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T h u r s d ay, J u n e 18, 2026

Officials release details of Iran deal

Agreement calls for dilution of enriched uranium, waiving of sanctions, reopening of Strait of Hormuz

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La. allows telehealth obesity care State lifts ban on treating condition via technology amid GLP-1 boom

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By AMIRHOSEIN KHORGOOI

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

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 Food and Drug Administration for obesity and weight loss, along with “The demand injectables like Zepbound. is real. Up “The demand is real,” until now, said Dr. Clayton Runfalo, the supply a family medicine doctor has been a in the Baton Rouge metro challenge.” area who cares for patients with obesity. “Up until now, the DR. CLAyTON supply has been a challenge.”

RUNFALO, family For years in Louisiana, docmedicine doctor tors 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

ä See OBESITY, page 4A

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.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who helped mediate the initial deal to end the war, said it is taking “immediate effect” after leaders from both countries signed it, but that there will still be a formal signing ceremony on Friday.

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.

BR police seek help in finding missing teen 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

ing on Sunday.

“It’s signed,” Trump said as he ä G7 leaders back agreement to end left Versailles, the historic palace Iran war. Page 3A where he dined with French President Emmanuel Macron following a ä Cassidy blasts Trump’s deal with trip to the Group of Seven summit Iran. Page 4A in France.

According to the officials, the The U.S. official said Iranian Presi- draft agreement includes language dent Masoud Pezeshkian also signed that Iran agrees not to develop or it Wednesday, though Iran did not procure nuclear weapons. It also immediately comment. It wasn’t im- addresses Tehran’s highly enriched mediately clear if that act started a Iranian uranium, requiring that it be 60-day negotiating clock to reach a downgraded on site as a minimum.

In return, the U.S. will move to final deal. It was also not clear how Trump’s signing of the deal at Verä See DEAL, page 5A sailles differed from his digital sign-

BY OLIVIA TEES

Staff writer

Baton Rouge police are offering a $10,000 reward to anyone with information on Ja’Derrius Minnieweather, a 15-year-old boy who has been missing for nearly two weeks.

Police said if someone comes forward with information in the next 48 hours, they will receive a cash reward.

In a news conference Wednesday afternoon, police officials said Minnieweather they usually do not offer rewards for missing people, but the nature of this case changed things.

Mayor-President Sid Edwards pleaded for someone to come forward with any small bit of information they might have to bring home this “son of Baton Rouge.”

ä See MISSING, page 4A

New 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

WEATHER HIGH 90 LOW 80 PAGE 6B

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

Business ......................6A Commentary ................5B Nation-World ................2A Classified .....................6D Deaths .........................3B Opinion ........................4B Comics-Puzzles .....3D-5D Living............................1D Sports ..........................1C

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.

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

101ST yEAR, NO. 353

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Mangione to assert psychiatric defense in state trial

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

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.

BY MICHAEL R. SISAK Associated Press

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MOSES SAWASAWA

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.

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, Hamilton 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.

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.

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Thursday, June 18, 2026 ■ 3A

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G7 leaders back deal to end war French president

urges U.S. to share cutting-edge AI

Allies support agreement to end economic instability

BY AAMER MADHANI, SYLVIE CORBET and DARLENE SUPERVILLE

deployment of arMacron calls for effective tificial intelligence.” global cooperation Feud with Anthropic on regulation Ahead of the meeting, the

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

BY JOHN LEICESTER and KELVIN CHAN Associated Press

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. 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 before 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 justified as necessary to stem the flow of drugs.

Critics have questioned the legality of the strikes.

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — 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

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 countries ultimately want to prevent authoritarian regimes from getting access to advanced AI systems, Macron said.

“So let us move forward together,” he said. “Our relevant agencies must first cooperate so that, in the areas of security and cybersecurity, we have a smooth government-togovernment relationship.”

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4A ■ Thursday, June 18, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

MISSING

Continued from page 1A “This isn’t a faceless kid. This kid belongs to somebody. This is somebody’s baby,” Edwards said.

Minnieweather was last seen around 2 a.m. June 5 on Bradley Street in the Foster and Winbourne area, police said.

Police would not say if foul play is suspected in his disappearance.

Police did not say where Minnieweather was coming from, but Josh Gill, of the United Cajun Navy, said he was leaving another teen’s home. Gill said he has been in contact with Minnieweather’s family every day.

The United Cajun Navy, in connection with the Minnieweather family, has organized search parties in the north Ba-

lll

ton Rouge area where the teen could be.

Minnieweather’s family thanked law enforcement and the community at the news conference for their hard work trying to return their boy home to them.

“There’s someone, or more than someone out there who knows more. Please call Crime Stoppers. Help us bring Ja’Derrius home,” the family said.

Minnieweather is described as a dark-skinned Black male, 5 feet tall and weighing 98 pounds with black dreadlocks and brown eyes.

He was last seen wearing a black and gray Jordan shirt, black sweatpants and red Nike slippers.

Police are urging anyone who has any information that could lead to finding Minnieweather to contact Crime Stoppers at (225) 344-7867.

OBESITY

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Baton Rouge Police Chief TJ Morse speaks alongside Mayor-President Sid Edwards, right, and other local leaders during a news conference on Wednesday asking for the public’s help to find Ja’Derrius Minnieweather, who has been missing for nearly two weeks.

in place from a healthcare standpoint to address the high obesity rates in Louisiana is just silly,” McMath said.

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” 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 prohibit-

ing 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 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.

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.

“Hopefully, more and more people are going to get evidencebased treatment,” Schauer said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

McMakin, who joined Landry for a news conference at the McDonContinued from page 1A ald’s on Dawnedale Avenue, said the state passed laws to protect healthcare workers from workand six months behind bars. place violence in the wake of the Under Louisiana law, battery COVID-19 pandemic. Now, it was is the “intentional use of force or time “to do the same thing for the violence” against someone, while people that are behind the counassault is attempted battery. ter,” he said.

“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

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.

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.

Continued from page 1A 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-Covington, 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

ATTACKS

CLASSIFIEDS continued from Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE --RE: Final Notice of Pro‐ posed Activity in a Flood‐ plain or Wetland: St. Charles Parish, Fairfield & Oakland Drainage Im‐ provements To: All interested Federal, State, and Local Agen‐ cies, Groups, and Individ‐ uals This is to give notice that the St. Charles Parish Government (SCP) under 24 CFR Part 58 has con‐ ducted an evaluation of this proposed action under Louisiana Commu‐ nity Development Block Grant (CDBG-MIT) num‐ ber 45MTR27701 located in the 100-year floodplain Zone AE / Federal Flood Risk Management Stan‐ dard (FFRMS) riverine floodplain/wetland as re‐ quired by Executive Or‐ ders 11988 (Floodplain Management) and 11990 (Protection of Wetlands), in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 Subpart C Proce‐ dures for Making Deter‐ minations on Floodplain Management. Extent of FFRMS floodplain was determined using the freeboard value ap‐ proach.

St. Charles Parish Gov‐ ernment proposes to im‐ plement flood hazard mitigation measures within the Fairfield and Oakland Watershed. The proposed project is lo‐ cated on Fairfield and Oak in the town of St. Rose, Louisiana in St. Charles Parish. The pro‐ ject site covers approxi‐ mately 21.14 acres be‐ tween Airline Highway, CPKC Railroad, Riverbend Drive, and the Oakland Pump Station. Coordi‐ nates for the site are 39° 58' 28.85" N 90° 17' 52.74" W. The proposed project would address the need for flood hazard mitiga‐ in St. Rose, tion Louisiana. This project proposes the following activities in the Almedia region of St. Rose. These activities include the in‐ stallation of reinforced concrete pipes, a pro‐ posed berm at 6-ft eleva‐ tion, conversion of an open channel to a sealed manhole, the addition of a drop inlet, ditch main‐ tenance, ditch grading, and the addition of a flap gate.

St. Charles Parish Gov‐ ernment rejects the no action alternative as it would not improve flood hazards. After coordina‐ tion with agencies, re‐ viewing alternatives fol‐ lowing early public no‐ tice period in which no responses were received, and the fact that the pro‐ posed work is to improve drainage in the surround‐ ing residential area which is essential in pro‐ tecting surrounding com‐ munities and infrastruc‐ ture, SCP determined that it has no practicable alternative to floodplain development.

There are three primary purposes for this notice.

First, people who may be affected by activities in floodplains and those who have an interest in the protection of the nat‐ ural environment should be given the opportunity to express their concerns and provide information about these areas. Sec‐ ond, an adequate public notice program can be an important public edu‐ cational tool. The dis‐ semination of informa‐ tion about floodplains can facilitate and en‐ hance Federal efforts to reduce the risks associ‐ ated with the temporary impacts to the special areas. Third, as a matter f f i h th

Legal Notices

areas. Third, as a matter of fairness, when the Federal government de‐ termines it will partici‐ pate in actions taking place in floodplains, it must inform those who may be put at a greater or continued risk.

Written comments must be received by Michael Hill at ELOS Environmen‐ tal on behalf of St. Charles Parish Govern‐ ment at the following ad‐ dress on or before July 2nd, 2026, during the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Michael Hill mhill@elosenv.com 985-662-5501 Project Manager/Envi‐ ronmental Scientist ELOS Environmental, LLC 607 W Morris Ave Hammond, LA 70403 St. Charles Parish may also be reached directly through the LA Relay Communications System at the following num‐ bers: Access #’s: Voice Users: 1-800-9475277 Speech to Speech: 1-888272-5530 TTY Users: 1-800-846-5277 Spanish/Español: 1-800737-1813 Email: larelay@hamilto nrelay.com This service is free of charge 191522-jun 18-25-jul 2-3t $1,419.67

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

PUBLIC NOTICE --June 8, 2026 Town of Brusly Brusly, Louisiana The regular meeting of the Town of Brusly was called to order this date, June 8, 2026, at the Brusly Town Hall, at 6:30 p.m.,

by Mayor Rhodes. Coun‐ cil Member Chustz led the Pledge of Allegiance.

A roll call determined the following officials pre‐ sent: Mayor: Scot Rhodes Council Members: Daigle, Young, Chustz, Kershaw Town Attorney: Thomas Acosta, Jr. Absent: Tassin Recognitions & Commendations: None A motion to approve the minutes of the Town’s regular meeting of May 11, 2026, was made by Council Member Chustz; seconded by Council Member Young. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment.

Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Public Works Committee: Mayor Rhodes read the Public Works Report for the month of May, pre‐ pared by Public Works Supervisor Shane Sar‐ radet. There were 15.6 inches of rainfall in the month; 4 SCADA alarms at our wastewater lift stations; 0 out of compli‐ ance test result at Sewer Treatment Facility; sev‐ eral catch basin washouts were repaired in Brusly Oaks Subdivi‐ sion, Allene St., Ory Dr. and St. Mary St.; cleared several ditches filled with leaves from rains; new plants were planted

by St. James Park signs; Lemna boat was hauled away by Town of Mor‐ ganza; removed rotted tree in servitude on Landry St. Waste Pro roadside de‐ bris and out of cart pickup is scheduled for h k f h

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min p p the week of June 8th.

Flags on LA 1 will con‐ tinue to fly through July 4th weekend.

Mayor Rhodes presented change order #1, of the street overlay project, in the amount of $7,728.84 for additional asphalt.

After the discussion, a motion to approve, was made by Council Member Kershaw; seconded by Council Member Chustz.

Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public com‐ ment. Hearing no com‐ ments, the motion passed unanimously.

Upon the recommenda‐ tion of Mayor Rhodes, Council Member Young made a motion to ap‐ prove the pay app for the Road Overlay project in the amount of $186,956.92; seconded by Council Member Daigle.

Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public com‐ ment. Hearing no com‐ ments, the motion passed with a unani‐ mous vote.

Planning and Zoning Committee: Mayor Rhodes read aloud the re-zoning re‐ quest from C-1 (light commercial) to R-1 (sin‐ gle family residential), 207 Jones Drive for Lyle Charles Torres & Deborah Jones Torres. Mr. Steve LeBlanc, representing the Torres, presented a map showing the rezoning and lot improvements being requested. After a discussion, a motion to amend the agenda to consider the rezoning re‐ quest be Ordinance 1 of 2026, was made by Coun‐ cil Member Chustz; sec‐ onded by Council Mem‐ ber Young. Roll call vote was had with the follow‐ ing results: Yeas: Chustz, Kershaw, Daigle, Young Nays: None Absent: Tassin At Mayor Rhodes re‐ quest, a motion to ap‐ prove Ordinance 1 of 2026, to rezone 207 Jones Dr to R-1 (single family residential) was made by Council Member Ker‐ shaw; seconded by Council Member Chustz.

Mayor Rhodes opened the public hearing. Hear‐ ing no comments the Mayor closed the public hearing and a roll call vote was had with the following results: Yeas: Kershaw, Daigle, Young, Chustz Nays: None Absent: Tassin Finance Committee: Mayor Rhodes noted that the “Budget to Actual Comparison Report” for May, is available for Council Members to re‐ view.

Personnel Committee: None Recreation Committee: None Police Committee: None Governmental Affairs Committee: Upon the re‐ quest of Mayor Rhodes, a motion to allow the Mayor to sign a letter of no objection to sale alco‐ hol at the BHS Alumni Softball Tournament at Alexander Park, was made by Council Member Kershaw; seconded by Council Member Chustz.

Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public com‐ ment. Hearing no com‐ ments, the motion passed with a unani‐ mous vote.

Consideration of Vetoed Ordinances: None Hearing & Final Action on Ordinances: Ordinance 2 of 2026, to amend the appropria‐ tions Ordinance of 20252026; to provide relative to appropriations for the income and expenses of the Town, was read aloud and opened for Public Hearing by Mayor Rhodes. Hearing no com‐ ments from the public, Mayor Rhodes directed the issue to the Council

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

for consideration. A mo‐ tion to adopt Ordinance 2 of 2026, as discussed, was made by Council Member Chustz; sec‐ onded by Council Mem‐ ber Kershaw. A roll call vote was had with the following result: Yeas: Daigle, Young, Chustz, Kershaw Nays: None Absent: Tassin Ordinance 3 of 2026, to amend the appropria‐ tions Ordinance of 20252026; to provide relative to appropriations for the income and expenses of the Sewer, was read aloud and opened for Public Hearing by Mayor Rhodes. Hearing no com‐ ments from the public, Mayor Rhodes directed the issue to the Council for consideration. A mo‐ tion to adopt Ordinance 3 of 2026, as discussed, was made by Council Member Kershaw; sec‐ onded by Council Mem‐ ber Young. A roll call vote was had with the follow‐ ing result: Yeas: Young, Chustz, Ker‐ shaw, Daigle Nays: None Absent: Tassin Ordinance 4 of 2026, Mayor Rhodes read aloud Ordinance 4 of 2026, to make appropria‐ tions for the expenses of the Town of Brusly for 2026-2027 and to provide relative to the expendi‐ ture of said appropria‐ tions.

Mayor Rhodes opened the public hear‐ ing.

Council Member Daigle and Kershaw ex‐ pressed concerns about adopting a deficit budget and a discussion was had about how to correct that in the future. After the discussion, the Mayor closed the public hearing and directed the matter to the Council.

Council Member Ker‐ shaw moved to approve the Budget; seconded by Council Member Young.

The Mayor opened the floor for public comment.

After public comments, a roll call vote was taken with the following re‐ sults: Yeas: Young, Chustz, Ker‐ shaw, Daigle Nays: None Absent: Tassin Ordinance 5 of 2026, to make appropriations for the expenses of the Town of Brusly Sewer System for 2026-2027 and to pro‐ vide relative to the ex‐ penditure of said appro‐ priations, was read aloud and opened for Public Hearing by Mayor Rhodes. Hearing no com‐ ments from the public, Mayor Rhodes directed the issue to the Council for consideration. A mo‐ tion to adopt Ordinance 5 of 2026 was made by Council Member Chustz; seconded by Council Member Daigle. A roll call vote was had with the following result: Yeas: Chustz, Kershaw, Daigle, Young Nays: None Absent: Tassin Introduction of Ordinances: None Resolutions: None Police Department Report: The Police Department Report for the month of May was given by Lt. Keegan Allen. There were (21) Agency Assists, (4) Alarms, (3) Assaults, (1) Civil Incident, (1) Civil Problem, (7) Controlled Substances, (2) Damaged Property, (1) Death, (5) Disturbances, (3) Drunk‐ enness, (1) Escape, (1) Extortion, (1) Family Dis‐ turbance, (1) Fire, (2) Ju‐ venile Problems, (13) Medicals, (2) Miscella‐ neous, (2) Missing Per‐ sons, (3) No Insurance Tows, (5) Obstruct Police, (2) Ordinance Violations, (1) Privacy Violation, (1) Property Crime, (1) Pub‐ lic Services, (1) Pulled in Error, (4) Suspicious, (1) h f ( ) ffi i

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

WBR Public Notices Bids/Proposals

p Theft, (7) Traffic Acci‐ dents, (7) Traffic Prob‐ lems, (1) Unlock, (3) War‐ rants, (2) Weapons Of‐ fenses and (4) Welfare Checks. Total of 114 calls for the month. For the month, there were 158 total citations and 215 vi‐ olations.

p p plier(s) will be required to certify that materials furnished meet Louisiana Department of Trans‐ portation & Development specifications.

Flock Activity: 11 NCIC Warrants, 3 NCIC Stolen Vehicle Hits, 31 NCIC Vio‐ lent Persons Alerts, 45 Sex Offenders, 3 Stolen Vehicles, 13 Person of In‐ terest (Brusly PD Active Investigations).

Corrugated Polyethylene Pipe and Fittings are to be delivered within one week of vendor’s receipt of purchase orders from West Baton Rouge Parish Government.

The West Baton Rouge Parish Council reserves the right to reject any and all bids.

Drone Activity: Agency Assist – Port Allen PD

WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH COUNCIL

Mayor’s Report: Mayor Rhodes gave a brief update on the Ven‐ zule Drainage project.

Publish The ADVOCATE June 18th, June 25th, 2026

Remarks of Personal Privilege: None Announcements: Town Hall will be closed for Independence Day Holiday Friday, July 3, 2026.

Council Member Ker‐ shaw made a motion to adjourn; seconded by Council Member Daigle.

Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:09pm. __________ Rusty Daigle, Mayor Pro-Temp ____________ Blaine Rabalais, Town Clerk 191533 June 18, 1t $133.79

WBR Public Notices

WBR Public Notices Bids/Proposals

PUBLIC NOTICE --WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH COUNCIL NOTICE TO SUPPLIERS Sealed bids will be re‐ ceived by the West Baton Rouge Parish Council until 2:00 P.M. on Tues‐ day, July 14th, 2026 at which time bids will be opened in the West Baton Rouge Parish Council Meeting Room, Governmental Building, 880 North Alexander Av‐ enue, Port Allen, La., and publicly read aloud for furnishing the following materials on a supply contract for the period July 24th, 2026 to July 24th, 2027: Bid Proposal Item A Corrugated Metal Culverts B Corrugated Metal Culvert-Poly Coated C Corrugated Polyethylene Pipe All bids shall be submit‐ ted in sealed envelopes and marked to indicate the above item bid/name.

Specifications and nec‐ essary bid documents can be secured from the office of the West Baton Rouge Parish Council, 880 North Alexander Avenue Port Allen, Louisiana.

Business hours 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM MondayThursday, 8:00 AM until 12:00 PM Fridays except holidays, or by emailing Phillip.Bourgoyne@ wbrcouncil.org.

Material furnished under these bids may be sub‐ jected to the various testing procedures pro‐ vided in the Louisiana Department of Trans‐ portation & Development specifications.

Sup‐ li ( ) ill b i d

189847 June 18, 25, 2t $61.42

WBR Public Notices Sheriff Sales

SHERIFF’S SALE JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION VS. PAULA FAYE MILLER DAIGLE A/K/A PAULA DAIGLE DOCKET NO: 51038 18TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH STATE OF LOUISIANA By virtue of a Writ of Seizure and Sale, di‐ rected by the Honorable The Eighteenth Judicial District Court, for the Parish of West Baton Rouge, in the above enti‐ tled and numbered cause, I have seized and proceed to sell by public auction, on the front steps of the West Baton Rouge Courthouse, 850 8th Street, Port Allen, Louisiana on WEDNES‐ DAY, JULY 22, 2026 at 10:00 A.M., the following described property, to wit: That certain lot or parcel of ground, together with all the buildings and im‐ provements thereon, and all of the rights, ways, privileges, servitudes, appurtenances and ad‐ vantages thereon be‐ longing or anywise ap‐ pertaining, situated in the Parish of WEST BATON ROUGE, State of Louisiana, In that subdi‐ vision known as SUGAR MILL PLANTATION, FOURTH FILING, and being designated on the official plan of said sub‐ division, on file and of record in the office of the Clerk and Recorder of said Parish and State, as LOT NUMBER TWO HUN‐ DRED THIRTY-FIVE-A (235A), said subdivision, said lot having such measure‐ ments and dimensions and being subject to such restrictions and servitudes as shown on said subdivision map and/or of record.

Which has the address of: 6712 Chanango Drive, Addis, LA 70710 Terms of Sale: Cash to the highest bidder WITH benefit of appraisement and according to law.

WBR Public Notices Sheriff Sales

WBR Public Notices Sheriff Sales

SHERIFF’S SALE

as shown on said map.

LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVIC‐ ING, LLC VS. TREINA DIXON SANDERS IN HER CAPACITY AS INDEPEN‐ DENT TESTAMENTARY EX‐ ECUTRIX FOR THE SUC‐ CESSION OF CLARENCE SHIRLEY DAVIS, SR. AND CLARENCE SHIRLEY DAVIS, JR., HEIR OF DONNA AARON DAVIS

Municipal Address is: 1048 Georgia Avenue, Port Allen, LA 70767

DOCKET NO: 50934 18TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH STATE OF LOUISIANA By virtue of a Writ of Seizure and Sale, di‐ rected by the Honorable The Eighteenth Judicial District Court, for the Parish of West Baton Rouge, in the above enti‐ tled and numbered cause, I have seized and proceed to sell by public auction, on the front steps of the West Baton Rouge Courthouse, 850 8th Street, Port Allen, Louisiana on WEDNES‐ DAY, JULY 22, 2026 at 10:00 A.M., the following described property, to wit: Parish of West Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana in that subdivision known as CAROLINA PLACE SUBDIVISION, and designated according to the official map thereof, on file and of record in the office of the Clerk and Recorder of said Parish and State, as LOT THIRTEEN (13), SQUARE "D" said subdivision, said lot measuring, ac‐ cording to said map, sev‐ enty (70) feet front on the north side of Georgia Avenue, by a depth be‐ tween equal or parallel lines of one hundred fifty (150) feet long the west side of North 10th Street being subject to such servitudes of record and

Terms of Sale: Cash to the highest bidder WITH‐ OUT benefit of appraise‐ ment and according to law.

Attorney for the Plaintiff: GRAHAM, ARCENEAUX & ALLEN, LLC TWO LAKE‐ WAY 3850 N. CAUSEWAY BLVD., SUITE 1695 METAIRIE, LA 70002 (504) 522-8256 Judicial Advertise‐ ment(s) will appear in THE ADVOCATE on the date(s) of: JUNE 18, 2026 and JULY 16, 2026.

JEFF BERGERON, SHERIFF PARISH OF WEST BATON ROUGE BY: ANGIE DELAUNE, CIVIL DEPUTY $57.39 SHERIFF’S SALE VILLAGE CAPITAL & IN‐ VESTMENT, LLC VS. NEDRA LYNN HOPKINS AND TREVOR HOPKINS DOCKET NO: 50420 18TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH STATE OF LOUISIANA By virtue of a Writ of Seizure and Sale, di‐ rected by the Honorable The Eighteenth Judicial District Court, for the Parish of West Baton Rouge, in the above enti‐ tled and numbered cause, I have seized and proceed to sell by public auction, on the front steps of the West Baton Rouge Courthouse, 850 8th Street, Port Allen, Louisiana on WEDNES‐ DAY, JULY 22, 2026 at 10:00 A.M., the following d ib d

WBR Public Notices Sheriff Sales

described wit:

property,

Lot number 4, KING‐ FISHER, a certain parcel of ground, together with all the buildings and im‐ provements thereon, and all of the rights, ways, privileges, servitudes, appurtenances and ad‐ vantages thereunto be‐ longing to or in anywise appertaining, situated in the Parish of West Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, as shown on the plat recorded at Book 10: Entry: 77 INSTR # 2022-00057927 on January 24, 2022, of the Clerk of Courts of West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana; subject to restrictions, servitudes, rights-of-way and outstanding mineral rights of record affecting the property.

Having a municipal ad‐ dress of 868 North 10th Street, Port Allen, LA 70767 Terms of Sale: Cash to the highest bidder WITH‐ OUT benefit of appraise‐ ment and according to law.

Attorney for the Plaintiff: Halliday, Watkins & Mann, P.C. 1505 North 19th Street Monroe, LA 71207-2867 (801) 355-2886 Judicial Advertise‐ ment(s) will appear in THE ADVOCATE on the date(s) of: June 18, 2026 and July 16, 2026.

JEFF BERGERON, SHERIFF PARISH OF WEST BATON ROUGE BY: ANGIE DELAUNE, CIVIL DEPUTY $54.70

NEWS 24/7 ON

18TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF IBERVILLE STATE OF LOUISIANA IN THE MATTER OF THE SUCCESSION OF FLORENCE MORALES GRAVES PROBATE NO. 11,885 DIV. ______ ______________________________________________________________ NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR AUTHORITY TO SELL MOVABLE PROPERTY NOTICE IS GIVEN that the Co-Administrators of this succession have petitioned this Court for authority to sell immovable property of the decedent at private sale in accordance with the provisions of Article 3281 of the Code of Civil Procedure for EIGHT THOUSAND AND NO/100 DOLLARS ($8,000.00) cash, with the succession to pay all encumbrances and pro-rata taxes. The immovable property proposed to be sold at private sale is described as follows: A 2014 Toyota Camary automobile, VIN# 4T4BF1FK9ER352680.

Any heir or creditor who opposes the proposed sale must file his/ her opposition within seven (7) days from the date on which the last publication of this Notice appears.

Plaquemine, Louisiana, May ___June 15th_______________, 2026.

Taylor Bourgoyne DEPUTY CLERK

Attorney for the Plaintiff: LOGS Legal Group, LLP 3510 N. Causeway Blvd., Suite 600 Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 837-7622 Judicial Advertise‐ ment(s) will appear in THE ADVOCATE on the date(s) of: June 18, 2026 and July 16, 2026.

JEFF BERGERON, SHERIFF PARISH OF WEST BATON ROUGE BY: ANGIE DELAUNE, CIVIL DEPUTY $56.72

g to

191546-659932-June 18-1t $ 94.30

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Thursday, June 18, 2026 ■ 5A

lll

Cassidy blasts Trump’s peace deal with Iran

BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy 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,

DEAL

Continued from page 1A 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 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

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 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: “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 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.

“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 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.

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 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 pro-

gram, 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 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 shoot-

ing 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 outlined 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.

The accord would also provide Iran with at least $300 billion to rebuild — an extraordinary figure and another major benefit for Iran. The money also appears dependent on the progress of further negotiations.

Vance has said Gulf Arab nations would invest that amount. But Gulf countries would likely be reluctant to help Iran after Iranian attacks in the war destroyed oil facilities and other sites in their territory.

Trump reiterated Wednesday that the U.S. would not contribute and said it was up to other countries if they wanted to invest.

The deal provides a major win for the global economy — the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all oil and natural gas traded once passed before the war began. Since then, Iranian attacks on shipping and the threat to vessels effectively shut the strait.

The strait’s closure drove up energy prices around the world and made many basics, including food, more expensive. Iran let out some vessels that paid tolls, something never done before in the strait, which has long been considered an international waterway.

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Medicaid and Nursing Home Poverty

What is Nursing Home Poverty and How Do You Avoid It? Nursing home poverty is a problem that creeps up on Louisiana families and forces them to deplete their life savings, withdraw their family funds from their retirement accounts and spend all of their monthly income on their long-term care and nursing home expenses without any assistance from Medicaid. In order to avoid this from happening, you MUST plan ahead at least five years prior to entering a nursing home.

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Author & Estate Planning & Administration Attorney

Nelda’s Story Nelda came to our office about six years ago. We asked her what her main concerns were. She was diagnosed with arthritis, and she was concerned that as her condition worsened, she would be required to reside in a nursing home. She had seen three of her family members lose their life savings to unexpected nursing home stays. Nelda wanted to protect her home and her life savings of $450,000. She knew she had to spend down all of her assets until she had less than $2000 in her checking account, and she knew that nursing home costs were about $80,000 a year. She wanted to leave what she had saved to her three children equally. So we talked to Nelda about setting up a very specific, very custom Medicaid Trust. Nelda would retain control of her assets, and if she had to enter a nursing home 5 years in the future, she would not have to deplete her life savings on nursing home costs.

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Poché Estate Planning Law Firm, 4960 Bluebonnet Blvd., Suite C, Baton Rouge, LA 70809

6A ■ Thursday, June 18, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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BUSINESS T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M/news/business

DOW 51,492.55 -507.12 -0.97%

NASDAQ 26,021.66 -354.69 -1.34%

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FROM WIRE REPORTS

Stocks sink on worries about interest rate hike

NEWYORK — U.S. stocks slumped Wednesday on speculation the Federal Reserve may hike interest rates this year to keep a lid on inflation. Higher rates can tap the brakes on accelerating prices at cash registers, but they also slow 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-year Treasury yield, which more closely tracks expectations for Fed action, jumped to 4.21% from 4.05%.

Traders upped their bets for at least one increase to the federal funds rate this year and now see an 84% probability of it, up from 59.5% a day earlier, according to data from CME Group.

High yields in bond markets worldwide caused by worries about inflation have already been threatening to slow economies and undercut prices for all kinds of investments.

In the stock market, SpaceX erased an early gain and fell 4.9% for its first loss since its ballyhooed debut on the U.S. stock market last week.

Drops of 3.8% for Microsoft, 3.5% for Amazon and 1.3% for Nvidia were three of the heaviest weights on the S&P 500.

They helped overshadow a jump of 14.8% for La-Z-Boy, which reported stronger profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected.

Japanese trade officials raid 6 ice cream makers TOKYO — Japanese government fair trade watchdog officials have raided six major ice cream makers on suspicion of price fixing.

Tokyo-based Meiji Co. said in a statement Tuesday that it had been raided on suspicion of violating anti-monopoly laws.

“We accept with sincerity the fact that our company was raided, and we promise to cooperate fully with the 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’t clear when the raids took place.

In addition to ice cream, the companies make various food items, desserts and confectionery goods, including pudding, chocolate bars and chewing gum, sold widely at supermarkets and convenience stores nationwide.

Japanese media called it “a price cartel.” Top managers at the companies were in touch with each other over several years to coordinate raising ice cream prices by 6 U.S. cents, for instance, as well as the timing of such hikes, the reports said.

Protesters block copper exports from Mongolia ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia — Protesters blocked copper exports from a huge Rio Tinto mine in Mongolia on Wednesday, partially cutting off the supply of a mineral vital to China’s renewable energy ambitions.

The protest group, called the Radical Reform Movement, is pushing for a greater share of mining revenue for Mongolians, a long-running demand in a nation where poverty persists despite the exploitation of its mineral riches. Copper is needed for electric vehicles and solar and wind power installations, all industries where China is a world leader.

The Oyu Tolgoi mine is a massive undertaking to tap a vast reserve of copper deep in the Gobi Desert. About 50 miles north of the border with China, it also has large gold deposits and is expected to be the fourth 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 other 34%.

S&P 500 7,420.10 -91.25 -1.22%

EURO 1.1502 -0.0105 -0.91%

CRUDE OIL 76.05 -4.70 -5.82%

GOLD 4,358.90 28.00 0.65%

6-MO T-BILLS 3.91 0.11 2.89%

30-YR T-BONDS 4.93 -0.01 -0.24%

Fed keeps key rate unchanged

BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP economics writer

WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve kept its key rate unchanged Wednesday yet almost half the central bank’s policymakers said they could support a rate hike later this year.

The unexpectedly aggressive tilt toward higher rates would disappoint President Donald Trump and suggests heightened concerns about persistent inflation among Fed officials.

In an unusually short statement

after their two-day meeting, the officials dropped language that had suggested their next move would be to cut the key rate.

The brief statement reflects the influence of new chair Kevin Warsh, appointed

by Trump, who has previously criti- Warsh cized the Fed for commenting too broadly on the economy.

Still, Warsh’s 18 colleagues on

the Fed’s rate-setting committee sent a clear message in a set of quarterly projections released Wednesday: Nine signaled they supported higher rates this year, with six of those supporting two quarter-point increases.

It’s a sharp change from March, when no policymakers penciled in a hike and the committee as a whole forecast one cut in 2026.

The change is an acknowledgment that inflation is at its highest level in three years and many officials have said in recent speeches that if inflation doesn’t decline, higher

rates may be necessary in the coming months.

Warsh, in his first news conference as chair, also underscored the Fed’s determination to bring inflation down to the central bank’s 2% target.

The Fed typically seeks to combat inflation by lifting interest rates to slow borrowing and spending and cool the economy. Yet taking such a step 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.

Sanders unveils plan to give public direct ownership of AI companies $7T sovereign wealth fund would be used for housing, healthcare, education

BY JOEY CAPPELLETTI

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — As artificial intelligence companies reshape the economy and race toward trillion-dollar valuations, Sen. Bernie Sanders is proposing a sweeping transfer of wealth and power from the industry to the American public.

