The Advocate 06-26-2026 by The Advocate

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Landry: Orderprotects resources,ratepayers

Meta and Entergyhavedisputed aconsultant’sreportfor the Public Service Commissionthat says ratepayers would be picking up thetab for a$1.8B plant primarily needed for Meta’sdata center

BY ANDREA GALLO and SAM KARLIN Staff writers

Gov.Jeff Landry signed an executive order Thursday while ﬂankedbyLouisiana utility company executives saying that data center projects must have their beneﬁts to residents “evaluated andbalanced”against their useofelectricgeneration, waterand land

The “Ratepayer and Community Protection Framework for Large Load Investments” assigns the Louisiana EconomicDevelopmentOffice to ensure that future projects “adequately protect Louisiana’sresources,ratepayers, and communities,” according to the text of theorder.LED should come up withthe criteria for companies to protect ratepayers, contribute tolocal tax basesand more within the next 90 days,the order states.

“These resources are vital to the welfare of ourcitizensand to thefuture of our economy,and that is whyour approachdemands thoughtful andresponsible stewardship,” Landry said.

The order comes on the heels of questions around Entergy’splans to purchase a$1.8 billion power plantinTexas,which aconsultant for the state’sPublic Service Commission said is largely needed for Meta’snorth Louisianadata center

The gas-ﬁred Cottonwood plant would cost average residential ratepayers $8 amonth, according to records. Entergy and Meta have disputed that it’sneeded for thedata center

Landry last week expressed concerns aboutthe plant in asocial media post re-

sponding to coveragefromThe TimesPicayune |The Advocate.Hesaid Entergy promised him Metawould not pass along costs to customers.

“The PSC should notallow anyone to

BY OLIVIA TEES

Governor vetoes over $12M in local projects

Abouthalfofthe funding wasslatedfor N.O. area

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer

Gov. Jeff Landry used his veto power to cut over $12 million in state funding forlocal governments andcommunity organizations in blue-leaning areas of the state, with roughly half the cuts affecting NewOrleans.

Thecuts, whichalsoimpactBaton Rouge,Shreveport, Monroe, Lake Charles andOpelousas, touch everything from programs for at-risk youth and economic development initiatives to local law enforcement and educational initiatives.

Thegovernoralsoparedbackthestate’s capital outlay budgetbymillions more, thoughthat money, allocated through HouseBill2,usuallycomesthroughstate bonds andisoften not guaranteed. New Orleanswasalsohard-hitbythosevetoes.

ä See VETO, page 4A

Jail’s corporatestructure at issueininmate’sdeath lawsuit

WidowsaysLaSalle

site’s jail operator is responsible

BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER

Staff writer

Sprawled on the concrete

ﬂoor of ajail cell in LaSalle Parish, Jaleen Anderson

could dolittle more than wave at an overhead surveillance camera for help.

Over theprior 36 hours, the 29-year-old hadexperienced aseries of at least six seizures, at times covering his bed in urine and his cell in vomit, his family says. AfterAnderson’sfourth, guardsfound himonthe floor,seemingly unable to stand, and sought permission to call an ambulance for him. But Anderson’sfamily claimsthe facility’snurse declined, saying: “Wedon’t send people tothe hospital for seizures.” Twohours later,Anderson —held in the Louisiana jail undercontract with Harris County,Texas —was dead.

His widow has sued, claiming the death at LaSalle CorrectionalCenter in Olla in April 2024 was preventable More thantwo years after Anderson’sdeath,alegal battleover getting information surrounding it rages on. On the other side of that fight is Louisiana’slargest private jail operator,LaSalle Corrections. Greg Schafer, an attorney for the company,recently argued before a federaljudge in Alexandria thatthe records sought by Anderson’sfamily don’tbelong to the company named in the lawsuit. The attorneys forAnderson’sfamily say Schafer’s legal position highlights the company’scomplicated corporate structure.

Though they say the numerous companies connected to the private jail look the same, are registered to the same address and have the same leadership, LaSalle’s attorney counters that the companyis“notconceding that there’ssimilar ownership.”

STAFF FILEPHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

Heat wave breaks

French and U.K. records

The heat wave bakingwestern Europebroke records in the U.K. and France.

The U.K. recorded its hottest June day on Wednesday,with daytimehighs hitting97degrees FinGosport in southern England, according to theMet Ofﬁce. France’saverage daily temperature reached an all-time high of 86, eclipsing the record set on Tuesday,data from Météo-France show.The mercury surpassed 104 in some locations, including in Paris

The intense heat wave is hittingEurope earlier than usual, underscoring how climate changeisreshaping summers on the world’sfastest-warming continent. As the extreme heat strains health services, transport networks andpower grids, meteorologists warn of above-normal temperaturesfor months to come.

French Prime Minister SébastienLecornuhas raised the country’shealth alerttoits highest level, while Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire said hundreds of air conditioners are being delivered to schools in the French capital. The heat is also becoming acritical issue for nursing homes that lack air-conditioning,Zaynab Riet, executivedirector of the French Hospital Federation, told FranceInter radio stationonThursday.

The heat wave, driven by a high-pressure heat dome and atmospheric shifts from adeveloping El Niño,has led to widespreadpublic health warnings.

The extreme temperatures have been deadly in France and in Spain, where monitoring by the Institute of Healthshow more than 200 additional deaths during the heat wave. Forecasters and health authorities have warned aboutthe mounting threat of heat exhaustion due to excessively warmand humid evenings.

“If you don’tget enoughsleep, then your body can’trecover and then it struggles again through the day to cope,” U.K. Met Ofﬁce Meteorologist Alex Burkill said on avideo brieﬁng. Kenzo Kies, a21-year-old French soccer player with a second-division club, diedafter being pulled from the Rhone River this week.

At least 40 fatalitiesfrom drowninghavebeenrecordedin the past week as people seek relief in rivers and other bodies of water,despite authorities’ warningsabout unsupervisedswimming.Mostofthe drownings involved young people, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornusaid on Tuesday Man setcouncil member on fire; 40-year sentence DANVILLE, Va.— Aman who seta Virginia council member on fire last year in an alleged jealous rage was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Thursday Shotsie Buck-Hayes pleaded guilty in April to one counteach of attempted first-degree murder andaggravated malicious wounding in the July 30, 2025, attack on Lee Vogler.Witnesses said Buck-Hayes walked into Vogler’s Danvilleofficewitha bucket of gasoline, doused him, chased him from the building and set him ablaze. Blair Vogler,the council member’swife, testified that Lee Vogler’sburns covered 60% of his body Commonwealth’sAttorney MichaelNewmansaidVogler and his family attended Thursday’shearing in DanvilleCircuit Court, where the visibly scarred council membermade an emotional statement about how the attack had alteredhis life.NewmansaidBuck-Hayes also spoke, offering “what he claimed to be an apology,” but repeating that he was motivated by an allegedaffair betweenVogler and Buck-Hayes’wife.

U.N. agency pauses evacuation of ships

Britishmilitary says vessel washit by a projectile offthe coastofOman

BY JONGAMBRELLand MATTHEWLEE Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates AUnitedNations agency paused theevacuation of shipsthrough the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday afterthe British military said avessel was hitbyaprojectile off the coastofOmanfollowing thepassage of several tankers that used aroute backed by theU.N.

The head of theInternational Maritime Organizationsaid theplan to move stranded ships out of the PersianGulf throughthe straitwill be on hold until theagency can conﬁrm safety guarantees for the ships on the evacuation list and in the region.

CO IN T

It was unclear who launched theprojectile or the type of vessel that was targeted. The report of astrike came hours afterIranthreatened vessels to stopusing the route through the strait withoutTehran’spermission.

Thevessel thatwas attacked was not part of the evacuation effort, saidArsenio Dominguez, the U.N. agency’s secretary-general.

Following reports of theattack, Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority —a new government agency established to control shippinginthe strait—wrote on X that transitoutside its own designated routes “will not be covered by the guarantee of safe passage.”

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center saidthe vessel sustained damage, but it reported no injuries or environmentaleffectsfromthe attack off thecoast of Oman

Alternativepassage wouldhelp

Theopening of an alternativepassage through the vital waterwaywould relievepressure on the world economyand remove Iran’smain sourceofleverage in ongoingpeace talks with theUnited States. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on avisit to theGulf to reassure American allies, said Washington was committed to the new route and ensuring that ships are able to transit the strait “If that stops, then we’re going to have aproblem,”Rubiosaid Thursday before thereport of thestrike on the ship.

The U.S.and Iran are still debating termsofaninterim peacedeal, including issues such as getting ships through the narrowmouthofthe Persian Gulf and addressingthe future of Iran’sstockpile of highly enriched uranium.

Under thememorandum of understanding signed last week, the U.S. and Iran have60daystoiron out the details. As talks areheld behindcloseddoors, U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian leaders have seemed to negotiate in public,tradingthreatsand claiming concessionsthe other side denies.

Meanwhile, aflare-up of fighting in

Lebanon between Israel andIranianbacked Hezbollah militants threatened thewider truce. Lebanon saysﬁve people have been killed by Israeli strikes over thepasttwo days.Iran says thetentative deal to end the war would require Israel to withdraw from Lebanon —acondition Israel has rejected.

Last week’s transitbelow prewar level

Oiltankers, led by theStoicWarrior vessel,sailed alongthe United Arab Emiratesand thenOmanearly Thursday, passing by Oman’sMusandam Peninsula fairly close to the shore.The routewas laid outbyOman and the International Maritime Organization.

North of theroute is acorridor in the center of the strait where ships moved freely before thewar,transporting about aﬁfthofall theworld’soil andnaturalgas

Iran said it mined thatpassage after theU.S. and Israel attacked it on Feb. 28. At least one mine has been sighted there.

Though some ships had been getting out of the strait, withU.S. military support,the U.N. agency’s effort wasthe latest to free trapped vessels. The shipping company Maersk said its container ship, theMaersk Baltimore, and another chartered vessel madeitout on Thursday

Last week, 125 vessels crossed the strait,upfrom33the week before,according to marinedata and analysis ﬁrm Lloyd’sList Intelligence.

AccordingtoS&P Global,Wednesday saw 78 transits, the most since the war began,but still belowthe daily prewar average of 130 or more.

Iran says newroute is ‘unacceptable’

The naval armofthe Revolutionary Guard issued awarning Thursday against usingthe new route. In astatement carried by Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency,naval officialssaidthe route was established without notice or coordination withIran, calling it “unacceptable and completely dangerous.”

“The only authorized route for passing through the Strait of Hormuz is the one declared by the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the Iranian force said. “Vessel trafﬁc outside these routes is extremely dangerous and prohibited.”

“Violatorswill be dealt with,” it added, without elaborating.

On Wednesday,the Guardthreatened one tanker over the radio, with asoldier warning, “You are in range of my missiles and maybe (I) ﬁreonyou,” according to the private security ﬁrm Ambrey

Rubio: U.S. will preventtolls Rubio met with foreign ministersfrom thesix-nation Gulf Cooperation Council to assure them that their interests would be protected in anyagreementwith Iran.

Those countries, including major energy producersreliant on the straitfor exports,came under attack by Iran after thestartofthe war

“There is no part in this deal that’sundertakenthatinany way underminesthe security,the stabilityorthe prosperity of any of our partners in the Gulf region,” Rubio said at the meeting in Bahrain.

Bahrain’sforeignminister,Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, said the agreement brought aglimmer of hope but stressed thatitwas “critically important thatIran adheres to its obligations.”

Judgerules againstefforttocreatemajority-Blackdistricts in Miss.county

‘Alligator

Alcatraz’ immigrationcenter hasbeenclosed

BY JEFFREY COLLINS Associated Press

The Florida Everglades immigration detention center knownas“Alligator Alcatraz” has served its purpose, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday,closing the makeshiftfacilityheralded by the Trumpadministration and denounced as inhumane by civil rights groups.

DeSantis said the center, which opened in July 2025, was always meant to be only temporary until more permanentdetention centers couldbesecuredand federal ofﬁcials now have that capacity

“Westeppedupbecause there was agap, but my hope is thatthey’ll be able to handle that,” the Republican governor saidatanews conference at the facility

Officials announced a temporary closureofthe facility earlier in June and sent all of the detainees to other facilities,saying hurricane season madeit unsafe to keep them in the Everglades.

Immigration advocates said the center’stents were neversafe or humanefor holdingpeople.Detainees at thefacility have talked about their difficulty accessing lawyers and described poor physical conditions,including worms in the food, toilets that didn’t flush, floors flooded with fecal waste, and mosquitoes and other insects everywhere. They described large whitetents with rows of and rows of bunk beds surrounded by chain-link cages. The air conditioning couldshutoff abruptly in the sweltering Florida heat. Detainees could go days withoutshoweringorgetting prescription medicine.

Advocates for immigrants said the closure of “Alligator Alcatraz” does nothing to stop the harm to people who spend months in custodyastheir families suffer.The Florida ImmigrantCoalitionsaidthe only winners were corporations and contractors who proﬁted millions of dollars

as Republicans pushedan immigration emergency that does not exist.

The detention center of tents andtrailers was built by DeSantis’ administrationina matter of days. The governor and President Donald Trump said the center was critical to Republican efforts to return people in the country illegally back to their home countries.

“There is no questionthis mission has madethe state of Florida safer,” said DeSantis, noting that 21,000 people were deported through the facility Even with the closure of the facility,Florida continuestoplaya keyrolewith otherdetention centers and an increased role in helping with immigration enforcement, WhiteHouse border czar TomHoman said at Thursday’snews conference.

“Gov. DeSantis did a good job,and he’sgoing to continue doing what he’s doing to help us make this country safe again,” Homan said.

Lawyersfor theimmigrants at the facility said their clients startedleaving forother facilitiesin South Florida,California, Arizona, Louisiana and Texasearlierthis month, disappearing for about a weekbefore their attorneys andfamilieswere told where they were sent.

DeSantis said the Everglades airstrip thefacility wasbuilt aroundwill continue to be used.

Environmentalgroups sued over the detention center,saying Florida ofﬁcials never got the proper permits or did required reviewsonits impact.

The state andfederal governments built the site with no oversight and closed it with no input, but theywill still be held responsible even with the site is closed,saidPaul J. Schwiep, an attorney for Friends of the Everglades and the Center forBiological Diversity

“Wewill ask the courts to ensure that the environmental damage is fully addressed,” Schwiep said.

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BYSIMEON GATES Mississippi Today

U.S. District Judge Glen H. Davidson ruled Wednesday that the plaintiffs in Harris v. DeSoto Countydid not provide enough evidence that DeSoto County district maps were drawn to intentionally dilute Black voting power. In ruling for DeSoto County,Davidson wrote, “plaintiffscannot provetheir claims for vote dilution pursuant to Section2ofthe Voting Rights Act, and judgment must be awarded to defendants.”

Thefederal lawsuit, ﬁled in Septemberof2024, allegedthatthe 2022 DeSoto County electoral map diluted Black voting power in county ofﬁce elections. The plaintiffs sought anew redistricting plan and special electionsfor posi-

tionsonthe boards of supervisors and education and for the election commission, plus the ofﬁces of constable and justice court judge. DeSoto County,located just south of Memphis, hasbeen oneofthe state’s fastest growingcounties for years The Black population of DeSotonow representsmore than 30% of the total population of 190,000.

REUTERS PHOTO By ERICLEE

U.S. SecretaryofState Marco Rubio, left, and Bahrain’sKing Hamad binIsa Al Khalifa shakehands after their meeting ThursdayatAl-Sakhir Palace near Zallaq, Bahrain.

Status for Haitians, Syrians can be ended

Legal protections were given to migrants fleeing violence, disaster

BY LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the Trump administration to end legal protections for migrants ﬂeeing violence and natural disaster in Haiti and Syria, exposing hundreds of thousands more people to potential deportation.

The 6-3 decision overturns lower court orders and allows the Department of Homeland Security to swiftly end temporary protected status, a program that protects a total of 1.3 million people from 17 countries.

It marked another victory at the high court for Republican President Donald Trump’s sweeping crackdown on immigration.

The court’s conservative majority found that immigration authorities have sole authority over the program, and the law doesn’t allow judges to intervene.

The majority opinion from Justice Samuel Alito also brushed aside arguments that derogatory comments from Trump about Haitians showed the decision was unlawfully tinged by prejudice. He called the statements “in-

sufficient to show that the termination of Haiti’s TPS designation was based on the race of the Haitian people.”

Justice Elena Kagan forcefully disagreed, calling Trump’s comments “so repellent and racially inﬂected that the majority declines to put them in print.” She pointed out that Trump had said Haitians in the U.S. “probably have AIDS,” and he also ampliﬁed false rumors during the 2024 campaign that Haitian immigrants in Ohio were abducting and eating dogs and cats.

Lawyers said Haitian immigrants would be in serious danger if they are sent back.

“Simply put, the Supreme Court’s ruling will directly result in thousands of innocent people dying violent, needless deaths,” Geoff Pipoly and Andy Tauber said. They urged the Senate to approve an extension of deportation protections for Haitians that passed the House on a bipartisan vote in April.

“Families are here, kids are going to school, parents are going into work, folks are trying to commute, and it’s like the Supreme Court just put all those activities on stop and put folks in limbo,” said Viles Dorsainvil, who runs a support center for Haitians in Springﬁeld, Ohio.

Haitians covered by the program known as TPS are also a key part of the workforce in long-term care facilities. “This would be a

made through an improperly fast process, even though countries such as Haiti and Syria remain dangerous, immigration lawyers said Four Haitian women who were deported from the United States in February were later found beheaded and dumped in a river several months later lawyers said in court documents.

Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, called the ruling “a devastating betrayal of Haitian families who have lived, worked, and contributed to this country for years — only to be cast out based on anti-Black immigration sentiment.”

that has displaced more than a million people, according to court documents.

Syrians were ﬁrst granted protected status in 2012, during a civil war that lasted for more than a decade before the fall of President Bashar Assad’s government in late 2024.

“Today many of our community members, they feel lost,” Farrah AlKhorfan of Immigrants Act Now said about Syrian immigrants losing TPS protections.

dreadful loss for all seniors in our community,” said Rita Siebenaler, a resident at Goodwin Living, a senior living community in Virginia.

The Justice Department appealed to the Supreme Court after judges postponed the end of the program for about 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians. The high court sided with the administration before and allowed the end of the program for people from Venezuela.

Federal authorities deny that prejudice played a role, and argued that TPS was supposed to be temporary

Since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, Homeland Security has moved to end the protections, including some that

Trump can revive restrictive policy for asylum seekers

BY LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Supreme Court cleared the way Thursday for the Trump administration to potentially revive an immigration policy once used to turn back migrants seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The justices, in a 6-3 decision, overturned a lower court order blocking the practice that limited the number of people who could apply for asylum each day ﬁrst under the Obama administration and then expanded during President Donald Trump’s ﬁrst term.

Advocates said the tactic created a humanitarian crisis as thousands of people settled in unsafe makeshift shelters to await their turn. The Trump administration said it was necessary to deal with an increase of asylum seekers at the border

The policy is not in place now, though authorities have imposed other restrictions on asylum seekers. The Department of Homeland Security did not say if it plans to revive it, but applauded the ruling. “This decision opens up an important tool to continue securing our southern border,” said James Percival, the agency’s general counsel.

The administration argued that metering is a critical tool that’s been used by presidents of both parties and should stay available. Federal attorneys say people turned away at the border could come back later, though lines were thousands of people long when the policy was in place before

The case is one of several immigration suits the court is considering this term, including Trump’s push to restrict birthright citizenship. The high court also allowed his administration to end deportation for migrants ﬂeeing instability and armed conﬂict on Thursday Under federal law migrants who arrive in

the U.S. must be able to apply for asylum and be screened for fear of persecution in their home countries.

The Justice Department argued that people stopped by authorities haven’t arrived in the country, so immigration agents don’t have to let them apply

The court’s conservative majority agreed. “A guest does not arrive in a house when he knocks on the front door,” Justice Samuel Alito wrote.

But attorneys for people seeking asylum say the law has long meant anyone arriving at a port of entry should be screened, and blocking arrivals disregards the nation’s ideals.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented from the bench, saying that the majority’s opinion “regrettably and tragically extinguishes the light of the torch of the Statue of Liberty.”

The decision could also give people a “perverse incentive” to enter the country illegally if they can’t count on being able to legally apply for asylum at a port of entry, she said, a concern that Alito’s opinion said was overblown. In an unusual exchange, Alito voiced a response after she ﬁnished speaking. He expressed surprise that she had read her dissent out loud and defended his opinion by pointing out that the policy had been used during two presidential administrations. “I won’t add anything more to that,” Alito said.

Metering was ﬁrst used under President Barack Obama when large numbers of Haitians appeared at the main crossing to San Diego from Tijuana, Mexico. It was expanded to all border crossings from Mexico during Trump’s ﬁrst term in the White House. It ended in 2020 when the government introduced greater restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic, and President Joe Biden formally rescinded it in 2021.

had been in place for more than a decade, for people from 13 countries. The terminations were

The United States first granted protections to Haitians in 2010 after a catastrophic earthquake and extended them multiple times amid ongoing gang violence

The program was created by Congress in 1990 to prevent deportations to countries suffering from natural disasters, civil strife and other instability It allows people already in the country to stay with work permits in increments of up to 18 months, but it does not provide a path to citizenship.

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ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By LyNNE SLADKy

Linda Joseph holds a candle during a vigil at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex after a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from ending temporary immigration status for Haitians, Feb 3 in North Miami.

take advantage of power markets at the expense of our ratepayers,” he said last week.

On Thursday though, Landry passed off taking a position on the plant to the Public Service Commission, which he dinged as “somewhat dormant” for the past 50 years. Landry also repeatedly defended data centers, which his administration has said aside millions in incentives for, saying they are vital for Louisiana’s future.

“I don’t get a vote,” he said. “That’s a decision for the Public Service (Commission), and that’s something for them and Entergy to work out.”

The Public Service Commission’s five-member elected body has the ultimate authority over whether to approve the purchase.

The consultant, Lane Sisung, who regularly analyzes utilities’ proposals for the commission, raised other concerns about the plant as well. The plant’s private equity owners bought it a few years ago for far less than what Entergy plans to pay for it. It’s also 22 years old and has had reliability issues that would require Entergy to spend hundreds of millions more on improving it, according to the report.

Entergy President and CEO Phillip May attended the news conference Thursday but did not speak at it.

In a statement Entergy released afterward, May defended the Cottonwood plant.

“The Cottonwood generating facility is needed to support broader customer growth across Louisiana and deactivation of legacy units that have been serving all customers for over five decades, and it has been part of Entergy Louisiana’s supply plan before Meta was a potential customer,” the statement from May said.

“Despite reports to the contrary, through its contract term, Meta is fully supporting and funding the construction of 7.5 gigawatts of new highly efﬁcient natural gas generation, along with additional solar and battery resources and purchase capacity,” he added.

A Meta spokesperson, Francis Brennan, last week described the consultant’s report as “inaccurate speculation” in a statement. He pushed back against claims that ratepayers picking up the tab for the Cottonwood plant would violate a White House pledge from the spring, in which tech companies agreed to pay for their own data center power needs.

“Meta pays its own way, both for the power and new infrastructure we use,” Brennan said. “Our agreement with Entergy is built to guarantee we pay those costs, not Louisianans.” Plant draws concerns Landry on Thursday touted how many data centers and other companies are trying to do business in the

state.

“We’re finally like the prettiest girl at the dance,” Landry said. “Everybody wants to dance with us, but guess what? Before they can even ask us out, they’ve got to go look at this executive order, and they’ve got to meet those demands.”

Landry said Louisiana had already designed its partnership with Meta in a way to ensure that customers would be protected before tech companies signed Trump’s pledge.

“The agreement that we had is basically what we put in the executive order,” he said when asked to share the state’s previous agreements with Meta and Entergy.

Concerns about the plant in southeast Texas have come from both state Republicans and Democrats, along with the Alliance for Affordable Energy a consumer advocacy group

PSC member Davante Lewis, a Democrat who represents New Orleans and parts of Baton Rouge, held his own news conference after Landry’s on Thursday afternoon. He said that, while he agrees with Landry’s contention that data centers should bear their own costs, Landry’s actions have differed from his speech. Lewis criticized a recent PSC rule change backed by Landry to fast-track the building of data centers, which also said large-scale customers are only required to pay half the cost of new power plants. Lewis said he will push to rescind the rule.

And Lewis noted that while Landry spoke of transparency and accountability, he’s also signed nondisclosure agreements related to Meta’s data center.

“When he says we are committed to making sure these energy-intensive organizations are paying their own costs, that’s simply not true,” Lewis said Landry stood by his use of NDAs during the news conference, rebuffing questions about when the details of Meta’s incentives with the state will fully become public by saying the project is not yet complete.

Landry’s administration has aggressively used nondisclosure agreements, including with Meta, Hyundai and LIV Golf.

“We are winning because we get to negotiate with those companies, and those companies don’t have to

spill their plans out to the public,” Landry said. “We are being as transparent as possible while making sure that we don’t move opportunity to other states.”

