The Acadiana Advocate 06-30-2026

Judgelifts blockofteacher raiseplan

Law firm representing educationadvocates disqualified

BY PATRICK WALL Staff writer

Gov.Jeff Landry’splan tocut public school budgets to pay for teacher stipends can proceed after ajudge on Monday lifted an order blocking the plan, which is setto take effect Wednesday

JudgeRichard “Chip”Moore, of the 19th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge, alsogranted a motion by the state to disqualify Baker Donelson,the law firmrepresenting education advocates who sued to stop the funding cut. Lawyers for the state argued,and the judge agreed, that the firm should be disqualified because it is representing the state in afederal court case while at the sametime representing plaintiffs suing the state in the school funding case.

lawmakersapproved last week, thestate will reducefunding for public schools by $168 million this school year,and insteaduse the money to give $2,000 stipends to teachers and $1,000 to school support staff.

In astatementMonday,state Attorney General Liz Murrill praised the judge’sruling, andsaidthe state had canceled itsexisting contracts with Baker Donelson.

Under Landry’splan, which

La.leading research on GLP-1drugs

“A law firm cannotrepresent thegovernorinone courtroom andsue him in anotherwithout proper consent,” she said, adding that, with the court order lifted, “I am hopefulwecan all move forward with thepay raise that ourteachers deserve.”

Greg Beuerman, aspokespersonfor the plaintiffs, said they plantoswiftly review

GLP-1 weight loss drugsare availableas injectibles or pills

PenningtonBiomedicalCenterstudyingeffects of popular weight loss medication on muscle mass,metabolic rate

BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer

GLP-1 medicationslikeOzempic and Wegovy have been hailed as near-miracledrugs that have revolutionized how people lose weight

The drugs mimic ahormoneproduced by the body that manages blood sugar and triggers afeeling of fullness. People who take the medication generally lose between 15% and 25% of their bodyweight in ayear,studies found.

But what about thedrawbacks that can come with such dramatictransformations?

In addition to short-term side effects like nauseaand constipation,somepa-

tients experience muscle loss and aslowingoftheir metabolism. With astateobesity rate of 40%,more andmore Louisiananswillhavetomanage those outcomes.

One potential solution might lie at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center,where Dr.Eric Ravussinisboth measuring the extenttowhich the medications affect muscle mass andexploring away to prevent the drugs from decreasing patients’ metabolic rate.

“Theyhavespectacular weight loss,” Ravussin said. But pharmaceuticalcompanies “want to know,what does it do to

your body composition, andwhat does it do to your energy expenditure?”

His study will track theresting metabolicrate,orthe number of calories burned while at rest, and muscle mass while participants receive aweight loss drug.

Theresearch tackles what’sknown as “metabolic adaptation,” asurvival mechanism to protect the body from starvation that can cause some people using the medications to plateau in their weight loss.

As people lose weight on thedrugs, the body becomes very “energyefficient, Ravussin said —too efficient to continue

ä See RESEARCH, page 4A

their options with the hope of potentially taking action before Landry’splan goes into effect Wednesday “I think they’re going to be deciding very,very quickly whattheir next moveisgoing to be,” he said, adding that the advocates believe Landry’sorder raises important legal questions about the governor’s authority to reallocate education dollars. “I would be surprised if there’snot more to be played out

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR Staff writer

TheUniversityofLouisiana at Lafayette, after ayear of financial shortfalls and cuts, is entering the new fiscal year on Wednesday with a $3.6 million surplus.

University President Ramesh Kolluru madethe announcement Thursdayatthe UL systemBoardofSupervisors meeting. The university entered the current fiscal year on July 1, 2025, with a$50 million deficit that included a$25 million structural deficit,he said, and$25 million in unpaid bills, and another $25 million in recurring bills pending.

When Kolluru was appointed interim president in November,the deficit was $50 million. He was named president on March 1. Joseph Savoie, theprevious university president, abruptly resigned in July 2025. As recently as aMay 1town hall meeting with faculty,staffand other stakeholders, Kollurusaidheexpected to end the current fiscal year June 30 with a$12 million deficit. Instead,hetoldthe BoardofSupervisors that, forthe first time in a decade, UL will enter the 2026 fiscal year with a$3.6 million surplus. But, Kolluru said, “Ourjourney is farfrom over.”

Based on a“very conservative” budget estimate for the 2027 fiscal year,Kollurusaidthe university is expected to generate$297million with $323 million in expenses, a

See SURPLUS, page 4A

State’sresponsetosexualassault needsimprovement,reportfinds

BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer

Louisiana should create amore cohesive system for responding to sexual assault cases tocomply with state law,and it lacks the resources to consistently provide adequate services to victims, areport from the Legislative Auditor’s

Office found. The study, released Monday,was the resultof abill passed in 2025 that required thestate to audit sexual assault services

In Louisiana, organizations such as lawenforcement agencies, healthcare providers andadvocacy centers are all involved in responding to reports of sexual as-

sault.The report found that alack of coordination between such entities createsa fragmented system of care for survivors.

Each of thestate’snine Louisiana Department of Health regions hasa RegionalSexual Assault ResponsePlan, auditors said, adding that they “identified instances wherethe SARplans do not comply with state law and could be improved to better respond to survivors of sexual assault.” Some plans do notmeet astate requirement that they be approved by the coroner —and, even when they technically comply with the law,the plans often lack detail aboutwhich entitiesare responsible for implementing state requirements. The report also found that four parishes werenot served by an accredited sexualassault advocacy center. Under state law, survivors areall supposedtohaveaccessto such facilities, but “gaps and challenges” limit that access.

ä See REPORT, page 4A

Kolluru

Ravussin

Beuerman

ä See JUDGE, page 4A

Zelenskyy condemns Russia’s‘horrificattacks’ KYIV,Ukraine Russian missiles and drones killed at least 12 civilians and injured 40 others in Ukraine on Monday in what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as “horrific attacks.”

Since Russia launched its allout invasion of its neighbormore than four years ago,its forces have conducted bombing in an effort to destroy Ukraine’sinfrastructure and sap morale. More than 16,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed, according to the U.N. ARussian missile targeting infrastructure struck the central city of Dnipro, killing six people and wounding 29, Dnipropetrovsk regional head Oleksandr Hanzha said. Russian drones also hit apassengerminibusin the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, killing three and wounding six, including achild, Zelenskyy said on social media.

Russian drones also killeda 69-year-old woman and a77-yearold man in the northeastern Sumy region, National Policesaid.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov saida daytimeRussian strike killed one person and wounded five others in the northeastern city

Other deadly attacks occurred in at least six otherregions of Ukraine, authorities said. No further details were immediately available.

Israeli strikes kill atleast 8inGaza, officials say DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip Israeli strikes in southern and central Gaza on Monday killed at least eight people, including two children, and wounded at least 20 others, according to health officials and emergency services.

In Khan Younis, astrike hit a tent in the Al-Mawasi neighborhood after awarning call, killing a23-year-old mother and her 1-year-old daughter west of Khan Younis, according toNasser Hospital Another strike on the townof Qarara, northwest of the city earlier in the day killed a31-year-old man, according to Nasser Hospital. Thehospital said he hadmarried onlya few months ago and left behind apregnant wife.

In aseparate incidentinthe same area, astrike hit atent sheltering displaced people along the coastal area of Khan Younis, killing two people and wounding 13 others,according to Nasser hospital and the Palestinian Red Crescent. The wounded were transferred to afield hospital run by the Palestinian Red Crescent in Al-Mawasi.

In central Gaza, adronestrike hit atent in Deir al-Balah, killing at least three Palestinians, including an 8-year-old boy and his grandfather, medical officials said.

Director sentencedin fraud case over show NEWYORK Hollywood writer-director Carl Rinsch was sentenced Mondayto21/2 yearsinprison after being convicted of defraudingNetflix out of $11 millionfor anever-finished sci-fi series. Supporters including Keanu Reeves hadasked the court to show him leniency Rinsch, best known for the 2013 samurai fantasy film “47 Ronin,” was convicted in December of federal wire fraud andother charges. According to prosecutors and trial testimony,hetold Netflix he needed $11 million to finish ashow called “White Horse” but diverted the money into apersonal accountand ultimatelyspent whopping sums on luxury cars, watches,clothes andhousehold goods, including $638,000 on two mattresses Rinsch, 48, and his lawyers told thecourtMondaythathis behavior was fueled by mental health struggles and medication problems, which they said he is nowaddressing with anew care provider

“This process has forcedmeto confront thingsabout my health, my judgmentand my life,” Rinsch said. He apologized for hisbehavior,acknowledged that “real harm was caused,” and explained: “I failed to recognize the danger of the state Iwas in.” Hispsychological troubles weren’tdescribed in court, and he andhis lawyersdeclined to detail them afterward.

U.S. andIranpause strikes

Butboth disagree over next steps on talks

BY JON GAMBRELL and JOSH BOAK Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates

The UnitedStatesand Iran on Monday separately announcedthey will send delegations to Qatar thisweek, though Tehran insisted it hasnot agreed to meet with the U.S. “at any level” after attacks across the Persian Gulf overthe weekendchallenged negotiationstoend the war

U.S. President Donald Trump said the Islamic Republic had requested a meeting with U.S. counterparts and that they planned to convene Tuesday in Doha, Qatar

Butone of Iran’ssenior negotiatorsdeniedtalks had been scheduled. Andthe spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Tehran wassending itsdelegation to Qatar,a key mediator in thenegotiations, to discuss terms of the interimdeal without involving the U.S.

The U.S. president has tried to preservea fragile interimdeal, but hostilities mounted in recent days in the Strait of Hormuz, through which afifth of the world’soil hadbeen shipped before war began. After four days of trading strikes, bothsidesappearedtopause

attack in 2020 in Iraq, as theywait forthe green light to cross an intersection Mondayindowntown Tehran, Iran.

their attacks Monday

The U.S.and Iran agreed to an interim deal earlier this monththat calls for Tehran to dilute its stockpile of enriched uranium. It also waivesU.S.-backed sanctions on thecountry opens the StraitofHormuz and gives each side 60 days to hammer outbroader agreements

Confusionmounts

AfterTrump said Mondaymorning on social mediathatthe U.S. andIran plannedto meet, White Housepress secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News’“Fox &Friends” that special envoy Steve Witkoff andJared Kushner, the

president’sson-in-law,were flying to Qatar Pakistan, also akey mediator,had said talks between Iranand the U.S. would resumeTuesday ButKazem Gharibabadi, asenior negotiator for Iran, said in comments publishedbyIranianstate media that no talks had been confirmed. And Esmail Baghaei,spokesman for Iran’sForeign Ministry, said thatits delegation was traveling to Qatar this week to discuss the planned release of frozen Iranian assets andother issuesrelated to the deal.

“There arenonegotiation meetings withthe U.S. side at any levelscheduledin

the coming days,” Baghaei said.“ThefactthatU.S.representativesare traveling to Qatar has no connection with the visit of the Iranian delegation.”

Tensioninwaterway

During thewar that beganFeb.28, Iran’s attacks and threats stopped cargo ships and tankers from movingthrough theStrait of Hormuz, creating aglobal energy crisis.

In recent days, Iran has twice attacked vessels in the strait —including a tanker filled with Qatari crude —following efforts to open Oman’sterritorial waters to both inbound and outbound traffic from the

Persian Gulf. The attacksdrewretaliatory American airstrikes and raised concerns that negotiations to reach aformalend to the war could be disrupted. Iranlaunched drone and missile attacks targeting Bahrain andKuwait on Sunday

The strait has long been considered an international waterway despite its location in Iran and Oman’sterritorial waters.

TheTrumpadministration wasoperating Mondayonthe understanding that the U.S. and Iran are standing downafter the recent back-and-forth strikes and that vessels can move freely through the Strait of Hormuz, said aU.S. official who requested anonymity to discuss thesensitive negotiations.

$6 billion coming to Iran

The U.S. official also said thatQatarplannedtorelease $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets that would be used to purchase U.S. food products forthe Iranianpeople.

IranianPresident Masoud Pezeshkian had announced the expected release of funds earlier Monday in comments published by the state-run IRNA news agency.Hecalled it “a great victory forthe Iranianpeople.” Pezeshkian, areformist within Iran’stheocracy,is the highest-ranking official within Iran to reference the release of the funds held by Qatar,akey mediator along withPakistan in thenegotiations.

Venezuelanssearchmoreearthquakeruins

Attentionturns to humanitarian crisis

BY JUAN PABLO ARRAEZ and ISABEL DEBRE Associated Press

LA GUAIRA, Venezuela With the window forfinding survivors shrinking fast, Venezuelans combed Monday through more ruins of buildings toppled by last week’s powerful back-toback earthquakes,and attention turned to the country’shumanitarian crisis that could persist for years.

Relieforganizations say thefirst 72hours after anatural disaster is the most crucial time period forrescues,thoughsurvival can be extended if peoplehaveaccesstofood and water.Five days after thetwinquakes, questions loomed about whether the cash-strapped government will be able to coordinatethe effortneeded

in

to carefor thousands of people who have been left homeless.