The legislation, shown first to The Associated Press, would create a sovereign wealth fund overseen by an independent commission and financed through a one-time 50% tax on the stock of the largest AI companies.

Sanders estimates that the tax would create a nearly $7 trillion fund that would generate hundreds of billions of dollars annually in direct payments to Americans and programs such as healthcare, education and housing.

“The benefits cannot simply go to the handful of wealthy corporations. They will be shared by the American people,” the independent Vermont senator said in an interview Wednesday.

The idea of giving the public a stake in AI has recently drawn interest from figures as ideologically diverse as President Donald Trump and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. But Sanders’ proposal goes much further, calling for public ownership of half of the largest AI companies and direct influence over corporate decision-making.

“The public has got to have a significant seat at the table to make sure that terrible things do not happen to ordinary people, and that in fact, AI benefits ordinary people, not hurts them,” Sanders said.

How the fund would work Sanders has previously proposed the sovereign wealth fund, but the bill summary obtained by the AP is the first legislative attempt to make it a reality.

The 50% tax would apply to AI companies that reach $200 million in annual AI sales.

Any new AI company that reaches that benchmark would also be subject to the tax.

It would create a sovereign wealth fund — similar to those used by countries around the world and some U.S. states — that Sanders estimates would be worth around $7 trillion.

Unlike a traditional tax, the proposal would require companies to transfer stock rather than cash, effectively making the American public a major shareholder in the country’s largest AI firms.

A seven-person independent commission — nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate — would manage the fund and use its voting shares “to block decisions that hurt the American people and to push for policies that help them,” the bill summary says.

Sanders proposes that a 5% annual dividend from the fund would provide direct payments of more than $1,000 to every

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JACQUELyN MARTIN

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks about topics including politics and artificial intelligence June 8 at the National Press Club in Washington.

American. If companies grow, the gains would be used for public goods such as education, housing and healthcare.

Sanders argues taxpayers would not bear the losses if AI company valuations decline.

“We’re not going to lose any money, even if there is a bust in the bubble,” Sanders said.

The commission would be directed to “to block decisions that hurt the American people and to push for policies that help them,” according to the summary.

Sanders emphasized that the proposal is just a start. “We think this is the best that we could do at the moment, and it’s certainly a major, major, major step forward from giving unilateral and total power to a handful of multibillionaires,” he said.

Supporters in White House, Silicon Valley Sanders is not alone in pushing for a public stake in the companies that develop AI. Trump, who recently signed an order to have new AI models voluntarily vetted by the government, has also mused about the government owning a stake in the companies that develop AI, saying “there’s something very interesting about it, where it almost becomes a partnership with the American public.”

OpenAI — led by Altman — in April proposed to “create a public wealth fund that provides every citizen — including those not invested in financial markets — with a stake in AI-driven economic growth.”

Anthropic, one of OpenAI’s top competitors and recently valued at $965 billion, has been open to similar ideas, with CEO Dario Amodei writing recently that “universal basic income could be financed through taxes on relevant companies.”

Still, Sanders’ push is much more aggressive than any of these. In Sanders’ meeting with Altman, they remained far apart on how large of a stake the public would get, accord-

ing to those in the room.

“I think people like Sam Altman and Trump (who) may be sympathetic 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’s not what we’re talking about. What we’re talking about are two very different things.”

Taking the fight to voters Asked whether he plans to make AI ownership and wealth inequality part of that message on the campaign trail, Sanders responded, “Absolutely.”

It’s a message other candidates are using ahead of the midterms as they tap into voters’ angst about the technology. Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow unveiled a plan to “protect workers in the age of AI,” while New York Democratic House candidate Alex Bores has also made AI regulation a campaign issue.

Data center projects across the country have drawn opposition from residents concerned about electricity demand, water consumption and environmental impacts. Some states once eager to attract the facilities, including Ohio and Virginia, have moved to reconsider tax incentives.

On college campuses, commencement speakers have been interrupted by boos when discussing artificial intelligence.

About 70% of college students see AI as a threat to their job prospects, according to a 2025 poll by the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School.

“Workers will be thrown out of their jobs while billionaires, multibillionaires become even richer,” Sanders said. “The American people are aware of that and don’t want to see it happen.”

Retail sales up 0.9% in May, underscoring consumer resilience

BY ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP retail writer

NEW YORK — Shoppers stepped up their spending in May and surpassed expectations as temperatures warmed and gasoline prices leveled off.

Retail sales rose 0.9%, up from a revised 0.4% gain in April, according to Commerce Department data released Wednesday. Sales got a boost from generous government tax refunds in both April and May, though economists say that cash cushion is starting to fade.

Excluding sales at gas stations, retail sales in May rose 0.7%.

The figures aren’t inflationadjusted so higher prices likely helped boost sales. But economists point to healthy spending with increases that were broad-based.

Business at clothing, accessory and furniture stores all posted sales gains. Online sales rose 1.5%.

Electronics and appliance stores and department stores both registered slight sales declines.

The data offers only a snapshot of consumer spending and doesn’t include activities like travel and hotel stays. The lone services category — restaurants — registered a 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 suggests solid spending, economists said.

Consumers are the engine of the American economy, driving most of the nation’s economic growth.

And the latest retail sales report underscores that spending has remained resilient so far this year despite rising prices. Solid increases in hiring have also buoyed

spending, economists said.

“The stronger-than-forecast and broad-based gains in May retail sales show that consumers continued to spend strongly despite higher gasoline prices in the month,” Nationwide Chief Economist Kathy Bostjancic writes. “The large tax refunds and overall tax reductions for households this year and the recent strengthening in employment growth helped buffer the negative drag from higher gasoline prices.”

Tombs was more cautious about the spending outlook.

“The sugar rush from biggerthan-usual tax refunds will wear off soon,” Tombs wrote in a report.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Thursday, June 18, 2026 ■ 7A

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Trump delays confirmation of Polish official: U.S. national intelligence nominee interested in offer Move fuels tension with fellow Republicans

The nomination of federal prosecutor Jay Clayton as director of national intelligence is on hold.

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,

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

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.

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.”

Escalating tensions Tillis called Pulte a “sycophant” to Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the Trump.

for permanent base In May, the U.S. suddenly Poland’s government halted the deployment of 4,000 soldiers to Poland despite the approves steps Trump administration considering the country a “model ally” to allow military for reaching its NATO target for spending on defense. installation U.S. President Donald Trump

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.

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.”

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Georgia GOP leaders reject 15 countries adopt call for 2028 redistricting declaration to

fight illegal fishing

Republican lawmakers cited concerns of moving too quickly

BY ALLAN OLINGO Associated Press

BY BILL BARROW Associated Press

ATLANTA — Georgia’s Republican legislative leaders on Wednesday rejected Gov. Brian Kemp’s call to redraw congressional and legislative districts during a special session, citing concerns about moving too quickly after a U.S. Supreme Court decision weakened federal Voting Rights Act protections for minority voters.

The aborted effort to reduce non-White voters’ representation contrasts with other Southern states where Republican majorities moved quickly to redraw congressional boundaries ahead of the November midterms, partly in response to President Donald Trump’s pleas to shore up the GOP’s fragile House majority.

Civil rights activists and Democrats, especially Black and other non-White lawmakers, celebrated the development and claimed victory after exerting weeks of pressure and gathering hundreds of citizens at the Georgia Capitol on Wednesday ahead of the session.

“Today showed that ordinary people don’t need to wait until November to make their voices heard and protect our democracy,” said U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, the state’s first Black senator who returned to Atlanta from Washington to be at the Capitol. “We can stand up and speak right now.”

Kemp had not asked his fellow Republicans to reopen Georgia districts ahead of November. 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 own districts — a move that would have made Georgia the first state to apply the Supreme Court’s Louisiana v. Callais decision to its legislature.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MIKE STEWART

People listen and cheer as lawmakers speak about redistricting during a special legislative session at the Georgia state capitol on Wednesday.

State House Speaker Jon Burns sent Kemp a letter hours before Wednesday’s special session was set to begin, informing him that legislators would not consider redistricting at all during the session. He announced the decision publicly shortly after, as demonstrators filled the Capitol with chants of “Black voters matter!”

Kemp said he believes Georgia’s current districts are unconstitutional, and he sees no reason to delay redistricting.

“Legislative districting, however, is the responsibility of the General Assembly, and it is within their discretion to defer the issue until a later date,” Kemp said in a statement.

Burns said lawmakers want to take their time after the Callais decision, which struck down Louisiana’s congressional map as an illegal racial gerrymander and laid the groundwork for legislatures to reduce the number of districts where Black and other non-White voters hold most sway.

The speaker said it was more important for lawmakers to focus on economic matters rather than “partisan games.” He also cited pending litigation over existing Georgia districts and the need to understand the full ramifications for how race can or cannot be used in redistricting.

Privately, Republicans had expressed concerns that a rushed

process that diminished Black and other minority voters’ political power could cause a backlash.

And they worried that redrawn districts could unintentionally create more competitive jurisdictions that Democrats could win, especially around Atlanta.

Still, Georgia Republicans did not rule out revisiting redistricting later this year.

Democrats activists opposed Minority voting rights are especially salient in Georgia, where the Capitol complex includes a statue of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and sits blocks from where the assassinated civil rights icon lived, preached and led the movement that yielded the Voting Rights Act in 1965.

Warnock, who is also minister at the Atlanta church where King once preached, invoked the civil rights icon as he led demonstrators who criticized the Supreme Court’s reasoning in Callais that it was discriminatory to draw districts to allow minority voters a chance to elect their preferred representatives.

The senator compared the possibility of scaling back non-White representation to the long Jim Crow history of poll taxes and literacy tests. White conservatives in the South once called those policies “race neutral,” too, Warnock noted.

MOMBASA, Kenya — Fifteen countries from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Pacific adopted a declaration on Wednesday to step up efforts to combat illegal fishing, a practice that experts say costs the world economy up to $50 billion annually.

The Mombasa Declaration, named after the Kenyan city hosting the 11th Our Ocean Conference, calls on governments to improve access to information on fishing vessels, ownership and licensing, and to strengthen data sharing to better track fishing activities and enforce regulations.

Out of the more than 30 countries represented 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 Korea signed the agreement.

The signatories said in a statement the measures are intended to curb illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, also known as IUU fishing, which threatens marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on fisheries.

“In my country, our very existence depends on fish,” said Ghana’s fisheries minister, Emelia Arthur. “Over 60% of our animal protein comes from fish, and 10% of our population depends on the fisheries value chain for livelihood.”

Arthur added that fisheries are a matter of culture and national security for Ghana, noting that the declaration gives governments a platform to “fight together for transparency in the fisheries sector.”

Illegal fishing disproportionately affects coastal communities and small-scale fishers, particularly in developing countries, by depleting fish stocks, undermin-

ing food security and distorting markets. Experts also link it to human rights abuses, including forced labor and unsafe working conditions aboard fishing vessels.

The declaration builds support for the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency, a set of 10 policy principles aimed at improving 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.

“We will not be able to effectively combat illegal fishing without greater transparency and international cooperation,” she said. “Limited transparency in vessel ownership, tracking, and fishing activity and supply chains allow these illegal practices to thrive, making stronger access to reliable fisheries data and accountability mechanisms 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 Fishing Watch. “When governments commit to transparency, they create an interconnected network where bad actors have nowhere left to hide.”

Beth Lowell, vice president of the environmental advocacy group Oceana, said the declaration signals that governments are “ready to act against illegal fishing and work together for a more transparent, equitable and sustainable ocean.”

The countries that signed the declaration are expected to begin implementing their commitments immediately.

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T h u r s d ay, J u n e 18, 2026

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BREC to host July public meeting Residents can comment on future City-Brooks Park plan

BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Noah Johnson, 6, uses all his might to shovel sand into a bag, held by his mother Janice Gibson, at Cadillac Street Park on Wednesday. Baton Rouge is preparing for Tropical Storm Arthur as it moves inland, bringing threats of flash flooding, strong winds and heavy rainfall through Thursday. Residents are urged to stay cautious and monitor local announcements closely.

Area braces for Tropical Storm Arthur

Threat remains despite shift in track Staff report

Baton Rouge spent Wednesday bracing for the worst of Tropical Storm Arthur, which despite an afternoon shift to the north was still expected to bring flash flooding and strong winds across southeast Louisiana.

Arthur, with peak winds of 45 mph, moved inland into southeast Texas on Wednesday, a change from predictions that it would skirt the coastline in the Gulf of Mexico and make landfall in Louisiana, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Louisiana should still brace for flash flooding, heavy rains and the possibility of tornadoes, power outages and road closures through Thursday, according to the center.

“Heavy rainfall and life-threatening flash flooding remain the primary hazard, and it is stressed that this threat extends well away from the center and will persist even after Arthur dissipates,” center senior forecaster Brad Reinhart said.

Flash flooding chances are still high through Thursday night in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, New Orleans and along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Rain chances have fallen a bit as the storm’s track shifted. The greatest accumulation of up to 6 inches is now

Following a tense community meeting last week, Baton Rouge residents could get a chance to publicly comment on the future plan for CityBrooks Park next month.

A meeting will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. July 14 at BREC headquarters on Florida Boulevard, BREC Director of Communications Robyn Lott confirmed Tuesday.

Aspects of the meeting, like how the public can share their comments on the project, have not been confirmed yet. Lott said the agency is finalizing the details and working on an announcement to be released soon.

Parish residents for the past few months have expressed strong opinions over the master plan aimed to transform City-Brooks Park “into a world-class, central park experience,” according to the parish’s parks agency.

Sasaki Associates, the firm hired to create the master plan for the park, has recently proposed two designs that keep the nine-hole golf course as a key part of the park. But both plans carve a few hundred yards from the course and propose new services for the park, such as expanding pedestrian space and adding new features.

On Thursday, emotions flared among the large group of people at the community meeting over design proposals for the park and golf course. The meeting was set up as a presentation, and there was no designated public comment portion of the

ä See MEETING, page 2B

PHOTO PROVIDED By THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

Satellite image of Tropical Storm Arthur

predicted on the northshore, while New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette face 2 to 4 inches of rain or more through Thursday.

Heavy storms were forecast to reach Baton Rouge on Wednesday evening.

Thursday will bring a 70% chance of

rain during the day, with a 30% chance of rainfall at night.

The threat of tornadoes was in the forecast for portions of the Gulf Coast region through Thursday, including

ä See ARTHUR, page 2B

Big changes proposed to update Baker parks

City wants community input before construction begins

BY AVERY WHITE Staff writer

Locally focused market coming to Gonzales

BY ANNAKATE FREELAND Staff writer

GONZALES 61

Tommy Moore Rd.

Chatagnier Community Market in Gonzales

Kaitlyn Young Rd.

ne r li Ai Staff map

621

y.

Hw

What started as a small popup market on a 10-acre farm has grown into a new business venture for one Ascension Parish family.

Lexus Chatagnier and her family are preparing to open the Chatagnier Community Market in Gonzales, a year-round marketplace designed to give farmers, bakers, artists and small businesses a permanent place to sell their products under one roof.

The family, which has a farm

in Gonzales, previously hosted pop-up markets on its property.

But zoning restrictions prevented it from having more and prompted it to look for a commercial location.

The family received the keys to the 1,300-square-foot storefront at 14210 Airline Highway about a month ago and has since begun renovations, transforming the former dance apparel store. Since making the announcement, Chatagnier said she has received more than 172 vendor applications. Those include Wild Oak Farms, which produces meat and fresh milk; Fleur-De-Licious Bakery & Treats, which specializes in sourdough and desserts; and Holistic Roots, which creates homemade herbal remedies.

“The response has shown us just how much demand there is for a year-round vendor space

Braud Rd.

Farmers, bakers, artists, small businesses can sell under one roof

dedicated to supporting local entrepreneurs,” she said. “I have had so much positivity from the community that I feel like they are going to show up for us, and there are so many vendors.”

She said what sets her market apart is its heavy focus on local food.

“While we will have handmade goods and artisan products, our vision is much more than a traditional arts and crafts vendor market. We want to create a destination where customers can shop local produce, meats, eggs, baked goods, specialty foods and other Louisiana-made products alongside items from local makers.”

Unlike traditional vendor markets, Chatagnier said the goal is to create a grocery store-style experience centered on local food with “no cluttered booths or flea market feel.”

Phase one of the market is expected to open in August, initially offering dry goods and shelfstable foods while the family installs a permitted kitchen. A second phase, expected to open in November, will include a permanent kitchen and expanded food offerings.

Changes are on the way for Baker as the parish’s parks commission plans improvements to the city’s recreation centers.

BREC presented a deck of proposed improvements to residents on Monday evening with an eye toward the city’s future economic potential.

The changes aim to update antiquated parks and make Baker a location for outdoor sports programming, and the city wanted community input before construction begins Waites early next year.

“The future’s bright for Baker,” Mayor Darnell Waites said.

Most of BREC’s proposals were welcomed, while some raised concerns they would not do enough in terms of park improvement.

Baker officials, in collaboration with BREC, identified areas in need of improvement, highlighting several parks and roadways earmarked for upcoming projects.

One of the biggest undertakings will likely be an anticipated

ä See CHANGES, page 2B

2B ■ Thursday, June 18, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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N.O. businesses beg S&WB to finish work ‘We’re almost there,’ director says of utility project

The Sewerage & Water Board project to replace water mains continues on Decatur Street in the French Quarter on June 10.

BY BEN MYERS Staff writer

Struggling small-business owners in the French Quarter are pressing Sewerage & Water Board officials to speed up underground utility work that has choked off vital foot traffic for more than a year.

Gathered at the Original French Market Restaurant and Bar on Tuesday evening, around two dozen business owners and others complained of inconsistent contractor hours, confusing communications with the S&WB and seemingly unnecessary street closures. They also echoed Mayor Helena Moreno’s criticism of the S&WB’s decision to tear up several blocks of the lower French Quarter at once, as opposed to moving block by block.

“We have not had a contractor on site in three weeks,” said Lisa Saladino, owner of Forever New Orleans, a gift shop at the corner of Royal and St. Peter streets, along one segment of the project. “We’re going to hit the worst time of the year, when our funds are the lowest and when times are the toughest.”

The $9.8 million project along three blocks of Decatur and one block of St. Peter was originally planned to wrap up in May, one year after groundbreaking, but the

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER S&WB says numerous hurdles will force work to continue through September. Three businesses have closed and their owners have blamed barricades, fenced off sidewalks and other obstacles to pedestrian and vehicle traffic.

Rhonda Findley, owner of Pop City, a boutique shop on Decatur, said the annual Creole Tomato Festival last weekend was the worst in terms of sales in nearly two decades. She called on the S&WB to compensate struggling businesses.

“This project is actually devastating this whole area economically,” Findley said. “It is your moral obligation to step in and financially assist these small businesses.”

S&WB Executive Director Randy Hayman promised to look for ways to finish ahead of the latest schedule and to regularly meet with business owners until the project is complete. He highlighted the critical nature of the work, which will replace water, sewer

and drainage lines that are past their expected life span and could cause even greater disruption if allowed to fail.

“We are near the end of the project. I just ask you to be patient just a little bit longer, and you will be there. You will have new lines, new water, drainage, sewer and a new paved street. We’re almost there,” Hayman said.

Hayman noted that high Mississippi River levels caused the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to issue a stop-work order around the start of the project, delaying excavation. After that, the discovery of historical artifacts triggered federally mandated reviews that further stalled the work.

As for compensating businesses, Hayman said he’s open to ideas but cautioned the S&WB faces legal constraints when it comes to giving money to private individuals.

“I hear you, but I also want to say that we’re public servants. The

Sewerage & Water Board is not a tails in the video about how she for-profit business,” Hayman said. plans to oversee the project, Moreno’s special counsel, Andrew Moreno criticism Tuozzolo, said in an email the mayMoreno has repeatedly criti- or is making sure the S&WB work cized the S&WB in relation to the schedules are appropriate, is deproject over the last week. She manding better communication told reporters on June 11 that the and is developing “new financial S&WB should have taken a block- relief opportunities for businessby-block approach, adding that es.” He did not provide additional “projects in the French Quarter details about financial relief. can never happen like that again.”

Hayman said on Tuesday that Lawsuit coming? the S&WB would have preferred Lawyer Bob Ellis said he is to open one block at a time, but the representing around 15 business Federal Emergency Management owners, employees and residents Agency end-of-2025 deadline for who plan to soon file for a court reimbursing the work compelled injunction to force the S&WB to the agency to get as much done as work more efficiently. He noted, quickly as possible. for example, that the 500 block of “We had only a small amount of St. Philip is currently blocked off time to do the work and to be re- even though no work is occurring imbursed, and so it was best to get there.

A lawsuit for damages will be the shovel in the ground and to get coming “down the road,” Ellis that going,” Hayman said.

The work is not included in the said, “but I’m trying to get some$1.7 billion FEMA settlement for thing done right now.” road and utility projects across The St. Philip Street closure, the city. That funding was re- which includes a locked gate at cently extended to mid-2028, but the end of the block, is causing the S&WB’s request to extend the headaches at the Original French French Quarter project is still Market Restaurant and Bar and pending. S&WB officials say that others near the corner of St. Philip hasn’t caused any work stoppages. Street and Decatur Street. ChrisIn a social media video on Sun- tina Marullo, the restaurant’s day, Moreno said the S&WB isn’t owner, said she has missed delivcapable of handling the communi- eries and has to walk a block and cations, outreach and administra- a half to empty the trash.

“We have residents. There’s no tion of small-business grants that are needed to remedy the prob- ambulance access. There’s a lock on the gate,” Marullo said. lems caused by the project.

“I’m just going to step in and take it all over,” Moreno said.

Email Ben Myers at bmyers@ Though she didn’t provide de- theadvocate.com.

Trombonist Ronell Johnson dies at 49 Musicians remember his joyful spirit, legacy

jazz, always did.”

Not surprisingly, Johnson’s Santa Claus-like presence made him a natural for Preservation Hall’s pandemic-era “Holiday Grams.”

With music venues still closed, fans could book a musician to play a short set outside a home or business.

“It couldn’t have came at a better time, to start bringing some joy when we desperately need it,” Johnson said at the time.

Via Preservation 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’s acclaimed 2013 album “That’s It!” and 2017’s “So It Is,” the first albums of all-new compositions in

the band’s history.

He appears throughout “A Tuba to Cuba,” the 2018 documentary film about the Preservation Hall Jazz Band’s journey to Cuba.

His trombone is prominently featured on “For Fat Man,” the Grammy-nominated 2025 Preservation Brass album on Sub Pop Records dedicated to the memory of bass drummer Kerry “Fat Man” Hunter.

As news of Johnson’s death spread, social media tributes poured in from fans and fellow musicians.

Responding to Jaffe’s Instagram post, Jon Batiste expressed his feelings to his 1.9 million followers with three broken-heart emojis.

David Shaw, the singer for The Revivalists, posted, “This one hurts. I’ll never forget the first time I heard his heart through that horn.

Pure joy and elation.”

To cellist Helen Gillet, Johnson was “one of the kindest, uplifting and generous men I ever met.”

Guitarist and social media personality Joshua Starkman, who often collaborated with Johnson, praised his “love and connection with everyone he came across. I have never seen a musician with such enthusiasm to entertain and bring joy to everyone around him.

What an inspiration. New Orleans and the world are going to miss him dearly.”

Veteran rock photographer Steve Rapport, who has photographed numerous local musicians since moving to New Orleans four years ago, described Johnson as “an extraordinary and immensely talented musician with an incredibly happy and gregarious personality … who quite literally lit up each and every room he wandered into.

He gave so much of himself every minute of every day.”

Beyond Johnson’s technical virtuosity, Rapport was impressed that “every note was infused with his joy of life and his unquenchable passion for music. And the same can be said for his fabulous singing, which was always accompanied by goofy dancing and trombone shenanigans.”

One fan recalled that on her first trip to Preservation Hall, “we were in the front row and joked with him that his (trombone) slide was going to hit us in the head. He was so sweet when I was overcome with emotion during the performance and gave me a big hug.”

Survivors include his wife, Rachel Johnson.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete. A GoFundMe account has been established to help defray medical and funeral costs.

ies for athletics, better fields and opportunities will keep them in Baker.

“It’s not just recreation; it’s about building young men and young women,” Waites said. “We wanted our kids to grow up in our recreation program; we got tired of waking up in the morning, reading the paper and seeing kids that live right down the street scoring 50 points for another team. … We’re going to stop all that poaching and all that stealing.”

Residents were supportive of the proposal, noting that improved recreation could help kids outside of school.

“That’s what they’re trying to get back to, getting the kids involved and doing sports and, you know, staying out of trouble and giving them some direction,” resident Mark Greggs said.

Magnolia Park was also a topic during the meeting. While the ballpark plans were further along in the design process, BREC wanted to hear what residents want to see for the improve-

ments, proposing more walking trails, hangout spots or a dog park.

The city’s two recreation centers are a part of BREC’s parishwide project to improve and revitalize city rec centers. The first step for many is to install air conditioning, a plan that drew concern from residents.

Because the Baker Recreation Center underwent air-conditioning renovations and other improvements in 2017, the focus will be on T.D. Bickham Jr. Park, a largely outdoor facility. The city wants to add an air-conditioned space with additional activity rooms.

Some residents and City Council members noted that they didn’t feel the 2017 renovations were enough of an improvement and did not compare to the surrounding city rec centers. “(Children) see all these children with nice community centers, and then they come back to Baker, and the center that we have is nowhere comparable to them,” council member Rochelle

Dunn said. “BREC has for the last 10, 15, 20 years, y’all been around us, little ol’ Baker and we have not received a center. When it comes down to it, you’re going to say we have air conditioning; I really just can’t take it.”

Council member Desiree Collins also raised the possibility that Baker may only be getting attention now because of the election later this month, where the parish will vote to renew a 10-year tax funding BREC’s operations.

BREC’s 3.96-mill property tax on the ballot this month has been renewed every 10 years since 1987, with funds from the tax going toward day-to-day operations, maintenance, staffing and community programming.

The funds from the tax are not used to fund building projects like those proposed in Baker; rather, funding comes from the Capital Improvement Program millage that was approved last year, BREC Director of Planning and Engineering Angela Harms said.

BY KEITH SPERA Staff writer

Trombonist, sousaphonist and vocalist Ronell Johnson, a Preservation Hall stalwart whose playing and personality embodied the joyful spirit of New Orleans music, died Sunday of complications from a heart attack he suffered in April.

He was 49.

Johnson was an integral member of Preservation Hall’s extended family of musicians for nearly 30 years. He performed at the St. Peter Street venue multiple times a week when he wasn’t on tour, either with the main Preservation Hall Jazz Band or Preservation Brass.

He was a “once in a generation 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.”

A third-generation musician, Johnson started playing music at age 6 and turned pro at age 12. In the 1990s, he co-founded Coolbone, a New Orleans brass band infused with hip-hop. He also played with the DejaVu Brass Band and other groups.

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 with listeners.

“Music wasn’t meant to be enjoyed alone,” Johnson told a WWLTV reporter in 2021. “I came up literally with music all around. I love

CHANGES

Continued from page 1B $4 million to $5 million reconstruction of the ball fields at Baker Park. BREC and Waites presented two concepts to residents. Along with proposed new restrooms and concessions, the plans offered a survey to see whether residents preferred two high school-sized fields or one larger field paired with a mix of other fields that could be used for softball or T-ball.

The facilities are designed to be tournament-level, encouraging more travel teams to come to the city for games year-round. Waites believes the new construction can bring in economic growth, like in Zachary and Central, which have the facilities to host tournaments that bring in hundreds of people on the weekends.

He also underscored the importance of improved recreational facilities for the city’s own kids.

Instead of kids going to other cit-

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Ronell Johnson plays the trombone as the Preservation Hall All Stars perform during a Veterans Day commemoration ceremony at The National WWII Museum in New Orleans on Nov. 11, 2021. Johnson died Sunday of complications from a heart attack he suffered in April.

He was 49.

MEETING

Continued from page 1B night, but some BREC and project leaders were available for one-onone conversations after the presentation.

A vocal majority of people Thursday strongly advocated for leaving the park as is, especially the golf course. However, other residents want to see the layout significantly changed, with more wide-ranging features added to the park.

Previously in the spring, two rounds of a public survey about the master plan received more than 3,000 comments from parish residents. Suggestions to preserve the golf course as it is now and creating more family-friendly and everyday recreation led the responses, according to Sasaki.

ARTHUR

Continued from page 1B New Orleans.

East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Sid Edwards said his office is continuing to monitor the tropical storm and expects heavy rainfall.

“Throughout this event, we will closely monitor our drainage and flood control systems to ensure they are operating at full capacity,” Edwards said.

“Residents should also remain cautious and avoid low-lying areas and locations prone to flooding.

Please do not drive through flooded Edwards roadways.”

Several Baton Rouge-area school districts announced closures on Thursday, including Zachary, West Baton Parish, Livingston Parish, Ascension Parish, St. James Parish and Pointe Coupee Parish.

Sandbags are available for pickup in East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, Iberville, St. James and West Feliciana parishes.

While Friday is predicted to be mostly sunny, a 40% chance of rain is predicted during the day, with a 30% chance of rainfall Friday night, the National Weather Service said.

Rain is expected to continue into Saturday, with a 50% chance during the day and 20% that night.

LOTTERY

TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2026 PICK 3: 4-1-7 PICK 4: 4-5-8-5 PICK 5: 7-7-0-7-2 MEGA MILLIONS: 12-20-53-67-70 MEGA BALL: 12 Unofficial notification, keep your tickets.

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Funerals Today Aldridge, Creecy

St. Clement of Rome Catholic Church in Plaquemine at 10 a.m.

Barrow, Joseph

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 865 Hatchell Ln., Denham Springs, LA at 11:30am.

Crane, James

Rabenhorst Funeral Home, Government Street, at 10 a.m.

825

Currier, Charles

St. John Catholic Church, 15208 LA Highway 73, Prairieville, LA at 12:30 PM.

Jackson, David

Richardson Funeral Home in Clinton La. at 11am.

Stevens Jr., Roland

Grace Works Church, 16131 Highway 44 in Prairieville, at 6 p.m.

Obituaries Claxton, James Levi

James Levi Claxton, 81, "JL" "Bubba", a resident of St. Francisville and Lake Rosemound died on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. He was a native of Booneville, MS. There will be a visitation on Friday, June 19, 2026 at Charlet Funeral Home, Inc. in Zachary, LA from 9:00am until funeral services at 11:00am, conducted by his brother William "Dud" Claxton. Burial will be at Feliciana Cemetery. He is survived by his daughter Tammy Herring and husband Jimmy of St. Francisville; one son, Chris Claxton and wife Angela of St. Francisville; sister Margie McLin of Hammond; sister Frances Venable of Greensburg; six brothers: William Dudley Claxton and wife Jean of Greensburg; David Venable of Atlanta, GA; Roy Venable of New Roads; Marlin Venable and wife Tawana of Greensburg; Jeff Venable and wife Tammy of Morganza; Daniel Venable and wife Cindy of Greensburg; eight grandchildren: Amanda Oliveaux, Randy Herring, Derick Herring, Joshua Herring, Mark Claxton, Kristen Ann Claxton, Lacie Herring Manieri, CJ Claxton; great-grandchildren: Mason and Natalie Oliveaux; Isaac, Arabella, Elle and Owen Herring; Lydia and Louis Manieri; Truett and Ivory Stewart; Paxley May Richard. He was preceded in death by his wife, Catherine Ann Ballard Claxton; mother and step-father Davis and Annie Bell Cooksey Venable; father James "PeeWee" Claxton; mother-inlaw Jo Etta Ballard; sister Geneva Easley; brother Bill Joe Claxton; and brother-in -law Michael Ballard. Pallbearers will be Derick Herring, Joshua Herring , CJ Claxton, Mark Claxton, Jake Manieri and Jeff Venable. Honorable pallbearers will be Roy Venable, David Venable, Marlin Venable, and Daniel Venable.

He was a retired lineman who worked for Demco, Henkles and McCoy, and Par. He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Union Local 995 of Baton Rouge.

He loved camping and fishing and was a go-to handyman for the Lake Rosemound area. The family would like to thank Hospice of Baton Rouge and Grace Nursing Home for their compassion and care.

Share sympathies, memories, and condolences at www.CharletFuneralHome. com.

many locations in Louisiana before opening his own drugstore in New Roads. He operated Raymond's Family Pharmacy for over 30 years. He also served as New Roads City Councilman for 10 years.

Raymond was preceded in death by his parents, S.N, Garrett, Jr. and his wife, Johnnie Ruth Haynes; a sister, Ann Elizabeth Garrett.

He is survived by his wife, Carol Corley Garrett; his sons, R Haynes Garrett, Jr. and wife, Annie, and Nelson Garrett. He also leaves behind his grandchildren, Izabell, Emma, and Grayson Garrett, Ayden Sheppard and Jayden Warren. Raymond's surviving siblings are Barbara G. Roberts, Lucille St. Romain and husband, Kenneth, Aimee G. Sansing and Stephen N. Garrett III and wife, Cindy.

The visitation will be held at Niland's Funeral Home in New Roads on Friday, June 19, 2026 from 9:30 am until the religious service begins at 11:00 am.

The entombment will follow in St. Mary's Catholic Church Cemetery.In lieu flowers donations can be made to American Lung Association and St. Mary's Catholic Church Cemetery fund.

Hodges, Hollis T.

