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EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH

Public defender set for funding boost St. George, Central and Baker to pitch in

BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER

into the legislation.

“What you didn’t see in the bill, is what we also were able to accomA bill headed to Gov. Jeff plish with the cities of Central, St. Landry’s desk would guarantee George and Baker,” Marcelle said.

Baton Rouge’s public defender $1 Separate from the money from million a year from the city-parish the city-parish, the cities of St. budget, but its author, state Rep. C. George, Central and Baker have Denise Marcelle, D-Baton Rouge, agreed to contribute a total of says one of the measure’s biggest $400,000 to the Public Defendaccomplishments never made it er’s Office. The deal comes amid

Staff writer

broader debates about how parishwide constitutional offices should be paid for after St. George’s incorporation.

If the governor signs Marcelle’s House Bill 59, and agreements for $250,000 from St. George, $100,000 from Central, and $50,000 from Baker are executed, Baton Rouge’s public defender will be guaranteed $1.4 million in local funding.

Chief Public Defender Kyla Romanach said it was a major win for her agency, which she believes is always an afterthought and forced to limp its way through budget season each year.

“This is significant for us,” she Marcelle said. “We were facing the possibility of not having any local funding, which would have bankrupted our office.”

Magnolia Wilds employees look to turn zoo into nonprofit

The original version of Marcelle’s bill would have required by law that all of the parish’s municipalities contribute funds to the public defender. And though the final version does not include that mandate, Marcelle was happy that the three cities agreed to pitch in, as the parish’s entire criminal justice system needs funding.

“They’re doing those CEAs in those amounts to help because they understand that the system is

ä See DEFENDER, page 9A

Landry issues his first veto of session Governor rejects bill boosting wrongful conviction payouts

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

A camel walks around the safari area at Magnolia Wilds on March 2.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Embattled owner agrees to donate park’s animals

BY AIDAN McCAHILL Staff writer

Employees at an embattled private zoo in East Feliciana Parish say they are trying to start over by converting the preserve into a nonprofit and ending controversial hands-on animal encounters that once

drew crowds from around the country.

Magnolia Wilds, formerly Barnhill Preserve, has been owned and operated for more than 14 years by local conservationist and Clinton native Gabe Ligon. By 2023, the preserve in Ethel had swelled to 100 acres, housing hundreds

MISS. LA. 61

of exotic animals alongside a safari park and Louisiana’s longest zip line. Ligon’s company also ran a traveling program that brought animals to schools across the Gulf South.

But the zoo’s signature hands-on animal encounters,

ä See ZOO, page 8A

Magnolia Wilds 10

19

Staff map

Mississippi River

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry this week vetoed legislation that would have allowed prisoners who were wrongfully convicted of a crime to get more compensation from the state.

Senate Bill 125, sponsored by Sen. Gerald Boudreaux, D-Lafayette, passed both the House and Senate unanimously. It would have increased the cap the state pays out to wrongfully convicted people. It is currently set at $400,000, with an annual payout of $40,000 over the course of 10 years. The legislation would have increased the cap to $600,000, with the same annual payout over the course of 15 years.

The change could have increased the total amount of payouts by the state roughly $800,000 to $900,000 every year, according to a nonpartisan fiscal analysis by legislative staff.

Landry on Tuesday vetoed the bill, his first of the 2026 regular legislative session. In his letter rejecting the measure, he argued that Louisiana has not done enough

ä See VETO, page 8A

Senate rejects first effort to bar Trump’s $1.8B settlement fund

BY MARY CLARE JALONICK, JOEY CAPPELLETTI and KEVIN FREKING

to pass legislation to fund President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agencies, narrowly beating back a Democratic effort Associated Press to permanently block Trump from WASHINGTON — Senate Republi- creating a $1.776 billion settlecans cleared the first hurdle on ment fund for payouts to allies Thursday as they are struggling who claim they were persecuted

WEATHER HIGH 86 LOW 75 PAGE 8B

by the government.

Republicans still face a gauntlet of Democratic amendments before the bill can advance, setting up a daylong test of party unity.

More votes on the settlement fund are planned, including proposals from Republicans, and it was un-

clear if GOP leaders would be able to fend them all off and pass the legislation.

“I can’t predict how it comes out,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters between discussions with some of the holdouts off the Senate floor.

Business ......................3B Commentary ................7B Nation-World................2A Classified .....................7D Deaths .........................4B Opinion ........................6B Comics-Puzzles .....4D-6D Living............................1D Sports ..........................1C

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said that Democrats plan to force votes on the tax immunity granted to Trump as part of the settlement and a host of other issues — including Trump’s East

ä See FUND, page 9A

101ST yEAR, NO. 340

2A ■ Friday, June 5, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Man charged with taking explosive through airport

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A man carrying what authorities described as an explosive device powerful enough to damage a plane, as well as a torch lighter, knife, zip ties and other items, was arrested after trying to pass through a Sacramento International Airport security checkpoint over the weekend, federal prosecutors said.

The 49-year-old from Sacramento was wearing a scarf covering his face and latex gloves, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant said in a news release. He also had five cellphones: one with a 15-minute timer set to begin, a second with a message on the screen from another phone number saying, “we will be awaiting your call.”

Evidence photos released by prosecutors show a cardboard tube about the size of a toilet paper roll fitted with a green fuse. Bomb technicians tested the device. The powder and fuse “were determined to be viable and energetic,” Grant said.

If the device had detonated next to a window on a pressurized aircraft flying above 10,000 feet, Grant said, “it had the potential to damage the aircraft and cause a possible loss of cabin pressure.”

The man was arrested Saturday and appeared in federal court in Sacramento on Wednesday. He is charged with unlawful possession of explosive material in an airport. The complaint also alleges he made “rambling” calls to the FBI in the months beforehand to report he was being threatened and intimidated.

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Putin: Russia will bolster defenses Zelenskyy calls for face-to-face negotiations in neutral third country Russia for years?” he said.

Putin’s battlefield update

BY JAMES JORDAN and HARRIET MORRIS Associated Press

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Russia will strengthen its air defenses to counter recent Ukrainian drone attacks, which have reached deep inside his country and cast a cloud over his showcase economic forum in his hometown of St. Petersburg.

Speaking in response to a question from The Associated Press during a meeting with heads of international news agencies, Putin acknowledged the damage from Ukrainian drone attacks.

“To our regret, some of them break through,” Putin said of the drone strikes. “Russia has an air defense system, we need to improve it, strengthen it, and we will do that.”

The wide-ranging media session

came on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, his annual showcase for investment. Hours before the forum opened Wednesday, a Ukrainian drone attack set ablaze an oil terminal in the city and also hit a nearby naval base.

Putin also said Russia is open for a compromise on Ukraine in line with understandings reached at his summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Anchorage, Alaska, adding that Ukraine needs to accept them to make a deal to end the conflict, now in its fifth year.

Zelenskyy proposes talks Also on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed face-to-face negotiations in a public letter addressed directly to Putin. Zelenskyy acknowledged shifting U.S. priorities, saying it would be wrong to wait for the U.S. to return its attention to

Gunmen kidnap 7 from school in Nigeria ABUJA, Nigeria — Gunmen raided an off-campus residence in northwest Nigeria and kidnapped seven students, police said.

The attack occurred early Wednesday in the Kaura Namoda area of conflict-battered Zamfara state, police spokesman Yazid Abubakar said in a statement. One of the students escaped and was in custody.

The police spokesman said it wasn’t clear where the students were taken but efforts were underway to rescue the remaining six.

Zamfara has been a hotspot for armed gangs that carry out kidnappings for ransom, with abductions of students increasing in recent years across the country.

A tally by local news outlet Premium Times found that at least 1,900 students have been kidnapped from 20 schools since the 2014 mass abduction of over 200 schoolgirls from Chibok in Borno state.

Commenting on Russia’s use of its Oreshnik intermediate range ballistic missile, Putin said it was fired at targets that allowed it to test its capability and precision before using it against objectives closer to residential areas.

“We hit the area where it was convenient to see the results,” he said. “It was important for making a decision on the future on the fullformat use of the Oreshnik on designated targets, including those in populated areas.”

Putin emphasized his push for control of the entire Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, noting that Ukraine controls about 15% of its territory.

Putin declared that “patriotism and will of the Russian people” will ensure the achievement of goals that Moscow set in Ukraine.

“Russian troops are advancing along the entire line of contact,” he said.

Trump reconsidering Pulte as director of national intelligence

Oval Office after an President says the event on coal. He called other candidates Pulte a “very smart guy” said he may look at past under consideration and elections that Trump claims,

BY JOSH BOAK Associated Press

Sherpa guide rescued while crawling to camp KATHMANDU, Nepal — A Sherpa guide was found crawling to base camp on Mount Everest a week after he went missing and was reunited with his family who had given up hope he would return.

Dawa Sherpa was last seen around May 29 descending the mountain, but he did not reach base camp even though his client did. The pair were among the last climbers on the mountain as the climbing season came to an end and the route was dismantled.

Dawa was located by a cleaning crew Thursday morning as he was crawling down the snowy slopes around the Khumbu Icefall, just above base camp, said Pemba Sherpa of 8K Expeditions, which coordinated the search.

He was quickly carried down to safety and given food and water. A rescue helicopter flew him to HAMS Hospital in Kathmandu, where his wife and daughter, who already had begun funeral rituals for him, were waiting.

“We first heard that he was still alive on the local news and from a person we know who called with the news that ... he is being brought down,” said his wife, Damu Sherpa.

Though Dawa had been missing since last week, there was a delay in organizing a search team. No reasons were given for the delay, but when helicopters were finally sent to look for him, they could not find him.

Ukraine while it is remains heavily focused on the Iran war.

In Washington, Trump said it “would be great” if Putin and Zelenskyy meet.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin hadn’t seen the letter yet and repeated his statement that Zelenskyy could come to Moscow if he wants talks. Putin said last month he doesn’t exclude a meeting in a third country, but only when there is a deal to sign.

Putin dismissed the idea that European Union countries could mediate Russia-Ukraine peace talks because “mediation assumes neutrality. Where is the neutrality here?”

Any potential third-party mediators needed to be trusted by both sides, Putin said.

“How can Russia trust people who have been harping about the need to inflict a strategic defeat on

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CHIANG yING-yING

Participants attend a candlelight vigil at Democracy Square on Thursday to mark the 37th anniversary of the Chinese military crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, in Taipei, Taiwan.

Police warn families not to visit Tiananmen graves Efforts to mark anniversary have been suppressed

BY KEN MORITSUGU and KANIS LEUNG

Associated Press

BEIJING — Chinese authorities snuffed out efforts to mark Thursday’s anniversary of the deadly 1989 military crackdown on student-led pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square, in a further tightening of a yearslong campaign to erase what happened from public memory.

Police told relatives of the victims they would not be allowed to visit a cemetery in Beijing on the anniversary of the crackdown 37 years ago, a person with knowledge of the matter said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of fear of retribution.

Relatives from a group called Tiananmen Mothers visited the graves for more than 30 years, reading memorial statements while police kept watch, Amnesty International said.

Hundreds of people, and possibly thousands, were killed in 1989 as troops advanced through crowds that were trying to stop the military from reaching the protesters on Tiananmen Square, a vast plaza in the center of the Chinese capital. The decision by the Communist Party leadership to send in the military was a pivotal moment in China’s modern history, determining that the market reform that trans-

formed the country into the world’s second largest economy would not be coupled with political liberalization.

In Hong Kong, police stepped up security Thursday at or near a park where a massive candlelight vigil lit up the night every year until a clampdown following major anti-government protests in 2019.

A handful of people showed up in the evening. Officers allowed some to go freely — including a man holding flowers and an activist who said she bowed 37 times.

Police said in a statement that seven people were stopped and searched on suspicion of being disorderly in public as of 11:30 p.m. They were taken away for further investigation before being allowed to leave, police said, without naming them.

The U.S., the EU and Britain posted messages on social media marking the anniversary. “No amount of censorship can erase the past,” a statement from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio read. “Those who sacrificed to uphold their unalienable rights of free expression and peaceful assembly will be vindicated someday.” Rows of electronic candles lit up the windows of the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning dismissed Rubio’s words as a smear on her nation’s political system. “We urge the U.S. side to ... stop using so-called democracy and human rights as a pretext to interfere in China’s internal affairs,” she said.

Convictions reversed for paramedics

BY MEAD GRUVER and MATTHEW BROWN Associated Press

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — A Colorado court reversed homicide convictions against two paramedics on Thursday in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain, a Black man who was pinned down by police and injected with a fatal dose of ketamine.

McClain’s final words — “I can’t breathe” — foreshadowed those of George Floyd a year later in Minneapolis, and the Colorado man’s name became part of the rallying cries for social justice that swept the U.S. in 2020.

The appeals court or-

dered new trials for Aurora Fire Rescue paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec. McClain, 23, had been forcibly restrained and put in a neck hold by police, who stopped him in response to a suspicious person complaint as the massage therapist walked home from a convenience store in the Denver suburb in 2019.

Criminal charges against paramedics and emergency medical technicians involved in police custody cases are rare.

As McClain’s death and others raised questions about the use of ketamine to subdue struggling suspects, this prosecution

sent shock waves through the ranks of first responders across the U.S. A jury in 2023 found Cooper and Cichuniec guilty of criminally negligent homicide following a weekslong trial in state district court.

The jurors also found Cichuniec guilty of seconddegree felony assault.

Cooper avoided prison and was sentenced to 14 months in jail with work release and probation. Cichuniec received five years in prison.

The appeals court upheld Cichuniec’s assault conviction. Thursday’s ruling sends their cases back to a lower court for a new trial on that charge.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Thursday that federal housing finance regulator Bill Pulte, his pick for acting director of national intelligence, would not be his “permanent” choice for the critical security post.

The Republican president’s disclosure that he was ruling out installing Pulte in the position fulltime came after bipartisan pushback on Capitol Hill in recent days over Pulte’s lack of national security experience. The position requires Senate confirmation, something that lawmakers indicated was unlikely if Pulte were the nominee.

“He’s not going to be permanent because, you know, I don’t think he’d want to be permanent,” Trump said while taking questions in

without credible evidence, were “rigged” against him.

Trump said other candidates were under consideration for nomination to the post. “We’re interviewing people right now,” he said.

Pulte, a grandson of the founder of PulteGroup, has been a source of controversy within the administration for his work as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and his oversight of the mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Both Republican and Democratic senators expressed concerns about Pulte and his lack of national security credentials in occupying a role coordinating 18 federal agencies involved in domestic and foreign security issues.

Trump’s initial director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, resigned last month, citing her husband’s recent cancer diagnosis.

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, June 5, 2026 ■ 3A

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commission seeks Ex-national security adviser Planning details on Trump’s arch Bolton will plead guilty Deal will allow him to avoid prison time

Former Trump administration national security adviser John Bolton arrives for his arraignment at the federal courthouse in Greenbelt, Md., in October.

BY ERIC TUCKER Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Former Trump administration national security adviser John Bolton has agreed to plead guilty to a single count of retaining classified information under a deal with the Justice Department that could allow him to avoid prison time, a person familiar with the matter said Thursday.

The deal would resolve a criminal case filed in October that charged Bolton with 18 counts of either retaining or disseminating classified information, including diary-like notes from his time in government that officials say he shared with family members as he was preparing a memoir about his career.

Under the agreement, Bolton would also face a $2.25 million fine, said the person, who insisted on anonymity to discuss a deal that had not been made public. Any prison sentence would be capped at five years, but the agreement could also allow for him to avoid time behind bars. The punishment will ultimately be up to a judge.

The case against Bolton, filed weeks after prosecutors secured indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, unfolded against the backdrop of concerns that the Justice Depart-

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO ment is using its law enforcement powers to pursue perceived adversaries of President Donald Trump.

The investigation burst into public view last August when FBI agents served search warrants at his Maryland home and Washington office, but it had been well underway by the time Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.

Wrote book critical of Trump Bolton is a longtime fixture in Republican foreign policy circles who became known for his hawkish views on American power. He served for more than a year in Trump’s first administration before being pushed out in 2019 and publishing a critical book that portrayed the Republican president as deeply misinformed and painted an unflattering portrait of his leadership and decision-making.

Trump’s administration fought unsuccessfully to block the publication of “The Room Where it Happened”

on the grounds the book contained classified information that could harm national security if exposed.

Bolton’s lawyers have said he moved forward with the book after a White House National Security Council official, with whom Bolton had worked for months, said the manuscript no longer had classified information.

The indictment he faced focused on notes shared with his wife and daughter rather than the substance of the book itself.

Bolton had initially pleaded not guilty and, in a statement released after his indictment, described the charges as part of an “intensive effort” by Trump “to intimidate his opponents, to ensure that he alone determines what is said about his conduct.”

A re-arraignment, which can signal a plea agreement, is scheduled for June 26 in federal court in Greenbelt, Maryland.

The Justice Department declined to comment.

House passes bill to aid Ukraine, impose new sanctions on Russia

BY KEVIN FREKING Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The House passed legislation Thursday that would aid Ukraine and sanction key segments of the Russian economy, overriding objections from Republican leaders who warned the bill would undermine negotiations designed to achieve a comparable but stronger result.

The legislation, sponsored

by Rep. Gregory Meeks, DN.Y., seeks to cement U.S. assistance for Ukraine by providing more than $1 billion in security and reconstruction aid. It would make another $8 billion available for Ukraine’s defense through loans.

The 226-195 vote is a sign of impatience with President Donald Trump’s approach to the war and represents the House’s second major foreign policy break with Trump this week. The day before, the House, for the first time, approved a war powers resolution aimed at halting U.S. military action against Iran.

Supporters were able to force action on the Ukraine bill by gathering 218 signatures on a discharge petition, a legislative tool that allows a majority of the House to effectively bypass leadership.

Once rarely successful, House members have used the petition tool this Congress to pass bills on releas-

the Ukraine bill would put pressure on the Senate to do the same. But they also know the Senate likely won’t go along unless Trump endorses the bill.

“It’s probably not going to get 60 votes in the Senate, but it’s going to hopefully force the Senate to address the issue,” said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., who signed the discharge petition and voted to advance the bill. “It’s going to send a great message to the soldiers of Ukraine.”

He said the vote would also send a message to Putin that “we do have a pulse here, that we do care about Ukraine and that we are going to utilize our authority to help them.”

As the war has dragged on, it’s gotten more difficult for supporters of Ukraine in Congress to provide additional financial support to help Ukraine defend itself.

The U.S. has approved some $195 billion for the Ukraine response, according to the latest quarterly inspector general report for Operation Atlantic Resolve, with roughly a quarter of that going to replenish weapons stockpiles for the U.S. military. The last major legislation designed to bolster the Ukraine response occurred in April 2024, though Send a message modest amounts have since Supporters are hopeful been included in annual apthat the House’s passage of propriations bills.

ing the government’s files on Jeffrey Epstein and to extend healthcare subsidies to many of those who get health coverage through the Affordable Care Act, though the latter measure faltered in the Senate.

Meeks said the question before the House was simple. Would it help Ukraine negotiate from a position of strength or help Russia outlast American resolve?

“We all want this war to end,” Meeks said. “The question is how. Will we abandon Ukraine and force it into a terrible deal? That is what Vladimir Putin is counting on. Or will this body live up to the commitments we’ve made since the start of this war?”

The vast majority of Republicans opposed the measure. Rep. French Hill, the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, said he is a steadfast supporter of Ukraine. However, the Arkansas Republican said the House was confronted with a flawed, outdated measure that actually cuts funding for the Ukraine security assistance initiative compared to what Congress had agreed to as part of this year’s defense policy. Another section could lead to a decrease in NATO spending, he warned.

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Federal agency looking for justification of 250-foot height

BY MEG KINNARD Associated Press

The National Capital Planning Commission has kept alive the triumphal arch that President Donald Trump wants built at an entrance to the nation’s capital, requesting more information on how it could potentially impact air travel navigation in the area, as well as other specifics on construction and traffic in the area.

Most members of the federal agency that approves construction on federal land voted in favor Thursday of seeking more information from the Department of the Interior, which submitted the application for the 250-foot arch planned between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

The vote came after nearly three hours of public comment from about 20 members of the public, some representing historic and architectural organizations, and most of whom expressed concerns about the arch that is one of several projects the Republican president is pursuing to leave his imprint on Washington.

Preliminary surveys and testing of the arch site began last month, and other approvals are underway. The U.S. Commission

of Fine Arts — which only oversees designs and has no role in the actual construction or funding of the arch or any other project it considers — has approved the arch’s design, a key step in the project’s process but one that has no immediate bearing on the construction timeline.

For now, the National Capital Planning Commission is seeking more information justifying the proposed height of the towering arch, as well as additional details about lighting, management of stormwater and how traffic and parking would be regulated for visitors.

Will Scharf, who has served as Trump’s White House staff secretary, heads the commission and acknowledged the applicant “has some homework to do,” Scharf said, suggesting more information on how it would appear from other monuments in the Washington area. But, Scharf said ultimately, this year’s 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence “is as good an opportunity as any to add something to Washington, D.C., that will hopefully stand the test of time.

Stuart Levenbach, Trump appointee and commission vice chairman, said the proposed site represented “one of the few locations” in the area where such an “iconic civic monument could be appropriate,” although he added that “it’s reasonable to consider whether a significant architectural statement belongs in such a location.”

Supreme Court upholds federal regulation

BY LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court sided with the Trump administration Thursday in upholding the power of federal regulators to enforce data privacy laws on telecommunications companies.

The 8-1 decision preserved one of the Federal Communications Commission’s key

tools, though the companies also won a concession from the Republican administration that could shift the regulatory landscape.

The appeal from telecommunications giants Verizon and AT&T challenged a combined $100 million in penalties imposed after the agency determined that the companies had failed to safeguard customer location data.

The companies argued that the FCC’s process was unconstitutional because it gave them little opportunity to tell their side of the story in front of a jury.

The administration defended the fines as an essential regulatory tool. But the government also said companies did not have to pay the penalties right away, a regulatory shift in the companies’ favor.

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U.S. sanctions Cuban president EU taking helm of in latest move to pressure island global ocean research Assets of Díaz-Canel, wife, three others frozen

Commission pledges $107M to efforts as U.S. cuts funding

BY FATIMA HUSSEIN, DÁNICA COTO and MATTHEW LEE

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The United States has imposed sanctions Thursday on Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, his wife and three other individuals, in the latest move by the Trump administration to pressure the island’s leadership that drew immediate condemnation from Havana.

Included in the sanctions are Alejandro Castro Espín, the sole son of former Cuban President Raúl Castro and Vilma Espín. He served as an adviser to Cuba’s Defense and National Security Commission and was present when Raúl Castro greeted then-U.S. President Barack Obama in Havana during a historic March 2016 meeting.

Castro Espín’s son, Raúl Alejandro Castro Calis, also was listed.

The new penalties come as U.S. President Donald Trump has been threatening military action in Cuba since ousting Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in January and then ordering an energy blockade that choked off fuel shipments to Cuba. That has led to severe blackouts, food shortages and an economic collapse across the island.

The threats took on additional weight after the U.S. announced criminal charges against Raúl Castro last month. Thursday’s penalties, which follow Trump signing an executive order expanding sanctions against the island, freeze individuals’ property and bank accounts in the U.S. But it’s unclear how intertwined their finances are with the U.S. financial system.

Díaz-Canel accused Trump of making “new threatening statements against Cuba” and said “these measures are aimed at reinforcing the blockade and escalating the conflict between Cuba and the United States.”

“This political blindness adds to the coercive measures applied in recent weeks against our country, designed to harm the Cuban people,” he wrote on X. “The aggression and perversion of the U.S. government

BY SAM MCNEIL Associated Press

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RAMON ESPINOSA

The U.S. has imposed sanctions against Cuba’s President Miguel DíazCanel, second left., as well as his wife and three others.

will clash with our resolve to con- to mobilize its radical revolutionfront the worst-case scenarios and ary movements in the United resist the imperial onslaught.”

States and around the world,” Rubio said in a statement.

‘We’re going to handle that’

Asked Thursday if his sanctions were meant to accelerate Cuba’s collapse, Trump said, “We just want them to be a nicely run country.”

“The country is starving and it’s got no energy, it’s got no oil, it’s got no money, it’s got nothing. It’s got a beautiful piece of land. You could have beautiful resorts,” Trump told reporters at an unrelated event in the Oval Office.

Asked whether Cuba is close to collapsing, he said, “It’s sort of collapsed” and added that “we’re going to handle that as soon as we’ve finished” military operations in Iran.

“I like to do one thing at a time,” Trump said.

Trump has ratcheted up talk of regime change in Cuba after pledging to conduct a “friendly takeover” of the country if its leadership did not open its economy to American investment and kick out U.S. adversaries.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants who has long taken a hard line against Cuba’s socialist leadership, has said Trump’s preference is to reach a deal but has said he is doubtful the U.S. can find a diplomatic resolution with the current government.

Those “designated today direct or fund the regime and its efforts

Diplomat condemns sanctions In addition to Díaz-Canel, Bruno Rodríguez, Cuba’s minister of foreign affairs, also condemned the new sanctions in a social media post.

He said “the vile inclusion” of Díaz-Canel and others, including Cuban institutions and civil society organizations, “is the latest example of the US interventionist plan to portray Cuba as a threat to US national security,” he wrote on X. “Every US action aimed at creating a scenario of conflict between the two countries is destined to fail,” he wrote. “Every threat against Cuba’s independence and sovereignty will be met with even greater unity and determination from our people.”

The new sanctions, which freeze any assets that those targeted may have in U.S. jurisdictions or any that come into U.S. jurisdictions, also apply to non-American entities that might do business with them.

In addition to the individuals, the sanctions also target Cuba’s defense ministry; its Institute for the Friendship with the Peoples, which promotes people-to-people talks; Amistur Cuba, an arm of the institute that oversees specialized tourism on the island; and the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution.

BRUSSELS — With underwater drones and ocean-focused satellites, the EU is expanding its monitoring network of Earth’s seas as climate change fuels heat waves and stronger storms and the Trump administration plans severe cuts to a similar system in the United States.

With an investment package of $107 million called OceanEye announced on Wednesday, the EU will be able to take the helm of global efforts to explore the depths of the planet’s vast oceans, said Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission.

Oceans are vital ecosystems covering about 70% of planet Earth, hosting complex webs of life that generate oxygen and absorb greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. Temperatures have risen in oceans faster due to climate change, super-charging storms and drought, ravaging coral reefs across the world, and endangering species in tandem with overfishing and industrial pollution.

Scientists estimate climate change will increase the strength of heat waves and severe storms across Europe.

Monitoring the ocean can help protect it by showing damage and threats to ecosystems that help inform regulations aimed at preventing species loss.

“This is about using science and good governance to understand our ocean and secure our future,” von der Leyen said.

Foundation, the observatories have tracked everything from ocean circulation and marine ecosystems to climate change and extreme weather. Its data has been freely available and has informed more than 500 scientific publications. The project was slated to run for another 15 to 20 years.

The EU investment was already in the pipeline when the U.S. cuts were announced.

International efforts are organized through the Global Ocean Observing System. The U.S. collects more than half of this data while Europe does about a quarter, followed by Japan, Australia, India and China.

“Europe needs to do more,” said Pierre-Yves Le Traon, an oceanographer and scientific director of the Mercator Ocean International based in Toulouse, France.

By 2035, the EU hopes to cover 35% of Earth’s maritime monitoring network and become the globe’s leading provider of “ocean intelligence.”

Importance of collecting data

Robotic sensors in underwater and in orbit feed information to organizations like shipping companies, fisheries, emergency services and research institutions like the Mercator Ocean Institute that is building a virtual-reality mockup of Earth’s oceans to be updated in real time called the Digital Twin Ocean.

That data is crucial to understanding and adapting to climate change and to a vast array of industries on land and at sea like aquaculture, shipping especially through icy waters, coastal tourism, agriculture and even navies, Le Traon said.

“Knowledge is essential if we want to manage the ocean,” Le Traon said. “We really have to be U.S. cuts funding very active for the monitoring and In May, officials in the U.S. began protecting of the ocean because signaling plans to gut its Ocean Ob- the ocean matters to everyone: servatories Initiative — a network for life at sea, for life on Earth.”

The EU funds will go toward of more than 900 ocean sensors built at a cost of $386 million that private incubators for oceanic has continuously collected real- technology and beefing up existtime data for more than a decade. ing institutions like the Global Funded by the National Science Ocean Observing System.

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, June 5, 2026 ■ 5A

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Journalist pleads guilty to acting as agent for China American faces Republican Party in the the U.S. illegally. A Decem- He appeared to see him- son who was seeking a job ing to the affidavit. They met 1990s and ran for governor ber trial ended in a mistrial self as a middleman between in the Trump administration at a Washington restaurant up to 10 years for more when a federal jury could not Chinese agents and “human and would provide that per- on Feb. 23 and again two days than a decade ago. resources” who could pro- son with a Samsung phone later at a hotel, where the reach a unanimous verdict.

It is the latest in a string of working with foreign cases that the federal gov- Charles Burnham, Pauken’s vide classified information and a laptop computer. He FBI monitored the meeting.

Pauken gave the person a ernment has brought against defense lawyer, said in a to Beijing, according to the said he was “80% sure” that government

BY DIDI TANG

Associated Press WASHINGTON — An American journalist who has lived in China since 2010 and worked for several state media organizations there pleaded guilty in a U.S. court Thursday to acting as an illegal agent for the Chinese government, the Justice Department said.

Thomas Pauken II is set to be sentenced Sept. 1 in a U.S. District Court and he faces up to 10 years in jail, the department said. He writes under the name Tom McGregor to distance himself from his father with the same name, who was a former chairman of the Texas

people suspected of working for the Chinese government without proper disclosure.

Eileen Wang, a former mayor of Arcadia, California, agreed in May to plead guilty to acting as an illegal agent for the Chinese government. She was accused of doing the bidding of Chinese officials, including sharing articles favorable to Beijing.

Linda Sun, a former aide to New York governors, was accused of selling her influence to the Chinese government. Sun pleaded not guilty to charges that she failed to register as an agent of a foreign government, conspired with her husband to launder money and helped people commit visa fraud to enter

statement that, by his guilty plea, Pauken “has accepted responsibility for working as an agent of the People’s Republic of China without first completing certain required U.S. Government forms.”

Burnham said Pauken had hoped his work would “promote peaceful relations and advance the cause of religious freedom in China.”

Pauken was arrested in February after arriving in Washington from China. He met with someone who had sought a job in the Trump administration to provide that person with a SIM card and offer $10,000 to write reports to be read by Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to the affidavit.

affidavit. His lawyer didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

Since at least 2019, Pauken had been working with Chinese agents, including “Cathy,” who he believed to be working for China’s security apparatus. Between 2019 and 2025, Pauken received $100,000 for the reports he provided to Cathy, in addition to paid trips to the U.S., the affidavit says.

Cathy told him the reports were to be read by Xi. Pauken was stopped by Customs and Border Protection agents when he returned to the U.S. in January 2025. In interviews with CBP and FBI agents, Pauken said he was meeting a per-

person, if hired by the new administration, would provide classified information to Beijing, according to the affidavit.

U.S. agents let Pauken go and instructed him to carry on with his plans. Pauken’s contact said in an interview that Pauken asked for opensource information but also indicated his clients in China frequently asked for more secretive information. That person indicated having no intention of working with Pauken, the affidavit said.

A year later, Pauken returned to the U.S. to make another pitch to this person, with whom Pauken had reconnected over a possible commercial oil deal, accord-

SIM card and proposed the $10,000 bonus for providing “Cathy” with weekly reports that would “influence policy and be read by Xi Jinping,” the affidavit says.

Database checks showed that Pauken did not register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act or notify the U.S. attorney general that he was acting as an agent for China, the affidavit says.

The Justice Department said Pauken also sold reports to a group of Chinese individuals from the central city of Wuhan, who sought information about technology and the Justice Department and wanted Pauken to find an expert to help them engage in cyberespionage.

class with Linda Collins ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JEHAD ALSHRAFI

A damaged apartment in a residential building is seen on Thursday after an overnight Israeli strike in Gaza City.

call to register

Hospitals: At least 10 people killed in strikes on Gaza

BY WAFAA SHURAFA Associated Press

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli strikes in Gaza killed at least 10 Palestinians on Thursday, hospitals said, even as much of the world’s attention was focused on the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Nine people were killed in at least four separate strikes overnight in Gaza City, according to Shifa Hospital, which received the bodies.

The hospital said the victims included two women and two children.

Another strike in Gaza City on Thursday evening killed at least one person and wounded another, according to Saraya Field Hospital, which is operated by the Red Crescent.

Footage of one of the strikes showed a massive hole in an upper floor in what appeared to be a residential apartment building. The blast blew holes through interior walls and scattered blood-stained belongings across the room and into the street.

“They say the war has stopped, but the war has not stopped,” said Walid Shbeir,

the uncle of one of the men killed in the strikes, as relatives mourned the victims at Shifa Hospital. “Every night there is killing, and we have martyrs. Every night, in the morning, in the evening, and at night, this killing is continuous for us.”

Israel’s military said the overnight strikes in northern Gaza killed four Hamas militants, which it described as senior members of an apparatus responsible for protecting Hamas leaders and providing them with intelligence assessments.

The military said steps were taken before the strikes to mitigate the risk of harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance.

It was not clear what the evening strike was targeting, and the military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on it.

Last week, Israel killed the top Hamas military leader, two weeks after strikes that killed his predecessor.

deal attempted to halt a more than two-year war between Israel and the Palestinian militant Hamas group in Gaza. While the heaviest fighting has subsided, the fragile ceasefire has seen almost daily Israeli fire.

Israeli forces have carried out repeated airstrikes and frequently opened fire on Palestinians near military-held zones, killing 936 people since the ceasefire took effect, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-led government, is generally seen as reliable by United Nations agencies and independent experts. It does not give a breakdown of civilian and militant deaths.

Militants have carried out shooting attacks on troops, and Israel says its strikes are in response to violations of the truce or threats to its troops. Four Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire.

Israel launched its offensive in Gaza in response to More than 900 killed Hamas’ October 2023 attack The fatalities were the lat- that killed some 1,200 peoest in the coastal enclave ple, with 251 others taken since an October ceasefire hostage.

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6A ■ Friday, June 5, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Hezbollah rejects latest ceasefire agreement Israeli strikes kill 4 in Lebanon

“to an unprecedented degree.”

Lebanese troops began moving Thursday afternoon into the southern village of Dibbine, in coordination with U.N. peacekeepers, after Israeli forces left the area, which saw intense clashes in recent days, state-run media reported. It was the first time Israeli troops withdrew from an area in southern Lebanon since the latest Israel-Hezbollah war began about three months ago.

The fighting in Lebanon, where Israeli forces have seized large swaths of the south, threatens efforts to end the Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit point for oil and gas.

Its closure has jolted the world economy.

Iran has demanded that any lasting truce extend to Lebanon. Netanyahu, who faces elections later this year, wants to press ahead with Israel’s offensive until Hezbollah no longer poses a threat.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who faced a rare rebuke from Congress on Wednesday, has sought to downplay the diplomatic deadlock and the failure of declared ceasefires to end the fighting. He told reporters that in the Middle East, “a ceasefire is when you’re shooting in a more moderate manner.”

killed and two others were wounded when a mortar struck their location near Marjayoun, a Christian-majority town that has seen intense fighting, according to the U.N. mission in southern Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, and the Serbian Defense Ministry.

Israel blamed Hezbollah for the firing that killed the U.N. peacekeeper, without offering evidence. Hezbollah and the U.N. did not immediately comment on who launched the shells.

Also Thursday, the Israeli military announced that a 21-year-old captain in the armored corps was killed in southern Lebanon.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said a drone strike killed a motorcyclist and wounded four people in the village of Maaroub. The Israeli military said soldiers killed an armed militant and later found a Hezbollah cache of guns, grenades, surface-to-air missiles and other combat gear in the area.

The military also said it conducted strikes near the coastal city of Tyre and around Shaqra, another community in southern Lebanon.

The Lebanese news agency reported airstrikes in the south and said a strike on the village of Sohmor in the Bekaa Valley, in Peacekeeper, soldier killed eastern Lebanon, killed three peoA Serbian peacekeeper was ple and wounded others.

BY BASSEM MROUE, JON GAMBRELL and SAM METZ Associated Press

BEIRUT — Hezbollah on Thursday rejected the latest ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Lebanese government, and the militant group demanded a complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon as more fighting there hampered efforts to end the Iran war.

The Hezbollah CO ONFLICT a n n o u n c e m e n t came as Israeli IN THE T MIIDDLE strikes killed at least four people, EAST AST according to local authorities, and a U.N. peacekeeper was killed in the crossfire. An Israeli soldier was also killed in combat in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem, in a written statement read on TV, called the negotiations “absurd, humiliating and insulting.” He said the agreement’s demand that Hezbollah fighters leave southern Lebanon under fire would mean “surrender, defeat and achieving the enemy’s goals.”

“What we are concerned about is an end to the aggression, ceasefire

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ARIEL SCHALIT

An Israeli flag hangs on a destroyed building in southern Lebanon on Thursday. Hezbollah has demanded a complete Israeli withdrawal. and Israel’s withdrawal,” he said, underscoring that Hezbollah has not made any commitment to stop fighting. “So long as our villages are not safe and are being bombed and destroyed and our people are killed,” he said, northern Israel “will not be safe.”

Sirens after Netanyahu visit Following Kassem’s statement, drone alert sirens sounded in several border communities in northern Israel, including Shlomi, a town where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several ministers had been meeting with local offi-

cials, his office said. Israeli media reported that Netanyahu left a short time before the alerts sounded.

The Israeli military later said the sirens were triggered by attempts to intercept several drones that hit near soldiers in southern Lebanon.

No injuries were reported.

Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the Israeli military’s chief of staff, acknowledged Thursday that the ongoing war was straining northern Israeli towns living under the threat of Hezbollah fire. He said Israel’s operations in Iran and Lebanon had “created a new security reality,” by weakening Iran and Hezbollah

U.N. nuclear watchdog: Unable to implement responsibilities in Iran IAEA cannot provide information on uranium stockpile

BY STEPHANIE LIECHTENSTEIN Associated Press

VIENNA — The U.N. nuclear watchdog has been unable to inspect nuclear facilities in Iran affected by the war last June according to a confidential report by the U.N. nuclear watchdog circulated to member states and seen Thursday

by The Associated Press.

The International Atomic Energy Agency reported that it

“cannot provide any information on the current size, composition or whereabouts of the stockpile of enriched uranium in Iran or whether Iran has suspended all enrichment-related activities.”

The IAEA warned that it was “unable to discharge its safeguards responsibilities” that it has under the Safeguards Agreement of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, adding that it is “indispensable and urgent” for Tehran to implement its obligations under that Treaty.

The only nuclear facility inspected in Iran by IAEA inspectors since the last report in February has been the Bushehr nuclear power plant, which was visited on

to 60% purity — a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%.

That stockpile could allow Iran to build as many as 10 nuclear bombs, should it decide to weaponize its program, IAEA director general Rafael Grossi warned in a recent AP interview. He added that it doesn’t mean that Iran has such a weapon.

Such highly enriched nuclear material should normally be verified every month, according to the IAEA’s guidelines.

The report said Grossi reiterates his “full support to the negotiations underway aimed at finding a mutually acceptable solution to is-

June 1-3. The reactor currently running at Bushehr uses uranium from Russia enriched to 4.5%, a low level needed for power generation in such plants.

The confidential report come as tensions have flared in the Middle East.

Iranian drones heavily damaged a passenger terminal at Kuwait’s main airport on Wednesday, killing one person, wounding dozens of others and briefly closing the airfield — the latest in back-andforth attacks by Iran and the U.S. that test a fragile ceasefire.