In other developments, a 4.6 magnitude aftershock rumbled throughthe disaster zone in the northern stateofLaGuaira.

Thedeath tollstood at more than1,700people, according to the government, which has long retained tight control over coverage of major events by Venezuelan news outlets

Facing criticism that authoritieshavedonetoo

little, too slowly, governmentofficials aggressively promoted theirrecovery and rescue efforts.

In aspeech Monday, JorgeRodríguez, the leader of theVenezuelan National Assemblyand brother of acting President Delcy Rodríguez, saidelectricity hadbeen restored to 90% of the hard-hit state of La Guaira.Hesaidauthorities were racing to evaluate damaged buildings that still posed adanger and

Firefighters killed in wildfire tried to shield themselves from

BY TY ONEIL, MATTHEW BROWN and JOHN SEEWER Associated Press

BEAVER, Utah Threefirefighters killed over the weekend in awildfire along the Colorado-Utahborder were tryingtoshieldthemselves from flames by deploying tent-like shelters when they were overcome, authorities said. They were part ofa specialized crew that goes into remote areas to quickly put out newand rapidly escalating wildfires, federal officials said Monday

TheirdeathsonSaturdaycamealmost13years to theday since an elite crew of 19 wildland firefightersdiedwhen they were trapped in asteep canyon in Yarnell, Arizona.

Like this weekend’svictims,the meninArizona hadtried to deployemergencyshelters that are a “last resort”for firefighters whenthere’s no other way out. Investigators didn’tblame anyone in the deaths but did citeradio communication problems that contributed to the Granite Mountain Hotshots becoming trapped. Arizona’sworkplace safety commission also finedthe state’sforestrydivision for not pulling them out. Wildfires have erupted over the past week all acrossthe West, fueled by monthsofdry weather anda record lackofsnow this past winter in some places. Wildfire experts have been warningfor months that extremefire dangers are likely this summer

flames

With morethantwo dozen large fires burning, almost 8,000 wildland firefighters anddozensoffirefighting helicopters have been deployed. About half the largestblazes arein Alaska while the rest are mostly in Western states Evacuations wereordered near seven fires, including in Arizona,Washington state, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah.

The U.S. ForestService identified thefirefighters killedasEmily Barker 38,ofClintonTownship, Michigan; Nick Hutcherson, 27, of Glendale, Arizona; andSydneyWatson, 26, of Warrior,Alabama. Twoothers whowere with them suffered burn injuries. Federal authorities would not release any information abouttheir conditions.

had set up 15 temporary encampments for displaced people.

Many Venezuelan news reports have avoided politically delicate questions related to the earthquake, suchas the widespread collapse of buildings, sticking instead to safer storiesabout heroicrescues. Delcy Rodríguez,who came to power in January after President Donald Trump’sadministration seized formerPresident NicolásMaduro,shared footage Monday of emer-

gency workers lifting aman out of the ruins to applause after a43-hour search effort.

“Each lifesaved is avictory for hope,” she wrote on X.

Butsuch bright spots are rare at the quake’sepicenter, wherefamilieskeep vigil at search sites.

“Wehavetostay strong, even without food, withoutsleep,” saidAna Rada, watching as civil defense workers looked forher brother.“Until Isee the body,I still have hope.”

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ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByVAHID SALEMI

Women talk in front of abanner withagraphic depicting the slainIranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei kissing the head of the late commander of Iran’s RevolutionaryGuard expeditionaryQudsForce, Gen.Qassem Soleimani,who was killed in aU.S.drone

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MATIAS DELACROIX

Residents watch rescuers’ efforts to reach survivors on Mondaybeneath the rubble of abuilding that collapsed in the earthquakes

La Guaira, Venezuela.

SUPREME COURT RULINGS

Justices uphold most of Trump firings

But high court says Fed’s Cook can keep her job for now

BY MARK SHERMAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Monday dramatically expanded presidential power, upholding President Donald Trump’s firings of the heads of independent federal agencies with one important exception: the Federal Reserve.

The Supreme

on Monday expanded presidential

in Slaughter’s case in December, the six conservatives, including three appointed by Trump, seemed more concerned about issuing a ruling that would endure than handing too much power to Trump.

Their rhetoric was reminiscent of the presidential immunity case in 2024 that allowed Trump to avoid prosecution for his efforts to undo his 2020 presidential election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. The court is writing a decision “for the ages,” Justice Neil Gorsuch said then.

The justices allowed Fed governor Lisa Cook to stay in her job while she fights the Republican president’s effort to fire her over allegations of mortgage fraud, which she has denied.

But other than at the nation’s central bank, with its role of setting interest rates, the court held that presidents have free rein to fire agency heads at will, despite federal laws that require a cause for such dismissals and a 91-year-old decision that had limited executive authority

heads of independent federal agencies with one important exception: the Federal Reserve

With the six conservative justices in the majority, the nine-member court jettisoned its unanimous decision in Humphrey’s Executor that had limited when presidents can fire agencies’ board members — in part to try to ensure decision-making free of political influence

“We hold that such protection from removal is contrary to the separation of powers enshrined in the Constitution,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court The justices ruled in the case of former Federal Trade Commission member

Rebecca Slaughter whom Trump fired without cause despite a provision of federal law that requires a reason. The logic of the decision extends to other agencies, including the National Labor Relations Board, the Merit Systems Protection Board and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, where Trump also has fired board members.

Trump voiced his approval in a Truth Social post. “It is such an Honor to be the sitting President who won this Historic and Unprecedented Ruling, one of the most

important ever given with respect to Presidential Powers,” he wrote.

The court already had signaled its support for the Trump administration’s position, over the liberals’ objection, by allowing Slaughter and the board members of other agencies to be removed from their jobs even as their legal challenges continued.

No president before Trump had sought to wrest control of the agencies that regulate wide swaths of American life, including nuclear energy, product safety and labor relations. But at arguments

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in a dissent she summarized aloud in the courtroom, said the ruling could lead to “submission, instability, and even oppression.”

“The president, to be sure, emerges with more power than ever before. That power was given to him by six justices on this court, not the people or the Constitution,” Sotomayor said.

In Cook’s case, the court voted 5-4 to reject the Trump administration’s effort to get Cook out of her job now Roberts, Justice Brett Kavanaugh and the three liberal justices were in the majority

Roberts did include a footnote in his opinion noting that nothing forbids Trump from “trying again” to fire her, provided she is given proper notice and a chance to contest it.

Trump suggested he would take Roberts up on the offer, saying on Truth Social that “we will take appropriate action immediately to make sure that someone who has committed wrongdoing will not be making vital decisions concerning the Welfare of the United States of America!” Cook, who was nominated to the Fed’s Board of Governors by Biden, can continue in her post at least as long as her lawsuit challenging her firing goes on, the court said. The Trump administration is appealing a lower-court ruling in her favor Besides trying to fire Cook, Trump had threatened to fire former Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell if he didn’t leave the board when his term as chairman ended in mid-May Powell has remained as a governor, even

Allowing Cook to be ousted now, Roberts wrote, “would allow the President to remove a member of the Federal Reserve at any time, for any reason, without any notice before, and without any judicial check after That would turn for-cause protection into little more than atwill employment.”

Ruling allows states to count late-arriving mailed ballots

BY MARK SHERMAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that states can count ballots that arrive after Election Day, a persistent target of President Donald Trump. The 5-4 decision rejected a Republican-led attack on laws in more than half the states and the District of Columbia that permit mailed ballots to arrive and be counted some number of days after the election, provided they are postmarked by Election Day The outcome spares officials the headache of changing their ballot rules just a few months before the 2026 midterm congressional elections. In just over half those

states the more forgiving deadlines apply only to ballots cast by military and overseas voters Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote the court’s majority opinion, joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and the three liberal justices. Federal laws setting a single Election Day “leave open when those votes must be received,” Barrett wrote Congress could change the law, she said. “If varied deadlines for ballot receipt similarly call for a national solution, the American people must choose it through their elected representatives,” Barrett wrote. Justice Samuel Alito wrote the dissent for four justices. “Not only is today’s decision inconsistent with statutory

text, legal context, historical practice, and precedent; it also threatens to produce lamentable consequences,” Alito wrote. “The majority’s holding spawns a slurry of troubling election-law questions and risks further undermining Americans’ confidence in election integrity.” The legal challenge was part of Trump’s broader attack on most mail balloting, which he has said breeds fraud despite strong evidence to the contrary and years of experience in numerous states. Trump has repeatedly claimed that his loss to Joe Biden in 2020 resulted from fraud even though more than 60 court decisions and his own attorney general said that argument had no merit

Court rules privacy protections apply to cellphone users’ location history

BY MARK SHERMAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Supreme Court held Monday that constitutional privacy protections extend to cellphone location information, ruling in the case of a bank robber whose identity was discovered through a geofence warrant.

Justice Elena Kagan wrote for the 6-3 court that people don’t forfeit expectations of privacy even when they opt into Google’s location history

“A cellphone user is not to be viewed as sharing private information with third parties which then can be freely passed on to the government — just by doing the

ordinary things cellphone users do,” Kagan wrote. Justice Samuel Alito wrote in dissent that Okello Chatrie had no expectation of privacy in information he voluntarily turned over to Google.

The decision is the court’s latest effort to apply a constitutional provision ratified in 1791 to technology the nation’s founders could not have envisioned Police obtained a geofence warrant after a bank robbery in a suburb of Richmond, Virginia, and used it to locate cellphones that were near the bank around the time it was robbed in May 2019. One of those phones be-

longed to Chatrie, who had eluded the police until they turned to the powerful technological tool.

The warrant kick-started the investigation. After determining that Chatrie was among those near the Call Federal Credit Union in Midlothian at the time, police obtained a search warrant for his home. They found nearly $100,000 in cash, including bills wrapped in bands signed by the bank teller Chatrie pleaded guilty to robbing the bank and was sentenced to nearly 12 years in prison. His lawyers argued on appeal that none of the evidence should have been used against him.

President’s push to toss $5M verdict in E. Jean Carroll sexual abuse case rejected

BY LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a push by President Donald Trump to throw out a jury’s $5 million finding that he sexually abused the writer E. Jean Carroll at a New York City department store in the mid-1990s and later defamed her The high court declined to take up the case in a brief, unexplained order as is typical. There were no noted dis-

sents. Trump also plans to appeal another $83.3 million verdict awarded to Carroll by a different jury after a second defamation trial, his lawyers have said The decision comes as the court hands down its biggest opinions, including a ruling that expands his firing power over the federal bureaucracy with the exception of the Federal Reserve. Trump called the decision to pass on the Carroll case “surprising” in a social media post, and he said he

would continue to fight the defamation claims “This Case is really against the United States of America, and all it stands for,” he wrote. Trump’s lawyers had argued that allegations leading to the verdict were propped up by “highly inflammatory” evidentiary rulings, including those that allowed the testimony of two other women who accused Trump of sexual abuse decades ago. Trump has denied all three women’s allegations.

Trump called the court ruling a “tremendous loss” and renewed his call for Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, which has made it through the House of Representatives but not the Senate. “There is only one reason

to oppose CHEATING!”

Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Among other changes, the legislation would limit who is able to receive a mail ballot and impose a documentary proof-of-citizenship requirement for registering to vote.

“If we want fair and secure elections, Election Day should mean exactly what it says, which is why this decision makes it even more imperative that Congress pass the SAVE America Act,” RNC Chairman Joe Gruters said in a statement.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By MARIAM ZUHAIB

Court

power, upholding President Donald Trump’s firings of the

shaving off pounds

“You lose maybe 20% over six months, then the next three months you lose only 2% of your weight, and the restofthe year you stay stable, or youeven regain,” Ravussin said. “Part of the regain is due to the loweringofyourmetabolism.”

But other substances, like caffeine, speed up metabolism, which is why Ravussin is experimenting with adding to the GLP-1 mixture (though he emphasized he wouldn’trecommend caffeine specifically).

He also seeks to study the effect on muscle mass. The public and many scientists believe the drugs decrease muscle mass profoundly without truly measuringthat impact, he said.

“The hypothesis is you don’tlose as much muscle as people think because we don’tmeasure the muscle,”Ravussin said. “Tomeasurethe muscle, you need todoan MRI.”

BatonRougeGeneral physician

Drake Bellanger,who specializes in obesity medicine,saiddoctors spend alot of time with patients debunking myths or exaggerationsaroundGLP-1s,including fears about muscles deteriorating He said that if patients eat enough proteinand exercise,muscle loss is lessofanissuethan it’sper-

REPORT

Continued from page1A

Alack of consistentaccess to SexualAssault NurseExaminers

—specialized nurses whoconduct forensic medical examinations of survivors —represented another challenge for Louisiana’ssystem of care, according to auditors.

“The biggest takeawayiswhat we already knew —that everythingisinconsistent,” said Morgan Lamandre, CEOofSexual Trauma Awareness and Response, aLouisiananonprofitadvocacy center for victims of sexual assault. “Everything is siloed.”