Hollis T. Hodges, affectionately known as Pops and Skeeter, passed away on June 12, 2026, at the age of 90. Hollis was a native of New Orleans and a resident of Baton Rouge. Hollis devoted many years of service to his community through his career, retiring from Louisiana DOTD and Gulf Engineers and Consultants. His life reflected dedication and a consistent sense of responsibility, carried out with the kind of reliability that leaves a lasting mark on those who worked alongside him. An avid hunter and fisherman, Hollis found deep enjoyment in the outdoors. Hollis is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Margaret F. Hodges; daughter, Elizabeth H. Phillips (Jeffrey) of Baton Rouge; son, Hollis T. Hodges, Jr. (Danielle) of Baton Rouge; daughter, Susan H. Sevier (David) of Ethel, and brother, Clyde E. Hodges of Baton Rouge.

Grandchildren: Chris Ransome (Toni), Jennifer Hurst (Doug), Jessica Hodges, Samantha Hodges, Nathaniel Hodges, Danyelle H. White (Todd), Jonathan Sevier (Lauren), Rachel S. Dallery (Will), and Jacob Sevier; and by his great-grandchildren, Andrew Ransome, Saylor Severio, Ryker Hodges, Owen Knutson, and Bellamy Sevier. Numerous nieces and nephews, too many to list. Hollis was preceded in death by his parents, Harry H., and Idell T. Hodges; son, Paul D. Hodges; brother, Harry H. Hodges, Jr.; and his sisterin-law, Doris Hodges.Visitation will be held at Rabenhorst Funeral Home & Crematory East, 11000 Florida Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70815, on Sunday June 21, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, visitation will resume on Monday June 22, 2026, from 10:00 am until Funeral Service at 12pm. Burial will immediately follow at Greenoaks Memorial Park

Mouton, Beverly Ann

Garrett Sr., Raymond Haynes

Raymond Haynes Garrett, Sr. left this world peacefully on June 15, 2026 to join his heavenly father.

Raymond was 77 years old, born on August 27, 1948 in New Roads, LA. He graduated from St. Joseph Academy in New Roads in 1966. He attended LSU in Baton Rouge and then went on to graduate from Northeast Louisiana University in Monroe, LA as a Pharm-D. He worked in

Beverly Ann Mouton, a beloved sister, aunt, devoted dog mom, caregiver, storyteller, and proud Cajun woman, passed away on June 8, 2026, at the age of 89.

Beverly was an incredibly independent woman, well-traveled and wellread, with a curious mind, a generous heart, and a spirit all her own. She devoted much of her life to caring for others as a nurse, working at Our Lady of the Lake as well as in private practice with her favorite doctor, Tip. But her gift for caring reached far beyond her profession.

She had a way of seeing the best in every person and every situation, and

she made the people around her feel seen, valued, and loved.

A devout Catholic, Beverly's faith was a guiding force throughout her life.

She was deeply involved in her church community, where she gave her time, her presence, and her heart. Her faith was not only something she practiced; it was something she lived through kindness, service, compassion, and love.

She was deeply proud of her Cajun heritage and could tell you the entire history of the Cajuns, right down to every branch of her family tree, with all the love and excitement anyone could muster. To sit with Beverly was to learn something new, something interesting, unexpected, and often wonderfully exciting. She was a keeper of stories, family history, and memories, though she seldom spoke much about herself.

Beverly loved her family deeply, especially her siblings and their children.

She loved her parents, Alfred and Henrietta, and carried their memory and influence throughout her life. She loved celebrating special moments with her YaYa cousins. Her love extended to several dogs named Tiger, as well as to her LSU Tigers. For Beverly, Christmas was her favorite time of year, full of light, beauty, and wonder.

She leaves behind a legacy of independence, faith, compassion, family pride, curiosity, sparkle, and love.

Beverly is survived by her sister, Catherine Mouton Larriviere; her sister-in -law, Jane Mouton; her dear friend, Cornelia Washington; and many nieces and nephews who are all better for knowing her.

She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Alfred and Henrietta Mouton; Morris Parrino; Gerald Mouton; Jacqueline Mouton; and Jeanette Coats.

Our family would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the nurses and staff at Maison de Lafayette for the compassionate care, kindness, and dignity they showed throughout Beverly's time there. Their dedication, patience, and support brought comfort not only to her, but also to our entire family. We are deeply thankful for the relationship they built and the exceptional care they provided.

In Beverly's memory, the family invites those who knew her to share a story, cherish their family history, celebrate Christmas with a little extra sparkle, and cheer loudly for the LSU Tigers.

Rosamond, Carrie M.

Carrie M. Rosamond passed away on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at the age of 93. She is survived by her sons, George and Rickie Aucoin; seven grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and two great-greatgrandchildren. Carrie is preceded in death by her two husbands, Marion Aucoin and Alvin Rosamond; son, Marion Aucoin, Jr.; parents, Joseph and Noelie Cavalier; six siblings; and daughter-in-law, Pam Aucoin. Visitation will be at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA, on Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 11am until the funeral service at 2pm. Family and friends

are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.gre enoaksfunerals.com

Sanders, Dorothy 'Dot'

Dorothy "Dot" Sanders, a native of Bogalusa, Louisiana, and a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, passed away on June 10, 2026, at the age of 79. Dot was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother and foster parent whose kindness touched countless lives.

She cherished family gatherings, loved collecting angels, and was delighted in spoiling other people's children. Over the years, she opened her heart and home to 19 foster children, providing love, support, and stability to those in need. Her door was always open, and everyone was welcome.

Dot genuinely loved people and they loved her in return. She believed in the goodness of others, and approached life with compassion, warmth, and an open heart. Many in the community knew Dot for her gentle demeanor while working as a cashier at Albertsons and Walmart.

Children were especially drawn to her kindness; they often brought her drawings, which she proudly displayed at her register for all to see.

Dot's loving spirit, generosity, and unwavering belief in the goodness of people will be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her. She will be deeply missed and forever cherished by her family, friends, and the many lives she touched.

Dot is survived by her daughter, Dorothy Hebert (Paul Kuber); two grandchildren, Franky Hebert (Mallory) and Samantha Hebert; two great-grandchildren, Ethan McDowell and Brock Hebert; her brother, Charlie O'Bryant (Kathy); and numerous foster children, close friends, nieces and nephews.

Dot will be joining the love of her life, Travis, her parents, Abe and Geneva Crockett O'Bryant; her sisters Elizabeth Trimble, Kathleen Halbert, and Sally Gormanous in Heaven.

A visitation will be held at Greenoaks Funeral Home on Friday, June 19, 2026, from 9 am until funeral service at 12 pm. Burial will follow in Franklinton, LA. Reception at the home of Travis and Dot Sanders afterwards. All are welcome. Pallbearers will be Franky Hebert, Brett Gormanous, Christian Mizell, Luke Catalanatto Jr., Steven O'Bryant, and Gage Wilcoxon. Honorary pallbearers will be Charlie O'Bryant, Paul Kuber, and Alvin Roundtree.

Visit www.greenoaksfun erals.com to leave condolences to the family.

Wilkinson, Anthony Wayne 'Tony'

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Thursday, June 18, 2026 ■ 3B

day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

2 Timothy 4:7-8.

Anthony (Tony) Wayne Wilkinson, 56, a native of Walker and resident of Lillie, Louisiana, passed away peacefully at his home on June 15, 2026. Tony was the successful owner and pharmacist of Thrift Town Drugs. He was also a man of deep Baptist faith and an avid hunter and fisherman. Some of his finest days were spent on his beloved property in Lillie, enjoying the outdoors he loved so much. He also loved playing golf and spending time with his family. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Jennifer Bennett Wilkinson; daughters, Taylor Wilkinson and Sarah Wilkinson; sisters, Missi Woods (Jeff), and Joelle Shelton (Eddie) parents, Sammy and Ann Wilkinson; mother-in-law, Erma Bennett, loving family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Herman and Aline (Wilkie) Wilkinson and Alan and Beatrice Peak; father-inlaw, Frankie Bennett; and nephew, Matthew Woods.

A graveside service will be held at Minton Cemetery in Walker on Friday, June 19, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. Services will be conducted by Annette Gordon. Pallbearers will be Jeff Woods, Jeff Fletcher, Colby Bennett, Daniel Farrar, Dwayne Ferguson, Spencer Coburn, Eric Elliott, Calvin Barcomb and honorary pallbearer Jerry Barron. The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to Southern Grace Hospice for their compassionate care, support, and kindness during Tony's final days. In lieu of flowers, Tony requested donations be made to the Louisiana Baptist Children's Home, a ministry near and dear to his heart. Donations can be made online through their website.

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Wyble, Alfred Leon

Alfred Leon Wyble, Jr., 91, passed away June 14, 2026. Born July 11, 1934, in Rosa, Louisiana, he graduated from Baker High School and served eight years in the United States Air Force, including during the Korean conflict.

He worked at Louisiana Creamery where he met Elsie Gremillion, the love of his life. They were married 58 years until her passing in 2021. Al later worked nearly 30 years at Exxon Chemical before retiring.

He and Elsie raised two sons in Baker, Louisiana, before moving to Hammond to be closer to their grandchildren.

Al is survived by his sons Rich (Tammy) and Steve (Miriam); grandchildren Jordan (Delaney) and Julia; sister Bessie Hayward; and brother Jim (Ivy) Wyble, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Elsie, sister Carol Nahser, and brother Mike Wyble.

Al enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, travel, and time with his family.

Family and friends will be received at Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home - Hammond, 2000 N. Morrison Blvd, Hammond, Louisiana 70401, on Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 11:00 am until the funeral service begins at 1:00 pm.

Interment will follow at Rose Memorial Park Mausoleum in Hammond, Louisiana.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home and Crematory of Hammond and Ponchatoula. An online guest book is available at www.harrymckneely.com.

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Obituary Department Juneteenth Holiday Hours Due to the Juneteenth Holiday our offices will be closed Friday, June 19, 2026.

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

OUR VIEWS

Juneteenth commemorates the long march to freedom Editor’s note: In honor of the Juneteenth observance tomorrow, we are reprinting an editorial about the holiday that has been published in previous years.

As the Civil War continued, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation — 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 a wartime measure that only applied to slaves in rebel states under arms, not a total end to slavery. It was rather specific, designating which counties and parishes the proclamation would cover. “I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free,” Lincoln wrote. Elsewhere in the proclamation, the president made it clear that non-Union Confederate states were the areas being targeted. That included Louisiana, but 13 parishes were exempt from the proclamation: Ascension, Assumption, Jefferson, Lafourche, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John, St. Mary, St. Martin, Terrebonne, and “Orleans, including the City of New Orleans.”

Slavery was not fully abolished until the 13th Amendment was passed by Congress on Jan. 31, 1865, then ratified on Dec. 6, 1865. Still, Lincoln’s proclamation sent an important signal, albeit one that was slow to spread.

There was no nightly news, no internet and certainly no social media to quickly and widely share the breaking news that the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed and slavery had ended.

It took more than two years — until June 19, 1865 — for enslaved people in Galveston Bay to learn that they were among the 250,000 in Texas and 4 million nationally who were freed by order of the president.

Enslaved people who were freed celebrated, starting a Texas tradition that eventually spread to other states across the nation. “June” and “19th” were combined to create “Juneteenth.”

In 2021, Juneteenth became a federal holiday, and Louisiana also made it a state holiday that year. Today, Juneteenth is recognized as a holiday, observance or remembrance in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Though June 19 falls on a Friday this year, and that is the federal holiday, traditionally, Juneteenth has also been observed on the third Saturday of June by many Black Americans.

Opal Lee, recognized as the grandmother of Juneteenth because she started a national effort to have the day recognized as a federal holiday when she was 86 years old, grew up less than an hour away from Shreveport in Marshall, Texas, before moving to the Fort Worth area.

Lee has said she envisioned the holiday as a celebration of freedom for everyone, not just those whose ancestors endured slavery.

On Juneteenth, we remember all those Americans throughout history who have moved 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.

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

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YOUR VIEWS

In pages of comic books, clues to perceptions of the world around us

Massive menhaden industry harms local fishers, guides After reading the half-page for the menhaden fishing industry in the June 7 newspaper, I’m convinced the Legislature is siding with the menhaden fishing companies over the thousands of local fishermen and guides in Louisiana.

The article states that lawmakers strengthened accountability for certain violations. What a joke! 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, so will the big menhaden boats. Our fishing will no longer be “Louisiana Sportsman’s Paradise,” and it will come to that!

Why doesn’t the Louisiana Legisla-

ture listen to the other Gulf states with their menhaden fishing restrictions?

It’s all about the money. Next time I catch one too many redfish and a game officer wants to give me a ticket, maybe I should say that fish was “bycatch” and so I should get no ticket. Louisiana can’t have a law that has two different enforcements, one for industry 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 time you can only catch and keep four redfish daily.

Louisiana is implementing new regulations to protect its red drum stocks.

What a joke. Oh, wait — that’s for local fishermen, not the commercial industries.

Shame on the Louisiana Legislature.

The newspaper recently ran an article from The Associated Press about American comic books, focusing on the centrality of superheroes. I think there is a bigger story about comic books in other countries.

I was in Saudi Arabia in 2009 with the World Leader’s Symposium through my connection to Rice University. We met with a psychiatrist who proudly showed us the comic book he had created.

He was proudest of his decision to not only celebrate a superhero 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 a hero from the United States, who, sadly, was in a wheelchair. We all questioned this decision, thinking it quite Freudian or merely wishful thinking.

He defended his choice, explaining it was culturally appropriate.

The reason our superhero was in a wheelchair was that he had been injured by a drunken driver. We were all taken aback.

So, there is a lot going on out there in comic books that might make an interesting series from the world around us.

FRANCIS MESTAYER Baton Rouge

Iran run by zealots who would use a nuclear weapon Iran is a country 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 dissidents living in other countries and funds the terrorist organizations of Hezbollah and Hamas as well as the Houthis.

Allowing such a government a nuclear weapon is sheer folly. It could easily set off a nuclear race among other Arab states and allow Iran to bully the world by imposing an expensive tariff on the Hormuz Strait, skyrocketing the Western world’s inflation.

Appeasement has already been tried by two U.S. administrations with the 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 our time did not work with Hitler. The Iranian government, unfortunately supported by enough Iranians to keep it in power, believes in the annihilation of its perceived enemies. That is us.

Have the American people become so 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 a nuclear weapon would?

There should be little doubt that a government such as the Iranian one would use a nuclear weapon.

President John F. Kennedy once said that domestic policy could hurt you and foreign policy could kill you.

We need to seriously think about what allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon would do.

MARSHA REICHLE Baton Rouge

LSU sports need a new focus Alas, during the 2025-26 academic year, LSU’s sports teams won nary a single national championship. Coaches keep talking about recruits and building for the future.

Perhaps it would be better to have more recruiting for academic accomplishments and building for future scholarship.

HERBERT CANNON Baton Rouge

Inspection sticker change was poorly thought out, self-serving Does this sound familiar? A longstanding government-sponsored program providing jobs to some and a public service to many is abruptly closed. Planning for and communication during the aftermath are minimal.

This is but one example of how our governor’s style 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 the point; how people are governed is. I hear there is a recall petition I can sign.

HENRY BRADSHER Baton Rouge

CAROLYN DEYO Baton Rouge

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COMMENTARY Politician names on public works is free advertising When workers scraped Donald Trump’s name off the Donald Trump and John F. 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.

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 Froma Harrop became the John F. Kennedy International Airport. And hundreds of schools across the 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 presidents who saved the country: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower.

It’s another to similarly memorialize ordinary politicians for posterity, even those who did a mostly good job.

Why did they change the short, descriptive name of Washington National Airport to the convoluted Ronald Reagan Washington 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, a fiasco. He didn’t start U.S. involvement in Vietnam, but he greatly expanded it. And he was a serial womanizer, in some cases, risking national security.

But Kennedy and his circle were masters at peddling their era as Camelot, the myth of a golden age out of King Arthur. In an interview 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

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RAHMAT GUL

A worker tends a garden in front of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as its sign remains covered by a tarp in Washington.

“America’s royal family” drowned the arguments of more-qualified, hardworking public servants who wanted the jobs.

Now we have JFK’s grandson, Jack Schlossberg, running for Jerry Nadler’s congressional district covering Manhattan’s wealthy 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 their headlines about his campaign. One political writer gushed that “a Kennedy” was running. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a fool of herself endorsing Schlossberg on a TV ad with the tagline “Believe in something again.” Everyone knows the handsome fellow is the son 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. is a crackpot famous for bashing life-saving vaccines.

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 choose him? “Bobby” is a colorful kook who endorsed Trump in the 2024 election. What makes him extra fun for the unserious is that he’s “a Kennedy.”

To bring this full circle, RFK Jr. is the son of Robert F. Kennedy. New Yorkers driving toward what they still call the Triborough Bridge see that it’s now called the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, named for Bobby’s dad, after he was assassinated. The elder RFK moved into the state the day he proclaimed his candidacy to represent New York in the Senate.

Politicos naming public works after other politicos, or in Trump’s case, himself, is a racket. It is free advertising on tax-supported government structures. Stop it.

Froma Harrop on X, @FromaHarrop.

Email her at fharrop@gmail.com.

The controversy over ‘60 Minutes’ The late broadcast journalist David ing. Public trust and confidence in Brinkley once observed: “Objectivity the mass media to report the news is impossible to normal human befully, accurately and fairly is at a record low. Gallup’s polling reveals havior. Rather, we should strive for Americans’ trust in the media fairness.” has fallen from a relatively Fairness is at the heart of the high of 68% in 1972 to today’s ongoing shake-up at CBS News record low of 28%, the first and especially at the legendtime it has gone below 30%. ary “60 Minutes.” Since televiUntil Bari Weiss was hired, sion is a business that requires networks ignored this trend. high ratings and credibility to The 2022 American Jourattract advertisers and make Cal money, it is more important Thomas nalist Study, a survey of U.S. what viewers think about a journalists, found that about program than what those producing 36% of journalists identified as it think about themselves.

Democrats, compared to just 3.4% Correspondent Scott Pelley viowho identified as Republicans. A plurality of journalists — nearly 52% lated a cardinal principle, not just in — identified as Independents. No one journalism, but in any job.

He bit the hand that had been feed- will convince me that one’s political ing him. In a staff meeting, Pelley re- worldview doesn’t influence which portedly excoriated management for stories are covered (and which are ignored) and how they are reported. having the temerity to shake up the I have spent many years in newsnews division, which Bari Weiss, the new editor-in-chief, was hired to do. rooms and at journalist gatherings.

Reading an interview Pelley did for It has been my experience that most The New York Times after his firing people claiming the title of “journalreveals the attitude of many journal- ist” are liberal Democrats who have a secular-progressive worldview. ists at the top of the profession. PelThe conservative Media Research ley thinks it’s all about him, not the Center (MRC.org) has compiled audience. It appears he believes his decades at the network entitle him to some examples of Scott Pelley’s bistay on until he expires or resigns. I ased reporting, including this gem: have been fired — or my shows can“It’s too soon to tell how serious President Trump is in defiance of the celed — from NBC, CNBC and Fox Constitution.

News. I didn’t complain. In fact, on In his first 28 days, he signed an my final Fox show I said: “It’s their network; they can do as they please.” order to nullify birthright citizenship for some — a right guaranteed by the What has become collectively 14th Amendment. And he has closed known as “the media” are selling agencies and frozen spending that what much of the public isn’t buy-

Congress mandated by law.” (Feb. 16, 2025). A balanced report might have mentioned that while the goal of the 14th Amendment was primarily to protect formerly enslaved people after the Civil War, it was written to apply to all Americans. The Trump administration, however, has challenged the constitutionality of birthright citizenship. The Supreme Court is expected to decide shortly whether Trump or the Constitution have the final say.

Here’s another Pelleyism: “Joe Biden is among the longest-serving politicians in Washington. If there is less bounce in the step than there once was, if the words don’t flow like they used to, maybe there’s something to be said for know-how, five decades on the Hill and in the Oval. … You have lived a long life of triumph and tragedy. In November, you’ll be 80. And I wonder what it is that keeps you in the arena.” (Sept.

18, 2022) This at a time when it was becoming increasingly evident to many — except perhaps Jill Biden, Kamala Harris and others who didn’t want people to believe what they saw and heard — that the president had lost more than a step.

Maybe Bari Weiss can make changes that will draw more viewers and improve credibility at CBS News. If she succeeds, will ABC and NBC follow her example?

Email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@ tribpub.com

Legislature should probe levee board’s sea of troubles This week’s storm in the Gulf of Mexico should focus the state Legislature’s attention on the operations of Louisiana’s most prominent levee board.

To be specific, the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee should convene a hearing to analyze apparent chaos at the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East, which provides flood control for parts or the whole of Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard parishes. State legislative committees are allowed to hold oversight Quin hearings even when not in session, Hillyer although they can’t actually vote on pending matters.

The levee board has been riven by very public controversy for about 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’s intentions, the result has been a high 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. A battery charge filed by the authority’s robust police chief, Joshua Rondeno, against the rather petite then-board member Deborah Settoon. Large staff turnover. A large stretch of time in which Rondeno handled many of the executive functions usually done by the authority’s director.

And more.

Atop all that, the last five months have featured major controversy about Rondeno’s role and salary. First, Rondeno was allowed to draft his own contract, with a massive salary increase and a whopping $910,000 severance package if he is fired. After legislative and public blowback, the severance provision was removed and the salary was cut back from $250,000 to $197,000, far more than his predecessor’s $110,000.

Then, in a new, 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’t discuss while it’s going on.”

Between all this turmoil and the loss of experienced engineers and other key employees, the actual work of the agency may be compromised.

At least that’s what former board member Settoon said on June 8 in an interview with WVUE-TV, echoing concerns I have heard privately from other knowledgeable sources. Settoon questioned if the agency really is ready for hurricane season — a vivid reminder of which is this week’s highrainfall storm in the Gulf.

“I don’t have a lot of confidence,” Settoon said.

“I’m very worried. I think the public should be worried.

Then she added some very on-target advice, 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’s regular session to focus apt attention on Rondeno’s controversially growing role and was credited with forcing Rondeno’s draft contract to be altered in a more reasonable direction.

Those hearings led Sen. Patrick Connick, RMarrero, who long has shown admirable interest in the levee board, to begin drafting a bill for next year that would take the policing function from the board and put the levee police under the state police instead.

“That’s the 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 some form or fashion.”

Connick’s idea seems good. As he explained, much of the turmoil at the agency has revolved around a push-and-pull between policing desires and the authority’s basic flood-control duties. If the financing details can be solved, his proposal merits passage.

Nonetheless, Settoon’s warning about hurricane unreadiness should spur the Governmental Affairs committee to hold more hearings now. The goal should be to ensure, right away, that the main flood-protection job is done well this year. Is there merit to Settoon’s concerns? If so, what can be done to alleviate them? Do the agency’s engineering functions need bolstering in the short term?

And, for the longer horizon, aside from separating the police from the levee board — if Connick’s proposal is adopted — what else can be done to ward off the sorts of dysfunction we’ve seen for 18 months?

For all of southeastern Louisiana, the levee and floodwall systems are a matter of sheer survival.

Until the levee board shows that its disarray has been solved, the Legislature should keep a keen watch.

Email Quin Hillyer at quin.hillyer@theadvocate. com

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE ARE OUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the

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

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TODAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Tropical Rainstorm Arthur

A shower and t-storm; humid

Humid with a thunderstorm

Humid with clouds and sun

Partly sunny and humid

Some rain and a thunderstorm

HIGH

LOW

HIGH

90° 80°

LOW

HIGH

94° 77°

LOW

Beaumont 90/81 Port Arthur 90/81

Baton Rouge 90/80

Lake Charles 90/81

New Orleans 92/81 Houma 90/79

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

0s

Hattiesburg 85/77

Alexandria 92/79

Lafayette 90/80

10s

20s

30s

40s

50s

LOW

HIGH

LOW

92° 76°

YESTERDAY

Baton Rouge through 5 p.m. Wednesday

Jackson 85/76 Many 92/77

HIGH

93° 77°

TEMPERATURE

Longview 94/77

-0s

LOW

92° 79°

Monroe 90/78

Shreveport 94/78

-10s

HIGH

89° 78°

Today, there is a risk of excessive rainfall that could lead to some measure of flash flooding. Also, the flood watch that we’ve been under remains in effect until Friday morning. So, after some very strong storms during the overnight and early morning hours, the weather should settle down a bit later this morning with some scattered showers returning mid- to late afternoon.

Temperatures this afternoon will rise to the upper 80s with heat index or temperatures feeling like they’re close to 106.

60s

70s

80s

90s 100s 110s

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

Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today

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Associated Press

The Trump administration said Wednesday it’s buying back another energy company’s U.S. offshore wind leases for four more wind projects, as it seeks to discourage the expansion of wind energy in favor of fossil fuels.

The latest deal brings the total amount spent on these agreements to nearly $2.6 billion.

Chicago-based Invenergy has agreed to end its four offshore wind leases that were very early in development in exchange for reimbursements of lease fees totaling $765 million. The company had already canceled the largest of the four in November, Leading Light Wind off New Jersey’s coast. The others are off the coasts of Maine and California. It will invest that money in natural gas and geothermal ventures that can be built more quickly instead.

By buying back leases, the Republican administration is stopping offshore wind farms that President Donald Trump does not support, and redirecting the money to fossil fuel projects that he does. It adopted this strategy after federal courts thwarted Trump’s efforts to stop offshore wind development through executive action.

Trump has frequently talked about his hatred of wind power and calls turbines ugly.

“Under President Trump, companies are shifting investment back toward dependable, secure energy infrastructure that can power our economy and lower utility costs,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement. “We applaud Invenergy for recognizing the importance of baseload power and investing in energy solutions that deliver real benefits to

Eight projects stopped Under the first deal announced in March, French company TotalEnergies is getting nearly $1 billion — essentially a refund of its two offshore wind leases — if it invests the money in fossil fuels instead. Those leases were off the coasts of North Carolina and New York. New York is leading a lawsuit challenging the TotalEnergies agreement and Democrats in Congress are investigating it.

Golden State Wind and Bluepoint Wind agreed in April to end their leases in exchange for reimbursements totaling nearly $900 million, provided they invest equally in fossil fuels. California is investigating the deal that ended Golden State Wind, a floating offshore wind farm proposed off the state’s central coast. Bluepoint Wind was an offshore wind farm in the early stages of development off the coasts of New Jersey and New York.

Invenergy is North America’s largest privately held independent power producer. It has four offshore leases: a large lease area for Leading Light Wind, which would have used traditional turbines that affix to the seafloor; two leases for projects

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data as of 7 a.m. Wednesday

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

r y ou da tY o ar T St ove M

BY JENNIFER McDERMOTT

with floating turbines in the Gulf of Maine; and a lease for a floating project off California’s central coast.

For Invenergy, the deal offered a way to move forward with energy projects that could bring power to the grid more quickly for its customers than the dormant offshore wind leases. Trump has erected roadblocks for permitting wind energy, while trying to speed up fossil fuel development.

The company left the door open to reentering the offshore wind industry in the future. Daniel Runyan, senior vice president for development at Invenergy, said in a statement that at a time of unprecedented energy demand, they “will deploy additional capital into projects that can be delivered on a commercially reasonable timeline and meet customer demand while continuing to evaluate opportunities as market conditions evolve.”

Leading Light Wind was targeted for as much as 2.4 gigawatts to power more than 1 million homes. Invenergy told the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities in November it was canceling Leading Light Wind because of challenges with the supply chain, equipment and vendors, and changing regulatory requirements.

The floating projects were so early in development that Invenergy hadn’t yet calculated how much power those sites could provide.

Invenergy, a major player in the natural gas sector, has 14 operational natural gas facilities. It’s expanding into geothermal energy, with 45 leases totaling 144,000 acres in Nevada, Idaho, California, Utah and New Mexico. Invenergy plans to use the $765 million from the agreement for natural gas facilities in Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri, and geothermal development in the West.

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Trump administration buys back offshore wind leases American consumers.”

Hillary Bright, executive director of offshore wind advocacy group Turn Forward, said these buyouts are not one-for-one “swaps”for another kind of energy, since the fossil fuel projects won’t deliver power to the same states as the offshore wind farms would have.

“Replacing coastal offshore wind with geothermal or natural gas infrastructure in another region does nothing to address rising ratepayer affordability concerns, reliability challenges or potential gaps in power supply in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic,” she said in a statement.

READING 52 MAIN POLLUTANT Particulates

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Cost of buyouts reaches $2.6B

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T h u r s d ay, J u n e 18, 2026

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Kiffin discusses expectations, Orgeron’s impact LSU coach chats it up with former Tigers star Mathieu

BY JON BLAU Staff writer

CHASING CHUNKS

As Lane Kiffin wrapped up a podcast with legendary LSU defensive back Tyrann Mathieu, the Tigers’ first-year coach delivered a promise.

“I don’t know how fast it’s gonna happen.

We’re gonna win a national championship,” Kiffin told Mathieu, who played in a BCS title game in 2012, “and we’re gonna have the teams and the rosters back to the way that they were playing when they were great.”

The way it used to be when Kiffin was an offensive coordinator at Alabama from 2014-16.

A time when the LSU defenses were so tough, he knew “it was on” when the Crimson Tide lined up across from the Tigers, even with NFL-bound runners Derrick Henry and Josh Jacobs, and future Super Bowl-winning quarterback Jalen Hurts on his side.

Kiffin just hoped Alabama wasn’t playing at LSU. And if it was a night game?

“Now we’re like, ‘Are we even gonna score at all?’ ” Kiffin said. “Because these guys are gonna be on elite speed, mindset, physical.”

He promises to bring that back, but even Kiffin’s time spent with Mathieu was a fulfillment of a promise. Last month, LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry told USA Today that Kiffin would be more accessible, more “connected” than his predecessor Brian Kelly with LSU alumni and the program’s donor base.

Kiffin might stir the pot in some interviews, but everyone would be talking about LSU.

ä See LSU, page 5C STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Saints running back Travis Etienne runs across the field after catching a ball during minicamp at the team’s indoor practice facility on Tuesday in Metairie.

Saints excited by big plays running back Etienne can break off

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

It had been a long while since the New Orleans Saints made a true splash in the free agent running back market — so long that running backs coach Joel Thomas, now entering his 11th season with the franchise, has come to just not expect it in free agency.

So when the Saints signed Travis Etienne to a massive four-year deal on the opening day of free agency, Thomas said it is fair to say he was excited to land a new prize.

“Tell me any coach that gets a player that has been as productive as him that is going to be bummed out,” Thomas said. “I’m thoroughly excited.”

In Etienne, the Saints signed a running back who has compiled three 1,000-yard rushing campaigns in his four professional seasons — a not insignificant number to a franchise in the Saints that hasn’t had a 1,000-yard rusher

since 2017, although Alvin Kamara has come close.

Etienne was one of the more explosive running backs in the NFL last season, recording 26 runs of 10 or more yards last season. The entire New Orleans running back group managed 20 such runs last season.

Even in the limited settings of organized team activities and minicamp — no pads, no tackling — Etienne’s explosiveness has been evident. While the Saints’ ability to generate more chunk plays on the ground will fall on the collective unit, Etienne has the skills to make the big blocks count.

“He’s looking to get the extra yard,” Thomas said.

“He plays with great pad leverage, and all of a sudden you get someone that mis-hits you, you make a mistake on him it’s an issue. He’s got the long speed to get it going.”

Ex-LSU star Reese smiling big in first Dream season

BY CHARLES ODUM AP sportswriter

COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — Angel Reese looked like a perfect fit for Atlanta when she was traded from the Chicago Sky to the Dream.

Dream guard Rhyne Howard predicted before the season that Reese “could be exactly what we were missing.”

After 13 games, the fit still looks perfect.

As it prepares for back-to-back games against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever, Atlanta has one of the best records in the WNBA. Reese has been on a doubledouble tear, providing the inside presence on the boards and clutch points to keep the offense balanced even while All-Star center Brionna Jones continues to recover from a knee injury.

Reese and the Dream are winning and the two-time All-Star can’t stop smiling, especially when she interacts with new teammates. The wins and smiles mean the trade has delivered just as Howard expected.

“Yeah, for sure,” Howard said. “I think

there’s a lot of games where in the past we would have let them slip away. The tenacity that she brings, the fire that she brings, is forcing us to match her energy.

You know she’s always gonna work hard, she’s always gonna be a dog, and we’re gonna always have her back. So if she’s going out to play hard, we’re also gonna play hard for her.”

Reese has filled in for Jones at center. When Jones is healthy, Reese will move back to forward, making the Dream’s lineup even more daunting. With Howard leading the league in steals and 3-pointers, Jordin Canada ranking among the assists leaders, and Allisha Gray and Howard ranking among the top-10 scorers, Reese is surrounded by talent.

Atlanta (9-4) is a half game ahead of the Fever (9-5) before Thursday night’s game at Indiana. The teams play again on Saturday at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena.

The Dream has become accustomed to moving its biggest games, including visits

ä See REESE, page 5C

ä See SAINTS, page 3C

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese AP FILE PHOTO

STAFF PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

LSU football coach Lane Kiffin speaks during a news conference on Feb. 6 at the LSU football operations facility.

Kiffin’s update on QB Leavitt big for LSU

Notes on a golf scorecard while pondering what I might shoot at Shinnecock Hills under this week’s U.S. Open conditions, wishfully thinking I could break 125 (averaging a triple bogey per hole) …

Lane and Leavitt LSU coach Lane Kiffin has been strangely absent from social media lately. The last time he broke “radio silence” on X was May 11, about the time that now rather infamous Vanity Fair cover story on him came out.

