN PARCEL OF GROUND SITU‐ATED IN THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA, IN THAT PART THEREOF KNOWNAS LAKE TIMBERLANE ES‐TATES, RE-SUB‐DIVISION AP‐PROVED BY OR‐DINANCENO. 14581, RECORDED IN COB996, FOLIO 813, JANUARY, 1981. ALLAS MORE FULLYSHOWN ON PLAN OF RE‐SUBDIVISION PREPARED BY J. J. KREBSAND SONS,INC., DATEDSEPTEM‐BER19, 1980. LOT75, SQUARE 4, SECTION1 IS BOUNDEDBY LAKE DESALLE‐MANDSDRIVE, LAKE PALOURDE DRIVE, LAKE SUPERIOR DRIVE ANDLAKE PLACID DRIVE. This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUSTCOM‐PANY AMERI‐CAS, AS TRUSTEEFOR RESIDENTIAL ACCREDIT LOANS, INC. MORTGAGE ASSET-BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2007-QS1 VERSUS THESUCCES‐SION OF SHARON G. LONG A/K/A SHARON G. LONG A/K/A SHARON LONG By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedDecem‐ber9,2025, I have seized and will proceed to sell to thehigh‐estbidderat public auction, at theJefferson Parish Sheriff's Office Complex, 1233 Westbank Expressway, Harvey Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit: Acertain piece or portionof ground,to‐gether with all thebuildings andimprove‐ments thereonand all of therights, ways,privi‐leges, servi‐tudes, appurte‐nances and advantages thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in theState of Louisiana, Parish of Jeffer‐son, City of Ken‐ner,inthatpart thereofknown as Highway Park Subdivi‐sion,saidpor‐tion of ground is designated by thelot numbers 13 and14 of Square 13, which square is b d d b lli

q bounded by Illi‐nois Avenue,In‐dianaAvenue 44th Street (formerly 26thStreet), and43rdStreet (formerly25th Street), and measures in accordance with aplanofR B. Rordam,C.E., datedNovem‐ber9,1950, a copy of which is an‐nexedtoanact before Edward J. Stoulig, Notary Public,dated February 16, 1951, and registered in COB299, folio 151, as follows, to wit: Lots numbers 13 and14of Square 13 adjoin each otherand measureeach 25 feet frontonIllinois Avenue,same widthinthe rear,bya depth of 127.5feet be‐tween equaland paral‐lellines.All as more fully shownonsur‐veybyEugeneI Estopinal andAssociates datedSeptem‐ber 27, 1977, re‐datedDecem‐ber8,1977, copy of which is an‐nexedtoAct No 847638.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certified Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

DENNIS F. WIGGINS, JR. Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson TheNew Orleans Advocate: April24, 2026, May29, 2026 Apr24-may292t