Agreement calls for dilution of enriched uranium, waiving of sanctions, reopening of Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz, which has been closed since the war with Iran started, would open toll-free for two months as part of the draft agreement between the United States and Iran.
BY MICHELLE L. PRICE, MATTHEW LEE, JON GAMBRELL, SAMY MAGDY and MIKE CATALINI Associated Press
WASHINGTON A draft agreement by the United States and Iran calls for Tehran to dilute its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and would waive, but not permanently end, sanctions on the country, according to U.S. officials who read the language of the memorandum on ending the war to journalists.
The agreement would also open the Strait of Hormuz toll-free for two months and affirm a commitment to Lebanon’s territorial integrity in the face of Israel’s invasion against the Hezbollah militant group.
U.S. officials dictated the language to journalists Wednesday after days of secrecy, speaking on condition of anonymity Iranian state TV later released text that largely tracks what the U.S. put out.
Though officials had said President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance had digitally signed the agreement Sunday and that a ceremonial signing would be held Friday in Switzerland, a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to share details about the agreement said Trump signed the deal while at Versailles on Wednesday
The U.S. official said Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also signed it Wednesday, though Iran did not immediately comment. It wasn’t im-
New
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By VADIM GHIRDA
President Donald Trump, center, is flanked by, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, left, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a news conference at the end of the G7 summit in France on Wednesday.
INSIDE
ä Cassidy blasts Trump’s deal with Iran. Page 4A
ä G7 leaders back agreement to end Iran war Page 5A
mediately clear if that act started a 60-day negotiating clock to reach a final deal. It was also not clear how Trump’s signing of the deal at Versailles differed from his digital signing on Sunday
“It’s signed,” Trump said as he left Versailles, the historic palace where he dined with French President Emmanuel Macron following a trip to the Group of Seven summit in France.
According to the officials, the draft agreement includes language that Iran agrees not to develop or procure nuclear weapons. It also addresses Tehran’s highly enriched Iranian uranium, requiring that it be
ä See DEAL, page 4A
Businesses seek pause on Bertrand roadwork
Revitalization project pushed by Boulet draws opposition
BY STEPHEN MARCANTEL Staff writer
Business owners took to the Lafayette City Council meeting on Tuesday to ask Mayor-President Monique Boulet to pause the Bertrand Drive revitalization project.
The project, which is a snapshot of what a larger Johnston Street project could look like, has drawn the ire of business owners along the street, who argue it would negatively impact their businesses Attendees at the meeting included owners of restaurants, bars and retail businesses.
“Please kill this project as it stands today,” said Dean Simon, co-owner of beauty supply store Armstrong McCall.
“We’re not against progress,” he added. “We’re not against sidewalks, bike paths or beautification. We’re against a project that harms the businesses and investments that employ and serve Lafayette. We think with reasonable adjustments, we can all come to reach a common goal.”
Boulet said the roadwork and streetscape
State lifts ban on treating condition via technology amid GLP-1 boom
BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer
As GLP-1 medications have revolutionized the treatment of obesity over the last several years and become increasingly available, Louisiana has lifted a ban on treating the condition via telehealth.
Two pill versions of the medications, Foundayo and Wegovy, are now approved by the FDA for obesity and weight loss, along with injectables like Zepbound. And the country is no longer facing the shortages of GLP-1 drugs it saw in 2023 and 2024.
“The demand is real,” said Dr Clayton Runfalo, a family medicine doctor in the Baton Rouge metro
See OBESITY, page 4A ä See BERTRAND, page 4A
state law cracks down on attacks on restaurant workers
BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer
Standing behind a McDonald’s counter in Baton Rouge on Wednesday morning, Gov Jeff Landry signed a law he says will help protect restaurant workers from attacks.
House Bill 1238 by state Rep Dixon McMakin, R-Baton Rouge, enhances criminal penalties for assault and simple battery when those crimes are committed
against employees in food and retail establishments
“This is one of those bills that you’d think we wouldn’t need in society,” the governor said. “These are people that are actually out there trying to serve the public, trying to get you a meal, trying to just get you on your way.”
In Louisiana, people convicted of simple battery face fines of up to $1,000 and prison sentences of up to six months, and those convicted of simple assault face fines of up
to $200 and prison sentences of up to 90 days.
HB1238, which became Act 342 with Landry’s signature, stiffens those penalties. When the victim of a simple battery is a restaurant or retail employee, the perpetrator could have to pay up to $2,000 or spend up to two years in prison. The maximum penalties for assaults against such employees would increase to fines of $1,000
ä See ATTACKS, page 4A
State Rep. Dixon McMakin, R-Baton Rouge, speaks during a bill signing at the McDonald’s on Dawnadele Avenue in Baton Rouge on Wednesday as Gov. Jeff Landry looks on.
LAFAYETTE CITY
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By AMIRHOSEIN KHORGOOI
STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER
GALLEGOS
Washington wildfire forces evacuations
High winds drove a wildfire into an eastern Washington neighborhood, forcing the evacuation of about 1,500 people and destroying some homes, fire officials said Wednesday It’s unclear how many homes were lost in Spokane. Fire officials were working Wednesday to determine the number and the full extent of the damage, said Matthew Vinci, fire chief for Spokane County Fire District 9 He confirmed Tuesday that some homes were engulfed in flames.
The evacuation order for the 1,500 residents remained in effect Wednesday, said Chandra Fox, deputy director for Spokane County Emergency Management.
The blaze started just after noon on Tuesday and quickly moved up a hill, said fire district spokesman Robert Gray Winds then shifted, sending flames into a neighborhood, Gray said. Spokane is about 280 miles east of Seattle near the border with Idaho.
Fire crews from Washington state and Idaho attacked the fire from the ground and air, but it quickly grew to 225 acres. It was 10% contained Wednesday morning, according to the National Interagency Fire Center
DHS: ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detainees transferred
MIAMI — All detainees at an immigration detention center in an isolated airstrip in the Florida Everglades, known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” have been transferred to other facilities, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said, citing concerns related to the hurricane season
The South Florida Detention Center has been praised by President Donald Trump. But its conditions have been harshly criticized by lawyers, families and human rights groups, who have persistently denounced the mistreatment of detainees since the center opened 11 months ago, during the Atlantic hurricane season.
DHS said that all detainees at the Florida state-run facility had been transferred but did not specify how many or where they were taken. Nor did it say whether the facility would close permanently or only temporarily.
“For the safety of the illegal alien detainees we transferred them to other facilities,” department spokesperson Lauren Bis said in an emailed statement.
The hurricane season spans six months, from June through November The detention facility opened on July 3, 2025, one month after the start of that year’s hurricane season, which concluded without any storms making landfall in Florida. It has been operating since then Ancient teeth rewrite the plague’s timeline
NEW YORK Scientists have found the oldest known evidence of the plague, which sparked deadly outbreaks dating back about 5,500 years ago — some 200 years earlier than previously thought.
The disease has sickened humans for thousands of years and wiped out a significant chunk of Europe’s population in the 14th century during what’s known as the Black Death. Though rare, the plague is still around today and is treated with antibiotics.
“To understand our own history, we believe that understanding the history of plague is extremely important,” said study co-author Eske Willerslev, an evolutionary geneticist with the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. Willerslev and other researchers looked for traces of plaguecausing bacteria in remains from four cemeteries near Siberia’s Lake Baikal. They found remnants of plague DNA in teeth from 18 ancient huntergatherers.
Dating the carbon in the bones revealed that the plague triggered two outbreaks, with the first cases detected around 5,500 years ago. The team found that the prehistoric plague developed in stages and infected several small families, according to the study published Wednesday in the journal Nature.
16-month-old,
mother recover from Ebola
196 have died since the outbreak was declared in May
BY JUSTIN KABUMBA Associated Press
BUNIA, Congo A 16-month-old baby and his mother have recovered from Ebola in eastern Congo, a rare positive development as Africa’s top health body warned the outbreak of the deadly virus could become the worst on record if it continues to spread.
The two left the Rwampara Treatment Center on Tuesday, near Bunia, in Ituri province, the epicenter of the outbreak, along with five other people who also recovered from Ebola.
“The joy is immense given the state he was in at first,” Kahindo Mireille Pierrette said of her infant. “If you had seen him before, you wouldn’t believe he could have this strength now,” she added.
Pierrette said she brought her child to the treatment center at the end of May, after he started bleeding from the mouth and nose and could barely move.
Modet Camara, a doctor at the center, said the baby was treated
with antibiotics after a PCR test came back positive for Ebola on his second day at the hospital. Congo’s Ministry of Health said Tuesday that 837 cases of the virus have been confirmed so far, including 196 confirmed deaths. However, the number of cases is believed to be higher because the outbreak was confirmed on May 15, weeks after it is suspected to have begun.
Since the outbreak was declared in mid-May, 49 have recovered, the ministry said.
The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which has no approved treatment or vaccine.
The more common Zaire virus, which now has a vaccine, was responsible for most of Congo’s past 16 outbreaks of the disease.
More than 90% of the cases in the current outbreak are concentrated in Congo’s eastern province of Ituri. Cases have also been recorded in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces and have spread across the border to Uganda.
The head of Africa’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
warned Tuesday that the outbreak could become the worst on record, noting that tens of thousands of contacts of infected patients have yet to be traced.
“If we don’t stop the outbreak very soon it will be worse than what we had in West Africa and eastern DRC,” Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya said during a virtual meeting of African heads of state.
An outbreak a decade ago across several countries in West Africa was the worst on record, with more than 28,000 cases and more than 11,000 deaths.
Nearly a million people have been displaced by years of conflict in Ituri, according to the U.N. humanitarian office, making contact tracing difficult as people flee attacks or move frequently in the vast province with dense forests, poor roads and remote villages that can take days to reach.
Tracing is also difficult among the thousands of miners who regularly move among remote sites in the mineral-rich region.
Trump’s pick to lead FEMA pledges to be fair
If confirmed, Hamiliton says he would do what he could to speed up decisions
BY GABRIELA AOUN ANGUEIRA Associated Press
WASHINGTON Cameron Hamilton, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency pledged to senators Wednesday to be “fair and reasonable” in assessing requests for disaster aid as he seeks to run an agency roiled by the administration’s threats to dismantle it.
Hamilton appeared before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee at a hearing where lawmakers assessed a group of 10 nominees for administration posts.
“My focus will be to ensure that FEMA is objective, is fair and reasonable, follows the law, and is consistent” in how it reviews disaster declaration requests,
Hamilton told Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, the top Democrat on the committee. Peters had asked about partisanship in granting major disaster declarations.
Hamilton had a brief tenure as FEMA’s temporary leader early last year but was ousted after defending the agency’s existence. At a House hearing in May 2025, he said he did not “believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate” FEMA. He was fired the next day
His nomination comes as the Republican administration has increasingly signaled it is backing away from promises to dismantle an agency that has been heavily criticized by the president.
If confirmed, he would be FEMA’s first permanent administrator in Trump’s second term. He will need to lead FEMA
through what is expected to be a busy summer disaster season, while answering to Trump, who is likely to expect major changes after a council he appointed recommended sweeping moves at the agency that is part of the Department of Homeland Security
Nominees did not give opening statements, but Hamilton received the bulk of lawmakers’ questions while appearing with four others in the first half of the hearing.
His answers suggested a departure from some of the more aggressive policies considered and enacted during Kristi Noem’s turbulent leadership at DHS. FEMA’s workforce has been worn down by mass staff departures, policies that hamstrung operations and a protracted DHS shutdown.
Hamilton expressed confidence in the FEMA staff and praised the recent opening of 350 positions to counteract some of the cuts. He said that if confirmed by the Senate, he would do what he could to speed up disaster declaration decisions and reimbursements to states, tribes and territories.
“We owe you answers, I think, much faster,” he told Sen Josh Hawley, R-Mo, adding that many FEMA processes needed to be simplified.
Hamilton disavowed a recommendation he included in an April 2025 memo to quadruple the threshold of financial damages a state needed to prove to receive FEMA public assistance He also noted the importance of resilience funding, despite halting billions in resilience grants during his previous tenure.
Republican and Democratic senators at the hearing expressed support for FEMA’s mission, despite Trump’s early threats to eliminate it. “I think what your agency does is hugely important,” Hawley told Hamilton.
Mangione to assert psychiatric defense in state trial
BY MICHAEL R. SISAK Associated Press
NEW YORK Luigi Mangione plans to assert a psychiatric defense at his state murder trial, claiming he was suffering from extreme emotional disturbance when he gunned down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a judge said Wednesday It wouldn’t absolve him of the Dec. 4, 2024, killing, but could free him from prison sooner If a jury accepts that defense, the panel would convict Mangione of manslaughter and he would face up to 25 years in prison. Alternatively, the jury could reject the extreme emotional disturbance defense and convict him of murder, which carries a potential life sentence. That defense isn’t available in his federal case.
Judge Gregory Carro announced the decision in court Wednesday, two weeks after holding a secret hearing on the matter at the defense’s request. He said he will release a transcript from that hearing and other records once redactions are made.
Carro said Mangione’s lawyers first notified him in a sealed letter last September that they planned to pursue a psychiatric defense and confirmed the decision at the June 3 hearing. But, the judge warned, they’re “coming close to not being able to put forth that defense” after prosecutors complained that Mangione’s lawyers had yet to give them details about what they say triggered their client’s extreme emotional disturbance. Prosecutors need to know that before they have their own psychological expert evaluate him, Carro said.
“Nothing is going to be a surprise,” Carro told Mangione’s lawyers. “I’m not going to let you surprise the People on the eve of trial. So, get it done.” Carro said he didn’t expect the development to delay Mangione’s trial, which is scheduled to start Sept. 8. The federal trial, which involves stalking charges, is set to begin on Oct. 13. Mangione, 28, has pleaded not guilty in both cases.
Kahindo Mireille Pierrette, an Ebola survivor, center, poses with her 16-month-old baby and health workers after they were declared to have survived Ebola and discharged from the Rwampara Treatment Center in Ituri, Congo, on Tuesday.
Trump delays confirmation of national intelligence nominee
Move fuels tension with fellow Republicans
BY MARY CLARE JALONICK, ERIC TUCKER and SEUNG MIN KIM Associated Press
WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Wednesday derailed the confirmation process of his own nominee to head the nation’s intelligence agencies, an extraordinary move that upended Senate efforts to renew a crucial surveillance program and fueled fresh tensions with fellow Republicans on Capitol Hill. In an overnight social media post from the Group of Seven summit in France, Trump declared he was delaying the nomination of federal prosecutor Jay Clayton as director of national intelligence just hours ahead of his scheduled hearing, despite bipartisan praise for the nominee and Republican efforts to speed him through the confirmation process.
Senate Intelligence Committee
Chairman Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said Republicans would go ahead with the Clayton hearing anyway “unless the president directs him not to appear or withdraws his nomination.” But later he postponed the hearing, saying it was “regrettable” that Trump had directed Clayton not to appear “Mr Clayton is a patriot and a highly qualified nominee, as the president has said repeatedly,” Cotton said. “While today’s hearing is now unfortunately postponed, I look forward to proceeding with his confirmation in the near future.”
Trump’s attempt to delay Clayton makes it more likely that his temporary pick for the intelligence job, top housing official Bill Pulte, will take over when outgoing director Tulsi Gabbard leaves office on Friday Republicans and Democrats in Congress have sharply criticized Pulte, a Trump loyalist who has no known national security experience and has used his current administration perch to target perceived adversaries of the president. Trump has defended Pulte, calling him “fair” and “talented.” Speaking to reporters in France,
Trump called the speedy process to get Clayton formally installed a “rush act by the Democrats.”
“Why are they afraid of this guy? They’re so afraid of him,” Trump said, referring to Pulte. “They’ll do anything not to have Pulte go in there.”
Caught in the middle is the renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, bipartisan legislation that aims to prevent terrorist attacks by monitoring the communications of targeted foreigners located outside the United States. Democrats had said they would not provide the necessary votes to pass the bill unless Pulte’s temporary appointment was withdrawn. The current surveillance authority expired last week.
Further complicating matters, Trump said in his social media post that he would not sign the FISA renewal without his legislation to require proof of citizenship for all voters which does not have enough votes to pass the Senate — and that he does not want to remove Clayton from his current position as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York until his replacement, James McDonald, is approved.
Trump’s post sent Senate Republicans scrambling, and it was unclear if and when Clayton’s nomination would move forward.
We’ll just have to take it a day at a time until we get more clarity on what the White House position is on this,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters Wednesday morning. He said he didn’t know why Trump was holding up the effort.
Escalating tensions
Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the
President Donald Trump declared he was delaying the nomination of federal prosecutor Jay Clayton.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WENIG
top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, called Trump’s move an “extraordinary display of dysfunction from a president who seems determined to turn America’s national security into a political bargaining chip.”
“The biggest obstacle to resolving these issues has not been Senate Democrats or Senate Republicans,” Warner said “It has been the chaos and confusion coming from the White House itself.”
It was just the latest in a series of standoffs between Trump and Senate Republicans this year
A funding bill for Trump’s immigration agencies was delayed several weeks when Republicans revolted over a $1.776 billion “antiweaponization” fund and a $1 billion security request for the White House, including his new ballroom. The bill passed after acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the settlement would not move forward, and GOP leaders decided to drop the security money from the bill.
Trump then appointed Pulte as interim intelligence director just as the FISA renewal was moving toward passage, upsetting bipartisan talks. Republicans urged the White House to pull the appointment, to no avail.
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said that Trump’s recent moves are “undermining the results he wants.”
“Jay Clayton was on the brink of having a very good hearing and probably getting some Democrat support, and now we’re in a posture to where it may be the reason that 702 doesn’t get reauthorized,” Tillis said. “That’s a mistake.”
Tillis called Pulte a “sycophant” to Trump.
Germany and Poland sign a new defense agreement
Tensions with Russia inspire deal to strengthen military
BY CLAUDIA CIOBANU
Associated Press
WARSAW, Poland Germany and Poland signed a new defense agreement on Wednesday, putting aside their complicated past to strengthen European military cooperation amid heightened tensions with Russia and growing uncertainty over U.S engagement in Europe. Relations between the two neighbors in recent years have become more pragmatic in the wake of Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine in 2022 and the coming to power of a liberal government in Poland in 2023.
“We are not forgetting the past,” Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said in Warsaw during a press conference with his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius. “But the politics of the future, development and security are our obligation.”
As the U.S. weighs a partial drawdown of its military presence in Europe, Poland is keen to ensure that major European allies take a greater role in defending the continent’s eastern flank.
Germany seeks partners as it moves to revitalize its military, the Bundeswehr, after decades of neglect, with ambitions to build the strongest conventional army on NATO’s European side an effort that will make it a central pillar of European defense in the years ahead.
Poland’s importance as a logistics hub for Ukraine, alongside its growing economy and heavy defense investment, has made it a compelling partner for Germany and other core European countries.
“Poland started building a strong army much earlier than other countries in Western Europe,” Cezary Tomczyk, the Polish deputy defense minister, told The Associated Press. “So we are ahead when it comes to capabilities.”
“We definitely don’t accept that any agreements about this part of Europe are made without Poland,” he said
“We Germans need a strong Poland as an equal partner,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in Berlin after meeting with liberal Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in December “This is in our fundamental interest.”
The defense agreement is to include plans for protecting the Baltic Sea region and details about cooperation on military mobility and infrastructure, cyber defense and new technologies.
The two countries are irreversibly tied by NATO’s defense plans, which give Germany a key role in the defense of the Baltic region, together with Poland and other countries in the central and eastern European region said Justyna Gotkowska, deputy director
of the Warsaw-based think tank Center for Eastern Studies.
“Germany is largely responsible for the defense of the Baltic states and without cooperation with Poland, that will not happen,” Gotkowska said.
The Baltic countries are often referred to as the most likely target for Russia if it were to attack NATO territory in the future.
Tomczyk, the deputy defense minister, said German soldiers, among others, would help further develop Poland’s Eastern Shield, a system of enhanced fortifications the country has been building on its borders with Belarus and Russia since 2024.
Despite Poland’s rising importance in Europe’s security architecture, Germany has preferred to make major decisions on Ukraine or Iran with only France and the U.K., leaving Warsaw aside.