That doesn’t mean Kiffin has clammed up completely.

Scott This week he did a podcast Rabalais with former LSU great Tyrann Mathieu, telling the recently retired Saints cornerback that the Tigers would win a national championship on his watch.

Joe Namath-like guarantees are easy to declare in June, but Kiffin knows the ground onto which he is throwing down this gauntlet. He was on Nick Saban’s national championship-winning staff in 2015 at Alabama and was part of the team that played for another title the following

ä See RABALAIS, page 5C

2C ■ Thursday, June 18, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS On TV GOLF PGA Tour: U.S. Open USA LPGA Tour: LPGA Classic Golf PGA Tour: U.S. Open NBCSN PGA Tour: U.S. Open (Friday) NBCSN HORSE RACING 7:30 a.m. Breeders’ Cup Challenge NBCSN Noon America’s Day at the Races FS2 5:30 a.m.

2 p.m.

4 p.m.

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MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL 12:30 p.m. Toronto at Boston 5:30 p.m. N.y. Mets at Philadelphia WORLD CUP 11 a.m.

Czech Republic vs. S.Africa 2 p.m.

Switzerland vs. Bosnia 5 p.m.

Canada vs. Qatar 8 p.m.

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IN BRIEF

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TyR: Pro Swim Series TENNIS 5 a.m.

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U.S. OPEN Justin Rose, of England, hits his tee shot on the 11th hole during a practice round for the U.S. Open on Wednesday at Shinnecock Hills golf club in Southampton, N.y. Officials are expecting wind of more than 20 mph Thursday with gusts over 40.

Sure as the wind blows U.S. Open bracing for gusty Shinnecock Hills

BY DOUG FERGUSON AP golf writer

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — The final day of practice for the U.S. Open brought a most unfamiliar sight Wednesday morning at Shinnecock Hills: The nine USGA flags atop the grandstand behind the 18th green, and the large American flag atop the century-old clubhouse, hung limply.

Just not for very long. Wind at Shinnecock Hills is as inevitable as traffic along the Montauk Highway from the infamous “trade parade.”

And that’s what has everyone nervous — not only the players, but USGA officials in charge of the course — going into the 126th edition of golf’s second-oldest championship.

“Problematic,” is how John Bodenhamer, the chief competitions officer at the USGA, described excessive wind. “This year I believe the wind will impact our championship unlike many others.”

Adding to the concern are the previous two trips to Shinnecock Hills, when the wind and warmth dried out the course in a New York minute and caused the greens to be borderline unplayable.

It got so bad on the final day in 2004 that no one broke par and 28 players failed to break 80. Treacherously slick greens and questionable pin positions on Saturday in 2018 kept the last 44 players to tee off from matching par.

That was the day Phil Mickelson hit a moving ball on the 13th green to avoid it rolling back into the fairway.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By SETH WENIG

Scottie Scheffler chips to the green on the 12th hole during a practice round for the U.S. Open on Wednesday.

ä U.S. Open. THURSDAy: 5:30 A.M., USA; 4 P.M., NBCSN The USGA now is taking extreme caution.

Bodenhamer said the greens would be roughly 101/ 2 on the Stimpmeter — the original plan was between 11 and 12 — and the course is being kept as soft as possible to get through the next four days.

“I would say the course is about as enjoyable as I’ve seen it,” said Justin Rose, who joins Adam Scott as the only players to have competed at Shinnecock the past two years.

“There’s not many golf courses you could turn up to on any given week and play championship golf, and Shinnecock is one of them,” he said. “I think I like the way the approach is this year. ...

Potentially what I’m hearing is some slightly different protocols this week make sense to me.

And I think it’s set up to be a great tournament.”

It all starts to unfold at 5:35 a.m. Thursday — 10 minutes earlier than a normal start so the grounds crew has time to douse the greens with water before the afternoon wave — with a

mixture of excitement and trepidation.

Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, Nos. 1 and 2 in the world, both start in the morning wave on opposite sides of the course. Scheffler is bidding for the career Grand Slam with the U.S. Open the only major title he is lacking.

Scheffler first picked up a golf club in his native New Jersey. He moved to Dallas when he was 6 and honed his game in the wind at Royal Oaks.

But there is wind, and there is wind at Shinnecock Hills, situated between the Great Peconic Bay to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the south.

Bodenhamer said the expectation was for wind greater than 20 mph Thursday with gusts nearly twice that strong throughout the afternoon. The forecast was less wind on Friday, then wind strong and from a different direction Saturday, then a bit calmer on Sunday.

Bodenhamer said a key strategy in setting up the course is to be “tough but fair.”

“We could brutalize this place the next few days if we wanted to. That’s not what we’re about,” he said. “We really want it to be fair, and we want it to be what Shinnecock Hills has always been. It will be tough enough.”

Scott, who is playing 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 a U.S. Open. The Australian knows what to expect, and he liked what he has seen so far.

“It looks like they’re being cautious at the moment. They know the wind is going to be a factor this week,” Scott said. “Hopefully, we can get the greens to firm up over the weekend, and we’ll see some of the greatness of Shinnecock where the shots in are so important to hit these small areas, and then you’ll get a great champion.”

Russell, 17, used to playing vs. tour pros

BY DOUG FERGUSON SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Miles Russell is certainly not the youngest player to compete in the U.S. Open.

He’s not even the only 17-yearold in the field at Shinnecock Hills — Giuseppe Puebla also made it through a 36hole qualifier at the same site.

Russell They are Nos. 1 and 2 in the American junior ranking.

But there is a lot more hype when it comes to Russell. Along with being top-ranked in the American Junior Golf Association, he is No. 7 among all amateurs in the world.

This is his first U.S. Open.

“It’s still another tournament,” Russell said Wednesday. “I’m going to treat it like if it was an AJGA, where I’m just trying to come here and play good golf and see where my game lines up with some of the best players in the world.”

Russell is headed to Florida

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Pat Henry, one of the most decorated coaches in NCAA track and field history, announced his retirement Wednesday after 54 years of coaching.

Henry, 74, won 27 national championships at LSU from 1988-2004 and 10 more at Texas A&M from 2005-26.

A seven-time NCAA coach of the year, Henry led the LSU women to 17 national championships (seven outdoor, 10 indoor) and the men to eight (five outdoor, three indoor).

Henry took over the Aggies’ program after the 2004 season and became the first coach to lead a team three consecutive outdoor national titles (2009-11).

A native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Henry began his career as a high school coach in Hobbs, New Mexico, before moving on to Blinn Junior College in Brenham, Texas.

He was hired at LSU in 1987.

Southern California pitcher Velazquez commits to LSU

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By DAVID J. PHILLIP

AP golf writer

Former LSU, Texas A&M track coach Henry retires

NOTEBOOK State, along with golf buddy Charlie Woods, the son of Tiger Woods.

Charlie Woods caddied for Russell during the U.S. Open qualifier.

It’s not an entirely new experience being around tour players.

Russell tied for 50th in the Puerto Rico Open on the PGA Tour this year, and he made two of three cuts in the Korn Ferry Tour events he has played. The U.S. Open will be his sixth PGA Toursanctioned event.

What he has learned is how boring they can look. He meant that as a compliment.

“You watch them play and you’re, like, ‘Man, this guy plays pretty boring.’ And at the end of the round, you’re seeing the score and he shoots like 65. You’re like, ‘I did not see you shooting 65 out there.’ But it’s just so kind of hohum and a lot of fairway, greens.

It’s nothing special.

“Then when they have those special rounds, they’ll go out and shoot 63, 62, and you say, ‘That was fun to watch,’ and you shake their hand at the end of the day.”

The USGA has given him a favorable tee time. Russell will play the opening two rounds with Padraig Harrington, a three-time major champion, and former British Open champion Cameron Smith.

Purse grows to $22.5 million The USGA said Wednesday it was increasing the purse by $1 million to $22.5 million, with the winner receiving $4.5 million.

That keeps it equal with the Masters, which also had a $22.5 million purse this year. Mike Whan, the CEO, said the increase was not a direct response to Augusta National. It was more pride.

No other major offers more prize money than the U.S. Open or Masters. The largest purse among regular tournaments is $25 million at The Players Championship.

The last time the U.S. Open was at Shinnecock Hills in 2018, Brooks Koepka won $2,160,000 from a $12 million purse. The runner-up will get more this year.

The prize fund for the first U.S. Open at Shinnecock?

That was $335, and James Foulis won $150.

Syringe is new buzzword A phrase often heard in the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines and Pebble Beach is “marine layer,” what most people refer to as fog. The buzzword for Shinnecock Hills?

That would be “syringe.”

It’s a strange choice of words for watering the greens, but that’s key at Shinnecock because the greens tend to dry quickly on putting surfaces exposed to the wind.

And yes, the greens will be “syringed” this week.

John Bodenhamer, the chief competitions officer for the USGA, said the first tee times Thursday and Friday has been moved up 10 minutes to allow the greens to be doused between the morning and afternoon waves.

“It involves a very light application of water to hydrate the grass leaf blade to prevent wilt, most importantly, to preserve turf health, and to reduce stress on these poa annua greens,” Bodenhamer said.

“Poa annua reacts differently and more quickly than most other grasses in these types of conditions, so we think syringing is very important.”

LSU baseball landed a commitment out of the transfer portal from Southern California righthanded pitcher Diego Velazquez, LSU coach Jay Johnson revealed on Tiger Rag radio on Tuesday.

Velazquez made the Big Ten allfreshman team this past season, posting a 4.26 ERA in 312⁄3 innings.

He struck out 39 and walked nine in 15 appearances with five starts.

Velazquez also played 23 games as an infielder and hit .167 in 18 at-bats.

Coming out of high school, he was the No. 55 player in the nation and a top-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.

LSU sophomore outfielder Curiel wins Gold Glove LSU center fielder Derek Curiel was awarded a Gold Glove for his defensive prowess this season, Rawlings announced Wednesday.

Georgia shortstop Kolby Branch and Texas catcher Carson Tinney were the other two players from the Southeastern Conference to win a Gold Glove.

Curiel had two errors in 58 games this season. He moved from left field to center as a sophomore 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 the next level.

Curiel likely answered those questions with his defense this season.

Curiel is a projected first-round pick in the MLB draft in July.

Quarterback Sorsby plans July workout for NFL teams

Brendan Sorsby is tentatively planning to work out for NFL teams before the supplemental draft following the quarterback’s decision to end an unprecedented legal fight to retain his eligibility after he acknowledged making impermissible bets while playing college football.

Sorsby plans to hold his pro day on July 10 at a Dallas-area high school, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The deadline for applying for the draft is Monday, but there were still procedural issues related to a Texas district court’s temporary injunction that had cleared the way for him to play for Texas Tech this fall.

Sorsby, who is from the Dallas area, would have to be ineligible from NCAA play to be able to apply for the NFL’s supplemental draft.

WNBA expanding league schedule to 50 games

NEW YORK — The WNBA is expanding its schedule to 50 games per team next season — the most in the league’s 30-year history.

The new collective bargaining agreement that was ratified earlier this year allows the league to play up to 50 games for the next two seasons. There can be up to 52 regular-season games in 2029 and for the rest of the CBA. The league is playing 44 games again this season. Over the next few seasons the WNBA is adding three teams through expansion.

Cleveland is joining in 2028, Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030. Connecticut is moving to Houston next year.

When the league first started in 1997, teams only played 28 games.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Thursday, June 18, 2026 ■ 3C

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Son’s wish helped lead Jordan back to New Orleans

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

Saints rookie Christen Miller runs across the field during minicamp on Tuesday.

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Saints slowly taking bubble wrap off rookies

BY MATTHEW PARAS

SAINTS OBSERVATIONS

For the most part, the players whom the New Orleans Saints held out during organized team activities had a similar workload for the team’s two-day mandatory minicamp that wrapped up Wednesday.

There were some notable exceptions.

Second-round defensive tackle Christen Miller had progressed enough from his hamstring injury that the Saints gave him a handful of reps in practice — with the starters. And he’s not the only rookie to start to turn a corner: First-round wide receiver Jordyn Tyson was allowed to participate in the team’s half-speed walkthrough, admittedly a small step but one that’s nonetheless noteworthy.

To this point, the Saints effectively had kept Tyson and Miller in bubble wrap as they work their way back from hamstring injuries.

But peeling back the wrap slowly this week is a good sign that they could be ready to go when the Saints convene for training camp next month.

“Man, I felt better weeks ago,” said Miller, who estimated he received about eight snaps in team drills. “But the Saints want to take care of me, make sure I’m ready to go on Sundays and make sure my body is good. They’re just trying to make sure I take the steps in the right direction and not go back (to being hurt).”

Miller said he had hurt his hamstring while training in his lead-up to the draft. The Georgia product added he didn’t even realize he was injured until the Saints’ medical staff members flagged the injury when they inspected him before rookie minicamp in May. The Saints then took a cautious approach to avoid aggravating the ailment further.

Tyson echoed a similar plan.

Speaking at his locker, the wide receiver said his hamstring “feels amazing” and that he didn’t expect the Saints to put him on this type of routine, but he agrees with the approach.

“Very, very player-friendly,” Tyson said.

When they were worked into the fold, a clearer picture of how the Saints want to use their talented rookies started to emerge. During the walkthrough, Tyson lined up in several spots — including the slot, which was largely occupied by wideout Chris Olave and tight end Juwan Johnson. And in team drills, the Saints rotated their interior defensive linemen so that Miller could work with Bryan Bresee and Vernon Broughton.

Miller wasn’t fazed to work with the 1’s right away.

“The season ain’t here yet,” he said. “Things can be changed. It’s an honor, but that comes with a lot of load, a lot of responsibility. It’s just a standard here that I’ve got to uphold. The standard here is to play fast, play physical and play as a team.

“I’m just trying to embody that.”

Staff writer

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C But the excitement is about more than Etienne’s considerable physical talent. Of all the additions the Saints made this offseason, Etienne may be the Rosetta Stone who unlocks the full version of coach Kellen Moore’s offense.

In him, Moore sees a true “any down, every down” player with a high football IQ, someone who doesn’t have to rotate off the field because of any deficiencies in his game. That is helpful for several reasons, not the least of which being that it allows Moore an additional layer of deception.

“When all of a sudden you put X player in there and they’re known as a sub protector, the defense is making their pressure calls to attack that or they’re not really worried about the run,” Thomas said.

“You still have the threat to run the ball when (Etienne) is in there on third down.”

The Saints might also just look different when they line up. They were in the shotgun on about 75%

Attendance, roster moves

Tipton and Bub Means (lower body); running back Devin Neal; cornerbacks Dalys Beanum and Jayden Price; and defensive lineman Zxavian Harris.

The Saints also had several new faces at practice after a series of roster moves. The team signed quarterback Hunter Dekkers, wide receiver Jalen Moreno-Cropper and kicker Tanner Brown. The team also cut defensive tackle Coziah Izzard, cornerback Deshawn Jones, kicker Mason Shipley and wide receiver Damien Alford — the latter of whom was waived with an injury settlement.

Dekkers, fresh off a stint in the UFL, spent a good chunk of last season with the Saints as a developmental quarterback who floated on and off the practice squad.

Brown presents as an interesting challenger to incumbent Charlie Smyth. The 26-year-old became the first kicker to make two attempts of at least 60 yards in one game during this past UFL season.

Rapid fire As the Saints wrap up mandatory minicamp, Tyler Shough started to find his groove with several tightwindow throws on Wednesday during a practice that emphasized endzone and two-minute situations. …

Rookie wide receiver Bryce Lance had a very strong afternoon with two touchdowns, and it makes sense he thrived in the red zone as a 6-foot-3 target. … Running back Audric Estime shouldn’t be forgotten in the Saints’ running back competition later this summer.

He had a strong spring. … We’ll see what the pass-rush rotation turns into with Jordan returning, but Chris Rumph flashed a lot during these sessions, even over new acquisitions Tyree Wilson and Anfernee Jennings.

A day after signing his one-year contract, defensive end Cam Jordan was at practice but did not participate 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-11 periods.

Olave is working his way back from last season’s blood clot, while Kamara was given a limited workload after skipping most of the voluntary practices.

The Saints were without running back Kendre Miller (ACL); wide Email Matthew Paras at matt. receivers Devaughn Vele, Mason paras@theadvocate.com

“ ... I feel like coach (Moore) does a great job of disguising things and scheming guys open.”

TRAVIS ETIENNE, Saints running back of their offensive snaps last season, and only the Cincinnati Bengals ran more shotgun snaps than the Saints (824 to 813).

There was a reason for that: New Orleans was one 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 Eagles, who won the Super Bowl with a high-powered offense that spent a lot of time in the shotgun.

But expect that to change, at least some, this season.

Etienne spent the 2025 campaign with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who ranked in the top eight in undercenter use rate, and he sees a lot

of similarities with what the Saints want to do this year.

“I feel like (Jaguars coach Liam) Coen was a lot under center, and I feel like coach Moore is doing a lot more under center this year,” Etienne said. “From that standpoint, the motions, disguising things on offense, presenting to the defense a different look but running the same plays, making the defense’s eyes lie to them — I feel like coach (Moore) does a great job of disguising things and scheming guys open.”

It’s important to note that under center does not necessarily mean running with the football. Thomas noted the league trend toward using under-center plays to create advantages in the passing game, something the Saints may also try to lean into with heavier personnel packages this season.

And Etienne should play a part in that, as well.

“I told him this when he got here: Where I felt his game improved … is the stuff that goes unnoticed in pass protection, being an outlet out of the backfield,” Thomas said.

“That started to arise last year, and he’s just built on that since he’s been here.”

Moments after he signed his contract to return for a 16th and final season with the New Orleans Saints, Cam Jordan made sure to have his 11-year-old son, Tank, step up to the lectern first.

Because ultimately, the signed paperwork might not have been possible without a little nudge that took place two weeks earlier.

The calendar had turned to June, and Jordan still was unemployed for the first time in his NFL career. And after the Jordans, as a family of six, had moved to Arizona months earlier, Tank had a birthday wish he shared with his father.

He wanted to return to New Orleans. He wanted his dad to resign with the Saints.

“He was like, ‘You’re affecting our lives here,’ ” Jordan said.

“When you look at these four beautiful kids growing up, their whole lives have been here. When you had that conversation, I was like, ‘All right, let me humble myself here and let’s get this done.’ ” The end result led to Tuesday, with Jordan officially announcing his return to the Saints for what he declared would be his final year in the NFL. The last part of Jordan’s declaration may take time to set in.

Asked whether this truly would be his final season, the 36-yearold initially gave a long-winded answer that required the question to be repeated.

Is this really it?

“I’m going to treat it as if it’s (my) final season with intention,” Jordan said.

But first, Jordan has another season to play and more goals to accomplish. And he’ll do it in the black and gold that he’s worn over the course of his entire career.

Jordan, who has 132 sacks, said he believes he’s done enough to earn his spot in the Hall of Fame, but more than anything else, he’s still chasing his first Super Bowl.

Ever the optimist, Jordan talked about that possibility with a straight face Tuesday. He raved about the moves the Saints had made in his absence and the growth that he expects from quarterback Tyler Shough. Jordan admitted, even as a free agent, he couldn’t fully disassociate himself from the Saints. He closely watched every pick the team made in this year’s draft,

particularly wondering whether the Saints were going to draft an edge rusher.

For all his optimism, however, there were times Jordan throughout Jordan’s free agency when the defensive end very much doubted that a return to New Orleans was possible. He said sarcastically that he had never considered an offer from another team.

And he said, given how last season unfolded — which saw Jordan bounce back with his first doubledigit sack campaign since 2021 — Jordan said he owed it to himself to test the market. The Saints and Jordan didn’t initially see eye-toeye on his contract, either.

Throughout the process, the two sides never stopped staying in touch. That, Jordan said, mattered to him. He had an offer on the table, one that remained even as the Saints added two others (Tyree Wilson and Anfernee Jennings) at his position.

“The loyalty streak has always run deep with me,” Jordan said.

“A couple years ago, me and (general manager) Mickey (Loomis) sat down and he said, ‘The way you handle yourself, you’ll always have a job here.’

“Now it may not be what I think I’m worth or whatever it is, but (there’s) always been this idea that we’ve had an open line of communication.”

The terms of Jordan’s deal were not disclosed, but the contract is reportedly laden with incentives that would mirror a structure to last year when Jordan earned $2 million due to his 101/2-sack total.

The two sides also found common ground: Jordan said there were a “couple of bumps that got cleared up recently” that helped facilitate a deal.

So on Monday, Jordan decided his son’s pestering needed to stop.

In Miami for a World Cup match, the defensive end called Loomis.

By the next morning, Jordan and his family were in New Orleans to commemorate the deal.

When the contract was finally signed, and his kids joined him at the lectern, Jordan urged his son to speak. But a shy Tank didn’t seem to know how to begin.

That’s when Jordan prompted him with a question: Where did you want to go for your birthday?

“Here,” Tank said.

Burrow says Bengals remind him of 2019 LSU

BY CHARLIE GOLDSMITH Associated Press

CINCINNATI — Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said he feels similarly about this year’s Cincinnati team to how he felt about the LSU squad that he won a national championship with in 2019.

“I’m so excited to get started and get moving,” Burrow said.

“I wish we ramped this right into training camp so we can continue to improve. I feel like there’s so much greatness we’ll be able to achieve this year that I’m just excited to get going.”

The Bengals have had an aggressive offseason, rebuilding the defense through free agency and adding veteran leaders with winning experience. With new players Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, Bryan Cook and Boye Mafe, Burrow said the Bengals have everything they need to contend.

During the spring program, he said that he was impressed with the types of players that the Bengals brought in.

“We have guys that have been there and done that and also guys who have had a lot of individual success and not necessarily the team success that we’re looking for,” Burrow said. “Guys like Dexter (Lawrence) and guys like Jonathan (Allen), bringing guys like that in is so advantageous to a lot of different people. Players trying to improve makes it easier on coaches. We have guys with so much talent and I’m just excited to put it all together.”

The Bengals had full attendance in OTAs and minicamp, and coach Zac Taylor canceled the final two practices of mini-

camp with the Bengals having gotten in the work he was looking to see.

The Bengals bring back all 11 starters on Burrow offense from last season. Burrow said the unit looks “great.”

“All the guys are putting in a lot of work to try to improve,” Burrow said. “With the veteran players we have coming back, they’re doing a great job of setting an example for the younger guys and trying to teach them how to be great. I think the spring has gotten everybody better. We need to continue that over the next month before we come back.”

Burrow said that with a lot of urgency entering 2026, he has been conscious about his leadership style this spring.

Offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher used the word “blunt.”

Burrow used the word “mean.”

“This offseason, I really focused on trying to bring urgency to the room and try to just get everybody to understand the level of urgency that we have this year; the level of play that’s going to be required from every individual who steps on that field,” Burrow said. “I’ve tried to communicate that. I’ve tried to be a little more vocal in a mean way. I think that’s a little out of my comfort zone, but that’s somewhere that I’m improving.

Maybe it’s good and maybe it’s bad, but we’ll find out.”

The Bengals haven’t been in the playoffs since the 2022 season.

4C ■ Thursday Thursday, June 18 18, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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WORLD CUP 2026 W C A N A D A

TODAY’S GAMES

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U N I T E D S T A T E S

•

M E X I C O

CZECH REPUBLIC vs. SOUTH AFRICA, 11 a.m., Fox, Peacock | SWITZERLAND vs. BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA, 2 p.m., Fox, Peacock | CANADA vs. QATAR, 5 p.m. , FS1, Peacock | MEXICO vs. SOUTH KOREA, 8 p.m., Fox, Peacock

Congo stuns Portugal in 1-1 draw Ronaldo fails to score in surprising outcome

By The Associated Press HOUSTON — Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal teammates were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw by Congo on Wednesday in their opening match at the World Cup. Congo, which was playing at the World Cup for the first time in 52 years, beRoundup came the second African nation to make a strong start in the tournament against European competition following Cape Verde’s 0-0 draw with Spain on Monday.

“The World Cup is a tournament where this happens,” said Portugal coach Roberto Martínez, a Spaniard who coached Belgium to the semifinals at the 2018 tournament.

“At times the performance is not up to the challenge.”

Playing in front of a crowd of 68,777 spectators at NRG Stadium, which was mostly filled with Portugal supporters, Congo earned its first point at the World Cup after losing all three of its previous matches.

Many Congolese were prevented from traveling to the United States for this year’s tournament because

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ASHLEy LANDIS

Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during a World Cup Group K match against Congo on Wednesday in Houston. Ronaldo had a frustrating day, failing to score in a draw against underdog Congo. of restrictions tied to Ebola.

“There was not enough blue in the stands, but the players are tough and they know how to overcome challenges,” Congo coach Sébastien Desabre said. “But I’m sure that many Congolese people are proud of their team today.”

João Neves gave Portugal an

early lead in the sixth minute. The 5-foot-7 midfielder headed in a cross from Pedro Neto.

But Yoane Wissa equalized for Congo with a header in stoppage time at the end of the first half off a cross from Arthur Masuaku, delighting the small pockets of blueclad fans. It was the first World

Cup goal for Congo in its history.

“It’s crazy,” Wissa said. “Fiftytwo years later we are here, we are back. It’s been long, it’s been difficult.

“So scoring that goal, it means a lot for all Congolese, for me, for my family, for the fans who showed up today.”

ENGLAND 4, CROATIA 2: In Arlington, Texas, Harry Kane scored twice to equal the English record for World Cup goals, Jude Bellingham added another two minutes into the second half and England beat Croatia.

Martin Baturina and Petar Musa answered each of Kane’s first-half goals in a rematch of the 2018 semifinal game won by Croatia.

Musa’s goal came on the final play before the whistle ending the first half.

After Bellingham’s goal, Marcus Rashford padded the lead in the 85th minute. Kane is up to 10 World Cup goals. That ties Gary Lineker’s mark from the 1986 and 1990 tournaments.

GHANA 1, PANAMA 0: In Toronto, Caleb Yirenkyi tapped in a cross from Brandon Thomas-Asante in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time, and Ghana beat Panama in the teams’ World Cup opener.

At the end of a game that saw few chances for either side, Thomas-Asante got loose on the left side and fired the ball across the goal mouth.

Yirenkyi knocked it in, sending his teammates streaming onto the field. Ghana played without midfielder Thomas Partey, who was denied entry into Canada while he awaits trial on rape charges in England. The late goal denied Panama its first World Cup point.

Stakes ratchet up as teams play their second group-stage games

BY JOHN MARSHALL

While Mexico will have to travel 600 miles from Mexico City for its second match, South Korea reMexico faces South Korea mained in Guadalajara following Mexico will look to take control its opener.

Mexico also will be without of Group A against South Korea following a thrilling start as World defender Cesar Montes, who reCup host. ceived one of three red cards in the Four years after a major disap- match against South Africa. pointment in Qatar, the Mexicans roared out of the gate with a 2-0 Short-handed South Africa win over South Africa. The domiSouth Africa will be short-handnant victory thrilled a capacity ed for its Group A match against crowd of 80,824 at famed Azteca the Czech Republic in Atlanta.

Stadium and drew 7.1 million viewSphephelo Sithole and Themba ers in the United States, making it Zwane both received red cards the most-watched opening match against Mexico, which carries an for an English-language broadcast. automatic one-game suspension.

Zwane’s suspension was inThe next match may be a little tougher. South Korea opened its creased to thee games on Wednes12th World Cup appearance by day, deeming his contact to the scoring twice in the second half for face of Mexico’s Roberto Alvarado a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic. to be serious foul play. and South Korea, will be among the teams playing for a second time.

AP sportswriter

Every team has played a game in this oversized World Cup filled with big surprises.

The stakes rise quickly as the 48 teams begin playing their second group-stage matches.

Cape Verde, Qatar and Congo have earned points for the first time in the World Cup, raising hope for an improbable run to the knockout round.

Spain, Portugal and Brazil, among the pre-tournament favorites to win it all, need wins to keep up in their groups after opening with draws. Belgium, the Netherlands, Croatia and Switzerland are in the same boat.

On Thursday, hosts Mexico and Canada, along with Switzerland

REPORT GROUP A W 1 1 0 0

D 0 0 0 0

L 0 0 1 1

GF 2 2 1 0

GA 0 1 2 2

Mexico Korea Republic Czechia South Africa June 11 Mexico 2, South Africa 0 Korea Republic 2, Czechia 1 Thursday Czechia vs. South Africa, 11 a.m.

Mexico vs. Korea Republic, 8 p.m.

June 24 Czechia vs. Mexico, 8 p.m.

South Africa vs. Korea Republic, 8 p.m.

Pts 3 3 0 0

GROUP B GP W D L GF GA Pts Switzerland 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 Canada 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 Qatar 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 Bos. and Herz.

1 0 1 0 1 1 1 June 12 Canada 1, Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 June 13 Qatar 1, Switzerland 1 Thursday Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2 p.m.

Canada vs. Qatar, 5 p.m.

June 24 Switzerland vs. Canada, 2 p.m.

Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar, 2 p.m.

GROUP C GP 1 1 1 1

W 1 0 0 0

D 0 1 1 0

GP 1 1 1 1

W 1 1 0 0

L 0 0 0 1

GF 1 1 1 0

GA 0 1 1 1

Pts 3 1 1 0

L GF 0 4 0 2 1 0 1 1

GA 1 0 2 4

Pts 3 3 0 0

Scotland Morocco Brazil Haiti June 13 Brazil 1, Morocco 1 Scotland 1, Haiti 0 Friday Scotland vs. Morocco, 5 p.m.

Brazil vs. Haiti, 7:30 p.m.

June 24 Scotland vs. Brazil, 5 p.m.

Morocco vs. Haiti, 5 p.m.

GROUP D D 0 0 0 0

United States Australia Turkey Paraguay June 12 United States 4, Paraguay 1 June 14 Australia 2, Turkey 0 Friday United States vs. Australia, 2 p.m.

Turkey vs. Paraguay, 10 p.m.

June 25 Turkey vs. United States, 9 p.m.

Paraguay vs. Australia, 9 p.m.

AP sportswriter

GROUP I GP 1 1 1 1

W 1 1 0 0

D 0 0 0 0

L 0 0 1 1

GF 7 1 0 1

GA 1 0 1 7

Pts 3 3 0 0

GP 1 1 1 1

W 1 0 0 0

D 0 1 1 0

L 0 0 0 1

GF 5 2 2 1

GA 1 2 2 5

Pts 3 1 1 0

Germany Ivory Coast Ecuador Curacao June 14 Germany 7, Curacao 1 Ivory Coast 1, Ecuador 0 Saturday Germany vs. Ivory Coast, 3 p.m.

Ecuador vs. Curacao, 7 p.m.

June 25 Ecuador vs. Germany, 3 p.m.

Curacao vs. Ivory Coast, 3 p.m.

GP W D L France 1 1 0 0 Norway 1 1 0 0 Senegal 1 0 0 1 Iraq 1 0 0 1 Tuesday France 3, Senegal 1 Norway 4, Iraq 1 June 22 France vs. Iraq, 4 p.m.

Norway vs. Senegal, 7 p.m.

June 26 Norway vs. France, 2 p.m.

Senegal vs. Iraq, 2 p.m.

GF 3 4 1 1

GA 1 1 3 4

Pts 3 3 0 0

GF 0 0 0 0

GA 0 0 0 0

Pts 0 0 0 0

GP W D L GF GA Congo 1 0 1 0 1 1 Portugal 1 0 1 0 1 1 Colombia 0 0 0 0 0 0 Uzbekistan 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wednesday Portugal 1, Congo 1 Uzbekistan vs. Colombia, n June 23 Portugal vs. Uzbekistan, noon Colombia vs. Congo DR, 9 p.m.

June 27 Colombia vs. Portugal, 6:30 p.m.

Congo DR vs. Uzbekistan, 6:30 p.m.

Pts 1 1 0 0

GROUP J

GROUP F Sweden Japan Netherlands Tunisia June 14 Netherlands 2, Japan 2 Sweden 5, Tunisia 1 Saturday Netherlands vs. Sweden, noon June 20 Tunisia vs. Japan, 11 p.m.

June 25 Tunisia vs. Netherlands, 6 p.m.

Japan vs. Sweden, 6 p.m.

Messi ties goals mark with his first hat trick of World Cup in win

BY DAVE SKRETTA

GROUP E GP 1 1 1 1

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ED ZURGA

Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates after scoring the opening goal during a Group J match against Algeria on Tuesday in Kansas City, Mo. Messi scored three goals in Argentina’s 3-0 win.

GROUP K

GROUP G GP W D L GF Belgium 1 0 1 0 1 Egypt 1 0 1 0 1 Iran 1 0 1 0 2 New Zealand 1 0 1 0 2 June 15 Belgium 1, Egypt 1 Iran 2, New Zealand 2 June 21 Belgium vs. Iran, 2 p.m.

New Zealand vs. Egypt, 8 p.m.

June 26 New Zealand vs. Belgium, 10 p.m.

Egypt vs. Iran, 10 p.m.

GP W D L Argentina 0 0 0 0 Algeria 0 0 0 0 Austria 0 0 0 0 Jordan 0 0 0 0 Tuesday Argentina vs. Algeria, 8 p.m.

Austria vs. Jordan, 11 p.m.

June 22 Argentina vs. Austria, noon Jordan vs. Algeria, 10 p.m.

June 27 Jordan vs. Argentina, 9 p.m.

Algeria vs. Austria, 9 p.m.

