The Times-Picayune 06-19-2026 by The Advocate

Storm’sremnants soak N.O. region

Debris from atrailer is strewn Thursdayamidaneighboring structure it smashed into

AvondaleasTropical StormArthur passed through the region.

Widespread flooding reported,tornadoes causedamage

BY MIKE SMITH,MICHELLE HUNTER and LARA NICHOLSON Staff writers

The remnantsofTropical Storm Arthurswept through southeast Louisiana early Thursday with torrential rains and tornado strikes, causing ﬂooding in parts of theNew Orleansmetroarea, injuring at least two peopleand leaving thousands without power While Arthur did not remain atropical storm for long after moving ashore in Texas on Wednesday,its sprawling bands and severe weather lingered and raked across a broad swath of the region. Canals were overtopped in Kenner while street ﬂooding occurred in other areas of JeffersonParishaswell as in St. Charles. Trees were downed throughout the area and more than 20,000 peoplewerewithout power in NewOrleans and Jefferson Parish by 6:45 a.m., thoughthat number dwindled

BY LARA NICHOLSON and MICHELLE HUNTER Staff writers

As Tropical Storm Arthur rolled through the New Orleans area overnight Wednesday, KeshaHills wokeupat about3 a.m. to monitor the weather withher mother in their Avondale home.

At 5:20 a.m., Hills called her sister, who lives next door,

about what to do next after sandbags hadbeen piled by thedoor

Then thephone disconnected. When she called back, Hill’s sister was screaming.

“It’sfalling on me!”Hills heard on the phone.

Family found hersister’s modular home destroyed possible tornado winds had picked up anearby mobile homeand thrownitinto her modular home.

They moved debris until they foundHill’ssister,pinned

Plan to cut school budgets blocked

Landry can’treduce funding to pay teacherstipends,

BY PATRICK WALL Staff writer

ALouisiana judge halted Gov JeffLandry’splantopay for teacher stipends by cutting public school funding by nearly $170 million after advocates ﬁled alawsuit Thursday arguingthat Landry lacks the legal authority to order the cut.

Judge Richard “Chip” Mooreof the 19th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge granted the plaintiffs’ request for atemporary restraining orderto stop the governor from enacting hisexecutiveorder,which calls for a$168 millionreduction in state education funding this school year to pay for$2,000 stipends for teachers and$1,000for school support staff. The 11-day restraining order also forbids Landry from continuing to collect ballots from the Legislature, two-thirds of which must approve his plan forittotake effect. The court-ordereddelay is likely to push the vote past the deadline for the governor to veto budget items. Some lawmakershave expressed concern that Landry could slash funding for projects in their districts if they opposed his plan, according to people whohave spoken with them

The lawsuit argues that Landry oversteppedhis constitutionalauthority by effectively reallocating education funds, which the state BoardofElementary andSecondaryEducationcontrols underLouisiana’sconstitution.

It also says Landry circumvented the proper legal procedure by issuing the order on June 2, aday after the legislative session ended, and asking lawmakers to vote remotely without apublic hearing or debate.

“The Executive Orderisaglaring abuse of executive powerin violation of the state constitution,” says the June 18 petition. If the cut is allowed to proceed, the petition adds, it will cause “irreparable harm” to the state’s public schools, and “will eliminate funding forprogramsand staffof the schools that has already been appropriated.”

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIAGERMER

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

Congressman to return after extended absence

New Jersey Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr., who’s been absent from Congress since March with an unspeciﬁed medical issue, is set to return on June 30, a political consultant to the congressman said Thursday

Kean, who represents a battleground district in this year’s midterms, has missed more than 100 votes and hasn’t been spotted in Washington or his district, stirring a mystery that carries potential national consequences.

“Congressman Kean is eager to return to in person work on June 30 and resume a full schedule,” said Kean political consultant Harrison Neely in a text.

“He plans to be fully transparent regarding the nature of his health issue and you should expect to hear from him in person June 30th.”

Kean’s office has said he is still running for reelection and is set to face Democratic Navy veteran Rebecca Bennett in the state’s premier contest in November.

Kean last voted in the House on March 5, but his absence wasn’t explained. In April, his social media account posted that he had been dealing with a personal medical issue and his doctors expected him to recover Parthenon gets facelift, revealing ancient look

ATHENS, Greece Visitors to the Acropolis can now see the Parthenon’s western side looking whole for the ﬁrst time in about 220 years.

Ofﬁcially unveiled Thursday, restorers have slotted two new marble blocks into long-empty gaps high on the temple’s western end — the view visitors see when they ﬁrst enter the ancient monument in Athens.

The 25-century-old monument overlooking the Greek capital attracted about 4.6 million visitors last year Long-term restoration projects address damage caused by war, weather and looting, including the broken outline of the western side.

Culture Minister Lina Mendoni described the sight after the latest restoration as “truly stunning.”

The two new stones, she said, do more than ﬁll a gap.

“They allow the unique proportions and the geometric perfection of the Parthenon’s western face to be seen once again,” she said.

The project was funded through a European Union program It is part of a broader restoration effort that began in 1975.

Gunmen attack Niger airport, killing 13

DAKAR, Senegal Gunmen attacked the main airport in Niger’s capital early Thursday, killing 11 soldiers and two civilians in an exchange of fire that also left 22 of the attackers dead, authorities said.

Niger’s Defense Ministry said in a statement that the attack in Niamey was foiled and that 20 suspects were arrested along with weapons and ammunition.

Witnesses reported gunﬁre and explosions during the attack, and an Associated Press journalist saw soldiers searching people on the road to the airport in the aftermath of the violence.

Hours later, the National Civil Aviation Agency said the airport was operating normally Niger, led by a military junta since a 2023 coup, has struggled to contain deadly jihadi violence that has battered parts of Africa’s Sahel region, including neighbors Burkina Faso and Mali that are also run by military juntas.

It was the second attack at Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey this year, after the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for a similar attack in January that targeted Niger’s drone assets.

The airport is a strategic hub that hosts a Nigerien air force base as well as the headquarters of the Niger-Burkina Faso-Mali joint military force.

The military has beefed up the airport security following the January attack, but jihadis in Niger and the wider region continue to pose serious threats, analysts say

FDA panel backs new flu vaccine

BY LAURAN NEERGAARD and MATTHEW PERRONE Associated Press

WASHINGTON Anewkindofﬂuvaccine moved a step closer to the U.S. market Thursday as federal health advisers recommended approval of the ﬁrst made with the same mRNA technology that was key to ending the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Food and Drug Administration is evaluating Moderna’s new shot, dubbed mFlusiva, for older Americans ahead of the winter ﬂu season Moderna is seeking full approval for the vaccine’s use in people ages 50 to 64 along with authorization for use in those 65 and older while it conducts additional testing

The FDA’s independent advisory committee evaluated Moderna’s studies of the vaccine and voted unanimously that its beneﬁts appear to outweigh any risks for both

age groups. The FDA will consider that recommendation in making a ﬁnal decision by early August.

Tens of thousands of Americans die from influenza every year, and older adults are among the most vulnerable. There are various types of flu vaccines already available in the U.S., including three specifically recommended for people 65 and older But vaccines made with the Nobel Prize-winning mRNA technology are faster to manufacture than other types — something experts say might help if the shape-shifting flu virus mutates in a way that requires suddenly brewing new doses to match.

“Having this technology available puts us in a better position to be prepared for emerging strains in the future,” said Dr Flor MunozRivas of Texas Children’s Hospital, one of FDA’s advisers.

In a study of 40,000 people age 50 and older Moderna’s mRNA vac-

cine reduced flu cases by about 27% compared with those given another routinely used vaccine brand. In a smaller study of people 65 and older, Moderna’s shot also generated a strong protective immune response compared with a high-dose ﬂu vaccine already recommended for that age group.

Data showing strong immune reactions “were very compelling,” said FDA adviser Dr Anna Durbin of Johns Hopkins University, adding that “the vaccine looks very promising.”

Moderna’s Dr Rituparna Das told panelists that the company’s ability to quickly manufacture mRNA vaccines that closely match the latest ﬂu strains could prevent thousands of hospitalizations in older Americans.

Severe flu cases in the U.S. generally rise in years when the flu shot doesn’tcloselymatchthecirculating virus. Moderna officials noted that

Residents return to war-ravaged Lebanon

U.S.-Iran deal sparks hope among sorrow of destruction

BY KAREEM CHEHAYEB MALAK HARB and BILAL HUSSEIN Associated Press

TYRE, Lebanon — Adnan Kaour returned on

Thursday to check on his home in southern Lebanon’s coastal city of Tyre — once known as an idyllic summer getaway spot — just a week after Israel issued warnings for all of its residents to evacuate.

The warnings were followed by sweeping airstrikes, which Israel said targeted the Lebanese Hezbollah militant group.

What Kaour found back in Tyre shattered his hopes. His dream family apartment overlooking the shimmering Mediterranean Sea was a heap of rubble and shattered glass.

His return came after the announcement of an agreement between the United States and Iran to end the war in the Middle East. The deal also calls for an end to the war in Lebanon, where Israel has been ﬁghting Hezbollah, but it’s unclear what that means in practice.

Israel and Hezbollah are not parties to the agreement. Iran insists Israel must withdraw from the large swath of southern Lebanon it is occupying, but the wording of the interim deal doesn’t explicitly require that and only ensures Lebanon’s “territorial integrity.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel’s

military will stay in a “security zone” of southern Lebanon as long as “Israel’s security needs require it.”

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri — a Hezbollah ally — said Thursday that the group was committed to the ceaseﬁre, “provided that Israel adheres to it fully and comprehensively.” Hezbollah has said that it’s committed to resisting any occupation by Israel. Fighting between the two sides, which was still underway in some parts of southern Lebanon, could derail the deal.

An isolated enclave hopes for reprieve

Farther south, the Christian village of Ain Ebel is one of a few enclaves in Lebanon’s border area where residents have remained during the war Christian villages, where Hezbollah has little presence, have been largely spared the destruction of neighboring Shiite villages. But they have their own problems.

The village is cut off from the rest of Lebanon by ﬁghting and Israeli checkpoints, relying on aid convoys that require extensive coordination to get through.

One such convoy organized by the Order of Malta, a Catholic lay religious order, arrived Thursday bearing emergency livestock feed and supplies for farmers.

Cattle farmer Boutros Maroun said people in Ain Ebel are exhausted.

“We don’t care about America and Iran, we want the Lebanese people to live comfortably and happily,” he said. “Every two years there’s a new war, and we can no longer take it.”

Emergency economic plan approved

Cuba OKs free-market opportunities

BY ANDREA RODRÍGUEZ Associated Press

HAVANA Cuba’s powerful Communist Party on Thursday approved an emergency economic package featuring unprecedented free-market measures aimed at opening up the struggling island’s economy as pressure from the U.S. and the European Union heightens The document, which has not yet been made public,

will be submitted Thursday to Cuba’s National Assembly It envisions expanding opportunities for private enterprise, greater autonomy for municipalities and state-owned companies and measures to attract additional foreign investment

In recent days, residents in several Havana neighborhoods staged protests, banging pots and pans as power outages spread across the island.

“Cuba resists heroically and creatively, but has endured for too long a barbaric, undeserved and unbearable punishment, to which is now added the

threat of military aggression,” President Miguel Díaz-Canel said late Wednesday in the closing speech of the Communist Party session. The speech was published Thursday The announcement comes after months of increasing pressure from the U.S. and high-level talks between the two countries that have included Raúl Castro’s grandson, Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro. The U.S. has levied numerous sanctions against Cuba and has indicted Raúl Castro in connection with the 1996 downing of two civilian planes operated by Miami exiles.

ﬂu strains for each fall’s vaccines now are chosen several months earlier than the yearly recipe update for COVID-19 shots that mostly are mRNA-based — and there can be a mismatch if the ﬂu virus mutates after the recipe is made.

At the meeting, FDA vaccine reviewer Dr Timothy Brennan suggested the agency was open to approving the vaccine for older adults ahead of the coming ﬂu season, despite the need for more information about its use in frail seniors or people with weak immune systems.

If it’s approved, Moderna is planning its required next-step study to include 400,000 people 65 and older, half given the mRNA vaccine and the rest given one of today’s special-for-seniors shots. It’s supposed to repeat that study for two ﬂu seasons.

Moderna’s data showed no major safety issues although the shot did cause some temporary reactions including injection-site pain, fever, headache, tiredness and aches.

Appeals court rules administration can replace slavery exhibit

BY MICHAEL CASEY and CLAUDIA LAUER Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA The Trump administration can replace a slavery exhibit at George Washington’s home in Philadelphia, a federal appeals court panel said Thursday, striking down a lower court’s injunction that required the National Park Service to reinstall the interpretive panels.

The unanimous ruling by the three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said a lower court judge wrongly interpreted Philadelphia’s contract claims involving Independence National Historical Park, saying the city merely having standing to sue did not mean its arguments had merit.

The panel also praised the plans for the replacement installation, writing that they were, “full of historical context,” despite objections from historians and city officials that the content appears

whitewashed. The ruling comes a week after a Massachusetts federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restore sites changed under an executive order calling for the nation’s museums, parks and landmarks to not display elements that “inappropriately disparage Americans past or living.” The federal government has asked for a stay on that ruling while it appeals. It was unclear how the Massachusetts ruling would affect the restoration or replacement of the panels at the President’s House Site. About half the large panels at the outdoor exhibit had been restored before a February pause in the work.

Phone and email messages left for attorneys representing the city were not returned early Thursday Messages to spokespeople for the Department of Interior and the National Park Service also were not returned.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By BILAL HUSSEIN Workers unload emergency livestock feed and supplies for farmers from an aid convoy organized by the Order of Malta, a Catholic lay religious order, in the southern Christian village of Ain Ebel, Lebanon, on Thursday.

Hegseth lashes out at NATO allies

Defense secretary announces review of U.S forces in Europe

BY LORNE COOK Associated Press

BRUSSELS Defense Secre-

tary Pete Hegseth lashed out at NATO allies on Thursday as he announced a six-month Pentagon review of American forces in Europe whose outcome will depend on how fast the Europeans take responsibility for their own security

The review was yet another surprise for European allies and Canada as they learn to deal with an increasingly unpredictable ally U.S. ofﬁcials and senior military ofﬁcers had promised to coordinate closely with the Europeans as America draws down.

In recent months, U.S President Donald Trump and the Pentagon have sent conflicting signals about

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The petition was ﬁled by Katie Baudouin, an Orleans Parish School Board member; Belinda Davis, a former state board of education member; and Mike Faulk, a former school superintendent. All three have children or grandchildren in public schools

“I have deep concern for the lack of a deliberative process in the Governor’s action, especially in that it excluded any public comment debate or testimony that would have occurred through an appropriate legislative process,” said a statement from Faulk, who has four grandchildren in the Monroe City school system and previously led the Louisiana Association of

whether America is reducing or increasing its military footprint in Europe, as well as threatening to annex Greenland, a semiautonomous island that is part of ally Denmark. Just weeks ago, the Trump administration said that it would no longer provide as much military support should any NATO member come under attack

“This will be a real review It will be designed to ensure that NATO is moving fast and irreversibly toward Europe leading, stepping up to take primary responsibility for the defense of Europe,” Hegseth told his NATO counterparts. “It’s a review that some countries will fail and others will pass with ﬂying colors.”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz later said the allies have long been aware of U.S. plans to pull troops from Europe at some point and that they must take care of their own security

“We know that we must do more and we are doing it,”

School Superintendents

The plaintiffs are represented by the law firm Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz.

In a statement issued before the lawsuit was ﬁled, a spokesperson for the governor said the Landry administration feels “very conﬁdent about our legal position.”

Controversial plan

Landry’s plan to use state funding for public schools to pay for the teacher stipends was a last-ditch effort after voters rejected a ballot measure to finance permanent teacher raises and the Legislature did not include the stipends in the state budget.

The governor has argued that school districts can afford the roughly 5% reduction in state dollars, saying it’s time for districts to “tighten their belt.” On Tuesday, the state’s legisla-

Merz said. In a ﬁery speech at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Hegseth lambasted European allies for failing to provide U.S. forces access to bases in Europe to launch attacks on Iran, calling it “shameful.”

“These allies, they put America’s sons and daughters, our sons and daughters, at risk by denying them the predictable access, basing and overflight that never should have been in question at all,” he said. The review would also assess whether the U.S. has full access and overﬂight “when we need it.”

While defense ministers and military ofﬁcers sat in silence, Hegseth railed against migration and gender equality policies in Europe, in remarks reminiscent to those of Vice President JD Vance in February last year that angered many Europeans.

“Instead of tanks and ﬁghters and air defenses, the focus has been on gender equity and climate change and defense austerity. Europe’s borders flew wide open,

tive auditor told lawmakers that most school systems have enough money in their rainy day funds to cover the cut.

But school board members and superintendents have strongly opposed Landry’s order, which they say will force some schools to eliminate staff positions or programs. They also argue that the proposal unfairly shifts the financial burden from the state, which previously has covered the cost of the teacher stipends, to local school systems.

“This is going to cause complete devastation in many districts,” said Leila Jacobs Eames, president of the Orleans Parish School Board, during a meeting Wednesday when the board called on lawmakers to reject the plan.

“It is your responsibility at the state to ﬁnd the resourc-

welfare states expanded, defense budgets cratered, along with Europe’s belief in itself and its civilization,” Hegseth said.

Hegseth’s comments largely mischaracterized European policies today On defense, European allies and Canada have launched an unprecedented effort to boost military spending and expand their armed forces. NATO

Secretary-General Mark Rutte noted on Thursday that they spent $90 billion more on defense last year, a 20% increase over 2024. And while Europe accepted large numbers of migrants and asylum seekers more than a decade ago, most countries have tightened their borders since.

It does not augur well for a summit of NATO leaders in Turkey on July 7-8.

It was a rare visit to NATO by Hegseth, his ﬁrst this year after skipping a meeting in February The Pentagon chief did not stay long leaving well before the gathering was over and hours before

es there,” she added. “If we can take it from our funds, why can’t you take it from yours?”

School district leaders have urged their state representatives to vote against Landry’s plan. But some lawmakers said they were reluctant to vote against the stipends, which teachers have received the past few years instead of statewide raises, and wary of defying Landry, who could veto state funding for local projects.

In private, some education leaders also discussed taking legal action to block the funding cut. Several said they were approached about joining a statewide lawsuit, but no school boards or districts agreed to sign on.

“It was a situation where very few school systems, out of fear of retaliation, want to take that avenue,” said St. Tammany Parish schools Su-

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was due to press allies for more weapons for his country

Speaking to reporters at Brussels airport before ﬂying home, Hegseth said, “It was great to hear country after country say ‘We’re going to meet our target. We’re going to meet our target.’ There are still a few outliers, and we will be clear with them as we do this review.”

NATO’s supreme allied commander, an American, is working on backup plans to defend Europe after the U.S. signaled on June 3 that it would no longer supply an aircraft carrier and support ships, aerial refueling planes and dozens of fighter jets, among other military assets, in a crisis. The Trump administration insists that it needs to be able to plan for two simultaneous conflicts and wants more military resources at hand should it clash with China in the Indo-Paciﬁc region.

perintendent Frank Jabbia.

Legal argument

The lawsuit that advocates ﬁled Thursday argues that Landry exceeded his legal authority by ordering the funding cut.

Louisiana’s Constitution allows the governor to reduce the overall amount of education funding with legislative approval. But Landry’s order goes beyond that by saying $168 million taken from public school budgets must go toward educators stipends, the lawsuit argues.

“The Governor has no authority, constitutional or otherwise, to redirect appropriated funds from the MFP,” says the petition, referring to the Minimum Foundation Program, the school-funding formula that the state constitution says must be set by the state education board.

The lawsuit also alleges

that the ballot lawmakers were asked to submit electronically by June 23 is deﬁcient because it only asks whether they approve of the funding reduction, not the reallocation of the money to pay for the educator stipends.

The ballot deprives “the legislators of their vote on a legislative issue,” the lawsuit says, “and the legislative process that involves committee hearings, floor debate, and public testimony.”

Baudouin, whose two children attend New Orleans public schools, said in a statement that Landry should call a special legislative session to address the funding issue, which would include public testimony and debate.

“This is what the legislative process is for,” she said, “and this is what the people of Louisiana deserve.”

Everyboy carriesthe potentialtochangehis community, butnot everyboy has someone whobelievesinthatpotential. Sonofa Saint bridgesthatgap throughmentorshipand brotherhoodthatlasts. When we believe in our boys today, we’reinvestinginthe bold futuresthey’ll create tomorrow SO NO FA SA INT.ORG

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By VIRGINIA MAyO Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, right, speaks Thursday during a meeting of the North Atlantic Council in defense ministers format at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

U.S. liftsblockadeofIran

Iranian supremeleader endorsesdirecttalks with American officials

BY WILL WEISSERT,SEUNG MIN KIM, MICHELLEL.PRICE and MARYCLARE JALONICK Associated Press

WASHINGTON The U.S. on Thurs-

day lifted its blockade of Iran,and oil tankers began freely moving through the Strait of Hormuz after months of being unable to use the critical channel, as the tentative agreementtoend thewar took effect.

Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance announced thathemay postpone atrip to Switzerland that had been planned for Friday and included aceremonial signing of the deal. And aTrump administration envoy told U.S. lawmakers in aprivate brieﬁng that Iran will invite the U.N.’snuclear watchdog agency to inspect its nuclear sites. In other developments, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei endorseddirectnegotiations with the U.S. in astatement read by state media.

“It is obvious that theface-toface negotiations that will be held in the future will not mean accepting the enemy’sopinion,”hesaid It was Khamenei’sﬁrstreaction to theagreement, anditindicateda shift in Iran’sapproach. Hard-liners,especiallyKhamenei’sfather, the previous supreme leader,have long opposed direct talks, especially afterthe U.S.pulledout of the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.

The supreme leader has not been seen in public since he was wounded in astrike at the start of the war

Inspection of nuclearsites

Trump envoySteve Witkoff told lawmakers that Iran will invite the U.N.’snuclear watchdog agencyto inspect its nuclear sites andbegin work on identifying and uncoveringthe locations of Tehran’senriched material, which is believed to be buried under rubble.

Theprivate briefing wasdescribed by two people familiar with theconversation whospoke to The Associated Pressoncondition of anonymity to sharethe closed-

door details.

Witkofftold congressionalleadership and members of national security-relatedcommittees that the agreementthat the U.S. struck with Iran did not include anyside deals, butaside letter was drafted between Tehran and the International Atomic Energy Agencyextending theinvitation

Witkoff disclosed theexistence of the letter and invitation in the brieﬁng, according to the people.

Witkoffsaidthe letter to IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi would enable him to bring U.S. nuclear inspectors to Tehran.

Theagreement states thatIran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium must at minimum be diluted underinternational supervision. It also says that Iran shall not procure or developnuclear weapons —a commitmentithasmadepreviously.

Difficult to promotedeal

Vance’s visit mighthave helped start talksonthe next, potentially even more critical, round of negotiationsbetween the two sides.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif alsopostponed a plannedvisit to Switzerland, where Islamabad officials were to host the ceremony, becausethe agreement hadalready been signed,said two seniorofﬁcialswho spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of thematter

The uncertaintimeline could raise new questionsand make it even more difficult for the Trump administration to promote adeal that many in the U.S. —including some congressional Republicans —have criticizedastoofavorabletoTehran

“Our plan is to go to Switzerland.

Idon’t know exactlywhen,” Vance said during abrieﬁng with reporters at the WhiteHouse when asked aboutnot ﬂying,asplanned, to the

Vice PresidentJD Vance speaks to reporters in the James BradyPress Briefing Room at the White House on Thursday.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By

signing ceremony That injected new doubt into an agreement that President Donald Trump said he signedtoavoid “economic catastrophe”inthe U.S Vance’sannouncement came a dayafter Trumpsigned the pact withIranwhiledining with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles. The deal is slated to take immediate effect and extends aceaseﬁre while giving each side 60 days to hammer outbroader agreementsonlarger issues.

Trumpsaid the deal would avoid continued stress on the U.S. economy after thewar caused oil prices to skyrocket, made ﬁnancialmarkets skittish and fueledinﬂation. He repeatedly said he did notwant to be compared to Herbert Hoover, whosepolicies helped exacerbate theGreat Depression of the 1930s.

Vancedefends U.S.-Irandeal

The vice president, who was initially personally skeptical of the U.S.going to war with Iran,has increasingly becomethe administration’sface of the conﬂict and has been outspoken in defending the deal. Asked about concerns it concedes too much, the vice president said repeatedly that the accord would force Iran to “change their behavior.”

Vanceshruggedoff accusations that its rollout has been piecemeal and sometimes contradictory, saying, “I don’tthink ourpublic messaging has been chaotic.

He alsooffered asurprisingly blunt warning to Israel, whichhas pushed the U.S.totakeaharder stance againstIranand launched attacks on the Iranian-backedHezbollahmilitia in Lebanon throughoutthe war,including just before thedealextendingthe ceasefire was reached. Those attackscomplicated the peace effortswith Iran.

Mangione’s lawyersreverse course

He will no longer be assertinga psychiatricdefense

BY MICHAEL R. SISAK Associated Press

NEW YORK In astunning reversal, Luigi Mangione ‘s lawyers told ajudge Thursday that he will no longer be asserting apsychiatric defense at his state murder trial in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

The retraction came just aday after Mangione’slawyers told Judge Gregory Carro that they planned to pursue adefense involving claims that the 28-year-old Ivy League graduate was suffering from extreme emotional disturbance at the time of the Dec. 4, 2024, killing. Amessage seeking com-

ment was left witha spokesperson for Mangione’slawyers. The Manhattan district attorney’s office, which is prosecutingthe state case, declined to comment Mangione’slawyers had faced adeadline Thursday to provide prosecutors withinformation to support theemotional disturbance claim. Also Thursday, atranscriptofasecret hearing held on thematter on June 3 wasmadepublicafter Carro ordered it unsealed If Mangioneweretohave gone through with theextremeemotional disturbancedefense, he would have effectively been admitting thathekilled Thompson but did so because of mitigating circumstances. It wouldn’thaveabsolved him of responsibility, but couldhave ledtoless time in prison

If ajury accepts the defense, it is obligated to con-

vict adefendant of manslaughter,which is punishable by up to 25 yearsin prison, instead of murder whichcarries apotential life sentence.

In aletter to Carro on Thursday,Mangione lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo said thedefense“respectfully withdraws” its notice underNew York’s psychiatric defense statute. Mangione, 28, has pleaded notguiltytostate andfederal charges. His statetrial is scheduled to start Sept. 8. His federal trial, which involves stalking charges, is set to begin on Oct. 13.

At Wednesday’shearing, Friedman Agniﬁlo protested Carro’s decision to unseal materials related to hispsychiatricdefense,sayingitwill be “prejudicial to his defense to theexact same facts”in his federal case, where an extreme emotional disturbance defense isn’tallowed.

Democrats: Money from taxcutsbill is paying forballroom

Over $350Mquietly directed to White Housesecurity

BY LISAMASCARO AP congressional correspondent

WASHINGTON— More than$350 million fromPresident Donald Trump’s“big, beautiful bill ”has been quietly directed to White House security,anallotment that Democrats warn appears to be helping fund his new ballroom project —despite the president’s insistence that no taxpayer dollars would be used.

The apportionment of funds, whichthe WhiteHouse’sOffice of Management and Budget made lateFriday,comes fromtwo accountsthat were intended to provide the U.S. Secret Service with extra money for hiring andtraining in the aftermath of last year’s assassination attempts on the president, according to Democrats on the Senate Budget Committee.

TheshiftwasmadedaysafterCongress rejected a$1billion request fortheWhiteHouseinaHomeland SecuritybillthatTrumpsignedlaw and as the ballroom project is tangled in legal challenges.

Senate Judiciary Committee chairman ChuckGrassley,whose panel initially drafted the security funding, said Thursday he was unaware of theallocations.

“The president saidthatitwas all going to be paid forwith privatemoney,” said Grassley,R-Iowa. “And that’swhat the country expects.”

Sen. JeffMerkley, of Oregon, the top Democrat on the Senate Budget Committee, charged that Trump’sactions arepotentially illegal.

“After repeatedlytelling the American people that zero taxpayerdollars wouldbespent on his gold-platedballroom boondoggle, now Trumpappears to be usinga smokeand mirrorstactic,” Merkley said in astatement.

“Trump has proven that he can’tbetrusted to follow the law,” Merkley said. “He only cares aboutwastingtaxpayer money on his vanity projects.”

Ballroom projecthitssetbacks

Trumphas faced setbacks in his attempts to build the ballroom on White House grounds, where he ordered the demolition of the storied East Wing to makeway for it. Touring the construction site last month, Trump called the development a“gift” to the American people.Hehas repeatedly said that is beingpaidfor by donations —which has also run into ethics questions from watchdogs concerned about potentialcorruption and conﬂicts of interest.

Congress refusedthe Trumpadministration’s request for$1billion for the ballroom last month.

The administration wanted the moneyaspartofaHomeland Security bill, but Republican and Democratic lawmakers rejected effortstotack it on.Itbecame politically toxic at atimewhen Americans are reeling frominﬂationary high costs of living. The Washington Post reported earlier this week thatthe price tagfor the project hasballooned to $600 million,according to a project summary preparedby the contractor,with more than half of that funding coming from taxpayers. Roll Call ﬁrst reported on the apportionment of new funds forWhite House security At its core, arguments are swirling over how much of the White House project is to bolster security underground, with bomb shelters and amedical facility, and how much of the costs are related to the president’spromised 999-seat ballroom on top. Aspokesman forthe White House said that Trumpand donors are funding some$400 million forthe ballroom development, and that the coordination with the Secret Service had been noted in the initialannouncement of the project.

throughout the day.InSt. Tammany,authorities kept aclose eye on rising rivers and gathered informationon apotential tornadostrike in EdenIsles,wherebuildings were damaged and debris was strewn across streets.

Warning sirens kept residents up in St. Charles Parish throughout the night as the storm pounded the region. Not far away in Avondale, on theWest Bank of Jefferson Parish, two people were injured when an EF1 tornado with90-mph winds tossed amobilehome into a neighboring modular home in the600 blockofGeorge Street, completely destroying the former, authorities said.