The state Legislature has already taken steps to addresssome of the problems raised in the report. This year,lawmakers passed House Bill 1247, now Act 724, which creates the position of aSANE coordina-

JUDGE

Continued from page1A

on that constitutional front.” School boards and superintendents have argued that reducing state funding by more than 4% would wreak havoc on their budgets, and could lead to program cuts and even layoffs.

The Louisiana Federation of Teachers, astatewide educators union, said most of its members support the stipends but oppose Landry’splan to payfor them by slashing school budgets, according to arecent survey Moore put the plan on hold earlier this month after agroup of education advocates filed alawsuit challenging Landry’s executive order.They argued that Landry overstepped his legal authority byeffectively reallocating education funding, which is controlled by the Legislature and the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. They also contended that the Legislature’sapproval of the plan is invalid because lawmakers, who are not currently in session, submitted ballots electronically without apublic hearing. The temporary pause expired Monday,whenplaintiffs were set to ask the judge to indefinitely halt the

SURPLUS

Continued from page1A

$26 million deficit. He called it the worst-case scenario.

The state Legislature recently allotted the university $9 million. That money is for 2027, he said. Since the budget deficit came to light in September, the university cut millions of dollars through spending freezes, position eliminations and contract cancellations

tor within theAttorney General’s Office.

That position will be responsible for getting astatewide picture of howthe sexualassault response systemisworking,identifying regionsthat lack resources and reviewing sexual assault response plans, said state Rep. Annie Spell, D-Lafayette, who authored the bill.

Spell, who was elected to the Legislature in the spring of 2025, is a clinical psychologist whosaidshe formerly volunteered with Hearts of Hope, asexual trauma center in Acadiana. In that role, she saw the state neededa more “robust” system for helpingsexual assault survivors that wouldensure access to forensic exams, she said.

“It was one of the reasons why I ran” for office, Spell said.

Spell’slaw creates amobile SANE team, requires regional Health Department medical di-

ceived to be by thepublic. “If you’re above80grams of proteinper day, you’reinthe safe zone,” Bellanger said. “As

rectors to submit annual reports that identify gaps in access to the forensic exams andestablishes apanel to help create statewide standards forsexual assault response services. The panel, known as the Louisiana Sexual Assault OversightSubcommittee, will be asubcommittee of the Louisiana Sexual Assault Oversight Commission.

ButLamandre saidthe Legislature needs to pass laws that add “accountability” to enforce the standards the state is setting for sexualassault services, and feels Spell’slegislation did not go far enough.

“Weneed more teeth behind things,”she said. “Weneedconsequences.”

Forexample, all sexual assault survivors are supposedtobeallowedtohaveaccreditedadvocates presentatmedical exams, so long as they are available.

The audit recommends the state do moretoensure that happens. Spell said she will likely bring morelegislation to strengthen care forsurvivors, but that she believes it needs to be done “wisely” —and after a“statewide framework” is in place.

The audit also recommends the Legislature consider finding aconsistent funding sourcefor sexualassault advocacy centers, strengthen oversight of the state’s sexualassault response system and centralize that system

“Louisiana should assign clear statutory authorityand responsibilitiesatthe state level to one or more entities to oversee and strengthen the state’sresponse to survivors of sexual assault,” the report says.

The parts of the state where people are less likely to have access to accredited sexual assaultvictim advocates includeCatahoula,

long as you’re doing some exercise, someresistance training, making sure your musclesare stimulated,you should lose a minimal amount.”

He sees theshort-term side effects show up moreregularly,with about1 to 2out of every10patients reporting nausea, he said.

Ravussin’sstudy will last 11/2 yearsand make use of Pennington’smetabolic chamber,aresearch environment thattracks the inhabitant’soxygen consumed andcarbondioxide expelledto provide sophisticated data on how many caloriestheyare burning and what kind.

Penningtonisone of ahandful of institutions around the world to ownmetabolic chambers, which cost millions of dollars. Participants of Ravussin’s studywill spend 23 hours at atime in the chamber to calculate their metabolism

“It means we do studieswith or without thedrug andmeasure your energy expenditure doing basically nothing for24hours in ametabolic chamber,” Ravussin said.

Minimizing the impact on metabolism and muscle massare key questions for the next generation of GLP-1s, he said.

“Is there away to lose the least possible muscle mass, and is there away not to drop your resting metabolic rate, or your basal metabolic rate, too much?” Ravussin said.

Winn, LaSalle andConcordia parishes, according to the audit,which says those parishes aren’tserved by accreditedadvocacy centers. Still, they have someofthe state’s highest rates of forensic medical examinations being performed, the report says.

The state also ought to consider improving access to medical examsperformed by SANEsasopposedtoothermedical providers, as it is considered best practice when thosespecialists collect rape kits,evenincreasingthe odds forprosecutors, auditors said.

Rape kit collectionoftentakes over four hours and must be performed in away that properly preserves evidence, per the report.

Between 2024 and 2026, the Lafayette and New Orleans areas had thelowest percentages of exams conductedbySANEs,according to the report.

funding cut. However,the judge endedthe hearing immediately after disqualifyingthe law firm and dissolvingthe temporary restrainingorder

Landry’sJune2 order calling for the school funding cut did not even comeupfor debateMonday. Instead,the hearing focused entirely on thelaw firm’sallegedconflictofinterest.

Since2024, BakerDonelsonhas representedLouisiana inaclass-actionlawsuit arguing that the state’sfostercare system has failed thechildreninits care.The firm entered apleading defending the state as recently as June 12, according to the motionbystate attorneys to disqualify thefirm. On June 18, clients represented by Baker Donelson sought arestraining order to stop Landry’sproposed school funding cut.The plaintiffs in the funding case are Katie Baudouin,an OrleansParish School Board member; Belinda Davis, a former BESE member; and MikeFaulk,aformer school superintendent. BakerDonelsonattorneys said a2023 “waiver of conflicts” allowed the firm to represent clients takinglegal action against the statewhile alsodefending the state in separate cases. Thewaiver was signed by Landry,who at thetime was Louisiana’sattorney general.

In January, it wasreported thatthe athleticsdepartmentreduced expenses from $46 million to $42.7 millionbyleavingvacant positions unfilled and cutting operational budgets. The department at that time wasoperatingwith roughly 25%fewer staff, with about 35 positionseliminated. Each department at the university was asked to cut itsbudgetby10%.

Twentycivil service jobs werecut and56noncivil service jobs were eliminated Another 19 employees were

The firm has represented clients opposing the state in morethan 50 legal matters since 2023, but thestate has not accused BakerDonelson of aconflict of interest until the school funding case, the firmsaid in acourt filing.

Barbara Irwin, an attorneyrepresenting Baker Donelson,told thejudge Mondaythatthe firm has been “forthcoming” and “professional at alllevels” in dealing with the state.She also argued thatthe school funding lawsuit andfoster care cases are unrelated, adding thatthere would be no “cross-contamination” between them.

But attorneys for the state saidBaker Donelson is clearly conflicted and arguedthatthe 2023 waiver is no longer binding. In a message to thefirm quoted in acourtfiling, Murrill said BakerDonelson “cannot possibly believethatan advance waiver of unknowable future conflictsisviable,” adding that awaiver signed by thepriorattorney general“is obviously not binding.”

Moore, aRepublican who was reelected to the bench in 2020, sided withthe state on Monday

“You have to go and get a newwaiverfromthe governor if you wanttosue the governor,” he said before disqualifying thefirm from thecase.

reassigned.

TheOffice of Sustainability and CommunityEngagement waseliminated andthe Office of Communications and Marketing and the Office of Auxiliary Services were restructured.

Earlier this month, the universityannounced it was closing the CecilJ.Picard Center for Child Development and Lifelong Learning and the Marine Survival Training Center Contact Claire Taylor at ctaylor@theadvocate.com.

PHOTO PROVIDEDByPENNINGTON

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Expect another mostly sunnytopartlycloudy, hot and humid day today.Temperatures this afternoon will be about average, rising into the lowtomid-90s.The humidity will remainhigh, so temperatures will feel likethe tripledigits once again, possibly rising to 104or greater.Rain chances todayare at 20%,soisolated showers or storms are possible.Ifyou’re working outdoors for anyextended period of time today, the UV index is at the extreme level, so be sure to protect yourself.

Sweltering Midwestheatcancels outdoorplans

BY HANNAH FINGERHUT and KATHY MCCORMACK Associated Press

DES MOINES,Iowa— Summer camp and other outdooractivities were canceled or delayed Monday as aheat wave heldits grip on the Midwest and spread eastward. Communities opened cooling centers and urged peopletotake it easy and stay hydrated.

“Overall, we’relooking at just areally hot and humid pattern. It’sgoing to be with us through most of the week,” Andrew Ansorge, a meteorologist in DesMoines, Iowa, said of the first prolonged period of heat this summer Much of Iowa and big chunksofthe Midwest were under an extreme heatwarning through at least Tuesday Temperatures were forecast to reach the 90s, with heat

indexvalues, or “feels-like” temperatures, expected to top 100 degrees in the region, Ansorge said.

VisitingDes Moines with family, Rachel Washburn searched for thingstodo withkids during aheat wave. They landed at awater sprayground before lunch, whereher children played tag in the cool water to escape aheat index forecastto reach 109degrees

“Mykids were quite shocked at the heat and humidity,” said Washburn of her seven children ages 18 months to 17 who areused to more temperate weather in Bemidji, Minnesota. “We were hoping for some good weather,but we’ll make do.”

Some of the worst conditions are expected by Thursday and Friday asthe heat movesthrough the Ohio Valley,the Mid-Atlantic and into

the Northeast, with thepotential for some record-high temperatures, said Scott Kleebauer,ameteorologist with the Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland.

On Monday morning, Tomand Cindy Youngblood walked around an out-

Democratsinhalfofstates sueoverMedicaidworkrules

BY ALI SWENSON Associated Press

NEW YORK Democrats in 25 states and the District of Columbia on Mondaysued the Trump administration over its recent guidance on new Medicaid work requirements, arguing the strict rules will prevent eligible Americans from accessing the care they need.

The attorneys general and governors who filed the lawsuit allege that an interim final rule released earlier this month by the Centers for Medicare andMedicaid Servicesoverstepsthe text of the law last summer that set in motion the changes to Medicaid. They claim the Republican administration’s narrow interpretation of parts of the statute, includingnew limits

to amedical frailty exemption, will create harmful coveragebarriers and chaos in states that havebeen rushing to implementnew systems by the January deadline

“Added administrative burdens will cause individualswho are eligible forMedicaid to lose or be denied coverage,” the plaintiffs write.

“Peoplewithdisabilities, patients in the middle of cancer treatment, or those struggling with anotherserious or complex health condition, shouldn’t be at risk of losing thecarethathelps maintain their health.”

Spokespeople forthe U.S. DepartmentofHealthand Human Services andCMS, theagencies named in the lawsuit,didn’timmediately respond to arequest for comment. TheTrump administration has promoted

thenew rules as commonsense measurestoeliminate government freeloading and preserve benefitsfor those who need them most. Thenew Medicaidrestrictions, which Democrats have criticized, werepartof Trump’sbig tax and policy lawin2025. The change affectsthose covered through an expansion in most states that gavemore lower-income people access to thegovernment’s safety net healthcare program. Starting Jan.1,expansion enrollees age 19 to 64 will have to show that they work or do community service at least 80 hours amonthor areinschool at leasthalf the time. Thereare exceptions for those considered medically frail or in addiction treatment programs, among others

door sculpturepark in Des Moines,enjoying brief momentsofshade and ahelpful breeze. The couple, both 67 and from Rogers, Arkansas, returned froma camping trip in Wisconsin and chosea hotel over their camper van Sunday “Wedid notwanttocamp

last night becauseweknew it wouldbetoo hot,” Cindy Youngblood said.

Kleebauer said one of the center’sbiggest recommendationsistostayhydrated and have access to shady areas and air conditioning.

“It just so happens to be coinciding with atime frame where alot of people are away and alot of people are going away for vacation” during the Fourth of July holiday week, he said.

Extreme heat hasalso taken its toll in Europe, where temperature records were setand many heat-related deaths were reported in France.

People can be caught off guard by thefirst heat wave of the year,saidDr. Roy Elrod, chief of staff at DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital.

“You’rehappy winter’s gone,you’re readytoenjoy

the summer, you’ve just been aching for it,” Elrodsaid. “And so, Ithink we slip into kind of aposition where we think it’sgot to be OK.” But heat-relatedinjuries can happen in amatter of minutes, especially to those who don’tprepare forthe weatherbyhydrating, wearing light clothing, avoiding the hottest times of the day and minimizing exposure to the sun, he said.

“We’re just not always prepared for it and it just takes an incident that rattles you and shakes you up that you understand that it can get serious very quick,” he said. In the Midwest, some campprograms on Monday rearrangedtheir schedules. Other outdoor activities, like afarmers marketinMichigan and adrive-in theater in Minnesota, werecanceled on Monday because of the heat.