GA 1 1 2 2

Pts 1 1 1 1

GP W D L GF GA Uruguay 1 0 1 0 1 1 Saudi Arabia 1 0 1 0 1 1 Spain 1 0 1 0 0 0 Cape Verde 1 0 1 0 0 0 June 15 Spain 0, Cape Verde 0 Saudi Arabia 1, Uruguay 1 June 21 Spain vs. Saudi Arabia, 11 a.m.

Uruguay vs. Cape Verde, 5 p.m.

June 26 Uruguay vs. Spain, 7 p.m.

Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia, 7 p.m.

Pts 1 1 1 1

GROUP H

GROUP L GP W D L England 1 1 0 0 Ghana 1 1 0 0 Panama 1 0 0 1 Croatia 1 0 0 1 Wednesday England 4, Croatia 2 Ghana 1, Panama 0 June 23 England vs. Ghana, 3 p.m.

Panama vs. Croatia, 6 p.m.

June 27 Panama vs. England, 4 p.m.

Croatia vs. Ghana, 4 p.m.

GF 4 1 0 2

GA 2 0 1 4

Pts 3 3 0 0

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Lionel Messi used the front of his white-andblue, sweat-soaked jersey to wipe the tears from his eyes, a flood of emotions cracking his usually calm, confident demeanor after Late gave Argentina Tuesday he an early lead in its World Cup opener against Algeria.

Then he scored again. And again.

Suddenly, any questions about Messi’s hamstring injury, or whether he could help Argentina become the third team to win consecutive World Cups — even as his 39th birthday approaches next week — had been answered.

With a brilliant hat trick in a 3-0 win over Les Fennecs, Messi moved into a tie with Germany’s Miroslav Klose for the career scoring record at the men’s World Cup. “My tears after the first goal?

I’ve had some tough days. It wasn’t related to football. And those feelings were because of that,” Messi said afterward, without elaborating. “I thank my teammates, the coaching staff and the delegation for helping me.”

Messi scored that emotional first goal in the opening minutes on a nifty feed from Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul, the second off an opportunistic rebound early in the second half, and the third on a crisp strike moments before subbing out to a

standing ovation from a crowd of 69,045 tilted heavily toward the three-time World Cup champions.

“At a loss for words about Leo. What can I say?” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said. “He’s incredible.”

His incredible trio of goals came 20 years to the day that Messi made his World Cup debut in a match against Serbia and Montenegro — he scored in that one, too — and made the pride of Rosario only the second player to score in five editions of the men’s tournament.

Messi has 16 goals in his record six World Cup appearances overall, and it seems inevitable that Klose’s record will fall in the coming weeks. The hat trick was the 61st of Messi’s career, his 11th while playing in his national team colors and his first in the World Cup. It also was the fifth straight World Cup game in which Messi has scored.

“It makes me very happy to have lived through everything that came my way. What I’m living though now is the cherry on top,” Messi said. “I’m very happy an grateful for this wonderful group. I enjoy it so much.”

Messi upstaged two of soccer’s other stars — Kylian Mbappé of France and Erling Haaland of Norway — who had big games of their own on Tuesday. Mbappé scored twice in France’s 3-1 win over Senegal to move into a tie for fourth on the men’s World Cup goals list with 14, while Haaland scored twice for Norway in its 4-1 victory over Iraq.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Thursday, June 18, 2026 ■ 5C

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LSU football adds three high school commitments

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

LSU football’s active summer on the recruiting trail continued Wednesday as the Tigers added two more top recruits to their 2027 class and a prospect to the 2028 class.

Five-star edge rusher Chris Whitehead and four-star running back Trey Martin from the Class of 2027 both announced their commitments on Wednesday on social media. Whitehead is the top player in Virginia, per the 247Sports composite, and Martin is the No. 6 player in Louisiana.

LSU holds the No. 19 recruiting class in the nation after Whitehead and Martin’s commitments.

The Tigers also gained a pledge from Whitehead’s brother, Isaiah, a three-star recruit and Class of 2028 offensive tackle.

At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, Chris Whitehead is the No. 31 player in the nation. He and his brother attend Lloyd C. Bird High, and Chris is the No. 4 edge rusher in the nation. He picked LSU over South Carolina, Virginia Tech and Ohio State. He also holds scholarship offers from Alabama, Michigan, Georgia and others.

Between Whitehead and four-

star edge rusher KJ Green, LSU has two of the 10 best edge rushers in the nation. Whitehead is the second-highest rated recruit in LSU’s class, trailing only fivestar tight end Ahmad Hudson.

Whitehead is LSU’s eighth outof-state commitment and its first pledge from Virginia.

Martin, meanwhile, is the No. 12 running back in the nation.

At 5-10 and 202 pounds, Martin attends Franklin Parish High in Winnsboro and is a top-200 prospect in the nation.

Martin chose LSU over Ole Miss and Florida. He also has scholarship offers from Alabama, Auburn and Ohio State.

He’s the third running back to commit to LSU and the second ball carrier to give his pledge to the Tigers in as many days. LSU landed a commitment from fourstar running back Tre Segarra on Tuesday and earned a pledge from three-star running back Brennan Lacey last week.

With Martin on board, LSU has commitments from four of the top six players in Louisiana.

Email Koki Riley at koki.riley@ theadvocate.com. For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate. com/lsunewsletter

LSU

Continued from page 1C A conversation between Kiffin and Mathieu was destined to generate some interesting quotes.

Here are some takeaways from their 40-minute chat.

Prime targets

LSU loses key shortstop Edwards to transfer portal

BY JIM KLEINPETER Contributing writer

LSU softball appears set to lose another key player as shortstop Kylee Edwards has entered the NCAA transfer portal, she announced Wednesday in a social media post.

Edwards transferred to LSU from Mississippi State last offseason and became one of the team’s top hitters with a .341 batting average, 10 homers and 40 RBIs. On April 3, she became the first LSU player to hit for the cycle in a 16-4 win at Missouri.

“After a lot of thought and con-

REESE

Continued from page 1C

Kiffin understands expectations LSU didn’t invest $54 million to sever ties with Kelly and another $91 million to poach Kiffin from Ole Miss if it didn’t want to win now.

In his six months in Baton Rouge, Kiffin has heard those desires expressed quite often.

“Coach, we love you’re here.

Just please win,” Kiffin recalled hearing from locals who live in an “aligned, one-program football state.”

Even his Georgia native linebacker, Whit Weeks, returned for his senior year because he wants to see LSU reestablish itself before he departs.

“I wanna leave it the way that I grew up watching it,” Kiffin heard Weeks say. “I wanna be part of that, I wanna 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) and safety 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 a plethora of receivers, including Winston Watkins (Ole Miss), Jayce Brown (Kansas State) and Jackson Harris (Hawaii).

Winning as quickly as possible is the expectation. Kiffin is fully aware.

At the same time, he recognizes SEC programs can’t “stack” talent like Alabama in the 2010s.

Kiffin posed a hypothetical where a backup linebacker from Georgia is offered a starter’s salary at Kentucky; he will inevitably transfer.

“When you were playing,” Kiffin told Mathieu, “there’s a couple of schools you played, it’s like, ‘All right, if we do our job, it’s probably going to be all right.’

That’s not the case anymore because everybody has players.”

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU shortstop Kylee Edwards dives for a ball hit up the middle in the fourth inning of an NCAA regional game against Akron on May 15 at Tiger Park. Edwards announced Wednesday she entered the transfer portal.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

LSU coach Ed Orgeron watches from the sideline during a game against Texas A&M on Nov. 27, 2021, at Tiger Stadium.

tain West player, since his arrival.

But categorizing him as a potential “legend” is high praise.

Kiffin was also asked for a player who could surprise in 2026. He came back to another transfer: former Wisconsin running back Dilin Jones.

“We haven’t done tackling yet … but really good feet and body control. Really smooth runner,” said Kiffin, who noted Jones doesn’t have “notoriety” because of an injury-shortened 2025 season where he rushed for 300 yards. “Everybody knows about (tight end) Trey’Dez (Green) and Whit Weeks and TJ. So there’s a lot of names they already know about. But I think Dilin has got a real chance.”

Jones’ ascension certainly would help LSU, which returned a pair of talented rushers, Harlem Berry and Caden Durham, but needs all the help it can get after finishing 124th nationally in rushing yards per game last season.

Coach O’s impact If Ed Orgeron’s life was a story, Kiffin said its current chapters needed to place “Coach O” back at LSU. He “belongs” there, Kiffin added.

Orgeron’s month 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 for the place he’s at, using all of his recruiting skills — now you feel it in here,” Kiffin said. “He talks about, especially to a Louisiana kid, it’s in your DNA. At some point, you wanted to play for LSU, you wanted to be a Tiger. But you feel it in him. Because that was him.”

The same day Mathieu posted his Kiffin interview, a four-star running back from Louisiana, Trey Martin, committed to the Tigers. LSU has secured nine of its 13 commits in the 2027 class since Orgeron’s return.

Some of this recruiting momentum could be coincidental. But maybe not all of it.

“If you recruit someone and you have the passion and you had their story,” Kiffin said, “the parents, the kids are like — it’s cool.”

A thought about a transfer safety popped into Kiffin’s head before his interview with one of the great LSU defenders.

“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’s wired right. Unbelievable range, great ball skills.

I’m like, ‘You gotta get him up here to meet you,’ just to connect it. Like, you’re gonna be these iconic names, hopefully.”

There has been buzz about Email Jon Blau at Benefield, a first-team All-Moun- jon.blau@theadvocate.com.

from Clark, to State Farm Arena because its primary home, Gateway Center Arena in College Park, has a capacity of 5,000 fans. Clark and the Fever were already a big draw, but Reese’s rivalry with Clark — which created headlines in college and has continued in the WNBA — makes the matchup even more attractive.

The Dream acquired Reese from Chicago on April 6. Atlanta gave up first-round draft picks in 2027 and 2028 and received the right to swap second-round picks with the Sky in 2028.

Reese is averaging 14.6 points and leads the WNBA with 12.3 rebounds per game. The averages are nothing new. After all, Reese led the league in rebounds in each of her first two seasons with Chicago.

What’s new is the winning atmosphere that she missed in Chicago.

Reese is all smiles as she is sur-

RABALAIS

Continued from page 1C

season (Kiffin left for Florida Atlantic before Bama lost the CFP title to Clemson).

Brian Kelly rattled similar sabers and came nowhere near that level of success, but the fact remains the three coaches before Kelly — Saban, Les Miles and the recently returned Ed Orgeron — all lifted the trophy at LSU. The game has changed enormously since Orgeron and Joe 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’s shot improved greatly with Kiffin telling Mathieu that quarterback Sam Leavitt is fully cleared to participate in summer workouts.

This was the hoped for timetable with Leavitt, but to hear Kiffin say it is still significant.

Kiffin hinted at Leavitt’s recovery from November foot surgery at the SEC spring meetings last month, saying the former Arizona State transfer recently had been clocked running at 21 mph.

It’s crucial 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 assembled an impressive collection of talent, bringing in the nation’s No. 1 transfer portal class plus some highly touted high school recruits, but developing timing and camaraderie is essential.

sideration I have decided to enter the transfer portal for my last year,” Edwards wrote on her Instagram account. “This was not an easy decision, I’m super thankful for my time at LSU, but I feel like this is the best decision for myself and my family!”

Edwards is the second starter and third key player to enter the portal.

First baseman Tori Edwards, who led the team with 12 home runs, entered June 8. Left-hander pitcher Jayden Heavener also has departed, committing to Texas Tech last week. Tori Edwards has yet to choose a landing spot.

LSU, which lost to Alabama in

the super regional round, also has had outfielders Destiny Harris and Jaydn Laneaux, catcher Jada Phillips, infielder Gradie Appling, pitcher Lauren Soeken and utility player Maddox McKee enter the portal.

McKee committed to Texas A&Mk, but the others have not selected a new school yet.

Tori Edwards, a sophomore with two years of eligibility, is another portal prize. She was SEC Freshman of the Year in 2025 with a .383 batting average, 18 homers and 73 RBIs. Her numbers dropped to .284, 12 homers and 45 RBIs last season.

rounded by talent and depth that makes the Dream look like a championship contender.

When asked whether the camaraderie with her teammates or the winning record are the best part of her first season in Atlanta, Reese beamed and said: “Oh my. You said everything. I don’t know, I’m just really happy.

“I’m in a lot of joy just being able to be here, be surrounded by so many great people and every day I just show up to work and I don t have to think about anything else.

That’s probably the best thing, just being to show up at work and take care of my job and everything feels great.”

Through 13 games, Reese already has nine double-doubles.

Her 59 career double-doubles are the most in WNBA history through 76 games.

Reese set a career high with 11 offensive boards, one shy of matching the WNBA single-game record, and finished with 15 points and 17 rebounds in Atlanta’s 10277 win at Toronto on Sunday. She appears to be peaking just in time

for important back-to-back games against Clark and the Fever.

Reese also has contributed to Atlanta’s strong defense.

“We love that our team takes pride in defense, and that has been pretty consistent in every game,” Dream coach Karl Smesko said. “That we’re willing to compete each possession, and we understand that we wanna work to make sure that we don’t give up anything easy at any time. Angel is somebody who’s very serious about her defense and wants to learn to have every advantage defensively.”

The Dream-Fever matchups will be important as Atlanta tries to remain close to the top of the Eastern Conference. Reese said she’s trying to be patient as she seeks her first winning season in the league.

“Probably just telling myself, give myself as much grace as I can,” Reese said. “I’m a player that really wants results to happen fast, and I’m sure every player wants that, but I have to give myself grace and pace myself.”

From Iceland, with golf

Texas Tech thankfully has ended, with the embattled quarterback declaring for the NFL supplemental draft.

I wrote earlier during this appalling episode that hopefully a silver lining might come out of all of this: an impetus to embrace college sports reform. Well, the silver lining may have turned out to be the rest of the Big 12 standing up to Texas Tech and telling its 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 and receive support for his gambling addiction, which is truly a serious problem. Whether Texas Tech can heal from its obvious addiction to winning at all costs — an entrenched affliction in sports — is another question.

The school cloaked its desire to win games in the guise of wanting to help Sorsby, never admitting in its blinding ambition it could have helped him just as well as a nonplaying regular student.

Colorado coach Deion Sanders cut to the heart of the matter in a recent interview.

“Somebody’s gambling on a sport they’re playing,” Sanders said. “You don’t think something’s wrong with that? Just say that to yourself: ‘This guy on my team is gambling on the sport, in the competition, that we’re about to go out there and have.’ Something’s wrong with that.”

Indeed there is, coach. Hopefully the folks at Texas Tech will now, finally, come to that realization.

I definitely have a better chance to break 125 in the U.S. Open than that happening.

A couple of LSU Tigers who definitely will break 125 in the U.S. Open will tee it up in Thursday’s first 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 the golf 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’s final round last year at Oakmont before tying for seventh, is inching ever closer it seems to that elusive but attainable first major. He also hovered around the lead all week in April at the Masters tournament before finishing tied for seventh.

It’s a major achievement of another kind for Sveinsson, a junior on the LSU team. A historic achievement, actually. He is the first golfer from Iceland ever to play in the U.S. Open, surviving a sudden-death playoff in a qualifier two weeks ago near Columbus, Ohio, to earn his spot.

“It’s pretty surreal, obviously, being around here,” Sveinsson told reporters at the U.S. Open.

Believe it or not, there are about 65 golf courses in Iceland, most of them nine-hole tracks. That’s a lot for an island nation of about 402,000 people, which is less than half the population of metropolitan Baton Rouge.

If Iceland can have 65 courses, you’d think we could keep City Park golf course intact, wouldn’t you?

Burns tees off at 6:41 a.m.

Thursday on No. 10, while Sveinsson goes off on No. 1 at 1:20 p.m.

So long, Sorsby The Brendan Sorsby saga at

6C ■ Thursday, June 18, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL National League

American League East Division

New York Tampa Bay Toronto Baltimore Boston Central Division Chicago Cleveland Minnesota Detroit Kansas City West Division Seattle Athletics Texas Houston Los Angeles

W 45 41 36 34 29

L 27 30 38 40 42

Pct .625 .577 .486 .459 .408

GB — 3½ 10 12 15½

W 38 39 35 30 30

L 34 35 40 44 45

Pct .528 .527 .467 .405 .400

GB — — 4½ 9 9½

W 38 36 35 35 30

L 36 37 38 41 45

Pct .514 .493 .479 .461 .400

GB — 1½ 2½ 4 8½

Tuesday’s games

Washington 6, Kansas City 4 Toronto 6, Boston 1 N.Y. Yankees 12, Chicago White Sox 2 Milwaukee 2, Cleveland 1 Minnesota 12, Texas 2 Houston 4, Detroit 2 Seattle 3, Baltimore 1 L.A. Dodgers 1, Tampa Bay 0 L.A. Angels 7, Arizona 0 Pittsburgh 6, Athletics 5

Wednesday’s games

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By VERA NIEUWENHUIS

North Carolina infielder Jake Schaffner bats during a College World Series game against West Virginia on Sunday in Omaha, Neb.

North Carolina reaches first CWS final since 2007

BY ERIC OLSON

AP sportswriter

OMAHA, Neb. — Owen Hull had a triple and two doubles among his four hits, Gavin Gallaher had four hits and four RBIs, and North Carolina rolled past West Virginia 12-7 on Wednesday to advance to the College World Series finals for the first time since 2007.

The Tar Heels (53-12-1) went 3-0 in bracket play and will play for their first national championship in baseball starting Saturday in the best-of-three finals against Oklahoma or Georgia.

West Virginia (47-17) was 2-2 in its first CWS appearance with both losses to the Tar Heels.

A North Carolina offense that batted .217 with just four extrabase hits in its first two CWS games went into overdrive against the Mountaineers. Carolina was 8 for 10 with runners in scoring position, had five extra-base hits and

amassed its most runs and hits (16) in nine NCAA Tournament games.

“We were joking before the game today, like, ‘Man, we need to have one of those games where we get 15 hits and score some runs,’ ” Tar Heels coach Scott Forbes said. “So thankfully that happened.”

Hull was a home run shy of becoming the second player in three days to hit for the cycle. Texas player Adrian Rodriguez did it Monday against Alabama. Hull had an RBI double in the first inning, a single in the third, RBI double in the fourth and a triple in the sixth.

“The first thing 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 twice in the first inning off Chansen Cole (10-2), and Cooper Nicholson’s two-run triple put the Tar Heels up 5-1 in the third. They were ahead 12-1 before the Mountaineers began whittling into the lead.

Carolina starter Folger Boaz labored through a 28-pitch first inning, giving up two singles and a walk, and he didn’t come out for the second. Jackson Rose (5-0) pitched 41/3 innings of shutout relief and gave the ball to Matthew Matthijs with a nine-run lead.

West Virginia scored five runs on five hits and two walks in the seventh, all with two outs, and pulled within 12-6 when catcher Colin Hynek had a pitch by new reliever Caden Glauber get past him. Gavin Kelly homered in the eighth, his second of the CWS and 19th of the season, to make it a fiverun game.

“You never want to go down,” Mountaineers coach Steve Sabins said. “If you’re going to go down, for me, being down 12-1 and scratching and clawing and fighting and running out of gas and giving literally everything that you have left in the tank to compete is poetic for me.”

SCOREBOARD Odds

Pro golf

MLB

U.S. Open first round tee times

Thursday

Thursday-Friday First Hole-10th Hole

American League FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG Toronto OFF at BOSTON Minnesota -124 at TEXAS at SEATTLE -154 Baltimore at N.Y YANKEES -146 Chi. White Sox at ATHLETICS OFF LA Angels National League FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG at PHILADELPHIA -126 N.Y Mets at ATLANTA -142 San Francisco Interleague FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG at MILWAUKEE -136 Cleveland St. Louis -126 at KAN CITY

LINE OFF +106 +130 +124 OFF LINE +108 +120 LINE +116 +108

Pro basketball WNBA glance EASTERN CONFERENCE New York Atlanta Indiana Toronto Washington Chicago Connecticut

W 10 9 9 7 5 4 2

WESTERN CONFERENCE

L 4 4 5 8 7 9 13

W L Minnesota 11 3 Las Vegas 10 4 Dallas 9 5 Golden State 9 5 Los Angeles 7 7 Portland 7 9 Phoenix 4 11 Seattle 3 12 Minnesota 107, Portland 74 Golden State 78, Los Angeles 58

Pct .714 .692 .643 .467 .417 .308 .133

GB — ½ 1 3½ 4 5½ 8½

Pct .786 .714 .643 .643 .500 .438 .267 .200

GB — 1 2 2 4 5 7½ 8½

Tuesday’s game

Indiana 113, Toronto 91

Wednesday’s games

Washington 88, Connecticut 81 New York at Chicago, n Dallas at Golden State, n Las Vegas at Phoenix, n Minnesota at Los Angeles, n Seattle at Portland, n

Thursday’s games

Atlanta at Indiana, 6:30 p.m.

College baseball College World Series At Charles Schwab Field; Omaha, Neb. Double elimination; x-if necessary

June 12

Game 1: West Virginia 7, Troy 5 Game 2: North Carolina 6, Ole Miss 2

June 13

Game 3: Oklahoma 9, Alabama 0 Game 4: Georgia 7, Texas 1

June 14

Game 5: Troy 12, Ole Miss 8 Game 6: North Carolina 5, West Virginia 2

Monday’s games

Game 7: Alabama 14, Texas 7 Game 8: Oklahoma 4, Georgia 2

Tuesday’s games

Game 9: West Virginia 12, Troy 0 Game 10: Georgia 2, Texas 0

Wednesday

Game 11: North Carolina 12, West Virginia 7 Game 12: Oklahoma 11, Georgia 4

Championship Series (Best of 3)

Saturday

Game 1: North Carolina vs. Oklahoma, 7 p.m.

Sunday

Game 2: North Carolina vs. Oklahoma, 1:30 p.m.

Monday

x-Game 3: North Carolina vs. Oklahoma, 6 p.m.

5:35 a.m.-11:30 a.m. — James Nicholas, 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-Chase Kyes, USA; Matthew Jordan, England; Alejandro Tosti, Argentina.

6:08 a.m.-12:03 p.m. — Carl Yuan, China; Brandon Wu, USA; Jimmy Stanger, USA. 6:19 a.m.-12:14 p.m. — Padraig Harrington, Ireland; a-Miles Russell, USA; Cameron Smith, Australia.

6:30 a.m.-12:25 p.m. — Brooks Koepka, USA; Cameron Young, USA; Chris Gotterup, USA. 6:41 a.m.-12:36 p.m. — Daniel Berger, USA; Keegan Bradley, USA; Rickie Fowler, USA. 6:52 a.m.-12:47 p.m. — Patrick Reed, USA; Andrew Novak, USA; Kurt Kitayama, USA. 7:03 a.m.-12:58 p.m. — Harris English, USA; Adam Scott, Australia; Nick Taylor, Canada.

7:14 a.m.-1:09 p.m. — a-Mason Howell, USA; Scottie Scheffler, USA; J.J. Spaun, USA. 7:25 a.m.-1:20 p.m. — Sahith Theegala, USA; a-Jackson Koivun, USA; Michael Kim, USA. 7:36 a.m.-1:31 p.m. — J.B. Holmes, USA; Filippo Celli, Italy; a-Jackson Ormond, USA. 7:47 a.m.-1:42 p.m. — Jake Peacock, USA; aVaughn Harber, USA; Kaito Onishi, Japan.

Thursday-Friday 10th Hole-First Hole

5:35 a.m.-11:30 a.m. — Chandler Phillips, USA; Harry Higgs, USA; a-Hamilton Coleman, USA. 5:46 a.m.-11:41 a.m. — Nathan Kimsey, England; a-Jackson Herrington, USA; Cooper Dossey, USA. 5:57 a.m.-11:52 a.m. — Peter Uihlein, USA; a-Eric Lee, USA; Sam Stevens, USA. 6:08 a.m.-12:03 p.m. — Adrien Dumont de Chassart, Belgium; Ben Silverman, Canada; Emiliano Grillo, Argentina.

6:19 a.m.-12:14 p.m. — Patrick Rodgers, USA; Keith Mitchell, USA; Graeme McDowell, Northern Ireland.

6:30 a.m.-12:25 p.m. — Sungjae Im, South Korea; Lucas Herbert, Australia; Kristoffer Reitan, Norway.

6:41 a.m.-12:36 p.m. — Sam Burns, USA; Tyrrell Hatton, England; Si Woo Kim, USA. 6:52 a.m.-12:47 p.m. — Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland; Ludvig Aberg, Sweden; Tommy Fleetwood, England.

7:03 a.m.-12:58 p.m. — Alex Noren, Sweden; Maverick McNealy, USA; Sepp Straka, Austria.

7:14 a.m.-1:09 p.m. — Max Greyserman, USA; Brian Harman, USA; Jacob Bridgeman, USA. 7:25 a.m.-1:20 p.m. — Alex Fitzpatrick, England; Tom Kim, South Korea; Ben James, USA. 7:36 a.m.-1:31 p.m. — a-Brandon Holtz, USA; Ryuichi Oiwa, Japan; Dylan Wu, USA. 7:47 a.m.-1:42 p.m. — Greyson Leach, USA; a-Logan Reilly, USA; Robbie Higgins, USA.

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. — Laurie Canter, England; John Parry, England; a-Bryan Lee, USA. 12:52 p.m.-6:57 a.m. — Chris Kirk, USA; Max McGreevy, USA; Jake Knapp, USA. 1:03 p.m.-7:08 a.m.— Harry Hall, England; Michael Brennan, 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. — Ryan Gerard, USA; Russell Henley, USA; Ben Griffin, USA. 1:47 p.m.-7:52 a.m. — Justin Thomas, 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-Ryder Cowan, USA; Hennie du Plessis, South Africa.

12:41 p.m.-6:46 a.m. — Adrien Saddier, France; Jackson Van 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.— Pierceson Coody, USA; Zac Blair, 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. — Bryson DeChambeau, USA; Viktor Hovland, Norway; Matt Fitzpatrick, England.

1:36 p.m.-7:41 a.m. — Dustin Johnson, USA; Wyndham Clark, USA; Gary Woodland, USA. 1:47 p.m.-7:52 a.m. — Joaquin Niemann, Chile; Alex Smalley, USA; Shane Lowry, Ireland.

1:58 p.m.-8:03 a.m. — Akshay Bhatia, USA; Carlos Ortiz, Mexico; Min Woo Lee, Australia.

2:09 p.m.-8:14 a.m. — Justin Rose, England; Jordan Spieth, USA; Jon Rahm, Spain.

2:20 p.m.-8:25 a.m. — Ben Kohles, USA; Johnny Keefer, USA; Matt McCarty, USA. 2:31 p.m.-8:36 a.m. — Angel Hidalgo, Spain; a-Mateo Pulcini, Argentina; Spencer Tibbits, USA. 2:42 p.m.-8:47 a.m. — a-Matthew Robles, USA; Jake Sollon, USA; Manav Shah, USA.

Pro tennis ATP World Tour Terra Wortmann Open results

Kansas City 6, Washington 2 Houston 4, Detroit 2 L.A. Dodgers 5, Tampa Bay 4 Arizona 8, L.A. Angels 1 Toronto 3, Boston 0 Baltimore at Seattle, n Pittsburgh at Athletics, n N.Y. Yankees 10, Chicago White Sox 5 Milwaukee 9, Cleveland 4

Thursday’s games

Toronto (Yesavage 3-3) at Boston (Gray 8-1), 12:35 p.m.

Cleveland (Messick 6-3) at Milwaukee (Drohan 3-2), 1:10 p.m.

Minnesota (Ryan 4-3) at Texas (Leiter 3-6), 1:35 p.m.

Baltimore (Baz 4-6) at Seattle (Woo 5-5), 3:10 p.m.

Chicago White Sox (Burke 3-4) at N.Y. Yankees (Weathers 2-5), 6:05 p.m.

St. Louis (Liberatore 3-3) at Kansas City (Cameron 3-4), 6:40 p.m.

L.A. Angels (Soriano 8-4) at Athletics (Jump 2-1), 8:40 p.m.

East Division Atlanta Philadelphia Washington Miami New York Central Division Milwaukee St. Louis Chicago Pittsburgh Cincinnati West Division Los Angeles San Diego Arizona San Francisco Colorado

W 46 40 39 37 33

L 27 34 36 38 41

Pct .630 .541 .520 .493 .446

GB — 6½ 8 10 13½

W 45 40 38 37 35

L 26 32 36 37 38

Pct .634 .556 .514 .500 .479

GB — 5½ 8½ 9½ 11

W 48 38 38 31 28

L 27 35 36 43 46

Pct .640 .521 .514 .419 .378

GB — 9 9½ 16½ 19½

Tuesday’s games

Philadelphia 8, Miami 2 Washington 6, Kansas City 4 Cincinnati 5, N.Y. Mets 3 Milwaukee 2, Cleveland 1 St. Louis 3, San Diego 2 Colorado 5, Chicago Cubs 2 L.A. Dodgers 1, Tampa Bay 0 L.A. Angels 7, Arizona 0 Pittsburgh 6, Athletics 5 San Francisco at Atlanta, sus.

Wednesday’s games

N.Y. Mets 9, Cincinnati 1 Miami 12, Philadelphia 4 Kansas City 6, Washington 2 San Francisco 7, Atlanta 2, 1st game San Diego 6, St. Louis 1 L.A. Dodgers 5, Tampa Bay 4 Arizona 8, L.A. Angels 1 Colorado at Chicago Cubs, n Pittsburgh at Athletics, n San Francisco 7, Atlanta 5, 2nd game Milwaukee 9, Cleveland 4

Thursday’s games

Cleveland (Messick 6-3) 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 (Liberatore 3-3) at Kansas City (Cameron 3-4), 6:40 p.m.

BOX SCORES Arizona 8, L.A. Angels 1

Houston 4, Detroit 2

Los Angeles ab r h bi Neto ss 3 1 2 1 Trout dh 3 0 1 0 Adell rf 4 0 0 0 Peraza 2b 4 0 1 0 Grissom 1b 4 0 0 0 Guzman 3b 4 0 1 0 Siri cf 3 0 0 0 Porter c 2 0 1 0 Meckler lf 3 0 0 0

Detroit

ab r h bi Marte dh 4 1 2 2 Perdomo ss4 1 1 0 Carroll rf 5 1 1 4 Barrosa rf 0 0 0 0 Moreno c 3 0 3 0 Arenado 3b4 0 0 0 Vargas 2b 2 2 0 0 Lawlar cf 4 2 2 0 Groover 1b 4 0 0 0 Troy lf 4 1 2 2 Totals 30 1 6 1 Totals 34 8 11 8 Los Angeles 100 000 000 — 1 Arizona 051 020 00x — 8 E—Kerry 2 (2). DP—Los Angeles 2, Arizona 3. LOB—Los Angeles 5, Arizona 7. 2B—Porter (1), Guzman (2), Moreno (12), Lawlar (2), Marte (15). 3B—Troy (1). HR—Neto (15), Carroll (13).

IP H R ER BB SO Los Angeles Aldegheri L,2-2 3 6 6 6 3 1 Fermin 1 2 0 0 0 0 Kerry 4 3 2 2 1 2 Arizona Rodriguez W,6-2 7 6 1 1 3 5 Clarke 1 0 0 0 0 2 Morillo 1 0 0 0 0 0 HBP—Aldegheri (Marte). WP—Aldegheri.

ABS Challenge—Carroll (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Guzman (Strike-Confirmed); Arenado (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Rodriguez (Ball-Confirmed).

Umpires—Home, Jen Pawol; First, Hunter Wendelstedt; Second, Vic Carapazza; Third, Edwin Moscoso.

T—2:29. A—28,433 (48,359).

Houston ab r h bi ab r h bi McGoni. ss 4 1 1 1 Peña ss 4 1 2 2 Dingler dh 4 0 1 0 Alvarez dh 4 1 1 1 Greene lf 4 0 0 0 Walker 1b 4 0 1 0 Torkelson 1b4 0 0 0 Paredes 3b 4 0 1 1 Carpenter rf3 1 1 1 Altuve 2b 4 0 0 0 Keith 3b 2 0 0 0 Delgado 2b 0 0 0 0 Vierling cf 3 0 0 0 Smith rf 4 0 2 0 Lee 2b 3 0 0 0 Loperfido lf 3 1 1 0 Rogers c 3 0 0 0 Matthews lf 0 0 0 0 Meyers cf 3 0 0 0 Vázquez c 2 1 1 0 Totals 30 2 3 2 Totals 32 4 9 4 Detroit 000 000 101 — 2 Houston 001 021 00x — 4 LOB—Detroit 2, Houston 7. 2B—Smith (12), Walker (14), Alvarez (15), Paredes (14), Loperfido (6). HR—Carpenter (10), McGonigle (6), Peña (4).

IP H R ER BB SO Detroit Mize L,2-4 42⁄3 6 3 3 1 3 Finnegan 1 3 1 1 2 0 1 Sommers ⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 Waguespack 2 0 0 0 0 1 Houston Lambert W,6-4 7 2 1 1 0 5 De Los Santos H,6 1 0 0 0 0 1 Hader S,4-4 1 1 1 1 0 3 Finnegan pitched to 5 batters in the 6th.

HBP—Lambert (Keith).

ABS Challenge—Lambert (Ball-Overturned to Strike); McGonigle (StrikeConfirmed); Walker (Strike-Confirmed); Rogers (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Vázquez (Strike-Overturned to Ball); De Los Santos (Ball-Confirmed).

Umpires—Home, Quinn Wolcott; First, Steven Jaschinski; Second, Paul Clemons; Third, Adrian Johnson.

T—2:22. A—31,476 (41,000).