Republican PSC member Jean-Paul Coussan said Thursday that the executive order reﬂects the same principles that the commission stands for

“We will continue to scrutinize any proposal that comes before us with Louisiana families at the forefront, demanding transparency, accountability, and fair treatment for every customer on the grid,” said Coussan, who represents Lafayette and parts of Baton Rouge. “Economic development and ratepayer protection are not competing goals.”

Binding protections

The Alliance for Affordable Energy applauded Landry’s executive order on Thursday, saying they agree regular customers should not bear the costs of data centers. Alaina DiLaura, the group’s policy coordinator for the PSC, said that beyond the executive order the commission can do more to protect consumers.

“It is the commission’s responsibility at this point to take action to make those protections binding,” she said.

PSC member Eric Skrmetta, a Metairie Republican who has supported data center projects, said last week that he does not plan to approvetheCottonwoodplant’s purchase unless Meta pays for it. He described the sale price as “taking advantage of the moment.”

Mike Francis another Republican commission member who represents Crowley, said in an interview this week that he generally trusts Sisung, the consultant.

“If that’s his opinion, I’m going to be inclined to go with it,” Francis said. “But I haven’t seen all the details yet.”

State Sen. Bob Hensgens, a Republican who chairs the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, recently warned Francis in a letter about data centers’ potential impact on customers’ electric bills. Hensgens, who represents Abbeville, asked the commission to consider “stronger safeguards” to protect residential and small commercial ratepayers from bearing power costs for data centers.

workforce development and public well-being,” he said.

Continued from page 1A

Landry’s decisions, which were publicly released on Wednesday, have drawn the ire of city ofﬁcials and legislators from the area, some of whom have accused Landry of acting out of political retribution.

The vetoes, which mostly target Democratic districts, mark a shift from how Landry wielded his veto pen last year when he primarily killed spending on projects sought by Republican legislators who voted against a bill he championed that gave the insurance commissioner more power to reject rate changes.

Landry defended this year’s vetoes, saying most of the money was slated for nongovernmental organizations. Landry and other state ofﬁcials have long questioned whether it is wise to give taxpayer dollars to NGOs.

“For two years I told members of the Legislature we were going to take a harder look at NGO funding in our budget bills,” he said.

“That’s exactly what we did this year.”

But in a year where the governor successfully pushed legislation to reduce thenumberofOrleansParish judges, eliminate an Orleans clerk of court position and redistribute some funding for the District Attorney’s Ofﬁce to other parishes, the cuts have been tough to swallow, local leaders said.

“At a time when New Orleans is building real momentum and confidence in our future, it’s deeply disappointing to see so many investments in our city singled out for elimination,” New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said in a statement.

State Sen. Royce Duplessis, a Democrat from New Orleans and frequent voice of dissent in the Legislature, called the cuts “continued political retribution.”

“These were not political projects They were investments in children, healthcare, housing stability,

The line-item vetoes adjusting the budget apply to House Bill 1, which dictates the operating budget for the ﬁscal year that starts July 1, and to House Bill 312, which adjusts spending in the current year’s budget.

Some legislators also speculated that the vetoes punished those who did not vote in favor of the governor’s plan to pay for teacher stipends by taking about $168 million from the state’s main education fund, meaning some school districts will have to cut other areas.

Landry disputed that notion, saying his office finished the vetoes before the teacher pay vote was ﬁnalized and submitted them the same morning the vote was released.

Landry signed the budget bills with his vetoes on June 18, according to the Legislature’s website But the vetoes were not announced until Wednesday, the day the result of the teacher pay vote was publicized.

State Rep. Delisha Boyd DNew Orleans, said she did not learn of the vetoes until after that vote. She felt projects in her district were vetoed because she disagreed with Landry’s allocation funding plan.

Boyd represents Algiers, which had over $1.5 million worth of allocations vetoed.

“I am completely horrified,” said Boyd. “We are serving under a governor that, if you don’t agree with him, you will be penalized.”

Boyd did not cast a ballot in the teacher pay plan vote. She said she did not think she should vote because that plan is held up by a court order — but if she had, she would have voted no, she added.

Landry also vetoed House Bill 950, a consumer protection bill for seniors that Boyd sponsored. In his veto message, Landry said the bill set up a new program without funding it.

Meanwhile, JS Clark Leadership Academy a charter school in the district of Rep. Dustin Miller, D-Opelousas, lost a $500,000 alloca-

tion. Miller voted against Landry’s teacher pay plan because, he said, St Landry Parish schools could not afford to make cuts. Miller said he did not request the $500,000 allocation but was in discussions about it. Still, he was matter-of-fact about the veto, and he said he was unsure whether it was meant to target him.

“That’s just politics,” Miller said. “It is what it is.”

State Rep. Jack McFarland, R-Jonesboro, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee and sponsored key budget bills, said he did not know how the governor chose what to veto — but he noted his own funding requests were vetoed multiple times my former Gov John Bel Edwards, a Democrat.

“I know how they feel. I felt the red ink of John Bel’s pen, and usually it was over political differences,” said McFarland. “Historically, that’s what governors do.”

Where the cuts were

Some of the largest allocations cut by the governor in New Orleans include $1 million for Behrman Stadium in Algiers, $2 million for the Ellis Marsalis Center, $1 million for the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Ofﬁce and nearly half a million dollars for the Algiers Economic Development District.

About $2.5 million worth of Baton Rouge projects also got axed, as did allocations to initiatives in nearby municipalities such as Baker and Port Allen. For example, the Louisiana Leadership Institute, a nonprofit which aims to build leadership skills in Baton Rouge area students and was slated to get $600,000, will not see that money The organization was founded by U.S. Rep Cleo Fields, D-Baton Rouge, who previously served as a state senator Landry also cut $500,000 for Keep Louisiana Clean, an organization that focuses on cleaning up dumped tires and is different from the better-known Keep Louisiana Beautiful,whichalsoisaimed at cleaning up litter

Regardless,hesaid, the companies named in the suit are not in possession of the evidencebeing sought Anderson family attorney Stephen Weil, citing other lawsuits over medicalcare, told the judge that the “not party”argument is atactic often used by LaSalle to delay proceedings and make itselfamoving target.

“It is hard to figure out which exact company is doing what in all these places,” Weil told U.S. District Judge Jerry Edwards Jr.“LaSalle uses that to its advantage.”

LaSalle’s attorneys did not respond to arequest for comment.

Awebsite for LaSalle Corrections details various services at detentionfacilities in Louisiana and other southern states. Louisiana business filings show 22 companies —each aseparate LLC, or limited liability company —registered to the same Ruston address andregistered agents as LaSalle Corrections. Several individual government contracts list more than one of those LLCs as being involved in the scope of work

The private jailer also operates several ICE detention facilities in Louisiana.

Lawyers for Anderson’s familyargue LaSalle profitsbyroutinely hiring “untrained, unlicensed correctional ofﬁcers and low-level nurses” and discourages employees from transporting inmates to clinics or hospitals, which can be costly

“LaSalle’sprovision of inadequate medicalcare is driven by thegreed of its owners,”they wrote.

Anderson’s death

Anderson was arrested March3,2024, inHouston forallegedly possessing methamphetamine. Through acontract with LaSalle,Harris County shipped Anderson to LaSalle Correctional Center in Olla to be housed as he awaited trial.

Attorneys for Anderson’s family say between 6a.m. on April 2and 8p.m. on April 3, Anderson suffered numerous seizures.

Images from the jail’ssecurity footage —now ﬁled into the court record—over those twodays show Anderson alone and at times unresponsive on the cellﬂoor.At one point, he clutched the arm of aguard who entered to assist him and curledinto aball in awheelchairwhen staff later were removing him

Despite beingplacedunder medical observation after aseizure around6 a.m. on April 3, the lawsuit says, he was provided no medical care during another seizure around 5p.m. laterthatday

According to the suit, he would again have seizures at 5:41 p.m., 7:05 p.m., 7:35 p.m. and 7:47 p.m.

Guardsasked nursing staff to have him takento ahospital but were toldno, the lawsuitsays.

Lawyers for Anderson’s family saythe jail’sleadershipwas contacted about sending Anderson tothe hospital, too, but theassistantwarden refused to au-

thorize it

The only treatmentfrom themedical staff was to give himZoloft, aprescription antidepressant, they argue. Around 8:03 p.m.,Andersonagain begantoconvulse,vomitand lose consciousness.

ALaSalle correctional ofﬁcer “laughedasshe stood over an unresponsive Mr Anderson,” the lawsuit says. “At thesametime, ofﬁcers were attemptingunsuccessfully to locate apulse on Mr Anderson.”

Tenminutes later,a lieutenant called an ambulance. Paramedics arrivedminutes laterand begangiving him chestcompressions, attorneyssay

Around the same time,the jail’shealth services director —who is not adoctor —said Andersonwas “faking his symptoms” and told staff she had“evaluated Mr Anderson earlier that day that he wasfine, andthat he wasgoing to stay up all nighthavingseizures,” the lawsuit says.

For minutes, officers could notlocate apulse on Anderson,according to the timeline laid out in thesuit

About 23 minutesafter he lost consciousness, as paramedics continued to give him chest compressions, thefacility’smedical director again told staff not to send him to thehospital, Anderson’s family says.

It is unclear whoeventually determined Anderson shouldbetaken to thehospital, but the plaintiffs say at 8:29p.m., he wasloaded into an ambulance while paramedics continued to give

himchestcompressions and was taken to Hardtner Medical Center —less than amile down theroad.

At 8:59 p.m.,Anderson was pronounced dead. Otherinmatedeaths

The attorneys for Anderson’sfamily argue the death wasn’t an isolated incident of neglect but rather aresult of “policiesorwidespread practices within LaSalle.”

The lawyershave another case in the same court against LaSalle for adeath in the same facility last year Erik Carlson,29, contracted strepthroat after arriving at theOlla facility in January 2025, his family says. He had aswollen throat the size of agolf ball, developed asevere fever and began coughing up blood, attorneysargue, so hisbunkmates tried to get him medical attention.

But LaSalle staff toldthem that over-the-counter medicine was available for him to purchasefromthe commissary,the lawsuit claims. He was dead eight days later

Thecause of Carlson’s death, according to his autopsy report:strep throat.

In 2019 at aLaSalle facility in Texas, Franklin Greathouse,59, reportedhaving aseizure to the staff, who accused him of faking it, attorneys claim.Hedied later thesame day,says alawsuit related to his death.

Last year,afederal jury in thesame court hearing the Anderson caseawarded more than $40 million in a separate case againstLaSalle.

Theverdict stemmed from

thedeath of Erie MooreSr., a57-year-old manheldon misdemeanor charges in 2015 at LaSalle’s Richwood Correctional Center in Monroe. At trial, Moore’sfamily claimed he experienced a mental health crisis, and after guards repeatedly beat him, LaSalle staff failed to provide him medical care and he died of his injuries.

‘The rightcorporate entity’

In Anderson’s case, LaSalle’sattorneys deny the companies named in the suit —LaSalle Correctional Center LLC,LaSalle Corrections LLC andLaSalle Management Company LLC— bear responsibility forthe man’s death.

Schafer,LaSalle’sattorney,also argues the cases involving other LaSalle prisonsare irrelevant to the issue of the adequacy of medical policies because each of those facilities is registered to different LLCs.

“Eachcorrectional facility is ownedand operated by a separate LLC,” he said. “I’m sorry, thoseLLCsare not parties to this matter.”

Earlier this month, LaSalle appealed the verdict that ordered $40 millionbepaid in Moore’sdeath. The jury had found that RichwoodCorrectional Center andLaSalle Management Company LLC “were asingle integrated enterprise.”

In line with arguments being madeinthe Anderson case, LaSalle’slawyers told the appellate court that the juryincorrectlyfound the two companies were one, calling evidencetosupport that argument “superﬁcial” and “insufﬁcient”.

Anderson’sfamily is seekingLaSalle records related to the Olla facility,including an inmate roster at the time of his death and documents relatedtothe jail’smedical operations.

EvenifLaSalle hadownership of those records, Schafer argues, those materials would be too difﬁcult to produce.

“They’re in rural Louisiana, they do nothaveacentralized computersystem; many documents arehandwritten,” he told the judge in the recent hearing. “This would be overly burdensome.”

In April, LaSalle ﬁled motions to have the Anderson lawsuit dismissed before trial, arguing the plaintiffs cannot produce evidence that showsLaSalle Corrections “had any involvement in theevents” related to the inmate’sdeath.

Part of the judge’s decisionisexpected to depend on whether thevarious LaSalle-afﬁliated LLCs should be treated as legally distinct companies or as asingle, integrated operation.

“Theydon’t sayexactly what each corporation does in avery complex system …all operating out of this Ruston headquarters,” Weil, the attorney forAnderson’sfamily,arguedin court. “Can these folks just sit here andjust say, ‘You know,this mandied, but youdidn’texactlyname theright corporate entity, and therefore you’re out of luck?’

Email Patrick SloanTurner at patrick.sloanturner@theadvocate.com.

Park servicesayspoolliner wascut with knifeorrazor

BY MATTHEW DALY Associated Press

WASHINGTON Aliner along the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool wascut with asharpknife or razor this month, causing damage to the foam sealant installed as part of a$16 million rehabilitation project,a top official at the National Park Service says. The U.S. Park Police responded June 9toacomplaint by the park service, said Frank Lands,deputy director of operations for the park service. Lands made the statement in acourt document filed late Wednesday as part of alawsuit filed by anonprofit organizationto halt the Trump administration’swork on the project

His statement doesnot say when exactly the damage occurred or whether it was a suspected case of vandalism and does not identify anyone who might have been involved.

speciﬁcs forwhen andhow theReflecting Pool may have been damaged after work on theproject was substantially completed.

to damage the Reflecting Pool,” theemail said.

appeared to be peeling off the bottom

The police reportindicates damage to the pool, “includinga caulkoverthe foam sealantthat was cut with asharp knifeorrazor and destructionofdelaminating surface material,” Lands said. About 70 fence post topsalsowere thrown into the pool, he said. The statements are the first time the Republican administration has offered

‘Believedtobeisolated’

Aspokesperson for the Interior Department said Thursday that public notification about thedamage was delayedbecause, “at the time of the June 9incident, the vandalism was under investigation and believed to be isolated.Soas not to encourage deranged individuals, we did notannounce what we hoped to be an isolated incident.”

Aroundthesametime,park service staff“discovered another incidentwhere fencing around the pool had been forcibly removed and thrown into the pool,” thespokesperson said in an email.

The departmentsoon noticed that“recurring cases and videos of people ripping at the coating began to circulate. We then knewthis was not an isolated incident, but anew trend to attempt

Hawaii lawrequiring permission to carrygunsin stores,hotelsoverturned

BY LINDSAYWHITEHURST Associated Press

WASHINGTON— The Supreme Court struck downaHawaii law requiring people to get permissiontocarry guns into stores and hotels on Thursday,inits latest opinion backing Second Amendment rights. The high court’s6-3 decision means people cancarry guns onto privately owned property like shoppingmalls and gas stations, unless the owners speciﬁcallysay guns arebannedattheir establishments. It comes shortly after the court found that marijuana users can’tbe completely banned from owning ﬁrearms.

It’s awin for President DonaldTrump’s Republican administration,whichargued thelaw violatesthe Second Amendment. The measure was sometimes referred to as a“vampire rule” because it required peoplewith guns to get permission to enter,and accordingtovampire lore, bloodsuckers need an invitation to enter ahome. Hawaii argued that the 2023 measure ensured private owners could decide whether they wanted firearmsontheir property. The state passed the law as thousands more peoplegot legal permission to carry guns in the wake of a2022 Supreme Court ruling that found the Second Amendment gives

most people theright to have guns in public.

Hawaii also restrictsguns in places like parks, beaches and restaurants that serve alcohol, but those rules weren’tbefore thecourt.

The suit before the Supreme Court was ﬁledbya gunrightsgroup,the Hawaii Firearms Coalition, and threepeople from Maui. A judge originally blocked themeasure, but an appeals court allowed it to be enforced. Trump’sRepublican administration backed the SupremeCourt appeal.

The gun-control group EverytownLaw pointedout that business owners can still post signs forbidding ﬁrearms on their properties.

President DonaldTrump and other ofﬁcials have repeatedly blamed,without citing evidence, unidentiﬁed vandals for peeling paint as well as a“350-foot gash” in the liner and other problems. Six people have been arrested, Trump said this week, without providing details

The Interior Department saidThursdaythere have been seven arrests, seven federalcitations and 18 policereportsﬁled. The departmentdid not specify what the charges wereoridentify anyone cited by police.

Trumppledged to beautify the century-oldReﬂectingPool, draining its water and directing the bottom to be painted acolor he called “American flag blue.”But since thesitewas restored, its water has been plagued by an algae bloom andpieces of the new coating have

TrumpsaidWednesday that “sick people” had used razors and box cutters to slice portions of the lining. Refilled betweenJune4-9

The Associated Press reviewed videos showing that the Reﬂecting Pool was refilledbetween June 4and June 9, meaning the alleged cut reported to law enforcementonJune 9could have occurred before the basin was fully reﬁlled. Days later, pieces of the new blue liner were observedpeeling up from the bottom

The Park Police posted surveillance footage Wednesday evening and askedfor help “identifyingthe individual depicted here in connection witha Destruction of Government Property investigation.”

Thegrainy,30-second video appears to show aperson

kneeling down, reaching intothe reflecting pool and removing something from the water.Police said it was taken on Friday afternoon. In his statement to the court, Lands said the parks agency plans to begin draining the Reflecting Pool following Independence Day celebrations to conduct repairs, including assessing andrepairing anydamage to the lining. The park servicecompleted more than two months of renovations at the Reflecting Pool in early June. The 2,000-foot-long basin was drained and atinted, plasticlike liner was installed to waterproof and protect the concrete pool surface, and the pool wasrefilled, Lands said. TheCultural Landscape Foundation, an education and advocacy group that sued in May to halt work on the project, askeda federal judgeto block further renovations.

Venezuelanssearchrubblefor survivorsafter earthquakes

BY MEGAN JANETSKY, ANDRYRINCÓN and JUAN PABLO ARRAEZ Associated Press

LA GUAIRA, Venezuela— Ven-

ezuelanssearched for survivors beneath collapsed buildings Thursday and rescue teams raced to northern areas rocked by apair of powerfulearthquakes that officials say killed at least 188 people and left more than 200 trapped.

More were feared dead from the7.2-and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes that struck Wednesdayevening —among the strongest in Venezuela in more than a century and feltthroughout the region. Some 1,500 people were injured, thousands were reported missing and buildings were evacuatedas far away as Brazil’sAmazon.

In cities across northern Venezuela, panicked residentspoured into the streets and searched for the missing in the debris. Injured children, animals and civilianscovered in dust and blood were pulled out of concrete rubble.

Onemother sobbedand collapsed in grief as the bodies of her 3- and 10-year-old childrenwerewrapped in blankets and carried away

Others screamed the names of missing loved ones. Some stood in silent shock.

The coastal region of La Guaira —north of the capital, Caracas —suffered some of the heaviest damage and casualties,and it’s there that the country’s main airport was damaged and closed, complicating aid efforts.

Retired schoolteacher

Juan Alberto Mendaño climbed through wreckage in La Guaira and past a dead body when he spotted awoman who was trapped and signaling with her hand for help.

“May God rescue her as

ARREST

Continued from page1A

Police responded to the Red CarpetInn at 2445 S Acadian Thruway on April 18, 1987, around9:30 a.m when the cleaning staff found Klotz, who was 44 at the time, on the ﬂoor with his hands tied behind his back and multiple stab wounds on his neck and back.

During the autopsy,authorities said that Klotz suffered blunt force trauma to his left eye. Klotz was stabbed six times in the throat and at least seven times in the chest, one of which was fatal. Police estimated that he died between midnight and 6a.m.

Klotz was from Fort Wayne, Indiana, and had checked into the motel on April 10 to work under contract writing commercial

of windows and helicopters circling overhead.

In La Guaira, Cristian Carreño stared at his charred apartmentbuilding tilting precariously to one side.

“I losteverything,” he said. “Thereare people still inside, Iimagine,that couldn’tget out.It’sincredibly devastating.”

and other open spaces.

“Wewere afraid the buildings would collapse on us,” said María Cristina Díaz, a41-year-old janitor.“My mother,mydaughter and I werecold. We didn’t sleepa wink.”

government to lift social media restrictions so people can get potentially life-saving information,Venezuelans in the country were able to access X. The site had been blocked by Maduro since August 2024.

quicklyaspossible,” said Mendaño. “When we heard thescream, there was nothingwecould do.”

Offers of helppouredin from around the world, including from theUnited States, which seized Venezuela’sthen-president Nicolás Maduro at thebeginning of theyear inasurprise military operation

The natural disaster is just thelatestchallengefor acting President Delcy Rodríguez, the former vice president who took ofﬁce in January after Maduro’scapture.

Venezuela has been facing economic disarray for more than adecade, and many peoplereject thelegitimacy of thepolitical movement Rodriguezrepresents Rescue in coastalregion

Venezuelan authorities said they were diverting rescue teams fromother parts of thecountry toLa Guaira, which is nostranger to natural disasters; a1999 mudslide there, considered one of the country’sworst naturaldisasters, killed thousands.

Rodríguez appealed to businesses Thursday to make heavy construction equipmentavailablefor rescue operations, while a United Nations spokesperson said search and rescue teams werejust hours away “Weare currently carryingout intensive rescueoperations to save lives,” said Rodríguez, who referred to La Guaira as a“disaster zone.”

jingles for local radio stations WJBOand WFMF.According to Klotz’sbrother-inlaw, he was notexpectedto stay in town formuch longer before he was killed. During the investigation, police discovered the 1987 Mercury CougarKlotz rented was missing from the motel. Police said at thetime that it wasbeinginvestigated as apossible robberythat led to murder.

Klotz’scar was eventually found at the UniversityClub Apartmentsat3012 Alaska St

Detectives working the case in 1987 said they discoveredmultipleitems that belonged to Klotz were missingfromthe hotel,accordingtothe arrest warrantfor Atkinson. Staff confirmed that thenylonrope used to tieKlotz’s hands didnot come from thehotel. All of theevidencethatpolice collected from thescene

Jorge Rodriguez, thepresidentofVenezuela’s National Assembly and brother of theacting president,gave updatedﬁguresfor thenumbers of dead, trapped and injured.

While Venezuela sitsnear multiple fault lines,its position straddling the South American andCaribbean plates makes strong earthquakes much less common than in other parts of Latin America.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the first earthquake, witha magnitude of 7.2, hit west of Moron on theCaribbean coast, about 105 miles westofCaracas It had adepthofabout 14 miles.Just aminutelater, USGS reported asecond 7.5 magnitude earthquake, with adepth of about 6miles and an epicenter 10 miles southwest of Moron.

Theone-two punch of the quakes, combined withthe shallow seismic movements, amplifiedthe destruction, said Marcos Ferreira, ageophysicist and researcher at the Geological Survey of Brazil.

“It is as if Iamscreaming and then someone starts screaming,too.That ampliﬁes thevibration andadds to the potential hazard,” Ferreira said.

Venezuelareeling

During the quakes, people ran from swaying buildings. Many were stunnedThursday morning as they saw buildings reduced to skeletons, furniture hanging out

39 years agowas submitted to the BatonRouge Police Department evidence room until it was sent forDNA analysis in 2011, according to thearrest warrant In 2011, the nylonrope that was used tobind Klotz was tested at theLouisiana StatePolice Crime Lab, but cameback negative for a suspect proﬁle.

It was resubmitted in 2019 to be tested again and police were able to identify aDNA suspect proﬁle for Atkinson, according to the arrest warrant. Detectivesobtaineda DNA warrantand located Atkinson in Mobile.

However, thedetective in the ColdCaseDivision was transferred,and thecase went dormant, according to thewarrant.

Lastyear,police reopened thecase, obtained another warrant, andmatched Atkinson withthe national DNA database.

DayanaDelgado,mother of threechildren, saidshe wasdesperatebecause her 8-year-old sonwas missing. Delgado asked where the heavymachinery was that government officials had promised, pointing outthat neighbors were the ones digging through therubble.

“I want toknow where my child is, if he’strapped or in ashelter,” she said.

Authorities warned people againstreturning to homes with structural damage. In downtown Caracas,hundreds spent the night huddled in parks, parking lots

Parts of the capital lost power andcellphone service, Rodríguez said. Subway services weresuspended and naturalgas was shut off, she said. Classes will also be canceled forseveral days, and theMinistry of Education said some school buildings would be used as shelters and donation centers.

Familiesbegan posting missing-person flyers with photos of loved ones, while others shared handwrittenlists of namesasthey searched for those still unaccounted for.Venezuelans living abroad struggled to make contact with relatives.

Shortly after U.N. ofﬁcials in Venezuelacalledonthe

Assistanceoffered Rodríguezdeclareda state of emergencyinanaddress to the nation late Wednesday.She said the government wascreating a$200 million reconstruction fund for damaged hospitals and homes.

Leaders from Mexico, Qatar,Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Canada and moreexpressed solidarity with and vowed to send aid to Venezuela. A numberofshipmentswere already on the way Thursday.Aid included emergency andmilitarypersonnel, canine and search teams, medical supplies,water puriﬁers, airplanes and drones.