On June 7, leaders of the three Western European countries hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in London to discuss the role they might play in potential peace negotiations with Russia.
Polish official: U.S. interested in offer for permanent base
Poland’s government approves steps to allow military installation
BY CLAUDIA CIOBANU Associated Press
WARSAW, Poland A senior Polish defense official said Wednesday that the United States has expressed interest in potentially establishing a permanent U.S. military base in Poland.
Cezary Tomczyk Poland’s deputy defense minister, spoke to The Associated Press a day after the Polish government approved steps to allow such a U.S. permanent base in Poland, on NATO’s eastern flank. He said the government’s resolution about the base Tuesday is an invitation to the Americans.
“The Americans are interested in the Polish offer to place a permanent base here,” because it would be financed by both countries, Tomczyk said in an interview at the Defense Ministry in Warsaw When asked about the remarks, U.S. Defense Department officials in Washington said they had nothing new to announce.
Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said that Poles are doing everything in their power to have such a permanent base but that “the decision will always be on the side of the Americans.”
Around 10,000 U.S. troops are typically stationed in Poland, the majority on a rotational basis.
The Polish government is hoping that thousands of U.S. troops be stationed permanently as the U.S. rethinks its military presence in Europe, both in personnel and weaponry
In May, the U.S. suddenly halted the deployment of 4,000 soldiers to Poland despite the Trump administration considering the country a “model ally” for reaching its NATO target for spending on defense.
U.S. President Donald Trump previously had threatened to pull troops out of Germany That was attributed to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticizing the U.S. on Iran, but the reduction of troops in Poland caused widespread confusion on both sides of the Atlantic.
Tomczyk was part of a Polish team immediately dispatched to Washington for talks. He was still in the U.S. capital when Trump wrote on social media that U.S. would send an additional 5,000 troops to Poland.
Since then, the U.S. has confirmed that it is reorganizing its troop presence in Europe but has given no further clarity about which troops are going where. However, multiple statements from Polish defense officials since then indicate they believe Poland has a chance to see an increase in permanent U.S. troops.
“Sometimes a rotating model can change into a permanent model and this is always much better,” Defense Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz said in mid-May Asked whether the Polish resolution came because the U.S. side signaled clear interest in having a permanent base in Poland, Tomczyk said Poland and the U.S. are “in a working dialogue” and that “the next step, after the two sides confirmed they are interested in this, is the official offer from the Polish state.”
“We can’t tell fortune from tea leaves,” Tomczyk said. “But we are a serious state which is presenting a serious offer to the Americans, in connection with the dialogue we are having with the Americans.”
PHOTO By SETH
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By MARyAM MAJD German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, right, welcomes Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk at the Chancellery in Berlin on Dec 15, 2025. Germany and Poland have signed a new defense agreement to strengthen military cooperation.
Cassidy blasts Trump’s peace deal with Iran
BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer
WASHINGTON U.S. Sen Bill Cas-
sidy condemned President Donald Trump’s 14-point deal pausing hostilities with Iran, which is slated to be signed Friday in Switzerland.
“Reagan is rolling over in his grave,” Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, wrote on X Wednesday afternoon, referring to President Ronald Reagan. “Iran’s nuclear ambitions were not curbed, and they have learned that threatening the Strait of Hormuz works and will undoubtedly leverage it in the future.
Now Iran gets to build brand-new infrastructure under this deal.
Cassidy continued: “Before the war, the strait was open, Iran was being crushed by sanctions, and 13 service members were still alive. Now, 13 Americans are dead, families have paid billions at the pump, sanctions will be lifted and the bombing has stopped. This is the worst foreign policy blunder in decades.”
The other seven members of Louisiana’s congressional delegation weren’t immediately prepared to comment until after studying the text of the memorandum of understanding, which was released Wednesday afternoon.
Before the text was released, Cassidy had been making critical
DEAL
Continued from page 1A
downgraded on site as a minimum.
In return, the U.S. will move to waive, but not eliminate, some wide-ranging sanctions against Iran once the deal is signed. The agreement also secures free passage of the strait for only 60 days, and it does not preclude fees in future, according to the U.S officials and the Iranian draft.
The document also has provisions to ensure the territorial integrity of Lebanon after Israel’s latest attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanese territory Israel has rejected the prospect of withdrawing from Lebanon, but the agreement expressly states in its first point that military operations in Lebanon must stop with the signing of the memorandum Under the Obama-era nuclear agreement with Iran that Trump pulled out of in his first term, Iran also agreed to restrictions on its
ATTACKS
Continued from page 1A
and six months behind bars.
Under Louisiana law, battery is the “intentional use of force or violence” against someone, while assault is attempted battery
BERTRAND
Continued from page 1A
portion of the project is being reevaluated after meeting with business owners on Monday, and hopes that continued discussion could yield a compromise. Major changes to the South College and Johnston Street intersection would proceed, with the administration considering whether to move forward with the communication upgrades.
Boulet said she will continue to meet with business owners and gather feedback on the project but added she wouldn’t “force” it “If it is a project that is going to create a lot of frustration for busi-
OBESITY
Continued from page 1A
area who cares for patients with obesity “Up until now the supply has been a challenge.”
For years in Louisiana, doctors had been banned from treating obesity via telehealth under old state regulations that targeted the prescription of certain stimulants, like the appetite suppressant phentermine, a controlled substance that has the potential for abuse or addiction.
But with the advent of GLP-1 weight loss medications, which are not classified as controlled substances, doctors say the prohibition is no longer needed
“We’ve come a long way in the treatment of obesity,” Runfalo said. Sen. Patrick McMath, R-Coving-
statements over the past few days based on what was being leaked publicly though he had cautioned that he had not seen the details.
Cassidy told Louisiana reporters in a phone conference Tuesday: “This is a bad deal, if the details remain the same. The deal, as I’ve heard it, makes your allies weaker and Iran stronger.”
During a Capitol hallway interview Wednesday morning, Cassidy told a reporter with Nexstar Media Group, a Texas-based chain of television stations across the country:
nuclear program and promised never to build an atomic weapon. The Islamic Republic maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful.
Trump, meanwhile, cast some uncertainty on whether the signing would happen as planned. Asked how confident he was that the ceremony would take place, Trump said: “You never know with deals, do you? But you’re going to find out pretty soon.”
The U.S. and Israel went to war on Feb. 28 in part to prevent Iran from ever getting a nuclear weapon, although Trump’s goals in the conflict have repeatedly shifted. The interim deal stops the war before securing that goal. Instead, it opens a two-month period for nuclear negotiations and appears to offer Iran several benefits up front while extracting little in return.
The U.S. agreement to immediately allow Iran to sell its oil freely and the offer to eventually lift all sanctions represent major concessions that go beyond the terms of Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Trump withdrew America
McMakin, who joined Landry for a news conference at the McDonald’s on Dawnedale Avenue, said the state passed laws to protect healthcare workers from workplace violence in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, it was time “to do the same thing for the people that are behind the counter,” he said.
nesses, I’m not going to force it.
I’m not going to fight it. I’m not going to push it,” she said.
Roadwork was expected to begin early next year and end in 2028.
The project is anticipated to cost from $13 million to $15 million.
The previous reporting placed the project at $11 million to $13 million.
While official funding numbers are unclear, the project is not fully funded, Rachel Godeaux, Lafayette Consolidated Government’s chief financial officer, told the council Tuesday “In the budget we just submitted to (the council), or well, that’s in the process of being developed, it will be fully funded. That’s the goal,” Godeaux said. The Bertrand project aimed to
ton, who sponsored Senate Bill 30, now Act 345, which lifted the telehealth ban, noted that Louisiana has the third-highest obesity rate in the country In Louisiana, 40% of adults are obese, meaning they have a body mass index, or BMI, of at least 30, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
“To not have all the possible tools in place from a healthcare standpoint to address the high obesity rates in Louisiana is just silly,” McMath said Change to Louisiana law
The new law lifting the telehealth ban for obesity treatment took effect in May
“It’s a win for patients, because it’s just one more avenue of access between them and their physicians,” Runfalo said.
Telehealth is “a valuable tool”
will replace Cassidy when the new Congress convenes in January Early voting in the primary runoffs began June 12 and ends Saturday
Initially, Trump said the details wouldn’t be released until after the agreement is signed on Friday
But parts of the memorandum were reported Wednesday morning by national news outlets.
And Trump answered questions Wednesday about the agreement during a news conference in France, where the president is attending a G7 economic conference.
Details were released after Trump’s news conference.
The memorandum terminates all military operations for 60 days while the parties negotiate how Iran gets rid of fissionable nuclear materials.
assets and investments from private companies could be included. At the beginning of the conflict, Trump said he was seeking regime change and denying Iran any nuclear capabilities.
Though he was one of the few to speak publicly about his reservations, Cassidy’s theme tracks what several of his GOP colleagues are telling reporters.
After Cassidy voiced his criticisms, Sen Ted Cruz R-Texas publicly raised concerns.
“History teaches that giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is not a good idea. I think the president is receiving some very poor advice on this deal,” Cruz told The Hill.
“This will go down as a tremendous foreign policy blunder.”
Since losing reelection in the May 16 closed party primary, Cassidy has been much more vocal in questioning Trump and some of his policies. Trump backed U.S Rep. Julia Letlow R-Baton Rouge, in the contest.
Letlow faces state Treasurer John Fleming, R-Minden, in the June 27 party primary runoff to determine with Republican would face the Democratic candidate in the Nov 3 election to decide who
from that pact in his first term, declaring it the “worst deal ever.”
The accord likely will draw intense opposition in Washington, and it appears to be a major setback for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has come under criticism at home from the media, his opponents and even some allies as details emerge.
Much of the agreement would restore the status quo before the war, including ending hostilities, restarting talks between the U.S. and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program, and reopening the strait the crucial passage for the world’s oil and natural gas and whose closure created a historic energy crisis.
The deal includes an end to the fighting in Lebanon between Israel and the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah That is one of the most delicate parts of the agreement because Israel has maintained it will continue to defend itself and to occupy vast swaths of Lebanon. Iran has said Israel must withdraw under the deal.
The White House and other
“Too many times we see customers come into a restaurant, and then act like fools,” he said. Act 342 “will provide our police with extra resources to say, ‘Not anymore in Baton Rouge and in Louisiana are you going to mess with our hardworking people that are behind the counters.’”
The legislation comes after a
improve pedestrian and cyclist safety along the road while enhancing connectivity to Moncus Park and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Cajun Field. Designs were unveiled in April.
Initial designs on Bertrand would have removed the turning lane, which is the largest complaint from many business owners.
The removal of the turning lane would allow for additional street parking and green spaces, coinciding with a speed limit reduction from 45 to 30 mph.
“Putting the turning lane back in is not something we erase and put in. There is an extensive amount of engineering,” Boulet said Tuesday. “I’m not saying ‘no,’ I’m saying we have to stop and really be
that doctors have increasingly leaned into since the COVID pandemic, Runfalo said. The new law recognizes that technology is now being used in ways that 10 years ago were beyond imagination, he said.
The Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, which licenses and regulates doctors in the state, has a blanket rule prohibiting doctors from using telemedicine to treat obesity, but it can no longer be enforced under Act 345. Board rules also prohibit the treatment of chronic pain and the prescription of controlled substances via telehealth.
During a public hearing on the legislation this spring, Patricia Wilton, executive council for the Board of Medical Examiners, acknowledged the rule related to obesity is outdated and needs to be changed. She said the organization is in the process of drafting a
“If it doesn’t happen in 60 days, we go back to bombing,” Trump said.
Israel’s attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon would end. Iran also agrees to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and allow tankers to ship crude oil around the world. Iran would be allowed to sell its oil.
Additionally, the U.S and other nations in the region would guarantee financing of about $300 billion to rebuild Iran. The U.S. would not contribute any money, Trump said, though the release of frozen
American officials have not published the terms and did not immediately respond to questions.
Trump has cited various goals for the war, including at times vowing it would end Iran’s nuclear and missile programs and its support for Hezbollah and other proxy groups in the region. He also suggested it could lead to toppling the Iranian government.
The interim deal falls short of all of these goals, but Trump hailed it Wednesday.
“Nobody knows what it is, but it’s very strong,” Trump said in France, where he attended a Group of Seven summit.
But he also opened the door to abandoning it: “It’s a memorandum of understanding, and if I don’t like it, we’ll go back to shooting at them, dropping bombs.”
Some concessions to Iran — including the full lifting of sanctions and the release of frozen assets — would happen gradually and be linked to progress in the nuclear talks, according to officials from Pakistan, a key mediator They out-
Baton Rouge couple in March was accused of shooting a restaurant owner over a mistake in their food order
The change is the latest in a series of laws passed under Landry that toughen criminal penalties.
Other senators, including Cassidy, feared Trump’s memorandum would be all too similar to a deal struck during Democratic President Barack Obama’s administration that Trump put aside in May 2018 during his first term, because of harsh criticism from most Republicans.
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was signed in July 2015 by the United States, China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the European Union. The deal essentially restricted Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon in return for relaxing trade sanctions and releasing frozen Iran’s foreign assets.
lined some of the deal’s major points on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
But in the meantime, the U.S. will issue waivers to sanctions that allow Iran to sell oil freely
The Islamic Republic’s oil export revenues in 2024 were more than $46 billion. Its main buyer of oil, China, is believed to have bought at below-market prices because of its willingness to ignore the sanctions.
Granting oil waivers at the start of the 60-day talks strips the U.S. of a major point of leverage Only at the conclusion of the overall deal in 2015 were sanctions on Iran’s oil lifted.
The interim deal also opens the door to ending all sanctions Iran faces from the U.S. and at the U.N. — including those over Tehran’s weapons programs and human rights abuses — though it says the schedule for that will be worked out later Still, that far surpasses the 2015 deal, which only lifted some sanctions in exchange for Iran drastically reducing its enrichment and stockpile of uranium.
After he took office in 2024, he convened a special legislative session to pass a set of bills that all but eliminated parole opportunities for prisoners. Since then, other bills have made it easier for prosecutors to pursue the death penalty for people accused of murder and lengthened maximum sentences for various crimes, such as strangulation of a dating partner and some sex offenses.
conscious about that, and it also takes time to reengineer.”
The project would also have featured several raised pedestrian crossings equipped with lighting. Several driveways into businesses along Bertrand were expected to be consolidated to limit interactions between drivers and pedestrians.
Plans also included one side of the road with a 12-foot walking path with a 6-foot sidewalk on the other
“While it was a misstep to put that overlay district forward, it was dead in 24 hours,” Boulet said. The overlay district was set to go before the Lafayette city zoning commission during its Monday meeting, but the item was removed. The City Council will likely reexamine the development code to remove or reconfigure the development standard.
Businesses began voicing opposition to the project in early June after they found that their section of Bertrand Drive would have been placed under a stringent overlay district, which would have reduced the types of businesses allowed to open and imposed additional design standards. Boulet previously said the administration intended to pursue restrictions on land uses and signage, but the project automatically triggered the city’s broader development standards under the Lafayette Development Code, which includes building design and site requirements that Boulet said she was unaware of.
new set of regulations related to obesity after soliciting feedback from experts in the field.
McMath said that the process has been going on for over a year, and regulators haven’t been acting with the sense of urgency needed to address Louisiana’s “sky-high obesity rates.”
The board did not respond to requests for comment.
Treating obesity
Dr Philip Schauer, a surgeon and obesity expert, said it’s important that doctors are able to treat obesity like other conditions.
“Obesity is a disease,” he said.
“It’s a chronic illness, just like high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and it should be managed similar to these other chronic illnesses.”
The law speaks to the fact that obesity is no longer being treated like a character flaw or a lack of
willpower, said Schauer, who is the director of the Metamor Metabolic Institute in Baton Rouge, a partnership between LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center and Our Lady of the Lake.
“It’s a legitimate illness, and it deserves to be treated in the same manner other chronic illnesses do,” he said. Allowing for telehealth treatment is “a huge step in the right direction,” he said.
Both Schauer and Runfalo said they prefer to meet with patients for obesity treatment for the first time face-to-face.
“Our initial visit is usually in person, and it very well should be,” Runfalo said, adding that is best for a physical examination and taking accurate measurements.
But the two doctors also said telehealth works well for followup visits and can help more people access the care they need.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By J SCOTT APPLEWHITE
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, heads to a closed-door Republican policy meeting at the Capitol in Washington on Tuesday.
G7 leaders back deal to end war
Allies support agreement to end economic instability
BY AAMER MADHANI, SYLVIE CORBET and DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France
Leaders at the Group of Seven summit on Wednesday threw their support behind U.S. President Donald Trump’s tentative agreement with Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz and extend a shaky ceasefire.
Closing the three-day summit, French President Emmanuel Macron called it a “very good deal,” adding that U.S. allies in the G7 support it “because it’s an agreement that puts a stop to a situation of great instability that had terrible consequences for our economies.”
At his own news conference, Trump hailed the deal as “historic” and said other G7 leaders say “they love this deal because they want to see it over.”
U.S. officials meanwhile dictated the text of the deal to journalists, with details released after the summit ended.
The accord, due to be formally signed in Switzerland on Friday, lays out that the U.S. would work to end all U.S. and United Nations sanctions imposed on Tehran if a final agreement addressing Iran’s nuclear program is reached.
“I think it’ll be done. They want to sign. They want to get back to a normal life,” Trump said earlier Wednesday
The final day of G7 talks at a lakeside resort in the French Alps started late with Trump, the last to arrive, saying “I’m the boss” as he entered and sat next to Macron. The assembled leaders laughed, and Trump grinned.
The formal talks of the leading industrial democracies closed with sessions on the future of artificial intelligence and fostering economic growth. They discussed concerns that China is flooding export markets with subsidized products, unfairly out-competing their own industries and destroying jobs. Leaders of India, South Korea, Kenya and Brazil joined the meeting.
Trump later attended a glitzy dinner at the Palace of Versailles outside Paris be-
fore he was scheduled to return to Washington. Before entering the palace, Trump complimented both Macron and his wife, Brigitte, whom the U.S. president greeted with a kiss on the cheek and called “amazing.”
Resuming traffic on strait
Trump still has to sell the deal to some members of his own Republican party who doubt it will defang Iran’s nuclear program. At the same time, he faces an anxious international community looking for him to follow through on his promise that the deal will reopen the Strait of Hormuz to oil tanker traffic and keep it open.
The G7 leaders said an international maritime mission led by France and the U.K. “can play an important role to facilitate the resumption of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz by protecting merchant vessels, reassuring commercial shipping operators, and supporting verification that all mines are removed
Iran effectively closed the strait early in the war that began on Feb. 28 with U.S. and Isreali attacks.
The deal also calls for an immediate end to all fighting in Lebanon between Israel and the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah. That is one of the most delicate parts of the agreement because Israel has maintained it will continue to defend itself and to occupy vast swaths of Lebanon.
The agreement that U.S. officials dictated to journalists on Wednesday also has provisions to ensure “territorial integrity” of Lebanon after Israel’s latest attacks
against Hezbollah in Lebanese territory
In their declaration, G7 leaders said they supported “through an immediate robust ceasefire” Lebanese efforts to disarm Hezbollah, and protect Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty
Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed nearly 4,000 people and displaced more than 1 million since fighting there began on March 2.
“Israel’s fighting Hezbollah too long, and too many people are being killed,” Trump said.
Leaders vow support
In a flurry of unanimously agreed declarations, the G7 leaders stressed their support for Ukraine as it battles Russia’s invasion and agreed to increase deliveries of air defense systems They also said they would bolster sanctions on Moscow, including on Russia’s oil and gas industries.
Trump called the conversations on ending the war in Ukraine “productive” and said both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy want to “do something.”
“They just don’t know how,” he said.
Leaders also pledged to step up the fight against the multibillion-dollar international drug trade.
Trump has been waging his own battle against drug traffickers. United States military strikes on alleged drug-carrying boats transiting in Latin America have killed more than 200 people since September, when the Trump administration began an operation it has justi-
U.S. in talks with Jamaica to send third-country migrants
BY JOHN MYERS JR Associated Press
KINGSTON, Jamaica Jamaica is in discussions with the United States to accept third-country deportees, a move that would add the island nation to a growing number of Caribbean countries working with the Trump administration on its immigration agenda.
Jamaica’s National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang confirmed Tuesday that the country has signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to accept up to 25 people from countries other than Jamaica every two weeks.