San Francisco 7, Atlanta 2

San Diego 6, St. Louis 1

San Francisco Atlanta ab r h bi ab r h bi Arraez 2b 5 2 3 0 Baldwin c 5 1 1 1 Eldridge dh 4 0 2 1 Harris cf 1 1 1 0 Chapman 3b4 0 0 2 White lf 3 0 0 0 Devers 1b 4 1 1 1 Olson 1b 3 0 1 0 J.Lee rf 3 1 1 2 Albies 2b 4 0 0 0 Adames ss 4 1 1 1 Do.Smith dh 3 0 1 0 Schmitt lf 4 1 2 0 Dubón lf-cf 4 0 1 1 Cox cf 0 0 0 0 Riley 3b 4 0 1 0 Gilbert cf-lf 3 1 0 0 Yastrzem. rf 4 0 1 0 Susac c 4 0 0 0 Kim ss 3 0 0 0 Totals 35 710 7 Totals 34 2 7 2 San Francisco 120 020 011 — 7 Atlanta 200 000 000 — 2 LOB—San Francisco 6, Atlanta 9. 2B—Arraez (15), Riley (12). HR—Devers (10), J.Lee (4), Adames (12), Baldwin (14). SB— Schmitt (7). SF—J.Lee (3), Chapman (3).

IP H R ER BB SO San Francisco Houser 1 3 2 2 1 2 Ray W,5-6 61⁄3 2 0 0 2 8 Dy.Smith 1 2 0 0 1 1 2 Kilian ⁄3 0 0 0 0 2 Atlanta Holmes L,4-3 2 4 3 3 3 2 Karinchak 1 0 0 0 0 0 Dodd 2 2 2 2 0 1 López 2 1 0 0 0 1 Molina 2 3 2 2 0 0 Dy.Smith pitched to 3 batters in the 9th.

WP—Holmes.

ABS Challenge—Ray (Ball-Overturned to Strike); Smith (Ball-Confirmed).

Umpires—Home, Jordan Baker; First, Junior Valentine; Second, Rob Drake; Third, Stu Scheuwater.

T—2:41. A—31,266 (41,149).

San Diego

Arizona

St. Louis ab r h bi ab r h bi Tatis rf 5 0 3 2 Wetherh. 2b 4 0 1 0 Taylor lf 4 2 1 0 Herrera dh 3 0 1 0 Merrill cf 5 1 3 2 Burleson 1b 4 0 1 1 Machado 3b3 1 1 1 Walker rf 4 0 0 0 Sheets dh 4 0 1 0 Nootbaar lf 4 0 1 0 Bogaerts ss 4 0 2 1 Winn ss 3 0 1 0 France 1b 5 0 0 0 Crooks c 1 0 0 0 Wagner 2b 3 1 1 0 Velázqu. ph 1 0 0 0 Song 2b 1 1 1 0 Pagés c 1 0 0 0 Durán c 4 0 1 0 Jordan 3b 2 0 0 0 Church cf 2 1 1 0 Fermín ph-cf1 0 0 0 Totals 38 614 6 Totals 30 1 6 1 San Diego 100 110 003 — 6 St. Louis 000 010 000 — 1 E—Winn (6). DP—San Diego 2, St. Louis 2. LOB—San Diego 10, St. Louis 6. 2B— Machado (11), Tatis (11), Durán (3). HR— Merrill (8). SB—Merrill (12), Herrera (5), Tatis (18), Taylor (4). SF—Machado (5).

IP H R ER BB SO San Diego Rodriguez 1 1 0 0 0 1 Canning W,1-5 41⁄3 4 1 1 3 2 2 Hart H,5 1 ⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 Adam H,16 1 0 0 0 0 0 Morejon 1 1 0 0 0 0 St. Louis Leahy L,5-4 6 7 3 3 1 7 Svanson 11⁄3 1 0 0 0 1 1 Bruihl ⁄3 2 0 0 0 0 Roycroft 11⁄3 4 3 3 2 1 HBP—Roycroft (Bogaerts), Adam (Herrera). WP—Leahy.

ABS Challenge—Machado (StrikeOverturned to Ball); Roycroft (BallConfirmed).

Umpires—Home, James Jean; First, Chris Segal; Second, Laz Diaz; Third, Nic Lentz.

T—2:52. A—29,859 (44,494).

Wednesday

At Gerry Weber Stadium Halle, Germany Purse: €2,583,330 Surface: Grass

Men’s singles

Round of 32 Taylor Fritz (5), United States, def. Zizou Bergs, Belgium, 7-6 (4), 5-7, 6-4.

Ben Shelton (3), United States, def. Lorenzo Sonego, Italy, 7-5, 6-3.

Men’s singles

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.

Learner Tien, United States, 6-7 (5), 7-5, 7-6 (5).

Daniil Medvedev (4), Russia, def. Terence Atmane, France, 6-4, 6-4.

Men’s doubles

Round of 16 John Peers, Australia, and Robert Galloway, United States, def. Kevin Krawietz and Tim Putz (1), Germany, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (8).

Robert Cash and James Tracy (4), United States, def. Jan-Lennard Struff and Yannick Hanfmann, Germany, 6-3, 7-5.

Men’s doubles

Quarterfinals Flavio Cobolli, Italy, and Ben Shelton, United States, def. Marcelo Melo, Brazil, and Alexander Zverev, Germany, 7-6 (5), 6-3.

Transactions Major League Baseball

American League CLEVELAND GUARDIANS — Sent LHP Erik Sabrowski on a rehab assignment to Akron (EL). Placed RF Chase DeLauter on the 10-day IL retroactive to June 14. Recalled LF Kahlil Watson from Columbus (IL).

THIS DATE IN BASEBALL June 18 1938 — The Brooklyn Dodgers signed Babe Ruth to coach for the remainder of the season.

1947 — Cincinnati’s Ewell Blackwell tossed a 6-0 no-hitter against the Boston Braves.

1950 — In the nightcap of a doubleheader, the Cleveland Indians scored 14 runs in the first inning for an American League record as they trounced the Philadelphia A’s 21-2.

1953 — At Fenway Park, Dick Gernert’s home run highlighted the 17-run, 14-hit seventh inning as the Boston Red Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 23-3. The Red Sox were up 5-3 after 6 1/2 innings. The Red Sox scored the 17 runs on 14 hits and six walks and left the bases loaded. Gene Stephens collected three hits and Sammy White scored three runs and Tom Umphlett also reached base three times in the inning.

1960 — The San Francisco Giants fired Bill Rigney and selected Tom Sheehan as manager. At 66 years, 2 months and 18 days, Sheehan was the oldest man to debut as a manager of a major league team.

1967 — Houston Astro Don Wilson tossed the first of his two career no-hitters by blanking the Atlanta Braves 2-0, facing 30 batters and striking out 15.

1975 — Fred Lynn batted in 10 runs with three homers, a triple and a single in a 15-1 Boston Red Sox victory over the Detroit Tigers. Lynn’s 16 total bases tied an AL record.

1976 — Commissioner Bowie Kuhn voided the sale of Oakland Athletics stars Vida Blue, Rollie Fingers and Joe Rudi. Athletics owner Charlie Finley sold Blue to the New York Yankees for $1.5 million and Rudi and Fingers to the Boston Red Sox for $1 million

each. Kuhn ordered the players to return to Oakland on grounds that they would upset the sport’s competitive balance.

1977 — New York Yankees outfielder Reggie Jackson and manager Billy Martin get into a dugout confrontation at Fenway Park that’s seen on national television. Martin removed his right fielder for loafing on a ball hit to the outfield. Jackson questioned Martin in the dugout and the two are eventually separated by coach Elston Howard.

1986 — California’s Don Sutton pitched a three-hitter for his 300th career victory as the Angels beat the Texas Rangers 5-1.

The 41-year-old right-hander became the 19th pitcher in baseball history to win 300 games.

2002 — Luis Castillo of the Florida Marlins ties Rogers Hornsby’s 80-year-old record for the longest hitting streak by a second baseman, beating out a dribbler to the pitcher in the 6th inning to make it 33 games in a row. Florida beats the Cleveland Indians, 2 - 1.

2007 — Chone Figgins went 6-for-6 and drove in the game-winning run in the ninth inning to lift the Los Angeles Angels over Houston 10-9.

2011 — Connor Harrell hit the first College World Series home run in the new TD Ameritrade Park to break a sixth-inning tie and first-time qualifier Vanderbilt defeated North Carolina 7-3.

2012 — R.A. Dickey became the first major league pitcher in 24 years to throw consecutive one-hitters and Ike Davis hit a grand slam in the New York Mets’ 5-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. The previous pitcher to throw consecutive one-hitters was Dave Stieb for Toronto in September 1988.

LIVING

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

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T h u r s d ay, J u n e 18, 2026

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Pork stir-fry offers light sauce, fresh flavor

BY LINDA GASSEHEIMER Tribune News Service (TNS)

I love the light, savory sauces used in Vietnamese-style stir-fries. They’re a refreshing change from the heavier, thicker sauces often found in other versions.

For this quick meal, I use 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 absorb the fragrant sauce and come together in a fresh, 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.

STAFF PHOTOS By MICHAEL JOHNSON

April Hamilton stirs ingredients on the stovetop while preparing a dish for the first dinner party since completion of a kitchen redo.

TNS PHOTO By LINDA GASSENHEIMER

Vietnamese Pork Stir-Fry

Yields 2 servings. Recipe is by Linda Gassenheimer.

4 garlic cloves, crushed 2 tablespoons brown sugar 3 tablespoons reduced-salt soy sauce 3 teaspoons ground ginger 3 tablespoons water ¾ pound pork tenderloin, thinly sliced ½ cup sliced onion 4 ounces thin dried rice noodles 2 tablespoons sesame oil 4 cups broccoli florets 1. Combine garlic, sugar, soy sauce, ginger and 2 tablespoons water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook 5 minutes or until sugar is melted.

2. Remove from heat and add pork to sauce and let sit for 5 minutes, turning the meat over 2 or 3 times.

3. Meanwhile, bring a medium saucepan ¾ full of water to a boil and add the rice noodles.

Boil for 3 minutes, then add the broccoli to the water for 1 minute. Drain.

4. Heat oil in a wok or large frying pan over high heat. Add the onion and saute 2 minutes.

Add the pork with the sauce.

Cook, tossing the pork with the onion for 2 minutes.

5. Add the broccoli and rice noodles. Toss all the ingredients together for 2 to 3 minutes. Divide in half and serve on 2 dinner plates.

NUTRITION INFO PER SERVING: 643 calories (25 percent from fat), 18.2 g fat (2.4 g saturated, 10.1 g monounsaturated), 108 mg cholesterol, 46.6 g protein, 73.1 g carbohydrates, 5.1 g fiber, 1008 mg sodium.

FOR THE OCCASION

With kitchen renovation complete, shrimp and tasso saute is on the menu Shrimp and Tasso Saute

BY APRIL HAMILTON Contributing writer

My husband did a DIY renovation of the kitchen in our first home, literally at the turn of the century.

The simple and inexpensive changes were a huge upgrade, and I recall cooking up a storm in the new space, with two little girls underfoot. With a late 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 the decade of cooking in my tiny but mighty kitchen, I imagined the walls coming down but couldn’t fathom a new layout or enduring the upheaval of a renovation. Enter Chad Blanchard and his team with Highland Construction Services, who turned my dread into giddy anticipation. From the first

ä See RENOVATION, page 2D

Makes 4 servings. Recipe is from “Cooking Up a Storm,” edited by Marcelle Bienvenu and Judy Walker.

2 tablespoons vegetable oil ½ cup chopped yellow onions ¼ cup chopped red bell pepper ¼ cup finely chopped celery ½ teaspoon salt 1 ⁄8 teaspoon cayenne 1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce 1 cup chopped tasso 1½ cups sliced mushrooms 1 tablespoon chopped garlic 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined ½ cup shrimp stock or chicken broth 1 ⁄3 cup dry white wine ¼ cup chopped green onions (green part only) ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley Hot cooked rice or pasta for serving

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, bell pepper, celery, salt, cayenne, Tabasco and tasso and saute over high heat for about 5 minutes, or until the vegetables are wilted and slightly brown.

2. Add the mushrooms, garlic, shrimp, stock and white wine and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes.

3. Add the green onions and parsley and adjust the seasonings.

4. Serve over rice or your favorite pasta.

NOTE: In my preparation, I used homemade shrimp stock made with the shells from peeling the shrimp. I doubled the amount called for, and to make it a little saucier, added in 2 tablespoons of cold butter into the liquid in the skillet, whisking to emulsify into a sauce.

Gluten-free meatballs feature beef, spinach and feta In this gluten-free meatballs recipe, chopped frozen spinach, which is naturally high in moisture, is used to bind the meat.

DREAMSTIME/TNS PHOTO

By JULIA SUDNITSKAyA

BY GRETCHEN McKAY

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (TNS) Young or old, it’s the rare diner who is not in the mood for meatballs.

A versatile dish that spans many cultures and can be made with beef, pork, chicken or even plant-based ingredients, meatballs are great as a standalone dish on top of rice or noodles, tucked into a pita or stuffed into a roll as a sub.

The only problem is that if they’re made with lean meat or you overwork the balls while shaping them, they can fall Recipe, apart during Beef, Spinach cooking — or and Feta worse, taste dry Meatballs instead of moist 2D and juicy.

Many meatball recipes bind the mixture and add tenderness with eggs and breadcrumbs or bread soaked in

milk. But it’s OK to play around with other ingredients that will add that much-wanted moisture without making meatballs overly wet or fragile. For instance, try finely grated vegetables like zucchini, carrots and mushrooms, panko, ricotta cheese, yogurt or tomato paste.

In this recipe, chopped frozen spinach, which is naturally high in moisture, is used to bind the

ä See MEATBALLS, page 2D

2D ■ Thursday, June 18, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Young lawyer needs to show confidence

Dear Miss Manners: I am a 25-yearthe fact that I am an attorney. old-lawyer who worked as a law Gentle reader: That you were willclerk for a year before ing to make the copies passing the bar exam. for the client shows your When I accompany the heart was in the right partner to hearings where place — which Miss Mana client is present, I invariners agrees is no small thing after three years of ably get asked whether I law school and a year of am still in law school or Judith court. how I like being a paraleMartin But unfortunately, she gal.

MISS has to say that your head What is the appropriate MANNERS was not. If you think the response? Also, when I am partner, having observed in the office, sometimes either of these interactions with potential clients will walk in and clients, was going to shout, “Proask me to make copies for them (assuming the secretary is not mote that person immediately — there). I usually do this graciouswe need more people who put the client first!” you would have been ly, but I am wondering if there is wrong. something I can say to establish

What he or she was really thinking was, “If that person cannot even explain to a client that they are not the secretary or a paralegal, how are they going to stand up to an angry judge?”

The correct thing to say 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 a secretary who can help you.” The answer to the client at the hearing is, “I am really enjoying being an associate here at the firm.” Then give a reason why the work you are doing for the firm is even more interesting than your clerkship — throwing in the name of the judge you worked for.

Business manners are different

from social manners, and most lawyers are used to being contradicted without taking offense.

They may even recognize the courage it took for you to speak up.

Dear Miss Manners: I am a female homeowner who lives in a twostory house. Mostly the living area is upstairs, after a 15-step staircase with a small landing before the turn.

If someone comes to my house who has never been, or a worker to do a repair or something, who do I let walk up the stairs first, looking at the other person’s butt?

The male stranger, the female stranger, or me?

Gentle reader: Etiquette is neutral

on who leads, unless the passage is challenging, in which case you would want to go first to act as guide.

As to what there is to see along the way, Miss Manners hopes that whoever follows will have the common courtesy, if not the common sense, to follow at a modest distance and with eyes elsewhere — no ifs, ands, buts or butts.

Send questions to Miss Manners at her website, www. missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Weighing the pros and cons of using social media

STAFF PHOTOS By MICHAEL JOHNSON

April Hamilton stirs ingredients on the stovetop while preparing a dish in her newly completed kitchen.

RENOVATION Continued from page 1D

iteration of the design to the final finished punch list, as if I waved a magic wand, they knocked it out with finesse.

I flashed back to my kitchen remodel years ago and desire to cook around the clock. It is a rerun of your favorite show. Shop, chop, cook, share the bounty and repeat. I was eager to have a dinner party and thank the team who made it happen. I invited my friend Lori and her husband Matt, who had guided us to the contractor team, and my friend Canette and her husband Chris, who helped with so many details when I was incapable of another decision, to join us for a toast and a feast.

The scheduled gratitude dinner coincided with an assignment to sample some beloved recipes from The Times-Picayune cookbook, “Cooking Up a Storm,” a collection of recipes lost and found post-Katrina. I selected the Shrimp and

Shrimp mixes with other ingredients on the stovetop while April Hamilton prepares shrimp and tasso saute.

Tasso Saute to highlight local seafood paired with the tasso from Jacob’s Smokehouse that my contractor stashed in my freezer after a trip to his hometown, LaPlace.

The recipe is just as Marcelle Bienvenu promises in the headnote: “It packs together a lot of different flavors, the ingredients are usually readily at hand, and it’s great when you need to whip something up at the

last minute.” I’ll add that it is special occasion-worthy.

When I received my copy of this treasured cookbook, I was in the midst of unpacking my decades-old cookbook collection to display on my new shelves.

Without hesitation, I prominently placed this new-tome book on its own 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 Serves 2-4. Recipe is adapted from “What Goes with That: 100 Recipes, 20 Charts, Endless Possibilities” by Julia Turshen.

FOR MEATBALLS: 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and squeezed dry ¼ pound (about 1 cup) crumbled feta cheese 1 tablespoon garlic powder 1 tablespoon dried oregano Kosher salt 1 pound ground beef Cooking spray FOR SAUCE: 1 cup plain full-fat Greek yogurt 2 small cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill Juice and zest of 1 lemon Kosher salt, to taste Pinch of cayenne, optional Steamed rice or cooked orzo, for serving

MEATBALLS

Continued from page 1D meat. The trick is you have to wring it out really, really well using a clean dish towel after it thaws to make sure not even a drop of liquid remains. The addition of feta, especially if you take time to grate it, also helps create

1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Place drained and squeezed spinach in a large bowl with feta, garlic powder, dried oregano and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Stir well to combine.

3. Add beef and mix well (I used my hands). Divide the mixture into a dozen portions, shaping them into balls. I made them slightly smaller and got 16 balls.

4. Space them evenly on the sheet pan and spray with cooking spray.

5. Roast until browned a more cohesive texture since it melts — slightly — during cooking.

These meatballs are seasoned with lots of garlic powder and dried oregano, but feel free to substitute fresh grated garlic if that’s your thing. They’re served with a bright and lemony yogurt sauce punctuated with dill.

They can be served hot

and firm to the touch, about 20-25 minutes. You can always crack one open to make sure it’s cooked enough, if you need some reassurance.

6. Meanwhile, place yogurt in a small bowl and whisk in garlic and dill.

Add zest and juice of 1 lemon, stir to combine, then season to taste with salt and cayenne, if using.

7. Serve meatballs hot, warm or at room temperature over rice or orzo, with the sauce and additional lemon slices for squeezing over. out of the oven, warm or at room temperature, with the sauce drizzled on top. If you need a good office lunch, tuck them into pita bread with lettuce and tomato for a Greek-style meatball sandwich.

I made them in my oven, but you also could cook the meatballs in an air fryer at 400 F for 15 minutes, turning halfway through.

good news about your Dear Harriette: I am strugcareer and personal life gling with social media. I as you see fit. Compare am making a career pivot, so it is a beautiful time for yourself to yourself rather than to others. Think me as I make new discovabout your goals, eries and explore and curate your new skills, but it is content to match also a scary and inthose goals. timidating chapter.

Consider hiring Social media has its someone to help pros and cons for you with your sothis season that I’m Harriette cial media strategy. in, and I’m trying Cole to decide whether You may even find SENSE AND the good outweighs a company or inSENSITIVITy the bad. On one dividual who can hand, posting about post for you. That my work, passions and will help to take you away projects helps me meet from the day-to-day, which and interact with people can make it easier to avoid who are also breaking into the comparisons. my industry as well as Dear Harriette: “First Time” seasoned professionals. On — your reader who wants the other hand, I find mysomeone to talk to about taking the next step with self making a lot of comher boyfriend — needs parisons. It causes me to an old crone in her life. second-guess myself, my After my sons were grown talent, my progress, my and out of the house, the path, my belongings and young ladies next door and more. I am grappling with their friends used to come whether this vast network — which could lead to con- over and pester me with questions that I gladly antinued work and learning opportunities — is more swered. We had some wonimportant than my mental derful gatherings where I health. Is there something told them things that their I can do to continue utilizparents never had — or things that they didn’t feel ing social media as a tool without compromising my they could ever even ask their parents. Every perself-worth? — Social Media Dear Social Media: Think of son who is an adult but not social media as a tool, not yet elderly needs a crone a crutch. Use it to share in their lives. Not only

have we been there, done that (or at least known people who have), but we have no cares left to give about propriety, and we will not turn away from any subject due to discomfort. — Kat From Kansas City Dear Kat From Kansas City: I love your sentiment. I also had to go to the dictionary to learn the meaning of “crone.” For those who don’t know, it used to mean an old woman, but is more commonly known today as a wise, postmenopausal woman venerated for her lifetime of experience, judgment and knowledge.

Kat, I say YES to the crone.

We wise women have a lot to offer others.

It’s funny. In many cultures, it was understood that the older women in the community were to be heralded for their wisdom.

People regularly came and sat at their feet to learn and to process whatever was going on in their lives.

This is a practice that would be great to revive.

Thanks for the reminder.

Send questions to askharriette@ harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Keeping knot in necktie intact Dear Heloise: I’ve enjoyed come with two key fobs, and learned from your and the key fobs have a butcolumn for years. If you’re ton to set off an alarm on like me, tying a necktie your car. As single woman can be frustrating. living by myself, I When I get a tie keep the extra key with a knot that has fob on my nightthe style and length stand. If someone I like, I’ll take it broke into my home, off by loosening it or I had a medical just enough to get emergency and Hints from couldn’t get to the it off my neck and Heloise phone quick enough over my head. Then I hang it up intact for help, all I need to on a tie rack that I have on do is press the alarm button the wall. So, the next time on the key fob. All of my I want to use it, it’s already neighbors would immeditied and ready for me to ately hear the noise. put on. — Mike D., in Indiana I let my neighbors know about this plan, and if they Key fob hint hear the alarm sounding, they would call me to find Dear Heloise: Most cars

out if I needed help. Most of my neighbors thought that this was a great idea and are doing the same thing with their extra key fob. — Cheryl M., in Omaha, Nebraska

Freezing milk Dear Heloise: I read about the woman who purchases two half gallons of milk and freezes one. I don’t drink a lot of milk, so I buy a quart. But sometimes a half gallon only costs a little more, so I freeze half of it. It freezes quite well.

— Mary G., in California Send a hint to heloise@ heloise.com.

TODAY IN HISTORY

By The Associated Press Today is Thursday, June 18, the 169th day of 2026. There are 196 days left in the year.

Today in history: On June 18, 1812, the War of 1812 began as the United States Congress approved, and President James Madison signed, a declaration of war against Britain.

Also on this date: In 1778, American forces entered Philadelphia as the British withdrew during the Revolutionary War. In 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated in the Battle of Waterloo as British and Prussian troops defeated the French Imperial Army in Belgium.

In 1979, President Jimmy Carter and Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev signed the SALT II strategic arms limitation treaty

in Vienna.

In 1983, astronaut Sally Ride became America’s first woman in space as she and four other NASA astronauts blasted off aboard the space shuttle Challenger on a six-day mission.

In 1986, 25 people were killed when a twin-engine plane and a helicopter carrying sightseers collided over the Grand Canyon.

In 1992, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Georgia v. McCollum, ruled that criminal defendants could not use race as a basis for excluding potential jurors from their trials.

In 2007, nine firefighters died when they were overwhelmed by a fast-spreading fire in a furniture showroom and warehouse facility in Charleston, South Carolina. It was one of the deadliest days for firefighting since the 9/11

attacks in the U.S. In 2018, President Donald Trump announced he was directing 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’s Birthdays: Musician Paul McCartney is 84. Actor Carol Kane is 74. Actor Isabella Rossellini is 74.

Singer Alison Moyet is 65.

Football Hall of Famer Bruce Smith is 63. Hockey Hall of Famer Martin St. Louis is 51. Actor Alana de la Garza is 50. Country musician Blake Shelton is 50. Football Hall of Famer Antonio Gates is 46. Actor Jeremy Irvine is 36

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Thursday, June 18, 2026 ■ 3D

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FrAnK And erneSt

roSebUdS

zItS

zodIAC GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Make an offer and follow through. Living up to your promises, requests and words will help you gain the confidence of others. Show how disciplined and fruitful you can be. cAncER (June 21-July 22) Stick to what works best for you. If you follow someone, you'll be disappointed with the outcome. Place more faith and trust in yourself and your ability to finish what you start.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Pay attention to relationships, conversations, the validity of the information you receive and the intentions of the people you encounter. If you have a positive impact on someone, it will reflect.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Suggestions and offers you receive will generate excitement and a desire for change, but before taking a leap 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 and downright depressing, putting you into a catatonic state of mind that's stopping you from living your dream. scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Rethink your strategy on health, love and earning potential. Perhaps it's time to rethink and update your direction, skills and connections. Mix business with pleasure. sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Set yourself up, let go of the past and stabilize your future. Choose your space wisely. Put in the time to ensure you feel comfortable.

How much and how well you produce what's important to you in life depends on your surroundings. cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Deal with what irks you and put it to rest. Letting matters fester will put you in a vulnerable position. It's time to let go of what's not working for you and to engage in what soothes your soul.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Start with love, enthusiasm and a fun-filled agenda. 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 will develop if you participate in events or activities that stretch your mind and help you build relationships with people who bring out the best in you.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Think outside the box. It's OK to be unique and to stand out when you have something to offer.

Refuse to let anyone ruin your plans.

Expect someone to overreact or tempt you to go overboard with your intentions. tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Put more time and effort into home, family and lifestyle changes. An adjustment to your routine that sets you on the road to better health will distance you from bad influences and emotionally draining situations.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2026 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

For better or For WorSe WonderWord

peAnUtS

SALLY Forth

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

toDAy's cLuE: W EQuALs o

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon FAMILY CIrCUS

dooneSbUrY

4D ■ Thursday, June 18, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Sudoku InstructIons: Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers.

The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

BaBY BLueS

BLondie

THe wiZard oF id

nea CroSSwordS

La TimeS CroSSword

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Thursday, June 18, 2026 ■ 5D

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Bridge

By PHILLIP ALDER Jack Youngblood, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame who played for the Los Angeles Rams for 14 years, said, “I visualize things in my mind before I have to do them. It is like having a mental workshop.”

The most skillful bridge players can get inside the minds of their opponents.

They can visualize exactly what that player would do from various holdings.

Today’s deal is an example of this.

South is in three no-trump. West leads the heart three and declarer calls for dummy’s five. What should East do?

The auction was straightforward.

South did not like to open one no-trump without a heart stopper, but the bid gave as accurate a description of his hand as possible. Yes, he might have opened one diamond, planning to rebid one spade over a one-heart response, but partner would have had a much fuzzier picture of South’s hand. The only makable game here is four spades, which is tough to reach.

Let’s return to East’s predicament. If South has ace-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. Which is correct?

Get into South’s mind. If he had acedoubleton, which heart would he have played from the board?

garfield

Pearls Before swiNe

hagar the horriBle

Right — the queen. He would have hoped the opening lead was away from the king and tried to take a second heart trick. When he does not do that, he cannot have the heart ace. So East should confidently put up his king, expecting to win the trick. And five heart tricks later, the contract is down. © 2026 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

wuzzles Each Wuzzle is a word riddle which creates a disguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD = GOOD AFTERNOON

PiCKles

Previous answers:

mallard fillmore

word game InstRuctIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3.

Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

toDAy’s WoRD — ADMIRE: ad-MY-er: To feel respect and approval for.

Bizarro

marmaduKe

Average mark 25 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 29 or more words in ADMIRE? yEstERDAy’s WoRD — cAtIons cant canto casino cast cation ciao coast coat coati coin cost

action anti antic ascot atonic taco tonic icon into iota oast

saint santo satin scan scant scat scion snit sonic stain stoic

loCKhorNs hidato Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

today’s thought “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:26 Things come and go. You don’t. We are eternal from now on. Heaven or Hell. Which will it be?

G.E. Dean

6D ■ Thursday, June 18, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

AREA 5 655 North St. Subsidized eff Apts cpabr.org 225-383-5551.

TDD/TTY /711RELAY

Baton Rouge Rental AREA 1 Baker LA, Apt. 2BR 1BA, $900/mth, $800/dep (225) 347-7040

classifieds.theadvocate.com | 225-383-0111 or toll free 800-960-6397 Announcements BUSINESS PERSONAL New to Baton Rouge Area looking to service your delivery needs. No package too big or too small, call 225 620-9145 more info

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Andrew Perry contact Laura Tracy: (504)-275-6308.

191537-June 18-20, 3t $73 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of any heirs of Gloria Singleton, please contact Alexis Tukes, Esq. at (225) 326-7365.

191502-6/17-18-19-3t $85.00

Miscellaneous We Buy Houses for Cash AS-IS! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy process: Call, get cash offer and get paid. Call today for your fair cash offer: 1-225-545-1983.

Donate your car, truck, boat, RV and more to support our veterans!

Schedule a FAST, FREE vehicle pickup and receive a top tax deduction!

Call Veteran Car Donations at 1-844-742-5188 today!

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Christie Whitaker please call attorney Larry McAlpine at 225-3171956.

191532-June 18-20, 3t $85 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Keyarai Barton, please contact Creighton B. Abadie, Attorney, at (225) 924-5150.

191584-6/18-19-20-3t $85.00

Attention: VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! A cheaper alternative to high drugstore prices! 50 Pill Special - Only $99! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW: 1-877-305-0196.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Timothy Stephen Philip Leow, his succession representative(s), child(ren), and/or heirs, please contact Wyman E. Bankston, P.O. Box 305, Livingston, Louisiana 70754 at (225) 435-4980.

191164-6/16-17-18-3t $121.00 Anyone with an interest in the tutorship of Beaux and Blair Miller, please contact Qiana Bynum at 225803-2778 191627-6/18-19-2t $80.00 John Thawng d/b/a GENEVIEVE LLC. is applying to the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control of the State of Louisiana for the permit to sell beverages of high and low alcohol content at retail in the Parish of EAST BATON ROUGE at the following address: John Thawng GENEVIEVE SUSHI LLC 20377 OLD SCENIC HWY suite # 201 Zachary LA , 70791 225 306 4174 191541-June 18-1t $112.64 LOUISIANA STATEWIDE Advertising Looking to promote your services or find a new hire? Deliver your classified message statewide for as little as $265 per week through the Louisiana Press Association’s Classified Network. Pre-payment required. To learn more, email advertising@lapress.com or call 225-344-9309.

Public Notices

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT May 29, 2026 PUBLIC NOTICE INVITATION TO BID Sealed bids will be re‐ ceived by the Purchasing Department, GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY, Gram‐ bling, La. On July 2, 2026 at 2:45, P.M. for: “50018-260033” Retinal Imaging and Teleophthalmology Ser‐ vices for the School of Nursing. At which time and place the bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. Any bid received after closing time will be returned unopened.

Copies of the specifica‐ tions may be obtained in electronic format by vis‐ iting the State of Louisiana, Office of State Purchasing, LaPAC Web Site, https://wwwcfprd. doa.louisiana.gov/osp/ lapac/dspBid.cfm?sea rch=department& term=53 Copies of specifications are on file in the Office of the Director of Purchas‐ ing, GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY, Grambling, La. To obtain a copy of the specifications from Grambling State Univer‐ sity, call (318)-274-3280 or walkere@gram. e-mail edu.

Bids must be returned to the Purchasing Office at purchasingbids@gram. edu by the due date and time referenced. Bids must be submitted on the forms enclosed with the bid specification, and in strict conformity with the intent of same with‐ out modifications. Bids must be signed in ink, dated, and title of person signing the bid should be shown on the bid.

Evidence of General Lia‐ bility Insurance, Auto Li‐ ability Insurance, and Workers Compensation Insurance required for this contract.

No bid may be with‐ drawn after the sched‐ uled closing time for re‐ ceipt of bids for at least thirty (30) days.

The University reserves the right to reject any or all bids, and to waive any informalities.

Evidence of authority to submit the bid shall be required in accordance with R.S. 38:2212(B)(5) and/or R.S. 39:1594(C)(4).

An Equal Employer.

Opportunity

GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY GRAMBLING, LOUISIANA Erin Walker Director of Purchasing TO APPEAR: 5/29/2026 BID DUE: 7/2/2026 189558 June 4, 11, 18, 2026 3t $90.18

PUBLIC NOTICE --Bid #0004 Southern University at New Orleans is soliciting an Invitation to Bid (ITB) to replace an existing 225 Ton Daikin Air-Cooled Chiller at the School of Social Work Building with the installation of a New 225 Ton Chiller. A Manda‐ tory Pre-Bid Meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at 10:00 am, and the Opening Bid Confer‐ ence will be held on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at 10:00 am. Both meet‐ ings are located at 6400 Press Drive, New Orleans, LA 70126, in the Emmitt Bashful Building (Admin.

Bldg.) 3rd Floor, Rm. #306. Sealed bids will be received by Southern University at New Or‐ l i h h i

Merchandise

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Locally owned and affordable. Call for service or an inspection today! 1-877-728-0264 Have zip code of property ready when calling!