BY MICHAEL R. SISAK, LARRYNEUMEISTER and JENNIFER PELTZ Associated Press

NEWYORK Luigi Mangione’s federal trial in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson will nowbegin in January instead of the fall, ajudge saidMondayatahearing that started late because Mangione got stuck in a courthouse elevator

U.S. District JudgeMargaretGarnett saidshe was postponing the federal trial so Mangione’slawyers can focusonhis state murder trial, whichisscheduled to begin on Sept.8

Jury selection in the federal case will beginonJan.5, instead of Oct. 13, followed by openingstatements and testimonyonJan. 25, instead

of Nov. 4, Garnett said at a hearing in Manhattan. Garnett said she will not release the questionnaire that prospective jurors will be required to fill out until after thepanel is chosen Having it circulating online for months before jury selection “would only make what promises to be adifficult task more difficult,” she said.

Wearing abeige jail suit, Mangione looked bemused as apair of deputy U.S. Marshals led him into the courtroom about 20 minutes after thehearing was supposedtostart. He briefly gazedatthe courtroom gallery,where about twodozen of his supporters were sitting.

“Mangione waslate due to elevator problems,” the court said in astatement.

It wasthe second mishap involving Mangione’s arrival to acourt hearing in recent weeks. AJune16hearinginthe state case wasdelayed a dayafterprosecutors failed to inform his jail that he wasneeded in court. Garnett saidshe had hoped“with perhaps undue optimism”tohold the federaltrialinthe fall but that “wecan no longer wait to see what happens” in the state case.

“In my viewit’ssimply impossible to be moving through the jury selection process in this case while the defendant and his counselare fully occupiedby conductingthe state trial,” Garnett said.

Mangione’slawyers declined to comment to reporters afterward.

JanRisher

LOUISIANA AT LARGE

Wargraves connectus to history

My husband and Ispent arecent Sunday afternoonlooking for the dead. The idea had been rattling around in my headfor weeks. Baton Rouge was the site of a Revolutionary Warbattle.Somewhere in the city,Ifigured, asoldier from that war had to be buried. Iwanted to find the oldest marked grave in the city and, if possible, pay homage to asoldier of the American Revolution.

Idid my research and knew that Highland Cemetery was home to theoldest known markedgraves in Baton Rouge, but Iwanted to visitasmany of the old places as possible to see for myself.

So, we started at Baton Rouge National Cemetery on North 19th Street. The grounds were immaculate —white headstones in long, even rows, orderly as amilitary formation. We read names and dates —soldiers from war after war but notthe Revolution From there, we drove to Sweet Olive, then Magnolia, then Lutheran. We found old grave sites, still beautifuland moving, but not as tended as the first —still no Revolutionary Wargraves. But we did find something else. In one family plot, Isaw the marker forthree youngsiblings who died withindays of each other in 1858. Then we noticed thesame year again. And again. Ihad known about the yellow fever epidemics the waymost people know history,but standingthere, Icould feel tracesof the grief so many must have experienced then. Iconsidered the parents whose sorrow seemed present all these years later.

The “Old American Cemetery” near the State Capitol was still marked on some maps. We lookedbut did not find it.

Later, Ilearned why we never found the American Cemetery In the earlydays of Baton Rouge as aEuropean settlement, it was likely the first burial ground. Over the years,it felltoruin. Around 1931, the land was cleared for Huey Long’s new State Capitol, and many of the graves weremoved to other cemeteries.

We saved Highland Cemetery forlast.

On our way,wedrove through LSU’scampus and past the Indian Mounds —earthworks older than the pyramids.

When we reached Highland, a small cemetery in aresidential area, we foundwhat we were looking for Armand Allard Duplantier served as aide-de-camp to the Marquis de Lafayette during the Revolution. Years after carrying thegeneral’sorders, Duplantier helped welcome Lafayette to Louisiana on the hero’sgrand tour.Duplantier was Lafayette’s host.

Nearby lay Pierre Joseph de Favrot,who fought in the Revolutionary1779 Battle of Baton Rouge —when Spanish governor Bernardo de Galvez, alliedwith theAmerican cause, captured British-heldforts in the area. Favrot’sstone notes 42 years of servicetoFrance and Spain.

We also found lots of Kleinpeters —awhole dynasty of them, names and dates stacked acrossthe better part of two centuries.

Some will call this astrange way to spend aSunday. Ithought so too, at first. But somethinghappened that afternoon. History wasn’tjust somethingIread about.I could feel it.

Three hours among the dead made me feel more connected to Baton Rouge than plenty of afternoons spent chasingwhat’s

DeRidder transitdirector fired

Fundsweremisappropriated,audit says

BY MEGAN WYATT Staff writer

The transportation director for thecityofDeRidder was fired earlierthisyearafter $1,600 to $3,000 incash collectedbytransit system drivers over athreemonth period did not make it to thebank, according to areport releasedMondayfromthe Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office.

DeRidder Finance Director Holly Buxton wrote in aMarch 31 letter to Louisiana Legislative

Auditor MikeWaguespackthat city officials identified the matter through internal controls and proactively reported it to the Police Department. Thecityalsocompleted an internal investigation and thatresulted in the firing of Transportation Director Allison Hanchey,the audit said. Acriminal investigation is now underway,and thecity also reported findings to thedistrict attorney and the legislative auditor, Buxton wrote. Hancheyhas not been arrested. The cash that went missing was collected between

November and January City officialsplantoadd more oversighttothe transportation director position to ensure more safeguards forthe future, they wrote in aresponse to the audit report

Hanchey workedfor thecity from June 2017 through January, first as program manager then as transportation manager,according to her LinkedIn profile. She also worked as abranch manager for First National Bank DeRidder from 2000 through 2015. Thecity’stransit systemcol-

lected $56,640 for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, according to Monday’saudit. The system, which servesBeauregard Parish, includes one 16-passenger busand fourvans, according to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. The base fare is $7 fora one-waytripwithin thecity limits. Fare fortrips throughoutthe parish vary basedonthe total miles.The rural transit system’s ridershipwas 6,447 in 2024. The misappropriationoftransportation department funds was the only finding in the city’sannual audit report.

Stars, stripes andsong

ABOVE: Audience members stand andsalute Sunday during ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ as conductor David Tornsleads the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra in the 15th annual Stars &Stripes concert at the CyrGates Community Center in CityParkin NewIberia. The Iberia Cultural Resources Association presentedthe performance.

RIGHT: Steve Barras, U.S. Air Force veteran, salutes.

High court upholds vacatedconviction

10th prisoner freedin relation to doctors’ discreditedtestimony

BY JAMES FINN Staff writer

Louisiana’sSupremeCourt on Monday affirmed alower court decision overturninga Ouachita Parish man’sdeath sentence, ruling that theman’sconviction 28 years ago rested on discredited science that “norational juror” would use to reach aguilty verdict today

The33-pagehigh court ruling in favor of former death row prisoner Jimmie“Chris” Duncanrepresents apotential landmark victory for supporters of apost-conviction law Louisiana approvedin2021. Thelaw sought to give prisoners who obtain fresh evidence of their innocence easier paths to jettisoningunjustsentences. PennedbyJusticeCadeCole, the

ruling excoriatesstate prosecutors’ useof“bitemark analysis” during Duncan’s 1998 trial, which ended withDuncan’sconviction on first-degree murder forthe deathofhis former girlfriend’s 23-month-old daughter, Haley Oliveaux. Adistrict court judge in north Louisiana, Alvin Sharp, vacated Duncan’ssentence last May after finding therewere “not sufficient grounds” to have prosecuted him for first-degreemurder.Duncan wasfreed on bail in November after 27 years on death rowatthe Louisiana State Penitentiaryat Angola.

Prosecutors from the4th JudicialDistrictAttorney’sOffice asked the Louisiana Supreme Courttoreinstate Duncan’scapital sentence. Butthe high court’s decision Monday,which camein response to that request,broadly affirms Sharp’sorder

BY KRISTINASKELSON Staff writer

Clarence “Junior” Martin, a renowned accordion maker,musician and member of theLouisiana Music Hall of Fame whose instruments helped shape the sound of Cajunand zydeco musicfor decades,has died. He was 85. Martin died Sunday at his home in Scott. ARayne High School graduate, Martinbuiltasuccessful career in residentialconstructionasowner of Martin& Sons Builders before turning his attention full-time to music afterretiring. He combined his woodworkingskills witha lifelong passion forCajun music to

STAFF FILE PHOTO

By LESLIE WESTBROOK

Clarence ‘Junior’ Martinworks in hisworkshop at Martin Accordions on June 22, 2017, in Lafayette.

PHOTOSByLEE BALL

Sickle cell breakthrough opensnew worldfor patients

When Daniel Cressy rang thebellonJune 22 at Manning Family Children’s in New Orleans, his long fight was complete as thefirst person declaredfunctionally cured from sickle cell diseaseinLouisiana. But for many others, the road to recovery is just beginning.

Cressybenefited from atransformational gene-editing technology that sawdoctorsharvest his own stem cells, ship them offtoageneticslab in Scotland, which modified them to protectfrom the disease, then reintroduce the cells into his body.Itisone of asuite of sickle cell gene therapies thatischanging thefuture for these patients.

It’sthe kind of thing that would be thought of as science fiction not too long ago,but the rapidly evolving science is provingtobeeffective in the real world. That has given newhope to thousands of patients with sickle cell disease, achronic conditionthatcauses unpredictable, debilitating pain that prevents many frommaintaining jobs or performing basic tasks

For Cressy,the disease waspreventing him from living out his dream to becomea pilot. But now,the doors of opportunityare open to him. He said he plans to get back to flight training, and he hopes to be abeacon for other sickle cell patients We congratulate Cressy andthe team of doctors at Manning FamilyChildren’s whohave seen this processthrough to theend.Their dedication and skill will no doubt drawmore patients to Louisiana seeking treatment. It is fitting that Louisiana’s largest children’shospital should be pioneering these breakthrough therapies. Louisiana has one of the highest ratesof sickle cell disease in the country,and it affects Black children disproportionately We also note that the cost of treatmentis something that the state will have to grapple with. The bill can run from $2.2 millionto$3.1 millionper patient, depending on thetherapy The state is using aregistry to find outhow many patients could benefit. In the meantime, we are gratefuland awed by the scientific advancements that we areso fortunate to witness,makinga differenceinour lives today.Once, so many familiesofchildren born with thedisease livedwithlittle hope.But they persevered, dreamingofaday when their sons or daughters could livelives freeofpain. Now that day is here. We canonlyimaginetheir joy and relief. To those familieswho lostloved ones to the disease before thisday arrived, the only comfort is in knowingthatinthe future, no one needs to suffer as they did Such alife-changing medicalintervention should be availabletoasbroad apopulationas possible. We hope that officials in our state and nation will work to make that happen.

OPINION

Geothermalmustbepart of state’snew energy reality

For Louisiana, geothermal must play arole in the energy equation.

Can Louisianastill dominate American energy production if we don’tadapt?The going theory is no.

For decades, Louisianahas been synonymous withworld-class energy production, particularly in thepetrochemical industry.But without the adoption of new power sources like geothermal energy to augment our existing power supply,werisk being left behind— overlooked in favor of competitors with more diverse energy portfolios and reliant on foreign sources to supply our energy needs.

Energy demand is increasing, and it won’tbeslowing any time soon. AI datacenters and new technologies place greater demands on our energy infrastructure, and total reliance on traditional fossil fuels will not be enough.

America’s“old guard” of fossil fuels isn’tgoing away for the foreseeable future, but it needs some help. Louisiana(andAmerica writ large) needs to open the door for new,additional energy “heroes” such as geothermal energy that

can provide reliable 24/7 baseload power With Louisiana’sexisting drilling expertisefrom theoil and gas industry,thousands of skilled workers already trained in subsurface engineering and twoviable hotspotsinnorthern and central Louisiana, theBayou State must be at the forefront of geothermal energy development and investment.

StateRep.Joe Orgeronbrought House Resolution 279 this legislativesession, which “[r]ecognizes geothermal energy as astrategic opportunity for Louisiana and commits to building theconditions necessary to scale the state’sgeothermal resources.”

Stateleaders know theopportunityingeothermal is here, and we can’tcede it to other states. In Louisiana, our existing energy pedigree leveraged to adopt geothermal will create jobs, increase energy affordability and continue our energy dominance and independence well intothe future.

WILL HARDY

state director,Conservatives forClean EnergyLouisiana

Thomas gotthe name wrong, and theclimatepredictions more wrong

Cal Thomas,inhis column published May 27, cited findings from theInternational Panel on Climate Change, claiming their dire predictions on climatechange are now “implausible.” He refers to them as theIPCC.

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

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

TO SEND US A LETTER, SCANHERE

The IPCC is actually theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, awell-respected international body of scientists from 195 countries, andits predictions remainasdireasever

The conclusions he refers to are from the nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change, aconservative advocacy group that seekstoundermine U.N. climate science and touts, among other things, the benefits of increasing CO2 and awarming planet.Clearly,natural disasters have been reading thewrongreports.