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTO By PEDROMATTEy

Neighbors carryaman rescued from therubble of a collapsedbuilding on Thursday, the dayafter earthquakes struck La Guaira, Venezuela.

NorthBRproject fundingvetoed

BY AVERYWHITE Staff writer

One of the developers of aNorth Baton Rouge grocery store said the project will move forward, a

day after Gov.Jeff Landry vetoed $18 million instatefunding for th retail center Richard Preis saidhewas sur prisedbythe veto of the capital outlay funding for The BLVD Harding. The Governor’sOfﬁce reached out to him about apart nershipwith thestate, andLandry participated in the groundbreakingfor the shopping center,which took placeonMartinLutherKing Day “Wehavenoideawhatwent

,” Preis said. he thing flew through committee, it flewthrough the House, it flew rough theSene, and you know wouldn’teven know who tocall to find out.”

Landry’sofﬁcehas not responded to arequest forcomment.

was originally plannedtoopenin the fallof2027. Butheintends to move forward using the original structure, withfunding coming fromthe private sector instead of the state.

“The statebid on us to comein, so we hadtorestructure forthem, so now we’re going back to the original parties,”Preis said.“Ifeel good about things.I mean, we already have someapprovals on it.”

month that the development group wasin“advanced talks” with two national banks interested in working with it for additional funding. Thegroup will also usetax increment ﬁnancing to fund the project. The $50 millionBLVDatHarding will takeroot in Howell Place, a200-acre project Preis developed years ago.

The 100,000-square-foot development will be anchored by a

Landry denies $18M for retail center ä See VETOED, page 2B

Preis said he is not sure if the vetowill delay theproject, which

Trevor Bailey, adeveloper and Preis’son-in-law, saidearlierthis

ALEARNING STITCH-UATION

ABOVE: DeAtte Dalrymple holds up her stitching frame to show Elanah Wilson, left, her technique during the 2026 Open Experimental Studio by LSU College of Art &Design at Glassell Gallery on June 19. Thestudio invites participants of all ages intoa series of hands-on workshops hosted by resident artists Edem Dakeand Rachel Parish. RIGHT: Elanah Wilson, left, and Edem Dake stitch alongside DeAtte Dalrymple on June 19.

STAFFPHOTOSByJAVIER GALLEGOS

Mansentenced to 30 months in 2025 mail

BY QUINN COFFMAN Staff writer

A27-year-old Denham Springs man was sentenced to 21/2 years in federal prison Thursday for yelling racial slurs at afemale mail carrier outside his apartment, then grabbing andslamming her to the ground.

In the April 15, 2025,attack, Cody Gaspard was reportedly motivated to confront the carrier over packages that hadyet to be delivered.

“During the encounter,Gaspard directed racially charged insults atthe mail carrier,followed her through the apartment complex, physically grabbed herbythe neck,and assaultedher for morethana minute, eventually lifting her and slamming hertothe ground,” U.S. Attorney Kurt Wall said in aThursday statement. Gaspard was convicted in Marchona single count of assaultofa postal employee. At Thursday’ssentencing hearing, Judge Brian Jackson imposed asentencelower than the 6- to 71/2-year punishment outlined for acharge of this

Landry appoints twotoLSU Boardof Supervisors

Movesmadeearlier this monthwithout public announcement

BY HALEYMILLER Staff writer

Gov. Jeff Landry hasappointed twonew members of the LSU Board of Supervisors, thelatestﬂuctuation on aboard that hasseenseveralchangesinrecentmonths. Charles “Chad” Moody of Baton Rouge replacessupervisorPatrickMorrow,while JenniferSettoon of Gonzales replaces supervisorLaurieLipseyAronson,according to appointment letters signed by Landry Morrow and Aronson were appointed by former Gov. JohnBel Edwards. Moodyisthe founderand CEO of Crossroads Area Management, ahealthcare services companyinLafayette,according to his biography on the LSUBoard of Supervisors website. He graduated from LSUand wasasafety on thefootballteam that wonLSU anational championshipin 2007. He served as second vice chair on theBoard of Supervisors forthe Louisiana CommunityandTechnicalCollegeSystem. Settoon is an attorney based in Gonzales Herbiography was not yet available on the board website, andshe didnot immediatelyrespond to arequest fordetails for this story

The appointments were made earlier this monthwithout apublic announcement from Landry’sofﬁce.

The newmembers arrive to aboard that hasshiftedsigniﬁcantly during Landry’s tenure. Most recently, the governor elevated former Vice Chair Lee Mallett to board chair, andheappointed JohnCondostothe boardafter Lafayette-basedpersonalinjury attorneyGlenn Armentor resigned. The board selected veteran trial attorney John Carmouche as itsvicechair in February

The newsupervisors will taketheir oath of ofﬁceatFriday’sboardmeeting, according to thepublic agenda

Email Haley Miller at haley.miller@ theadvocate.com

BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer

Anew sales tax for Killianwill be on the ballot Saturday withthe goal of bringing back thetown’s temporarily disbandedpolice department andfunding parks, infrastructure andmaintenance services

Voters will be asked whether or not to approve anew 1% municipalsalesand usetax that would apply only within town limits.Ifit passes, the10-year tax would be-

gin in October andcollect at least $38,400 annually,per the municipal government. The newtax would come from retailsales,online salesand use or consumption of tangible personalproperty within town limits. If passed, the sales taxwould closethe gapbetween thetown’s expensesand revenues. The bulk of the revenuewould be dedicated to the town policedepartment, which was temporarily disbanded for aone-year agreement with the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Ofﬁce in an attempt to save moneyfor thetown.

Halfofthe newtax revenue (about $19,000) would go to public safety anddisastermanagement; 25% would go to roadsand infrastructure;10% would go to parksand beautiﬁcation,and the remaining 15% would fund other town services, Mayor CalebAtwell said.

“Everything would be new,exceptthe policedepartment,”Atwell said.

Atwell said the sales tax would primarily be paid by nonresidents at the nearby Riverside Marina, which is located on ashort canal on the Tickfaw River.Healso said local events like the Tickfaw 200, the local annualpower boat

BR man arrested in death of 5-year-old

A man was arrested on a count of first-degree murder after a 5-year-old boy died this month from injuries he received four years ago, Baton Rouge police said. Howard Youngblood, 40, was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, police said in a news release.

Tyshawn died on June 8, police said.

CRIME BLOTTER staff reports

On Dec. 15, 2022, officers responded to a 911 call about an unresponsive juvenile believed to be suffering from abuse and neglect at a home in the 4000 block of Elm Drive

The child, Tyshawn Brumﬁeld, was transported to a hospital for medical treatment.

Youngblood was arrested in December 2022 on a count of second-degree cruelty to juveniles after the child he had been babysitting, Tyshawn, was brought by emergency responders to the hospital with what a doctor called life-threatening injuries, including bleeding in his brain and brain swelling, according to arrest records, The Advocate reported at the time.

Youngblood told detectives that the child fell on a set of steps.

Detectives arrested Young-

blood after the child’s doctor said the injuries were in no way consistent with a fall.

Officials: Man accused in setting AC unit on fire

A man was arrested this week, accusedofsettingahome’soutdoor air conditioning unit on ﬁre while someone was in the house, the Baton Rouge Fire Department said.

Tyler Armstead, 31, was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on Tuesday on a count of aggravated arson, the ﬁre department said in a news release.

The ﬁre was set on May 26 in the 2000 block of Curtis Street Fire Department investigators

KENNER

determined the ﬁre, which led to about $500 in damage, was a case of arson dangerous to human life.

Police: Man found shot to death off Perkins Road

Baton Rouge police are investigating the fatal shooting of a man Wednesday night in the 4400 block of Poplar Street.

Ofﬁcers responding to the area about 11:20 p.m. found a man in the roadway dead from a gunshot wound, police said in a news release.

The identity of the victim was being withheld pending notification of his next of kin, police said.

54 dogs seized in illegal breeding operation

Man booked on animal cruelty counts

BY MICHELLE HUNTER

Staff writer

Authorities seized several dozen neglected Australian shepherds and arrested their owner, a Kenner man accused of illegally breeding the dogs and keeping them in poor conditions.

Shawn Bell, 50, was booked Monday with 55 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, Kenner Police Deputy Chief Mark McCormick said.

Ofﬁcers and ofﬁcials with Jefferson Protection & Animal Welfare Services (JPAWS) found one dead puppy and seized 54 dogs from Bell’s home in the 3500 block of Arizona Avenue.

The dogs were living in crowded unsanitary and unsafe conditions, with matted fur and flea infestations, police said. Cruelty exams performed by licensed veterinarians found medical problems varying from minor to extreme, and some animals may

not recover, according to JPAWS

Director Michelle Brignac.

JPAWS began investigating after receiving reports that Bell was illegally breeding Australian shepherds, Brignac said. He was selling the puppies on social media through a business he called Nola Aussies, according to Kenner police.

The business’ Facebook page and website advertised “AKC Australian Shepherd puppies” for sale and listed dozens of dogs for between $300 and $1,200. The website states that Nola Aussies is “dedicated to breeding healthy and happy Australian Shepherd puppies,” with over 7 years of experience.

Brignac said Bell did not have the Jefferson Parish license required to breed and sell animals.

“There’s a nominal fee with an inspection process to make sure everybody’s healthy and provided for,” she said. “He circumvented the process.”

Bell was resistant when JPAWS ofﬁcials tried to pay a visit to his home and inspect the property based on the illegal breeding allegation and an additional complaint that he was selling sick dogs, ac-

hate crime.

Trauma forced her to quit

nature. He noted that Gaspard sought out anger management counseling on his own volition following his arrest, but called Gaspard’s conduct on the day of the assault “shocking and unhinged.”

“You not only humiliated her but dehumanized her,” Jackson said during sentencing. Jackson sentenced Gaspard to 30 months in prison and stipulated that he be housed at a facility that is able to provide cognitive behavioral therapy and opportunities for further anger management.

Gaspard is not eligible for parole and will be required to be under court supervision for an additional two years following his release.

Jackson noted that the jury in this trial deliberated for less than two hours. He also told Gaspard he is fortunate that U.S. attorneys decided not to prosecute the case as a

Describing the crime, Jackson said Gaspard approached the mail carrier while she was ﬁlling mail slots at his Livingston Parish apartment. After being confronted about missing packages, the woman told Gaspard to walk away and tried to exit the situation herself

After almost stepping away Gaspard turned back to the carrier, calling her a “dumb Black b****,” Jackson said.

The judge admonished Gaspard for a racially charged comment in which he asked the carrier if she was on the phone with “Tyrone.”

“Why couldn’t she have been on the phone with Bob or Sam?” Jackson said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Flowers described the attack as not just an argument nor a shoving match, but an extended assault that Gaspard continually escalated: first by using racial slurs, then by following the victim, grabbing her and slamming her into the ground.

cording to authorities.

Kenner police accompanied ofﬁcials when they returned to Bell’s house Monday and discovered multiple litters of puppies, animal waste throughout the house, poor conditions in outdoor kennel areas and a dead puppy on a table saw Jennifer Gutierrez, of Kenner, was shocked but not surprised to hear of Bell’s arrest. She bought her daughter’s Australian shepherd, Pudding, from Nola Aussies in 2024 and immediately noticed the dog appeared to be in poor health.

Pudding was infested with ﬂeas, had intestinal parasites, an ear infection and scabbing that a vet told her was from ﬂeas and bites from other dogs, according to Gutierrez.

“I was furious,” she said.

Concerned about the conditions in which Bell’s dogs were kept, Gutierrez said she reported him to the Humane Society, the American Kennel Club and the Australian Shepherd Club of America. She was frustrated that no one seemed to take notice two years ago.

“Finally somebody’s doing something and these animals

Jackson said that while the victim was down, Gaspard told her, “Think you can get a man off of you?”

A bystander had to assist in ending the altercation, Jackson said. The bystander also testiﬁed that he heard Gaspard continue to use racial slurs during the attack. Videos from both Gaspard and the victim documented the attack.

Speaking before the court, the victim said Gaspard wounded her physically and emotionally

In addition to suffering a concussion and needing weeks of physical therapy, the victim told the court that she was diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety depression and insomnia.

The trauma forced her to leave her position at the United States Postal Service, which in turn left her without wages and ﬁnancial support for her son’s childcare.

“No one should have to be afraid while simply serving their community,” she said Thursday While Gaspard’s family and employer had provided statements saying this was out of his

won’t be treated like this anymore,” Gutierrez said. Bell was being held Wednesday at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center Bail was set at $108,000. His dogs are being treated and held by JPAWS, but they are not available for adoption, Brignac explained. The dogs still belong to Bell. Until his case is adjudicated by the court and a judge decides what to do with the pups, Bell’s dogs will remain in the custody of JPAWS.

Bell has 15 business days to pay a “dog bond” to JPAWS, a security bond that covers the costs of care and feeding during that time, according to Brignac If Bell does not pay, the dogs will become the property of the parish, she said. Most of Bell’s Aussies have never been handled by humans, Brignac said. Some don’t know what a leash is and can be reactive, frightened and in some cases, aggressive. JPAWS will send them to a breed-speciﬁc rescue that can help rehabilitate them.

Email Michelle Hunter at mhunter@theadvocate.com.

character, Flowers told the court that “before us is not only the man his family knows, but also the man who violently assaulted a federal postal employee.”

A letter in support of the victim from the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association was also submitted, with National President Donald Maston saying the crime “reverberated” among the organization’s 130,000 members.

With his own chance to speak, Gaspard said he “fully recognizes the gravity of the situation.”

He said he allowed a verbal confrontation to “spiral out of control into a physical altercation,” and apologized to his victim for failing to de-escalate the interaction and step away Gaspard guaranteed Jackson this would be the last time he would be in a courtroom.

He told the court that before his arrest, he had been planning to propose to his girlfriend, but the “shame and uncertainty” of his arrest kept him from doing so.

Email Quinn Coffman at quinn.

SALES TAX

Continued from page 1B

run, provide no direct revenue to the town, and this tax would change that.

“The alternative to a sales tax is a property tax,” Atwell said. “We’re not trying to put any ultimatums here. People have a choice.”

The mayor said the tax will play a big factor in bringing back the police department. Due to ﬁnancial constraints and the need for proper police oversight practices, Killian temporarily suspended its three-person police department in August. Atwell has said the one-year cooperative endeavor agreement with the Sheriff’s Office would cost the town up to $100,000 a year; meanwhile, the police department spent $18,000 a month for the last six months before disbanding. If a sales tax were to pass, the total annual police budget would be nearly $150,000 and employ a chief and a deputy Currently, there is a police chief appointed in November to work during the interim for administrative purposes.

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Saturday

VETOED

Continued from page 1B

42,000-square-foot Harvest Fresh grocery store. Harvest Fresh is a partnership with Baton Rougebased Associated Grocers. Harvest Fresh was aimed at addressing the long-standing issue of grocery stores being in short supply in North Baton Rouge.

Two Shopper’s Value grocery stores are located south of Airline Highway, but no full-service grocery stores are north of the route where Harvest Fresh will be located. The store will serve the immediate Scotlandville area, giving residents and Southern University students, faculty and staff access to food and essential services, with an impact reaching to the Felicianas

Other tenants are being eyed for the center, including fast-casual restaurants, fitness centers and medical services. Later stages of development could potentially include 14 acres for housing and a movie theater Sen. Regina Barrow D-Baton Rouge, who led the push to get capital outlay funding for The BLVD at Harding, said she was surprised by the veto.

“I don’t know why” the veto came, Barrow said. This story was reported and written by a student with the support of the nonproﬁt Louisiana Collegiate News Collaborative, an LSU-led coalition of eight universities funded by the Henry Luce and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur foundations

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Ruling blocks Roundupsuits

SupremeCourt sideswithBayer, halting thousands of lawsuits

BY LINDSAYWHITEHURST and DAVIDA.LIEB Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Supreme Court sided with the maker of Roundup weedkiller Thursday in aruling expected to block thousands of lawsuits allegingitfailed to warn people the product could cause cancer

The case came before the justices after atidal wave of litigationthat included some multibillion-dollar verdictsagainst Bayer, aGermany-based agrochemical manufacturer that acquired Roundup’soriginal producer, Monsanto, in 2018.

The decision is avictory for President Donald Trump’sadministration, which argued in supportof Bayer.But it provoked outrage from allies in the “Make America Healthy Again” movement who want to rein

in pesticide use.

The high court, in a7-2 ruling, held thatRoundupcannot be sued in state courtsfor failure to warn because federal regulators have found a cancer link unlikely and do notrequire awarning label.

Though focused on Roundup, the ruling couldaffect similarhealth claims against other pesticide products.

“Thisdecision is good for American farmers whohelp feed the world,“ BayerCEO Bill Anderson said. ”It provides the regulatory clarity necessaryfor innovators like us to develop the agricultural tools thatguarantee an affordablefood supply.”

Though Bayer said the ruling should resultinthe dismissal of failure-to-warn lawsuits,the companysaid it planstoproceed with a proposed $7.25 billionclassaction settlementintended to resolve many of theremaining claims

The rulingwas denounced by environmental groups and lawyersrepresenting people who believe they were harmed by Roundup.

“This Supreme Court ruling wrongly slams the court-

house door on Americans sickenedbypesticides,” said attorney ChristopherSeeger, whoisaclaimant’s representative in the settlement. But he said asettlement still wouldallowsomepeople to receive compensation.

Thecase before the Supreme Court was filed by Missouri resident JohnDurnell. He developeda cancer called non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after morethan 20 years of serving as the neighborhood association’s “spray guy,”using Roundup on parks in his historic St. Louis community.

Ajury agreed thatthe companyfailedtowarnhimabout possible cancer dangers and awarded him $1.25 million. But Durnell never received themoney as his case was appealed.Durnell, 75, said Thursday thathis cancer is in remission, and he will be ﬁne without the money

But “thereare thousands of cases that arelikeminethat will not see court now,” Durnell said.“So that is the biggest disappointment for me.”

There is still ﬁerce debate about whether Roundup’s keyingredient, glyphosate

causes cancer.The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer classiﬁed the chemical as “probably carcinogenic” in 2015. The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that it’snot likely to causecancer in humanswhen used as directed.

Theagencyapproveda labelwithoutacancerwarning, and Bayerarguedthat it was required to follow those federal standards. The Supreme Court agreed, ruling that separate warning requirements cannot be compelled by state laws andcourts. The ruling still leaves room for other lawsuits alleging problems withthe product’sdesign, andDurnell said he is considering bringing anew case on different grounds.

Bayer disputes the cancer claims but previously set aside $16 billion to settle cases,and earlier this year proposed a$7.25 billion class-action settlement.A federal judge recently ruled that the proposedsettlement will be heard in aMissouri state court, where manyof thelawsuits have been ﬁled

Inflation gaugehits3-yearhigh

BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER

AP economics writer

WASHINGTON The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge rosetoanew three-year high in May as gas prices peaked, asign rising costscould pose political problems for President Donald Trump and his political party as midterm elections near Consumer prices rose 4.1% in May from ayear earlier,the Commerce Department said Thursday,the largest annual increase since April2023. On a monthly basis, inflation was 0.4%last month, matchingApril’sincrease and down from 0.7% in March. The increase was largely driven by more expensive gas, as well as pricier semiconductors and othercomputer equipment that areinhighdemand for the AI buildout. Rising prices have caused the inflation-fightersatthe Federal Reserve to keep their key rate unchanged this year,areversal from January when they had penciled in two cuts. Some economists forecast the central bankcould lift ratesthis year instead.

“Underlying inﬂation is closer to 3% rather than 2%,” said Mark Vitner chief economist at Piedmont Crescent Capital. “It does suggesttomethatthe next Fed move,wheneveritcomes,is more likely to be ahike than acut.” The Fed probably won’traise rates until next year,headded.

Oiland gasprices have fallen substantially since Trump agreedtoa peace deal with Iran earlierthis month, but the conﬂict lifted gas prices to nearly $4.50 agallon on average nationwide in May.They havesincefallen back to $3.92 as of Thursday,according to AAA, but that’smore than 20%above prices at this time last year as the driving sea-

Apple ups prices for Macs and iPads

Apple on Thursday announced an increase in prices forMacsand iPads, citing amemory chip shortage brought on by the artiﬁcial intelligence boom. The Cupertino, Californiabasedcompanycalled the demand spike an “unprecedentedchallenge”fortheconsumer electronics industry

“The rapid expansion of AI datacenters hascreated an extraordinary surge in demand for memory and storage. We have never seena component price increase this much, this quickly,” the company saidinawritten statement.

The new,entry-level MacBook Neo will now cost $699, up from$599. The 512gigabyte MacBook Air now costs $1,299, up from $1,099. The

songetsunderway

Declining gas prices will likely pull down headline inflation next month, yet measures of underlying inflation remain stubbornly elevated and will be aconcern for theFed. Excluding the volatile energy and food categories, core prices rose 3.4% in May compared with ayear earlier,upfrom3.3% in Apriland the largest increase since October2023.Ona monthly basis, they rose 0.3% from April to May,the same as theprevious month. Adjusted for inflation, spending rose 0.3% from April to May. And inflation-adjusted incomes rose for the first time in four months, picking up 0.3%, which could bolster consumer spending in coming months.

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

one terabyte MacBook Pro is $1,999, up from$1,699. The 128 gigabyte iPad Air is now $749, up from $599, while the 256gigabyte iPad Pro Wifi is now $1,199, up from$999

Analysts expect iPhone prices to rise laterthis year

Wall Street drifts to amixed finish

NEW YORK The U.S. stock marketmeanderedtoa mixed finish Thursday after several artificial-intelligence stocks veered back up their roller-coasterride,whileApple dropped after hiking prices on many of its products. The S&P 500finishednearly unchangedwith adip of lessthan 0.1%afterswinging between gains and losses throughout the day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 71 points, or 0.1%, and

New Fed chair Kevin Warsh lastweek underscoredthe central bank’s determination to drive inﬂation back to its 2% target, but he gave no sign of what steps the Fed might take. Some economists,however,now expect the central bank to increase rates this year.Those expectationsupendedU.S.markets this week, hammering fast-growing sectors like tech.

Inflation has been above theFed’s2% targetfor morethan five years, leaving many Americans moregloomyabout the future. Vitnerpointsout thatinflationhadn’ttopped 2.5% for nearly adecadebefore thepandemic, likely making the inflation spikes since theneven harder to accept for most households.

theNasdaqcomposite fell 0.5%.

Micron Technology helped lead the market after jumping15.7%. The maker of computer memory reported much bigger proﬁt and revenuefor the latest quarter thananalysts expected, and it gave astronger growthforecastfor the current quarter than Wall Street expected. Thathelpedallayworries a bit that itsstock hadgrown tooexpensive after coming into theday with asurge of 267% so far this year

Economy expanded at 2.1% pace

WASHINGTON The U.S. economy expanded at asolid and unexpected 2.1% annual pace from January through March, the Commerce Department reportedThursday in its ﬁnal estimateofﬁrst-

quarter growth.

Thegrowthingrossdomestic product—the nation’s output of goods and services —marked arebound from asluggish 0.5% in thelast three months of 2025 when a43-day federal government shutdownweighed on theeconomy.Thursday’s numberswere an upgrade from of Commerce’spreviousﬁrst-quarter estimate of 1.6% growth.

Business investment surged, probably reflecting an investmentboom in artificial intelligence. But consumer spending, which accounts for around 70% of U.S.economic activity,fell sharply from fourth-quarter 2025and from Commerce’s previous estimate in asign that consumers may be cutting back in theface of higher gasoline prices caused by the war with Iran.

Expertssay it’s notthatsimple

BY WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS and CATHY BUSSEWITZ AP business writers

NEW YORK U.S. gasoline prices decreased an averageof49cents agallonin the last month as expectationsrosefor an endtothe warwith Iran. But they’re not falling fast enough for President Donald Trump. Trump, whowants to stave off the economic fallout of the war ahead of midterm elections, is now pointingatoil companies as the culprit. The president said on social media early Wednesdaythathe hadtaskedthe JusticeDepartment with investigating whether “customers are being ’gouged.’”

“The big Oil Companies arenot dropping theirprice at the pump commensurate with the sharply lower prices theyare paying for Oil,”Trump wrote. “Gasoline prices better start going down alot faster than what I’mseeing!”

Crude oilisthe main ingredient in gasoline, and its costmakes up the bulk of whatconsumers pay at the pump. But oil companiesdon’t setgasoline prices;gas station owners do. Those operators often have littlechoicebut to raisepumpprices when the cost of oil surges like it did during the Iran war

Even after crude prices come down, it can take weeksorlonger for market changes to reach reﬁneries andeventuallyconsumers, experts said.

“It sounds abit like political theater to me,” Karen Young, asenior research scholaratColumbia University’sCenter on GlobalEnergy Policy, said when askedduring aCNBCinterviewabout Trump’sprice-gouging allegation. “That’snot really howgasoline prices work in the U.S.” Multifaceted prices

Multiple factorsgointo what gasstationowners decide to charge.