The deportees, said Chang, will not be placed in detention, though details of where they would be housed have yet to be determined. Compensation for accepting them is still being hashed out.
If the agreement is finalized, Jamaica would join Mexico, El Salvador, Uganda and a number of other countries that have agreed to accept third-country migrants deported from the U.S.
The move is already getting pushback from the Opposition People’s National Party, or PNP, which accused the Jamaican government of keeping the negotiations from the public.
The PNP argued that accepting the migrants places Jamaica’s internal security, international standing, and fragile social infrastructure at severe risk.
“Jamaicans deserve to know whether discussions have taken place and whether any commitments or understandings have been reached,” Donna Scott Mottley, a spokesperson for the opposition, said in a statement.
“Jamaica, like other sovereign nations, is obligated under international laws to accept the return of its own citizens,” Chang stated.
“However, this new arrangement does not mean thirdcountry nationals are being dumped on our shores. This is a structured, managed process to transit individuals through Jamaica to their final destination,” he added, drawing a hard line between repatriating Jamaican nationals and processing foreign citizens.
A U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said that the administration is “utilizing all lawful options” to carry out deportations.
While a U.S. federal district court ultimately struck down the third-country removal policy as unlawful in February 2026 — ruling that the U.S. cannot dump migrants in undesignated nations without proper notice the policy is still being enforced pending appellate action
Widening rift in Caribbean
As part of its immigration crackdown, the Trump administration has used a series of secretive agreements to deport more than
19,000 people to third countries, according to the group Third Country Deportation Watch, with some ending up in nations they had never even heard of.
Most deportees have been sent to Mexico, the group says, but over 1,500 have been scattered to more than 20 other nations, many of them poorer countries in Latin America and Africa looking for ways to curry favor with the U.S.
The diplomatic rift in Kingston mirrors a broader fragmentation across the Caribbean, where several governments have quietly entered into varying agreements with the U.S. to avoid crippling travel restrictions or economic penalties.
The Dominican Republic signed a non-binding agreement to temporarily hold a limited number of non-criminal third-country nationals, while explicitly barring unaccompanied minors and nationals from neighboring Haiti, a deal that also met with heavy criticism.
Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit defended a similar agreement as a “pragmatic step” to preserve vital bilateral relations with Washington, though stipulating violent offenders would be rejected Antigua and Barbuda adopted a highly restrictive case-by-case posture. Prime Minister Gaston Browne confirmed a framework capping total acceptances at a maximum of 10 noncriminal individuals.
BY JOHN LEICESTER and KELVIN CHAN Associated Press
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France
fied as necessary to stem the flow of drugs.
Critics have questioned the legality of the strikes.
In a separate declaration, the G7 leaders reaffirmed their efforts to halt migrant smuggling and human trafficking, which they said “constitute serious transnational crimes that erode the sovereign right of States to control their borders and expose smuggled and trafficked persons to life-threatening risks.”
‘Most beautiful-looking’ Trump said Wednesday after meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the U.S. is “very close” to reaching a trade deal with India, and then went on to lavish praise on Modi as “a very tough negotiator.”
“He’s the most beautifullooking man. He looks so nice He’s like an angel. But actually, he’s as tough as he’s a killer,” Trump said.
The meeting with Modi came at a choppy moment in the U.S.-India relationship, in part because of the war in the Middle East. On June 10 three Indian sailors were killed in a U.S military strike on a tanker in the Gulf of Oman in the midst of the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday urged the world’s wealthy democracies to work together on regulating advanced artificial intelligence systems, speaking at a high-level meeting that included top AI executives.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman issued a similar plea at the Group of Seven summit of major industrialized nations in France, saying an “international forum” is needed for countries to draw up AI guardrails. He said the task of AI safety should not be left to tech companies.
Overshadowing the discussion on AI was President Donald Trump’s administration’s directive last week, preventing foreign nationals from using Anthropic’s newest and most powerful artificial intelligence models.
Macron said it was a “good thing” that U.S. officials recognize that socalled frontier AI models could be dangerous, but he also criticized it as a “strictly nationalist” reaction. The remarks followed a G7 working lunch that brought together AI industry figures, including leaders of three of the most powerful AI companies — Altman, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei — on the theme of “ensuring a safe, rapid and
effective deployment of artificial intelligence.” Feud with Anthropic Ahead of the meeting, the White House’s dispute with Anthropic fueled distrust in Europe about American dominance of AI and tech ecosystems.
The company was forced on Friday to take its latest artificial intelligence models, known as Fable 5 and Mythos 5, offline to comply with the directive. The AI giant said it did not believe the steps taken by the government were warranted by the concern it flagged about a potential security issue.
When asked by a reporter whether France and other G7 countries had asked Trump to permit access to Anthropic’s latest AI models, Macron said he made a forceful plea for the U.S. not to keep cutting-edge AI to itself.
Macron warned of a possible drop in value for U.S. firms pioneering the disruptive technology if they switch off access like a light switch. Macron backed his appeal for partnership among key democracies with an insurance policy: France, he said, will boost funding for its own AI industry so it’s not left behind if international cooperation breaks down. Democratic
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By THIBAULT CAMUS
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer from left, U.S President Donald Trump French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney listen during a working session at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, on Wednesday.
Arthur made landfall yesterdayevening aftertraveling along the TexasGulfCoast bringing strong windsasthe greatestthreat to southwest Louisiana. In fact, aWind Advisoryhas been issued duetosoutherly winds of 15-25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph It is in effect until 8p.m.tonight. TheFlood Watch we’vebeen under remains in effect untiltonight as well.Otherwise,expect a partly cloudy, hot, humid and windyday with somescattered rain. Temperatures will rise into the upper 80s with heat index valuesto 108.
Republican lawmakerscited concerns of moving tooquickly
BY BILL BARROW Associated Press
ATLANTA— Georgia’s Republican legislative leaders on Wednesday rejected Gov.Brian Kemp’scall to redraw congressional and legislative districts during aspecial session, citing concerns about moving too quickly after aU.S. Supreme Court decision weakened federal Voting Rights Act protectionsfor minority voters.
The aborted effort to reduce non-White voters’ representation contrasts with other Southern states where Republican majorities movedquicklytoredraw congressional boundaries ahead of theNovember midterms,partly in response to President Donald Trump’spleastoshoreupthe GOP’sfragile House majority.
Civil rights activists and Democrats, especiallyBlack andother non-White lawmakers, celebrated the development and claimed victory after exerting weeks of pressure and gathering hundredsof citizens at the Georgia Capitol on Wednesday ahead of the session.
“Today showed that ordinary people don’t need to waituntil November to make their voices heard andprotect our democracy,” said U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, the state’sfirst Black senator who returned to Atlanta from Washington to be at the Capitol. “Wecan stand up and speak right now.”
Kemp had not asked his fellow Republicans to reopen Georgia districtsaheadofNovember. Instead, he wanted them to redraw congressional boundaries for the 2028 election. But the governor, in the final months of his second term, also called on lawmakers to redraw their owndistricts —a move that would have made Georgia the first state to apply the Su-
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MIKE STEWART
People listen and cheer as lawmakers speak about redistricting during a special legislativesession at the Georgia statecapitolonWednesday
preme Court’sLouisiana v. Callais decisiontoits legislature.
State House Speaker Jon Burns sent Kemp aletter hours before Wednesday’sspecial sessionwas set to begin, informinghim that legislators would not consider redistrictingatall during thesession. He announced the decision publicly shortlyafter,asdemonstrators filled the Capitol with chants of “Black voters matter!”
Kemp said he believes Georgia’s currentdistricts areunconstitutional, andhesees no reason to delay redistricting. “Legislative districting, however,isthe responsibility of the General Assembly,and it is within their discretion to defer the issue until alater date,” Kemp said in a statement.
Burns said lawmakers wantto take their time after the Callais decision, which struck down Louisiana’scongressional map as an illegal racialgerrymander and laid the groundwork for legislatures to reduce the number of districts where Blackand othernon-White voters holdmost sway
The speakersaiditwas more importantfor lawmakers to focus on economic matters rather than “partisangames.” He alsocited pending litigationover existing Georgiadistricts andthe need to
understand the full ramifications for how race can or cannot be used in redistricting.
Privately,Republicanshad expressedconcernsthatarushed process that diminished Black and other minority voters’ political power could cause abacklash. And they worried that redrawn districts could unintentionally create more competitive jurisdictions thatDemocratscould win, especially around Atlanta.
Still, Georgia Republicans did not rule out revisiting redistricting later this year
Democratsactivists opposed Minority voting rights are especially salient in Georgia,where the Capitol complex includes astatue of theRev.Martin Luther King Jr and sits blocks from where theassassinated civil rights icon lived, preached andled themovement that yielded theVoting RightsAct in 1965.
Warnock, whoisalsominister at theAtlanta church whereKing once preached, invoked the civil rights icon as he led demonstrators who criticized the Supreme Court’sreasoning in Callais that it was discriminatory to draw districts to allowminorityvoters achancetoelect theirpreferred representatives.
15 countriesadopt declarationto
fight illegal fishing
BY ALLAN OLINGO Associated Press
MOMBASA, Kenya— Fifteencountries from Africa, Asia, Europe, theCaribbean, and the Pacific adopted adeclaration on Wednesday to step up efforts to combat illegalfishing, apracticethatexpertssay costs the world economy up to $50 billion annually The Mombasa Declaration, named after the Kenyan city hosting the11th OurOcean Conference, calls on governments to improve access to information on fishingvessels, ownership and licensing, andtostrengthen data sharing to better track fishing activities andenforce regulations. Out of the more than 30 countriesrepresented in the summit, Belgium, Cameroon,Chile, the Dominican Republic,France, Gambia,Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Panama,Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Republic of the Congo, Somalia and South Koreasigned theagreement.
The signatories saidina statement themeasuresare intended to curb illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, also known as IUU fishing, which threatens marine ecosystems andthe livelihoods of millions of people who depend on fisheries.
“In my country,our very existence depends on fish,” said Ghana’s fisheriesminister, Emelia Arthur.“Over 60% of our animal protein comes from fish, and10% of our population depends on the fisheries value chain for livelihood.” Arthur added that fisheries are amatterofculture and national security forGhana,noting that the declaration gives governments aplatform to “fighttogether fortransparency in the fisheries sector.”
larlyindeveloping countries, by depleting fish stocks, undermining food securityand distorting markets. Experts also link it to human rights abuses, including forced labor and unsafeworking conditions aboard fishing vessels. The declaration builds support for the GlobalCharter for Fisheries Transparency,aset of 10 policy principles aimedatimproving governance through low-cost reforms, including modernizing vessel registries and publishing fishing authorizations.
French Minister Delegate for the Sea and Fisheries Catherine Chabaud said international cooperation was essential, with her country leading European nations in supporting the agreement.
“Wewill not be able to effectively combat illegal fishing without greater transparency and international cooperation,” she said. “Limited transparency in vessel ownership, tracking, andfishing activity andsupply chains allow these illegal practices to thrive, making stronger access to reliable fisheries data and accountabilitymechanisms essential to protecting marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.”
Conservation groups welcomed the agreement, saying it reflects growing global momentum for greater accountability at sea. “For too long, illegal fishing has thrived in the dark,” said Tony Long, CEO of nonprofit Global FishingWatch. “When governments committotransparency, they create an interconnected network wherebad actors have nowhere lefttohide.”
Beth Lowell,vice president of theenvironmentaladvocacy group Oceana, said the declaration signals that governments are “readytoact against illegal fishingand work together fora moretransparent, equitable and sustainable ocean.”
NEW IBERIA
Economic development district approved
Shopping center sales tax to upgrade parking lot
BY JOEL THOMPSON
Staff writer
The New Iberia City Council unanimously approved a new economic development district on Tuesday over minor public opposition. The district will comprise the
Lagniappe Shopping Center at 1102 East Admiral Doyle Drive.
According to New Iberia Mayor Freddie DeCourt, the developer requested it in exchange for bringing several national chain stores to the city The district will allow the city to raise additional revenues through a one-cent sales tax on all
purchases made there, which in turn will be used to facilitate upgrades and repairs to the shopping center’s parking lot.
According to city officials, the district will sunset once parking lot upgrades are completed. DeCourt touted it as essential for bringing businesses into
New Iberia. “In a town like New Iberia that’s competitive with many of our neighbors, this is how we attract businesses,” said DeCourt. “If you like the Rouses or the Hobby Lobby, we were able to bring those in through a property millage They wouldn’t have come otherwise.”
“Cost of living is certainly a high priority for quality of life. I would suggest that parking lots are not,” one member of the community said during public comment.
Because the district’s boundaries do not contain any residences, it is not subject to voter approval,
Still, several community members spoke against the new district, arguing that the additional taxes would cause consumers undue financial hardship.
RIVER TOUR
Boat captain Mike Fowler takes tourists on a river tour of the Vermilion River from the Vermilionville boat launch in Lafayette on Friday. Tourists learn about the history, geology and environment of the Vermilion River
St. Martinville police chief announces retirement
AT&T to close Lafayette call center
nomic Development Authority
customer and business needs.
people.
Company says employees given option to work remotely
BY KRISTIN ASKELSON Staff writer
Ricky Martin joining Sheriff’s Office Martin ä See CHIEF, page 4B
Staff report
AT&T is apparently closing its call center in north Lafayette, which employed about 300
KATC first reported late Tuesday that the company released a statement that indicated it will offer employees a chance to work remotely and is apparently moving out of its office at 221 Venture Way. In a statement issued Wednesday morning to The Acadiana Advocate, the company said the move was a way to streamline operations and adapt to changing
“While (customer) care operations will no longer be based in a physical center locally, our commitment to our people and the Lafayette community remains as strong as ever,” a spokesperson said. It’s unknown if the company laid off any workers. It employed 300, according to the 2024-25 listing of the top 50 employers by the Lafayette Eco-
That figure was as high as 653 in LEDA’s 2022-23 list. The office was built as a call center for Cingular Wireless in the early 2000s, and once employed up to 658 people, according to archives. The move follows similar ones in other markets, including in Johnston City, Tennessee, earlier this year, according to reports.
St. Martinville Police Chief Ricky Martin has announced his retirement after eight years leading the department, ending a tenure marked by community policing initiatives and departmental growth Martin said he plans to remain in the position through July before transitioning to a role with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office “We all get to that point in life, or in our career where you realize that you’ve done what you needed to do and it’s time to pass the torch on to somebody with fresh ideas and a new outlook on things,” Martin said Tuesday in a Facebook post. Among the accomplishments
Library could be named after Norman Francis
Civil rights legend was born in Lafayette
BY STEPHEN MARCANTEL Staff writer
The Lafayette Parish Council is considering naming the Northeast Regional Library after Lafayette-born civil rights leader Norman C. Francis. The council successfully introduced an ordinance to rename the library the Norman
C. Francis Library The 20,500-square-foot facility near the campus of Holy Rosary Institute is expected to open in 2028.
Francis, the longtime president of Xavier University in New Orleans, a national civil rights icon and prolific educator died in February at 94. He was born in Lafayette on March 20, 1931, during the Great Depression, where he attended St. Paul Catholic for elementary and secondary school
He later relocated to New Orleans to attend Xavier University of Louisiana before graduating in 1952. He later applied to Loyola University’s law school, becoming the school’s first Black student. After Francis got his law degree, he joined the U.S. Army, serving in the Third Armored Division He later worked on special assignment with the U.S. Justice Department to desegregate federal agencies in major cities.
In 1968, he became president of Xavier, a position he held for 47 years. Francis has received 42 honorary doctorates and, in 2006, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor During his lifetime, he served on 54 boards and commissions and advised eight presidents on education and civil rights issues.
A 1986 survey by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education named him one of the 100 most effective college presidents in the country
STAFF PHOTO By BRAD KEMP
Francis
ä See DISTRICT, page 4B
OUR VIEWS
Juneteenth commemorates thelongmarch to freedom
Editor’snote:Inhonor of theJuneteenth observance tomorrow,weare reprinting an editorial about the holiday that has been publishedin previous years.
As the Civil Warcontinued, President Abraham Lincoln issued the EmancipationProclamation —effective Jan. 1, 1863 —making it clear to Confederate states fighting to keep slavery that enslaved people “shall be free.”
Though famous since that day,the proclamation was really awartimemeasure that only appliedto slaves in rebelstatesunder arms,not atotal end to slavery. It was rather specific, designating whichcountiesand parishesthe proclamation would cover.“Idoorder anddeclare that all persons held as slaveswithin said designated States, and parts of States, are, andhenceforward shall be free,” Lincoln wrote. Elsewhere in the proclamation, the presidentmadeitclear that non-Union Confederatestates werethe areas being targeted. That includedLouisiana, but 13 parishes wereexempt from theproclamation: Ascension, Assumption, Jefferson,Lafourche, Plaquemines,St. Bernard,St. Charles, St.John, St. Mary,St. Martin,Terrebonne,and “Orleans, including the CityofNew Orleans.” Slavery was not fully abolished until the 13th Amendment waspassed by CongressonJan.31, 1865, then ratified on Dec. 6, 1865. Still, Lincoln’s proclamation sent an importantsignal, albeit one that was slowtospread.
There was no nightly news, nointernet and certainly no social media to quickly andwidely share the breaking news that theEmancipation Proclamationhad been signed andslaveryhad ended.
It took more than two years —until June 19, 1865—for enslaved people in GalvestonBay to learn that they wereamong the250,000 in Texas and 4million nationally who were freed by order of the president. Enslaved people who were freed celebrated, starting aTexas tradition that eventually spread to other states acrossthe nation. “June”and “19th” were combined to create“Juneteenth.”
In 2021, Juneteenth becameafederalholiday, and Louisiana also made it astate holidaythat year.Today,Juneteenthisrecognizedasa holiday, observanceorremembrance in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Though June 19 fallsona Friday thisyear, and that is the federal holiday,traditionally, Juneteenth has also been observed on thethird Saturday of June by many Black Americans. Opal Lee, recognized as the grandmotherof Juneteenth because she started anational effort to have the day recognized as afederal holiday when she was 86 years old, grew uplessthanan hour away from Shreveport inMarshall, Texas, before moving to the Fort Wortharea. Lee has said she envisioned the holidayasa celebration of freedom for everyone, not just those whose ancestors endured slavery On Juneteenth, we remember all thoseAmericans throughout history whohavemoved this country toward the “more perfect union”articulated by our founders. We urge everybody to celebrate the day dedicated to cherishing the freedoms that were, for many Americans, much too belatedly won.
Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’scity of residence TheAdvocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address andphone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor,The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com.
TO SEND US A LETTER, SCANHERE
OPINION
Massivemenhadenindustry harmslocal fishers,guides
After reading the half-page for the menhaden fishing industry in theJune 7 newspaper,I’m convinced the Legislature is siding withthe menhaden fishing companies over the thousands of local fishermen and guides in Louisiana.
The article states that lawmakers strengthened accountability for certain violations. What ajoke! Example: bycatch.
The industrial harvest nets between 20 million and 37 million pounds of nontarget fish (bycatch) each year.This includes tens of thousands of breedingsize redfish and hundreds of thousands of speckled trout, and untold numbers of flounders, black drums and tarpons
The Marine Stewardship Council said the menhaden are not overfished. Well, when they disappear,sowill the big menhaden boats. Ourfishing will no longer be “Louisiana Sportsman’sParadise,” and it will cometothat! Why doesn’tthe LouisianaLegisla-
ture listen tothe other Gulf states with their menhaden fishing restrictions? It’sall about the money.Next time I catch one too many redfish and agame officer wants to give me aticket, maybe Ishould say that fish was“bycatch” and so Ishould get no ticket. Louisiana can’thave alaw that has twodifferent enforcements, one forindustry and one for regular fishers. That 3.6% by weight bycatch is scary when the total of their catch of menhaden is hundreds of thousands of pounds per year.Remember that next timeyou can only catch and keep four redfish daily Louisianaisimplementing new regulations to protect its red drum stocks. What ajoke. Oh,wait —that’sfor local fishermen, not thecommercial industries Shameonthe Louisiana Legislature. FRANCIS MESTAYER Baton Rouge
Iran runbyzealots whowould usea nuclearweapon
Iran is acountry governed by rabid religious zealots. Its government has slaughtered and imprisoned 30,000 of its citizens who protested the decrepit economy; hanged people publicly,and stoned people to death. The Iranian government has assassinated Iranian dissidentsliving in other countries and funds the terrorist organizations of Hezbollah and Hamas as well as the Houthis.