According to the IAEA, Iran maintains a stockpile of 972 pounds of uranium enriched up

sues related to Iran’s nuclear programme, and his readiness … to support an eventual agreement.”

Talks have dragged on for weeks as mediators seek a more enduring truce in the war, now in its fourth month. They are increasingly strained by Israel’s broadening war with Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.

Iran maintains its hold on the Strait of Hormuz — a crucial waterway for the world’s oil and natural gas and related products like fertilizer — and the U.S. continues its blockade of Iranian ports. Global fuel prices remain high, and the effects of the conflict are felt well beyond the region.

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As caregivers, women most Murder charge dropped for sheriff nominee who at risk in Ebola outbreak killed alleged abuser Virus spreads along lines of care-giving, domestic labor, health work and burial practices

Manza Pantience, left, a midwife at Karibuni wa Mama, supervises health workers who collect patients’ samples for Ebola testing at Sofepadi Hospital in Bunia, Congo, on May 29.

BY JUSTIN KABUMBA and MARK BANCHEREAU Associated Press

BUNIA, Congo — Every day for the past week, Aline Kasiwa has fed her sick mother, helped her drink and washed her clothes, all while fearing she could catch the Ebola virus as eastern Congo is plagued by one of the fastest-spreading outbreaks of the disease on record.

“She is the only family I have left.

I cannot abandon her,” Kasiwa told The Associated Press, adding that she is too afraid to take her mother to the hospital where an infection could be confirmed. “These days we hear that many people are dying there, even nurses,” she said.

With no protective equipment beyond a cheap face mask, the 28-year-old in Bunia, a city at the heart of the outbreak, symbolizes the women in eastern Congo who are almost always the first caregiver, a role that health workers say is putting them at higher risk of contracting Ebola.

“It’s the woman who gives them a bath, it’s the woman who feeds them, and it’s the woman who’s there to wash the dirty clothes and everything else,” said Dr. Furaha Elisabeth, director of the Karibuni Wa Maman gynecology and obstetrics clinic in Bunia.

Bundibugyo, the type of Ebola in this outbreak, has no approved treatment or vaccine. Even health workers have said they don’t have the masks, gloves and other gear to protect themselves.

That leaves some women with impossible choices, especially pregnant ones.

“When you see the way people die — even the nurses who treat us are dying — how can you not be afraid?” said Anny Ekyambo, a 32-year-old in Bunia who said she is too afraid to go to a clinic for checkups, even though she is five

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MOSES SAWASAWA months pregnant.

Outbreaks affected women more The outbreak was identified weeks late because the rare Bundibugyo type was not tested for at first. Congolese authorities said Wednesday they have confirmed 363 cases, including 62 deaths, and more are suspected. Neighboring Uganda has reported 15 confirmed cases, including one death.

It is not clear how many women have been infected. But history shows that previous Ebola outbreaks have affected women more.

In the first recorded outbreak in the 1970s, women accounted for 56% of deaths, U.N. Women said. During the 2018-2020 outbreak in Congo, the deadliest in the country’s history, women and girls made up about two-thirds of reported cases.

“We will certainly see the same pattern emerge in the current outbreak,” Sofia Calltorp, U.N. Women’s chief of humanitarian action, said in a statement. “Ebola transmission follows social realities. The virus spreads along the lines of care-giving, domestic labor, front-line health work and burial practices.”

Women in many eastern Congo communities are the ones preparing bodies for burial.

‘They had no protection’ At the Karibuni wa Maman clinic, staff said they had received no personal protective equipment since the outbreak began, despite appeals to health authorities.

Patients showing symptoms are

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examined at the clinic before being referred to larger treatment centers, exposing doctors and nurses to potential infection with minimal safeguards.

Julienne Lusenge, president of Women’s Solidarity for Inclusive Peace and Development, the aid group running the clinic, said they have sought protective equipment from various partners, receiving only hand sanitizer and a few masks for nurses.

She said the equipment gap also endangers the women caring for sick relatives at home, with most of them unaware that Ebola may be the cause.

“During previous outbreaks, many women died because they were the ones nursing sick family members,” Lusenge said.

Despite new arrivals of aid and better-organized health facilities in recent days, Doctors Without Borders has said the virus continues to spread faster than the response.

“Nobody knows the true scale and severity of this outbreak,” Dr. Alan Gonzalez, the medical charity’s deputy director of operations, has said in a statement.

The outbreak is unfolding in unforgiving surroundings. Ituri province has poor road networks and underequipped health facilities more than 620 miles from Congo’s capital, Kinshasa.

Attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces, a rebel group allied with the Islamic State group, and a coalition of ethnic militias also have hindered the response.

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Key evidence was misplaced

BY REBECCA BOONE Associated Press

A judge has dismissed a murder charge against an Arkansas man who won the GOP nomination for sheriff while awaiting trial for the shooting death of his teenage daughter’s alleged abuser.

Special Circuit Court Judge Ralph Wilson Jr. dismissed the case against Aaron Spencer Thursday afternoon — just a few weeks before his trial on the second-degree murder charge was expected to begin — because a dash camera memory card that may have captured the shooting was lost by law enforcement.

In March, Spencer won the GOP nomination over a three-term incumbent sheriff whose office had arrested him on the murder charge in Lonoke County, which has roughly 76,000 residents and is heavily Republican.

“The court finds that conduct by law enforcement was so egregious that dismissal of this case is warranted,” Wilson wrote.

Spencer’s attorneys did not deny that he shot and killed Michael Fosler, 67, in 2024. At the time, Fosler was out on bond after being charged with dozens of sexual offenses against Spencer’s then-13-year-old daughter.

Court documents show on the night of the shooting, Spencer had woken up to find his daughter missing, and later found the girl in the passenger seat of a vehicle Fosler was driving. Spencer forced Fosler’s truck off the road and, after an altercation, called 911 to report he had shot the man.

Prosecutors said Spencer planned the killing and that he could have called police while pursuing Fosler. But Spencer pleaded not guilty, and maintained he acted to protect his child from a predator.

Spencer’s attorney, Erin Cassinelli, said she is thankful for the court’s decision.

“No member of this family should ever again be forced to walk into a courtroom and relive this horror,” she said in a statement. “This father should have never been charged for protecting his child.”

Lonoke County Prosecuting Attorney Chuck Graham did not immediately return messages Thursday seeking comment on the decision.

The Associated Press typically does not identify sex abuse victims, but Spencer has made his daughter’s experience with the criminal justice system a central part of his campaign for sheriff, pledging to establish a dedicated team to combat sex crimes against children.

Spencer’s attorneys filed the motion seeking to have the case dismissed, contending that video and audio of the dash camera from Fosler’s truck may have contained evidence that would have cleared Spencer of any wrongdoing. According to court records, a detective with the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office removed the dash camera from the truck when responding to the scene of the shooting.

But the camera’s internal settings were not preserved and the battery of the camera was allowed to drain, and as a result the camera went back to its default settings. When the camera was sent to the attorney general’s office for a forensic exam, the memory card that was in it when it was collected from the truck was missing. The detective who collected the camera later admitted that it was not logged into evidence right away, but was instead stored in his personal office rather than the evidence room, according to court records.

Wilson replaced the original judge handling the murder case in January after the Arkansas Supreme Court removed Judge Barbara Elmore from the case, finding she had issued an overly broad gag order that violated Spencer’s First Amendment rights.

8A ■ Friday, June 5, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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ZOO

Rachael Hovis, a senior zookeeper at Magnolia Wilds, said staff approached Ligon about purchasing the property. In response, she said, he agreed to donate the remaining 125 animals.

“We, as the employees, presented to the owner that we wanted to turn the organization into something completely new,” Hovis said.

“It’s going to be more so focused

on what the animals want to do, what makes the animals happy?”

Hovis said Ligon agreed. She and current animal care director Lauren Cotton, along with a handful of other remaining staff members, are leading the transition and have launched a fundraising campaign to acquire the property.

Meanwhile, Ligon, who could not be reached for comment, has indi-

cated he is leaving the business for good.

“I can promise that I will never work and/or participate in the zoo industry again,” he told The Wall Street Journal.

The plan for those staying behind is to relaunch the facility as a nonprofit called Sanctuary Hill by Aug. 31. While tours will continue, Hovis said the zoo will eliminate direct animal encounters, a practice widely criticized for causing severe stress to the creatures. At Magnolia Wilds, USDA inspectors also noted otter swims resulted in several children being bitten.

Until the transition date, the park will continue offering existing bookings, including otter swims and sloth feedings.

“We didn’t want to take away from people that already booked stuff,” Hovis said.

Hovis, who plans to attend LSU’s veterinary school this fall, said the long-term goal is to operate as a sanctuary and rehabilitation center with stronger community ties, including volunteer and educational programs for local students.

“We really want to be involved in the community,” she said.

Hovis added, “if you want to be able to help out, by all means help

victed,” he said. “I want to emphasize ‘wrongfully convicted’ — for something that they did not do.”

Boudreaux said that, while he’s disappointed, he doesn’t see the veto as a failure, and he hopes it can serve as a starting point for more public awareness about the issue.

To get money from the state’s Innocence Compensation Fund, a petitioner has to prove by clear and convincing evidence he is “factually innocent” of the crime, and the court has to grant the request in a new proceeding in which the state is represented by the Attorney

General’s Office.

Innocence & Justice Louisiana, a New-Orleans based law firm that works to free innocent people serving unjust sentences, blasted the veto.

“The Governor’s message makes specious assertions about abuse without acknowledging who will suffer because of his veto,” Jee Park, the group’s executive director, said in a statement. “SB 125 is about real people who are innocent, real decades lost, and real families who lived with the consequences of Louisiana’s mistakes.”

Landry also used the veto to call

out New Orleans.

“Louisiana taxpayers have already seen examples of Sorosfunded prosecutors gaming the system to secure the release of convicted criminals and then seek taxpayer-funded compensation,” Landry wrote. “There is no better example than Orleans Parish.”

He said some individuals there have received compensation from the state in addition to money from claims made in federal court.

In a statement, Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams said Landry’s “characterization”

Continued from page 1A including swimming with otters and penguins, and holding and feeding sloths, drew criticism from animal welfare groups, while the zoo’s overall conditions accrued repeated federal violations. In 2024, the park rebranded after U.S. Department of Agriculture officials seized a sick giraffe over failure to provide it adequate veterinary care. When Ligon announced plans to sell the property in January, he said the incident had damaged the park’s reputation and strained its finances.

A month later, Ligon was arrested at an airport in connection with a failed business deal involving another Louisiana zoo owner. In the aftermath, many former employees alleged widespread negligence at the park, resulting in frequent animal deaths and escapes, as well as unsafe working conditions for a mostly inexperienced staff.

In April, Ligon said no buyer had emerged.

Now, the handful of employees who remain say they want to rebuild the operation themselves.

VETO

Continued from page 1A to ensure the wrongful compensation process is fair and “protected against abuse.”

“The current system lacks important safeguards to prevent abuse and double recovery,” he said.

Boudreaux said it is hard to “put as price tag” on the harm people suffered in these cases.

“Their whole lives were stopped because they were wrongfully con-

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

One of two otters looks out its winter enclosure after swimming at the Magnolia Wilds preserve on March 2.

CLASSIFIEDS continued from Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE --CAPITAL AREA FINANCE AUTHORITY NOTICE OF INTENTION TO ISSUE NOT EXCEEDING $200,000,000 SINGLE FAMILY MORTGAGE REVENUE BONDS And NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The Board of Trustees of the Capital Area Fi‐ Authority (the nance “Authority”), a public trust duly created pur‐ suant to the provisions of Chapter 2-A of Title 9 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended (R.S. 9:23419:2347, inclusive) (the “Act”) for the benefit of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana (hereinafter sometimes to as the referred “Parish”), does hereby give notice of its inten‐ tion to issue in an amount not to exceed Two Hundred Million Dol‐ lars ($200,000,000) of cap‐ tioned bonds in one or series (the more “Bonds”) on a tax-ex‐ empt or taxable basis.

The Bonds will finance first mortgage loans(the “First Mortgage Loans”) to low and moderate homebuyers. Tax-exempt Bonds will finance First Mortgage Loans in accor‐ dance with the require‐ ments of Section 143 of Internal Revenue the of 1986, as Code amended (the “Code”) to low and moderate home‐ buyers located in the Parishes of Ascension, East Feliciana, Iberville, Pointe Livingston, Coupee, St. Helena, West Baton Rouge and West State of Feliciana, Louisiana (the “Capital Area”) and such other parishes whose govern‐ ing authorities execute endeavor cooperative agreements with the Au‐ thority. The Bonds shall be issued under the Act and shall be authorized pursuant to the provi‐ sions of one or more Se‐ ries Supplemental Trust Indentures (the “Series Supplemental Inden‐ tures”) to the Master Indenture of General Trust (the “Master Inden‐ ture”, together with the Series Supplemental In‐ dentures, the “Inden‐ ture”) by and between the Authority and Re‐ gions Bank, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

The Bonds shall be obligations secured on a parri passu basis under the Indenture by an irrev‐ ocable pledge by the Au‐ thority unto the Trustee on behalf of the regis‐ tered owners of the Bonds, of GNMA Securi‐ ties, Fannie Mae Securi‐ ties, and Freddie Mac Se‐ curities (collectively, the “Certificates”) backed by pools of First Mortgage Loans. The Bonds shall bear such dates, mature at such times (not ex‐ ceeding forty-two (42) years from their date of issuance), bear interest at such rate or rates (not exceeding ten per cen‐ tum (10%) per annum) and carry such ex‐ changeability privileges as shall be provided for in their applicable Series Inden‐ Supplemental tures. The Bonds shall be issuable in such denomi‐ nations, be in fully regis‐ form without tered coupons, carry such reg‐ and ex‐ istration privi‐ chan¬geability leges, be payable in such medium of payment and at such place or places, and be subject to such terms of redemption as the Indenture may pro‐ vide.

Bonds will, before the delivery thereof, be ap‐ proved by the State Bond Commission as well as by said Board of Trustees as the governing body of the Authority.

The issuance of the Bonds will not directly or indirectly obligate the Parish, the State or any subdivision political thereof, to provide any funds for the payment of the Bonds. The Bonds will not be nor shall they ever be considered a debt of the Parish, the

Legal Notices

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p p the construction of the following project:

y centralbidding.com or on solicitation bid forms furnished by the City of Baton Rouge and Parish East Baton Rouge, and only those bids shall be received by the CityParish which is submit‐ ted by those Contractors in whose names the so‐ licitation bid forms specifications and/or were issued. In no event shall paper solicitation forms be issued later than twenty-four (24) hours prior to the hour and date set for receiv‐ ing proposals.

Legal Notices

State or any political thereof, subdivision within the meaning of Constitution or the statutes of the State of Louisiana and will not and shall never consti‐ tute a pledge of the credit or taxing power of the Parish, the State, or any political subdivision Neither the thereof.

Parish nor the State or any political subdivision thereof, shall in any man‐ ner be liable for the pay‐ ment of the principal and the interest on the Bonds or for the performance of any agreement or pledge of any kind which may be undertaken by the Au‐ thority and no breach by the Authority of any agreement shall create any obligation upon the Parish, the State or any subdivision political thereof. The Authority has no taxing power and is not entitled to receive any funds from the Parish, the State, or any subdivision political thereof, or any govern‐ mental body.

The Authority shall meet in open and public session on [July 16, 2026], at four (4:00) o’clock p.m. at the Authority’s office at 601 St. Ferdinand Baton Rouge, Street, Louisiana, for the pur‐ pose of hearing any ob‐ jections to the proposed issuance of the Bonds. If a petition is presented to the Authority at this open and public meeting, duly signed by not less than five percent of the electors of the Parish voting at the last special or general election ob‐ jecting to the issuance of the Bonds, then said Bonds will not be issued until approved by a vote of the majority of the qualified electors of the Parish who vote in a spe‐ cial election held for the purpose of approving the issuance of the Bonds in the manner provided by the Act, and such peti‐ tion must be accompa‐ nied by a certificate of the East Baton Rouge Parish Registrar of Vot‐ ers certifying that the signers of the petition are qualified electors of the Parish and the num‐ ber of signers amounts to not less than five per‐ cent of the electors of the Parish in number vot‐ ing at the last special or general election.

All interested parties are invited to attend the meeting as a public hear‐ ing for the purpose of re‐ ceiving comments on and hearing any objec‐ tions to the proposed is‐ suance of the Bonds. All interested parties are in‐ vited to attend such pub‐ lic hearing to express their views. Questions or requests for additional information may be di‐ rected to the Authority as follows: Capital Area Finance Au‐ thority 601 St. Ferdinand Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802 Telephone: (225) 771-8567 Attention: Vickie Theriot Bonds herein proposed are in addition to other bonds, notes or debt obligations proposed by the Authority.

This is not an offer to sell nor the solicitation of an offer to buy the Bonds. This notice of in‐ tention to issue Bonds by the Authority is man‐ dated by the provisions Louisiana Revised of Statute 9:2347(A)(1).

THUS, DONE AND SIGNED at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on this, the 26th day of May, 2026.

CAPITAL AREA FINANCE AUTHORITY By: /s/ Justin Gaudet Chairperson, Board of Trustees By: /s/ Lauren Wilson Secretary-Treasurer, Board of Trustees 100898458.v1 189826 June 5, 12, 19, 26, 2026 4t $364.76 PUBLIC NOTICE --METROPOLITAN COUNCIL GREATER BATON ROUGE AIRPORT AUTHORITY EAST BATON ROUGE SEW‐

ERAGE COMMISSION CAPITOL IMPROVEMENTS DISTRICT CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE Wednesday, May 20, 2026 4:00 PM The Metropolitan Council of the Parish of East Baton Rouge and the City of Baton Rouge convened in zoning session on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 4:00 PM, in the Council Chambers of the Govern‐ mental Building, Room Baton Rouge, 348, Louisiana.

The Meeting was called to order by the Presiding Officer and the following members were present: Present: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hud‐ son, Hurst, Noel, Racca Absent: Kenney, Moak Amending the Compre‐ hensive Zoning Map of the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge of June 1976, as contained in and made a part of the “Comprehen‐ sive Zoning Ordinance of the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge for 1958,” as amended so as to: ORDINANCE 19861 CASE 13-26 AMENDING COMPREHENSIVE THE ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE OF 2024, AS CONTAINED IN AND MADE A PART OF THE "COMPREHENSIVE ZON‐ ING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST ROUGE", AS BATON AMENDED, SO AS TO CHANGE THE ZONING ON THE PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF BOULEVARD, FLORIDA OF WEST FONTAINEBLEAU DRIVE, ON PROPERTY NOW OR FORMERLY KNOWN AS A PORTION OF (400 FEET FROM SOUTHERN RIGHTS WAYS FOR THE OF BOULEVARD FLORIDA SERVICE ROAD) TRACT 1 OF FLORIDA HIGHWAY ACRES AS AMENDED BY COUNCIL. SECTION 74, T7S, R2E, GLD, EBRP, LA, TO REZONE FROM RURAL TO HEAVY COMMERCIAL ONE (HC1), AS SHOWN ON A SKETCH PREPARED

BY THE PLANNING COM‐ MISSION, A COPY OF WHICH IS ATTACHED The Presiding Officer an‐ nounced that a public hearing on the above or‐ dinance was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed ordinance. A motion was made by Ms. Racca and seconded by Mr. Hurst to approve the proposed or‐ dinance as amended. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Dunn Jr., Coleman, Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Kenney, Moak With 10 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 2 absent, the motion was adopted.

ORDINANCE 19862 CASE 14-26 AMENDING COMPREHENSIVE THE ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE OF 2024, AS CONTAINED IN AND MADE A PART OF THE "COMPREHENSIVE ZON‐ ING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST ROUGE", AS BATON AMENDED, SO AS TO CHANGE THE ZONING ON THE PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF NORTH STREET, WEST OF NORTH 27TH STREET, ON PROPERTY NOW OR FOR‐ MERLY KNOWN AS A POR‐ TION OF UNDESIGNATED TRACT OF THE D. L. MCGUIRE TRACT. SEC‐ TION 45, T7S, R1W, GLD, EBRP, LA, TO REZONE FROM HEAVY COMMER‐ CIAL (C2) TO COMMER‐ CIAL ALCOHOLIC BEVER‐ AGE (BAR AND LOUNGE) (C-AB-2), AS SHOWN ON A SKETCH PREPARED BY THE PLANNING COMMIS‐ SION, A COPY OF WHICH IS ATTACHED The Presiding Officer an‐ nounced that a public hearing on the above or‐ dinance was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed ordinance. A motion was made by Ms. Coleman and seconded by Mr. Dunn Jr. to approve the proposed ordinance. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows:

Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Dunn Jr., Coleman, Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Kenney, Moak With 10 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 2 absent, the motion was adopted.

ORDINANCE 19863 CASE 15-26 AMENDING COMPREHENSIVE THE ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE OF 2024, AS CONTAINED IN AND MADE A PART OF THE "COMPREHENSIVE ZON‐ ING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST ROUGE", AS BATON AMENDED, SO AS TO CHANGE THE ZONING ON THE PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF STUMBERG LANE, NORTH OF JEFFERSON HIGHWAY, ON PROPERTY NOW OR FORMERLY KNOWN AS LOT N AND LOT K OF STOKES PLACE. SECTION 57, T7S, R2E, GLD, EBRP, LA, TO REZONE FROM RURAL TO LIGHT COM‐ MERCIAL THREE (LC3), AS SHOWN ON A SKETCH PREPARED BY THE PLAN‐ NING COMMISSION, A COPY OF WHICH IS AT‐ TACHED The Presiding Officer an‐ nounced that a public hearing on the above or‐ dinance was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed ordinance. A motion was made by Ms. Amoroso and seconded by Mr. Hurst to approve the pro‐ posed ordinance. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as fol‐ lows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Dunn Jr., Coleman, Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Kenney, Moak With 10 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 2 absent, the motion was adopted.

ORDINANCE 19864 SNC-1-26 CHANGING THE STREET NAME OF BEAU‐ MONT LANE TO ELIZA BEAUMONT LANE, LO‐ CATED NORTH OF MAL‐ MAISON DRIVE, SOUTH SOUTH ACADIAN OF THRUWAY AND EAST OF PARKER STREET, SECTION 94, T7S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA, AS SHOWN ON A SKETCH PREPARED BY THE PLANNING COMMIS‐ SION, A COPY OF WHICH IS ATTACHED. The Presiding Officer an‐ nounced that a public hearing on the above or‐ dinance was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed ordinance. A motion was made by Ms. Harris and seconded by Mr. Dunn Jr. to approve the proposed ordinance. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Dunn Jr., Coleman, Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Kenney, Moak With 10 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 2 absent, the motion was adopted.

ADJOURN A motion was made by Ms. Amoroso and sec‐ onded by Mr. Noel to ad‐ journ. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and re‐ sulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Dunn Jr., Coleman, Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Kenney, Moak With 10 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 2 absent, the motion was adopted.

The Presiding Officer de‐ clared the meeting ad‐ journed _____________________ Administra‐ Council tor/Treasurer _____________________ ProMayor-President Tempore 189708-JUN 5-1T $128.81 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS The City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge will receive elec‐ tronic or paper bids for h i f h

BLUE GRASS DRIVE IM‐ PROVEMENTS & SIDE‐ WALK (Cadillac St. – For‐ tune Addition Park) CITY-PARISH PROJECT NO. 24-EN-HC-0019 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Grading, Earthwork, Base Course, Portland Cement Concrete Pavement, Drainage, Sidewalk, and ADA Improvements.

There will be no pre-bid conference.

Electronic or sealed bids will be received until 2:00 p.m. Local Time, TUES‐ DAY, JUNE 30TH, 2026 by the Purchasing Division, Room 826, City Hall, 222 Saint Louis Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802.

No bids will be received after 2:00 p.m. on the same day and date.

Bid Openings can be in person or via teleconference.

Teleconference Call-in Information Join by phone +1-408-418-9388 United States Toll Access code: 263 373 080 (followed by the # but‐ ton) Alternate numbers to call if number above is not available, which may occur due to network traffic (use the same Ac‐ cess Code, followed by the # button): United States Toll (Boston) +1-617-315-0704 United States Toll (Chicago) +1-312-535-8110 United States Toll (Dallas) +1-469-210-7159 United States Toll (Denver) +1-720-650-7664 United States Toll (Jacksonville) +1-904-900-2303 United States Toll (Los Angeles) +1-213-306-3065 Electronic bids and elec‐ tronic bid bonds for the solicitation will be down‐ loaded by the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, Pur‐ chasing Division.

Beginning as soon as feasible after the bid closing time all elec‐ tronic bids will be down‐ loaded and publicly read aloud along with all paper bids received, if any, in 806 of City Hall immediately after the 2:00 p.m. bid closing.

Bids, amendments to bids, or request for with‐ drawal of quotations, re‐ ceived after time speci‐ fied for bid opening shall not be considered for any cause whatsoever.

Bids shall be firm for a period of sixty (60) days from the date of the opening of bids and no bid shall be withdrawn for any reason during this period of time ex‐ cept as allowed per R.S. 38:2214.C. Official Bid Documents are available at Central Bidding (www.central bidding.com). Electronic Bids may be submitted at Central Bidding (www. centralbidding.com). For questions related to the electronic bidding process, please call Cen‐ tral Bidding at 225-8104814. Paper copies of the plans, specifications and contract documents are on file and may be ob‐ tained from the Public Works and Planning Cen‐ ter located at 1100 Laurel St., Engineering Division, Room 137 or Post Office Box 1471, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821, upon payment of Ten Dollars ($10.00). (Make checks payable to the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge.)

Fees for plans, specifica‐ tions and contract docu‐ ments are to cover the cost of reproduction and are non-refundable in ac‐ cordance with Louisiana Revised Statutes.

A Certified Check or Cashier's Check, payable to the Parish of East Baton Rouge or a satis‐ factory Bid Bond exe‐ cuted by the Bidder and an acceptable surety, in an amount equal to five percent (5%) of the total bid, shall be submitted with each bid.

Bids shall be received electronically via www. lbiddi

The City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge has established a Socially and Economi‐ Disadvantaged cally Enterprise Business (SEDBE) program in ac‐ cordance with Revised Statute RS 33:2233.4. It is the policy of the Parish to ensure that Eligible Enterprises Business EBE’s, certified in accor‐ dance with the Parish program, have an equal opportunity to receive and participate in parish contracts.

For this project the EBR Parish Purchasing office has directed a review of the scope of work and has established a mini‐ mum EBE goal of 18% of the contract amount. All Bidders shall achieve this goal or demonstrate good faith efforts to achieve the goal. Good efforts include faith meeting this EBE goal or providing documentation demonstrating that the Bidder made sufficient good faith efforts in at‐ tempting to meet this goal. Only EBE firms cer‐ tified under the Parish SEDBE Certification Pro‐ gram at the time of sub‐ mittal of the bid will count toward this EBE goal. To be considered responsive, the apparent low bidder must submit EBE Forms 1, 1A, and 2, and Letters of EBE Certi‐ fication, as appropriate within 10 days after bid opening All Contractors bidding on this work shall com‐ ply with all provisions of the State Licensing Law Contractors, R.S. for as 37:2150-2163, amended, for all public contracts. It shall also be the responsibility of the General Contractor to as‐ sure that all subcontrac‐ tors comply with this law. If required for bid‐ ding, Contractors must hold an active license is‐ sued by the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors in the classi‐ of HIGHWAY, fication STREET AND BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION, and must show their license number on the face of the bid envelope and the Uniform Public Works Bid Form.

In accordance with La. R.S. 38:2214 (B) the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause. In accor‐ dance with La. R.S. 38:2212 (A)(1)(b), the pro‐ visions and requirements of this Section, those stated in the advertise‐ ment for bids, and those required on the bid form, shall not be considered as informalities and shall not be waived by any public entity.

For additional informa‐ please contact tion Chike, P.E., George gchike@brla.gov or Nick Project Prudhomme, Manager at Billy.Wall@ waggonereng.com.

189858 June 5, 12, 19, 2026 3t $323.29 PUBLIC NOTICE --PUBLIC NOTICE The Planning Commis‐ sion of the City of Baton Rouge and the Parish of East Baton Rouge will hold a public meeting on Monday, June 15, 2026 at 5:00 p.m., in Room 348, City Hall located at 222 St. Louis Street, 3rd floor, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The Planning Commis‐ sion will consider the fol‐ lowing rezoning requests and amendments to the Land “Comprehensive Use Plan” as indicated: PUBLIC HEARINGS – CITY & PARISH CURRENT ZONING CASES:

Legal Notices

PA-3-26 FUTUREBR Trans‐ Element portation Major AmendmentStreet Plan To amend the Comprehensive Plan so as to amend the Major Street Plan by reducing the right of way width shown from 125 feet to no less than 100 feet for the segment of Burbank Drive between Milford Avenue to West Parker Boulevard. Section 66, T7S, R1W, GLD, EBRP, LA District 12(Council Racca) SPUD-1-26 LV Collective Student Housing To re‐ zone from General Resi‐ dential (A4) to Small Planned Unit Develop‐ ment (SPUD) for a high density multi-family resi‐ development dential commercial on with property located north of Burbank Drive, east of Milford Avenue, on prop‐ erty now or formerly known as Lots 1 and 2, Lots 9 through 17, Lots 18-A and 19-A, and Lots 20 through 23 of Univer‐ sity View Homesites Sub‐ division, Square 7. Sec‐ tion 66, T7S, R1W, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 12- Racca) CASE 16-26 11635 Nichol‐ son Drive To rezone from Rural to Light Commer‐ cial Three (LC3) on prop‐ erty located on the east side of Nicholson Drive, north of Gardere Lane, on property now or formerly known as Tract C-5-A-2-A of Chatsworth Planta‐ tion. Section 41, T8S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 3- Gaudet) CASE 17-26 9965 Mead‐ owdale Drive To rezone from Single Family Resi‐ dential (A1) to Single Family Residential (A2) on property located on the west side of Mead‐ owdale Drive, south of Green Acres Drive, on property now or formerly known as Lot 26-B of Green Acres Subdivision.

Section 77, T6S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 2- Kenney) CUP-5-26 9965 Meadow‐ dale Drive Proposed ac‐ dwelling on cessory property located on the west side of Meadowdale Drive, south of Green Acres Drive, on property now or formerly known as Lot 26-B of Green Acres Subdivision. Sec‐ tion 77, T6S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 2- Kenney) CASE 18-26 12891 Coursey Boulevard To re‐ zone from Rural to Light Commercial One (LC1) on property located on the north side of Coursey Boulevard, west of Stum‐ berg Lane, on property now or formerly known as Lot C of the A. G. Savell Property. Section 29, T7S, R2E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 8Amoroso) CASE 19-26 1407 and 1419 Curtis Street To rezone from Limited Residential (A3.1) to High Density Multi-Family Residential (A3.3) on property lo‐ cated on the north side of Curtis Street, east of Scenic Highway, on prop‐ erty now or formerly known as Lots 8 and 9 of Subdivision, Moreco Square 1. Section 50, T6S, R1W, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 2- Ken‐ ney) CASE 20-26 2865 Millerville Road To re‐ zone from Rural to Light Commercial Two (LC2) on property located on the east side of Millerville Road, north of South Har‐ rell’s Ferry Road, on property now or formerly known as Lot C-2-2-2 of the G. B. Mundinger Tract. Section 47, T7S, R2E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Coun‐ cil District 8- Amoroso) CASE 21-26 2627 and 2629 South Sherwood Forest Boulevard To rezone from Rural to Commercial Al‐ Beverage coholic (restaurant) (C-AB-1) and Light Commercial One (LC1) on property located on the east side of South Sherwood Forest Boule‐ vard, south of South Har‐ rell’s Ferry Road, on property now or formerly known as Tract C of the Max Tobias Tract. Section 49, T7S, R2E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 8Amoroso) PORTION TO C-AB-1 One (1) certain tract or parcel of ground desig‐ nated as “AREA TO BE RE‐ ZONED”, containing 0.057 ( ) b i

out,” including animal care, construction of enclosures or even yard work.

She said staff involved in the transition are working toward rehabilitation licensing and exploring accreditation through organizations such as the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, both of which require higher standards than a typical roadside zoo.

Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals praised the proposed changes.

“PETA welcomes Magnolia Wilds’ long-overdue shift away from public encounters that subject animals to the stress of irregular sleep, loud noises, and mishandling by strangers. With new leadership now at the helm of this facility, PETA supports its plan to seek accreditation from the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, which will help ensure that the animals there finally get the care they deserve,” the group said in a statement.

Some former employees, including Josh Webb, remain skeptical given the facility’s history and documented flaws.

“I wish them the best,” he said.

“They might make it.”

is “inaccurate.”

“The Governor’s statement conflates separate legal processes and overlooks a fundamental principle of our justice system: when a court determines that a person was wrongfully convicted, the law provides a mechanism for compensation,” Williams said. “That process exists because accountability and justice do not end with a conviction.”

Williams said justice requires both holding those found guilty accountable and “acknowledging and correcting errors when they occur.”

Legal Notices

g Ac (2,465 Sq. Ft.), being a portion of Lot C, together with all Improvements thereon, located In Sec‐ tion 49, T-7-S, R-2-E, Greensburg Land District, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, and more par‐ ticularly described as fol‐ lows: Commence at a point and corner at the intersection of the east‐ right-of-way of erly South Sherwood Forest with the Boulevard boundary line common to Lot B and Lot C; thence, along said rightof-way along the arc of a curve to the left with arc length of 71.88 feet and a radius of 601.07 feet, hav‐ ing a chord bearing S 29°59'44"E and a dis‐ tance of 71.84 feet, to a point and turn; thence, departing said right-ofway N 71°52'39"E a dis‐ tance of 36.85 feet to the of Beginning; Point Thence, N 71°46'44"E a distance of 62.96 feet to a point and turn; thence, S 18°02'52"E a distance of 39.16 feet to a point and thence, S turn; 71°46'44"W a distance of 62.96 feet to a point and thence, N turn; 18°02'52"W a distance of 39.16 feet to Point of Be‐ ginning; 189730- JUN 5-9-11-3T $229

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

SHERIFF'S SALE Suit No: (17) 772982 KOMATSU FINANCIAL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP vs WILD TRUCKING & CON‐ STRUCTION, INC 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of SEIZURE AND SALE issued out of honorable court the aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, April 06, 2026 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, via an online auction site at www. bid4assets.com/EBR SOsheriffsales., offer for sale at public auction the described following mortgaged property be‐ longing to: WILD TRUCK‐ ING & CONSTRUCTION, INC 0 KOMATSU/ D71PX-24 MILEAGE-UN‐ 71318 STORED AT KNOWN WAUKESHA PEARCE IN‐ (WPI) 7502 DUSTRIES PECUE LANE TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITH Appraisement and according to law.

Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish ADVERTISED DATE June 05, 2026 $160.68

Public Notices Sheriff Sales pp and according to law.

Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish ADVERTISED DATE June 05, 2026 $158.13

SHERIFF'S SALE Suit No: (17) 776466 ESSENTIAL CREDIT UNION F/K/A ESSENTIAL FED‐ ERAL CREDIT UNION vs TANZEL E. SMART 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of SEIZURE AND SALE issued out of honorable court the aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, April 27, 2026 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, via an online auction site at www. bid4assets.com/EBR SOsheriffsales., offer for sale at public auction the described following mortgaged property be‐ longing to: TANZEL E. SMART 2021 CHEVROLET/ CA‐ 1G1F‐ MARO F1R78M0134297 MILEAGEUNKNOWN STORED AT SPI RECOVERY 17949 HOO SHOO TOO ROAD TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITH Appraisement and according to law.

Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish ADVERTISED DATE June 05, 2026 $158.13

SHERIFF'S SALE Suit No: (17A) 2104264 GULFSOUTH CREDIT LLC vs WILLIE J BAUNCHAND Baton Rouge City Court Parish of Baton Rouge Court State of City Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of a Writ of Fieri Facias issued out of the honorable court afore‐ said, in the above enti‐ and numbered tled cause, dated, March 03, 2026 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, via an online auction site at www. bid4assets.com/EBR SOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the described following property belonging to wit: 2024 UTILITY TRAILER VIN#4P7U71627RF084935 TOMO TIME CUTTER SS 4225 SERIAL #400731625, MODEL #74721 STORED AT SMART TOWING 3045 ROSENWALD ROAD

SHERIFF'S SALE

TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITH Appraisement and according to law.

Suit No: (17) 775163

Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish

21 ST MORTGAGE CORPO‐ vs MYTEL RATION YVETTE DAVIS

ADVERTISED DATE June 05, 2026 $155.57

19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of SEIZURE AND SALE issued out of honorable court the aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, March 26, 2026 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, via an online auction site at www. bid4assets.com/EBR SOsheriffsales., offer for sale at public auction the described following mortgaged property be‐ to: MYTEL longing YVETTE DAVIS 2021 KABCO 32 X 80 MO‐ BILE HOME BEARING SER‐ NUMBERS IAL AND KB0214357A21 KB0214357B21 STORED AT 23041 LEE PRICE RD 23041 LEE PRICE RD TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITHOUT Appraisement d di l

Reporting you can trust on stories that matter

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FUND

Senators then defeated a second amendment from Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, of North Carolina, that would also ban the settlement fund but would move the money to a separate anti-fraud fund at the Department of Justice. Most Democrats voted against the amendment, guaranteeing its defeat, but more than 10 Republicans supported it.

“If Blanche says this is largely inoperative, why not use this moment to codify that?” Tillis said

ahead of the vote. “Otherwise, you’re exposing every one of our members who are in cycle to having to deal with this between today and Election Day, and that makes no sense for something that the DOJ says they’re not moving forward with.”

It was unclear how Republicans would vote on additional amendments. Cassidy is also planning to offer an additional attempt to curb the fund, and he appeared to be in conversations with the Senate par-

liamentarian throughout the morning as he brought her proposals to review.

Passage of the roughly $70 billion bill to fund U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol would end the blockade by Democrats who demanded policy changes after the fatal shootings of two protesters by federal agents in January. The bill would fund the agencies for three years, through the end of Trump’s term.

Senate Republicans are using a complicated procedural maneuver to get around the filibuster and pass the budget legislation with no Democratic votes. But it has taken weeks to get the bill to the Senate floor as Republicans navigated various obstacles to passage created by Trump and the White House — including a $1 billion proposal for White House security that they eventually scrapped and the fierce bipartisan backlash to the settlement fund.

“The thing we’re trying to do here is to keep the focus on funding for ICE and CBP,” Thune said Wednesday evening, after the Senate voted to start debating the legislation.

“This was narrow and targeted from the very beginning and clean, and we’re trying to maintain it that way,” he said.

Democrats say any funding bill for the Homeland Security Department should place restraints on federal immigration authorities, including better identification for federal officers and more use of judicial warrants, among other asks.

response last week, calling on Moore to add St. George, Baker, Central and Zachary to the suit.

The city-parish’s contracted lawyer pointed the finger at St. George in particular, arguing that the newly incorporated city previously testified that it would contribute funding for the district attorney but changed its mind once it was up and running.

Moore responded to that argument yesterday in his own filing and said state law clearly puts the responsibility to fund the district attorney, coroner, courts and prison on the shoulders of the parish government, not any municipality.

The district attorney testified before a committee in support of the public defender bill this leg-

islative session and met with St. George and Central leaders alongside Marcelle to help secure funding for Romanach’s office.

St. George Mayor Dustin Yates said his city’s agreement to pitch in is an example of how responsible governments can work together “with a defined amount and a defined purpose.”

“That does not change our position on the district attorney lawsuit,” Yates said, referring to his comments last week that the parish is responsible for funding constitutional offices, not any city.