The most charitable explanation for this confusion is acombination of ignorance and sloppy reporting. Cal complains that those who reject mainstream scientific findings “were to be ostracized to the land of the ignorant.” Well, if it walks like aduck and fact-checks like a duck.

An alternative, andunfortunately,more plausible explanation is thepurposeful obfuscation and peddling of misinformation, which appearstobethe foundation upon which the modern Republican Party is built.

Considering themain thrust of his commentaryisthat liberals can’tadmit when they are wrong, Ihope Thomas is actively working on an apology letter,but Ifind that “implausible.”

BRENT BARNIDGE

NewOrleans

TheWhite

House is

thepeople’s house

Imagine that you and alarge number of your brothers and sisters have inherited ahistoric house, which you’ve rented to atenant. One day,you hear that your tenant is planning to build ahuge additionto your house. He has not asked permission to do this, either from you, any of the other owners of the house or the historical commissions that would have to approve any modification to such ahistoric structure.

When asked, your tenant says that the structure he has planned, aballroom,will not touch the exterior of your house, and he assures you that the construction will be funded entirely by donations fromhis friends. Youwonder what his friends will be getting in return for their donations and whatuse they will be making of your property,but he doesn’tsay.You don’t give your permission for the project.

The next month, you see that awing of your historic house has been demolished. The historical commissionhas not issued any permits for the demolition —infact, it has not even been consulted.

Eight months later,you and the other owners of the house are approached and asked to chip in $1 billion towards the construction. You’re told it’snecessary for security reasons, as your tenant has been shot at on several occasions, but your tenant plays golf regularly and attends rallies, meetings and public sporting events, such as the Super Bowl and MMA matches outside the house.

Tell me,how long would you put up with this before you evicted your tenant?

SARA SMITH Harvey

Giving Trumps immunityfrom IRSwas thegoaloflawsuit

Now that the Department of Justice slush fund has been canceled, attention must be placed on the other part of the Trump-IRS “settlement:” President Donald Trump, his family members and all their business interests are to be granted immunity from any IRSscrutiny This is the real action that TrumpInc. wanted from his bogus lawsuit. It is knownasbait-and-switch. All con men know the technique, and now the American public does, too. Contact your elected senators to stop this scam

GLENJACKSON NewOrleans

Shrinkingthe electorate a solution in search of aproblem

America was born froma simple but powerful principle: Government derives its legitimacy from the consent of the governed. That principle inspired our Declaration of Independence, shaped our Constitution and has beendefended by generations of Americans willing tosacrifice everything topreserve our right toelect our leaders. Louisiana families have sent their sons and daughters tofight in every major conflict in our nation’shistory to protect asystem in which citizens choose their representatives and government remainsaccountable to its people.

That is why Louisiana’srecent experience with closed congressional primaries should give us pause. When voters had an opportunity to weigh in on the U.S. Senate racein2022, approximately 1.4 millioncitizens participated. When they next had that opportunity in 2026 under the state’s new closed-party primary system, participation fell to approximately 746,000 voters. Nearly half the electorate disappeared.

Many factors affect turnout,and no single election tells the whole story But the question deserves an honest answer: If our goal is to maximize citizen participation in the selection of our leaders, where did those voters go?

For more than 50 years, Louisiana’s open primary system represented one of the most democratic election models in America. Every voter received the same ballot. Every candidatecompeted before the same electorate. Republicans,Democrats, independents andunaffiliated voters all participated in acommon contest. Candidates were required to persuade not only their most loyal supporters, but voters from across the political spectrum.

In many respects,itwas the purest form of free-market politics in America today Success depended on building broad coalitions. The skills required towin were the same skills required to govern, producing remarkable results. Consider the results of Louisiana’s open primary system.Today,the state’scongressional delegation includes both the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and the House majority leader.This is thefirst time in American history that both

topleadership positions belong to the same state —anextraordinarydistinctionfor astate of Louisiana’ssize.

Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise were both elected and reelected under theopen primary system. Whatever one’spolitical views, their rise to national leadership demonstrates that Louisiana’smodel rewarded candidates who could build diverse coalitions, earn the confidence of abroad electorate and ultimately gain the trust of their colleagues in Congress. Louisiana should be proud of that record.

TheUnited States Constitution never mentions political parties. The Framers envisioned representatives chosen by the people. While parties emerged naturally over time, they were never intended to become the primary gatekeepers between citizens and their elected officials.

Closed primaries make them exactly that. Butwewere warned. In his farewell address, President George Washington cautioned that the rise of politicalparties “will enable subverting the power of the peopleand to usurpfor themselvesthe reins of government.”

Overlyempowering political parties through distorted electionsdisempowers voters.

Under the system Louisiana used this year for U.S.Senate, voters were divided into separate partisan contests before they ever reached ageneral election.

Instead of having thefreedom to vote for whichever candidate for every office, voters were restricted to one party’sballot.And while the unaffiliated voters could participate, there were widespread reports of voter confusion.

In aclosed party primary system, candidates are incentivized to appeal first to their partisan base—the nar-

row slice of voterswho determine the primaryoutcome —rather than to the broad constituency they will actually representifelected. That misalignment mattersbecauseelected officials do not representpolitical parties once they takeoffice. They representeveryone in their districts, regardless of party registration.

Louisiana voters are rightfully frustrated.Each disruption gave them another reason to feel alienated from the veryprocess meanttorepresent them. Within ashortspan, U.S. Houseprimaries yo-yoed from open to closed, back to open,and now set to be closed again in thenext election cycle.

In addition to theunderstandable confusion and chaos that created, thenew closed primary system is expected to cost taxpayers $135 million over 10 years —money that I’d argue would be better spentonactual priorities like flood protection and traffic problems Throughout my time in Congress, Ifielded thousandsofrequests, but wasting taxpayer funds, adding bureaucracy and reducing legitimate voter participation werenever among them.

Thereisalsoatelling inconsistency. Many legislatorswho spent years campaigning under Louisiana’straditional open primarychose not to apply theclosed-primarymodel to their own state and local races. That decision speaks volumes. If the open primary system remains effective for selecting state legislatorsand local officials, why abandon it when we are choosing thepeople who representLouisiana in Washington?

No election system is perfect.But at atime when Americans increasingly distrust institutionsand question theintegrityofelections, asystem in which primary participation drops by nearly half demands serious scrutiny The question is notwhich party benefits; it is whether dividing Louisiana votersinto separate partisan electorates serves our state better than our system that guided us for more than half acentury For nearly 250 years, Americans have fought to preserve the principle that authority flows from the consent of the governed. The answer to our political challenges is not fewer voices. It is more consentfrom thegoverned.

Garret Graves served five terms in the U.S. Congress, representing Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District from 20152025.

Mamdani’svictory strutispremature

Yes, Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s socialist picks recently knocked off some Democratic incumbents in New York City.They includedsurprising defeats, especiallythat of Rep. Adriano Espaillat, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Espaillat lost to Darializa Avila Chevalier,whose social media swims with past calls to abolish the police, free prisoners and stop deportations forany reason, presumably including murder

take the presidency from Trump two years later

TheDemocratic left soldthese results as athumbs-up for itsradical agenda. Butthosesame views —things like defunding police andobsession with transgender issues —turned off themiddle America voterswho gave Biden his win in 2020.

scribed thedangers New York’s far left posetothe Democrats’ future. As an anchor at Spectrum News NY1, he has interviewed them all.

Letlow’s campaign worked out exactlyas Trump intended

U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow’sbid to become the Republicannomineefor U.S. Senate kicked off in January notwith herown announcement, but with asocial media post fromPresident Donald Trump.

Saturdaynight, as she claimed her spot in the fall general election, Letlow started her victory speech offbythanking Trump for recruiting herinto the race —and, forgood measure, calling him “the greatestpresident this country has ever had.”

And thus, the primary season endedasitbegan,asacase study in just hownationalized ourpoliticshavebecome.

The months of campaigning amongGOP hopefuls —including incumbent andthird-place primary finisherBill Cassidy,who Trump neverforgave forhis 2021 vote to convictfor inciting the Jan.6attack on Congress, and state TreasurerJohn Fleming, Letlow’srunoff opponent —amountedtolittle more thana contest to prove who wasthe most loyal. Campaigns areoften unserious, but this one was especially so,with misleading accusations flying aboutwho wasmore woke, even if woke was nowhere on the GOP ballot. Other than Fleming’sattempt to inject carboncapture politics into the conversation, the campaign could have happened in any state with alarge pro-Trump base anda party primary systemthatamplifiedthat base’s overallvoting power

In Louisiana,this wasasignificantchange;itwas the first party primary forCongress since2010, when aprevious shift from open primarieswas so unpopular that it wasquickly reversed. Thatmay well happenthis time too. In the meantime, it worked as its proponents intended.

Gov.JeffLandry,aneager Trump disciple, was the lead architect of the newvoting rules, andhewas alloverLetlow’scampaign. Most othermembersofthe party establishment linedupwith her, too, including Attorney General Liz Murrill and several fellow members of Congress. Trump may be the greatest disruptorinmodern American politics, but the GOP’ssupposedinstitutionalists here, like elsewhere,are fully on board. And with allvoters no longerable to choose amongall candidates, the turnout wasrelatively select.Only registeredRepublicans andno-party voters could participate in the two-stage GOP selection process, and not that many did. Letlowwon the runoff Saturday night with support from roughly 180,000 votes, outofabout 1.8 millionwho were eligible to take part.

It’snot like Espaillat’sdistrict was dominated by theyoung professionals who flocked to Mamdani. His electorate is 52% Hispanicand includes such non-hipster neighborhoods as Harlem, Washington Heights andparts of the Bronx.

Nonetheless, Mamdani may have seriously misread the national mood when he said right before the primaries: “When does the racefor 2028 begin? It starts now.” That was an awesome display of grandiosityfor aguy who didn’tget even50% of the vote even though he was the official Democratic candidate in avery Democratic city

The New York primaries may indeed be kicking off the presidential contest in 2028, but not in away Democrats would like. Look at recent history Backlash against Donald Trump’serratic governing style returned control of the House to the Democrats in 2018. Similar forces helped Joe Biden to

Twoyears later,Republicans retook theHouse majority by weaponizing the dumbest things left-wingershad said. Similar dynamics powered Trump’s return to the presidency in the 2024 election. It is dangerous to assume thatdisgustwithTrump translates into adesire to stop immigration enforcement.

The recently elected Mamdani, meanwhile, is enjoying an overly long honeymoon.The realityissure to overtake the massive publicityhe attaches tothe smallestofachievements. New Yorkers are noticing that there are still no free buses,aspromised. The rents are not frozen. And universal childcare has not happened. Mamdani has also antagonized thefinancial business leaders, jeopardizing the prospectsofthe young grads seekingwhite-collar jobs, that is, much of his base.

Democrats seeking victories in the heartland should fear having theexcesses of coastal socialists hanging around their neck.The veteran New York political analyst Errol Louis de-

“They’ve got some ideas that will not sellinDes Moines or in, you know, Cleveland,” Louis said. Their strategists tellhim that they’re “gonna fight, fight,fight get themselves arrested, introduce legislation, whether or not it has achance of getting ahearing or ever becoming law.”

Barack Obama understands well the radicals’lack of appeal outside choice urban corridors. He’scalled out affluent progressives who think they earn halos by pushing polices deemed to help theless fortunate but end up costing Democratsatthe polls.They can embrace left-liberal politics without personally paying aprice, Obama said lastyear.“Youcould still make alot of money.You could still hang out in Aspen and Milan and travel and have a houseinthe Hamptons and still think of yourself as aprogressive.”

Democrats have fine hopes that this year’s midterms will deliver at least a House majority.The growing dislike of Trump putswind in theirsails. Come the2028 presidential contest, however,Trump will presumably not be running. Butthe Democrats’ aggravating radicals will still be at it.Ifthe race for 2028 starts now,Democrats should be concerned.

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

There was aDemocratic primary runoff, too, andfarmer JamieDavis easily wonthat one, so he’ll be Letlow’sgeneral election opponent in aNovember midterm election that’sshaping up as anationalreferendum on the second Trump presidency.InLouisiana, that and overallvoting patterns give Letlow amassive edge She doesn’treally need to, but it would be niceifshe spent the next four months putting herself outthere andtrying to build a broader coalitionthan the MAGA-dominated onethatgot herhere. She could try to counter arguments thatshe’s indebtedtoTrump and Landry,asevensomeinfluential Republicans, suchasradio hosts Moon Griffonand Newell Normand, have charged. She could expound on what she means when she says she’ll always put Louisiana first. She could even agreetoa televisiondebate, something she avoided during primary season. The truth is thatifshe wins comefall, there will be plenty of time for hertomove from underTrump’sshadow.He’sgot just two years left; aSenatetermruns six, and Letlow,at45, could be in Washingtonmuch longer.Atsome point, she’llanswertomorethanone person, or even 180,000 of them.