Home Services DIRECTV- All your entertainment.

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AREA 3

EDUCATION SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS The Iberville Parish School Board (IPSB) is ready to continue its path to excel‐ lence and is seeking an exceptional Su‐ perintendent of Schools to lead those efforts. The IPSB serves a diverse popu‐ lation of 4,072 students on 13 campuses with approximately 980 employees. It has an annual operating budget of ap‐ proximately $150,000,000. Iberville Parish has approximately 30,000 citi‐ zens and is located only 20 minutes from Baton Rouge.

Qualifications: Applicants must be cer‐ tified as a superintendent in Louisiana at the time of application or be eligible for immediate certification, as con‐ firmed in writing by the LDOE, at the time of application. You must furnish your LDOE confirmation of certification along with your completed application.

Please note that the applicant must possess the credentials which entitle him/her to serve as the district’s super‐ intendent. Each applicant must meet or exceed, as of the date of application, the qualifications for superintendent listed in Bulletin 746 Louisiana Stan‐ dards for State Certification of School Personnel.

Applications: Applications for the posi‐ tion of Superintendent of Schools may be found and printed off the IPSB web‐ site (www.ipsb.net). Applications must be completed, signed, and delivered as outlined below to be considered.

Salary: The salary for this position is negotiable based on the experience of the applicant. The estimated salary range is $150,000-$190,000 per year.

PLEASE NOTE: Applications for this po‐ sition are subject to public release under the Louisiana Public Records Law, La. R.S. 44:1 et seq.

191545-jun 18-24-jul 1-3t $37.86 PUBLIC NOTICE --Central Community School System Child Nutrition Program The Central Community School System will re‐ ceive sealed bids for the Child Nutrition Program for the purchase of fresh produce for the 2026-2027 School Year.

Bids will be opened at 10:00 am on the following dates: July 14, 2026; Sep‐ tember 15, 2026; October 20, 2026; November 17, 2026; January 26, 2027; March 16, 2027; May 18, 2027.

The deadline for submit‐ ting questions concern‐ ing these bids will be one week prior to the bid opening.

Written re‐ sponses will be provided no later than 5 days prior to bid opening. There is no pre-bid conference re‐ quired.

Specifications will be available to vendors until 10:00 am CST on the dates listed above.

Bids will be available on Central Auction House. com. Bid will also be available on the Central Community School Sys‐ tem, Child Nutrition Pro‐ gram website at www. centralcss.org. Bids may also be picked up at the Child Nutrition office at 11576 Sullivan Road, Baton Rouge, La., 70818 between 8:30 am and 2:00 pm.

The bid openings will be held at the Central Com‐ munity School Board Of‐ fice, located at 11576 Sul‐ livan Road, Baton Rouge, La., 70818 at 10:00 am CST on the dates listed above. If there are any questions, please call 225-650-2919. The public is invited to all bid open‐ ings.

Vendors’ atten‐ dance is not required at the bid opening.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

190865-jun 18-25-2t $75.64 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO BIDDERS Bids will be received by email at ULLafayette‐ Bids@louisiana.edu up to 2:00PM, Wednesday, July 16, 2026 , by the Purchas‐ ing Office at the Univer‐ sity of Louisiana at Lafayette for the follow‐ ing: File No. 26210 NIRCBUILDING 29 - 3RD FLOOR LABORATORY RENOVA‐ TION Optional Pre-bid Meet‐ ing: 9:00AM Friday, June 26, 2026 Bids will not be accepted by the Purchasing Office after the above specified time and date.

Access to full informa‐ tion, specifications, and bid forms may be ob‐ tained by: 1. Visiting the Office of State Purchasing & Travel’s LaPAC website at: https://wwwcfprd. doa.louisiana.gov/osp/ lapac/pubMain.cfm.

You must follow instruc‐ tions leading to the Uni‐ versity Purchasing Office website at: Public Works, Construction, and Reno‐ vation Solicitations (Title 38) / Office of Purchas‐ ing (louisiana.edu)

CEMETERY PLOTS Historic Roselawn Cemetery. 6 avail. $3200 ea or $19k ttl. 225-276-5504 CEMETERY PLOTS Resthaven Cem., Garden of Faith. 2 Plots together $8500. 225-938-4801

MACHINERY/TOOLS Battery & Charger incld $227 225-366-9277 MISC FOR SALE SMALL SOLID BLACK THROW PILLOWS MANY AVAILABLE! EACH $5 225-752-7273 MISC FOR SALE Two 38” Tall Cement Cranes Each Crane $50 225-752-7273

Garage Sales AREA 1 HUGE SALE! Rain or Shine! 5190 Myrtle Hill Ave., Zachary. Thursday & Friday 7:30a-Until, Everything must go!

NEWS 24/7 ON

Move In Ready!

3017 Chippewa St. 5159 Frey St. Both Properties 3BR 1BA Rent $800/mo, $300/dep 225-357-6436

AREA 5 1BR $550, 2BR $650 Tigerland. $500 Deposit. 225-475-1737

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

2. Visiting the University Purchasing Office web‐ site at: Public Works, Construc‐ tion, and Renovation So‐ licitations (Title 38) / Of‐ fice of Purchasing (louisiana.edu) 3. E-mailing your request to the University Pur‐ chasing Office: BidQues‐ tions@louisiana.edu. In‐ clude Bid Number and Bid Name (above).

4. INQUIRIES: All inquiries regarding this solicitation shall be directed to Purchasing by emailing BidQues‐ tions@louisiana.edu or calling (337) 482-9051.

The inquiry period will end at 5:00PM Monday, July 6, 2026.

The public bid opening will take place at 3:00PM, Wednesday, July 16, 2026 on Zoom, which is avail‐ able for viewing by regis‐ tering at: https://ullafayette.zoom. us/meeting/register/ gzwbVI-MRaWoTlmpTH 13Xg Meeting ID: 994 1135 0837 Password: 851925 Evidence of authority to submit the bid shall be required in accordance with R. S. 39:1594. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette reserves the right to reject any and all bids.

UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT LAFAYETTE Kristi Montet, NIGP-CPP Director – Procurement and Travel 191114-JUN 18-25 JUL 2-3T $89.31 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be re‐ ceived by the Iberville Parish Council, 58050 Meriam Street, 2nd Floor of the Courthouse, Plaquemine, La 70764 up to 10:00 am., on July 2, 2026 for: MOSQUITO CONTROL INSECTICIDES At 10:15 a.m. of the same day and date they will be publicly opened and read in the Council Meeting Room, 2nd Floor of the Iberville Parish Court‐ house, 58050 Meriam Street, Plaquemine, Louisiana.

Specifications may be obtained from the Parish Council Purchasing De‐ partment, Courthouse Building, 58050 Meriam Street, Plaquemine, Louisiana, (225) 687-5190.

The Iberville Parish Council complies with Louisiana Public Bid Law (La. R.S. 38:2211-2261).

It shall be the responsi‐ bility of the bidder to as‐ sure that their bid arrives at the proper location by the time indicated. Late bids, telegrams, facsim‐ ile, or telephone bids will not be considered. Bids will not be considered from firms, individuals, or the same owners of separate companies sub‐ mitting more than one bid. note Iberville Please Parish Council’s Work Hours: Monday-Thursday 7:30 am-5:00 pm Friday: 7:30 am-11:30 pm Iberville Parish Council is exempt from state and local sales tax. Such taxes shall not be in‐ cluded in the bid price.

The Parish Council re‐ serves the right to reject any and all bids and waive any informality.

Please find bid related materials and post your electronic bids at WWW. CENTRALBIDDING.COM. Chantal Hidalgo Purchasing Agent b ill i h

il

CLASSIFIEDS WORK

Public Notices Bids/Proposals g g Iberville Parish Council 6/18 6/25 189210-jun 18-25-2t $82.38 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be re‐ ceived for Northwestern State University by the NSU Purchasing Office, Room 104, 200 Sam Sibley Dr., St. Denis Hall, North‐ western State University, Natchitoches, Louisiana 71497 until 2:00 pm, Thursday, June 25, 2026..

Mandatory Pre-Bid Con‐ ference: A mandatory Prebid Conference will be held at 10:00AM Tuesday, June 9th, 2026, at the fol‐ lowing location: NSU Physical Plant, Confer‐ ence Room, 998 South Jefferson, Natchitoches, La 71497.

SEALED BID #7676 NSU Waste Disposal, Natchi‐ toches Campus for Northwestern State Uni‐ versity Specifications may be obtained by e-mailing your company name and address to purchasing@ nsula.edu and requesting a bid package. Bids will not be accepted after the hour and date specified and will be publicly opened at the hour spec‐ ified in the Business Af‐ fairs - Purchasing Sec‐ tion, St. Denis Hall, Northwestern State Uni‐ versity, Natchitoches, Louisiana. The right is re‐ served to reject any and all bids and to waive any informalities.

Evidence of authority to submit the bid shall be required in accordance with R.S.38:2212( a )( 1 )( c ) and/or R.S.39:1594( C )( 2 )( d ).

ASHLEE GRAYSON DIRECTOR OF PURCHAS‐ ING RODNEY WILSON CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFI‐ CER NORTHWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY UNIVERSITY 189476-JUN 4-11-18-3T $64

PUBLIC NOTICE --PUBLIC NOTICE - - - AD‐ VERTISEMENT FOR BIDS City of St. Gabriel (herein referred to as the "Owner") hereby solicits sealed bids for the Sun‐ shine Event Center pro‐ ject described as follows: STATEMENT OF WORK: New Construction Build‐ ing with site work.

Sealed Bids shall be ad‐ dressed to the _ City of St. Gabriel-Sunshine Event Center Project, and delivered to Attn: John Chumba, St. Gabriel City Hall located at 5035 Iberville Street St. Gabriel, LA 70776, not later than 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday, on the 15th day, of July 2026. **Pursuant to Louisiana Revised Statute 38:2212, vendors/contractors now have the option to sub‐ mit their bids and bid bonds, electronically. In addition to paper bids, electronic bids and elec‐ tronic bid bonds for the project will be down‐ loaded by the Owner. To view bids, download, and receive bid notices by email, your com‐ pany/agency will need to register at www.central bidding.com prior to the deadline. ** Any bid received after the specified time and date will not be consid‐ ered. The sealed bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at 10:00 a.m. on the 15th day of July, 2026, at the Council Chambers, St. Gabriel City Hall located at 5035 Iberville Street, St. Gabriel, LA 70776. Com‐ plete Bid Documents, In‐ i idd id

MOBILE HOME 1, 2 & 3 BR mobile homes, $675 & up 6061 Plank Rd. CALL 225-978-4653 ROOMS FOR RENT Furnished Rooms. $125/wk. $500/mo.

225-933-7560

PRINT ADVERTISING WORKS

THE CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT

will be closed on Friday, June 19th in observance of

JUNETEENTH

And will be observing the following Early Deadline: Deadline: Run Date Tuesday, June 16 @ 3pm ......... Friday June 19 Wednesday, June 17 @ 3pm.... Saturday June 20 Wednesday, June 17 @ 3pm.... Sunday June 21 Wednesday, June 17 @ 3pm.... Monday June 22

As always, you may place your ad 7 days a week, 24 hours a day online at www.theadvocate.com or call Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

(225) 383-0111

PETS • SUPPLIES • SERVICES • OBITUARIES • LOST & FOUND

PLACE YOUR PET SERVICES INFORMATION IN THE PET SERVICES DIRECTORY TODAY! • IT IS FAST AND EASY! • CALL 225-383-0111 DOGS 6 Female 2 Male German Shepherd pup‐ pies, S/W 6wks old. 225-205-4311 DOGS AKC Reg. Rottweiler Puppy. 1 -F Show Quality $800. 504-782-9291 DOGS Cairn Corso Pups, Docked tails, S/W, Full Bld'd, $2,500 to $3k (504) 645-7591

SIGN UP TODAY

AREA 7 Office space for lease at 58521 Belleview Dr, Plaquemine, LA. 950 sqft with all utilities included, offering a 1-year lease with monthto-month options available.

(985) 974-7310

Pets / Pet Services Directory

The IPSB is an equal opportunity employer.

WORKS

y leans in the Purchasing Department, Emmitt Bashful Bldg. Rm. #202 up to 10:00 am July 22, 2026.

To be shown in the news‐ paper: June 18, June 24, and July 1, 2026 Contact Person: Marilyn Gilmore-Manuel, Purchasing Director (504) 286-5020

WANT TO BUY Old Records 33's, 45's & 78's. All types of music. Call 985-259-1889

Deadline for Applications: All applica‐ tions must be received on or before Au‐ gust 18, 2026. Applications not received by that date will not be considered.

Method for Delivery of Applications: All applications must be mailed to: Super‐ intendent Search, P.O. Box 539, Plaque‐ mine, LA 70765. Applications delivered in any other fashion will not be consid‐ ered.

PRINT ADVERTISING

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

AREA 3 3060 N. Acadian Thrwy 1BR/1BA $500/mth $300Dep Water/Sewer Paid 225-357-6436

AREA 3 5135 & 5137 Fairfield (Duplex) 1BR/1BA, Rent $500, Dep $300 Updated 225-357-6436

Struggling with debt? If you have over $15,000 in debt we help you be debt free in as little as 24-48 months. Pay nothing to enroll. Call Now: 1-877-773-1742.

Health and Wellness DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company.

Coverage for 400 plus procedures.

Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now!

Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details!

1-855-268-0108 www.dental50plus.com/morning #6258

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Rebecca Rutherford Diaz please contact Troy E. Hankins, Attorney at Law, at 100 West Robert Street, Hammond, Louisiana 70401; (985) 345-1010.

191218-June 16-18, 3t $109

Employment

AREA 2 3BR 2BA, 16x80 Mobile Home in Central School District on 1 acre treed lot, $600 dep, $950/mth rent.

Large storage bldg, Lawn Service Included. 225-603-4395

CATS RAGAMUFFIN & RAGDOLL KITTENS www.CatsByFrancy.com/kittens $1500up! Reg. Shots & Guaranty 337-230-3150

DOGS Cairn terriers - Shots and wormed 6 months old $150.00 985-222-4354 DOGS Chihuahua, L/H, tiny, born 4/1/26, 1st s&w. Lafayette area 937-844-7271

DOGS Many breeds, deposit & payment plans available (225) 810-5771 DOGS Shih Tzu, m/f, 9wks old, paper trained $250+, Adult Shih Tzu's $200, Cash Only.

Call (504) 418-3046

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

p structions to Bidders, Bid Form, Contract, Plans, Specifications, and Forms of the Bid Bond, Performance Bond and Payment Bond, and other bidding documents may be downloaded from the City of St. Gabriel Plan Room as hosted by Cen‐ tral Bidding https:// www.centralbidding.com (subject to fees and con‐ ditions). For any ques‐ tions regarding the web‐ site call Central Bidding at 225-810-4814. Prospec‐ tive Bidders are solely re‐ sponsible for obtaining the most up-to-date bid‐ ding Documents from the designated website.

Complete Bid Documents may also be examined by emailing raphael@r3a rchitects.com or at the Office of the Architect for the contract; located at 2900 Westfork Dr, STE 401, Baton Rouge, La 70827; (225-588-8825).

Hard copies may be ob‐ tained at this office upon payment of a deposit of $300.00. This deposit will be refunded upon re‐ quest in accordance with R.S. 38:2212. Contractors submitting bids shall be licensed under Louisiana Contractors Licensing Law for the Major Classi‐ fication of Building Con‐ struction. The bidder shall show his license number on the bid and on the sealed envelope submitting the bid. The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause; such ac‐ tions will be in accor‐ dance with Title 38 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes. In accordance with R.S. 38:2212 (A)(1) (b), the provisions and requirements stated in the Bidding Documents shall not be waived by any entity. Each Bidder must deposit with his/her bid, security in the amount of at least five percent (5%) of the total bid price, provided on the specified form and subject to the condi‐ tions provided in the In‐ formation for Bidders.

Sureties used for obtain‐ ing bonds must appear as acceptable on the U. S. Department of Treasury Circular 570. No bidder may withdraw his/her bid within forty-five (45) days after the actual date of the opening thereof.

The construction budget is approximately $1,750,000 and will be awarded to lowest, re‐ sponsible and responsive bidder in accordance with Louisiana Public Bid Law requirements.

y iting the State of Louisiana, Office of State Purchasing, LaPAC Web Site, https://wwwcfprd. doa.louisiana.gov/osp/ lapac/dspBid.cfm?sea rch=department& term=53 Copies of speci‐ fications are on file in the Office of the Director of Purchasing, GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY, Gram‐ bling, La. To obtain a copy of the specifica‐ tions from Grambling State University, call (318)-274-3280 or e-mail walkere@gram.edu.

y informalities.

Evidence of authority to submit the bid shall be required in accordance with R.S. 38:2212(B)(5) and/or R.S. 39:1594(C)(4).

An Equal Opportunity Employer.

GRAMBLING STATE UNI‐ VERSITY GRAMBLING, LOUISIANA

q electronic bidding process, please call Cen‐ tral Bidding at 800-9909339. To view bids, down‐ load, and receive bid no‐ tices by email, your com‐ pany/agency will need to register at www.central bidding.com prior to the deadline.

g p p pubmain.cfm and is available for vendor selfenrollment. NOTE: This RFQ is not available to submit online via Central Bidding; submissions MUST be mailed or hand delivered to the address mentioned in the RFQ.

**A PRE-BID CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD: TIME & DATE: on the 26th day of June , 2026 at 10:00 a.m.

LOCATION: Council Chambers, St. Gabriel City Hall located at 5035 Iberville Street, St. Gabriel, LA 70776. ** OWNER __CITY OF ST. GABRIEL BY: /s/, R3 ARCHITECTURE, L.L.C. PUBLICATION/DATES: The Advocate Thursday, June 18, 2026 Thursday, June 25, 2026 Thursday, July 2, 2026 191556-jun 18-25-jul 2-3t PUBLIC NOTICE --PUBLIC NOTICE INVITA‐ TION TO BID Sealed bids will be re‐ ceived by the Purchasing Department, GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY, Gram‐ bling, La. On July 2, 2026 at 2:05, P.M. for: “50018260031” Waste Manage‐ ment Services. At which time and place the bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. Any bid received after closing time will be returned un‐ opened.

Per-Bid Meeting is sched‐ uled on June 11, 2026 at 10:00am, at the Facilities Conference Rm, 1 Facili‐ ties Drive, Grambling, LA 71245.

Copies of the specifica‐ tions may be obtained in electronic format by vis‐ i i h f

Bids must be returned to the Purchasing Office at purchasingbids@gram. edu by the due date and time referenced. Bids must be submitted on the forms enclosed with the bid specification, and in strict conformity with the intent of same with‐ out modifications. Bids must be signed in ink, dated, and title of person signing the bid should be shown on the bid.

Evidence of General Lia‐ bility Insurance, Auto Li‐ ability Insurance, and Workers Compensation Insurance required for this contract. No bid may be withdrawn after the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids for at least thirty (30) days.

The University reserves the right to reject any or all bids, and to waive any informalities.

Evidence of authority to submit the bid shall be required in accordance with R.S. 38:2212(B)(5) and/or R.S. 39:1594(C)(4).

An Equal Opportunity Employer.

GRAMBLING STATE UNI‐ VERSITY GRAMBLING, LOUISIANA Erin Walker Director of Purchasing TO APPEAR: 5/28/2026 BID DUE: 7/2/2026 189514-JUN 4-11-18 $81.60

PUBLIC NOTICE --PUBLIC NOTICE INVITA‐ TION TO BID Sealed bids will be re‐ ceived by the Purchasing Department, GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY, Gram‐ bling, La. On July 2, 2026 at 2:00, P.M. for: “50018260032” Pest Control Ser‐ vices. At which time and place the bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. Any bid received after closing time will be returned unopened.

Per-Bid Meeting is sched‐ uled on June 10, 2026 at 9:00am, at the Facilities Conference Rm, 1 Facili‐ ties Drive, Grambling, LA 71245.

Copies of the specifica‐ tions may be obtained in electronic format by vis‐ iting the State of Louisiana, Office of State Purchasing, LaPAC Web Site, https://wwwcfprd. doa.louisiana.gov/osp/ lapac/dspBid.cfm?sea rch=department& term=53 Copies of speci‐ fications are on file in the Office of the Director of Purchasing, GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY, Gram‐ bling, La. To obtain a copy of the specifica‐ tions from Grambling State University, call (318)-274-3280 or e-mail walkere@gram.edu.

Bids must be returned to the Purchasing Office at purchasingbids@gram. edu by the due date and time referenced. Bids must be submitted on the forms enclosed with the bid specification, and in strict conformity with the intent of same with‐ out modifications. Bids must be signed in ink, dated, and title of person signing the bid should be shown on the bid.

Evidence of General Lia‐ bility Insurance, Auto Li‐ ability Insurance, and Workers Compensation Insurance required for this contract. No bid may be withdrawn after the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids for at least thirty (30) days.

The University reserves the right to reject any or all bids, and to waive any

Erin Walker Director of Purchasing TO APPEAR: 5/28/2026 BID DUE: 7/2/2026 189516-JUN 4-11-18-3T $81

Contractors submitting bids shall be licensed under LA R.S. 37:21502164. The bidder shall show their license num‐ ber on the bid and on the sealed envelope submit‐ ting the bid.

SECTION 00050 ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause; such actions will be in accor‐ dance with Title 38 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes.

City of St. George (herein referred to as the "Owner") hereby solicits sealed bids for the Elliot Road Rehabilitation pro‐ ject described as follows:

In accordance with R.S. 38:2212 (A)(1)(b), the pro‐ visions and requirements stated in the Bidding Documents shall not be waived by any entity.

STATEMENT OF WORK (Project No. 260292): Base Bid – The construc‐ tion of new asphalt over‐ lay, asphalt patching, as‐ phalt milling, limestone base shaping, shoulder material, striping, mark‐ ers and associated ap‐ purtenances.

Each Bidder must de‐ posit with his/her bid, security in the amount of at least five percent (5%) of the total bid price, provided on the specified form and subject to the conditions provided in the Information for Bid‐ ders. Sureties used for obtaining bonds must appear as acceptable on the U. S. Department of Treasury Circular 570.

PUBLIC NOTICE ---

Sealed Bids shall be ad‐ dressed to the City of St. George and delivered to the City of St. George Of‐ fice at 11207 Proverbs Av‐ enue, St. George, LA 70816 not later than 2:00 p.m., on Thursday, July 9, 2026. Any bid received after the specified time and date will not be con‐ sidered. The sealed bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at the City of St. George Office (Main Con‐ ference Room) located at 11207 Proverbs Avenue, St. George, LA 70816.

A Mandatory Pre Bid Conference to discuss the scope of the project and the requirements of the Bidding and Contract Documents will be held on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the City of St. George Office (Main Conference Room), 11207 Proverbs Avenue, St. George, Louisiana 70816. Attendance of the Pre-Bid Conference is Mandatory.

Complete Bid Docu‐ ments, Information for Bidders, Bid Form, Con‐ tract, Plans, Specifica‐ tions, and Forms of the Bid Bond, Performance Bond and Payment Bond, and other bidding docu‐ ments may be down‐ loaded from the Forte and Tablada Plan Room as hosted by Central Bid‐ ding https://www.cen tralbidding.com (subject to fees and conditions).

For any questions re‐ garding the website call Central Bidding at 225810-4814.

Prospective Bidders are solely re‐ sponsible for obtaining the most up-to-date bid‐ ding Documents from the designated website. Bids will be accepted through the online bidding portal or by mail and/or hand delivery to the location as stated above.

No bidder may withdraw their bid within forty-five (45) days after the actual date of the opening thereof.

OWNER: CITY OF ST. GEORGE BY: /s/ DUSTIN YATES, MAYOR PUBLICATION/DATES: (The Advocate) Thursday, June11, 2026 Thursday, June 18, 2026 Thursday, June 25, 2026 190734- jun 11-18-25-3t $196 PUBLIC NOTICE ---

In that LaPAC and Central Bidding provides an im‐ mediate email notifica‐ tion to subscribing bid‐ ders that a solicitation and any subsequent ad‐ denda have been let and posted, notice and re‐ ceipt thereof is consid‐ ered formally given as of their respective dates of posting. Though not re‐ quired if receiving solici‐ tation and addenda no‐ tices from LaPAC and Central Bidding the CityParish will email ad‐ denda to all vendors con‐ tacting our office and re‐ questing to be put on our office Vendor Listing for this solicitation.

The deadline for receiv‐ ing written inquiries is July 14, 2026 at 5:00 PM CST. Proposals received after the above specified time will not be considered.

The right to reject any and all proposals and to waive irregularities and informalities is reserved.

All questions concerning the Solicitation and Con‐ tract Documents MUST be received in accor‐ dance with the Schedule of Events cited in the So‐ licitation documents.

Though not required if receiving solicitation and addenda notices from LaPAC, the City of Baton Rouge, Parish of East Baton Rouge will email or mail addenda to all ven‐ dors contacting our of‐ fice and requesting to be put on our office Vendor Listing for this solicita‐ tion.

191394-jun 18-25-jul 2-3t $140.64 PUBLIC NOTICE --VOUCHER# 26-000723-2

VOUCHER #2026-04-6110 DATES: 06/18/26, 6/25/26 & 07/02/02/26

BIDS TO BE OPENED: 07/02/2026

BIDS TO BE OPENED 07/27/26

Electronic or sealed bids will be received by the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, Purchasing Divi‐ sion, City Hall Building, Room 826, 222 Saint Louis Street, 8th Floor, Baton Rouge, La. until 11:00 A.M. July 2, 2026 for the following:

NOTICE TO PROPOSERS Notice is hereby given that sealed proposals will be received by City of Baton Rouge and the Parish of East Baton Rouge until July 27 2026 at 2:00 PM CST in Pur‐ chasing Division, Room 826 of City Hall, 222 Saint Louis Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802 for: RFQ 2026-04-6110 2026-2029 GENERAL CONTRACTOR POOL FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPENT PROGRAMS A mandatory prebid con‐ ference will be held on July 8, 2026 at 2:00 pm CST at 222 St. Louis Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 (City Hall Building, Room 826). Only compa‐ nies represented at the prebid conference shall be considered for award.

Complete Bid Documents may also be examined by emailing publicworks@ forteandtablada.com or at the Office of the Engi‐ neer for the contract; Forte and Tablada lo‐ cated at 9107 Interline Ave., Baton Rouge, La 70809; (225-927-9321).

Hard copies may be ob‐ tained at this office upon payment of a deposit of $150.00. This deposit will be refunded upon re‐ quest in accordance with R.S. 38:2212.

Copies of the Request for Proposal may be ob‐ tained from LaPAC (https://wwwcfprd.doa. louisiana.gov/osp/lapac/ dspBid.cfm?search=dep artment&term=102), Central Bidding (http:// www.centralauctionh ouse.com) or by email re‐ quest to email 6110GenContPool@brla. gov.

Pursuant to the Louisiana Revised Statute, vendors/con‐ tractors now have the option to submit their bids and bid bonds, elec‐ tronically. Official Elec‐ tronic Bid Documents are available at Central Bid‐ ding. Central Bidding can be accessed at www.cen tralbidding.com.

For questions related to the l i biddi

*Note: The City-Parish has elected to use LaPAC, the state’s online electronic bid posting and Central Bidding noti‐ fication system, in addi‐ tion to its standard means of advertising this requirement. LaPAC is resident on State Pur‐ chasing’s website at https://wwwcfprd.doa. louisiana.gov/osp/lapac/ b i f d i

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

A26-0723 - REBID OEM SRP & MAS for GENPRO GENERATORS Official bid documents are available at Central Bidding (https://www. centralauctionhouse. com/rfpc10656-city-ofbaton-rouge.html) or by request from the City of Baton Rouge at dsstew‐ art@brla.gov.

Bids shall be submitted electronically via www. centralbidding.com or on the solicitation bid forms furnished by the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge prior to the bidding deadline.

Electronic bids for the solicitation will be down‐ loaded by the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, Pur‐ chasing Division. Begin‐ ning as soon as feasible after the bid closing time all electronic bids will be downloaded and publicly read aloud along with all paper bids received, if any, in Room 806 immedi‐ ately after the 11:00 a.m. bid closing. Bidders or their authorized repre‐ sentatives are invited to be present.

NOTE: The only vendor information shared at the bid opening will be the reading of the names of those vendors who submitted bids.

Note: The City-Parish has l d h

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Thursday, June 18, 2026 ■ 7D

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8D ■ Thursday, June 18, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate Public Notices Bids/Proposals y elected to use LaPAC, the state's online electronic bid posting and notifica‐ tion system, in addition to its standard means of advertising this require‐ ment. This Invitation to Bid is available in elec‐ tronic form at the LaPAC website https:// wwwcfprd.doa.louisiana. gov/osp/lapac/dspBid. cfm?search=departm ent&term=102.

Bids, amendments to bids or request for with‐ drawal of bids received after time specified for bid openings shall not be considered for any cause whatsoever.

Inquiries will be received up until 5 pm on 06/26/2026.

Full information may be obtained upon request from the above address or by telephoning Dexter Stewart at (225) 389-3259, Ext. 3283, or via email er‐ miller@brla.gov.

Any vendor who would like to listen to the open‐ ing of this bid can access the following link, at the date and time of this bid opening:

NOTE: The only vendor information shared at the bid opening will be the reading of the names of those vendors who submitted bids.

Join by phone +1-408-418-9388 United States Toll Access code: 263 373 080 (followed by the # but‐ ton) Alternate numbers to call if number above is not available, which may occur due to network traffic (use the same Ac‐ cess Code, followed by the # button): United States Toll (Boston) +1-617-315-0704 United States Toll (Chicago) +1-312-535-8110 United States Toll (Dallas) +1-469-210-7159 United States Toll (Denver) +1-720-650-7664 United States Toll (Jacksonville) +1-904-900-2303 United States Toll (Los Angeles) +1-213-306-3065 These numbers will pro‐ vide you with live audio access to this bid open‐ ing.

191342 June 18, 25, 2t $108.58

PUBLIC NOTICE --VOUCHER# 26-000724-2 BIDS TO BE OPENED: 07/02/2026 NOTICE TO BIDDERS Electronic or sealed bids will be received by the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, Purchasing Divi‐ sion, City Hall Building, Room 826, 222 Saint Louis Street, 8th Floor, Baton Rouge, La. until 11:00 A.M. July 2, 2026 for the following: A26-0724 - REBID OEM SRP & MAS for HOLGAR GENERATORS Official bid documents are available at Central (https://www.

Bidding centralauctionhouse. com/rfpc10656-city-ofbaton-rouge.html) or by request from the City of Baton Rouge at dsstew‐ art@brla.gov.

Bids shall be submitted electronically via www. centralbidding.com or on the solicitation bid forms furnished by the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge prior to the bidding deadline.

Electronic bids for the solicitation will be down‐ loaded by the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, Pur‐ chasing Division. Begin‐ ning as soon as feasible after the bid closing time all electronic bids will be downloaded and publicly read aloud along with all paper bids received, if any, in Room 806 immedi‐ ately after the 11:00 a.m. bid closing. Bidders or their authorized repre‐ sentatives are invited to be present.

NOTE: The only vendor information shared at the bid opening will be the reading of the names of those vendors who submitted bids.

Note: The City-Parish has elected to use LaPAC, the state's online electronic bid posting and notifica‐ tion system, in addition to its standard means of advertising this require‐ ment. This Invitation to Bid is available in elec‐ tronic form at the LaPAC https:// website wwwcfprd.doa.louisiana. gov/osp/lapac/dspBid. cfm?search=departm ent&term=102.

Bids, amendments to bids or request for with‐ drawal of bids received after time specified for bid openings shall not be considered for any cause whatsoever.

Inquiries will be received up until 5 pm on 06/26/2026.

Full information may be obtained upon request from the above address or by telephoning Dexter Stewart at (225) 389-3259, Ext. 3283, or via email er‐ miller@brla.gov.

Any vendor who would like to listen to the open‐ ing of this bid can access the following link, at the date and time of this bid opening:

NOTE: The only vendor information shared at the bid opening will be the reading of the names of those vendors who submitted bids.

Join by phone +1-408-418-9388 United States Toll Access code: 263 373 080 (followed by the # but‐ ton) Alternate numbers to call if number above is not available, which may occur due to network traffic (use the same Ac‐ cess Code, followed by the # button): United States Toll (Boston) +1-617-315-0704 United States Toll (Chicago) +1-312-535-8110 United States Toll (Dallas) +1-469-210-7159 United States Toll (Denver) +1-720-650-7664 United States Toll (Jacksonville) +1-904-900-2303 United States Toll (Los Angeles) +1-213-306-3065 These numbers will pro‐ vide you with live audio access to this bid open‐ ing.

191338 June 18, 25, 2t $108.58

NEWS 24/7 ON

Public Notices Conservation

PUBLIC NOTICE ---1PLEASANT HILL FIELD 26-228 thru 26-230 LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF LOUISIANA, DE‐ PARTMENT OF CONSER‐ VATION AND ENERGY, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA. In accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana, and with par‐ ticular reference to the provisions of Title 30 of Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, a public hearing will be held in the Hearing Room, 1st Floor, LaSalle Building, 617 North 3rd Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 9:00 a.m. on TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2026, upon the application of JERA UP‐ STREAM AMERICA, LLC. At such hearing the De‐ partment of Conserva‐ tion and Energy will con‐ sider evidence relative to the issuance of Orders pertaining to the follow‐ ing matters relating to the Haynesville Zone, Reservoir A, in the Pleas‐ ant Hill Field, DeSoto and Sabine Parishes, Louisiana.