Central Mayor Wade Evans — who said he was happy to work out an agreement with Marcelle and the Public Defender’s Office — says he hopes to help present a funding solution at a future legisla-

tive session.

Evans would like to help put together a bill that requires all state parishes to adequately fund the constitutional offices before any millage can be put on voters’ ballots for things like parks or libraries.

“You’ve got to fund the constitutional offices before you can vote to fund the cool stuff,” he said.

Going into 2026, the public defender received about $850,000 from the city-parish from federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars.

That represented a more than 21% budget cut from the year prior, though in March the mayor and Metro Council approved an additional supplement of $500,000 for the office.

Moore also received an addition-

Continued from page 1A

not just the (district attorneys),” Marcelle said. “The DAs can’t function without the public defenders, or else everything gets backlogged even more.”

The deal comes amid a larger debate over how the parish’s fragmented governments fund the courts, which the entire parish uses.

Earlier this year, District Attorney Hillar Moore sued the cityparish, claiming the local government is not funding his office adequately as required by the state constitution.

The city-parish filed a spirited

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al $800,000 from the Legislature this year to help pay for assistant district attorneys’ salaries.

Romanach said the state can do better to fund its public defender’s offices, which she believes are often the “redheaded stepchild” of the judicial system “until someone needs one.”

Marcelle echoed that point and said the state is always more willing to fund prosecutors and law enforcement than it is criminal defense.

“The DAs and the sheriffs run this state, to be honest with you,” Marcelle said. “If they want something, they pretty much get it.”

U

R

AP P

EN

DEFENDER

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., pauses for questions from reporters before votes on the immigration enforcement funding package at the Capitol on Thursday.

SCAN

Wing ballroom project, his tariffs, his war with Iran and his immigration enforcement campaign.

“Amendment after amendment, vote after vote, Republicans are going to have to answer to the American people,” Schumer said.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said this week that the fund would not move forward, and many GOP senators said Wednesday that they were satisfied with his remarks.

Yet Trump, who has been at odds with Senate Republicans in recent weeks, raised new doubts about the settlement’s future on Wednesday afternoon — just after the Senate had voted to start debate on the immigration bill — when he told reporters that the settlement is “very important” and said “I don’t know” whether it is dead or on hold.

“I’d have to ask the lawyers,” he said.

Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge; John Husted, R-Ohio; and Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, held out for around three hours on the Democratic amendment banning the settlement amid discussions over whether to vote for it.

Cassidy, who eventually voted against the amendment, lost reelection in a GOP primary two weeks ago after Trump endorsed his opponent. Husted and Sullivan, who voted against it, are both up for reelection in November.

After federal agents shot Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Trump agreed to a Democratic request that the Homeland Security bill be separated from a larger spending measure that became law. But bipartisan negotiations went nowhere, and the DHS funding lapsed in mid-February with no agreement on changes to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics.

Congress eventually funded the rest of the Homeland Security Department at the end of April with Democratic support. But ICE and Border Patrol remained without regular funding, and Republicans launched a new effort to pass three years of funding for those agencies with no Democratic votes.

Work on the legislation was also delayed by Republican opposition to $1 billion in security funding for the White House, including for Trump’s new ballroom, that was added to the original bill.

Democrats and some Republicans questioned using taxpayer money for the massive project, and Republicans did not include it in the final bill when it was released on Wednesday.

Republican House leaders said Wednesday they would like to clear the legislation before the end of the week, if the Senate can finish it. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, said that House leaders were having internal conversations about the schedule.

“We just need to make sure everybody’s there,” Scalise said.

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New Jewish Cultural Center planned

Old Hammond Highway house to be transformed

BY ELLYN COUVILLION Staff writer

A house on Old Hammond Highway that was damaged by fire will have a new future as the Jewish Cultural Center, said the leaders

of the nonprofit that acquired it.

Chabad at LSU and Greater Baton Rouge has a mission “to strengthen Jewish pride, knowledge and celebration,” said Rabbi Peretz Kazen, who has been serving as its director along with his

wife, Mushka Kazen, since 2015.

The religious, educational, social and recreational programming the nonprofit offers for the community at large is held now in rental space around Baton Rouge, Kazen said.

“We had been looking for a space

to be an anchor for our programs when we came across this property in 2023,” he said. “It felt like the location was perfect.”

The two-story home in the 8500 block of Old Hammond was damaged by a fire several years ago.

“After bringing in professionals who told us the building was an asset to the property, not a liability,

SLIDE AND SEEK

we started making plans to transform this ‘diamond in the rough,’ ” he said.

The nonprofit acquired the property in 2023.

“It will be a tremendous asset for the neighborhood and the community,” Kazen said. “The plans that

ä See CENTER, page 2B

BR man indicted in stepfather’s 2025 killing Suspect accused of stealing victim’s van

BY OLIVIA TEES Staff writer

A man was indicted on a charge of firstdegree murder on Wednesday for allegedly killing his 66-year-old stepfather in a Baton Rouge home last year, leaving behind a bloody scene, then stealing the man’s van and fleeing to Mississippi.

A grand jury returned an indictment against Ian Seghers, 35, on a count of first-degree murder in the death of Walter Rowland. He is also charged with using Rowland’s van without consent.

Rowland was reported missing after he failed to show up for a weekly meeting with his sister on March 7, 2025, according to police records.

Two days later, law enforcement officials conducted a welfare check at Rowland’s property, after his sister reported he had missed the meeting. Officers found Rowland wasn’t at home and his van was missing. Authorities later learned Rowland’s cellphone had not shown any activity since March 1.

Seghers had been staying in a trailer on Rowland’s property on Jean Street, a few blocks from Istrouma High School.

Rowland’s sister told investigators that since Seghers’ mother had died, the two men’s relationship had been “terrible.”

Police executed a search of Rowland’s home, and the investigation showed human remains had been on the property.

ä See INDICTED, page 2B

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Larry Clark IV goes down a slide holding a football while Ayce Barlow waits his turn at the Perkins Road Community Park playground on Thursday.

COMING UP

Dumpling & Bao opening second spot in St. George Staff report

October on Siegen Lane, taking over a space previously occuDumpling & Bao, a popular pied by Burgersmith. The resChinese restaurant, is set to taurant sells dishes such as soup open a second location in St. dumplings, scallion pancakes, George in a few months. The red oil wontons and mapo tofu. restaurant will move into the former Zaxby’s building in Long Is there a building under Farm Village on Airline High- construction or renovation in way, said Russell Mosely, who your neighborhood and you founded the development. It want to know what it is? Send will take Dumpling & Bao about an email with a picture or the location to ianne.salvosa@ four or five months to open.

Dumpling & Bao opened in theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By TIMOTHy BOONE

Dumpling & Bao, a popular Chinese restaurant, is set to open a second location in St. George in a few months. The restaurant will move into the former Zaxby’s building in Long Farm Village on Airline Highway.

Babysitter booked in toddler’s drowning After a 3-year old boy drowned in a pool in Prairieville in May, deputies arrested the babysitter, charging her with one count of negligent homicide for her alleged involvement.

Joann Johnson, 37, turned herself in to the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Department on Wednesday after detectives issued a warCRIME rant for her arrest.

BLOTTER Police responded to a call at 3:18 p.m. on staff May 18 in response to a reports drowning. Johnson was operating an at-home daycare from her residence on Roy Rogers Road in Prairieville at the time.

She was watching Ian Catellanos and one other child, detectives said.

Upon arrival, first responders attempted lifesaving procedures and CPR before airlifting Ian to the hospital where he died, detectives said.

Using surveillance video, detectives learned that the two children in Johnson’s care were playing in the backyard near the pool with no supervision. Ian fell into the pool and was unconscious in the water for 20 minutes before Johnson was seen retrieving the child.

Johnson was booked into the Ascension

ä See BLOTTER, page 2B

2B ■ Friday, June 5, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Report: Detainees assaulted at La. ICE facility

guard involved in the pen-stabbing Louisiana had more than 8,000 the lockup, for not handing safety at serious risk.”

Watchdog documents runs Federal inspectors said the pri- incident, too, “required disciplin- people in immigration detention over to the federal inspectors comvideo of some use-of-force vate jail in Winnfield was at its ca- ary action,” the inspector general as of April, second only to Texas, slew of violations plete according to data tracked by Syraincidents. pacity of 1,576 people when they report says.

BY JAMES FINN Staff writer

Guards at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in north Louisiana stabbed one detainee’s hand with a pen while trying to secure a housing wing and placed another in a chokehold while attempting to stop a fight, a federal watchdog found.

Those were among a slew of violations of federal use-of-force, health and safety standards recorded at Winn Correctional Center, a private ICE lockup, when agents from a U.S. Department of Homeland Security auditor visited the facility last March for three days.

A 35-page report released by DHS’ Office of Inspector General this week found that staff at Winn did not store perishable food at required temperatures, failed to alert federal officials when guards used force on detainees and presided over unsanitary conditions.

The review dinged LaSalle Corrections, a Louisiana-based firm that

“Without this footage, we could not fully analyze the facility’s compliance with use-of-force standards,” wrote DHS Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari.

A statement provided Thursday by an unnamed DHS spokesperson dismissed the findings as “minor infractions,” saying the agency would address the issues through beefed-up training. LaSalle did not respond to a phone message.

Unveiled 18 months into President Donald Trump’s ongoing immigration crackdown, the report sheds fresh light — in unusually candid words from federal officials themselves — on conditions within an immigration lockup at a time when soaring detainee deaths are ratcheting up scrutiny of such facilities. It’s part of an ongoing review of immigration lockups that DHS’ inspector general initiated last year.

The findings drew a response from at least one member of Congress, U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., who said they confirm ICE is “putting people’s health and

arrived unannounced in early March of 2025 for the review.

In an intake room, they found holes and insulation hanging from the ceiling. They noted leaking kitchen vents and cracks in ceilings. Staff tried containing leaks with Styrofoam containers, but water would overflow and puddle on floors, the audit found.

While federal standards require perishable foods to be stored at temperatures between 35 and 40 degrees, the auditors found that Winn’s coolers hovered between 44 and 60 degrees.

The DHS watchdog also reviewed five use-of-force incidents at the facility, concluding that three fell short of federal standards. The report questioned whether facility leaders took steps they acknowledged were needed to correct the behavior.

Jail officials marked the guard who used the chokehold on a detainee for “remedial training,” noting federal detention standards expressly prohibit the technique.

The facility’s leaders found the

But because Winn does not maintain detailed records, it was unclear whether those officers were ultimately subject to any discipline.

“This could lead to staff repeating inappropriate use-of-force tactics that could potentially result in property damage, injury, and death,” Cuffari wrote.

The report dinged Winn for poor recordkeeping in other areas. Staff did not maintain logs of detainees’ criminal histories as required under federal rules meant to ensure safe housing arrangements. And in a facility where detainees can work up to 40 hours weekly for as little as $1 per day, the inquiry found almost no records of detainee work histories.

Staff “only recorded detainee working hours for the current week in a spreadsheet by overwriting the previous week’s data,” the report says.

The numbers of people being held in immigration detention nationally and in Louisiana has soared since Trump took office.

cuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse.

The new DHS review marks the latest report of troubling conditions inside facilities operated by LaSalle, which runs half of Louisiana’s ICE-contracted lockups.

In 2021, a DHS review dinged Winn Correctional for inappropriate use of force and “serious environmental and safety deficiencies.” A civil jury in Monroe last year awarded $42.75 million to family of a man killed after guards at Richwood Correctional, a LaSalle-run facility in Monroe, slammed his head against a concrete floor.

In April, officials said 49-yearold Alejandro Cabrera Clemente, a Mexican-born man with a history of high blood pressure, died at Winn after staff found him unresponsive in a dormitory area.

Mexican officials called his death a sign of increasingly dire conditions within U.S. detention facilities.

Email James Finn at jfinn@ theadvocate.com.

Upcoming special highlights Lafayette with story of the American Revolution

BY JOANNA BROWN Staff writer

When travel host Denella Ri’chard decided to produce an episode of her show in honor of the country’s 250th anniversary, she knew that she wanted to center part of the American story that few are familiar with.

The Miami-based Ri’chard is originally from Baton Rouge, and her parents are from Opelousas.

She is a descendant of Pierre Richard of Louisiana, a White man who fought on the side of the Americans under General Bernardo de Gálvez, who was then governor of Spanish Louisiana.

Gálvez’s army was an extraordinarily diverse fighting force, made up largely of Spanish, Creole, Acadian, Black and Indigenous troops. They played a critical role in securing the Gulf Coast for the American army, and made Gálvez a hero in Spain and in the newly-created United States. In her one-hour special, “Traveling with Denella: America 250,” she followed the story of the Revolutionary War from Boston to Philadelphia — and all the way down to Acadiana.

Ri’chard highlighted the Lafayette portion of the episode at an Acadiana Center for the Arts premiere on June 3, followed by a panel discussion with local historians Warren Perrin, Michael Martin and John François.

Members of the Galvez Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution hosted the evening, alongside Lafayette Travel and the Acadian Museum.

“I’m a ninth-generation descendant of Pierre Richard,” said Ri’chard. “When I learned his story, I realized that the revolution wasn’t just something I wanted to report on, it’s something I come from. Because of his service, I’m a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. This isn’t just history to me — it’s heritage, it’s responsibility, it’s a legacy

PROVIDED ILLUSTRATION

An architectural rendering shows the Jewish Cultural Center planned for Old Hammond Highway in Baton Rouge.

CENTER STAFF PHOTO By BRAD BOWIE

Denella Ri’chard introduces a free public screening of ‘Traveling With Denella: America 250’ at the Acadiana Center for the Arts in Lafayette on Wednesday.

“I’m a ninth-generation descendant of Pierre Richard. When I learned his story, I realized that the revolution wasn’t just something I wanted to report on, it’s something I come from.

Because of his service, I’m a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. This isn’t just history to me — it’s heritage, it’s responsibility, it’s a legacy that I carry with pride.”

BY JA’KORI MADISON

Staff writer

A Lafayette man previously arrested in connection with the disappearance of Skye Angers has been named a fugitive after failing to appear for court hearings, according to Lafayette Parish court records.

Fugitive warrants were issued for Joseph Bryant on April 18, 2024, and again on May 15, 2024, after he failed to appear before Judge Michele Billeaud, records show. Bryant missed scheduled hearings, which led to the court issuing warrants and orders that he be held for court.

According to court records, Bryant’s charge is listed as “Obstruction of Justice (Amended To) Unlawful Disposal of Remains.”

BLOTTER

Continued from page 1B

DENELLA RI’CHARD, travel host that I carry with pride.”

Warren Perrin, who founded the Acadian Museum in Erath and has written extensively on the Acadians and their descendants, appeared in the television special to shed light on why the Acadian people, having fled to Louisiana to start a new life, decided to join the continental fight under Gálvez.

“When Gov. Gálvez asked the Acadians to join the Spanish militia, they were anxious to do so.

They finally had a chance to get back at the British who had stolen their lands, so 67 men got on horses and went from Lafayette to New Orleans to join the militia,” he said. “They helped defeat the British at the Battle of Manchac, then went up to Baton Rouge, defeated the British there, and got

control of the Mississippi River.

“After the forts fell at Mobile and Pensacola, the Gulf of Mexico was controlled by Spain, and four months later, Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington. The war was over.”

Louisianans with a verifiable connection to a Revolutionary War veteran (or any ancestor who aided in the pursuit of American independence) are eligible for membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution, which has resources to help with genealogical research.

“Traveling with Denella: America 250” will air locally on KATC at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 13.

Email Joanna Brown at joanna. brown@theadvocate.com.

Man who missed hearings named fugitive Bryant tied to woman’s disappearance

One of the first steps taken has been to clear away shrubbery and Continued from page 1B trees in the front yard of the former residence, but new landscaping will come, Kazen said.

A completion date for the culwe are developing will use the existing structure and add to it, as tural center has not been set yet. well as the necessary infrastruc“We look forward to the center’s completion,” he said. ture and landscaping.”

Skye Angers, who was reported missing in January 2021 while pregnant, has never been found.

The criminal portion of the case is listed as “cleared by arrest,” police said in a recent statement.

Bryant was arrested on Feb. 26, 2021, on the one count of obstruction of justice connected to the investigation into Skye’s disappearance. The most recent search activity occurred in March 2022 after investigators received information regarding the possible whereabouts of Skye’s remains.

Detectives and cadaver dogs searched an abandoned area in Lafayette, but the search produced no results, according to police.

Now, more than five years after Angers’ disappearance, her family is still searching for answers while holding tightly to memories of who Skye was before she vanished.

Alex Angers says her sister’s story is about more than the circumstances surrounding her dis-

appearance.

“If you ever met her, you’d say she was eccentric, very fun,” Alex said. “She loved music. She loved making friends. She just enjoyed life.”

For years, Alex says she has carried the weight of not knowing and wondering whether someone out there knows what happened, whether someone has stayed silent all this time.

Now, her family hopes renewed attention to Skye’s disappearance could bring answers, closure or at least new information forward.

The District Attorney’s Office encouraged the public to provide any information that could lead to Bryant’s capture by contacting the Lafayette Tips Hotline.

Anyone with information related to the disappearance of Skye Angers is encouraged to contact the Lafayette Police Department.

Tips can be submitted anonymously through 232-TIPS, the LPD mobile app or by emailing viapiolpd@lafayettela.gov.

Parish Jail and faces up to 10 years in prison.

Officials: Inmate dies at Angola state prison An Angola inmate, 33-year-old Patrick Jones, died on Tuesday, according to the state Department of Public Safety and Corrections.

His death is the second inmate death in a week at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. Ronald Williams, 57, died in prison on May 28.

The cause of death for Jones is undetermined and an autopsy is pending, the corrections department said Thursday.

Jones was convicted of four counts of armed robbery and four

INDICTED

Continued from page 1B Police identified Rowland’s bedroom as the location of the killing with blood remains splattered across the entire room, according to an arrest warrant.

Police also found cleaning liquid smeared across the room in an attempt to remove the blood.

Detectives identified blood trailing from the bedroom through the house to the front porch, where neighbors told police Segher had parked the back of the van.

Authorities have not found Rowland’s body.

A license plate reader took photos of Rowland’s van in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, on March 9. Seghers’ brother and a friend tipped off investigators that they thought he may have killed his stepfather.

Detectives learned a mutual friend of Seghers and Rowland had contacted the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office after an encounter with Seghers and the van in Pearl River, about a 40-minute drive from Bay

counts of armed robbery with a firearm in Calcasieu Parish. He was arrested in January 2015 and started serving his 165-year sentence at Angola in June 2016.

Police: Man found fatally shot in vehicle A 27-year-old man was found fatally shot in a vehicle early Thursday morning, Baton Rouge Police said.

The victim has been identified as Eric Lathers.

Officers responding to a call about a shooting in the 2500 block of 73rd Avenue, shortly after 1:30 a.m. Thursday, found Lathers in a vehicle, dead from multiple gunshot wounds, police said in a news release.

No motive or suspect has been developed at this time, police said.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call CrimeStoppers at (225) 344-7867.

St. Louis.

Seghers asked the friend to borrow a shovel “so he could bury his dog,” before walking into a nearby wooded area, according to the affidavit.

Seghers was arrested on unrelated charges in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, on March 25 and was extradited to St. Tammany Parish at that time, police said.

After being released from St. Tammany Parish in February, Seghers was taken back to Baton Rouge, where he was arrested, according to Baton Rouge police.

Segher’s arraignment is scheduled for June 22.

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Jobless filings at highest since Iran war began

WASHINGTON — The number of Americans filing for jobless aid hit their highest level in four months last week, but layoffs remain historically low despite ongoing economic uncertainty brought on by the war in Iran.

U.S. applications for unemployment benefits for the week ending May 30 increased by 13,000 to 225,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

That’s the most since early February, before the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran, but still a historically low level. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected 211,000 new applications.

Weekly filings for unemployment benefits are considered a proxy for U.S. layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the job market.

Despite historically low layoffs, the labor market seems to be mired in what economists call a “low-hire, low-fire” state. That’s kept the unemployment rate low at 4.3%, but left many of those out of work struggling to find new employment.

Though U.S. employers delivered a surprising 115,000 new jobs in April, the Iran war has injected a large degree of uncertainty about the broader U.S. economy and labor market.

Canada to back off charging streamers OTTAWA, Ontario — Canada’s government directed its television and communications regulator to back down from a recent decision to triple financial contributions required from U.S. streaming services such as Netflix for Canadian content, the country’s culture minister said Wednesday.

Instead, Culture Minister Marc Miller said, the government will invest hundreds of millions of dollars into the sector.

The U-turn comes after the Motion Picture Association, the U.S. group representing streamers, called on the Canadian Cabinet to reconsider its approach, and after the U.S. ambassador to Canada called for the policy to be rescinded.

It also comes as Canada and the United States are in discussions on whether to renew the free trade agreement between the two countries and Mexico.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission — the country’s equivalent to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission — said in May it would require large streaming services like Netflix to contribute 15% of their Canadian revenues to Canadian content. It made the decision as part of its work to implement the Online Streaming Act. Asked whether the decision is another concession to the U.S., Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday the government was looking at how much the new policy would cost Canadians.

“It is another step to reinforce affordability for Canadians. This is not the time to raise the costs for Canadians,” he said.

U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra welcomed the decision.

American temporarily suspends some routes NEW YORK — American Airlines is temporarily suspending some of its routes this summer, as steep jet fuel costs continue to strain carriers’ budgets amid the war with Iran.

In a statement, American said it had adjusted service for “select routes” in August and September — and that impacted travelers would be offered alternative arrangements or refunds.

The Texas-based airline cited elevated fuel costs, and maintained that these changes were in line with wider industry trends.

American also said that it was not cutting any of its routes indefinitely and that it was proud to “offer an industry-leading network with more flights than any other U.S. airline.”

Still, the summer suspensions could cause more headaches for travelers already facing fewer flights options and higher price tags across their budgets.

S&P 500 7,584.31 30.63 0.41%

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The Dow leaps to a record high Oil prices ease and U.S. stocks outside of AI rally

BY STAN CHOE

AP business writer NEW YORK — Wall Street rallied Thursday after falling oil prices and yields in the bond market eased the pressure on U.S. stocks. Banks, small companies and other stocks that had earlier been left behind by the euphoria around artificialintelligence technology led the way.

The S&P 500 rose 0.4% for its 10th gain in the last 11 days, a day after dropping from its all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average soared 874 points, or 1.7%, to a record, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.1%.

Stocks got a lift from a 2.8% drop for the price of Brent crude oil to $95.03 per barrel. That gave back a chunk of its rise from this week caused by the latest flare-ups of

fighting between Iran and the United States and its allies.

The expectation on Wall Street seems to be that the United States and Iran will ultimately agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to oil tankers. That would hopefully improve the flow of crude, lower oil’s price and remove some of the upward pressure on inflation that’s hurting the world. Such hopes, along with strong profit reports from U.S. companies, helped launch the S&P 500 on a nine-day winning streak that ended Wednesday, a day short of its longest run in three decades.

Stocks of smaller companies helped lead the way, and the Russell 2000 index of the smallest U.S. stocks jumped 1.4%. They can reap the biggest benefits of falling interest rates, and the yield on the 10-year Treasury dipped to 4.47% from 4.49% late Wednesday as oil prices sank.

Lower yields can make it less expensive for companies to borrow cash, which many smaller compa-

nies need to do to grow.

Banks also helped lead the market, including gains of 5% for Goldman Sachs, 4.7% for Fifth Third Bancorp and 4.4% for U.S. Bancorp.

They helped to more than make up for losses by some AI stocks, which took a sudden back seat after dominating the market.

Broadcom sank 12.6%, even though both profit and revenue for the chip company surpassed analysts’ expectations. CEO Hock Tan said its AI semiconductor revenue more than doubled to $10.8 billion during the quarter and that demand is only getting bigger. He is forecasting AI semiconductor growth to top 200% in the current quarter.

Investors, though, may have wanted even more after Broadcom’s stock came into the day with a 38.5% surge for the year so far.

That towered over the already strong 10.3% rise for the S&P 500 index, and Broadcom has grown to become one of Wall Street’s largest and most influential stocks.

Analysts have been saying AI stocks may have run too high, becoming too expensive, and that the broad U.S. stock market may be set for a slowdown following an unrelenting streak of nine straight winning weeks for the S&P 500, its longest since 2023.

Other AI winners likewise gave back some of their big gains. Micron Technology, the latest company to see its total value top $1 trillion because of AI euphoria, fell 7.7%.

CrowdStrike Holdings dropped 3.8% even though the cybersecurity company’s profit and revenue for the latest quarter topped analysts’ expectations. CEO George Kurtz said the latest quarter was when “the worlds of cybersecurity and frontier AI collided,” and the company said it’s splitting its stock to make its share price more affordable.

But its stock came into the day with a 59.5% surge for the year so far. And analysts said it beat forecasts for some financial measures by less than it usually does.

Trump announces $700M in support for coal industry

BY MATTHEW DALY

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is again seeking to boost the struggling U.S. coal industry, announcing a plan Thursday to spend nearly $700 million to support coalfired power plants and coal exports.

Trump said the administration will use authority under a Cold War-era national defense law to support 13 coal plants across the country and help build coal plants in Alaska and West Virginia — the first new U.S. coal plants since 2013. The money will also help restart a shuttered coal-fired power plant in Maryland and support construction of a long-delayed coal export terminal in Oakland, California.

Together, the announcements will support or create Trump more than 14,000 jobs in coal, construction, rail and maritime industries, a White House official said.

At a White House ceremony, Trump called coal “a great business,” adding: “It’s real power. In terms of power, there’s really nothing like it.”

The announcement is the latest step by Trump to try to reverse the yearslong decline in the U.S. coal industry. The administration said last fall it will open 13 million acres of federal lands for coal mining and provide $625 million to recommission or modernize coal-fired power plants. Trump issued executive orders soon after retaking office to try to revive coal, a reliable but polluting energy source that’s long been shrinking amid environmental regulations and competition from cheaper natural gas and renewable energy.

Under Trump’s orders, the Energy Department has required coal-fired power plants in Michigan, Indiana, Colorado and Washington state to keep operating past their retirement dates to meet rising U.S. power demand amid growth in data centers, artificial intelligence

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By TED S. WARREN

The Trump administration plans to use authority under a Cold War-era national defense law to support 13 coal plants across the country and help build coal plants in Alaska and West Virginia as part of a plan to spend nearly $700 million to support the coal industry. and electric cars. The Energy Department has extended short-term orders to allow those efforts to continue, and has ordered oil and gas-fired plants in Maryland and Pennsylvania to run past scheduled retirement dates.

Wright has said the administration’s use of emergency orders to keep aging coalfired plants operating helped prevent major blackouts during brutally frigid weather that gripped most of the country in late January and early February.

Environmental groups denounced the latest effort to boost coal, which comes as the Trump administration has clamped down on renewable energy, including freezing permits for offshore wind projects, ending clean energy tax credits and blocking wind and solar projects on federal lands.

“Propping up coal billionaires with taxpayer money is one more way for the Trump administration to put polluters first and put the rest of us at risk,” said Kit Kennedy, managing director for power at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “What’s next, a taxpayer bailout to build new phone booths?”

Trump’s order will result in higher electricity bills and dirtier air, Kennedy and other critics said. “The best thing for the air, the climate and our utility bills is to let these plants retire peacefully,” she said.

Rich Nolan, president and CEO of the National Mining Association, said coal generation helps shield consumers from the impacts of volatile energy prices and supply challenges exacerbated by AI. Trump’s strategy will “ensure that up-

grades to existing energy assets are made” domestically, “and at our ports to ensure that U.S. coal can answer the world’s needs,” he said.

Coal once provided more than half of U.S. electricity production, but its share dropped to about 15% in 2024, down from about 45% as recently as 2010. Natural gas provides about 43% of U.S. electricity, with the remainder from nuclear energy and renewables such as wind, solar and hydropower.

U.S. coal exports dropped during the first year of Trump’s second term, largely due to less coal being shipped to China after it imposed reciprocal tariffs on American products last year in response to broad tariffs announced by Trump, according to the Energy Information Administration. Global coal demand rose to record levels in recent years but is expected to flatten or decline in coming years, according the International Energy Agency.

It’s hard for U.S. companies to expand into new markets because there are plentiful reserves of coal around the globe.

Even so, Trump has pushed to revive coal exports on the West Coast. Coal miners have long sought to ship coal from Utah and the Powder River Basin in Montana and Wyoming to markets in Asia.

Developers are fighting the city of Oakland to build an export terminal on the site of a decommissioned Army base. Community members and advocacy groups have voiced concerns over how trains loaded with coal will affect public health, safety and the environment.

Authorities: Screwworm fly detected in Texas

BY JOHN HANNA Associated Press

The New World screwworm fly has reached south Texas, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed Wednesday, the first time in decades that the parasite with flesh-eating larvae has threatened the nation’s $113 billion cattle industry and only the third time it’s appeared in the U.S. in that time.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the case was in a 3-week-old calf in La Pryor, Texas, about 50 miles from the Mexico border. Texas State Veterinarian Bud Dinges said he has established a 12-mile quarantine zone,

prohibiting the movement of any warm-blooded animal — including pets — outside that zone without an inspection.

Rollins said there have been no other detections of the fly in the U.S., and officials were quick to say that while the fly’s larvae are a threat to livestock production, they don’t infest food. Properly treated, even the infested calf should recover, Rollins said.

Rollins, U.S. and Texas agriculture officials, and cattle industry leaders have been sounding public alarms about the fly’s movement across Mexico for more than a year, spurred on by memories of it causing tens of millions of dollars

of losses — potentially billions in today’s dollars — before its eradication in the 1970s.

It is the first case confirmed in Texas since 1966, Rollins said.

Texas, home to $17 billion worth of the nation’s cattle, is the industry’s No. 1 state.

The months of effort to keep the fly out of the U.S. have included dropping millions of sterile screwworm flies in the area to mate with wild females — the same method used successfully before the fly was eradicated.

Rollins said the USDA is confident enough in its preparations that it believes “there is no threat of mass infestation.”

“There is no reason to believe this incursion will result in establishment of the pest in our country,” Rollins said.

The announcement of the suspected case comes only a day after Rollins had an online news conference to highlight the nearness of the threat, with cases being confirmed in Mexico as close as 25 miles from the border — and to outline the USDA’s efforts to combat it.

The New World Screwworm fly is a tropical species that decades ago infested cattle in warm weather across the southern United States, but it was contained in Panama until late in 2024.

4B ■ Friday, June 5, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

Funerals Today

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Clement, Jacobi Myles

Fowler, Kenneth

St. Mary Mother of the Church Catholic Church in Lafayette at 10am.

Haynes, Farrow

Saintsville C.O.G.I.C. Prayer Center, 8930 Plank Road, at 11 a.m.

father, Glenn G. Elisar and his infant granddaughter, Kate Turner.

A private graveside service will be held for immediate family. To leave online condolences to the family, please visit www.oursofh.com.

Klotz Jr., Charles

St. Alphonsus Catholic Church at noon.

Louis, Howard

Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 1120 Myrtle St., Baton Rouge, LA at 10:30am.

McIntosh, Mario

Ourso Funeral Home, 13533 Airline Highway in Gonzales, at noon.

Oubre, Gayle

St. Joseph Catholic Church, 2130 Rectory Street in Paulina, at 11 a.m.

White, Hampden

Rabenhorst Funeral Home & East, 11000 Florida Crematory Boulevard, at 11 a.m.

Obituaries Antoine, Lucy Mae

Lucy Mae Antoine passed away on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at the age of 91.

Affectionately known as "Dea", she was raised and educated in West Baton Rouge Parish school system. She was baptized at a young age. Her strong faith in God was the foundation for how she lived her life and loved others.

She was a lifelong resident of Port Allen, until she needed extra care in Baton Rouge.

She was employed as a housekeeper, short order cook, and worked at a catering company. She later volunteered at the West Baton Rouge Council on Aging, serving food to those in need.

Lucy is survived by her children, Ada Faye Slaughter, Emma (Clifford) Howard, Stefon (Schawanda) Antoine, and Theresa (Tate) Anderson; a granddaughter raised as a daughter, Myra Alexander; sisters-in-law, Joyce C. Murphy and Glandel Robertson; and a host of grandchildren, greatgrandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Lucy was preceded in death by her parents, Beatrice Murphy and Robert Johnson, Sr.; husband, Leon Antoine, Sr.; children, Tyrone Alexander, Kato Eric Antoine, Sr., and Joshlyn Marie "Moo" Alexander; and siblings, Johnny Robertson, Gertrude Payne, Charles Johnson, Sr., Robert Johnson, Jr., and Percy L. Murphy.

Services will be held at New Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church, 1187 Rosedale Road, Port Allen, Louisiana, on June 6, 2026, with the Visitation from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The Homegoing Service begins at 11:00 a.m.

Special thanks to the compassionate staff and caregivers at Landmark Baton Rouge.

Services entrusted to Hall Davis & Son Funeral Service, 9348 Scenic Hwy, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Jacobi Myles Clement (20) passed away on Sunday, May 31, 2026. Born in Houma, LA, Jacobi was a resident of Gonzales, LA, where he touched countless lives through his energy, kindness, and unwavering passion for helping others.

A dedicated wrestling competitor and trainer, Jacobi inspired those around him to push beyond their limits, both physically and mentally.

He had a deep love for fitness and was known for motivating others to become the best versions of themselves.

Jacobi lived life with enthusiasm and purpose. He loved fast cars, traveling, and embracing spontaneous adventures wherever they led.

Whether spending time with friends, making memories with family, or encouraging someone who needed support, he was always generous with his time and his heart. His ability to inspire others, his infectious personality, and his genuine care for people made a lasting impact on everyone fortunate enough to know him.

More than anything, Jacobi lived his life to love and be loved. His presence brought joy, strength, and encouragement to those around him, and his memory will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew him.

He is survived by his loving mother, Rachel Andras; sister, Autumn Blanchard; brothers, Tyson Blanchard, Ace Buffert, Tsavo Buffert Jr., Carter Kennedy, and Lincoln Kennedy; grandparents, Liz Cottrell, Ronald Cottrell, Raymond Andras Jr., George Menard, and Dale Talbot.

Jacobi was preceded in death by his father, Todd Clement; grandmother, Anne Menard; and his great-grandparents, Emma Jean Andras and Raymond Andras Sr. Visitation will take place on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at Ourso Funeral Home, 13533 Airline Hwy. Gonzales, LA 70737, beginning at 9:00 AM. The Memorial Service will follow at 11:00 AM.

Elisar, Robert Wayne 'Bobby'

Robert Wayne "Bobby" Elisar was born on August, 24, 1946 and peacefully passed away on May 29, 2026. He was a lifelong resident of Prairieville, a graduate of Dutchtown and a Local 198 pipefitter.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Malvina "Vennie" Melancon Elisar; his mother, Ruth B. Elisar; his daughters, Sheree E. Mire (Kurt) and Leslie E. Templet (Boyd); his granddaughters, Chanie M. Turner (Brandon), Madison M. Durbin (Grant), Jordan T. Stewart (Logan), and Sydney T. Guedry (Dayton); his great-grandchildren, Bradie and Carson Turner, Cohen Stewart and Durbin twins on the way; and his sister, Lisa Rangeley. He is preceded in death by his

Haynes, Farrow

NE WSL E TTER S The biggest stories customized to your interests – delivered direct to your inbox

Farrow Haynes was born January 23, 1958 in Woodville, Mississippi. He departed this life on May 25, 2026 in the Butterfly Wing of Baton Rouge General Memorial Hospital. Funeral Services be held from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM on June 5, 2026 at Saintsville C.O.G.I.C. Prayer Center, 8930 Plank Road., Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70811

Hidalgo, Lloyd Joseph

Lloyd Joseph Hidalgo, Jr., 76, a lifelong resident of Belle Rose, LA, passed away on Saturday, May 30, 2026. Lloyd was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend whose warmth and kindness touched everyone he met.

He never met a stranger and genuinely enjoyed striking up conversations with people wherever he went. Lloyd was a proud graduate of Assumption High school in Assumption Parish where he ultimately returned to dedicate the last sixteen years of his work career as a maintenance supervisor for the school system. His work gave him purpose, and he took great pride in his profession. Lloyd enjoyed sitting on his patio overlooking Bayou Lafourche. In his spare time, he enjoyed bass fishing with his friends and his brother-inlaw Anthony. He was also an avid firearms enthusiast who enjoyed sharing his knowledge and passion with others. He leaves behind to cherish his memory, his wife of fifty-five years, Frances Dato Hidalgo; one daughter, Beth Hidalgo Schexnayder and son-in-law Phil; three grandchildren, Rowan, Lyla and Emmie Schexnayder; two siblings, Sandra Lawrence (Larry) and Dwight Hidalgo and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd Sr. and Anna Mae Martin Hidalgo; his in-laws, A.J. "Blink" and Jennie Dato, his niece Brooke Groner, and his nephew Charles Oswald. A visitation will be held at Ascension of Our Lord Catholic Church in Donaldsonville, LA, on Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 8:30am until Mass of Christian Burial at 11am. Inter-

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ment will be held at the church mausoleum.

Lee, Mary

Mary Lee departed this life on May 22, 2026, at the age of 62. Viewing will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Gospel Temple, 82 Banks Ln., Pine Grove, La at 9 am until the religious service at 11:30 am. Superintendent Peter Donald will be officiating the service and Elder Enos Lee will deliver the eulogy. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Arrangements entrusted to MJR Friendly Service Funeral Home

his sister, Kay Rolfs White; three nephews; one niece; and his sister-in-law, Kristine Dietrich Keating. An avid reader with a deep appreciation for music and intellectual inquiry, Emile pursued knowledge throughout his life. He especially cherished time spent with his grandchildren, who found comfort and ease in his presence. A true Southern gentleman, he carried himself with steadfast integrity, quiet grace, and a distinctive, thoughtful style. A visitation will be held on Monday, June 8, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at St. James Episcopal Church, followed by a funeral service at 1:00 p.m.

The family extends special thanks to Hospice of Baton Rouge for its compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sigma Chi Scholarship through the LSU Foundation or to St. James Episcopal Church.

Square, Daisy Anderson

Rolfs III, Emile Christian

Emile Christian Rolfs III, born in Baton Rouge in 1943, passed away peacefully at home on May 24, 2026. A graduate of Baton Rouge High School, Class of 1961, Emile attended LSU, where he joined the Sigma Chi Fraternity and formed lifelong friendships. He later earned his J.D. from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1967 and began a distinguished legal career with a twoyear clerkship for U.S. District Judge E. Gordon West, whom he greatly admired.

Throughout his career, Emile was frequently appointed by both federal and state courts to serve as a special master in complex litigation, a role he found especially meaningful and rewarding.

Deeply devoted to his community, Emile served as a vestryman at St. James Episcopal Church and as president of the City Club of Baton Rouge. He also proudly served on the boards of the Louisiana Museum of Art and Magnolia Mound Plantation. He is survived by his devoted wife of 57 years, Susan Dietrich Rolfs; his three daughters, who were his greatest pride and joy: Susannah Rolfs Elliott and husband Jeff of Charleston, South Carolina; Charlotte Elizabeth Rolfs of New Orleans; and Ainsley Rolfs Grigsby and husband Todd of Baton Rouge. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren, William Lane Grigsby, Crawford Emile Grigsby, Oliver Steele Grigsby, Samuel Johnson Elliott, and Susan Claire Elliott; his brother, James Rolfs and wife Mary;

Daisy Anderson Square, affectionately known as "Madea", was born on September 21, 1924, and peacefully departed this life on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. A devoted educator, Daisy dedicated over 20 years of service to teaching at Riley Elementary and Clinton Elementary, where she made a lasting impact on generations of students. She was also a loving wife, married to her devoted husband, Louis Florida Square, Sr., for over 50 years. Sister Square leaves to cherish her loving memories her four children: Susie Square Davis of DeRidder, Louisiana; Louis Florida Square, Jr. of Baker, Louisiana; Wanda Square Tansil (Isadore) of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Antronette Square Mayfield of Fort Worth, Texas.

