The Times-Picayune 06-18-2026

TR OP IC AL ST OR MA RT HUR

Stormthreatens floods in Louisiana

DaltonSaacks movesamud buggyfrom therisingTchefuncte

Tropical StormArthur’sarrival.

Overnightdownpours pose seriousconcerns

BY MIKE SMITH, WILLIE SWETT and JONI HESS Staff writers

Tropical Storm Arthurlumbered toward Louisiana on Wednesday after becoming the first named storm of the 2026 season, bringing heavy rains expected to lash large swaths of the state and threatening to overtop already high rivers on the northshore.

While not amajor storm, overnight downpours associated with it posed serious concerns for much of south-central Louisiana. In the New Orleans area, St. Tammany Parish kept aclose eyeon rising rivers andemergency respondershelpedmove residents outofthe way,with the Tchefuncte already at major flood stage and water on the road in some areas even before the arrivalof the storm’sremnants.

New Orleans and its south shore suburbs facedthe risk of flash flooding, and officials urged residents to take precautionsand

be prepared to shelter in place. Therewerealsowarnings that tornadoes could be spun off from thestormalong with theriskof power outages androad closures

National Weather Service forecasters said some the worst rainfall would likely saturate acorridor stretching from the River

Parishes andintoBaton Rouge, then across thenorthshore and coastalMississippi,potentially approaching 10 inchesincertain locations. With thegroundalready saturated, rain at such an intensity would “quickly lead to

ä See STORM, page 7A

Prosecutor accusedof improper relationship Ginsberg

BY JAMES FINN and JOHN SIMERMAN Staff writers

Asenior prosecutor in NewOrleans’ U.S. Attorney’sOffice has been demotedand pulled from a team prosecuting former Mayor LaToya Cantrell as the Justice Department launches an internal probeinto allegations that he hid aromantic relationship with asubordinate, three people familiar with the matter said.

The revelations have roiled U.S. Attorney David Courcelle’sofficesince they emerged internally last week,ina major twist to Cantrell’scriminal case. The veteran criminal prose-

cutor,Jordan Ginsberg, suddenly faces accusations that mirror aspects of the allegations his office has mounted against the former mayor Ginsberg ledthe office’s public corruption unit for years, until Courcelle promoted him this spring after being confirmedtohead the office. The promotion landed Ginsberginchargeofoverseeing allcriminalprosecutors. He was removed from that post last week and placed on leave, Courcelle said in abrief statement Tuesday Led by Ginsberg, the yearslong probe of Cantrell’s affairs culminated last August in agrand jury indictment accusing Cantrell of spending taxpayer money on sojourns withher police bodyguard, Jeffrey Vappie, then conspiring to hide the

BY MICHELLE L. PRICE, MATTHEW LEE, SAMY MAGDY, JON GAMBRELL and MIKE CATALINI Associated Press

ä G7 leaders back agreement to endIran war. Page 3A ä Cassidyblasts Trump’sdeal withIran. Page 4A

WASHINGTON Adraft agreement by the United States andIrancalls for Tehran to dilute its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and would waive, but not permanentlyend, sanctions on the country,according to U.S. officialswho read the language of the memorandum on ending the war to journalists. The agreement would also open theStraitofHormuz toll-free fortwo months and affirm acommitment to Lebanon’s territorialintegrity in the face of Israel’sinvasion

ä See DEAL, page 4A

ResidentsofWillows Apartments must leavefor renovation

With construction slated forAugust, about60remain

BY SOPHIE KASAKOVE Staff writer

City officials, advocates andtenants of the Willows Apartments in New Orleans East cheered in Marchwhenthe long-neglected complex was sold to anew owner who vowed to make big changes to improve the property But the cleanupand gut renovationscome with acatch,residents learned last month. To do thework on the 263-unitcomplex off the Interstate 10 Service Road near Crowder Boulevard, residentsare

required to vacate theproperty for an estimated two years.

On Wednesday,with one day to go before theThursday deadlineto move out,many units were empty with doors boarded up. But in other partsofthe complex, residents appearedtostill be living on the site, coming and going from the buildings, some with busted windows and sidingtainted with mildew

Erin Earls, chief strategy officer of property owner The Lee Adrion Company,estimates that around 60 tenants are still living on thepropertyand said the company would “continue to work withthem to help folksfind resources” before construction beginsinAugust

“The idea is not to be forceful and kick people out,” Earls said. Theclosure of the complex for

renovationscomes after yearsof demandsbycity officials, advocates and tenants that Tennesseebased Ministry Outreach Foundation,the property’sformer owner, addressdangerous conditions or hand over control of the complex.

In March, Earls promised to turn thepropertyaround when her California-basedreal estate firm purchased it for $3.75 million during a public auction.

During an interview Wednesday she said years of neglect have created amajor renovationjob and thatitwould be unsafe to undertakeitwith tenants on-site.

“Wewill certainly take it down to thestuds,” Earls said of the complex,which hasbeenravaged by

ä See WILLOWS, page 4A

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER Dominique Flotstands at the Willows Apartments on Wednesday. She movedout of the apartment complex earlier thismonth.

STAFF PHOTOSByDAVID GRUNFELD

River near Folsom on Wednesdayahead of

He planned to leave the boat tied up just in case theyneed it to getout of thehouse.

Kenny Walsh secures aboat east of Slidell on Wednesday

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.

16-month-old,

mother

recover from Ebola

196 have died since the outbreak was declared in May

BY JUSTIN KABUMBA Associated Press

BUNIA, Congo A 16-month-old baby and his mother have recovered from Ebola in eastern Congo, a rare positive development as Africa’s top health body warned the outbreak of the deadly virus could become the worst on record if it continues to spread.

The two left the Rwampara Treatment Center on Tuesday, near Bunia, in Ituri province, the epicenter of the outbreak, along with five other people who also recovered from Ebola.

“The joy is immense given the state he was in at first,” Kahindo Mireille Pierrette said of her infant. “If you had seen him before, you wouldn’t believe he could have this strength now,” she added.

Pierrette said she brought her child to the treatment center at the end of May, after he started bleeding from the mouth and nose and could barely move.

Modet Camara, a doctor at the center, said the baby was treated

with antibiotics after a PCR test came back positive for Ebola on his second day at the hospital.

Congo’s Ministry of Health said Tuesday that 837 cases of the virus have been confirmed so far, including 196 confirmed deaths. However, the number of cases is believed to be higher because the outbreak was confirmed on May 15, weeks after it is suspected to have begun. Since the outbreak was declared in mid-May, 49 have recovered, the ministry said.

The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which has no approved treatment or vaccine. The more common Zaire virus, which now has a vaccine, was responsible for most of Congo’s past 16 outbreaks of the disease.

More than 90% of the cases in the current outbreak are concentrated in Congo’s eastern province of Ituri. Cases have also been recorded in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces and have spread across the border to Uganda.

The head of Africa’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention

warned Tuesday that the outbreak could become the worst on record, noting that tens of thousands of contacts of infected patients have yet to be traced.

“If we don’t stop the outbreak very soon it will be worse than what we had in West Africa and eastern DRC,” Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya said during a virtual meeting of African heads of state.

An outbreak a decade ago across several countries in West Africa was the worst on record, with more than 28,000 cases and more than 11,000 deaths.

Nearly a million people have been displaced by years of conflict in Ituri, according to the U.N. humanitarian office, making contact tracing difficult as people flee attacks or move frequently in the vast province with dense forests, poor roads and remote villages that can take days to reach.

Tracing is also difficult among the thousands of miners who regularly move among remote sites in the mineral-rich region.

Trump’s pick to lead FEMA pledges to be fair

If confirmed, Hamiliton says he would do what he could to speed up decisions

BY GABRIELA AOUN ANGUEIRA Associated Press

WASHINGTON Cameron Hamilton, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency pledged to senators Wednesday to be “fair and reasonable” in assessing requests for disaster aid as he seeks to run an agency roiled by the administration’s threats to dismantle it.

Hamilton appeared before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee at a hearing where lawmakers assessed a group of 10 nominees for administration posts.

“My focus will be to ensure that FEMA is objective, is fair and reasonable, follows the law, and is consistent” in how it reviews disaster declaration requests, Hamilton told Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, the top Democrat on the committee. Peters had asked about partisanship in granting major disaster declarations.

Hamilton had a brief tenure as FEMA’s temporary leader early last year but was ousted after defending the agency’s existence. At a House hearing in May 2025, he said he did not “believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate” FEMA. He was fired the next day

His nomination comes as the Republican administration has increasingly signaled it is backing away from promises to dismantle an agency that has been heavily criticized by the president.

If confirmed, he would be FEMA’s first permanent administrator in Trump’s second term. He will need to lead FEMA

through what is expected to be a busy summer disaster season, while answering to Trump, who is likely to expect major changes after a council he appointed recommended sweeping moves at the agency that is part of the Department of Homeland Security

Nominees did not give opening statements, but Hamilton received the bulk of lawmakers’ questions while appearing with four others in the first half of the hearing.

His answers suggested a departure from some of the more aggressive policies considered and enacted during Kristi Noem’s turbulent leadership at DHS. FEMA’s workforce has been worn down by mass staff departures, policies that hamstrung operations and a protracted DHS shutdown.

Hamilton expressed confidence in the FEMA staff and praised the recent opening of 350 positions to counteract some of the cuts. He said that if confirmed by the Senate, he would do what he could to speed up disaster declaration decisions and reimbursements to states, tribes and territories.

“We owe you answers, I think, much faster,” he told Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., adding that many FEMA processes needed to be simplified.

Hamilton disavowed a recommendation he included in an April 2025 memo to quadruple the threshold of financial damages a state needed to prove to receive FEMA public assistance He also noted the importance of resilience funding, despite halting billions in resilience grants during his previous tenure. Republican and Democratic senators at the hearing expressed support for FEMA’s mission, despite Trump’s early threats to eliminate it. “I think what your agency does is hugely important,” Hawley told Hamilton.

Mangione to assert psychiatric defense in state trial

BY MICHAEL R. SISAK Associated Press

NEW YORK Luigi Mangione plans to assert a psychiatric defense at his state murder trial, claiming he was suffering from extreme emotional disturbance when he gunned down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a judge said Wednesday It wouldn’t absolve him of the Dec. 4, 2024, killing, but could free him from prison sooner If a jury accepts that defense, the panel would convict Mangione of manslaughter and he would face up to 25 years in prison. Alternatively, the jury could reject the extreme emotional disturbance defense and convict him of murder, which carries a potential life sentence. That defense isn’t available in his federal case.

Judge Gregory Carro announced the decision in court Wednesday, two weeks after holding a secret hearing on the matter at the defense’s request. He said he will release a transcript from that hearing and other records once redactions are made.

Carro said Mangione’s lawyers first notified him in a sealed letter last September that they planned to pursue a psychiatric defense and confirmed the decision at the June 3 hearing. But, the judge warned, they’re “coming close to not being able to put forth that defense” after prosecutors complained that Mangione’s lawyers had yet to give them details about what they say triggered their client’s extreme emotional disturbance. Prosecutors need to know that before they have their own psychological expert evaluate him, Carro said.

“Nothing is going to be a surprise,” Carro told Mangione’s lawyers. “I’m not going to let you surprise the People on the eve of trial. So, get it done.” Carro said he didn’t expect the development to delay Mangione’s trial, which is scheduled to start Sept. 8. The federal trial, which involves stalking charges, is set to begin on Oct. 13. Mangione, 28, has pleaded not guilty in both cases.

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.

G7 leadersbackdealtoend war

Allies support agreementtoend economic instability

BY AAMER MADHANI, SYLVIE CORBET andDARLENE

SUPERVILLE Associated Press

EVIAN-LES-BAINS,France—

Leaders at the Group of Seven summit on Wednesday threw their support behind U.S. President Donald Trump’stentative agreement with Iran to openthe Strait of Hormuz andextend ashaky ceasefire.

Closing the three-day summit, French PresidentEmmanuel Macron called it a “very good deal,” adding that U.S. allies in the G7 support it “because it’sanagreement that puts astop to asituation 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 “theylove 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 afinal agreement addressing Iran’snuclear program is reached.

“I think it’ll be done. They want to sign. They want to get back to anormal life,” Trump said earlier Wednesday The final day of G7 talks at alakeside resortinthe French Alps startedlate 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.

Theformaltalks of the leading industrial democracies closed with sessions on the future of artificial intelligence and fostering economic growth. They discussed concerns that China is floodingexport markets with subsidized products, unfairly out-competing their own industries and destroying jobs. LeadersofIndia, SouthKorea,Kenya and Brazil joined the meeting.

Trumplater attended a glitzy dinner at the Palace of Versaillesoutside Paris before he was scheduled to return to Washington.Before entering thepalace, Trump complimented both Macron and his wife, Brigitte,whom theU.S.president greeted with akiss on the cheek and called “amazing.”

Resuming trafficonstrait Trump still has to sell the dealto some membersofhis own Republican party who doubt it will defang Iran’snuclear program. At the same time, he faces an anxious international communitylooking for him to follow through on his promise that the deal will reopen the Strait of Hormuz to oil tanker traffic and keepitopen.

The G7 leaders saidan international maritimemission led by Franceand the U.K. “can play an important roletofacilitate the resumptionofmaritime traffic in theStrait of Hormuz by protecting merchant vessels, reassuring commercial shipping operators, andsupporting verification that all mines are removed.”

Iran effectively closed the strait earlyinthe warthat beganonFeb. 28 with U.S. and Isreali attacks.

The deal also calls for an immediate end to all fighting in Lebanonbetween Israel andthe Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah. That is one of the most delicate parts of the agreement becauseIsrael hasmaintaineditwill continue to defend itself and to occupy vast swaths of Lebanon.

France, on Wednesday

The agreement that U.S. officialsdictatedtojournalists on Wednesday also has provisions to ensure “territorial integrity”ofLebanon afterIsrael’slatest attacks againstHezbollah in Lebanese territory In their declaration, G7 leaderssaid they supported “through an immediate robust ceasefire” Lebanese efforts to disarm Hezbollah, andprotect Lebanon’sterritorial integrity andsovereignty.

Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed nearly 4,000 people and displaced morethan 1million since fighting there began on March 2.

“Israel’s fighting Hezbollah too long, andtoo many people arebeing killed,” Trumpsaid.

Leadersvow support

In aflurry of unanimously agreed declarations, the G7 leadersstressed theirsupport for Ukraine as it battles Russia’s invasion and agreed to increase deliveries of air defensesystems. They also saidthey would bolster sanctions on Moscow,including on Russia’soil and gas industries. Trumpcalled the conversations on ending the war in Ukraine “productive” and said both Russian President Vladimir Putin andUkrainian President VolodymyrZelenskyy want to “do something.”

“They just don’tknow how,” he said.

Leaders alsopledged to step up the fight against the multibillion-dollarinternational drug trade.

U.S. in talkswithJamaica to send third-countrymigrants

BY JOHN MYERS JR. Associated Press

KINGSTON, Jamaica Jamaica is in discussions with the United States to accept third-country deportees amove that would addthe island nation to agrowing number of Caribbean countries working with the Trump administration on its immigration agenda.

Jamaica’s National Security Minister Dr.Horace Chang confirmed Tuesday that the country has signeda memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to accept up to 25 people from countries other than Jamaica every two weeks.

The deportees, said Chang, will not be placed in detention, though details of where they would be housed have yet to be determined. Compensation for accepting them is still being hashed out.

If the agreement is finalized,Jamaica wouldjoin Mexico, El Salvador, Uganda and anumber of other countries that have agreed to accept third-country migrants deported from the U.S. The move is already getting pushback from the Opposition People’sNational Party,orPNP,whichaccused the Jamaican government of keeping the negotiations from the public. The PNP argued that accepting the migrantsplaces Jamaica’sinternal security, international standing, and fragile social infrastructure at severe risk.

“Jamaicans deserve to know whether discussions

have taken placeand whether any commitmentsor understandings have been reached,” Donna Scott Mottley,aspokespersonfor the opposition, said in astatement

“Jamaica, like othersovereign nations, isobligated under international laws to accept the return of its own citizens,” Chang stated. “However,this new arrangement does not mean third-country nationals are being dumped on our shores. This is astructured, managed processto transitindividuals through Jamaica to theirfinal destination,” he added, drawinga hard line between repatriating Jamaican nationals and processing foreign citizens.

AU.S.Department of Homeland Securityspokesperson said that the administration is “utilizingall lawful options” to carryout deportations.

While aU.S. federal district court ultimatelystruck down the third-country removal policy as unlawful in February 2026 —ruling that the U.S. cannot dump migrants in undesignatednations without proper notice —the policy is still being enforced pending appellate action.

Widening rift in Caribbean

As part of its immigration crackdown, the Trump administration has used a series of secretive agreements to deport more than 19,000 peopletothirdcountries, accordingto thegroup ThirdCountry Deportation Watch, with some ending up in nationsthey had never even heard of.

Most deportees have been sent to Mexico, the group says, but over 1,500 have been scattered to more than 20 other nations, many of them poorer countries in LatinAmerica and Africa lookingfor waystocurry favor with theU.S.

Thediplomatic rift in Kingstonmirrors abroader fragmentation acrossthe Caribbean, where several governmentshave quietly enteredintovarying agreements with theU.S. to avoid crippling travel restrictions or economic penalties.

The Dominican Republic signed anon-binding agreement to temporarily hold a limited number of non-criminal third-country nationals, while explicitly barring unaccompaniedminors and nationals from neighboring Haiti, adeal thatalso met with heavy criticism.

Dominica’sPrimeMinister Roosevelt Skerrit defendeda similar agreementasa “pragmatic step” to preserve vital bilateral relationswithWashington, though stipulating violent offenderswould be rejected Antigua and Barbuda adopted ahighly restrictive case-by-case posture. Prime Minister Gaston Browne confirmed aframework capping total acceptances at amaximum of 10 noncriminal individuals.

Guyana is leveraging negotiations to solve itsmassive oil-boom labordeficit, exploring aU.S.-bankrolled frameworktoacceptskilled, non-criminal migrantstofill an estimated80,000-worker shortage.

French president urgesU.S.toshare cutting-edge AI

Macron callsfor global cooperation on regulation

BY JOHN LEICESTER and KELVIN CHAN Associated Press

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France

Trumphas beenwaging hisown battle against drug traffickers. United States military strikesonalleged drug-carrying boatstransiting in LatinAmerica have killed more than200 people sinceSeptember,when the Trumpadministrationbegan an operation it has justified as necessary to stemthe flow of drugs.

Critics have questioned thelegality of the strikes.

In aseparate declaration, the G7 leaders reaffirmed theirefforts to halt migrant smuggling and human trafficking, which they said “constituteserioustransnational crimes that erode the sovereign right of States to control their bordersand exposesmuggled and trafficked persons to life-threatening risks.”

‘Mostbeautiful-looking

Trump said Wednesday after meeting with Indian Prime MinisterNarendra Modi that theU.S.is“very close” to reachingatrade deal withIndia, and then went on to lavish praise on Modi as “a very tough negotiator.”

“He’sthe mostbeautifullooking man. He looks so nice.He’slikeanangel. But actually,he’sastough as he’s akiller,” Trumpsaid.

The meeting with Modi came at achoppy moment in the U.S.-India relationship, in part because of the war in theMiddle East. On June 10 threeIndian sailors were killed in aU.S. military strike on atankerinthe Gulf of Omaninthe midst of the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday urged the world’swealthy democracies to work together on regulating advanced artificial intelligencesystems,speaking at ahigh-level meetingthat included top AI executives.

OpenAI CEOSam Altman issued asimilar plea at the Group of Seven summitofmajor 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 notbelefttotech companies.

Overshadowing the discussion on AI wasPresident Donald Trump’sadministration’s directive last week,preventing foreign nationals from using Anthropic’snewest and mostpowerful artificial intelligence models.

Macron said it was a “good thing” that U.S. officials recognize that socalledfrontierAImodels could be dangerous, but he also criticized it as a “strictly nationalist” reaction.

The remarks followed aG7working lunchthat brought together AI industry figures, including leaders of three of the most powerful AI companies Altman, Google DeepMind CEODemis Hassabis and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei —onthe themeof “ensuring asafe, rapid and effective deployment of artificial intelligence.”

Feud with Anthropic Ahead of the meeting, the WhiteHouse’sdisputewith Anthropic fueled distrust in Europe about American dominance of AI and tech ecosystems.

The company wasforced on Fridaytotakeits latest artificial intelligence models, knownasFable 5and 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 apotential security issue.

When asked by areporter whether France and other G7 countries had asked Trumptopermit access to Anthropic’s latest AI models, Macron said he made aforceful pleafor 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 offaccess like alight switch. Macron backed his appeal forpartnership among key democracies with an insurance policy: France, he said, will boost funding forits own AI industry,soit’snot left behind if international cooperation breaks down. Democratic countries ultimately want to prevent authoritarian regimes from getting access to advancedAIsystems, Macron said.

“Solet us move forward together,” he said. “Our relevant agencies must first cooperate so that, in the areas of security and cybersecurity,wehave a smooth government-togovernment relationship.” Altman said in his lunch speech, attendedbythe G7 leaders andmorethan adozen AI bosses, that the technology’sfuture must be shaped by people,democratic institutions and society as awhole, “not just by the companies building the mostcapable systems.”

“Weneed an international forum for discussionthatestablishesglobally acceptedstandards for testing, provides expert and impartial analysis of capabilitiesand risks, and serves as avenue forcooperation among nations,” he said.

BY GIADAZAMPANO Associated Press

ROME The United Nations’ food agencies warned Wednesday that acute hungerisset to worsen across 13 global hot spotsinthe coming months, with conflict, funding shortagesand climate shocks pushing millions closer to famine.

The Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Program said in anew

joint report that conditions are expected to deteriorate between June and November 2026, with around 266 millionpeople already facing high levels of acute food insecurity,and calledfor urgent action.

“Thewarnings in this report cannot be ignored,” said WFPActing Executive Director Carl Skau. “Without action now,millions more are expectedtoface worsening levels of hunger in the months ahead, push-

ing some closer to famine.” Sudan, SouthSudan, Yemen andthe Gaza Strip remain the hot spots of greatest concern, the report said, while Nigeria and Somalia have been newly added to that category as conditions worsen and famine risks rise. Seven othercountries arealso on the hotspot list —Afghanistan, Congo, Myanmar,Haiti, Mali and new additions Lebanonand Madagascar.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By THIBAULT CAMUS

British Prime Minister KeirStarmer,from left, U.S. PresidentDonald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney listen during aworking session at theG7summit in Evian-les-Bains,

Cassidy blasts Trump’s peace deal with Iran

BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer

WASHINGTON U.S. Sen Bill Cas-

sidy condemned President Donald Trump’s 14-point deal pausing hostilities with Iran, which is slated to be signed Friday in Switzerland.

“Reagan is rolling over in his grave,” Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, wrote on X Wednesday afternoon, referring to President Ronald Reagan. “Iran’s nuclear ambitions were not curbed, and they have learned that threatening the Strait of Hormuz works and will undoubtedly leverage it in the future. Now Iran gets to build brand-new infrastructure under this deal.