Preliminary National Weather Service reports showed three separate tornadoes, including theone in Avondale and another in the Houma area. Athird —ifit is ultimately conﬁrmed to be adifferent twister than the Avondale tornado —ripped its way from the OldJefferson area into New Orleans, ending up around Lakefront Arena.

The Houma and New Orleans tornadoes were also EF1s with winds of 95 mph.

The east bank tornado’s winds sheared the side off the Republic Services Recycling Center in the1000 block of Harimaw Courtin Metairie, near where Land ARoad meets Airline Highway. Notfar fromthatbuilding, 13 empty railcars on the nearby tracks tipped over Across Airline Highway, the privacy fence running the length of the golf course at Metairie Country Club had been blown to the ground.

Several employeesat Ochsner Medical Centerin the same area on Jefferson Highway reported damage to parked vehicles, according to Jefferson Parish spokesperson Rachel Strassel. Trees were also downed there.

Ochsner also saw “minor exterior wind damage and limited water intrusion,” a spokesperson said. The facility remainedfully operational.

New Orleans itself seemed to have avoided major havoc despite the Sewerage& Water Board losing power to seven drainage pump

DAMAGE

Continued from page1A

to thecouchbydebris on her legs.First responders took her to the hospital, along with aman in the mobile home. Hills’ sister was discharged before 10 a.m., and aparish spokesperson said the man was in stable condition.

Threetornadoes

Tropical Storm Arthur swept through southeast Louisiana early Thursday with torrential downpour and preliminary reportsof three EF1 tornadoes, damaging propertiesand ﬂooding cars acrossJefferson Parish. Twonon-life-threatening injuries were reported from Avondale. Jefferson Parish seemed to fare worse in Thursday’s storm than its neighborsin New Orleans and St.Charles Parish.

Four Avondale homes werecompletelydestroyed, and at least 10 more sustained minor damage. Debris littered George Street nearby,with ripped metal panels danglingfrom downed electrical poles and tree branches lining the roads. An active gas leak in the area caused evacuations but was sealedby9a.m.

“Even during Hurricane Katrina, we didn’thave anything like this,” Hills said TheNational Weather Serviceconﬁrmedina preliminary report that an EF1 tornado with speeds of about 90 mph touched down in Avondaleat5:36 a.m., and another EF1 tornado with 95 mph wind speeds moved from Bridge City to New Orleans shortly after.Athird tornado was reported near Houma, butthe weather

stations fornearlyanhour at the height of the storm, afailure that anew $300 million power complex is designed to guard against. Relatively lowrainfall totals in the city meant that there were noseriousrepercussions, but New Orleans officialspressed the S&WBto move quickly to figure out what wentwrong. That failure, coupled with the flooding in Kenner, may raise further questionsover theeffectiveness of the area’sdrainage systems. The Kenner flooding wasreminiscent of canal overtopping thatoccurred during 2024’s HurricaneFrancine, which provoked pointed questions over pumping systems in theparish and at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng said,however,that pumps belonging to both the parish and the airport operated normally

‘Fared pretty well’

Arthur’s remnants were a far cry from that 2024 hurricane, and New Orleans Mayor HelenaMoreno spoke Thursday of the city avoiding signiﬁcant damage. “I am overall gladto see thatwedon’thave significant flooding in our area,” shesaid.“We don’t have significant damage.Wefared pretty well compared to what other parishes are seeingatthistime.”

Addressing thepump failure, Moreno said: “Mymessage to them is ﬁgureitout, andﬁgure it outnow.”

Gov.JeffLandry told WWL radio that he was monitoring the aftermath statewide. He said that while the current situation should not be downplayed, the stormcould also serve as atestrun for emergency and drainage systems as the regionmoves deeper into

service will do afull evaluation to determine how many tornadoes touched down. Flash floodsstall drivers

Heavyrains also strained theparish’s pumpstations and overtopped canals across the east bank, forcing morning commuterstotraversethroughfloodwaters thatcaused some to stall on the road or even fall intocanals,especially in Kenner Parish PresidentCynthia Lee Sheng said thatpumps belonging to boththe parish andthe LouisArmstrong New Orleans International Airport operated normally during the storm, which raised fears of flooding like in hurricane Francine two years ago, when canals similarly overflowed andflooded hundreds of Kenner homes. Lee Sheng saidbefore the

hurricane season.

He later declared astate of emergency in Avoyelles, Lafourche, Pointe Coupee, St. Landry,St. Tammany and Terrebonne parishes in response to thestorm.

Jefferson Parish faced a more complicated dilemma than NewOrleans. The storm’s pathleft Jefferson with far higher rain totals, inundating it with up to 9 inches in comparison to less than 3inthe city.

That led to overflowing canalsand stranded drivers, with Loyola Drive and Williams Boulevardflooding hotspots.KennerCity spokespersonValerie Brolin said there were about five conﬁrmed reportsofﬂooded homes, but thatpostsonsocial media appeared to show manymore impacted.

Kenner police said50to 70 cars stalled outoverthe course of the storm.

“Wehave not had major injury or loss of life, is what I’m told,”Lee Sheng said while visiting tornado damageinAvondale,whichshe called “heartbreaking.”

“We’re very,very,very fortunatefor thatinthis parish,” she said.

Also in Jefferson Parish, the RedCross said it was assisting nine families after fire destroyed their Hancock Street homes in Gretna on Thursday morning. It was unclear if the ﬁre was directlyconnected to thestorm.

While the storm did not approach the level of dangersouth Louisianansare too familiar with from past hurricanes,there were still instancesofclose calls and frightening conditions.

Kirk Derokey awoke around 5:30 a.m. to the sound of thudsfromdebris hitting the outside of his homein the Lake Terrace neighborhood of New Orleans.

“It was just gushes of wind and debris just ﬂying every-

storm that196 out of 198 pumps were online, and that theHarvey and Pailet pump stations, where the outages were located, had additional pumping capacity to make up for it

TheElmwood pump station alonetookon9inches of rain during thestorm, 8.3 of whichfell in amatter of threehours. The Duncan pump stationnearLakePontchartraininKenner saw about 7inches of rain total. Jefferson Parish’sdrainage system can usually handleabout 1inchofrainfall in theﬁrsthourand halfan inch every hour after that. Across the parish, more than 6,000residents lost power during thestorm. Email Michelle Hunter at mhunter@theadvocate. com.

Notice is hereby given pursuant to Article 7, Section 23(C) of theLouisiana Constitution and R.S. 47:1705(B) that apublic hearing of theJefferson Parish Council, acting as the governing authority of Fire Protection District No. 4ofthe Parish of Jefferson, State of Louisiana will be held at the Town of GrandIsle Multiplex, located at 3101 Louisiana Highway 1, Grand Isle, LA 70358, on July22, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. to consider levying additional or increased millage rates on property without further voter approval or adopting the adjusted millage rates after reassessment and rolling forward to rates not exceeding the prior year’smaximum. The amount oftax revenues for the current year are $660,201. The estimated amount of tax revenues to be collected in the next year from the increased millage is $841,696, and the amount of increase in taxes attributable to the millage increase is $181,495.

where,” Derokey,who lives near St. Bernard Avenue andNew York Street, said once thesun rose andthe rains died down.

In Metairie,onVeterans Boulevard near TranscontinentalDrive, Toby Forman stood with his grayHonda Civic, waiting for atow truck as his car tiltedinto thecanal. He was on his way to his 6a.m. shift as asecurity guard for East Jefferson General Hospital when

he noticed he could no longertellhow high theﬂoodwaters wereand decidedto turn around. Forman attempted to turn around on the grassy median, but his tires lost traction.Hewas stuckfor over an hour on themedian alongsideLakeside Hospital nurse Clinisia London, whohad parked next to him while she waited for ﬂoodwater to clear so she could head to her 12-hour shift.

“I’m very frustrated, because Idrove all the way from home, Ihad to drop my kids offatmyparents’ home,and then get out here only to ﬁndout that Ican’t get to my job because my street is flooded,” London said. “Now I’mlosing out on payand I’mliterally right here by my job.” With reports from Ben Myers, Blake Paterson, Marco Cartolano, Justin Mitchell and Willie Swett.

STAFF PHOTO By DAVIDGRUNFELD

Trump presents theMedal of Honorto3veterans

“very strong guy.”

when Trumpgrinned.

Ripley laid explosives

BY COLLIN BINKLEY and WILL WEISSERT Associated Press

WASHINGTON President

Donald Trump gave the Medal of Honor to three veterans on Thursday,honoring acts of heroism thatsaved lives and repelled enemy forces in Vietnam and Afghanistan.

Trump bestowed the military’shighest honor on Marine Corps Maj. James Capers Jr.and Army Maj Nicholas Dockery.Healso awarded it posthumously to Marine Corps Col. John W. Ripley,who died in 2008.

“These are great men, great people,” Trump said at the ceremony.“We thank you and wewill never, ever forget you.”

Capers ledselflessrescue Capers, 88, was honored for risking his life to ensure the safety of hisfellow Marines after they were ambushed in Vietnam in 1967. What wassupposedtobea reconnaissancemission to find a suspected NorthVietnamese base camp turnedintodays of bloody ﬁghting in dense jungle, according to his citation. On the fourth day,his team wasambushedand outnumberedbyVietnameseﬁghters. Amine explosion left Capers with abroken leg and serious wounds to his abdomen.

“After ashotofmorphine,

Jimasserted commandof the firefight,” Trump said, drawing on accounts of the mission. “He took over like nobody’sever seen before.”

Capers called in air support to repel the ambush. When arescue helicopter arrived, Capers loaded all the wounded men before climbing aboard.

Trumpsharedamoving momentwithCapers as the president pinned theMedal of Honor around his neck, clasping Capersbythe shoulders andpullinghim forwardtomakesure the medal was straight and level against his chest. Capers hadbeen keeping astraight face but broke intoa smile

PHOTO PROVIDEDByMARQUELLBRIDGES

Agroup of mourners attendsamakeshift memorialonWednesdayfor 1-year-old Kohen Wileyoutside the Walmartwherethe boywas shot by police in Senatobia, Miss.

Police shooting of 1-year-old

Miss.boy ignitestension

Deathislatest encountertohave outraged community

BY TRAVIS LOLLER and SOPHIE BATES Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. The fatal shooting of a1-year-old boy by police whowereresponding to ashoplifting call this week has ignited simmering tensions between police and Black residents in the small town of Senatobia, Mississippi. The death of Kohen Wiley is the latest in aseries of troubling encounters with police that have outraged community members in recent years. It has led to protests and calls for greater police accountability in the town of 8,000, with some civilrights activists pointing to Kohen’sdeath asanotherexampleofaBlack life lost over something of nominal value —inthis case, allegedly stolen diapers.

“Weare treating items on a shelf as more valuable than achild,” Bernice King, the daughter of civil righticon Martin Luther King, Jr., said in astatement posted to Instagram on Wednesday. “That is not justbad policing; it is a moral collapse.”

Differingaccounts

There are still many unan-

swered questions about the shooting and what led up to it.

Senatobia police responded to the shoplifting callat alocal WalmartonSunday, where they foundtwo women andachild leaving the store, gettinginto acar and driving away.Accordingto astatement released by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation:“Officers attempted to stop thevehicle,but the driver drove in the direction of the officers, almost strikingone.Anofficerthendischarged theirweaponand the vehicle fled the scene.” Kohen’smother,Vellesiya Wiley,said her son andher friend,who wasdriving, were hitbygunfire. In a video posted on social media Wednesday by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, Wiley said her friend was notdriving toward the officers because they were“allonthe right side and she was drivingtowardsthe left.”

She alsodisputesthe shoplifting claim, saying in the video that shebelieves her friend paid for the diapers shewas carrying

Policing expert Ian Adams, who teaches criminal justice at the University of SouthCarolina, said regardless of the circumstances, the ofﬁcer should nothave ﬁredatthe car

“Modern policingknows that shooting into amoving vehicle is avery bad idea

and one to be avoided at almostall costs,” Adams said. For one thing, ”vehicles have other occupants, which is obviously aconcern here in the current case.”

Tensions in Senatobia Marquell Bridges, the president and founder of an advocacy group called the Building BridgesCoalition andwho hasbeen helpingthe Wileyfamily,saidKohen’s death was “just thebreaking point” after years of problematic interactionsbetween Black residentsand police. Bridges pointedtoanencounterlastyearinwhich an officer threatened Breshari Faulkner with aTaser, pulled her from her car onto the ground and arrested her during aconfrontation over ahandicapped parking space in the same Walmart lot where Kohen was shot.

Twoyearsearlier,in2023, aSenatobia ofﬁcer was ﬁred for hisrole in arresting a 10-year-old Black boy who hadurinated in adifferent parking lot.The boy’sfamily settledafederal lawsuit with the cityearlier this year “Thereisa culturethere that they are abovethe law —just because theywear a uniform,” said civil rights attorney Carlos Moore, who has represented the 10-year-oldboy andothers accusing the department of misconduct

Ripley washonored for a heroic efforttohalt theadvance of NorthVietnamese forces by blowing up acrucial bridge in 1972.

Aforce of more than30,000 NorthVietnamesesoldiers and200 tanks was approaching the bridge in the village of Dong Ha when Ripley singlehandedly placed 500 pounds of explosives to bring it down, according to his citation.

Over the course of five hours,Ripley climbed back andforth alongthe bridge’s steel beams, exposing himselftoenemy fire as he placed thecharges.

“John completed not one, not two, but ﬁve such trips,” Trump said, calling him a

Ripley said aprayer,then detonatedthe bridge,sendingitintothe waterbelow and halting the North Vietnamese advance, Trump said.

Ripley died in 2008. His three sons and other family members attendedthe ceremony

Dockeryrescued soldiers

Dockery’splatoon members were guarding acompound in Afghanistan’s Kapisa Province in 2012 when they were ambushed by an estimated 150 Taliban fighters.Heraced across open ground to rally his scattered team then set out to ﬁnd missing soldiers, according to his citation.

After carrying awounded soldier away from gunﬁre,

he spotted twoenemy ﬁghters heading toward another woundedsoldier in an alley Dockery killedthe twoﬁghters before performing CPR on the American soldier to get him breathing again, his citation said. Dockery called in mortar support, then shielded the wounded soldierfromthe blasts with his own body After hours of fighting in the close urban setting, Dockery usedsmoke grenadestosignalenemy positions for American gunships. He refused to leave the village until allthe wounded soldiers were taken to safety “You were the last man to depart thebattlefield that day,” Trump told him, “and you leftitalegend and ahero.”

Senators seek to blocktravel fundsuntil report is released

Hegsethmust submit ‘unredacted civilianharm investigations’

BY LISAMASCARO and KONSTANTIN TOROPIN Associated Press

WASHINGTON Senators are seeking to block Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s travel funds untilthe Pentagon submitsseveral overdue reports to lawmakers, includingits investigation into adeadly strike on an elementary school in Iranatthe start of the U.S.-Israeli war

According to an annual defense authorization bill, ﬁled this week, muchofthe travel funds for the defense secretary’sofﬁce maynot be spent until Hegseth submits “unredacted civilian harm investigations,” including for the Feb. 28, 2026, strike on theMinab school.Officials have preliminarily said

the U.S. wasresponsible for thestrike,whichwasblamed on outdated intelligence.

Congress, which conducts oversightofthe Pentagon, hasnot yetreceivedthe Defense Department’sreport on the investigation. It is believed to have been completed last month.

Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in astatement that thisyear’sannual defense package “forces theSecretary to be moreaccountable to Congress and will prevent manyerrors of the past from being repeated in the future.”

The bombing of the elementary school on the ﬁrst day of the U.S. war against Iran killed more than165 people, many of them children, at thecampus adjacent to aRevolutionary Guard base. It quicklybecame afocal point of theconﬂict.

Outdated intelligence likely led to the United

States carrying out the missile strike, according to those familiar with the preliminary ﬁndings in March. If so,itwould stand among the highest civilian casualty events caused by American military operations in the last twodecades.

Senators from both parties tucked thenew provisions blocking Hegseth’s travel fundsinto theNational Defense Authorization Act to force release of the investigation. The Senate bill text said notmorethan25% of the defense secretary’stravel funds may be spent until he submitsthe investigations, “including all relevant supporting documents,” for severalincidents of civilian harm

Senators also areseeking to withholdHegseth’s travel funds until the Pentagon releases “unedited video” of the U.S. strikes against alleged drug-trafﬁcking boats near Venezuela.

BRIEFS

Allegiant Air eliminates 61 routes from network

Allegiant Air,the Las Vegasbased discount air carrier that is the seventh-busiest airline operating at HarryReid InternationalAirport, haseliminated 61 routes from its system.

“While it is accurate that Allegiant has discontinued 61 routes, it’simportant to note that these changes occurred overapproximatelya one-year period and are consistent with our longstanding business model,” an Allegiantrepresentative saidinanemailed statement

Wednesday Allegiant routinely withdraws from markets quickly whenticket salesdon’t perform as well as executives expected, but recent headlinesabout Allegiant suggest recent withdrawals were unexpected.

“Allegiant’snetwork is intentionally flexible, andwe consider all of our routes to be seasonal,” the representative said. “Weroutinely evaluate demand, operationalrequirements,and market conditions to determine where wecan best serve our customers. As aresult, routes may be added, paused,resumed or discontinued over time.”

U.S. student loan defaults rise to 9.2M

The number of student loan borrowers in default soaredto arecord 9.16million in April after the government ended a four-year pause on collections that was instituted during the COVID pandemic, according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Education

The ﬁgure, announced bythe department on Thursday,isan increase from 7.7 million people in default in December and 6 million reported for Augustlast year.That means about 20%of the 43 million Americans with federal student debt are more than ayearbehind on their payments. In addition, about 3million people areatleast 90 days behind on payments

The jump in defaults comes as borrowersbracefor theJuly 1implementation of twonew repayment programs set to replaceBiden-era plans that came with more forgiving rates,like the SAVE program, whose morethan 7million enrollees will have 90 days to choosea newplanorbere-assigned involuntarily.Sofar,only 400,000 borrowers in SAVE have transferred to another plan. More defaults couldalso meanmore headaches for the Treasury Department, which began assuming responsibility for the $1.7 trillion student loan portfolio earlier this year

U.S. filings for joblessbenefits fall

WASHINGTON The number of Americans applying for jobless aid fell modestly lastweek as layoffs remained in the same historically low rangeofrecent years.

U.S. applications for unemployment beneﬁts in theweek ending June 13 dropped by 4,000to226,000,the Labor Department reported Thursday

That’sinline with the 225,000 new applications forecast by analysts surveyed by the data

ﬁrm FactSet.

Weekly ﬁlings for unemployment benefits are considered representativeofU.S. layoffs and are close to areal-time indicatorofthe health of thejob market

Despite concerns that the conflict in the Middle East would further squeeze aﬂagging labor market, hiring has picked up inrecent monthsfollowing amiserable 2025 that saw fewer than 200,000 job gains. For comparison, about 1.5 million jobs wereadded in 2024.

U.S. employers delivered a surprising 172,000 new jobs in May andthe economy is averaging188,000 jobgains in the three months since the Iran war began in lateFebruary That’sthe best threemonths of hiring sinceearly 2024.The unemployment rate remains historically low at 4.3%.

Stocks rise on Wall Street

tion that theFederal Reservewill likely raise interest rates this year in an effort to ﬁght inﬂation.

BY DAMIAN J. TROISE AP business writer

NEW YORK Stocks rose on Wall StreetThursdayand erased most of their losses fromaday earlier to notch weeklygains

Themarket’sreversal was powered bysharp gains for big technology companies. The decline on Wednesday was drivenbyanticipa-

On Thursday,stocksfaced less pressure as bond yields eased and oil prices spent most of the dayfalling. The S&P 500 rose 80.48 points,or 1.1%, to 7,500.58. The Dow Jones IndustrialAverage rose 72.15 points,or0.1%, to 51,564.70.The Nasdaqcomposite surged 496.28 points, or 1.9%, to26,517.93. Every major index notched weekly gains. U.S.markets will be closed Friday for Juneteenth. Technology stocks had some of

thebiggest gains and the most inﬂuence on the broader market’srise Intel surged 10.6% after President Donald Trump announced that the semiconductor giant will make chips for Apple in the U.S. Other big semiconductor companies gained ground. Nvidia rose 3% and Micron Technology jumped 8.7%.

On the losing end, SpaceX fell for the second straight daysinceits ballyhooed debut on the U.S. stock market last week. The Elon Muskled rocketmaker and AI company was down 3.6%following a4.9% loss Wednesday Oil prices wavered afterthe

UnitedStates and Iran signed an agreementtoend theirwar and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to oil tanker trafﬁc. Brent crude, the international standard, spent most of theday lowerbefore settling 0.4% higher at $79.85 per barrel. U.S. benchmark crude fell 0.2% to $75.85 per barrel. Airlineshad someofthe

Regulators ordergridoperators to speed powertoenergy-hungry AI data centers

BY MATTHEW DALY and MARCLEVY Associated Press

WASHINGTON— Federal regulatorsonThursdayordered regional grid operators to help large energy users connect more quickly to thenation’s inefﬁcient and aging electric transmissionsystem,asteptheysaidisneeded to accommodate surging demand from powerhungry artiﬁcial intelligence data centers.

Energy SecretaryChris Wright had urged theFederalEnergyRegulatoryCommissionto act in an effort to help the United States better competewith China forsuperiorityinthe fastgrowing AIsector Tech companies and data center developers welcomed thechancetoconnect fastertothe country’spower supply for the biggest energy users ever built in the United States, includingsomethat consume more electricity than asmall city

Utilities, states andregional grid operators had worried that the Republican administration’s plan wouldremove their authority to manage the process, but FERC said the order leaves states incontrol of retail electric rates, terms and conditions. Clean energy advocates have urged regulators not to undermine statelevel effortstorequire the useofrenewable energies.

Thecommission’sactions come as aback-

lash grows against data centers over concerns about the massive amounts of energyand water theyuse and fears about noise andair pollution, water shortagesand aloss of open space or farmland.

Unanimousvoteand affordability

FERC membersvoted unanimouslytodirect sixregionalgridoperators to ensure that AI datacenters and other large power users are “able to connect to the transmission system in atimely and orderly manner.”

Laura Swett, an appointee of President Donald Trump who chairs thecommission, called thevote“historic” andsaiditwould push the country’selectricity marketinto the future while respecting states’ rights, protecting reliable electric service and shielding ratepayers from shouldering the costs of connecting big power users to the grid.

“I know that Americans across the country are concerned aboutaffordability, andsoare we,” Swettsaid, referring to the ﬁve-member commission. As chair,“Iamtaking extremely seriously the mission that Congress hasentrusted us to ensure that rates are reasonable,” she said.

Thevotecomes eightmonths afterWright askedthe independent agency to take more control over ensuring that the vast network of massive computing warehouses needed to

power AI are connected quicklytohigh-voltagetransmission lines.

Wright hailed the commission’saction, saying it would “remove barriers, accelerate development andensure Americahas the affordable, reliable and secure energy needed to poweranew era of prosperity.”

Data centers would pay the full cost of any grid upgrades needed for their connection, underthe commissionorder. But thatorder can do little to address the tightening energy suppliesthat are drivingupelectricity bills in someareas andraising warnings of blackouts as the construction of data centers outpaces the speed of new power plants coming online to serve them

Robert Montejo, alawyerwho represents data centers, said the mostimportant messagefrom FERC’s action is that AI “has fundamentally changedthe electricity landscape. Thegridand priorpolicywerenot built forthe pace andscale of demand we’reseeingfrom AI infrastructure, and FERC is signaling that standing still is no longer an option.”

The six regional grid operators under the order serve 200 millionAmericans,ortwothirds of FERC’s jurisdiction.FERC, meanwhile, invited utilitiesthathandle their regional transmission systems to also participate andanalystssaidthe agency could eventually pressure them,too.

BYBREANA NOBLE

The Detroit News (TNS)

Ford Motor Co. recently marked amajor milestonetowardits nextgenerationelectricvehicleplatformwiththe start of production in Michigan of its ﬁrst full prismatic cells: from slurry to coatingand formation, all the way through aging and ﬁnalinspection. The launch in Marshall, Michigan, putsthe automakerontrack to be the first to deliver lithiumiron phosphate batteries made in the United States for mainstream consumer automotive use. That, executives have said, will pave the wayfor amore resilient sup-

ply chain and safer,more affordable EVsthat could be competitive with low-cost Chinese products if built undersimilarconditions in the United States.It, however,isn’t being accomplished without some help from theChinese.

BlueOval Battery Park Michigannow employsmorethan 500 people. It’sramping up productionof“D-sample” cells made with production-intent material that will be used for testing and validation. Throughoutthe spring, theplant was making “C-sample” cells that used someprototype content to train and qualify machines.D-sample manufacturing beganearlier this month after thoseparts passed

safetyand quality testing.

The step puts the plant on track to launchbefore the end of the year production-ready cells for the new Universal ElectricVehicle platform, whose ﬁrst vehicle is an electric midsize truck coming in 2027.

“We’vebeen really building our team,building up allofour processes and everything, preparing us for launch,” BlueOval Battery Michigan CEO Scott Davis said.

To accomplish the speed of delivering theLFP batteries, Ford licensed technology fromContemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd., the world’slargest EV battery manufacturer.Although thedevelopmentofLFP technologyorigi-

natedinthe United States, further advancementand patenting of the technology happened in China. Unlike other automotive-battery company partnerships, this is not a joint venture. Operations and employees are all under Ford alone, though CATL employees are helping to train the workers on the technical process of LFP battery manufacturing, andFord is using CATL quality standards in itspreparation for launch of production batteries. Nonetheless, the company has received criticism from some Republican lawmakers forthe agreement.Fordhas said it hasallowed it to reshore asupply chainthat otherwise would comefrom China.

ObamaCenteropens with acalltodefenddemocracy

Former presidents, celebritycrowd celebrateopening

BY SCOTT BAUER Associated Press

Former President Barack Obama formally opened hispresidential center in Chicago on Thursday with acall to defend democracy as three former presidentsjoined him on stage in an extraordinary event featuring politicians, A-list celebrities, athletes and other internationally known ﬁgures.

“I hope this center will serve as an afﬁrmation of just howspecial, how precious our democracy truly is and remind us what we can achieve when we embrace our shared responsibilities as citizens,” the nation’sﬁrst Black president told thecrowd.

Jennifer Hudson, Bono, John Legend, Christina Aguilera, Marc Anthony and Eddie Vedder took turns on the stage ahead of Bruce SpringsteenandStevieWonder,whoclosed the show singing “Higher Ground” as the former presidents, world leaders and others danced along.

President Donald Trump was conspicuousboth in his physical absence and by not beingmentioned by any of the speakers or performers. Trump called the $850 million center a“total disaster” in asocial media post in February Obama voiced his supportfor character,honesty,integrity, kindness, compassionand sense of duty,praising both Democrats and Republicans, including those he defeated.

“Every president here today,as different as we are, has tried our best to uphold values that John McCain and Mitt Romney believed in no less thanI did,” Obama said. “Itisour greatest inheritance.”

Reﬂecting on his arrival in Chicago in 1985 as an untested political organizer,hesaid he could not have built the Obama Presidential Center anywhere else. He met his future wife Michelle nearby,their wedding reception waswithin walking

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By PABLOMARTINEZMONSIVAIS

Former President JoeBiden and former first ladyJillBiden, from left, former President Barack Obama and former first ladyMichelle Obama, former President GeorgeW.Bush and former first ladyLaura Bush, and former President Bill Clinton and former SecretaryofState Hillary Clinton, stand together before Thursday’s dedicationceremonyatthe Obama Presidential CenterinChicago.

distance, his childrenwere born in the neighborhood and he launched his ﬁrst candidacy not far away

“It’sanexpression of thanks, an acknowledgment that so much of what Ihold most dear Iowe to the people of this cityand thepeople of the surrounding neighborhoods,” Obamasaid.

Emotionalwords

The Obamas andtheir daughters shared the stage with former presidents Joe Biden, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton along with former ﬁrst ladiesJillBiden,LauraBush and Hillary RodhamClinton. Former Vice PresidentKamalaHarris and many other leading Democrats were in theaudience.

Michelle Obama spoke directly to herhusband when shestepped up to the podium. “Eight yearsin thecrucible and not once did you melt in theheat. Not once did you let it harden you.

“Instead, you used it to reveal your truest essence,” she said.

“Your stubborn optimism and unflinching courage. Your dazzling brilliance andunpretentious decency.Yourferocious workethic and absolutely unshakable moral fiber.And to do it all as afirst.”

She ticked off highlights from her husband’seight years in ofﬁce, including ordering theraid thatled to thekilling of Osamabin Laden, “standing up for marriageequality” and “listening to science.”

“And you did it all withsuch grace and class and cool,” she said. “You made thehardestjob in the world look like awalk in this beautifulpark.”

Obama appeared to wipe away a tear as she praised him.

Weekendofcelebration

Thethree-hourinvite-only celebration includedcommentary from anearby park where thousands gathered, and it was livestreamed to manymore. It kicks off aweekend of eventsas the center openstothe general public on Juneteenth.

“This is nota monument to the Obamas,” said Valerie Jarrett, theObama Foundation’s chiefexecutive and former Obama top adviser.“This is atributetoall those who made this journey possible.”

General admission tickets for the center aresold out through the end of October. More thana million visitorsa year areexpected at the nearly 20-acre campus.

National ScienceFoundation

reverses decision to dismantle

Ocean-monitoring equipment will be redeployed

By The Associated Press

The National Science Foundation on Thursday reversed adecisiontodismantlea sprawling ocean monitoringnetworkafter vigorous objections from Democratic lawmakers and scientists who rely on it to track everything from ocean circulation to extreme weather

The NSF issued astatement saying thatit“appreciatesthe concerns raised by the range of stakeholders” and would halt efforts to remove or disable equipment. It also said it will redeploy equipment that alreadywas removedfrom the water and convene an ex-

pert panelto determine the future of the network.

The Ocean Observatories Initiative is anetworkof more than 900ocean sensors built at acost of $386 million.

Over thelast decadeithas tracked ocean circulation, marine ecosystems,climate change and extremeweather,producing data available to the public and informing morethan500scientiﬁcpublications. The projectwas slated to run another 15-20 years.