She is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Fairy Square of Zachary, Louisiana, and Girley Square of Spring Hill, Florida; two brothers-inlaw, Samuel Square (Georgia) of Zachary, Louisiana, and Oscar Square (Regina) of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; thirteen grandchildren, twenty two great grandchildren, and eight great great grandchildren; along with a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, one daughter, one great great grandchild, four sisters, seven brothers, and one nephew/ son. A viewing will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2026,

from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Holly Grove Baptist Church, 10754 Milldale Road, Zachary, Louisiana 70791. The funeral service will immediately follow, officiated by Reverend Eric Patterson and Reverend Sam Williams. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Richardson Funeral Home of Clinton, Louisiana.

Thomas, Robert L.

Robert "Bobby" L. Thomas, Jr., age 75 of Knoxville, PA, formerly of Baton Rouge, LA, passed away on May 16, 2026 at Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, PA. Bobby was born on August 13, 1950 in Baton Rouge, LA to the late Robert L. Thomas, Sr .and Glenna (Odom) Thomas.

After graduating from Istrouma High School in Baton Rouge, he worked at The Advocate newspaper in his hometown for 32 years, followed by several years as an IT systems analyst at the FMOL Health System in Baton Rouge.

Bobby was a devoted and loving family man, enjoying his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, and gardening. An avid tennis player, he served as a tennis instructor at the BREC Park System in Baton Rouge for many years. He was a long-time church member of the Chapel Baton Rouge- Seigen Lane location. Bobby is survived by his wife, Onolee (Wetmore) Thomas of Knoxville, PA, children, Christopher (Eden) Thomas of Prairieville, LA, Stephanie (Michael) Price of Baton Rouge LA, and Kaleigh Thomas of Baton Rouge LA; grandchildren, Michael, Claire, Andrew, Mason, Joseph, Rachel, Jacob, Kynnedi and Knight; 5 great grandchildren; a sister, Robbie (Jerry) David; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Mary Ann (Richard) Thomas; and a brother, Lawrence Thomas. A memorial gathering will be held on Sat. June 20, 2026 from 2-4 pm at Comite Baptist Church,12250 Greenwell Springs Rd., Baton Rouge , LA 70814. Arrangements are in the care of Kenyon Funeral Home, Inc.

on September 17, 1938, in Newton, Mississippi to Wiley Prentiss Hodges, Jr. and Jimmie Vermelle Ware Hodges. When Martha was 4, her family moved to Greenville, Mississippi, a town she quickly came to know as Home. Martha graduated from Greenville High School, attended Mary Washington College in Virginia, then transferred to Mississippi State College for Women, where she received a bachelor's degree in psychology. In junior high school, Martha became friends with Neal Weller of Chatham, Mississippi, who over the years became the love of her life.

Neal affectionately called her "Marty," a nickname that she held dear for all her life, especially when it became her "grandmother name" in 1991. To this union came their four beloved children. At the young age of 42, Martha became a widow when Neal passed away unexpectedly. Although they were only married for 21 years and 3 months, she spoke often of their love and remained true to him to the end, never remarrying.

Martha is preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband; their infant twin sons Edward and James; and her brother Jim. Martha is survived by her loving children Beth Weller Cronin and husband Matt, Neal Weller and wife Mary, Katherine Weller Harmon and husband Rick, and Bruce Weller and wife Paige; her adoring grandchildren Grace Cronin Ely and husband Zach, Emily Cronin Sandifer and husband Ryan, Parker Weller and fiancée Linsey, Ted

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, June 5, 2026 ■ 5B

Weller and fiancée Kallan, Ben Weller, Suzette Weller, Suzanne Weller Thompson and husband Ken, Elizabeth Weller Hubbard and husband Mike, Caroline Weller, Olivia Harmon, and Neal Harmon; and her precious great-grandchildren Wren Ely, Mae Kirkland Thompson, and James Sandifer. Martha was blessed to enjoy a very special relationship with each one of them. There was never a moment when she wasn't proud of who they were and what they had accomplished. The foundation of love, support, traditions and values that Martha and Neal created will carry on for generations to come.

Martha cherished spending time with her family and making memories together, and was also a devoted and spirited friend. She rocked the tennis court and the bridge table with Neal and many friends during their years together, and they loved traveling, both with friends and as a family. Some of her children's favorite childhood memories are of their camping, mountain, and beach trips. From early childhood, Martha had remarkable talent and devotion at both the piano and the easel, lighting up our homes and lives with beautiful music and gorgeous paintings into her later years.

Martha was blessed with the friendships of so many wonderful people and was grateful for the love of her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as it knew no boundaries.

At her request, the family will celebrate Martha's

life at a private service to be held at Resthaven Gardens of Memory.

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note to the family at www.resthav enbatonrouge.com

How to place an Obituary Notice EMAIL:

obits@theadvocate.com OR CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION:

225-388-0289

How to place a Memorial Ad An “In Memory Of” ad, is a way to pay tribute to your loved one.

This remembrance is often printed on the anniversary of a loved one’s death.

The deadline is two days prior to the day you want your ad to appear.

TO PLACE A MEMORIAL AD GO TO: obituaries.theadvocate.com, click submit an obituary and select create a memoriam.

Weller, Martha Hodges

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OPINION T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M/opinions

Across rural America, Trump flags fading

I am not a political analyst. I am a Black woman from Ville Platte, Louisiana, a small rural town in Evangeline Parish where the poverty rate is high and your neighbors are also your history. I grew up alongside White classmates from kindergarten Latoyia on. We were more Wright than fine. We carried those relationGUEST COLUMNIST ships forward.

What I watched happen to some of those same people starting in 2016 is not something I read about in a report. I watched it in real time, on Facebook, in my own community. That did not happen by accident. Donald Trump did not accidentally stumble into the Republican Party.

Trump spent decades as a Democrat. He donated to Hillary Clinton, Chuck Schumer and Rahm Emanuel. He registered

as a Democrat for most of the 1990s and again from 2001 to 2009. His positions on healthcare, taxing the wealthy and trade policy aligned far more closely with Democratic values than Republican ones. He also said, in interviews that still exist, that he wanted to dismantle the Republican Party.

Most people heard that and moved on. I filed it away. When someone tells you what they plan to do, believe them.

Trump did not become a Republican because he believed in Republican values. He became one because the party’s structure made it the only vehicle available for what he wanted to do.

This is not new. The Republican Party has always had factions willing to break off when it no longer served them — you saw it in the Reagan coalition, you saw it in the Tea Party, you saw it in every outsider candidate who ran against “the establishment” and won enough votes to frac-

ture the base. The individualism baked into the party’s foundational values is also its structural vulnerability. Every man for himself eventually means every faction for itself.

Trump read that history. He did not stumble into the Republican Party — he studied it. A fragmented party can be captured.

A cohesive one cannot. And he knew exactly which one he was walking into.

Trump did not simply reveal who people already were. For some of them, he installed something new. He told people who felt lost that their resentment and fear were not just acceptable, they were righteous. He gave people an identity. And I watched it happen in real time, in my own community, in the racial divide that quietly opened up between people who had known each other their whole lives. In a small town, you feel that at close range.

The flags are gone from my

area. The people who deleted me are sending friend requests again. The silence from those who voted for him is its own answer.

The fracture is proving itself everywhere. In Texas, three Republican candidates split the primary vote — not because the party is healthy, but because no one can replicate Trump’s hold.

His power was personal. Personality cannot be inherited. In Hungary, JD Vance flew to campaign alongside Viktor Orbán only to watch voters hand the opposition a landslide, 54% to 38%, ending Orbán’s 16-year rule. Trump did not comment. Vance did not comment. The silence was loud.

A party built around a man instead of a mission does not survive the man.

Rural communities cannot be governed on individualism. When everyone shares the same roads, the same school, the same hospital, you cannot govern for only half the people. What rural com-

munities produce by necessity is centrist leadership. Not ideology.

Just the practical reality that your neighbor is also your community.

Places like Ville Platte have been talked about as problems to be solved. We are not. My parents have acres. They can grow crops. While cities wrestle with food access and supply chain fragility, rural Louisiana has quietly held onto something foundational: land, community, self-sufficiency. Those are things the rest of the country is going to need.

We are not behind. We are what comes next.

The leaders who will actually serve us are the ones willing to govern for all of us. I am one of those people from Ville Platte. I am watching what is happening to my town, state and my country And I am paying attention.

Latoyia Wright lives in Ville Platte.

La. broadband office is One place Iran, Israel, U.S. improving communities are allies? Climate change

March 29 marked five years in Louisiana’s effort to close the digital divide. In 2021, more than 375,000 households, small businesses and essential community institutions such as hospitals, libraries and schools lacked reliable internet service, affecting more than one in four Louisianans.

As executive director of the Louisiana State Broadband Office, I am proud to work with a small but highly effective team Veneeth united by a single mission: conIyengar necting every community in our state to reliable, affordable, GUEST high-speed internet. Louisiana COLUMNIST is now nationally recognized for both its progress and its approach to expanding broadband access. We are not only meeting our infrastructure goals but also doing so ahead of schedule and under budget. Thanks to the competitive funding framework we developed, Louisianians in federally funded areas are now saving 30% to 40% each month on broadband service.

Over the past five years, we have visited more than 100 communities. We have heard stories of frustration about fiber lines stopping at the main road and sky-high costs for mediocre service, especially in rural areas. Those conversations are starting to change. Now, when we visit communities, we hear from law enforcement about quicker response times to urgent calls and from health care providers about how reliable connectivity is improving patient care.

Those early visits grounded our work. Today, many of those same trips are celebrations, including ribbon cuttings for completed projects and expanded internet access in parishes across the state. We have seen firsthand the impact of Louisiana’s leadership as more individuals earn degrees online, small businesses grow through e-commerce and rural residents gain access to telemedicine.

This progress is rooted in strong executive leadership. The previous administration and Legislature launched this work. Now, under Gov. Jeff Landry, Louisiana is positioned to close the digital divide. In his first 100 days, I worked closely with the governor to chart our course, and our regular conversations reflect a clear focus on ensuring every Louisianian is connected.

Louisiana’s approach also reflects a commitment to limited government and disciplined execution. Our small team manages more than $1.5 billion in federal funding from the U.S. Treasury and Commerce departments with a focus on efficiency and outcomes. By cutting through unnecessary bureaucracy, we have accelerated deployment and delivered results faster than traditional models allow.

We are equally focused on delivering value for taxpayers. Louisiana has built a competitive, market-driven grant program that maximizes competition, prioritizes cost efficiency

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By TED S. WARREN

Louisiana is now nationally recognized for both its progress and its approach to expanding broadband access.

and ensures no community is left behind.

In many federal broadband programs, infrastructure spending consumes nearly all available funding, leaving little for workforce development, economic competitiveness and longterm resilience. Louisiana took a different approach. Our efficient deployment process freed up more than half of our federal dollars for these higher-order investments. Approximately 90% of funded infrastructure will be buried, and about 80% of funding will go to Louisianabased internet service providers such as REV, Cajun Broadband, Skyrider, Swyft Fiber and others. The majority of infrastructure dollars will remain in-state, with Louisiana-based contractors building these networks.

Our results have attracted national attention.

In a Dec. 28 editorial, The Wall Street Journal highlighted Louisiana’s efficient use of taxpayer dollars, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick cited the state in Senate testimony: “Under the Biden administration, Louisiana was tasked with spending more than $1.3 billion to do what it is now doing for under $500 million. That means in Louisiana alone, we’ve saved more than $800 million and delivered better economic results, all while advancing the same standards. Louisiana reopened competition, embraced technology neutrality and drove costs down dramatically.” The American Enterprise Institute also recently ranked Louisiana as having the top broadband office in the country.

This is a clear example of government delivering results for its people, but the work is not finished. We expect to reach full connectivity by 2028, if not sooner.

The people of Louisiana should be proud.

Their advocacy and persistence are driving real progress, progress you can see in your home, progress that puts money back in your pocket and progress that is building a stronger, more connected future for our state.

Veneeth Iyengar is the executive director of Louisiana’s Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity.

Last month, as the United States, Iran and Israel continued exchanging military attacks by land and sea, they stood shoulder-to-shoulder at the United Nations. Their common cause? Denying responsibility for climate change.

The vote in the U.N.’s general assembly went against them, by Jason a count of 141-8. The Maloy resolution likely means GUEST little in the short term, COLUMNIST since the U.N. has no police force or court system to force governments to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions or to pay damages to people harmed by climate change. But it was a clear signal that, on this issue, all three warring nations are indisputable losers.

When the U.S., Iran and Israel hold hands for such a heavy diplomatic defeat, some people see strange bedfellows or unholy matrimony. Look closer, and you see geopolitical tealeaves.

Other countries that voted against the climate resolution included petroleum producers like Saudi Arabia and Russia. The fossil-fuel endowments of the U.S. and Iran are well known. Though Israel isn’t a renowned producer, recently it began developing offshore reserves of natural gas in the eastern Mediterranean.

But what if the emerging fossil alliance isn’t primarily about dollars and cents, or euros and shekels? Spare a thought for geopolitical leverage.

Leverage is what Iran enjoys when it collects tolls and inflicts economic damage through the Strait of Hormuz. Whether you’re Britain to the west or India to the east, a big chunk of your economy depends on that passage. You have to deal with the powers-that-be in Tehran.

For Iran, the cutoff of Middle East supplies through Hormuz is productive, not destructive: It produces fear and respect.

In a word, leverage.

Leverage is also what the U.S. sought when it removed the Venezuelan president from office and stopped the flow of Venezuelan oil to China.

The operative logic is the same.

To solve the Hormuz problem, the U.S. government could force U.S. energy firms to lower their prices.

The Republican Party of pre-2016

times would never have considered such an interference in the global marketplace, but post-2024 times are different. Most observers are currently underestimating the likelihood of such a move.

The obvious alternative is to clean up the nation’s energy mix. Countries with less reliance on oil and gas, and more on wind and solar, can afford to care less about who’s in charge in Iran or what is and isn’t sailing through Hormuz.

Hence the geopolitical importance of the U.N.’s climate resolution: While most of the world is going for the post-fossil transition, the “no” votes are defending their right to make energy hostages of everyone else.

Some analysts argue that the major global divide is no longer between democracies and dictatorships. It’s now “petrostates” vs. “electrostates,” with US President Donald Trump leading the former.

In any geopolitical realignment, apparent enemies become substantial friends, and vice versa. Is that what the U.N.’s climate resolution is signaling? Maybe, but pundits sometimes overlook how short American electoral cycles really are.

On the other side, China is the sun around which the post-fossil group orbits. It currently dominates the production and distribution of wind turbines, solar panels and electric vehicles.

The U.S. is also exceptional, but in other ways. It has (unlike China) excellent oil-and-gas resources and (like China) excellent wind-and-solar potential. On top of geology and geography, systems of education, research and finance give Americans an enviable capacity to create new infrastructure for the next energy system.

Unlike the other losers on the U.N.’s climate resolution, then, the U.S. has a real choice to make.

It can lead either the post-fossil bloc or the pro-fossil bloc. It can bet on what’s in our brains or what’s under our feet.

If the Trump administration chooses to act as if geology is destiny, at least it can count on Iran and Israel as loyal allies.

Jason Maloy is the Kaliste Saloom Endowed Chair in Political Science at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

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COMMENTARY

Water pours over the edge of a fountain in City-Brooks Community Park in Baton Rouge.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

PUBLIC MEETING

ISSUE OF THE WEEK CITy-BROOKS PARK The future of City-Brooks Park has become a topic of intense debate in recent weeks.As part of its master planning process, BREC has sought community input on a new vision for the 154 acres in the heart of the city that includes the University Lakes, the Knock Knock Children’s Museum, a dog park and, most prominently, a nine-hole golf course designed by the renowned Tom Bendelow that opened in 1928 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Some worry that as the plan proceeds, the footprint of the course will shrink, destroying an oasis in the city. Others say that the land could be better used to create a unique attraction that would welcome more people and help foster a vibrant community of the future.As BREC mulls the way forward, here are two perspectives:

Great parks can connect communities, do so much more

Baton Rouge stands at a rare and powerful moment. With BREC’s City Park+Lakes Vision Master Plan, we have a unique opportunity to invest in a grand vision that will shape how future generations across East Baton Rouge Parish play, gather, recharge and connect. Positioned at the gates of LSU and Maggie alongside the Lakes, CityConarro Brooks Community Park is uniquely suited to beGUEST come a civic jewel, a gathCOLUMNIST ering place for all.

City-Brooks Park is one of the largest and most valuable public green spaces in one of the most densely populated areas of our parish. Its central location, tree canopy, rolling hills, nearby university and lakefront access make it a one-of-a-kind space in Baton Rouge.

Great cities have great parks. These spaces are essential infrastructure. The best parks are intentionally designed to bring people together across age, background and interest. They offer a mix of cultural, recreational and natural amenities — museums, playgrounds, open green space, walking paths, waterways, gardens and cafes — that strengthen public health, foster connection, bolster culture and drive economic vitality.

The good news is that City-Brooks Park already has many of these elements: the LSU Lakes, Baton Rouge Gallery, Knock Knock Children’s Museum and a variety of sports facilities. We have the opportunity to connect and expand these existing pieces into a worldclass park.

Across the country, young people and working families are choosing where to live based not only on jobs and affordability, but on quality of life. Baton Rouge has struggled to compete with peer cities in attracting and retaining these residents, but we have the opportunity to change that.

A re-imagined City Park would offer a welcoming, accessible waterfront space, one that draws people together across difference and circumstance. A place to gather, connect and build community.

These “third spaces” are not luxuries; they are essential to a thriving city.

The idea of a “third space” comes from the sociologist Ray Oldenburg who used it to describe the places beyond home and work where community

life actually unfolds. Home is our first space, and the workplace our second, but it is in the third space that a city builds its shared identity.

We are living through what the former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy has described as an epidemic of loneliness and isolation, and it falls hardest on the youngest among us. Despite being more connected online than any generation before, young adults report feeling more alone and the consequences for their mental and physical health are serious and well documented. Public spaces were once where connection happened naturally, and as they have grown scarcer, something essential has gone with them. Much of this comes down to a simple loss: the steady disappearance of free, accessible places where people can gather without an agenda or a price of admission.

A re-imagined City Park answers that need directly.

When we invest in spaces like these, we tell the next generation that Baton Rouge is somewhere they can put down roots and build a life. The opposite is also true. When conversations about improving public resources are shut down before they begin — or when investments primarily serve a small and affluent few — we signal that our commitment is to the status quo, not to future generations or to quality of life for all.

As we look to the future, we must also be thoughtful stewards of our public land and resources. Baton Rouge already maintains multiple public golf courses.

Consolidating golf offerings at existing facilities, such as Webb Park, would preserve access to the sport while allowing this centrally located space to evolve in a way that serves a broader cross-section of our community while better focusing investments and improving maintenance across our park system.

Public land should serve the public.

As improvements to the lakes and surrounding areas continue, increased use and activity should be embraced as a sign of a healthy, connected city. A vibrant City Park will benefit not just those who live nearby, but all of East Baton Rouge Parish, and it will send a clear signal about the kind of city we intend to become.

Maggie Conarro is a Baton Rouge resident and program director of Serve Louisiana.

Want to have a say on the future of CityBrooks Park? BREC is hosting a public forum to discuss the master plan.

What: City-Brooks Community Meeting.

Where: McKinley High School Alumni Center, 1520 Thomas H. Delpit Dr. When: Thursday, June 11. 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Don’t chase shiny objects when BR has a real jewel in golf course For 10 years I’ve watched a good portion of LSU students leave Baton Rouge after graduation. Not surprising, more than a third of them now are from out-of-state.

Some Louisianans join them, determined to try their luck in cities like Austin, Chicago, Houston or Washington.

Len Louisiana’s long Apcar population decline has GUEST little to do with inadCOLUMNIST equate parks, running tracks or lakefront amenities, despite what we hear from the promoters of a multimilliondollar redesign of City Park. The plan fails on two counts. It does not meet the goal of designing an unusual lakeside park and does not address the basic economic development deficits that plague Baton Rouge. For starters, the plan got off on the wrong foot by throwing away several holes on the popular golf course. It has since scratched that mistake.

Young adults between 22 and 34 want cities with white-collar jobs, a vibrant after-work and weekend scene, good public transportation and live, cultural events without interruption. Community planners call this “quality of place.”

Baton Rouge has struggled to deliver those. A City Park with kayak ponds, food truck circles or a planned amphitheater next to the interstate, as the Sasaki planning firm envisions, is nice but won’t change many minds.

Parks also are not night-owl venues. Even Central Park in New York closes at 1 a.m., and restaurants shutter earlier. Sasaki’s renderings for the lakes are novelties; not the kinds of places young adults choose to hangout again and again. Nor do they include the family-oriented attractions that make Central Park a magnet for children: no mini zoo and no centerpiece fountain that becomes a cool, gathering space on a hot day.

Much of what Sasaki envisions already exists closer to where some people live and without the road congestion.

If City Park is updated as an economic development magnet, the plan needs a broad approach that encom-

passes the entire lakeshore rather than taking land from the golf course and creating a virtually unplayable layout.

City Park’s 100-year-old course is on rolling hills, a rarity here. It is also one of the few recreational amenities in Baton Rouge that consistently attracts a mix of people. In the past 10 years, golf has exploded with almost twice the number of rounds at BREC’s courses. The image of a retired duffer puttering around the greens is history. City Park is on track for 30,000 rounds a year, and there will be more demand since LSU closed its campus course.

Baton Rouge is not New York, but the city offers another lesson. Van Cortlandt Park Golf Course in the Bronx, also designed by Tom Bendelow who sculpted our City Park course, sits amid a large park, a subway terminal and pricey high-rise neighborhoods. New York opened the course in 1898 and has managed to preserve public golf for any players.

On a misty 50-degree morning, I visited the New York course and met a middle-aged beginner just finishing a round. He had a modest bag of new clubs. He said he had started playing and was lured by a picturesque, tree-lined beauty that Babe Ruth had played. He fit the profile of precisely why Bendelow built courses in Baton Rouge and the Bronx — golf for anyone who wants to learn and enjoy an oasis in the city.

If New York can save a Bendelow gem in the middle of 9 million people, surely Baton Rouge can preserve and improve one on rolling terrain with a lake view.

City Park should be updated, of course. With imagination, the entire lakeshore and the golf course could be made more fun by taking advantage of its hills and water.

But let’s not kid ourselves. A redesigned park will not erase Baton Rouge’s traffic, blight and spotty night life. Young adults leave because the city lacks economic and cultural vibrancy. Parks enrich a city, but they cannot alone make a “quality of place” where younger people want to stay.

Len Apcar is a Baton Rouge resident and avid golfer.

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writer’s city of residence. The Advocate | The Times-Picayune require a street address and phone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor, The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@theadvocate.com.

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TODAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Showers, heavy thunderstorm

Humid with heavy thunderstorms

Thunderstorms

Humid with a thunderstorm

Heavy showers in the afternoon

A couple of afternoon t-storms

HIGH

LOW

HIGH

86° 75°

LOW

HIGH

84° 73°

LOW

86° 73°

Beaumont 86/75 Port Arthur 85/75

Baton Rouge 86/75

Lake Charles 85/74

New Orleans 84/77 Houma 83/75

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

0s

Hattiesburg 84/72

Alexandria 88/72

Lafayette 85/74

10s

20s

30s

40s

50s

LOW

HIGH

LOW

92° 73°

Baton Rouge through 5 p.m. Thursday

Jackson 87/73 Many 86/71

HIGH

90° 72°

TEMPERATURE

Longview 86/72

-0s

LOW

Monroe 88/73

Shreveport 89/73

-10s

HIGH

86° 72°

Well, expect another partly to mostly cloudy, warm, and breezy if not windy day today. Temperatures will rise into the mid-80s this afternoon and expect the winds to be easterly at 5-10 mph with gusts to 20 mph. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect for the lakes, sounds and coastal areas into the Gulf until tonight due to easterly winds of 20-30 mph, gusting to 35 mph, and seas of 6-9 feet.

Tropical moisture associated with a Gulf low moving in our direction is bringing strong winds and heavy rain.

60s

70s

80s

90s 100s 110s

High/low Normal high/low Last year’s high/low Record high Record low

TODAY’S TIDES Lake Pontchartrain (Tchefuncte River) Shell Beach South Point, Marsh Island Cypremort Point Grand Isle (Barataria Pass) Mississippi River (Southwest Pass) Wine Island

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SOURCE: LOUISIANA DEQ AND AIRNOW.GOV

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The solunar period schedule allows planning days so you will be fishing in good territory or hunting in good cover during those times. Major periods begin at the times shown and last for 1.5 to 2 hours. The minor periods are shorter.

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N O R T H A M ER I CA’S

THU. 24-HOUR

MISSISSIPPI STAGE STAGE CHANGE Memphis 34 19.80 -0.06 Vidalia-Natchez 48 39.10 +0.46 Red River Landing 48 40.70 +0.50 Baton Rouge 35 24.20 +0.70 Donaldsonville 27 15.50 +1.00 Reserve 22 11.31 +0.98 New Orleans 17 7.60 +0.98 OHIO Cairo 40 34.84 -0.70 COMITE Near Olive 19 0.18 +1.38 AMITE Near Darlington 18 -0.45 -0.19 Denham Springs 29 17.42 +5.69 Port Vincent 8 2.58 +0.59 TICKFAW Montpelier 13 3.78 +0.92 Holden 15 2.03 -0.09 ATCHAFALAYA Simmesport 47 20.61 +0.87 Melville 34 15.14 +0.84 Krotz Springs 29 13.05 +0.67 Butte La Rose 20 10.09 +0.39 Bayou Sorrel 12 5.90 +0.20 Morgan City 6 3.33 -0.04

data as of 7 a.m. Thursday

Forecasts and graphics, except for Damon’s Outlook, provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2026

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CSLB 1082165 NSCB 0082999 0083445 13VH11096000

SPORTS

T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M

|

F r i d ay, J u n e 5, 2026

POSITIVE IMPACT

1Cn

World Cup festivities aim to showcase unity Star-studded opening ceremonies will be held in each host country

BY COLLEEN BARRY Associated Press

MILAN — The World Cup will feature an unprecedented trio of star-studded opening ceremonies in the host nations, the United States, Canada and Mexico, created by the Italian producer behind the opening ceremony for this year’s Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

Marco Balich, fresh off the Olympics opening ceremony, which included a parade of athletes spread across four venues, said he was up to the challenge of producing three shows in three cities, with teams numbering 260 to 300 people in each city.

The ceremonies’ unifying theme will be “the celebration of sports, the passion for soccer, symbolized by the cup itself,” Balich said. “The idea is to narrate with three points of view and languages,” using design aesthetics representative of each culture.

In Canada, a mosaic will represent its multicultural identity. Mexico’s motif will be the traditional paper cutouts called papel picado, while the United States will have “a super shiny, glowing cup,” said Balich, who also produced the opening ceremony for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By CHARA SAVVIDOU

Spain’s Josep Puerto defends against Italy’s Saliou Niang during the Eurobasket championship Group C match between Spain and Italy on Sept. 2 at Spyros Kyprianou Arena in Limassol, Cyprus. Niang will play with the LSU men’s basketball team in the fall.

ä See WORLD CUP, page 4C

Niang brings feel for the game, strong defense to LSU’s roster

BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

Saliou Niang will do a little bit of everything for LSU. Coach Will Wade added the 6-foot-7 Italian-Senegalese wing because even when he isn’t scoring, he’ll positively impact the game. Niang has proven that against top international competition.

In 21.7 minutes per game, the 22-year-old averaged 7.1 points on 62.9% shooting, 5.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.4 turnovers across 38 games for Virtus Bologna in the EuroLeague — the most competitive league outside the United States.

His talent level was high enough for the Cleveland Cavaliers to select him 58th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft.

He played three games with their summer league team before returning overseas.

Feel for the game Basketball feel is an intuitive awareness of what’s happening on the court. Players with this “feel” move to the

right spots at the right time and make smart reads decisively.

Niang is one of those players.

What he lacks in flashy skill, he makes up for with effectiveness. While often positioned in the corner, he moves well without the ball, slipping into gaps and finishing at the rim. His over 60% field-goal shooting stems from a know-how as a cutter and straightforward layup finisher. His wiry 204-pound frame assists in weaponizing his instincts with fluidity.

His high motor also helps in the half-court and during fastbreaks. He sprints in transition, where his length and leaping ability are difficult to contain without fouling.

His blue-collar style comes out on the offensive glass.

While not playing power forward or center, he impressively averaged 2.2 offensive rebounds in under 22 minutes per game.

His feel away from the ball also made him a surprisingly effective roll man for his size. He set solid screens,

ä See NIANG, page 3C

Spurs, Knicks look to improve play in Game 2 of NBA Finals

BY TIM REYNOLDS AP basketball writer

SAN ANTONIO — The road to the NBA Finals was not exactly smooth for the San Antonio Spurs.

They had — and lost — home-court advantage in Round 1 against Portland, before recovering to win the series. In Round 2 against Minnesota, the same thing happened. In the Western Conference finals against Oklahoma City, they trailed 2-1 before finding a way to oust the defending champion Thunder in seven games.

And now, the finals. They had home-court advantage and lost it in Game 1 against the New York Knicks. Adversity, hello again.

“We’ve been consistent in that regard,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said Thursday as his team prepares for Game 2 on Friday night. “I think one thing we have learned in our three series is that series are long.

Games are long. Things shift quickly, whether that’s health, who’s playing well or hot, quote-unquote, at the time. Teams at this stage typically have shown the ability to evolve on the fly and improve within

ä NBA Finals Knicks at Spurs 7:30 P.M. FRIDAy,ABC

a series.”

That’s what will be required if the Spurs are going to head to New York with this series knotted at a game apiece.

They shot poorly in Game 1 (36%), extremely poorly from 3-point range (26%, missing 32 of 43 tries), had 16 assists (nowhere near enough), got outscored in the paint 50-42 and couldn’t hold a 14-point third-quarter lead. The Knicks deserve credit for creating a whole lot of those issues, but the Spurs know they’re capable of much better play.

“I think the reason we lost that game isn’t even technical (or) tactical,” Spurs star Victor Wembanyama said. “We need to approach the game with a better mental state. We just need to play our game. We just need to be normal.”

Normal? “‘Normal’ means trusting each

ä See NBA, page 5C

Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama AP PHOTO By ERIC GAy

AP PHOTO By JAE C. HONG

FIFA World Cup 2026 signage is displayed on Monday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. The World Cup is set to kick off on June 11 in Mexico City.

On NCAA tourney, Sorsby, and killing time until football season Notes in my baseball scorebook because I certainly have no LSU NCAA Tournament games to put in there. …

There’s little I can say or write that’s going to make LSU baseball fans feel less pain over their beloved Tigers being NCAA Tournament spectators instead of participants for the first time since 2011.

I will say that misery definitely loves company, and in Scott this case, will offer misery Rabalais a prime seat next to it in the empty Alex Box Stadium grandstands. And possibly, offer to buy it a hot dog.

When it comes to the teams that made it to the College World Series in 2025, there is plenty of misery to go around. The NCAA super regionals begin Friday and Saturday at eight sites across America. There are some familiar names, some surprising names, but no names of the teams that were in the CWS a year ago.

That’s right. None of the eight made it as far as this year’s sweet 16. Four of them

ä See RABALAIS, page 3C

2C ■ Friday, June 5, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Sipping tea fuels Chwalinska’s run Polish player earns spot in French Open final AP sportswriter

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves have bolstered their depth at catcher by acquiring veteran Austin Wynns from the Los Angeles Angels.

The Braves added the 35-year-old Wynns to the major league roster on Thursday, a day after acquiring him from the Angels for cash.

They designated catcher Chadwick Tromp for assignment before Thursday’s game against Toronto.

The Braves continue to adjust to injuries to Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy. Baldwin was placed on the 10-day injured list on May 19 with a strained right oblique. Manager Walt Weiss said Baldwin was on pace to return in June.

Murphy, who was moved to the 60-day injured list on Thursday, was placed on the IL on May 12.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By THIBAULT CAMUS

Poland’s Maja Chwalinska react during her semifinal match against Russia’s Diana Shnaider at the French Open on Thursday in Paris. won the French Open four times.

The 19-year-old Andreeva reached her first Grand Slam final by beating Marta Kostyuk 6-1, 6-3 earlier Thursday on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

Andreeva had reached the semifinals here two years ago, but this is Chwalinska’s first semifinal anywhere at WTA tour-level.

Remarkable run Chwalinksa has dropped only one set in her nine matches, including qualifying, and has bulldozed her way past four top-50 players in the main draw.

Her ranking will rocket from No. 114 to No. 14 if she wins the tournament, according to the WTA. Her bank balance will also get a significant boost. Chwalinksa’s total prize money heading into Roland Garros was $864,030 and by reaching the final she gets 1.4 million euros about ($1.6 million); and 2.8 million euros ($3.25 million) if she wins on Saturday.

A neat drop shot and lob gave her set point in the tiebreaker, and she clinched the first set when Shnaider’s backhand went wide.

Shnaider had a medical timeout after the seventh game of the second set. She flexed her left leg as she lay on her back, and dropped

her serve in the ninth game, giving Chwalinksa a chance to serve for the match.

“All the kudos to Maja. She played amazing,” Shnaider said.

“She moves incredible on the court, she covers a lot. Even if you think that you won the point, she’s there.”

walked off quickly, turning only to wave and blow kisses to the crowd.

They had separate photos taken before the match as they each stood next to two children on their respective side of the net. Usually the players pose for the same photo, standing right next to each other by the net.

Kostyuk and countrywoman OlekFully focused sandra Oliynykova have spoken out Andreeva could see even the during the tournament about the imsmallest details on the ball. pact Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is “I was seeing the little hairs having on their country. on the ball when I was tossing or The No. 15-seeded Kostyuk said playing (shots),” Andreeva said. “I defeat won’t linger given how was really, really focused today.” much support she felt from fans.

Andreeva, who is seeded No. 8, “This is something I will carry also converted her first match point with me forever,” she said. “I feel when serving for the victory. like this is the highlight of my She clearly feels comfortable at tournament.” the French Open, which she describes as a “cozy” tournament be- Roof open and then closed cause she sees familiar faces every The semifinal began at shortly year, and enjoys her time in Paris. after 3 p.m. with an open roof, like “I really like to walk around the on Wednesday when beaten quarcity, to go into those little restau- terfinalists Aryna Sabalenka and rants on the street,” she said. “I Anna Kalinskaya complained of also speak a little bit of French, so swirling wind on Chatrier and said I try to sometimes talk to people the roof should have been closed.

It was closed toward the end in French.” of the second set of Thursday’s Tensions on the court semifinal, offering Kostyuk betThere was no post-match hand- ter conditions for her clay-court shake between Andreeva and game. But her 16-match winning Kostyuk — and the Ukrainian streak on clay ended.

Fleetwood part of 4-way tie for the lead at Memorial

BY DOUG FERGUSON AP golf writer

DUBLIN, Ohio — Scottie Scheffler never thought two straight victories in the Memorial would be of any value when he began his bid for three in a row. It sure felt that way Thursday in a tough start that left him exasperated by the wind and six shots behind a four-way share of the lead.

Wyndham Clark, coming off a victory in the Byron Nelson, U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun, Tommy Fleetwood and the Ryan Gerard were each at 5-under 67, among only 22 players who broke par at Muirfield Village.

Scheffler was poised to be among them until a bad wedge led to a careless bogey on the 14th, and what he thought was a great shot on the 16th bounced into the water for double bogey.

He walked 96 yards to the drop area with his palms upward when they weren’t slapping his thigh, all the while seeking answers from caddie Ted Scott that neither of them had. “I don’t think you understand how frustrating that is,” he said to Scott, who replied qui-

LONDON — Serena Williams will make her eagerly anticipated return to professional tennis playing doubles alongside a partner who is 25 years younger.

Victoria Mboko, the 19-year-old Canadian ranked No. 9, revealed Thursday she would have the “honor” of playing with the 44-year-old Williams as a wild-card entry at the Queen’s Club next week.

They practiced on the grass courts in west London on Thursday.

“The Queen is back,” Mboko wrote in a post on Instagram alongside a picture of her standing next to Williams.

“An honor to share the court with one of the greatest athletes of all time this week,” Mboko added.

Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, stepped away from tennis in 2022. She has yet to say whether she plans to play at Wimbledon or the U.S. Open in 2026.

Braves acquire catcher Wynns, designate Tromp

BY JEROME PUGMIRE PARIS — Sipping tea every night is working wonders for Maja Chwalinska.

The Polish player became just the second qualifier to reach a Grand Slam singles final in the Open Era when she beat Diana Shnaider of Russia 7-6 (4), 6-4 on Thursday.

The 24-year-old Chwalinska can match Emma Raducanu’s title run at the 2021 U.S. Open when she plays Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva in Saturday’s final at Roland Garros.

Nothing will change Chwalinska’s routine for the biggest match of her life.

“I’m going to drink my tea,” she said.

Chwalinska and Raducanu, according to stats provider Opta, stand alone among men and women in having reached a major singles final from the qualifying rounds since the Open Era began in 1968.

“I feel like I am in a bubble, I don’t know what’s going on,” Chwalinska said. “After the tournament it will be time to process it: breathe in, breathe out.”

Besides the tea, she might watch some tennis “because I’m a tennis freak.”

She said her favorite player growing up was Swiss great Roger Federer, then Spanish clay-court ace Rafael Nadal. Now it’s 24-time major winner Novak Djokovic.

“I’m just very grateful that I was growing up during this era,” she said. “Sometimes I come back to these old matches and I watch them play, and it feels like poetry.”

Chwalinska sealed victory on her first match point with a powerful forehand winner down the line, then fell back with both hands on her face. She then sat on her chair and panted heavily, her face buried into a towel.

“I honestly don’t know what was going on in my head,” she said. “I was just in such a shock.”

Chwalinska’s run saw her advance through three qualifying rounds to enter the main draw and play in just her third Grand Slam. Her best result at a major before this was the second round at Wimbledon in 2022. Polish countrywoman Iga Swiatek has

Serena, 19-year-old to team up in Queen’s Club tourney

etly with the obvious answer. “I do,” the caddie said.

Six of the seven players who broke 70 started before 10 a.m. and missed out on the swirling wind on a hot, clear day that made the greens even firmer than they already were.

The exception was Gerard, who had quite the wild ride. He had a 3 on a par 5 and followed that with a 5 on a par 3. He had five straight birdies on the back nine and only five pars on his scorecard for the entire round. It added to a 67, which was all that mattered.

“The small misses often lead to big punishments at this golf course,” Gerard said “I don’t think we aimed at a flag stick on the back nine and shot 5 under. You’re picking small targets around either the edge of a bunker or a rake or some guy wearing a bright-colored shirt in the background or a TV tower or whatever it might be.”

Fleetwood’s 67 was his lowest round in his fifth time playing the Memorial, and this wasn’t the way he would have drawn it up. He was solid off the tee, not so much from the fairway. Fleetwood hit only seven greens and still played bogey-free.

“I got the most out of the round, totally. I got away with a couple of poor misses. Hit the pin a couple of times when it was going past. ... Shot 5 under, so it couldn’t have been that bad. I was just getting a little frustrated at the end not being able to execute the iron shots that I wanted to.”

Nick Taylor wasted a good start with a double bogey on the par-5 seventh and a bogey on the next hole, only to played bogey-free on the tough back nine and finishing with one of only seven birdies on the the 18th hole.