Allowingsuch agovernment anuclear weapon is sheer folly.Itcould easily set off anuclear race among other Arab states and allow Iran tobully theworld by imposing an expensive tariff on the Hormuz Strait,skyrocketing theWestern world’sinflation.
Appeasement has already been tried by two U.S.administrations withthe unfreezing of billions of dollars in Iranian funds —freezing that took place because Iran was the foremost state sponsor of terrorism.
No nukes for our time did not work, just as no peace for ourtime did not work with Hitler.The Iranian government, unfortunately supported by enough Iranians to keep it in power, believes in theannihilation of its perceived enemies. That is us.
Have theAmerican people becomeso weak-willed that they cave in to allowing this rogue country to have nuclear weapons because they will temporarily suffer inflation —which hurts, but does not kill like anuclear weapon would?
There should be little doubt that a government such as the Iranian one would use anuclear weapon.
President John F. Kennedy once said that domestic policy could hurt you and foreign policy could kill you.
We need to seriouslythink about what allowing Iran to have anuclear weapon would do.
Does this sound familiar?A longstanding government-sponsored program providing jobstosome and apublic service to manyisabruptly closed. Planning for and communication during theaftermath are minimal. This is but one example of how our governor’sstyle of leadership mimics that
of our president: It is impulsive, poorly thought out and self-serving. Whether inspection stickers should stay or go is not thepoint; how people are governed is. Ihear there is arecall petition Ican sign.
CAROLYN
DEYO Baton Rouge
In pagesofcomic books, cluesto perceptionsofthe worldaroundus
The newspaper recently ran an article from The Associated Press about American comic books, focusing on the centrality of superheroes. Ithink there is abigger story about comic books in other countries.
Iwas in Saudi Arabia in 2009 with the World Leader’sSymposium through my connection to Rice University.Wemet with a psychiatrist whoproudly showed us the comic book he had created. He was proudest of his decision to not only celebrate asuperhero from his own country but also the creation of different superheroes from all the Arabian countries to foster community in the Middle East. He even included ahero from the United States, who, sadly,was in awheelchair.Weall questioned this decision, thinking it quite Freudian or merely wishful thinking. He defended his choice, explaining it was culturally appropriate. The reason our superhero wasin awheelchair was that he had been injured by adrunken driver.We were all taken aback.
So, there is alot going on out there in comic books that might makeaninteresting series from the world around us.
MARSHA REICHLE
Baton Rouge LSUsportsneed anew
focus
Alas, during the 2025-26 academic year,LSU’s sports teams wonnary asingle national championship. Coaches keep talking about recruits and building forthe future. Perhaps it would be better to have morerecruiting foracademic accomplishments and building forfuture scholarship.
HENRYBRADSHER
Baton Rouge
Politiciannames on public worksisfreeadvertising
When workers scraped Donald Trump’sname off the DonaldTrump and JohnF.Kennedy Performing Arts Center,they should have kept going. They should have taken Kennedy’s name off as well and restored the building to its original, simple title, the National Culture Center
Froma Harrop
After President Kennedy was assassinated in November 1963, Congress renamed the center after him. The New York International Airport, charmingly referred to as Idlewild, suddenly became the John F. Kennedy International Airport. Andhundreds of schools acrossthe country plastered “John F. Kennedy” on their facades.
It is one thing to name airports, bridges and other public works after the handful of great presidentswho saved the country: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln,Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower
It’sanother to similarly memorialize ordinary politicians for posterity, even those who did amostlygood job. Why did they change the short,descriptive name of Washington National Airport to the convoluted Ronald ReaganWashington National Airport?
Both Reagan and JFK were popular presidents, but neither left behind achievements monumental enough to justify turning airports into their shrines. Kennedy was young, charismatic and died tragically,but as president, he did not-good things. He authorized the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba, afiasco. He didn’tstart U.S. involvement in Vietnam, but he greatly expanded it. And he was aserial womanizer,insome cases, risking national security
But Kennedyand his circle were masters at peddling their era as Camelot, the myth of agolden age out of King Arthur.Inaninterview shortly after the assassination, JFK’s widow,the glamorous Jacqueline Kennedy,quoted the “one brief shining moment” line from the musical “Camelot.”
Since then, Kennedy after Kennedy has run for office off the curated glow Most were elected and some were competent. But this free promotion of
“America’sroyal family” drowned the arguments of more-qualified, hardworking public servants who wanted the jobs
Now we have JFK’sgrandson, Jack Schlossberg, running for Jerry Nadler’scongressional district covering Manhattan’swealthy Upper East and Upper West Sides
Whatever Democrat secures the nomination is almost sure to win in November Schlossberg has arguably less than zero qualifications.
His chief achievement at age 33 is as an “influencer” on social media, posting lots of selfie videos and whatever draws clicks. Nonetheless, New York tabloids are putting the words “Camelot” and “Kennedy Mystique” in theirheadlinesabout his campaign. One political writer gushed that “a Kennedy” was running. Former HouseSpeaker Nancy Pelosi made afool of herself endorsing Schlossberg on aTVad with the tagline “Believe in something again.” Everyone knows the handsome fellow is theson of Carolyn Kennedy
Another Kennedy,Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is busy putting Americans’
lives at risk as head of the Department of Health and Human Services. RFK Jr.isacrackpot famous for bashing life-savingvaccines.
On taking over HHS, he fired all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, booted about 20,000 employees and slashed cutting-edge medical research
Why did Trump choosehim? “Bobby” is acolorful kook who endorsed Trump in the2024 election. What makes him extra fun for the unserious is that he’s“aKennedy.”
To bring this full circle, RFK Jr.is theson of Robert F. Kennedy.New Yorkers driving toward what they still call theTriborough Bridge see that it’s now called the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, named for Bobby’sdad, after he was assassinated. The elder RFK moved into the state theday he proclaimed his candidacy to representNew York in theSenate. Politicos naming public works after other politicos, or in Trump’scase, himself, isaracket. It is free advertising on tax-supported government structures. Stop it.
Froma Harrop on X, @FromaHarrop. Email her at fharrop@gmail.com.
Thecontroversy over ‘60Minutes’
The late broadcast journalistDavid Brinkley once observed: “Objectivity is impossible to normal human behavior.Rather,weshould strive for fairness.”
Fairness is at the heart of the ongoing shake-up at CBS News and especially at the legendary “60 Minutes.” Since television is abusiness that requires high ratings and credibility to attract advertisers and make money,itismore important what viewers think about a program than what those producing it think about themselves.
ing. Public trust and confidence in the massmediatoreport thenews fully,accurately andfairly is at a record low. Gallup’spollingreveals
Legislature should probe leveeboard’s seaoftroubles
This week’sstorm in the Gulf of Mexico should focus the state Legislature’sattention on the operations of Louisiana’smost prominent levee board.
To be specific, the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee should convene ahearing to analyze apparent chaos at the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East, which provides flood control forparts or the whole of Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard parishes. State legislative committees are allowed to hold oversight hearings even when not in session, although they can’tactually vote on pending matters.
The levee board has been riven by very public controversy forabout 18 months. Gov.Jeff Landry and his friend, businessman Shane Guidry,have tried to exert control of the board that post-Katrina reforms tried to insulate from political agendas. Whatever the governor’sintentions, the result has been ahigh degree of discord.
Hired directors forced out. Vague allegations from the Guidry camp that board members or members of the nominating committee are corrupt or racist. Mass resignations in protest against the new regime. Threatened fisticuffs in public meetings. Abattery charge filed by the authority’s robust police chief, Joshua Rondeno, against the rather petite then-board member Deborah Settoon. Large staffturnover.Alarge stretch of time in which Rondeno handled manyofthe executive functions usually done by the authority’sdirector And more.
Atop all that, the last five months have featured major controversy about Rondeno’srole and salary.First, Rondeno wasallowed to drafthis own contract, with amassive salary increase and a whopping $910,000 severance package if he is fired. After legislative and public blowback, the severance provision wasremoved and the salary wascut back from $250,000 to $197,000, farmore than his predecessor’s$110,000.
Then, in anew,bizarre twist, Rondeno went from his highly exalted and remunerated position to being put on administrative leave on June 3, according to Guidry,“pending an investigation that we can’tdiscuss while it’sgoing on.”
Between all this turmoil and the loss of experienced engineers and other key employees, the actual workofthe agency may be compromised. At least that’swhat former board member Settoon said on June 8inaninterview with WVUE-TV, echoing concerns Ihave heard privately from other knowledgeable sources. Settoon questioned if the agency really is ready forhurricane season —avivid reminder of which is this week’shighrainfall storm in the Gulf
“I don’thave alot of confidence,” Settoon said. “I’m very worried. Ithink the public should be worried.
Then she added some very on-targetadvice,saying the public “should be calling their legislators and saying, ‘Get this thing cleaned up once and for all.’”
To his credit, state Sen. Kirk Talbot, R-River Ridge, used hearings in this year’sregular session to focus apt attention on Rondeno’scontroversially growing role and was credited with forcing Rondeno’sdraftcontract to be altered in amore reasonable direction.
Cal Thomas
Correspondent Scott Pelley violated acardinal principle,not justin journalism, but in any job. He bit the hand that had been feeding him. In astaff meeting, Pelley reportedly excoriated management for having the temerity to shake up the news division, which Bari Weiss, the new editor-in-chief, was hired to do. Reading an interview Pelley did for The New York Times after his firing reveals the attitude of many journalistsatthe top of the profession. Pelley thinks it’sall about him, not the audience. It appears he believes his decades at the network entitle him to stay on until he expires or resigns. I have been fired —ormyshows canceled —from NBC, CNBC and Fox News. Ididn’tcomplain. In fact, on my final Fox show Isaid: “It’stheir network; they can do as they please.” What has become collectively known as “the media” are selling what much of the public isn’tbuy-
Americans’ trust in themedia has fallen from arelatively high of 68% in 1972 to today’s record low of 28%, thefirst time it hasgonebelow 30% Until Bari Weisswas hired, networks ignoredthistrend.
The 2022 American Journalist Study,asurveyofU.S. journalists, found that about 36% of journalists identifiedas Democrats, compared to just 3.4% who identified as Republicans. A plurality ofjournalists —nearly 52% —identified as Independents. No one will convincemethatone’s political worldviewdoesn’tinfluencewhich stories are covered (and which are ignored) and howtheyare reported. Ihave spent manyyears in newsrooms and at journalist gatherings. It has been my experience that most people claiming the titleof“journalist” are liberal Democrats who have asecular-progressive worldview. The conservative Media Research Center (MRC.org) hascompiled some examples of Scott Pelley’sbiased reporting, including this gem: “It’stoo soon to tellhow serious President Trump is in defianceofthe Constitution. In his first 28 days, he signedan ordertonullify birthright citizenship for some —aright guaranteed by the 14th Amendment. And he hasclosed agencies and frozen spending that
Congress mandated by law.” (Feb.16, 2025). Abalanced report might have mentioned that while the goal of the 14th Amendment was primarilyto protect formerlyenslaved people after the Civil War, it was written to applytoall Americans. The Trump administration, however,has challenged the constitutionality of birthright citizenship. TheSupreme Court is expected to decide shortly whether Trump or theConstitution have the finalsay Here’sanother Pelleyism: “Joe Biden is amongthe longest-serving politiciansinWashington. If there is lessbounceinthe stepthanthere once was, if the words don’tflow liketheyused to, maybe there’s something to be said for know-how, five decades on theHill andinthe Oval. …You have liveda long lifeof triumph and tragedy.InNovember, you’llbe80. And Iwonderwhatitis that keepsyou in the arena.” (Sept. 18,2022) This at atimewhenitwas becomingincreasingly evident to many except perhaps Jill Biden, Kamala Harris and others who didn’twant people to believewhattheysaw and heard —thatthe president hadlost more than astep. Maybe Bari Weiss can makechanges that will drawmore viewers and improve credibility at CBS News.If she succeeds, will ABC and NBC follow herexample?
Email CalThomas at tcaeditors@ tribpub.com
Those hearings led Sen. Patrick Connick, RMarrero, wholong has shownadmirable interest in the levee board, to begin drafting abill fornext year that would take the policing function from the board and put the levee police under the state police instead.
“That’sthe long-term plan: to separate the two,” Connick told me. “Let the levee board concentrate on preserving levees. Let the police protect and serve.”
Connick said he still needs to work out the details of how the levee police’s“funding can follow the police in someform or fashion.”
Connick’sidea seems good. As he explained, much of the turmoil at the agency has revolvedaround a push-and-pull between policing desiresand the authority’sbasic flood-control duties. If the financing details can be solved, his proposal merits passage. Nonetheless, Settoon’swarning about hurricane unreadiness should spur the Governmental Affairs committee to hold morehearings now.The goal should be to ensure, right away,that the main flood-protection job is done wellthis year.Isthere merit to Settoon’sconcerns? If so, what can be done to alleviate them? Do the agency’sengineering functions need bolstering in the short term? And, forthe longer horizon, aside from separating the police from the levee board —ifConnick’s proposal is adopted —what else can be done to ward off the sorts of dysfunction we’ve seen for18 months?
For all of southeastern Louisiana, the levee and floodwall systems are amatter of sheer survival. Until the levee board shows that its disarrayhas been solved, the Legislature should keepa keen watch.
Email Quin Hillyer at quin.hillyer@theadvocate. com
Quin Hillyer
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RAHMATGUL
Aworker tends agarden in front of the John F. KennedyCenter for thePerforming Arts asits sign remainscovered by atarp in Washington.
Trombonist Ronell Johnsondiesat49
Musicians remember hislegacy
BY KEITH SPERA Staff writer
Trombonist, sousaphonist and vocalist Ronell Johnson, aPreservation Hall stalwart whose playing and personality embodied the joyful spirit of New Orleans music, died Sunday of complications from aheart attack he suffered in April. He was 49. Johnson was an integral member of Preservation Hall’sextended family of musicians for nearly 30 years. He performed at the St. Peter Street venuemultiple timesaweek whenhe wasn’tontour,either with themainPreservation Hall Jazz Band or Preservation Brass. He was a“once in ageneration talent and human being,” Preservation Hall creative director Ben Jaffe said on social media. “His joy was infectious. He made us all better.His heart was too big for this earth.” Athird-generation musician, Johnson started playing music at age 6and turned pro at age 12. In the 1990s, he co-founded Coolbone, aNew Orleans brass band infused with hip-hop. He also played withthe DejaVuBrass Band and othergroups. But Preservation Hall was his primary professional affiliation. His animated performances with Preservation Brass on Monday nights at the Hall or at tour stops all over the world gave him countless opportunities to connect withlisteners.
“Music wasn’tmeant to be enjoyed alone,” Johnson told
Ronell Johnson plays the trombone as the Preservation HallAll Starsperformduring aVeterans Day commemorationceremonyatThe National WWII Museum in NewOrleans on Nov.11, 2021. Johnson died Sunday of complications froma heartattack he suffered in April. He was49.
aWWL-TV reporter in 2021. “I came upliterally with music all around. Ilove jazz, always did.”
Notsurprisingly,Johnson’s Santa Claus-like presence made him anatural for Preservation Hall’spandemicera “Holiday Grams.”With musicvenues stillclosed, fanscould book amusician to playa short set outside a home or business.
“Itcouldn’thave cameata better time, to start bringing some joywhenwedesperately need it,” Johnson said at thetime.
ViaPreservation Hall Johnson interacted with a litany of A-list musicians, from the Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl to Taylor Swift
But his musical merits stood on their own. He is part of the core band for Preservation Hall’sacclaimed 2013 album “That’sIt!” and2017’s “So It Is,”the first albums of all-new compositions in the band’shistory
He appears throughout “A Tuba to Cuba,” the2018 documentaryfilm about the Preservation Hall Jazz Band’sjourney to Cuba.
Histromboneisprominentlyfeatured on “For Fat Man,”the Grammy-nominated 2025 Preservation Brass album on Sub Pop Recordsdedicated to thememory of bass drummer Kerry “Fat Man” Hunter
As news of Johnson’sdeath spread, social media tributes poured in from fansand fellow musicians.
Responding to Jaffe’sInstagrampost, JonBatiste expressed his feelings to his 1.9 million followerswith three broken-heartemojis.
David Shaw, the singer for TheRevivalists, posted, “This onehurts. I’ll never forget thefirst time Iheard his heartthrough that horn. Pure joy andelation.”
To cellistHelen Gillet, Johnson was “one of the kindest, upliftingand gener-
JEFFERSONPARISH
ousmen Iever met.”
Guitarist andsocial media personality Joshua Starkman, who often collaborated with Johnson, praised his “love and connection with everyone he cameacross. Ihavenever seen amusician with suchenthusiasm to entertainand bring joy to everyone around him. What an inspiration. New Orleans andthe world are going to miss him dearly.”
Veteranrock photographer Steve Rapport, whohas photographed numerous local musicianssincemoving to New Orleans fouryears ago, describedJohnsonas “anextraordinaryand immenselytalented musician with an incredibly happy andgregarious personality …who quite literally lit up each and every room he wanderedinto.Hegaveso muchofhimself every minute of every day.”
Beyond Johnson’stechnical virtuosity,Rapport was impressed that“every note was infused with his joy of life and hisunquenchable passion for music. Andthe same can be saidfor his fabulous singing, which was alwaysaccompaniedby goofy dancing and trombone shenanigans.”
One fan recalled that on herfirst triptoPreservation Hall, “we were in thefront rowand joked with him that his(trombone)slide wasgoing to hitusinthe head. He was so sweet when Iwas overcome with emotion duringthe performance and gave me abig hug.”
Survivorsinclude his wife, Rachel Johnson.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete. AGoFundMe account hasbeen established to help defray medical and funeral costs
Sixtharrestmadeinmissing man’sdeath
Dismembered remainsfound in Marrero
BY MICHELLE HUNTER Staff writer
Authoritiesinvestigating the disappearance and death of aman whose skeletal remains were recently recoveredfrom aMarrero backyard have arrested a sixth suspect in the case Jessica Parks, 36, of Westwego, was booked Monday with second-degree murder,second-degree kidnapping, unlawful disposal of remains and obstruction of justice, according to Sgt. Brandon Veal,spokesperson for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. Parks is accused in the death of 37-year-old father of four EddieTillman Jr.The Sheriff’s Officeon
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something several public commenters took issue with.
“If you’re interested in knowing the sentiment of the citizens, why not call a sales tax election? Ithink thatwould be an appropriate step,” came from another public comment.
Louisiana law requires elections for the districtsonly among registered voters living within the proposed district, but for consumers wishing to shop at alocal business locatedinone,theywillstill be subject to the additional tax.
DeCourt defended not calling an election, pointing out that nearbyparishes and cities have established districts in asimilar manner
“If you look at Lafayette, they have 11 districts that operate exactlylike this,” said DeCourt. “A city’seither growing or dying,and the places with the best growth in the region all do this. If we’re going to grow as acity,ithas to come from somewhere.” All members of the coun-
Wednesday didnot release any detailsabout Parks’ alleged role in case. Tillman was lastseenon Aug. 16, 2023, according to relatives who say he left his mother’sBridge City home that night afterreceiving a call from afriend who asked forhis help.
Tillman was never heard from againafter that night. They reportedhim missing and later shared withauthorities rumors thathe’d beenbeaten to death.
Tillman’smissing person case becamea homicide investigation in 2025 after Sheriff’s Office detectives received aCrimeStoppers tip that Tillman had been murdered and buried in the backyard of ahomeinthe 1200 block of Gaudet Drive in Marrero.
Detectives paid avisit to the home and in April recovered partial skeletal remains buried in the back-
cilpresentonTuesday spoke briefly on themeasure, with council member RonDavis Sr.being the only one to publicly express skepticism. Davissaidwhile he viewed the additional revenue as important, hewas concerned about quality standards forthe new parking lot,given that the project itself would not be managed by the city
“I wouldlike tosee acertain standard forthe parkinglot. We as acouncil ought to have some input,” said Davis. Davis ultimatelysupported the ordinance after being givenassurancesfrom city officialsonthe quality of the upgrades.