TheNational Science Foundation had directedthe removal of most of the system’s instruments from waters off Oregon,Washington, Alaska, North Carolina and Greenland by 2027 —adecision scientistssaidcame with no warning and no scientiﬁcreview

Theindependent federal agency,establishedbyCon-

gress, described the move notasa cancellation but as a“descoping” alignedwith a strategy to prioritize “evolving scientific prioritiesand emerging technologies.” The Trumpadministration’sproposed2026budgethadincluded a55% cut to the agency

On Monday,a groupof Democratic senators and one Republican, as well as two DemocraticHouse committees, sent letters to theNSF asking it to reverse course on itsplan. House lawmakersaccusedthe agency of acting illegally “Dismantlingthe OOI was supremestupidity, and we’ll keep ﬁghting to ensure scientists, ﬁshermen, and coastal communities can continue to utilize the critical data the OOI provides,” Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley,ofOregon, said in astatement Thursday

Courtrules against banongun ownership by marijuanausers

BY LINDSAYWHITEHURST Associated Press

WASHINGTON TheSupremeCourt ruled Thursday against abroad federal ban on gun ownership by marijuana users, the latestina line of ﬁrearmcases from acourt that has expanded gun rights.

Thejustices decided unanimously in favor of AliDanialHemani,a Texasman who arguedthatalaw barring guns from anyone who regularly uses illegal drugs violates the Second Amendment JusticeNeil Gorsuch wrote that his opinion narrowly limits the government’spowertotake guns away from drug users who arenot considered dangerous. Hemani, who was notchargedwith any other crimes or accused of using the weapon underthe inﬂuence, is thankful he “ﬁnallyhas closure,” lawyer Zachary Newland said.

The decisionisa loss forPresident DonaldTrump’s Republican administration, which had defended the 1968 law despitearguing againstother gun restrictions. Its coreargument “fails under every measure,” Gorsuchwrote.

The law was originally meantto keep guns away from dangerous people, but the millions of people whonow use marijuana can’t allbe characterized that way,Gorsuch wrote. While recreational useisillegal under federal law, about half of states allow it and cannabis use for health purposes is widespread

“Whatever one thinks of these developments, the federal government has not just tolerated them; it helpedfuelthem,” Gorsuch wrote. “All of which leaves it awkwardly positioned to suggest that themillions of Americans who now regularly use marijuana are categorically and unusually dangerous.”

The law was also used in acase against Hunter Biden, whowas convicted in Wilmington,Delaware, of buying agun while addicted to cocaine in 2018. He was later pardoned by his father, Democratic President Joe Biden. Someone addicted to an illegal

drug could potentially still be prosecuted after Thursday’sdecision “Wedonot address efforts to banaddicts, or thosepresently intoxicated, from possessing a ﬁrearm,” Gorsuch wrote. Prosecutors could charge amarijuana user if they had evidence the person wasdangerous, he said.

Recreationaluse remainsillegal on afederal level even after the Trumpadministration reclassiﬁed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug in April.

Groups join forces

The case madefor some unusual political alliances.

TheAmericanCivil Liberties Unionand the National Riﬂe Association supported Hemani’s case, as did cannabis legalization groups such as NORML. On the other side were gun safety groups including Everytown that usually oppose the administration on Second Amendment issues.

The ACLU applauded the ruling, saying that nearly half of Americanshavereported using marijuana at some point in their lives.

“The court has sent astrong message that the government cannot criminalize the conduct of large numbers of people by making categorical and unfounded assumptions aboutwhetherthey aredangerous,”saidCecillia Wang, legal director at the ACLU.

NORML applauded the decision as a“vindication of personal freedom”and theSecond Amendment Foundationcalled it a“major victory forgun owners.”

The group Smart Approaches to Marijuana, whichopposes legalizationofthe drug,condemned it

“While the justices in this case appeartobemostconcerned with historical battles over Second Amendment rights, public health andsafety arethe collateral damageinthis decision,”saidCEO Kevin Sabet.

Gun controlgroups were more measured, withEverytown saying the decision still recognizes that “drugs and guns can make foradangerous mix.”

Seven N.O. drainage stations lose power

BY BEN MYERS Staff writer

The remnants of Tropical Storm

Arthur that slammed the New Orleans area on Thursday presented the first test of the Sewerage & Water Board’s new system for powering its century-old drainage pumps. It failed. Seven major drainage pump sta-

tions lost power for nearly an hour at the height of an early-morning storm after brand-new equipment that provides electricity to the S&WB’s century-old pumps fritzed.

According to the S&WB, pumps at stations 1 2, 3 4, 6, 7 and 12 went ofﬂine around 5:45 a.m. That left most of the city with little pumping capacity until they were restored within the hour It led to isolated street ﬂooding in Lakeview, which is served by stations 7 and 12. Fortunately for New Orleans residents, the city received less than three inches of rain, a modest downpour compared with the nine inches that fell in parts of Jefferson Parish. Based on the stated capacity of the S&WB’s drainage system, that amount of rain likely

power outage.

‘Hybrid hotel’ ready to open downtown

Tariffs, tunneling thieves delayed renovation of archdiocese building

BY JONAH MEADOWS Staff writer

After overcoming ﬁnancing issues, soaring construction costs and copper thefts by tunneling burglars, the owners of the former Archdiocese of New Orleans administration building in downtown New Orleans are set to reopen the 12-story ofﬁce tower as a new hotel.

Lafayette developers Sam Mohd and Rohan Dawra said this week they’ll soon begin taking reservations for Vcay Suites, which is geared toward travelers seeking multibedroom units for group trips, pending ﬁnal city inspections and permitting expected next month.

The opening will mark the return to commerce of one of the most prominent former church properties liquidated during its bankruptcy proceedings, part of a plan to pay for its $304 million settlement with clergy sex abuse survivors.

And it illustrates the emerging trend of so-called hybrid hotels, which compete with whole-home short-term rentals to accommodate larger groups of visitors or business travelers who would prefer not to have to rent several hotel rooms while traveling together

The partners, first-time hoteliers who also operate about 80 commercial short-term rentals in New Orleans through their Vcay brand, purchased the building at 1000 Howard Ave. and

N.O. business leader leaving post

Hecht led GNO Inc. for 18 years

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

Michael Hecht, the 18-year-leader of Greater New Orleans, Inc., announced he’s stepping away from his role as president and CEO and into an emeritus position at the start of 2027. During his time leading the economic development nonprofit responsible for selling a 10-parish region to global investors, Hecht started as a salesperson for the city and grew to lead some of the region’s most high-profile projects Gov Jeff Landry tapped him to lead the citywide infrastructure cleanup effort before New Orleans hosted the Super Bowl in February 2025, and he helped create the NOLA Coalition, a business and nonprofit collaboration, to address the post-pandemic spike in crime. Hecht also has been a visible and key

BY ALEX LUBBEN Staff writer

ä See HECHT, page 3B

STAFF PHOTOS By CHRIS GRANGER

Sweeping views of the Smoothie King Center and the Caesars Superdome from a bedroom inside Vcay Suites in downtown New Orleans on Monday.

See PUMPS, page 2B

Murrill

Arthur’s remnants flood already saturated area

Livingston Parish didn’t get a chance to dry out

BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer

Before the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur moved through south Louisiana early Thursday morning, rainwater was already overflowing ditches and front yards in rural parts of Livingston Parish.

The storm, which downgraded quickly after moving ashore in Texas on Wednesday, did bring torrential rains and suspected tornadoes to the New Orleans area. Avoyelles Parish, north and west

PUMPS

Continued from page 1B

would have caused ﬂooding in New Orleans even if the system worked perfectly

But it could have been made far worse with drainage pumps everywhere between the French Quarter and Lakeview knocked out for an hour at the height of the storm.

The failure of three pieces of equipment, known as “frequency changers,” sparked concern from City Council members and Mayor Helena Moreno, who told reporters she expected an answer on why the new system had a mishap.

“My message to them is ﬁgure it out, and ﬁgure it out now,” Moreno said during a morning briefing with reporters.

District A council member Ai-

HYBRID

Continued from page 1B

its adjoining parking lot for $8 3 million in 2022. They spent about $22 million converting it from an ofﬁce building into 39 apartmentstyle suites.

“What made this project extremely difﬁcult,” Mohd said, “was trying to go live in a rising interest rate environment and trying to navigate the city of New Orleans.”

Business or pleasure

Each floor of the Vcay Suites development includes three units, with each unit made up of either four or five bedrooms featuring en-suite bathrooms a kitchen and a living area. The common space also doubles as a conference room, with large tables wired to allow guests to plug into flat-screen displays or charge devices.

“One of them faces the Dome, the other one faces the bridge, and then the middle unit doesn’t face anything,” said Mohd. “The sound and light does not come in in the middle unit, so I call them the ‘serenity units.’”

In addition to a 24-hour staffed front desk, the hotel will include an outdoor pool, gym, golf simulator, business center and luggage storage area. There are no plans for a bar or restaurant, but valet parking will be offered through an subleasing arrangement with the attached garage.

Originally the First National Life Insurance building, the

MEETING

Continued from page 1B

For more than a year, Gov. Jeff Landry’s allies have repeatedly suggested that the investigation would reveal former board members’ wrongdoings. Shane Guidry a Landry adviser who has been carrying out changes at the agency though he holds no government office, has upended the board, overseeing an effort that has removed or led to the resignation of every member appointed before the governor took office. He has repeatedly alleged that the agency, prior to Landry, was rife with “waste, fraud and abuse” — allegations that have so far not been substantiated. Murrill has previously said that her office’s investigation did not find any criminal conduct, but “some pretty severe dysfunction.” The delay appears related to the investigation into Superintendent of Police Joshua Rondeno As police chief, he oversaw a dramatic increase in the flood agency’s fo-

of the Baton Rouge area, received more than 20 inches of rain, and state officials were evacuating and rescuing families from rising water Thursday afternoon. While less rain fell on the Capital Region than predicted, Livingston Parish didn’t get a chance to dry out between rainstorms through-

mee McCarron, whose district includes Lakeview, said that minor street flooding in that neighborhood receded “pretty quickly” once the power was restored, but she also called for an explanation.

“We’re going to need a full rundown from the Sewerage & Water Board on what exactly happened,” McCarron said during the brieﬁng with Moreno.

Fixing the outages

Power outages that have historically plagued the New Orleans drainage system were supposed to be eliminated with the completion of a new $300 million power complex earlier this year

The complex is centered on a new Entergy substation at the S&WB’s campus on South Claiborne Avenue that sends modern power to pumping stations throughout the city.

Water floods Kinchen Road in the eastern part of Livingston Parish on Thursday.

a week of heavy rainfall like this one. The worst was actually two days before Arthur brushed Louisiana.

“That river comes up so quick, so fast,” he said. “It winds up in a yard, in a garage.”

Water flooded into some residents’ yards on Mary Kinchen Road in Independence on Tuesday, according to residents’ photos and videos. One resident even had water come up the driveway and into a shed.

plan, set to be completed in 2027.

On Thursday morning, some roads and yards still held a notable amount of water from the rains, including Kinchen Road in the eastern part of the parish, but the amounts were significantly less than from earlier in the week.

out the wet week leading up to Arthur — and more rain was expected late Thursday Livingston Parish Council member Joe Erdey whose district covers a northeast part of the parish, said roads and homes near Blood River and its tributaries can bear the worst of the conditions during

Many of the drainage pumps run on outdated 25-hz power, which the S&WB previously had to produce in-house with failure-prone turbines. Now, the substation is connected to the frequency changers, which are specialized equipment that converts Entergy power to the lower grade needed to run the old pumps. Each of the frequency changers provides for about half of the power needed to run the drainage system at peak demand. The third is intended as a backup. All three went down on Thursday for reasons that were not clear

“We are still investigating the cause of the incident using electrical data from the frequency changers,” S&WB spokesperson Ceara Labat said in an email.

Labat initially said the S&WB expected to know what happened by the end of the day, but said in a text

The council member said local leadership and the parish’s Department of Public Works are potentially going to use drones to survey parts of the parish to create a plan to help drainage issues. The parish government is also working on a parishwide drainage master

message a little after 2:15 p.m. that she did not expect any additional information on Thursday Entergy said in a statement there was no power loss to the substation, and that it will work with the S&WB “to review and evaluate the capabilities of their system with an eye towards helping them prevent similar incidents in the future.”

The stations where pumps went down on Thursday collectively pump more than 30,000 acres across much of the city everywhere except Algiers, New Orleans East and neighborhoods downriver of the French Quarter

“It is incredibly concerning,” McCarron said in an interview on Thursday afternoon. “What is going to happen if we have a bigger storm?”

The affected stations house more than 40 drainage pumps combined, nearly all of which run

modernist midrise was designed in the International Style by New Orleans ﬁrm Mathes, Bergman & Associates and completed in 1962 as part of the postwar building boom in the Central Business District.

Its original first-floor tenant was a branch of the National Bank of Commerce, whose safe deposit box and vault remain inside. The archdiocese bought the building in 1989 to use for its ad-

cus on policing, and was placed on paid leave earlier this month after lawmakers questioned his self-drafted employment contract, a version of which would have granted him up to $910,000 in severance pay had he been ﬁred without cause.

“The Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East’s board has requested that we continue investigating certain new complaints regarding operations,” Murrill said in a statement. “Because those matters overlap and may have an impact on the report the board requested, I will follow the instructions of the board regarding when it wishes to release the prior report.”

Murrill and the board appear to disagree over who asked whom to delay the report. At Wednesday’s meeting, board President Peter Vicari ﬂatly contradicted Murrill, saying it was she who told the board to hold it.

“That’s not correct,” Vicari said of Murrill’s statement. “We were ready to give it to y’all and this other thing happened. So that’s why she said, ‘Stop, don’t release

ministrative ofﬁces.

Borrowing and burrowing

Mohd and Dawra had to overcome several stumbling blocks to bring the project to fruition, Mohd said during a recent tour of the building.

The developers had lined up the money to renovate the building after buying it, but that fell through when lenders tightened their belts following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.

anything until this one is done.’” Behind closed doors

Board members convened in a closed-door session Wednesday to “discuss” making the investigation public. The meeting’s agenda was amended after a reporter noted that holding a closed-door meeting to talk about “a legal matter in anticipation of litigation,” as the first version of the agenda read, appeared to violate the state’s open meetings law

The board reworded that item and added a second a closeddoor “discussion of the release of the Attorney General’s investigative report.”

But that also may not be permissible under Louisiana’s open meetings law, according to Bruce Hamilton, director of the First Amendment Clinic at Tulane University’s law school.

“The body can go into executive session for an investigative proceeding, not a discussion of a report,” Hamilton said.

Virginia Hamrick, a staff attorney with the Reporter’s Committee for the Freedom of the Press, agreed.

“The open meetings law is supposed to be interpreted strictly and

Livingston Parish President Randy Delatte said in a statement Thursday that most of the river gauges along the Amite and Tickfaw rivers had crested and are beginning to fall.

“At this time, Livingston Parish Government has not received any reports of homes ﬂooding as a result of this storm,” Delatte stated.

The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Ofﬁce said it did not receive any weather-related reports of incidents on Thursday

on 25-hz power and depend on the new frequency changers. A handful of pumps run on 60-hz power It was not clear on Thursday how many of the pumps were ofﬂine.

The power complex, which survived years of construction delays and funding challenges, has been described as the most signiﬁcant local infrastructure upgrade in modern history The completion date was pushed back several times, most recently to the start of the 2025 hurricane season.

That time frame also wasn’t met, as the S&WB said each of the three frequency changers needed to undergo extensive testing and gradually brought online in succession. The final testing was completed earlier this year

One of the old turbines, known as T-5, was retained as a backup power source, but it is out of service for repairs.

the basement,” Mohd said. “We had to ﬁll it with concrete.” Insurance declined to cover the damage, forcing the developers to eat the loss. In the spring of 2024, the city issued the property at least 11 code violations for overgrowth, trash and graffiti, prompting concerns of another blighted building across from the abandoned Plaza Tower

But construction eventually began in November 2024, with Johnson Controls serving as both the general contractor and the senior construction lender on the project, ﬁnancing the buildout in exchange for interest payments. Once renovations got underway, on-site private security ensured an end to subterranean intrusions. But then came President Donald Trump’s second administration and rollout of a new tariff regime, which Mohd estimated cost the developers an additional $500,000 on material costs.

“It was already in motion,” he said. “There was nothing we could do. I just had to go along with it.”

“I think banks were getting scared back then. So we did the demolition ourselves, got it on the register and made sure it was approved for the historic tax breaks,” said Mohd. “That was the reason we made it possible.”

Another added cost came from scavengers who dug below the building’s wall to steal copper and other materials.

“Three times they tunneled into

the exceptions are narrowly construed,” she said. “It doesn’t include discussions.”

The agency did not respond to an inquiry about what exemption to the law it relied on to justify the closed-door session, saying only that the “executive session complied with Louisiana law” and that the agenda was reviewed by outside counsel.

“When a public body goes into executive session, it should be able to point to the speciﬁc exemption in the law that allows it and explain why that exemption ﬁts,” said Rebecca Mowbray, the president and CEO of the Bureau for Governmental Research, a New Orleans government watchdog group. “That matters all the more for a body whose recent decisions are under public scrutiny.”

The agency has discussed the attorney general’s report in closeddoor meetings on three other occasions over the course of the last year Blair duQuesnay the chair of Citizens for One Greater New Orleans, a group that advocated for levee board reforms in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina’s levee failures, asked board members at Wednesday’s meeting to release the report.

With only a ﬁnal inspection remaining, Mohd and Dawra plan to begin accepting reservations as soon as they receive their certiﬁcate of occupancy

The hotel’s opening would signal a bright spot for a corridor dominated by the Plaza Tower, where plans to convert the blighted 45-story building into senior housing have yet to pencil out ahead of a due diligence deadline at the end of the month.

Email Jonah Meadows at jonah. meadows@theadvocate.com.

She noted that the report was ﬁrst disclosed publicly in March of last year by former board President Roy Carubba, who resigned from the board this month. She said that Carubba had “commented in the media and to the public that it is a smoking gun, that it will show that all of the former board members who he coerced to resign were guilty of fraud, waste, and abuse.”

“I just don’t understand the continued political interference with ﬂood protection,” duQuesnay said. “The public deserves to know what is in that report.”

Email Alex Lubben at alex. lubben@theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By CLAIRE GRUNEWALD

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Sam Mohd, co-owner of Vcay, opens a window blind inside a living room with sweeping views of New Orleans on Monday

Vicari

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Brandon V. Lewis paintsand Eric Whitfield plays thesaxophone during avisual art/jazz mashup at Southern’sJuneteenthcelebration in

BatonRougeonThursday

Southern marksJuneteenth butsaysfight continues

Speakers focused on getting outthe vote

BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer

Hundreds of community members, alums andstudents gathered Thursday to observe Juneteenth on the Southern University campus in BatonRouge.

The theme of the festivities was “celebrating freedom through cultureand community,” but weeks afterLouisiana’s bitter redistricting battles, the speakers Thursday morning had one message driving their remarks: Get out and vote.

“Freedom does not come in on the wheels of inevitability,” Louisiana Supreme Court Associate Justice John Michael Guidry said to the crowd. “But it takes the prodigious work and the tireless efforts of those who

are willing to continuethe ﬁght.”

The speech kicked off a day of discussionsand cultural events centered on the holiday of Juneteenth, which commemoratesJune 19, 1865, when Union Gen. Gordon Granger brought news ofemancipation to enslaved peopleinTexas more than two years after the EmancipationProclamationwas issued.

Speakers at Southern emphasized theneed for protectionofhard-won rights for Black Americans in the context of redistricting.

Thesentiments followeda contentious state legislative session that ended with the elimination of oneofLouisiana’stwo majority-Black congressional districts after the U.S. Supreme Court’sruling in Louisiana v. Callais.

“That Voting Rights Act is under attack,” Guidry said. “There’svoter intimidation, there’svoter suppression,

there are voter ID laws and all typesoflaws and legal decisions that are trying to deny us ourright to vote, andweare the ones who have to go forward and litigatethese issues.

The day opened withalibation ceremony and arendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by Southern University studentClaire Floyd.

Southern University alum Jeanet Cazenave said she felt it was important to celebrate Juneteenth on campus as notonly a relative of the ﬁrst dean of SouthernUniversity but also adescendant of the GU272, agroup of enslaved individuals who were sold to plantations in Louisiana in 1838 by Jesuit priests to paythe debts of what is now Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Juneteenth “means everything,” Cazenave said. “Itmeansthe past,the present and the future.”

Former casino blackjackdealer chargedin cheating case

BYMARGARETBAKER

Sun Herald

Aformer Mississippi Coast blackjack dealer indicted in Harrison County is charged with one count of cheatingatgambling, accordingtorecords ﬁled in the case.

Huynh Chi Kang Nguyen, 27, of Biloxi, waived his arraignment in May and pleaded not guilty to the offense. Nguyen is accused of committing the crime on or around July 16, 2025

HECHT

Continued from page1B

ﬁgure in lobbying efforts to help solve the homeowners and ﬂood insurancecrisis, and he has pushedfor the Port of New Orleans’proposed container terminal in St. Bernard Parish.

AGNO, Inc. spokesperson said the organization —whichhas an $8 million budget funded by private and public sources —will begin asearch “shortly” to replaceHecht while he continues to support key projects and initiatives

AGNO, Inc. spokesperson said Hecht is transitioning from his day-to-day role after creating an organization that has solid ﬁnances, an engagedboard, a“toptier” 21-person staff and a robust project portfolio

“GNO, Inc. under Michaelhas become an indispensableleader in our community and throughout the State of Louisiana,” said Kim Boyle,the organization’sboard chair,ina statement. “Michael excels in delivering substantial and concrete results,even through challenging times.

He was arrested the same day of the alleged offense. According to the records, Nguyen wasworkingas adealer at BoomtownCasino Biloxi when he allegedly exposedthe cards to patrons before they placed bets.Inaddition, he’saccusedof failingtocollectlosing bets from patrons. Nguyen is currentlybeing screened for pretrial diversion. If he is eligible for the program and successfully completes the terms of hissentence, he

His commitment toeconomic development and prosperity,for all citizens throughout Louisiana, has inspired an optimistic vision of our collective future.”

Hecht grew up in the New York area, earned degrees from Yale andStanford andhelpedleadNew York City’s post-9/11 smallbusinessassistanceeffort under Mayor Michael Bloomberg. After HurricaneKatrina,hecameto Louisiana, where he has deep family roots, andled asmall-business recovery programbefore taking on his current role.

“Leading GNO,Inc. has beenthe honorofalifetime,” said Hecht in astatement. “My new position will ensureorganizational continuity andefﬁcacy and allow theGNO, Inc. team to remain focused on itsmission of athriving economy andanexcellent quality of lifefor everyone. Iamforever gratefuland deeply indebted to theGNO, Inc. staff, board,investors, and partnerswho have made oursuccess possible.” SusanBourgeois, who servedasGNO,Inc.’sboard chair before becomingsec-

NewOrleans Area Deaths

EdwardsJr.,Joseph Fasullo Jr., Philip FraicheJr.,Edward Harris, Mamie Lewis, Olivia Manego Jr., Bonito McDonald,J’Juan NobleSr.,Bernard Reyes, Gladys Richards,Emma RileyJr.,Alvin Russ, Glen Vaughn, Willie Mae Williamson, Susan

NewOrleans Charbonnet

EdwardsJr.,Joseph

DW Rhodes

NobleSr.,Bernard Russ, Glen

Greenwood

Littlejohn FH

FraicheJr.,Edward Richards,Emma

West Bank

DavisMortuary

Harris, Mamie Lewis, Olivia

Mothe

Fasullo Jr., Philip Williamson, Susan

Robinson FH

McDonald,J’Juan Reyes, Gladys Vaughn, Willie Mae

Obituaries

EdwardsJr.,Joseph 'Arthur

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 thanksand recognitionto SageLakeSeniorLiving 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 Association or The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA). Relatives, friends,and employees of Fasullo’s Piggly Wiggly Su‐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

would not have afelony convictiononhis record. Otherwise, his case would go trial, whichistentatively set in July

Thegambling offense carries amaximum sentence of up to two years in prisonand up to $10,000 in ﬁnes, or both.

Nguyeniscurrently out of jail on a$25,000 bond.

TheMississippi Gaming Commission investigated the case. Harrison County Assistant District Attorney MeaghanSmith is prosecuting.

retary of Louisiana’seconomic development agency, said Hecht has been a“driving force” behind regional and statewide momentum.

“This transition reflects thestrengthofthe organization and the foundation he helped build, and we are grateful that he will remain engagedasGNO, Inc. begins its next chapter,” she said. “Welook forward to continuing our close partnership and building on the tremendous work that has helped position the region and our state for long-term success.”

Hecht, who was ﬁelding aslew of phone calls when the news broke Thursday afternoon, saidheplans to launch an economic development and government relations consulting ﬁrm next year.AsCEO emeritus,he expectstoadvocate for projects like Port NOLA’s Louisiana International Terminal and national catastrophic insurance.

“And Ihope I’ll be workingonpreparations forthe 2031 SuperBowl,” Hecht said.

Email Rich Collinsat rich.collins@theadvocate. com.

Joseph “Arthur”Ed‐wards,Jr. passedawayon Sunday, June 14, 2026, after a lengthybattlewithCOPD surrounded by hisimmedi‐ate family. He wasbornon 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.

FraicheJr.,Lieutenant ColonelEdwardNicholas

Lieutenant ColonelEd‐ward Nicholas Fraiche, Jr (Ret.),a lifelong resident of NewOrleans,Louisiana wasbornonNovember26, 1932, andpassedaway peacefully on June 9, 2026, surrounded by theloveof hisfamily. He wasthe son of thelateEdwardN Fraiche, Sr.and Gesina Henken Fraiche. Ed was preceded in deathbyhis ﬁrstwife, Mary Lou GalatasFraiche;his sib‐lings, Marion Fraiche Lochridge, Catherine FraicheMcKay,and Thomas Fraiche, Sr.He leaves to cherishhis mem‐oryhis devotedwifeof46 years, LindaSallinger O’Neil Fraiche; hischildren, Nicholas M. Fraiche, Melisa Dufour,LaurieFraiche Flory(David),EdwardN Fraiche, III (Julie), and Theodore Fraiche(Coleen). He wasthe proudgrandfa‐ther of eightgrandchildren andelevengreat-grand‐children,all of whom broughthim immensejoy andpride.Edattended FrankT.HowardGrammar See more DEATHS page

School andgraduated from Samuel J. Peters High School in 1951. He went on to earn aBachelorofSci‐ence degree in Business Administration from LouisianaState University in 1956. WhileatLSU,he wascommissionedasa Second Lieutenant in the United States Army throughthe ROTC program Followinggraduation, Ed completedInfantry train‐ingatFortBenning,Geor‐gia, andlater graduated from theArtilleryand Guided Missile School at Fort Sill,Oklahoma. During adistinguished military ca‐reer spanning decades, he served in numerous ar‐tilleryand transportation assignments, as an in‐structor of military science andtactics,and in leader‐ship positionsthroughout theArmyReserve.Hecom‐pleted theprestigious Commandand General StaffOfficerCourseatFort Leavenworth, Kansas,and received advanced military training throughout the country. Qualified in both theArtilleryand Trans‐portationbranches, he proudlyservedhis country throughout periodsofna‐tional military mobilization andconflict. He retired from theUnitedStates Army Reservewiththe rank of LieutenantColonel, atestament to hisleader‐ship,dedication, andyears of honorableservice.His military servicetookhim across theUnitedStates andprovidedexperiences that shaped hislifelong dedication to leadership andservice.Fromanearly age, Ed developeda strong work ethic. As ayoung man, he deliveredgro‐ceries forJ.J.Kelly Fancy Groceries, worked at the Escorial,Carrollton, and Cortez movietheaters, maintained anewspaper route, andservedasan usheratthe LSUUniversity Theater. He also worked at Bush JewelryStore and spentsummers as a roustabout in theoil and gasindustry. In 1966, Ed wasrecruited by AT&T and SouthCentral Bell,where he builta successful telecommunicationsca‐reer.Heattendedcommu‐nication,electrical, and managementschoolsand served in supervisoryroles overseeing Communication WorkersofAmerica per‐sonnel.Helater worked as an Installation Foreman andinspector,helping maintain andrestore com‐municationsinfrastructure throughout theregion. Afterleaving SouthCentral Bell,Edjoinedthe family plumbing andheating business, workingalong‐side hisfatherand brother Tommy. AlicensedMaster Plumberwithcertifications in gas fittingand pipefit‐ting,Edhelpedgrowthe family business into are‐spectedcommercialcon‐tractor. Throughhard work,expertise,and deter‐mination,the company successfully completed majorprojectsthroughout theNew Orleansarea, in‐cludinglarge underground fuel storagesystems,exca‐vation projects,and main‐tenancecontracts.His business accomplishments reflectedhis intelligence perseverance,and commit‐ment to excellence.Edwas active in hiscommunity andenjoyed thefellowship of severalcivic andfrater‐nalorganizations.Hewas amemberofthe NewOr‐leansExecutive Club,a Second Degree Mason, and aproud member of Elks LodgeNo. 30. Through theseorganizations,he formed many lasting friendshipsand enjoyed opportunities to serveand connectwithothers throughout theNew Or‐leansarea. Beyond hispro‐fessionaland military achievements,Ed'sgreat‐estpride washis family.He lovedgathering lovedones together andcreatingtra‐ditionsthatwould be re‐membered foryears to come.One of Ed's favorite traditions washosting family andfriends forthe annualEndymionParade. Formorethan40years,as theparadepasseddirectly in frontofhis home,heea‐gerlypreparedfor thecele‐brationeachyear. He took greatpride in settingup viewingstandsand creat‐inga festivegathering placefor everyone.Family friend RobHelmkefaith‐

OPINION

La.seeingresults of progress we’vemade

To the people of Louisiana:

This year’slegislative session built on the historic progress we’ve made together over thepasttwo years.And boy, we have come along way.Together,wehave made our state safer,opened newopportunities for people lookingfor work improved our infrastructure, tackled insurance costs and strengthened how government serves you.