Justin Rose and Sam Burns were at 69.

Scheffler provided the entertainment, even it didn’t feel all that entertaining to him. He had changed clubs on the ninth, took the longer one and still was short.

He changed clubs three times from the fairway on the par-5 11th and came up short. And then the water ball on the 16th was the capper.

What followed was a stream of frustrating lines: “I never thought that was in the water. ... I don’t know what to do. ... I absolutely flushed a 7-iron and we get the

wind wrong and I’m in the water. ... I’m hitting good shots and dropping from hazards.”

So when he was asked after signing for his 73 if he had any fun at any point, Scheffler gave a half-laugh as he rubbed his chin and said, “Not that I can recall at the moment.”

The 17th was kind of fun. From a fairway bunker, 182 yards to a tucked pin in the front right, Scheffler hit 7-iron to the collar 15 feet away and chipped in for birdie.

“See, that’s the thing that can be so frustrating about golf,” Scheffler said. “I striped one on the hole before that and I end up in the water. That one I kind of hit thin, and you get a good bounce and I end up on the fringe and I chip in.

“Yeah, what a game,” he said.

“I felt like I didn’t get anything out of the round, all of a sudden you get a lucky bounce and you’re like, ‘OK, well, I’m going to try to smile.’ It’s still hard.”

He did smile as he headed to the wind, late enough in the afternoon the wind was starting to calm. He also realized his score wasn’t all that bad compared with other players from the afternoon.

Packers, WR Watson agree to four-year, $110.5M deal

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson agreed to terms on a four-year, $110.5 million contract extension through 2030 with a $31 million signing bonus, according to a person with knowledge of the contract.

Watson, 27, tore his right anterior cruciate ligament in Green Bay’s 2024 regular-season finale, but came back last season to catch 35 passes for 611 yards and six touchdowns in 10 games. He tied for the team lead in touchdown catches and ranked second in yards receiving despite missing much of the season.

While recovering from his torn ACL, Watson signed a one-year, $13.25 million extension last fall that enabled his contract to run through 2026. Now he has a longerterm commitment.

F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix extended through 2037

Formula One and the Las Vegas Visitors and Convention Authority have committed to a 10-year extension to host the annual Las Vegas Grand Prix on the Strip through 2037.

With this year’s race, set for Nov. 19-21, that means there are 12 more Las Vegas Grand Prix events under contract; the 10-year deal will kick in after the 2027 race, when the current two-year deal expires, the two groups announced Thursday.

LVCVA will continue to pay F1 $10 million per year to sponsor the event each year starting with the 2028 race for a total of $100 million, pending LVCVA board approval at a future meeting. The LVCVA is also paying F1 $10 million for this year’s race and the 2027 edition.

Minnesota forward Foligno wins King Clancy award

Minnesota Wild forward Marcus Foligno has received this season’s King Clancy Memorial Trophy for leadership and service, the NHL announced Thursday.

The award is presented annually to the player who “best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”

Foligno was recently presented the trophy in a surprise appearance at the Masonic Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota by his older brother and teammate, Nick Foligno. They established the Janis Foligno Foundation in memory of their mother, who died of breast cancer in 2009.

The NHL will donate $25,000 to the foundation as part of the award to Foligno.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, June 5, 2026 ■ 3C

lll

WOMEN’S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

Hooked ’em again Texas defeats Texas Tech to sweep series, repeat as national champions

By The Associated Press

STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

Little Rock center fielder Zach Henry, left, slides as LSU shortstop Steven Milam makes a catch near center fielder Chris Stanfield at second base in Game 1 of the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional on May 30, 2025, at Alex Box Stadium.

RABALAIS

Continued from page 1C didn’t even qualify for this year’s tournament: LSU, Arizona, Louisville and Murray State. The other four lost in the regional round: CWS runner-up Coastal Carolina, Arkansas, Oregon State and this year’s top seed, UCLA. Come to mention, Vanderbilt, the No. 1 overall seed in 2025, didn’t make it into the field of 64 as well.

To carry that theme a bit further, none of the eight teams that were in the 2024 CWS made it back last year, either. Remarkably, 2025 and 2026 mark the first time since 1956-57 that there were eight brand-new teams in Omaha in back-to-back years.

Much parity in college baseball? Apparently plenty.

The parade of upstarts does have plenty of LSU-related angles. Cal Poly and West Virginia have first pitch of the super regionals at 10 a.m. Friday, with Little Rock at Troy at 4 p.m. West Virginia is the team LSU swept in last year’s Baton Rouge Super Regional, while Little Rock is, of course, the four seed the Tigers survived after losing to them in the Baton Rouge Regional.

None of the four, whose winners will meet in the CWS, has ever been to Omaha, with only West Virginia getting as far as a super regional. That means either Cal Poly, WVU, Little Rock or Troy will find itself in the winners’ bracket next weekend.

It’s a brave new college baseball world indeed. … Meanwhile, over in Lubbock, Texas, Texas Tech is waiting to see if a judge will grant Red Raiders quarterback Brendan Sorsby an injunction to be able to play this season. Sorsby, of course, admitted to betting tens of thousands of dollars — reportedly about $90,000 — while playing at Indiana and Cincinnati. He now wants to claim that he should be allowed to play because banning him would cause harm to his career and mental health.

Spare me. While Sorsby deserves compassion, he does not deserve another chance to play college football. Ever. Many rules and previous red lines in college athletics have become blurred out, often by litigation challenging previous norms. Want a sixth year like Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss? Find a friendly judge. Want to come back to college after playing professional basketball like LSU recruit RJ Luis? It will likely take finding a friendly judge.

There is no crossing the gambling line, though. If Sorsby is allowed to play, college sports will lose all credibility.

Texas Tech has already lost its credibility for trying to get him eligible. Not really for Sorsby’s wellbeing, but well, to win. One doubts the school would be going to the mattresses (“The Godfather” reference) for a backup right guard.

The school made a bad investment in Sorsby — reportedly about $5 million worth — though it’s doubt-

ful it will have to pay him all that if he isn’t allowed to play.

While Texas Tech deserves to be taken to task, the school probably wouldn’t be alone in this attempted end run to circumvent a sacrosanct rule like “NO GAMBLING.” Remember, LSU wanted Sorsby badly; the Tigers finished second to Texas Tech in the transfer portal chase before signing Sam Levitt. Would LSU have been so noble as to not allow Sorsby to play if the truth about his gambling had broken out while he was in the purple and gold? One would like to believe so, but who knows?

The truth is, this is Texas Tech’s problem. It never should have gotten as far as a courtroom, but now that it has, let’s hope justice is swift. … While the local sports scene may be quiet without LSU baseball still going, overall, it’s a busy June on the sports calendar. The NBA and Stanley Cup finals are in swing, as is the French Open through Sunday. The Belmont Stakes runs Saturday. Then next Thursday the World Cup begins, with the U.S. Open the following week at tough, windy Shinnecock Hills. And, of course, the aforementioned CWS. It’s all about enough to get everyone to late July, when, to me, football season begins. SEC Media Days will be in Tampa, Florida, July 20-23, with Lane Kiffin and three yet-to-be-named LSU players attending on the final day.

That’s a departure from recent years, when the LSU contingent was always on the first day.

Don’t worry, sports fans, it’ll be here before you know it.

NIANG

OKLAHOMA CITY — Teagan Kavan struck out five in the final two innings to back a strong start from Citlaly Gutierrez, and Kayden Henry homered to lead Texas to a 4-1 victory over Texas Tech on Thursday night at the Women’s College World Series for a second straight national championship.

Texas trailed 1-0 after four innings, but a bases-loaded throwing error by shortstop Hailey Toney allowed two unearned runs to score in the fifth for a 2-1 lead.

Henry homered off Red Raiders ace NiJaree Canady — in her final collegiate game — to begin the seventh and Leighann Goode singled to drive in the final run.

Gutierrez (11-3) allowed one

run on three hits in 41/ 3 innings.

Kavan notched her fifth save.

Canady (29-7) went the distance and allowed four runs — two earned — on eight hits with three walks.

Lauren Allred had an RBI single in the third to put Texas Tech up 1-0.

Coach Mike White led Texas to the school’s second title in his eighth season.

Second-year coach Gerry Glasgo, who had previously coached at UL, has led the Red Raiders to their only two WCWS appearances. Texas Tech fell 7-3 in the opener.

Texas won the rubber game of the three-game series against Texas Tech last season to claim its first title.

Texas’ Jaycie Nichols celebrates after scoring during Game 2 of the Women’s College World Series against Texas Tech on Thursday in Oklahoma City.

Texas won 4-1.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By KyLE PHILLIPS

Miles, Peyton earn 2A all-state honors

BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer

After a stellar season in Class 2A, two Baton Rouge area athletes earned first-team honors on the LSWA Class 2A All-State softball and baseball teams announced Thursday.

In softball, French Settlement’s Malloy Miles posted a historic season statistically. The junior started the season with three nohitters and a five-inning perfect game.

Miles went on to lead the Lions to the Division III nonselect semifinals in Sulphur. The Ole Miss commitment ended her season with a 20-2 record, a 0.66 ERA and 269 strikeouts in 127 innings. She also posted a 0.61

WHIP and a .074 batting average against.

Offensively, Miles was also a huge factor. She finished with a .427 batting average and a .540 on-base percentage. Miles had 34 RBIs, 23 runs, 15 doubles and one home run.

In baseball, Dunham’s Jackson Peyton earned all-state first team honors after the junior outfielder put up big numbers for the Tigers.

He posted a .341 batting average with 30 RBIs for Dunham.

Peyton also tallied 37 runs, nine doubles, four triples and four home runs. His efforts were critical for a Dunham squad that reached the Division III select semifinals as the No. 11 seed entering the postseason.

LSWA CLASS 2A ALL-STATE TEAMS

Continued from page 1C Baseball finished reliably at the hoop and drew fouls. With his nearly 6-11 wingspan, he was a consistent dunk threat.

Niang’s passing ability solidifies his case as a high-feel player. His assist numbers undersell how well he sees the floor. He finds teammates with interior passes after offensive rebounds or when defenders collapse on him near the rim.

He also threw not-so-obvious skip passes and processed defensive rotations well. His court vision and quick decision-making are bonuses to have for a play finisher.

The two major areas of improvement are his outside shot and onball creation.

Niang made only 4 of 12 3-pointers in 38 games. The minimal number of attempts is concerning since he stood on the perimeter enough and too often passed up open looks.

Not taking open looks as a small forward in the Southeastern Conference would be to the detriment of LSU’s spacing.

His ball handling is also lacking.

He rarely initiated offense or attacked set defenses, often defaulting to post-ups when he tried to create for himself. Raising his confidence as a shooter and dribbler would elevate him from a glue guy on offense to a respectable scorer.

Impact defense Niang usually served as a defensive stopper overseas — and for good reason. He started 13 of 38 EuroLeague games and carved out a consistent role due to being his team’s best perimeter defender.

His frame and mindset make him an annoyance while guarding scorers on the ball. During EuroBasket, Italy tasked him with checking NBA superstar Luka Doncic. The Los Angeles Lakers star scored at times, but Niang genuinely flashed the ability to force Doncic to pass out of shots

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By SERGEI GRITS

Italy’s Saliou Niang dunks the ball during a Eurobasket championship round of 16 game against Slovenia on Sept. 7 at the Riga Arena in Riga, Latvia. and miss tough looks.

Niang has the lateral quickness and length to stay in front and recover when blown by. While he still needs more upper-body strength, he’s functionally able to absorb bumps from wings and guards — a trait that should translate to college basketball. That gives him versatility to defend guards, wings and some power forwards.

His effort on the offensive glass carries over defensively, soaring for rebounds. He’s disruptive with steals and blocks for his position, and his best moment against Doncic came when he picked him clean at half court.

If Wade brings back the aggressive defensive philosophy he used previously at LSU, Niang could become even more disruptive. If he’s a pest on ball handlers and can fly for some blocks out of nowhere, he might be reminiscent of former LSU forward Tari Eason.

Niang likely won’t reach Eason’s elite defensive status, but he has the tools to approximate some of that ability.

One area of growth is screen

navigation. All defenders get clipped by hard screens, but Niang has the physical tools to fight over them even better than he did last season.

Final verdict Niang is a winning player. He does too many things well without the ball, at his size and experience level, not to help LSU. Barring unexpected development as a ballhandler or shooter, Wade won’t ask the former NBA second-round pick to be a primary scoring option. While Niang didn’t show natural off-the-dribble creation last season, that’s not a major issue.

The Italian pro can compensate by potentially becoming a top-10 perimeter defender in the SEC and an opportunistic off-ball scorer.

Combined with his connective passing, it would be surprising if he isn’t a starter for LSU. Becoming a serviceable and more willing 3-point shooter is the swing skill that could elevate him from a solid starter to a rare two-way talent in college basketball.

Pos. Player School Cl. Rec./Avg. P Caden Amie Pope John Paul Sr. 6-1 P Gage Guidry Vinton Sr. 8-5 P Gavin Polk Ouachita Christian Sr. 7-1 P Christian Sauska Newman Sr. 10-1 C Cohen Evans Catholic-New Iberia Sr. .436 INF Jack Falgoust Newman Sr. .291 INF Payton Hyden Many Sr. .441 INF Drew LeJeune Notre Dame Sr. .382 INF Reed Smalling Ouachita Christian Sr. .378 OF Ridge Coats Ouachita Christian Sr. .391 OF Tylon Jackson Oakdale Sr. .326 OF Jackson Peyton Dunham Jr. .341 UT Barrett Coody Rosepine Jr. 7-1 UT Grant Haydel Welsh Jr. 10-2 UT Carson Mooney Mangham Sr. .369 UT Terrance Robinson Oakdale Jr. .380 UT Charles Wilson Newman Sr. .333 Most outstanding player: Ridge Coats, Ouachita Christian Coach of the year: Pat Adams, Newman Honorable mention: Aaron Aldridge, Ouachita Christian; Caleb Bascle, Houma Christian; Aaron Beard, Lake Arthur; Gavin Blanton, Dunham; Cameron Bonin, Lake Arthur; Colby Casey, Mangham; Brynnum Chaney, Rosepine; Landon Cobb, Houma Christian; Peyton Crawford, Oakdale; Levi DeMoss, Calvary Baptist; Trey Dieudonne, Pope John Paul; Cobe Durio, Vinton; Brody Gray, Calvary Baptist; Gage Hayes, Kinder; Jonas Hendrickson, Many; Luke Hewitt, Catholic-NI; Noah Hoffpauir, Notre Dame; Ethan Higgins, Ouachita Christian; Christopher Holmes, Notre Dame; Cooper Holmes, Calvary Baptist; Zach Hu, Episcopal; Jensen Hurley, Oak Grove; Henry Kucharchuk, Episcopal; Bridrick Joseph, Franklin; Josh Kantrow, Episcopal; Johnathan Lee, Northlake Christian; Lathan Lee, Many; Evan Pearce, Rosepine; Blake Pierce, Mangham; Paxton Prince, Homer; Peyton Procell, Menard; Brennan McGee, Vinton; Riddick Meaux, Kinder; Kaghan Miller, Many; Max Millett, Northlake Christian; William Raymond, Ouachita Christian; Turner Rodriguez, DeQuincy; Reeves Scroggs, Menard; J.D. Shelton, Menard; Kaleb Simon, Lafayette Christian; Tyler Strickland, Oak Grove; Collier Villere, Newman; Grant Weidner, Kinder; Ayden Welch, Lafayette Christian.

Softball Pos. Player School Cl. Rec./Avg. P Kynzee Anderson Calvary Baptist Sr. 30-1 P Kinley Cox Oak Grove So. 13-5 P Malloy Miles French Settlement Jr. 20-2 P Ainslie Willis Oakdale Sr. 16-8 C Kaylie Callender Winnfield So. .537 INF Joley Bennett D’Arbonne Woods So. .544 INF Baylor Bockhaus Calvary Baptist So. .486 INF Loren Sivils Calvary Baptist Jr. .462 INF Maddison Sumbler Oakdale Jr. .630 OF Lylah Madere St. Thomas Aquinas So. .578 OF Brynn Robinson Calvary Baptist Fr. .470 OF Sawyer Shelton Menard Sr. .480 UT Caroline Bradley Oak Grove Jr. .419 UT Karley Caskey Winnfield Jr. .404 UT Kennedy Reppond Ouachita Christian Sr. .462 UT Analeigh Roberts Rosepine Sr. .565 UT Kenley Sonnier Notre Dame So. .577 Most outstanding player: Kynzee Anderson, Calvary Baptist Coach of the year: Tiffany Wood, Calvary Baptist Honorable mention: Aubrie Bertrand, East Beauregard; Kaleigh Blackburn, North Caddo; Hannah Brister, Slaughter Charter; Kelsey Bruce, Ouachita Christian; Mallory Carver, Calvary Baptist; Karley Caskey, Winnfield; Caroline Cedars, Many; Emily Cooley, DeQuincy; Lily Cunningham, Houma Christian; Emily Doiron, Houma Christian; Caylee Downs, Many; Emma Davis, Menard; Annabelle Drago, Menard; Mia Ennis, Country Day; Conlee Flotte, Slaughter Charter; Audi Flowers, DeQuincy; Sydney Fraher, Northlake Christian; Niki Gardner, Episcopal; Carlie Guile, Calvary Baptist; Avery Hankins, Oak Grove; Kylee Hardison, Oakdale; Abigail Hardy, Mangham; Santana Harris, Winnfield; Alivia Hayes, Houma Christian; Alaura Hough, Pickering; Lylah Jones, D’Arbonne Woods; Maddie Jones, Rosepine; Marli Jones, Rosepine; Mia Klein, Lake Arthur; Jesse Lambert, Newman; Kaylee Methvin, Menard; Kenna Miles, French Settlement; Fallyn Moore, Oak Grove; Addie Morris, Ouachita Christian; Allie Payne, Many; Gracie Price, Oak Grove; Kaylynn Rainey, North Caddo; Ellie Kate Ray, Oak Grove; Peyton Reeves, East Beauregard; Kam Rodriguez, Pope John Paul; Hadley Spellman, French Settlement; Kaylee Vercher, Winnfield; Maddie Vinatieri, DeQuincy; Reese Walker, Calvary Baptist; Piper Weatherly, Vidalia; Abigail Willie, Northlake Christian; Aubrey Zachary, D’Arbonne Woods.

■ The Advocate 4C ■ Friday Friday, June 5, 5 2026 ■ theadvocate.com th

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WORLD CUP 2026 W C A N A D A

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U N I T E D S T A T E S

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M E X I C O

FIFA bans reusable water bottles in stadiums As high temperatures expected, last-minute move blasted by fans

Associated Press CORAL GABLES, Fla. — FIFA has made a late change of policy to bar World Cup fans from bringing refillable water bottles into the tournament’s 16 stadiums across North America, including some with limited or no shade from the sun.

The “Stadium Code of Conduct” update was criticized Thursday by

an English fan group, which argued FIFA had given assurances on carrying empty plastic bottles to fill with freely available water at a tournament where heat and extreme weather are expected to be factors.

“Naturally, the immediate thought from supporters is this is just the latest money grab,” the Free Lions fan group said in a statement.

Water, sodas and juices sold at World Cup stadiums are supplied exclusively by long-time FIFA sponsor Coca-Cola when the tournament starts next Thursday.

FIFA’s stadium rules had stated

that fans could bring in a transparent, reusable bottle up to one liter, or 33.8 oz. capacity.

The latest document dated Tuesday now states “for the avoidance of doubt, reusable water bottles may not be brought into the stadium.”

“In all of our discussions,” the England fans’ group said, “free water availability in stadiums was a key one and we were assured by FIFA that this would be the case.”

In a statement Thursday, the world soccer body said the decision to prohibit bottles — which could be thrown — was “to prevent risk and injury to players and attendees.”

“FIFA is committed to protecting the health and safety of all players, referees, fans, volunteers, and staff,” it said.

FIFA said some of the 16 stadiums had already prohibited fans from bringing water bottles, so the policy would apply across them all.

With temperatures at 90 Fahrenheit and above expected in many of the U.S., Mexican and Canadian cities hosting the 104 games, FIFA said “heat mitigation” for fans approaching stadiums would include “misting stations, fans, hydration stations, cooling tents, and more.”

“Inside the stadium footprint,

pricing for water bottles for the FIFA World Cup 2026 will remain consistent with other events held at each stadium,” the soccer body said.

FIFA has reacted to expected heat in some outdoor stadiums by enforcing three-minute drinks breaks midway through each half at all games. Critics have said turning all games into four quarters was to create more breaks for broadcasters to sell advertising.

“For all of the effort they are going to with ‘drinks breaks’ for the players, this is such a strange, late change,” the Free Lions fan group said of the water bottle ban.

Messi’s last dance Argentina seeks glorious end to star’s era with another title

BY DÉBORA REY AP sportswriter

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RIZA OZEL

Nigeria’s Akor Adams, right, fights for the ball with Iran’s Mohammad Ghorbani during a friendly soccer match on March 27 in Antalya, southern Turkey.

‘It’s not easy’ Iran players describe how the war with U.S. is affecting their World Cup preparations

BY KHALIL HAMRA Associated Press

ANTALYA,Turkey — Iran is heading to the World Cup while the country is at war with the primary host nation, a situation that is unique in the tournament’s history.

In exclusive interviews with The Associated Press during a team camp in Turkey, two members of Iran’s squad described how the conflict is affecting its World Cup preparations.

“Well, to be honest, it’s not easy,” said Saeid Ezatolahi, a 29-year-old midfielder who also played for Iran in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

“That’s going to be my third World Cup. So for me and some of the other players, it might be easier to manage these kind of things,” he said in English on the sidelines of a training session on Wednesday. “But at the end ... it is going to be difficult for us because at the same time, we are following the news in our country and the political things, of course, can affect the mind of the players and the people.”

The Iran team has spent more than two weeks in Turkey, mostly practicing at the coastal resort Antalya, and some went to the capital Ankara to submit visa applications at the U.S. embassy.

Media access to their World Cup preparations has been limited, and the players rarely speak to international journalists.

Based in Mexico The team is set to travel to Mexico this weekend after receiving visas from the Mexican embassy in Ankara. The team said Thursday that the process of obtaining entry permits had been finalized for all members of the squad.

Problems with visa processing meant Iran’s World Cup training

WORLD CUP

Continued from page 1C Balich called it a “very good sign” that Canada, Mexico and the U.S. were working together to host “a peaceful World Cup.” “I think it’s very important that we stress the fact that the three nations are working together to host a very important and relevant championship, especially in this moment where there is so much controversy on the politi-

base was moved from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, on Mexico’s border with California.

Iran will play its first two games near Los Angeles, which has a large Iranian community, many of whom oppose the current government.

“So for sure, we are expecting to have a lot fans during our games at the stadium,” Ezatolahi said. “And this is going to be a lot pressure for us because the expectation is going be high.

I just wish we can make them proud and show them that Iranians, they are prepared for every hard job in the world,” he said.

Mohammad Ghorbani, 24, is going to his first World Cup for Iran.

“It’s true that we are facing special circumstances right now but we are football players and we have to play, practice, and prepare ourselves for the competitions we have ahead,” the Abu Dhabi-based player told the AP in Farsi.

“On the other hand, we know that our people have been going through a lot of difficulties throughout the war, and we are going there for them, to get the best results for their joy and the joy of the people of our country.”

The U.S. and Israel launched its war against Iran on Feb. 28, killing its supreme leader and other top officials. Iran responded with strikes targeting Israel, U.S. forces and the Gulf Arab states.

It also has maintained a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, imperiling global energy supplies.

Despite a nominal ceasefire being in place, Iran and the U.S. have yet to negotiate a permanent end to the war and attacks continue in the region.

cal side,” said Balich, founder of Balich Wonder Studios. “But the people are people, and they will get together and enjoy.”

Each ceremony will feature top artistic performances that tap into the national identity, but Balich said spectators shouldn’t expect a Super Bowl-style halftime extravaganza. Instead, the ceremonies will combine welcoming speeches, a parade of flags, the presentation of the match ball and about 30 minutes of musical entertainment.

“It’s a celebration of football,

BUENOSAIRES — Argentina has bitter memories of 1994, the last time the United States hosted the World Cup. After the second group stage match, national icon Diego Maradona was expelled from the tournament due to a positive doping test. Maradona would never play another World Cup match, and Argentina was eliminated in the round of 16.

Thirty-two years later, the South American powerhouse is hoping for a happier ending for Maradona’s heir, Lionel Messi, who is turning 39 this month and is widely expected to retire from international soccer after the curtain comes down on the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada.

If he and Argentina manage to keep the World Cup trophy they won four years ago in Qatar, they will become the first team to win backto-back titles since Brazil in 1962.

It would also strengthen the claim of those who already call Messi the greatest player of all time.

“I love playing football and I’m going to do it until I can’t anymore,” Messi told Argentine broadcast journalist Joaquín “Pollo” Álvarez in a YouTube interview. “I’m competitive, I like to win at everything, I don’t even let my kids win at video games sometimes. It’s just my nature and what led me to achieve everything I have.”

After more than 20 years playing for Barcelona, Paris SaintGermain and Inter Miami, Messi’s body is showing signs of wear. A week ahead of what will be his record sixth World Cup, he is recovering from a hamstring problem that led to his substitution during Inter Miami’s final match before the tournament on May 24.

The Argentina captain worked out on his own at the team’s base camp in Kansas City this week.

“We all would have liked Messi to arrive without any problems, but that’s not the case. Not only him, most of the players aren’t fully recovered yet,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni told DSports, a Latin American TV network.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CHARLIE RIEDEL

Argentina forward Lionel Messi works out for the World Cup on Wednesday in Kansas City, Kan. Algeria in Kansas City. Next up in Group J are Austria on June 22 and Jordan on June 27 in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas.

Scaloni is relying on 17 of the 26 players who won the World Cup in 2022, even though several are not in peak physical condition.

“Why change them if they don’t deserve that? We’ve always been honest with them. The players who are here today have shown us they want to be here. And secondly, their level hasn’t dropped,” Scaloni said.

Argentina won the Copa América in 2024 and finished top of the South American World Cup qualifying group.

Atletico Madrid forward Julián Álvarez is key to Scaloni’s attack, while Barcelona, Arsenal, and PSG are reportedly vying for his signature for next season. The coach has also brought in three debutants: midfielder Valentín Barco, who recently signed for Chelsea, and forwards Nicolás Paz, a key player for Como in Italy, and Juan Manuel López, the top scorer for Brazilian club Palmeiras.

A notable absence compared to four years ago is Ángel Di María, who retired from the national team in 2024. Besides Messi, he was instrumental in Argentina’s success in Qatar.

“It’s impossible to fill Di María’s shoes. He and Messi are irreplaceable,” Scaloni said.

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, hero of two penalty shootouts in 2022, including the final against France, suffered a fracture to the ring finger of his right hand during the Europa League final while playing for Aston Villa.

Defender Cristian “Cuti” Romero is recovering from a knee injury he picked up in mid-April while playing for Tottenham. Right backs Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel are dealing with muscle injuries as is A future without Messi midfielder Leandro Paredes.

Argentina, also champion in 1978 Always soft-spoken, Messi has and 1986, will play its first group tried to lower expectations of anstage match on June 16 against other World Cup title.

“We have to get excited, like Argentines always do, but we also have to know that there are other favorites ahead of us who are in better form,” he said.

Messi already holds the record for most World Cup matches (26) and needs four more goals to surpass Germany’s Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 World Cup goals.

While he hasn’t explicitly said he will retire from the national team after the World Cup, he dropped a big hint last September when he talked about the team’s qualifying match against Venezuela in Buenos Aires as his last competitive home game for Argentina.

“It was very emotional, knowing this was my last competitive match here,” he said after the game at the Monumental Stadium. “I’ve been through a lot in this stadium — some great moments and some difficult ones — but it’s always special to play in front of our fans.”

Scaloni, like most Argentines, also gets emotional when thinking about a national team without Messi.

“I like to think he’s going to keep playing because otherwise you get sad, like what happened with Diego (Maradona),” Scaloni said in an interview published on the website of South American soccer confederation CONMEBOL. “They are players who have made history in football and thinking that they won’t play anymore doesn’t leave you at peace.

I prefer to think about the present.”

a show featuring Latin rock band Maná, Colombian singer J Balvin and South African pop star Tyla.

They continue June 12 in Toronto ahead of the Canada-Bosnia and Herzegovina game, with Alanis Morissette and Michael Bublé headlining, before heading to Los Angeles Stadium later that day for the U.S.-Paraguay opener.

International stars will take the stage at Los Angeles Stadium, including Katy Perry, global pop star LISA, Nigerian Afrobeats star Rema, Brazilian pop artist Anitta, and hip-hop artist Future.

The Italian producer is enjoying the distinction of producing the two biggest sports ceremonies in the world this year — the 2026 Winter Games opening ceremony and 2026 World Cup — even as Italy sits out its third straight World Cup. “It is very encouraging, actually, to compensate for the sad news that Italy is not there this time,” Balich said, adding that Italy’s absence, “which is a disaster for us, has also enabled us to be very impartial” in celebrating each country “in a similar way.”

Fitness concerns

FIFA and the fact that, thanks to soccer, people get together in peace and harmony,” Balich said.

Each ceremony will be held about 90 minutes before game time, following a 25-minute player warm-up that organizers hope will prompt spectators to arrive early.

While the Super Bowl celebrates “a game that is only famous in the U.S., the rest of the world plays soccer, and has a passion that is shared,” Balich said.

The festivities launch on June 11 in Mexico City, ahead of the Mexico City-South Africa match, with

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, June 5, 2026 ■ 5C

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NBA bans two fans for life after one runs onto court during Game 1

BY TIM REYNOLDS AP basketball writer

AP PHOTO By ERIC GAy

New york Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns shoots between San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama and forward Julian Champagnie during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday in San Antonio.

Towns held his own against Wemby in Game 1 of Finals Knicks looking for more in Game 2

BY TIM REYNOLDS AP basketball writer

SAN ANTONIO — Karl-Anthony Towns’ first two baskets of the NBA Finals were like countless others in his career. The New York forward got the ball 30 feet from the basket, surveyed the scene, drove right past his defender and scored at the rim.

These buckets, however, were not ordinary.

They were against Victor Wembanyama.

Towns helped set a tone for the Knicks in Game 1 on Wednesday night by going right at San Antonio’s best player — and the unanimous pick as Defensive Player of the Year — twice in the opening minutes. Towns didn’t get any more field goals against Wemban-

yama over the remainder of the game and didn’t have to, finishing with 18 points in New York’s 10595 win.

“You just trust your work and you trust your decision-making, and I always say about being aggressive in playmaking: It may not be for the shot or get someone else a shot or get the hockey assist going,” Towns said. “For me, when I go out there, I try to be aggressive in playmaking.”

That holds true against the best defensive player on the planet.

The Knicks did a lot right in Game 1, but perhaps tops on that list was not letting the 7-foor-4 Wembanyama take over the game or even get into a rhythm on either side of the court. Wembanyama scored 26 points — on 6-for-21 shooting from the floor — and got a text from former Spurs coach Gregg Popovich between the end of Game 1 and Thursday after-

noon’s practice.

The message from Pop? That “I’ve been bad and I’m better than this,” Wembanyama revealed.

While that may be true, the Knicks believe Towns deserved a lot of credit for not letting Wembanyama become completely dominant in the series opener.

“Wemby, man, obviously iconic player, you’re not going to stop him, you hope he misses,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “You’ve got to throw different people, different coverages at him. You got to try not to send him to the free-throw line. We sent him to the freethrow line 13 times, but KAT himself did a pretty decent job of trying to lead with his chest while being physical. Again, I think it’s all due to him wanting to do whatever he can to help the team while being present.”

NBA

Continued from page 1C other, trusting the basketball gods, trusting the game plan, executing, and not relying on talent so much to make shots or to save the day,” Wembanyama said. “We’ve been playing a certain way all season. We’ve been successful this way. There’s no reason to change the day the finals start.”

It was easy for the Spurs to find areas to clean up.

For the Knicks these days, that’s considerably tougher.

They’re 12-0 in their last 12 games, the third team to do that in a single postseason. The other two — San Antonio in 1999 and Golden State in 2017 — were NBA champions. The Knicks are certainly playing like a championship-capable team, but star guard Jalen Brunson insists that New York can’t subscribe to any sort of thinking that suggests the job is done and a parade is inevitable.

“It’s all about just getting better every single day, keep chipping away, keep chipping away, being 1% better,” said Brunson, who led all scorers with 30 points in his finals debut Wednesday. “When you take steps back, how can you improve? ... Having that mentality and focus and approach I think allows us to still be students of the game and still find ways to learn,

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ERIC GAy

The New york Knicks celebrate after winning Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday in San Antonio. even through wins, and I think we need to continue to do that.”

The Knicks were coming off their second nine-day break between series — an unintended consequence of sweeping Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference semifinals and Cleveland in the East finals — and handled it just fine.

But New York’s Mikal Bridges knows Game 2 will be better.

“I don’t think our Game 1s, even though we won, have been great at all,” Bridges said. “It’s tough to assimilate the emotional aspect, how physical it’s going to be when you’re in practice every day, besides being in those games.

It’s tough. ... Now, we kind of got a rhythm. We’ve got to be better and

I know we will be Game 2.”

The Spurs hope they will as well.

It’s not must-win time for San Antonio, but going to New York in a 2-0 hole would make the challenge of winning the finals considerably more daunting. The Spurs have handled all the adversity that has come their way so far in the playoffs, and now have to answer that bell again.

“It’s very reassuring,” Wembanyama said. “We know we’re not here by chance. We’ve been through some weird — what do you call it? — weird situations, whatever. Yes, it’s reassuring to know that these guys, the 18 guys we got, are built this way. They are resilient.”

SAN ANTONIO — The NBA banned two people for life from its arenas on Thursday, after one of them was arrested shortly after running onto the court during Game 1 of the NBA Finals and appearing to take a selfie next to San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama.

The incident occurred midway through the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s game between the Spurs and New York Knicks. The NBA did not disclose what role the second banned person, who did not run onto the court, played in the incident.

“The individual who entered the court area during Game 1 of The Finals was arrested and will be banned for life from all NBA arenas,” an NBA spokesman said in a message sent to The Associated Press and other outlets. “A second individual will also receive a lifetime ban for his role in the incident.”

The person who was arrested after running onto the court is a juvenile, according to a person with knowledge of the matter who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because that detail — first reported by the San Antonio Express-News — was not revealed publicly.

That fan appeared to enter the court from the sideline opposite the team benches, starting from behind the play and running into San Antonio’s offensive end. The person was quickly pulled from the court by two security guards and it did not appear the person made any physical contact with Wembanyama or any New York players.

“I even hesitate to describe that person as a fan,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday. “They seemed to have some ulterior motive for doing so.”

Wembanyama did not appear bothered by the incident, either

as it was happening or afterward.

“I’ve never been in that situation,” Wembanyama said. “I didn’t know how to act.”

He compared the moment to a game in January 2024 when a bat got into the Spurs’ arena and flew around the court, stopping a game against Minnesota for a couple of minutes.

Play on Wednesday was stopped for 1 minute and 29 seconds before the game resumed with a jump ball. The fan who entered the play was taken out of the court area through a baseline tunnel.

“I don’t think it was an event at all,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “I thought security got him out of there. I think everybody moved on to the next play.”

Silver lauded crew chief Scott Foster and the game’s officiating crew for handling the incident quickly, not disrupting the game for any longer than necessary.

“It’s unfortunately part of all sports,” Silver said. “There’s lot more security, much more apparatus in place than we needed maybe in the old days. I think the other side of the coin of global attention is that somebody realizes that there’s this enormous platform to do stupid things. So, we learn from every incident.”

League investigating fan’s Another incident involving fan behavior occurred in the final minute of Wednesday’s Game 1, when New York guard Jalen Brunson — who had a game-high 30 points in the Knicks’ comefrom-behind win — appeared to be upset by something said to him by a patron in a courtside seat.

Silver confirmed Thursday that the league is looking into what was said to Brunson. Asked about that incident, Brunson declined to comment.

LSU men’s basketball set to face Gonzaga in the fall

BY TOYLOY BROWN III Staff writer

LSU men’s basketball has scheduled what will likely be one of its toughest nonconference opponents next season.

Coach Will Wade’s team will play Gonzaga on Nov. 14 at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane, Washington, according to the game contract. It will be the first meeting between the programs ever. The game time was not listed.

Gonzaga is expected to field another competitive team, as it routinely has under 27-year coach Mark Few. The Bulldogs have been a preseason AP Top 25 team every year since the 2009-10 season and have finished outside the final poll only four times in that span. They went 31-4 last season and earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, losing 74-68 in the Round of 32 to Texas.

The Bulldogs returned important pieces and will likely be led by five-star transfer center Massamba Diop. The 7-footer averaged 13.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks as a freshman at Arizona State last season.

LSU has also agreed to participate in the Palm Springs Classic, a four-team multiteam event at Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, California, according to the game contract. The tournament runs Nov. 21-26 and LSU will face two of the three other teams in the field: SMU, Arizona State or Southern California. LSU’s first opponent and game times were not listed.

SMU was the only team in the group to make the NCAA Tournament last season, losing 89-79 to Miami (Ohio) in the First Four.

The Tigers faced SMU in back-to-back seasons under previous coach Matt McMahon, losing 74-64 at a neutral site in Texas on Dec. 14, 2024, and winning 89-77 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans the following year.

Arizona State finished 17-16 last season and enters its first year under coach Randy Bennett, who left Saint Mary’s after leading the Gaels to five straight NCAA Tournament berths. One of his

associate head coaches is David Patrick, a former LSU assistant under McMahon (2024-26) and Johnny Jones (2012-16).

The Aztecs also have former LSU forward Marcus Vaughns.

The 6-foot-8 Australian enrolled early at LSU in December 2025 and redshirted after not appearing in any games.

USC went 18-14 last season and is expected to improve with three top-30 recruits, including Christian Collins, the No. 9 player in the 2026 class, according to 247Sports.

The Tigers are also reportedly in the process of scheduling a game with powerhouse Houston at the Toyota Center, according to CBS Sports national college basketball reporter Jon Rothstein.

The details of this game, including the date, are not yet known.

The Cougars have won at least 30 games each season since 202122 and earned both the Big 12 regular-season and conference tournament titles in 2024 and 2025. They also have former LSU lead point guard Dedan Thomas, who transferred after one season in Baton Rouge.

Wade is crafting a challenging nonconference schedule designed to prepare LSU for the 18-game Southeastern Conference slate and hopefully have a compelling résumé to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022, when he was fired. The Tigers must have confidence that the nine players currently on the roster can compete at a high level.

LSU’s four international additions are 23-year-old Brazilian pro Marcio Santos, 22-year-old Italian wing Saliou Niang, 19-year-old Croatian forward Michael Ruzic and 23-year-old French center Brice Dessert.

The Tigers’ four transfers are forward Mo Dioubate (Kentucky), guard Divine Ugochukwu (Michigan State), guard Abdi Bashir (Kansas State) and guard Austin Nunez (UTSA).

Wade has reportedly added former St. John’s star RJ Luis as well. The 23-year-old went undrafted last year, signed a two-way NBA contract and was later waived. He never appeared in a G League game.