Cassidy continued: “Before the war, the strait was open, Iran was being crushed by sanctions, and 13 service members were still alive. Now, 13 Americans are dead, families have paid billions at the pump,

DEAL

Continued from page 1A

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

The U.S. official said Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also signed it Wednesday, though Iran did not immediately comment. It wasn’t immediately clear if that act started a 60-day negotiating clock to reach a final deal. It was also not clear how Trump’s signing of the deal at Versailles differed from his digital signing on Sunday “It’s signed,” Trump said as he left Versailles, the historic palace where he dined with French President Emmanuel Macron following a trip to the Group of Seven summit in France. According to the officials, the draft agreement includes language that Iran agrees not to develop or procure nuclear weapons. It also addresses Tehran’s highly enriched Iranian uranium, requiring that it

WILLOWS

Continued from page 1A

bat infestations, leaks and mold.

Earls estimates that the renovation will take two years and cost $13 million, which the company plans to do with private financing On Wednesday, recent Willows residents had mixed reviews of the process.

Monica Johnson said that after searching for months for an apartment at her Willows rent of $800, she found one on the West Bank and moved in May Finally she said, she feels safe in her home.

“I’m no longer walking out of my front door with a butcher knife,” said Johnson, who said she carried the knife when walking to her car to leave for work before dawn each morning. In April, she arrived at her apartment at the Willows to find six bullet holes through her bedroom walls.

“This week, I brought it in the house and said, ‘OK, I’m done with this knife — it can go back to the kitchen,’” Johnson said. Dominique Flot has struggled to find her footing after

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

be downgraded on site as a minimum

In return the U.S. will move to waive, but not eliminate, some wide-ranging sanctions against Iran once the deal is signed The agreement also secures free passage of the strait for only 60 days, and it does not preclude fees in future, according to the U.S officials and the Iranian draft. The document also has provisions to ensure the territorial integrity of Lebanon after Israel’s latest attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanese territory. Israel has rejected the prospect of withdrawing from Lebanon, but the agreement expressly states in its first point that military operations in Lebanon must stop with the signing of the memorandum. Under the Obama-era nuclear agreement with Iran that Trump pulled out of in his first term, Iran also agreed to restrictions on its nuclear program and promised never to build an atomic weapon. The Islamic Republic maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful. Trump, meanwhile, cast some uncertainty on whether the signing would happen as planned Asked how confident he was that the ceremony would take place, Trump said: “You never know with deals, do you? But you’re going to find out pretty soon.”

The U.S. and Israel went to war on Feb. 28 in part to prevent Iran from ever getting a nuclear weapon, although Trump’s goals in the conflict have repeatedly shifted The interim deal stops the war before securing that goal. Instead, it opens a twomonth 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

moving out of the Willows earlier this month. A cook at a bar, she’s been unable to find an apartment with a rent she could afford and has bounced around between relatives’ homes and hotels, borrowing money from her boss to cover the costs.

Flot said her sons, who lived with her at the Willows, have been staying in abandoned houses.

“It’s very hard, it’s very hard,” said Flot.

Earls said the company has dedicated $50,000 to a “relocation fund” to assist residents with moving costs for new housing, but Flot said she’s had trouble getting in touch with the property manager, Rampart Multifamily Management, to access the assistance.

Michael Ricci, principal and director of the management company said 57 tenants have received assistance so far, but that Flot’s requests “could have easily gotten lost in the shuffle” amid a lot of requests.

He said the company has assisted some residents with deposits but that it “depends on the amount.”

“It’s a limited fund,” Ricci said “There’s no additional

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. TrumpbackedU.S.Rep.JuliaLetlow, 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

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 program, and reopening the strait, the crucial passage for the world’s oil and natural gas and whose closure created a historic energy crisis.

The deal includes an end to the fighting in Lebanon between Israel and the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah. That is one of the most delicate parts of the agreement because Israel has maintained it will continue to defend itself and to occupy vast swaths of Lebanon. Iran has said Israel must withdraw under the deal.

The White House and other American officials have not published the terms and did not immediately respond

funding coming from any government program or the like.”

In a statement on Monday Jeffrey Schwartz, director of housing, community development and special projects for New Orleans, said officials were looking forward to working with The Lee Adrion Company on the redevelopment.

“This long-blighted property has long been a priority of Mayor (Helena) Moreno and is deserving of the attention and care that we know, in partnership with the developer, we can provide,” said Schwartz. An administration spokesperson didn’t respond Wednesday afternoon to questions about whether the city may be able to provide additional relocation assistance.

Earls said she hopes that some people will be able to move back, but said rents would be increased to “be in line with the market.” Onebedroom units at the Willows currently rent for $780 a month. Other apartment complexes in the area typically charge upward of $850 for a one-bedroom.

“We’re not interested in pricing people out; we don’t want to be an ivory tower,” said Earls.

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

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,”

“Nobody knows what it is, but it’s very strong,” Trump said in France, where he attended a Group of Seven summit.

But he also opened the door to abandoning it: “It’s a memorandum of understanding, and if I don’t like it, we’ll go back to shooting at them, dropping bombs.”

Some concessions to Iran including the full lifting of sanctions and the release of frozen assets — would happen gradually and be linked to progress in the nuclear talks, according to officials from Pakistan, a key mediator They 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

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.

BUSINESS

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Stocks sink on worries about interestrate hike

NEWYORK U.S. stocks slumped Wednesday on speculationthe Federal Reserve may hike interest ratesthis year to keep alid on inflation. Higherrates can tap the brakes on accelerating prices at cash registers, but theyalsoslow the economy and hurt prices for investments.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury bond, which influences rates for mortgages and other loans going to U.S. households and businesses, rose to 4.49% from 4.43% late Tuesday. The two-yearTreasury yield, which moreclosely tracks expectations forFed action, jumped to 4.21% from 4.05%.

Traders upped their betsfor at least one increase to the federal fundsratethisyearand nowsee an 84% probability of it, up from 59.5%a day earlier,according to data from CME Group.

Highyields in bond markets worldwide caused by worries aboutinflation have already beenthreatening to slow economies andundercutprices for all kindsofinvestments.

In the stock market, SpaceX erasedanearly gain and fell 4.9% for its first loss since its ballyhooed debut on theU.S stock market lastweek.

Dropsof3.8%for Microsoft, 3.5% for Amazon and 1.3% for Nvidia were three of the heaviest weights on theS&P 500.

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

Japanese trade officials raid 6ice cream makers

TOKYO— Japanesegovernmentfair trade watchdog officialshaveraided six major ice cream makers on suspicion of price fixing.

Tokyo-based Meiji Co.said in astatement Tuesday thatithad been raided on suspicion of violating anti-monopolylaws.

“Weaccept with sincerity the fact that our company was raided, and we promise to cooperate fullywiththe Japan Fair Trade Commission investigation,” it said. Five other companies Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Morinaga& Co., Lotte Co., Ezaki Glico Co. and Akagi Nyugo Co. —issued similar statements. It wasn’tclearwhenthe raids took place In addition to ice cream, the companies make various food items, dessertsand confectionery goods, including pudding, chocolate bars andchewing gum, sold widely at supermarkets and convenience stores nationwide.

Japanese media calledit“a price cartel.”Top managersat the companies were in touch with each other over several years to coordinate raising ice cream prices by 6U.S. cents,for instance, as well as the timing of suchhikes,the reportssaid Protestersblock copper exports from Mongolia

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia Protesters blocked copper exports froma huge RioTintominein Mongolia on Wednesday, partiallycutting off the supply of a mineral vital to China’srenewable energy ambitions. The protest group, calledthe Radical Reform Movement, is pushing for agreater share of mining revenue for Mongolians, along-runningdemand in anation where poverty persists despite the exploitation of its mineral riches. Copper is needed for electricvehicles and solar and wind power installations, all industries where China is aworld leader

The Oyu Tolgoi mine is a massive undertaking to tap a vast reserve of copper deep in theGobi Desert. About 50 miles north of the border with China,italso has largegold deposits and is expectedtobe thefourth largest copper mine in the world when fully operational, Rio Tinto has said. The British-Australian mining giant owns 66% of the mine, with the Mongolian government holding the other34%.

Fedkeeps keyrateunchanged

BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP economics writer

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

Theunexpectedlyaggressive tilt toward higherrates would disappoint President Donald Trump and suggests heightened concerns about persistent inflation among Fedofficials.

In an unusually short statement

after theirtwo-daymeeting, the officialsdropped languagethat had suggested theirnext move would be to cut the key rate.

Thebrief statement re flect s the influence of newchair Kevin Warsh, appointed by Trump, who has previously criticized the Fed for commenting toobroadly on the economy Still,Warsh’s18colleagueson

theFed’srate-setting committeesent aclear message in aset of quarterly projections released Wednesday: Nine signaled they supported higher rates this year, with sixofthose supporting two quarter-point increases. It’sasharp change from March, when no policymakers penciled in ahike and the committeeasa wholeforecastone cutin2026.

Thechange is an acknowledgment that inflationisatits highest level in three yearsand many officials have said in recent speeches that if inflation doesn’tdecline, higher

rates maybenecessary in the coming months.

Warsh, in his first news conference as chair,also underscored the Fed’sdetermination to bring inflation downtothe central bank’s2% target. TheFed typically seekstocombat inflation by lifting interest ratestoslowborrowing andspending and cool the economy.Yet taking such astep would likely attract the ire of the White House, and could lift the cost of mortgages, auto loans, and other borrowing, just before the midterm elections.

Sandersunveils plan to give public direct ownershipofAIcompanies

$7Tsovereign wealth fund wouldbeusedfor housing, healthcare,education

BY JOEY CAPPELLETTI Associated Press

WASHINGTON— As artificial intelligence companiesreshape the economy andrace toward trillion-dollar valuations, Sen. Bernie Sanders is proposing asweeping transfer of wealth and power from the industry to the American public.

Thelegislation,shown first to TheAssociatedPress, would create asovereign wealth fund overseen by an independent commissionand financedthrough aone-time 50% tax on thestock of thelargest AI companies.

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

“Thebenefits cannot simply go to the handfulofwealthy corporations. They will be shared by the American people,” the independent Vermont senator said in an interviewWednesday

The idea of giving thepublic astakeinAI hasrecentlydrawn interestfromfiguresas ideologically diverse as President Donald Trump and OpenAI CEO SamAltman.But Sanders’ proposal goes much further,calling for public ownership of half of the largest AI companies and direct influence overcorporate decision-making.

“The public has got to have asignificant seat at the table to makesurethat terrible thingsdonot happen to ordinary people, and that in fact, AI benefits ordinary people, not hurtsthem,” Sanderssaid.

Howthe fund wouldwork

Sandershas previously proposedthe sovereign wealth fund, but thebill summary obtained by the AP is the first legislative attempttomake it areality

The 50% tax would apply to AI companies that reach $200 million in annualAIsales. Any new AI company that reaches that benchmark would alsobesubject to the tax. It would create asovereign wealth fund similartothose used by countriesaround the worldand some U.S.states— that Sanders estimateswould be worth around $7 trillion. Unlike atraditional tax, the proposal would require companies to transferstock rather than cash, effectively making theAmerican public amajor shareholderinthe country’s largest AI firms.

Aseven-personindependentcommission nominated by thepresident andconfirmedby the Senate —would manage thefund and use its voting shares “to block decisions thathurt theAmerican people andtopush for policies that help them,” thebill summary says. Sanders proposes that a5%annual dividend from thefund would provide direct payments of morethan $1,000 toevery

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByJACQUELyN MARTIN

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

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

Sanders arguestaxpayers would not bear thelosses if AI company valuations decline.

“We’re not going to lose any money,even if there is abust in thebubble,” Sanders said. The commission would be directedto“to block decisions that hurt theAmerican people and topush for policies that help them,” according to thesummary Sanders emphasized thatthe proposal is just astart. “Wethink this is thebest that we could do at the moment, and it’s certainly a major,major,major step forward fromgiving unilateral and total power to ahandful of multibillionaires,” he said.

Supporters in WhiteHouse,Silicon Valley Sanders is not alone in pushing for apublic stake in the companies that develop AI Trump, whorecentlysignedanorder to have new AI models voluntarily vetted by the government,has alsomused aboutthe government owning astakeinthe companies that develop AI,saying“there’ssomething very interesting about it, where it almost becomes apartnership withthe American public.”

OpenAI —led by Altman —inApril proposed to “create apublicwealthfundthat provides every citizen —including those not invested in financial markets—with astake in AI-driven economic growth.”

Anthropic,one of OpenAI’s topcompetitors andrecently valued at $965 billion, has been open to similarideas,withCEO Dario Amodei writing recently that “universal basicincomecould be financed throughtaxes on relevant companies.”

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

ing to those in the room

“I think people like Sam Altman and Trump (who) maybesympathetic to this are saying: ‘OK, look,we’re making zillions of dollars so we’re going to be nice guys and maybe we’ll buy off the public. We will give 5% of our profits back into the government,’” said Sanders. “That’snot what we’re talking about. Whatwe’retalking aboutare twovery different things.”

Taking the fighttovoters

Asked whether he plans to make AI ownership and wealth inequality part of that messageonthe campaign trail, Sandersresponded, “Absolutely.”

It’samessage other candidates are using ahead of the midterms as they tap into voters’ angstabout thetechnology. Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow unveiled aplan to “protect workers in the ageofAI,” while NewYorkDemocratic House candidate Alex Bores has also madeAIregulation acampaign issue.

Data center projects across the country have drawnoppositionfromresidents concerned about electricity demand, water consumption and environmental impacts. Some states once eager to attract the facilities, including Ohio andVirginia,havemoved to reconsider tax incentives.

On college campuses, commencement speakers have been interrupted by boos when discussing artificial intelligence About70% of collegestudentssee AI as a threat to their jobprospects, according to a 2025 poll by the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School.

“Workers will be thrownout of theirjobs while billionaires, multibillionaires become even richer,” Sanders said. “The American people areaware of thatand don’twant to see it happen.”

BY ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP retail writer

NEWYORK— Shoppers stepped up their spending in Mayand surpassed expectations as temperatures warmedand gasoline prices leveled off. Retail sales rose 0.9%, up from a revised 0.4% gain in April, according to Commerce Departmentdata released Wednesday. Salesgot a boostfromgenerous government tax refundsinbothApril and May, though economists say that cash cushion is startingtofade. Excluding sales at gasstations, retail sales in May rose 0.7%.

Thefigures aren’t inflationadjusted so higher prices likely helped boost sales. But economists point to healthy spending with increases thatwere broad-based. Business at clothing, accessory andfurniture stores allposted sales gains. Online sales rose 1.5% Electronics and appliance stores and department stores both registered slight sales declines. The data offers only asnapshot of consumer spending and doesn’t include activities like travel and hotel stays. The lone services category —restaurants —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 suggestssolidspending, economists said. Consumers are the engine of the American economy,driving most of the nation’s economicgrowth. And the latest retail sales report underscores that spending has remained resilient so farthis year despite rising prices. Solid increases in hiring have also buoyed

spending, economists said. “The stronger-than-forecast and broad-basedgains in Mayretail salesshowthatconsumerscontinued to spend strongly despite higher gasoline prices in the month,” Nationwide ChiefEconomist Kathy Bostjancicwrites. “The largetax refunds and overall tax reductions for households this year and the recent strengthening in employment growth helped buffer thenegative drag from higher gasoline prices.” Tombswas more cautious about the spending outlook.

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

Warsh

considerable and life-threatening flash-flooding concerns tonight into tomorrow morning,” forecasters said Wednesday afternoon Forecasters changed the projected path as the wide center of the disorganized storm moved back inland over Texas on Wednesday afternoon. National Hurricane Center Senior Forecaster Brad Reinhart said “the circulation center has become more diffuse and less defined over the past couple hours, making it difficult to track with much confidence.”

The change meant it was now forecast to move into Texas rather than skirt the coastline in the Gulf of Mexico and make landfall in Louisiana. Its winds were expected to weaken quickly While street flooding in New Orleans is a habitual worry, much of the focus was on St. Tammany given the storm’s projected path.

The Tchefuncte near Folsom was already at 21 feet — considered a major flooding level as of 4 p.m. Wednesday Folsom firefighters helped with the evacuations of around five homes on Park Lane Road along the Tchefuncte, said Adam Shields of the Folsom Fire Department. Water had covered sections of the road near La. 40 as of Wednesday afternoon.

“The rainfall is the primary threat. The secondary threat is what’s happening with the rivers,”

PROSECUTOR

Continued from page 1A

illicit relationship and lying about it. Cantrell left office in January She and Vappie pleaded not guilty and are set for an October trial.

Ginsberg, who has worked in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Orleans since 2009, did not respond to multiple emails and text messages Tuesday and Wednesday

Few public details have come with his removal Just when the alleged relationship between Ginsberg and a legal assistant in the office became widely known, why it blew up over the past week and whether she, too, is a subject of the internal DOJ probe were not immediately clear The statement

Courcelle provided Tuesday said only that Ginsberg was under investigation for “employee misconduct,” without providing specifics

“We take all allegations of employee misconduct seriously and in such cases, will take appropriate action after a thorough review of the facts,” Courcelle’s statement said.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to elaborate Wednesday on the internal probe’s focus.

A boilerplate motion filed Tuesday night in Cantrell’s case said Ginsberg was being withdrawn from the prosecution team. It was signed by two veteran prosecutors: Michael Simpson, who had been serving as Courcelle’s first assistant, and Nick Moses, a deputy chief of the public corruption unit.

Simpson and veteran pros-

said Clint Ory, St Tammany Parish’s emergency operations director

Ory said the parish was also monitoring Tchefuncte levels by U.S. 190 near Covington, as well as some of the parish’s numerous other rivers, including the Bogue Falaya.

WWL Louisiana chief meteorologist Chris Franklin warned viewers on Wednesday: “If you’re living near those rivers, I would definitely be out of there.”

‘See what comes our way’

Arthur was not expected to remain a tropical storm for long, but forecasters warned the flooding threat would persist no matter its status. A tropical storm warning

ecutor Brian Klebba will act as co-heads of the criminal division with Ginsberg on administrative leave, sources have said Courcelle, a career defense lawyer who was appointed to the U.S. attorney post by President Donald Trump, previously represented a witness in the Cantrell case and has recused himself from the prosecution.

Potential complications Court records on Wednesday showed Cantrell’s was the only case from which Ginsberg has formally withdrawn. He had retained other cases since being named the office’s criminal chief. Those included the prosecution of a former Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office employee, Kenneth Lawson, who pleaded guilty in January to wielding his perch at the agency to steal federal grant money Within the Justice Department, officials are discussing the potential that the allegations could cast public doubt on the strength of the Cantrell prosecution given the parallels between the allegations Ginsberg faces and those detailed in Cantrell’s indictment, several people familiar with the discussions said.

While DOJ officials have internally expressed confidence in the Cantrell case’s legal bearing, those familiar with the discussions said there’s fear that attorneys for Cantrell and Vappie could still seek to exploit the information in court Cantrell’s defense lawyer, Eddie Castaing, declined to comment Wednesday on the allegations. An attorney for Vappie, Shaun Clarke, also

had been issued for areas stretching from Sargent, Texas, to Morgan City, and a flood watch is in effect through Friday morning for most of southeast Louisiana along with all of southwest and coastal Mississippi.

Some of the highest rainfall totals were predicted for parts of Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. Overall, Arthur is expected to dump 5 to 10 inches of rain, with up to 20 inches possible in spots. The New Orleans area was expected to see lower amounts of potentially 1 to 2 inches, though specific locations could see higher amounts.

The storm wobbled from the Gulf onto the Texas coast late Wednesday afternoon with maximum winds of 45 mph and began

declined to comment.

The defense attorneys have argued in previous court filings and hearings that prosecutors’ case amounts to criminally charging two people for conduct in their private love lives — a view echoed by some trial bar veterans who have called the charges meager by standards of major public corruption cases.

Ginsberg’s prosecutions

A Chicago native, Ginsberg relocated to New Orleans at a time when the U.S. Attorney’s Office was burnishing a reputation as a hard-charging check on crooked public officials.

Over his 17-year career in the office, Ginsberg earned respect among trial bar veterans prosecutors and defense lawyers alike — for a dogged approach to building corruption cases against public officials. A biography on the website of Loyola University, where Ginsberg has given lectures, says he has “successfully charged and convicted numerous federal, state, and local public officials.” He sought the job of U.S. attorney last year, before Courcelle’s appointment.

Ginsberg’s notable prosecutions include that of former St. Tammany Par-

weakening as it moved over land. Its remnants were expected to advance northeast and cross into Louisiana overnight while gradually dissipating, with the threat of widespread flash flooding predicted to subside by Thursday afternoon.

The tornado threat would peak between 9 p.m. Wednesday and 8 a.m. Thursday, weather service forecasters said.

While stormy conditions will ease later Thursday, heat will then become an issue. The heat index, or “feels like temperature” that takes humidity into account, could reach as high as 110 degrees in some areas in the storm’s aftermath, according to forecasters.

“We are asking the people of New Orleans to really do what city government has done, and that is to just be prepared, stay weather alert, and we’ll see what comes our way,” New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said at an afternoon briefing.

The Sewerage & Water Board was lowering canal levels to increase stormwater storage capacity and cleaning catch basins.

S&WB Executive Director Randy Hayman said 87 of 93 major drainage pumps were available.

At the Carrollton Avenue underpass — a frequent flooding hot spot crews had installed a temporary pump for the station’s three nonfunctioning permanent pumps.

Filling sandbags

In Jefferson Parish, President Cynthia Lee Sheng said its Emer-

ish District Attorney Walter Reed, leading to Reed’s 2015 indictment on 19 corruption charges. Reed was convicted of all but one money laundering count and sentenced to four years in prison.

And the feds spent years looking into Cantrell before charging her

By the spring of 2025, the Cantrell probe had dragged on for at least three years — focusing at turns on her campaign finances, dealings with an electrician later accused of bribing her and, most salaciously the allegations that she used taxpayer money and resources, including a city-owned apart-

gency Operations Center and pump stations will all be staffed to meet demand.

Lee Sheng said 196 of the parish’s 198 pumps are operational

The two that are out of commission are at the Harvey pump station and the Pailet pump station, but both have additional pumping capacity

“The good thing about it is hopefully it doesn’t turn out to be an incident, but for us in emergency management and first response, we’re going through all the motions as if we had very dangerous hazards coming our way,” Lee Sheng said.

Sandbag filling locations had been announced around the metro area. In Algiers, a steady flow of people arrived for sandbags at the Morris F.X. Jeff Park and Behrman Stadium parking lot.

“We aren’t expecting to be overwhelmed by flooding, but it’s New Orleans. A 30-minute rain will have flooding,” said Landon Williams, director of constituent services for New Orleans City Council member Freddie King. Tammy Crumpton, a social worker from Algiers, planned to use sandbags to protect glass doors at her home.

“Hopefully the water won’t be in, and it won’t get that high,” she said. Staff writers Justin Mitchell, Lara Nicholson and Violet Bucaro contributed reporting.

Email Marco Cartolano at marco.cartolano@theadvocate. com.

ment in the French Quarter, to cavort with her alleged paramour With each passing week, questions began to mount about whether an indictment of the mayor would materialize at all.

Ginsberg finally delivered the indictment of Cantrell on a cloudy Friday last August to a federal magistrate judge.

The 48-page charging document, entered as superseding counts in a case the office filed against Vappie a year earlier contained a narrower set of allegations than many had predicted the sitting mayor would face.

Its criminal counts rested solely on claims tied to her alleged relationship with her bodyguard.

“This indictment does not allege that a relationship constitutes a crime,” Simpson, who was acting U.S. attorney at the time, said at a news conference that day “Rather, it reflects the prosecution of two public officials alleged to have engaged in a yearslong, continuing fraud scheme that used public money for personal ends, by exploiting their power and their authority.”