Ithank the legislators and other government ofﬁcials, including those in my cabinet and agencies, who have supported change. Change is not easy,but it had to be done.The people of Louisiana demandedit. We started where it matters most: public safety.Every family in Louisiana deserves to feel safe in their own community.This year,wetook strong action to crackdown on violent crime and make surethose who harm our neighborhoods facereal consequences. After the tragic shooting atthe Mall of Louisiana, Isaid thatanyone threateningour children or bringing violenceinto ourpublic spaces would facethe fullweight of the law.And we meant it, by passing the toughest penalties for gang-related violence in public areas in recent memory.That’s delivering on promises.

Gov.Jeff Landry GUEST COLUMNIST

structureinNew Orleans.Leadersinside and outside the city have long agreed that consolidating theclerks of court and reforming thecriminaljudicialsystem was thefairthing to do.The changes made will create asystem that’s more efﬁcient, data-driven and accountable. Simply put, we did not need threepeople to screwinalight bulb, and it was timefor meaningfulreformtoprotect the taxpayers. With over $100 billion in private investment,our economyisbuilding historic momentum. Companies are choosing our state over other states in the country becauseour policiesmake us competitive, consistent and welcoming of new ideas.Wedon’tmove the goalposts anymore. We sit down withall stakeholders, public and private, and ﬁnd a path forward. It’s anew way of doing things here,and it’spaying off.

The proof is in thepudding. Businesses are investinginLouisiana, new facilitiesare being built across our stateand good-paying jobs are being created for our people.For the ﬁrst time in along time, moreLouisianans areseeing opportunity righthereat home and choosing to stayand raise their families in our state

ready for the jobs that come with them That’swhy we launched the Ofﬁce of the LouisianaTalent Accelerator,which connectsworkers with training and employers who need them. This strengthens our promise of keeping our families closer to home.

We continued our commitment to infrastructure improvements. Creating the State Infrastructure Bank andthe Rural Infrastructure Revolving Loan Fund giveslocal leaders the tools needed to quickly complete projects. The result: 64 bridgesacross Louisiana are either being built or replaced right now. These aren’tjust promises on paper; they’re real improvements. Louisiana families and senior citizens now keep moreoftheir money.Weenactedhistoric taxreform, which included the largest taxcut in statehistory,ensuring that people acrossall income levels get to keep more of their hard-earned money instead of sending it to the government Insurance has long been achallenge, and we didn’tshy away from it. This year,we invested $80 million intoour fortiﬁed roof program —the largest investment of its kind in Louisiana’shistory.Stronger roofs mean less storm damage, which means lower costs for you.

over time. Ipledged to make government work better for you. Our efficiency efforts have already uncovered hundreds of millions of dollars in savings that belong to the people of Louisiana. And to keep those improvements going, we made Louisiana DOGE a permanent part of state government under the Office of the Inspector General. And yes, after decades of complaints, jokes and frustration, we finally endedthe outdated inspection sticker.Ittook far too long, but we got it done.

As we look ahead, I’m reminded of a simple truth: Real opportunity comes when we’re willing to step outside our comfort zone. Progress asks us to be bold, to choose courage over complacency and to believe that tomorrow can be better than today That belief is something Louisianans have always had. It has helped us rebuild after storms and push past anything that triesto hold us back.

We addressed an issue thathas been out of balance for decades: the criminal justice

Butbig investments are only part of the story.Wemust ensure our people are

It’s asmartinvestment that protects people today and helps lower premiums

Legislatureunderminesyears of hard work on public safety

The Republican legislative supermajority’s targeting of New Orleans threatens to undermine yearsofhard-fought public safety progress.

For months, district attorneys and legislators from across Louisiana workedcollaboratively on nonpartisan legislationdesigned to increase the number of prosecutors statewide in order to improve public safety in every jurisdiction. There was broad agreement around one basic reality: Louisiana needs more prosecutors,not fewer. The demands placedon modern prosecutors’ ofﬁces,particularlyin violent crime jurisdictions,continuetogrow whileresources remainstretchedthin.

there were repeated efforts to undermine local ofﬁcials and local institutions rather than support the workbeing done.

That same spirit is carrying us into anew era —one deﬁned not by the things that have limited us, but by the possibilities that are lifting us forward. Our best days aren’t behind us; they’re right in front of us. And Itruly believe they’re ours to reach for,together with asmile Jeff Landry is the governor of Louisiana.

Energy alliance fights forall Louisianans

Yetatthe eleventh hour,Republican legislative leadership advanced amendments stripping approximately half amilliondollars from the Orleans Parish District Attorney’sOfﬁce, reportedly with the support and blessingofGov.Jeff Landry’s administration. The move occurred without meaningful discussion, supporting data or consultation with local stakeholders.

This was not simply abudgetary adjustment It was adecision with direct public safety consequences forNew Orleans.

It is important for the public to understand exactly what was cut. This is not unrestricted operational funding. Under Louisiana law, this “warrant” fundingcan only be used for prosecutor salaries.In practical terms, the reductionmeans fewer prosecutors in courtrooms, fewer attorneys reviewing cases, fewer lawyers handling violent crime prosecutions and ultimatelyfewerresources devotedto ﬁghting for victims and protecting public safety

The decision comes at aparticularlytroubling time because New Orleans hasexperienced oneof the most dramatic reductions in violent crime in modern city history.Byvirtually every account, homicides and violent crime are nowat theirlowestlevelssince the1970s.EvenPresidentDonald Trump has publicly acknowledgedthe city’s public safety progress. That progress did not happenbyaccident. It was built through five years ofdifficult work by police officers, prosecutors, judges, jurors, witnesses and community members who continuedtobelieve in the rule of law and the importance of rebuilding trust in the justice system.

It is also no coincidence thatthe Orleans Parish District Attorney’sOfficehas tried significantly more violent crime casessince the end of thepandemic than prior administrations. Trialdockets were rebuilt, courtroom operations wererestored andconfidence in the system was gradually strengthened. That trust matters. It means more people increasingly believe justicecan and should be pursued in acourtroom rather than through retaliation in the streets. And yet, despite that measurable progress, Republican-controlled state leadership continues to pursue policies that weakenthe very institutions responsible for maintaining public safety in New Orleans. During this year’slegislative session,

The recent decision to eliminatemultiple judgeshipsfrom Orleans ParishCriminal DistrictCourtisanother example. Removing judgesfromone of the busiest criminal court systemsinLouisiana will not make New Orleans or the surrounding parishes safer.Itrisks slowing prosecutions, increasing delays for victims, prolonging case resolutionand placing even greater strain on an already overburdened justicesystem. Particularly troubling was the targeting of Judge Rhonda Goode-Douglas,who was blindsided by legislation eliminating the seat to which the citizens of Orleans Parishelected her in 2020. Regardless of political afﬁliation, voters in NewOrleans chose theirjudges through democratic elections.Overriding thosechoices from BatonRouge sends adangerous message about local self-governance and judicial independence. It also removes one of the mostefﬁcient and effective judgesfrom thecriminalcourthouse.

At atimewhen New Orleans is ﬁnally making measurable progress in reducing violent crime, the state should be strengthening theinstitutions responsible for delivering justice, notdismantling them piece by piece.

This is not simply aNew Orleans issue. Hurting NewOrleans hurts Louisiana.Crimedoes notstop at parishlines, and when one parish is weakened, surrounding communities inevitably feel the ripple effects. Republicans and Democratsalike,across all 64 parishes, should understand thatpublic safety in Louisiana is interconnected.

That is why these funding reductions are so troubling. At thevery moment prosecutors handling homicide, armed robbery,domestic violence andchild abuse cases are losing resources, state leaders were prepared to commit millions of taxpayer dollars towardsubsidizing an international golf eventconnected to one of the wealthiest foreign-backed organizations in the world. The contrast raises legitimate questions about priorities.

The goal of public policy should be to strengthen the criminal justice system where measurable progress is occurring, not weaken it for political or partisan reasons. New Orleanshas worked too hardand sacriﬁced too much to reverse course now But New Orleans has endured far worse than political hostilityfromBaton Rouge.This city has survivedhurricanes, economic collapse, national neglect and generations of challenges to its independence and resilience. Each time, itspeople rebuilt strongerthanbefore. We will do soagain.

The people of New Orleans will not allow political agendas crafted in Baton Rouge to undo years of progressearned through sacriﬁce, persistenceand an unwavering commitmenttopublic safety

Jason Williams is thedistrict attorney in Orleans Parish

The newspaper recentlypublished acolumn from Gregory Kiley,accusing theAlliance for Affordable Energyof being funded by theChinese government to undermine Louisiana’seconomy and national security.This accusation was ﬁrst made by the Pelican Institute, Louisiana’slocal afﬁliate of anational network of right-wing “thinktanks” historically supported by the Koch brothers andother conservative or corporate donors.

While we fail to see how our work threatensanything other thanobscene proﬁts forWallStreet shareholders or bonuses forcorporate utility CEOs, we do think it is important to provide somefacts.

First, the Alliancewas founded by and for Louisianans. We are not part of some coordinated project to manipulate state policyfor the interests of theuber-wealthy, corporatesponsors or “foreign adversaries” —we’re alocal organization that’sbeen ﬁghting to keep your monthly electric bill affordable for over40years.

Second, we have neverreceived —nor would we accept— funding from entities connected to theChinese government. The accusation speciﬁcally made by Kiley andthe Pelican Institute relates to funding for the Alliance, which they claim camefrom theEnergyFoundation China. Thisisfalse. Butwemay be able to explain howtheygot their factssowrong.

The Alliance hasreceivedfunding from theEnergyFoundation, awell-respected philanthropic organization,for many years as far back as 2014. In 2019, the Energy Foundation split intotwo entities: theU.S.EnergyFoundationand EnergyFoundation China During that separation,Energy Foundation China kept theoriginal Employer Identiﬁcation Number (EIN) and theU.S.EnergyFoundationwas created as anew entity, withanew EIN.

The Alliance did receive funds from the EnergyFoundation under thatoriginal EIN —back whenit was only used forthe American legal entity.And allgrants to the Alliance receivedsince2019 are from the U.S. EnergyFoundation EIN. But don’ttakemyword forit

—you can findall this information on ourwebsite. It is OK —albeitembarrassing —toget these thingsconfused.Due diligencecan be tough, especially whenyou have a political narrative to push Butthat bringsustoour thirdfact. UnlikeKiley— who fails to disclose he is aWashington, D.C.-based political consultant— or thePelican Institute, which doesn’t publishits funder information,the Alliancehas advocated for moretransparency in regulatory andother policymaking processes fordecades. That’swhy Iwenttothe April Public ServiceCommission meeting to speak in favorofthe rule-making proposed by Commissioner Eric Skrmetta, whichKiley urgesthe commission to adopt. In fact, we workedwithLPSCstaffto ensure those ruleswill maximize transparency without violating constitutional rightsorprevent regularpeople from participating in theregulatory process. It should be noted that these attacksagainstuscome at atime when Louisiana is preparing to give away morestate dollars than ever to someofthe world’swealthiest andmost powerful peopleand corporationsinthe name of “economic development.” It comes at a time when many of ourstate’sappointed andelected officialshave signednondisclosure agreements to keep crucial facts about those “economicdevelopment” dealssecret from thepublic Perhapsthe Pelican Institute and Kileyhopetheir accusationswill distract from this.But theAlliance will notbeintimidated by selfproclaimed “think tanks.” We will notbow downtothe corporate special interests who fund them,and who want to make youpay more andmore fortheir benefit,while youget less andless in return Andunlike ouraccusers, we have nothing to hide.We’re here to fight forthe rights and well-being of all Louisianans— and we’re notgoing anywhere.

JacksonVossisgovernment affairsand policycoordinator forthe Alliancefor Affordable Energy

COMMENTARY

AMERICA250

Free men of color fighting for the Spanisharmy. Rendered imagefrom’ American Revolution: The Augmented Exhibition’ at the Historic NewOrleans Collection.

Blackhistory is American history

No peopleunderstoodwhatfreedom meantmorethanthose whowereenslaved

The history of America is written in blood, civil strife, rebellion,resistance, treachery anddeception It is also written in bravery,heroism, sacriﬁce andslavery.America was built on thebacks of our ancestors and throughthe wombs —that were claimed, owned and enslaved —of our grandmothers. Thebirth of America did not start with abang or with abullet. It started with apetition for redress of grievances.

By Kaye Whitehead

ABOUTTHE IMAGE

On June 7, 1776, Richard Lee of Virginia stood up in the Pennsylvania State House to read his resolution.This was amomentousoccasion that marked what was alreadyhappening in the 13 colonies. One year earlier,onMay 10 1775, when King George III failed to respond to the Second ContinentalCongress’spetition, the colonists began to assume national duties, which included establishing anational currency,a Continental Army anda post ofﬁce for the “United Colonies.

ﬁrst documented legal racial protest (that we know of), it was likely notthe ﬁrst ever,and it was certainly notthe last.The earliest account of arebellion by enslaved men and women in the 13 colonies occurred in 1687 on aVirginia plantation. Although their plan was discovered before it happened, the idea that Black people were organizing back then to aggressively challenge the system is important to note. There have always been multiple movements and ideas within the Black community around resistance. This means that protests happened in thestreets and in the courtroom. They happened in theschools and in thepublic square. They happened when we chose to stay,and when we chose to run or ride on atrain, or stow away on aboat, or mail ourselves to freedom.

At that time, around 2.5million colonists lived in America. Among them were 500,000 enslaved men, women and children. It is ironic that while White colonists were calling for their independence, they were actively enslavingBlack colonists. They would continuetodosofor the next 89 years until theratiﬁcation of the 13th AmendmentonDec. 6, 1865.

Before White colonists formally declared their independence in 1776, Black people had been declaring and fighting for theirs since at least 1526,whenthe first 100-plus enslaved people revolted and escaped from San Miguel de Gualdape, the first European settlement in the continental U.S. This was the first rebellion of enslaved people fighting to be free.

One hundred andeighteen years later,in1644, 11 enslaved men and women in the Black communityof New Amsterdam, theprincipal port city and capital, petitioned forand won their freedom andland.They had completed 17 of their 18 years of indentured servitude. They argued that they should be freed and not subject tothe 1625 Virginia law spreading across the colonies. This law distinguished between Black servitudeand Black slavery It helped lay the foundation forthe harsher slave laws enforced from 1657 onward. Althoughthiswas the

Understanding all these realities helps framethe Black American experience not just for thepast 250 years but for thepast 500 years (San Miguel de Gualdape, or 407 years if you date back to 1619 in Jamestown, Virginia).The struggle anddesire to be free, write our history and pursue our destiny have alwaysbeen part of that experience. Despite laws that were crafted to restrict our rightsand freedoms, ourdesire to be free remains central to America’sstory. The questions have never been about whether we should join thestruggle for civil rights, but when, where and to what extent.

As America advanced from its early beginnings to its position as aworld power,Black people have contributed significantly,yet we have not always shared equally in its progress. Ourstruggles have included not just fighting for land and physical freedom, but also forcing this nation to fulfill its promises as outlined in our founding documents. Thequestions these strugglesraise —about liberty and justice —have existed since America’sstartand persisttoday.Inthe 21st century, these questions may seem simple, but history reveals how deeply they shape our identity and who belongs in the American narrative. Black history is American history, afact we strive to affirm within a society constructed on Whiteness. We commit to these self-evident truths and have consistently shown

our willingness to ﬁght and die for them. As my father once asked, “How can you face thetruthof America and not be angry enough to wanttoburn it all down?” My mother added, “How do you burn down thehouse you live in?” For manyBlack Americans, this is the core experience: ﬁghting to savea burning house while living in it. Frederick Douglass, in 1851,argued that after 230 years of chains, lashes, bloodhounds and utter insecurity, we learned to live on. We learned to smile through it all. We sang through our pain and laughed through our tears. Even when we thought we made it, we were reminded again and again that Americahad never been America to us. This is theland of the free and the homeofthe brave. It is theplace that at one time claimed to welcome thepoor,huddled masses and guaranteed life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Yetithas never offered or kept those promises to us.

Although America has been “independent”since 1776, we have not. We have been tormented,enslaved, and killed for being Black in America. We watched as our neighborhoods were terrorized, our children frightened, our sisters violated and our brothers incarcerated.

On theeve of the celebration of the Declaration of Independence, while our cries still struggle to be heard above the noise, we must remember that we arethe heart and soul of America. We have always— and will always —matter Sit withthat for amoment. Andthen, Beforewecelebrate, Beforewedance, Beforeweraise any flags, Beforewelight fireworks, Beforewehear more lies about thetruthofthe American promise, Beforewelisten as they spin the horror and terror of our past, Beforethey conveniently forget oursacrifice and try to makeusforget,again.

Take amoment to rememberand then share that the birth of America is the birth of our nation, too.

Karsonya “Kaye” Wise Whitehead (todaywithdrkaye@gmail.com) is a professor of communication and African and AfricanAmericanStudies at Loyola University Maryland.She is thepresident of theAssociation for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH)

The imageabove features ascene from “American Revolution,”which made its United Statesdebutatthe Historic New Orleans Collection in March and will remain featureduntil Jan. 17.Thisfree, interactive experience utilizes360-degree augmented reality to immerse visitorsin20defining moments of the nation’sfounding,fromthe sparks of the Boston TeaParty to the victory at yorktown.Developedbyleading historians and scholars, this exhibition celebrates the figures whoshapedthe United States and sharesthe Revolution in afreshway that speaks to the hearts and minds of the American people today.The exhibition serves as afocal point of the Louisiana America 250 commemorations and coincideswith HNOC’s60thanniversary. Locatedinthe heartofthe French Quarter,its campus spans 14 historic buildings which serve as acatalyst fordialogue and historical understanding “American Revolution” is producedand designed by Histovery with promotional supportfrom NewOrleans &Companyand Louisiana America 250.The exhibition offers afresh, technologically driven waytoexplore the American story. For more information, visit hnoc.org

ABOUTTHISSERIES

Throughout the year,the Opinion pages are featuring columns and conversations from historians, scholars, politicians and others about what this 250thanniversaryofAmerica means.To read previous pieces, go to the Opinion section of our website.

Kaye Whitehead GUEST COLUMNIST

PROVIDED IMAGE By HISTOVERy

fully provided aprofes‐sional sound system that became part of the tradi‐tion.Familyand friends dressedincostumes, shared food,laughter, and memories,and enjoyedthe festivitiestogether.What startedasa parade party became acherished an‐nualfamilyreunion that broughtgenerations to‐gether andcreated count‐less treasuredmemories. Ed hada lifelong love of boating, andsomeofhis happiest memories were made on thewater Whetherhewas pullinghis children andgrandchildren on tubes, taking aleisurely cruise alongthe coastor around BaySt. Louis, Mis‐sissippi,orhosting family andfriends at hiscampon Lake Pontchartrainor aboard hishouseboat in Beau Chene, he wasal‐ways happiest at thehelm. Family andfriends espe‐cially enjoyedhis leg‐endary boatingstories ofteninvolving hurricaneforcewinds, amotleycrew, anda hard-fought journey to safe harbor.Toldwith humor andenthusiasm, his storiesalwaysleftevery‐onesmiling,laughing, and marvelingatthe incredible adventures he experienced on thewater.Edand his belovedwife, Linda, shared apassion fortraveland ad‐venture. Together they traveled extensively throughout theUnited States andaround the world, visitingEurope, Hawaii,Alaska, theVirgin Islands, Panama,and many otherdestinations. Oneof Ed's favorite adventures wastraveling to Panama threetimes andtransiting thePanamaCanal,anex‐perience he thoroughly en‐joyedand oftenspoke aboutwithpride.Whether exploringhistoriccities, enjoying scenic land‐scapes,cruisingthrough thePanamaCanal,ordis‐covering newcultures, theytreasured theexperi‐encestheysharedto‐gether.Their travelscre‐ated lastingmemories, lifelong friendships, and countless storiesthatwere shared with family and friendsfor yearstocome. Ed will be remembered for hisintegrity,patriotism, generosity,determination andunwaveringdevotion to hisfamily. Whether servinghis country, build‐inga successful career travelingthe worldwith Linda, or hostingfamily celebrations,heap‐proached life with enthusi‐asm, dedication,and a deep love forthose around him. Hislegacyofservice hard work,faith,and fam‐ilywillcontinue to inspire allwho knew andloved him. He will be deeply missedand foreverre‐membered.May he rest in peace. Family andfriends areinvited to attend a MemorialMassatOur Lady of theRosaryCatholic Church,3368 Esplanade Ave.,New Orleans, LA 70119 on Saturday,June 20, 2026,beginning at 12:00 PM.Visitationwillstart at 11:00 AM untilMass. Burial with military honors will follow at Greenwood Cemetery.Tosignthe on‐line guestbook,aswellas sharememoriesand con‐dolences,pleasevisit www.greenwoodfh.com

The Times-Picayune nephews, cousins, other relatives andfriends.Rela‐tives and friendsofthe family, also pastors, ofﬁ‐cers, andmembers of Little ZionBaptist Church #3 and all neighboringchurches; employees of West Jeffer‐son MedicalTeam8th Floor,Ochsner Hospital, Bayside Health Care Cen‐ter,Jefferson Parish Head Start Program, andPas‐sages of Covington, LA are invited to attend the Homegoing Celebrationat LittleZionBaptist Church #3, 441WilsonStreet, Mar‐rero, LA on Saturday,June 20, 2026 at 10:00a.m.Pas‐tor Norman D. SmithIII, of‐ﬁciating. Visitation will begin at 8:30 a.m. until ser‐vicetimeatthe church.In‐terment:RestlawnPark Cemetery, Avondale,LA. ArrangementsbyDavis MortuaryService,230 Mon‐roe St., Gretna,LA. To view and sign theguestbook, pleasegotowww.davismo rtuaryservice.com

Lewis, Olivia DempseyGilmore

Olivia DempseyGilmore Lewis enteredpeacefully intoeternal rest on Satur‐day,June13, 2026, at the age of 80, surrounded by her loving family.She was a native of Hazlehurst,MS and aresidentofMarrero, LA. Olivia wasa graduate ofLincoln High School.A devoted homemaker, she dedicated herlifetoher faith,family, andcommu‐nity. Sheenjoyed bingo, traveling,fellowshipwith familyand friends, andes‐peciallyspendingtime withher grandchildren. De‐voted wife of thelateWil‐fredLewis.Beloved mother ofCornelius (Theresa), Michael (Charmaine), Ken‐neth(Courtney), Nathlie (Oscar), Roxanne(Gre‐gory),Leslie(Michael) Tamill, Leterasha(Damion) and thelate Vincent “Baldy” Gilmore. Step‐motherofJoseph(Gwen‐dolyn)Boudion,Jarius (Courtney) Boudion, Robin Jackson,BrooksieAllen, and Ashley (Eric) Nash Grandmother of thelate Trent Gilmoreand Marquis Coleman.Daughterofthe lateJackDempsey Gilmore and IdaMae Gilmore. Sis‐ter of Janice Walker,Joe Gilmore,ErnestGilmore and thelateLorraine Foxy” Gilmore, Carol LouiseClark,JackGilmore, and ThurmanGilmore Godmother of Tabatha (Harold). Mother-in-lawof Willette Boudion. Compan‐ion of thelateRobertAllen Oliviaisalsosurvivedby 32grandchildren,53greatgrandchildren,and ahost ofnieces, nephews, other relatives,and friends. Rela‐tives and friendsofthe family, also pastors, ofﬁ‐cers, membersofSecond ZionBaptist Church,and all neighboringchurches are invitedtoattend the Celebration of Life at Sec‐ond Zion BaptistChurch, 6520 Second Zion Ave. Marrero,LAonSaturday, June 20,2026, at 10:00 a.m. Visitationwillbegin at 8:30 a.m.until servicetimeat the above-namedchurch Interment: Woodlawn Park MemorialCemetery-West‐wego, LA.Arrangementsby Davis Mortuary Service, 230 Monroe St., Gretna,LA. Toviewand sign theguest‐book,pleasegotowww davismortuaryservice.com.

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‐ing aunts, MirandaNeal IvoryMcDonaldand Ash‐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

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 stand in faith 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 unwaveringcommitment 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 unitedthrough‐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 continue throughher fam‐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

nieces,nephews,cousins, and friends. Shewas pre‐ceded in deathbyher par‐ents; hersiblings(Mary Coleman,Leola McMath, Mildred Brown, Juila Brown-Gould, VariestJef‐fersonJr.,Henry LeeJeffer‐son Sr JamesJefferson Sr.); andher stepsonTerry Richards. Sheattended RockofAgesBaptist Church underthe leader‐shipofBishopJonathan Everett Sr.Serviceswillbe heldonSaturday, June 20, 2026 (visitationat9 am, service at 10 am)atMount Kingdom Missionary Bap‐tistChurch,located at 3756 JohnnyJackson Blvd., New Orleans,LA70126. Pastor Darrick Johnson, ofﬁciat‐ing.Interment Resthaven MemorialPark. Profes‐sionalservicesentrusted to: Littlejohn Funeral Home, 2163 AubryStreet, Cal K. Johnson, FuneralDi‐rector/ Manager. Info:504940-0045.

Alvin RileyJr., age 71 wasbornonMay 13, 1955, in NewOrleans,Louisiana. On June 7, 2026, he peacefully departedthislifeto be with hisLordand Savior at West JeffersonMedical Center.Hewas aretired Army veteran,entrepreneur andthe proud ownerofRiley's Appliances. He leaves to mournhis belovedchildren Alvin RileyIII andKhai Payne; hisdevoted sister Patricia Johnson, Laura Riley, andCallise Phillips. Nephew of Eunice Smith, Pearl Davis, Mildred Riley, Bishop Sarah Williams, Rose Mary Riley, hisuncles John (Juanita) Rileyand CurtisWilliams. Ahostof nieces, nephews, cousins andfriends.Funeral service on SaturdayJune20, 2026 at NewZionChristian FWC locatedat5040 TaravellaRd, Marrero,La 70072. Visitation will begin at 8:30 a.m. service at 10 a.m. officiatedbyBishop Carnell Bridges. Interment will be at Restlawn Parkin Avondale,La. Funeral planning entrusted to Jones Memorial Funeral Home.

Glen

Russ,

Glen (Boxhead)Russ, 70, departedthislifeon Sunday, June 7, 2026, at WynhovenNursing Home. Glen waspreceded in death by hisparents, Thomas andMyrtle Berry Russ, siblings Thomas Berry, Betty Manuel,David Leeand Ursula Deneen Russ. Glen leaves to cherish hismemory,his sisters IreneTanner,Patricia Williams andTreva Russ, sister-in-law,BrendaBerry, godchild,Erryn Roberts, and ahost of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

Bonito Jose Manego, Jr., was agraduate of Brother Martin High School and SUNO. Bonito isthe son of the late Bonito Manego, Sr. and Marie A.Manego; Belovedhusband of Nikki Manego; Devoted fatherto Aaron and Aiden Manego. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend afuneral mass on June 19, 2026 atOur Lady of GuadalupeChurch at 10:30am. Interment to follow at Lake Lawn Cemetery.

Bernard Weldon Noble, Sr. departedthislifeon Friday, June 5, 2026 at the ageof76. Sonofthe late Athenette Noble and Nehemiah Noble.Father of Love Brown, JovonScott, Sunshine Brown, Bernard Noble, Jr., Bernard W. Lee and Jeffery Taylor.Brother of Carolyn Taylor,Wanda Dennisand Charles Noble He is also survived by 26 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildrenand ahost of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Relatives and friendsof family also employees of B's Uptown Audio are invited to attend aFuneral Service at D. W. Rhodes Funeral Home,3933 Washington Ave.New Orleans, LA 70125 on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. Visitation will beginat10:30 a.m. ArrangementsbyD.W RhodesFuneral Home. Please visit www.rhodefuneral.comto signthe online guestbook. Funeral can be live streamed @ www. face book.com / D.W.RhodesFuneralHome/ live

at herhomeinWestwego, 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‐dolencesatwww.Robinso nfamilyfuneralhome.com.

MamieLee Curtis Harris entered into eternalrestat her residenceonFriday, June5,2026, at theblessed age of 87 years. Shewas a nativeofUtica,MSand a residentofMarrero,LA. Mamie waseducatedin the HindsCountySchool System. Afterrelocatingto Marrero,LA, shegained employment with West Jef‐fersonMedical Center, where shebegan as a Housekeeper andlater ad‐vancedtobecomea Lab Technician, from whichshe retired after many yearsof dedicated service. Beloved wifeofthe late RJ Harris Devoted mother of Mary HarrisRobinson, Loretta HarrisGrayand Jerome Harris. Cherishedgrand‐motherofBrandon Savage Great grandmotherof Kennedy A. andBraediS Savage. Daughter of the lateChapman Curtis,Sr. and MamieWilsonCurtis. Granddaughter of thelate Ceasarand Mary Jane Har‐ris.LovingsisterofJulia Dabney. Aunt of Denise Harris. Mother-in-lawof HarrisonGrayand thelate HermanW.Robinson, Jr Mamie also survived by her devotedfriendBetsy Davisand ahostofnieces,

Familyand friends of thefamily, members of NewHope Baptist Church, Pilgrim Progress and First Shiloh Missionary Baptist Churches, employeesof WynhovenNursing Home, PaceGreater NewOrleans Cash MoneyRecords, Le RichelieuHotel andemployees and patronsof Gladys Bar are invited to attendthe Celebration of Life on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at Israelite Baptist Church,2100 MartinLuther King Jr.Blvd.Visitationwill begin at 10:00 am. Service begin at 11:00 am. Reverend Marc Napoleon officiating.Interment:Lake LawnMetairieCemetery Arrangements by D.W. Rhodes Funeral Home Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.com to sign the online guestbook.