6C ■ Friday, June 5, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

SCOREBOARD

American League

National League

East Division

O/U UNDERDOG (214½) New York

Tampa Bay New York Baltimore Toronto Boston

W 36 37 30 30 26

L 23 25 33 33 35

Pct .610 .597 .476 .476 .426

East Division

Cleveland Chicago Minnesota Detroit Kansas City

W 36 33 29 25 24

L 28 29 34 38 38

Pct GB .563 — .532 2 .460 6½ .397 10½ .387 11

Cleveland Chicago Minnesota Detroit Kansas City

W 36 33 29 25 24

L 28 29 34 38 38

Pct GB .563 — .532 2 .460 6½ .397 10½ .387 11

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

Odds NBA FAVORITE at SAN ANTONIO

LINE 5½

Major League Baseball American League

FAVORITE Seattle at N.Y YANKEES at TORONTO Athletics Kansas City Cleveland

National League

LINE -130 -144 OFF -112 -116 -142

Central Division

UNDERDOG LINE at DETROIT +110 Boston +122 Baltimore OFF at HOUSTON -104 at MINNESOTA -104 at TEXAS +120

FAVORITE at CHICAGO CUBS at ATLANTA at ST. LOUIS Milwaukee at ARIZONA at SAN DIEGO

LINE OFF -136 -135 -155 -132 -129

UNDERDOG LINE San Francisco OFF Pittsburgh +116 Cincinnati +115 at COLORADO +130 Washington +112 N.Y Mets +109

FAVORITE at PHILADELPHIA Tampa Bay at LA DODGERS

LINE -182 -140 OFF

UNDERDOG White Sox at MIAMI LA Angels

Interleague

West Division

Wednesday’s games

LINE +152 +119 OFF

Pro basketball

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MATT ROURKE

NBA Finals (Best-of-7; x-if necessary) San Antonio vs. New York Wednesday: New York 105, San Antonio 95, New York leads series 1-0 Friday: New York at San Antonio, 7:30 p.m.

Monday: San Antonio at New York, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, June 10: San Antonio at New York, 7:30 p.m. x-Saturday, June 13: New York at San Antonio, TBA x-Tuesday, June 16: San Antonio at New York, TBA x-Friday, June 19: New York at San Antonio, TBA

N.Y. Knicks 105, San Antonio 95

FG FT Reb SAN ANT. Min M-A M-A O-T A F P Anunoby 31:07 5-12 4-4 0-3 0 0 17 Hart 26:47 1-5 1-1 2-15 6 4 3 Towns 34:22 7-15 4-4 4-12 4 4 18 Bridges 28:12 3-6 3-4 2-3 3 3 9 Brunson 37:03 12-31 4-4 1-3 2 2 30 Shamet 33:16 5-9 0-0 0-1 0 4 13 McBride 19:28 2-7 0-0 0-1 4 1 6 Robinson 13:09 1-2 0-1 1-6 0 1 2 Alvarado 10:57 3-6 0-0 0-4 1 3 7 Clarkson 5:39 0-1 0-0 0-1 0 1 0 Totals 240 39-94 16-18 10-49 20 23 105 Percentages: FG .415, FT .889.

3-Point Goals: 11-36, .306 (Anunoby 3-6, Shamet 3-6, McBride 2-6, Brunson 2-9, Alvarado 1-3, Clarkson 0-1, Towns 0-2, Hart 0-3).

Team Rebounds: 11. Team Turnovers: 1.

Blocked Shots: 4 (Anunoby, Hart, McBride, Towns).

Turnovers: 8 (Brunson 4, Towns 2, Alvarado, Bridges).

Steals: 8 (Hart 4, Bridges 2, Alvarado, Anunoby).

Technical Fouls: None.

FT

Reb

SAN ANT. Min M-A M-A O-T A F P Chmpgnie 31:13 5-11 1-2 3-10 1 2 16 Vassell 36:01 4-11 0-0 4-9 3 1 9 Wemby 37:48 6-21 12-13 3-12 2 2 26 Castle 34:27 7-16 2-2 3-8 3 3 17 Fox 37:55 3-13 1-2 0-4 5 5 7 Harper 27:31 6-10 3-3 0-8 1 2 16 Barnes 12:08 0-2 0-1 1-2 1 1 0 Kornet 10:12 0-0 0-0 0-1 0 3 0 Johnson 8:20 1-4 0-0 0-0 0 3 3 Bryant 4:26 0-1 1-2 0-0 0 1 1 Totals 240:00 32-89 20-25 14-54 16 23 95 Percentages: FG .360, FT .800.

3-Point Goals: 11-43, .256 (Champagnie 5-10, Wembanyama 2-9, Johnson 1-2, Harper 1-4, Castle 1-5, Vassell 1-6, Bryant 0-1, Barnes 0-2, Fox 0-4).

Team Rebounds: 6. Team Turnovers: None.

Blocked Shots: 4 (Wembanyama 3, Champagnie).

Turnovers: 13 (Wembanyama 6, Fox 3, Castle 2, Harper, Vassell).

Steals: 4 (Fox, Harper, Kornet, Wembanyama).

Technical Fouls: None.

New York 19 29 28 29 — 105 San Antonio 27 28 21 19 — 95 A — 18,835 (18,581). T — 2:30.

WNBA glance

EASTERN CONFERENCE W 6 6 5 5 4 3 2

L 2 4 5 4 4 6 9

Pct .750 .600 .500 .556 .500 .333 .182

GB — ½ 1½ 1 1½ 3 5

Minnesota Dallas Las Vegas Golden State Portland Los Angeles Seattle Phoenix

W 7 6 6 6 6 4 3 2

L 2 3 3 3 5 5 7 8

Pct .778 .667 .667 .667 .545 .444 .300 .200

GB — 1 1 1 2 3 4½ 5½

Tuesday’s games

Atlanta 91, Connecticut 75 Washington 90, Chicago 72 Golden State 95, Portland 77 Las Vegas 79, Los Angeles 69

Wednesday’s games New York 97, Toronto 82 Phoenix 72, Seattle 68

Thursday’s games

Indiana 83, Atlanta 71 Golden State at Minnesota, n

Friday’s games

Connecticut at Chicago, 6:30 p.m.

Dallas at Los Angeles, 9 p.m.

Phoenix at Portland, 9 p.m.

College softball Women’s College World Series At Devon Park; Oklahoma City

Championship Series

(Best-of-3) TEXAS VS. TEXAS TECH Wednesday: Texas 7, Texas Tech 3 Thursday: Texas 4, Texas Tech 1, Texas wins national championship

College baseball Super regional glance Double elimination; x-if necessary

Athens, Ga.

Saturday Game 1: No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 1 Mississippi St., 10 a.m.

Sunday Game 2: No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 1 Mississippi St., 11 a.m. x-Game 3: No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 1 Mississippi St., TBD

Auburn, Ala.

Friday Game 1: No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 2 Ole Miss, 7 p.m.

Saturday Game 2: No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 2 Ole Miss, 4 p.m. x-Game 3: No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 2 Ole Miss, TBD

Austin, Texas

Saturday Game 1: No. 1 Texas vs. No. 1 Oregon, 7 p.m.

Sunday Game 2: No. 1 Texas vs. No. 1 Oregon, 8 p.m. x-Game 3: No. 1 Texas vs. No. 1 Oregon, TBD

Chapel Hill, N.C.

Friday Game 1: No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 2 Southern California, 2 p.m.

Saturday Game 2: No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 2 Southern California, 1 p.m. x-Game 3: No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 2 Southern California, TBD

Lawrence, Kansas

Saturday Game 1: No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 2 Oklahoma, 5 p.m.

Sunday Game 2: No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 2 Oklahoma, 5 p.m. x-Game 3: No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 2 Oklahoma, TBD

Morgantown, W. Va.

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Saturday Game 1: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 St. John’s, 8 p.m.

Sunday Game 2: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 St. John’s, 2 p.m. x-Game 3: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 St. John’s, TBD

Hockey Stanley Cup Finals

Best-of-7; x-if necessary Tuesday: Vegas 5, Carolina 4, Vegas leads series 1-0 Thursday: Vegas at Carolina, n Saturday: Carolina at Vegas, 7 p.m.

Tuesday: Carolina at Vegas, 7 p.m.

Thursday, June 11: x-Vegas at Carolina, TBA Sunday, June 14: x-Carolina at Vegas, TBA Wednesday, June 17: x-Vegas at Carolina, TBA

Tennis French Open At Stade Roland Garros, Paris Purse: $33,513,885; Surface: Red clay

Women’s singles

Semifinals Mirra Andreeva (8), Russia, def. Marta Kostyuk (15), Ukraine, 6-1, 6-3.

Maja Chwalinska, Poland, def. Diana Shnaider (25), Russia, 7-6 (4), 6-4.

Men’s doubles

Semifinals Harri Heliovaara, Finland, and Henry Patten (2), Britain, def. Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Quentin Halys, France, 6-3, 6-4.

Mixed doubles

Championship Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori (1), Italy, def. Evan King, United States, and Gabriela Dabrowski, Canada, 4-6, 6-3, 10-4.

Golf PGA Tour

Friday Game 1: No. 1 West Virginia vs. No. 3 Cal Poly, 11 a.m.

Saturday Game 2: No. 1 West Virginia vs. No. 3 Cal Poly, 11 a.m. x-Game 3: No. 1 West Virginia vs. No. 3 Cal

Wyndham Clark Tommy Fleetwood Ryan Gerard J.J. Spaun Nick Taylor Sam Burns Justin Rose Patrick Cantlay Tony Finau Ryan Fox Shane Lowry J.T. Poston Ludvig Aberg Keegan Bradley Harris English Ryo Hisatsune Rory McIlroy Maverick McNealy Alex Noren Andrew Novak Taylor Pendrith Jordan Spieth Daniel Berger Eric Cole Alex Fitzpatrick Russell Henley Si Woo Kim Kurt Kitayama Hideki Matsuyama Xander Schauffele Adam Scott Gary Woodland Akshay Bhatia Bud Cauley Nicolas Echavarria Lucas Glover Harry Hall Sungjae Im Denny McCarthy Aaron Rai Scottie Scheffler Sudarshan Yellamaraju Cameron Young Corey Conners Jason Day Chris Gotterup Ben Griffin Nicolai Hojgaard Billy Horschel Min Woo Lee Patrick Rodgers Sepp Straka Sahith Theegala Justin Thomas Matt Fitzpatrick Mark Hubbard Matt Kuchar Mac Meissner Kristoffer Reitan Jacob Bridgeman Brian Campbell Brian Harman Michael Kim Brandt Snedeker Tom Hoge Robert MacIntyre Pierceson Coody Rickie Fowler Sam Stevens Jhonattan Vegas Matthew McCarty Alex Smalley

Andalucía

At Real Club Valderrama; Cádiz, Spain Purse: $20M (Individual); $10M (Team) Yardage: 7,010; Par: 71

Tyrrell Hatton Scott Vincent Thomas Detry Branden Grace Cameron Smith David Puig Sergio Garcia Min-Kyu Kim Bryson DeChambeau Charles Howell III Thomas Pieters Do-Yeob Mun Anirban Lahiri Matthew Wolff Ben Campbell Victor Perez Louis Oosthuizen Graeme McDowell Talor Gooch Joaquin Niemann Lucas Herbert Bubba Watson Danny Lee Abraham Ancer Luis Masaveu Byeong-Hun An Martin Kaymer Brendan Steele Harold Varner III Marc Leishman Jon Rahm Anthony Kim Sebastian Munoz Tom McKibbin Charl Schwartzel Cameron Tringale Caleb Surratt Peter Uihlein Sam Horsfield

67 67 68 69 69 69 69 69 70 70 70 70 70 70 71 71 71 71 72 72 72 72 72 72 72 72 72 73 73 73 73 73 73 73 73 73 73 73 73

-4 -4 -3 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 E E E E +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2

Major League Baseball

35-32—67 32-35—67 36-31—67 32-35—67 35-33—68 35-34—69 34-35—69 37-33—70 36-34—70 36-34—70 37-33—70 33-37—70 33-38—71 34-37—71 37-34—71 34-37—71 35-36—71 38-33—71 35-36—71 37-34—71 33-38—71 35-36—71 33-39—72 36-36—72 37-35—72 35-37—72 35-37—72 34-38—72 35-37—72 35-37—72 34-38—72 38-34—72 38-35—73 36-37—73 38-35—73 35-38—73 34-39—73 37-36—73 36-37—73 36-37—73 34-39—73 38-35—73 37-36—73 39-35—74 38-36—74 36-38—74 37-37—74 37-37—74 37-37—74 37-37—74 36-38—74 35-39—74 38-36—74 36-38—74 38-37—75 38-37—75 39-36—75 37-38—75 37-38—75 38-38—76 38-38—76 34-42—76 39-37—76 39-37—76 38-39—77 37-40—77 38-40—78 41-38—79 39-40—79 41-39—80 41-40—81 43-40—83

-5 -5 -5 -5 -4 -3 -3 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 E E E E E E E E E E +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +4 +4 +4 +4 +4 +5 +5 +6 +7 +7 +8 +9 +11

DP World Tour KLM Open

At The International; Amsterdam Purse: $2.8 million Yardage: 6,914; Par: 71

First round

Overnight suspended Julien Guerrier, France Joe Dean, England Sebastian Soderberg, Sweden Jordan Gumberg, United States Calum Hill, Scotland Paul Waring, England Alexander Levy, France Dylan Frittelli, South Africa Pablo Larrazabal, Spain Clement Charmasson, France Oliver Lindell, Finland Joost Luiten, Netherlands Daniel Rodrigues, Portugal Richard Sterne, South Africa Callum Tarren, England Bernd Wiesberger, Austria

18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 18

Transactions

At Muirfield Village Golf Club Dublin, Ohio Purse: $20 million Yardage: 7,569; Par: 72

First round

-6 -5 -4 -3 -3 -3 -2 -2 -2 -2

LIV Golf

First round

NHL playoffs

Memorial Tournament

Atlanta New York Toronto Indiana Washington Chicago Connecticut

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Friday Game 1: No. 3 Troy vs. No. 4 Little Rock, 4 p.m.

Saturday Game 2: No. 3 Troy vs. No. 4 Little Rock, 2 p.m. x-Game 3: No. 3 Troy vs. No. 4 Little Rock, TBD

Score, through Julien Guerrier, France Joe Dean, England Sebastian Soderberg, Sweden Calum Hill, Scotland Jordan Gumberg, United States Paul Waring, England Daniel Rodrigues, Portugal Richard Sterne, South Africa Clement Charmasson, France Joost Luiten, Netherlands

34-31—65 31-35—66 32-35—67 34-34—68 37-31—68 33-35—68 18-0—18 0-33—33 35-3—38 35-34—69 33-36—69 35-34—69 34-35—69 34-35—69 36-33—69 36-33—69

-6 -5 -4 -3 -3 -3 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2

American League BALTIMORE ORIOLES — Acquired RHP Kyle Nicolas from Cincinnati in exchange for cash considerations and optioned him to Norfolk (IL). Designated RHP Eduarniel Núñez for assignment.

BOSTON RED SOX — Transferred SS Trevor Story to the 60-day IL. Selected the contract of RHP Tommy Kahnle from Worcester (IL). Optioned LHP Tyler Samaniego to Worcester.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX — Optioned LHP Chris Murphy to Charlotte (IL).

CLEVELAND GUARDIANS — Sent SS Gabriel Arias on a rehab assignment to Columbus (IL).

HOUSTON ASTROS — Designated C César Salazar and LF Rhylan Thomas for assignment. Reinstated LF Joey Loperfido from the 10-day IL and optioned him Sugar Land (PCL). Agreed to terms with 1B LaMonte Wade Jr. on a contract. Selected the contract of C Collin Price from Sugar Land.

Optioned LF Zach Cole to Sugar Land.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS — Transferred 2B Jonathan India to the 60-day IL. Selected the contract of 3B Josh Rojas from Omaha (IL).

MINNESOTA TWINS — Agreed to terms with RHP Jake Covey on a minor league contract.

TEXAS RANGERS — Agreed to terms with RHP Josh Sborz on a minor league contract.

Reinstated SS Corey Seager from the 10-day IL. Optioned 3B Cody Freeman to Round Rock (PCL).

TORONTO BLUE JAYS — Designated RHP Tanner Andrews for assignment. Optioned RHP Hayden Juenger to Buffalo (IL). Selected the contract of RHP Chad Dallas from Buffalo.

National League ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS — Sent LF Jordan Lawlar on a rehab assignment to Reno (PCL). Optioned RHP Brandon Pfaadt to Reno. Recalled LHP Philip Abner and RHP Kade Strowd from Reno.

ATLANTA BRAVES — Designated C Chadwick Tromp for assignment. Transferred C Sean Murphy to the 60-day IL. Optioned CF DaShawn Keirsey Jr. to Gwinnett (IL). Selected the contract of C Austin Wynns and CF DaShawn Keirsey Jr. from Gwinnett.

CINCINNATI REDS — Sent C Jose Trevino on a rehab assignment to Louisville (IL).

LOS ANGELES DODGERS — Sent RHP Evan Phillips on a rehab assignment to Oklahoma City (PCL).

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS — Sent C Logan Porter outright to Sacramento (PCL).

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS — Sent 3B Ramón Urías and LF Nathan Church on rehab assignments to Memphis (IL).

FOOTBALL

NFL ARIZONA CARDINALS — Signed S Isaiah Oliver. Released K Joshua Karty.

CLEVELAND BROWNS — Signed DE Benton Whitley to a contract.

DETROIT LIONS — Signed WR Kyre Duplessis to a contract.

GREEN BAY PACKERS — Signed WR Christian Watson to a contract extension.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS — Signed OL Trystan Colon and CB Dane Jackson to contracts. Placed CB Keith Taylor on injured reserve. Waived OL Sal Wormley.

LOS ANGELES RAMS — Placed OL Chad Lindberg and OLB Eddie Walls III on injured reserve. Signed DT Time Kennan III to a rookie contract.

MIAMI DOLPHINS — Signed CB Chris Johnson and TE Seydou Traore to rookie contracts.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS — Waived WR Joaquin Davis. Signed WRs Trayvon Rudolph and Michael Briscoe to contracts.

HOCKEY

NHL BOSTON BRUINS — Signed F Navrin Mutter to a one-year, two-way contract extension.

ST. LOUIS BLUES — Signed F Dylan Peterson to a one-year contract.

L 21 29 32 34 35

Pct GB .667 — .532 8½ .492 11 .460 13 .435 14½

Milwaukee St. Louis Pittsburgh Chicago Cincinnati

W 37 32 33 32 31

L 23 28 29 30 30

Pct .617 .533 .532 .516 .508

Los Angeles Arizona San Diego San Francisco Colorado

W 40 32 32 25 24

L 22 29 29 38 39

Pct GB .645 — .525 7½ .525 7½ .397 15½ .381 16½

Central Division

West Division

Wednesday’s games

GB — 5 5 6 6½

N.Y. Yankees 2, Cleveland 1 Baltimore 8, Boston 2 Toronto 7, Atlanta 2 Kansas City at Minnesota, n Athletics at Chicago Cubs, n Pittsburgh at Houston, n

Philadelphia 6, San Diego 4 San Francisco 12, Milwaukee 9 Toronto 7, Atlanta 2 Athletics at Chicago Cubs, n Pittsburgh at Houston, n L.A. Dodgers at Arizona, n

Chicago White Sox (Kay 5-1) at Philadelphia (Luzardo 4-4), 5:40 p.m.

Seattle (Woo 5-3) at Detroit (Valdez 2-4), 5:40 p.m.

Boston (Gray 6-1) at N.Y. Yankees (Weathers 2-3), 6:05 p.m.

Baltimore (Young 3-1) at Toronto (Yesavage 2-2), 6:07 p.m.

Tampa Bay (Rasmussen 4-2) at Miami (Gusto 0-0), 6:10 p.m.

Athletics (Perkins 2-2) at Houston (Lambert 4-4), 7:10 p.m.

Cleveland (Messick 6-1) at Texas (Rocker 2-5), 7:15 p.m.

Kansas City (Wacha 4-3) at Minnesota (Matthews 1-3), 7:15 p.m.

L.A. Angels (Detmers 2-5) at L.A. Dodgers (Sasaki 3-3), 9:10 p.m.

San Francisco (Ray 3-6) at Chicago Cubs (Brown 2-2), 1:20 p.m.

Chicago White Sox (Kay 5-1) at Philadelphia (Luzardo 4-4), 5:40 p.m.

Tampa Bay (Rasmussen 4-2) at Miami (Gusto 0-0), 6:10 p.m.

Pittsburgh (Keller 5-2) at Atlanta (Pérez 3-3), 6:15 p.m.

Cincinnati (Singer 2-5) at St. Louis (Leahy 5-3), 7:15 p.m.

Milwaukee (Sproat 1-4) at Colorado (Feltner 2-1), 7:40 p.m.

N.Y. Mets (Scott 1-0) at San Diego (King 4-4), 8:40 p.m.

Washington (Griffin 6-2) at Arizona (Kelly 5-3), 8:40 p.m.

L.A. Angels (Detmers 2-5) at L.A. Dodgers (Sasaki 3-3), 9:10 p.m.

Thursday’s games

Friday’s games

BOX SCORES San Francisco 12, Milwaukee 9

Baltimore 8, Boston 2

San Francisco Milwaukee ab r h bi ab r h bi Schmitt 2b 5 1 2 2 Yelich dh 5 2 2 0 Devers 1b 6 1 1 0 Chourio lf-cf 4 4 3 4 Kennedy 2b 0 0 0 0 Turang 2b 3 0 2 0 Arraez 2b 4 1 2 1 Sánchez c 2 1 1 0 Cox cf 1 0 0 0 Contreras c 2 0 0 1 Adames ss 6 1 2 1 Ortiz ph-ss 1 1 0 0 Lee rf 5 3 4 1 Bauers 1b-lf 1 0 0 0 Eldridge dh 4 2 3 1 Perkins cf 0 0 0 1 Chapmn 3b 5 1 3 2 Mitchell cf 1 0 0 0 Haase c 4 1 1 4 Vaughn 1b 3 0 0 0 Gilbert cf-lf 5 1 2 0 Frelick rf 5 0 1 1 Rengifo 3b 5 0 1 1 Hamilton 2b 4 1 1 1 Totals 451220 12 Totals 36 9 11 9 San Francisco 303 000 600 — 12 Milwaukee 100 020 213 — 9 E — Adames (11). LOB — San Francisco 10, Milwaukee 9. 2B — Chapman (16), Adames (18), Lee (13), Arraez (12), Devers (19), Yelich (7), Turang (13). HR — Schmitt (13), Haase (4), Chourio 2 (4), Hamilton (2).

SB — Turang (11). SF — Schmitt (3), Arraez (6), Contreras (4).

IP H R ER BB SO San Francisco 2 3 5 Houser 41⁄3 5 3 2 ⁄3 0 0 0 1 1 Hentges W,1-0 Brubaker H,1 2 2 2 2 2 1 Beck 1 1 1 1 0 0 Ramos 0 2 3 3 2 0 Kilian S,4-5 1 1 0 0 0 1 Milwaukee 6 2 2 Crow L,0-1 21⁄3 9 6 0 0 1 Hall 21⁄3 1 0 2 0 1 Anderson 11⁄3 3 2 Woodford 3 7 4 4 0 1 Ramos pitched to 4 batters in the 9th.

Umpires — Home, Edwin Jimenez; First, Ramon De Jesus; Second, Paul Clemons; Third, Quinn Wolcott.

T — 3:21. A — 32,570 (41,700).

Baltimore Boston ab r h bi ab r h bi Ward lf 5 1 3 1 Duran lf 4 0 0 0 Hendrsn ss 3 1 0 0 Rafaela cf 4 1 1 0 Rtschmn dh 5 0 1 1 Abreu rf 3 0 1 0 Alonso 1b 4 1 2 0 Contreras 1b 4 1 2 2 Basallo c 4 2 1 1 Kiner-Flfa ss 4 0 0 0 Taveras cf 5 1 1 1 Mnastrio 2b 2 0 1 0 Cowser rf 3 1 1 1 Seigler 2b 2 0 0 0 Mayo 3b 4 1 1 3 Durbin 3b 4 0 1 0 Holliday 2b 2 0 0 0 Narváez c 3 0 0 0 Wong dh 3 0 1 0 Totals 35 810 8 Totals 33 2 7 2 Baltimore 600 020 000 — 8 Boston 000 001 001 — 2 E — Contreras (2). DP — Baltimore 1, Boston 1. LOB — Baltimore 8, Boston 5.

2B — Ward (16), Mayo (6), Basallo (9), Monasterio (10). HR — Contreras (12). SB — Taveras (7). SF — Cowser (2).

IP H R ER BB SO Baltimore 1 1 3 Rogers W,3-6 52⁄3 5 1 1 ⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 Cano Wells 1 0 0 0 0 1 Akin 1 1 0 0 0 1 Kittredge 1 1 1 1 0 1 Boston Bello L,2-6 5 7 8 8 3 4 Morán 2 1 0 0 1 3 Kahnle 2 2 0 0 2 1 HBP — Bello (Henderson).

ABS Challenge — Bello (Ball-Overturned to Strike); Rutschman (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Narváez (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Contreras (Strike-Confirmed); Henderson (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Duran (StrikeConfirmed); Basallo (Strike-Overturned to Ball).

Umpires — Home, Marvin Hudson; First, Nick Mahrley; Second, Tripp Gibson; Third, Ryan Blakney.

T — 2:42. A — 33,180 (37,755).

N.Y. Yankees 2, Cleveland 1

Philadelphia 6, San Diego 4

Cleveland

New York ab r h bi ab Fry dh 3 0 0 0 Grisham cf 4 Manzrdo dh 1 0 0 0 Rice dh 3 Ramírez 3b 4 1 1 0 Gldshmdt 1b 3 Hoskins 1b 2 0 0 0 Bellinger lf 3 Bazzana 2b 4 0 0 0 Chisholm 2b 1 Martínez rf 4 0 0 0 Caballero ss 3 Fairchild cf 2 0 1 1 McMahon 3b 3 DeLauter ph 1 0 0 0 Escarra c 3 Kwan lf 3 0 0 0 Schuemnn rf 3 Hedges c 2 0 0 0 Rocchio ss 3 0 0 0

r h bi 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

Totals 29 1 2 1 Totals 26 2 5 2 Cleveland 000 100 000 — 1 New York 000 100 10x — 2 DP — Cleveland 2, New York 0. LOB — Cleveland 5, New York 3. 2B — Grisham (10). SB — Ramírez (22), Bellinger (7), Goldschmidt (1), Chisholm (15). SF — Chisholm (2).

IP H R ER BB SO Cleveland Cecconi 6 4 1 1 1 4 Heuer L,0-1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Festa 1 0 0 0 0 2 New York Rodón 6 2 1 1 3 7 Headrick W,4-1 1 0 0 0 1 1 Cruz H,11 1 0 0 0 0 0 Bednar S,13-15 1 0 0 0 0 0 WP — Heuer.

ABS Challenge — Rodón (Ball-Confirmed); Fry (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Kwan (Strike-Confirmed); Festa (Ball-Overturned to Strike); Bednar (Ball-Confirmed).

Umpires — Home, James Jean; First, Erich Bacchus; Second, Chris Segal; Third, Laz Diaz.

T — 2:20. A — 39,504 (47,309).

San Diego

Philadelphia ab r h bi ab r h bi Tatis 2b 4 0 0 0 Schwarber dh4 0 1 0 Sheets lf 2 1 0 0 Turner ss 4 1 1 1 Mchado 3b 4 1 1 2 Harper 1b 3 2 1 0 France 1b 2 1 0 0 Marsh lf 4 0 1 1 Merrill cf 3 1 1 2 Bohm 3b 4 0 2 1 Bogaerts ss 4 0 0 0 Stott 2b 4 0 2 1 Andujar dh 4 0 0 0 Realmuto c 4 0 0 0 Fermin c 3 0 0 0 García rf 4 1 1 1 Bowen ph 1 0 0 0 Crawford cf 3 2 1 0 Johnson rf 3 0 2 0 Totals 30 4 4 4 Totals 34 6 10 5 San Diego 000 000 202 — 4 Philadelphia 000 120 30x — 6 E — Matsui (1), Fermin (5). DP — San Diego 1, Philadelphia 1. LOB — San Diego 4, Philadelphia 7. 2B — Crawford (9). HR — Machado (11), Merrill (6), García (5). SB — Turner (12).

IP H R ER BB SO San Diego Giolito L,2-1 4 6 3 2 1 5 Matsui 1 0 0 0 1 2 Marinaccio 1 1 0 0 0 2 1 Morejon ⁄3 3 3 3 1 0 Peralta 12⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 Philadelphia Wheeler W,5-1 7 2 2 2 3 8 Kerkering 1 1 0 0 1 1 Alvarado 1 1 2 2 1 1 Giolito pitched to 2 batters in the 5th.

ABS Challenge — Giolito (Ball-Overturned to Strike); Bohm (Strike-Confirmed); Andujar (Strike-Confirmed); Turner (StrikeConfirmed); Fermin (Strike-Confirmed).

Umpires — Home, Vic Carapazza; First, Nic Lentz; Second, Edwin Moscoso; Third, Hunter Wendelstedt.

T — 2:45. A — 37,812 (42,901).

THIS DATE IN BASEBALL

BASKETBALL

WNBA PHOENIX MERCURY — Released G Shay Ciezki. Signed G Kiani Williams to a player development contract.

TORONTO TEMPO — Waived C Nikolina Milic.

WASHINGTON MYSTICS — Signed G Alicia Florez to a contract.

W 42 33 31 29 27

Miami 4, Washington 1 N.Y. Mets 7, Seattle 1 Philadelphia 3, San Diego 2 Atlanta 7, Toronto 3 Kansas City 5, Cincinnati 2 San Francisco 1, Milwaukee 0 St. Louis 5, Texas 3 Athletics 5, Chicago Cubs 4, 10 innings Houston 11, Pittsburgh 9 L.A. Angels 11, Colorado 4 L.A. Dodgers 7, Arizona 0

Friday’s games

Leaderboard

Poly, TBD

Atlanta Philadelphia Washington Miami New York

Detroit 7, Tampa Bay 2 Chicago White Sox 8, Minnesota 0 N.Y. Mets 7, Seattle 1 Boston 8, Baltimore 1 Atlanta 7, Toronto 3 Cleveland 5, N.Y. Yankees 4 Kansas City 5, Cincinnati 2 St. Louis 5, Texas 3 Athletics 5, Chicago Cubs 4, 10 innings Houston 11, Pittsburgh 9 L.A. Angels 11, Colorado 4

Thursday’s games

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Adolis García celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run off of San Diego Padres pitcher Lucas Giolito in the seventh inning on Thursday in Philadelphia. The Phillies won 6-4 to sweep the series.

Troy, Ala.

Late Tuesday

FG

Fun in Philly

GB — ½ 8 8 11

June 5 1915 — Philadelphia’s Grover Cleveland Alexander lost his no-hitter when Artie Butler punched a single with two outs in the ninth. Alexander struck out Bob Bescher for the final out to beat St. Louis 3-0. Alexander went on to pitch three more one-hitters during the season.

1929 — The Cincinnati Reds scored nine runs in the sixth inning en route to a 21-4 romp over the Chicago Cubs.

1935 — Chicago White Sox rookie John Whitehead loses to St. Louis 2-0. It was his first loss after winning his first eight starts, an AL record for the start of a career.

1949 — Commissioner Happy Chandler lifted the ban on all players who jumped to Mexico, starting in 1946.

1955 — Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees hit a home run off Chicago’s Billy Pierce that traveled about 550 feet. The ball cleared the left-field upper deck at Comiskey Park.

1959 — Pittsburgh’s Dick Stuart hit the longest home run at Forbes Field. Stuart smashed a shot over the center-field wall off Chicago pitcher Glenn Hobbie.

1966 — Leo Cardenas of the Reds hit four home runs in a doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs. Cardenas hit two home runs in each game as Cincinnati won the opener 8-3 but dropped the second game 9-5.

1986 — San Diego’s Steve Garvey was

ejected for the first time in his career when he argued a play at home plate.

Garvey, the on-deck hitter, protested the last out of a triple play by the Atlanta Braves. Television replays showed that Bip Roberts was indeed safe. The Padres lost 4-2.

1989 — The Blue Jays lost their debut in the SkyDome as Glenn Braggs hit a tworun homer to lead the Milwaukee Brewers past Toronto 5-3. The $375 million complex featured a $100 million, four-section, retractable roof.

1997 — Alex Rodriguez of the Mariners became the first Seattle player to hit for the cycle in a nine-inning game. He completed the cycle with a double in the ninth of a 14-6 win at Detroit.

2001 — Colorado pitcher Mike Hampton had two homers, three RBIs and recorded his eighth win as Colorado defeated Houston 9-4.

2008 — Atlanta’s Chipper Jones became the third switch-hitter in major league history to hit 400 career home runs. Jones’ homer off Ricky Nolasco was one of his four hits in the 7-5 comeback win over Florida. Mickey Mantle and Eddie Murray were the first two reach the milestone.

2013 — The Chicago White Sox and Seattle Mariners played the first game in major league history when each team scored five or more runs in the game when it was scoreless through the ninth. Alejandro De Aza and Alex Rios each had an RBI single in the 16th inning, and Chicago won 7-5.

ART FOR SALE

COMEDY AND COCKTAILS

The Baton Rouge Arts Market, offering oneof-a-kind paintings, pottery, sculptures and other artsy items, will run from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at Fifth and Main streets downtown.

The monthly event by the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge runs in conjunction with the weekly Red Stick Farmers Market. artsbr.org.

The Family Dinner Improv Comedy Troupe will return to the Hartley/Vey stage at the Manship Theatre for another evening of improvisational antics at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Doors will open at 7 p.m. and there will be a cash bar. The two-hour show is rated R-ish. $14. manshiptheatre.org.

THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND

DANCE IT OFF

DJ duo Interstellar will be spinning tunes for Taylor Swift Night at Chelsea’s Live from 10 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. Friday. Think “Cruel Summer,” “New Romantics,” “Blank Space” and more. Doors will open at 9 p.m. $10, advance; $15, at the box office.

For those 18 and older. chelseaslive.com.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M

|

F r i d ay, J u n e 5, 2026

1dn

Making it big PROVIDED PHOTO By GEORGE GODFREy RODRIGUE JR. FAMILy TRUST

George Rodrigue’s 1991 painting, ‘Loup Garou’

‘Over the moon’

And the Emmy goes to ‘Blue — The Life and Art of George Rodrigue’

BY JUDY BERGERON Staff writer

“Blue — The Life and Art of George Rodrigue” has won a national Emmy Award for outstanding regional documentary.

Jacques Rodrigue, the late artist’s son, accepted the award at ceremonies in New York City last week.

“I’m absolutely over the moon and so proud,” Rodrigue, also executive director of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts, said in an email.

“Blue” is a career-spanning film that follows famous Blue Dog painter Rodrigue’s life and journey as an artist. For the first time in 30 years, the film includes footage filmed inside Rodrigue’s studio as Jacques Rodrigue and his brother, Andre, led a brief tour of where their father painted all of his Cajun works.

Besides the fame for his Rodrigue iconic azure canine works, these paintings of Louisiana landscapes and outdoor family gatherings are also well-known. He died in 2013.

“For a film made right here in New Orleans by our local station WLAE-TV about my dad to win the national Emmy is incredibly meaningful,” Rodrigue also said. “Only five regional documentaries from across the entire country are even nominated each year, so to actually take home the award feels like a dream come true for us and for Louisiana storytelling.”

Under the direction of Sean O’Malley, a team at WLAE/6th Street Studios worked on the project.

“For years, I’ve been archiving and digitizing dad’s catalog, but also his materials and, footage and old TV interviews,” Jacques Rodrigue said in 2025. “So when the filmmakers first approached us, we had a real treasure trove of things to

ä See RODRIGUE, page 2D

STAFF PHOTOS By ROBIN MILLER

Caleb Broussard, left, as Jack, tells his best friend, Crutchie, played by Henry Gore, about how life will be in Santa Fe after they amass enough money from newspaper sales to move away from New york in Playmakers of Baton Rouge’s production of ‘Disney’s Newsies Jr.’

Kids on stage will play kids who changed the world in ‘Newsies Jr.’

Jack, played by Caleb Broussard, right, takes a liking to aspiring investigative reporter Katherine, played by Adelaide Overall, in the Playmakers of Baton Rouge show, ‘Disney’s Newsies Jr.’

BY ROBIN MILLER

Staff writer

There’s something profound about Playmakers of Baton Rouge’s production of “Disney’s Newsies Jr.” The musical is fun, true. It’s also equipped with the brand of challenging choreography that musical theater kids love to perform.

And they’ll be dancing everywhere when Playmakers opens “Newsies Jr.” on Friday in the Reilly Theatre.

But lingering beneath the dancing and showstopping numbers is the fact that the kids on the Reilly’s stage basically are the same age as the newsboys they’re portraying.

The newsies were teens, some even younger, when, in 1899, they were hawking newspapers for

‘DISNEY’S NEWSIES JR.’ A Playmakers of Baton Rouge production

7 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. SaturdaySunday, 7 p.m. Friday, June 12, and 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, June 13-14 l Reilly Theatre,Tower Drive, LSU campus l $20-$30. l playmakers.org

mere pennies. Most of them were homeless or orphaned.

But then they banded together and changed the system by taking on the nation’s most powerful media titan.

Little did they know, their effort would be the catalyst for the eventual child labor reform movement.

Real-life contemporaries Cast members’ expressions shift from excitement to all

ä See ‘NEWSIES’, page 2D

‘Star Wars’ movie partially filmed on Caddo Lake Sunlight illuminates Spanish moss hanging from branches of bald cypress trees in Caddo Lake near Uncertain, Texas.

STAFF PHOTO

By JILL PICKETT

BY MOLLY TERRELL

tain, Texas, where Captain Ron’s Swamp Tours operates from the Uncertain Lodge and Inn. Captain Ron’s Swamp Tours The newest movie in the Star Wars franchise, “Star Wars: was able to announce their inThe Mandalorian and Grogu,” volvement the day the movie was partially filmed on Caddo released, and posted to FaceLake near Shreveport, and the book, writing, “The swamps of crew was brought out by a local Caddo Lake were part of film swamp tour company. magic. We were honored to work The lake, which spans both alongside Disney on the new Star Louisiana and Texas, is at its ä See ‘STAR WARS’, page 2D swampiest near the city of Uncer-

Staff writer

2D ■ Friday, June 5, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

TODAY IN HISTORY

SHOWS TO WATCH — BATON ROUGE AREA FRIDAY

CHRIS OCMAND: Agile Brewing, 5:30 p.m.

ERIC BASKIN: Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 6 p.m.

STACI T & ROY B: Blue Iguana, 6 p.m.

PECAN GROVE: Agave Blue, Zachary, 6 p.m.

MATT HOLT: BLDG 5, 6 p.m.

THE LEE SERIO BAND: T’Quilas, Denham Springs, 6 p.m.

KIRK HOLDER: Galvez Seafood, Prairieville, 6 p.m.

DON POURCIAU & KONSPIRACY: El Paso, Denham Springs, 6 p.m.

ZEPHYRS: Court to Table, 6:30 p.m.

THE SKIPTONES: Old New Orleans Bar, 6:30 p.m.

WILLIS ALAN RAMSEY/DREW LANDRY: Counterspace Bakery, 7:30 p.m.

NIGHT RANGER: L’Auberge Event Center, 8 p.m.

TRAIN WRECK METHOD/NEZNUM/ABSOLUM/MISLED: Mid City Ballroom, 8 p.m.

HENRY TURNER JR. & ALLSTARS: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8 p.m.

SYLAS FAUST: Swamp Chicken Daiquiris, St. Amant, 9 p.m.

PARADE GROUND JUNKIES: Squeaky Pete’s, 9 p.m.

IAN WEBSTER & TAYLOR CLARK: The Vineyard, 9 p.m.

WYATT PUTMAN/STONE SOBER: The Texas Club, 9 p.m.

N’TUNE: The Showroom, 9 p.m.

SATURDAY

JOSH MARTIN: Leola’s Café, 11 a.m.