Contact James Finn at jfinn@theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Mayor Helena Moreno holds a news conference on Wednesday

Trump delays confirmation of national intelligence nominee

Move fuels tension with fellow Republicans

BY MARY CLARE JALONICK, ERIC TUCKER and SEUNG MIN KIM Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Wednesday derailed the confirmation process of his own nominee to head the nation’s intelligence agencies, an extraordinary move that upended Senate efforts to renew a crucial surveillance program and fueled fresh tensions with fellow Republicans on Capitol Hill. In an overnight social media post from the Group of Seven summit in France, Trump declared he was delaying the nomination of federal prosecutor Jay Clayton as director of national intelligence just hours ahead of his scheduled hearing, despite bipartisan praise for the nominee and Republican efforts to speed him through the confirmation process.

Senate Intelligence Committee

Chairman Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said Republicans would go ahead with the Clayton hearing anyway “unless the president directs him not to appear or withdraws his nomination.” But later he postponed the hearing, saying it was “regrettable” that Trump had directed Clayton not to appear “Mr Clayton is a patriot and a highly qualified nominee, as the president has said repeatedly,” Cotton said. “While today’s hearing is now unfortunately postponed, I look forward to proceeding with his confirmation in the near future.”

Trump’s attempt to delay Clayton makes it more likely that his temporary pick for the intelligence job, top housing official Bill Pulte, will take over when outgoing director Tulsi Gabbard leaves office on Friday Republicans and Democrats in Congress have sharply criticized Pulte, a Trump loyalist who has no known national security experience and has used his current administration perch to target perceived adversaries of the president. Trump has defended Pulte, calling him “fair” and “talented.” Speaking to reporters in France,

Trump called the speedy process to get Clayton formally installed a “rush act by the Democrats.”

“Why are they afraid of this guy? They’re so afraid of him,” Trump said, referring to Pulte. “They’ll do anything not to have Pulte go in there.”

Caught in the middle is the renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, bipartisan legislation that aims to prevent terrorist attacks by monitoring the communications of targeted foreigners located outside the United States. Democrats had said they would not provide the necessary votes to pass the bill unless Pulte’s temporary appointment was withdrawn. The current surveillance authority expired last week.

Further complicating matters,

Trump said in his social media post that he would not sign the FISA renewal without his legislation to require proof of citizenship for all voters which does not have enough votes to pass the Senate — and that he does not want to remove Clayton from his current position as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York until his replacement, James McDonald, is approved.

Trump’s post sent Senate Republicans scrambling, and it was unclear if and when Clayton’s nomination would move forward.

We’ll just have to take it a day at a time until we get more clarity on what the White House position is on this,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters Wednesday morning. He said he didn’t know why Trump was holding up the effort.

Escalating tensions

Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the

President Donald Trump declared on Wednesday he was delaying the nomination of federal prosecutor Jay Clayton, pictured, for director of national intelligence.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, called Trump’s move an “extraordinary display of dysfunction from a president who seems determined to turn America’s national security into a political bargaining chip.”

“The biggest obstacle to resolving these issues has not been Senate Democrats or Senate Republicans,” Warner said “It has been the chaos and confusion coming from the White House itself.”

It was just the latest in a series of standoffs between Trump and Senate Republicans this year

A funding bill for Trump’s immigration agencies was delayed several weeks when Republicans revolted over a $1.776 billion “antiweaponization” fund and a $1 billion security request for the White House, including his new ballroom. The bill passed after acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the settlement would not move forward, and GOP leaders decided to drop the security money from the bill.

Trump then appointed Pulte as interim intelligence director just as the FISA renewal was moving toward passage, upsetting bipartisan talks. Republicans urged the White House to pull the appointment, to no avail.

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said that Trump’s recent moves are “undermining the results he wants.”

“Jay Clayton was on the brink of having a very good hearing and probably getting some Democrat support, and now we’re in a posture to where it may be the reason that 702 doesn’t get reauthorized,” Tillis said. “That’s a mistake.”

Tillis called Pulte a “sycophant” to Trump.

Germany and Poland sign a new defense agreement

BY CLAUDIA CIOBANU Associated Press

WARSAW, Poland Germany and Poland signed a new defense agreement on Wednesday, putting aside their complicated past to strengthen European military cooperation amid heightened tensions with Russia and growing uncertainty over U.S engagement in Europe. Relations between the two neighbors in recent years have become more pragmatic in the wake of Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine in 2022 and the coming to power of a liberal government in Poland in 2023.

“We are not forgetting the past,” Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Ka-

mysz said in Warsaw during a news conference with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius. “But the politics of the future, development and security are our obligation.”

As the U.S. weighs a partial drawdown of its military presence in Europe, Poland is keen to ensure that major European allies take a greater role in defending the continent’s eastern flank Germany seeks partners as it moves to revitalize its military, the Bundeswehr, after decades of neglect, with ambitions to build the strongest conventional army on NATO’s European side an effort that will make it a central pillar of European defense in the years ahead.

Poland’s importance as a logistics hub for Ukraine, alongside its growing economy and heavy defense investment, has made it a compelling partner for Germany and other core European countries.

“Poland started building a strong army much earlier than other countries in Western Europe,” Cezary Tomczyk, the Polish deputy defense minister, told The Associated Press. “So we are ahead when it comes to capabilities.”

The defense agreement is to include plans for protecting the Baltic Sea region and details about cooperation on military mobility and infrastructure, cyber defense and new technologies.

Polish official: U.S. interested in offer for permanent base

Poland’s government approves steps to allow military installation

BY CLAUDIA CIOBANU Associated Press

WARSAW, Poland A senior Polish defense official said Wednesday that the United States has expressed interest in potentially establishing a permanent U.S. military base in Poland.

Cezary Tomczyk Poland’s deputy defense minister, spoke to The Associated Press a day after the Polish government approved steps to allow such a U.S. permanent base in Poland, on NATO’s eastern flank. He said the government’s resolution about the base Tuesday is an invitation to the Americans.

“The Americans are interested in the Polish offer to place a permanent base here,” because it would be financed by both countries, Tomczyk said in an interview at the Defense Ministry in Warsaw When asked about the remarks, U.S. Defense Department officials in Washington said they had nothing new to announce.

Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said that Poles are doing everything in their power to have such a permanent base but that “the decision will always be on the side of the Americans.”

Around 10,000 U.S. troops are typically stationed in Poland, the majority on a rotational basis.

The Polish government is hoping that thousands of U.S. troops be stationed permanently as the U.S. rethinks its military presence in Europe, both in personnel and weaponry

In May, the U.S. suddenly halted the deployment of 4,000 soldiers to Poland despite the Trump administration considering the country a “model ally” for reaching its NATO target for spending on defense.

U.S. President Donald Trump previously had threatened to pull troops out of Germany That was attributed to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticizing the U.S. on Iran, but the reduction of troops in Poland caused widespread confusion on both sides of the Atlantic.

Tomczyk was part of a Polish team immediately dispatched to Washington for talks. He was still in the U.S. capital when Trump wrote on social media that U.S. would send an additional 5,000 troops to Poland.

Since then, the U.S. has confirmed that it is reorganizing its troop presence in Europe but has given no further clarity about which troops are going where. However, multiple statements from Polish defense officials since then indicate they believe Poland has a chance to see an increase in permanent U.S. troops.

“Sometimes a rotating model can change into a permanent model and this is always much better,” Defense Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz said in mid-May

Asked whether the Polish resolution came because the U.S. side signaled clear interest in having a permanent base in Poland, Tomczyk said Poland and the U.S. are “in a working dialogue” and that “the next step, after the two sides confirmed they are interested in this, is the official offer from the Polish state.”

“We can’t tell fortune from tea leaves,” Tomczyk said. “But we are a serious state which is presenting a serious offer to the Americans, in connection with the dialogue we are having with the Americans.”

Businesses beg S&WB to finish work

‘We’re almost there,’ director says of utility project

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 con-

tractor 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 S&WB says numerous hurdles will force work to continue through

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

RIGHT HERE

Summer in south Louisiana often means thick humidity, sudden rain showers and the constant reminder that hurricane season is never far from mind. Afternoon downpours can cool things briefly, but the heat and moisture usually return quickly, leaving streets wet, windows streaked and umbrellas close at hand.

Trombonist Ronell Johnson dies at 49

Musicians

BY KEITH SPERA Staff writer

Trombonist, sousaphonist and vocalist

BY MICHELLE HUNTER Staff writer

STAFF PHOTOS By DAVID GRUNFELD

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRETT DUKE Ronell Johnson,

JEFFERSON PARISH

New law cracks down on attacks on restaurant workers

Tougher sentences on perpetrators imposed

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer

Standing behind a McDonald’s counter in Baton Rouge on Wednesday morning, Gov. Jeff Landry signed a law he says will help protect restaurant workers from attacks.

House Bill 1238 by state Rep. Dixon McMakin, R-Baton Rouge, enhances criminal penalties for assault and simple battery when those crimes are committed against employees in food and retail establishments.

“This is one of those bills that you’d think we wouldn’t need in society,” the governor said “These are people that are actually out there trying to serve the public, trying to get you a meal, trying to just get you on your way.”

In Louisiana, people convicted of simple battery face fines of up to $1,000 and prison sentences of up to six months and those convicted of simple assault face fines of up to $200 and prison sentences of up to 90 days.

HB1238, which became Act 342 with Landry’s signature, stiffens those penalties. When the victim of a simple battery is a restaurant or retail employee, the perpetrator could have to pay up to $2,000 or spend up

WORK

Continued from page 1B

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 for-profit business,” Hayman said.

Moreno criticism Moreno has repeatedly criticized the S&WB in relation to the

project over the last week. She told reporters on June 11 that the S&WB should have taken a block-by-block approach, adding that “projects in the French Quarter can never happen like that again.”

Hayman said on Tuesday that the S&WB would have preferred to open one block at a time, but the Federal Emergency Management Agency end-of-2025 deadline for reimbursing the work compelled the agency to get as much done as quickly as possible.

“We had only a small amount of time to do the work and to be reimbursed, and so it was best to get the shovel in the ground and to get that going,” Hayman said.

The work is not included in the $1.7 billion FEMA settlement for road and utility projects across the city That funding was recently extended to mid-2028, but the S&WB’s request to extend the French Quarter project is still pending. S&WB officials say that hasn’t caused any work stoppages.

In a social media video on Sunday, Moreno said the S&WB isn’t capable of handling the communications, outreach and administration of small-business grants that are needed to remedy the problems caused by the project.

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

Though she didn’t provide details in the video about how she

plans to oversee the project, Moreno’s special counsel, Andrew Tuozzolo, said in an email the mayor is making sure the S&WB work schedules are appropriate, is demanding better communication and is developing “new financial relief opportunities for businesses.” He did not provide additional details about financial relief.

Lawsuit coming?

Lawyer Bob Ellis said he is representing around 15 business owners, employees and residents who plan to soon file for a court injunction to force the S&WB to work more efficiently He noted, for example, that the 500 block of St. Philip is currently blocked off even though no work is occurring there.

A lawsuit for damages will be coming “down the road,” Ellis said, “but I’m trying to get something done right now.”

The St. Philip Street closure, which includes a locked gate at the end of the block, is causing headaches at the Original French Market Restaurant and Bar and others near the corner of St. Philip Street and Decatur Street. Christina Marullo, the restaurant’s owner, said she has missed deliveries and has to walk a block and a half to empty the trash. “We have residents. There’s no ambulance access. There’s a lock on the gate,” Marullo said.

for a news conference at the McDonald’s on Dawnedale Avenue, said the state passed laws to protect healthcare workers from workplace violence in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now it was time “to do the same thing for the people that are behind the counter,” he said.

“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.

is the “intentional use of force or violence” against someone, while assault is attempted battery McMakin, who joined Landry

ARREST

Continued from page 1B

CrimeStoppers tip that Tillman had been murdered and buried in the backyard of a home in the 1200 block of Gaudet Drive in Marrero.

Detectives paid a visit to the home and in April recovered partial skeletal remains buried in the backyard, including a skull and severed hands, authorities said. Investigators later determined the remains belonged to Tillman.

The tipster identified two suspects, Dustin Billot, 33, and John Lopez, 46, as Tillman’s killers, the Sheriff’s Office said. The pair had discussed Tillman’s death, dismemberment and the disposal of his remains in front of several witnesses who confirmed the conversations with investigators, according to authorities Billot and Lopez were arrested in late April and booked with second-degree murder, obstruction of justice and unlawful disposal

JOHNSON

Continued from page 1B

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 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

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.

of remains

Billot was living at the Gaudet Drive home at the time of Tillman’s death along with his sister, Christina Beasley, 40, and Kelly Barrios, 40.

Beasley and Barrios were arrested in May and booked with failure to report the commission of a felony and accessory after the face to second-degree murder Barrios was the first to be formally charged in the case by the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office. She pleaded not guilty June 9 to failure to report a homicide and obstruction of justice, court records said. Parks is the second suspect to face a second-degree kidnapping charge in Tillman’s death She joins Terrence Johnson, 45, who was also booked with seconddegree murder, obstruction of justice and unlawful disposal of remains.

Parks was being held Wednesday at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna. Bail was set at $605,000.

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.

LOTTERY TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2026 PICK 3: 4-1-7 PICK 4: 4-5-8-5 PICK 5: 7-7-0-7-2

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

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 BEN MyERS

Sewerage & Water Board Executive Director Randy Hayman addresses French Quarter business owners at the Original French Market Restaurant and Bar on Tuesday

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

The Sewerage & Water Board project continues on Decatur Street to replace 115-year-old water mains in the French Quarter on June 10.

Christophe,Ruth

Dettwiller, William EdwardsJr.,Joseph Fasullo Jr., Philip Johnson, Gerald McDonald,J’Juan

Morgan,Bernard

Reyes, Gladys

Roddy,Clarice

St.Etienne,Shirley

Taylor,Wanzie

Thompson, Diane

Treuting, Mignon

Vaughn, Willie Mae

Williams, Gloria EJefferson

Garden of Memories

Taylor,Wanzie

NewOrleans

Boyd Family

Williams, Gloria

Charbonnet

Christophe,Ruth

EdwardsJr.,Joseph

Thompson, Diane

DW Rhodes

Johnson, Gerald

St.Etienne,Shirley

Treuting, Mignon West Bank

Mothe

Fasullo Jr., Philip Roddy,Clarice

Robinson FH

McDonald,J’Juan Reyes, Gladys

Vaughn, Willie Mae Obituaries

Christophe,RuthBaggett

Ruth Baggett Christophe departed this earthlylife on June 8, 2026,atthe age of 98. Born on December 1, 1927,inSontag, Missis‐sippi,tothe late Willie Baggett, Sr.and Susie Hardy. Shewas oneofthir‐teen siblings,all of whom preceded herindeath.In 1946, shemoved to New Orleans, LA,where she builta life rooted in faith, family,and service. Ruth wasthe devotedwifeof Dermis Anthony Christophe, Sr.until his passingin1984. Together, they were devotedparents to thirteen children.A ded‐icated homemakerand community servant, Ruth gave countless hoursof volunteer servicetoSt. Mary of theAngel Catholic Church andits elementary school.She worked in the cafeteria, theclinic,helped with theannualfair, and neverhesitated to step in wherever shewas needed. Sheleavestocherish her memory herchildren: AveryDagonsIII (Sandra), EvolaC.Bates,Susan C. Whitmore,Christine C. Nor‐wood,DermisA Christophe,Jr.,Arlease C. Augustine(Justin III),Eliza‐beth C. Barnes (Jerald), Rhonda C. Turner (Danny Sr.),DwightD.Christophe, Sr.(Cynthia),and Jacque‐lynChristophe. Shewas preceded in deathbyher infant daughter,Dorothy Baggett, andher step‐daughters,Paulette C. Mc‐Cormick(George,d)and Evelyn C. Smith(Norman). Herlegacycontinues throughtwenty-onegrand‐children,twenty-sixgreatgrandchildren, five stepgrandchildren, andone great-great-grandchild Shewas preceded in death by onegranddaughter-inlaw, onestep-granddaugh‐ter, andone great-grand‐child. Sheleavestomourn andcelebrate herlifewith themanychildren she helped raise, anda host of

family andfriends.Family andfriends areinvited to join in celebratingthe life of Ruth Christophe at Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church,1126 N. Robertson St NewOrleans,LAon Thursday,June 18, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. Visitation at 9:00 a.m. Interment- Resthaven Memorial Park,10400 Old GentillyRd.,New Orleans, LA.Pleasesignthe online guestbook at www.cha rbonnefuneralhome.com. Charbonnet LabatGlapion Directors, (504) 581-4411

Dettwiller, William D. Plumbers & Steamfitters Local Union60: Funeral serviceswillbe held for our late Brother WilliamD.Dettwilleron Thursday, June 18, 2026at 1:00 p.m. at St. Bernard Memorial Funeral Home, 701 W. Virtue St Chalmette,LA. By order of Jacob R. Newton, President

Attest: Ronald R. Rosser, Business Manager

EdwardsJr.,Joseph 'Arthur'

Joseph “Arthur”Ed‐wards,Jr. passedawayon Sunday, June 14,2026, after a lengthybattlewithCOPD surrounded by hisimmedi‐ate family.Hewas born on March 25,1949, andwas a proud graduate of TheElite St. AugustineHighSchool and Southern University at New Orleanswhere he ma‐jored in Business Adminis‐tration.Hewas an em‐ployeeofStewart Enter‐prisesfor over 30 yearsas anAccountant. He was precededindeath by his parents,Ann Harleaux Ed‐wards andJosephArthur Edwards,Sr.;his son, JosephArthur “Buster” Ed‐wards,III. Mr.Edwards leavestocherish hisloving memories, hisbeloved and dedicated wife of 52 years, Marie SmithEdwards; daughter, Rhonda Maria Edwards andthe “appleof his eye”,his granddaugh‐ter,Laila MarieJavery; his “best friend”and cousin Louis Harleaux;brother-inlaw,MorrisSmith; Uncle Pa; andhis life-long friends,the Boudyfamily. Heisalsosurvivedbya hostofcousins,nieces, nephews,godchildren,and friends.Relatives and friends areinvited to a MassofChristian Burial at CorpusChristi Epiphany Roman Catholic Church 2022 St.Bernard Ave.,New Orleans,LAonSaturday, June 20,2026 at 10:00am. Visitationat9:00am. Inter‐menttofollowatMount OlivetCemetery, 2050 Caton Street,New Orleans, LA. Please sign theonline guestbook at www.cha rbonnetfuneralhome.com. Charbonnet LabatGlapion Directors,(504) 581-4411.

Jr., Philip A.

Philip A. Fasullo, Jr passedawaypeacefully on Tuesday,June 16,2026, at the ageof82. Belovedhus‐bandofthe late Betty K. Fasullo for47years.Father ofTinaFasullo Chiasson (Darren M. Chiasson)and PhilipA.Fasullo,III (Roy‐lyneCalleganFasullo). Brother of AnthonyJ.Fa‐sullo,Sr. (Janet Galliano Fasullo)and thelatePaulJ Fasullo,Sr. (Carol Truxillo Fasullo). Adoringgrandfa‐thertohis four grandsons, NicholasA.Chiasson (Nicole Harrison Chiasson), PeitonA.Fasullo,Benjamin M.Chiassonand Matthew L.Fasullo anda greatgranddaughter,HarperE Chiassonand ahostof nephews.Hewas preceded indeath by hisparents PhilipAnthony FasulloSr. and JosephineArmatoFa‐sullo.Philipwas anativeof New Orleansand along‐timeresidentofMarrero LA, for51years.Helived in Mandeville, LA,for thelast 10years with hiscompan‐ion,Betty Frazer.Special thanks andrecognition to

Sage Lake Senior Living Community,Harmony Hos‐pice(Phil Soileau, RN), Car‐olynMontz andLoretta Lewis fortheir dedication time, andcare. In lieu of flowers, donationsmay be madetoDementiaSociety ofAmerica,Alzheimer’s AssociationorThe Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA). Relatives, friends,and employees of Fasullo’s Piggly WigglySu‐permarket areinvited to attend thefuneral services onSaturday, June 20, 2026 atVisitationofOur Lady Catholic Church,3500 AmesBlvd.,Marrero,LA. Visitationwillbefrom9 a.m.until 1p.m.witha recital of theRosaryat11 a.m.The FuneralMasswill start at 1p.m.Interment to followatWestlawnMemo‐rialParkCemetery, 1225 WhitneyAve., Gretna,LA. Mothe FuneralHomehas been entrustedwiththe arrangements. Thefamily invites youtoshare your favoritestories,fondest memories, andheartfelt condolences online at www.MotheFunerals.com

Gerald Warren Johnson, loving husband,father, and grandfather, cherished friend, entrepreneur, and civil rights activist, passed away peacefully on May 5, 2026, at theage of 101. Gerald was theson of Wilhelmina and Arthur and brother of Arthur, Alma, Wellington,Felton,and Wilhelmina,who all predeceasedhim. He is survived by his wife and theloveof his life,Valerie; hischildren,Sara, Domingo, and Kimberley; his grandchildren,Daniel and Sara; and ahost of nieces, nephews, and friends. Gerald willbe remembered for hissly sense of humor, fierce intelligence,warmth,generosity, and kind spirit.His family and friendswill miss him dearly and hold his memory in their hearts forever. AMass to honor and celebrate Gerald's life will be held at St.Louis Cathedral,615 Pere Antoine Alley, NewOrleans on Monday, June 22, 2026, at 1:45 p.m. Visitation will beginat1:15 p.m. In lieu of flowers,the family welcomes donations to St Jude's Children's Hospital. ArrangementsbyD.W RhodesFuneralHome, 3933 WashingtonAve.Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.com to signthe online guestbook.