1. To permit the applicant to drill, designate and utilize five cross unit hor‐ izontal wells as alternate unit wells for HA RA SUEE, HA RA SUKK, and HA RA SULL, at the loca‐ tions and in the general manner shown on the plat submitted with the application and made a part hereof, in exception to the spacing provisions of the 498-B Series of Of‐ fice of Permitting and Compliance Orders, and in accordance with LAC 43:XIX4307, et seq.

(Statewide Order No. 29S).

2. To find that the pro‐ posed cross unit wells are necessary to effi‐ ciently and economically drain a portion of the Haynesville Zone, Reser‐ voir A, underlying HA RA SUEE, HA RA SUKK, and HA RA SULL, which can‐ not be so drained by any existing well within such units, including the por‐ tions of the participating units contained within the applicable setback area on either side of the common unit boundaries between said units.

3. To provide that with re‐ spect to horizontal wells drilled within or to serve HA RA SUEE, HA RA SUKK, and HA RA SULL, where the horizontal portion of the well is cased and ce‐ mented back above the top of the Haynesville Zone, Reservoir A, the distance to any unit boundary and any offset well(s) should be calcu‐ lated based on the dis‐ tance to the nearest per‐ foration in the well and not based on the pene‐ tration point or terminus.

4. To permit the unit op‐ erator to produce the unit allowable for HA RA SUEE, HA RA SUKK, and HA RA SULL from the re‐ spective unit wells, any alternate unit well, or from any combination thereof, at its discretion.

5. To find that unit pro‐ duction from the cross unit wells should be allo‐ cated to each of the units from which they produce in the same pro‐ portion as the perforated length of the lateral in each such unit bears to the total length of the perforated lateral as de‐ termined by an “as drilled” survey per‐ formed after such wells are drilled and com‐ pleted, and that unit pro‐ duction should continue to be shared on a surface acreage basis.

6. To continue in full force and effect, except to the extent contrary herewith, the pertinent provisions of Order No. 498-B, effective October 7, 2008, and all applicable Statewide Orders.

7. To consider such other matters as may be perti‐ nent.

The Haynesville Zone, Reservoir A was defined in Order No. 498-B, effec‐ tive October 7, 2008.

A plat is available for in‐ spection in the Depart‐ ment of Conservation and Energy in Baton Rouge and Shreveport, Louisiana. http://dnr.louisiana.gov/ conshearings All parties having inter‐ est therein shall take no‐ tice thereof.

BY ORDER OF: DUSTIN H. DAVIDSON, SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF CON‐ SERVATION AND ENERGY Baton Rouge, 6/15/26;6/18/26 S lck

LA

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE AT THE HEARING, PLEASE CON‐ TACT THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND ENERGY AT P.O. BOX 94275, BATON ROUGE, LA 70804-9275 IN WRITING WITHIN TEN (10) WORK‐ ING DAYS OF THE HEAR‐ ING DATE. 191420 June 18, 1t $74.78

PUBLIC NOTICE ---2HOLLY FIELD 26-231 and 26-232 LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF LOUISIANA, DE‐ PARTMENT OF CONSER‐ VATION AND ENERGY, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA. In accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana, and with par‐ ticular reference to the provisions of Title 30 of Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, a public hearing will be held in the Hearing Room, 1st Floor, LaSalle Building, 617 North 3rd Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 9:00 a.m. on TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2026, upon the application of EXCO OP‐ ERATING COMPANY, LP. At such hearing the De‐ partment of Conserva‐ tion and Energy will con‐ sider evidence relative to the issuance of Orders pertaining to the follow‐ ing matters relating to the Haynesville Zone, Reservoir A, in the Holly Field, DeSoto Parish, Louisiana.

1. To permit the applicant to drill, designate and utilize four cross unit horizontal wells as alter‐ nate unit wells for HA RA SUI and HA RA SUK, at the locations and in the general manner shown on the plat submitted with the application and made a part hereof, in exception to the spacing provisions of the 88-J Se‐ ries of Office of Permit‐ ting and Compliance Or‐ ders, provided there are no perforations in any wellbore closer than 330’ to any unit boundary and limited to 100’ from any unit boundary in the di‐ rection of the horizontal wellbore closest to the top of perforations or base of perforations (200’ between wells in adja‐ cent units), except for the common unit bound‐ aries between said units.

2. To find that the pro‐ posed wells are neces‐ sary to efficiently and economically drain a portion of the reservoir covered by each unit which cannot be so drained by any existing well within such units.

3. To permit the operator to produce the unit al‐ lowable for each unit from the unit well and/or the alternate unit wells, in any combination, at its discretion.

4. To find that unit pro‐ duction from the pro‐ posed cross unit horizon‐ tal alternate unit wells shall be allocated to each unit in the same

lll

Public Notices Conservation

proportion as the perfo‐ rated length of the lat‐ eral in each unit bears to the total length of the perforated lateral as de‐ termined by an “as drilled” survey per‐ formed after the cross unit horizontal wells is drilled and completed, provided that unit pro‐ duction shall continue to be shared on a surface acre basis.

5. To find that production from each cross unit hor‐ izontal alternate unit well shall be separated and metered individually and this information shall be reported in the manner prescribed by the Secretary of the De‐ partment of Conserva‐ tion and Energy.

6. To find that, with re‐ spect to wells drilled to the Haynesville Zone, Reservoir A, within or to serve HA RA SUI and HA RA SUK, where the hori‐ zontal portion of the well is cased and cemented back above the top of the Haynesville Zone, Reser‐ voir A, the distance to any unit boundary and offset well(s) should be calculated based on the distance to the nearest perforation in the well, and not based on the penetration point or ter‐ minus.

7. Except insofar as set forth above, to confirm and continue in effect the provisions of Order No. 88-J, effective July 29, 2008, the units created thereby and applicable Statewide Orders.

8. To consider such other matters as may be perti‐ nent.

The Haynesville Zone, Reservoir A was defined in Order No. 88-J, effec‐ tive July 29, 2008.

A plat is available for in‐ spection in the Depart‐ ment of Conservation and Energy in Baton Rouge and Shreveport, Louisiana. http://dnr.louisiana.gov/ conshearings All parties having inter‐ est therein shall take no‐ tice thereof.

BY ORDER OF: DUSTIN H. DAVIDSON, SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF CON‐ SERVATION AND ENERGY Baton Rouge, 6/15/26;6/18/26 S lck

LA

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE, PLEASE CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT OF CON‐ SERVATION AND ENERGY AT P.O. BOX 94275, BATON ROUGE, LA 70804-9275 IN WRITING WITHIN TEN (10) WORKING DAYS OF THE HEARING DATE. 191428 June 18, 1t $77.35 PUBLIC NOTICE ---3BAYOU SORREL FIELD 26-233 LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF LOUISIANA, DE‐ PARTMENT OF CONSER‐ VATION AND ENERGY, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA. In accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana, and with par‐ ticular reference to the provisions of Title 30 of Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, a public hearing will be held in the Hearing Room, 1st Floor, LaSalle Building, 617 North 3rd Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 9:00 a.m. on TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2026, upon the application of HILCORP ENERGY COMPANY. At such hearing the De‐ partment of Conserva‐ tion and Energy will con‐ sider evidence relative to the issuance of Orders pertaining to the follow‐ ing matters relating to the Marginulina Howei Zone, Reservoir A, in the Bayou Sorrel Field, Iberville Parish, Louisiana.

1. To designate the Hilcorp Energy CompanyC.E. Schwing No. 2 Well (SN 220149) as an alter‐ nate unit well for the MARG H RA SUA, at the location shown on the plat submitted with the application and made a part hereof.

2. To permit the operator to produce the unit al‐ lowable from the existing unit well, the proposed alternate unit well, or from the combination of both wells, at its option.

3. To find that the pro‐ posed alternate unit well is necessary to economi‐ cally and efficiently drain reserves from the MARG H RA SUA which cannot be economically and effi‐ ciently recovered by any existing well within such unit.

4. Except to the extent contrary herewith, the provisions of the Office of Permitting and Com‐ pliance Order No. 374-V-1, the unit created thereby, and all applicable Statewide Orders, shall remain in full force and effect.

5. To consider such other matters as may be perti‐ nent.

The Marginulina Howei Zone, Reservoir A was fully defined in Order No. 374-V, effective October 21, 1997.

A plat is available for in‐ spection in the Depart‐ ment of Conservation and Energy in Baton Rouge and Lafayette, Louisiana. http://dnr.louisiana.gov/ conshearings All parties having inter‐ est therein shall take no‐ tice thereof.

BY ORDER OF: DUSTIN H. DAVIDSON, SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF CON‐ SERVATION AND ENER‐ GYU Baton Rouge, 6/15/26;6/18/26 L lck

LA

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE, PLEASE CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT OF CON‐ SERVATION AND ENERGY AT P.O. BOX 94275, BATON ROUGE, LA 70804-9275 IN WRITING WITHIN FIVE (5) WORKING DAYS OF THE HEARING DATE. --------------------------------NOTE This Notice does not con‐ stitute a summons to ap‐ pear, but is merely an in‐ vitation to attend the hearing if you so desire.

A copy of this Notice is being sent to all known interested and repre‐ sented parties and inter‐ ested owners. This Legal Notice has been pub‐ lished in “THE MORNING ADVOCATE”, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and will be published in “THE ADVOCATE”, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

191543 June 18, 1t $387.83

PUBLIC NOTICE --Notice is hereby given that Upper Delta Soil & Water Conservation Dis‐ trict has applied for a 401 Water Quality Certifica‐ tion to remove and re‐ place two (2) weirs on Bayou Grosse Tete, one off Highway 441 near Livonia and one off Big‐ man Lane near Torbert, and a weir on Bayou Maringouin off Highway 76 near Maringouin.

Bayou Grosse Tete and Bayou Maringouin will be dredged for 1000’ up‐ stream of each weir site.

Bayou Maringouin will also be dredged for ap‐ proximately 4 miles north of Maringouin. In addition, Bayou i i d

Public Notices Conservation y Maringouin and Bayou Grosse Tete will be con‐ nected near Valverda Road through double 8’ x 8’ box culverts. Work will occur in Iberville and Pointe Coupee Parishes.

Upper Delta Soil & Water Conservation District is applying to the Louisiana Department of Environ‐ mental Quality, Office of Environmental Services for a Water Quality Certi‐ fication in accordance with statutory authority contained in the LAC 33:IX.1507.A-E and provi‐ sions of the 401 Clean Water Act. Comments concerning this application can be filed with the Water Per‐ mits Division within ten days of this notice by ref‐ erencing WQC 260402-01, AI 250835 to the following address: Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Water Permits Division P.O. Box 4313 Baton Rouge, LA 708214313 Attn: Water Quality Certi‐ fications Comments may be sub‐ mitted by email to DEQWaterQualityCertifica‐ tions@la.gov.

A copy of the application is available for inspec‐ tion and review at the LDEQ Public Records Center at 602 North Fifth Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The available information can also be accessed electronically on the Electronic Docu‐ ment Management Sys‐ tem (EDMS) on the LDEQ public website at www. deq.louisiana.gov.

191643 June 18, 1t $244.89

PUBLIC NOTICE --REVISED -4PERKINS FIELD 26-223 LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF LOUISIANA, DE‐ PARTMENT OF CONSER‐ VATION AND ENERGY, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA. In accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana, and with par‐ ticular reference to the provisions of Title 30 of Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, a public hearing will be held in the Hearing Room, 1st Floor, LaSalle Building, 617 North 3rd Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 9:00 a.m. on TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2026, upon the application of PIE LA OP‐ ERATING, LLC. At such hearing the De‐ partment of Conserva‐ tion and Energy will con‐ sider evidence relative to the issuance of Orders pertaining to the follow‐ ing matters relating to the Yegua Zone, Reser‐ voir A, in the Perkins Field, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.

1. To establish rules and regulations governing the exploration for and production of gas and condensate from the Yegua Zone, Reservoir A. 2. To create a drilling and production unit for the exploration for and pro‐ duction of gas and con‐ densate from the Yegua Zone, Reservoir A, as shown on the plat sub‐ mitted with the applica‐ tion and being desig‐ nated as the Y RA SUA. 3. To force pool and inte‐ grate all separately owned tracts, mineral leases and other prop‐ erty interests within the proposed unit with each tract sharing in unit pro‐ duction on a surface acreage basis of partici‐ pation.

4. To propose that all wells drilled in the future to the Yegua Zone, Reser‐ voir A, inside and outside of the unit proposed herein be located in ac‐ cordance with the provi‐ sions of Statewide Order No. 29-E. 5. To provide that the De‐ partment of Conserva‐ tion and Energy may re‐ classify the reservoir by supplemental order with‐ out the necessity of a public hearing should such reclassification be warranted based on evi‐ dence furnished to the Secretary of the Depart‐ ment of Conservation and Energy.

6. To consider such other matters as may be perti‐ nent.

The Yegua (Cockfield) Zone was previously de‐ fined by and is hereby defined by the Office of Permitting and Compli‐ ance Order No. 986-B-3 as being that gas and con‐ densate bearing zone en‐ countered between the depths of 9,920’ and 11,410’ (electrical log measurements) in the Wagner & Brown-John McFatter No. 2 Well (SN 202704), located in Sec‐ tion 4, Township 8 South, Range 10 West.

A plat is available for in‐ spection in the Depart‐ ment of Conservation and Energy in Baton Rouge and Lafayette, Louisiana. http://dnr.louisiana.gov/ conshearings All parties having inter‐ est therein shall take no‐ tice thereof.

BY ORDER OF: DUSTIN H. DAVIDSON, SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF CON‐ SERVATION AND ENERGY Baton Rouge, 6/15/26;6/18/26 L lck

LA

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE AT THE HEARING, PLEASE CON‐ TACT THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND ENERGY DIVISION AT P.O. BOX 94275, BATON ROUGE, LA 70804-9275 IN WRITING WITHIN TEN (10) WORKING DAYS OF THE HEARING DATE. 191393 June 18, 1t $41.21

Public Notices Constable Sales

PUBLIC NOTICE ---3BAYOU SORREL FIELD 26233 LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF LOUISIANA, DE‐ PARTMENT OF CONSER‐ VATION AND ENERGY, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA. In accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana, and with par‐ ticular reference to the provisions of Title 30 of Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, a public hearing will be held in the Hearing Room, 1st Floor, LaSalle Building, 617 North 3rd Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 9:00 a.m. on TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2026, upon the application of HILCORP ENERGY COMPANY. At such hearing the De‐ partment of Conserva‐ tion and Energy will con‐ sider evidence relative to the issuance of Orders pertaining to the follow‐ ing matters relating to the Marginulina Howei Zone, Reservoir A, in the Bayou Sorrel Field, Iberville Parish, Louisiana.

1. To designate the Hilcorp Energy CompanyE. B. Schwing No. 1 Well (SN 218953) as an alter‐ nate unit well for the MARG H RA SUA, at the location shown on the plat submitted with the application and made a h f

Public Notices Constable Sales pp part hereof.

2. To permit the operator to produce the unit al‐ lowable from the existing unit well, the proposed alternate unit well, or from the combination of both wells, at its option.

3. To find that the pro‐ posed alternate unit well is necessary to economi‐ cally and efficiently drain reserves from the MARG H RA SUA which cannot be economically and effi‐ ciently recovered by any existing well within such unit.

4. Except to the extent contrary herewith, the provisions of the Office of Permitting and Com‐ pliance Order No. 374-V-1, the unit created thereby, and all applicable Statewide Orders, shall remain in full force and effect.

5. To consider such other matters as may be perti‐ nent.

The Marginulina Howei Zone, Reservoir A was fully defined in Order No. 374-V, effective October 21, 1997.

A plat is available for in‐ spection in the Depart‐ ment of Conservation and Energy in Baton Rouge and Lafayette, Louisiana. http://dnr.louisiana.gov/ conshearings All parties having inter‐ est therein shall take no‐ tice thereof.

BY ORDER OF: DUSTIN H. DAVIDSON, SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF CON‐ SERVATION AND ENERGY Baton Rouge, 6/15/26;6/18/26 L lck

LA

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE, PLEASE CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT OF CON‐ SERVATION AND ENERGY AT P.O. BOX 94275, BATON ROUGE, LA 70804-9275 IN WRITING WITHIN FIVE (5) WORKING DAYS OF THE HEARING DATE. 191434 June 18, 1t $59.35

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE --Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy Office of Permitting and Compliance PUBLIC NOTICE OF DRAFT CLASS VI INJECTION WELL PERMIT AND PUBLIC HEARING Gulf Coast Sequestration, LLC — Minerva Project, Cameron Parish Draft Order No. UIC 202609 GS - Site ID 8021 Application Nos. 45031 and 45032 The Louisiana Depart‐ ment of Conservation and Energy (C&E) has prepared a Draft Class VI Injection Well Permit for the referenced applica‐ tions and will conduct a public hearing to receive comments. The Draft Per‐ mit addresses both pro‐ posed wells. This notice is issued pursuant to La. R.S. Title 30 and LAC 43:XVII Chapter 36.

The hearing will be held on Thursday, July 23, 2026 beginning at 6:00 p.m., at the Hackberry Commu‐ nity Center, 980 Main St, Hackberry, LA 70645.

Gulf Coast Sequestration, LLC (GCS) of 5599 San Fe‐ lipe, Suite 1450, Houston TX 77056, has applied to C&E for a permit to drill, construct, and operate two Class VI Injection Wells for the geologic se‐ questration of carbon dioxide (CO2). The pro‐ posed wells, Minerva South CCS Well No. 001 (MS CCS 1) and Minerva South CCS Well No. 002 (MS CCS 2), will be lo‐ cated in Section 3, Town‐ ship 12 South, Range 13 West, Cameron Parish, Louisiana. The surface coordinates for the pro‐ posed wells are 30°02'34.10" North, 93°40'20.63" West (MS CCS 1) and 30°02'33.84" North, 93°40'20.48" West (MS CCS 2).

Project Minerva pro‐ poses to inject and per‐ manently store approxi‐ mately 19 million metric tons of CO2 over a 30year operational period using two Class VI wells.

The wells would be drilled to a depth of ap‐ proximately 10,700 feet below ground level (BGL) and would inject CO2 into the Upper Frio For‐ mation, located approxi‐ mately 8,900 to 10,500 feet BGL. The base of the lowermost underground source of drinking water (USDW) is located at ap‐ proximately 1,100 to 1,200 feet BGL. The Class VI applications were processed, in part, under the expedited pro‐ cessing provisions of LAC 43:XIX Chapter 47 at the request of the applicant.

Expedited processing does not shorten any re‐ quired public comment period or hearing sched‐ ule.

The Draft Permit, fact sheet, and application materials are available for viewing on the C&E website at https://www. dce.louisiana.gov/page/ class-vi-permits-andapplications. Documents for Application Nos. 45031 and 45032 are as‐ sociated with Site ID Code 8021. Requests for copies or additional in‐ formation regarding the applications, and sub‐ mission of written com‐ ments, should be di‐ rected to Gavin Brous‐ sard, OPC - Engineering Division, 617 North 3rd Street, 8th Floor, Baton Rouge, LA 70802; by tele‐ phone at (225) 342-5515; or by email to InjectionMining@la.gov.

Com‐ ments submitted by email or mail must refer‐ ence: GCS Minerva – Draft Order No. UIC-202609 GS.

At the public hearing, C&E will provide any in‐ terested person the op‐ portunity to present tes‐ timony, facts, or oral or written comments rela‐ tive to the Draft Permit.

The purpose of the hear‐ ing is to receive com‐ ments for inclusion in the administrative record.

The hearing will be con‐ ducted in accordance with LAC 43:XVII.3611.G. The public comment pe‐ riod will begin on June 18, 2026, and close at 4:30 p.m. on July 24, 2026.

Written comments may be submitted to the con‐ tact identified above by email to Injection-Min‐ ing@la.gov or by mail and must reference GCS Minerva – Draft Order No. UIC-2026-09 GS. Following the close of the public comment period, C&E will evaluate all com‐ ments received before making a final permit de‐ cision and will respond to all relevant comments in a written report.

All interested persons are hereby notified.

By order of: Dustin H. Davidson, Sec‐ retary Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy In accordance with Act 393 of the 2023 Louisiana Regular Session, accom‐ modations will be pro‐ vided upon request to people with disabilities in order to access this public hearing. To re‐ d i

Legal Notices

Legal Notices

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Legal Notices

p g quest an accommodation for this hearing, please contact Shannon.Hunt2@ LA.GOV or (225) 342-4522.

p q people with disabilities in order to access this public hearing. To re‐ quest an accommodation for this hearing, please contact DNR-HumanRe‐ sources@la.gov.

g Passcode: 951392) at 10:00 am on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. The meet‐ ing will be held to pro‐ vide an overview of the results of the Radiologi‐ cal Emergency Prepared‐ ness exercise conducted with River Bend Station on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. For additional infor‐ mation, contact Oscar Martinez, Chairperson, Radiological Assistance Committee, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region VI , 800 N. Loop 288, Denton, TX 76209, or call 940-3837364.

y 2nd, 2026, during the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM.

190875-jun 18-1t $80.21 PUBLIC NOTICE --Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy Office of Permitting and Compliance BKVerde, LLC Class V Stratigraphic Test Well Ascension Parish Docket No. UIC 2026-04 Application No. 45431 Pursuant to provisions of the laws of the State of Louisiana and particu‐ larly Title 30 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 as amended, and provisions of Statewide Order No. 29-N-1, notice is hereby given that the Louisiana Department of Conserva‐ tion and Energy has pre‐ pared a Draft Permit for the application refer‐ enced below and that the secretary will conduct a public hearing to solicit comments on the Draft Permit. The hearing will be held in the Donald‐ sonville Courtroom West, 300 Houmas St., Donald‐ sonville, LA 70346 at 6:00 P.M. on July 30, 2026.

At such hearing, the sec‐ retary or his designated representative will give any interested person the opportunity to pre‐ sent testimony, facts, or oral or written comments relative to the Draft Per‐ mit prepared in response to an application by: BKVerde, LLC 4800 Blue Mound Road Fort Worth, TX 76106 BKVerde, LLC has applied to the Office of Permit‐ ting and Compliance, En‐ gineering Division for a permit to drill and com‐ plete a Class V Subsur‐ face Stratigraphic Test Well in Section 32, Town‐ ship 11 South, Range 15 East, of Ascension Parish to acquire geotechnical information. The pro‐ posed well location is Latitude: 30° 04’ 24.70”N, Longitude: 90° 58’ 04.27”W (NAD27LA South). The proposed well will be identified as Soleil Well No. 001. The well will be drilled to a depth of approximately 11,500 feet below ground level (BGL) with geotech‐ nical cores, fluid sam‐ ples, pressure measure‐ ments, and other applic‐ able information col‐ lected. The base of the lowermost underground source of drinking water (USDW) at this location occurs at an approxi‐ mate depth of 1,048 feet BGL. A copy of the Draft Per‐ mit, fact sheet, applica‐ tion, or other information concerning the applica‐ tion may be obtained by writing to Gavin Brous‐ sard, Office of Permitting and Compliance, Engi‐ neering Division, 617 North 3rd Street, Eighth Floor, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 or by calling (225) 342-5515. The Draft Per‐ mit, fact sheet, and ap‐ plication are available for viewing on the Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy website.

During the public hear‐ ing, the hearing officer will only receive com‐ ments. The Office of Per‐ mitting and Compliance will respond to all rele‐ vant comments in a writ‐ ten report after the con‐ clusion of the public comment period.

Interested parties may submit written com‐ ments on the application.

Written comments con‐ cerning the application must be received by the Office of Permitting and Compliance no later than 4:30 P.M., July 31, 2026 Submit all comments to: Gavin Broussard, Office of Permitting and Com‐ pliance, Engineering Divi‐ sion, 617 North 3rd Street, Eighth Floor, Baton Rouge, LA 70802.

Comments may also be e-mailed to info@la.gov.

Please reference: BKVerde, LLC – Class V Permit, Application Num‐ ber 45431– Docket No. UIC 2026-04.

All persons having inter‐ est in the aforesaid shall take notice thereof.

By order of: Dustin H. Davidson Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy In accordance with Act 393 of the 2023 Louisiana Regular Section, accom‐ modations will be pro‐ vided upon request to l i h di bili i

190918-JUN 18-1T $73.35 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE Interested par‐ ties are hereby notified that in accordance with LAC Title 43, Chapter 7, §723.C.6.e the Depart‐ ment of Conservation and Energy, Office of Per‐ mitting and Compliance received a request for a Public Hearing concern‐ ing the following applica‐ tion for a Coastal Use Permit. Interested par‐ ties are hereby notified that a Public Hearing is not warranted for this permit application.

Therefore, in accordance with LAC Title 43, Chap‐ ter 7, §723.C.6.e, this is to announce that a Public Hearing will not be held.

CUP ************OCM NUMBER: P20260004; NAME: SHELL PIPELINE COMPANY LP, ℅ SHEILA MITCHELL IMPACT MAN‐ AGEMENT, 5711 MILART STREET, HOUSTON, TX 77021; ATTN: SHEILA MITCHELL ; Location: Lafourche Parish, LA; Pipeline P.O.B. @ Lat. 296-18.01N / Long. 90-1127.14W; Description: The project proposes a 97-mile oil pipeline from the Four‐ chon Terminal Platform to an offshore platform in Green Canyon Block 19. Approx. 5.5 miles of the proposed pipeline is within the Coastal Zone and would be installed via trenching, HDD, and jetting methods. Coastal Zone activities include excavation of approx.

41,660 cys of material to remain onsite, removal and replacement of 68 cys of riprap, and import of sandbags (382 cys) and drilling mud (1,565 cys).

186950-may 13-1t $

PUBLIC NOTICE --RE: Final Notice of Pro‐ posed Activity in a Flood‐ plain or Wetland: St. Charles Parish, Turtle Pond Pump Station Up‐ grades To: All interested Federal, State, and Local Agen‐ cies, Groups, and Individ‐ uals This is to give notice that the St. Charles Parish Government (SCP) under 24 CFR Part 58 has con‐ ducted an evaluation of this proposed action under Louisiana Commu‐ nity Development Block Grant (CDBG-MIT) num‐ ber 45MTR27702 located in the 100-year floodplain Zone AE / Federal Flood Risk Management Stan‐ dard (FFRMS) riverine floodplain/wetland as re‐ quired by Executive Or‐ ders 11988 (Floodplain Management) and 11990 (Protection of Wetlands), in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 Subpart C Proce‐ dures for Making Deter‐ minations on Floodplain Management. Extent of FFRMS floodplain was determined using the freeboard value ap‐ proach.

St. Charles Parish Gov‐ ernment proposes to im‐ plement flood hazard mitigation measures within the Turtle Pond Watershed.

The pro‐ posed project is located in the town of St. Rose, Louisiana in St. Charles Parish. The project site covers approximately 11.59 acres between Air‐ line Highway and Alme‐ dia Plantation Drive. Co‐ ordinates for the site are 29° 58’ 17” N, 90° 18’ 43” W.

191611-JUN 18-1T $17 PUBLIC NOTICE --Notice is hereby given that the Red River Water‐ way Commission has ap‐ plied for a 401 Water Quality Certification to excavate/dredge Fish Lake to increase its depth due to long term sedimentation. Work will occur off Hwy. 1 south‐ west of Mooringsport and north of Blanchard in Caddo Parish. The Red River Waterway Commis‐ sion is applying to the Louisiana Department of Quality, Environmental Office of Environmental Services for a Water Quality Certification in accordance with statu‐ tory authority contained in the LAC 33:IX.1507.A-E and provisions of Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. Comments concern‐ ing this application can be filed with the Water Permits Division within ten days of this notice by referencing WQC 26051501, AI 251326 to the fol‐ lowing address: Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Water Permits Division, P.O. Box 4313, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4313, Attn: Water Quality Certi‐ fications. Comments may be submitted by email to DEQ-WaterQualityCertifi‐ cations@la.gov. A copy of the application is available for inspection and review at the LDEQ Public Records Center at 602 North Fifth Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The available infor‐ mation can also be ac‐ cessed electronically on the Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) on the LDEQ pub‐ lic website at www.deq. louisiana.gov.

The proposed project would address the need for flood hazard mitiga‐ tion in St. Rose, Louisiana. The project proposes the following activities in the Almedia region of St. Rose: cul‐ vert replacements, pump station upgrades, culvert installations, canal widening, ditch installa‐ tion, channel mainte‐ nance, and channel widening.

St. Charles Parish Gov‐ ernment rejects the no action alternative as it would not improve flood hazards. After coordina‐ tion with agencies, re‐ viewing alternatives fol‐ lowing early public no‐ tice period in which no responses were received, and the fact that the pro‐ posed work is to improve drainage in the surround‐ ing residential area which is essential in pro‐ tecting surrounding com‐ munities and infrastruc‐ ture, SCP determined that it has no practicable alternative to floodplain development.

There are three primary purposes for this notice.

First, people who may be affected by activities in floodplains and those who have an interest in the protection of the nat‐ ural environment should be given the opportunity to express their concerns and provide information about these areas. Sec‐ ond, an adequate public notice program can be an important public edu‐ cational tool. The dis‐ semination of informa‐ tion about floodplains can facilitate and en‐ hance Federal efforts to reduce the risks associ‐ ated with the temporary impacts to the special areas. Third, as a matter of fairness, when the Federal government de‐ termines it will partici‐ pate in actions taking place in floodplains, it must inform those who may be put at a greater or continued risk.

191593 June 18, 1t $186.20 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE The Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the State of Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Secu‐ rity and Emergency Pre‐ paredness, the Offices of Emergency Preparedness for West Feliciana Parish, East Feliciana Parish, East Baton Rouge Parish, West Baton Rouge Parish, and Pointe Coupee Parish, as well as, River Bend Station/ Entergy Operations, Inc. will hold a virtual public meeting via ZoomGov (Call in +1 551 285 1373, Meeting ID: 161 304 9747, d )

Michael Hill mhill@elosenv.com 985-662-5501 Project Manager/Envi‐ ronmental Scientist ELOS Environmental, LLC 607 W Morris Ave Hammond, LA 70403 St. Charles Parish may also be reached directly through the LA Relay Communications System at the following num‐ bers: Access #’s: Voice Users: 1-800-9475277 Speech to Speech: 1-888272-5530 TTY Users: 1-800-846-5277 Spanish/Español: 1-800737-1813 Email: larelay@hamilto nrelay.com This service is free of charge 191529-jun 18-25-jul 2-2t $1,366.12

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

PUBLIC NOTICE --Impact Charter School Public Hearings on Education Explosion, Inc (d/b/a) Impact Charter School’s 2026-2027 PROPOSED BUDGET In Pursuant to the Provisions of La.R.S. 39:1306-1308, the Public Hearing will be held before the Education Explosion, Inc Board of Directors: Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Time: 5:00 PM, Place: 3750 Harding Street, Baker, LA 70714 Regular Board Meeting Adoption of Budget Tuesday, August 11, 2026, Time: 5:00 PM, Place: 3750 Harding Street, Baker, LA 70714 For at least 15 calendar days before the Budget’s Adoption, Education Explosion, Inc’s proposed budget will be available for public inspection at 3750 Harding Street, Baker, LA 70714 191540 June 18, 1t $120.35

SEVEN DAYS

HOME DELIVERED

LOUISIANA OWNED

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Written comments must be received by Michael Hill at ELOS Environmen‐ tal on behalf of St. Charles Parish Govern‐ ment at the following ad‐ dress on or before July d d i h

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PUBLIC NOTICE The 2026 fiscal year Budget(as amended) and the proposed 2027 fiscal year Budget for the The Office of the Public Defender, Eighteenth Judicial District will be available for public inspection during regular business hours beginning June 18, 2026.

Interested parties may review the budgets at the Office of the Public Defender, Eighteenth Judicial District located at 750 Louisiana Avenue, Port Allen LA 70767.

On June 30, 2026 at 10:00 A.M., a public hearing on the 2026 Budget(as amended) and the proposed 2027 Budget will be held in the Office of the Public Defender, Eighteenth Judicial District. A summary of the said budgets follows: 2026 Original Budget

Amendment

2026 Amended Budget

2027 Proposed Budget $120,000

REVENUE Bond Fees

$140,000

$(26,500)

$113,500

Client Application Fees

38,000

(5,000)

33,000

31,000

Court Fees

639,000

72,500

711,500

689,000

Local Government Assistance

1,200

14,800

16,000

1,000

Partial Attorney Fee Reimb

13,000

3,500

16,500

18,000

State Government Assistance

328,000

-

328,000

134,000

Investment Income

80,000

-

80,000

80,000

1,239,200

59,300

1,298,500

1,073,000

Personnel Services and Related Benefits

371,000

57,500

428,500

431,000

Operating Services

68,000

4,500

72,500

80,000

Professional Services

557,700

21,300

579,000

626,000 -

TOTAL REVENUE EXPENDITURES

Other Expenses

-

-

-

Capital Expenses

2,500

(2,500)

-

-

999,200

80,800

1,080,000

1,137,000

240,000

218,500

(64,000)

Fund Balance at Beginning of Year

2,002,261

2,002,261

2,220,761

Fund Balance at End of Year

$2,242,261

$2,220,761

$2,156,761

TOTAL EXPENDITURES Excess of Revenues Over Expenditures

Thomas A. Nelson District Defender, Eighteenth Judicial District 191223-659152-jun 18-25-2t $ 258.72