BAYOU COUNTRY BUSINESS EXPO WITH CHASE TYLER BAND, MARK BABIN, STONE SOBER, CONNOR MARTIN AND WHISKEY ROW BAND: Amazing Place, Central, 2 p.m.

DON POURCIAU & KONSPIRACY: VFW Zachary Taylor Post, 3 p.m.

IAN WEBSTER DUO: Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 5:30 p.m.

BRIAN RITTENHOUSE & CYPRESS COVE: T’Quilas, Denham Springs, 6 p.m.

JEFF BAJON PROJECT: BLDG 5, 6 p.m.

NASHVILLE SOUTH: Court to Table, 6:30 p.m.

ACOUSTICRATS: Bin 77, 7 p.m.

THE EPIPHANY PRESENTED

BY HAYDEN WINTZ: Mid City Ballroom, 7 p.m.

ALONE IN THE MORGUE/ GHOST PRISM/KONSTRICTED: Phil Brady’s, 8 p.m.

SAVANT BR LA: The Basin Music Hall, 8 p.m.

By The Associated Press

PROVIDED PHOTO

Veteran rockers Night Ranger will play the L’Auberge Event Center at 8 p.m. Friday. Tickets start at $53.90.

ACOUSTIC SATURDAY WITH DIXIE ROSE: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8 p.m.

TWO AMIGOS (STEVE JUDICE & BARRY HEBERT): Sullivan Theater, Central, 8 p.m.

JUNIOR AND SUMTIN’ SNEAKY: Archibald’s Dockside Bar, Plaquemine, 8 p.m.

SHAWN WARD XPERIENCE: The Queen Baton Rouge, 9 p.m.

RAINBOW RAVE: Splash Nightclub, 9 p.m.

PARTY AT JOE’S: Swamp Chicken Daiquiris, St. Amant, 9 p.m.

TITANIUM RAIN DUO: Scoreboards, Denham Springs, 9 p.m.

HENRY TURNER JR.’S SOLO CONCERT SERIES V: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 10 p.m.

SUNDAY

ERIC BASKIN: Watermark Hotel, 10 a.m.

JACI & JOSH: Leola’s Café, 11 a.m.

JUSTIN BURDETTE TRIO: Superior Grill-MidCity, 11 a.m.

JAZZ BRUNCH: Red Stick Social, noon SONGWRITER SUNDAYS: La Divina Italian Cafe, 5 p.m.

LUCY YOES: Pizza Byronz, 5 p.m.

OPEN MIC JAM: Fat Cat Saloon, Prairieville, 7 p.m.

DA VU 15: L’Auberge Event Center, 8 p.m.

CHRIS LEBLANC: Superior Grill-MidCity, 6 p.m.

BRENT ARMSTRONG: Danny’s Dive Bar, 6 p.m.

LSU JAZZ JAM: Classic Vinyls, 6 p.m.

KIRK HOLDER: Bin 77, 6:30 p.m.

SONGWRITERS OPEN MIC W/ HEATH RANSONNET: Coop’s on 621, Gonzales, 7 p.m.

ANDY PIZZO TRIO: Hayride Scandal, 7:30 p.m.

OPEN MIC JAM: O’Hara’s Irish Pub, 8 p.m.

THURSDAY

BRYCE BROUSSARD: Just Wingin It, 6 p.m.

KYBALION: El Paso, 6 p.m.

MICAH LIPSMEYER DUO: Superior Grill-MidCity, 6 p.m.

TONY TERRY: T’Quilas, Denham Springs, 6 p.m.

SWAMP EP RELEASE WITH QUILT, 2/4 FLINCHIN’, AND BLISS?: Mid City Ballroom, 7 p.m.

ENUF: Swamp Chicken Daiquiris, St. Amant, 7 p.m.

WALT WHITAKER: Backstreet Lounge, 7 p.m.

HENRY TURNER JR. & ALLSTARS: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8 p.m.

CHRIS LEBLANC: The Vineyard, 8 p.m.

BLUES JAM: Phil Brady’s, 9 p.m.

OUTLYING SATURDAY

MONDAY

3:05 EXPRESS: El Mejor, St. Francisville, 6:30 p.m.

JEFF BAJON PROJECT: Superior Grill-MidCity, 6 p.m.

TUESDAY

Compiled by Marchaund Jones. Want your venue’s music listed? Email info/ photos to showstowatch@ theadvocate.com. The deadline is noon FRIDAY for the following Friday’s paper.

CAM PYLE: Superior GrillMidCity, 6 p.m.

EDDIE SMITH: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 6:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

RHETT GUILLOT: BLDG 5, 5:30 p.m.

‘STAR WARS’

the newest Star Wars movie, released on May 22.

Continued from page 1D By that October, she said, the film’s crew stayed in the Uncertain Lodge and Inn Wars film, Mandalorian and and the Shady Glade Resort Grogu! If you have ever for a few days of filming. glided through our ancient But the pontoon boat they Cypress groves, you al- had wasn’t big enough for ready know why they came the crew, so Disney had a here. There is no place on barge moved from Miami earth quite like it. Look out for the crew. for Caddo when you watch the movie. Come and see Filming on the lake the lake that caught HollyRhodes-Werneke said the crew had pictures of the wood’s eye.”

The company is the No. 1 lake they wanted to be guidtour operator on the lake, ed to, and she immediately according to co-partner knew where each location Jean Rhodes-Werneke, who was. said they could fill a second “I’ve been on this lake for boat for tours because of 33 years, so we took them how busy they are. where pictures were, and They were contacted then also some more areas

by Disney in July 2024, that we knew they might be Rhodes-Werneke said, to interested in,” she said. arrange for a scout to visit One of the locations was Caddo Lake as a potential Pine Island Pond, where filming location for part of Rhodes-Werneke had asked

a friend if the crew could use her dock to film. She said the pond had calm water so that the crew’s equipment wouldn’t be jostled.

They even rebuilt Caddo Lake as a set in Los Angeles for the actors to use, she said.

The tour company also served as a point of contact for the horror film “Caddo Lake,” and a couple of Japanese shows have also used the location to film. She said a lot of people are attracted to the location because it’s beautiful in every season.

“It’s just magical and mystical,” Rhodes-Werneke said. “It’s such a unique place that some people find it very eerie, which is why some horror films have been here.”

Email Molly Terrell at molly.terrell@ theadvocate.com.

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1

Today is Friday, June 5, the 156th day of 2026. There are 209 days left in the year.

Today in history: On June 5, 1968, U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy was shot and mortally wounded after claiming victory in California’s Democratic presidential primary at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles; assassin Sirhan Bishara Sirhan was arrested at the scene.

Also on this date: In 1794, Congress passed the Neutrality Act, which prohibited Americans from taking part in any military action against a country that was at peace with the United States.

In 1950, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Henderson v.

United States, struck down racially segregated railroad dining cars traveling across state lines.

‘NEWSIES’

Continued from page 1D encompassing awe when the actual people their characters depict from more than a century past are mentioned. They look at each other and nod, understanding that they’re about to tell a true story of how kids came together to change the world.

Making this possible in the musical version of this story is the orphaned 17-year-old newsboy Jack Kelly, a fictionalized compilation of the nonfiction newsboys’ leaders, Louis “Kid Blink” Balletti and Jack Sullivan.

Jack, played by Caleb Broussard, dreams of one day leaving New York for the exotic-sounding dreamscape of Santa Fe, New Mexico, while looking out for his best friend Crutchie, played

by Henry Gore.

“Jack is a charismatic character,” Broussard said.

“He wants to be the leader, but he’s not cocky about it.

He can be clueless at times.

I feel like the musical kind of shows Jack peeling off layers and showing his true personality in the end.”

Crutchie, so nicknamed because he walks with a crutch, wears an optimistic face around Jack. Gore sees his character as comic relief.

“But as the play moves on, you realize that Crutchie is putting on a tough face,” Gore said. “There are times when he doesn’t put up that front, and you see the pain

RODRIGUE

Continued from page 1D share with them.”

“Blue” also features interviews with Rodrigue’s family, curators, critics, collectors and such notable admirers as chef/restaurateur Emeril Lagasse, former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and political strategist James Carville.

In 1967, the Six-Day War began as Israel, anticipating a possible attack by its Arab neighbors, launched a series of airfield strikes that destroyed nearly the entire Egyptian air force.

In 1981, the Centers for Disease Control reported that five men in Los Angeles had come down with a rare kind of pneumonia; they were the first recognized cases of what later became known as AIDS. In 2002, 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her Salt Lake City home. (Smart was found and rescued by police in a Salt Lake City suburb in March 2003.)

In 2004, Ronald Wilson Reagan, the 40th president of the United States, died in Los Angeles at age 93 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.

In 2024, Boeing launched

astronauts into space for the first time aboard its Starliner capsule, joining SpaceX as a second taxi service for NASA. Two NASA test pilots blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, bound for the International Space Station.

Today’s Birthdays: USA Track & Field Hall of Famer John Carlos is 81. Musician-artist Laurie Anderson is 79.

Author Ken Follett is 77.

Finance author Suze Orman is 75. Musician Kenny G is 70. Actor-comedian Jeff Garlin is 64. Author Rick Riordan is 62. Actor Ron Livingston is 59.

Singer Brian McKnight is 57. Actor Mark Wahlberg is 55. Actor Liza Weil is 49.

Actor-comedian Nick Kroll is 48. Rock musician Pete Wentz (Fall Out Boy) is 47.

Singer-actor Troye Sivan is 31. NFL quarterback Sam Darnold is 29.

that he’s in.”

upfront and kept the money from the copies sold. However, Pulitzer and Hearst refused to buy back unsold copies, then raised the wholesale rate.

That’s when Jack rallies newsboys throughout the city to fight back, turning the newspaper world upsidedown.

In the meantime, Jack meets an aspiring investigative reporter named Katherine Plumber, who decides to make her journalistic mark by covering the strike. Katherine is double-cast in this production with Ruby Dupre and Adelaide Overall playing the character in alternate performances.

Katherine and Jack meet in the vaudeville theater owned by his friend, the flamboyant Medda Larkin, played by Annalee Templet. Sparks fly and a romance blooms, that is, until the revelation of Katherine’s true identity.

Though the ending isn’t a surprise, there are plenty of story twists entrenched in the action leading up to it. And it’s all wrapped in a lineup of such signature songs as “Seize the Day” and “King of New York.”

“The actors really came in prepared for this show,” Johnson said. “They knew their material, and they gelled. But I couldn’t have put this show together without our stage manager and choreographer and music director and set designer — everyone in the crew. This is a big show, and I want to give them full credit.”

Things get rolling The plan really gets going when Jack and Crutchie meet Davey, played by Camden DeVaux, and his little brother Les, played by Juliet Beard. Unlike Jack and his fellow newsboys, the brothers have parents and a home, but they turn to selling papers when an injury forces their father out of his job.

So, Jack and Crutchie team up with Davey and Les for what seems like a lucrative partnership, and it would have been had Joseph Pulitzer not raised wholesale prices of the papers.

The name Joseph Pulitzer may sound familiar. He’s the namesake for the highest honor in journalism. He’s played by Aiden Wiltz in this show.

“And he’s the funniest Pulitzer you’ll ever see,” said Brandy Johnson, who is directing the musical’s cast of 25.

“I read about Joseph Pulitzer before the show, and I decided to do my own take on his character,” Wiltz said.

“Just the expressions he makes, alone, are hilarious,” Johnson added.

Pulitzer in real-life

The legendary newsman was the hard-nosed owner of the New York World, whose prime competition was William Randolph Hearst’s New York Journal. Both papers were sold by newsboys, whose source of survival were the newspapers they sold on the street.

Email Robin Miller at The newsboys bought the romiller@theadvocate. papers at wholesale prices com.

The Rodrigue documentary previously won the Suncoast Regional Emmy.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the filmmakers,” Rodrigue said.

The national Emmy is the latest award for “Blue,” which has also received a Silver Telly Award in the general-documentary: long form category. The Tellys, established in 1979, honor the television and video industry. “Blue” has also

been recognized at the New Orleans Film Festival, Amsterdam New Cinema Film Festival and World Film Festival in Cannes.

“Blue,” distributed by American Public Television, premiered on PBS stations in 2025. It is still available for viewing on the PBS Passport app.

Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate. com.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, June 5, 2026 ■ 3D

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AROUND BATON ROUGE FRIDAY

FULL DOME FRIDAYS: 10 a.m., Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S. River Road. Dive into science with interactive, hands-on experiences led by the education team. This week’s theme: “Aerospace – Forward! To the Moon.” $10 members, $20 general admission. lasm.org.

BATON ROUGE PRIDE KICKOFF WHITE PARTY: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Cary Saurage Community Arts Center, 233 St. Ferdinand St. Rooftop ceremony presenting grand marshals and court, heavy hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, live DJ, entertainment and sneak peek at Pride Fest. batonrougepride.org.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

BROMELIAD EXHIBITION AND SALE: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Baton Rouge Garden Center, 7950 Independence Blvd. Presented by the Bromeliad Society of Baton Rouge. (225) 324-6250.

EVENING SKY VIEWING: 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., BREC Highland Road Park Observatory, 13800 Highland Road.

See the majesty of the night sky, for those 6 and up. hrpo. lsu.edu/events.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

“THE LION KING JR.”: 6:30 p.m. nightly, also 2 p.m. SaturdaySunday, Manship Theatre, 100 Lafayette St. Opening for Central Community Theatre production, an adaptation of the classic Disney musical.

For all ages. $32. manshiptheatre.org.

FRIDAY-MONDAY

WACO THEATER CENTER’S “STILL HERE LIVE”: 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Monday; 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday, B. Jolie Salon, 240 Range 12 Blvd., Suite 108, Denham Springs.

Immersive hybrid installation and live performance centering on the lived experiences of Black women impacted

by HIV/AIDS, using art as a bridge to empathy, education and action. (225) 771-9987.

SATURDAY

STRONG & CALM WARRIOR YOGA: 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., USS KIDD Veterans Museum, 305 S. River Road. usskidd.com.

BATON ROUGE ARTS MARKET: 8 a.m. to noon, Fifth and Main streets, downtown. Vendors sell pottery, woodwork, textiles, glass, paintings, sculptures, photographs, handmade soaps, handmade toys and jewelry. artsbr.org.

RED STICK FARMERS MARKET: 8 a.m. to noon, Fifth and Main streets, downtown. Farmfresh produce and goods. breada.org.

FAMILY-HOUR STARGAZING: 10 a.m., Irene W. Pennington Planetarium at the Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S. River Road. Learn about the stars and constellations in the local nighttime sky, followed by an all-ages show. lasm.org.

FARMERS MARKET: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Livonia Travel Plaza, 8621 Airline Highway, Livonia.

Also, sno-balls, kids crafts, woodwork, jewelry, dirty soda, sweets, food specials and dog treats.

READ & CREATE: 11 a.m., Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S. River Road. Storytime followed by a themed craft.

Regular admission applies; free for members. lasm.org.

THE FLAVOR OF FLOWERS: A GUIDED MONOFLORAL HONEY TASTING EXPERIENCE: 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., LSU Hilltop Arboretum, 11855 Highland Road.

Presented by beekeeper, naturalist and certified executive chef Katherine Gividen. $35, Hilltop members; $45, general public. Space is limited; advance registration required. hilltop.lsu.edu.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Louisiana Art & Science Museum’s ‘Random Acts of Science’ program will be a part of Free First Sunday at 1 p.m., 100 S. River Road.

POETRY READING: 2:30 p.m., Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd. In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the death of Muhammad Ali, former Louisiana Poet Laureate John Warner Smith will read from his collection “Muhammad’s Mountain.” Free. ebrpl.com.

MONTHLY CONTRA DANCE: 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., St. Alban’s Chapel, corner of Highland Road and Dalrymple Drive.

Newcomer instruction at 2:45 p.m. Singles and couples welcome. $7 per person; free for first-timers. louisianacontrasandsquares.com or (225) 803-9194.

SATURDAY NIGHT BALLROOM RED, WHITE & BLUE DANCE: 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., American Legion Post 38, 151 S. Wooddale Blvd, Baton Rouge.

Ballroom, Latin and swing dancing. Cash bar; $15 cash admission (dancers and spectators).

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE

BY CYPRESS ROYALE: 7 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.), Poydras Center, 500 W. Main St., New Roads. $28, members; $30, nonmembers. artscouncilofpointecoupee.org.

seum of Art, 100 Lafayette St. Edgar Cano will discuss his work featured in the “South Arts” exhibition. Make your own mixed-media art house inspired by works on view.

Free. lsumoa.org.

SUNDAYS SMOOTH JAZZ SERIES: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Town Square, 222 North Blvd.

Bring lawn chair and listen to smooth jazz in this new series featuring guests artists each Sunday in June. Free. lazarronettles.com.

TEA PARTY: 4 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Mother’s Lounge, 143 Third St. An evening of drag, community and celebration hosted by Nicole Foxx.

Pay-what-you-can, benefits BR Pride. batonrougepride.org.

SUNDAY

WEDNESDAY

FREE FIRST SUNDAY: Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S. River Road; Old State Capitol, 100 North Blvd.; Old Governors’ Mansion, 502 North Blvd.; Magnolia Mound Museum + Historic Site, 2161 Nicholson Drive; LSU Museum of Art, 100 Lafayette St.; Cary Saurage Community Arts Center, 233 St. Ferdinand St.; and LSU Center for River Studies, 100 Terrace Ave. Free admission to all exhibits and installations, plus reduced-price entry to LASM’s Irene Pennington Planetarium shows.

“ROUX’S FIRST DAY”: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Old Governor’s Mansion, 502 North Blvd. A celebration of the children’s book rooted in the folklore and natural beauty of the Louisiana. Includes book reading by author Julie Gerdes Becnel; music class led by Children’s Music Studio’s Music Together program; live illustration demo by the book’s artist, Cullen Bernard; Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries with swamp life artifacts, hatchling alligators and scavenger hunt. Free. governorsmansion.org.

RANDOM ACTS OF SCIENCE: 1 p.m., Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S. River Road. Surprise pop-up science activity and tour of the Solar System Gallery, followed by a 2 p.m. show in the Irene W. Pennington Planetarium. Regular admission applies (except on Free First Sunday); free for members. lasm.org.

ARTIST TALK: 2 p.m., LSU Mu-

TUESDAY

RED STICK FARMERS MARKET: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd. Farm-fresh produce, goods, cooking demonstrations. breada.org.

BATON ROUGE CHESS CLUB: 6 p.m.to 8 p.m., La Divina Italian Cafe, 3535 Perkins Road, Unit 360. A chance to play and learn; all levels welcome. Free.

RED STICK FARMERS MARKET: 9 a.m. to noon, ExxonMobil YMCA, 7711 Howell Blvd.

Farm-fresh produce, goods and more. www.facebook. com/redstickfarmersmarket.

WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS: noon to 12:45 p.m., Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S. River Road. Family-friendly yoga session designed for all ages and experience levels. $25, nonmembers; $15, LASM members; all four June sessions, $85, nonmembers; $50, members. lasm.org.

AND MORE: 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., Brickyard South Bar + Patio, 174 South Blvd. Presented by BarFly Entertainment. Free to play. acebook.com/brickyardsouth.

ONGOING

ANN CONNELLY FINE ART: 1670 Lobdell Ave. Ryan Cobourn, through June 15; David Dew Bruner + Leroy Project, through June 30. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Free. (225) 927-7676 or annconnelly.com.

BATON ROUGE GALLERY CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART: 1515 Dalrymple Drive. Exhibit by member artists Randell Henry, David Scott Smith and John Isiah Walton, through June 21.

Articulate artist talk, 4 p.m.

Sunday. Hours: noon to 6 p.m.

Tuesday-Sunday. batonrougegallery.org.

CAPITOL PARK MUSEUM: 660 N. Fourth St. “Grounds for Greatness: Louisiana and the Nation,” “The Louisiana Experience: Discovering the Soul of America,” “African American History,” “Music and Musicians” and “Mardi Gras,” permanent exhibits.

(225) 342-5428 or louisianastatemuseum.org.

CARY SAURAGE COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER SHELL GALLERY: 233 St. Ferdinand St. “Eyecon,” a juried exhibition celebrating Louisiana’s LGBTQ+ history, June 7 to

July 3. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. artsbr.org.

THE GALLERY AT MANSHIP: 100 Lafayette St. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. TuesdayThursday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday.”Brandon Lewis — When All God’s Children Get Together.”

“LEARN TO PLAY THE MOUNTAIN DULCIMER”: Free fourweek class series for adults presented by the Lagniappe Dulcimer Society. Two series choices: 6:30 p.m. Mondays or 12:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fairwood Branch Library, 12910 Old Hammond Highway.

Loaner dulcimers available; registration required. Contact Maylee Samuels, (225) 2057407.

LOUISIANA ART & SCIENCE MUSEUM: 100 S. River Road.

“Then, And Now, And Always: The Artwork of Nick Bustamante,” through July 19, SoupCon Gallery; “Pinpointing the Stars,” through Aug. 1; “Crossroads & Connections: A Century of the Railway in Baton Rouge,” through Oct. 1; “Going Places: Transportation Toys of the Past,” through July 6, and “Shelf Queens: Model Train Masterpieces,” also through July 6. (225) 3445272 or lasm.org.

LSU MUSEUM OF ART: Shaw Center for the Arts, 100 Lafayette St. “Views into the Collection,” works from the museum’s permanent collection. “South Arts Southern Prize & State Fellowships for Visual Arts, through Sept. 6.

(225) 389-7200 or lsumoa.org.

LSU TEXTILE & COSTUME MUSEUM: Human Ecology Building, Tower Drive, LSU campus.

“Quilts & Fashion,” exploring the enduring dialogue between quilt making and dress, through Jan. 15. (225) 578-5992 or email textile@lsu.edu.

MAGNOLIA MOUND MUSEUM + HISTORIC SITE: 2161 Nicholson Drive. Guided and selfguided tours. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday-Saturday and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. brec.org/ facility/MagnoliaMound.

MANSHIP THEATRE JONES WALKER FOYER: 100 Lafayette St. “Look up: A Philosophy for Birding and Life” by Gail Suberbielle. Free and open during regular Shaw Center building hours unless there is a private event.

OLD GOVERNOR’S MANSION: 502 North Blvd. Open for tours.

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Free admission. oldgovernorsmansion.com.

OLD STATE CAPITOL: 100 North Blvd. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tuesday-Saturday, plus Free First Sunday. Exhibits include “Japanese War Brides: Across A Wide Divide,” through June 13; “Bought for a Song: A Young Nation Expands,” display of the Louisiana Purchase, through July 11; and “A More Perfect Union: Reconstruction’s Legacy in Louisiana,” permanent. Free. louisianaoldstatecapitol.org.

USS KIDD VETERANS MUSEUM: 305 S. River Road. Displays of a variety of artifacts that celebrate veteran and naval military history. Note: Vessel is in Houma for dry dock repairs. usskidd.com.

WEST BATON ROUGE MUSEUM: 845 N. Jefferson Ave., Port Allen. Travel exhibit “Awkward Family Photos,” Saturday through Aug. 9.

(225) 336-2422 or westbatonrougemuseum.org.

Compiled by Judy Bergeron. Have an open-to-the-public event you’d like to promote? Email details to red@theadvocate.com.

Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday for the following Friday’s paper.

Mugs, shirts, hats, posters, books.

Something for everyone at the Advocate Store!

STORE.ADVOCATE.COM

THURSDAY

RED STICK FARMERS MARKET: 8 a.m. to noon, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road. Farm-fresh produce, goods and more. facebook.com/redstickfarmersmarket.

ART LAB: 10 a.m. to noon, Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S. River Road. Hands-on art experience where participants can explore different materials, techniques and imaginative projects. $10, members; $20, general admission. lasm.org.

OUTDOOR COMMUNITY YOGA: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., pavilion by the pond, LSU Hilltop Arboretum, 11855 Highland Road. Drop-in; no registration required; bring your own mat.

Free, but donations welcome. lsu.edu/hilltop.

WEEKLY SOCIAL BIKE RIDE: 7:30 p.m., Geaux Ride, 601 Laurel St. Free. geauxridebikes.com.

KARAOKE, TRIVIA, BINGO

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Focus fading by afternoon

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Visit our showroom on Perkins by College Dr to touch, feel, and experience all the Beauty of Hunter Douglas Blinds, Shades and Shutters.

4665 Perkins Road Baton Rouge, LA 70808 Call / Text 225-927-4130

Dr. Erik Hanson, MD Psychiatrist Louisiana

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Take Action for $1.11/day Use coupon code: “BRAdvocate” for an additional 20% off your first month Start your brain support: www.mentaidhealth.com/BRadvocate

Store Hours: Open Monday - Friday 9:00am to 5:30pm Saturday by appointment, Closed Sunday Lacoursbr.com

All major credit cards accepted with no additional fee!

4D ■ Friday, June 5, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

FrAnK And erneSt

bIG nAte

zItS

lll

zodIAC GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Tidy up before heading in a new direction. You'll do much better if you focus on what you want to achieve instead of lingering on unfinished business. Keep your thoughts and feelings to yourself.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Put your energy to good use. Reach out, pitch in and help. Do your part to make a difference.

Someone you encounter will have an emotional impact on how you take care of yourself.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Participate, do your best, help a cause or make a difference to someone struggling. Listen, but don't believe everything you hear. If you don't like the suggestions you receive, look for alternatives.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) You have more choices than you realize. Reach out, get the lowdown on what's available and align yourself with people who are heading in a similar direction. Sharing with others will motivate you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Be a good listener.

Show compassion and understanding, and engage in discussions that allow you to share your skills, objectives and what you find uplifting.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Envision what you want to pursue. Thoughts followed by actions will not disappoint. Steer clear of anyone trying to push you in a direction that benefits them more than you.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) A diversion that sparks your imagination and encourages you to make a lifestyle adjustment will prompt a different perspective

regarding the possibilities and motivate you to embark on something creative or energizing without taxing your emotions, health or finances.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Putting energy toward home improvement and personal growth is in your best interest.

When approached by people who ask for too much or try to back you into a corner, walk away.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Finish off those home improvements that will make your life easier. Creative thinking, coupled with discipline and desire for convenience and comfort, will help you make better lifestyle decisions.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Pick a venue that interests you. Get out, socialize or pursue someone or something you enjoy.

You don't have to impress anyone. Be yourself, and be honest about your likes and dislikes.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) You'll need to engage in a little give-and-take to avoid domestic disputes or confusion from someone you depend on for answers.

Ask for second opinions.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Haste makes waste. Your time is put to better use helping others, asking questions and upping your game through personal preferences, additional qualifications and a solid plan.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2026 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

For better or For WorSe WonderWord

peAnUtS

SALLY Forth

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

TODAy'S CLUE: C EQUALS S

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon FAMILY CIrCUS

dooneSbUrY

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, June 5, 2026 ■ 5D

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CurTiS

Hi and LoiS

Sudoku InstructIons: Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers.

The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

BaBY BLueS

BLondie

THe wiZard oF id

nea CroSSwordS

La TimeS CroSSword

6D ■ Friday, June 5, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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B.C.

Bridge

BY PHILLIP ALDER Albert Einstein said, “If A is success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x, y is play, and z is keeping your mouth shut.”

If B is success in bridge, x is bidding, y is declarer-play and defense, and z is keeping your mouth shut whenever partner makes a mistake.

However, for success in today’s deal, South needs to find the best play to bring home nine tricks in no-trump. What should he do after West leads the heart jack?

South starts with eight top tricks: one spade, three hearts, two diamonds and two clubs. He has two principal chances to generate an extra winner: Find hearts 3-3 or establish a second spade trick.

The first is unlikely, given the lead, but declarer should take the first trick and cash another heart. When East follows, South can afford to cash his last heart; but here East discards a diamond.

How should declarer play the spades?

If entries were no issue, best would be to cash dummy’s ace, then to duck a round of the suit. Dummy would be entered again and a third round led toward the queen.

Here, though, that is impossible. Some would just play a spade to the ace and return one to the queen — and here go down. But it cannot cost to play a low spade from each hand on the first round

garfield

Pearls Before swiNe

hagar the horriBle

of the suit. When declarer regains the lead, he plays a spade to dummy’s ace.

Here the king appears, but if his majesty does not, South could still lead toward his queen.

He would get home whenever East has the king, or the suit is 3-3, or West has king-singleton or king-doubleton. © 2026 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

wuzzles Each Wuzzle is a word riddle which creates a disguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD = GOOD AFTERNOON

PiCKles

Previous answers:

mallard fillmore

word game 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,” are not allowed. 3.

Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

ToDAY’s WoRD — soFTEnED: SOF-end: Made less firm.

Bizarro

marmaduKe

Average mark 34 words Time limit 45 minutes Can you find 43 or more words in SOFTENED? YEsTERDAY’s WoRD — THunDER tend tern then thru thud trend true tune tuner turn turned

herd hued hunt hunted hunter hurt under nerd nude dent duet

dune rend rent rude rued runt ruth

loCKhorNs hidato Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

today’s thought “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork.” Psalms 19:1

Look up. The Heavens are declaring “God Is.” G.E. Dean

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, June 5, 2026 ■ 7D

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classifieds.theadvocate.com Search Search& &Place PlaceAds AdsOnline Onlineatatclassifieds.theadvocate.com classifieds.theadvocate.com* Call * Call -Friday Us Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM at 225-383-0111 8AM-5PM at 225-383-0111 AREA 2

Employment

Merchandise PORTABLE BUILDING Used Metal Storage Bldgs: 12'x16'-$2000; 10'12'-$1500.

225-654-3676

EDUCATION

OUT OF TOWN PROPERTY 800acres of Prime Rice Pasture & Marsh Land for Sale in Klondike LA, Exc. Water Fowl Hunting & Fishing, for more info (337) 789-4999

NOTICE OF VACANCY Applications are being accepted for the following position(s): Early College Option School Counselor LOCATION Iberville Parish Schools School Counselor LOCATION MSA West Middle/High Academy STARTING SALARY $71,094 - $83,608 Range based on teacher's salary schedule plus Factor 1.175 APPLICATION PROCEDURE Anyone interested in being considered for this position should submit an ap‐ plication @ www.ipsb.net - JOIN OUR TEAM

WANT TO BUY Old Records 33's, 45's & 78's. All types of music. Call 985-259-1889

MISC FOR SALE SMALL SOLID BLACK THROW PILLOWS MANY AVAILABLE! EACH $5 225-752-7273 MISC FOR SALE Two 38” Tall Cement Cranes Each Crane $50 225-752-7273

DEADLINE FOR APPLYING Until filled or June 15, 2026

Baton Rouge Real Estate For Sale

All IPSB employees must pass a criminal records check.

The Iberville Parish School System is an Equal Opportunity Employer

GENERAL HELP CITY OF PORT ALLEN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

AREA 2 3BR 2.5BA, DBL Cov. Carport, GAR BP, 1a, Pond, $480k (504) 559-1062

The City of Port Allen is now accepting applications for the following posi‐ tions: Public Works Supervisor Water and Gas Operator Laborer 1

AREA 2 COMPLETELY UPDATED! 5723 Hartford Ave. $145,000. P & I $869 Approx.

Glen Oaks S/D Off Greenwell St., 3BR 1.5BA, w/New Cent H/A New Light Fixtures & Windows Newly Painted Int/Ext, & Ceramic Flr thru out Call Charles for your showing 225-266-4078 Roy Carter Realty 225-357-6436

Applications will be accepted at Port Allen City Hall, 375 Court Street, Port Allen, LA 70767, until noon Wednesday, June 17, 2026.

MOBILE HOME 1, 2 & 3 BR mobile homes, $675 & up 6061 Plank Rd. CALL 225-978-4653

NEWLY UPDATED! 6726 PINE ISLAND AVE. $245,000, Approx. P & I $1,480 Forest Heights S/D Off Mickens Rd, 3BR 2BA, w/Cent/H/A Freshly Painted Int./Ext. New Ceramic FLR thru out, & New Kit Countertop Enclosed Screen Patio, Rear Dbl Carport w/Storage Room & F'd B.Y. Call Charles for Your Showing 225-266-4078 Roy Carter Realty 225-357-6436

Baton Rouge Rental

ROOMS FOR RENT Furnished Rooms. $125/wk. $500/mo.

225-933-7560

AREA 8 Magnolia Woods 3BR/2BA quiet area on cul de sac $2,500/mo (225) 235-2816

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS City of Port Allen (herein referred to as the "Owner") hereby solicits sealed bids for the FY 2025 LCDBG SEWER SYS‐ TEM REHABILITATION & IMPROVEMENTS project described as follows: STATEMENT OF WORK: Performing Sanitary Sewer System Evaluation & Survey & Subsequent Repairs to Gravity Lines, Manholes & Appurte‐ nances.

PEC Project No. 11818.05 Sealed Bids shall be ad‐ dressed to the City of Port Allen, and delivered to the City Hall located at 375 Court Street, Port Allen, LA 70767 not later than 2 p.m., on the 23 day of June, 2026. Any bid re‐ ceived after the specified time and date will not be considered. The sealed bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at 2 p.m. on the 23 day of June, 2026, at the City Hall located at 375 Court Street, Port Allen, LA 70767.

Complete Bid Docu‐ ments, Instructions to Bidders, Bid Form, Con‐ tract, Plans, Specifica‐ tions, and Forms of the Bid Bond, Performance Bond and Payment Bond, and other bidding docu‐ ments may be down‐ loaded from the Profes‐ sional Engineering Con‐ sultants (PEC) Plan Room as hosted by Central Bid‐ ding https://www.cen tralbidding.com (subject to fees and conditions).

For any questions re‐ garding the website call Central Bidding at 225810-4814.

Prospective Bidders are solely re‐ sponsible for obtaining the most up-to-date bid‐ ding Documents from the designated website. Bids will not be accepted through the online bid‐ ding portal. Bids will be received by mail and/or hand delivery to the loca‐ tion as stated above.

Complete Bid Documents may also be examined by emailing yrodriguez@for teandtablada.com or at the Office of the Engineer for the contract; Profes‐ sional Engineering Con‐ sultants Corp. located at 9107 Interline Ave., Baton Rouge, La 70809; (225927-9321). Hard copies may be obtained at this office upon payment of a deposit of $150.00. This deposit will be refunded upon request in accor‐ dance with R.S. 38:2212.

Contractors submitting bids shall be licensed under LA R.S. 37:21502164, Municipal and Pub‐ lic Works. The bidder shall show his license number on the bid and on the sealed envelope submitting the bid.

Each bidder must have an active Unique Entity ID (UEI) SAM number, as verified on www.sam. gov, prior to the begin‐ ning of construction. See Section 00900-Special Conditions for additional instructions.

The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause; such actions will be in accor‐ dance with Title 38 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes.

In accordance with R.S. 38:2212 (A)(1)(b), the pro‐ visions and requirements stated in the Bidding Documents shall not be waived by any entity.

Each Bidder must de‐ posit with his/her bid, security in the amount of at least five percent (5%) of the total bid price, provided on the specified form and subject to the conditions provided in the Information for Bid‐ ders. Sureties used for obtaining bonds must appear as acceptable on the U. S. Department of Treasury Circular 570.

No bidder may withdraw his/her bid within fortyfive (45) days after the actual date of the open‐ ing thereof.

The Contractor shall begin mobilization and procurement of materi‐ als within fourteen (14) working days of the re‐ ceipt of the Notice to Proceed.

The Attention of Bidders is called particularly to the requirements for conditions of employ‐ ment to be observed and minimum wage rates to be paid under the Con‐ tract, Section 3 Employ‐ ment Opportunities, Build America Buy Amer‐ ica (BABA), Segregated Facilities, Executive Order 11246, Public Law 17758, and all applicable laws and regulations of the Federal government and State of Louisiana and bonding and insur‐ ance requirements.

at 10:00 AM on JUNE 16, 2026 at

Any person with disabili‐ ties requiring special ac‐ commodations must contact the City of Port Allen no later than seven (7) days prior to bid opening.

IN PARTICULAR, BIDDERS SHOULD NOTE THE RE‐ QUIRED ATTACHMENTS AND CERTIFICATIONS TO BE EXECUTED AND SUB‐ MITTED WITH THE BID PROPOSAL. ALSO, MI‐ NORITY, FEMALE OWNED AND SECTION 3 (PARISH/LOCAL) CON‐ TRACTING FIRMS ARE EN‐ COURAGED TO SUBMIT BIDS. OWNER City of Port Allen BY: Mayor Terecita Pattan PUBLICATION/DATES: The Advocate Friday, May 22, 2026 Friday, May 29, 2026 Friday, June 5, 2026 188433 May 22, 29, June 5, 2026 3t $241.45 PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Sealed bids will be re‐ ceived for the State of Louisiana by the LCTC Campus Official with Owner’s Representative and shall be directed to the LCTC River Parishes Commu‐ nity College, 181 Regala Park Road, Reserve, La 70084. The deadline for receipt of bids is 10:00 AM on JUNE 26, 2026, at which time bids will be opened and read aloud in a public meeting in the LCTC RIVER PARISHES COMMUNITY COLLEGE, BUILDING K, Main Conference Room.

FOR: HVAC Replacement Build‐ ing A, B, & C River Parishes Community Col‐ lege – Reserve Campus 181 Regala Park Road, Re‐ serve, LA 70084 PROJECT NUMBER: 01-107-24-05 WBS Num‐ ber: F.01004657 Site Code: 6845 State Building ID: S04355 Complete Bid Documents for this project are avail‐ able in electronic form.

They may be obtained without charge and with‐ out deposit from Associated Design Group, Inc. (DBA: ADG En‐ gineering). Bid Docu‐ ments may also be ob‐ tained from www.centralbidding.com for a nominal charge or subscription.

Printed copies are not available from the Designer, but arrangements can be made to obtain them through most re‐ prographic firms. Plan holders are responsible for their own reproduc‐ tion costs.

Questions about this pro‐ cedure shall be directed to the Designer at: Associated Design Group, Inc. 3909 West Congress Street, Lafayette, LA 70506 337-234-5710 adginc@adginc.org All bids shall be accom‐ panied by bid security in an amount of five per‐ cent (5.0%) of the sum of the base bid and all al‐ ternates. The form of this security shall be as stated in the Instructions to Bidders included in the Bid Docu‐ ments for this project.

The successful Bidder shall be required to fur‐ nish a Performance and Payment Bond written as described in the Instruc‐ tions to Bidders included in the Bid Docu‐ ments for this project.

A MANDATORY PRE-BID CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD

181 Regala Park Road, Reserve, La 70084 Building Room

K

Conference

Bids shall be accepted from Contractors who are licensed under LA. R.S. 37:2150-2192 for the classification of ME‐ CHANICAL. Bidder is required to comply with provisions and requirements of LA R.S. 38:2212(B)(5). No bid may be withdrawn for a period of forty-five (45) days after receipt of bids, except under the provisions of LA. R.S. 38:2214.

Bids may also be submit‐ ted by electronic means via website www.central bidding.com. Free regis‐ tration is required to submit a bid via the Central Bidding website.

The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause. In ac‐ cordance with La. R.S. 38:2212(B)(1), the provi‐ sions and requirements of this Sec‐ tion; and those stated in the bidding documents shall not be waived by any entity.

When this project is fi‐ nanced either partially or entirely with State Bonds or financed in whole or in part by federal or other funds which are not readily available at the time bids are received, the award of this Contract is contin‐ gent upon the granting of lines of credit, or the sale of bonds by the Bond Com‐ mission or the availabil‐ ity of federal or other funds. The State shall incur no obligation to the Contractor until the Contract Between Owner and Contractor is fully executed.

Act 751 – Louisiana Com‐ munity and Technical Colleges is a participant in the Small Entrepre‐ neurship (SE) Program (the Hudson Initiative) and the Vet‐ eran-Owned and ServiceConnected Disabled Vet‐ eran-Owned (LaVet) Small Entrepreneurships Program.