Aftera courageous and hard-fought battle, J’Juan CarlosMcDonaldpeace‐fully transitioned from this earthly life on June 3, 2026 atOchsner MedicalCenter, surrounded by theloveand comfort of hisfamily. J’Juanwas preceded in death by hisbeloved sister JakiyaMonét McDonald; his uncle,Charles McDon‐ald;his grandmother, Helen Neal;and hischer‐ished great-grandparents, Mae Edwards, Fred Neal Sr.,Mandy Kelly,Hattie Neal, andGeraldine Kelly J’Juanleavestocherish his preciousmemoryhis de‐voted parents, Juan Mc‐Donaldand LaTonyaNeal; his grandparents,Clarence NealSr.,MelodyMcDonald, and LouisEdwards;his lov‐ingaunts, MirandaNeal

,Ivory McDonald andAsh‐ley Singleton; hisdevoted uncle,ClarenceNealJr.;his devoted great-aunt, Natasha Trotman; hisde‐voted great-uncles,Nathan Trotman andJapeth“Uncle Duel” Trotman; hisgreatuncle,EmanuelKelly;his cousins Ca’Ziyah Neal, Javon McDonald,Asiaand Asianae Feast, Sharnae McDonald, CharliqueHar‐ris andJ’JuanMcCoy;his beloved godchildren, Kamyren Amos,Ric’Kiyah January,and Ric’King Janu‐ary.Healsoleavesbehind a host of loving aunts, un‐cles, cousins, extended familymembers,and dear friends who will forever cherish thejoy,kindness, laughter, andlovehe sharedthroughouthis life Thoughhis earthlyjourney has ended, J’Juan’s mem‐ory will live on in the heartsofall who knew and loved him. Hiswarmspirit, unwaveringlovefor family and friends, andthe count‐lesslives he touchedwill remaina lastingsourceof comfort andinspiration Relatives andfriends are respectfullyinvited to at‐tendthe CelebrationofLife Service honoring J’Juan’s lifeonSaturday, June 20 2026, at GreaterProvidence Baptist Church,623 New‐ton Street,New Orleans, Louisiana.Visitationwill begin at 9:00 a.m.,followed bythe serviceat10:00 a.m. PastorJavonte Jimcoily willofficiate. Interment willfollowatWestlawn MemorialPark. “Welldone, good andfaithfulservant.” Matthew 25:23.Funeral planningentrusted to RobinsonFamilyFuneral Home. Foronlinecondo‐lences, please visitwww robinsonfamilyfuneralho me.com

Bernard Morgan was born 07/23/1957 and called home 06/08/2026, at 69. He is preceded in death by hisparents, Lula and Romey Morgan, and brother, Edmond. He is survived by his children, Lashell and Keon,granddaughter, Megan, siblings, Raymond and Daniel,and ahost of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends. Hislife willbecelebrated in aprivatefamily ceremony

With hearts full of grati‐tudefor alifewelllived and faith in thepromise of eternal life throughJesus Christ, we celebratethe lifeofGladysDionisia Marte Reyes, who entered intothe presence of her Lordand Savior on June 12 2026, at theage of 66. Born toGavinoMarte andLuz María MarteValdezinthe Dominican Republic Gladyslived alifecharac‐terized by faith,sacrifice, generosity, anduncondi‐tionallove. Shewas ade‐voted andobedientwoman ofGod whose greatest de‐sirewas to servethe Lord and care forthose around her.Gladysnever meta stranger. Shewas known for openingher home,her table,and herheart to any‐one in need.Ifsomeone was hungry, shewould feed them.Ifsomeone needed prayer,she would

standinfaith with them.If someone lacked,she would gladly sharewhat she had, oftengivingwith‐out expectinganythingin return. Herlifewas atesti‐monyofChrist'sloveex‐pressedthrough simple actsofkindnessand ser‐vice. Amongher greatest accomplishments washer unwavering commitment toher family. Through courage,perseverance, and sacrifice,Gladys helpedbring herfamily fromthe DominicanRepub‐lic to theUnitedStates, creatingopportunities and a foundation that would bless future generations. In the NewOrleans area,her familybecameaffection‐ately knownas"LosMu‐chos",a reflection of the large,close-knitfamilyshe helpedgather, support, and keep united through‐out theyears.Familywas not merely importantto Gladys; it washer ministry She gathered people.She gatheredfamilyacross borders,gatheredloved onesaround hertable gatheredheartsinprayer, and gathered generations together throughlove. Her influencecan be seen not onlyinher children and grandchildren butthrough‐out an entire extended familywhose liveswere shapedbyher devotion and sacrifice.Gladyswas the belovedwifeofLucas Evangelista Reyesand the lovingmotherofElizabeth Evangelista ReyesEstrella, wifeofPeter J. Estrella, and theirchildren: Peter Anthony Estrella,Arianni Luz Estrella,BrianaElisa Estrella,AlexisRamón Reyes,and hischildren: Ar‐maniAlexisReyes,Alijah LynnReyes.She leaves be‐hinda legacy of faith,hos‐pitality, generosity,and un‐waveringlovethatwill continuethrough herfam‐ily,friends,and allwho wereblessedtoknowher Relatives andfriends are invited to attend thefu‐neral serviceonSaturday, June 20, 2026, at Abundant LifeOutreachCenter, 2301 Par 3, Harvey,LA70058. The visitationwillbegin at 10 a.m.followedbya 1p.m service.Interment will be inCementerioElIngenio in the DominicanRepublic. Funeralplanningentrusted toRobinsonFamilyFuneral Home. Foronlinecondo‐lences, please visitwww robinsonfamilyfuneralho me.com

Roddy,Clarice Maxine Bankston

ClariceMaxineBankstonRoddy.September 9, 1931 —June 16, 2026. It is withdeep sadnessthatwe announcethe deathofour beloved Matriarch, Clarice MaxineBankstonRoddy, who departed peacefully onJune 16, 2026. Momisat peace in thelovingfolds of our Lord JesusChrist's arms. Shelived alifede‐finedbylove, devotion, strength,and wisdom.Her

legacy will continue through thefamilyshe built andcherished.A 72yearresidentofWestwego, Louisiana,Clarice was borntothe late Emit and IdaBankston. Shemarried the love of herlife, Cedric, and they were blessedto celebrate 72 yearstogether beforehis deathseparated themseven yearsago Clarice is survived by son Keith Roddy(Rina); grand‐childrenErica Olson(Per‐ryn)and Samuel Roddy (Sara); great-grandchildren Clara Olson, Colleen Olson, and SimonRoddy,and nu‐merousniecesand nephews.She waspre‐ceded in deathbybrothers Cloyde, Clyde, Charles, and Cecile Bankston.Relatives and friendsare invitedto Mothe FuneralHome- Mar‐reroonFriday, June 19, 2026 fora Visitation start‐ing at 9am, FuneralService at11am, andInterment thereafter at Gate of HeavenMausoleum -West‐wego.

St. Etienne, Shirley Cornwell Mark

ShirleyCornwell St Etiennedeparted this earthly life for eternityon Thursday, May14, 2026, at the age of 98. Shirleywas born on January 24, 1928 in New Orleans. Shewas baptized andconfirmed at Corpus ChristiCatholic Church andonJanuary 31, 1948 exchangedvowswithEmile St.Etienneatthe same church.Together they raiseda familyand enjoyed 23 years of marriage untilher husband's untimely death in 1971. Going from homemaker to breadwinner,she began acareer with theNew Orleans PublicSchools Food service programuntilher retirement in 1991. As herfamilygrew, Shirleybecame "Granny" to generationsofloved ones. Awonderful cook, she oftencomplimented herown meals before anyoneelse could.Shirley cherished herfamily, enjoyed beingaroundothers, andremained close to her siblings. Herlivelysense of humor brightenedevery conversation At 98, Shirleystill made herbed eachmorning, exercised in bed, anddid her best to remain as independent as possible.But this year it seems God hadanotherplanfor her. He calledher home on May14 andshe accepted. Sheispreceded in death by herparents John Cornwell,Sr. and Almina Fornerette,husbandEmile St.Etienne, Jr infant daughterJenet St.Etienne andson EmileSt. Etienne III,one sister Maxine Cornwell Rose andtwo brothers John andLouis Cornwell Sheleaves to cherish hermemories onedaughter Jeanne (Ronald)Ayler oneson,Glenn St.Etienne, siblings Louise Denson

Johnson,GeraldWarren

Morgan,Bernard

Reyes, Gladys Dionisia Marte

McDonald,J’JuanCarlos

Fasullo

Simmons and Charles Denson, six grandchildren Michelle (Derrick) Melton, Brandon (Ashlyn) Ayler, Shandra St. Etienne

Bowens, Christopher, Sean and Kelsey St. Etienne, seven great grandchildren, devoted nieces Robin Gorman and Rachelle Gilliard, devoted friend Gloria Perrier, and ahost of nieces, great nieces, nephews, great nephews and other relatives and friends.

Relatives and friendsof the family are invited to attend aMemorial Service on Saturday,June 20, 2026at Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Ave. Visitation will begin at 1:00pm followed by the Memorial Service at 1:30pm.

Interment: Private. In lieu of flowers, please consider making agift in memory of Shirley St. Etienne to Lighthouse Louisiana (lighthouselouisiana.org/ give/) Please visitwww.rhodes funeral.com to sign the online guest book.

Wanzie Holmes Taylor age 83, of Metairie, Louisiana,passedawayon June12, 2026. Shewas born onJuly12, 1942, in Tyler‐town, Mississippi.Her jour‐ney wasone of hard work devotiontofamily, anda steadfastcommitmentto the people andplacesshe loved.Wanzie wasthe beloved wife of Glenn Tay‐lor,Jr. Shewas adevoted mothertoTony, Cindy, and Sherri,and shecarried in her heartthe memory of her daughtersPaula and Wanda,who preceded her indeath.She wasalsoa proud grandmotherto12 grandchildren,eachof whombrought hergreat joy andpride.Wanzie was the ownerand operator of Clearview AceHardware and also ownedTownTalk ClothingStore.She also servedasa supervisor on six casino boatsinMissis‐sippi andNew Orleans, where herleadershipand strongworkethic were evi‐denttoall who knew her. Wanzie wasalsodeeply in‐volvedinthe life shebuilt withher husband, They en‐joyed traveling, fishing, and hunting, andtheytrea‐sured theirtrips that led themtoraise cattle and growblueberries.Among hermanytalents,Wanzie

wasknownasa gifted seamstressand agourmet cook.Wanzie wasa faithful memberofSt. Matthews UnitedMethodist Church where shefound fellow‐shipand strength in her faith.Her church commu‐nitywas an importantpart ofher life.Her memory will continue to live on in the heartsofher husband, children, grandchildren, extendedfamily, friends, and allwho were blessed toshare in herlife. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to "Tunnelto TowersFoundation” or Parkinson's Foundation Relatives andfriends are invited to attend theSer‐viceatGardenofMemo‐riesFuneralHome, 4900 Airline Dr., Metairie,LA. 70001 on Thursday,June 18 2026. Visitation will begin at11:00 a.m. with aService at1:00p.m.Interment will beimmediately thereafter

Thompson,Diane N.

DianeN.Thompson passedpeacefully on June 4, 2026, with herson,Larry andher niece, Doretha Nickles, by herside. She was76years oldand alife‐long resident of NewOr‐leans, LA.Diane wasthe beloveddaughterofthe late WilliamNickles and Evelyn Haines.She wasthe loving mother of Larry Har‐rison(Tasha) andMark Harrison (precededher in death).She is also survived by fourgrandchildren: Tiarea Harrison,Jamarcus Harrison,CeareaHarrison, andDylan Harrison.She leaves behind five sisters andthree brothers,along with ahostofnieces, nephews, otherrelatives, andfriends.Diane wasa devotedfriendtoKim Ellis, Vanessa Jonesand Robert Stark. Shewas preceded in deathbyher parents, son, Mark Harrison,two hus‐bands, sixsisters,and two brothers.Relativesand friendsare invitedtoat‐tend theFuneralService in theChapelofRoses at Charbonnet FuneralHome, 1615 St.PhilipStreet,New Orleans, LA,onThursday, June 18, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Visitation at 9:00 a.m. In‐terment: Providence Memorial Park,8200 Airline Drive, Metairie,LA. Please sign theonlineguestbook at www.charbonnetfuner alhome.com.Charbonnet

Treuting,MignonLemarié

LabatGlapion Directors, (504) 581-4411. ately follow thevisitation. Interment willtake place following Mass at St. Lazarus of Bethany Memorial Garden, located at Grace Funeral Home, 450 Holy Trinity Drive, Covington, Louisiana 70433, directlyacross the street fromthe church. In lieu of flowers,donations can be madetothe Alzheimer'sAssociationor theTarahumaraChildren's HospitalFund (P.O. Box 57507 NewOrleans, LA 70157) in Mignon's memory.

Mignon Lemarié

Treuting,age 72, of Mandeville, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on June 8, 2026, surrounded by her loving family

BorninNew Orleans on February 17, 1954, Mignon was thedaughterofBelle Larose Lemariéand Sidney Louis Lemarié. Aftergraduating from St.Joseph Academy, she spent much of hercareer working as a legal secretary.

Mignon willberemembered forher contagious laugh, her love of conversation, and her unwavering strength.One of her favorite sayingswas, "Itis what it is."Nomatter the challenges she facedinlife or illness, she met them with grace, resilience,and acceptance. She rarely complained,choosing to face each situationwith courageand determination.

Adevoted wife, mother, and grandmother, Mignon balancedthe demands of work and family whilecreating alovinghomefor thoseshe cherished most. She enjoyed collecting Christmas ornaments from her travels, especially those from different countries, and was an avid reader of herKindleora library book in hand.

Mignon is survived by her beloved husband of 52 years, KeithTreuting;her son, JayTreuting and wife Ali; her daughter, Kali Reid and husband Matthew; and her cherished grandchildren, Anders Treuting and Lucille Reid.She is a sistertoLarryLemarié, Clare LemariéGuilbault, CharlotteLemarié Noto RheaLemarié Gonczi, and Paul Lemarié.

She waspreceded in death by her parents, Belle and Sidney Lemarié, and her brothers, James, René, and Russell Lemarié.

Avisitationwillbeheld on June 23, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at Most Holy TrinityCatholic Church, 501 Holy Trinity Drive, Covington, Louisiana 70433. AMass will immedi-

Willie MaeTateVaughn, a retiredmedical tran‐scriber forWestJefferson Hospitalfor 42 years, de‐partedthislifepeacefully ather home in Westwego LA, surrounded by herfam‐ily on Wednesday, June 10 2026 at theage of 84. Sheis the daughter of thelate Rev.Lloyd andLillieMae Tate. Shegraduated from Booker T. Washington High School andlater pursueda career as amedical tran‐scriber.Beloved mother of AdrianHunter (Mason), FreddieVaughn(Lillian), TyroneVaughn(Angela), of Villa Rica,GA, andDarrin Vaughn(Juanita),of ShreveportLA. Grand‐motherofBarry Jr., and Brandon Cryer, Tyrone Jr Tremane,Tyrianne,Teatta and SanaeVaughn, Chris‐tineLewis,and Mariah Mott. Sister of Mary Pritchard (Ed),Joann Steele, LloydTateJr. (Pearl),WalterTate(Mari‐etta), RichardTate(Janet), and DavidTate(Annette). Mrs.Vaughnisalsosur‐vived by 17 greatgrand‐children, 2great grandchil‐dren, severalnieces, nephews,other relatives and devotedfriends.Rela‐tives andfriends of the familyare invitedtoattend the funeralservice on Fri‐day,June19, 2026, at Israel Baptist Church,1612 Esther St.,Harvey, LA 70058. The visitationwillbegin at 9:30 a.m.followedbyan11a.m service.Rev.Darrell Mckin‐niesisthe host pastor and PastorBernard Jackson willofficiate. Interment willfollowinRestlawn MemorialParkinAvondale, LA. Funeralplanningen‐trusted to Robinson Family FuneralHome. Online con‐

dolences at www.Robinso nfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Williams,GloriaGordon

Gloria Gordon Williams, a devotedmother, retired nurse,and womanofpro‐found faith,peacefully en‐tered eternalrestonJune 10, 2026, at home in New Orleans,LA, at theage of 94. Gloria wasbornonFeb‐ruary 12, 1932, in NewOr‐leans,Louisiana,tothe late Alvin Gordon (originally of Greensburg, LA)and the lateOdeal McPherson(of Houma andNew Orleans, LA).Gloriasharedher life's journey with herlatehus‐bands,Nathaniel Bibbins, RobertLee Sillimon andthe loveofher life,Bernie Williams (affectionately known as Daddy Vernon). Gloria’sgreatestdedica‐tionwas to herfamily. She raisedher five children withanunshakeable phi‐losophy:she taught them tobelieve they coulddoor beanythinginthisworld absolutelyfreeoflimita‐tions.Her legacy of love ambition, andresilience lives on throughher surviv‐ing children:Carolyn Bib‐binsRodrigue(Eddie) LenitaSillimonLee (Thad‐deus),Laird Gordon Sil‐limon (Angela).Gloriais now peacefully reunitedin eternitywithher parents, her sister,her husbands, and twoofher beloved childrenwho preceded her indeath,RobertGeraldSil‐limon andGailSillimon Davis (Lionel, Sr.).She also leavesbehinda host of grandchildren Chauntelle Randle, CourtnayeRichard (Calvin), CandyceCooper (Michael), Lionel Davis, Jr

thelateBrandon Davis, MarkDavis,ThaddeusLee III (Joy), Tramaine Lewis (Charles),TravisLee (Moni‐canne), thelateTroyLee, Tracci Jordan (Alfred),Lau‐rynnSillimonBasulto (Joshua), TreVon Sillimon, and DevanSillimon];and a hostofgreat andgreatgreat greatgrandchildren nieces, nephews, extended familymembers,and spe‐cialfriends who will miss her deeply.Familyand friends areinvited to at‐tendthe FuneralService on Saturday, June 20, 2026, for 10:00 a.m. at TheChurch at New Orleans, 11700 Chef Menteur Hwy.,New Or‐leans,LA. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. Pastor ThaddeusLee, Jr officiat‐ing.Interment:Providence MemorialCemetery. Fu‐neral Home Services pro‐vided by TheBoydFamily FuneralHome. Guestbook Online: www.anewtraditi onbegins.com(504)2820600. Linear Brooks Boyd and DonavinD.BoydOwn‐ers/FuneralDirectors

Vaughn, Willie MaeTate

Taylor,Wanzie Holmes

OUR VIEWS

Juneteenth commemorates thelongmarch to freedom

Editor’snote:Inhonor of theJuneteenth observance tomorrow,weare reprinting an editorial about the holiday that has been publishedin previous years.

As the Civil Warcontinued, President Abraham Lincoln issued the EmancipationProclamation —effective Jan. 1, 1863 —making it clear to Confederate states fighting to keep slavery that enslaved people “shall be free.” Though famous since that day,the proclamation was really awartimemeasure that only appliedto slaves in rebelstatesunder arms,not atotal end to slavery. It was rather specific, designating whichcountiesand parishesthe proclamation would cover.“Idoorder anddeclare that all persons held as slaveswithin said designated States, and parts of States, are, andhenceforward shall be free,” Lincoln wrote. Elsewhere in the proclamation, the presidentmadeitclear that non-Union Confederatestates werethe areas being targeted. That includedLouisiana, but 13 parishes wereexempt from theproclamation: Ascension, Assumption, Jefferson,Lafourche, Plaquemines,St. Bernard,St. Charles, St.John, St. Mary,St. Martin,Terrebonne,and “Orleans, including the CityofNew Orleans.”

Slavery was not fully abolished until the 13th Amendment waspassed by CongressonJan.31, 1865, then ratified on Dec. 6, 1865. Still, Lincoln’s proclamation sent an importantsignal, albeit one that was slowtospread.

There was no nightly news, nointernet and certainly no social media to quickly andwidely share the breaking news that theEmancipation Proclamationhad been signed andslaveryhad ended. It took more than two years —until June 19, 1865—for enslaved people in GalvestonBay to learn that they wereamong the250,000 in Texas and 4million nationally who were freed by order of the president.

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

In 2021, Juneteenth becameafederalholiday, and Louisiana also made it astate holidaythat year.Today,Juneteenthisrecognizedasa holiday, observanceorremembrance in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Though June 19 fallsona Friday thisyear, and that is the federal holiday,traditionally, Juneteenth has also been observed on thethird Saturday of June by many Black Americans. Opal Lee, recognized as the grandmotherof Juneteenth because she started anational effort to have the day recognized as afederal holiday when she was 86 years old, grew uplessthanan hour away from Shreveport inMarshall, Texas, before moving to the Fort Wortharea.

Lee has said she envisioned the holidayasa celebration of freedom for everyone, not just those whose ancestors endured slavery

On Juneteenth, we remember all thoseAmericans throughout history whohavemoved this country toward the “more perfect union”articulated by our founders. We urge everybody to celebrate the day dedicated to cherishing the freedoms that were, for many Americans, much too belatedly won.

LETTERSTOTHE

HERE AREOUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’scity of residence

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

TO SEND US A LETTER, SCANHERE

The success of Sail 250 showed the nation what New Orleanscan do when we activate our riverfront. Thousands gathered along theMississippi River to celebrate our city,our culture and our connection to the water The energy was undeniable, and it reinforced asimple truth: The “Riverfront for All” vision is no longer aspirational. It is within reach if we finish what we started.

New Orleanshas always outperformed its size. We host Super Bowls, Final Fours, Jazz Fest,French Quarter Festival, theSugar Bowl and worldclass conventions that generate enormouseconomic impact for our community. Imagine theopportunities ahead if our infrastructure fully matched our ambition! Leaders, including Ron Forman,Darrell Berger,Stephen Perry and now Helena Moreno have championed abold vision for aconnected, activated riverfront that belongs to everyone. Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Parkismore than apark —itiseconomic infrastructure.

Phase1has already transformed the riverfront experience. Phase 2isthe

Pools areopen, swim bags are packed, and families are heading outdoors which makes now theperfect time to focus on water safety.Unfortunately, those celebrations can quickly become dangerous without proper water safety education.

Drowning is still aleading accidental cause of death in children under age 14. The risk of fatal drowning is particularly high among minority communities and children with special needs.

Ourmission at the YMCA is to help parentsunderstand that educating themselves and their children about safetyinand around water is one of the mostimportantlife lessons they can provide. Knowing basic water safety and swimming skills can make alifelong difference.

Water safetyisnot just aseasonal lesson, but askill that grows with each individual throughout every stageoflife —from babies learning tofeel comfortable in the water,tochildren exploring and playing safely with friends, to teens interested in competitive swimming or even preparing for their first job as a

catalyst that completes it. Together, they create aflexible public space capable of supporting major national events, concerts, cultural gatherings and everyday community use while driving tourism,hospitality and private investment. The overwhelming success and popularity of this year’sFrench Quarter Festival demonstrated exactly what is possible when NewOrleans fully embraces its riverfront and delivers on this long-envisioned promise.

Major eventsroutinely generate more than $200 million in economic activity, filling hotels, supporting local restaurantsand businesses andcreating jobs throughout theregion. Acompleted riverfront strengthensNew Orleans’ ability to compete forthose opportunities while improving quality of lifefor residentsyear-round.

The momentumishere. The vision is clear.Sail 250 proved the potential.

Now is the time to finish the park, continue theinvestment and deliver ariverfront worthy of thecity it represents.

MICHAEL J. SAWAYA chief executiveofficer, L. Ronald Forman Chair in Conservation Leadership AudubonNature Institute

lifeguard.

These skills continue into adulthood through low-impact fitness and wellness opportunities, and later support seniors who want to focus on mobility,confidence and staying healthy and active.

The YMCA, as America’sSwimInstructor,has made it our mission to help serve all community members, including children with diverse abilities. Each year,through ourmetro New Orleanscommunity outreach, we teach morethan 2,500 children safety around water and swim lessons.

We start withchildren as young as 6 monthsofage withvarying programs designed to best fit afamily’sneeds. These classes provide afun and exciting way to stay active, build confidence, develop lifelong healthy habits, and create friendships during the summer monthsand beyond Everyone deserves to have funinthe water and be safe in it, too.

TAYLOR OELKING executivedirector,Community Aquatics yMCAofGreater NewOrleans Metairie

In 2018, the city of NewOrleansgranteda permit for a naturalgas power plant in New OrleansEast. Iwas part of a large group of (unpaid) activists who begged themnot to do this. Our argument wassimple: Fromextractiontoignition, naturalgas produces adangerousgreenhouse gasthat accelerates climate change,and we in New Orleansshould be leading the charge away from such fuel sources

We further argued thatnatural gas, although cheap at the time, was afinite resource that was tiedtoour geopolitical adversaries, andrelying on it could cause extreme fluctuations due to forces beyond ourcontrol over the 30-plus-year lifespan of the powerplant. These fluctuations would hurt the families andsmall businessesofNew Orleans, allwhile enriching faraway billionairesand oligarchs. In the past eight years, we’ve seen naturalgas spotprices fluctuate wildly,sometimes costing half of what it cost in 2018, andsometimesswelling to more thanthreetimesthe price. In the meantime, everysingle year hasbeen hotteronaverage than 2018, and, incidentally,hotter thanevery otheryearever recorded.

It may be toolatetostop the powerplant, but it’snot toolate to make it acitywide priority to transitiontorenewable fuel sources andaway from natural gasappliances.