Others echoed DeCourt’s view on theimportance of the district.
“This town has been falling short for along, long time. It’s time for us to startmoving ahead,” said councilmember David Merrill.
“It is anecessary evil. It’s a tool that’sbeen provided by the state andit’show we remain competitiveasacity,” said councilmemberTroy Comeaux.
Thenew district and onecent salestax willbothtake effect later this year
yard, including askull and severedhands,authorities said. Investigators later determined the remains belonged to Tillman.
The tipster identified two suspects, DustinBillot,33, andJohnLopez, 46, as Tillman’s killers, theSheriff’s Office said. The pair had discussedTillman’s death, dismemberment and the disposal of his remainsin front of several witnesses who confirmedthe conversations with investigators, according to authorities.
Billot andLopezwere arrested in late Apriland booked with second-degree murder,obstruction of justice andunlawfuldisposal of remains Billot waslivingatthe GaudetDrive home at the time of Tillman’sdeath along with his sister,Christina Beasley,40, and Kelly Barrios, 40.
Beasley and Barrioswere
CHIEF
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Martin highlighted was the creation of Team Martin, a programdesignedtohelp first responders identify andassist individualswith cognitive disabilities during emergencies.
Martin said theinitiative remains oneofthe achievements he is mostproud of during his time as chief.
He alsocredited partnershipswith local government,particularly over the past four years under Mayor Jason Willis, for helping improve public safety and provide resources for officers.
Willis praised Martin’s leadership and said collaboration between city officials andthe department helped strengthen public safety effortsinSt. Martinville.
Martin said he is gratefulfor thesupport he received from thecommunity throughout his tenure and looksforward to beginning thenext chapterofhis career with the Sheriff’s Office.
arrestedinMay and booked withfailure to report the commission of afelony and accessory after theface to second-degree murder Barrios was the first to be formally chargedinthe case by the JeffersonParishDistrict Attorney’s Office. She pleaded notguilty June 9to failuretoreport ahomicide andobstruction of justice, courtrecords said.
Parks is the second suspect to face asecond-degree kidnapping charge in Tillman’sdeath.She joins Terrence Johnson, 45, whowas also booked with seconddegreemurder, obstruction of justice and unlawful disposal of remains Parks was being held Wednesday at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna. Bail was set at $605,000.
Email Michelle Hunterat mhunter@theadvocate.com.
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MEGA BALL: 12 Unofficial notification, keep your tickets.
Obituaries Joseph is preceded in death by hislovingwife JosephineAuroraRuiz Piccione;his parents, SarafinaSchiroPiccione andJosephPiccione,Sr.; hissisters, Rosalie (Lawrence) Schiro Josephine(Tommie)Rao, Vida (Douglas) Gilbert (Benjamin) Arceneaux, Torida (Lawrence) Messina; nieceRoseRao Tarver andnephews James Schiro,Joe Schiro Salvador Messina. Thefamilyrequeststhat visitation be observedon Friday, June 19, 2026 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Martin& Castille's Downtown location.A Rosary will be recitedat 6:00 pm. Visitation will continue Saturday, June 20, 2026 beginningat8:00 am untilthe time of service Intermentwill be held in thePiccioneFamilyTomb in theSt. John Cemetery TheMostReverendJ Douglas Deshotel, DD, Bishop of theDioceseof Lafayette, Louisiana, will be theCelebrant of the Mass. Reverend Monsignor KeithDeRouen,Pastor of OurLady Queen of Angels, will serve as Concelebrant. The Very Reverend Chester C. Arceneaux, VF, Rector of St.JohnCathedral,willbe theHomilist. Deacon George Jourdanwill assist Upholdingthe honor of pallbearers will be Ryan Furby, Mike Hebert, Michael L. Horaist, Shane LaHood, Dr.Jason Landry, PerryScotola, DonSellers andDennisSullivan Honorary Pallbearers will be LaHood LaHood, andDon Landry. In lieu of flowersdonationscan be made in memory of Joseph Salvador Piccione,Jr. to St.John Cathedral,https://saintjoh ncathedral.org/donate Theeulogy willbedelivered by his great nephew, Ryan Furby. Thefamilywould like to thank TheVeryReverend ChesterC.Arceneaux, VF, Rector of the Cathedral of St.Johnthe Evangelist for hisdedication to "Mr. Joe" andthe doctors, nurses, caregivers andstaff of the hospitalsand Avanti Senior Living for providing exceptional care duringhis time of need Committed to hisdevotion for love of othersand hisfaithinGod, Joseph's legacywillliveoninhis familyand friends and most of all within thewalls of St.John'sCathedral View theobituaryand guestbook online at www.mourning.com Martin& Castille Funeral HomeDOWNTOWN, 330 St LandryStreetLafayette, Louisiana 70506, 337-2342311
AMass of Christian Burial will be held for Joseph Salvador Piccione Jr.onSaturday, June 20, 2026, at 11:00 am at the Cathedral of St.Johnthe Evangelist. Joseph was92 years of age when he went home to see hisLordand Saviorand reunitewith his bride Josephine on June 15th at Lafayette, LA. "Mr. Joe" was known by all as a kind, steady, andgenerous man. Joseph wasbornon December 14, 1933, in Lafayette, LA to Sarafina Schiro Piccione andJoseph Piccione,Sr. He attended Lafayette High School and graduatedfrom SouthwesternLouisiana Institute (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette), in 1957 with a BS in Accounting and Business Administration He later enjoyeda 50+ year career as an accountant with GuyScroggins,Inc He wasa devout Catholic andlifetime parishionerofthe Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist, wherehe served as Head Usher.He wasa recipientofthe Bishop'sService Award andthe Cathedral of St John MedalofHonor.If you'veattendeda service or celebrationatthe Cathedral,you were likely greetedbyJoseph,one of itsmost active parishioners. Joseph was immensely proudofhis Sicilian heritage andwas along-time member and officer of the Italian American Clubof Lafayette. He dedicated many years to upholding thetradition of theSt. Joseph's Altar. He also was amember of theAmerican -Italian Federation of the Southeast,anumbrella organization of theItalian American Clubs in Louisiana andMississippi. Hislatewife,Josephine, was thetruelove of his life. Joseph andJosephine were introducedonMarch 2, 1964, andafter two weeks,Joseph said he knew she was"the one." They courtedfor twoyears betweenJosephine's home in Alexandriaand Joseph's home in Lafayette. They were marriedonSaturday, August 13, 1966, at Cathedral of St.Johnthe Evangelist in Lafayette. For their honeymoon they traveledtoMexico City andthe first place they visited wasthe Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the old Cathedral.The twofrequentedMexicoCityand enjoyed theirtravels visitingholysites affiliated with OurLady of Guadalupe.
On January27, 2002, Monsignor KeithJ DeRouen presented Josephineand Joseph with theBishop'sMedalof Honor from Bishop Edward O'Donnell, anda blessing from Pope John PaulIIfor theircontinued dedication andservice to the Cathedral
At themain entranceof theCathedral on theleft sidewall is astatue of Our Lady donatedinmemory of Josephine'sfather and mother,Augustine Ruiz,Sr. andJosephine E. Ruiz,and wasblessed on December 12, 2007, OurLady's Feast Day. Left behind to cherish hismemory are his nieces, Patricia GilbertHoraist and ShirleyGilbertBriggsof Lafayette, LA, Frances Messina Whiteman of Denham Springs, LA, Antoinette Rao Sotherlan of Houston, TX, and nephewsJosephCharles Messina of Denham Springs, LA, Bernard Rao of Folsom, CA, and many great nieces andnephews.
Howto
STAFF FILEPHOTO By BRETTDUKE
Piccione Jr., Joseph Salvador
C S C NG
BY JON BLAU Staff writer
As Lane Kiffinwrapped up apodcast with legendary LSUdefensive back Tyrann Mathieu, the Tigers’ first-year coach delivered apromise.
“I don’tknowhow fast it’s gonnahappen. We’re gonna winanational championship,” Kiffintold Mathieu, whoplayed in aBCS title gamein2012, “and we’re gonna have the teams and the rosters back to the way that they were playing when they were great.”
The wayitused to be when Kiffin was an offensive coordinator at Alabama from 2014-16. Atime whenthe LSUdefenseswere so tough, he knew “it was on” when the Crimson Tide linedupacrossfromthe Tigers,even with NFL-boundrunners Derrick Henryand Josh Jacobs, and future Super Bowl-winning quarterback Jalen Hurts on his side. Kiffinjust hoped Alabamawasn’tplaying at LSU. And if it was anight game?
“Now we’re like, ‘Are we even gonna score at all?’” Kiffin said. “Becausethese guys are gonna be on elite speed, mindset, physical.”
He promises to bring that back, but even Kiffin’stime spent withMathieuwas afulfillment of apromise. Last month, LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry toldUSA Todaythat Kiffin would be more accessible, more “connected” than his predecessor Brian Kelly with LSUalumni andthe program’s donorbase. Kiffin might stir thepot in someinterviews, but everyone would be talking about LSU
BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer
It had been alongwhile since theNew Orleans Saints made atrue splashinthe free agent running backmarket —solong that running backs coach Joel Thomas, now entering his 11thseason withthe franchise, has come to just notexpectitinfreeagency
So when the Saintssigned Travis Etiennetoamassive four-yeardeal on theopening dayoffree agency,Thomas said it is fair to say he was excited to land anew prize.
“Tell me any coach thatgets aplayer thathas been as productive as him thatisgoing tobebummed out,” Thomas said. “I’mthoroughly excited.”
In Etienne, the Saints signeda running back who has compiled three 1,000-yard rushing campaigns in his four professional seasons— anot insignificant number to a franchise in the Saints that hasn’thad a1,000-yard rusher since 2017, although AlvinKamara has come close.
Former Jacksonville StateRHP is fifthpitcher addedfromportal
BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer
Coming off a48-15 season at Jacksonville State, seniorright-hander pitcher Jackson Everswas lookingfor thebest situation to finish out his collegiate career
He’s convinced he founditwiththe UL Ragin’ Cajuns.
“I looked at Louisiana, and going intothe atmospherethattheyhave, and thecoachingstaff, and getting alongwithall of them, that was reallyimportant,” said Evers, who said the coaching change at Jacksonville State led him to the transferportal.“It became achoice Iknew that Ireally wanted to make, and Ireallywanted to be apartof somethingspecial that they have going on.” EversisanativeofMadison,Mississippi, and originally signed withOle Miss out of high schoolbefore playingtwo junior-college seasons at Northwest Florida.
“Wehad aspecial year (at Jacksonville State) with alot of special guys,” Evers said. “It was phenomenal being apartof
Etienne was one of themore explosive running backs in theNFL last season,recording 26 runsof10ormore yards last season. The entire New Orleans running back group managed 20 such runs last season.
Eveninthe limitedsettings of organized team activities andminicamp —nopads, no tackling —Etienne’s explosiveness has been evident. While the Saints’ ability to generatemore chunk plays on the ground will fall on thecollective unit, Etienne has theskills to makethe big blocks count
“He’slooking to get theextra yard,”Thomas said. “He plays withgreat pad leverage, and all of asudden you get someonethat mis-hitsyou, you make amistake on him it’s an issue. He’sgot the long speed to get it going.” But theexcitementisabout more than Etienne’sconsiderablephysicaltalent. Of allthe additions theSaints madethis offseason, Etienne may be the Rosetta Stone Saints
SCHEINUK
PROVIDED PHOTO Former Jacksonville State right-hand pitcher Jackson Evers has been astarter,middle relieverand closer during his collegiate career.Evers, aMississippi native, will finish his collegecareer with the Ragin’Cajuns
STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER Saints running back Travis Etienne runs across the field after catching aball during
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Justin Rose, of England, hits his tee shot on the 11th hole during apractice round forthe U.S. Open on Wednesdayat Shinnecock Hills golf club in Southampton, N.y.Officials are expecting wind of more than 20 mph Thursday with gusts over 40.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
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Sure as thewindblows
U.S. Open bracingfor gustyShinnecockHills
BY DOUG FERGUSON AP golf writer
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y.— The final day of practice for the U.S. Open brought amost unfamiliar sight Wednesday morningatShinnecockHills: The nine USGA flagsatopthe grandstand behind the 18th green, and the largeAmerican flag atop the century-old clubhouse, hung limply Just not for very long. Wind at Shinnecock Hills is as inevitableastrafficalong the Montauk Highway from the infamous “tradeparade.”
And that’swhat has everyone nervous —not only the players,but USGA officialsincharge of the course —going into the126th editionof golf’s second-oldest championship.
“Problematic,” is how John Bodenhamer, the chief competitions officer at the USGA, described excessive wind. “This year Ibelieve the wind will impact our championship unlike many others.”
Adding to the concern arethe previous two trips to Shinnecock Hills, whenthe wind and warmth dried out the course in aNew York minute and caused the greens to be borderline unplayable
It got so bad on the finalday in 2004 thatno onebroke par and 28 players failedtobreak 80. Treacherously slick greens andquestionable pin positions on Saturday in 2018 kept the last 44 players to tee off from matching par That was the day Phil Mickelson hit amoving ball on the 13th green to avoid it rolling back into the fairway
mixture of excitement and trepidation.
ScottieScheffler andRoryMcIlroy, Nos.1 and 2inthe world, both start in the morning wave on oppositesides of the course. Scheffler is bidding for the careerGrand Slam with the U.S. Open the only major title he is lacking.
Scheffler first picked up agolf club in his nativeNew Jersey.Hemoved to Dallas when he was 6and honed his game in the wind at Royal Oaks. Butthere is wind, and there is wind at Shinnecock Hills,situated between the Great Peconic Baytothe north and the Atlantic Ocean to thesouth.
Bodenhamer said the expectation was for windgreater than 20 mph Thursdaywithgusts nearly twice that strong throughout the afternoon. The forecast was lesswindonFriday, then wind strong and from adifferent direction Saturday,then abit calmer on Sunday
TheUSGAnow is taking extreme caution.
Bodenhamer said thegreens wouldberoughly 101/2 on the Stimpmeter —the original plan was between 11 and 12 —and thecourse is being kept as soft as possible to get through the next four days.
“I would saythe course is about as enjoyable as I’ve seen it,” said Justin Rose,who joins Adam Scott as theonlyplayers to have competed at Shinnecock thepast two years.
“There’snot many golf coursesyou couldturn up to on any given week and play championship golf, and Shinnecock is oneofthem,” he said. “I thinkIlike the waythe approach is this year Potentially what I’m hearing is some slightly different protocols this week make sense to me. And Ithink it’sset up to be agreat tournament.”
It all starts to unfold at 5:35 a.m.Thursday —10minutes earlier thananormal start so the grounds crew has time to douse thegreens with water before the afternoon wave —witha
Ronaldo, Portugal held to 1-1drawby Congo
ByThe Associated Press
HOUSTON Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal teammates were surprisinglyheld to a1-1 draw by CongoonWednesdayintheir opening matchatthe World Cup. Congo, which was playing at the World Cup for the first time in 52 years,became the second African nation to make astrong start in the tournamentagainst European competition following Cape Verde’s0-0 draw with Spain on Monday “The World Cup is atournament where this happens,” said Portugal coach Roberto Martínez, a Spaniard who coached Belgiumto the semifinals at the 2018 tournament. “At times the performance is not up to the challenge.” Playing in front of acrowdof 68,777 spectators at NRG Stadium, which was mostly filled withPortugal supporters, Congo earned its first point at the World Cupafter losing allthreeofits previous matches Many Congolese were prevented from traveling to the United States for this year’s tournament because of restrictions tied to Ebola.
WORLDCUP ROUNDUP
“There was not enough blue in thestands, but theplayers are toughand they know how to overcomechallenges,” Congo coach Sébastien Desabresaid. “But I’m surethat manyCongolese people are proudof their team today.”
João Neves gave Portugal an early lead in thesixth minute. The 5-foot-7 midfielder headed in a cross from Pedro Neto.
ButYoane Wissaequalized for Congo with aheader in stoppage time at theend ofthe first half off across from Arthur Masuaku, delightingthe small pockets of blueclad fans. Itwas the first World Cupgoal for Congoinits history
“It’s crazy,” Wissa said. “Fiftytwoyears later we are here, we areback. It’s beenlong, it’s been difficult. So scoring that goal, it means alot for allCongolese, for me, for my family,for the fans whoshoweduptoday.”
Congo’sonly other WorldCup matchescameatthe 1974 tournament in West Germany,when the team was known as Zaire and lost to Scotland 2-0,Yugoslavia 9-0 and Brazil3-0.
IN
BRIEF
FROM STAFFAND WIRE REPORTS
Former LSU, TexasA&M trackcoachHenry retires
COLLEGE STATION, Texas Pat Henry, one of the mostdecorated coaches in NCAA track and field history, announcedhis retirement Wednesday after 54 years of coaching. Henry,74, won 27 national championships at LSU from 1988-2004 and10more at Texas A&Mfrom 2005-26.
Aseven-time NCAAcoach of the year,Henry led the LSU womento 17 nationalchampionships (seven outdoor,10indoor) and the men to eight (five outdoor,three indoor). Henrytookoverthe Aggies’program after the 2004 season and became the first coach to lead ateam threeconsecutive outdoor national titles (2009-11).
Anative of Albuquerque,New Mexico, Henry began his career as ahigh school coach in Hobbs, New Mexico, before moving on to Blinn Junior College in Brenham,Texas. He washired at LSU in 1987.
SouthernCalifornia
pitcher Velazquez commits to LSU LSUbaseballlandeda commitment outofthe transferportal from Southern California righthanded pitcher Diego Velazquez, LSU coach Jay Johnson revealed on Tiger Rag radio on Tuesday Velazquez made theBig Tenallfreshman team this past season, posting a4.26 ERA in 312⁄3 innings. He struckout 39 and walked nine in 15 appearances with five starts. Velazquez also played 23 games as an infielder andhit .167 in 18 at-bats Coming out of high school, he wasthe No.55player in the nation and atop-15 player in California, according to Perfect Game Velazquez is the sixth player and second pitcher LSU has added out of the transfer portal in June.
Bodenhamer saida key strategy in setting up thecourse is to be “tough but fair.” “Wecould brutalize this place thenextfew days if we wanted to.That’snot what we’re about,” he said. “Wereally want it to be fair, and we want it to be what Shinnecock Hills has always been. It will be tough enough.”
Scott, whoisplaying in his 100th consecutive major,considers this course among his favorites in the world. He has yet to see Shinnecock Hills on the weekend, at least during aU.S. Open. TheAustralian knows whattoexpect, and he liked what he hasseen so far.
“It lookslike they’re being cautious at the moment. They know the wind is going to be a factor this week,” Scott said. “Hopefully,we canget thegreenstofirm up over theweekend, and we’ll see some of the greatness of Shinnecock wherethe shots in are so important to hit these small areas, andthenyou’llget agreat champion.”
“The goal changed things,” Martínezsaid. “Wealmost felt the fear of not losing thegame.”
For Portugal, it was the lack of goalsthatstood out. Ronaldo missed shotswide right in the 68th and73rd minutes. He shook his head in disgust after both.
Martínez was asked if he considered taking out Ronaldo.
“It makes no sense to get the best world scorer to be out when you need goals,” he said. “The experience of Cristiano in the box is important. The way that he attracts defenders is important.”
ENGLAND 4, CROATIA 2: In Arlington, Texas, Harry Kane scored twice to equal the English record for WorldCup goals, Jude Bellingham added another two minutes
intothe second half and England beat Croatia. Martin Baturina andPetar Musa answered each of Kane’sfirst-half goals in arematch of the2018 semifinal gamewon by Croatia. Musa’sgoal came on thefinal play before the whistle ending the first half.
AfterBellingham’s goal, MarcusRashfordpadded theleadin the85th minute. Kaneisupto10 WorldCup goals. That tiesGary Lineker’s mark from the 1986 and 1990 tournaments. Kane, who won the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup in Russia by scoring six times, is up to 10 World Cupgoals, tying Gary Lineker’s markfrom the 1986 and 1990 tournaments.