In the U.S., oil prices represented about51% of the price of agallonofgasoline last year,per theEnergy Information Administration. When crude oil gets moreexpensive because there’sless on the market, gasoline prices generally follow

Before reaching an interim agreement with the Trump administration last week, Iran blockedships fromcrossing the Strait of Hormuz, awaterway off the country’scoast through whichone-ﬁfth of the world’soil andnatural gas typically passes. In 2025, federal and state taxes contributed about 17% of thegasoline price, refining costs andprofits contributed 14% and distribution, andmarketing contributed17%,the EIA said. In some states, such as California, highertaxes andrefining costs push prices well above the national average. While expensive oil was the leading driver of higher gasoline prices in recent months, U.S. gasprices typicallytick up abit at this time of year.Warmer weather brings ashift to summer blend fuels, which is moreexpensive to reﬁne than the versions sold in coldermonths. Demand also is greater as more people hit the road.

For the upcoming July Fourth holiday period, AAA forecast 61.4 million Amer-

icans traveling at least 50 miles away fromhome by car,slightly morethanthe 61.3 million whotook road trips last year

Pricelag

Somecomponents of fuel prices areoutside agas station’scontrol.

Reﬁneries buy crude oil in advance, and deliveries of thatoil taketime.Reﬁneries may be processing moreexpensive supplies weeks or months after market prices fall. After refining, gasolinetravels through pipelines, ships, trucks andfuelterminals before landing at filling stations, further prolonginghigher prices forconsumers.

“Weall felt how fast gasoline prices rose this spring,” Rob Smith, director of global fuelretail at data and analytics provider S&PGlobalEnergy.“The pace of their rise wasactually less than thepaceof the rise forcrude oil.” Smith calculated that the price for Brent crude oil, the international standard, rose about$1.75 per gallon between the start of the war and early April, and during that same time, the averagepriceofgasoline went up $1.10.

“It went up alot,” Smith said of gasoline. “But it still wasn’tasmuch as the crude price wentup.”

That’sbecause retailers resisted passing alongall of the fuel price increase to customers, absorbing some of the cost, he said. Whenoil prices started falling, those retailers could recoup someofthe money they lost, Smith added.

“Overthe course of a year,there’sacertain operating margin that the retailers need to keep thelights on,” he said.“Thevastmajority of gas stations are owned by small corporations. Afamily that owns a dozen stations, or even one or twostations, they have little room forerror.”

Prices arestill higher Even with prices dropping, motorists in the U.S. are paying almost $1 more per gallon than they were before thewar,and gas is nearly 22% more expensive than it wasatthis time last year

Gas also isn’tthe only thing that’sgotten more expensive during the war Groceries, airline tickets and even goods like condoms andshoes now cost more due to supply chain disruptions. Even if aﬁnal peace deal is reached and oil resumes flowing reliably from the Middle East, experts warnprices will likely remain elevated for sometime.

Before joining Israel to launch the warwith strikesonIranonFeb.28, Trump bragged about low gas prices. But after Iran effectively cutoff traffic from the Strait of Hormuz and energy prices skyrocketed, the presidentquickly pivoted.Atone point,he tried to paint steep energy prices as apositive forthe business of U.S. crude production —stating in March that, because the U.S. is the largest oilproducer in the world, “whenoil prices go up, we make alot of money.”

Meanwhile,anonline tracker from Brown Uni-

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By GEORGE WALKER IV

Aperson looks at the fresh fish at agrocerystore on May11inNashville, Tenn. The FederalReserve’s preferred inflation gaugerose to athree-year highinMay as gaspricespeaked.

Funerals

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Pollock,Frank St.AloysiusCatholicChurch,2025 StuartAvenue,at10:30 a.m.

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Obituaries

loved to traveland garden.She was an excellentcardplayer and much sought after bridge partner. Puzzles and mystery's wereher forte. Secondtoher family was herlove for animals. Sheallowedand encouraged her children to bring home any strays. Our home was amenagerieof cats, dogs, bunnies,gerbils, fish, etc.She did put her footdown at snakes! Jean is precededin death by herparents, Joseph and AnnieHayes of England. Herhusband, WilliamJ ClevelandJr. Her son,WilliamJ ClevelandIII Hergranddaughter, ChristineCleveland. Her sister, MargaretLemmonand her brothers Harold and Joseph Hayes. Sheissurvived by her children Steven (Stacy)Cleveland of Walker, Louisiana,Mark (Cindy)Cleveland of Slidell,Louisiana, Margaret (Luis) deAlcuazof Modesto, California, 11 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and 4great, greatgrandchildren. Ourfamilyisextremely grateful to Shun Marshall (our AngelonEarth), Nautyca Clark,the staff at Garden Viewassistedliving and Hospice of Baton Rouge.Wecannotthank Shun and Nautyca enough for their dedication and kindness to helpmom transition with dignity and grace

The family willholda private burial at the Cleveland cemeteryinLena, Louisiana In lieu of flowers please send donations to CAWSof Baton Rouge,EBR libraryPatronsofthe publiclibraryorLouisiana Public Broadcasting "Perhaps they are not stars in the sky, but rather openings whereour loved ones shinedown to letus

knowtheyare happy" an

Deamer, Missionary Betty Addison

Missionary BettyAddison Deamer, anativeof Greensburg,LAdeparted this earthly life Tuesday, June 16, 2026. The Ecclesiastical Homegoing CelebrationwillbeheldSaturday, June 27, 2026 @11am (viewing 10am- 11am) at Saintsville-W.K. Gordon Prayer Center, Louisiana Eastern First Jurisdiction Headquarters, 8930 Plank Road,Baton Rouge, LA 70811, BishopAlphonso Denson,Sr.,Prelateand Officiant. She was adevoted Wife, Mother, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother. She was aHighSchool graduateofHelena High SchoolinGreensburg, LA and agraduateofSouthern University A&M College,Baton Rouge, LA earning aB.S.degree in Business Educationand a Master's Degree in Counseling Education.She workedasanEducator and Guidance Counselorfor 30 years servingSt. Helena Parish, WestBaton Rouge Parish, and East Baton Rouge Parish Schoolsrespectively.She was an entrepreneurprovidingHome Health care to theElderly and Disabled.Moreover,

she wasanadvocate for underprivileged children providing jobopportunities and scholarshipsfor many innercityyouth.She was a lifetime member of the Church of God in Christ. An activemember of GFL CathedralCOGIC (Saintsville) Baton Rouge, LA where she served as theExecutive Administrator. Moreover, she wasthe First Female Jurisdictional Secretary of Louisiana Eastern First Jurisdiction. A Historical accomplishment as he assiduously served with astuteness, integrity, and excellence for 15 years. In addition, she served on the GeneralSecretary's staff of the Church of God in Christ, Inc. Memphis, Tennessee. Her most notable achievement was her recent appointment to serveasthe Mid-SouthRegional Secretary forthe Office of theGeneralSecretary of the Church of God in Christ as wellasreceivingher certificationinthe COGICAdjutancy Corps servingasa National Adjutant Sister. She was an exceptional woman with an extraordinary legacy. She leaves to cherish and continue that legacy (2) sons: Tyrone and Deveryon; (3) daughters: Jackie, Dionne, and Lorena; 11 grandchildren and 9great grandchildren.She was precededin death by her husband, Huey Deamer, Jr.; 2sons: Kevinand Kenivar; her parents: Charlie &AdellIrvingAddison; 3brothers: Charlie, Jr., Huey P.,and James; 3sisters: Argielee, Rebecca, and Delores.Professional services entrusted to RichardsonFuneral Home of Jefferson, River Ridge, LA.www.richardson funeralhomeofjefferson.co m. Interment,Southern Memorial Gardens Ceme-

tery 3012 BlountRd. Baton Rouge,LA70807. nephew,JoshuaDunbar; sister-in-law,Joyce Dunbar;and aspecial cousin, Marian Manson. ThefamilygratefullyacknowledgesGregory Eames, Donald Henderson, Sr VernaHonora, andthe nursesand staff of theBaton Rouge Hospice Butterfly Wing Unit fortheir compassionate care andsupport Visitation will be held at NoononJune27, 2026, at Wilson-Wooddale Funeral Home with service to follow at 1:00PM. Interment at Southern Memorial Gardens Cemetery Dr.Dunbar's legacyof scholarship,excellence, andservice will live on throughthe countlesslives she touchedand the many students, colleagues, readers, and loved ones she inspiredthroughouther remarkable life.

Dunbar, Sybil J.

Dr.Sybil J. Dunbar passedaway peacefullyon June 21, 2026, at theage of 80. Shewas an educator, writer, andaward-winning published poet whose lifelong passion for language, literature,and music was inspiration to many.

Agraduate of McKinley Senior High School (Class of 1963), Dr.Dunbar earned aBachelorofScience in English fromGrambling College, aMaster of Education from Southern University, aMaster of Arts from Louisiana State University, andaPh.D. from theUniversity of Kentucky. During herdistinguished career she became thefirst African American teacher at Catholic High School in Baton Rouge,one of the first African American instructors in LSU'sEnglish Department,and thefirst full-time African American professor at North Central CollegeinNaperville,Illinois

Sheissurvived by brothers, Donald R. Dunbar,Sr. (Janice) andCraig R. Dunbar (Sherrill); nieces, Phaon A. Dunbar andSelina D. Dunbar; nephews, Donald R. Dunbar, Jr.and DevinJ.Dunbar; great-

Ann Jean Hayes Cleveland passed away peacefully on June 22, 2026 In Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Jean was born July 20, 1930 in Manchester ,England. Her journey in life took her from London, England to Crowley, Louisiana when she married William JCleveland Jr Herwit andbeauty took the South by storm. They moved to Baton Rougein 1968 and she lived on Shawn Dr until February 2026. Jean was avoracious reader and alover of all When youneed thenews. Wherever youreadthe news Thenewspaper of record for BatonRouge

Reverend Irma Yvonne Irvine Edwards(formerly Irma Jones) affectionately known as "BigMama," enteredintoeternal rest on June 17, 2026, at Baton Rouge General Medical Center-Bluebonnet. She wasa native of theSolitude community of St Francisville,Louisiana, and alongtime residentofBaton Rouge,Louisiana. Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Greater MorningStarBaptist Church,1002 Mavis Drive,Baton Rouge Louisiana, from2:00 p.m. untilthe Celebration of Life

Cleveland, AnnJean

a.m. at

tionalCemetery. She leaves to cherish her memory her devoted son, Dannye Jones, Sr.; grandsons, Dannye Jones, Jr. and Nicholas Jones; greatgrandson, Phoenix Atkins; dedicated nieces, nephews, other relatives, many dear friends, former students, Zeta Phi Beta Sorors and ministry associates. Reverend Edwards will be lovinglyremembered for her faith, strength, wisdom, and the lasting impact she made on the lives of all who knew and loved her. Arrangements have been entrusted to Miller& Daughter Mortuary.

Forrest, Gloria T.

Gloria T. Forrestwas born February 3, 1947,in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to the late Benjamin and Earline Thomas, and entered eternal rest on June 22, 2026. She was aretired Louisiana Clerk of Court employee, owner of Gloria'sPlace, and the beloved wife of the late Wilbert Forrest, Jr She is survived by her daughter, Cassandra Rattle (Alvin, Sr.); grandson, Dr. Alvin Rattle, Jr. (Payton); one great-grandson; sisters, Margene ThomasSmith(Nathaniel)and Cynthia Davis; brothers-in-law, Gerald Brown, Sr., Jeffrey Brown, and Donald Forrest; goddaughter, Raine Rose Bayyan Wright (Chad); and a hostofrelatives and friends. The familyexpresses sincere appreciation to Dr. Bowie, nurses &staff of the Neuro Intensive Care Unit at OLOL Hospital and Dr. LaMotte &Associates of Baton Rouge Cardiology fortheir compassionate care.

Viewing: Hall Davis & Son Funeral Services, June 26,2026, 3:00-5:00 p.m. Visitation: Beech Grove Baptist Church, June 27, 2026, 9:0011:00 a.m.,followed by service at 11:00 a.m. Interment: Southern Memorial Gardens.

"Her warmth, joy, and kindness will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her."

Hampton, Azrael Nakota

Beautiful baby Azrael Nakota Hampton, anative and resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana entered into eternal rest in Mount Pleasant, TexasonJune 18, 2026 at thetender age of eight months. AVisitation will be held at Greater Mount Carmel Baptist Church (Rev. CleeLowe pastor) on Saturday, June 27,2026, from 2:00 pm until the Celebration of Life Service at 3:00 pm conducted by Rev. Levie Wright; interment at Southern Memorial Gardens. Survivors include her parents, Keith Hampton and Whitney Kemp; sisters, LailaHampton, Hayleigh Sholes and Kinsley Mouswaswa; grandmothers, Contance Hampton and LovellaGills; great-grandmother, Audrey Hampton; other relatives and friends. Arrangements entrusted to Miller &Daughter Mortuary

husband Michael McClure; her brotherKnute Hansen (Claudette); their children Timmy Cernich (Holly), Jimmy Cernich (Rebecca), Joey Cernich Sr (Stephanie), Jamie Cernich (Shannon), Amanda Powell (John Ballard), and Jenifer McClure (Jacob Milkoski). Grandchildren Christina Riggins (Zackary), Madeline Blount (Caleb),Allison Cernich,Sidney Bordelon, Brennan Cernich, Raymi Garcia (Skyler),Joey Cernich Jr,Becca Cernich, Jenna Cernich,LylaCernich, Hunter Wright,Zoey Ballard, Lillian McClure, Rosalie Milkoski, Juliet Milkoski,and Lincoln Milkoski. Great-grandchildren Emery Blount and Ridge Riggins. Gailwas adevoted wife, loving mother and cherishedgrandmother and great-grandmotherwhose family was the center of her life.She found great joyinbringing herfamily together and creating memoriesthat willbe cherishedfor generations. An avid fisherman, Gail was the happiestnearwater, rodinhand, andenjoying the peace and beauty of the outdoors.Her love of fishing reflected herpatience, herappreciation for life'ssimplepleasures, and her quiet senseofadventure.Throughout her years working in retail services, Gailwas known for her kindness and genuine care for others. Shehad anatural way of makingpeople feel welcomeand valued, leaving alastingimpressiononeveryoneshe met Affectionately known as "Memaw," Gailwill be rememberedfor her strength, warmth,and the deep loveshe shared with her family. Shetook great pride in herchildren and their accomplishments andfound endlessjoy in her grandchildrenand great-grandchildren. Those who knew her willfondly rememberthe way she wouldlovingly callout "Honey" to her husband Mike,asimplemoment that reflectedthe deep bond and affection they shared. Gailwillbedeeply missed and forever loved Aservice willbe heldin Mrs. Gail's honoronTuesday, June 30th at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 502 E. HWY 30, Gonzales, LA 70737, with burial to follow at Hope HavenCemetery. Visitation willbefrom10 AM to 11AM,with the service to follow.

Hunter, Robert

Robert Hunter Jr.earned his wingsonSunday, June 21, 2026. Anative of Barataria, Louisiana, and a resident of Houma, Louisiana. He wasthe husband ofGlenda LaSalle Hunter. Father of three, bonus father of 1. Grandfatherof6.A Funeral Servicewillbeheldon Saturday,June 27. Viewing from 9AM-11 AM Service at 11 AM at GreaterStJohn B.Cat2823Privateer Blvd.Barataria,Louisiana 70036

Prestridge, William Michael 'Mike'

WilliamMichael "Mike" Prestridge,age 79, passed awayonFriday,June 5, 2026, at the Southeast Louisiana WarVeterans Home in Reserve, Louisiana.Hewas born on June10, 1946, at the old Our Lady of the Lake in BaHansen McClure, Gail Genevieve

Gail Genevieve Hansen McClure, age 69,ofAscensionParish, Louisiana passed away on June 23, 2026. She was proceeded in death by her parents; Kjell and Edna Hansen; her son Lloyd Cernich Jr; and her sisters Susan Gautreaux and Karen Cernich. Gail is survived by her adoring

tonRouge,Louisiana. Mike was amember of University United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge since childhood. However, he always remained apart of First UnitedMethodist Church, where he was baptizedand his mother served as thechurch pianist. A1965 graduateof Glen Oaks High School, he keptupwithmany of his classmates, attending monthly gatheringsat their favorite restaurants. Mike proudly served our country in theUnited States Army from1968, until his honorable discharge in 1972. He ranked Private First Class and served two tours of duty as atrained Morse Code Interceptorin theVietnamWar. Throughout his service, Mikereceivednumerous military awardsand decorations, including theNational DefenseMedal,ArmyGood Conduct Medal,Vietnam Service Medal, Army CommendationMedal,Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal, Rifle Expert/SharpshooterBadge, and RepublicofVietnam Unit Citation. Mike was precededin death by his father, William MonroeDowden; mother, Sadie Clyde Clark Prestridge; and wife, Dallel Bernadette OlivierPrestridge. He is survived by his GOHS classmates and special friends,Harriet& Mark Smith, CarolCivils, as wellashis caregiverand dear friend,Patricia Ponthier.Patricia would like to extend her heartfelt thankstothe staff at the Southeast Louisiana War Veterans Home forthe compassionatecare they provided Mike during his final nine months. Notonly didthe Veterans AdministrationhonorMike forhis service, buttheyalso cared for his medical needs throughout therest of his life.Relativesand friends are invitedtoattend theGravesideService at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Resthaven Gardens of Memory, 11817 Jefferson HighwayinBaton Rouge. Familyand friends may signthe online guestbook or leavea personal notetothe family at www.resthavenbatonroug e.com

Glenn L. Scott departed this life on Monday, June 15, 2026. Anativeand resident of BatonRouge, La. He was a1980 graduateof McKinley High School.Visitation willbeheldSaturday, June 27, 2026, 8am untilreligious services at 10am, NewSunlight Baptist Church 1777 America St. Baton Rouge,La. 70802. Interment at Southern Memorial Gardens. Services areentrusted to Desselle Funeral Home 263 EddieRobinsonSr. Drive, BatonRouge,La. Forfull obit see info@dessellefuneralh ome.com

Charles Heath Swett,Jr., passed away peacefully on June 19, 2026, at theage of 79, under thecompassionatecare of the staff at CarpenterHouse in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with his family by his side.

Born on September 25, 1946, in Shreveport, Louisiana, Charles was a graduateofFairParkHigh School and alifelong Louisianian. He was aman of strong convictions, strong opinions, and an even stronger love forfamily, friends, sports,and a good story.

Charles wasanavidLSU fan whose passion for sportsextended far beyond the stands. For over 25 years, he served as a footballreferee andbaseballumpire for the Louisiana High School AthleticAssociation. Whether he was on afootball field, standingona baseballdiamond, or cheering on the Tigers, sportswerea lifelong passion Charles wasprecededin death by hisparents, CharlesHeathSwett, Sr andClaire Pegeen Tinkler Swett, and by his granddaughter, BonnieClaire Swett. He is survived by his sons, Charles Heath Swett III andJon Conner Swett andwife,Tiffany; the mother of his sons, Betsy Swett; his grandchildren, Avery Swettand Conner Swett, whobroughthim tremendous pride andjoy; hisbrother,Tom Swettand wife Joanna;his sister,Coy Swett; hisUncle JonTinkler andAuntSandy Tinkler; hisnieces, Dio Swett andJulia Swett; andnumerouscousins, extended familymembers, friends, fellow officials,and LSU fans.

Thefamilyfinds comfort in knowing that Charles lived exactly as he chose—surrounded by people he loved, devoted to thethingsheenjoyed, andalways with another story ready to tell

TheSwett familywould like to thankthe caring staff at the Carpenter Houseand theLouisiana Veterans Home in Jackson, Louisiana.

Bakeryand then worked at Dale's Welding& Fabricators for13years. "Be Bop" wanted to be cremated andhave acelebrationof hislife. The celebration will be held at the home of Dale andBeverleyLively, 65100 Mendoza Drive, Plaquemine, LA on Saturday, June 27th, from 10 a.m. until12p.m. "Be Bop" is survivedhyhis nieces andnephews, MarySue Gulotta, Zella Schonemaker,RodneyVarnell, Dalbert VarnellJr, Raymond Varnell,GretchenVarnell, Bridget Varnell, Angela VarnellCunninghamand Jason Varnell. "Be Bop" wasprecededindeathby hisparents, JoeSrand Zella Duplechain Varnell; siblings, JB Varnell Jr,Dalbert VarnellSr, Charles Varnell andVernonVarnellSr; nephew,VernonVarnellJr. "Be Bop" wasa former member of theWoodman of theWorld andKnights of ColumbusinPlaquemine. Please share memories at www.wilbertservices.com.

Donald JamesVarnell, known as "Be Bop", passed away on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at Legacy Nursing Home in Plaquemine,at theage of 84. He wasa native andresident of Plaquemine. "Be Bop" was aNational Guard Veteran He workedatBon's Bakery for over 30 years, went on to be acommercial fisherman, workedatPortAllen Ramson,HaroldClaude

Harold Ramson, Jr.departed this life on Friday, June 6, 2026, at his residence in NewOrleans, LA

He was 69, anativeofNew Orleans, LA.A memorial servicewillbeheldon Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Wesley UnitedMethodist Church, 101 Dr. Martin Luther King Dr., Napoleonville,LAat 11:00am.

Arrangementsby Williams &Southall Funeral Home,5414 Hwy 1, Napoleonville,LA70390. (985) 369-7231. To signthe guest book or offercondolences, visitour website at www.williamsandsouthall funeralhome.com.

In January 1969, Charles started his servicefor his country and attended OfficerCandidate School at Fort Polk. He served in Vietnam as aForward Observer and was recognized forhis serviceand dedication during his militarycareer. He was honorably discharged withthe rank of Captain after more than four years of service.

Scott, GlennL.

Swett Jr., Charles Heath

Varnell, Donald James'Be Bop'

OPINION

Redistrictingfightshighlight pitfalls of partisanship

Iserved two terms in the Louisiana House of Representatives as an Independent. Being amember of the “no party” party gave me aunique perspective on the legislative process. Ioften joked that there “ain’tnoparty like no party,” and the line usually got alaugh. But there was truth behind the humor.Free from party expectations, Iwas able to evaluate legislation based on its merits rather than whether it came from Republicans or Democrats. That perspectiveisone reason Act 2ofthe 2026 RegularSession concerns me.

Much of the public debate has focused on who beneﬁts from Louisiana’snew congressional map and whether the district lines are fair.Those are important questions. But Ibelieve they distract from a larger problem that has plagued our politics for years. The real problem is partisanship.

Duringmytime in the Legislature, I attended caucusmeetings and worked alongside members of both political parties. What Iobserved was often frustrating. Toomuch energy was spent

maintaining party unity, counting votes and protecting political advantages. Too little energy was spent listening to opposingviewpoints, finding common ground andbuilding consensus. Redistricting hasbecome aperfectexampleofthatmindset. Rather than viewing congressional maps as away to ensure fair representation,both parties increasingly viewthemastools to maximize political power.Every line becomes abattle. Every district becomes astrategy.Every election becomes afight over who cangainanadvantage before asingle vote is cast. That approachmay help political parties win elections, but it does little to strengthen democracy When districts becomeheavily Republican or heavily Democratic, the most important election often becomes the party primary rather than the general election. Candidates have less incentive to appeal to abroad cross-section of voters and greater incentive to satisfy the most partisan voices within their own party.Over time, compromise becomes moredifficult and politi-

To wininmanufacturing, theU.S.needs La.energy andimprovedpermitting

Our country is the product of our history.And as America’s250th anniversary nears, those echoes sound with unusual clarity Later this year,wewill also mark 223 years since Oct. 17, 1803, when President Thomas Jefferson urged Congress to ratify the treaty formalizing the Louisiana Purchase.Hesaid the new territory would bring “important aids to our Treasury,anample provision for our prosperity,and awidespread ﬁeld for the blessings of freedom.”

He was right.

cal polarization becomes more severe. The result is alegislature ﬁlledwith members who arerewarded for beingloyal Republicans or loyal Democrats rather than independent thinkers willing to work across party lines.

Iwitnessedthatﬁrsthand in Baton Rouge.

Some of the best ideas Iencountered came fromRepublicans. Some came from Democrats. Neitherside had amonopoly on thebest ideas. Theyemerged when lawmakers were willing to listen to one another andfocusonsolvingproblems rather than scoring political victories

Unfortunately,the current redistricting debate sends the oppositemessage

Many Louisianans look at theconstant legalbattles, shifting district linesand partisanmaneuvering and conclude that politicians are choosing their voters rather than voters choosingtheir representatives. Whether that perception is entirely fair is almost beside thepoint. Public trust depends on people believing theprocess is fair,transparent andnot constantlymanipulated forpolitical gain.

Whenthattrust erodes, cynicismgrows. Citizens disengage.Voter participation

declines. Confidenceingovernment weakens. As someonewho servedoutside thetwoparty system,itisdisappointing to watch both parties continue to treat redistricting as apolitical weaponrather than an opportunitytostrengthenpublic confidence in ourinstitutions. Fairrepresentation should matter more than partisanadvantage. Public trust should matter morethan gaining or protecting aseat in Congress. Louisiana deserves better than another round of political warfare over district maps.Weneed leaders who are willingto place thelong-term health of ourdemocracy ahead of short-term political gains. The goal of redistricting should notbe to help oneparty win. It should be ensuring that voters have confidencethattheir voices matter andthatelectionsremain competitive,meaningful andfair. Withoutthattrust, no map will ever be good enough.

Joe Marino II is aformer member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, where he served as chairman of the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee.