With courageous leadership, we can transitiontoa fossilfree future andenjoy athriving New Orleansfor generations to come.

MAX CIOLINO NewOrleans

Politiciannames on public worksisfreeadvertising

When workers scraped Donald Trump’sname off the Donald Trump and JohnF.Kennedy Performing Arts Center,they should have kept going. They should have taken Kennedy’s name off as well and restored the building to its original, simple title, the National Culture Center

Froma Harrop

After President Kennedy was assassinated in November 1963, Congress renamed the center after him. The New York International Airport, charmingly referred to as Idlewild, suddenly became the John F. Kennedy International Airport. Andhundreds of schools across the country plastered “John F. Kennedy”ontheir facades

It isone 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’sanother to similarly memorialize ordinary politicians for posterity, even those who did amostlygood job. Why did they change the short,descriptive name of Washington National Airport to the convoluted Ronald ReaganWashingtonNationalAirport?

Both Reagan and JFK were popular presidents, but neither left behind achievements monumental enough to justify turning airportsinto their shrines. Kennedy was young, charismatic and died tragically,but as president, he did not-good things. He authorized the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba, afiasco. He didn’tstart U.S. involvement in Vietnam, but he greatly expanded it. And he was aserial womanizer,insome cases, risking national security

But Kennedy and his circle were masters at peddling their era as Camelot, the myth of agolden age out of King Arthur.Inaninterview shortly after the assassination, JFK’s widow,the glamorous Jacqueline Kennedy,quoted the “onebrief shining moment” line from the musical “Camelot.”

Since then, Kennedy after Kennedy has run for office off the curated glow

Most were elected and some were competent. But this free promotion of

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

Now we have JFK’sgrandson, Jack Schlossberg,running for Jerry Nadler’scongressional district covering Manhattan’swealthy Upper East and Upper West Sides

Whatever Democrat secures the nomination is almost sure to win in November Schlossberg has arguably less than zero qualifications. His chief achievement at age 33 is as an “influencer” on social media, posting lots of selfie videos and whatever draws clicks. Nonetheless, New York tabloids are putting the words “Camelot” and “Kennedy Mystique” in theirheadlinesabout his campaign. One political writer gushed that “a Kennedy” was running. Former HouseSpeaker Nancy Pelosi made afool of herself endorsing Schlossberg on aTVad with the tagline “Believe in something again.” Everyone knows the handsome fellow is theson of Carolyn Kennedy

Another Kennedy,Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is busy putting Americans’

lives at risk as head of the Department of Health and Human Services. RFK Jr.isacrackpot famous for bashing life-savingvaccines. On taking over HHS, he fired all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, booted about 20,000 employees and slashed cutting-edge medical research Why did Trump choosehim? “Bobby” is acolorful kook who endorsed Trump in the2024 election. What makes him extra fun for the unserious is that he’s“aKennedy.”

To bring this full circle, RFK Jr.is theson of Robert F. Kennedy.New Yorkers driving toward what they still call theTriborough Bridge see that it’s now called the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, named for Bobby’sdad, after he was assassinated. The elder RFK moved into the state theday he proclaimed his candidacy to representNew York in theSenate. Politicos naming public works after other politicos, or in Trump’scase, himself, isaracket. It is free advertising on tax-supported government structures. Stop it.

Froma Harrop on X, @FromaHarrop. Email her at fharrop@gmail.com.

Thecontroversy over ‘60Minutes’

The late broadcast journalistDavid Brinkley once observed: “Objectivity is impossible to normal human behavior.Rather,weshould strive for fairness.”

Fairness is at the heart of the ongoing shake-up at CBS News and especially at the legendary “60 Minutes.” Since television is abusiness that requires high ratings and credibility to attract advertisers and make money,itismore important what viewers think about a program than what those producing it think about themselves.

ing. Public trust and confidence in the massmediatoreport thenews fully,accurately andfairly is at a record low. Gallup’spollingreveals

Legislature should probe leveeboard’s seaoftroubles

This week’sstorm in the Gulf of Mexico should focus the state Legislature’sattention on the operations of Louisiana’smost prominent levee board.

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

The levee board has been riven by very public controversy forabout 18 months. Gov.Jeff Landry and his friend, businessman Shane Guidry,have tried to exert control of the board that post-Katrina reforms tried to insulate from political agendas. Whatever the governor’sintentions, the result has been ahigh degree of discord.

Hired directors forced out. Vague allegations from the Guidry camp that board members or members of the nominating committee are corrupt or racist. Mass resignations in protest against the new regime. Threatened fisticuffs in public meetings. Abattery charge filed by the authority’s robust police chief, Joshua Rondeno, against the rather petite then-board member Deborah Settoon. Large staffturnover.Alarge stretch of time in which Rondeno handled manyofthe executive functions usually done by the authority’sdirector And more.

Atop all that, the last five months have featured major controversy about Rondeno’srole and salary.First, Rondeno wasallowed to drafthis own contract, with amassive salary increase and a whopping $910,000 severance package if he is fired. After legislative and public blowback, the severance provision wasremoved and the salary wascut back from $250,000 to $197,000, farmore than his predecessor’s$110,000.

Then, in anew,bizarre twist, Rondeno went from his highly exalted and remunerated position to being put on administrative leave on June 3, according to Guidry,“pending an investigation that we can’tdiscuss while it’sgoing on.”

Between all this turmoil and the loss of experienced engineers and other key employees, the actual workofthe agency may be compromised. At least that’swhat former board member Settoon said on June 8inaninterview with WVUE-TV, echoing concerns Ihave heard privately from other knowledgeable sources. Settoon questioned if the agency really is ready forhurricane season —avivid reminder of which is this week’shighrainfall storm in the Gulf

“I don’thave alot of confidence,” Settoon said. “I’m very worried. Ithink the public should be worried.

Then she added some very on-targetadvice,saying the public “should be calling their legislators and saying, ‘Get this thing cleaned up once and for all.’”

To his credit, state Sen. Kirk Talbot, R-River Ridge, used hearings in this year’sregular session to focus apt attention on Rondeno’scontroversially growing role and was credited with forcing Rondeno’sdraftcontract to be altered in amore reasonable direction.

Cal Thomas

Correspondent Scott Pelley violated acardinal principle,not justin journalism, but in any job. He bit the hand that had been feeding him. In astaff meeting, Pelley reportedly excoriated management for having the temerity to shake up the news division, which Bari Weiss, the new editor-in-chief, was hired to do. Reading an interview Pelley did for The New York Times after his firing reveals the attitude of many journalistsatthe top of the profession. Pelley thinks it’sall about him, not the audience. It appears he believes his decades at the network entitle him to stay on until he expires or resigns. I have been fired —ormyshows canceled —from NBC, CNBC and Fox News. Ididn’tcomplain. In fact, on my final Fox show Isaid: “It’stheir network; they can do as they please.” What has become collectively known as “the media” are selling what much of the public isn’tbuy-

Americans’ trust in themedia has fallen from arelatively high of 68% in 1972 to today’s record low of 28%, thefirst time it hasgonebelow 30% Until Bari Weisswas hired, networks ignoredthistrend.

The 2022 American Journalist Study,asurveyofU.S. journalists, found that about 36% of journalists identifiedas Democrats, compared to just 3.4% who identified as Republicans. A plurality ofjournalists —nearly 52% —identified as Independents. No one will convincemethatone’s political worldviewdoesn’tinfluencewhich stories are covered (and which are ignored) and howtheyare reported. Ihave spent manyyears in newsrooms and at journalist gatherings. It has been my experience that most people claiming the titleof“journalist” are liberal Democrats who have asecular-progressive worldview. The conservative Media Research Center (MRC.org) hascompiled some examples of Scott Pelley’sbiased reporting, including this gem: “It’stoo soon to tellhow serious President Trump is in defianceofthe Constitution. In his first 28 days, he signedan ordertonullify birthright citizenship for some —aright guaranteed by the 14th Amendment. And he hasclosed agencies and frozen spending that

Congress mandated by law.” (Feb.16, 2025). Abalanced report might have mentioned that while the goal of the 14th Amendment was primarilyto protect formerlyenslaved people after the Civil War, it was written to applytoall Americans. The Trump administration, however,has challenged the constitutionality of birthright citizenship. TheSupreme Court is expected to decide shortly whether Trump or theConstitution have the finalsay Here’sanother Pelleyism: “Joe Biden is amongthe longest-serving politiciansinWashington. If there is lessbounceinthe stepthanthere once was, if the words don’tflow liketheyused to, maybe there’s something to be said for know-how, five decades on theHill andinthe Oval. …You have liveda long lifeof triumph and tragedy.InNovember, you’llbe80. And Iwonderwhatitis that keepsyou in the arena.” (Sept. 18,2022) This at atimewhenitwas becomingincreasingly evident to many except perhaps Jill Biden, Kamala Harris and others who didn’twant people to believewhattheysaw and heard —thatthe president hadlost more than astep. Maybe Bari Weiss can makechanges that will drawmore viewers and improve credibility at CBS News.If she succeeds, will ABC and NBC follow herexample?

Email CalThomas at tcaeditors@ tribpub.com

Those hearings led Sen. Patrick Connick, RMarrero, wholong has shownadmirable interest in the levee board, to begin drafting abill fornext year that would take the policing function from the board and put the levee police under the state police instead.

“That’sthe long-term plan: to separate the two,” Connick told me. “Let the levee board concentrate on preserving levees. Let the police protect and serve.”

Connick said he still needs to work out the details of how the levee police’s“funding can follow the police in someform or fashion.”

Connick’sidea seems good. As he explained, much of the turmoil at the agency has revolvedaround a push-and-pull between policing desiresand the authority’sbasic flood-control duties. If the financing details can be solved, his proposal merits passage. Nonetheless, Settoon’swarning about hurricane unreadiness should spur the Governmental Affairs committee to hold morehearings now.The goal should be to ensure, right away,that the main flood-protection job is done wellthis year.Isthere merit to Settoon’sconcerns? If so, what can be done to alleviate them? Do the agency’sengineering functions need bolstering in the short term? And, forthe longer horizon, aside from separating the police from the levee board —ifConnick’s proposal is adopted —what else can be done to ward off the sorts of dysfunction we’ve seen for18 months?

For all of southeastern Louisiana, the levee and floodwall systems are amatter of sheer survival. Until the levee board shows that its disarrayhas been solved, the Legislature should keepa keen watch.

Email Quin Hillyer at quin.hillyer@theadvocate. com

Quin Hillyer

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RAHMATGUL

Aworker tends agarden in front of the John F. KennedyCenter for thePerforming Arts asits sign remainscovered by atarp in Washington.

with meteorologist Damon Singleton

Trumpadministrationbuysbackoffshorewindleases

BY JENNIFERMcDERMOTT

Associated Press

The Trump administration said Wednesday it’sbuying back another energy company’sU.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’scoast. The others are off the coasts of Maine and California. It will invest that money in natural gas and geothermal ventures that can bebuilt more quickly instead. By buying back leases, the Republican administration is stopping offshore wind farms that President DonaldTrump does not support, and redirecting the money to fossilfuelprojects thathe does. It adopted this strategyafter federal courts thwarted Trump’s efforts to stop offshore wind development through executive action. Trump has frequently talked abouthis hatred of wind power and calls turbines ugly

“Under PresidentTrump, companies are shifting investment back toward dependable, secure energy infrastructure that can power our economyand lower utility costs,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in astatement. “We applaud Invenergy for recognizing the importance of baseload power and investing in energy solutions that deliver real benefits to American consumers.” Hillary Bright, executive director of offshore windadvocacy group Turn Forward, said these buyouts arenot one-for-one “swaps”for another kind of energy,since the fossil fuel projects won’t deliver power to the same states asthe offshore wind farms wouldhave.

“Replacing coastal offshore wind with geothermal or natural

gas infrastructureinanother region does nothing to address rising ratepayeraffordabilityconcerns, reliability challenges or potential gaps in power supply in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic,” she said in astatement.

Eightprojectsstopped Under the first deal announced in March,French company TotalEnergies is getting nearly $1 billion —essentially arefund of its two offshore wind leases —if it invests the money in fossil fuels instead. Those leaseswereoff the coasts of North Carolina andNew York.New York is leading alawsuit challenging theTotalEnergies agreement and Democrats in Congress are investigating it. Golden StateWindand Bluepoint Wind agreed in April to end their leases in exchange for reimbursements totalingnearly $900 million, provided they invest equallyinfossilfuels.California is investigating the deal that ended Golden StateWind, afloating offshore windfarm proposed off

thestate’scentral coast. Bluepoint Wind wasanoffshorewindfarm in the early stages of development off thecoasts of New Jersey and New York. Invenergy is North America’s largest privately held independent powerproducer.Ithas four offshore leases: alarge lease area for Leading Light Wind, which would have used traditional turbines that affix to the seafloor; two leases for projects with floating turbines in the Gulf of Maine; and alease for afloating projectoff California’s central coast.

Focusedonother energy projects

For Invenergy,the deal offered a way to move forward with energy projects that could bring power to thegridmore quickly for its customersthan thedormant offshore wind leases.Trumphas erected roadblocksfor permitting wind energy,while trying to speed up fossil fuel development. Thecompany left the dooropen to reentering the offshore wind industry in thefuture. Daniel Ru-

nyan, senior vice president for development at Invenergy,said in astatement that at atimeofunprecedented energydemand, they “will deploy additional capital into projectsthat can be delivered on a commercially reasonable timeline andmeet customer demand while continuing to evaluate opportunities as market conditions evolve.”

Leading Light Wind wastargeted for as muchas2.4 gigawatts to power more than 1million homes.

Invenergytold the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities in Novemberitwas canceling Leading Light Wind because of challenges with the supply chain, equipment andvendors, and changing regulatoryrequirements. The floating projects were so early in development thatInvenergy hadn’tyet calculated how much power those sites could provide.

Invenergy, amajor player in the natural gas sector,has 14 operational natural gas facilities. It’s expanding into geothermal energy,with45leases totaling 144,000 acres in Nevada, Idaho, California,

Utahand NewMexico. Invenergy plans to use the $765 million from the agreementfor natural gas facilities in Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri, and geothermal development in the West. It was not refunded interest paid on the offshore wind lease payments or incremental developmentcosts.

Invenergy hasa large portfolio of projects other than offshore wind thatproduceelectricity without warming the planet. That includes about 125 land-based wind farmsoperating and in construction, more than60solar and nearly 30 battery storage projects developed, andmanymorethatit’s actively planning and building. The Trump administration canceled a$4.9 billion federal loan guarantee last year for Invenergy’splannedGrain BeltExpress, anew

SPORTS

S C NG

BY JON BLAU Staff writer

As Lane Kiffinwrapped up apodcast with legendary LSUdefensive back Tyrann Mathieu, the Tigers’ first-year coach delivered apromise.

“I don’tknowhow fast it’s gonnahappen. We’re gonna winanational championship,” Kiffintold Mathieu, whoplayed in aBCS title gamein2012, “and we’re gonna have the teams and the rosters back to the way that they were playing when they were great.”

The wayitused to be when Kiffin was an offensive coordinator at Alabama from 2014-16. Atime whenthe LSUdefenseswere so tough, he knew “it was on” when the Crimson Tide linedupacrossfromthe Tigers,even with NFL-boundrunners Derrick Henryand Josh Jacobs, and future Super Bowl-winning quarterback Jalen Hurts on his side. Kiffinjust hoped Alabamawasn’tplaying at LSU. And if it was anight game?

“Now we’re like, ‘Are we even gonna score at all?’” Kiffin said. “Becausethese guys are gonna be on elite speed, mindset, physical.” He promises to bring that back, but even Kiffin’stime spent withMathieuwas afulfillment of apromise. Last month, LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry toldUSA Todaythat Kiffin would be more accessible, more “connected” than his predecessor Brian Kelly with LSUalumni andthe program’s donorbase. Kiffin might stir thepot in someinterviews, but everyone would be talking about LSU Aconversation between Kiffin and

Saints excitedbybig playsrunning back Etiennecan breakoff

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

It had been alongwhile since theNew Orleans Saints made atrue splashinthe free agent running backmarket —solong that running backs coach Joel Thomas, now entering his 11thseason withthe franchise, has come to just notexpectitinfreeagency

So when the Saintssigned Travis Etiennetoamassive four-yeardeal on theopening dayoffree agency,Thomas said it is fair to say he was excited to land anew prize.

“Tell me any coach thatgets aplayer thathas been as productive as him thatisgoing tobebummed out,” Thomas said. “I’mthoroughly excited.”

In Etienne, the Saints signeda running back who has compiled three 1,000-yard rushing campaigns in his four professional seasons— anot insignificant number to a franchise in the Saints that hasn’thad a1,000-yard rusher

since 2017, although Alvin Kamara has comeclose. Etienne was one of the more explosive running backs in theNFL last season,recording 26 runsof10ormore yards last season. The entire New Orleans running back group managed 20 such runs last season. Eveninthe limitedsettings of organized team activities andminicamp —nopads, no tackling —Etienne’s explosiveness has been evident. While the Saints’ ability to generatemore chunk plays on the ground will fall on thecollective unit, Etienne has theskills to makethe big blocks count

“He’slooking to get the extra yard,” Thomas said. “He plays with great pad leverage, and all of asudden you getsomeone thatmis-hits you, youmakea mistake on him it’s an issue.He’sgot thelongspeed to getitgoing.”

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

Moments after he signed his contract to return fora16thand final season with the New Orleans Saints, Cam Jordan made suretohave his 11-year-old son, Tank, step up to the lecternfirst. Because ultimately, the signed paperwork might not have been possible without alittle nudge that took place two weeksearlier.The calendar had turned to June, and Jordan still was unemployed for the first time in his NFL career.And after the Jordans, as afamilyofsix, had moved to Arizona months earlier, Tank had abirthday wish he shared with his father

He wanted to return toNew Orleans. He wanted his dad to re-sign with the Saints.

“He was like, ‘You’re affecting our lives here,’ ”Jordan said. “When you lookatthese four beautiful kids growingup, their whole lives have been here. When you had that conversation, Iwas like, ‘All right, let me humble myself here and let’sget this done.’ ”

along-winded answer that required thequestion to be repeated. Is this really it? “I’m going to treat it as if it’s (my) finalseason with intention,”Jordan said. Son’swishhelpedleadJordanbacktoN.O.

Notes on agolf scorecard while pondering what Imight shoot at Shinnecock Hills under this week’sU.S. Open conditions, wishfully thinking Icould break 125 (averaging atriple bogey per hole)

Lane andLeavitt

Theend result led to Tuesday,with Jordan officially announcing his return to theSaints for what he declared wouldbehis final year in theNFL. The last part of Jordan’sdeclaration may take timetoset in. Asked whether this truly would be hisfinal season, the 36-year-old initially gave

on TuesdayinMetairie. ä See JORDAN, page 3C

LSU coach Lane Kiffin has been strangely absent from social media lately The last timehebroke “radio silence” on Xwas May 11, about the time that now rather infamous Vanity Fair cover story on him came out. That doesn’tmean Kiffinhas clammed up completely.This weekhedid apodcast with former LSU great Tyrann Mathieu, telling the recently retired Saints cornerback that the Tigers would winanational championship on his watch. Joe Namath-like guarantees are easy to declare in June, but Kiffinknows the ground onto which he is throwing down this gauntlet. He wasonNick Saban’s national championship-winning staffin 2015 at Alabamaand was part of the team

Scott Rabalais

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Saints running back Travis Etienne runs across the field after catching aball during minicamp at theteam’sindoor practicefacility on TuesdayinMetairie.

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Picturedfrom left,Noel, 9, Tank, 11,and Chacha Chanel, 5, join their father, Saints defensiveend CamJordan, on the podiumduring anewsconference

TBA ESPN GOLF

5:30 a.m. PGA Tour:U.S.Open USA

2p.m. LPGA Tour:LPGA ClassicGolf

4p.m. PGA Tour:U.S.Open NBCSN HORSE RACING

7:30 a.m. Breeders’ Cup Challenge NBCSN

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

BROADCASTHIGHLIGHTS

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

12:30 p.m.Toronto at Boston MLB

5:30 p.m. N.y. Mets at PhiladelphiaMLB WORLD CUP

11 a.m.Czech Republic vs.S.Africa Fox

2p.m. Switzerland vs.BosniaFox

5p.m. Canada vs. Qatar FS1

8p.m. Mexico vs. South KoreaFox

SOFTBALL

6p.m.Talons at Volts ESPN2

8p.m.Spark at Cascade ESPN2 SWIMMING

5p.m.TyR: Pro Swim SeriesNBCSN TENNIS

5a.m.London-ATP,Halle-ATP Tennis WNBA

6:30 p.m.Atlanta at Indiana PRIME

Sure as thewindblows

U.S. Open bracingfor gustyShinnecockHills

BY DOUG FERGUSON AP golf writer

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y.— The final day of practice for the U.S. Open brought amost unfamiliar sight Wednesday morningatShinnecockHills: The nine USGA flagsatopthe grandstand behind the 18th green, and the largeAmerican flag atop the century-old clubhouse, hung limply

Just not for very long. Wind at Shinnecock Hills is as inevitableastrafficalong the Montauk Highway from the infamous “tradeparade.”

And that’swhat has everyone nervous —not only the players,but USGA officialsincharge of the course —going into the126th editionof golf’s second-oldest championship.

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

Adding to the concern arethe previous two trips to Shinnecock Hills, whenthe wind and warmth dried out the course in aNew York minute and caused the greens to be borderline unplayable

It got so bad on the finalday in 2004 thatno onebroke par and 28 players failedtobreak 80. Treacherously slick greens andquestionable pin positions on Saturday in 2018 kept the last 44 players to tee off from matching par That was the day Phil Mickelson hit amoving ball on the 13th green to avoid it rolling back into the fairway

mixture of excitement and trepidation.

ScottieScheffler andRoryMcIlroy, Nos.1 and 2inthe world, both start in the morning wave on oppositesides of the course. Scheffler is bidding for the careerGrand Slam with the U.S. Open the only major title he is lacking.

Scheffler first picked up agolf club in his nativeNew Jersey.Hemoved to Dallas when he was 6and honed his game in the wind at Royal Oaks.

Butthere is wind, and there is wind at Shinnecock Hills,situated between the Great Peconic Baytothe north and the Atlantic Ocean to thesouth.

IN BRIEF FROM STAFFAND WIRE REPORTS

Former LSU, TexasA&M trackcoachHenry retires

COLLEGE STATION, Texas Pat Henry, one of the mostdecorated coaches in NCAA track and field history, announcedhis retirement Wednesday after 54 years of coaching. Henry,74, won 27 national championships at LSU from 1988-2004 and10more at Texas A&Mfrom 2005-26.

Aseven-time NCAAcoach of the year,Henry led the LSU womento 17 nationalchampionships (seven outdoor,10indoor) and the men to eight (five outdoor,three indoor). Henrytookoverthe Aggies’program after the 2004 season and became the first coach to lead ateam threeconsecutive outdoor national titles (2009-11).

Anative of Albuquerque,New Mexico, Henry began his career as ahigh school coach in Hobbs, New Mexico, before moving on to Blinn Junior College in Brenham,Texas. He washired at LSU in 1987.