Vaughn, Willie MaeTate

SusanKliebertWilliamson, continuedher spiritual journeyinHeaven, onJune 15, 2026 at theage of67. Belovedwifeofthe lateRay Thomas Williamson. Loving sister of Ju‐dithKliebert Shaddinger (Johnny).AuntofJosh Shaddinger andthe late JohnShaddinger III. Also survivedbyother loving familymembers,many friends,and herbeloved felinefriends.Susan wasa lifelongresidentofMar‐reroand spentmuchofher career workinginseveral areacasinos,including Harrah’s. Shewas an avid animallover,morespecifi‐cally,her cats.She will be sadly missed. Thefamily would like to expresstheir heartfelt appreciation to her childhood friendsand neighbors,AlbertRiley, Sr and DebbieDioronfor their steadfastfriendshipand support in watching over Susan.Special thanks also toWestJefferson Medical CenterEMS andDeputy AshleyTheriot,J.P.S.O.for their care andcompassion. Familyand friendsare in‐vited to gather at OurLady ofPromptSuccorCatholic Church,531 Avenue Ain WestwegoonMonday, June 22, 2026 from 10 AM to 12Noon. AFuneralMass willfollow. Interment WestlawnMemorialParkin Gretna. In lieu of flowers, donations in hermemory may be made to the Louisiana SPCA by visiting: https://donate.louisianasp ca.org/campaign/689857/ donate.Mothe Funeral Homeisassisting thefam‐ily during this difficult time. Condolencesand memoriesmay be shared byvisitingSusan’s memor‐ial page at:www.mothefu nerals.com.

Emma Gene Richards embracedlifeinheavenon Saturday, June 6, 2026 at the ageof84. On February 28, 1942, Emma wasbornto the late VariestSr. andSur‐forniaJefferson in Port Allen,Louisiana.She relo‐cated to NewOrleans Louisiana at ayoung age. She wasmarried to the lateEdwardRichardsSr. She leaves to cherishher memoriesher brother, Cleveland Jefferson; daughterinheart,Roxann (Lyle); herstepchildren (Edward Jr., Stanley, Geral‐dine);her godchildren (Raquel andEinhoj);her devoted greatniece (Railen) andmanyother

Reyes, Gladys Dionisia Marte

Riley Jr., Alvin

Williamson,Susan Kliebert

Noble Sr., Bernard Weldon

Harris, MamieLee Curtis

Richards,Emma Gene

Manego, BonitoJose

JOIN THE CLUB

BY JEFF DUNCAN Staff writer

Terron Armstead and Mark Ingram are the newest members of the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame. The former star left tackle and running back were introduced as the 58th and 59th player inductees at a news conference at the Saints’ training facility in Metairie on Thursday Sal La Rock, a devoted Saints fan and longtime press box supervisor at the Superdome, is the recipient of the Joe Gemelli Fleur de Lis Award, which is given to individuals who have made signiﬁcant, lasting contributions to the betterment and support of the Saints franchise.

“I’m thankful to the Saints organization for believing in me, and I’m thankful to the city of New Orleans for embracing me and welcoming me and loving on me,” said Ingram at a standing-room-only

BY GUERRY SMITH

Contributing writer

The first thing that jumps out about Tulane’s new-look men’s basketball roster is an inﬂux of proven shooters.

After watching his team clank 3-pointers with mind-numbing consistency this past season, coach Ron Hunter made a concerted effort to avoid a repeat in 2026-27.

Detroit Mercy transfer 6-foot-5 guard TJ Nadeau sank a Horizonleague best 46.7% of his treys as a sophomore last year, going 70 of 150 while hitting six on two occasions.

Queens University transfer Carson Schwieger, a 6-9 redshirt junior forward, ranked ﬁfth in the Atlantic Sun with 92 3-pointers and was second in 3-point accuracy (40.2%). Ryan Blount, a 6-6 junior guard from Division II Tampa, connected on 77 of 188 treys (41.0%) a year after posting nearly duplicate numbers (76 of 185). His sophomore stats placed him ﬁfth in the

Sunshine State League for makes and accuracy In contrast, Curtis Williams led Tulane with 68 3-pointers while connecting on only 33.5% last season The Wave ranked 289th out of 365 Division I teams in 3-point accuracy (32.1%).

“Last year was statistically one of the worst offenses we’ve had since I’ve been a head coach,” Hunter said. “When we’d get a call about a certain kid, the ﬁrst thing I asked was what did they do from the 3-point line? That was the number one thing we wanted to do, and we were able to do it at a high level. Even the bigs we brought in all can shoot.”

Tulane needed a different approach after a rough season that started tragically with the drowning death of starting center Gregg Glenn in late July and ended with an ugly loss to Charlotte in the second round of the American Conference Tournament. The Green Wave (18-15, 8-10) dropped 10 of its

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

Jay Johnson didn’t mess around.

With about a month before the MLB draft, the LSU baseball coach already has ﬁlled out most of his starting lineup for next season, adding four bats out of the transfer portal and persuading star shortstop Steven Milam to return to school for his senior year

Here’s an early projection of what the order will look like, how all of the new pieces ﬁt together and a deeper look at the one hole remaining in the lineup for 2027. Lineup projection 1. Mason Braun, 1B 2. Cade Arrambide, C 3. Steven Milam, SS

Omar Serna, DH

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

Cesar Ruiz said he does not use his social media accounts, so perhaps the New Orleans Saints offensive lineman did not see the level of vitriol directed at him when he struggled this past season. He did not read the series of tweets that called for his job, ridiculed his performance and, on occasion, got personal.

But Ruiz wasn’t blind to the fact that expectations — including his own — weren’t met in 2025. And the criticism didn’t just come from the internet. It was even levied by Saints general manager Mickey Loomis when he acknowledged the Saints had to get “more out of” their 2020 first-round pick.

“Challenge accepted,” Ruiz said.

When the Saints return for training camp next month, one of the more under-the-radar items the team will have to monitor is how Ruiz responds to what was arguably the worst year of his career The pads will come on, and the 27-year-old understands he must be better than he was a year ago Ruiz may not be in danger of losing his starting job at right guard just yet, but he is entering a contract year The Saints also drafted his potential replacement when they selected former Auburn player Jeremiah Wright in the fourth round in April.

Fairly or not, Ruiz now is seen as the weak link of a starting line that the Saints have remodeled over the last few years.

“I got a lot of disrespect,” Ruiz said. “And ultimately, I’m not a guy who goes into his turtle shell and blames the world for what’s going on. You’ve got to go ﬁgure out how to change the narrative and how to go out there and make it happen.

“So that’s what I’m doing and I’ve made it happen.”

Ruiz’s coaches have been encouraged by his approach. Head coach Kellen Moore said Ruiz came into the offseason program in “really good shape,” while offensive line coach Brenden Nugent said the guard came in with the right attitude.

Asked what went wrong last year, Nugent said Ruiz’s technique “wasn’t as clean” as the guard wanted it to be. The lineman particularly struggled in the run game. Though Pro Football

STAFF FILE PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Saints offensive tackle Terron Armstead, right, pushes running back Alvin Kamara closer to the end zone against the San Francisco 49ers during a game at the Superdome on Dec. 8, 2019.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL DEMOCKER

Saints running back Mark Ingram runs the ball in the

Eagles and Saints at the Superdome on

Ruiz

Texas hires SLU’s Fremin as associate head coach

Just weeks after winning its second softball national championship Texas announced the hiring of Southeastern Louisiana coach Rick Fremin as its associate head coach on Thursday

Fremin, a three-time Louisiana Coach of the Year, led Southeastern to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 202426. He is 698-410-1 (.630) as a head coach, including a 348-197 record leading the Lions.

Knicks, fans revel in victory parade

New york celebrates first NBA championship in 53 years

BY ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE, JAKE

OFFENHARTZ and STEPHEN WHYNO

Associated Press

NEW YORK Jalen Brunson held up the golden NBA championship trophy for a forest of outstretched hands to touch as fans celebrated the New York Knicks’ ﬁrst title in 53 years with a booming parade through Manhattan’s skyscraperﬂanked “Canyon of Heroes.”

“Damn, New York, we really did it,” Brunson, the finals MVP said at a celebration at city hall. “Somehow, someway, I knew we were going to find a way to get this done.” Moments later, Mayor Zohran Mamdani presented keys to the city to the Knicks’ players, coaches, owners and staff. Wearing a team jersey under his suit jacket, Mamdani said he and other fans “waited because we knew deep down in our sick, suffering hearts” the Knicks would someday win. Blue and orange confetti swirled through the air during the parade. Massive cheers of “Let’s go, Knicks!” and “Knicks in five!” kept erupting.

And OG Anunoby who scored the go-ahead basket in Game 4 of the ﬁnals on a tip-in with 1.2 seconds left, left his parade ﬂoat to interact with fans, holding the NBA Cup inseason championship trophy in one hand and a bottle of Patron tequila in the other

Director Spike Lee, perhaps the team’s most iconic fan, was on a float with Brunson, savoring the moment. “I’ve never been to a parade — ever — and I’m glad it’s this

one,” Lee said. The MVP’s mom, Sandra Brunson, wore a shirt with photos of Jalen and husband Rick, who played for the Knicks and is an assistant on coach Mike Brown’s staff. She echoed her son’s words, saying: “It was all worth it.”

Karl-Anthony Towns hoisted the Eastern Conference championship trophy and a cigar on top of a parade bus while Mamdani danced. Later Towns approached a group of kids with the NBA trophy to let them get their hands on it, bringing joyful screams.

Knicks fans turn out in force

People streamed into lower Manhattan on crammed subways. Several blocks from the parade route, fans stood shoulder to shoulder — sometimes on each other’s shoulders — or climbed trafﬁc lights and sanitation trucks. Far away on the

Brooklyn Bridge, people gathered just to hear the loudspeakers.

“I had to be here today,” said Shareefa Wallace, 34, who got up at 3 a.m. to make her way from suburban Long Island. She grew up in the city going to Knicks games, and she sported the souvenir jersey of a legend from that era, Patrick Ewing.

Owner James Dolan thanked fans for waiting more than a half-century Brown encouraged fans to keep their energy going “because this championship is about you guys.”

‘The New York vibe’

Nearby bars and delis ﬁlled with fans, some wishing they’d arrived at dawn. But many seemed at peace with only experiencing the parade from a distance.

“We just want to be with the New York energy and the New York vibe,” said Jean Strong, who came

to the parade from Harlem with his nephew and sister Terrell Emerson, a chef who grew up in Queens, said he drove from Maryland with his daughter Madison — named in honor of the Knicks’ home arena, Madison Square Garden.

Beaming, Madison held a handwritten sign announcing she’d skipped her ﬁfth-grade graduation to be there.

Stars and Knicks legends Knicks great Walt “Clyde” Frazier — a member of the ’70s champion teams led the parade in a stylish convertible, wearing his NBA title rings.

Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller, Jon Stewart, Mariska Hargitay, Tracy Morgan and other celebrities joined the party, while Knicks playby-play announcer Mike Breen emceed the City Hall ceremony.

Alicia Keys, the singer who collaborated with Jay-Z on the 2009 hit “Empire State of Mind,” performed a medley that mixed her song with the classic “New York, New York.”

Decades in the making

The mere fact that the parade is happening is historic in itself Although the Knicks won the championship twice in the 1970s, the city didn’t host a parade for them either time. Then-Mayor John Lindsay had cut down on ticker-tape extravaganzas for ﬁnancial and other reasons. Instead, he held a 1970 reception at the mayoral mansion and a jam-packed ceremony in 1973 outside City Hall.

This time, the city went all out. A police ofﬁcer could be seen holding a sign reading, “This is really happening.”

The Knicks’ parade was the 210th, coming after a ticker-tape bash for the WNBA’s New York Liberty in 2024.

MLB owners propose banning high school signings

BY RONALD BLUM AP baseball writer

NEW YORK Baseball owners proposed banning high school players from signing with major league teams, raising the age for international amateurs and slashing the money spent on signing bonuses in negotiations Thursday for a new collective bargaining agreement

The amateur draft for players residing in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico would be cut from 20 rounds to 12 beginning in 2027 under the proposal Major League Baseball made during a bargaining session with the players’ association. An identical 12-round draft would be started for international prospects, a proposal the union has rejected in the past.

Starting in 2028, a prospect for the amateur draft would have to be at least 20 years old by Sept. 1 of his signing year and two years

removed from the graduating year of his high school class a restriction that also would eliminate players who completed their ﬁrst year of junior college.

The amateur draft started in 1965, and high schoolers have been eligible along with college players who are in or have just finished their junior years.

Raising signing ages would likely lead to players being older when they become eligible for free agency, which currently requires six years of major league service.

MLB cited increased revenue in college baseball as reasoning. In addition, MLB said 75% of high schoolers signed from 2012-19 did not reach the major leagues.

“By creating a draft system centered around college-aged players and making most college players eligible one year earlier, more players will benefit from both a college education and an elite

development environment while reaching professional baseball and ultimately the major leagues more quickly,” MLB said in a statement. “MLB made another set of proposals that are flat-out bad for baseball, ones that would cripple the next generation of players and damage the future of our game,” the union said in a statement.

MLB said it will not seek to reduce the 120 minor league teams in the top four levels when it negotiates new professional development licenses in 2030 to replace expiring 10-year deals. It would cap bonuses for undrafted players at $10,000 — Middle Tennessee two-way player Trace Phillips was bypassed in the draft last July and signed with Tampa Bay for $629,200.

For international amateurs, the age to sign would be raised to 18 on the Sept. 1 of their signing year up from 17

“The game’s greatest stars are precocious talents. We always want to have a great window for them,” said Scott Boras, baseball’s most high-proﬁle agent. “International markets recognize this, as well When you bar a labor force from opportunity in America, it is not an American concept.”

Each separate draft would have $200 million in signing pools in 2027. There would be hard caps for each draft.

Teams would be able to trade draft picks but a club couldn’t trade its first-round pick in consecutive drafts. A team couldn’t acquire more than three additional selections among the ﬁrst three rounds.

Each team would have the same amount to spend under the proposal rather than the current system which gives higher pools to teams with poorer records in the previous year

In 2026, Fremin led Southeastern to a 46-16 record and 24-3 mark in the Southland Conference and claimed the school’s ﬁrst at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament since 2003.

Under Fremin, the Lions were one of eight Division I programs to win 40 or more games in each of the past ﬁve seasons.

Ex-LSU pitcher Peever elected to college HOF

Former LSU right-handed pitcher

Lloyd Peever has been elected for induction into the College Baseball Hall of Fame, the College Baseball Foundation announced on Thursday Peever played only one season with the Tigers, but during that season in 1992 he posted a 14-0 record with a 1.92 ERA and was named the Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association.

He becomes the ﬁfth Tiger elected into the Hall of Fame, joining Skip Bertman (2006), Ben McDonald (2008), Todd Walker (2009) and Eddy Furniss (2010).

Peever joins a 2026 Hall of Fame class that includes Barry Bonds, Buster Posey and Huston Street. The induction ceremony is set for Feb. 11 in Overland Park, Kansas.

Bender becomes Wade’s first high school pledge

LSU men’s basketball has picked up its ﬁrst commitment from a high school recruit since Will Wade began his second stint as head coach. Jordan Bender, a 6-foot-8 forward, announced Thursday that he will begin his collegiate career with the Tigers this upcoming season. He spent his senior year of prep hoops in St. Petersburg, Florida, and does not have a proﬁle on any major recruiting sites.

Wade and his staff have secured commitments from 10 players for the 2026-27 season. The group is comprised of four transfers, four international players, one former NBA G League forward and Bender LSU football commitment Ahmad Hudson, a ﬁve-star tight end who’s expressed interest in playing both football and basketball, also could be on the roster

Sorsby drops suit vs. NCAA, officially ending college career

Brendan Sorsby has dropped his lawsuit against the NCAA, making the quarterback ineligible again and ending his college career because of gambling. The expected motion for dismissal of the suit was ﬁled Thursday by the 99th District Court in Lubbock County That was three days after Texas Tech said he wouldn’t play this fall, and exactly a month after Sorsby ﬁled his lawsuit that set off a legal saga that rattled college sports.

That Texas court issued a temporary injunction June 8 that made the transfer quarterback eligible to play even after admitting that he placed bets on his own team while at Indiana as a freshman four years ago.

Phillies OF Garcia to undergo season-ending surgery

PHILADELPHIA Philadelphia Phillies outﬁelder Adolis García is out for the rest of the season with a lat injury

The Phillies announced Thursday that García will undergo latissimus dorsi repair surgery on Wednesday

The Phillies estimated his recovery would take six to eight months, enabling him to be ready for the start of the 2027 season. García signed a one-year $10 million contract with the Phillies in December after playing six seasons with the Texas Rangers. The two-time All-Star began his career with St. Louis in 2018.

The 33-year-old García left a June 10 game in Toronto with what wasdescribed as a pulled muscle in his right shoulder after making consecutive throws to home plate on sacriﬁce ﬂies.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RICHARD DREW Jalen Brunson, upper right, of the New york Knicks carries the championship trophy among fans during a parade on Broadway in New york’s ‘Canyon of Heroes’ on Thursday.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RICHARD DREW

Crowds fill the sidewalks during the NBA champion New york Knicks’ parade on Broadway in New york’s ‘Canyon of Heroes’ on Thursday.

Rookie QB Beck hard at work for Cardinals

BY DAVID BRANDT AP sportswriter

TEMPE, Ariz. This is the roughly 40-day period of the year when it’s relatively quiet at the Arizona Cardinals ‘ practice facility and only a few cars dot the parking lot, baking in the hot desert sun. Carson Beck’s is one of them.

The rookie quarterback isn’t taking much of a break this summer as he prepares for his first NFL season — one that includes a realistic chance for playing time if he can gain the confidence of first-year coach Mike LaFleur

“I didn’t want to ease into anything, to be completely honest,” Beck said. “I’m here 13 hours a day.”

The third-round pick out of Miami spends his time talking football with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. He watches ﬁlm with quarterbacks coach and former NFL QB Matt Schaub. He goes through the playbook, learning the intricacies of a professional scheme that he admits is quite a bit different than his college days. “I don’t know if there is really a physical adjustment,” Beck said. “A lot of it is the mental side. The more comfortable you become, the more reps you get, the physical takes care of itself. I’ve thrown thousands of footballs in my life, thousands of dig routes, thousands of out routes, thousands of go routes.

“Now it’s just combining that with timing, with chemistry with understanding.”

The 24-year-old Beck looks as if he’ll be part of a three-man quarterback race when training camp begins on July 22, facing off against veteran journeymen Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew Kedon Slovis is also on the roster Brissett, 33, appeared to have the inside track at the starting job this fall after he threw 3,366 yards, 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions over 14 games, including 12 starts following Kyler Murray’s foot injury

The issue is Brissett is unhappy with his contract situation he’s guaranteed just $1.5 million next season — and stayed away from the team during voluntary workouts before reporting for mandatory OTAs last week.

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C

news conference that included Saints owner Gayle Benson, general manager Mickey Loomis and team president Dennis Lauscha, among many others. “Black and gold bleeds forever through my blood.” Ingram, who had two different stints with the team from 2011–18 and 2021–22, ended his career as the club’s second alltime leading rusher with 6,500 yards. A 2011 ﬁrst-round pick and Heisman Trophy winner, Ingram originally broke Deuce McAllister’s career rushing record in late 2021 before eventually passing the torch to his close friend and “Boom and Zoom” partner Alvin Kamara (7,250 yards) The former University of Alabama All-American earned three Pro Bowl invitations while with the Saints. Ingram is the ninth running back to earn induction into the Saints Hall of Fame, joining McAllister (2012), Fred McAfee (2022), Reggie Bush (2019), Pierre Thomas (2018), Rueben Mayes (2004), Dalton Hilliard (1998), George Rogers (1992) and Tony Galbreath (1991).

“Today is such a great honor and to be able to go in (to the Hall of Fame) with my brother, my friend, my left tackle, it means the world to me,” Ingram said of Armstead who he played with for seven seasons in New Orleans. “I’m grateful, humbled and appreciative of everyone in the Saints organization and the city of New Orleans for this.” Ingram said he remembers seeing the poster-sized images of Saints Hall of Famers on the walls of the team facility during his playing days and being inspired by their legacies.

“I remember hoping that one day I would leave a legacy and have a similar impact during my career to garner that kind of recognition,” Ingram said. “I can’t thank the Saints organization and the city of New Orleans enough for this honor.”

He didn’t practice, watching drills on the ﬁeld.

Now the most likely starter might be Minshew, another welltraveled veteran who the Cardinals signed to a $5.75 million, oneyear deal with roughly $5 million guaranteed The 30-yearold went received a lot of snaps during voluntary workouts and has had success during parts of his career — including a 2023 Pro Bowl selection when he started 13 games for the Indianapolis Colts.

But it’s Beck who could have the most upside.

It’s an intriguing situation for LaFleur, who brings his quick-hitting offensive attack from the Los Angeles Rams after three years as their offensive coordinator

“Not really concerned about (who is the starting quarterback) right now,” LaFleur said. “I’m concerned about these guys reporting on July 22, and really more concerned about the next 40 days.

One silver lining for the Cardinals is they’ll have an extra week of practice during training camp because they’re playing in the preseason Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 6 Beck is expecting plenty of work in that game to show what he can do.

“It’s already on my mind right now,” Beck said. “The break is not much of a break. Obviously, we’ll be working. I’m just speaking for myself, but the other guys understand that, too. We know the mission that we’re on, especially for myself Making sure I’m prepared and ready for those moments.”

Lurking in the background of the Cardinals’ quarterback situation is the possibility that college prospect Brendan Sorsby will be available in the NFL’s supplemental draft. The Cardinals haven’t said if they’re interested in pursuing a prospect that many consider a ﬁrst-round talent, but it’s not hard to see why the franchise might be intrigued.

For now, it looks as if it will be Beck vs. Minshew vs. Brissett in late July

LaFleur said in his mind, the competition has already started.

“Shoot, I think it’s been ramped up,” LaFleur said last week “Every single day is a day to compete. The intensity shouldn’t change from OTAs and training camp. The only thing that happens is that naturally physically the intensity picks up because pads are on and you can actually play football.”

Armstead established himself as one of the premier left tackles of his generation after being drafted by the Saints in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. During a 12-year NFL career that included nine with the Saints, he anchored some of the most explosive offenses in NFL history

Armstead started 93 of 97 games for the Saints from 201321 while earning three Pro Bowl invitations. He was regularly ranked among the best left tackles in the league by Pro Football Focus and was named secondteam All-Pro in 2018

“Being in this Hall of Fame, representing this team in this city — I couldn’t write a better story,” Armstead said. “It’s perfect for me, it’s perfect for my family This is everything for me.

This is, I made it. This is the pinnacle, this is the goal.

Armstead is the ninth offensive lineman and fourth offensive tackle to gain induction, joining Willie Roaf (2008), Jim Dombrowski (2003) and Stan Brock (1997)

“When I got that call (from hall ofﬁcials), it was truly unbelievable,” Armstead said. “This feels like I’m entering into a room of

LSU

Continued from page 1C

Top of order

Piecing together the top of the lineup became much simpler once Milam decided to return. With him in the picture, LSU has four of its top

hitters back from the end of this season.

The offense was one of the Tigers’ few strengths, and Milam, Serna, Arrambide and Braun were their top four hitters in terms of on-base plus slugging percentage against Southeastern Conference competition (Milam’s .949 mark being the lowest).

Braun leads off after settling into the role by the end of May. Arrambide is the catcher in part because he is draft-eligible next season. Serna and Arrambide are both right-handed, so sliding Milam (a switch-hitter) in between them makes the top of the lineup tougher to plan for Transfers take over

Insufﬁcient lineup depth separated LSU from the top offenses in the conference this season.

Johnson made sure to ﬁx that issue by aggressively adding Watters from Notre Dame, Park from Texas State, Kurland from Florida and Wachs from Tulane out of the portal.

Watters was the top hitter on the market, according to Baseball America, after he hit .362 with a 1.057 OPS. He’s a corner outfielder defensively, but his left-handed bat makes him a contender to hit even higher in the order Among the portal additions, Watters has the best chance to become a star.

Park never played third base at Texas State, but he’s a good candidate to slide to the position because of his arm strength and athleticism. As a right-handed hitter, he has power (13 home runs) and a strong glove, but he needs to cut down on the whiffs. His strikeout rate ballooned to 24.4% despite a big sophomore year

Kurland is a four-year starter in the SEC who was one of Florida’s top hitters as a freshman, the year when the Gators faced LSU in the College World Series ﬁnal back in 2023. Injuries have hampered his progress since then, but he’s coming off a solid year in which he hit 273 with an .809 OPS in SEC play Wachs is the latest portal addition. He’s a right ﬁelder who has some experience playing in center, and he has everything John-

RUIZ

Continued from page 1C

Focus grades are subjective, Ruiz posted the worst run-blocking grade of his six-year career with a 44.7. ESPN also rated Ruiz as having the sixth-worst run block win rate (66.1%) among all guards. His four penalties also were a personal worst. Factor in ankle injuries that caused him to miss a total of three games, and it’s no wonder that Ruiz wants to turn the page.

Nugent said the Saints still have conﬁdence Ruiz can return to form. For one, they’ve seen him do it before. That’s why New Orleans gave Ruiz a four-year $44 million extension in September 2022, even months after the black and gold turned down his ﬁfth-year option.

And as poorly as Ruiz played last season, he still had his moments as a pass protector His 19 allowed pressures were the thirdfewest of his career, according to PFF

son wants in a hitter He hit .327 and managed to raise his OPS and hit more home runs while lowering his strikeout rate this spring. He also ﬁlls a need as a left-handed bat.

Returning second baseman Jack Ruckert played like a future starter at the end of last season. He’s a strong backup option on the inﬁeld if something were to happen to Kurland. John Pearson, who started most of this year at third base, could be a useful righthanded hitter off the bench.

Remaining spot

If LSU were to play tomorrow center field likely goes to William Patrick As a true freshman, he earned more playing time after Jake Brown’s injury and used his athleticism to his advantage in the field. But he’s still a raw player who needs more at-bats to firmly earn an everyday role

Besides Patrick, LSU has commitments from four high school signees who have enough speed to play center ﬁeld. Malachi Washington, Anthony Murphy Nathaneal Davis and Wessley Roberson are all strong athletes with the potential to be top of the order hitters someday The issue is that there’s a strong chance three of them get scooped up by Major League Baseball next month in the draft.

Washington, Murphy and Davis all cracked the top 140 of MLB. com’s draft rankings. That trio and Roberson also plan to attend the MLB draft combine next week in Arizona. Johnson would be happy to add those freshmen, but there’s also a chance he wouldn’t want to start any of them at a premium defensive position right out of the gate

If he decided to do that, he could ﬁll the hole in center with Patrick, another transfer or by convincing Brown or Derek Curiel to return to school for another year

That third scenario is unlikely Curiel is only a draft-eligible sophomore, but he’s expected to be picked in the first round. Brown could be picked in the second round after hitting 16 home runs in just 42 games. Neither player is flawless heading into the draft. Brown is coming off an injury, and he struggled in SEC play this year Curiel’s power and overall ceiling have come into question by some talent evaluators. But both players will land seven-figure signing bonuses if they choose to sign, regardless of where they get picked.

gether and let’s get it back to what it can be and what it was.”

Ruiz also cited his track record as evidence that last year was an aberration. That history includes overcoming a slow start to his career, when he spent his first two years playing inconsistently before settling in for a breakout 2022. Ruiz largely has been reliable since then, though last year’s regression could call that into question.

Ruiz said he didn’t look at last season as if he was a “horrible football player.” He said he knows that he’s not that, which also could be why he wasn’t tempted to wade into the online discourse or check his mentions

As for the contract, Ruiz said he isn’t worried about that, either Before earning another payday, he has some respect to earn back ﬁrst.

“I got to go out there and (be) like, ‘I’m Cesar Ruiz, man,’ ” he said. “I’ve got to go out there and ball. You don’t want to be overshadowed by the negativity My job is to go out there and ball.”

immortality It’s special. I’m humbled and honored.”

La Rock has been employed by the Superdome for almost three decades, starting in 1998. He started in event services for public safety and was promoted to supervisor of the press box two years later He leads a 14-member staff and is viewed as an unofficial “ambassador” for the club and city of New Orleans.

“We have fun, but we have a serious responsibility because everyone that enters that press box, you are my responsibility,” La Rock said. “I have to get you in and out of the press box safe, I have to give you a quiet working relationship, I have to make sure that the media have a quiet environment to work in. Why is that? Because they have to turn in a quality story Their quality story will affect what the court of public opinion thinks of the Saints and their future. And in the meantime, I have to make sure that I give a New Orleans welcome to all of the visiting teams, their owners and their staff. We treat them like family.” The Class of

“I know it’s in there,” Nugent said. “That’s our job to work to-

Email Matthew Paras at matt. paras@theadvocate.com

2026 will be enshrined at a ceremony later this fall.

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER Saints center Erik McCoy, left, and guard Cesar Ruiz watch teammates during a minicamp practice at the Saints’ indoor practice facility in Metairie on Tuesday.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL DEMOCKER

Saints offensive tackle Terron Armstead, right, congratulates Mark Ingram after his touchdown during a preseason game between the Saints and Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fla., on Aug. 9, 2018.

ﬁve

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RICK SCUTERI Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Beck works out during the team’s practice on June 2 in Tempe, Ariz.

Jonathan David, of Canada, right, celebrates after scoring Canada’s second goal during aWorld Cup Group Bmatch against Qatar on Thursday in Vancouver British Columbia. Canada won 6-0

WORLDCUP 2026

David’shat trickpropels Canada to firstCup win

Qatarreduced to nineplayers after getting 2red cards

By The Associated Press

VANCOUVER, British Columbia Jonathan David scored three goals and Canada wonits first World Cup match while all but securinga spot in the knockout round with a6-0 victory overQatar on Thursday Qatar was reduced to nine players becauseofred cardsin the chaotic match. AssimMadibowas handed ared early in the second half after atackle on Ismaël Koné, who was stretched off with aserious injury to his lowerleft leg. Homan Ahmed was sent off in the ﬁrst half for achallenge on Tajon Buchanan. Canada PrimeMinister Mark Carneyattendedthe match after missing the team’sopener in Toronto last week because of the G7 summit in France. He sat with FIFAPresident Gianni Infantino.

Cyle Larin scored his second goal of the tournament on areboundin the 16th minute. Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada punched away David’svolley but it fell to Larin, who pointed to his ears in celebration as the red-clad crowdroared David doubled the leadwith a right-footed volley in the 29th,for his ﬁrst goal in the run of play in more than ayear Ahmed was sent off with ared

card in the33rd. The ofﬁcial initially pointed to the penalty spot, but after video reviewCanada wasgivenafree kick just outside the box and the initial yellow card handed to Ahmed was changed to red.

Canada made it 3-0 in ﬁrst-half stoppage time when David scored in ascrambleinfront of the net off ashot that caromed off the crossbar. Qatari players stood with their hands on their hips in frustration while Canada celebrated.