Now’sasgood atime as any to getstarted. Email Stephanie Graceatsgrace@ theadvocate.com.

Froma Harrop

Stephanie Grace

Letlow

FILEPHOTO By BILL FEIG

Aworker pulls signs as voting machines aresortedfor deliveryfrom astorage warehouse in Baton Rouge.

BYANNAKATE FREELAND

Staff writer

A$100,000 Powerball prize remains unclaimed after a winning ticket was sold at a Donaldsonville convenience store.

Powerballticketunclaimed

Theticket was soldatMurphyUSA,36500 La. 3089, on Wednesday,according tothe Louisiana Lottery Corporation. The winning numbers were 13, 14, 16, 21, 38, and the red Powerballnumber was 14 with a2xPower Play

The ticket holder has until Dec. 12 to claim their prize. The Louisiana Lotteryadvisesplayers whobelieve theyhold awinning ticket to sign theback of the ticket immediately,keep it secure and treat it as cash.

Players who believe they have awinning Powerball, Mega Millions or Lotto jackpot ticket are encouraged to contact Louisiana Lottery headquarters at (225) 2972000 to schedule an appointment.

N.O. judgeslatedfor removalsuesovercuts

Legislaturevotes notenoughto slashbench, justice claims

BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer

New Orleans Criminal Court Judge John Fuller has sued Gov.Jeff Landry and other officials overrecent cuts to the city’scriminal bench, arguing that state lawmakers failed to reach arequired two-thirds vote before Landry signed alaw to nix three judicial seats.

But Sen. Jay Morris, RWest Monroe, who sponsored the legislation, said Fuller’slegal claim doesn’t overcome ahurdle Louisiana lawmakers carved out specifically for Orleans Parish back in the 1970s. Landry signed Act 748 into law this month, days after the Louisiana House signed off on aslate of 11thhour tweaks to the measure on the final day of the session. That came by avote of 62-34 with nine state representatives absent.

But thestate constitution requires two-thirds supermajority votes from both the House and the Senate to change the number of judges in any judicial district, Fuller argued in hispetition for an injunction. Fuller says only the state Senate reachedthe supermajority mark of 26 votes on April 20, when that bodyadvanced Morris’bill to the House for consideration.

“At no stage of the legislative process did the House of Representatives adopt any version of Senate Bill No. 217 by atwo-thirds vote of itselected members, and the conference committee text that became Act 748, including the abolition of Sections A, E, and J, was never adopted by atwo-thirds vote of the elected members of either house,” attorneyJerome Matthews Jr.wrote in the petition, filed Monday

Continued from page1B

Duncan proved “by clear and convincing evidence that no rational jurorwould have found him guilty beyond areasonable doubt of first-degree murder had the newevidencebeenpresented at trial,” Cole wrote. Duncan admits to leaving Oliveaux in abathtub the morning she died, but has denied any otherrole in her death.

“An innocent man, Mr Duncan endured unimaginabletraumafroma deeply flawed conviction built largely on unreliable forensic evidence and expert testimony that has now been thoroughly discreditedand undermined,” saidDuncan’s legal team in astatement. He was represented by lawyers from the Innocence Project,the MwalimuCenter for Justice and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP

“Although nothing can restore the decades stolen from Mr.Duncan, this ruling provides some brief solace for Mr.Duncan,his family and friends,” his lawyers added.

Criminal District CourtChief JudgeJuana

for newly elected JudgeJohn Fuller.Fuller has sued Gov. Jeff Landryand other officials overrecent cutstothe city’scriminal bench, arguing that state lawmakers failed to reach a required two-thirds vote before Landrysigned alaw to nix three judicialseats.

in the19th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge.

Morris said Monday he researched the pathtopassage when he drafted the legislation.The supermajority requirement cited in Fuller’slawsuitisoutlined in Article V, Section 15 of the stateconstitution.

Morris said that provision didn’t apply because of an exceptiondelegates carved outspecificallyfor Orleans Parish courts and municipal offices during Louisiana’s 1974 ConstitutionalConvention.

The exception, found in Section32ofthe samejudicialbylaws, madethe courts “subject to change by law” witha majority vote.

“I didmyresearch ahead of timetomake sure it doesn’trequire asupermajority vote,and it doesn’t,” he said Monday

While Morris argued the covenant made at the 1974 convention trumps the supermajority requirement, Fuller andhis attorney say theexception doesn’t “excuse” the need for atwothirds vote.

“Thecontraryconstruction would make Orleans Parish the onlyjudicial districtinLouisiana whose number of district judges may be reduced without

Fourth Judicial District Attorney Robert “Steve” Tewdid not respond to a phone message Monday.

ChiefSupreme Court

JusticeJohnWeimerina concurrence to Cole’srulinglikened theuse of bite mark analysis to “trialby water” —apre-Enlightenment practice of binding and throwing accusedwitches into lakestosee whether theyhad demonic powers that would enablethemto float

“Wenow look back at those practices as asinine and absurd,” Weimer wrote. Duncan’svictory before the state Supreme Court comes alittle mo th year since Louisiana nitrogen gas to per first execution in part of apush by Landry and Attorney eral LizMurrill to the pace of execution state.

the constitutional protection Article V, Section 15(D) affords to ‘anyjudicialdistrict,’”the lawsuit states. Fuller,one of threejudges the new law eliminated, collected 65% of thevote in a May16specialelectionto secure his Section Jseat, earningthe righttofinish the last seven months of retired Judge DarrylDerbigny’sunexpiredterm.

But when the termends Dec. 31,Fuller will be ousted along with fellow judges Simone Levine andRhonda Goode-Douglas. Levine presides over Section Awhile Goode-Douglashandlesthe court’sSection Edocket.

One of the late changes to thelegislation put GoodeDouglasonthe chopping blocktothe consternation of Landry Judge Leon Roche was previously slated for removal as part of a“last-in, first-out”approach that had been used in selecting the three sectionsofcourt to be ousted, but the Legislature ditched thatseniority approach on the eve of the session’send. Lawmakers have offered little explanation for the late swap.

Fullerand his attorney are asking astate judge to nullify Act748,which they claim was “never validly

Duncan’scase, Weimer wrote in his concurrence, “demonstrates we cannot be too careful in determining whether the death penalty should be implementedin cases such as this case because of thefinalityofthe sentence and the impossibility of rectification.”

“Such an irreversible and tragic consequence is inimical anddeleterioustoour system of justice if carried out based on evidence that is devoid of legitimacy,” he wrote. “The lawsof post-conviction relief have served thepurposeofpreventing the inappropriate application of the ultimate punishm

enacted.” They alsowant a judge to order elections officials to keep theremoved judges’ names and sections on theballots forthe upcoming Nov.3races.

Aspokespersonfor the governor did not immediately return acomment on Monday. Landry,Attorney General LizMurrill, Secretary of State Nancy Landry and Orleans Clerk of Court ChelseyRichardNapoleon arelisted as defendants.

Arep for the Secretary of State declinedtocomment. Napoleon could notbe reached for comment.

Murrill’soffice issued a statement late Monday “The state constitution has special exemptions for OrleansParish that permit thelegislature to legislate in the ordinary manner The Court justaffirmed the legislature’spower to do so regarding the clerks. I’m sure this matter will alsobe resolved quickly,” the statement said.

BatonRouge JudgeTarvald Smithwas assigned to handle the lawsuit. He hadn’tyet set adate for a preliminary hearing on the matter

Email MattBruce at matt bruce@theadvocate.com.

ognized as based on shoddy science.

After respondingtothe scene of Oliveaux’sdeath at Duncan and his thengirlfriend’sWestMonroe apartment, authorities sent thelittle girl’sbody to Jackson,Mississippi, for forensic examination by pathologist Steven Hayne. Hayne told detectivesheobserved bite marks on herbody,aclaim he supportedbyconsulting an odontologist, Michael West West and Hayne have since been widely discredited and sanctioned by various medical boards. The Su-

MARTIN

Continued from page1B

found Martin Accordions, whose handcrafted instruments are played by musicians across Louisiana, the United Statesand around the world.

Martin taught himself to play the steel guitar at age 16 and went on to perform and record with morethan 50 bands during his lifetime.

His contributions to Louisiana music earned him induction into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, along with multiple honors from the Cajun French Music Association.

“The sound behind zydeco andCajun music stars includesaccordion builders,” zydeco historian Herman Fuselier wrote Mondayonsocial media.

“Their handmade instruments are works of art that have made people dance and fed families.Many musicians entrusted longtime builderClarence‘Junior’ Martin, whodied Sundayatthe ageof85. The sound of his Martin Accordions will continuefor generations.” Funeral services are scheduledfor 1p.m. Wednesday at La Chapelle de Martin &Castille, 330 St. Landry St. Visitation will begin at 7:45 a.m. and continue until the service.

RISHER

Continued from page1B LOTTERY SUNDAY,JUNE 28, 2026

PICK 3: 6-7-8

new. Once home, Ikept thinking aboutthe names —especially the Kleinpeters. Iwondered whetherGraham Kleinpeter, the 17-year-old son of afriend, hadevervisitedHighland Cemetery Stories can travela long way down afamily,or theycan thin anddisappear from onegeneration to the next.

Graham is entering his senioryear at St. Michael High School in August. He told me he knewsome of his family’sstory,but he wasn’t “real clear on

preme Court’sruling noted West was captured on video pushing amoldofDuncan’s teeth onto Oliveaux’sbody —a method only he was known to have used, according to experts cited in the order, andone thatdestroyed evidenceand “created marks” on Oliveaux’s skin.

the details.” Itoldhim I’d like to go with him to Highland Cemetery sometime. Iwondered whether standing there would change something for him. Whether seeing Johann GeorgeKleinpeter —the German settler whoarrivedin1784 —or reading aboutgenerations thatfollowed would make family stories feel less abstract. Even though he’s in the throes of senioritis and focused on getting ready for this fall’sfootball season,Ihaveafeeling seeing it allinperson may do to him what it did to me History can be handed down,but sometimes it’s pieced together.

Duncan’sattorneys noted in their statement Monday that Tew, the district attorney in Ouachita Parish, has promised to retry their client.

“IfMr. Tewchooses to pursue anew trial, ourteam will continue to stand alongside Mr.Duncan and will notstop pressingforward untilheis fully and completely exonerated,” they said.

Duncan is the 10th death row prisoner freed in part due to the twodoctors’ nowdiscredited testimony,according to the news services andthe nonprofit Death Penalty Information Center Hayne had also determined that Oliveaux suffered sexualassault anddiedfrom forcible drowning, which multiple other experts later refuted.

Email James Finn at jfinn@theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTO By JANRISHER Grave marker of Pierre Joseph de Favrot, whofought in the Revolutionary1779 Battle of Baton Rouge

STAFF PHOTO By MATT BRUCE

NewOrleans

Marine Lombard, left, holdsa Bible

SPORTS

Newest Pelican took long path back home

BY RODWALKER Staff writer

Long before Jaron Pierre wanted the NBA life, he simply wanted aT-shirt. So when he would attendNew Orleans Pelicans games in theSmoothie King Center asa kid, his sole mission was to catch oneofthe souvenirslaunched from the T-shirt cannon during timeouts.

One night,hegot lucky and snatched one.

“The shirt was asize 3X,down to my feet,” Pierre said. “I wasdancing so hard. I wasn’teven watching the game anymore. Iwas just happy Ihad ashirt.”

But the joy from his childhooddoesn’t come close to the joy Pierre had Mondaymorningathis introductorynews conferencewhen he stood beside Joe Dumars and held up his No. 10 Pelicans jersey “I almost dropped atear,” Pierresaid of when he got the news of his selection. “It felt surreal.” Pierre, drafted with the No. 58 overall pick Wednesday,isa Pelican now This time, his Pelicansgear doesn’t drape down to his feet. It fits perfectly, whichisjusthow Dumars expectsthe nearly 24-year-old guard from SMUto fit on the roster.Dumars, heading into his second seasonasthe executivevice president of basketball operations,had justone pick in this year’sdraft.

“We’re trying to hit oneverypick that we bring in here,” Dumars said. “Wedon’ttake any of themfor granted There’sacertain type of player thatwe are looking for.Weare lookingfor guys whoare competitive.Weare looking for guys who have toughness. And we are looking for guys who really want to be here in NewOrleans. Jaronchecks the boxfor all of those.”

The city of New Orleansmade Pierre whom he is today.That’sevident by the shiny chain with the glistening “5” dangling around his neck. That five represents the 5th Ward,the part ofthe city that raised him. He wore thatnumber at St. AugustineHighSchool.Healso wore thatnumber at SMU, where he averaged 17.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists during his one season playing with the Mustangs.

Now that kid with the big dreams from the 5th Ward is back in his hometown. His road to the NBA was along and winding one, with stops at four schools in six years. When he graduated from St. Aug in 2020, he first attended Southern Mississippi. He wore No. 55 therebothseasons inHattiesburg From there, he transferred to Wichita State and then Jacksonville State before finishing up at SMU.