Bidders are encouraged to consider participation.

Information is available from its website at https://www.doa.la.gov/ doa/fpc/.

If you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to participate in this meeting, please con‐ tact Cheryl at Cheryl.

Schilling Schilling@la.gov or (225) 342-6060 as soon as pos‐ sible but no later than 48 hours before the sched‐ uled meeting.

ACT 751LOUISIANA COMMUNITY AND TECH‐ NICAL COLLEGES VICE PRESIDENT OF AD‐ MINISTRATION TOBY R. COMEAUX, MPA FEBRUARY 2026 188935-may 28-jun 11 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO BIDDERS SP# 108 Sealed bids will be re‐ ceived by the Procure‐ ment Section of the Divi‐ sion of Administration, 1201 N. 3rd. St., 2nd.

Floor, Suite 2-160, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 10:00 A.M. for the follow‐ ing: RFx No. 3000026305, *Pro‐ prietary* Enteral Feed & Sipp - LDH, 6/16/26 Bid proposal forms, in‐ formation and specifica‐ tions may be obtained by accessing the bid num‐ ber in LaPac at www.doa. la.gov/doa/osp/ or from the procurement section listed above. No bids will be received after the date and hour specified.

The right is reserved to reject any and all bids and to waive any infor‐ malities.

Amy Vincent Director of State Procurement FAX (225) 342-8688 189874 June 5, 1t $12.01

Place a Classified ad?

1-800-960-6397

Looking for the right hire?

225-388-0111

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PETS • SUPPLIES • SERVICES • OBITUARIES • LOST & FOUND

AREA 3 5135 & 5137 Fairfield (Duplex) 1BR/1BA, Rent $500, Dep $300 Updated 225-357-6436

PLACE YOUR PET SERVICES INFORMATION IN THE PET SERVICES DIRECTORY TODAY! • IT IS FAST AND EASY! • CALL 225-383-0111

AREA 3

Move In Ready!

3017 Chippewa St. 5159 Frey St. Both Properties 3BR 1BA Rent $800/mo, $300/dep 225-357-6436

AREA 5 1BR $550, 2BR $650 Tigerland. $500 Deposit. 225-475-1737

AREA 5 655 North St. Subsidized eff Apts cpabr.org 225-383-5551.

TDD/TTY /711RELAY

CATS RAGAMUFFIN & RAGDOLL KITTENS www.CatsByFrancy.com/kittens $1500up! Reg. Shots & Guaranty 337-230-3150

DOGS Many breeds, deposit & payment plans available (225) 810-5771

DOGS CKC YORKIES - with papers vet checked shot and worming standard and parti available meet in Gulfport $400 (334) 467-3416

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

PUBLIC NOTICE --Proposals will be re‐ ceived until 2:00 PM on June 16, 2026 by the Pur‐ chasing Department of Delgado Community College and thereafter publicly opened for Jani‐ torial Supplies at Del‐ gado Community Col‐ lege’s Campuses and Sites. Additional informa‐ tion may be obtained by contacting the Purchas‐ ing Department, Delgado Community College, 501 City Park Ave., New Orleans, LA 70119 (504) 762-3028 or email: aharri@dcc.edu or pur‐ chasingdept@dcc.edu.

Bid Documents and Ad‐ denda may be down‐ loaded from: https:// wwwcfprd.doa.louisiana. gov/osp/lapac/dspBid. cfm?search=departm ent&term=39 Evidence of authority to submit bid shall be required in ac‐ cordance with R.S. 38:2212 (A) (1) (c) and/or R.S. 39:1954 (C) (2) (d).

AA/EEO 189915-JUN 5-1T $36

PUBLIC NOTICE --River Parishes Commu‐ nity College is seeking bids for a janitorial ser‐ vice to clean 3 locations (Gonzales, Reserve and Westside). To obtain bid package, please visit https://wwwcfprd.doa. louisiana.gov/osp/lapac/ dspBid.cfm?search=dep artment&term=4.

The following bids are open: #4005FY27-009 188811-MAY 26-JUN 5 $63 PUBLIC NOTICE ---

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

documents, download, receive bid notices by email, and submit the bid on Central Bidding, you must register with Cen‐ tral Bidding. For ques‐ tions relating to Central Bidding and the elec‐ tronic submittal process, call Central Bidding at 225-810-4814.

All bids shall be accom‐ panied by bid security in an amount of five per‐ cent (5.0%) of the sum of the base bid and any al‐ ternates. The form of this security shall be as re‐ quired in the bid docu‐ ments.

At the time of contract execution, the successful Bidder shall be required to furnish a Performance Bond and a Payment Bond, each in an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the contract amount, in the form as required in the bid docu‐ ments.

A non-mandatory pre-bid conference shall be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday June 9, 2026 at the office of Duplantis Design Group, PC, 3960 Burbank Drive, Baton Rouge, La 70808. If you have a dis‐ ability and would like to request an accommoda‐ tion in order to partici‐ pate in this meeting, please contact Cheryl Schilling at Cheryl.

Schilling@la.gov or (225) 342-6060 as soon as pos‐ sible but no later than 48 hours before the sched‐ uled meeting.

Bids shall be accepted from Contractors who are licensed under LA. R.S. 37:2150 et seq. for the classification of Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction. Bid‐ der is required to provide written evidence of au‐ thority of the person signing the bid in accor‐ dance with LA R.S.

Bids shall be held open for acceptance for a pe‐ riod of forty-five (45) days after the date of opening, unless ex‐ tended by mutual written consent of the parties, in accordance with La. R.S. 38:2215. Withdrawal of bids prior to award shall be governed by La. R.S. 38:2214.

The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause. In ac‐ cordance with La. R.S. 38:2212(B)(1), the provi‐ sions and requirements of this Section; and those stated in the bidding documents shall not be waived by any entity.

When this project is fi‐ nanced either partially or entirely with State Bonds or financed in whole or in part by federal or other funds which are not readily available at the time bids are received, the award of this Con‐ tract is contingent upon the granting of lines of credit, or the sale of bonds by the Bond Com‐ mission or the availabil‐ ity of federal or other funds. The State shall incur no obligation to the Contractor until the Con‐ tract Between Owner and Contractor is fully exe‐ cuted.

STATE OF LOUISIANA, DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATION OFFICE OF LOUISIANA HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION ARCHIE CHAISSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ADVERTISEMENT: MAY 29, 2026 JUNE 5, 2026 JUNE 12, 2026 189175-may 29-jun 5-12-3t $1779.52

SECTION 00020 ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Electronic sealed bids will be received by the Office of Louisiana High‐ way Construction, (here‐ inafter referred to as “OLHC”) until 10:00 am on June 23, 2026, at which time bids will be re‐ trieved from the Central Bidding website and read aloud in a public meeting at the office of DDG PC, located at 3960 Burbank Drive, Baton Rouge, La 70808. ONLY electronic bids submitted on www. centralbidding.com will be accepted.

FOR: OLHC As-Needed Maintenance & Repair Services on Non-Federal Aid Louisiana State High‐ ways DESCRIPTION OF WORK: Maintenance and repair services for a period of one year from the date of execution of the Master Service Agreement to support the ongoing up‐ keep of Non-Federal Aid Louisiana State High‐ ways, bridges, and trans‐ portation assets owned and maintained by OLHC. The contract is for asneeded services, with no guaranteed minimum quantities. Services will be ordered through indi‐ vidual work orders dur‐ ing the contract term.

Services may include construction activities such as, but not limited to repair of asphalt and concrete pavement, drainage, bridge guardrail, traffic signage, and striping. The Con‐ tractor shall provide all labor, materials, equip‐ ment, and expertise nec‐ essary as directed by the OLHC through work or‐ ders issued in accor‐ dance with the contract documents. The work will be divided into sepa‐ rate District Service Areas. Bidders may sub‐ mit bids on one or more District Service Areas.

Contracts may be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsi‐ ble bidder(s) on a single District Service Area basis or by a combina‐ tion of multiple District Service Areas. Detailed maps and information on each District Service Area are included in the bid documents showing the locations of all NonFederal Aid State High‐ ways that are included in this bid.

Complete bid documents are available in elec‐ tronic format only on www.centralbidding.com and the Louisiana Office of State Procurement’s LaPAC website (https:// wwwcfprd.doa.louisiana. gov/osp/lapac/srchopen. cfm). To view the bid

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Public Notices Bids/Proposals

38:2212(B)(5).

DOGS Many breeds, deposit & payment plans available (225) 810-5771 DOGS Shih Tzu, m/f, 8wks old, paper trained $275+ Cash Only. Call (504) 418-3046

DOGS Cairn terriers - Cute puppies shots and wormed $250. 985-222-4354

DOGS Maltipoo pups. Vet checked, 1st Shots, de-wormed (225) 806-1788

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

BOATS 2010 StarCraft 178 aluminum boat, 75 HP four stroke,power pole, trolling motor, $14500 225-266-3216

Pets / Pet Services Directory

The City of Port Allen is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

EVERY DAY

Recreational Vehicles

AREA 3 3060 N. Acadian Thrwy 1BR/1BA $500/mth $300Dep Water/Sewer Paid 225-357-6436

Please contact Port Allen City Hall Human Resources if you have any questions.

Public Notices

HOME-DELIVERED

WORKS

Legal Notices

Clemency I, CLAUDE WILLIAMS, DOC 303208 have applied for clemency for my conviction of SECOND DEGREE MURDER; AGGRAVATED BATTERY. If you have any comments, contact the Board of Pardons (225)342-5421.

188843 - JUNE 3, 4, 5 - 3T $310

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ISSUANCE OF SINGLE FAMILY MORTGAGE REV‐ ENUE BONDS The Capital Area Finance Authority (the “Author‐ ity”), a public trust cre‐ ated pursuant to the pro‐ visions of Chapter 2-A of Title 9 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended (R.S. 9:23419:2347, inclusive) (the “Act”), hereby gives no‐ tice of a public hearing to be held pursuant to the requirements of Sec‐ tion 147(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, concerning its proposed issuance of not exceeding Two Hundred Million Dollars ($200,000,000) of Capital Area Finance Authority Revenue Bonds in one or more series (the “Bonds”) under the pro‐ visions of the Act, and other constitutional and statutory authority sup‐ plemental thereto. The Bonds are being issued pursuant to the terms of one or more Series Sup‐ plemental Trust Inden‐ tures (“Series Supple‐ mental Indentures”) to the Master General In‐

Legal Notices

y toll-free number:

denture of Trust (the “Master Indenture”, to‐ gether with the Series Supplemental Inden‐ tures, the “Indenture”), by and between the Au‐ thority and Regions Bank (the “Trustee”) for the purpose of providing funds for the Authority (a) to finance loans to homebuyers within the jurisdictional parishes of the Authority and such other parishes whose governing authority exe‐ cute cooperative en‐ deavor agreements with the Authority under the provisions of the Act, (b) to make deposits in vari‐ ous funds and accounts as provided in the Inden‐ ture and required for the security of the Bonds, (c) to pay capitalized inter‐ est, if any, on the Bonds and (d) to pay the cost of the issuance of the Bonds. The Bonds are limited obligations of the Authority and will be payable on a parri passu basis solely out of the in‐ come, revenues, and re‐ ceipts derived from the Trust Estate as defined in the Indenture (including earnings thereon and certain insurance with respect thereto), and certain funds and ac‐ counts held under and pursuant to the Inden‐ ture and pledged there‐ for. As provided in the Act and the Indenture, the Bonds do not consti‐ tute and obligation, ei‐ ther general or special, of the State of Louisiana, any municipality or any other political subdivi‐ sion thereof.

g

https://us02web.zoom. us/j/9940303250? omn=81003639543 or dial US toll-free: (646) 8769923, 9940303250#. The meeting will be open to the public in accordance with law, and any com‐ ments with respect to the proposed Bonds will be received and consid‐ ered by the Board. Writ‐ ten comments received at the offices of the Au‐ thority prior to the date of the meeting will be considered.

Further information re‐ garding the Bonds may be obtained from the of‐ fices of the Capital Area Finance Authority, 601 St. Ferdinand Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802.

CAPITAL AREA FINANCE AUTHORITY By: /s/ Mark Drennan President and CEO 189917-JUN 5-1T $66.49 PUBLIC NOTICE --The Louisiana Office of the State Museum is re‐ questing proposals for a Public-Private Partner‐ ship project to design, build, furnish, operate, and maintain an in‐ door/outdoor café at the New Orleans Jazz Mu‐ seum. For more informa‐ tion go to opportuni‐ tiesinlouisiana.com.

188286-MAY 21-JUN 16 $139

The Authority will hold a public hearing with re‐ spect to the issuance of said Bonds on June 25, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., Louisiana Time, at 601 St. Ferdinand Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, and si‐ multaneously by telecon‐ ference by calling the ll f b

PUBLIC NOTICE A Budget Hearing will be held on June 18, 2026, at 6:00 P.M. at City Hall, for interested citizens of the City of St. Gabriel.

The purpose of the hearing is to review the proposed amendments of the operating and capital budgets for the year ending June 30, 2026, and the proposed 2027 operating and capital budgets.

A summary of the operating and capital budgets are as follows: -CITY OF ST. GABRIELSUMMARY OF 2026 AND 2027 OPERATING AND CAPI TAL BUDGETS 2026 Current

2027

Adjusted

Budget

Projected

Revenues Taxes

$ 13,569,500

$ 897,500

$ 14,467,000

$ 14,282,000

2,650,000

(1,475,000)

1,175,000

2,475,000

Licenses and permits

398,500

(10,500)

388,000

388,500

Charges for services

352,000

106,000

458,000

463,500

Fines and traffic detail

815,000

(505,000)

310,000

680,000

Interest and other

483,800

42,000

525,800

485,800

-

-

-

1,042,000

$ 18,268,800

$ (945,000)

$ 17,323,800

$ 19,816,800

General government

$ 4,214,225

$ (613,525)

$ 3,600,700

$ 3,544,700

Public safety - police

3,211,500

4,500

3,216,000

4,347,400

Maintenance and streets

3,666,000

(516,000)

3,150,000

3,186,300

Recreation and social services

1,829,000

Intergovernmental

Other financing sources Total revenue and other financing sources Expenditures

1,452,500

571,500

2,024,000

Code enforcement

303,500

(15,000)

288,500

378,000

Debt service

834,000

-

834,000

836,000

Capital outlay

11,170,000

(1,490,000)

9,680,000

5,765,000

Sewer

2,058,900

(303,200)

1,755,700

1,739,625

$ 26,910,625

$ (2,361,725)

$ 24,548,900

$ 21,626,025

Total expenditures Interfund transfers Operating transfers in

$ 16,340,000

$ 750,000

$ 17,090,000

$ 11,900,000

Operating transfers out

$ (16,340,000)

$ (750,000)

$ (17,090,000)

$ (11,900,000)

The proposed budgets may be examined Monday through Thursday from 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. and Friday 8:30 A.M. to 11:30 P.M. at City Hall. Interested citizens will have the opportunity to give written and/or oral comments.

Lionel Johnson Jr., Mayor 189150-652783-jun 1-5-2t $ 323.40

8D ■ Friday, June 5, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Legal Notices

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Legal Notices

METROPOLITAN COUNCIL GREATER BATON ROUGE AIRPORT AUTHORITY EAST BATON ROUGE SEWERAGE COMMISSION CAPITOL IMPROVEMENTS DISTRICT CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE Wednesday, May 13, 2026 4:00 PM The Metropolitan Council of the Parish of East Baton Rouge and the City of Baton Rouge convened in regular session on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 4:00 PM, in the Council Chambers of the Governmental Building, Room 348, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The Meeting was called to order by the Presiding Officer and the following members were present: Present: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Absent: Moak CONDEMNATIONS PRUDENT ACQUISITIONS, L.L.C. located at 4051 Mohican St., Lot L, Sq. 4, Babin Subdivision, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 11779.

BETTY K. PATIN, CEDRIC D. PATIN, PATIN FAMILY TRUST, THE SUCCESSION OF JOSEPH CARNEY PATIN, SR., AND THE SUCCESSION OF NICOLE T. PATIN 1429 THOMAS H. DELPIT DR. (BUILDING LOCATED ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THOMAS H. DELPIT DR. AND BURNS DR.), LOT 14, ADDITION TO SUBURB SWART SUBDIVISION - COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 – COLEMAN The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above condemnation proceeding was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed condemnation proceeding.

A motion was made by Mr. Gaudet and seconded by Mr. Dunn Jr. to defer the proposed condemnation proceeding to the council meeting on August 12, 2026. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

JOHN HARLAN ANDERSON 11015 CHALICE DR. (ANY AND ALL OUTBUILDINGS, ABANDONED VEHICLES, AND TRAILERS) LOT 207, NORTH RED OAK SUBDIVISION - COUNCIL DISTRICT 6 - DUNN JR. The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above condemnation proceeding was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed condemnation proceeding.

A motion was made by Mr. Gaudet and seconded by Mr. Dunn Jr. to defer the proposed condemnation proceeding to the council meeting on August 12, 2026. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

TONY T. DO AND TRACEY TRINH DO 12484 ROBBIE AVE. (DUPLEX WITH ADDRESSES 12484 ROBBIE AVE. AND 12486 ROBBIE AVE.), LOT 87 (SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS LOT 87-A AND LOT 87-B), ASHLEY SUBDIVISION - COUNCIL DISTRICT 6 - DUNN JR. The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above condemnation proceeding was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed condemnation proceeding. A motion was made by Mr. Gaudet and seconded by Mr. Dunn Jr. to delete the proposed condemnation proceeding. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

CHO VAN TRAN AND MAY THI NGUYEN 3848 PLANK RD., LOT 2-G-1-A (A RESUBDIVISION OF LOTS 2-G-1 AND 2-G-2) PLANK ROW SUBDIVISION OF FAIRACRE FARMS - COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 - HARRIS The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above condemnation proceeding was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed condemnation proceeding. A motion was made by Mr. Gaudet and seconded by Mr. Dunn Jr. to delete the proposed condemnation proceeding. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote:None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

BEARD LOGISTICS LLC 2756 LORRAINE ST., LOT 9, SQ. 32 EAST GARDEN CITY SUBDIVISION - COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 - HURST The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above condemnation proceeding was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed condemnation proceeding. A motion was made by Mr. Gaudet and seconded by Mr. Dunn Jr. to delete the proposed condemnation proceeding. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

SANTAGO T. CLARK located at 6676 Greenwell St. (Fire-damaged Dwelling with Unsecured Rear Shed), Lot 46, Merrydale Subdivision, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 11780.

HENRY ROBINS 4099 BILLOPS ST., LOT 13, SQ. 7 GREENVILLE EXTENSION SUBDIVISION - COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 - HARRIS The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above condemnation proceeding was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed condemnation proceeding. A motion was made by Mr. Gaudet and seconded by Mr. Dunn Jr. to defer the proposed condemnation proceeding to the council meeting on June 10, 2026. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

JOSEPH COLLINS 4836 JEAN ST., LOT 84 NEW FAIRFIELDS SUBDIVISION - COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 - HARRIS The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above condemnation proceeding was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed condemnation proceeding. A motion was made by Mr. Gaudet and seconded by Mr. Dunn Jr. to defer the proposed condemnation proceeding to the council meeting on June 10, 2026. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

RENIKA ANDERSON located at 3736 Delaware St., Lot 3, Sq. 5, New Dayton Subdivision, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 11781.

PUBLIC HEARING / MEETING ORDINANCE 19860 AMEND THE 2026 PAY PLAN FOR THE CLASSIFIED, UNCLASSIFIED, NON-CLASSIFIED, CONTRACT, FIRE, AND POLICE EMPLOYEES OF

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THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE #19726, DATED 12/09/2025, SO AS TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES TO THE CLASSIFIED AND UNCLASSIFIED PAY PLAN, EFFECTIVE JUNE 27, 2026. (BUDGET SUPPLEMENT 9155).

The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above ordinance was in order at this time. Interested citizens speaking in favor of the proposed ordinance were Ben Klein, Robert Joyner, Terrica Williams, Cyndi Pennington, Trevor Heap, Lloyd Permaul, Eugene Smith, Sharon Douglas, Pat Tauzin, Mark Buller, Dustin Condi, Jaquelyn Germany, Harold Grier, Sgt. T. Burks, Frederick Lee, Brian Firmin, Byron Hatch, Brian Strong, Stephen Johnson, Anna Andrews, Mike Alpin, Judge Yvette Alexander, Sgt. Randall Cunningham, Hagar Brown, Aaron Brent, Byron Davis, and Elvin Norwood. An interested citizen speaking without favor or opposition to the proposed ordinance was Marion Gbaiwon. A motion was made by Mr. Kenney and seconded by Ms. Coleman to approve the proposed ordinance. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: Hudson Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 10 yeas, 1 nay, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMEND THE 2026 PAY PLAN FOR CLASSIFIED, UNCLASSIFIED, NON-CLASSIFIED, CONTRACT, FIRE, AND POLICE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE 19726, DATED 12/9/2025, SO AS TO ADD A NEW CLASSIFICATION, DIRECTOR OF CONTRACTS, JOB CODE 3323, PAY GRADE 2330 AND DELETE ONE (1) SPECIAL ASSISTANT PARISH ATTORNEY POSITION, JOB CODE 3312, PAY GRADE 2290, EFFECTIVE APRIL 18, 2026. BY PARISH ATTORNEY & HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR. The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above ordinance was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed ordinance. A motion was made by Mr. Hurst and seconded by Mr. Hudson to delete the proposed ordinance. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMEND THE 2026 ALLOTMENT OF POSITIONS FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, ADOPTED

BY ORDINANCE 19727, DATED 12/9/2025, SO AS TO CHANGE THE ALLOTMENT OF THE PARISH ATTORNEY/ADMINISTRATION TO ADD ONE (1) DIRECTOR OF CONTRACTS (UNCL), JOB CODE 3323 AND DELETE ONE (1) SPECIAL ASSISTANT PARISH ATTORNEY (UNCL), JOB CODE 3312, EFFECTIVE APRIL 18, 2026. BY PARISH ATTORNEY & HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR. The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above ordinance was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed ordinance. A motion was made by Mr. Hurst and seconded by Mr. Gaudet to delete the proposed ordinance. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMEND THE 2026 PAY PLAN FOR THE CLASSIFIED, UNCLASSIFIED, NON-CLASSIFIED, CONTRACT, FIRE, AND POLICE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE #19726, DATED 12/09/2025, SO AS TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING CHANGES EFFECTIVE MAY 16, 2026 (BUDGET SUPPLEMENT 9154). INCREASE THE PAY GRADE OF THE PARISH ATTORNEY CLASSIFICATION. BY COUNCILWOMAN LAURIE ADAMS, COUNCILMAN DWIGHT HUDSON, AND HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above ordinance was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed ordinance. A motion was made by Mr. Hurst and seconded by Ms. Racca to defer the proposed ordinance to the council meeting on May 27, 2026. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

PROPOSED RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH LET’S FIX IT! LLC IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $66,000.00 FROM FUNDING PROVIDED IN HOME-ARP, CDBGPUBLIC SERVICES AND CDBG ADMINISTRATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF CO-DESIGNING THE CITY’S HEALTHY HOUSING PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDES CO-DESIGNING THE CITY’S HEALTHY HOUSING PROGRAM AND BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS TO ADVANCE RELATED POLICIES AND PRACTICES COMMENCING MARCH 1, 2026 AND EXPIRING MARCH 31, 2027 AND AUTHORIZES THE EXECUTION OF ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS. The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above resolution was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed resolution. A motion was made by Mr. Hurst and seconded by Mr. Gaudet to delete the proposed resolution. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

PROPOSED RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER ENTITLED “PAULA WILLIAMS V. CITY OF BATON ROUGE/PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE AND PATRICK WENNEMANN”, SUIT NO. 718,300 ON THE DOCKET OF THE 19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, IN THE AMOUNT OF $300,000.00, PLUS COURT COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $333.00, FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $300,333.00; AND APPROPRIATING $300,333.00 FOR SUCH PURPOSE. *THIS MATTER MAY BE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. (ATTORNEY OF RECORD IS BRADY PATIN). BY PARISH ATTORNEY. The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above resolution was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed resolution. A motion was made by Mr. Hurst and seconded by Mr. Gaudet to delete the proposed resolution. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

RESOLUTION 59375 AIRPORT AUTHORITY RESOLUTION 05-13-26-01 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH THE BATON ROUGE REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY FOR THE SUPPLY OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES BY THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE TO THE BATON ROUGE REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY, AND TO SIGN ALL DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH. The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above resolution was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed resolution. A motion was made by Mr. Kenney and seconded by Mr. Hurst to approve the proposed resolution. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None

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Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

RESOLUTION 59376 A RESOLUTION ORDERING AND CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA (THE “PARISH”), ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026, TO authorizE THE PARISH TO RENEW the levy of A .50 MILLS AD VALOREM TAX (the “Tax”), ON ALL THE PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, FOR A PERIOD OF TEN (10) YEARS, COMMENCING WITH THE TAX COLLECTION FOR THE YEAR 2027, AND ANNUALLY THEREAFTER TO AND INCLUDING THE YEAR 2036, TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PURCHASING, MAINTAINING AND OPERATING MACHINERY, FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT NECESSARY IN THE ERADICATION, ABATEMENT OR CONTROL OF MOSQUITOES, OTHER ARTHROPODS OF PUBLIC HEALTH IMPORTANCE AND RODENTS, AND MAINTAINING ADEQUATE ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT STAFF IN CONNECTION THEREWITH; MAKING APPLICATION TO THE STATE BOND COMMISSION; PROVIDING NOTICE THAT A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION shall be held on Wednesday, MAY 13, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. at the regular meeting place of the Metropolitan Council, Third Floor, City Hall, Room 348, 222 St. Louis Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH. The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above resolution was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed resolution. A motion was made by Mr. Hurst and seconded by Mr. Kenney to approve the proposed resolution. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

RESOLUTION 59377 REQUESTING THE PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEW AND AMEND APPLICABLE SECTIONS OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE RELATED TO DATA CENTERS. The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above resolution was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed resolution. A motion was made by Mr. Kenney and seconded by Ms. Coleman to approve the proposed resolution. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

RESOLUTION 59378 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT & SPECIALTIES, INC. (SEMS, INC) TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $50,000, FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $100,000.

The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above resolution was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed resolution. A motion was made by Ms. Amoroso and seconded by Ms. Coleman to approve the proposed resolution. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

RESOLUTION 59379 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT, ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS-BUILDING MAINTENANCE DIVISION TO AMEND CONTRACT #800007167 BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND RAMELLI JANITORIAL SERVICES TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $35,923.00, FOR A REVISED NOT-TO-EXCEED AMOUNT OF $135,112.00. THIS AMENDMENT ALSO EXTENDS THE CONTRACT TERM THROUGH JUNE 30, 2026, AND AUTHORIZES THE EXECUTION OF ALL RELATED DOCUMENTS. The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above resolution was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed resolution. A motion was made by Mr. Hurst and seconded by Mr. Kenney to approve the proposed resolution. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

RESOLUTION 59380 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT, ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS -BUILDING MAINTENANCE DIVISION TO AMEND CONTRACT #800007168 BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND OOK JANITORIAL SERVICES TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $22,133.20, FOR A REVISED NOT-TO-EXCEED AMOUNT OF $130.100.40 THIS AMENDMENT ALSO EXTENDS THE CONTRACT TERM THROUGH JUNE 30, 2026, AND AUTHORIZES THE EXECUTION OF ALL RELATED DOCUMENTS. The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above resolution was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed resolution. A motion was made by Ms. Coleman and seconded by Mr. Hurst to approve the proposed resolution. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

RESOLUTION 59381 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AMENDMENT NO. 5 WITH GRADY CRAWFORD CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC. FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH THE ANNUAL STORMWATER CONCRETE LINED CANAL REPAIR CONTRACT, BEING CITY-PARISH PROJECT NO. 21-CC-MS-0041, RESULTING IN AN INCREASE IN CONTRACT IN AN AMOUNT OF $200,000.00 FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $3,541,183.37 AND EXTENDING THE CONTRACT THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2026 (ACCOUNT NO. 1000-7600-30-7640-0000-0000-000000-64350040000).

The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above resolution was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed resolution. A motion was made by Ms. Amoroso and seconded by Mr. Hurst to approve the proposed resolution. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

RESOLUTION 59382 RESCINDING AND DIRECTING THE CLERK OF COURT TO CANCEL THE NOTICE TO ATTEND RECORDED ON MAY 8, 2025, AT ORIGINAL 462 OF BUNDLE 13370, ORIGINAL 463 OF BUNDLE 13370, AND THE DECISION AND ORDER RECORDED ON MARCH 18, 2026, AT ORIGINAL 591 OF BUNDLE 13423 IN THE MATTER OF “CITY OF BATON ROUGE VS. DAVID R. DUNBAR AND BEVERLY PARKER DUNBAR” CONDEMNATION PROCEEDING NO. 11744 (1823 ARKANSAS ST., LOT 4, SQ. 20, SOUTH BATON ROUGE SUBDIVISION).

The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above

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resolution was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed resolution. A motion was made by Ms. Coleman and seconded by Mr. Hurst to approve the proposed resolution. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

RESOLUTION 59383 AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE pre-litigation CLAIM OF ABIGAIL MITCHELL FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT CAUSED BY A MOSQUITO ABATEMENT & RODENT CONTROL EMPLOYEE, IN THE AMOUNT OF $16,000.00, WHICH AMOUNT SHALL BE PAID FROM THE ACCOUNT DESIGNATED “INSURANCE - AUTO LIABILITY” (1000.4700.10.0550.0000. 0000.000000.644120). *THIS MATTER MAY BE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above resolution was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed resolution. A motion was made by Ms. Adams and seconded by Mr. Dunn Jr. to approve the proposed resolution. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

RESOLUTION 59384 AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE PRE-LITIGATION CLAIM OF RED SIX MEDIA FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM SEWER BACKUPS IN claimant’s BUILDING, FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $150,284.15, WHICH SHALL BE PAID FROM THE ACCOUNT DESIGNATED “INSURANCE - GENERAL LIABILITY” (1000. 4700. 10. 0550. 0000. 0000.

000000.644110). *THIS MATTER MAY BE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above resolution was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed resolution. A motion was made by Mr. Gaudet and seconded by Ms. Adams to approve the proposed resolution. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

RESOLUTION 59385 AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH ALL SOUTH CONSULTING ENGINEERS FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOVEBR CAPACITY PROJECT AUDUBON AVENUE SIDEWALKS FROM JEFFERSON HIGHWAY TO GOVERNMENT STREET, BEING CITY-PARISH PROJECT NO. 25-EN-SW-0009, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $247,211.62.

(ACCOUNT NO. 9217100127-4370.00000-0000000000-653240).

The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above resolution was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed resolution. An interested citizen submitting an emailed comment against the proposed resolution was Phillip Lillard. A motion was made by Ms. Adams and seconded by Mr. Hurst to approve the proposed resolution. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

RESOLUTION 59386 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NO. 17 TO A CONTRACT FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH EVANS-GRAVES ENGINEERING, INC. FOR ADDITIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MALL OF LOUISIANA BOULEVARD (PICARDY – PERKINS CONNECTOR), BEING CITYPARISH PROJECT NO. 12-CS-HC-0043, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $106,800.00, BRINGING THE TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $3,870,829.39. (ACCOUNT NO. 9217100027-000064303.00006-653240).

The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above resolution was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed resolution. A motion was made by Ms. Adams and seconded by Mr. Gaudet to approve the proposed resolution. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

RESOLUTION 59387 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NO. 2 TO A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION SERVICES WITH VECTURA CONSULTING SERVICES, LLC FOR ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOVEBR ENHANCEMENT PROJECT BATON ROUGE BUS RAPID TRANSIT, BEING CITY-PARISH PROJECT NO. 16-CI-US-0032, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $157,250.00, BRINGING THE TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $550,375.00. ACCOUNT NO. 9207100043-4370.00000-0000000000653100).

The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above resolution was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed resolution. An interested citizen submitting an emailed comment against the proposed resolution was Phillip Lillard.

A motion was made by Ms. Coleman and seconded by Mr. Hurst to approve the proposed resolution. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

RESOLUTION 59388 AUTHORIZING THE USE OF FHWA TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM (TAP) FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $437,500.00 TO SATISFY THE 20% LOCAL MATCH REQUIRED BY THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT (DOTD) FOR THE NORTH ARDENWOOD DRIVE SIDEWALKS (FLORIDA BLVD TO GREENWELL SPRINGS RD) PROJECT #24-EN-HC-0036. AND ALSO CONFIRMING THAT THE CITY-PARISH SHALL MAINTAIN THE PROJECT AFTER FINAL ACCEPTANCE AND ACCEPTING LEGAL LIABILITY FOR THE PROJECT UPON COMPLETION. FURTHERMORE, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE ANY AGREEMENTS CONFIRMING AND/OR PROVIDING FOR FUNDING NOT TO EXCEED LOCAL MATCH AS PART OF THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENTS WITH DOTD ON THE SUBJECT PROJECT. (ACCOUNT NO. 4370.00000-0000000000-653240).

The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above resolution was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed resolution. An interested citizen submitting an emailed comment against the proposed resolution was Phillip Lillard.

A motion was made by Ms. Adams and seconded by Ms. Amoroso to approve the proposed resolution. A “Yea” and “Nay” vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

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ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES None.

ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS None.

ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER INTRODUCTIONS None.

ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER ITEMS None.

APPOINTMENTS HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT NO. 1 - BOARD OF COMM (LANE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER) Consideration of replacing Dr. Reagan Elkins., who is not seeking reappointment. This is a four (4) term.

Current Ballot A motion was made by Mr. Noel and seconded by Ms. Coleman to defer the appointment to the council meeting on June 10, 2026. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

BOARD OF APPEAL: Concurring in the Mayor-President’s replacement of Greg Flores, who is not seeking reappointment. This is a three (3) year term.

Current Ballot A motion was made by Ms. Coleman and seconded by Mr. Hudson to appoint Shane Nicholas. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

BOARD OF APPEAL: Concurring in the Mayor-President’s replacement of R. Todd Mann, who is not seeking reappointment. This is a three (3) year term.

Current Ballot A motion was made by Ms. Coleman and seconded by Mr. Hudson to appoint Joseph Yarborough. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

BOARD OF APPEAL: Concurring in the Mayor-President’s reappointment or replacement of Floyd Luster. This is a three (3) year term.

Current Ballot A motion was made by Ms. Coleman and seconded by Mr. Hudson to reappoint Floyd Luster. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

BOARD OF APPEAL: Concurring in the Mayor-President’s replacement of Michael LaBas, who is not seeking reappointment. This is a three (3) year term.

Current Ballot A motion was made by Ms. Coleman and seconded by Mr. Hudson to defer the appointment to the council meeting on May 27, 2026. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

BOARD OF APPEAL: Concurring in the Mayor-President’s replacement of Fritz Embaugh, who is not seeking reappointment. This is a three (3) year term.

Current Ballot A motion was made by Ms. Coleman and seconded by Mr. Hudson to reappoint Fritz Embaugh. A “Yea” and “Nay” vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

ITEMS CHANGE ORDERS RESOLUTION 59389 AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A CHANGE ORDER, BEING CHANGE ORDER NO. 2, TO THE CONTRACT EXECUTED BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE AND CENTURION CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, FOR BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT TRAINING ACADEMY RENOVATIONS, BEING PROJECT NO. 21-ASC-CP-1446.

The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above resolution was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed resolution. A motion was made by Mr. Hurst and seconded by Ms. Adams to approve the proposed resolution. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

Legal Notices

Legal Notices

Legal Notices

resolution was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed resolution. A motion was made by Mr. Hurst and seconded by Ms. Adams to approve the proposed resolution. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

FINAL ACCEPTANCES None.

ACCEPTANCE OF LOW BIDS PROPOSED RESOLUTION AWARDING THE CONTRACT FOR ANNUAL CONTRACT FOR INTERSTATE MOWING, LITTER AND TRASH COLLECTION, BEING PROJECT NO. A26-98875, TO THE LOWEST BIDDER THEREFOR, FACILITY MAINTENANCE SPECIALISTS, LLC; AND DIRECTING THE EXECUTION OF THE CONTRACT COVERING SUCH WORK. The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above resolution was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed resolution. A motion was made by Mr. Noel and seconded by Mr. Hurst to delete the proposed resolution. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hurst, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: Hudson, Kenney Absent: Moak With 9 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 2 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

RESOLUTION 59392 AWARDING THE CONTRACT FOR LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE OF CITY PARISH OWNED LOTS AND FEMA OWNED PROPERTIES, BEING PROJECT NO. A26-91873, TO THE LOWEST BIDDER THEREFOR, VAST, LLC; AND DIRECTING THE EXECUTION OF THE CONTRACT COVERING SUCH WORK. The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above resolution was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed resolution. A motion was made by Mr. Gaudet and seconded by Mr. Noel to approve the proposed resolution. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

RESOLUTION 59393 AWARDING THE CONTRACT FOR PERKINS ROAD OVERPASS (RAYMOND AVENUE – CHRISTIAN STREET) PROJECT, BEING PROJECT NO. 23-EN-HC-0037, TO THE LOWEST BIDDER THEREFOR, THE LUSTER GROUP, LLC; AND DIRECTING THE EXECUTION OF THE CONTRACT COVERING SUCH WORK. The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above resolution was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed resolution. A motion was made by Ms. Coleman and seconded by Mr. Hurst to approve the proposed resolution. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

OTHER ITEMS None.

OTHER ITEMS TO BE ADOPTED (EMERGENCY) RESOLUTION 59394 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, TO ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH ADMIRAL LAND, LLC, FOR THE LEASE OF SPACE FOR THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH / SANITATION / INSPECTION AT 445 N 12TH STREET, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, 70802 WITH THE SAID LEASE AGREEMENT AND ALL ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS TO BE PREPARED BY OR REVIEWED BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY’S OFFICE. The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above resolution was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed resolution. A motion was made by Ms. Adams and seconded by Ms. Amoroso to approve the proposed resolution. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Ms. Amoroso and seconded by Mr. Noel to adjourn. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

The Presiding Officer declared the meeting adjourned ______________________________ Council Administrator/Treasurer

______________________________ Mayor-President Pro-Tempore

RESOLUTION 59390 AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A CHANGE ORDER, BEING CHANGE ORDER NO. 1, TO THE CONTRACT EXECUTED BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE AND PREFERRED ELECTRIC, INC., FOR BURBANK DRIVE AT PELICAN LAKES TRAFFIC SIGNAL, BEING PROJECT NO. 23-TS-TI-0008.

The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above resolution was in order at this time. No interested citizens spoke either for or against the proposed resolution. A motion was made by Mr. Hurst and seconded by Ms. Adams to approve the proposed resolution. A Yea and Nay vote was called for and resulted as follows: Yeas: Adams, Amoroso, Coleman, Dunn Jr., Gaudet, Harris, Hudson, Hurst, Kenney, Noel, Racca Nays: None Abstains: None Did Not Vote: None Absent: Moak With 11 yeas, 0 nays, 0 abstains, 0 not voting, and 1 absent, the motion was adopted.

RESOLUTION 59391 AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A CHANGE ORDER, BEING CHANGE ORDER NO. 1, TO THE CONTRACT EXECUTED BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE AND SIENNA CONSTRUCTION, L.L.C., FOR RENOVATIONS TO THE SCOTLANDVILLE BRANCH LIBRARY – PHASE II, BEING PROJECT NO. 21-ASC-CP-1449.

The Presiding Officer announced that a public hearing on the above

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