Canada’splayers surrounded Koné in concern when he suffered the scary-looking injury early in the second half, and Madibo was clearlydistraught before he was ejected

Nathan Saliba, who came in as asubstitutefor Koné, scored on a free kick in the64thtomake it 4-0. Mohamed Manaideﬂected ashot past his goalkeeper foranown goalinthe 75th.

David completed the hat trick in stoppage time, joining Argentina’s Lionel Messi as the only players with threegoals in amatch in this World Cup.

Canada captain Alphonso Davies was availableafterhemissedthe opener while recovering from a hamstring injury.Moïse Bombito was also available after missing Canada’sopening World Cup match, a1-1 draw against BosniaHerzegovina on Friday in Toronto. Neither Davies or Bombito played

SOUTH AFRICA 1, CZECH REPUBLIC 1: In Atlanta, Teboho Mokoenastarted the game with tears in his eyes and ﬁnished it withasmile on his face after converting asecond-half penalty in South Africa’sdraw with theCzech Republic.

ThapeloMaseko’slongrange shot late in the match caught the hand of Czech opponent Pavel Sulc in the area.

Mokoena,who wasshownon camera with tearsrolling down his cheeks during the pre-game national anthem, stepped up to the penalty spot and sent hisshot low past Czech Republic goalkeeper Matej Kovar in the83rd minute.

Michal Sadilek had given the Czechs the lead in the sixth minute.

SWITZERLAND 4, BOSNIA1: In Inglewood, California, substitute Johan Manzambi scored is first World Cup goal on an outstanding volley in the 74thminute and Switzerland erupted late for avictoryover Bosnia-Herzegovina to takecontrol of its group.

Rubén Vargas scored in the 84th minutefor the Swiss shortlyafter Tarik Muharemovic was sent off foradangerous tackle, leaving Bosnia with10men.

Manzambi scored again in the 90th on apass from Vargas, and captain Granit Xhakaconverted from the penalty spotwiththe ﬁnal kick of the game.

Ermin Mahmic scored in the fourthminute of second-half injury time for Bosnia.

BY DAVID BRANDT AP sportswriter

The United States is back in action on Fridayatthe World Cup against Australia, exactly one week after astellar performance in itsopener that sent expectations for the squad soaring. Meanwhile,Brazil gets asecond chance to look like one of the favorites against Haiti.

It remains to be seen how much help the Americans will get from star forward Christian Pulisic in front of what’sexpected to be an electric crowd in Seattle. Pulisic has asore left calf and has been working outseparatelyfromthe team. Brazil will try to improve following alackluster 1-1 draw against Morocco last week. The Brazilians are five-timeWorld Cupchampions, buthaven’t won atitle since 2002. Also on Friday, Scotland faces Morocco andTurkey takeson Paraguay

U.S. triesfor encore

TheAmericans are looking for asuitableencore after one of the country’sbestperformances on a WorldCup stage. Folarin Balogun scored two goals while Gio Reyna addedanother in a4-1 win over Paraguay that exceeded most fans’ expectations.

Pulisic wasoftenthe catalyst while theU.S. scored three goals in theﬁrst half, but he came off at halftime after feeling stiffness from acalf injury incurred in training. The Milan wingerjoined his U.S. teammates foraprewarmup huddle Thursdaywhile wearing acompression sleeve on his calf, then went inside to do individual workinthe gym

Midfielder Weston McKennie said he did not know much about Pulisic’srecovery,but that he hopes he will be able to play

“I know he really wants to be in, and he’sdoing everything that he can,and thestaffisdoing ev-

erything that they can as well,” McKennie said. “But, that’salso another question that’sbetter to ask him than me.”

Australia also has momentum after its 2-0 win over Turkey.Nestory Irankundaand Connor Metcalfe scored for the Socceroos, whoare playing in their sixth straight Cup andseventhoverall.

Moroccofavored

Morocco hasbeen an ascending soccer power,particularly after a run to the semiﬁnals in the 2022 World Cup. The team hasimproved so much that its 1-1 draw against powerhouse Brazil wasa slight disappointment.

“Wedidn’t come to theU.S.to just playagainst Brazil,”Morocco midfielderAzzedine Ounahi said. “Wecame in to go even farther than we did in Qatar in 2022.” Scotland hasput itself in good position to advance to the knockoutround forthe ﬁrst time after a1-0 winover Haiti in its opener, but Morocco should be aconsiderably tougher opponent.

“Against difﬁcult opponents we have to be very good,” Scotland coach Steve Clarke said. “We’re alittle more comfortable as underdogs. Sometimes Scotland prefers it that way.”

Brazil lookstorebound

The Brazilians were outplayed early before Vinícius Júnior’s 32nd-minutegoal helpedthem rally foradraw against Morocco. Coach Carlo Ancelotti said through an interpreterthatthe teamwas “a bit anxious at the beginning. Nerves were all over the place.”

Brazilshould haveabig talent advantage over Haiti, even with star Neymar ruled out because of acalfinjury.The Brazilians will be under pressure to secure alopsidedwin afterthe uninspiring performance against Morocco.

BY DANGELSTON Associated Press

And there ain’tgonna be no rematch.

1, Egypt 1 Iran 2, New Zealand 2 June 21 Belgium vs.Iran, 2p.m. New Zealand vs.Egypt, 8p.m.

June 26

Zealand vs.Belgium, 10 p.m. Egypt vs.Iran, 10 p.m.

GROUP H GP WD LGFGAPts

Uruguay 10 10 11 1

Saudi Arabia 10 10 11 1

Spain 10 10 00 1

Cape Verde1 01 00 01

June 15

Spain 0, Cape Verde0

Saudi Arabia 1, Uruguay1

June 21

Spain vs.Saudi Arabia,11a.m

Uruguayvs. Cape Verde, 5p.m.

June 26

Uruguayvs. Spain, 7p.m.

CapeVerde vs.Saudi Arabia, 7p.m. GROUP I GP

Tuesday Argentina vs.Algeria, 8p.m. Austriavs. Jordan, 11 p.m. June 22

vs.Austria,noon

vs.Algeria, 10 p.m June 27

vs.Argentina, 9p.m. Algeria vs.Austria, 9p.m.

GROUP

June 23

vs.Colombia, n

Portugal vs.Uzbekistan, noon

Colombia vs.Congo DR,9 p.m.

June 27

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

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

GROUP L GP WD LGFGAPts

Croatia1 00 12 40 Wednesday

England 4, Croatia 2

Ghana 1, Panama 0

June 23

England vs.Ghana, 3p.m.

Panama vs.Croatia, 6p.m.

June 27

Panama vs.England, 4p.m.

Croatia vs.Ghana, 4p.m.

PHILADELPHIA— Brazil fans who went the distance up the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps to pose with the Rocky statue left the ﬁctional ﬁghter just as they found him

Every Brazilian fan—inPhiladelphia to watch theirteam play HaitionFriday at the World Cup —who stoppedfor asnapshot or aselfie with the 9-foot-11, 1,300-pound beast left the statue dressed in only his bronze trunks and boots. No taking chances of getting hit by theRocky curse. Yes, theRockystatue, long a symbol of resilience, heartand the unbreakablebondbetween Rocky and the people of Philadelphia, has taken afew morehits of late (even in retirement). Visiting American sports fans have long learned the hard way that dressing the statue with colorful jerseys, scarfs, hats, anything found in your local Rally House, has only meantthat team would sufferaknockoutblowat thehome of the local Philly team. Scoff allyou want. Thebad fortunestretchedto soccer when Ecuador fans took over the Rocky steps and sang and danced and waved flags and dressed Rocky in ateam jersey and tied the country’sflag around thefictional fighter’sneck.

It didn’tgowell.

Amad Diallo scored in the 90th minute to lift IvoryCoast to a1-0 victory overEcuador in itsﬁrst World Cup appearance in adozen years

Brazilfansnoticed theoutcome andone of their fangroups, the Green and Yellow Movement, urged visitors to keep their clothing to themselves.

”ANTENCAO TORCEDOR!” the Instagram post warned. Everyone is paying attention. The translated text read: “It’s totally forbidden to put aBrazil shirt on the Rocky statue in Philly!!!!!” EvenVisit PA cheekily gotinon the funand tried to warnforeigners that —just like Ivan Drago learnedthe hard way—Rocky was not to be messed with.

“Countless football teams(as in American Football, not Fútbol same curse, different sport) have all dressed the Rocky Statue in their colors andgone on to lose,” theInstagram post said. “Ecuadordressed Rockylastweekend Coincidence? Sadly,history says no.

“Philadelphia can’twait to host you! (butRocky does not need your kit)”

Brazilian fans paid heed to the warning Thursday,and scores of fans simply took the spot in front of the statue and raised their arms in triumphjustasRocky did aftersomanyfights, and many, manymovies.

Hundreds of Brazilian fans swarmed theRocky steps late in the dayand left the statue bare. Rocky was roped off as

Weather change spurs Clark’s big round

BY DOUG FERGUSON AP golf writer

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y

The USGA

set up a different golf course at Shinnecock Hills to keep it playable in strong wind. And when the wind subsided late Thursday afternoon, Wyndham Clark looked like he was playing in a different U.S. Open.

Clark seized on a more gentle course — slightly calmer and still soft with receptive greens by pulling away late to reach 6-under par through 16 holes.

He left in darkness with a fourshot lead over seven players, one of them Oklahoma junior Ryder Cowan, another one the surprisingly resurgent Dustin Johnson.

Rory McIlroy thought he had made a fine effort with a 69 in gusts that topped 30 mph in the middle of the day when the scoring average was well above 74 The afternoon started tough until the wind kept subsiding, and players began taking aim at ﬂags. The afternoon wave was playing at least a stroke easier than the early starters who faced relentless wind.

“Everything was kind of clicking,” said Clark, who came into the U.S. Open playing as well as anyone. “We were deﬁnitely fortunate

with the wind laying down. Overall a good round.”

Shinnecock was still a brute of a test but the red numbers on the white scoreboard were an unfamiliar site for this course. When play was suspended by darkness, 17 players were under par The lowest opening round in the previous ﬁve U.S. Opens at Shin-

necock is 66, last done by three players in 2004.

Cowan birdied his last hole for a 68 to join former Sooner Max McGreevy and former Oklahoma State player Sam Stevens, the only one of that trio who faced the harsh wind of the morning wave.

Johnson, in his ﬁnal year of being exempt for the U.S. Open he

College bill clears Senate panel sans SEC, Big Ten support

BY JOEY CAPPELLETTI Associated Press

WASHINGTON — A bill that top lawmakers and athletic leaders have described as the best chance to stabilize college sports cleared a key vote in the Senate on Thursday with bipartisan support after weeks of input from schools, conferences and athletes.

The bipartisan Protect College Sports Act aims to regulate payments to players, limit them to one free transfer over their careers and create a rule to restrict coaches from changing jobs during a season. It advanced out of the Senate Commerce Committee on a 19-9 vote and now heads to the full Senate for consideration. Thursday’s vote came hours after the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten Conference, the two most powerful in college sports, reiterated their position that “revisions are needed to secure our support for the bill.” Several senators who voted against it cited concerns raised by the two conferences, which could spell trouble for its chances.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who supported the bill, said he would like to bring it up for a vote in the Senate next month, before the August recess. He said the legislation will “continue to get reﬁned as time goes on.”

“It was a really strong vote coming out of the committee,” Thune said.

The committee vote advancing the bill followed endorsements from several athletic conferences the NFL and its players union, and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee The Olympic committee backed the revised measure after lawmakers added additional protections for women’s and Olympic sports.

“The new agreement also reﬂects the critical importance of Olympic sports,” Texas Sen Ted Cruz, the Republican chairman of the committee, said in opening remarks.

“That is a major part of what this bill is about. College athletics is not only football and men’s basketball.”

NCAA president Charlie Baker applauded the Senate action Thursday, saying it was a “powerful statement to the growing bipartisan support for targeted intervention.”

In an interview with AP after the vote, Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell — the top-ranking Democrat on the committee — said the vote result felt “pretty darn good.” The legislation is the product of months of negotiations between Cruz and Cantwell as other attempts in Congress to intervene in college sports have failed to advance far

“This is a big milestone,” Cantwell said.

Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz was among the six Democrats who voted with mostly Republicans in advancing the bill.

“It took me awhile to get there, and I think there’s more work to be done,” he said.

The SEC and Big Ten said hours before Thursday’s committee meeting that their “critical revisions have not been accepted.”

Among their concerns, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has argued the bill could invite the very litigation it is intended to prevent. Both conferences also have objected to a provision allowing conferences to pool media rights, saying they are unconvinced it would generate the additional revenue supporters say it could.

“What we did today was say we’re not going to let the most powerful, richest conferences dictate to the rest of America

what’s going to happen to 500,000 athletes,” Cantwell said after the committee vote.

Support and opposition for the bill does not fall neatly along party lines, reﬂecting the national reach of SEC and Big Ten schools and broader divisions in Congress.

While President Donald Trump has backed the bill, multiple Republicans opposed the legislation Thursday, while several Democrats supported it.

Some of the senators who voted against the bill represent states that are home to prominent SEC and Big Ten programs, including Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, a Democrat; and Republican Sens. Todd Young of Indiana and Roger Wicker of Mississippi.

“Universities in Mississippi and around the SEC are concerned that some further progress needs to be made on the media rights,” Wicker told the AP Clearing the committee is just the ﬁrst step in a long process. Passage through the Senate is far from guaranteed, as leaders already have a packed schedule and a dwindling number of legislative days left before the November election. The bill would need to clear a 60-vote threshold in the 53-47 Republican-controlled chamber

The bill also will still need to clear the House Earlier this year, the House Republican leadership had been working toward a vote on its own college sports bill, known as the SCORE Act, before the Congressional Black Caucus announced its unanimous opposition.

Still, supporters on Thursday called the committee action a massive step forward.

“Today we are proving that we are resilient in keeping this product moving,” Cantwell said.

won at Oakmont in 2016, ran off four straight birdies and was tied with Clark after 13 holes. But Johnson failed to get up-and-down for birdie on the easy par-5 ﬁfth, where Clark made eagle. And then Johnson three-putted from short range for double bogey on the sixth to fall four shots behind. Scottie Schefﬂer, who needs the U.S. Open to complete the career Grand Slam, battled all day and relied heavily on his short game to salvage a 72. It was his 10th consecutive U.S. Open round without breaking par, but at the time it left him only four shots out of the lead.

Clark, who won the U.S. Open in Los Angeles three years ago, changed the look of the leaderboard. He was to return Friday morning to complete the round, then head out for the second round in wind expected to be not as strong. One key to his round might have happened some ﬁve hours before he even showed up.

Thirty minutes after the round began, play was stopped because of fog so dense it was difﬁcult to see the fairway and the green on

TULANE

Continued from page 1C

last 15 league games while never ﬁnding a consistent complement to preseason player of the year Rowan Brumbaugh, who has since transferred to SMU.

Key cogs Williams (High Point) and Scotty Middleton (San Jose State) left for their fourth schools in four years in the transfer-rife NIL era, so Tulane is starting over like most of its American Conference brethren.

This team — which features seven transfers and three freshmen along with holdover starting forward Tyler Ringgold plus guards KJ Greene Josiah Moore and Robert Moore — will not look like the past two.

“We found some guys who wanted to score,” Hunter said. “Even after the first eight to 10 days (of summer practice), you can see that we can really shoot the ball. We wanted to do that and maybe not even be as athletic.”

Hunter envisions Ringgold, who moved from the wing to inside because of the sudden absence of Glenn, remaining in that role as a high-post distributor He struggled with his outside shot, ﬁnishing 23 of 77 from long range, but he can focus on the rest of his game now that he is surrounded by good marksmen.

The same is true for Greene, a natural point guard who was a miserable 9 of 40 on 3-point attempts.

“KJ made great plays and he would kick it out and we’d miss shots,” Hunter said “Now he’s kicking it out and looking like a great player because guys are making shots.”

Opponents will have to be aware of Nadeau, in particular.

He averaged 13.8 points for Detroit, including nine games of 20 or more.

“He’s a Midwestern kid who is fundamentally sound like those guys I had at IUPUI (where

the par-3 11th The two-hour delay pushed back tee times.

The forecast was for the strongest wind of the week during the brightest part of Thursday

“I would say when I got my tee times on Tuesday, I was like, ‘Oh, could be a tough draw,’ ” Clark said. “That two-hour fog delay was very helpful, and it was really nice it laid down So it deﬁnitely helped those last six seven holes we played.”

His golf wasn’t too shabby, either. Clark started on No 10 and opened with two quick birdies. He went out in 32 to get his name atop the leaderboard. And after missing an 8-foot birdie putt on No. 1 and failing to save par from a bunker on the long par-3 second, he took off.

He hit wedge to 5 feet on No. 3 for birdie, made a 20-foot birdie putt on the next and then from 207 yards with some wind at his back, he hit his second on the par-5 ﬁfth to 3 feet for eagle.

The wind was so strong and the conditions so severe that it took Scheffler’s group nearly three hours to complete nine holes. Only 27 out of the 77 players from the afternoon wave — Jason Day withdrew because of a back injury — ﬁnished the ﬁrst round.

Hunter coached from 19942011),” Hunter said. “He has a chip on his shoulder He wasn’t highly recruited out of high school, but this past year everybody was recruiting him. We were very fortunate to get him.”

Another key newcomer does not ﬁt the mold of a sharpshooter Krystian Lewis, a 6-3 junior guard transfer from UL-Monroe, plays an all-around game. He averaged 18.4 points last season — the third-highest total in the Sun Belt Conference — while also leading the Warhawks in assists and steals.

“He’s good,” Hunter said. “He’s really talented. I don’t know what position he is going to play, but he can really score.”

Tulane’s other transfer additions are Jordann Dumont, a 6-8 junior forward who played in nine games for Virginia Commonwealth after beginning his career at Villanova, and Joah Chappelle, a 6-8 junior forward who started 19 games for Georgia State and averaged 7.3 points and 5.3 rebounds.

Hunter said Dame Salane, a 7-1 redshirt freshman from Biella, Italy, who sat out with an injury at Arizona State last season is signed but will not arrive until early July because of visa issues Salane played in the Swiss Basketball League in 2024-25.

Lagniappe

Hunter said freshman Tobias Brinkley, a 6-7 wing from Decatur High in Atlanta who was rated a 4-star recruit by ESPN, likely would not be available until January after tearing his ACL in a state championship game … Forward Caedmon Bontrager, whom Tulane announced as a signee in May, ended up at Coastal Carolina. Hunter said Bontrager the Crossroads League player of the year at Indiana Wesleyan, would have needed an appeal to play after exhausting his eligibility at the NAIA level. The Wave was not willing to wait until October to ﬁnd out if the appeal was successful.

HIGH SCHOOLS

Curtis leadslistofareafootball coacheswithlongest tenures

BY SPENCERURQUHART

Staff writer

The New Orleans area has had plenty of legendary high school football coachesover the years, andthere are some that are still coachingtoday.

Listed below are the eight longest-tenured New Orleans area head football coaches. They have all coached at the same school for more than a decade. J.T. Curtis,JohnCurtis(since1969)

Few high school football coaches have come close to accomplishing whatJ.T.Curtishas in his50-plus years leading aprogram that’swon 26 state championships. Aftergoing 0-10 in his ﬁrst season,Curtis quickly turned thingsaround and ledthe Patriots to their ﬁrst state title in 1975.

Curtis’ overall record standsat609-119-6 as he enters his 58th seasonasJohn Curtis coach.The Patriots reached the Division Iselect semiﬁnals lastseason and return several of their topplayersfromlast year,including starting quarterback London Padgett. Hank Tierney, Shaw (1983-2001;returnedin’22)

Tierney was Shaw’scoach fornearly 20 years before adeparture that saw himcoach at West Jeffersonand Ponchatoula before returningin2022. Shaw won its ﬁrststate championship under Tierneyin 1987 and won asecond state titlein2024 less than three years after his return Shaw nearly won back-to-back state championships after reaching the Division II select titlegame last season and returns several key contributionssuch as senior defensive backRontrae Carter.Tierney’s overall record is 340-133.

JasonTucker, Chalmette(since2007)

The Chalmettefootball programhas been steady ever since Tucker took over as coachin2007. He became the school’sall-time winningestfootballcoach in 2021, surpassing legendary Chalmette coach Bobby Nuss’ win total of 78.

Tucker is now up to 111 wins at Chalmette. Anew challenge awaits in 2026, as Chalmette is returningto the Catholic League (District 9-5A) forthe ﬁrst time since 2013.The Owls return theirquarterback in Breez Wilson, who will be athree-year senior starter.

Mark Bonis, BrotherMartin(since2009)

Bonis has led Brother Martin fornearly20years, and the Crusaders have made playoffs 16 times along with six semiﬁnal appearances in the highly competitive Catholic League. Brother Martin reached the state championship game underBonis in 2022, ﬁnishingasrunner-up to John Curtis.

After accepting aposition on the University of Memphis coaching staff in 2016, Bonis returned to Brother Martin less than aweek later. He’scompiled more than 120 wins at the school and enters2026with ﬁve-star recruit Easton Royal leading the way.

Greg Salter,Covington (since 2013)

Salter is now the longest-tenured head football coach on the Northshore after leadingCovington for more than adecade. The Lions have been aconsistent playoff contender under Salter, with the highlight of his tenure being an undefeated regular season in 2017. Salter has led Covington tomore than80 winssince

taking over as head coach in 2013. The Lions areset to be in themix once again in 2026 after back-to-back winning seasons in acompetitive district featuring local rivals St. Paul’sand Mandeville.

StephenMeyers, BelleChasse(since2014)

Belle Chasse has been aconsistent contender since Meyers took over as coach at his alma mater in 2014 after previously serving as thedefensive coordinator Known for aphysical style featuring arun-heavy offense, Meyers has compiled more than70wins at BelleChasse. TheCardinalsreached theDivision II nonselect semiﬁnals last season and have made the playoffs everyyear since 2017.

BriceBrown,EdnaKarr(since2015)

Karr hasbeenamong the state’smostsuccessful high school football programssince Brown took over as head coach 11 years ago. The Cougars won astate championship in his second season on the job and have racked up six statetitles during his tenure. AKarr alum,Brown has a109-17 overall record since becoming the head coach.The Cougars are looking to claim athird straight state championship in 2026 after winning back-to-backDivisionIselect titles

JerryPhillips, Warren Easton (since 2016)

Warren Eastonhas been among the best football programs in New Orleans since Phillips became head coach in 2016. Entering his 11thseason, Phillips led Eastontothree state championship game appearances in four years beginning in 2018. Currently at 76 career wins, Phillips will look to lead Easton to abounce-back year after adisappointing 2025 season. The Eagles are moving to anew district in 2026.

NOTE: overall recordsand state title numbers based on LHSAA ofﬁcial totals

Email SpencerUrquhart at surquhart@ theadvocate.com.

SCOREBOARD

STAFF FILEPHOTO By BRETTDUKE

John Curtis coach J.T. Curtis, left, and Edna Karrcoach Brice Brown chat before agameatyulman Stadium on Nov. 4, 2022.

MBY KASEYBUBNASH | Staff writer

ondays on Bourbon Street areadrag,or at least theywere when MarkLanpher first started working the weekdayshift at Oz roughly adecadeago

He was miserable watching tourists stumble into the typically rowdygay barto find an emptydance floor, usually prompting them to turnand leave.And thoughOz touts daily entertainment, Lanpher said Monday nights tended to feature thesame oneortwo drag queens tellingthe same jokesevery week.

“I made maybe $50 a night,” Lanpher said. When Lanpher’sapathy and general lack of sparkle became apparent to hisboss, they agreed he should find something to getexcited about. Alifelong karaoke enthusiast, Lanpher thought maybe aweekly karaoke event would attract awider audienceand perhaps even someregulars on Mondays He alsothoughtOzcould do moreto tap into theCrescent City’smassive pool of drag queens. Fighting drag with drag, he created aroster of queens to host the

It’s fun to interact with people and makethem feel good about their moment on stage.”

JOEy OLSEN, whoperforms regularly acrossthe cityas DebbiewithaD

karaoke night on a rotating basis, like alazySusanbrimming with rhinestonesand wigs instead of pantry essentials.

In2017,LazySusan Karaokewas born (If you’re thinking Lazy Susan would also be agreat name for adrag queen, it’s already taken.) The weekly event kicks offat8:30 p.m. each Monday at Oz and features arotating lineup of attention-loving, snarky hosts in drag. With aroster that was at onetime30queenslong, Lanpher saiditdrawsfans hoping to see their favorite queensperform andvocalists gunning forachance in the spotlight on aweeknight when mostdance ﬂoors on Bourbon sitvacant.

Lanpher,who has since left Oz to attend nursing school, said the event has grown in popularity over the past decade —by

ä See KARAOKE, page 2D

BYJENNA ROSS Staff writer

New Orleans photojournalist

Emily Kask hugged her friends, several of whom came clutching congratulatory bouquets, beneath thebar’smarquee:

“BIG GIRLS WANTED: ESCAPING PEARADISE,” it blared, adding, simply,“STARRING EMILY.” The crowd gathering June 10 at No Dice, adive baronSt. Claude Avenue, was there to seethe new documentaryseries about Pearadise, aLas Vegas-based, body-positiveenclave forplus-sizewomen that took offonTikTokduring the pandemic. But mostly they were there to see Emily “How areyou feeling?” afriend asked Kask,her eyebrows high. “I’mfeelingeveryemotionthatexists,” shereplied. “I’m feeling it all.

Kask’svoice opens the Investigation Discovery series, now streaming on HBO Max. Herphotographs deepen it

“As aphotojournalist, Ilovea good story,” Kask says, as the camera sweeps across New Orleans. “I’m behind alens, butI get to explore something within myself.” Kask, 32, regularly photographs

Photojournalist Emily Kask poses at the No Dice bar in NewOrleans before the screening of ‘Big GirlsWanted: Escaping Pearadise.’

MC Lexis interacts with the audience during Lazy Susan Karaokeat Oz.

Pride flags wave outside Oz on Monday as thebar holds Lazy Susan Karaoke.

ABOVE: Patrons mingle inside Oz on Monday during Lazy Susan Karaokenight.

STAFFPHOTOSByDAVID GRUNFELD

Lazy Susan Karaokelights up aMonday night at Oz on Bourbon Street.

STAFFPHOTO

SOPHIA GERMER

Byran (stagename) sings‘Use Somebody’ by Kings of Leon during Lazy SusanKaraokeatOz.

By The Associated Press

Today is Friday,June 19, the 170th day of 2026. There are 195 days left in the year.This is Juneteenth.

Todayinhistory:

On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War was over and that all remaining enslaved people in Texas were free —anevent celebrated as the Juneteenth national holiday in the U.S.

Also on this date:

In 1910, the ﬁrst-ever Father’s Day in theUnited States was celebrated in Spokane, Washington. (President Richard Nixon would make Father’sDay afederally recognized annual observation through aproclamation in 1972.)

In 1953, Julius Rosenberg, 35, and his wife, Ethel, 37, convicted of conspiring to pass U.S. atomic secrets to the Soviet Union,were executed at Sing Sing Prison in Ossining, New York; theywere the ﬁrst Americancivilianstobe executed for espionage.

In 1963, Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova completed her historic ﬂight as the ﬁrst woman in space,landing safelyatthe conclusion of the Vostok 6mission

In 1964, the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 was approved by the U.S. Senate, 73-27,after surviving alengthy ﬁlibuster

In 1975, former Chicagoorganizedcrime boss Sam Giancana was shot to death in the basement of his home in Oak Park,Illinois; the killing has never been solved.

In 1986, UniversityofMaryland basketball star Len Bias, the ﬁrst draft pick of theBoston Celtics two days earlier,suffered afatal cocaine-induced seizure.

In 1987, theU.S.Supreme Court, in Edwards v. Aguillard, struckdown aLouisiana law requiring any public school teachingthe theory of evolution to teach creation science as well.

In 1991, thelast Soviet troops withdrew from Hungary after a decades-long presence, retreatingamid thecollapse of the Soviet bloc andunderpressure from Hungary’s newdemocratic government

In 2018, President Donald Trumpsigned the nation’s10 millionthpatent, awarding it to a California employee of the Raytheon Co. who founda new way to get real-timereadings from large laser radars.

Today’sbirthdays: Hall of Fame auto racer Shirley Muldowney is 86. Nobel Peace Prizelaureate AungSan SuuKyi is 81. Author Tobias Wolff is 81. Author Salman Rushdieis79. Actor Phylicia Rashad is 78. Rock singer Ann Wilson (Heart) is 76. Actor Kathleen Turner is 72. Singer-choreographer-TV personality Paula Abdul is 64. TV host LaraSpencer is 57. Actor Jean Dujardin is 54. Actor Robin Tunney is 54. Basketball Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki is 48. Actor Zoe Saldañais48. Rapper Macklemoreis43. Actor Paul Danois42. NBA player Jordan Poole is 27. Actor Millie Gibson is 22.

PROVIDED IMAGE FROM INVESTIGATIONDISCOVERy

Stefan Wilhelmyposes withhis phone recordinga TikTok video outside Pearadise with several women behindhim

DOCUSERIES

Continued from page1D

forThe NewYorkTimes,The Wall Street Journal and other publications. In 2020, during COVID-19’s earlydays, Kask was living in half ashotguninthe Bywater,surrounded by mold and bottles of Jameson. Scrolling TikTok, she came across avideo of aman named Stefan Wilhelmy holding up alarge swimsuit and inviting women who’d ﬁt in it to join him in his pool. Other videos followed,ofplussize womenswimming anddancing and laughing. She was fascinated —not just as aphotographer but as aplussize woman. She messaged Wilhelmy,atechentrepreneur,and within aweek boarded aplane to Vegas. Immediately,inhis mansion, she felt asense of belonging. “I was just another fat girlwith acamera,” she said via Zoom. For her first major photography project, years before, Kask dropped out of Western Kentucky University to document agroup of hippie youth riding freight trains. Photographing them also meant hitchhiking, ﬁnding campsites and hopping trains herself. Strict ethics codes “go out the window,” Kask said, “because we are in survival mode together.We are surviving together

“I’m obviously not giving people gifts or whatever,but if Ihaveto ﬁgure out how we’re going to eat tonight or how we’re gonna get booze tonight, it’sjust my turn.”