SouthernCalifornia

pitcher

Velazquez commits to LSU

LSUbaseballlandeda commitment outofthe transferportal from Southern California righthanded pitcher Diego Velazquez, LSU coach Jay Johnson revealed on Tiger Rag radio on Tuesday Velazquez made theBig Tenallfreshman team this past season, posting a4.26 ERA in 312⁄3 innings. He struckout 39 and walked nine in 15 appearances with five starts. Velazquez also played 23 games as an infielder andhit .167 in 18 at-bats Coming out of high school, he wasthe No.55player in the nation and atop-15 player in California, according to Perfect Game Velazquez is the sixth player and second pitcher LSU has added out of the transfer portal in June.

LSU sophomore outfielder Curiel wins Gold Glove LSU center fielder Derek Curiel wasawarded aGoldGlove forhis defensiveprowessthisseason, Rawlings announced Wednesday Georgia shortstop Kolby Branch and Texas catcher Carson Tinney were the other two players from the Southeastern Conferenceto winaGold Glove.

TheUSGAnow is taking extreme caution.

Bodenhamer said thegreens wouldberoughly 101/2 on the Stimpmeter —the original plan was between 11 and 12 —and thecourse is being kept as soft as possible to get through the next four days.

“I would saythe course is about as enjoyable as I’ve seen it,” said Justin Rose,who joins Adam Scott as theonlyplayers to have competed at Shinnecock thepast two years.

“There’snot many golf coursesyou couldturn up to on any given week and play championship golf, and Shinnecock is oneofthem,” he said. “I thinkIlike the waythe approach is this year Potentially what I’m hearing is some slightly different protocols this week make sense to me.

And Ithink it’sset up to be agreat tournament.”

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

Bodenhamer said the expectation was for windgreater than 20 mph Thursdaywithgusts nearly twice that strong throughout the afternoon. The forecast was lesswindonFriday, then wind strong and from adifferent direction Saturday,then abit calmer on Sunday Bodenhamer saida key strategy in setting up thecourse is to be “tough but fair.”

“Wecould brutalize this place thenextfew days if we wanted to.That’snot what we’re about,” he said. “Wereally want it to be fair and we want it to be what Shinnecock Hills has always been. It will be tough enough.” Scott, whoisplaying in his 100th consecutive major,considers this course among his favorites in the world. He has yet to see Shinnecock Hills on the weekend, at least during aU.S. Open. TheAustralian knows whattoexpect, and he liked what he hasseen so far.

“It lookslike they’re being cautious at the moment. They know the wind is going to be a factor this week,” Scott said. “Hopefully,we canget thegreenstofirm up over theweekend, and we’ll see some of the greatness of Shinnecock wherethe shots in are so important to hit these small areas, andthenyou’llget agreat champion.”

Curiel hadtwo errors in 58 games this season.Hemoved from leftfield to center as asophomore and thrived, tracking down fly balls with precise routes and making multiple diving catches. Heading into the season, MLB evaluators wondered if Curiel could play center field at thenextlevel Curiel likely answered those questions withhis defense this season. Curiel is aprojected first-round pick in the MLBdraft in July

Quarterback Sorsby

plans

July workout forNFL teams

Brendan Sorsby is tentatively planning to workout forNFL teams before the supplemental draft following the quarterback’s decision to endanunprecedented legal fight to retain hiseligibility after he acknowledged making impermissible bets while playing college football.

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

BY DOUG FERGUSON AP golf writer

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y.— Miles Russell is certainly not theyoungest player to compete in the U.S. Open.

He’snot even the only 17-yearold in the field at Shinnecock Hills —Giuseppe Puebla alsomade it through a36hole qualifier at thesame site. They are Nos. 1and 2inthe Americanjunior ranking.

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

This is his first U.S. Open.

“It’sstill 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

State, along withgolf buddy Charlie Woods, the son of Tiger Woods. Charlie Woods caddied forRussellduring the U.S. Open qualifier

It’snot an entirely newexperience being around tour players.

Russell tied for 50th in the Puerto Rico Open on thePGA 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 learnedishow boring they can look. He meant that as acompliment

“You watch them play and you’re, like,‘Man,thisguy plays pretty boring.’ Andatthe end of theround, you’re seeing the score and he shootslike65. You’re like, ‘I did not see you shooting 65 out there.’ But it’sjustsokind of hohum and alot 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 USGAhas given him a favorable tee time.Russell will play the openingtwo rounds with PadraigHarrington,a three-timemajor champion,and former British Open champion Cameron Smith. Pursegrows to $22.5million

TheUSGAsaidWednesday it was increasing the purseby$1 million to $22.5million, with the winner receiving $4.5 million. That keepsitequalwith the Masters, whichalso hada $22.5 million purse this year.Mike Whan, the CEO, said the increase wasnot adirect response to AugustaNational. It was more pride. No othermajor offers more prize money than theU.S. Open or Masters. The largest purse among regular tournaments is $25 million at The Players Championship. Thelast time the U.S. Open wasatShinnecock Hills in 2018, Brooks Koepka won$2,160,000 from a$12 millionpurse.The runner-up will get more this year

The prize fund forthe first U.S. Open at Shinnecock? That was $335, and James Foulis won $150.

Syringeisnew buzzword

Aphrase often heardinthe U.S. Open at Torrey Pines and Pebble Beach is “marine layer,” what most people refer to as fog. The buzzword for Shinnecock Hills? Thatwould be “syringe.”

It’sa strange choice of words for watering the greens, but that’s keyatShinnecock because the greenstendtodry quickly on putting surfaces exposed to thewind And yes, the greens will be “syringed” this week.

John Bodenhamer, thechief competitionsofficer forthe USGA,said the first tee times Thursday and Fridayhas been moved up 10 minutes to allow the greenstobedousedbetween the morning and afternoon waves.

“Itinvolvesa very lightapplication of water to hydrate the grass leaf blade to prevent wilt,most importantly,topreserve turf health, andtoreduce stress on these poa annua greens,” Bodenhamer said.

“Poa annua reacts differently and more quickly than mostother grassesinthese typesofconditions,sowethink syringing is very important.”

Thedeadline for applying for the draftisMonday, butthere were stillprocedural issuesrelated to aTexas districtcourt’stemporary injunction that had cleared the way for himtoplay for TexasTech this fall

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

WNBA expanding league schedule to 50 games

NEW YORK The WNBA is expandingits schedule to 50 games per team next season —the most in the league’s30-year history

The newcollective bargaining agreementthatwas ratifiedearlierthisyear allowsthe league to play up to 50 games for the next twoseasons. There can be up to 52 regular-season games in 2029 and forthe rest of the CBA. The league is playing 44 games againthis season.Overthe next fewseasons theWNBAisadding three teamsthrough expansion. Cleveland is joining in 2028, Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030. Connecticut is moving to Houston next year When the leaguefirst started in 1997, teams only played 28 games.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByDAVID J. PHILLIP

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By SETH WENIG Scottie Scheffler chips to the green on the 12th hole during apractice round forthe U.S. Open on Wednesday.

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Saints slowly taking bubble wrap off rookies

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

For the most part, theplayers whom the New Orleans Saints held out during organized team activities had asimilar 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 hamstringinjury that the Saints gave him ahandful of reps in practice—with the starters. And he’snot the only rookie to start to turn acorner: First-round wide receiver Jordyn Tyson was allowed to participate in the team’s half-speed walkthrough, admittedly asmall step but one that’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 agoodsign that they could be ready to go when the Saints convenefor training camp next month.

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

Millersaidhehad hurthis hamstring while training in his lead-up to the draft. The Georgia product added he didn’teven realize he wasinjured until the Saints’ medical staff members flagged the injury when they inspected him before rookie minicamp in May The Saints then took acautious approach to avoid aggravatingthe ailment further Tyson echoed asimilarplan.

SAINTS

Continued from page1C

But the excitement is about more than Etienne’sconsiderable physical talent. Of all the additions theSaintsmadethis offseason, Etienne may be the Rosetta Stone who unlocks the full version of coach Kellen Moore’soffense. In him, Moore sees atrue“any down, every down” playerwith ahigh footballIQ, someone who doesn’thave to rotate off the field becauseofany deficiencies in his game. That is helpful for several reasons, not the least of which being that it allowsMoore an additional layer of deception.

“When all of asudden you put X player in there and they’re known as asub protector,the defense is making their pressure calls to attack that or they’renot really worriedabout therun,”Thomas said. “You still have the threat to run the ball when (Etienne) is in there on third down.”

The Saints mightalso just look differentwhen they line up. They were in the shotgun on about 75% of their offensive snaps last season, and only the Cincinnati Bengalsran moreshotgun snaps than the Saints (824 to 813). There was areasonfor that: New Orleans wasone of the NFL’s least effective teams while operating the under-center offense, compiling an abysmal -0.19 Expected Points Added per play (only the Raiders, at -0.28, were worse). Moore said some of that was “recency bias” dating from his

SAINTS OBSERVATIONS

Speaking at his locker,the wide receiver said his hamstring “feels amazing”and that he didn’texpect the Saintstoput him on this type of routine, but he agrees with the approach “Very,very player-friendly,” Tyson said.

When they were worked intothe fold, aclearerpicture of how the Saints want to usetheir talented rookies started to emerge. During the walkthrough,Tyson lined up in several spots —including theslot, which waslargelyoccupied by wideout Chris Olave and tight end Juwan Johnson. And in team drills, theSaints rotated their interior defensive linemen so that Miller couldworkwith BryanBreseeand Vernon Broughton Miller wasn’tfazed to workwith the 1’sright away “The season ain’there yet,” he said.“Thingscan be changed. It’s an honor,but that comes with alot of load, alot of responsibility.It’s just astandardhere thatI’ve got to uphold. Thestandard here is to play fast,play physical and play as ateam “I’m just trying to embody that.”

Attendance,rostermoves

Aday after signing his one-year contract,defensive endCam Jordan wasatpractice but did notparticipate in team drills as the Saints look to get him back into football shape.

Likewise, Olave and running back AlvinKamara were again sidelined during 11-on-11 periods.

Olave is workinghis way back from last season’sblood clot, while Kamara was given alimited workload after skipping most of the voluntary practices.

The Saints were without running back Kendre Miller (ACL); wide receivers Devaughn Vele,Mason

experience with the Philadelphia Eagles,who wonthe SuperBowl with ahigh-powered offense that spenta lot of time in the shotgun.

But expectthat to change, at least some, this season

Etiennespentthe 2025 campaignwith theJacksonville Jaguars, who ranked in the top eight in under-center use rate, and he sees alot of similarities withwhat the Saints want to do this year

“I feel like(Jaguars coach Liam) Coen was alot under center,and Ifeel likecoach Moore is doing alot more under center this year,”Etienne said. “From that standpoint, the motions, disguisingthings on offense,presenting to the defenseadifferent look but running the same plays, making the defense’seyeslie to them

Ifeellikecoach (Moore) does a great job of disguising things and schemingguys open.”

It’simportant to note that under center does notnecessarilymean running with the football. Thomas noted theleaguetrend toward using under-center plays to create advantages in the passing game, something theSaints may also try to lean into with heavier personnel packagesthis season.

AndEtienne shouldplaya part in that, as well.

“I toldhim thiswhenhegot here: Where Ifelthis game improved …isthe stuff that goes unnoticedinpass protection,being an outlet out of the backfield,” Thomas said.“That startedto ariselast year,and he’sjust built on that since he’sbeen here.”

Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com.

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

The Saints also hadseveral new faces at practice after aseries of roster moves. The team signed quarterback HunterDekkers, wide receiver Jalen Moreno-Cropper and kicker Tanner Brown. The team also cut defensive tackle Coziah Izzard, cornerback Deshawn Jones, kicker MasonShipley and wide receiverDamien Alford thelatter of whom was waived with an injury settlement. Dekkers, fresh off astint in the UFL, spent agood chunk of last season withthe Saintsasadevelopmental quarterback who floated on and off the practice squad. Brown presents as an interesting challengertoincumbentCharlie Smyth. The 26-year-oldbecame thefirst kicker to maketwo attempts of at least 60 yards in one gameduring this past UFL season. Rapid fire

As theSaintswrapupmandatory minicamp, Tyler Shough started to find his groovewith severaltightwindowthrows on Wednesdayduring apractice that emphasized endzone and two-minutesituations.

Rookie wide receiver BryceLance had avery strong afternoon with twotouchdowns,and it makes sense he thrived in thered zone as a6-foot-3target. …Running back Audric Estime shouldn’tbeforgotten in the Saints’ running back competition later this summer He hadastrong spring. …We’ll see whatthe pass-rush rotation turnsinto with Jordan returning, but Chris Rumphflashed alot during these sessions, even over new acquisitions Tyree Wilson and Anfernee Jennings.

Email Matthew Paras at matt paras@theadvocate.com

JORDAN

Continuedfrom page1C

Butfirst,Jordanhas another season to playand more goals to accomplish. And he’lldoitinthe black and gold that he’sworn over the course of his entirecareer.Jordan, who has 132 sacks, said he believes he’sdone enough to earn his spot in theHall of Fame, but more thananything else, he’s still chasing his first Super Bowl

Ever theoptimist,Jordan talked aboutthatpossibility witha straight face Tuesday.Heraved aboutthe moves the Saints had made in his absence and the growth that he expects from quarterback Tyler Shough. Jordan admitted, even as afreeagent,hecouldn’t fully disassociate himself from the Saints. He closely watched everypick the team madeinthis year’sdraft,particularly wonderingwhether theSaints were going to draft an edge rusher For all his optimism, however, there were times throughout Jordan’sfree agency when the defensive endverymuchdoubtedthat areturn 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 bounceback with his first doubledigit sack campaign since 2021 Jordan saidheowed it to himself to test themarket.The Saints and Jordan didn’tinitially seeeye-toeye on his contract, either Throughout theprocess, thetwo sides never stoppedstaying in

Burrow says Bengalsremind himof2019LSU

BY CHARLIE GOLDSMITH Associated Press

CINCINNATI Bengals quarter-

back Joe Burrow said he feels similarly about this year’sCincinnatiteam to how he felt about the LSUsquad that he won anational championship with in 2019.

“I’m so excited to get started andget moving,” Burrowsaid. “I wish we ramped this right into trainingcampsowecan continue to improve. Ifeel like there’sso much greatness we’ll be able to achieve this year that I’m just excited to get going.”

The Bengals have had an aggressiveoffseason, rebuilding thedefense through free agency andaddingveteran leaderswith winning experience. With new players Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, Bryan Cook and Boye Mafe, Burrow saidthe Bengals have everything they need to contend.

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

“Wehaveguysthathavebeen thereand done that and also guys who havehad alot of individual success and not necessarily the team success that we’re looking for,” Burrowsaid. “Guys like Dexter (Lawrence) and guys like Jonathan (Allen),bringing guys likethatinissoadvantageous to alot of different people.Players trying to improve makes it easier on coaches. We have guys withso much talent and I’m just excited to put it all together.”

The Bengals had full atten-

dance in OTAs and minicamp, andcoach Zac Taylorcanceled the final two practices of minicampwith the Bengals having gotten in thework he waslooking to see.

The Bengals bring back all11 starters on offense from last season. Burrow saidthe unitlooks “great.”

“All theguys areputting in alot of work to try to improve,” Burrow said. “With the veteran players we have coming back, they’re doing agreat job of setting an example for the younger guys and trying to teach themhow to be great. Ithink the spring has gotten everybody better.Weneed to continue that over thenext month before we come back.” Burrow saidthatwitha lotof urgencyentering 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, Ireally focusedontrying to bring urgency to theroom andtry to just get everybody to understand the level of urgency that we have this year; the level of play that’sgoing to be required from everyindividualwho steps on that field,” Burrow said.“I’ve triedtocommunicate that. I’ve tried to be alittlemore vocal in amean way.Ithink that’sa little out of my comfort zone, but that’ssomewhere that I’m improving. Maybe it’sgood and maybeit’sbad,but we’llfind out.” The Bengals haven’tbeen in the playoffs since the 2022 season.

touch. That, Jordan said, mattered to him.Hehad an offer on the table, one that remained even as the Saints added twoothers (Tyree Wilson and AnferneeJennings) at his position.

“The loyalty streak has always run deep withme,” Jordansaid.

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

“Now it may not be what Ithink I’m worth or whatever it is,but (there’s) always been this ideathatwe’vehad an open line of communication.”

The terms of Jordan’sdeal werenot disclosed, but the contractisreportedly laden with incentives that would mirror astructure to last year when Jordan earned$2 million due to his 101/2-sack total. The two sides also found common ground: Jordansaidthere were a“couple of bumps that got cleared up recently” that helped facilitate adeal.

After all, Jordan’steammates understood his importance to the locker room

“It does alot for us,” defensive endCarl Granderson said. “We need that leadership. We need that guy who’sbeen there before and knowswhat it takes. Afuture Hall of Famer.We’re excited to get him back in thebuilding,and we can’t wait.”

So on Monday, Jordan decided hisson’s pestering needed to stop.In Miami for aWorld Cup match, the defensive endcalled Loomis. He let the executive know he would be “all in” for the coming season. AndLoomis, according to Jordan, said that’swhat the Saints needed.

“The loyaltystreak has alwaysrun deep with me. Acouple yearsago,meand (general manager) Mickey(Loomis) sat down and he said, ‘The wayyou handle yourself, you’ll alwayshave ajob here.’”

CAM JORDAN, Saintsdefensiveend

The signing marked theconclusion of amonths-long process in which Jordan got consistently pesteredabout whetherhe’d end up with the Saints. Beyond his interactions with his family and fans on the streets, Jordan said his teammates —current and former —would reach out to see what he wasthinking.

“I don’tknowany other way,” Jordan said. “I don’tdip toes in the water.I dive in.”

By the next morning, Jordan andhis family were in NewOrleans to commemorate the deal. When the contract was finally signed, and his kids joined him at the lectern, Jordanurgedhis sontospeak. But a shy Tank didn’tseem to know how to begin.

That’swhenJordanprompted him with aquestion: Where did you wanttogofor your birthday? “Here,” Tank said.

Email Matthew Parasatmatt. paras@theadvocate.com

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

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByCAROLyN KASTER

Cincinnati Bengalsquarterbacks JoeBurrow, right, and Josh Johnson work out during the team’smandatoryminicamp in Cincinnati on Tuesday.

WORLDCUP 2026

Congostuns Portugal in 1-1draw

By The Associated Press

HOUSTON Cristiano Ronaldo

and his Portugal teammates were surprisinglyheldtoa 1-1 draw by Congo on Wednesday in their opening match at the World Cup.

Congo, which wasplaying at the World Cup for the first time in 52 years, became the second African nation to make astrongstart in the tournament against European competition following Cape Verde’s0-0 draw with Spain on Monday

“The World Cup is atournament where this happens,” said Portugal coach Roberto Martínez, aSpaniard who coached Belgium to the semifinals at the 2018 tournament. “At times the performance is not up to the challenge.”

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

ManyCongolese were prevented from traveling to the United States for this year’stournament because

of restrictions tied to Ebola.

“There was not enough blue in the stands, but the players are tough and they know howtoovercome challenges,” Congo coach Sébastien Desabresaid. “ButI’m sure that many Congolesepeople are proud of their team today.”

João Neves gave Portugal an

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

But Yoane Wissa equalized for Congo witha header in stoppage time at the end of the first half off across from Arthur Masuaku, delighting the small pocketsofblueclad fans. It was thefirst World

Stakes ratchetupasteams play theirsecondgroup-stage games

BY JOHN MARSHALL AP sportswriter

Every team has played agame in this oversized World Cup filled with big surprises

The stakes rise quicklyasthe 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 winstokeep up in their groups afteropening with draws. Belgium, the Netherlands, Croatia and Switzerland are in the same boat.

On Thursday,hosts Mexico and Canada, along with Switzerland

and South Korea, will be amongthe teamsplaying for asecond time.

Mexico facesSouth Korea Mexico will look to take control of GroupA against South Korea followingathrilling start as World Cuphost.

Four years after amajor disappointment in Qatar,the Mexicans roared out of the gate with a2-0 win over SouthAfrica. The dominant victory thrilled acapacity crowd of 80,824 at famed Azteca Stadium and drew 7.1 million viewers in theUnited States, making it the most-watched opening match for an English-language broadcast.

The next matchmay be alittle tougher.South Korea opened its 12th World Cup appearance by scoring twiceinthe second half for a2-1 win over the Czech Republic.

While Mexico will have to travel 600 miles from Mexico City for itssecondmatch,South Korea remainedinGuadalajara following its opener Mexico also will be without defender CesarMontes, whoreceived oneofthreered cards in the match against SouthAfrica.

Short-handed SouthAfrica

South Africa willbeshort-handed for its GroupAmatch against theCzech Republic in Atlanta.

SphepheloSithole andThemba Zwane both received red cards against Mexico, whichcarries an automatic one-game suspension.

Zwane’ssuspension was increased to thee games on Wednesday, deeminghis contact to the face of Mexico’sRobertoAlvarado to be serious foul play

Cup goal forCongo in its history

“It’scrazy,” Wissa said. “Fiftytwo years later we are here, we are back.It’sbeen long, it’sbeen difficult.

“Soscoring that goal, it means alot for allCongolese, forme, for my family,for the fans who showed up today.”

ENGLAND4,CROATIA 2: In Arlington, Texas, HarryKane scored twiceto equal the Englishrecord for World Cup goals, Jude Bellingham added another twominutes into the second half and England beat Croatia.

Martin Baturina and Petar Musa answered each of Kane’sfirst-half goals in arematch of the 2018 semifinal gamewon by Croatia. Musa’sgoal cameonthe final play before the whistle ending the first half

AfterBellingham’sgoal, Marcus Rashford padded the lead in the85thminute. Kane is up to 10 World Cup goals. ThattiesGary Lineker’smarkfrom the 1986 and 1990 tournaments.

GHANA1,PANAMA 0: In Toronto, Caleb Yirenkyi tapped in across from BrandonThomas-Asante in the fifthminute of second-half stoppage time, and Ghana beat Panama in the teams’ World Cup opener At the end of agamethat saw few chances for either side,Thomas-Asante got loose on the leftside andfired theballacross the goal mouth.

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

LGFGAPts

June 15 Spain 0, Cape Verde0 Saudi Arabia 1, Uruguay1

June 21 Spain vs.Saudi Arabia,11a.m

Uruguayvs. Cape Verde, 5p.m.

BY DAVE SKRETTA AP sportswriter

KANSASCITY,Mo. Lionel Messi used the frontofhis white-andblue,sweat-soaked jerseytowipe the tears from his eyes, aflood of emotions cracking his usually calm,confident demeanor after he gave Argentina 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 his39th birthday approaches next week —had been answered. With abrilliant hat trick in a3-0 win over Les Fennecs, Messi moved intoatie with Germany’s Miroslav Klose for the career scoring record at the men’sWorld Cup.

“My tears after the first goal? I’ve hadsome tough days. It wasn’trelated to football. And those feelings were because of that,” Messi saidafterward, withoutelaborating.“Ithank my teammates,the coaching staff andthe delegationfor helping me.” Messi scored that emotional first goal in theopening minutes on anifty feed from Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul, the second off an opportunistic rebound early in the secondhalf, and the third on acrisp strike moments before subbing out to a

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

“Ata loss forwords about Leo What can Isay?” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said. “He’sincredible.”

Hisincredible trio of goals came 20 yearstothe daythat Messi madehis World Cup debut in amatch against Serbia and Montenegro —hescored in that one, too —and madethe pride of Rosario only the second player to score in five editions of the men’s tournament.

Messihas 16 goalsinhis record sixWorldCup appearances overall, and it seems inevitable thatKlose’s recordwill fall in the comingweeks. The hattrick was the 61st of Messi’scareer,his 11th while playing in his national team colors and his first in the World Cup. It also was the fifth straight WorldCup gameinwhich Messi has scored.