LSU sophomore outfielder Curiel wins Gold Glove LSU center fielder Derek Curiel wasawarded aGoldGlove forhis defensiveprowessthisseason, Rawlings announced Wednesday Georgia shortstop Kolby Branch and Texas catcher Carson Tinney were the other two players from the Southeastern Conferenceto winaGold Glove. Curiel hadtwo errors in 58 games this season.Hemoved from leftfield to center as asophomore and thrived, tracking down fly balls with precise routes and making multiple diving catches. Heading into the season, MLB evaluators wondered if Curiel could play center field at thenextlevel Curiel likely answered those questions withhis defense this season. Curiel is aprojected first-round pick in the MLBdraft in July
Quarterback
Sorsby plans
July workout forNFL teams
Brendan Sorsby is tentatively planning to workout forNFL teams before the supplemental draft following the quarterback’s decision to endanunprecedented legal fight to retain hiseligibility after he acknowledged making impermissible bets while playing college football.
Sorsby plans to hold his pro day on July 10 at aDallas-area high school, aperson familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday
Thedeadline for applying for the draftisMonday, butthere were stillprocedural issuesrelated to aTexas districtcourt’stemporary injunction that had cleared the way for himtoplay for TexasTech this fall
Sorsby,who is from the Dallas area, would have to be ineligible from NCAA play to be able to apply forthe NFL’s supplemental draft.
WNBA expanding league schedule to 50 games
NEW YORK The WNBA is expandingits schedule to 50 games per team next season —the most in the league’s30-year history
The newcollective bargaining agreementthatwas ratifiedearlierthisyear allowsthe league to play up to 50 games for the next twoseasons. There can be up to 52 regular-season games in 2029 and forthe rest of the CBA. The league is playing 44 games againthis season.Overthe next fewseasons theWNBAisadding three teamsthrough expansion. Cleveland is joining in 2028, Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030. Connecticut is moving to Houston next year When the leaguefirst started in 1997, teams only played 28 games.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByKARENWARREN
Cristiano RonaldoofPortugal, left, and Axel Tuanzebe of Congoreact during their WorldCup Group Kmatch on WednesdayinHouston.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByDAVID J. PHILLIP
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By SETH WENIG Scottie Scheffler chips to the green on the 12th hole during apractice round forthe U.S. Open on Wednesday.
SAINTS
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who unlocks the full version of coach Kellen Moore’soffense.
In him, Moore sees atrue“any down, every down” player with ahigh football IQ, someone who doesn’thave to rotate off the field becauseofany deficiencies in his game. That is helpful for several reasons, not the least of which being that it allowsMoore an additional layer of deception
“When all of asudden you put X playerinthere and they’re known as asub protector,the defense is making their pressure calls to attack that or they’renot really worried about the run,”Thomas said. “You still have the threat to run the ball when (Etienne)isin there on third down.”
The Saints mightalso just look different when they line up. They were in the shotgun on about 75% of their offensive snaps last season, and only the CincinnatiBengals ran more shotgun snaps than the Saints (824 to 813).
There was areasonfor that: New Orleans wasone of the NFL’s least effective teams while operating the under-center offense, compiling an abysmal -0.19 Expected Points Added per play (only the Raiders, at -0.28,were worse). Moore said some of that was “recency bias” dating from his experience with the Philadelphia
RABALAIS
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played for another title the following season(Kiffinleft for Florida Atlantic before Bama lost the CFP title to Clemson).
Brian Kelly rattled similar sabersand came nowherenear that level of success, butthe fact remains the three coaches beforeKelly—Saban, Les Miles and the recently returned Ed Orgeron —all lifted the trophy at LSU. The game has changed enormouslysince Orgeron andJoe Burrow won it all in 2019, but LSU’s potential remains undaunted. Kiffin knows that and has made no bones about that being why he came. Will the first year under Kiffin be the year? LSU’sshot improved greatly with Kiffin telling Mathieu that quarterback Sam Leavitt is fully cleared to participate in summer workouts
This was the hoped for timetablewithLeavitt, but to hear Kiffin say it is still significant. Kiffin hinted at Leavitt’srecovery from November foot surgery at the SEC spring meetings last month, saying the former Arizona State transfer recently had been clockedrunningat21 mph.
It’scrucial for Leavitt to get to work this summer with his skill players, who like him come to LSU from all over the map. No one doubts Kiffin and staff have assembledanimpressive collectionoftalent, bringingin the nation’sNo. 1transfer portal class plus some highlytouted high school recruits, but developing timing and camaraderie is essential.
From Iceland, with golf AcoupleofLSU Tigers who definitely will break 125 inthe U.S. Open will tee it up in Thursday’sfirst round at windswept Shinnecock Hills. Gusts could reach up to 40 mph.Glorious. And yes, as my friend Charles Hanagriff likes to say,I’m rooting for thegolf course. Former LSU All-American Sam Burns and current Tiger Arni Sveinsson are in the field. Burns, who led going into the U.S. Open’sfinal round last year at Oakmont before tying for seventh, is inching ever closer it seems to that elusive but attainable first major.Healso hovered around the lead all week in April at the Masters tournamentbefore finishing tied for seventh It’samajor achievementof another kind for Sveinsson,a junior on the LSU team. Ahistoric
Eagles,who wonthe SuperBowl with ahigh-powered offense that spent alot of time in theshotgun.
But expectthat to change, at least some, this season
Etiennespentthe 2025 campaign with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who ranked in the top eight in under-center use rate, and he sees alot of similarities with what the Saints want to do this year
“I feel like(Jaguars coach Liam) Coen was alot under center,and Ifeel likecoach Moore is doing alot more under center this year,” Etienne said. “From that standpoint, the motions, disguisingthings on offense,presenting to the defensea different look but running the same plays, making the defense’seyeslie to them Ifeellikecoach (Moore) doesa great job of disguising things and schemingguys open.”
It’s important to note that under center does notnecessarilymean running with the football. Thomas noted theleaguetrend toward using under-center plays to create advantages in the passing game, something theSaintsmay also try to lean into with heavier personnel packages this season.
AndEtienne shouldplaya part in that, as well.
“I told himthiswhenhegot here: Where Ifelthis game improved …isthe stuff that goes unnoticed inpass protection, being an outlet out of the backfield,” Thomas said.“That started to arise last year,and he’sjust built on that since he’sbeen here.”
achievement, actually.Heisthe first golfer from Icelandever to play in the U.S. Open, surviving asudden-deathplayoff in a qualifier two weeks ago near Columbus,Ohio, to earn his spot.
“It’spretty surreal, obviously, beingaround here,” Sveinsson told reporters at theU.S. Open. Believe it or not,there are about65golf courses in Iceland, mostofthem nine-hole tracks.
That’salot for an island nation of about402,000 people, which is less than half thepopulation of metropolitan Baton Rouge. If Icelandcan have65courses, you’d think we could keep City Park golf course intact, wouldn’t you?
Burns tees off at 6:41 a.m. ThursdayonNo. 10, while Sveinssongoes off on No. 1at 1:20 p.m.
So long,Sorsby
The Brendan Sorsby saga at TexasTech thankfully has ended,with the embattled quarterback declaringfor the NFL supplemental draft
Iwrote earlier during this appallingepisode that hopefully asilver liningmight come outofall of this: an impetus to embrace collegesports reform.
Well, the silver lining may have turned out to be therestofthe
Big 12 standing up to Texas Tech andtellingits misguided leadership it would face serious consequences if Sorsby played this fall. The precedent could be powerful the next time this happens —and it will.
Hopefully,Sorsby continues to seek andreceivesupport for hisgamblingaddiction, which is truly aseriousproblem. Whether TexasTech can heal from its obvious addiction to winning at allcosts —anentrenched affliction in sports —isanother question.The school cloaked its desire to win games in the guise ofwanting to help Sorsby, neveradmittinginits blinding ambition it could have helped himjust aswellasanon-playing regular student.
Colorado coach Deion Sanders cuttothe heart ofthe matter in arecentinterview
“Somebody’sgambling on a sport they’re playing,”Sanders said. “You don’tthink something’swrong with that? Just say that to yourself:‘This guy on my team is gambling on thesport, in the competition,that we’re abouttogoout there and have.’
Something’swrong with that.”
Indeed there is, coach. Hopefully thefolksatTexas Tech will now, finally, cometothat realization Idefinitely havea better chance to break 125 in the U.S. Open than that happening.
OBSERVATIONS
Saints slowly taking bubble wrap off rookies
BY MATTHEWPARAS Staff writer
Forthe most part, the players whom theNew Orleans Saints held outduring organized team activities had asimilar workload for the team’stwo-daymandatory minicamp that wrapped up Wednesday There were some notable exceptions.
Second-round defensivetackle Christen Miller had progressed enough from his hamstring injury that the Saints gave him ahandful of reps in practice —with the starters. Andhe’snot the only rookie to start to turn acorner: First-round wide receiver Jordyn Tyson was allowed to participate in the team’s half-speed walkthrough, admittedly asmall step but one that’snonetheless noteworthy
To this point, the Saints effectively had kept Tysonand Miller in bubble wrap as they work their way back from hamstring injuries. But peeling back thewrapslowly this week is agood sign that they could be readytogowhen the Saintsconvenefor training camp next month
“Man, Ifelt better weeks ago,” said Miller,who estimated he receivedabout eight snaps in team drills. “But theSaints want to take careofme, makesureI’m ready to go on Sundays and make sure my body is good.They’re just trying to makesure Itake the steps in the right direction and not go back (to being hurt).”
Millersaid he hadhurthis hamstring while training in his lead-up to the draft. The Georgia product addedhedidn’tevenrealizehe was injured until theSaints’ medical staff members flaggedthe injury when theyinspected him before rookie minicamp in May. The Saints then took acautious approach to avoid aggravating the ailment further
Tysonechoed asimilar plan. Speaking at his locker,the wide receiver said his hamstring “feels amazing” and that he didn’texpect theSaints to put him on this type of routine, but he agrees with the
LSU
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Aconversation between Kiffin and Mathieu was destinedto generatesome interesting quotes Here are some takeawaysfrom their 40-minute chat.
Kiffinunderstands expectations
LSUdidn’tinvest $54 millionto sever ties with Kelly andanother $91 million to poach Kiffinfrom Ole Miss if it didn’twant to win now In his six monthsinBaton Rouge, Kiffinhas heard those desires expressed quiteoften.
“Coach, we love you’re here.Just pleasewin,”Kiffinrecalledhearing from localswho live in an “aligned, one-programfootball state.”
Even his Georgia native linebacker,Whit Weeks, returned for hissenior year because he wants to seeLSU reestablishitself before he departs.
“I wanna leave it the way that I grew up watching it,” Kiffinheard Weeks say. “I wannabepartof that, Iwanna feel that dominating LSU defense people are scared to play.And you might be OK, but you’re gonna be sore on Sunday.”
LSU certainly invested in that defense, bringing in the likes of edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen (Ole Miss), linebacker TJ Dottery(Ole Miss) andsafety Ty Benefield (Boise State) via the transfer portal.
The offensive guru Kiffin also acquired quarterback Sam Leavitt (Arizona State),left tackle Jordan Seaton (Colorado) and aplethora of receivers,includingWinston Watkins (OleMiss), Jayce Brown (KansasState) andJackson Harris (Hawaii).
Olave is working his way back from last season’sblood clot, while Kamara was given alimited workload after skipping most of the voluntary practices.
The Saints were without running back Kendre Miller (ACL); wide receivers Devaughn Vele,Mason Tipton and Bub Means (lower body); running back Devin Neal; cornerbacks Dalys Beanum and JaydenPrice; anddefensive lineman Zxavian Harris.
Continued from page1C
something like that.” Evers did everythingfrom start gamestobeing thecloserduring his two seasons at Northwest Florida. As ajunior this past season, Evers said he found aniche with the pitching staff that worked with the Gamecocks.
“Once Iunderstood what my role was, evenifitwasn’talot of innings,
having the role that Ihad meant something to me,” Evers said.“If things didn’tgogreat in the first part of the game, Iwould come in andget theball rolling again.
“It was ahigh-leveragemoment is what they like to call it. It would be sixthinningon. to go out there and get an inningortwo innings.”
Forthe season, the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder was 1-0 witha4.58
ERAover 15 appearances. In 172/3 innings, he allowed 18 hits, 11 walks and 20 strikeouts
“I went in with just fastball,
slider, splitter,” Evers said. “That’s what we would go with, andI just made simple tweaks throughout the year. If it waschanging grips, if it wasmoving to asinker that Ididn’t throwalot, it would add something for the hitters to be slowed down and thensped back up. “That’s what we did. So halfway through the year,things started to lookdifferentinagoodway.Youlook at theproduction in thelaterhalf,it waswhatwereally wanted.” Opponentshit .265 against him during theseason.
approach.
“Very,very player-friendly,” Tyson said.
When they were worked into the fold,aclearer picture of how the Saints want to use their talented rookies started to emerge. During thewalkthrough, Tyson lined up in several spots —including the slot, which waslargely occupied by wideout Chris Olave and tight end Juwan Johnson. Andinteam drills, theSaints rotated their interior defensive linemen so that Miller could work withBryan Bresee and Vernon Broughton. Miller wasn’tfazed to workwith the1’s right away “The season ain’thereyet,” he said. “Things canbechanged.It’s an honor,but that comes with alot of load, alot of responsibility.It’s just astandardhere that I’ve got to uphold.The standard here is to play fast, play physical and play as ateam.
“I’m just trying to embody that.”
Attendance,rostermoves
Aday aftersigning his one-year contract, defensive end Cam Jordanwas at practice but did notparticipate in team drills as the Saints look to get him back into football shape.
Likewise, Olave and running back Alvin Kamara were again sidelined during 11-on-11periods.
Winning as quickly as possible is the expectation. Kiffinisfully aware.
At the sametime, he recognizes SEC programs can’t “stack” talent like Alabamainthe 2010s. Kiffin posed ahypothetical where a backup linebacker from Georgia is offered astarter’ssalary at Kentucky; he will inevitably transfer
“When you were playing,” Kiffin told Mathieu, “there’sacouple of schools you played, it’slike, ‘All right, if we do ourjob,it’sprobably going to be all right.’ That’snot the caseanymorebecause everybody has players.”
Primetargets
Athought about atransfer safety popped into Kiffin’s head before his interview with one of the great LSUdefenders.
“Get Ty up here,” Kiffin told Jeff Davis,the LSU director of player personnel,because Kiffin wanted Benefield to meet Mathieu.
“I think Ty’s gonna be one of those legends to play here,” Kiffin said. “He’swired right. Unbelievable range, great ball skills.I’m like, ‘You gotta get himuphere to meet you,’justtoconnect it. Like,you’regonna be these iconic names, hopefully.” There has been buzz about Benefield, afirst-team All-Mountain West player, since his arrival. But categorizing him as apotential “legend” is high praise.
Kiffin wasalsoasked fora player who could surprise in 2026. He came back to another transfer: former Wisconsin running back Dilin Jones.
“Wehaven’tdone tackling yet but really good feet and body control. Really smooth runner,” said Kiffin,who noted Jones doesn’t have“notoriety”becauseofanin-
“I thinkthat it’sawide variety of what Ihave experienced doing,” Evers said. “That will definitely go intoplay and that’swhat I’m excited for (at UL).” Evers isn’texpecting his roleto be defined in Lafayette until after he proves himself
“I think it is going to be me getting on campus, because nothing’sever giventoyou,” he said.“Nothing’s ever promised to you. Iknow that I’mgoingtohavetoworkregardless.
“That’swhatIloveabout this program, and whatthey have go-
The Saints also had several new faces at practice after aseries of roster moves. Theteam signed quarterback HunterDekkers, wide receiver Jalen Moreno-Cropper and kicker Tanner Brown. The team also cut defensive tackle Coziah Izzard, cornerback Deshawn Jones, kickerMason Shipleyand wide receiverDamien Alford— the latter of whom was waived with an injury settlement. Dekkers, fresh off astint in the UFL, spent agood chunk of last season with the Saints as adevelopmental quarterback whofloated on and off the practice squad. Brown presents as an interesting challengertoincumbent Charlie Smyth. The26-year-old became the first kicker to maketwo attempts of at least 60 yards in one gameduring this past UFLseason.
Rapid fire
As theSaintswrapupmandatory minicamp, Tyler Shough started to find his groove with several tightwindow throws on Wednesdayduring apractice that emphasized endzone and two-minute situations. Rookiewide receiver Bryce Lance had avery strong afternoon with two touchdowns, and it makes sense he thrived in the red zone as a6-foot-3target. …Running back Audric Estimeshouldn’tbeforgotten in the Saints’ running back competition later this summer He had astrong spring. …We’ll seewhatthe pass-rush rotation turns into with Jordan returning, but Chris Rumph flashed alot during these sessions, even over new acquisitions Tyree Wilson and Anfernee Jennings.
jury-shortened 2025 season where he rushed for 300 yards. “Everybody knows about (tight end) Trey’Dez (Green) and Whit Weeks and TJ. So there’salot of names they already know about. But I think Dilin has got areal chance.” Jones’ ascension certainly would help LSU,which returned apair of talented rushers, Harlem Berry and Caden Durham,but needs all the help it can getafterfinishing 124th nationally in rushing yards per gamelast season.
CoachO’s impact
If Ed Orgeron’slife was astory, Kiffin said its current chapters needed to place “Coach O” back at LSU. He “belongs” there, Kiffin added.
Orgeron’smonth on the job recruiting has solidified Kiffin’s stance.
“He’s always the best recruiter I’ve been around. But now when you put him here —before he’s just recruiting forthe place he’s at, using all of his recruiting skills —now youfeel it in here,” Kiffin said. “He talks about, especially to aLouisiana kid, it’sinyour DNA. At some point, you wanted to play forLSU,you wanted to be aTiger Butyou feel it in him. Because that was him.”
Thesame day Mathieu posted his Kiffin interview,afour-star runningback fromLouisiana, Trey Martin, committed to theTigers. LSU hassecured nine of its 13 commits in the 2027 class since Orgeron’sreturn. Some of this recruiting momentum could be coincidental. But maybe not all of it.
“Ifyou recruit someone and you have the passion and you had their story,” Kiffin said, “the parents, the kids are like —it’scool.”
ing on. Nothing is given, andeverything is earned, and that’swhat Iloveabout coach (Matt) Deggs, coach Thib (Seth Thibodeaux) and coach (Taylor) Sandefur.” Evers is the fifth pitcher the Cajuns have added from the portal this offseason, joining theMarshall trio of Charlie Krebs, Blaine Albright and Griffin Miller, and UTSA right-hander Kendall Dove. The Cajuns also have added Texas State designated hitter Manny Salas and KansasState infielder Micah Kendrick.
STAFFPHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER Saints defensivetackleChristen Miller runs across the fieldduring minicamp on TuesdayinMetairie.
Ex-ULD-lineman looksto
revive NewIberiaprogram
BY MIKE COPPAGE
Contributing writer
Zi’Yon Hill-Green hit the ground running.
Less than 24 hours after hewas announcedasthe New Iberia football coach, Green was puttingthe Yellow Jackets throughthe paces early on Wednesday morning.
“I saw alot of smiles,walking aroundlearning eachkid’s name and picking their brain,” said HillGreen, who prepped in the city at CatholicHigh before astellar career as adefensive lineman at UL. “Theywelcomedmewith open arms.”
Green’sfirst job as ahead coach will be atotal rebuild of aprogram that hasn’treached theplayoffs sinceCOVIDand went winless in 2025.
“This is my hometown,” he said. “I remember going to Lloyd G. Porter (stadium) and watching NISH. Ifelt like they needed somebody young with alot of energy to rebuildthe cultureand bring the swagger back.”
Green immediately put his stamp on the summer workout routine, focusing on small muscle groups that breed the explosiveness that helped him playin more than 50 college games.
“We’re pushing them to their limit and making them reach the wall,” he said. “When that happens, willyou tuck yourtailand cower away?”
His focus is on instilling discipline in every aspect of life,beginning with somethingassimple as making your bed every day
“That helps channelthe beast inside you,” he said. “A lot of kids just
PHOTO By BENJAMIN MASSEy
Former UL defensiveend Zi’yon Hill-Green is taking overasNew Iberia’s newhead football coach.
need confidencetoknow theycan compete.”