Newfederal rule couldhit thesesmall

businesses hard

From the day Standard Oil built its Baton Rouge reﬁnery in 1909, Louisiana has powered America’sprosperity.Much has changed since Jefferson’stime,but one truth remains: Louisiana’sleadership in energy remains essential to American manufacturing and acornerstone of our national strength.

Manufacturers champion an “all of the above” energy strategy —apath to unleash America’senergy dominance. And that path runs through Louisiana. The manufacturing industry consumes one-third of the nation’senergy.Tolead as an industry,every energy source, every electron counts. Manufacturers understand that leadership isn’tabout producing more, it’sabout using energy wisely Manufacturing is key to Louisiana’s economy,representing 17% of stateGDP andnearly $58 billion in output.More than 143,000 Louisianans work in manufacturing, earning nearly double the state’saverage wage. Those jobs depend on access to abundant, affordable energy,because manufacturers make energy and useenergy

The resilience, affordabilityand reliability of U.S. oil and gas underpin our industrial base, our national security and our ability to compete globally.InLouisiana, manufacturers are on the front lines of that effort, onshore and offshore alike from the state’spipelines to its LNG terminals.

And the state has made it clear over the years that energy and manufacturing are top priorities. But leadership also requires followthrough. Toomany critical projects remainstuck in permitting limbo, waiting for approvals that should have come long ago. Louisiana alone has billions

of dollars in potential investmentliterally stuck. Wordsmustbe turned intoaction to move projects forward With billions on the line, manufacturing needs a predictable permitting processthat sparks longterm certainty. Since day one of President Donald Trump’sadministration, he has answered the calls of manufacturers by reversing theprevious administration’sban on liqueﬁed natural gas exports. That decision reafﬁrmed America’s commitment to lead the world in energy production and trade.

If we want to keep leading, manufacturers need comprehensive permitting reform now

America’sbroken permitting system is costing America’smanufacturers $8 billion each year,according to recent analysis by the National Association of Manufacturersand the Foundation for AmericanInnovation. It takes roughly 80% longer to approve amajor energy or infrastructure project in theU.S. than in other advanced economies. That means higher costs, fewer jobs and slower growth.

There is bipartisan momentuminCongress to get permitting reform done in 2026. America needs amore efﬁcient, more reliable permitting system to build the infrastructure that powersgrowth and keeps our industry competitive. This year,Congress can deliver thecertainty manufacturers need to build faster,invest with conﬁdence and improve the quality oflife for all Americans.

We can’tpower the factories of the futureifwecan’tbuild them.

Louisiana has long shown that energy production and environmental stewardship can coexist. With smart policy,a modern permitting system andpredictable rules, that balance can endure.

Twocenturies after Jefferson’swords, Louisiana continues to fuel America’sfuturethrough energy,manufacturing and innovation.

When Louisiana’senergy and manufacturing sectors thrive, America wins.

Will Green is thepresident and CEO of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. Jay Timmons is president and CEOofthe National Association of Manufacturers.

The hairstylist whohas done your color for years is aLouisiana-licensed professional. So is the barber across thestreet, the massage therapist who eased your back pain after surgery,the esthetician who treated your skin during chemo and the nail technician who knows your kids by name. Somework for someone else. Many work for themselves. Together,they staff and own much of thesmall business economy you walk past every day This entire workforce is now in the crosshairs of aDepartment of Education accountability test that, by the department’sown analysis, would strip federal student aid from almost every accredited cosmetology,barbering, esthetics and massage therapy training program in Louisiana. The testcompares anew graduate’s early paycheck against the paycheck of an older worker whonever went past high school. Many of ourgraduates are self-employed, renting a chair,suiteortreatmentroom,and tip income is real but missed by the federal data. The result is atest built to fail thevery Louisianans it claims to protect Andwhat hangs on theoutcome is not just hair or nails. It is Louisiana’ssmall business backbone. The U.S. Small Business Administration reportsthat 88% of workers in Louisiana’s“Other Services” sector,which covers salons, barbershops andnail studios, work at smallbusinesses. Massage therapists workinphysical therapy clinics, in oncology recovery and with veterans managing chronic pain. Estheticians workalongside dermatologists. These are theworkers who keep our communities running, and the entrepreneurs whogive them somewheretomaster the skills.

generational change. McKinsey estimates that roughly 6million American small and mid-size businesses will face an ownership transition by 2035 as baby boomers retire. Salons, shops and clinics across our state will need a next generation of licensed owner-operators ready to take the keys. If Washington shuts off the schools that train them the keys go in adrawer and the businesses close. Congress already drew this line. When Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise championed and President Donald Trumpsigned the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last July,the law limited this earnings test to programs that lead to adegree, on purpose. The samestatute madetips tax-exempt forour workers by name. Now the Department of Education is advancing aregulation that reaches past what Congress wrote and would close the very career pathways the law was designed to protect.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon ran the Small Business Administration before becoming head of the Department of Education, and she has the authority to honor what Congress and Trumpintended. We are asking foraﬁx: Useearnings data that reﬂects how this workforce actually gets paid, and hold our schools to the metrics we already meet —graduation, licensure, placement and default rates.

Lora Moreau opened the Cosmetology Training Center in Lafayette in 1983 and trained Louisiana cosmetologists fornearly 40 years. When she passed in 2022, my wife and Icontinued her work.

That mattersmore now than it did a decade ago. Nationally,there are 36.2 million small businesses employing nearly half theprivate-sector workforce, and thesmallest are doing the lion’sshare of the hiring. According to ADP Research, U.S. businesses with fewer than 20 employees added more than 525,000 jobs in 2025, morethan any other size class, and kept hiring through theﬁrst quarter of 2026 while bigger employers slowed. The same engine is at work here, where the salon owner hires her ﬁrst stylist, the barber adds achairand the massage therapist opens atreatment room It is also aworkforce on the cusp of

What our students build when they leave us is alivelihood forthemselves and, often, forthe Louisianans they go on to hire. The window forpublic comment closed on May 20, but Louisiana’scongressional delegation can still maketheir voices heard ahead of the Department of Education issuing the ﬁnal rule by July 1. Every Louisianan —with astake in our state’s small businesses and the services communities rely on —has areason to call their member of Congress before Washington cancels the workforce that keeps them open.

JeanPitre owns aLafayette cosmetology school and serves on the Louisiana StateBoard of Cosmetology

COLUMNIST

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio,right, and StevenButler,charged’affaires ad interim of theU.S.embassyinKuwait, attend a flag-raising ceremony at the embassy amid Rubio’svisit to the Middle East to discuss theinterim deal between the U.S. and Iran with Arab Gulf allies,inKuwaitCity, Kuwait, on Wednesday.

ISSUE OF THE WEEK IRAN DEAL

When President Donald Trumpannounced that the U.S. and Iran had reached adealtoend the warand open theStrait of Hormuz,hereleased fewdetails. It’sclear that much remains to be negotiated.Trumpsaysthe deal will prevent Iran from ever getting anuclear weapon, amain goal of the administration. But Iranian officials say no agreementhas beenreachedonmonitoring of the country’snuclear sites. Similarly, the sides appeartobe at odds on what a$300 billionreconstruction fund for Iran would payfor.Trump has sentenvoystothe region to ironout these differences. Butsome arelookingatwhat the president promised at the startofthe warand asking whether it was worthit. Did the U.S. achieve its objectives in Iran? Here are twoperspectives:

Iran deal renews question: Wasthe warnecessary?

It is perhaps the most fundamental question of the Iran war.Ifthe goal of the war was to prevent Iran from acquiring anuclear weapon, and if the U.S. attack of June 21, 2025, either obliterated or substantially damaged Iran’snuclear facilities, and if additional targeted bombing could have finished the job of destroying those facilities, why was it necessary for the U.S., along with ally Israel, to goto full-scale war against Iran at the end of February 2026, targetinga broad range of targets, assassinating thecountry’ssupreme leaderaswell as other key figures and setting off further war and an economic debacle that may or may not be resolved by the currentpeace negotiations? Why not just destroy Iran’snuclear capabilities, keeping the option to strike again if, or when, Iran madeprogress reconstituting them? It’sa question President Donald Trump and top administration officials have never fully answered. After the 2025 bombing,Trumpfamously said that special U.S. bunker-buster bombs had “obliterated” Iran’snuclear facilities. There followed immediate intelligence leaks suggestingthat was nottrue. Onesuch leak said thebombing had set back Iran’sprograms just a short time, perhaps as little as threeto six months. Other assessments saidithad been set back one or two years. Trump has neverbacked down from the “obliterated” assessment. Andat the time, SecretaryofState Marco Rubio stressed that, in addition to all the other damage ithad done, the U.S. had destroyed Iran’sability toperform something called “conversion,” which is akey part of theprocessofmaking anuclear weapon. Finally,the head of theInternational Atomic Energy Agency said theattack had done “enormous damage” tothe Iranian program. So that is success, right?The goal was to keep Iran from buildingorobtaining a

nuclear weapon,and theJune 2025 U.S. strike set them back along way.And yet just eight months later,inearly 2026, some in the administration were suggesting that the Iranian danger hadreturned in full force or nearly full force.

Andnow awordfrom theother side of thedeal

President Donald Trump andVice

In the early days, theWhite House listed four reasons for starting the war: “1)Destroy Iran’s ballistic missiles and production capacity; 2) Demolish their navy; 3) Endtheir ability to arm proxies; and 4) Prevent them from ever obtaining anuclear weapon. What had been theNo. 1reason for the war slipped to No. 4. For his part, Rubio began expressing theview that Iran’s missiles werethe key target because the country was trying to produce so many missiles that it could effectively createa shield for its nuclear development. Later, as the war settled into astalemateand the Strait of Hormuz became an overwhelming issue, President Trump began to return to what he called the main issue: preventing Iran from having anuclear weapon Of course, theU.S. could have kept Iran from having anuclear weapon with far less extensive actions than thosethat marked the ﬁrst weeks of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Trumpfocuses on the notion that Iran will “never” have anuclear weapon,but there is no single action anyone can take to ensure that.

Whoknows what is going to happen years from now? Given that, it appears the best approach would be to simply make sure Iran remains along way away from acquiring anuclear weapon. If it getstoo close in the future,the U.S.can take action again.

That is not thecourse theTrumpadministration chose. So now,aspeace talks go on, the fundamental question about thewar —was it necessary? —remains unanswered.

EmailByron York at byork@washingtonexaminer.com

President JD Vance spent mostoflast week trying to convince Americans the“Memo of Understanding” (MOU) with Iran is agood deal for theUnited States and world peace. That’snot what Iran believes. Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini,has hailed theMOU as amajor “victory” for Tehran. The “greater jihad” would now begin, he promised, according to aspeech aired by Iranian state media last week. Youread that correctly The greater Jihad. To some, this might sound like the same propaganda we have heard from Iran since thestartofthe president’sbombing campaign (“War is peace,” wrote George Orwell in his novel “1984”inwhich he creates “Doublethink,” the act of holding two completely contradictory beliefs in one’smind at the same time, and accepting both as true).Inthis case, the Iranians appear more believable than the administration.

conditions of the agreement between Iran and the United States, the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until these conditions are met.All ships are requested, forthe sake of their security and safety,not to approach the Strait of Hormuz. Any vessel that deﬁes this directive will be targeted.” Trumpand Vance have said Iran will get nothing from the MOU or any subsequent peace until they meet our conditions.

LastFriday,adelegation headed by Vance that was supposed to go to Switzerland to sign the MOU, delayed thetrip after reportsthat Iran had closed theStrait of Hormuz, blaming Israel’srefusal to leave Lebanon andthe ongoing presence of U.S. forces in the region. Conﬂicting statementsabout the status of the Strait compounded the confusion. The formula for Iran, which has worked forthem in thepast, is that they demand everything and the U.S. thinks it can appease those who want to destroy Israel andusbygiving them more than we get. Here’show they think, as expressed in astatementread over maritimeradio channels by theRevolutionary Guard Corps, now,apparently,put on hold, at least temporarily: “Since Israel’swithdrawal from Lebanon, thecomplete lifting of the naval blockade, and the withdrawal of American terrorist forces from the Persian Gulf and the region are among the main

If the Strait is closed again, gas prices will go back up and stocks will go back down. And the midtermswould again look problematic forRepublicans, not that Democrats could do any better Writing last week on Truth Social before the latest developments, the president again displayed his gift of overstatement and name-calling: “These fools, who think Ihaven’tbeen tough enough on Iran, when the Stock Market just Hit ARECORD HIGH, and Oil prices are ‘tumbling’ down, are either jealous, bad people, or stupid.” Without the deal, he wrote, “the alternative would be aworldwide depression.” At anews conference, the president, noting aWall Street Journal editorial, seemed to admit that the Iranians had him over abarrel —ofoil. If he had fought on, he said, the market “would go downatlevels that nobody ever saw before, maybe except for1929. …Sorather than possibly going into adepression, rather than having your favorite president be Herbert Hoover,hewas always the one Ididn’twant to be.” Once again, it’sall about him and not the greater good. What to do now?The president has said repeatedly that if Iran refuses to live up to the MOU,hecould start bombing again. If previous bombing didn’twork, what will morebombing achieve? What amess.

Email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub. com.

Cal Thomas Byron York

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByERIC LEE

LOUISIANASPORTS

Ex-UL catcher

Lucroy excelled in bigleagues

Editor’snote: This is one among 12profiles of inductees for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Festivities will take place through Saturday in Natchitoches

BY DANMCDONALD

Contributing writer

It’sbeen agoodhandful of monthsfor Jonathan Lucroy.

In August, the former Major League Baseball All-Star catcher got the phone call from the Louisiana Sports Hallof Fame that let him knowhewould be honored with the state’shighest athletic accolade this summer

Less than twomonths ago, hewas back at UL’s Russo Park, where theex-Ragin’ Cajuns standout catcherreceivedthat program’sgreatest honor with the retirement of his No. 21 jersey

During that same time frame,hewas selected as the top catcherfor the Milwaukee Brewers during the organization’snearly 60 years of existence.

And this past spring, the high school baseball team he coaches at Grapevine Faith Christian School near Dallashad asurprisingly successful .500season with ayoung roster

“Only two returning varsity players,” Lucroy said. “Wewill be good next year.”

That isn’tasurprise to anyone who knows the Eustis, Florida, native, since hispassion for baseball is rivaled only by his drive to succeed at whatever level the game takes him.

All in all, an excellent few months. But still not as good as his summer of 2014, when he was the best catcher in baseball. The numbers back it up in abig way That season, his fourth in the major leagues, Lucroy ﬁnished fourthinNational League Most Valuable Playervoting. He led the NL in doubles that year with 53, becoming the ﬁrst catcher in MLB history to lead his league in that category andbreaking themarkof47 set by Ivan Rodriguez with the Texas Rangers in 1996.Nocatcher has come within 15 of Lucroy’stally since that 2014 season. He wasthe runner-upfor theGold Glove, and he started the All-Star Game behindthe plate for the NL and

ä See LUCROY, page 5C

Lucroywatches his two-runhomerun against the Cincinnati Reds during a spring training game on March 27, 2015, in Goodyear,Ariz.

Chalmette’schamp

Knicks center Robinson fetedbycommunity that helped shapehim

Mitchell Robinsonworea New York Knicks NBA championship cap when the daystarted Thursday.

But when St. Bernard Parish president Louis Pomes giftedRobinson acowboy hat, he switchedtoitand woreitthe rest of theday.For the 7-foot Knickscenter they call“BigCountry,”the cowboyhat seemed more ﬁtting.

Robinson wasinChalmette, away fromthe hustle andbustle of the BigApple andback in the place so nearand dearto his heart.

Robinson’scustom orange-and-white monster truck cruiseddownJudge Perez Drive in Chalmette on Thursday, just likeitdid aweek ago on world-famous BroadwayinNew York City

This time,the streetsweren’t overﬂowingwith people likeatthe Knicks’ victory parade.But that didn’tmatter, as Robinson’shigh schoolcoach Butch Stockton remindedusearlier in the day

“I don’tthink there will be 2million people, but youwillsee abunchpfproud people,” Stockton said.

Forthe citizens of Chalmette, there wasplenty to be proud of as they welcomed theirNBA championback to his old stomping grounds.

Mark Ashby of Chalmette wore aRob-

insonKnicks jerseytothe parade.

“Mitch made me aKnicksfan,” Ashby said.

In Chalmette, acity whose entire population could almostsqueezeinto Madison Square Garden, pretty much everyone’s aKnicks fan thesedays.

The 11/2-mile parade ﬁttingly ended at Chalmette High School, where Robinson electriﬁedfansduring hisjunior and

Ruzic’s upside intriguing forLSU

BY TOYLOYBROWN III

Staff writer

Ayear before Michael Ruzic knew he would take his basketball talents to Baton Rouge,hementioned which former LSU player he enjoyed watching.

The 7-foot, 221-pound Croatian big was asked at the 2025 NBA Draft combine who he models his game after. The ﬁrst name he said was former LSU standout and currentCharlotte Hornets players Naz Reid, who wastraded to Charlotte from Minnesota on Thursday

ANALYSIS

“Toplay like Naz Reid, (a) very overall versatile player,” Ruzic said. “He’sabletospace theﬂoor put theball on the ﬂoor,attack on the perimeter,one-on-ones. And also on defense, he’s gotreally goodlength and getting up to defend multiple positions, whichis very valuable in today’sbasketball.”

Before Ruziclikely tests the NBAdraft waters again, he’ll playnext season for Reid’sformer collegecoach, Will Wade

The19-year-old arrives at LSU with experience in Spain’sLiga ACB, which is widely considered the third-best professional league in the world behind theNBA and EuroLeague. In 35 games for Joventut,Ruzic averaged 6.9 points,4.2 rebounds, 0.7assists and0.7 blocksin18.1 minutesper game. He shot 57.3% from the ﬁeld and 35.9% from 3. NBAevaluators were intrigued by Ruzic ayear ago because of his shooting potential for his size and age. Since debuting in the ACB at 17, he has consistently flashed touchfrom the perimeter

senior seasons after moving here from Pensacola, Florida.

Thursday was his day,from the free annual basketball campheheld for the kids in the morning to the proclamations he received from St. Bernard Parish government ofﬁcials in the afternoon to the parade that night.

Ruzicshoots comfortably from allareas of the arc. He often spaced theﬂoor as apower forward on the wings or in the corners. His393-point attempts in 35 games were areasonable volume given the smaller role he had on a team that included former NBA players JabariParkerand Ricky Rubio His jumper is repeatable, despite aslower release speed due to alonger windup that brings the ball fromhis waist to above his head. At 7feet, shorter defenders struggletocontesthis shot. Wade shouldfeelcomfortable using Ru-

zicasapick-and-pop option and, in certainmatchups, amid-post scorer Ruzic also displayedsoft touch around the rim. Whenhewasn’t dunking in open space, he relied on short push shots from 5-8 feet. One concern is his free-throw percentage, which was 63.3% on 49 attempts. While Ruzic’sshooting draws the most NBA attention, his passing is also appealing. His sub-1.0 assist average undersells his decision-making. Ruzic

APFILE PHOTO By ROSS D. FRANKLIN Milwaukee Brewers hitter Jonathan

STAFF PHOTOSByBRETT DUKE

Mitchell Robinsongreets the crowdduring aparadehonoring the Newyork Knicks center in Chalmette on Thursday

Mitchell Robinson, top right, greets the crowdduring aparade honoring the Newyork Knicks center in Chalmette on Thursday.

Rod Walker ä See ROBINSON, page 3C

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Hornetstrade Ball to T-Wolves

Charlottealsodeals

GGreen in exchange forex-LSUstarReid, bevy of draftpicks

BY STEVE REED AP sportswriter

CHARLOTTE, N.C. LaMeloBall is the latest NBA star with anew home.

The Charlotte Hornets agreed to tradeBall, theirstartingpoint guard, and Josh Green to theMinnesota Timberwolves for former LSU powerforward Naz Reid, a 2033 unprotectedﬁrst-round draft pick, three ﬁrst-round pick swaps and three future second-round picks, aperson familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Thursday

The person spoke to theAPon condition of anonymity because the deal, ﬁrst reported by ESPN, hasyet to be approved by the league.

The three first-round pick swaps will be in 2028,2029 and 2030. TheHornets also getthree second-round picks in 2029, 2032 and 2033.

The Hornets quickly movedto agree on athree-year,$74 million contractwithnew projected starting point guard Coby White following the trade, the person familiar with the situation told the AP White, the all-time leadingscorer in North Carolina high school basketball history,averaged 15.6 points and three assists per game while shooting 39.1% from 3-point range last season for the Hornets after being acquired ina trade with the Chicago Bulls.

The 24-year-old Ball, the No. 3overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, had three years left on a five-year,$203.9 million designated rookie contract with the Hornets, which was afranchise record.

An All-Star in 2022, Ball has struggled with ankle and foot injuries duringhis career,but he played in 72 games last season and averaged 20.1 points, 7.1 assists and4.8 rebounds per game, helping the Hornets win 44 games before being blown out in theplay-in tournament by the Orlando Magic. Ball finished second in the league in 3s made last year with 272, one behind rookie teammate Kon Knueppel. Ball is considered an excep-

CharlotteHornetsguard LaMelo Ball works around Minnesota

Minneapolis. Ball, 24, wasthe No. 3overall pick in the 2020

TRADEDETAILS

Minnesotareceives n GLaMeloBall n GJoshGreen Charlotte receives n F/C NazReid n 2033 unprotected first-round pick n First-roundpick swaps in 2028, 2029,2030 n Second-round picksin2029, 2032,2033

tional offensive player,but his shortcomingsonthe defensive endwere at times asource of irritation for coach Charles Lee. Still, Ball’sabilitytocreate opportunities for histeammates off thedribble, his exceptional passing and knack for getting off 3-pointers —with shotsoften coming offone foot —via astepback move, make himone of the league’smostdynamicscoring pointguards But Ball was neverabletoget theHornets to the playoffs in his six seasons with theclub, with injuriesplaying arole. Before this season, Ball missed141 games over theprevious three seasons. This trade is expected to be included as partof the transaction in which Minnesotaagreed to

send Julius Randle to Brooklyn in adeal thatinvolved the Chicago Bulls, asecondperson with knowledge of the agreement told the AP It will create an NBA-record trade exception of nearly $41 million for theHornets

The deals cannot be ﬁnalized until July 6, when the league moratorium on such moves is lifted

It’s another blockbuster for the league, which has seen Giannis Antetokounmpo getting traded by Milwaukee to Miamifor apackage thatincludes Tyler Herro, a move that followed theRandle deal before thedraft Reid, 26, has spent allseven of hisNBA seasons withthe Timberwolves.

After reaching the Western Conference ﬁnals in 2024 and 2025, the Timberwolves stagnated at times last season and were ousted in six games in the second round of the playoffs by therunner-up San Antonio Spurs.

President of basketball operationsTim Connelly hasnever been shy about aggressive pursuit of roster improvement,from the package of draft picks he sent the Utah Jazz in 2022 for defensive ace Rudy Gobert shortly after taking thejob in Minnesota, to the stunningtrade of franchise cornerstone Karl-AnthonyTownsto

theNew York Knicks twoyears ago.

To make this work, the Timberwolves had to give up one of the most popular players in theirhistory in Reid, the 2023-24 NBA Sixth Manofthe Year who would’vebeeninlinefor astartingspotafter the departure of Randle.

The6-foot-11 Reid, who went undrafted outofLSU in 2019, workedhis way into an excellent offensive player with ashooter’s touch from theoutside who has thequickness to get to the rim. Playingthroughashoulder injury this season, Reid appeared in 77 regular-seasongames while averaging 13.6 points and acareer-best 6.2 rebounds per game. Their ﬁve-game lossin2025 to theeventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder and their defeat by the Spurs lastmonth made clear to the Timberwolves that they’re notyet at thechampionship level they’vebeen chasing sincebuildingtheir roster around2020 ﬁrst overallpick Anthony Edwards. Now they’ll have the third pick in that draft to playnexttoBall, oneofthe few remaining pure point guards in aleague that has evolved toward morevolume scorers serving as the primary initiators of the offense.

Bucksmuststart over aftertrading Giannis

BY STEVE MEGARGEE AP sportswriter

MILWAUKEE Giannis Antetokounmpo brought the Milwaukee Bucks back to relevanceand delivered the franchise its ﬁrst title in half acentury as the most impactful player in team history Now the Bucks face the onerous challenge of retooling withoutthe player who carried the team on his broad shoulders for over adecade. The Bucks agreed on theeve of Tuesday’sdraft to send Antetokounmpo along with forward BobbyPortis to the Miami Heat in exchangefor Tyler Herro,Jaime Jaquez, Kel’el Ware and Kasparas Jakucionis. Milwaukee also got the No. 13 selection in Tuesday’s draft —they used it on Tennessee forward Nate Ament— along with afirst-round pick swap in 2030,first-roundpicks in 2031 and 2033 and asecond-rounder in 2033. The move leaves the Bucks without one of the most beloved figures in Wisconsin sports history.Milwaukee fans watched in awe as Antetokounmpo spent the last 13 seasons maturing from a skinny teenagerinto one of the top players on the planet.

Bucks coach Taylor Jenkins

understood this was apossibility when heaccepted the job in April after thedeparture of Doc Rivers.