“Itmakes me very happyto have lived through everything that camemyway.What I’m livingthoughnow is thecherryon top,” Messi said. “I’m very happy an grateful for this wonderful group. Ienjoy it so much.” Messi upstaged twoofsoccer’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’s3-1 win over Senegal to moveinto atie for fourthonthe men’sWorld Cup goals list with 14, while Haaland scored twice for Norway in its 4-1 victory over Iraq.

ASSOCIATEDPRESS

Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates after scoring the opening goal during aGroup Jmatchagainst Algeria on Tuesday in Kansas City,Mo. Messi scored three goals in Argentina’s3-0 win.

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-

LSU

Continued from page 1C

Mathieu was destined to generate some interesting quotes. Here are some takeaways from their 40-minute chat.

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.” Prime targets

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 Benefield, a first-team All-Mountain West player, since his arrival

LSU loses key shortstop Edwards to transfer portal

BY JIM KLEINPETER

Contributing writer

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

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.

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.”

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 consideration 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

Reese

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 se-

smiling

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 double-double 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.

lected 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.

big in first Dream season

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 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.

Email Jon Blau at jon.blau@theadvocate.com.

“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.”

RABALAIS

Continued from page 1C

that played for another title the following 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.

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

From Iceland, with golf

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

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

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.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU shortstop Kylee Edwards fires the ball to first to get an Oklahoma out on March

AP FILE PHOTO By BAILEy HILLESHEIM

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese reacts after a play during a game against the Minnesota Lynx on May 9 in Minneapolis.

Pork stir-fry offerslight sauce, freshflavor

BY LINDAGASSEHEIMER Tribune News Service (TNS)

Ilove the light,savory sauces used in Vietnamese-style stir-fries. They’re arefreshing change from the heavier, thicker sauces often foundin other versions. For this quick meal, Iuse thinly sliced pork tenderloin and delicate dried rice noodles. The noodles and broccoli are briefly cooked together in boiling water for just three minutes, then tossed into the stirfry,where they absorbthe fragrant sauce and come together in afresh, flavorful dish

HELPFUL HINTS:

n Any type of thin noodles can be used.

n Green beans can be used instead of broccoli.

n Canola oil can be used instead of sesame oil.

Vietnamese Pork Stir-Fry Yields 2servings. Recipe is by Linda Gassenheimer

4garlic cloves, crushed

2tablespoons brown sugar

3tablespoons reduced-salt soysauce

3teaspoons ground ginger

3tablespoons water

¾poundpork tenderloin, thinly sliced ½cup sliced onion

4ounces thin dried rice noodles

2tablespoons sesame oil

4cups broccoli florets

1. Combine garlic, sugar,soy sauce,ginger and 2tablespoons water in amedium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmerand cook 5minutes or until sugar is melted.

2. Remove from heat and add pork to sauce and let sitfor 5 minutes, turning the meat over 2or3 times.

3. Meanwhile, bring amedium saucepan ¾ full of water to a boil and add the rice noodles. Boil for 3minutes, then addthe broccoli to the water for 1minute. Drain.

4. Heat oil in awok or large frying pan over high heat. Add theonion and saute 2minutes Add the pork with thesauce. Cook, tossing the pork with the onion for 2minutes.

5. Add the broccoli and rice noodles. Toss all the ingredients together for 2to3minutes. Divide in halfand serveon2 dinner plates.

NUTRITION INFO PER SERVING: 643 calories (25 percent from fat), 18.2 gfat (2.4 gsaturated, 10.1 g monounsaturated), 108 mg cholesterol, 46.6 gprotein, 73.1 g carbohydrates, 5.1 gfiber,1008 mg sodium.

of akitchen redo.

FORTHE OCCASION

With kitchenrenovationcomplete, shrimp andtasso sauteisonthe menu

BY APRIL HAMILTON

Contributing writer

My husband did aDIY renovation of the kitchen in our first home, literally at the turn of the century The simple and inexpensive changes were ahuge upgrade, and Irecall cooking up astorminthe newspace, withtwo little girls underfoot.With alate May unveiling of the expanded new kitchen in our Baton Rouge home, the glee is tenfold after being confined for nearly 10 years into an 8-squarefoot space. Cooking has never been more joyful. Throughout thedecade of cooking in my tinybut mightykitchen, Iimagined the walls coming down but couldn’t fathom anew layout or enduring the upheaval of arenovation. Enter Chad Blanchard and his team with Highland Construction Services,who turned my dread into giddy anticipation. From the first

ä See RENOVATION, page 2D

Gluten-freemeatballs

Shrimp and Tasso Saute

Makes 4servings. Recipe is from “Cooking Up aStorm,” edited by Marcelle Bienvenu and Judy Walker

2tablespoons

1. Heat the oil in alarge skillet over medium heat.Add the onions, bell pepper, celery,salt, cayenne, Tabasco and tasso and saute over high heat forabout 5minutes, or until the vegetables are wilted and slightly brown.

2. Add the mushrooms, garlic, shrimp, stock and white wine andcook,stirring often, for5minutes.

3. Add the green onions and parsley and adjust the seasonings.

4. Serve over rice or your favorite pasta.

NOTE: In my preparation, Iused homemadeshrimpstock madewith the shells from peeling the shrimp. Idoubled the amount called for, and to make it alittle saucier,addedin2tablespoonsofcold butterinto the liquid in theskillet, whisking to emulsify into asauce.

(TNS)

STAFF PHOTOSByMICHAEL JOHNSON

TNS PHOTO By LINDAGASSENHEIMER

Younglawyerneeds to show confidence

Dear Miss Manners: Iama25-yearold-lawyer who worked as alaw clerk for ayear before passing the bar exam. When Iaccompany the partner to hearings where aclient is present, Iinvariably get asked whetherI am still in law school or how Ilike being aparalegal. What is the appropriate response? Also, when Iam in the office, sometimes potential clients will walkinand ask me to make copies for them (assuming the secretary is not there). Iusually do this graciously,but Iamwondering if there is something Ican say to establish

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

thefact that Iamanattorney Gentle reader: That you were willing to makethe copies forthe client shows your heart was in the right place —which Miss Manners agrees is no small thingafter three years of law school and ayear of court. Butunfortunately,she hastosay that your head was not. If you think the partner, having observed either of these interactions with clients, was goingtoshout,“Promote that person immediately we need more people who put the clientfirst!” you would have been wrong

What he or she was really thinkingwas, “If that person cannot even explain to aclient that they are not the secretaryora paralegal, how are they going to stand up to an angry judge?”

The correct thingtosay to the client at the office is, “How do you do? I’m So-and-so, an attorney here at the firm.But let me find you asecretarywho can help you.” The answer tothe client at thehearing is, “I am really enjoying being an associate here at the firm.” Then give areason why the work you are doing for the firm is even more interesting than your clerkship —throwing in thename of the judge you worked for Businessmannersare different

RENOVATION

Continued from page1D

iteration of the design to the final finished punch list, as if Iwaved amagic wand, they knocked it out with finesse

Iflashed back to my kitchen remodelyears ago and desire to cook around the clock. It is arerun of your favorite show.Shop, chop, cook, share the bounty and repeat. Iwas eager to have adinner party and thank the team who made it happen. Iinvited my friend Lori and her husband Matt, who had guided us to the contractor team, and my friend Canette and her husband Chris, who helped with so many details when Iwas incapable of another decision, to join us for a toast and afeast The scheduled gratitude dinner coincided with an assignment to sample some beloved recipes from The Times-Picayune cookbook, “Cooking Up aStorm,” a collection of recipes lost and found post-Katrina. I selected theShrimp and Tasso Saute to highlight local seafood paired withthe tasso from Jacob’s Smokehousethat mycontractor stashed in my freezer after atrip to his hometown, LaPlace. The recipeisjust asMarcelle Bienvenupromises in the headnote: “It packs together alot of different flavors, theingredientsare usually readily at hand, and it’sgreat when you need to whip somethingupatthe

last minute.” I’ll add that it is special occasion-worthy When Ireceived my copy of this treasured cookbook, Iwas in the midst of unpacking my decades-old cookbook collection to display on mynew shelves. Without hesitation, Iprominently placed this new-tome book on itsown shelf so it will be in easy reach as I continue cooking from its story-rich pages in my new kitchen.

Beef, Spinach and Feta Meatballs

Serves 2-4. Recipe is adapted from “What Goes with That: 100 Recipes, 20 Charts, Endless Possibilities” by Julia Turshen.

1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Line abakingsheetwith parchment paper

2. Place drained and squeezedspinach in alarge bowlwith feta,garlic powder,dried oregano and 1 teaspoon kosher salt.Stir well to combine

3. Add beef and mix well (I used my hands).Divide themixture into adozen portions,shaping them into balls. Imadethem slightly smaller andgot 16 balls.

4. Space them evenly on the sheetpan andspray with cooking spray

5. Roast until browned

and firm to the touch, about20-25 minutes. You can always crack oneopen to make sure it’scooked enough,ifyou need some reassurance.

6. Meanwhile, place yogurt in asmallbowland whisk in garlic anddill. Addzestand juice of 1 lemon, stir to combine, then season totaste with salt and cayenne, if using.

7. Serve meatballs hot, warm or at room temperature over rice or orzo, with thesauce and additional lemon slices forsqueezing over

MEATBALLS

Continued from page1D

meat.

of feta, especially if you take time to grate it, also helpscreate

amorecohesivetexture since itmelts —slightly during cooking These meatballs are seasoned with lots of garlic powderand dried oregano, but feel free to substitute fresh grated garlic if that’s your thing. They’re served with abright and lemony yogurt sauce punctuated with dill. They can be served hot

out of the oven, warm or at room temperature, with the sauce drizzled on top. If you need agood office lunch, tuck them into pita bread with lettuce and tomato for aGreek-style meatball sandwich. Imade them in my oven, but you also could cook the meatballs in an air fryer at 400 Ffor 15 minutes, turning halfway through.

from social manners, and most lawyers areused to being contradicted without taking offense. They may even recognize the courage it took foryou to speak up.

Dear Miss Manners: Iama female homeowner wholives in atwostory house. Mostly the living area is upstairs, after a15-step staircase with asmalllanding before theturn. If someone comes to my house who has never been, or aworker to do arepair or something, who do Ilet walk up the stairs first, looking at the other person’sbutt?

The male stranger,the female stranger,orme?

Gentlereader: Etiquette is neutral

on wholeads, unless the passage is challenging, in which case you would wanttogofirst to act as guide.

As to what there is to see along the way,Miss Manners hopes that whoever followswill have the common courtesy,ifnot the common sense, to follow at amodest distance and with eyes elsewhere —noifs,ands, buts or butts.

Sendquestions to Miss Manners at herwebsite, www missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mailtoMiss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City,MO 64106.

Career crises andanxieties

Dear Annie: I’m feeling tornbetween pursuing my dream and maintaining my financial stability. Ihave a job as an accountant making six figures, but it’sboring work —soboring that Idread gettingout of bed every morning. The days go by slowly,and Ifind myself living for theweekend.

On theother hand, I’ve had apassion for photography since Iwas akid. Recently,I’ve started to do some freelance work on theside, just for fun, but themoney isn’t great because Idon’thave alot of time to devote to it. Iunderstand the importance of financial security, but Ialso fear that settling for acomfortable but unfulfilling job will leaveme with regrets. My girlfriend says Iwould be crazy to quit accounting, and Ihave thefeeling that she would dumpmeifIwasn’table to takeher out or pay for things. How do Istrikeabalance between being practical and pursuing my dreams? Is it possible to have both? I’m afraid of takingthe leap and facing potential failure, but Ialso don’t want to wake up one day and realize that I’ve wasted my life working at ajob Ihate. —TornBetween Passion and Stability

Dear Torn: Everything in lifeisatrade-off, and a balancing act. If you continue as an accountant, you are guaranteed stable pay and predictable hours, but you will be bored much of the time. If you decide to pursue photography,you will workodd hours forunpredictable pay,but you will be creatively fulfilled. Iwonder why you becameanaccountant in the first place. It must have appealed to you at one time, and you might try to rekindle your lost interest in your career,while continuing to makephotography apassionate hobby as part of awell-rounded life. If you do that and you still yearn to devote your life to photography full time, then you will have your answer Dear Annie: Irecently got a promotion at work, which is great, but I’mreally feeling the pressure now My first project in this new position is with my company’sbiggest client, and I’m starting to doubt that I’m really qualified to take on such an important account. Ilove my job, Iwork hard, and Ithink I’mgood at it —but I’mworried that I’m going to fail and that my team is going to realize I wasn’tready forall these added responsibilities.

How can Iovercome all the feelings of self-doubt and gain more confidence in myself? Idon’twant to self-sabotage or hold myself back from reaching my full potential. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. —Seeking Confidence Dear Seeking: It sounds like you’re struggling with “impostor syndrome,” and you’re definitely not alone. According to Psychology Today,upto70% of adults feel impostor syndromeat somepoint in their lives. Start by reminding yourself that you werepromoted forareason. Management does not hand out promotions without seeing proof of acandidate’s competence. Clearly your work has shownyour team that you are well-suited for moreresponsibility.You should also stay focused on your own achievements instead of comparing yourself to others. By reflecting on your concrete accomplishments, focusing on yourself and talking through your feelings (through therapy,journaling or conversations with friends), you will be able to manage your impostor syndrome and shine bright in your new role (congratulations, by the way!).

Sendyour questions forAnnie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.

Keepingknotinnecktie intact

Dear Heloise: I’ve enjoyed and learned from your column for years. If you’re like me, tying anecktie can be frustrating. When Iget atie with aknot that has thestyle and length Ilike, I’ll take it off by loosening it just enough toget it off my neck and over my head. Then Ihang it up intact on atie rack that Ihave on thewall. So, thenext time Iwant to use it, it’salready tied and ready for me to put on. —MikeD., in Indiana Keyfob hint

Dear Heloise: Most cars

ByThe Associated Press

comewith two key fobs, and the key fobs have abutton to set off an alarm on your car.Assingle woman living by myself, I keep the extra key fob on my nightstand. If someone broke into my home, or Ihad amedical emergency and couldn’tget to the phone quick enough for help, all Ineed to do is press the alarm button on the key fob. All of my neighbors would immediately hear the noise. Ilet my neighbors know about this plan, and if they hear the alarm sounding, they would call me to find out if Ineeded help. Most of my neighbors thought that this wasagreat idea and are doing the same thing with their extra key fob. —CherylM., in Omaha, Nebraska Freezing milk

TODAYINHISTORY

Today is Thursday, June 18, the 169th day of 2026. There are 196 days left in the year

Todayinhistory: On June 18, 1812, the War of 1812 began as the United States Congress approved, and President James Madisonsigned, adeclaration of war againstBritain.

Also on this date: In 1778, American forces entered Philadelphia as the Britishwithdrew during theRevolutionary War.

In 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated in the BattleofWaterloo as Britishand Prussian troops defeated the French Imperial Army in Belgium.

In 1979, President Jimmy Carter and Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev signed theSALTIIstrategic armslimitation treaty

in Vienna. In 1983, astronaut Sally Ride becameAmerica’s first womaninspace as she and four other NASA astronauts blasted off aboard the space shuttle Challenger on asix-day mission. In 1986, 25 people were killed when atwin-engine plane and ahelicopter carrying sightseers collided over the Grand Canyon.

In 1992, the U.S. SupremeCourt, in Georgia v. McCollum,ruled that criminal defendants could not use race as abasis for excluding potential jurors from their trials.

In 2007, nine firefighters died when they were overwhelmed by afast-spreading fire in afurniture showroom and warehouse facility in Charleston, South Carolina. It wasone of the deadliest days for firefighting since the 9/11

Dear Heloise: Iread about the womanwho purchases twohalf gallons of milk and freezes one. Idon’t drink alot of milk, so Ibuy aquart. But sometimes ahalf gallon only costs a little more, so Ifreeze half of it. It freezes quite well. —MaryG., in California Send ahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.

attacks in the U.S. In 2018, President Donald Trumpannounced he wasdirecting the Pentagon to create the Space Force as an independent branch of the United States Armed Forces. In 2023, the submersible vessel Titan, on an undersea expedition to view the wreck of the Titanic in the North Atlantic Ocean, imploded, killing all five people aboard.

Today’sBirthdays:

Hints from Heloise

Shrimp mixes withotheringredients on the stovetop while April Hamilton prepares shrimp and tasso saute.

STAFF PHOTOSByMICHAEL JOHNSON

April Hamilton stirs ingredients on the stovetop while preparing adishinher newly completed kitchen.

Annie Lane DEAR ANNIE

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Makeanofferand follow through. Livinguptoyour promises, requestsand words will helpyou gain the confidence of others. Show how disciplined and fruitful you can be.

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Stick to what works best foryou.Ifyou follow someone, you'll be disappointed withthe outcome. Place more faithand trustin yourself and your ability to finish what youstart.

LEo(July 23-Aug. 22) Pay attention to relationships, conversations, the validityoftheinformationyoureceiveandthe intentions of the people youencounter.If you have apositive impact on someone, it will reflect.

VIRGo (Aug.23-sept. 22) Suggestions and offersyou receive will generate excitementand adesire for change, but before taking aleap of faith, consider the outcome. Make sure yourbudget can withstand the overhead costs.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Procrastination is what holds youback. Excuses are far-fetched anddownright depressing, putting you intoacatatonic state of mind that'sstopping youfromliving your dream.

scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Rethink your strategyonhealth, love and earning potential.Perhaps it's time to rethinkand update yourdirection, skills and connections. Mix business withpleasure.

sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec.21) Set yourself up,let go of thepast andstabilize your future. Choose your space wisely. Putin the timetoensure you feel comfortable.

Howmuch and how wellyou produce what'simportanttoyou in lifedepends on your surroundings

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan.19) Deal with whatirks youand put it to rest. Letting matters fester will put youina vulnerable position. It's time to let go of what's not working foryou and to engage in what soothes your soul.

AQuARIus (Jan.20-Feb. 19) Start withlove, enthusiasm and afun-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 helpyou buildrelationshipswith people whobringout the bestinyou.

ARIEs(March 21-April 19) Think outside the box. It's OK to be unique and to stand outwhenyou have something to offer. Refuse to let anyone ruin your plans. Expect someonetooverreact or tempt you to go overboard with your intentions.

tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Put more time and effortinto home,familyand 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

Sudoku

InstructIons: sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle basedona 9x9 gridwith severalgiven numbers The object is to place thenumbers 1to9inthe emptysquares so that each row,eachcolumn and each 3x3 box contains thesame number onlyonce.The difficultylevelofthe sudoku increasesfrommonday to sunday

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

THe wiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

CurTiS

Bridge

By PHILLIP ALDER

JackYoungblood,amember of the Pro Football Hall of Fame whoplayed for the Los Angeles Rams for 14 years, said, “I visualizethingsinmymindbeforeIhave to do them. It is like having amental workshop.”

Themost skillful bridge players can get inside the minds of theiropponents. They can visualize exactlywhat that player would do from various holdings.

Today’s deal is an example of this. Southisinthreeno-trump. West leads the heart three and declarer calls for dummy’s five. What shouldEast do?

The auction was straightforward. South didnot liketoopen one no-trump without aheartstopper, but thebid gave as accurate adescription of hishand as possible. Yes, he might have opened one diamond, planning to rebid onespade over aone-heartresponse, but partner would have had amuch fuzzier picture of South’s hand. The onlymakablegame 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 heartwouldhehave played from the board?

wuzzles

When he does notdothat, he cannothave the heart ace. So East should confidently put up his king, expecting to win the trick. And fiveheart tricks later, thecontract is down.

©2026 by nEa, inc dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication

Each Wuzzle is aword riddlewhich creates adisguised word,phrase,name, place, saying, etc. Forexample: nOOn gOOD =gOOD aFTErnOOn

Previous answers:

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” maynot 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.

Averagemark 25 words

Time

Canyou find 29 or more words in ADMIRE?

yEstERDAy’s WoRD —cAtIons

Right —the queen. He would have hoped the opening lead was away from theking and tried to take asecond heart trick.

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

PearlsBefore swiNe

garfield

B.C.

dIrectIons: make a2-to 7-letterword from the letters in each row. add points of each word, using scoring directionsat right. Finally 7-letterwords get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter havenopoint value. all the words are in the Official sCraBBlE® players Dictionary, 5thEdition. Formore information on tournaments and

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

ken ken

WiShinG Well

InstructIons: 1 -Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1thorugh 4(easy) or 1through 6 (challenging) without repeating. 2 -The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners. 3 -Freebies: Fill in the single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner. HErE is aplEasanTliTTlEgamEthat

Scrabble GramS

Get fuzzy

jump Start

roSe iS roSe animal crackerS

DuStin

ANDOPPO‐NENTSTOTHE ABOVE PROPOSED

ALLINTERESTEDPARTIES AREENCOURAGEDTOAT‐TEND ANDALL RELEVANT COMMENTSCONCERNING THEPROPOSEDCHANGES AREENCOURAGED. THE CPCHAS ESTABLISHED PUBLIC HEARINGRULES WITHIN ITSADMINISTRA‐TIVE RULES, POLICIES & PROCEDURES,WHICH AREAVAILABLE ON THE CPCWEBSITE: WWW. NOLA.GOV/CPC.YOU MAY ALSO SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTSTOTHE EX‐ECUTIVEDIRECTORIN ADVANCEBYMAIL(1300 PERDIDOSTREET,7TH FLOOR,NEW ORLEANS, LA 70112) OR EMAIL CPCINFO@NOLA.GOV ALLWRITTEN COM‐MENTSMUSTBERE‐CEIVED BY CLOSEOF BUSINESS ON THEMON‐DAY, EIGHTDAYSPRIOR TO THEHEARING DATE June 4, June 11 andJune 18,2026 Robert Rivers, ExecutiveDirector

Coun‐cil OrdinanceNo. 7770, annexedtoanAct of Dedicationreg.inCOB 639, Folio287, Con‐veyance RecordsofJef‐fersonParish, La.And ac‐cording to said plan said lot is designated as LOT 19ofSQUAREB andislocated andmeasuresas follows: Said Lot19commences 180 feet from thecorner ofClydesbankDrive and Aber-deen Driveand measures65.4feet front onClydesbankDrive samewidth in therear, bya depth

Oscar nominee continues saga in new documentary page 8

Mid-City restaurant to resurrect RioMar for one night page 5

June 18,2026 page 6

don’t miss don’t miss don’t miss

dine & dance

Swing into summer fun with a night on the town at The National WWII Museum’s BB’s Stage Door Canteen. A seated dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. followed by music and dancing with the Victory Swing Orchestra at 7 p.m. as it plays 1940s-era hits like “Moonlight Serenade.” Tickets start at $30. nationalww2museum.org.

juneteenth fest

Congo Square is the place to be starting at noon Friday with music by Dawn Richard, Flagboy Giz and DR RQ Away. There’s also dance by Watotos of Kumbuka, poetry by Bethany Livers and a vendors market. The fest is free, and more events are planned, including a forum Saturday at the Andre Cailloux Center, 2541 Bayou Road. nolajuneteenthfestival.org.

roller derby pride mashup

The Big Easy Second Line takes on Acadiana during the 20th season of roller derby in the Crescent City. The doors open at 4 p.m. with the skates rolling at 5 p.m. Saturday at Big Easy Warehouse, 3632 Desire Parkway bigeasyrollerderby.com.