Hill-Green will focus alot of attention on the defensive side of the ball. Last season, he was Ohio State signee Darryus McKinley’sposition coach at Acadiana,which won the District 3-5A championship.
“He called me last night,”Green said of McKinley.“We text every day.Iwant tobethat mentor that kidslook up to.”
It’salso special to Hill-Green that he is theschool’sfirstBlack head footballcoach.
“I made history,” he said. “It’s a surreal moment and agreat thing for the community as awhole. I grew up witha lotofpeople who went to NISH. Iwanttomakeit fun again for alumni to come to The Hive.
“Our first home game is going to be very exciting.”
And fromearlyindications, he feels likethe Yellow Jackets will be physically readytocompete.
“I seeabunch of fast, strong kids,” he said. “They just need a little attention.”
Offensively,Green said NISH will establish therunning game
“We’ll be ahard-nosed group that will not be denied,”hesaid. “You’ll have to stop us fromrunning the ball. We wanttobephysical.”
He’snot divulgingnames yet, but Green intends to bring on some assistant coaches whoplayedwith him.
“I’mlooking to put some veteranstogether with some young cats that played the game at ahigh level, and that Ihave 100% belief in,”hesaid.
Hill-Greenwrapped up hiscollege career in 2022 withthe Ragin’ Cajuns.
North Carolina reachesfirstCWS final since2007
BY ERIC OLSON AP sportswriter
OMAHA, Neb.— Owen Hull had a triple and twodoubles among his four hits, Gavin Gallaher had four hitsand four RBIs, and North Carolina rolled past West Virginia 12-7onWednesday to advance to the College WorldSeries finalsfor the firsttime since 2007. The TarHeels(53-12-1) went 3-0inbracket playand will play for their first national championshipinbaseballstarting Saturday in thebest-of-three finals against Oklahoma or Georgia.
West Virginia (47-17) was 2-2 in itsfirst CWSappearance with both losses to the TarHeels. ANorth Carolina offense that batted .217 with just four extra-base hits in its first two CWS gameswentintooverdrive againstthe Mountaineers. Carolina was8for 10 with runners in scoring position, had five extrabase hitsand amassed its most runs and hits (16) in nineNCAA Tournament games.
“Wewere joking before the game today,like, ‘Man, we need to have one of those games where we get15hitsand score some runs,’ ”Tar Heels coach Scott Forbes said. “So thankfully that happened.” Hull was ahome run shy of becoming thesecondplayerin three days to hit for the cycle. Texas player Adrian Rodriguez did it Monday against Alabama. Hull had an RBI double in the first
Monday France vs.Iraq, 4p.m. Norway vs.Senegal, 7p.m. June 26
Norway vs.France, 2p.m. Senegal vs.Iraq, 2p.m.
GROUP J GP WDL GF GA Pts Argentina 11 00 30 3 Austria 11 00 31 3 Algeria 10 01 03 0 Jordan1 00 11 30
Wednesday
Argentina 3, Algeria 0 Austria 3, Jordan 1 June 22 Argentina vs.Austria,noon Jordan vs.Algeria, 10 p.m. June 27 Jordan vs.Argentina, 9p.m. Algeria vs.Austria,9p.m.
GROUP K GP WD LGFGAPts
Congo 10 10 11 1 Portugal 10 10 11 1
Colombia 00 00 00 0
Uzbekistan 00 00 00 0
Wednesday Portugal 1, Congo DR 1 Uzbekistan vs.Colombia, n June 23 Portugal vs.Uzbekistan,noon Colombia vs.Congo DR, 9p.m.
at Milwaukee (Drohan 3-2), 1:10 p.m. N.Y. Mets (Manaea 1-2) at Phila.(Nola 3-4), 5:40 p.m. San Fran. (Roupp 5-7) at Atl. (Pérez 5-3),6:15 p.m. St. Louis (Liberatore3-3)atKansas City (Cameron 3-4), 6:40 p.m. Pro golf
U.S. Open first roundtee times Thursday-Friday First Hole-10th Hole
5:35 a.m.-11:30 a.m. —JamesNicholas,USA; Taylor Montgomery,USA;Caleb Surratt, USA.
5:46 a.m.-11:41 a.m. —a-Ethan Fang, USA; Jayden Schaper, South Africa; Jackson Suber, USA.
5:57 a.m.-11:52 a.m. —a-ChaseKyes, USA; Matthew Jordan, England; AlejandroTosti, Argentina.
6:08 a.m.-12:03 p.m. —CarlYuan, China; Brandon Wu,USA;JimmyStanger, USA.
inning, asingle in the third, RBI double in the fourth and atriple in the sixth.
“The firstthing that coach told us in our pregame meeting out in the outfield was that we want our compete factor at the top,” Hull said.
Carolina scored twiceinthe first inning offChansen Cole (102), andCooper Nicholson’stworun triple put the TarHeels up 5-1inthe third. Theywere ahead 12-1 before the Mountaineers began whittling into the lead.
Carolina starter Folger Boaz labored through a28-pitch first inning, giving up twosinglesand awalk, andhedidn’tcome out for the second. Jackson Rose (50) pitched 41/3 innings of shutout relief and gave the ball to MatthewMatthijs with anine-run lead.
West Virginia scored five runs on five hits and twowalks in the seventh, all with two outs, and pulled within 12-6 when catcher Colin Hynek had apitch by new reliever Caden Glauber get past him. Gavin Kelly homered in the eighth, his second of the CWS and 19th of theseason,tomakeita five-run game.
“You neverwanttogodown,” Mountaineerscoach SteveSabins said. “If you’re going to go down, for me,being down 12-1 and scratching and clawing and fighting and running outofgas andgiving literally everything thatyou have left in the tank to compete is poetic for me.”
Thursday-Friday First Hole-10th Hole 12:30 p.m.-6:35 a.m. —Niklas Norgaard Denmark; Rocco Repetto Taylor, Spain; Sudarshan Yellamaraju, Canada 12:41 p.m.-6:46 a.m. —LaurieCanter, England; John Parry,England; a-Bryan Lee, USA. 12:52 p.m.-6:57 a.m. —ChrisKirk, USA; Max McGreevy,USA;JakeKnapp, USA. 1:03 p.m.-7:08 a.m.— Harry Hall, England; MichaelBrennan, USA; Andrew Putnam, USA. 1:14 p.m.-7:19 a.m. —Davis Thompson, USA; a-Preston Stout, USA; David Puig,Spain 1:25 p.m.-7:30 a.m. —Ryo Hisatsune, Japan; Corey Conners, Canada; Ryan Fox, New Zealand. 1:36 p.m.-7:41 a.m. —RyanGerard, USA; Russell Henley,USA;Ben Griffin, USA. 1:47 p.m.-7:52 a.m. —JustinThomas USA; Hideki Matsuyama, Japan; Xander Schauffele, USA. 1:58 p.m.-8:03 a.m. —Nicolai Hojgaard Denmark; Nico Echavarria, Colombia;Robert MacIntyre, Scotland. 2:09 p.m.-8:14 a.m. —J.T.Poston, USA; Patrick Cantlay, USA; Billy Horschel, USA. 2:20 p.m.-8:25 a.m. —a-Arni Sveinsson, Iceland; Taihei Sato, Japan; Marcelo Rozo Colombia. 2:31 p.m.-8:36 a.m. —Nick Hardy, USA; Cole Hammer, USA; Jack Schoenberger, USA. 2:42 p.m.-8:47 a.m. —a-Marek Fleming, USA; T.K. Kim, USA; a-Giuseppe Puebla, USA. Thursday-Friday 10th Hole-First Hole 12:30 p.m.-6:35 a.m. —William Mouw,USA; a-RyderCowan, USA; Hennie du Plessis, South Africa. 12:41 p.m.-6:46 a.m. —Adrien Saddier, France; JacksonVan Paris, USA; Ugo Coussaud, France. 12:52 p.m.-6:57 a.m. —Neal Shipley, USA; Matti Schmid, Germany; Bud Cauley,USA 1:03 p.m.-7:08 a.m.— PiercesonCoody,USA; ZacBlair, USA; Kevin Roy, USA. 1:14 p.m.-7:19 a.m. —Aaron Rai, England; Collin Morikawa, USA; Jason Day, Australia. 1:25 p.m.-7:30 a.m. —BrysonDeChambeau, USA; Viktor Hovland, Norway;MattFitzpatrick, England. 1:36 p.m.-7:41 a.m. —DustinJohnson, USA; Wyndham Clark,USA;Gary Woodland, USA. 1:47 p.m.-7:52 a.m. —JoaquinNiemann, Chile; Alex Smalley, USA; Shane Lowry, Ireland. 1:58 p.m.-8:03 a.m. —Akshay Bhatia, USA; Carlos Ortiz, Mexico;Min WooLee, Australia 2:09 p.m.-8:14 a.m. —JustinRose, England; Jordan Spieth, USA; Jon Rahm, Spain. 2:20 p.m.-8:25 a.m. —Ben Kohles, USA; JohnnyKeefer,USA;Matt McCarty,USA 2:31 p.m.-8:36 a.m. —AngelHidalgo, Spain; a-MateoPulcini, Argentina; Spencer Tibbits, USA. 2:42 p.m.-8:47 a.m. —a-Matthew Robles USA; JakeSollon, USA; ManavShah, USA. Pro tennis ATPWorld Tour TerraWortmann Open results Wednesday At Gerry WeberStadium Halle, Germany Purse: €2,583,330 Surface: Grass Men’ssingles Round of 32 TaylorFritz (5), United States,def.Zizou Bergs, Belgium, 7-6(4),5-7,6-4. BenShelton(3),United States, def. Lorenzo Sonego, Italy, 7-5, 6-3. Men’ssingles Round of 16 Frances Tiafoe, United States, def.Sho Shimabukuro, Japan, 6-4, 7-5. Daniel Altmaier, Germany, def. Hubert Hurkacz, Poland, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. Felix Auger-Aliassime (2), Canada,def LearnerTien,UnitedStates, 6-7 (5), 7-5, 7-6(5) Daniil Medvedev (4), Russia,def. Terence Atmane, France, 6-4, 6-4. Men’sdoubles Round of 16 John Peers,Australia,and Robert Galloway,United States,def. KevinKrawietz and TimPutz (1), Germany, 7-6(3), 7-6 (8). Robert Cash and James Tracy (4), United States, def. Jan-LennardStruff and Yannick Hanfmann, Germany, 6-3, 7-5. Men’sdoubles Quarterfinals
and
Pork stir-fry offerslight sauce, freshflavor
BY LINDAGASSEHEIMER
Tribune News Service (TNS)
Ilove the light,savory sauces used in Vietnamese-style stir-fries. They’re arefreshing change from the heavier, thicker sauces often foundin other versions. For this quick meal, Iuse thinly sliced pork tenderloin and delicate dried rice noodles. The noodles and broccoli are briefly cooked together in boiling water for just three minutes, then tossed into the stirfry,where they absorbthe fragrant sauce and come together in afresh, flavorful dish
HELPFUL HINTS:
n Any type of thin noodles can be used.
n Green beans can be used instead of broccoli.
n Canola oil can be used instead of sesame oil.
Vietnamese Pork Stir-Fry Yields 2servings. Recipe is by Linda Gassenheimer
1. Combine garlic, sugar,soy sauce,ginger and 2tablespoons water in amedium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmerand cook 5minutes or until sugar is melted.
2. Remove from heat and add pork to sauce and let sitfor 5 minutes, turning the meat over 2or3 times.
3. Meanwhile, bring amedium saucepan ¾ full of water to a boil and add the rice noodles. Boil for 3minutes, then addthe broccoli to the water for 1minute. Drain.
4. Heat oil in awok or large frying pan over high heat. Add theonion and saute 2minutes Add the pork with thesauce. Cook, tossing the pork with the onion for 2minutes.
5. Add the broccoli and rice noodles. Toss all the ingredients together for 2to3minutes. Divide in halfand serveon2 dinner plates.
NUTRITION INFO PER SERVING: 643 calories (25 percent from fat), 18.2 gfat (2.4 gsaturated, 10.1 g monounsaturated), 108 mg cholesterol, 46.6 gprotein, 73.1 g carbohydrates, 5.1 gfiber,1008 mg sodium.
of akitchen redo.
FORTHE OCCASION
With kitchenrenovationcomplete, shrimp andtasso sauteisonthe menu
BY APRIL HAMILTON Contributing writer
My husband did aDIY renovation of the kitchen in our first home, literally at the turn of the century The simple and inexpensive changes were ahuge upgrade, and Irecall cooking up astorminthe newspace, withtwo little girls underfoot.With alate May unveiling of the expanded new kitchen in our Baton Rouge home, the glee is tenfold after being confined for nearly 10 years into an 8-squarefoot space. Cooking has never been more joyful. Throughout thedecade of cooking in my tinybut mightykitchen, Iimagined the walls coming down but couldn’t fathom anew layout or enduring the upheaval of arenovation. Enter Chad Blanchard and his team with Highland Construction Services,who turned my dread into giddy anticipation. From the first
ä See RENOVATION, page 6C
Shrimp and Tasso Saute
Makes 4servings. Recipe is from “Cooking Up aStorm,” edited by Marcelle Bienvenu and Judy Walker
2tablespoons
1. Heat the oil in alarge skillet over medium heat.Add the onions, bell pepper, celery,salt, cayenne, Tabasco and tasso and saute over high heat forabout 5minutes, or until the vegetables are wilted and slightly brown.
2. Add the mushrooms, garlic, shrimp, stock and white wine andcook,stirring often, for5minutes.
3. Add the green onions and parsley and adjust the seasonings.
4. Serve over rice or your favorite pasta.
NOTE: In my preparation, Iused homemadeshrimpstock madewith the shells from peeling the shrimp. Idoubled the amount called for, and to make it alittle saucier,addedin2tablespoonsofcold butterinto the liquid in theskillet, whisking to emulsify into asauce.
STAFF PHOTOSByMICHAEL JOHNSON
April Hamilton stirs
TNS PHOTO By LINDAGASSENHEIMER
Younglawyerneeds to show confidence
Dear Miss Manners: Iama25-yearold-lawyer who worked as alaw clerk for ayear before passing the bar exam. When Iaccompany the partner to hearings where aclient is present,Iinvariably get asked whether I am still in law school or how Ilike being aparalegal. What is the appropriate response? Also, when Iam in the office, sometimes potential clients will walkinand ask me to make copiesfor them (assuming the secretary is not there). Iusually do this graciously,but Iamwondering if there is something Ican say to establish
Judith Martin MISS MANNERS
thefact that Iamanattorney Gentle reader: That you were willing to makethe copies for the client shows your heart was in the right place— which Miss Manners agrees is no small thing after three years of law school and ayear of court. But unfortunately,she has to say that your head was not. If you thinkthe partner,having observed either of these interactions with clients, was goingtoshout,“Promote that person immediately we need more people who put the clientfirst!” you would have been wrong.
What he or she was really thinking was, “If that person cannot even explain to aclient that they are not the secretaryora paralegal, how are they going to stand up to an angry judge?”
The correct thingtosay to the client at the office is, “How do you do? I’m So-and-so, an attorney here at the firm.But let me find you asecretary who can help you.”The answer to the client at thehearing is, “I am really enjoying being an associate here at the firm.” Then give areason why the work you are doing for thefirm is even more interesting than your clerkship —throwing in thename of the judge you worked for Business mannersare different
RENOVATION
Continued from page5C
iteration of the design to the final finished punch list, as if Iwaved amagic wand, they knocked it out with finesse
Iflashed back to my kitchen remodel years ago anddesire to cook around the clock. It is arerun of your favorite show.Shop, chop, cook,share the bounty and repeat. Iwas eager to have adinner party and thank the team who made it happen. Iinvited my friend Lori and her husband Matt, whohad guided us to the contractor team, and my friend Canette and her husband Chris, who helped with so many details when Iwas incapableofanother decision, to join us for a toast and afeast. The scheduled gratitude dinner coincided with an assignment to sample some beloved recipes from The Times-Picayune cookbook, “Cooking Up aStorm,” a collection of recipes lost and found post-Katrina. I selected the Shrimp and Tasso Saute to highlight localseafood paired withthe tasso from Jacob’sSmokehousethat mycontractor stashed in my freezer after atrip to his hometown, LaPlace. Therecipeisjust as Marcelle Bienvenupromises in the headnote: “It packs together alot of different flavors, the ingredients are usually readily at hand, and it’sgreat when you need to whip something upatthe
last minute.” I’ll add that it is special occasion-worthy When Ireceived my copy of this treasured cookbook, Iwas in the midst of unpacking my decades-old cookbook collection to display on mynew shelves. Without hesitation, Iprominently placed this new-tome book on itsown shelf so it will be in easy reach as I continue cooking from its story-rich pages in my new kitchen.
Beef, Spinach and Feta Meatballs
from “What Goes with That: 100 Recipes, 20 Charts, Endless
Serves
by Julia Turshen.
1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Line abakingsheetwith parchment paper 2. Place drained and squeezedspinach in alarge bowlwith feta,garlic powder,dried oregano and 1 teaspoon kosher salt.Stir well to combine
and firm to the touch, about20-25 minutes. You can always crack oneopen to make sure it’scooked enough,ifyou need some reassurance.
from social manners, and most lawyers areused to being contradicted without taking offense. They may even recognize the courage it took foryou to speak up.
Dear Miss Manners: Iama female homeowner wholives in atwostory house. Mostly the living area is upstairs, after a15-step staircase with asmalllanding before theturn
If someone comes to my house who has never been, or aworker to do arepair or something, who do Ilet walk up the stairs first, looking at the other person’sbutt?
The male stranger,the female stranger,orme?
Gentlereader: Etiquette is neutral
on wholeads, unless the passage is challenging, in which case you would wanttogofirst to act as guide.
As to what there is to see along the way,Miss Manners hopes that whoever followswill have the common courtesy,ifnot the common sense, to follow at amodest distance and with eyes elsewhere —noifs,ands, buts or butts.
Sendquestions to Miss Manners at herwebsite, www missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mailtoMiss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City,MO 64106.
Weighing theprosand cons of usingsocialmedia
Dear Harriette: Iamstruggling withsocial media. I am making acareer pivot, so it is abeautiful time for me as Imake new discoveries and explore new skills, but it is also ascary and intimidating chapter Social media has its pros and cons for this season that I’m in, and I’m trying to decide whether thegood outweighs thebad. On one hand, posting about my work, passions and projectshelps me meet and interact with people who are also breaking into my industry as well as seasoned professionals. On theother hand, Ifind myself making alot of comparisons. It causes meto second-guess myself, my talent, my progress, my path, my belongings and more. Iamgrappling with whether this vast network —which could lead tocontinued work and learning opportunities —ismore important than my mental health. Is there something Ican do to continue utilizing social media as atool without compromising my self-worth? —Social Media Dear Social Media: Think of social media as atool, not acrutch.Use it to share
of cayenne,
Steamed rice or cooked orzo, for
MEATBALLS
Continued from page5C
meat. The trick is you have to wring it out really, really well using aclean dish towel after it thaws to make sure not even adrop of liquid remains. The addition of feta, especially if you take time to grate it, also helpscreate
3. Add beef and mix well (I used my hands).Divide themixture into adozen portions,shaping them into balls. Imadethem slightly smaller andgot 16 balls. 4. Space them evenly on the sheetpan andspray with cooking spray
5. Roast until browned
amorecohesivetexture since itmelts —slightly during cooking These meatballs are seasoned with lots of garlic powderand dried oregano, but feel free to substitute fresh grated garlic if that’s your thing. They’re served with abright and lemony yogurt sauce punctuated with dill. They can be served hot
6. Meanwhile, place yogurt in asmallbowland whisk in garlic anddill. Addzestand juice of 1 lemon, stir to combine, then season totaste with salt and cayenne, if using.