“Naturally,wedid talk about Giannis, the entire roster,developmental pathways for everyoneyou know,moving forward,” Jenkins said during his introductory news conference lastmonth.

“Because from thecoaching lens, I’ve got to start formulating that, what we’re goingtodo, not just this offseason, but when we hit theground running, youknow,at thestart of training camp. So naturally,(we) talked about that. Had great dialogue,fulltransparency. Antetokounmpo hadspent his entire career with theBucks, who selected the 18-year-old from Greece withthe 15th pick in the 2013 draft. The nine-time all-NBA

Former TigersMackinnon, Sutton agree to NBA deals

TwoLSU basketball players from last season took steps in their pro careers after going undrafted on Wednesday Former LSUguard MaxMackinnon agreed to an Exhibit 10 deal with theCharlotteHornets, and forward MarquelSuttonagreed to play for the Sacramento Kings summer league team, according to reports from their social media accounts.

Mackinnon’scontract is aoneyear,minimum-salary agreement that is not guaranteed. New players on this kind of deal typically play in the summer league.

The6-foot-6Mackinnonwas the Tigers’ leading scorer last season, averaging 15.7 points as asenior The6-9 Sutton averaged13.1 points and 7.3rebounds last season.

Report: Nicholls’ Saddler named GLeague coach

Nicholls State men’sbasketball coach Tevon Saddler was named the head coach of the CapitalCity Go-Go, theG League afﬁliate of the Washington Wizards, according to areport by NBAinsider Michael Scotto.

Saddler,aMaryland native, has coached at Nicholls for thepast three seasons, compiling a54-46 record. He led Nicholls to backto-back 20-winseasons, which included avictory at LSU in 2023, in his ﬁrst twoyears. When Saddler, 31, wasnamed the Colonels’coach in 2023,hewas the youngest DivisionIhead coach in the country Before coaching at Nicholls, Saddlerwas an assistant at Maryland andMcNeeseState.Saddler wasalso aplayer at Nicholls.

WNBA suspends Thomas for hittoClark’sthroat NEWYORK TheWNBAsuspended Phoenix forwardAlyssa Thomas forone game after she made contact with her ﬁst to Caitlin Clark’s throat in Wednesdaynight’s matchup against Indiana. It happenedwith 6:52 left in the second quarter andwas deemed to be anon-basketball act. The league gave Thomas aFlagrant Foul 2 penalty for it. No foul wascalled on the play by ofﬁcials.

The WNBA is allowed to review agame to reclassify aﬂagrantfoul or to classifyasﬂagrantany foul not called as such during agame. Thomas will serve hersuspensiononSaturdaywhenthe Mercury visit the Toronto Tempo. The Fever renewed their call for playersafety in astatement Thursday

Lions CB Arnoldcharged with directing attack

DETROIT Terrion Arnold of the Detroit Lions wascharged Thursday in Florida with leading aplot to detain and pistol-whip three peoplewhomhebelievedhad stolenluxurygoodsand $100,000 in cash from him It turned outthatthe three, including Arnold’spersonal driver, had nothing to do with the theftin February,investigators said. Twopeople charged alongside Arnold have pleaded guilty in the attack andagreed to cooperate with authorities, records show

forwardleads theBucks in virtually every career statistical category,including points, rebounds, assists,blocks, games and minutes.

He won MVP awards in 2019 and 2020. Antetokounmpo cameback from aknee hyperextensionin the2021 playoffs to earn NBAFinals MVP honors while scoring 50 pointsinthe title-clinching Game 6victory over the Phoenix Suns. Antetokounmpo, 31, hadsigned multiple contract extensions to stay in Milwaukee and play in one of theNBA’s smallest markets. He was so appreciated forhis loyalty that amural of him—531/2 feet high and 561/2 feet wide —appears on the side of athree-story building in downtown Milwaukee. Plenty of fans stopped by that mural Tuesday to pay homage to Milwaukee’sdeparting superstar. Someleft mementoes, including a Sports Illustrated commemorating the Bucks’ 2021 titlethat included this message:“Thanks for everything, big fella!34forever —Milwaukee.”

“I’m at alossfor words,” said Danny Nelson of Delaﬁeld, Wisconsin.

“I still don’tthink it’sreal. He was everything to the city.It doesn’tfeelreal that he’sgone.”

Three men in their late teens were held at gunpoint,battered, pistol-whipped and robbed in aTampa apartment on Feb. 4, police said.It was threedays after Louis Vuitton bags andshoes,Rolex watches, a Bible, cash and more were reported stolen from Arnold at an Airbnb rental in Largo, Florida.

D’backs activateKepler after 80-game suspension

ST.LOUIS The Arizona Diamondbacksactivated outfielderMax Kepler from therestricted list on Thursday following his completionofan80-game suspensionfor testingpositive fora performanceenhancing drug.

Kepler,who signeda free agent deal with the Diamondbacks on June 7, hit .333 with two home runs in 10 minor league games. He was slated to hit ﬁfth in the batting orderand playleft ﬁeld forthe Diamondbacks against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night. Kepler was suspendedinJanuary forapositive test forEpitrenbolone, ametabolite of Trenbolone that’scontainedinsome products used in bodybuilding stores and has been used in products to promotecattle growth.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILEPHOTO By MATT KROHN

Timberwolves center Naz ReidonApril 5in

NBADraft. Reid went undrafted in 2019.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By JEFFREy PHELPS

Milwaukee Bucks forward GiannisAntetokounmpo walks offthe courtafter agame against Brooklyn on April 10 in Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo was traded to the Miami HeatonMonday.

Dybantsa brings big game,goals to Wizards

BY NOAH TRISTER AP sportswriter

WASHINGTON Beforebasketballbecame such abig part of AJ Dybantsa’slife, he was like any other kid growingupasa fanofa ﬁctional superhero.

When he was about 5years old, his father bought hima Spider-Man basketball hoop that went on the back of his door “I loved Spider-Man growing up. So I just started shooting from my bed,started shooting from my bed with this miniature ball. Then Istarted playing in the YMCA leagues ended up falling in love with the game,” Dybantsa said. “So Spider-Man is the reason why Ilove basketball.”

The Washington Wizards are certainly glad Dybantsa took up the sport and committedhimselftoit. Two days after taking the 6-foot-9 star out of BYU with the top pick in the NBA draft, the team introduced him Thursday at ahotel overlooking the Potomac River,about 11/2 miles south from where the Wizards play their home games.

“Nothing comes easy,but Iwant to be apieceofthe puzzle that is part of the re-

build,” he said.“Obviously, Wizards fans have beenwaiting for along time.”

This was the firsttime theWizardshave picked ﬁrst in the draft since 2010 when they took John Wall. Dybantsa joins ateam that hasn’twon 50 games inaseason since 1979 —and more recently managed only50 victories over the past three seasons combined.

One issue of uncertainty wasresolved at the news conference. Dybantsa wore No. 3incollege, but in Washington that belongs to Trae Young. Dybantsa willchange to No. 4.

“Previously woreNo. 3, but Iwas theNo. 1pick,” he said. “Wanted to add those up, and we gotfour.”

Dybantsaaveraged 25.5 points per game in college, becoming the ﬁrst freshman to lead the nation in scoring since his new teammate, Young, did it atOklahomain 2017-18.

Washington fans will have achance soon enough to see what Dybantsa brings on the court, butThursday’sevent wasanopportunity to see the type of person they’ll be investing so much hope in. Dybantsa was personableand confident,and he seemed eager to getdown to business. That muchwas clear back at the combine before the draft.

“It was like ajob. My dad waslike,‘This is your ﬁrst

jobinterview,’ ”hesaid. “So we decidedtodress up. I went to asuit and tie in every single interview.Media availability, thatwas in a suit andtie.SoIjust wanted to treat it like areal job.”

That made quiteanimpressiononWizards general manager Will Dawkins.

“It was apretty fun first introduction,just to learn the maturity that he brings,” Dawkins said. “Weallow opportunities to ask questions. Sometimes you getthe standard questions from guys. We didn’tget that from AJ He’sjust curious and mature andasked some reallydeep questions.”

Dybantsasaidheintends to graduate college, finishing his studiesonline,and he has big plansfor how he can make adifference awayfrom basketball. The 19-year-old has already started afoundationaimed at empowering young people.

“My mom’sfrom Jamaica, my dad’sfrom Congo. We’re going to start off just sending 20 kids from theretodifferentuniversities,”hesaid “If that’suniversitiesinthe continent of Africa,ifthat’s different universitiesinJamaica, if that’suniversities in the States, we’re goingto try that. But after those two, we’rejust going to expand allaround the world.Wejust wanttohelp kids all around the world.”

ROBINSON

Continued from page1C

Robinson just completed his eighth NBA season, capping it off with the Knicks beating the San Antonio Spurs in ﬁve gamesfor the title. That was almost two weeks ago.

“And it still hasn’tsunk in all the way,” Robinson said It’ll take awhile,much like it took the Knicks a while to get backtothe top of the NBA mountain. This was their ﬁrst title in 53 years. Afew days after winning the title, Robinsonwent to social media with asimple three-word message.

“Parade in Chalmette?”

Ofﬁcials in St. Bernard Parish made that wish come true, much to Robinson’s delight.

“Just being back home is amazing,” he said. “I always like to come home and show some love. But to come back as achampion feels a whole lot different.” Robinson is much different now,too That tall, lanky frame he had when he graduated in 2017 holds alot more muscle now.And the quiet kid that once gave one-word answers during interviews after Chalmette games is shy no more.

“I’m just going to see what’sout there andwe’ll see what happens,” Robinson said.

me as one of theirown.”

Spurs, Thundergobig; freshmen en

BY BRIANMAHONEY AP basketball writer

NEWYORK The San AntonioSpurs andOklahoma City Thunder werethinking big. DariusAcuff and Mikel Brown might be amatchup to watch amongsmalls. And the one-and-done era is far from done

Thoseweresome of the things that stood out from thetwo-day NBA draft in Brooklyn,whichstarted with theWashingtonWizardstaking AJ Dybantsa on Tuesday night with theNo. 1pick and continued with anumber of trades in the second round Wednesday night. Here are some things that stood outinbetween: Spursvs. Thunder

TheThunderhad trouble with Victor Wembanyama in the Western Conference ﬁnals. The Spurs had trouble when Wembanyama wasn’t in the game in the NBA Finals.

Both teams took steps to address those big problems.

Oklahoma City took 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara from Michiganwiththe No. 12 pick. Chet Holmgren, the No. 2pick in 2022, struggled badly in the series that ended theThunder’stitle reign, andthe 260-pound Mara theBig Tendefensive player of the year from Spain —could provide moreof the physical presencethey need

“I’m excited to play against him, obviously,to play in theNBA,” Marasaid aboutWembanyama. “But I feel like I’mgoing to play againsthim alot.Ifit’snot NBA, it’sgoing to be on the national team.”

The Spurs fell to the New York Knicks in five games in the NBAFinals and Wembanyama at times looked exhausted, perhaps overworked because the Knicks were dominating when backup Luke Kornet was in the game

Perhaps they can handle Wembanyama’sbreaks better now after drafting 6-9

RUZIC

Continuedfrom page1C

JaydenQuaintancefrom Kentucky and acquiring the rightstoTarris Reed,the ruggedbig manwho powered UConn to thenational title game.

Sizing up guards

One of the pre-draft debates was who would go ﬁrst when it cametime for teams to start choosing amongthe smallerscoring guards in the class. That momentarrived at the No.6pick. The Brooklyn Nets went with Brown from Louisville.

There were arguments for Acuff overBrown,and criticsofthe pickwill only grow louder if Acuff looks like abetter pro. He went with the next pick to Sacramento.

“I wasgood wherever I went,” Acuff said. “It wasn’t like abad reaction on it.”

But there was from those who felt like he had abetter body of work in his season at Arkansas.

Both have shown explosive scoring ability.The 6-4 Brownset an ACCfreshmanrecord when he scored 45 points in agame, making 10 3-pointers. But aback injury forced him to miss 14 games.

Acuffaveraged23.5 points,third in thenation, and led the SEC in scoring and assists. He wasthe SECTournament MVP after leading Arkansas to the title.

One-and-dones

The one sure thing in the NBA draft for yearswas that it would beginwith a college freshman. From 2010, when Washington took John Wall, to 2022, when Orlando selected PaoloBanchero, the No. 1pick was a player who spent one year in college. That ended in 2023 when San Antonio took Victor Wembanyama. When Atlanta took fellow FrenchmanZaccharieRisacher

with the No.1pick in 2024, it was the ﬁrst time that an international player who did notplayata U.S. college wasselected first in consecutive years. The one-and-doneshave regained their place in abig way.The first eight picks were college freshmen, matching the record set last year,aswere nine of the top 10 to match another record. Knicks saving up

There was some skepticism when ownerJames Dolansaidinaninterview with WFAN Radio in New York that he wanted to avoid going into the second apron. After winning achampionship forthe ﬁrst time in 53 years, would the Knicks really notspend whatever it took forthe best chance to repeat?

Time will tell, but they were cautious with the draft. The Knicks traded back from their original No. 24 spot and eventually out of thefirst round entirely. Theycameintothe draft with theNo. 31 pick, the firstspot in thesecond round. They traded back from there as well. First-round pickscome with guaranteed salary slots, andhigh second-round picks are paid well. And the Knicks need to leave themselves as muchroom as possible if they want to pay keyroleplayers such as Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet, JoseAlvarado and Miles McBride. They eventually leftthe draft with theNos.39and 47 picks, Germanguard Jack Kayil and Vanderbilt forward TylerNickel. If Kayil ends up playing for the champions, he said they will find aplayer withtheir type of mentality “I think also oneofmy strengths is that Ilove winning and Igive everything for that, and to comeinthis organization showsthat they also want winners,” Kayil said. “So Ithink it’sa good fit.”

The market is in demand for Robinson’sskillset. Hisability to reboundand protect the rim is coveted by teams all across the league.

His value was seen in the NBA Finals. Robinson was guarding Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama when Wemby missed apotential game-winning shot in Game 2. And it was Robinson’sclutch rebound on a Spurs’ missed free throw that clinched the series in Game 5, setting offa crazy celebration in acity that wasstarving for atitle. Robinson stayed in the go in the days that followed Hisitinerary included everythingfrom an appearance on the “The Tonight Show”with Jimmy Fallon to that massive victory parade in Lower Manhattan

“That was ahard week to sleep,” Robinson said “I probably gottwo hours (sleep) max that week.It was insane. That whole week was outrageous.”

Things were much more mellowThursday in Chalmette,but Mitchell appreciated it just as much. He maybe playing in abig city, but he’s asmall-town guyat heart.

“Just the love and support they show here is unreal,” Robinson said. “They accept

“A lot of media training,” Robinson said while flashing asmile. “Over time,I got more comfortable being in that situation. Ihad to grow up alot. Going from here to the Big Apple is very different.” Robinson adjusted just fine,though. He’sbeen with the Knicks longer than anyone else on the roster,but his futureisuncertain as he heads into the offseason as an unrestricted free agent for the first time in hiscareer.Abig payday is asure thing.

And Robinson continues to give back.There were 175 kids at his campThursday

“I want to give these kids hope and allow them to embrace themselves,”Robinsonsaid. “Get themaway form that iPad alittle bit.”

BeforeThursday’sparade started, Robinson signed autographs while sitting in the back of his monster truck. He sang along to the countrymusic blaring in thebackground.

This was his element

“I ain’tgoing to compare this to the one in New York,”Robinson said. “New York was just toowild. Nobody went to work. It was 2million people there. This one isn’t like that. But we are still going to have agreat time, though.”

Aftersigning autographs, Robinson hopped ontoaﬂoat and rode in his second parade in eight days. This one didn’thave celebrities suchasSpike Leeinattendance,and it didn’thave Alicia Keys singing “Empire State of Mind” at the end.

But what it did have were some proud folks in Chalmette celebrating a 7-footer wearing acowboy hatinthe place that helped shape him.

Robinson showed hisappreciation by holding asign that read: “Thank You, Chalmette.” And Thursday,the city of Chalmette thankedhim back

Email RodWalker at rwalker@theadvocate.com.

plays with an intuitivebasketball feel,rarelyholding the ball longer thannecessary.He’salso astrong cutter, whereheconsistently moves into open pockets of space.

His scoring efﬁciency in a toughleague is theproduct of clean looks from roaming andcutting in the properareas. That same awareness shows up on the glass. He improved as arebounder this season, grabbing 0.9 moreoffensive boards per gamethan in previous ACB seasons. Defensively,Ruzic generally makes the correct rotations. He switches onto guards when neces-

sary and can contain some proguards, though he tendstobendatthe waist rather than sit in alower defensive stance. He’s slender, andhis roughly 7-1 wingspan offers onlymarginal length for aplayer of his height. Without signiﬁcant strength or elite wingspan, he’s notyet agreat defender He didn’tplaycenter in Spain because he lacks upper-body strength. While he can timeblocks well, older bigs can back him down and get acomfortable shot. Skilled guards can create space and blow by him, too. Ruzic competes in pick-and-roll coverage, pressing up on guardsand recovering welltorollers. If asked to switch against

starting-caliber SEC guards, he’llmorelikely be at adisadvantage. Ruzic should be LSU’s most tantalizing NBA prospect because of his youth andskill forhis size Barringsignificant physical or defensive improvement,the Tigers are unlikely to start him over senior Kentucky transfer Mo Dioubate at power forward. Ruzic isn’tasstrong defensively, andhis shooting may notoutweigh Dioubate’sadvantageinphysicality andexperience. Still, Wade should have fun deploying Ruzic as astretch big who makes quick decisions and can help on the glass. If the Croatianpro adjusts to the college game faster than expected,hemay even ﬂash shadesofReid.

STAFF PHOTO By BRETTDUKE

Fans cheer on MitchellRobinson during aparadehonoring the Newyork Knicks center in Chalmette on Thursday.

Dybantsa

WORLDCUP 2026

Ecuadorstays alive, tops Germany

By The Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD,N.J.— Gon-

zalo Plata poked the ball past Manuel Neuer in the 77th minute, and Ecuador advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup by rallying for a2-1 win over Germany on Thursday Germany,which clinched ﬁrst place in Group Ewith victories in its first two games, went ahead on Leroy Sané’ssecond-minute goal. Nilson Angulo scored Ecuador’sﬁrst goal of the tournament in the ninth minute. Plata, who took akick to the head when Germany scored its early goal, keyed Ecuador’sgreat escape after Pedro Vite’scorner kick was nodded on by Kevin Rodríguez. Neuer,the 40-year-old Germany goalkeeper who came out of international retirementfor the World Cup, was about the grasp the ball when Plata raised his left foot and with atoe put the ball into the net.

Ecuadorcoach Sebastián Beccacece ran to the stands to celebrate.

Ecuador ﬁnished third in the group with four points and advanced past the group stage for the second time, the ﬁrst since around of 16

Pedro Vite of Ecuador celebrates Gonzalo Plata’s winning goal againstGermany during their Group Ematch on Thursdayin East Rutherford,N.J.Ecuador won2-1 to advance to the knocout round, while Germanyhad already clinched the group title.

game in 2006. Germany’s winning streak was stopped at 11 games, one shy of the team record set in 1979-80. The four-time championswill play their round of 32 game Mondayat

Foxborough, Massachusetts, most likely against Paraguay,Australia or Sweden. Acrowd of 80,663 at MetLife Stadium that was mostly in Ecuador’syellow boosted attendance to

arecord3,587,539 in the 56th game of the expanded tournament, onemorethan the52matches forthe 1994 tournamentinthe U.S. Sané put Germany ahead about 1minute, 50 seconds

in withhis 18th international goal.Aleksandar Pavlovi had chested the ball and kickedVitefollowingNathanielBrown’sthrow-in but there wasnofoul call by American referee Tori Pen-

so. Pavlovi passed to Florian Wirtz, whocentered to Sané just inside the penalty area.

IVORYCOAST 2, CURAÇAO0: In Philadelphia, IvoryCoast advanced to the knockout round forthe ﬁrst time. Nicolas Pépé scoredin each half, securing the win forLes Éléphants. The team previously beat Ecuador and lost to GermanyinGroup E. The gametook place in Philadelphia, where Ivory Coast has been training.

NETHERLANDS 3, TUNISIA 1: In KansasCity,Missouri, BrianBrobbeyscored his third goal of the World Cup, and the Netherlands got a pair of goalsthatdeﬂected offTunisia andintoits own net to give the Dutch the top spot in Group F. The Netherlands began the day tied with Japan, but its drawwith Swedenleft the Samurai Blue second in the group.

JAPAN1,SWEDEN 1: In Arlington, Texas, Daizen Maeda gave Japan the lead and Anthony Elanga took it away six minutes later,giving Sweden adrawthat sent bothteams to the knockout round. Japan is moving past the group stage forthe third consecutive World Cup and ﬁfth time in seven tries since ﬁrst reaching the round of 16 as co-hosts in 2002.

Mbappé,Haaland collideasFrancemeets Norway

BY JOHN MARSHALL AP sportswriter

Friday lookahead

Shortly after his team beat Senegal, Norway star Erling Haaland said he didn’t care all that much about its next game against France.

Therest of the soccer world sure does. One of the marquee matchups of the World Cup takes place in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Friday, when Haaland and the Norwegians face Franceand Kylian Mbappé.

Mbappé, oneofthe world’s best strikers, has scored four goalsintwo gamesto

push his World Cuptotal to 16, twobehind Lionel Messi’srecord Haaland has put on ashow in hisﬁrst World Cup, scoringtwice each in wins over Senegal andIraq. This is amatchupeven casual soccer fans won’twant to miss. Also on Friday,Spain can clinch GroupHagainstUruguay,whichlikely needs a win to keep its knockout-

Pride on the line

stage hopesalive. Belgium faces New Zealandinwhat is likely amust-win for both sides.

The winner of Group G will likely be decided when Egypt meets Iran in Seattle. Cape Verdelooks to KO

Cape Verde hasmade quite an impression itsﬁrst World Cup.

Theislandnation off the western coastofAfrica pulledoff oneofthe World Cup’sbiggest surprisesby playing pre-tournament favorite Spain to ascoreless draw in itsopener. Cape Verdefollowedthatupby scoring its ﬁrst goals of the WorldCup in a2-2 tieagainst Uruguay Next up could be amonu-

mental achievement forthe BlueSharks: aspot in the knockout stage. Beat Saudi Arabia in Houstonand Cape Verde will ﬁnish no worse thansecond in Group H.

Even adrawcould be good enough toget theBlue Sharks out of the group, a monumental accomplishment for anation of about 500,000 people andabout 15 million new Instagram followers “It’sinour hands,” defender Roberto Lopes said. “We have to go and take it.” Uruguay facesmust-win Oneofthe highlight matches of the group stage takes place in Guadalajara, Mexico, with European

championSpain taking on South American powerhouse Uruguay, which will be in danger of not advancing if its loses. Uruguay was held to draws by Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde and now only a winagainst favorite Spain will ensure the team moves on to the next round. Adraw or alosswill leave Uruguay’sfate dependent on other results. Spain will advance with adraw, butonlya winwill secure La Roja ﬁrst place in Group H. French coachtomissmatch Franceassistant coach GuyStéphan attended Thursday’s prematch news conference in place of coach

Didier Deschamps, whose mother recently died. The 57-year-old Deschamps is currently in France and will miss the team’s finalgroup-stage match against Norway on Friday Deschamps has previously announced he is stepping down as Francecoach afterthe tournament,14 years after taking thejob. Stéphansaidhis thoughts continue to be with Deschamps and his family “Heisvery affected,” Stéphan said. “I have alot of exchanges with him,even just afew minutes ago. Iwill strive to makethe situation as normal as possible and to prove worthy of the trust he places in me.”

Fox, Peacock |

vs.IRAQ, 2p.m., FS1, Peacock | URUGUAY vs. SPAIN, 7p.m., Fox, Peacock | CAPE VERDE vs. SAUDI ARABIA, 7p.m., FS1, Peacock | NEW ZEALAND vs.BELGIUM, 10 p.m., Fox, Peacock | EGYPTvs. IRAN, 10 p.m., FS1

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByPAMELA SMITH

Haaland Mbappe

Cole leadsScheffler, ﬁveothersbyone

The Associated Press

CROMWELL, Conn. Eric

Cole returned to the TPC River Highlandsinmuch bettershape thanheleft last year,pitchinginfor eagle from 65 yards on the par-5 13th and postinga 7-under 63 to take a one-shot lead over Scottie Scheffler and fiveothers Thursday in the Travelers Championship.

Wyndham Clark found the gallery alot kinder and the course alot softer than when he won his second U.S. Open last weekat Shinnecock Hills. His only battle was with the 12th hole when he put his tee shot out of play and made triple bogey in his round of 68.

“They were ﬁnally rooting for me instead of against me, so we like the Connecticut fans,” Clark said.

Scheffler,who hasn’twon sincehis first startofthe year in January,atleast got off to agood start. He played bogey-free in an efficient round of 64 that left him one shot behind along with Matt Fitzpatrick, Ben

Griffin, Nico Echavarria, BudCauley andKristoffer Reitan.