With that project, like Pearadise,Kaskaimed forintimacy, aided by alesson she learned as acollege freshman at aconference. Aphotographer there told the young journalists that to get intimate, “sometimes youhaveto revealpart of yourself,” she said. “And he said, and Iquote,‘If they get naked, you get naked.’” In the hot tub in Wilhelmy’s mansion, the women got naked. So Kask did too.

When allegations against Wilhelmy were ﬁrst raised on social media, Kask was there, capturing the fallout. One former member of Pearadise said that Wilhelmy touched them without consent,an allegation that Wilhelmydenied both in the documentary and on his website, using screenshots

Flusteredbyfuneral ﬂowers

Dear Annie: I’ve been friends with “Jessie” for several years, but lately,I’ve been feeling like thefriendship is one-sided. I’m always the one reaching out, making plans and putting in theeffort. Jessie has been responding to my texts with oneword answers, if at all. Ivalue our friendship alot, but I’mstarting to question whether she feels thesame way.How can I address this issue without seeming needy? Should Iconfront her or let it go and just hope it changes back to what it was like before? Anyguidance would be appreciated. —Friendship on Uneven Ground Dear Uneven Ground: Friendships are not transactional. There are naturally times when one friend gives morethan theother.Perhaps Jessie is going through a difﬁcult season of life and simply doesn’thave the capacity to initiate contact. Reach out to her; tell her that she has felt distant recently and that you missher; and gently ask how she is doing.

and recordings from security cameras insidethe house.

Other allegations followed, including that Wilhelmy,thenin his40s, preyed upon vulnerable women in theirearly20s. Andthat he encouragedthe womentoeat excessivelyoncamera,gaining weightthat put their lives at risk.

“I think that societally,wehave ageneral idea of what exploitation looks like in young women and girls …” Kask said. “The way that fat women are preyed upon is different because they’ve been toldtheir whole lives that they are unworthy of desire, whereas that’snot something that alot of thin women have experienced.”

Kask wasn’tthere for Wilhelmy, so shehad adifferent experience than many of the women, who, she points out,were largely younger than her.

“I don’tthink the storyisabout Stefan,” she said, when asked aboutWilhelmy ForKask, it was Stefan’s girlfriend Kass who made Kask feel beautiful in away shehadn’tbefore. In away,Kask’s photos, too, argue against one woman’sassertion in the series that“Stefan is Pearadise.”Itwas the women whowereresponsible forthe best of Pearadise. The camaraderie, the kindness.

That’swhat Kask missed when she returned to New Orleans and had, asshe described it,“an epic crash out” at the RBar that left her ego bruised and knees bloodied. Kask is sober now,moreat home in her body. She does combat sports and jujitsu,which have helped her lose more than 100 pounds. And she’sawake to how Godisusing her as avessel. (She had the word “vessel” tattooed on herneck.)

Before the premiere at No Dice, Kask tookthe stageand made a speech.“In awoman’slife, there’s usually three events that she gets to have as many people she loves in aroom forher: herwedding, herfuneral andher HBOdocuseries premiere,” she said, to laughter

She went to Pearadise, she said, “to feel loved andlike Ibelonged somewhere.”

“I never felt that. And now Iget to look out at this room and I, I’ve found it.”

Email Jenna Ross at jenna. ross@theadvocate.com.

If she brushes you off, and if theblatant imbalance in your relationshipcontinues, then perhaps your friendship has run its course. Not everyone whocomes into your lifeismeant to stay forever; that doesn’tmean you can’t treasure your friendship forwhat it was. DearAnnie: My sister passedaway last week at the young ageof63. She wascremated andhad served in the military.We had asmall military service for her, andather service, there were afew bunches of flowers sent to the funeralhome, only three to be exact.Two were sent to thefuneralhome frommy nephew’scompanythatheworks for,and one was sent fromanaunt anduncle. Afterthe services,my aunt anduncle askediftheycould have their flowers back! Iwas appalled and caught off guard. My question is, wasitOK for them to ask fortheir flowers back?! Ialways thought when you sent flowers to afuneral home, it was supposed to be agifttothe family.I’m just lost forwords.

How should Iaddress this? Or should Ijust let it go? Ihave never asked forflowers back from any funeral Ihave sent flowers to. —Sincerely Appalled DearAppalled: You’re not alone; I, too, am surprised by your aunt and uncle’srequest. Sending flowers to loved ones who are grieving is astandard waytoexpress sympathy and offer comfort after experiencing aloss. To ask for them back following the service seems insincere and, frankly,tacky While Ican’timagine aparticularly good reason forthem to ask this of you, I’dadvise that the path of least resistance is your best way forward. Ihope you took one of the other two flower arrangements homewith you, as atoken of your sister’sservice instead. If she werestill with us, I think she’d probably agree it’snot worth fighting over either Iamsosorry foryourloss. Wishing younothing but peace as you heal during this mostdifficult time. Sendyour questions forAnnie Lane to dearannie@creators. com.

KARAOKE

Continuedfrom page1D

thetime he left, he was closing his Mondaynight shifts with $200 to $400 in tips— andhas becomea way for up-and-comingdrag performers to gain valuable exposure and experience.

Joey Olsen,who performs regularlyacrossthe city as Debbie with aD,creditsLazy Susan Karaoke, in part, for his meteoric rise to drag queen stardom Olsen landeda Lazy Susanhosting gig aboutsix yearsago as abrand-new drag queen. As he honedhis skills, he was promoted to amonthly slot —the lastMondayofeach month —and later went on to becomeafull-time drag queen, earning Gambit’sBest Drag Performer title and queen of Krewe of Armeinius in 2024.

On Memorial Day,Olsen kicked theevent off with adazzling renditionof“Circle of Life” —yes, from “The Lion King” —strutting in a rhinestone-encrusted pink leotard, andoften holdingthe micout to members of the audience for impromptu solos. It’sone of hisfavoritewarm-up songs, he said, somethingeveryone knows.

“Sometimes peoplehavegreat voices, sometimes they have great attitudes,” Olsensaid, raising his eyebrows meaningfully.“And either way,it’sfun to interact with people and make them feel good

about their momentonstage.”

Thegreat andpowerfulOz

Olsen andthe crew at Oz work hard to keep Lazy Susan Karaoke decidedly unserious.

Olsenasks participants questions, only to pull the micaway beforetheycan answer.Herepeatedly gets up, walks up the stairs to the stage, and then backs away to sitbackdownatthe endofa particularly long-winded ballad.

Abartendernamed Joshbelts out “Drift Away” by Uncle Kracker of all things —from behind the bar while pouring drinks. And the DJ, AndrewMartinez, teases Olsen with well-timedsound effectsand fog machine theatrics. Martinez organizesthe setlist

so it maintains the appropriate banger-to-ballad ratio, ﬁnding appropriate lighting for each song and fielding requests to cut the line. It’s athankless job but vital to the survival of any karaoke event. Hidden in an enclosed DJ booth at the back of the bar,Martinez said he’swell aware his job has certain parallels to Oz’snamesake.

“I’m the man behind the curtain,” he said.

But something about having a drag queen in the room adds an extra layerofsupport, too. Olsen encouragesattendees to sing along and hit the dance ﬂoor,and he leads fervent cheers after every song. Olsen snappedand cheered as Dee’Jahn Lewis hit all the high notes in “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims, and Lewis blushed as he returned to his seat to raucous applause.

“I was only warming up,” Lewis said, grinning. He’sbeen coming to Lazy Susan Karaoke regularlyfor aboutthe last five months to show offhis pipesand meet newpeople.New Orleans local Josh Farquhar attends karaoke events all across thecity, andsaidhecomes to Oz to support the local queens and for the “comeasyou are” aesthetic.

“Everyone here is so welcoming and really fun,” he said. At the end of the day,that’skind of what both drag and karaoke are all about.

Email KaseyBubnash at kasey bubnash@theadvocate.com.

MC Lexis interacts with the audience during Mondaynight’skaraokeatOz.

The stageisset at Oz for Mondaynight’sLazy SusanKaraoke.

STAFF PHOTOSByDAVID GRUNFELD

Patrons cheer on as Oz holdsLazySusan KaraokeonMondaynight.

Annie Lane DEAR ANNIE

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Put your energy where it counts, and forge ahead. Domestic improvements require attention to avoid emotional interference. Choose your battles wisely. Embrace what's yours to discover.

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Be realistic about what you can and cannot do before you make promises. Being precise and finding out what others want from you will help you negotiate your way forward.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) You'll discover something about your capabilities that will point you in an interesting direction A person you encounter today will play a role in helping you shape what's to come.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) An unexpected turn of events will lead to an emotional challenge. Don't act in haste. Size up situations, consider options and put your energy into taking care of your responsibilities first.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Keep a close watch over your investments, possessions and reputation. Not everyone will be on Team Libra. Hold your cards close to your chest, and fact-check every piece of information that comes your way.

scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Staying power, along with vision and being able to reach your goals, will lead to satisfaction and gratitude. Look for unique outlets to disperse anxiety and anger.

sAGITTARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) A change is heading your way that may not be to

your liking, but hindsight will make you think otherwise once the dust settles. Go with the flow, stick close to home and protect what matters most to you.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Search for opportunities, and speak passionately about how you feel, what you care about most and how you intend to proceed. Refuse to let your emotions lead to financial or personal loss.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Shift your attention to what's necessary before you make a move. Getting things right the first time is essential if you want to make the most of a volatile situation.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Conversations with those with common goals will offer insight into how you can expand your interests and create a sustainable lifestyle that satisfies your needs and intellectual growth.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Take advantage of an opportunity to mingle with industry people who can help you further your professional journey or explore the possibilities of using your skills to generate extra income.

TAuRus (April 20-May 20) Persistence and good ideas will get you where you want to go, but not without emotional issues tagging along. Separate personal and professional dealings. Know your target.

FAMILY CIrCUS

CeLebrItY CIpher

Sudoku

InstructIons: sudokuis anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1to9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 boxcontains the samenumber onlyonce.The difficulty level of the sudoku increases from monday to sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

THe wiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

CurTiS

By PHILLIP ALDER

MichioKaku,aprofessoroftheoretical physics,madethisvalidpoint:“It’spointless to have anice clean desk, because it means you’re not doing anything.”

Who could disagree with that?

There are some plays that seem pointless, but upon closer inspection prove that you are doing something vital. In this deal, the “pointless” playoccurs at trick one.

South is in four hearts.Westleads the spadetwo.Afterdeclarerplayslowfrom the dummy, why does it make adifference whether East plays his 10 or king?

Nowadays many Westswould have made atakeout double over oneheart Iamstill notconvinced it is agood idea with arelatively weak 4-3-3-3. South’s jump to four hearts was aslight overbid withsuchabalancedhand,butwhenever you smell agame, bid that game.

If East plays the spade king at trick one, it does not cost the defensea spade trick, but declarer can thenmakehis contract. He winswith his ace anddrives out the heart ace.

West takes his ace and cashes the spadequeen,but evenifheleadsanother spade,South ruffs in the dummy, plays off his two top clubs, draws trumps endingonthe board, andruns the clubs. Now letEast “finesse against his partner”by putting in the spade 10 at trickone. Then West, when he gets in with his heartace, canleadanotherlowspade.Eastcantake the trick and shift to adiamond, giving the defenders one spade, one heart and two diamonds. The finesse against partner retains an entry card forEast. ©2026 by nEa, inc.,dist. By andrews mcmeel syndication

Each Wuzzle is aword riddle which creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: nOOn gOOD =gOOD aFTErnOOn

Previous answers:

word game

InsTRucTIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the additionof“s,” suchas“bats” or “dies,” are notallowed. 3. additional words made by adding a“d” or an “s” may notbeused. 4. proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

ToDAy’s WoRD InTERVEnE: in-ter-VEEN: To occur, fall or comebetween points of time or events.

Average mark 28 words

Time limit 50 minutes

Can you find 45 or more words in INTERVENE?

yEsTERDAy’s WoRD —ADMIRE

dire dram dream made maid mare mead media mire idea idem raid ramie read ream ride rime emir

wuzzles

loCKhorNs

TheLordwants

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

hidato mallard

dIrectIons: makea 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row. add points of each word, using scoring directionsat right. Finally 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter havenopoint value. allthe words arein the Official sCraBBlE® players Dictionary, 5th Edition.

Puzzle Answer

info@scrabbleplayers.org.Visit

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. HErEisaplEasanTliTTlE

thenumberofletters

Scrabble GramS

Get fuzzy

jump Start

roSe iS roSe

DARIUS LENARISpleasecontact Robert Angelle at 504-836-5990 or bobangelle@yahoo.com. 191351-June 17-19, 3t $85

Oakwood Drive, Gretna,LA70056, please contact attorney Ronald L. Faia,Jr.,at6565 VicksburgSt.,New Orleans, LA 70124; Phone: 504-908-9328;Email: rfaiajr@gmail.com. 191602-6/18-19-20-3t

FURNITURE allwood endtable from 90’s$20 504-295-4327

JEWELRY/WATCHES Ladies beaut. 10k-14kgolddiamond cross& chn$350 504-994-7385

Legal Notices

p y on April 23rd

Formoreinformation please contactNew Or‐leansCarrolltonWater

p auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOfﬁce Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday,July 29, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m.the following de‐scribedprop‐erty to wit:

introducethe 2026-27

andhold its ﬁrstpublichearing on the2026-27 budget on May14, 2026 at 5:30 pm at EdgarP Harney Build‐inglocated

2503 Wil‐lowSt.,New Orleans, LA 70113 (LAR.S.39:1307) ReNEW-ReinventingEdu‐cation is thecharter school management or‐ganization operating ReNEWLaurelElemen‐tary,ReNEW DoloresT AaronElementary, ReNEWSchaumburgEle‐mentary, andReNEW MotonLakefront Elemen‐tary.A physical copy of the2026-2027 budget is availableat10001 Lake Forest Blvd Suite710, NewOrleans,LA70127. 186911-may9-aug27 $956

PARISH

JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:861-451 FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION VERSUS CHAD RYAN DARBYA/K/A CHAD R. DARBY A/K/ACHAD DARBYAND ASHLEY ELIZABETH BERGERON A/K/AASHLEYE BERGERON A/K/AASHLEY BERGERON By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedFebruary 6, 2025, Ihave seized andwill proceedtosell to thehighest bidder at public i h

ACERTAIN PIECEORPOR‐TION OF GROUND,to‐gether with all thebuildings and improvements thereon, andall of therights, ways,privi‐leges, servi‐tudes, appurtenances andadvantages thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in the Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in that subdivision knownas Morningside Park Subdivi‐sion,Square47, bounded by GroveStreet, West Metairie Avenue,Blanche Street andVan BurenAvenue, beingcom‐posedofLots Nos. 14 and15, accord‐ingtoa survey of J.J. Krebs& Sons,Surveyors, datedMarch 11, 1955, andcerti‐ﬁed copy of which is an‐nexedtoanact passed before Edward Haspel, Notary Public datedApril 1, 1955,which said portionof ground com‐mences 325feet from VanBuren Avenue,and measures thence 50 feet frontonGrove Street,bya depth of 120 feet between equaland paral‐lellines Forinforma‐tional purposes only:Improve‐mentsthereon bear Municipal No.829 GroveAvenue, Metairie, Louisiana70003

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges. TERMS- Thefull

purchase price isdue at the time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

BRIGHAMJ LUNDBERG Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 19, 2026, July 24, 2026 Jun19-jul24-2t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:787-855

DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUSTCOM‐PANY,ASCER‐TIFICATE TRUSTEE ON BEHALF OF BOSCOCREDITII TRUSTSERIES 2010-1 VS ZINA SHABAZZ LEWISAKA ZINA SEMONE SHABAZZLEWIS AKAZINALEWIS AKAZINAS LEWIS

p p erty to wit:

ONECERTAIN LOTORPOR‐TION OF GROUND,to‐gether with all thebuildings and improvements thereon, andall rights,ways, privileges, servitudes,ap‐purtenances andadvantages thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in the Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in that part thereofknown as BAYOU DES FAMILLES SUB‐DIVISION,being aresubdivision of aportion of Ames Farms, Lower Estelle Planta‐tion,LotsL,M, N, O, P, Q, andR in accordance with plan of resubdivisionby J. J. Krebs& Sons,Inc dated April25, 1984, approved by the JeffersonParish Councilunder OrdinanceNo. 16259, approved on November 29, 1984, registered in EntryNo. 8459835, COB 1180, folio 100, Jefferson Parish, LA, said Lotismore fullydescribed as follows,towit:

LOT9,SQUARE 6; subjecttore‐strictions,servi‐tudes, rights-ofwayand out‐standing mineralrights of record affect‐ingthe prop‐erty

Improvements thereonbear theMunicipal No.4621 Bayou DesFamilles Drive, Marrero, LA 70072.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- The full purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or

y Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

ASHLEY E. MORRIS Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson TheNew Orleans Advocate: May15, 2026, June 19, 2026 May15-jun19

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:862-959 BAYVIEWLOAN SERVICING VERSUS KM HOMES REAL ESTATE, LLCAND FIORELAL

VASQUEZAKA FIORELA VASQUEZ TRIGUEROS

ONECERTAIN PIECEORPOR‐TION OF GROUND,to‐getherwithall h b ildi

g thebuildings andimprove‐mentsthereon, andall of the rights,ways, privileges, servitudes, appurtenances andadvantages thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in the PARISH OF JEF‐FERSON,STATE OF LOUISIANA, andismore fully describedas follows, to-wit: LOT14, SQUARE F, WESTSIDE TERRACE SUBDIVISION; subjecttore‐strictions,servi‐tudes, rights-ofwayand out‐standing mineralrights of record affect‐ingthe prop‐erty Improvements thereonbear theMunicipal No.1152 Tallow Tree Lane,Har‐vey, Louisiana70058. This sale is sub‐

ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- The full purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit ZACHARYGAR‐RETT YOUNG Attorney for Plaintiff JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 19, 2026, July 24, 2026 Jun19-jul24-2t

DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA

NO:860-752

p vey, Louisiana, 70058,on Wednesday, June 24,2026 at 10o'clock a.m. the following described prop‐ertytowit:

NOLA FUNDING, LLC VS INVESTOR EQUI‐TIES,LLC,ETAL

Byvirtueofand inobedience to a Writ of FIERI FACIASfromthe 24thJudicial DistrictCourt, ParishofJeffer‐son,State of Louisiana,inthe above num‐bered andenti‐tledcause dated October 1,2025, Ihave seizedand will proceed to sell tothe highest bidderatpublic auction,atthe Jefferson Parish Sheriff'sOfﬁce Complex,1233 WestbankEx‐pressway, Har‐i i

TWOCERTAIN LOTSOF GROUND, to‐getherwithall ofthe improve‐ments thereon, together with all of therights, ways, privi‐leges,servi‐tudes andap‐purtenances thereuntobe‐longing or in anywise apper‐taining to said propertysitu‐atedinthe Parish of Jefferson, State of Louisiana,in thatpartknown asthe M.M. Gilchrist’s West Carrollton Sub‐division, which lotsare desig‐natedasLOTS

13 and14, of BLOCK 6, whichblock is bounded by SpruceStreet, BrooklynAv‐enue,Claiborne and Lake Streetsand which lots ad‐joineachother and measure each ﬁfteen feet front on BrooklynAv‐enue,by a depth of 100 feet between equal andparal‐lel lines.

ACERTAIN PIECE OR POR‐TIONOF GROUND, to‐getherwithall ofthe improvements thereonto‐getherwithall ofthe rights, ways, privi‐leges,servi‐tudes and appurtenances thereuntobe‐longing or in anywiseapper‐i i id

pp tainingtosaid property, situated in the ParishofJeffer‐son,State of Louisiana,in thatpartknown asthe M.M. Gilchrist’sWest CarrolltonSub‐divisionin

BLOCK 6, which block is bounded by Spruce Street, BrooklynAv‐enue,Claiborne and Lake Streetsand which lots is designated as LOT 16 on aplan ofsubdivision byEdgar Pilie, Surveyor, dated October28, 1902, attached toanAct before JosephWalton, NP, datedOcto‐ber 29, 1902, according towhich Lot16 measures30 feetfront on BrooklynAv‐enue,bya depth of 100 f b

p feet between equal andparal‐lel lines.

Improvements bear Municipal No. 439 Brooklyn Avenue,Jeffer‐son,LA70121

This sale is sub‐jecttoall supe‐riorsecurityin‐terests,mort‐gages,liens and privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchaseprice isdue at the timeofthe sale

NOTE:All funds mustbe Cashier's Check, Certiﬁed Check, Money Order, or PersonalCheck withBankLetter ofCredit.

IRLR SILVERSTEIN Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III

Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: May15, 2026, June 19, 2026 May15-jun19

Parish of Jeffer‐son,State of Louisiana,inthe above num‐bered andenti‐tledcause, dated April8 2026, Ihave seizedand will proceed to sell tothe highest bidderatpublic auction,atthe Jefferson Parish Sheriff'sOfﬁce Complex,1233 WestbankEx‐pressway, Har‐vey,Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at 10o'clock a.m. the following described prop‐ertytowit: THAT CERTAIN LOT OR POR‐TIONOF GROUND, to‐getherwithall the buildings and improvements thereon, andall the rights,ways, privileges, i d

p g servitudes,ap‐purtenances andadvantages thereuntobe‐longing or in anywise apper‐taining,situated inthe PARISH OF JEF‐FERSON, STATE OFLOUISIANA, inthatsubdivi‐sionthereof known as BELLEVUE SUBDIVISION accordingto a surveyofHo‐tard& Webb, C.E dated September 20, 1954, said por‐tionofground is designatedas LOT 101, SQUARED, bounded by Mason Avenue, TentouStreet Creagan Avenue and Bruno Street,which said Lot101 commences at a distanceof three hundred (300`)feet from thecorner

of MasonAv‐enue andBruno Street andmea‐sures thence ﬁfty(50`)feet front on MasonAvenue, samewidth in the rear,by a depth of one hundred twenty-ﬁve (125`) feet between equal andparal‐lel lines

This sale is sub‐jecttoall supe‐riorsecurityin‐terests,mort‐gages,liens and privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchaseprice isdue at the timeofthe sale

NOTE:All funds mustbe Cashier's Check, Certiﬁed Check, Money Order, or PersonalCheck withBankLetter ofCredit.

ELIZABETHC PRICE

Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III

Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: May15, 2026, June 19, 2026

May15-jun19

JUDICIAL

ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:874-451

REGIONSBANK VERSUS THEUNOPENED SUCCESSION OF EUGENIAANN ROBINSON,DE‐CEASED

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND

SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedApril 8, 2026, Ihave seizedand will proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOfﬁce Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

THAT CERTAIN LOTORPARCEL OF GROUND,to‐gether with all thebuildings and improvements thereon, andall therights, ways, privileges, servitudes,ap‐purtenances andadvantages thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in the Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in that part thereof, known as LIVEOAK PLANTATION ES‐TATES, ADDI‐TION 3, andac‐cordingtoa re‐subdivisionof Tract "U2" andTract "D2",all in ac‐cordance with Plan of Subdivi‐sion forLive Oak Plantation Es‐tates, Addition 3, made by Krebs, LaSalle, LeMieuxConsul‐tants, Inc., datedApril 7, 2006, recorded in therecords of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, at Instrument No 10648933,COB 3172, folio 557, andbeing more fully described as follows, to-wit: LOT291, SQUARE 6, LIVE OAKPLANTA‐TION ESTATES SUBDIVISION, ADDITION 3, Jef‐ferson Parish, Louisiana.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price isdue at the time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

FOERSTNERG MEYER

Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III

Jefferson TheNew Orleans Advocate: May 15,2026 June 19,2026 May15-jun19

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT 24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:869-256 WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR TRYON STREET ACQUI‐SITION TRUSTI VERSUS DAVIDL.GOMEZ A/K/ADAVID LEDEZMA GOMEZA/K/A DAVIDEDUARDO LEDEZMA GOMEZAND GOMEZ& SONS PROPERTIES, LLC

THAT CERTAIN PIECEORPOR‐TION OF GROUND,to‐gether with all thebuildings andimprove‐mentsthereon andall the rights,ways, privileges, servitudes appurtenances andadvantages thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in the Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in TERRYTOWN SUBDIVISION, NO.1,being part of OakdaleSub‐division,Section "B", FirstWard, all in accordance with thesurvey of AdloeOrr, Jr &Associates, C.E.,dated April 30, 1959, approved by theJefferson Parish Council under Ordi‐nanceNo. 4117, adopted July 2, 1959,reg‐isteredinCOB 482, folio 53, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Louisiana, on July 15, 1959, andin Plan Book 36, folio 28,Ofﬁce of theClerk of Court of the Parish of Jefferson, Louisiana, which said property is more fully de‐scribedasfol‐lows,to-wit:

as shown on survey of Adloe Orr, Jr.&Associ‐ates,C.E., dated August 24, 1960, a copy of which is annexedtoan actbeforeEd‐ward V. Frayle, NotaryPublic, dated August 30, 1960, recorded in COB 514, folio 122. Also beingmore particularly describedon a plan of survey made by Gilbert, Kelly &Cou‐turie, Inc.,Sur‐veying and Engineering, datedOctober 19, 1981,a copy of which is an‐nexedtoanact before Hugh E. Humphrey,No‐tary Public datedNovem‐ber11, 1981, recorded in COB 1014,folio 999. Andaccording to asurveyby Landmark Sur‐veying,Inc., J. F. Ruello, Land Surveyor, dated February 17, 1995,a copy of which is an‐nexedhereto, said Lot 6is situated in thesame Parish, Subdivi‐sion and Square,and has thesameloca‐tion andmeasure‐mentsashere‐inaboveset forth, except that RueDe‐Beau is now known as RueDeBois; subject to re‐strictions,servi‐tudes, rights-ofwayand out‐standing mineralrights ofrecord affect‐ing theprop‐erty

Theimprove‐mentsthereon bear theMunici‐palNo. 440 West Butterﬂy Circle, Terrytown, LA 70056.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or PersonalCheck with Bank Letter ofCredit.

CANDACE A. COURTEAU Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 19,2026, July 24, 2026 Jun19-jul24-2t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:864-873 NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC VERSUS CASEYCORLEY

scribed prop erty to wit:

THAT CERTAIN PIECEORPOR‐TION OF GROUND,to‐gether with all of the buildingsand improvements thereon, andall of therights, ways,privi‐leges, servitudes,ap‐purtenances, andadvantages thereuntobe‐longingorin anywise appertaining, situated in the Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in that part thereof known as,METAIRIE TERRACESUBDI‐VISION,in SQUARE 9 thereof, which square is bounded by Derbigny and JohnsonStreets, Turnbull Drive andLot 3, LabarreDivi‐sion,J.J.Man‐sonSubdivision, anddesignated as LOTS 16 AND 17 on a survey made by H.L. Zander, datedJuly5 1920 andac‐cordingthereto said lots adjoin each otherand each measures 25 feet fronton Derbigny Street, thesame width in the rear by depth of 120 feet be‐tween equal andparallel lines. Lot16lies near to and commences 375 feet from the corner of Der‐bignyStreet and Turnbull Drive; subjectto restrictions, servitudes, rights-of-way andoutstanding mineralrights of record affect‐ingthe prop‐erty

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit ELIZABETHC PRICE Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 19, 2026, July 24, 2026 Jun19-jul24-2t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:863-150

70058 on Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m thefollowing describedprop‐erty to wit:

ACERTAIN PIECEORPOR‐TION OF GROUND,to‐gether with all thebuildings and improvements thereon, andall of therights, ways,privi‐leges, servi‐tudes, appurtenances andadvantages thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in the Stateof Louisiana, in the Parish of Jeffer‐son, in TERRY‐TOWN SUBDIVISION, SECTION2, beingpartof OakdaleSubdi‐vision,Section 8, First Ward,all in ac‐cordance with thesurveyof AdloeOrr, Jr., & Associates,C.E., dated June 3, 1959, re‐visedSeptem‐ber16, 1959, and September18, 1959, approved by theParishof JeffersonParish Councilunder Ordinance #4544 adopted April21, 1960, registered in COB510, folio 522, Parish of Jefferson, Louisiana, on July 20, 1960, andin Plan Book 39/65 Ofﬁce of the ClerkofCourt, Jefferson Parish,which said property is more fullyde‐scribedasfol‐lows,to-wit:

LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: May15, 2026, June 19, 2026

May15-jun19

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT 24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:866-249 WELLSFARGO BANK,N.A VERSUS JORGE L. RODRIGUEZ A/K/AJORGE RODRIGUEZ

with Bank Letter of Credit

COREYJ.GIROIR Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 19, 2026, July 24, 2026

Jun19-jul24-2t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:871-856

NUMBER: 1003 WHITNEY AVENUE GRETNA,LA 70058. AND

Sheriff Parish of

LOTNO. 6in SQUARE NO.20, boundedby Stumpf Boule‐vard,South But‐terfly Circle,Blossom Street,Terry Parkway, Rue DeBeau and West Butterfly Circle,said lotbeginsat a distance of 319 feet from thein‐tersection of RueDeBeauand West ButterflyCircle, andmeasures thence 62 feet frontonWest ButterflyCircle, 59.19 feet in width in therear, by a depthof110 feet between equaland paral‐lellines.All as shownon

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritofFIERI FACIAS from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, dated January 27, 2026, Ihave seizedand will proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOfﬁce Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m.the followingde‐scribed prop‐t t it

BAYVIEWLOAN SERVICING VERSUS KM HOMES REAL ESTATE LLCAND FIORELAL VASQUEZAKA FIORELA VASQUEZ TRIGUEROS

LOT19in SQUARE 6, bounded by Ap‐pletreeLane, Athena Avenue Holmes Boulevardand Browning Lane, which said lot commencesat a distance of 80 feet from thecorner of Appletree Lane and Athena Avenue andmeasures thence 60 feet frontonApple‐tree Lane,by a depth alongthe side line nearer Athena Avenue of 95 feet,bya depth alongthe oppo‐site sideline of 95 feet,by a ﬁrstwidth in therearof 36.06 feet to a point, thence an additional width in therearof 36.06 feet in accordance with survey of AdloeOrr, Jr.& Associates,C.E., March15, 1963, all more fully shownonsur‐veybyGeraldB Dunn, Surveyor datedJuly21, 1976, said lothas the same location, dimensions,and boundariesas setforth above; subjectto restrictions servitudes, rights-of-way andoutstanding mineralrights of record affecting the property

Theimprove‐mentsthereon bear theMunici‐palNo. 341 Ap‐pletreeLane, Gretna, Louisiana70056.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is due at the time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

BRIGHAMJ LUNDBERG Attorney for Plaintiff

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedJuly7, 2025, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOfﬁce Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m.the followingde‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: Allthatcertain lotorparcelof ground,to‐gether with all of thebuildings and improvements thereon, andall of therights, ways,means privileges, servitudes, appurtenances, advantages and component partsthereunto belongingorin anywise appertaining thereto, lying andbeing situ‐ated in theCity of Kenner, Parishof Jefferson, State of Louisiana, in that part thereofknown as Highway Park,and accordingto a plan of subdivi‐sion by A. T. Dusenbury, Civil Engineer,dated December 5, 1925, aplatof survey by J. L. Fontcuberta, Surveyor,dated December 7, 1959, acopy of which is an‐nexedtoanact registered in COB498, folio 406, said portionof ground is desig‐natedasLots23 and24, Square 476, which square is bounded by Kentucky Av‐enue,22nd(for‐merly4th) Street,Roo‐sevelt Boule‐vard and 21st (formerly 3rd) Street,and which lots ad‐join each other andmeasures together 50 feet fronton Kentucky Av‐enue,same width in the rear,bya depth of 120 feet between equal andparallel lines. Lot24 formsthe inter‐sectionof21st Street and Kentucky Av‐enue

HANCOCK WHITNEYBANK VERSUS DOWNTOWN DE‐VELOPMENT GROUP, LLC

ONECERTAIN LOTOFGROUND, together with allthe buildings andimprove‐ments thereon, andall of therights, ways,privi‐leges, servi‐tudes, appurte‐nances and advantages thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in theParishof Jefferson, State of Louisiana, in that part thereofknown as Heritage Place Subdivision, in Parcel D-1 thereof, in the square bounded by WhitneyAv‐enue, Cooper Road, Square CofHer‐itagePlace Sub‐division,Landry Subdivisionand Hamilton Road designated as Lot14, on asur‐veymadebyJ.J Krebs& Sons, Inc., datedMay 13, 1982, redated July 27, 1982, August 30, 1982 andDecember 18, 1982, according to which said lotcommences at adistanceof 327.13 feet from the corner of Whit‐neyAvenue and Cooper Road andmeasures thence 18 feet fronton WhitneyAv‐enue,the same widthinthe rear,bya depth of 131.13 feet between equal andparallel lines.