7. Serve meatballs hot, warm or at room temperature over rice or orzo, with thesauce and additional lemon slices forsqueezing over
out of the oven, warm or at room temperature, with the sauce drizzled on top. If you need agood office lunch, tuck them into pita bread with lettuce and tomato for aGreek-style meatball sandwich. Imade them in my oven, but you also could cook the meatballs in an air fryer at 400 Ffor 15 minutes, turning halfway through.
good news aboutyour career andpersonal life as yousee fit. Compare yourself to yourself rather thantoothers. Think aboutyourgoals, andcurate your content to match those goals. Considerhiring someone to help youwith your social media strategy Youmay even find acompanyorindividual who can post foryou.That will help to take you away from the day-to-day,which can make it easiertoavoid the comparisons. Dear Harriette: “First Time” —your reader whowants someone to talk to about taking the next step with her boyfriend —needs an old crone in her life. After my sons were grown and out of the house, the young ladies next door and their friends used to come over and pester me with questions that Igladly answered. We had somewonderful gatherings where I told them things that their parents never had —or things that they didn’tfeel they could ever even ask their parents. Every person whoisanadult but not yet elderly needs acrone in their lives. Notonly
have we been there, done that (or at least known people whohave), but we have no cares lefttogive about propriety,and we will not turn away from any subject due to discomfort. —Kat FromKansas City Dear Kat From Kansas City: I love your sentiment. Ialso had to go to the dictionary to learn the meaning of “crone.” For those who don’tknow,itused to mean an old woman, but is more commonly knowntoday as awise, postmenopausal womanvenerated forher lifetime of experience, judgment and knowledge. Kat, Isay YES to the crone. We wise women have alot to offer others. It’s funny.Inmany cultures, it wasunderstood that the older womenin the community weretobe heralded fortheir wisdom People regularly came and sat at their feet to learn and to process whatever wasgoing on in their lives. This is apractice that would be great to revive. Thanks forthe reminder
Sendquestions to askharriette@ harriettecole.com or c/oAndrewsMcMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St.,Kansas City,MO 64106.
Keepingknotinnecktie intact
Dear Heloise: I’ve enjoyed and learned from your column for years. If you’re like me, tying anecktie can be frustrating. When Iget atie with aknot that has thestyle and length Ilike, I’ll take it off by loosening it just enough toget it off my neck and over my head. Then Ihang it up intact on atie rack that Ihave on thewall. So, thenext time Iwant to use it, it’salready tied and ready for me to put on. —MikeD., in Indiana Keyfob hint
Dear Heloise: Most cars
ByThe Associated Press
comewith two key fobs, and the key fobs have abutton to set off an alarm on your car.Assingle woman living by myself, I keep the extra key fob on my nightstand. If someone broke into my home, or Ihad amedical emergency and couldn’tget to the phone quick enough for help, all Ineed to do is press the alarm button on the key fob. All of my neighbors would immediately hear the noise. Ilet my neighbors know about this plan, and if they hear the alarm sounding, they would call me to find out if Ineeded help. Most of my neighbors thought that this wasagreat idea and are doing the same thing with their extra key fob. —CherylM., in Omaha, Nebraska
TODAYINHISTORY
Today is Thursday, June 18, the 169th day of 2026. There are 196 days left in the year
Todayinhistory: On June 18, 1812, the War of 1812 began as the United States Congress approved, and President James Madisonsigned, adeclaration of war againstBritain.
Also on this date:
In 1778, American forces entered Philadelphia as the Britishwithdrew during theRevolutionary War.
In 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated in the BattleofWaterloo as Britishand Prussian troops defeated the French Imperial Army in Belgium.
In 1979, President Jimmy Carter and Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev signed theSALTIIstrategic armslimitation treaty
in Vienna. In 1983, astronaut Sally Ride becameAmerica’s first womaninspace as she and four other NASA astronauts blasted off aboard the space shuttle Challenger on asix-day mission. In 1986, 25 people were killed when atwin-engine plane and ahelicopter carrying sightseers collided over the Grand Canyon.
In 1992, the U.S. SupremeCourt, in Georgia v. McCollum,ruled that criminal defendants could not use race as abasis for excluding potential jurors from their trials.
In 2007, nine firefighters died when they were overwhelmed by afast-spreading fire in afurniture showroom and warehouse facility in Charleston, South Carolina. It wasone of the deadliest days for firefighting since the 9/11
Freezing milk
Dear Heloise: Iread about the womanwho purchases twohalf gallons of milk and freezes one. Idon’t drink alot of milk, so Ibuy aquart. But sometimes ahalf gallon only costs a little more, so Ifreeze half of it. It freezes quite well. —MaryG., in California Send ahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.
attacks in the U.S. In 2018, President Donald Trumpannounced he wasdirecting the Pentagon to create the Space Force as an independent branch of the United States Armed Forces. In 2023, the submersible vessel Titan, on an undersea expedition to view the wreck of the Titanic in the North Atlantic Ocean, imploded, killing all five people aboard. Today’sBirthdays: Musician Paul McCartney is 84. Actor Carol
Hints from Heloise
Harriette Cole SENSE AND SENSITIVITy
Shrimp mixes withotheringredients on the stovetop while April Hamilton prepares shrimp and tasso saute.
STAFF PHOTOSByMICHAEL JOHNSON April Hamilton stirs ingredients on the stovetop while preparing adishinher newly completed kitchen.
GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Makeanofferand follow through. Living up to your promises, requests andwords will helpyou gain the confidence of others. Show how disciplinedand fruitful you can be.
cAncER (June 21-July 22) Stick to what worksbestfor you. If you follow someone, you'll be disappointed with the outcome.Placemore faithand trustin yourself andyourability to finish what youstart.
LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Pay attention to relationships, conversations, thevalidityoftheinformationyoureceiveandthe intentionsofthepeopleyouencounter.If youhaveapositive impact on someone, it will reflect.
VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Suggestions and offersyou receive will generateexcitement andadesire for change, but before taking aleap of faith, consider the outcome. Make sure your budget can withstand the overhead costs.
LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Procrastination is what holds you back.Excuses are far-fetched anddownright depressing, putting you into acatatonic stateofmind that's stopping youfrom living your dream.
scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Rethink your strategy on health, love and earning potential.Perhapsit'stimetorethinkand update your direction, skills and connections. Mix business with pleasure.
sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Setyourself up, letgoofthe past and stabilizeyour future. Choose your space wisely. Put in the time to ensure you feel comfortable.
How much and how wellyou produce what's important to you in life depends on your surroundings.
cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Deal with whatirks youand put it to rest. Letting matters fester will put you in avulnerableposition. It'stime to letgoofwhat's not working foryou and to engage in what soothes your soul
AQuARIus (Jan.20-Feb. 19) Start with love, enthusiasm and afun-filledagenda. The more excited you are, the easier it will be to tempt others to join in. Creativity is on the rise. Look for an outlet that can make you money or bring you joy.
PIscEs(Feb. 20-March 20) Your best effort willdevelop if you participate in events or activities that stretch your mind and help you buildrelationships with people who bring out the best in you.
ARIEs(March 21-April 19) Think outside the box. It's OK to be unique andtostand out when you have something to offer. Refuse to let anyone ruinyour plans. Expect someonetooverreact or tempt you to go overboard with your intentions.
Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created fromquotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in thecipher stands foranother.
toDAy's cLuE:W EQuALs o
FAMILY CIrCUS
CeLebrItY CIpher
Sudoku
InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placingpuzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers The object is to place the numbers 1to9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 boxcontains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday
Yesterday’s PuzzleAnswer
THewiZard oF id
BLondie
BaBY BLueS
Hi and LoiS
CurTiS
By PHILLIP ALDER
Jack Youngblood, amember of the Pro Football Hall of Famewho playedfor the Los Angeles Ramsfor 14 years, said,“I visualizethingsinmymindbeforeIhave to do them. It is like having amental workshop.”
The mostskillfulbridge players can getinside the minds of their opponents. They can visualize exactlywhat that playerwould do from various holdings.
Today’s deal is an example of this. Southisinthreeno-trump. West leads the heartthree anddeclarer calls for dummy’s five.Whatshould East do?
The auction was straightforward. South did not like to open one no-trump without aheartstopper, but the bid gave as accurate adescription of his hand as possible.Yes,hemight have opened one diamond, planningtorebid onespade over aone-heartresponse,but partner would have had amuch fuzzierpicture of South’s hand. The onlymakablegame here is four spades, whichistough to reach
Let’s return to East’s predicament. If South hasace-doubleton of hearts, East must put in his 10, finessing against partner(this week’s theme).But if South has jack-doubleton, East must win with his king. Whichiscorrect?
Get into South’s mind. If he had acedoubleton, which heartwould he have playedfromthe board?
he cannothavethe heartace. So Eastshould confidently put up his king, expecting to win the trick. Andfive hearttricks later, the contract is down.
Each Wuzzle is aword riddle which creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON
Previous answers:
word game
InstRuctIons: 1. Words mustbeoffour or more letters.2.Words that acquire four letters by theaddition of “s,”such as “bats”or“dies,” arenot allowed. 3. Additional wordsmade by adding a“d” or an “s” maynot be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words,orvulgar or sexually explicit words arenot allowed.
toDAy’s WoRD ADMIRE: ad-MY-er:Tofeel respect and approval for
Average mark 25 words
Time
Can youfind 29 or more words in ADMIRE?
yEstERDAy’s WoRD —cAtIons
today’s thought “For what is aman profited, if he shall gain the wholeworld, and lose his own soul? or whatshall aman give in exchange forhis soul?”Matthew 16:26
Right —the queen. He wouldhave hoped the opening lead was away from the king and tried to take asecond heart trick. When he does not do that,
NEWYORK U.S. stocks slumped Wednesday on speculation the Federal Reserve may hike interest ratesthis year to keep alid on inflation. Higherrates can tap the brakes on accelerating prices at cash registers,but theyalsoslow the economy and hurt prices for investments.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury bond, which influences rates for mortgages and other loans going to U.S. households and businesses, rose to 4.49% from 4.43% late Tuesday. The two-yearTreasury yield, which moreclosely tracks expectations forFed action, jumped to 4.21% from 4.05%.
Traders upped their bets for at least one increase to the federal fundsratethisyearand nowsee an 84% probability of it, up from 59.5%a day earlier,according to data from CME Group.
Highyields in bond markets worldwide caused by worries aboutinflation have already beenthreatening to slow economies andundercutprices for all kindsofinvestments.
In the stock market, SpaceX erasedanearly gain and fell 4.9% for its first loss since its ballyhooed debut on theU.S stock market lastweek.
Dropsof3.8%for Microsoft, 3.5% for Amazon and 1.3% for Nvidia were three of the heaviest weights on theS&P 500.
They helped overshadow a jump of 14.8%for La-Z-Boy, which reported strongerprofit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected.
Japanese trade officials raid 6ice cream makers
TOKYO— Japanesegovernmentfair trade watchdog officialshaveraided six major ice cream makers on suspicion of price fixing.
Tokyo-based Meiji Co.said in astatement Tuesday thatithad been raided on suspicion of violating anti-monopolylaws.
“Weaccept with sincerity the fact that our company was raided, and we promise to cooperate fullywiththe Japan Fair Trade Commission investigation,” it said. Five other companies Morinaga Milk Industry Co Morinaga& Co., Lotte Co., Ezaki Glico Co. and Akagi Nyugo Co. —issued similar statements. It wasn’tclearwhenthe raids took place In addition to ice cream, the companies make various food items, dessertsand confectionery goods, including pudding, chocolate bars andchewing gum,sold widely at supermarkets and convenience stores nationwide.
Japanese media calledit“a price cartel.”Top managersat the companies were in touch with each other over several years to coordinate raising ice cream prices by 6U.S. cents,for instance, as well as the timing of suchhikes,the reportssaid Protestersblock copper exports from Mongolia
ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia Protesters blocked copper exports from ahuge Rio Tinto mine in Mongolia on Wednesday, partiallycutting off the supply of a mineral vital to China’srenewable energy ambitions.
The protest group, called the Radical Reform Movement, is pushing for agreater share of mining revenue for Mongolians, along-runningdemand in anation where poverty persists despite the exploitation of its mineral riches. Copper is needed for electricvehicles and solar and wind power installations, all industries where China is aworld leader
The Oyu Tolgoi mine is a massive undertaking to tap a vast reserve of copper deep in theGobi Desert. About 50 miles north of the border with China,italso has largegold deposits and is expectedtobe thefourth largest copper mine in the world when fully operational, Rio Tinto has said. The British-Australian mining giant owns 66% of the mine, with the Mongolian government holding the other34%.
THEADVOCATE.COM/news/business
Fedkeeps keyrateunchanged
BY CHRISTOPHERRUGABER AP economics writer
WASHINGTON— The Federal Reserve kept its key rateunchanged Wednesday yetalmosthalf the central bank’s policymakerssaid they could support arate hike later this year
Theunexpectedlyaggressive tilt toward higherrates would disappoint President Donald Trump andsuggests heightened concerns about persistent inflation among Fedofficials.
In an unusually short statement
after theirtwo-daymeeting, the officialsdropped languagethat had suggested theirnext move would be to cut the key rate.
Thebrief statement re flect s the influence of newchair Kevin Warsh, appointed by Trump, who has previously criticized the Fed for commenting toobroadly on the economy Still,Warsh’s18colleagueson
theFed’srate-setting committeesent aclear message in aset of quarterly projections released Wednesday: Nine signaled they supported higher rates this year, with sixofthose supporting two quarter-point increases. It’sasharp change from March, when no policymakers penciled in ahike and the committeeasa wholeforecast onecut in 2026.
Thechange is an acknowledgment that inflationisatits highest level in three years andmany officials have saidinrecent speeches that if inflation doesn’tdecline, higher
Sandersunveils plan to
rates maybenecessary in the coming months.
Warsh, in his first news conference as chair,also underscored the Fed’sdetermination to bring inflation downtothe central bank’s2% target.
TheFed typically seekstocombat inflation by lifting interest ratestoslowborrowing andspending and cool the economy.Yet taking such astep would likely attract the ire of the White House, and could lift the cost of mortgages, auto loans, and other borrowing, just before the midterm elections.
BY JOEY CAPPELLETTI Associated Press
WASHINGTON— As artificial intelligence companies reshape the economy andrace toward trillion-dollar valuations, Sen. Bernie Sanders is proposing asweeping transfer of wealth and power from the industry to the American public.
Thelegislation,shown first to TheAssociatedPress, would create asovereign wealth fund overseen by an independent commissionand financed through aone-time 50% tax on the stock of thelargest AI companies. Sanders estimates that the tax would create anearly $7 trillion fund that would generate hundreds of billions of dollars annually in direct payments to Americansand programs such as healthcare, education and housing.
“The benefitscannot simply go to the handfulofwealthy corporations.Theywill be shared by the American people,” the independentVermont senator said in an interviewWednesday
The idea of giving thepublic astakeinAI hasrecentlydrawn interestfromfiguresas ideologically diverse as President Donald Trumpand OpenAI CEO SamAltman.But Sanders’ proposal goes much further,calling for public ownership of half of the largest AI companies and direct influence overcorporate decision-making.
“The public has got to have asignificant seat at the table to makesurethat terrible things do nothappen to ordinary people, and that in fact, AI benefits ordinary people, not hurtsthem,” Sanders said.
Howthe fund wouldwork
Sandershas previously proposed the sovereign wealth fund, but thebill summary obtained bythe AP is the first legislative attempttomakeita reality
The50% tax would apply to AI companies that reach $200 million in annualAIsales.
Any new AI company that reaches that benchmark would alsobesubject to the tax.
It would create asovereign wealth fund similartothose used by countriesaround the worldand some U.S.states— that Sanders estimates would be worth around $7 trillion. Unlike atraditional tax, the proposal would require companies to transferstock rather than cash,effectively making theAmerican public amajor shareholder in thecountry’s largest AI firms.
Aseven-personindependentcommission— nominated by the president andconfirmedby the Senate —would manage thefund and use its voting shares “to block decisions that hurt theAmerican people and to push for policies that help them,” thebill summary says. Sanders proposes that a5%annual dividend from thefund would provide direct payments of more than $1,000 to every
Sen.Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks about topicsincluding politics and artificial intelligence June 8atthe National Press Club in Washington.
American.Ifcompanies grow,the gains would be used for public goods such as education, housing and healthcare. Sanders arguestaxpayers would not bear thelosses if AI company valuations decline.
“We’renot going to lose any money, even if there is abust in thebubble,” Sanders said. The commission would be directedto“to block decisions that hurt theAmerican people and topush for policies that help them,” according to thesummary Sanders emphasized thatthe proposal is just astart. “Wethink this is thebest that we could do at the moment, and it’s certainly a major,major,major step forward from giving unilateral and total power to ahandful of multibillionaires,” he said.
Supporters in WhiteHouse,Silicon Valley Sanders is not alone in pushing for apublic stake in the companies that develop AI Trump, whorecently signedanorder to have new AI models voluntarily vetted by the government,has alsomused aboutthe government owning astakeinthe companies that develop AI,saying“there’ssomething very interesting about it, where it almost becomes apartnership withthe American public.”
OpenAI —led by Altman —inApril proposed to “create apublicwealthfundthat provides every citizen —including those not invested in financial markets—with astake in AI-driven economic growth.”
Anthropic,one of OpenAI’s top competitors andrecently valued at $965 billion, has been open to similarideas,withCEO Dario Amodei writing recently that “universal basicincomecould be financed throughtaxes on relevant companies.”
Still, Sanders’ push is much more aggressive than any of these.InSanders’ meeting with Altman,they remained far apart on how large of astake the public would get, accord-
ing to those in the room
“I think people like Sam Altman and Trump (who) maybesympathetic to this are saying: ‘OK, look,we’re making zillions of dollars so we’re going to be nice guys and maybe we’ll buy off the public. We will give 5% of our profits back into the government,’” said Sanders. “That’snot what we’re talking about. Whatwe’retalking aboutare twovery different things.”
Taking the fighttovoters
Asked whether he plans to make AI ownership and wealth inequality part of that messageonthe campaign trail, Sandersresponded, “Absolutely.”
It’samessage other candidates are using ahead of the midterms as they tap into voters’ angstabout thetechnology. Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow unveiled aplan to “protect workers in the ageofAI,” while NewYorkDemocratic House candidate Alex Bores has also madeAIregulation acampaign issue.
Data center projects across the country have drawnoppositionfromresidents concerned about electricity demand, water consumption and environmental impacts. Some states once eager to attract the facilities, including Ohio andVirginia,havemoved to reconsider tax incentives.
On college campuses, commencement speakers have been interrupted by boos when discussing artificial intelligence About70% of collegestudentssee AI as a threat to their jobprospects, according to a 2025 poll by the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School.
“Workers will be thrownout of theirjobs while billionaires, multibillionaires become even richer,” Sanders said. “The American people areaware of thatand don’twant to see it happen.”
BY ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP retail writer
NEWYORK— Shoppers stepped up their spending in Mayand surpassed expectations as temperatures warmedand gasoline prices leveled off. Retail sales rose 0.9%, up from a revised0.4%gain in April, according to CommerceDepartmentdata released Wednesday.Sales gota boost fromgenerous government tax refundsinbothApril and May, though economists say that cash cushion is startingtofade. Excluding sales at gasstations, retail sales in May rose0.7%.
Thefigures aren’t inflationadjusted so higher prices likely helped boost sales. But economists point to healthy spending with increases thatwere broad-based. Business at clothing, accessory andfurniture stores allposted sales gains. Online sales rose 1.5% Electronics and appliance stores and department stores both registered slight sales declines. The data offers only asnapshot of consumer spending and doesn’t include activities like travel and hotel stays. The lone services category —restaurants —registereda 0.1% decline. That might have reflected how high gas prices forced
shoppers to cut back on driving, according to Sam Tombs, chief U.S.economist at Pantheon Macro. But the so-called control group —which excludes food services, autos, building materials and gas station sales and is used to calculate economic growth —rose 0.7%. That suggestssolidspending, economists said. Consumers are the engine of the American economy,driving most of the nation’seconomicgrowth. Andthe latest retail sales report underscores that spending has remained resilient so farthis year despite rising prices. Solid increases in hiring have also buoyed
spending, economists said.
“The stronger-than-forecast and broad-basedgains in Mayretail salesshowthatconsumers continued to spend strongly despite higher gasoline prices in the month,” NationwideChief Economist Kathy Bostjancicwrites. “The largetax refunds and overall tax reductions for households this year and the recent strengthening in employment growth helped buffer thenegative drag from higher gasoline prices.” Tombswas morecautious about the spending outlook.
“The sugar rush from biggerthan-usual tax refunds will wear off soon,” Tombs wrote in areport.