Colehad to withdraw from theﬁnalround ayear ago —hewas 10 shots behind, in the middle of the pack —withwhathedescribed as anasty stomach bug. He has Addison’s Disease inwhich the body doesn’tproduce enough hormones to handle stress and blood pressure. It was badenough for him to spendanight in thehospital.

“I’mnot sure if it’sredemption, but I’m happy to be here and feeling good,” Cole said.

Hisonly disappointment was missing an 8-foot birdie puttontheﬁnalholeofapleasant day thatfollowed steady rain earlier in the week that softened the course.

TheTPC RiverHighlandsisbuilt for good scoringinany conditions, and it at times looked like targetpractice for so much of the day with greens holding shots. Thegreens became slightly ﬁrmeras theroundwenton.

Cole seized on the opportu-

nity, particularly on the 13th hole. His secondshot was just rightofthe green,and he pitcheditonthe right line with perfect speed to hole it for eagle.

“From 13 in is really where youcan kind of score,” he said.

Scheffler,who won the Travelers two years ago, alsoplayed bogey-free and was poised to at least catch Cole on the closing stretch.Afteratee shot just short of thegreen set up birdie on the reachable par-415th, he hadmediumlength birdie chances on the threeclosingholes and narrowly missed themfor his64.

Even so,itwas his lowest opening round since a63 at The American Express, which he went on to win in the California desert in January

“Whenthe scoring is lower it can be harderand hardertoplay catch up,” Schefﬂer said. “Sometimes here youget so farbehind you can only shoot so low on some of these golf courses, so it’simportant to keep pace.”

Report:LSU softball landstwinsisters

BY JIM KLEINPETER

Contributing writer

The LSU softball team has added two more players from the transfer portal as twin sisters Madisonand Mackenzie Pickens have committed to the Tigers, according to Sports Illustrated. Madison Pickens, asophomoreAll-American outﬁelder from Louisville, and McKenzie Pickens, asophomore middle inﬁelder from Ole Miss, will be reunited as Tigers.Both two-year starters at their respective

LUCROY

Continued from page1C

proceeded to go 2-for-2 with two RBI doubles off Jon Lester and Chris Sale. Now that was agood year.

“I had the great privilege of managingJonathanfor five years at Milwaukee,” said Ron Roenicke, who took over as Brewers manager in Lucroy’sfirst full year with the club in 2011. “He’s agreat man of character,a hardworker and was agreat teammate. And he could really hit. He could hitthe other way,hecould pullthe ball and he could hit with power That record, 53 doubles for acatcher,that speaks foritself.”

“Toplay on ahigh levelin college, and then to do what he did in pro ball, it takes the physical talent,” said Anthony Babineaux, aULassistant coach under Hall of Famer Tony Robichaux during Lucroy’s collegiate career.“But it’smore than just the talent. It’s alot of intangibles, it’s the type of leader that he was and the type of teammate that he was, and it’sthe extra things he did off the ﬁeldand on the ﬁeld.”

It wasn’taperfect path to college stardom or to athirdround MLB draft selection. In fact, Lucroy didn’thave many scholarship offers out of Umatilla High School,and he only caught the eye of a Cajunsassistant coach who was recruiting apitching teammate. In his freshman season, Lucroyonly caught six games, with most of his ﬁrst season spent as designated hitter “There were alot of upperclassmen on that 2005 team, anditwas avery good team with older guys thatwere

schools, they are thesecond and third players to join the Tigers throughthe portal, along with Notre Dame outﬁelder Mickey Winchell. Madison Pickens batted .457 with11home runs, 74 RBIs, 19 doubles and 12 stolenbases. She was the ACC’s leading hitter in conference games with a.494 average and .777 slugging percentage. She was an All-ACC ﬁrst-team pick and secondteam All American. Her batting averageand RBItotals were school records. Mackenzie Pickens batted .271 with 11 homersand 43

the voiceofthe team,” Babineauxsaid. “Luc respected all those guys, buthealso earned theirrespect ina hurrywith what he wasable to do on theﬁeld and how he handled hisbusiness.”

Lucroy wound up hitting .373with five homersand 48 RBIs that year in earning Freshman All-AmericahonorsasDH. He wentontoset UL recordsfor RBIs (184) doubles(54) and total bases (414) in acareer while hitting 35 homers,batting .356 and slugging at a.612 clip. He was atwo-timeAll-Sun Belt pick,and he led the Cajuns to two league titles and the 2007 NCAA regional ﬁnals.

Lucroy moved from Low-A to the majors in just two seasons, in largepartbecauseof his defensive improvement. One metric rankedhim as the major league’sbestin “stealing pitches” —receiving and framing pitches in away that influenced plate umpires’ called strikes —for two seasons.

“Jonathantook alot of pride in his defense,” Roenicke said. “Even though he wasagreat hitter,thatwas really important to him.”

Lucroy was the face of the Brewers in his ﬁnal two years there before spending two yearswith the TexasRangers, helping thatteamwin the AL West in 2016. Injuriesand the COVID-shortenedpandemic season in 2020 hampered the latter partofhis career,but he wasstill valuable enoughtoclubs seeking aveterancatchingpresence that he spent time with seven other MLB teams before he retired in 2021 after 12 bigleague seasons.

His ﬁnal stop was in Atlanta during the 2021 seasonwhen the Braves won the World Series. Although he did notsee actionduring that postseason

BY RONALD BLUM AP baseball writer

MajorLeague Baseball proposed limiting most free agent contracts to ﬁve years and15% of ateam’s salary cap and to eliminate deferredcompensation, ﬂeshing out details of asalary-cap plan likely to spark aconfrontation with the players’ association.

obviously andextremely badfor playersatall levelsthatit’sactually been abenefit for our unity,” Meyer said. “Anybody’s who’sbanking on Major League Baseball players cracking, it’s never happened. It’snot going to happen. That’swhy we’re the onlyones who don’t have asalarycap.”

RBIs forOle Miss, where she started at second base. As afreshman, she started 62 of 63 gamesfor theRebels with a.328 average, eight homers and 37 RBIs. She helped Ole Miss gain its ﬁrst Women’s College World Series appearance in 2025.

The pair played at Buford High School in Flowery Branch, Georgia, where they ledBufordtoback-toback Class7Astatetitles, including a32-0 recordas seniors.

LSUhas eight players currentlyinthe transfer portal from last year’steam.

run, Lucroywas respected enough to be invited to throw outthe ceremonial ﬁrst pitch forGame 2ofthe 2021 National League Divisional Series when the Braves played his longtime Brewers.

While defense was the key to his longevity, his bat was the most memorablepart of his game. His .356 batting and.612 slugging marksin college,a.325 mark in summer collegiate baseball, and career .274 batting and .416 slugging marks alongwith 1,134 majorleaguehitsare a testamenttothat.

“Even in his freshman year, youknewhecould hit,”Babineauxsaid. “There’s alot of guys that hithomeruns, and then there’ssome that get so much lift on theirballwhen theyswing the bat. Jonathan was oneofthose guys.His ﬂy balls were just some of the highest I’veeverseen, the ball would just lift when it left his bat.You know the power was there, andyou hada good idea that the catching wouldadvanceto ahigh level, and once those two matched up it wasjust amatter of time beforehe made it to thebig leagues.” Roenickewellremembers oneofhis 108careerhome runs.

“Wewere facing Cincinnati and Aroldis Chapman hadjust come up as their closer,” he said. “Wewereina tie game andChapman came in, he was throwing 100 plus miles an hour before everyone started throwing 100, he was the hardest thrower we’d seen.Luc saw11pitches between 100 and 102 and he kept foulingoff balls until he got to a3-2 count and Chapmantried to throwhim aslider on the12th pitchand Luc hitahomer to winthe game for us. That’sthe kind of hitter Luc was.”

MLB’splan would eliminatedeals such as Juan Soto’s$765 million, 15-year contract with the New York Mets. Theleague said just sevenplayers this year exceed theproposedmaximumand 98% of free agent contracts would not have been affected.

“There’snoquestionthat we’re very far apart,” union head Bruce Meyersaid during an onlinenews conference. During abargaining session Thursday at the union’s office, MLBsaiditwould accept the union’sproposal granting free agency ayear early for players whohave reached age 30 if the union acceptedthe league’ssalary-cap system. MLB also proposedboosting theminimum salary from $780,000 to $1 million for those with two years of big league service.

MLBalso proposed increasing the pre-arbitration bonus pool from $50 million to $65 million next year and $75 million by 2032, the sixthseason of MLB’sproposed seven-year deal.

Meyersaid “the debate gotalittle more vigorous today.”

“The league has done us afavor because their proposals are in fact so

MLB also said it would agree to eliminate the qualifying offer for free agents that sinceits inception in 2012 has restricted the market forsome players.

Bargaining started May 13 foracontract to replace the ﬁve-year deal thatexpires Dec. 1, and owners proposed asalary cap for the first time sincethe union fought off the system during a71/2-month strike in 1994-95. MLBisexpected to impose alockoutinDecember,halting free agent signings and trades.

After the prior agreement expiredinDecember 2021, intensive bargainingdid not start until late February as thethreat approached of losing regular-season games —along with revenue and salary.The sides reached an agreement on March10, the99thday of the lockout, preserving the 162-game schedule.

In the league’scornerstone proposal, made last month, team spending would be cappednextyear at $245.3 million, using figures for luxurytax payrolls that include $20.1 million for benefits and the pre-arbitration bonus pool. It also would establish apayroll floor of $171.2 million, forcingseveral teams to spend more.The two-time World

Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, baseball’sbiggest spenders, had a$415.2 millionpayroll on opening daythis year —around $170 million over the proposed cap. “The biggestissue baseballfanswantsolvedto strengthen the gameisfixing the payroll disparity thatleaves toomanyfans without hope of their team competing for aWorld Series title,” MLB spokesman Glen Caplin said in astatement. “Every othermajor U.S. sport has tackled this problem, and every year more small market teams in thoseleagueshavea chance to win. The salary capand floorproposal levels the playing field.” Meyer took issue with that.

“It’sappalling that the stewards of the game, the people whose job it is to grow thegame primarily and promote the game, have for whateverperiod of time now in the last couple of years beensaying nothing but the game’sbroken,” he said. As part of the plan, MLB would establish a“cornerstone player” similarto theNBA’s Bird rule,which would allow ateam to resign aplayer at 16% of the cap. Afree agent switching clubs would be limited to a$36.8 million salary next year and are-signing player to $39.2 million.

Salaries for free agents in additional seasons of amultiyear contract would be limited to 5% increases, as would salaries for younger players in multiyear deals that cover potential freeagent seasons.

of MajorLeague BaseballRob Manfred answers questions during anews conference at the winter meetings on Dec.8 in Orlando, Fla

MAGICAL MUSIC

The Princess Concertiscoming to the River Center Theatre for Performing ArtsonSaturday, bringing songs from worksincluding “Frozen,”“Wicked,” “Beauty& The Beast” and more. The two-hour concertstarts at 3:30 p.m. Ticketsstartat$47.17. raisingcanesrivercenter.com

THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND

Third (Neighbor) Hood Fest releases lineup

The talent and ﬁlm lineupis out for the third annual (Neighbor) Hood Fest.

The event will take place from noonto8 p.m.Saturday,July18, at theMain Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd. Family-friendly and free to the public, the festival also will feature avendors’ village, foodcourt,children’splay area and hot dog eating contest. Musical talent will include Henry Turner Jr.&Flavor and theListening Room All-Stars includingKing Solomon,Ervin “Maestro” Foster,Jim Masters, Princess Teha and Dixie Rose. New to the festivalare (Louisiana) Claude Hitt, David Comeaux and Rude. Returning acts areSmokeHousePorter andthe Gut Bucket Blues Band, Crossﬁre and Ms. Pressure.

Hitt

The ﬁlm component this year willfocus on the travel, adventure and music industries in Louisiana.Filmmakers Oscar Tickle,who produced “The Search for Swamp Cows” and“The Secret Dark Side of Imported Shrimp,” and Charles Bush, who produced“Music Dreams, An AmericanStory”will participate in question-and-answer sessions. Music video blocks from the 2025 ListeningRoom Film Festivalwill be “Made In Louisiana” and“Listening Room Alumna.” Sponsors includeLamarAdvertising, EPRPL-Main Library, Blue Runner,WBRZ2+,Visit Baton Rouge, Vernon Thomas, Frankie’sDawg House, Joyful Jumps and Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room Museum Foundation. Henry Turner Jr.’sListening Room, 2733 North St., will host apre-party from 7p.m. to midnight Thursday,July 16. Cost is $30 and includes abuffet.There will also be ano-host bar Entry forms and more informationare available on thewebsite at neighborhoodfest.org or call (225) 802-9681.

STAGELINEUP*

n NOON-12:20 P.M.: hostPrincess Teha

n 12:30 P.M.-12:50 P.M.: Dave Comeaux (singer-songwriter)

n 1P.M.-1:20 P.M.: Ms.Pressure (Southern soul)

n 1:30 P.M.-2 P.M.: Ervin “Maestro” Foster &MyBetter Half (smooth jazz/pop)

n 2:15 P.M.-2:35 P.M.: Princess Teha (world)

n 2:45 P.M.-3:15 P.M.: SmokeHouse Porterand the Gut Bucket Blues Band

n 3:30 P.M.-4 P.M.: Hot DogEating Contest

n 4P.M.-4:20 P.M.: Rude (blues/ soul)

n 4:30 P.M.-4:50 P.M.: (Louisiana) Claude Hitt (folk/blues)

n 5P.M.-5:45 P.M.: Henry Turner Jr. &Flavor(blues, soul,reggae)

n 6P.M.-6:20 P.M.: Dixie Rose (folk)

n 6:30 P.M.-7 P.M.: King Solomon Willis (R&B)

n 7:15 P.M.-7:45 P.M.: Crossﬁre (Christian)

‘MUCH OBLIGED’

Relivethe Coen Brothers’ 1998 crime comedy“The Big Lebowski” on the big screen at the Manship Theatre at 7:30 p.m.Saturday. Bitoftrivia: The word “dude” is used awhopping 161 times in the film starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman and Julianne Moore. $9.50. Rated R. manshiptheatre.org

FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS

Companion Animal Alliance is launching this newevent from noon to 6p.m.at its shelteronthe last Fridayofeach month through Augustaspartofthe Dog Days of Summer campaign. Enjoylocal foodand drinks, and check out the pets available for adoption for$5onFridays. caabr.org

BACK TO BIGGER

Center Arena to accommodate the United States Bowling Congress championships using thehall.

“And Ididn’trealize how much 30,000 square feet could make a difference untilyou get putinto a40,000-squarefoot space,” Wisekal said Monday

platinum-selling popartist and LGBTQ+ advocate David Archuleta, who ﬁrst cameonto the music sceneatjust 17 on “American Idol.” He competed in the series’ seventh season in 2008, ﬁnishing second.

BY JUDYBERGERON Staff writer

With 95 vendors and thousands of festivalgoers, Baton Rouge Pride Fest Director Bobbi Wisekal is glad the eventisback in its regular location this year —the 70,000-squarefoot Raising Cane’sRiver Center Exhibition Hall.

Last year,the freefestivaldrew about 13,000 peopleand wasmoved to the 40,000-square-foot River

Duringarecent SundayChanté, Syreeta Neal accompanies herself and the group with her guitar.She also uses akeyboard and karaokeapp.

She explained that the arena’sacoustics made themusic seem extremely loudin2025, while during past years in theexhibition hall, people were able to chat while the music was going on.

“It’s amore pleasant experience,”Wisekal said. “Wewere so packed that people were actually walking through each other’s booth spaces to get around.”

This year’sfest will run from noon to 5p.m. Saturday Headlining theday is multi-

“As shown on his 2024 compelling single ‘Hell Together,’ Archuleta has dramatically expanded the landscape of his songwritingand devoted himself to making popmusic with equal parts uncompromising emotion and exhilarating impact,” his bio reads.

“Withhis latest single, ‘Crème Brulée,’David continues to share new sides of himself and has hit a new chord with pop music lovers,” the bio also says.

BYJOHN WIRT Contributing writer

Chanté at the West Baton Rouge Museum in PortAllencreates community through song. Even though

STAFF FILE PHOTOByMICHAEL JOHNSON

at the Raising Cane’sRiver Center in BatonRouge.

Archuleta

FRIDAY

KAITLYN WALLACE: Mis Padres, Dutchtown, 6 p.m.

CAM PYLE: Tallulah, 6 p.m.

MIKE ESNEAULT: Stab’s Restaurant, 6 p.m.

DON POURCIAU & KONSPIRACY: Pedro’s, 6 p.m.

KENDALL SHAFFER: Galvez Seafood, Prairieville, 6 p.m

ERIC STELLY: Agave Blue, Zachary, 6 p.m.

KEEPIN’ TIME BAND: T’Quilas Denham Springs, 6 p.m.

STYK: T’Quilas, Zachary

6 p.m.

ROCKIN’ ROUGE: El Paso, Denham Springs, 6 p.m.

RACHAEL HALLACK & ERIC

CANTRELLE: Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 6 p.m.

LOUIS LEBLANC: Le Chien Brewing Co., Denham Springs, 6:30 p.m.

SHANE MADERE & LAURIE

WHITNEY: Bin 77, 7 p.m.

RHODES, MAURER & FRIENDS: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 7 p.m.

PEYTON FALGOUST: Copa-Cruzan Creole, Gonzales, 7 p.m.

HENRY TURNER JR. & ALL-

STARS: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8 p.m.

GARY ALLAN: L’Auberge Event Center, 8 p.m.

BIRD/MARLEY VICK: The Basin Music Hall, 9 p.m.

PARTY AT JOE’S: Fred’s on the River, Prairieville, 9 p.m

DUSTIN LEE GUEDRY BAND: The Edge Bar at L’Auberge, 9 p.m.

BRIAN & THE BANDITS: The Vineyard, 9 p.m

SATURDAY

CANE FEVER: Leola’s Café, 11 a.m.

BATON ROUGE PRIDE FEST

FEATURING DAVID ARCHU-

LETA: Raising Cane’s River Center Exhibition Hall, noon

NEIL WERRIES: Brickyard South, 1:45 p.m.

RICK PRICE: Fred’s on the River, Prairieville, 2 p.m.

JEFF BAJON PROJECT: Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 5:30 p.m.

GARY BELLO & FRIENDS: T’Quilas, Denham Springs

6 p.m.

JODY MAYEUX & THE DUKES: El Paso, Denham Springs, 6 p.m.

DON POURCIAU & KONSPIRACY: La Carreta, Denham Springs, 6 p.m.

ELI HORTON: Copa-Cruzan Creole, Gonzales, 6 p.m.

LA SOUTHBOUND: T’Quilas, Zachary, 6 p.m.

ARNETT HAYES: Stab’s Restaurant, 6 p.m.

BRANDON VEACH: Le Chien Brewing Co., Denham Springs, 6:30 p.m.

DRUNK UNCLES DUO: Bin 77, 7 p.m.

TIGER LILY: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 7 p.m.

DIXIE ROSE/UNCLE CHESS: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8 p.m.

2 DOMESTIC 1 IMPORT: Squeaky Pete’s, 8 p.m.

ELECTRIC RENDEZVOUS: O’Hara’s Irish Pub, 9 p.m.

SAVANT: The Basin Music Hall, 9 p.m.

RYAN JENKINS: Copa-Cruzan

LINEUP

Continued from page 1D

FILM SCREENINGS

n 1 P.M.: Opening remarks

n 1:30 P.M.-1:50 P.M.: “Made in Louisiana” music video block (18 mins.)

n 2 P.M.-3 P.M.: “Music Dreams-An American Story” (27 mins.) With Q&A by Charles Bush and Henry

Creole, Gonzales, 9 p.m.

SPANK THE MONKEY: Fred’s on the River, Prairieville, 9 p.m.

I-10 BOUND BAND: Swamp Chicken Daiquiris, St. Amant, 9 p.m.

NEIL WERRIES: Brickyard South, 9:30 p.m.

SUNDAY

JOVIN WEBB: Leola’s Café, 11 a.m.

CHRIS LEBLANC: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 11 a.m.

JUSTIN BURDETTE TRIO: Superior Grill MidCity, 11 a.m.

BACK ON DA BAYOU: Fred’s on the River, Prairieville, 3 p.m.

CAJUN JAM WITH HOSTS MITCH LANDRY AND CURTIS

COUBELLO: West Baton Rouge Museum, Port Allen, 3 p.m.

SONGWRITER SUNDAYS: La Divina Italian Cafe, 5 p.m.

JEFF BAJON PROJECT: Pizza Byronz, 5:30 p.m.

TROY TURNER: The Edge Bar at L’Auberge, 6:30 p.m.

OPEN MIC JAM: Fat Cat Saloon, Prairieville, 7 p.m.

MONDAY

ERIC STELLY: Superior GrillMidCity, 6 p.m.

MIKE ESNEAULT: Stab’s Restaurant, 6 p.m.

TUESDAY

TREY MORGAN: Superior Grill-MidCity, 6 p.m.

EDDIE SMITH: On The Half Shell, Prairieville, 6:30 p.m.

OPEN MIC JAM: Brickyard South, 8 p.m.

WEDNESDAY BRENT ARMSTRONG: Danny’s Dive Bar, 6 p.m.

LSU JAZZ JAM: Classic Vinyls, 6 p.m.

SONGWRITERS OPEN MIC: Le Chien Brewing Co., Denham Springs, 6:30 p.m.

KIRK HOLDER: Bin 77, 6:30 p.m.

SONGWRITERS OPEN MIC WITH HEATH RANSONNET: Coop’s on 621, Gonzales, 7 p.m. ANDY PIZZO TRIO: Hayride Scandal, 7:30 p.m.

OPEN MIC JAM: O’Hara’s Irish Pub, 8 p.m.

THURSDAY

MIKE ESNEAULT: Stab’s Restaurant, 6 p.m.

KYBALION: El Paso, 6 p.m.

PEYTON FALGOUST DUO: Fred’s on the River, Prairieville, 7 p.m.

HENRY TURNER JR. & ALLSTARS: Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room, 8 p.m.

BLUES JAM: Phil Brady’s 9 p.m

OUTLYING

FRIDAY HOT TUNICA: Bayou Sara Brewing, St. Francisville, 6:30 p.m.

Compiled by Marchaund Jones. Email info/photos to showstowatch@ theadvocate.com The deadline is noon FRIDAY for the following Friday’s paper

Turner Jr.

n 3:15 P.M.-5:30 P.M.: “The Hunt for Swamp Cows” and “The Secret Dark Side of Imported Shrimp” (40 mins. and 45 mins.) With Q&A by Oscar Tickle

n 5:30 P.M.- 6:15 P.M.: ReverbNation, “Listening Room Alumna” (18 mins.)

*Lineup and times subject to change; all times approximate.

By The Associated Press

Today is Friday, June 26, the 177th day of 2026. There are 188 days left in the year

Today in history: On June 26, 2015, in its 5-4 Obergefell v. Hodges decision, the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage across the country, ruling that state-level bans on same-sex marriage violated the due process and equal protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Also on this date: In 1917, U.S. troops entered World War I as the ﬁrst soldiers of the American Expeditionary Force landed in Saint-Nazaire, France. In 1948, the Berlin Airlift began in earnest after the Soviet Union cut off land and water routes to the isolated western sector of Berlin.

In 1963, President John F. Kennedy visited West

CHANTÉ

Continued from page 1D

women-centered singing circle every ﬁrst Sunday of the month.

Women who stop singing at some point in their lives, Neal said, may have been stung by criticism of their voices or simply too fearful to sing.

“A lot of them have a similar story,” Neal said one weekday afternoon at the museum’s authentic replica of a Southern juke joint. “But then, as they get older and lose some of those inhibitions, they want to do the things they’ve always wanted to do. I wanted to create a space for women who, more than likely, were expected to be quiet or make themselves smaller So we can just be together and be our loud, crazy, fun selves, without fear of being chastised for it.”

During Sunday Chanté, Neal accompanies herself and the group with her guitar, a keyboard and karaoke app. She teaches participants from a printed songbook she assembles for the sessions.

Selections can include familiar songs such as “This Little Light of Mine,” “Stand by Me” and Louisiana’s ofﬁcial state song, “You Are My

PRIDE FEST

Continued from page 1D

Wisekal, in her fourth year of leading Pride Fest, works as an HIV pharmacist with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which is also one of the festival’s presenting sponsors, along with Open Health Care Clinic, Whittington Family Fund and L’Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge.

New to the 19th annual fest are:

n Drag king performances — to balance out the drag queens;

n Participating HBCU Greek fraternities and so-

Berlin, where he delivered his famous speech expressing solidarity with the city’s residents, declaring: “Ich bin ein Berliner” (“I am a Berliner”).

In 1993, President Bill Clinton announced the U.S. had launched missiles against Iraqi targets because of “compelling evidence” Iraq had plotted to assassinate former President George H.W Bush. In 1996, in the case of United States v. Virginia, the U.S. Supreme Court found that the Virginia Military Institute’s male-only admission policy violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. (VMI enrolled its ﬁrst female cadets the following year.)

In 1997, the ﬁrst Harry Potter novel, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” by J.K. Rowling, was published in the United King-

Sunshine.” Also, newer material such as Jason Mraz’s “I Won’t Give Up” and, the song that opened Sunday Chanté in June India Arie’s “I Am Light.”