THE NEXT STEP

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

LSUwill have transfers alloverthe field in 2026, but most of them will be concentratedonoffense —the unitLaneKiffin overhauled once he began his tenure as headcoach.

As forthe defense? That side of the ball managed to keep alarge chunk of its coachingand roster talent intact duringthe transition from coach Brian Kelly to Kiffin.Third-yeardefensive coordinator Blake Baker is back. So, too, are starters Whit Weeks,DJPickett, Tamarcus Cooley,PJWoodland and Dashawn Spears. Each played akey roleona unit that improvedfrom61stamong FBSteams in totaldefense in 2024 to 25thin2025. The group could take another step forward in 2026, especially if afew newcomersstep into roles alongside the returners and enjoy productivecampaigns for aunit that’s come alongway since itsdisastrous 2023 season.

“Blake does agreat job,” Kiffin saidin April. “The players play really hard for him. He’s agreat motivator,soIreally like that because it creates acompetitive atmosphere outthere.”

Let’shighlight four transfers expected to play important roles in 2026 as LSU tries to break back into theupperechelon of FBSdefenses.

STyBenefield

Benefield, asafety from Boise State, was oneofthe clear standoutsofspring practice, and Kiffin said in arecent appearance on Tyrann Mathieu’spodcast that he was “gonna be one of those legends to playhere.”

That’slofty praise for Benefield, the former All-Mountain West Conference senior who’sexpected to man one of LSU’s starting safety spots.

“He’swiredright,”Kiffintold Mathieu.

“Unbelievablerange,great ball skills.I’m like, ‘You gottaget him up here to meet you,’just to connect it. Like, you’re gonna be (one of)these iconic names, hopefully.”

Benefield started at safety next to Cooley in spring practices, but he also could

spend some time at the Star spot —the hybrid defensive back-linebacker position that Spears, ajunior,played throughout those sessions.

At Boise State, Benefield excelled around the line of scrimmage. He recorded 8.5tacklesfor loss last season, which led all Mountain West defensive backs.

DE Princewill Umanmielen

It’s no secret that Baker wantshis defenses to create havoc. It’sjust difficult to accomplish that goal consistently without acapable four-man pass rush.

That’swhy Umanmielen wasone of LSU’smostimportant signings during the transfer-portal cycle. At Ole Miss in

Alleyesagain on LeBron in NBAfreeagency

BY TIM REYNOLDS AP basketball writer

NBA free agency in 2010: Everyonewaited for LeBron James to makeadecision. NBAfreeagency in 2026: Everyone is waiting again forJames to makeadecision. James was the biggestdomino to fall in the NBA’s offseason player movementperiod 16 yearsago when he decided to join Miami, and he may be thebiggest domino to fall —atleast in free agency this summer as well. Free agency opens in the NBA on Tuesday evening, withJames’ future atop the list of mostintriguing storylines that will be solvedoverthe coming days and weeks. It seems like retirement isn’t happening yet,which would mean

the NBA’sall-time leader in points scored, minutesplayed andgames playedcoming back for arecord-extending 24th season and potentially —when including playoffcontests —appearing in the2,000th gameofhis career

His optionswould figuretoinclude staying with the Los Angeles Lakers, returning to Miami or Cleveland or even thinking about moving elsewhere such as Golden State andteaming up with longtime friends Stephen Curry and Draymond Green to chaseone moretitle. Green —who is not expected to leaveGolden State —onMonday declined his $27.6millionoption for next season, doing so to give the Warriors moremaneuverabilitytoadd players in the coming

days, aperson with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.

“When the timecomes, you guys will knowwhatIdecide to do,” James said whenthe Lakers were eliminated this spring by Oklahoma City in a4-0 sweep.

The timeiscoming. The window when teams can begin talking with free agents other than the ones on their own team,those talks could begin when theNBA Finalsended —opens at 5p.m. on Tuesday,and deals could be flying not long afterward. In most cases, any new deals cannot be executed until at least the end of the offseason moratorium next Monday “This period we’re in right now,

STAFF FILE PHOTOByMICHAEL JOHNSON

eld before adrill at spring practice on March26atthe LSUfootballpractice facility

ASSOCIATEDPRESS

By ROGELIO V. SOLIS Ole Miss linebacker PrincewillUmanmielen looksfor aSouth Carolina ball carrier on Nov. 1inOxford,Miss. Umanmielen is nowatLSU

WORLD CUP ROUNDUP

Paraguay stuns Germany

By The Associated Press

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Jose Canale

scored on the first sudden death penalty kick, Orlando Gill made two key saves in the shootout, and Paraguay upset Germany 4-3 on penalties Monday to earn the biggest upset of the 2026 World Cup so far The round of 32 match was tied at 1-1 after extra time. Paraguay had gone in front when Julio Enciso scored on a header late in the first half. Kai Havertz equalized in the 52nd minute for four-time champion Germany. Paraguay will next face the winner of Tuesday’s match between France and Sweden on Saturday in the round of 16 in Philadelphia. A win in that match would land them back in Foxborough for a quarterfinal match on July 9. Germany had won six of seven penalty shootouts in major tournaments, including six straight since losing to Czechoslovakia in the 1976 European Championship final.

In the only previous World Cup match between the teams, Germany beat Paraguay 1-0 in the round of 16 at the 2002 tournament. Nearly a quarter-century later, Paraguay has its revenge. Paraguay had appeared in five previous knockout games but failed to score in each It advanced only once in those previous occasions, winning on penalty kicks against Japan in the round of 16 at the 2010 tournament in South Africa. It fell that year to eventual champion Spain in the quarterfinals.

Monday was Germany’s first knockout game since the 2014 final in Brazil when the Germans beat Argentina 1-0 to capture their fourth World Cup title. On Monday Germany appeared to take a 2-1 lead in the 102nd minute when Jonathan Tah headed in a corner kick by Nathaniel Brown that was just above the reach of Gill. But a video review ruled that Waldemar Anton had pushed Gill to the ground before

the shot and the goal was disallowed.

BRAZIL 2, JAPAN 1: In Houston, Ga-

briel Martinelli scored the winning goal late in injury time to give five-time champion Brazil a win over Japan.

Martinelli, who had come on as a second-half substitute, scored in the sixth minute of stoppage time as the match appeared to be headed to extra time.

“Above all else we wanted to freshen up the field because Martinelli has a lot of intensity as a player,” Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said through a translator

“When he goes in the match, he’s always on his top game.”

Brazil will next face either the Ivory Coast or Norway on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in the round of 16.

“We can never be content with what we’re doing,” Ancelotti said.

“We’re doing a good job. We are

performing. But you can never be content because we want to play better We want to play at the highest level.”

Casemiro had earlier equalized for Brazil on a header in the 56th minute off an assist from Gabriel Magalhães after just missing another chance two minutes earlier The shot sailed just out of reach of the outstretched hand of Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and into the net.

Kaishu Sano stole a misplaced pass at midfield and took it down the field before a right-footed shot from above the half circle put Japan ahead in the 29th minute.

“There is not making mistakes because nobody is perfect,” Ancelotti said. “But you have to overcome it, and you have to push it forward. The team did a good job of that in the second half.”

Vinícius Júnior, who has scored four goals so far in this year’s

tournament, had a chance to put Brazil on top in the 58th minute but his shot from the left box was deflected by Suzuki and went off the far post.

Casemiro left in the first minute of second-half stoppage time with what appeared to be a leg injury.

Brazil great Neymar didn’t play Monday after making his first appearance for the team since 2023 in the last game against Scotland. He played only 14 minutes in that 3-0 win after missing the first two group matches at the World Cup with a right calf injury

“I was seriously considering putting him on the pitch,” Ancelotti said. “In the end, we did not need him.”

Japan has never won a knockout match at the World Cup, going 0-4 in the round of 16 — including also taking the lead the past two times in 2018 and 2022 before losing.

Van Gisbergen seeks improvement on ovals

Driver known for road, street racing must shore up skills on circular tracks

By The Associated Press

SONOMA, Calif. — NASCAR might sometimes seem like an endless series of left turns, but Shane van Gisbergen can attest that oval racing is filled with variables. The 22 circular tracks on the Cup Series schedule feature different lengths, banking and shapes. For a New Zealand native who raced exclusively on road and street courses until three years ago, it’s been a slog to figure out.

“Some weeks, I can run 10th to 15th pretty easily, and other weeks it’s a battle to run 30th,” he said.

“As a team, we definitely need to be better and prepare as well as we can. I just need to keep getting better and make no mistakes. I’m still the weak link as a driver but I’ve got good teammates in the other cars, and they’re struggling as well.” With eight races remaining in the regular season, van Gisbergen is the highest-ranked Trackhouse Racing driver at 14th in the standings — ahead of teammates Ross Chastain (22nd) and Connor Zilisch (34th) and in a provisional spot for the Chase.

But to make the 10-race title run that is contested among the top 16 drivers, van Gisbergen knows he’ll need to shore up his results on the left-turn circuit. Sunday at Sonoma Raceway marked his eighth win in 15 career starts on road and street courses, but the final 18 races in 2026 will be held only on ovals.

During his second full season in the Cup series, van Gisbergen is improving In 14 oval starts this

year, he has an average finish of 20.9, up from 24.8 in 30 oval races last year. He earned his first topfive oval finish with a fifth at Nashville Superspeedway on May 31.

Noting that van Gisbergen has finished in the top 15 the past three races when he started in the top 10, crew chief Stephen Doran said the team is focused on qualifying well with the No. 97 Chevrolet

“If we can qualify up there, we can stay up there all day,” Doran said. “That’s just the last piece of the puzzle with the ovals is to qualify good I feel like we have the speed to maintain that.” Because stage points are awarded to the top 10 twice during each

race, it’s also easier to build a Chase cushion by starting toward the front and increasing the chances of a clean race. Mistakes that led to crashes have factored into van Gisbergen’s six finishes outside the top 30 on ovals this season.

“I’ve still got a long way up the hill to go,” he said. “I’m getting there, and I see the glimpses, and I feel them, and I know it’s coming, but I still need to get a lot better, and I still have a lot to learn.”

Sweet home Chicagoland

For the first time in seven years, NASCAR will return this weekend to Chicagoland Speedway, and

LSU baseball signee Davis takes name out of draft

LSU signee and outfielder Nathaneal Davis has decided to withdraw his name from the 2026 MLB Draft and come to school, he announced on social media Monday Davis, a center fielder at Bishop Moore Catholic High in Orlando, Florida, is the No. 125 player in ESPN’s draft rankings and the No. 138 player on MLB.com’s list. He’s a left-handed hitter with excellent speed, stealing 78 bags during his high school career

He’s projected to be a center fielder at the next level and is known for his athleticism. One scout who spoke to The Advocate compared him to Chris Stanfield. “First time I saw him, I was like, ‘This guy is toolsy as all get out,’” another scout told The Advocate. “He can run, he can throw Very interesting guy.”

Hovland wins Travelers as Scheffler misses short putt

CROMWELL, Conn. — Viktor Hovland got all the validation he needed Monday that his game was on track again, and a whole lot more. He beat Scottie Scheffler in a playoff at the Travelers Championship, had both parents from Norway watch him win for the first time and even did the “row” with the Norwegian soccer fans who cheered him all the way to the end.

Hovland capped off a gritty rally when he made a 7-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole and won the Travelers when Scheffler missed a 4-foot birdie putt.

“Winning in the playoff against Scottie best player in the world — that was pretty satisfying,” said Hovland, who won for the first time since the Valspar Championship in March 2025.

Former NFL RB Johnson reveals ALS diagnosis

Chris Johnson, one of nine players in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season who made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three years with the Tennessee Titans, revealed in a TV interview aired Monday that he has ALS. Johnson, 40, spent 10 seasons in the league and last played in 2017 for the Arizona Cardinals. He said on ABC’s “Good Morning America” that he was diagnosed with the fatal nervous system disease last year “Honestly, I don’t know if you really fully process it,” he said, using his eyes to communicate through a computerized speech-generating device during the interview with Michael Strahan. “At first you’re in shock. Then you realize you have two choices: You can give up or you can fight. I chose to fight.”

Kyle Larson has runner-up finishes in the two most recent races at the 1.5-mile track in Joliet, Illinois.

The reigning Cup Series champion, who lost a bruising last-lap battle to Kyle Busch in 2018, finished fourth at Sonoma to earn his fourth consecutive top-five finish — his longest streak in more than a year

“It’s definitely the best we’ve been all year,” said Larson, whose winless streak stands at 42 races, the longest since he joined Hendrick Motorsports in 2021. Old new track

NASCAR held a test session in April at Chicagoland and has spent more than $5 million to refurbish the facility which has been dormant since the pandemic, aside from a SuperMotocross event in 2023.

There were 38 drivers in the June 30, 2019, race at Chicagoland. Of those 38, there are 18 who will be in Sunday’s race at a track that still has its original 2001 asphalt surface. Cody Ware, who will be making his Cup debut at Chicagoland, will be one of many relying on driving simulators to navigate the layout.