Theimprove‐mentsthereon bear Municipal No.1029 WHIT‐NEYAVENUE, GRETNA LA 70058. This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests,mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

PETERJ SEGRIST Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson TheNew Orleans Advocate: May15, 2026, June 19, 2026 May15-jun19

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:866-863

This sale is sub‐jecttoall supe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter

ACERTAIN PIECEORPOR‐TION OF GROUND,to‐gether with all thebuildings and improvements thereon, andall of therights, ways,privi‐leges, prescrip‐tions, servitudes,ad‐vantages and appurtenances thereuntobe‐longingorin anywise appertaining situated in Jef‐ferson Parish Stateof Louisiana, in that part thereof knownasHER‐ITAGEPLACE SUBDIVISION, anddesignated as LOT1,PAR‐CEL D-1, in accor‐dancewith a plan made by J. J. Krebs& Sons, Inc.,dated April 14, 1981, andre‐visedSeptem‐ber18, 1981, under Ordi‐nanceNo. 14750, EntryNo. 971405, COB 1005, folio 265, recordsofJef‐ferson Parish, Louisiana. Said LOT1,PAR‐CELD-1 mea‐sures35feet frontonWhit‐neyAvenue, same widthin therear, by a depthof131.13 feet between equaland paral‐lellines.PARCEL D-1is bounded by WhitneyAv‐enue,Hamilton Road,Cooper Road,and Square "C". Accordingto a survey by J. J. Krebs& Sons, Inc.,dated Sep‐tember 17, 1981, resurveyed Au‐gust 30, 1982, andresurveyed November 9, 1981, to show improvements said Lothas the same dimen‐sionsasset forthabove and commences 581.13 feet from theintersection of WhitneyAv‐enue and Cooper Road

IMPROVEMENTS THEREONBEAR THEMUNICIPAL NUMBER:1003

CRAIG) By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedJuly21, 2025, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOfﬁce Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday,July 29, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m.the followingde‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: Acertain piece or portionof ground,to‐gether with all theimprove‐mentsthereon and allthe rights, ways,privi‐leges, servi‐tudes, appurte‐nances andad‐vantages there‐unto belongingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in theParishof Jefferson, State of Louisiana, des‐ignatedbythe No.19inBlock 160, Section"G" of the Bridgedale Subdivision. Said BlockNo. 160 bounded by Carnationand West Metairie Avenues, Teal Street and Transcontinen‐talDrive.Said Lot19measures 50 feet fronton CarnationAv‐enue,by a depthof120 feet between equaland paral‐lellines,and begins at adis‐tanceof250 feet from thecorner of Teal Street andCarnation Avenue Allinaccor‐dancewith a plat of Section "G"and "H"of said subdivision made by F.B. Grevemberg, C.E.,inJuly, 1929, and recorded in Plat Book 11, folio 13, in theClerk's ofﬁce in the Parish of Jeffer‐son, andall as more fully shownona plat of survey by DavidA.Moy‐nan, Jr C.E. datedDecem‐ber26, 1961. This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

AMYR.ORTIS Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P.

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. VERSUS KENNETH DERENBECKER (A/K/A KENNETHP DERENBECKER) ANDJODY VICKNAIR DERENBECKER (A/K/A JODY V. DERENBECKER, JODY C. DERENBECKER, JODY VICKNAIR CRAIGDEREN‐BECKER, JODY V. CRAIG DERENBECKER, JODY VICKNAIR C. DEREN‐BECKER, JODY V.C. DERENBECKER, JODY CRAIG DERENBECKER, JODY DEREN‐BECKER,JODY VICKNAIR,JODY VICKNAIR CRAIG, JODY V. CRAIG, JODY

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 19, 2026, July 24, 2026 Jun19-jul24-2t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:874-212 FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION VERSUS JOSEPH M. DUFRENE AND CHRISTINEKIM‐BALL DUFRENE

By virtue of and in obedienceto

aWritof

SEIZUREAND

THAT CERTAIN PIECEORPOR‐TION OF GROUND,to‐gether with all thebuildings andimprove‐mentsthereon, situated in the CITYOFKEN‐NER, PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATEOF LOUISIANA,in that part thereofknown as MORNING‐SIDE PARK SUBDIVI‐SION,per plan by AdloeOrr, datedMay 15, 1941, on file in theOffice of theClerk of Court, Parish of Jefferson, Louisiana. And accordingto said plan,said lots aredesig‐natedasLOTS 23 and24of Square 25 adjoin each otherand measure 25 feet fronton GardnerStreet, same width in therearby a depth of 120 feet between equal andparallel lines. Said Lot 24 lies nearer to andforms the corner of GardnerStreet andDearborn Avenue,having adepth and frontonDear‐born Avenue of 120 feet.And according to a plat of survey by ErrolE.Kelly datedJune 30, 1976 recertified March8,1986, by JamesH Couturie,said Lots 23 and24 have thesame locationsand dimensions as setforth above, exceptthat GardnerStreet is shownto be nowdesig‐natedasTaylor Street,and Dearborn Av‐enue is shown to be now designated as 15thStreet

This sale is sub‐jecttoall supe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

ELIZABETHC PRICE Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P.

LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: May15, 2026, June 19, 2026 May15-jun19

MORTGAGE CORPORATION VERSUS LUISAMENDOSA ISABAWIFE OF/AND RENE A. ISABA

THAT CERTAIN PIECEORPOR‐TION OF GROUND,to‐gether with all thebuildings andimprove‐mentsthereon, andall the rights,ways, privileges servitudes, appurtenances andadvantages thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in the PARISH of JEF‐FERSON,STATE of LOUISIANA, in SQUARE 58 of EASTBANK SUB‐DIVISION bounded by Wil‐sonand Jeffer‐sonAvenues, Versailles andMarket Streets, andac‐cordingtoa sur‐veymadeby AdloeOrr,Jr. and Associates,C.E datedJuly28, 1954, thesaid portionof ground com‐mences 1020 feet from the corner of Wilson Avenue andVer‐saillesStreet measures 60 feet front on Wilson Av‐enue,48.29 feet in width in the rear,bya depth of 120feet on theside line nearestto andparallel with Versailles Street,and by a ﬁrstdepth on theopposite sideline of 104 feet andthence on an obtuse anglea second depthof19.83 feet to therearprop‐erty line;which said portionof ground is com‐posedofthe whole of original Lots 52 and53and the greaterportion of Original Lot 54.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

L. GRAHAM ARCENEAUX Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson TheNew Orleans Advocate: May 15,2026, June 19,2026 May15-jun19

LOUISIANA NO:872-304

PHHMORTGAGE CORPORATION VERSUS DULCY LIUZZA REED A/K/A DULCY L. REED A/K/ADULCY REED AND SUSAN LIUZZA KAPLAN A/K/ASUSAN L. KAPLAN A/K/A SUSANKAPLAN, HEIRSOF ALICEP.LIUZZA A/K/AALICE LIUZZA

Onecertain lot of ground,to‐gether with all the buildings andimprove‐mentsthereon andall the rights,ways, privileges, servitudes,ap‐purtenances andadvantages thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in theParishof Jefferson, Stateof Louisiana, in that part thereofknown as Ponchartrain Shores Subdivi‐sion,in Square 66 bounded by Lake Vista Drive, Murphy Drive, Sonﬁeld Street,and Belle Drive, desig‐natedaslot no 10, on survey by J. J. Krebs& Sons,Inc., Sur‐veyors datedSeptem‐ber19, 1975 a copy of which is annexedtothe vendor’s setof purchase and according theretosaidlot commences at a distance of 86.75 feet from thecorner of Lake Vistaand Murphy Drive andmeasures thence 70 feet fronton Lake Vista Drive, same width in the rearbya depth of 137.57 feet between equal and parallel lines.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges

TERMS- Thefull purchase price isdue at the time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or PersonalCheck with Bank Letter ofCredit.

DENNIS F. WIGGINS, JR. Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 19,2026, July 24, 2026

Jun19-jul24-2t

LOUISIANA

NO:871-561

CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES,LLC VERSUS RYAN WHITE, ADAM WHITE

ANDSARAH WHITEHEIRS BY VIRTUE OF AFFIDAVITOF SMALL SUCCESSION OF EDWARD WHITE, JR. DECEASED

THAT CERTAIN PIECEORPOR‐TION OF GROUND,to‐gether with all thebuildings andimprove‐mentsthereon, andall the rights,ways, privileges, servitudes, appurtenances andadvantages thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in the Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in that part thereofknown as FLORAL ACRES ADDITION NO.2 SUBDIVISION, beinga portion of Area "H"of Live OakPlantation.

In accordance with asurveyby AdloeOrr, Jr.& Associates,C.E datedOctober 9, 1968, andre‐visedMay 5, 1969, acopyof which is at‐tached to an ActofRededica‐tion of Streets by DeltaMort‐gage Corpora‐tion to the Parish of Jefferson, State of Louisiana, which is recorded in COB 698, folio 122 of therecords of Jefferson Parish,said pieceorportion of ground is designated as follows:

LOTNO. 151, SQUARE 24, said square is bounded by BlossomCourt, Dandelion Drive, Blossom Court(side)and BlossomCourt (side):saidlot commences 180.00 feet from the corner of Blos‐somCourt and DandelionDrive, measures thence 55.00 feet fronton BlossomCourt, with asamein width in the rear,bya depth of 100.00 feet between equaland paral‐lellines.All in accordance with asurveyby Wilton T. Dufrene, Land Surveyor,dated April25, 1984.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

MEYER Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 19, 2026, July 24, 2026

Jun19-jul24-2t

JUDICIAL

ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL

DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:872-199

PHHMORTGAGE CORPORATION VERSUS DOYCEW VALLEE (F/K/A DOYCEWAL‐LACE VALLEE F/K/A DOYCE WALLACE)

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND

SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedJanuary 22, 2026, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOfﬁce Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday,July 29, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m.the followingde‐scribedprop‐erty to wit:

That portionof ground,to‐gether with all thebuildings andimprove‐mentsthereon, and allofthe rights, ways,privi‐leges, servi‐tudes, appurte‐nances there‐untobelonging or in anywiseapper‐taining, situated in theParishof Jefferson, State of Louisiana, in Whitehouse Subdivision, formingpartof theTownof Westwego and designated as Lots 11 and12 of Square 45, which said square is bounded by Fifthand Sixth Streets, Av‐enuesC andD, accordingto a plan by A. E. Ho‐tard,C.E dated June 1, 1936, copy an‐nexedtoact be‐fore E.M. Conzelmann, N.P.,saidlots measureeach 32 feet fronton Avenue Cby a depth between equaland paral‐lellines of 125.81 feet

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

WILLIAMS TEBBE

Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 19, 2026, July 24, 2026 Jun19-jul24-2t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:872-582 ST.JULIEN PLACECONDO‐MINIUM ASSOCIATION, INC. VERSUS CELENIAMARIA MARCHENA

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritofFIERI FACIAS from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedFebruary 10, 2026, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOfﬁce Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday,July 29, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m.the followingde‐scribedprop‐erty to wit:

ONECERTAIN CONDOMINIUM UNIT,situatedin thePARISHOF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA, des‐ignatedasUNIT 27 of ST.JULIEN PLACE CONDOMINI‐UMS,ST. JULIEN PLACEPHASE II, theDeclaration of which is recorded in COB 1062, folio 830, datedFebruary 2, 1983, ofﬁcial recordsofJef‐ferson Parish, Louisiana, being situated in the followingde‐scribedprop‐erty:

ONECERTAIN LOTOFGROUND, situated in the CITY OF KEN‐NER, PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATEOF LOUISIANA, in that part known as CHATEAUES‐TATES NORTH, SEC‐TION 2, SQUARE 11, beinga re‐subdivisionof Parcel 1, Chateau Estatesinac‐cordance with a survey thereof by J. J. Krebs& Sons,Inc., dated June 19, 1972, ap‐proved by the City of Kenner under Ordi‐nanceNo. 1420, adoptedJuly 10, 1972, regis‐teredinCOB 767, folio 23, of‐ﬁcial recordsof Jefferson Parish Louisiana. Ac‐cordingtosaid survey,Square 11 is bounded by MaconDrive, Sunset Boulevard, ChateauBoule‐vard andSt. Julien Drive.

Being the same property ac‐quired by Cele‐niaMaria Marchenaby ActofCashSale datedAugust9, 2021, andregis‐teredonAugust 10, 2021 at In‐strument Num‐ber 12146195, COB 3458, folio 257 in theconveyance recordsofJef‐ferson Parish, Louisiana.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

CHARLESE SUTTON,JR. Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 19, 2026, July 24, 2026

Jun19-jul24-2t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT 24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:872-835

GULF COAST BANK AND TRUST VERSUS NEWHORIZON LEARNING ACADEMYLLC II AND KNOWLEDGE ENTERPRISES, INC.

L S dated 2/8/1974, except said LotNo. 30 is shownas commencingat adistanceof 268.67 feet from thecorner of Wabash Street andHar‐vard Avenue

LOTS 30 and31, Square 13, Har‐vard Estates, SectionB are more fully shownonthe survey by Gilbert, Kelly & Couturie,Inc., datedOctober 24, 2005, acopy of which is annexedtothe actdated No‐vember 18, 2005 andrecordedon November 21, 2005 as COB3155, page 119, In‐strument No 10557453, Jeffer‐sonParish, Louisiana

Theimprove‐mentsthereon bear theMunici‐palNo. 4820 Wabash Street, Metairie,LA 70001

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- 10% down balancein 30 days

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

WAYNEA MAIORANA,JR Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 19, 2026, July 24, 2026 Jun19-jul24-2t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:875-088

U.S. BANK TRUSTCOM‐PANY,NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUST ADMINISTRATO RAND AS IN‐DENTURE TRUSTEEFOR CITIGROUP MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2023-RP1 VERSUS SHEILA M. FERGUSON (A/K/A SHEILA ALLEY)

STATE OF LOUISIANA, CITY OF KENNER,in that part thereof knownas WOODLAKE SUBDIVISION, SECTION1,in SQUARE "R", bounded by Yellowstone Street,Wood‐lake Boulevard, Sunset Boule‐vard andPlatt Street, designated as LOT9,onthe survey of GilbertKelly & Couturie,Inc., datedAugust3 1981, andac‐cordingtosaid survey Lot9 commences at a distance of 515.38 feet from thecorner of Yellowstone Street and Woodlake Boulevardand Measures thence atotal of 88.68 feet front on Yellowstone Street,with a widthinthe rear of 88.0feet,by a depthonthe sideline nearer to Woodlake Boulevardof 110.08 feet anda depthon theopposite sideline of 120.08 feet.All in accordance with thesurvey of GilbertKelly &Couturie, Inc., datedOctober 28, 1989. This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit WILLIAMS TEBBE Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 19, 2026, July 24, 2026 Jun19-jul24-2t

FOERSTNERG

LOTB-1 adjoins LotA-3 and measures 166.67 feet frontonSt. Julien Drive, the same width in therear, by a depth of 380 feet between equaland paral‐lellines.Lot B-1isa resubdi‐vision of Lots A andB in accor‐dancewith a survey thereof of R. L. Schumann, Land Surveyor, datedSeptem‐ber1,1977 and revisedSeptem‐ber9, 1977, registered in COB915, folio 951, ofﬁcial recordsofJef‐ferson Parish, Louisiana. Theimprove‐mentsthereon bear theMunici‐palNo. 1012 St Julien Drive, #A4, Kenner, Louisiana. Beingthe same t

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedFebruary 12, 2026, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOfﬁce Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m.the followingde‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: TWOCERTAIN LOTS OF GROUND,to‐gether with all thebuildings and improvements thereonsitu‐ated in the PARISH OF JEF‐FERSON,STATE OF LOUISIANA, in that part thereofknown as PONTCHAR‐TRAINGARDENS OR HARVARDES‐TATESSUBDIVI‐SION,Square13, SECTIONB,said Block13is bounded by WABASH STREET,HEARST AVENUE (for‐merlyXenia Street), LEMON STREET AND HARVARDAV‐ENUE,and said lots aredesig‐natedasLOTS NOS. 30 AND31, which lots adjoin each other, andmea‐sure each 25 feet fronton Wabash Street,same widthinthe rear,bya depth of 150 feet be‐tween equal andparallel lines; allinac‐cordance with survey by Ster‐ling Mandle, L.S.,dated / /

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT 24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:875-116 CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES,LLC VERSUS DOLORES ALTAGRACIA GARCIA A/K/A DOLORESA GARCIA A/K/A DOLORES

belongingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in theParishof

Jefferson, State of Louisiana, in that part thereofknown as Rose Park Subdivision,ac‐cordingtosur‐vey of Hotard & Webb, CivilEn‐gineers, dated August 27, 1953, designated as Lot7 of Square "J", which square is bounded by Hero Drive, Claire Avenue

23rdand 25th Streets, said lot commences at a distance of 250' from thecorner of Hero Drive and 25thStreet and measures thence 50' front on Hero Drive, thesamewidth in therear, by adepth of 106' between equaland paral‐lellines.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

DENNISF WIGGINS, JR. Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 19, 2026, July 24, 2026

Jun19-jul24-2t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL

DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:873-956 ROCKET MORTGAGE,LLC VERSUS LEWISELDER WHITE ANDNETTIE NERNEY WHITE (A/K/A NETTIE NERNEY)

Southlineof subdivision, designated as LotNo. 8. on survey made by Gilbert, Kelly andCouturie, Inc.,Sur., dated March7,1979,A copy of which is annexedtoO.I #868124 ac‐cordingthereto said lotcom‐mences at adis‐tanceof 259.98 feet from thecornerof Neyrey Drive and47thStreet, measures thence 66.25 feet fronton Neyrey Drive, thesamewidth in therear, by a depth on the sideline nearer to 47th Street,of75.75 feet anda depth on theopposite sideline of 75.50 feet,and as more fully shownonsur‐veydoneby Dading,Mar‐ques &Associ‐ates,Inc datedJune 11, 1991.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

EMILYA MUELLER

Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 19,2026, July 24, 2026 Jun19-jul24-2t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT 24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:874-996 U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCATION NOTINITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUTSOLELYAS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCAF ACQUISITION TRUST VERSUS HANNAHCOLE‐MANMC‐CORMICKA/K/A HANNAH COLEMANREM‐BLESHIEF MCCORMICK ANDENNISJ MCCORMICK, JR. A/K/AENNIS JAMES MCCORMICK, JR.

g privileges, servitudes andadvantages thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐tainingsituated in theParish of Jefferson, Stateof Louisiana, in that part thereofknown as Shadow Lake Subdivision, beinga resub division of that portionofLake Timberlane Es‐tates, formerly desig‐natedas parcelsFF-7A FF-7C-1, FF 7E, FF-7F, FF-7G, FF15, FF-16, andFF-17;said plan of resubdi‐vision by J.J. Krebs& Sons, Inc.,L.S., dated January 30, 1984, ap‐proved under OrdinanceNo. 15897, adopted by theJefferson Parish CouncilonFeb‐ruary29, 1984, ﬁledofrecord on March16, 1984,under EntryNo. 8411831 in COB 1070 folio 176; andas perAct of Dedication before Jacque‐lynA Bruchi,Notary Public,dated March27, 1984 ﬁledofrecord under EntryNo. 8421695 in COB1074 folio 488, andasper plan of resubdi‐vision made by J.J. Krebs& Sons, Inc.,L.S dated March11, 1986, approved by the JeffersonParish CouncilonApril 16, 1986, under OrdinanceNo. 16854, recorded under EntryNo. 8619044, and more particularly de‐scribedasfol‐lows,to-wit: LOT19-A, SQUARE J,which said square is bounded by Flamingo Road WhisperLane, theNorthern boundaryofthe Subdivisionand DrakeLane, and said Lot19-A formsthe cor‐nerofDrake Lane and Flamingo Road, andmeasures thence 65 feet fronton Flamingo Road, same width across therear, by adepth of 110 feet be‐tween equal parallel lines; all as persurvey madebyJ.J Krebs& Sons, Inc.,L.S dated May31, 2986,re staked June 24, 1986, andresurveyed July 22,1986,to show improve‐mentsdesig‐natedas1444 Flamingo Road (“Prop‐erty”)

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck Certiﬁed Check, Money Order, or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

ELIZABETH CROWLEYPRICE Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 19,2026, July 24, 2026

Jun19-jul24-2t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT 24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA

NO:875-086

CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES,LLC VERSUS CODY TROTTER

ACERTAIN LOT OF GROUND,to‐gether with all therights, ways, privileges, servitudes,ad‐vantages and appurtenance thereuntobe‐longingorin anywise appertaining situated,lying andbeing in the TOWN OF WEST‐WEGO,PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATEOF LOUISIANA, and formingpartof theWHITE‐HOUSE SUBDIVISION, on aplanofJames S. Webb, Civil Engineer,dated March29, 1926, andaccording to said plan the lothereincon‐veyedisdesig‐natedasLOTS NUMBER ELEVEN (11) ANDTWELVE (12) OF BLOCK NUMBER (6), which said blockis bounded by Sixthand Sev‐enth Street,Av‐enues"A":and thelineof Salaville, said lots each measure thirty two(32) feet frontonAv‐enue "A"by a depth of one hundred and thirty (130) feet between equal andparallel lines.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

EMILYA MUELLER Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 19, 2026, July 24, 2026 Jun19-jul24-2t

KATTOUMAND

FERYAL

KATTOUM A/K/A

FERYAL ANEES

By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedMay 5, 2026, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOfﬁce Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday,July 29, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m.the followingde‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: That portionof ground,to‐gether with all thebuildings andimprove‐mentsthereon, and allthe rights, ways,privi‐leges, servi‐tudes, prescrip‐tions, advan‐tagesand appurtenances thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐tainingthereto situated in theParishof Jefferson, State of Louisiana, in that subdivision knownasTerry‐town Subdivision, Section5,inac‐cordance with a survey of Adloe Orr, Jr.& Associ‐ates C.E.,dated Janu‐ary20, 1960, ap‐proved by the JeffersonParish Councilunder OrdinanceNo. 4786 on Novem‐ber3,1960, recorded in COB 520, folio 388 andin Plan Book 41, folio 20 andfur‐ther described as follows:

Lot14inSquare 93, boundedby Terry Parkway, Guardian Av‐enue,Huckle‐berry Lane andHarvard Av‐enue.Lot 14 commences at a distance of 496.30 feet title (496.27 feet actual) from thecorner of Terry Park‐wayand Guardian Av‐enue andmea‐sures thence 60.0feet frontonTerry Parkway, same width in the rear,bya depth of 136.50 feet between equaland paral‐lellines.All as more fully shownonsur‐veyofLand‐mark Surveying, Inc. datedAugust 18, 1989, acopy attached to COB 2251/267.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

COREYJ.GIROIR Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 19, 2026, July 24, 2026 Jun19-jul24-2t

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:875-199 MORTGAGE SOLUTIONSOF COLORADO,LLC D/B/AMORT‐GAGE SOLUTIONS FINANCIAL VS JASON THOMASSIE ANDNICOLE BREAUX THOMASSIE By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedApril 29, 2026, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOfﬁce Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m.the followingde‐scribedprop‐erty to wit:

LOTNUMBER 16 SQUARE F, being bounded by Bay Adams, Cami‐nada,Tambour andBreton Dri‐ves, measuring 55 feet fronton BayAdams Drive, same width in the rear by adepth of 105 feet be‐tween equal andparallel lines. In accor‐dancewith survey by J.J. Krebs& Sons, Inc.,dated No‐vember 11, 1966, said lotcom‐mences 225 feet from thecornerof TambourDrive andBay Adams Drive. This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit EMILYA MUELLER Attorney for Plaintiff

Orleans Advocate: June 19, 2026, July 24, 2026 Jun19-jul24-2t

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT

24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:875-237

GUILDMORT‐GAGE COMPANY LLC VS EDMOND BELIZAIRESR. By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritof SEIZUREAND SALE from the 24thJudicial District Court, Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the abovenum‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedApril 30, 2026, Ihave seized andwill proceed to sell to thehighest bidder at public auction, at the JeffersonParish Sheriff'sOffice Complex, 1233 Westbank Ex‐pressway,Har‐vey, Louisiana, 70058, on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m.the followingde‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: THAT CERTAIN PIECEORPOR‐TION OF GROUND,to‐gether with all thebuildings andimprove‐mentsthereon andall the rights,ways, privileges, servitudes, appurteances andadvantages thereuntobe‐longingorin anywiseapper‐taining, situated in the Parish of Jeffer‐son, Stateof Louisiana, in the subdivisiondes‐ignated as TERRYTOWN SUBDIVISION, SECTIONNO. 8, allinaccor‐dancewithsur‐vey approved by the JeffersonParish Councilunder OrdinanceNo. 6610, adopted May 7, 1964, and filed in Plan Book 51, folio 10A in the Office of the ClerkofCourt, and accordingto which said lotof ground is desig‐natedasLOT 10 of SQUARE 155 (“Property”)

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liensand privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit CANDACEA COURTEAU Attorney for Plaintiff

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson

JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT 24THJUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:875-394 U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEEFOR BAYVIEW FINANCIAL MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH TRUST2007-B, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-B VERSUS MAROOF JUDICIAL ADVERTISE‐MENT FIRSTPARISH COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATEOF LOUISIANA NO:176-501 RIVERSIDE COURTCONDO‐MINIUMS PHASE IINC

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III Sheriff Parish of Jefferson TheNew

D/B/AVICTO‐RIAN CONDO‐MINIUMS VERSUS CHRISTOPHER HAYESA/K/A CHRISTOPHER ETHENFORD HAYES By virtue of and in obedienceto aWritofFIERI FACIAS from the FirstParish Court, Parish of Jefferson, State of Louisiana, in theabove num‐beredand enti‐tled cause, datedSeptem‐ber4,2024, I have seized and will proceed to sell to thehigh‐estbidderat public auction, at theJefferson Parish Sheriff's Office Complex, 1233 Westbank Expressway, Harvey, Louisiana, 70058, on June 24, 2026 at 10 o'clocka.m.the followingde‐scribedprop‐erty to wit: THAT CERTAIN CONDOMINIUM PARCEL in RIVERSIDE COURTCONDO‐MINIUM, acondominium createdbythat certainDeclara‐tion Creating andEstablish‐inga Condominium Regime for RiversideCourt Condominium executed by Berkshire Development Corporation, datedNovem‐ber14, 1983, filedinthe Of‐fice of theClerk of Courtfor the Parish of Jeffer‐sononNovem‐ber14, 1983, under EntryNo. 8348065 designated as UNIT 413, to‐gether with an undivided.557 percentinter‐estinthe commonele‐ments, PHASEI of said condo‐minium andis situated on Lots 2-Yand 2-R, Bissonnet Plaza, Jefferson Parrish, as shownonthe survey by Walker &Avery, Inc.,dated Au‐gust 22, 1983, a copy of which is filedwiththe Declarationof Condominium abovereferred.

Theimprove‐mentsthereon bear Municipal Number 6200 Ackel, Unit 413, Metairie, LA 70003.

Beingthe same property ac‐quired by Guy W. Grievesfrom FederalNational Mortgage Asso‐ciationbyact of care sale dated February 16, 1990, recorded at COB 2301, folio 0304, recordsofJef‐ferson Parish Louisiana.

This sale is sub‐ject to allsupe‐rior security in‐terests, mort‐gages, liens and privileges.

TERMS- Thefull purchase price is dueatthe time of thesale.

NOTE:All funds must be Cashier'sCheck, Certiﬁed Check, MoneyOrder,or Personal Check with Bank Letter of Credit

TheNew Orleans Advocate: June 19, 2026, July 24, 2026 Jun19-jul24-2t