“The goal is not to be a choir, but when people walk by, they think it’s a choir rehearsing,” Neal said. “It’s awesome.”

Sunday Chanté participation has ranged from a halfdozen to 25 attendees ages 3 to 87. It’s become one of the musical activities Neal especially loves.

“My favorite thing, when it comes to music, is the community part of it,” she said.

In June, Joyce Scott, 87, already a regular at the museum’s musical performances and festivals, attended her second Sunday Chanté.

“I couldn’t wait till today got here,” the retired teacher said. “I enjoy the singing. It clears your mind, gives you something to do. They write about music being good for the soul.”

Sandra L’Herisson, another second-time Sunday Chanté attendee in June, plays bass in Unselfish Lovers of the Blues, but sings only occasional backup vocals with that popular local band.

“There’s something special about singing in a group,” L’Herisson said. “It raises the energy so high

rorities from the area’s LGBTQ+ community

“(The fraternities and sororities) historically known as being a foundation of that community, which I appreciate because it gives everybody a sense of family, right?” Wisekal said. “And belonging. And they also give back to the community So we partner a lot with them and different events that we feel like is necessary in order for everyone to be seen.”

For newbies to Pride Fest, she offers these pointers:

n Make sure you have a clear purse or clear bag unless it’s the size of a clutch.

n People will be allowed to bring their baby strollers

dom. It was later released in the United States under the title “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.”

In 2008, in District of Columbia v. Heller, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a handgun ban in the District of Columbia as it afﬁrmed, 5-4, that an individual’s right to gun ownership is protected by the Second Amendment.

In 2013, in the case of United States v. Windsor the U.S. Supreme Court gave the nation’s legally married same-sex couples equal federal footing with all other married Americans, and cleared the way for same-sex marriages to resume in California in a separate decision.

In 2024, former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez was sentenced in federal court in New York to 45 years in prison and ﬁned $8 million for con-

You can come in with any kind of feeling and come out feeling better, and Syreeta is a beautiful person and teacher.”

Two of Neal’s private voice lesson students inspired the women-centered singing circle.

“Because they were so fun, so brave, so cool,” she said of the students. “Every time I worked with one of them, I wanted them to meet each other This is my way of allowing them to be in the same space together. They’re dear friends now and give each other rides to the Sunday Chanté.”

With the museum’s blessing, the singing circle began in March in the museum’s juke joint. The museum created its juke joint at the suggestion of Neal’s father, Kenny Summer heat has temporarily compelled Sunday Chanté’s move from the juke joint to an air-conditioned museum gallery

There’s no audience during the Sunday singing sessions.

“That makes it comfortable and safe,” Neal said. “It’s not a performance group. It’s about creating music together vs creating it for someone else. We do it for each other.”

A friend introduced Mary

this year

n There will be two of the popular drag queen storytimes, at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.

n At the food court this year, look for Mestizo’s, Mother’s and Ruby Slipper among the varied fare.

n The venue is cashless. Although some booths or food vendors may take cash at their booths, don’t count on it.

n A blessing of the relationships will be conducted, with local ministers ofﬁciating, followed by cake and photos beneath a flower arch.

Wisekal stressed that the festival is focused on family and started to cry as she re-

spiring to distribute more than 400 tons of cocaine and for ﬁrearms offenses. (Hernandez was freed in 2025 after a pardon by President Donald Trump, who said Hondurans believed Hernandez had been “set up.” Today’s birthdays: Jazz musician-composer Dave Grusin is 92. Brazilian singer-songwriter and politician Gilberto Gil is 84.

Lynn Lobello to the group. Though she did love singing, the demands of ballet training earlier in Lobello’s life meant she couldn’t pursue both music and dance. Now she sees the museum’s singing circle as a refuge.

“The world is on ﬁre,” Lobello said following June’s session. “How do you step out of the mess that’s surrounding us all the time make something beautiful and share it with other people? I feel like that’s what we did.”

Neal, a native of Toronto, Canada, lived in Los Angeles for many years before moving to Baton Rouge with her husband and son in 2024. A voice teacher and performance coach, she teaches at Baton Rouge Music Studios, the Centre for the Arts in New Roads and privately In Louisiana, Neal’s own music career isn’t a priority “I want to take all of the things I’ve learned over the past 25 years as a musician and share it with the community here,” she said. “When we moved here, we were so warmly welcomed. With gratitude, my role is to help this place grow in whatever way I can. Let’s see what we can do together.”

Email John Wirt at j_wirt@ msn.com.

lated a story from last year’s event.

“A vendor told me the reason why they decided to come back was that they saw somebody from an oil refinery, a father, actually come in after work with their son, a 5- or 6-year-old with little fairy wings on and him holding his hand and just like thanking them for being there to give him a safe space,” she recalled. “That he thought about his child so much that he brought him .” For more, visit batonrougepride.org.

Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate. com.

and

2 p.m.,

Theatre, 100 Lafayette St. Movie screening followed by a short ﬁlm. The documentary focuses on drag queens living in New York City and their “house” culture, which provides a sense of community and support for the ﬂamboyant and often socially shunned performers. $5. manshiptheatre.org.

CAJUN MUSIC JAM SESSION: 3 p.m.-5 p.m., West Baton Rouge Museum, 845 N. Jefferson Ave., Port Allen. With host musicians Mitch Landry and Curtis Coubello. All Cajun musicians, dancers and fans invited. Free. westbatonrougemuseum.org.

SUNDAYS SMOOTH JAZZ

SERIES: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Town Square, 222 North Blvd Bring lawn chair and listen to smooth jazz in this new series featuring guests artists each Sunday in June. Free. lazarronettles.com.

TUESDAY

RED STICK FARMERS MAR-

KET: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd. Farm-fresh produce, goods, cooking

gallery’s Facebook page.

THE GALLERY AT MANSHIP:

100 Lafayette St. “The Monsters We Sometimes Become,” multimedia art exhibition featuring original works of artist Nathaniel A.J. Landry with an original musical score and live performance by Monoblack, through Aug. 14. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

LSU TEXTILE & COSTUME MU-

SEUM: Human Ecology Building, Tower Drive, LSU campus. “Quilts & Fashion,” exploring the enduring dialogue between quilt making and dress, through Jan. 15. (225) 578-5992 or email textile@lsu. edu.

MAGNOLIA MOUND MUSEUM + HISTORIC SITE: 2161 Nicholson Drive. Guided and selfguided tours. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. brec.org/ facility/MagnoliaMound.

MANSHIP THEATRE JONES

WALKER FOYER: 100 Lafayette St. “Look up: A Philosophy for Birding and Life” by Gail Suberbielle. Free and open during regular Shaw Center building hours unless there is a private event.

OLD GOVERNOR’S MANSION: 502 North Blvd. Open for tours. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Free admission. oldgovernorsmansion. com. OLD STATE CAPITOL: 100 North Blvd. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m Tuesday-Saturday, plus Free

demonstrations. breada.org.

BECOMING LOUISIANA: THE SPANISH: 5:30 p.m., reception; 7 p.m., reception, Old State Capitol, 100 North Blvd. Lecture given by Robert Freeland as part of a series presented by Friends of the Louisiana State Archives and Friends of the Old State Capitol. Free. louisianaoldstatecapitol.org.

BATON ROUGE CHESS CLUB: 6 p.m.to 8 p.m., La Divina Italian Cafe, 3535 Perkins Road, Unit 360. A chance to play and learn; all levels welcome. Free.

WEDNESDAY

RED STICK FARMERS MARKET: 9 a.m. to noon, ExxonMobil YMCA, 7711 Howell Blvd Farm-fresh produce, goods and more. www.facebook com/redstickfarmersmarket. FIRST WEDNESDAY OPENING RECEPTION: 6 p.m.-9 p.m., Baton Rouge Gallery, 1515 Dalrymple Drive. In conjunction with new shows by artist members Mitchell Gaudet, Mary Jane Parker and Brandon Surtain. Free. batonrougegallery.org.

THURSDAY

RED STICK FARMERS MARKET:

8 a.m. to noon, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road. Farm-fresh produce, goods and more facebook.com/redstickfarmersmarket.

OUTDOOR COMMUNITY

YOGA: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., pavilion by the pond, LSU Hilltop Arboretum, 11855 Highland Road. Drop-in; no registration required; bring your own mat. Free, but donations welcome. lsu.edu/hilltop WEEKLY SOCIAL BIKE RIDE: 7:30 p.m., Geaux Ride, 601 Laurel St. Free. geauxridebikes.com.

KARAOKE, TRIVIA, BINGO AND MORE: 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., Brickyard South Bar + Patio, 174 South Blvd. Presented by BarFly Entertainment. Free to play. acebook.com/brickyardsouth.

ONGOING

ANN CONNELLY FINE ART: 1670 Lobdell Ave. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Free. (225) 927-7676 or annconnelly.com.

ART GUILD OF LOUISIANA: Independence Park Theatre, 7800 Independence Blvd. Life Drawing sessions 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Wednesdays $15 per session; open studio; no instruction. Classes are held at AGL Park Studio, 2490 Silverest Ave

BATON ROUGE GALLERY

CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART: 1515 Dalrymple Drive. Works by Mitchell Gaudet, Mark Jane Parker and Brandon Surtain, through July 26. Hours: noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. batonrougegallery.org.

CAPITOL PARK MUSEUM: 660 N. Fourth St. “We the People,” a living portrait of 21st-century American identity through nearly 200 paired photographs by Steven G. Smith shown across two giant screens, together measuring about 12 feet high and 36 feet wide, through Jan. 2, 2027. (225) 342-5428 or louisianastatemuseum.org.

CARY SAURAGE COMMUNITY

ARTS CENTER SHELL GALLERY: 233 St. Ferdinand St. “Eyecon,” a juried exhibition celebrating Louisiana’s LGBTQ+ history, to July 3. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. artsbr.org.

ELIZABETHAN GALLERY: 680 Jefferson Highway. Group show, through July 3. Call (225) 924-6437 or follow the

LOUISIANA ART & SCIENCE MUSEUM: 100 S. River Road. “Then, And Now, And Always: The Artwork of Nick Bustamante,” through July 19, SoupCon Gallery; “Pinpointing the Stars,” through Aug. 1; “Crossroads & Connections: A Century of the Railway in Baton Rouge,” through Oct. 1; “Going Places: Transportation Toys of the Past,” through July 6, and “Shelf Queens: Model Train Masterpieces,” also through July 6. (225) 3445272 or lasm.org.

LSU MUSEUM OF ART: Shaw Center for the Arts, 100 Lafayette St. “Views into the Collection,” works from the museum’s permanent collection. “South Arts Southern Prize & State Fellowships for Visual Arts, through Sept. 6. (225) 389-7200 or lsumoa.org.

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Seize the moment and engage in talks. Take action to make a difference and bring about positive change. Don't let anger set in when intelligence and positive affirmation will get you where you want to go.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Emotional anger is counterproductive. Channel your energy into something meaningful, and it will encourage you to volunteer your time to worthwhile causes and concerns.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Travel, communicate, learn and participate, and you'll open channels that lead to interesting encounters or new beginnings. What you contribute will be well received

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) You can desire change, but first consider any consequences that follow. Look inward. Consider what's necessary and what's feasible, and map out a plan that reflects who you are and what you can do.

scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Bask in the things you enjoy doing most. Engage with people who share your passion and bring out the best in you. Turn your life journey into something that elevates you.

sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Spin situations to fit your needs. Use your voice, connections and willpower to make things happen. Don't let what others choose to do slow down your agenda

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Set high standards, and follow through with your plans. The opportunities you are

searching for will unfold through the action you take and the people you approach

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Step up, choose a direction that excites you and turn your plans into reality. Using your skills, attributes and imagination will help you increase your earning potential through prospects that you initiate.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Stifle anyone who pressures you to make a snap decision or change your plans. Look out for your interests and pursue your dreams. Invest time and money in yourself and what you own ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Put a big push on self-improvement projects and looking and being top-notch. Consistency and discipline will help you achieve whatever you set out to do

tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Acting in haste can have side effects. Determine what you want to achieve, and have a foolproof plan in place before you push the button and engage in rhetoric or unrealistic promises.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Set yourself up for success. Turn your surroundings into your source of motivation. Having emotional energy and channeling it to serve a purpose will elevate you as well as attract attention

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

toDAy's cLuE: J EQuALs c

FAMILY CIrCUS

CeLebrItY CIpher For better or For WorSe

GooSe And GrIMM

nea CroSSwordS

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. Theobject is to place the numbers 1to9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of theSudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

THewiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS CurTiS

Bridge

By PHILLIP ALDER

A.J. Kitt, who used to be atop downhillskier,said,“Youhavenocontrolover what the other guy does. Youonlyhave control over what you do.”

That is usually true at the bridge table, but sometimes you can control your opponentbyleavinghimwithnowinning option —asinthis deal. South is in seven spades.Westleads the club ace. Southruffs and cashes the spade ace, expecting to claimone nanosecond later. But when Eastdiscards a club,suddenlyWestseemstohaveacertain trumptrick. Is there any chance?

North’s rebid was adouble negative, showingaverybadhand,eitherthetraditionaltwo no-trumporthe modernthree clubs,according to partnership preference. Then South, confident that North could not have an ace, jumped to seven hearts to offer achoice of grand slams. North gave preference to spades, never having expected to make three bids in the auction.

The only way to bring home the contract is to lead side-suit winners through West. When he ruffsone, dummyoverruffs, and declarerdraws trumps, then having the samenumber of spades (three) as West

However, West will onlyruff if he has no alternative.Hewill discard as often as possible. Here, if South immediately runs hishearts,Westwill pitch hisdiamond and later ruff the diamond ace. As declarer can throw only four of dummy’sfivediamondsonthehearts,he must cash one diamond trick first. Then heplayshishearts.Eventually,Westwill concede.

Each Wuzzle is awordriddlewhich creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON

Previous answers:

word game

InstRuctIons: 1. Words must be of fourormore letters. 2. Words that acquire fourletters by the addition of “s,”such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3 Additional words made by adding a“d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit wordsare not allowed toDAy’s WoRD EQuIVocAL: ih-KWIH-vuh-kul: Subject to multiple interpretations, usually used to mislead.

Average mark26words

Time limit 55 minutes

Can you find 43 or morewords in EQUIVOCAL?

yEstERDAy’s WoRD —BAnALIty

today’s thought “Honor your father and your mother: that your days may be long on the land which the Lord your God gives you.” Exodus 20:12

wuzzles

loCKhorNs

Respect begins in the home. G.E. Dean

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C. PiCKles

26,2026 July 27, 2026 $244.89

AND

OF MELVINJONES,III AKA MELVINJONES,Ill BatonRouge,LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge StateofLouisiana Acting under andby virtueofWritofSeizure and Sale issued outof the honorablecourt aforesaid,inthe above entitledand numbered cause,dated,March 17 2026 andtomedirected, I didseize andwill, be‐ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m.onJuly29, 2026, via anonlineauction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the followingdescribed mortgaged property be‐longing to:THE UN‐OPENEDSUCCESSIONOF AND UNKNOWNHEIRS OF MELVINJONES,Ill AKA MELVINJONES,Ill

One(1) certainlot or par‐cel of ground,together withall thebuildings and improvements thereon, and allthe rights,ways, privileges, servitudes appurtenancesand ad‐vantagesthereuntobe‐longing or in anywiseap‐pertaining, situated in the Parish of East Baton Rouge,Louisiana,inthat subdivision thereof known as Longwood,and being designated on the official plat thereofon file andofrecordinthe office of theclerk and recorderfor East Baton Rouge,Louisiana,aslot numberone hundred nineteen (119),according tothe official plat of said Longwood Subdivision, SecondFiling, Part I, dated BatonRouge Louisiana, July 31, 1961 madebySam G. Dupree C.E of record as Original 98, Bundle 4973 in theof‐ficial recordsofthe ParishofEastBaton Rouge,Louisiana,said Lot 119 measuringsev‐enty-five (75) feet front onthe east side of Kim‐berly Drivebya depth between parallel linesof one hundred forty(140) feet;subject to aseven and 5/10 (7.5)footservi‐tudeacrossthe rear and further subjecttoa five (5)foot sidewalk servi‐tudealong thefront line ofsaidlot

SHERIFF'SSALE SuitNo: (17) 774967 HANCOCKWHITNEY BANKvsJACQUELINE KNIGHTENHARVEY BatonRouge,LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge StateofLouisiana Acting under andby virtueofWritofSeizure and Sale issued outof the honorablecourt aforesaid,inthe above entitledand numbered cause,dated,March 19 2026 andtomedirected, I didseize andwill, be‐ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m.onJuly29, 2026, via anonlineauction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the followingdescribed mortgaged property be‐longing to:JACQUELINE KNIGHTENHARVEY ONE(1) CERTAINPIECE ORPORTION OF GROUND TOGETHERWITHALL THE BUILDINGS ANDIM‐PROVEMENTSTHEREON AND ALLOFTHE RIGHTS WAYS, PRIVILEGES, SERVITUDES, APPURTE‐NANCESAND ADVAN‐TAGES THEREUNTOBE‐LONGING OR IN ANYWISE APPERTAINING,SITUATED IN THEPARISHOFEAST BATON ROUGE, STATEOF LOUISIANA,INTHATSUB‐DIVISIONKNOWN AS NORTH HARDING HEIGHTS,SECTION ONE(1 ),AND DESIGNATED ON THE OFFICIAL PLAN THEREOF,ONHIE ANDOF RECORDINTHE OFFICE OFTHE CLERKAND RECORDEROFTHE PARISHOFEASTBATON ROUGE,STATE OF LOUISIANA,ASLOT NUMBE.RTHREE (3), SAID SUBDIVISION,SAIDLOT HAVINGSUCHMEASURE‐MENTS ANDDIMENSIONS AND BEINGSUBJECT TO SUCHSERVITUDESAS ARE MORE PAR'TICU‐LARLY DESCRIBEDON SAIDSUBDIVISION MAP. (the "Property") TERMSOFSALE: Cash to thehighest bid‐der,atPublicAuction WITHOUT Appraisement and accordingtolaw SidJ.Gautreaux,Sheriff EastBaton RougeParish ADVERTISED DATE June 26, 2026 July 27, 2026 $237.23

g y virtue of Writof Seizure and Sale issued outof the honorablecourt aforesaid,inthe above entitledand numbered cause,dated,March 26 2026 andtomedirected, I didseize andwill, be‐ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m.onJuly29, 2026, via anonlineauction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the followingdescribed mortgaged property be‐longing to:THE UN‐OPENEDSUCCESSION OF ADUNKNOWN HEIRSOF PHOUSAY JOHNNY SA‐VATHA/K/A PHOUSAY JOHNNY SAVATH A/K/A PHOUSAY J. SAVATH A/K/A PHOUSAYSAVATH One(1) certainlot or par‐cel of ground,together withall thebuildings and improvementsthereon situatedinthe Parish of EastBaton Rouge, State ofLouisiana,inthatsub‐divisionknown as Cedar‐crest Bend,and desig‐nated on theofficial plan thereof,on file andof recordinthe office of the clerk andrecorderofthe ParishofEastBaton Rouge,State of Louisiana,aslot number twenty-six(26),saidsub‐division, said lothaving suchmeasurementsand dimensionsand being subject to such servi‐tudes andrestrictionsas are more particularly shown on said map.

TERMSOFSALE: Cash to thehighest bid‐der,atPublicAuction WITHOUT Appraisement and accordingtolaw SidJ.Gautreaux,Sheriff EastBaton RougeParish

ADVERTISED DATE June 26, 2026 July 27, 2026 $237.23

SHERIFF'SSALE SuitNo: (17) 775421

p and state, as LOTNUM‐BER FORTY(40),saidsub‐division, said lothaving suchmeasurementsand dimensionsasshown on saidmap ("Property")

TERMSOFSALE: Cash to thehighest bid‐der,atPublicAuction WITHAppraisement and according to law.

SidJ.Gautreaux,Sheriff EastBaton RougeParish

ADVERTISED DATE June 26, 2026 July 27, 2026 $234.71

Parish of East Baton Rouge StateofLouisiana Acting under andby virtueofWritofSeizure and Sale issued outof the honorablecourt aforesaid,inthe above entitledand numbered cause,dated,April 08 2026 andtomedirected, I didseize andwill, be‐ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m.onJuly29, 2026, via anonlineauction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the followingdescribed mortgaged property be‐longing to:VERCY CARTER Onecertain lotorparcel orground,together with all thebuildings andim‐provementsthereon,and all of therights, ways privileges, servitudes appurtenancesand ad,o1mtages thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining,situatedin the Parish of East Baton Rouge,Louisiana,inthat subdivision thereof known as SagefieldSub‐division, andbeing more particularlydescribed accordingtothe official map of said subdivision ontile andofrecordin the Office of theClerk and Recorder forthe said Parishand State, as Lot No. 34 of said subdivi‐sion; said lothavingsuch measurementsand di‐mensionsand beingsub‐jecttosuchservitudes asshown on said map. Andaccording to asur‐vey made by Baton Rouge Land Surveyors, Inc.,dated July 30, 1997 Lot No.34isbounded by Langham Drive/SO'R/W Lot 33, Lot45and Lot35 and measures 60.00 feet front on LanghamDrive, sameinwidth in therear. bya depthof140.00 feet between equaland par‐allel lines.

TERMSOFSALE: Cash to thehighest bid‐der,atPublicAuction

TERMSOFSALE: Cash to thehighest bid‐der, at Public Auction WITHOUT Appraisement and accordingtolaw

WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUNDSOCIETY,FSB,NOT IN ITSINDIVIDUALCA‐PACITYBUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FORIBISHOLD‐INGS ATRUST VS CGMLANDHOLDINGS LLCA/K/ACGM LAND HOLDINGS, LLCAND CUR‐TIS GENE MOORE BatonRouge,LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge StateofLouisiana Acting under andby virtueofWritofSeizure and Sale issued outof the honorablecourt aforesaid,inthe above entitledand numbered cause, dated, April08, 2026 andtomedirected, I didseize andwill, be‐ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m.onJuly29, 2026, via an online auctionsiteat www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the followingdescribed mortgaged property be‐longing to:CGM LAND‐HOLDINGSLLC A/K/A CGM LAND HOLDINGS LLC ANDCURTISGENE MOORE ONE(1) CERTAINLOT OR PARCELOFGROUND, to‐getherwithall thebuild‐ingsand Improvement, thereon,situatedInthat subdivision of theParish ofEastBaton Rouge, State of Louisiana, known as LAKE VILLAS CROSSING(ARESIDEN‐TIAL DEVELOPMENT),and being designated on the official subdivisionmap on file andofrecordas Original90, Bundle 13148 asrevised In the0nal platrecordedatOriginal 915, Bundle 13188, In the office of theClerk and Recorder forsaid parish d

I didseize andwill, be‐ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m.onJuly29, 2026, via anonlineauction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the followingdescribed mortgaged property be‐longing to:MILO LORENZO POWELL (A/K/A MILOPOWELL, MILO L. POWELL) ONE(1) CERTAINLOT OR PARCELOFGROUND, TO‐GETHERWITHALL THE BUILDINGS ANDIM‐PROVEMENTSTHEREON AND ALLOFTHE RIGHTS WAYS, PRIVILEGES SERVITUDES, APPURTE‐NANCESAND ADVAN‐TAGES THEREUNTOBE‐LONGING OR IN ANYWISE APPERTAINING,SITUATED IN THEPARISHOFEAST BATON ROUGE, STATEOF LOUISIANA,INTHATSUB‐DIVISIONKNOWN AS VILLA DELREY SUBDIVI‐SION, ANDDESIGNATED ONTHE OFFICIAL PLAN THEREOF,ONFILEAND

andby virtueofWritofSeizure and Sale issued outof the honorablecourt aforesaid,inthe above entitledand numbered cause,dated,April 16 2026 andtomedirected, I didseize andwill, be‐ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m.onJuly29, 2026, via anonlineauction site at www.bid4assets.com/ EBRSOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the followingdescribed mortgaged property be‐longing to:ANTHONY MAURICEBROWN AND CARONDALETTE LATRICE BROWN A/K/ACARON‐DALETTE LATRICEWIL‐SON BROWN That certainlot or parcel ofground,togetherwith all thebuildings andim‐provementsthereon,and all of therights, ways privileges, servitudes appurtenances andad‐h b SHERIFF'SSALE SuitNo: (17) 775237 FEDERALHOMELOAN MORTGAGECORPORA‐TIONvsTHE UNOPENED SUCCESSIONOFADUN‐KNOWN HEIRSOF PHOUSAY JOHNNY SA‐VATHA/K/A PHOUSAY JOHNNY SAVATH A/K/A PHOUSAY J. SAVATH A/K/A PHOUSAYSAVATH BatonRouge,LA 19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge StateofLouisiana Acting under andby i f i f i

SHERIFF'SSALE SuitNo: (17) 776161 U.S. BANK TRUSTNA‐TIONALASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITSINDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUTSOLELY ASOWNER TRUSTEEFOR CITIGROUPMORTGAGE LOANTRUST 2024-RP4vs VERCY CARTER BatonRouge,LA 19thJudicialDistrict

Acting