ABOUT LAGNIAPPE

The Lagniappe section is published each Thursday by The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate. All inquiries about Lagniappe should be directed to the editor. LAGNIAPPE EDITOR: Lauren Walck, lauren.walck@theadvocate. com

COVER DESIGN: Andrea Daniel

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Victor Andrews, Doug MacCash, Ian McNulty, Keith Spera

up stairs lounge fire memorial

On June 24, 1973, a suspected arson killed 32 people at the French Quarter gay bar. For decades, it remained the deadliest attack on a gay club in the country. On Sunday, a memorial will be held at 7 p.m. at the site of the deadly blaze at 604 Iberville St. The Crescent City Leathermen will lay a wreath at the site. facebook.com.

GET LISTED IN LAGNIAPPE

Submit events to Lagniappe at least two weeks in advance by sending an email to events@theadvocate.com.

ON THE COVER

A one-eyed goat is a star attraction at a past Oddities & Curiosities Expo. Photo by Scott Threlkeld. This year’s macabre event is Saturday and Sunday at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Story by Doug MacCash on Page 6.

don’t miss don’t miss don’t miss

mini renaissance festival

Hear ye, hear ye: From to 9 p.m. Saturday, Urban South Brewery, 1645 Tchoupitoulas St., will be a medieval market, complete with dance classes, music, entertainment, periodappropriate food and more, including a petting zoo, f all members of the family urbandsouth.com.

lafcadio hearn

fest

The author who helped introduce the Western world to Japanese culture will be celebrated by the Japan Society of New Orleans with a slate of activities, including a panel of scholars looking at his work in New Orleans, the Caribbean and Japan, the impact on Carnival, his writing about food and voodoo. The event runs from 10:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Saturday at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, 400 Esplanade Ave. japansocietyofneworleans.org.

parade of homes

A dozen houses will be featured in the first of two consecutive weekends sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans. From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, take of tour of houses in neighborhoods throughout the metro area, including the St. Jude Dream Home at 1045 Orion Ave. in Metairie. hbagno.org.

stages stages stages

GIFT OR ACURSE?

Murder,madness andwitches brewing forShakespeare Fest’s ‘Tragedy of Macbeth’ at Tulane

All the stages are a’whirl at Tulane University as the seasonsizzleswith “Chicago”for Summer Lyric Theatre and William Shakespearegets Scottish with “The Tragedy of Macbeth.”

The New Orleans ShakespeareFestival at Tulane‘s Graham Burk, interim artistic director, helms the production with David Lind in the title role.

The shortest of the Bard’stragedies, “Macbeth” also featuresthe famous trio of witches who deliverthe infamous lines, “double, double toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldronbubble”after they have pronouncedthat Macbeth will be the Scottish king.

Following the prophecy,Macbeth setsout to make it happen— by killing the king. Spurred on by Lady Macbeth, there’s more mayhem and murdertokeep things moving along, as well as madness just to make things more Shakespearean. There are moreprophecies and conniving and bewitching aslife gets messierfor all concerned.

And the reason the play is oft referredto as “the Scottish play,” is that many consider it astroke ofbad luck to call the play by its name.

In addition to Lind in the title role, Jana Mestecky plays Lady Macbeth

with EdwardCarter Simon as Macduff. Otherperformersinclude James Bartelle,Zarah Spalding, Georgia Morgan, Robert Mitchell, Arrianna Chai, Robinson J. Cyprian, Monica R. Harris, DC Paul, BrianMcCormack, Ryan Hayes, David Sellers, AnjaAvsharian, Sofia Severson, Lucien Grace, Steve Gilliland, Tricia Anderson, Charles Weimer and Wade Bonkowski.

The show is at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 1:30 p.m. Sundays June 25 through July 12, with an opening-night performance, June 26, in the Lupin Theatre in theDixon Hall AnnexonNewcombCircle. Tickets start

David Linds stars in the title role as ‘TheTragedy of Macbeth’ continues the season at the NewOrleans Shakespeare Festival at Tulane University.

at $25. Visit neworleanshakespeare.org.

‘JoanieOff thePony’

Apreviewperformance of aJeanne d’Arc-themed theatrical workindevelopment will be at 2p.m. Friday at the New Orleans JazzMuseum, 400 Esplanade Ave.

“Joanie Offthe Pony: The Mermaid of New Orleans”was written by Amy Kirk DuVoisin, afounder of the annual Joan of Arc parade that kicks off Carnival season.

The new incarnation of thework is settodebut officially in 2028 to coincide withthe local organization’s20th

anniversary,ayear before the 600th anniversary the lifting of the siege of Orléans, France.

The production blends theater,music, improvisational movement and collaborative performance. Audience feedback will be invited.

For information, visit artspannola. org.

In production

“CHICAGO”: 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday and 2p.m.Sunday; DixonHall on NewcombCircle, Tulane University Summer Lyric Theatre kicks off the 2026 season with Kanderand Ebb’s vaudevillian-based story of murderand mirth in the jazz era and the lengths to whichapair of publicity-hungry women and aglitzy attorney will go to keep their names in the news. Tickets start at $32. liberalarts.tulane.edu/summerlyric-theatre.

“MISS JULIE” and ”VENUS IN FUR”: 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday; CANOA, 4210 St. Claude Ave. Fat Squirrel stages two works, one about adaughter of Swedish count set on leaving and the other about an actress’ audition that shifts the balance of power.Tickets start at $25. fatsquirrelnola.square.site.

“9 TO 5”: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday,and 2p.m.Sunday; Evangeline Theater Company,2635 N. Causeway Blvd., Mandeville. Three employees of afaceless behemoth corporation put up with the chauvinistic, dictatorial boss (Franklin Hart) and his manipulative ways, but things get crazy when adaydream turns into reality,opening the door to abrighter future or adead end. Which will it be? Tickets start at $32. evangelinetheater.com

“ONCE”: 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday,plus 2p.m.Saturday and 3p.m.Sunday; Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré, 616 St. Peter St. Stage show based on the motion picture about an Irish musician and aCzech immigrant who orbit each other in this tale of melodies and heartbreak with the cast playing various instruments. Tickets start at $40. lepetittheatre.com.

EmailVictor Andrews at vandrews@ theadvocate.com.

Victor Andrews

Mestecky

Simon

PROVIDED PHOTO

food food food

Restaurant to host one-nightRioMarrevival

FILE PHOTOSByMICHAEL DEMOCKER

Steamed mussels withchorizo from RioMar

RIOMAR NIGHT

Hot &Soul, 2540Banks St., NewOrleans

Various times Tuesday

Starting at $65; reservations at hotsoul-1766080526.resos.com/booking

RioMar restaurant is remembered for its ceviche tasting platter.

The Panamanian ceviche, bright with habanero pepper; thesquid ink rice, dark withbriny flavor; theoysters baked with chorizo and Manchego.

Say thename RioMar, and for some New Orleans dining aficionados, those flavor memories will flow back from a trailblazing seafood restaurant that closed more than adecade ago.

They are also part of five-course special dinner that will recreate RioMar for one night at anew restaurant with ties to the old place —Hot &Soul, 2540 BanksSt., in Mid-City.

The dinner is Tuesday with seating times throughout theevening. Tickets are $65 (tip and tax are added at checkout, so it’s$85 at purchase).

RioMar founding chef Adolfo Garcia Sr.and son Adolfo Garcia Jr.(now of Freret Street hits Dolfy’sand Chi Chi’s) will be cooking with theHot & Soul crew.

It’sachance to relive RioMar,areunionoftalent that came through the restaurant and, for the chefs, away to lend some support to alocal restaurant as it navigates summer.

Hot &Soul is atiny,year-old restaurant tucked away behind Trader Joe’s offTulane Avenue. It was started by two lifers in thelocal restaurant scene, Christy Samoy andMike Hampton.He worked at RioMar in its early days, rising from line cook to sous chef.

The husbandand wife are known as “chefs’ chefs.” They cook what they love andthey make it delicious and have created the kind of restaurant that other chefs seek out for easy eats on their days off. The cocktails are terrific, thevalue is high, theglitz and pretense is nil.

The special meal startswith aspecial sherry cocktail created by Ryan Iriarte, whoisnow co-owner of High Hat Cafe and Café Conmigo and earlier in hiscareerworked at RioMar,too.

Themenu then progresses through Panamanian ceviche, oysters RioMar, mussels, black rice bomba and tres leches cake. There’sa cash bar for more drinks from Hot&Soul’slist.

Theelder Garcia opened RioMar in

2000 with his business partner at the time, Nick Bazan. The blend of Spanish and Latin American flavors was unique in New Orleans, introducing many to adifferent way to use local seafood.It becameone of the city’smost exciting

restaurants foratime(yellowfin tuna wrapped with jamon, anyone?) before eventually closing in 2014.

Email IanMcNultyatimcnulty@ theadvocate.com.

Christy Samoy and Mike Hampton started Hot &Soul as a casual Mid-City restaurant with an eclectic menu drawn fromtheir long cooking experiences.

STAFFFILE PHOTO

By IAN McNULTy

Ian McNulty

events events events

W WONDERS EIRD

Oddities &Curiosities Expo is acreepymust-see in NewOrleans this weekend

THE ODDITIES &CURIOSITIES EXPO

10 a.m. to 5p.m Saturdayand Sunday Ernest N. Morial Convention Center,900 Convention Center Blvd. Admission is $16.83 in advanceand $22.11 at the door. Kids 12 and younger,free. odditiesand curiositiesexpo.com

LEFT: Akangaroo glows in a jar at theAphelionNecrology boothduring the 2021 Oddities &Curiosities Expo.

RIGHT: An attendee wears a crown made of bones.

STAFF FILE PHOTOS By SOPHIA GERMER

The traveling Oddities &Curiosities Expo makes astop at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center this weekend. With roughly 200 vendors specializing in all sortsofdisconcerting collectibles, it’sa grand bazaar of the bizarre.

The expo is amustattend event for Goth, horror and strange science fans. If you are in themarket for,say,apickled rattlesnake, an antique stuffed weasel, a freeze-dried bat, or other such macabre specimens, it’syour one-stop shopping experience.

In addition to formerly living critters, there’ssomething dark for everyone: dolls, arts and crafts, home decor,fashion and miscellany

To enliven the expo experience, experts will conduct asix-hour,doit-yourself raccoon taxidermy class on Saturday.With abreak for lunch, of course. Tuition is $344.11. There are also in-depth bug study sessions on Sunday,costing $159.35.

According to theexpo website: “All itemsyou see at our shows are legal to own and sustainably sourced.”

Naturally,continuous sideshowstyle performances will take place throughout

Email Doug MacCash at dmaccash@theadvocate.com.

Doug MacCash

ABOVE: An attendee works on atwo-headed ducklingduring ataxidermy class at the 2022 Oddities &Curiosities Expo.

STAFF FILE PHOTOBySCOTT THRELKELD

LEFT: Visitors explore booths of oddities in 2021.

STAFF FILE PHOTOBySOPHIAGERMER

A finchskeletonwalks

ABOVE: Eric Brown, of the DustyTentacle, worksat his booth in 2021.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By SOPHIAGERMER

LEFT: A2022 attendee leaveswith arare find: the head of agemsbok, alarge South African antelope.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By SCOTT THRELKELD

STAFF FILE PHOTOBySOPHIAGERMER

abeetle in a diorama at the Skeletorium booth in 2021.

STAFF FILEPHOTO By SCOTT THRELKELD

Afamily poses with cutouts.

Documentarians follow up on criminal justicesaga

When “Time II: UnfinishedBusiness” drops on Amazon Prime on June 19, it will be the follow-up to the Oscar-nominated film “TIME,” which has been available on the streaming network for years andisananthem for criminal justice reform in America.

The directorofthe sequel is Fox Rich,the woman, mother and advocatewho spent 21 years attemptingto bring her husband, RobRichardson, home from the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola after an extraordinarily harsh sentence of 60 years, without thepossibility of parole.

Acredit union robbery began the entiresaga —and included Rich herself, who was sentenced to seven years for the same crime. “TIME” is thetale of aplea deal gone wrong, but “Time II: Unfinished Business” picksupwhere the first film left off, after Richardson’s release from prison.

“By far,one of the greatest takeawaysIhad walking outofthat prison was knowing that the very fundamental portion of being free is to have the ability to liberate or free someone else,”hesaid. “It was one of thethings that whileIwas incarcerated, Iprobably prayed more consistently about than anything else. Iknew if Iwas ever given an opportunity to be freeoutside of those prison walls again, Iwould use whatever platformI had forthat purpose.”

For Rich, she not only put these films together,but has lived every frame of them. She wanted to shinea lighton what happens after decades of prison, when the real workbeginsnot just with their family,but with thecommunity they’re apart of.

“Having been formerly incarcerated myself, as the director of thisfilm project,Ihave apersonalrelationship with understanding freedom in away that people whose freedom has not been removed from them don’tunderstand,” she said. “I really know what itmeans to fight for your freedom, because our family’slivelihood dependeduponit.”

That family includes six boyswho have found success inlife despite the

PROVIDED PHOTOSByRICH TIMEPRODUCTIONS

Rob Richardson reflects and gives gratitudetoGod for another opportunity to getitright in the opening scene of ‘TimeII: Unfinished Business,’the follow-up documentary film to ‘TIME.’

FoxRichgives aspeech at the 2021 Oscarparty,saying the voices of the criminal justice movementwill be heard

challenges —asasommelier,anorthodontist, two Army veterans, acommunications director in Washington, D.C., andthe youngest studying at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Releasefrom prison was justthe beginning of another odyssey for Richardson.

Rather than commuting his sentence, theparole board chose to give him 40 years of parole, thefirst seven of it supervised, meaning he couldn’tleave his homebefore 6a.m., and had to be back no later than 9p.m., while reporting to aparole officer,doing community service and paying fees. He finished that portion of the sentence this past January

“This was the backlash for our trying to tell this story in the first film, ‘TIME,’ as the parole board found out we were shooting amovie about this story of unequal justice and were very unhappy about it,” Rich said. “What people fail to realize is that with the release of each of these filmscome consequences that come about from speaking truthtopower.”

From their combined experiences

sprang the Rich Family Ministries and aparticipatory defense movement knownasPDM NOLA. Their mission is to help people in similar circumstances, through legislation and activism.

They judge their success by how much time they save someone from incarceration versus how much time they serve. The entire initiative is to save lives by saving time.

“Louisiana leads the world in incarceration, and in spite of the fact that Act 122, legislation initiated by Rob, meantyou only needed amajority of the board to agree to grant parole, Gov (Jeff) Landry has changed the law to require aunanimous board,” Rich said. “Act 122 had given parole opportunities to over 3,000 people whothought they were going to die in prison.”

The second film will premiere on the Friday,Juneteenth, the day that the last enslaved people in the U.S. were informed that they werefree, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

“You always try to think of an ideal momentortimewhen afilm should be released, based upon its themes,” Richardson said. “Wethought about Black History Month, but this film is about so much morethan Black history,which has been accomplished by agroup of people. Juneteenth is asmackdown centered on freedom.”

Athemesong for“Time II” called the “Freedom Anthem”has been created by music producer Rhythmous JC and is available on all streaming platforms.

The fifth annual Freedom forAll Sneaker Ball on Thursday raises funds to keep the movement going. The lineup includes New Orleans rapper Flag Boy Gizwho will get the party started, before national choreographer Michelle Gibson (who graduated from Tulane University) will debut aline dance done in flash mob style to the “Freedom Anthem.”

“Put on your freshest kicks,” Fox Rich announced. “Comedance, come cry if you need to, but come be in the room where history is being celebrated.”

Leslie Cardécan be emailedat lesliecardejournalist@gmail.com.

Leslie Cardé

music music music

Cash Money, No Limit Records to stop at home on U.S. arena tour

BY KEITH SPERA Staff writer

Cash Money Records and No Limit Records, the two independent record companies that elevated New Orleans rap to national prominence in the 1990s and early 2000s, have joined forces for a 2026 arena tour

The tour kicks off on Sept. 11 in Houston before a hometown show at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Sept. 12.

Artists scheduled to take part in the tour include Cash Money co-founder Bryan “Birdman” Williams, Juvenile, Mannie Fresh, B.G., No Limit founder Master P, his brother Silkk the Shocker, Mia X, Mac, Mercedes, Fiend, Choppa Style and Mr. Serv-On.

Fellow Louisiana rapper Boosie is slated to be the “special guest” for the tour

Tickets go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday at bmnshows.com.

The tour is being produced and promoted by BMN Entertainment.

Starting in the 1990s, both Cash Money and No Limit sold millions of albums as both labels cultivated a staple of stars.

Notably, the biggest star to emerge from Cash Money, Lil Wayne, is not part of the upcoming tour Neither is Turk, who, along with Lil Wayne, Juvenile and B.G., formed the allstar group the Hot Boys.

Email Keith Spera at kspera@ theadvocate.com.

RIGHT: Juvenile, from left, Bryan ‘Birdman’ Williams and B.G. perform during the 2024 Essence Festival of Culture at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. TOP: Master P performs at the 2025 Essence Festival.

PROVIDED PHOTOS By GETTy IMAGES FOR ESSENCE

2026 CASH MONEY/NO LIMIT TOUR ITENERARY

SEPT. 11: Toyota Center, Houston

SEPT. 12:Smoothie King Center, New Orleans

SEPT. 18: State Farm Arena,Atlanta

SEPT. 19: Lenovo Center, Raleigh, North Carolina

SEPT. 25: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit

SEPT. 26: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis

OCT. 2: Legacy Arena at the BJCC, Birmingham,Alabama

OCT. 4: American Airlines Center, Dallas

OCT. 8: Capital One Arena,Washington, D.C.

OCT. 10: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, South Carolina

OCT.23: Enterprise Center, St. Louis

OCT. 24: FedExForum, Memphis,Tennessee

NOV. 6: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, Florida

NOV. 7: Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, Florida

NOV. 13: Wintrust Arena, Chicago

NOV. 14: Heritage Bank Center, Cincinnati

NOV. 15: Rocket Arena, Cleveland, Ohio

music music music

Keith Spera SOUND CHECK

It’s agoodweekto catchupwithsome standout local musiciansinNew Orleansmusic venues.

Email Keith Spera at kspera@ theadvocate.com

CHAWA

SATURDAY,CHICKIE WAHWAH

The New Orleansensemble Cha Wa is rooted in Mardi Gras Indian culture. Butasevidenced by ChaWa’smost recent album, “Rise Up,” R&B, funk andmore factor into the band’ssound; the chorus of “Freedom of the City,” with its massed voices and horns,evokes Sly &the Family Stone.

Available on clear vinyl, “Rise Up” is apolished, multilayered recording with robustproduction. Spyboy “Honey”Irving Banister Jr.isCha Wa’s lead vo-

DTIMES

mes was a Katrina necessiwere hard members

To help fill

calist, but themicrophone gets passed around. Irma Thomas sings lead on “Why YouWanna Do Me Like That,” John Boutte cruises through the smooth contemporary R&B/soul of “Revival,” and Danica Hart strutsher stuff on “Music Is My Medicine.” Founding drummer Joe Gelini, whohas sustained Cha Wa through variouslineup changes, co-wrote every song on this ambitious, contemporary extension of Mardi Gras Indian music.

Cha Wa will likely play songs from “Rise Up”and moreonSaturday at Chickie WahWah. Matt Wilson opens the show.Tickets start at $25.

holes in music clubs’ calendars, Galactic bassist Rob Mercurio and guitarist Jeff Raines teamed up with drummer Simon Lott,who hails from moreofajazz background and is also well-versed in hip-hop beats, as well as keyboardist Joe Ashlar to form Good Enough for Good Times.

They started off playing instrumental, old-school New Orleans funk, especially songs by The Meters. They expanded to include jazz-funk and rare groove instrumentals, drawing from 1960s and ’70s BlueNote Re-

cords releases and classic albums by the likes of guitarist Grant Green and saxophonist Lou Donaldson. The repertoire also spans original compositions, improvisations and moreobscure New Orleans funk cuts by such largely forgotten local acts as Salt.

On Friday,Good Enough forGood Times headlines this week’sinstallmentofthe summer-long “Free Fridays” series of no-cover showsatTipitina’s. Daria &the Hip Drops open the show at 9p.m.

Honey Banister

music music music

OTHER NOTEWORTHY SHOWS

THURSDAY

Blues-based Australian guitar phenom Taj Farrant plugs in at Chickie Wah Wah. Tickets start at $35.

Author John Radanovich hosts a discussion and signing for his new book “Pérez Prado: King of the Mambo” at the Broadside’s indoor Pavilion The free event from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. includes a performance by Charlie Halloran & the Tropicales

Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band are featured for the weekly Zydeco Night at Rock ’N’ Bowl ($17).

New Orleans vocalist Christien Bold presides over shows at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro ($30).

FRIDAY

Shape-shifting Americana singer and guitarist Shannon McNally returns to New Orleans, a city she called home for a time, for a show at Chickie Wah Wah. Tickets start at $20.

Saxophonist, clarinetist and educator Victor Goines, a longtime collaborator with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, performs at 7:30 p.m and 9:30 p.m. at Snug Harbor ($40).

For more than 30 years, Sister Hazel, from Gainesville, Florida, has churned out Southern pop rock highlighted by the 1997 single “All For You.” Sister Hazel headlines the House of Blues on Friday

Ace cover band the Mixed Nuts hits Rock ’N’ Bowl. General admission is $20, but there is also a VIP option for $75 that includes cocktails and finger food with the band from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Rock ’N’ Bowl’s Grande Hall and reserved seating near the stage for the show (VIP purchasers must be at least 21).

SATURDAY

Unlike many acts in the electronic music genre, Thievery Corporation strives to stage a truly live performance, with a cast of instrumentalists and singers contributing to the multicultural blend at the core of the compositions. Experience Thievery Corporation at the House of Blues on Saturday Master New Orleans drummer Herlin Riley powers his own quartet at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. at Snug Harbor ($45).

SUNDAY

Piano player, singer and songwriter Joe Jackson initially came across as a New Wave Billy Joel, a pop-jazz cocktail lounge singer-songwriter with an inherent British polish and restraint. He introduced himself with the 1979 hit “Is She Really Going Out With Him?” and followed it three years later with the even bigger hit “Steppin’ Out.” Over a dozen-plus albums since then, he has worked with various collaborators and ensembles and in various genres, including classical music. Jackson and his band arrive at the Joy Theater on Sunday as part of the Hope And Fury Tour. Tickets start at $63.

Charlie Halloran & the Tropicales intermingle Afro-Caribbean rhythms, classic Latin jazz, and modern New Orleans grooves at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. as part of a monthlong Sunday residency at Snug Harbor ($30).

TUESDAY

Tom McDermott, a New Orleans piano master by way of St. Louis, is fluent in ragtime, traditional jazz, Brazilian choro and other styles. In a show dubbed “Tom McDermott Plays Tom McDermott,” he’ll present a program of original piano compositions done in the traditional style at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. at Snug Harbor ($20).

WEDNESDAY

New Orleans songwriter Ned Henry, whose songs are informed by the

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Joe Jackson, Tom McDermott, Shannon McNally and Chubby Carrier

the Coral Reefer Band, guitarist John Fohl, keyboardist John “Papa” Gros, bassist René Coman and drummer Russ Broussard Show time is 8 p.m. Tickets are $20. Ilana Glazer, the comedian whose credits range from the series “Broad City” to the Hulu special “Human Magic” to the socio-political video podcast “It’s Open with Ilana Glazer,” holds court at the Joy Theater. Tickets start at $52.

same Gulf currents that inspired Jimmy Buffett and others, performs at Chickie Wah Wah with Doyle Grisham of