“The sim tells us where the bumps are and how to attack the track,” the Rick Ware Racing driver said. “Every little angle of your steering, your arc on corner entry and how aggressively you’re picking up the throttle, all those things matter.”

Points bubble

Team Penske’s Austin Cindric holds the 16th and final provisional spot in the Chase, 12 points in front of Erik Jones and 25 ahead of 2012 champion Brad Keselowski. Three-time champion Joey Logano is 31 points behind in 20th and in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

Sanders feels like old self one year after surgery

BOULDER, Colo. — Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders says he feels like his old — and younger — self again a year after undergoing surgery to remove his cancerous bladder

“I consider myself cancer-free,” thanks to robotic surgery that also reconstructed his bladder using part of his intestine, Sanders told The Associated Press after getting a tutorial in the surgical system that was used in his operation.

“I was fighting” last year at this time, the University of Colorado football coach recalled. “I was walking out on the property with a bag of blood and also urine and trying to get back But this expedited the process. Last year at this time I was in a whole different place, and I’m just thankful.”

Lions release CB Arnold after kidnapping charges

The Detroit Lions on Monday released cornerback Terrion Arnold, only days after his arrest over allegations that he orchestrated the abduction and beating of three men who prosecutors believe he wrongly suspected of having stolen goods and $100,000 in cash from him.

The announcement came the same day a Florida judge set Arnold’s bail at $1 million. Prosecutors say the three victims, including a man who worked as a driver for Arnold, were robbed while being held at gunpoint in a Tampa apartment in February Prosecutors had wanted Arnold held without bond on the eight felony charges. But Chief Circuit Court Judge Christopher Sabella granted bond. He won’t be required to wear an ankle monitor because it would prevent him from taking the field for games and training.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JEFF CHIU

Shane van Gisbergen performs his traditional victory celebration by punting a rugby ball into the stands after winning a NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CHARLES KRUPA

Fabian Balbuena, left, and Gustavo Gomez celebrate after Paraguay won the World Cup round of 32 match against Germany on Monday in Foxborough, Mass.

Cajuns hope they’ve found big-play TE

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

Bryce Coleman was a wide re-

ceiver for most of his football career

With his speed, hands and leaping ability, the position seemed to suit him perfectly

But prior to his junior season at Shadow Creek High School in Pearland, Texas Coleman took on the challenge of a new position. Apparently, the UL coaching staff liked what it saw after the change.

That new position is tight end, and UL tight ends and associate head coach Jorge Munoz pursued the 6-foot-3, 225-pound prospect.

Things went well enough that Coleman committed to the Cajuns in late March.

In June, he made his official visit and it only enhanced his desire to play for the Ragin’ Cajuns.

“The visit only made me more excited about it,” Coleman said.

“Being able to see all of the campus and the full facilities the weight room and where they study — everything.

“Before I committed, I had already been contacting (Munoz).

He’s been coming up to my practices and seeing how everything was going. When he finally offered me, I was all excited.”

Coleman sort of grew into being a tight end

“I started gaining weight and started getting bigger,” Coleman said. “I still have that twitch. My coach tells me all the time they’re going to use my ability to stretch the field and to block as well.”

In his first season at tight end, he caught 21 passes for 330 pounds and seven touchdowns.

For many years, UL fans looked for the next Ladarius Green, who caught 149 passes for 2,201 yards and 22 touchdowns from 2008-11 at UL

These days, the search is for tight ends who make a receiving impact like Terrance Carter, who has 131 catches for 1,568 yards and 12 scores in three seasons two at UL and one at Texas Tech — with one year of eligibility remaining for the Red Raiders after transferring from UL.

“Oh yeah,” Coleman said with a laugh. “He (Munoz) mentioned him. He said he sees some Terrance Carter in me. And I’ve been watching some film of Terrance.”

Blazers acquire Morant from Grizzlies in trade

BY TIM REYNOLDS AP basketball writer

Ja Morant is headed to Portland after the Trail Blazers and Memphis agreed on a trade Monday that sees the Grizzlies starting anew and gives the two-time AllStar a chance to revive his career, a person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press.

Portland is sending Jerami Grant and Kris Murray to the Grizzlies as part of the deal, said the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the trade has not gotten the required league approvals.

It’s a big swing by the Trail Blazers and could suggest Portland — with new owner Tom Dundon, whose Carolina Hurricanes just won the Stanley Cup — might not

be done making moves. Morant adds to a logjam at point guard right now for Portland, with Jrue Holiday, Damian Lillard and Scoot Henderson also on the roster

Morant has averaged 22.4 points for his career but has played only 79 games over the last three seasons because of injuries and suspensions including a 25-game banishment after he was seen on a livestream holding a gun while he was in the passenger seat of a vehicle. That came not long after an eight-game suspension for flashing a gun in a Denver-area nightclub, also captured on social media.

Grant averaged 18.6 points last season for Portland and will join his sixth team by going to Memphis. Murray averaged 5.8 points per game this past season for the Trail Blazers.

In some ways, Coleman’s physical strengths already outpace Carter As a track standout, Cole-

man has a personal-best high jump of 6 feet, 4 inches In the 200-meter dash, his best time was 22.40.

“I don’t want to say a number one necessarily, but I think I can be a player the offense can look to for big plays,” Coleman said. “Put the ball in my hands and I’ll do something with it.”

As for the physical side of the tight end position, Coleman looks forward to putting weight on his frame to be able to compete against bigger defenders.

Coleman isn’t waiting for his college career to begin, though.

“I’ve already started,” he said. “I changed my diet completely I now eat four times a day, and I’m eating the right foods as well. I’m hoping to get up to 240 to be ready for the season.”

The plan is to develop even more as a tight end and a teammate during his senior season in high school.

“They’re going to use me in a lot of different ways,” Coleman said. “I’m going to play a little bit everywhere some receiver and H-back and with my hand in the dirt.

“I’m excited about the season. We’re trying to make a real difference. We’re trying to change the culture. I envision us going very far. Our standard is state.”

PELICANS

Continued from page 1C

There’s a simple message in his resilience.

“Never giving up,” Pierre said. “Staying the course. Keeping my head down and working.”

It’s a path that former NBA guard and St. Aug alum Avery Johnson knows well.

“I’m incredibly proud of Jaron and all his hard work and tenacity,” Johnson said.” Like Jaron, I transferred colleges before finding my home at Southern University Sometimes, the journey isn’t a straight line. But good things come to those who grind.”

That’s’ what Pierre did to make it this far And for him, the grind will continue. He worked out for the Pelicans last year and then again this

year He felt like he did well in his pre-draft workouts. Besides being a player who can score at all three levels, Pierre also believes his leadership can be an asset.

“Being an older guy, I’m very seasoned already,” Pierre said.

“I bring a lot of things. Defense. Toughness. Competitiveness. Energy I bring a lot of things to the table that I know (Dumars) wants to see.”

Pierre has leaned on the advice of another Louisiana guard who made it to the NBA — Gretna native and former Pelican Elfrid Payton. Payton’s advice to him has been simple.

“Stay consistent. Stay levelheaded. Keep the distractions out. Stay locked in and your time will come.”

For Pierre, his time came last week when he got the phone call letting him know he was being

drafted by the Pelicans. He admits he started getting a bit nervous the longer the draft lasted. Only two players were drafted behind him at picks No. 59 and 60, but Pierre doesn’t mind. He just wants to make the most of this opportunity to play in the Smoothie King Center just 3 miles away from his high school at 2600 A.P Tureaud Ave. Instead of being the fan trying to catch T-shirts, Pierre gets to help provide the entertainment.

“It means everything,” Pierre said. “From watching those games when I was young to now everybody coming and watching me play is a big life change Full circle for me. I grew up watching the Pelicans. So playing for the Pelicans is beautiful.”

Email Rod Walker at rwalker@ theadvocate.com.

2025, he recorded nine sacks and 51 pressures almost as many as the Tigers’ top two edge rushers combined last year (61). Only two SEC defenders brought down opposing quarterbacks more times than he did. Expect Umanmielen and the rest of the LSU defensive linemen to be more disruptive than they were

NBA

Continued from page 1C

kind of from mid-May to mid-July, it’s a two-month sprint through the draft, combine, free agency, Summer League, all that,” Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr said earlier this month “We’re super busy right now But it’s a fun time of year This is where we get to make decisions, shape the roster do all that stuff.” The NBA finalists — champion

in 2025. The group has a nice mix of proven veterans and promising young players.

“We’re a very versatile room,”

Umanmielen said during spring practices in April. “Lot of different guys, lot of different aspects of different games that you can put on the field when it comes to us. I like our room a lot.”

DE Jordan Ross

LSU already had a key role planned for Ross even before redshirt sophomore Gabe Reliford

tore his ACL during spring practices, forcing the Tigers to move the Tennessee transfer into an even more prominent position.

Now Ross is expected to start at edge rusher opposite Umanmielen. He’ll likely play more snaps than he did in 2025, when he rotated onto the Tennessee defensive line behind four other pass rushers.

Five-starfreshmanLamarBrown could push Ross for snaps, but it looks like the 6-foot-5, 246-pound junior has an opportunity to enjoy a career year anyway He’s always

New York and runner-up San Antonio both will have moves to make in the coming days, though they are expected to keep their cores largely intact. Plenty of decisions and rostershaping already has happened around the league, either by trades (such as the Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster) or teams re-signing or extending their own players (such as Trae Young’s $212 million deal with Washington and Austin Reaves’ $185 million deal with the Lakers). Miami will land Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis in a trade that sends Tyler Herro, other players and draft capital to Milwaukee, but that won’t be finalized until that moratorium date passes. But in the interim, the Heat will look to add shooters Tim Hardaway Jr., whose father’s number is retired in Miami, and longtime Antetokounmpo favorite Khris Middleton make a lot of sense. The Heat will keep Andrew Wiggins, who on Monday exercised his $30 million option for this coming season and, according to a person familiar with

had potential. Ross was one of the 25 most highly rated players in his high school signing class, according to 247Sports composite rankings.

LB TJ Dottery

Dottery was the leading tackler in the SEC at Ole Miss in 2025. Now he’s expected to start at linebacker next to Weeks to form what has the potential to be a dangerous pairing at the second level of the LSU defense. There are areas in which Dot-

the talks between the sides, has agreed in principle on a $34 million deal for the following two seasons — with 2028-29 at his option. More trades could be coming, with a person familiar with the negotiations confirming to the AP that Toronto has spoken with the Los Angeles Clippers on the possibility of Kawhi Leonard — who led the Raptors to the 2019 NBA title — returning to Ontario next season. And Boston is still believed to be holding talks about the possibility of trading 2024 NBA

tery can improve. According to Pro Football Focus, the fifth-year senior missed 16 tackles last season, which was the fourth-most among SEC linebackers who played more than 500 snaps. But the Tigers were looking for an experienced, reliable veteran to replace West Weeks, and they got that in Dottery a proven SEC defender who’s started 27 games across the last two years.

247Sports said Dottery was one of the 15 best linebackers to enter the transfer portal.

Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, who was the centerpiece of the Celtics’ ultimately futile offer to land Antetokounmpo in trade discussions with Milwaukee.

“Nobody has won more combined regular-season and playoff games since I entered the league 10 years ago,” Brown posted on social media over the weekend. He’s right: The Celtics have won 523 games with Brown in the lineup, including playoff contests, which is six more than Denver has won with Nikola Jokic over that span.

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Pelicans head coach Jamahl Mosley poses with draft pick Jaron Pierre after a news conference on Monday at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in Metairie. Pierre is a St. Aug grad.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Bryce Coleman of Shadow Creek High in Pearland, Texas, has committed to UL for the Class of 2027.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By BRANDON DILL Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant plays against the Atlanta Hawks on Jan. 21 in Memphis, Tenn.

Is that grass —oris it a sedge?

Weeds, at best, are annoying

At worst, theycan take over your lawn or garden and choke outthe plants youactually want to grow

One of the worst of the worst is agroup of plants called sedges. In fact, they’re consideredsome of the most troublesome weeds in the world, infesting crop fields, gardens and other green spaces in dozens of countries.

“Sedges are very difficult to control,” said Colton Blankenship, ahorticulture weed scientist at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station “They do well in avariety of environments. They do well in turfgrass settings. They do well in landscapes. They really love wet areas.”

You’ve probably seen these weeds before and may have mistaken them for some kind of grass. But sedges belongto aseparate plant familycalled Cyperaceae. Making thisdistinction is important, as managing sedges is very different from managing grassweeds, no matter how similar they look.

have triangular

helping distinguish them from similar-looking grasses,which have round stems.

How can you tell if you’ve got asedge on your hands? Remember this rhyme: sedges have edges. Unlike grasses, which have round stems, sedges have triangular stems. And,ifyou run your fingers through the plant, you’ll feel athird edge in the middle of each leaf. Sedges also make themselves known with arapid rate of upright growththat outpaces turfgrasses. They can colonize an area quickly —and they’re perennial, so theycome back year after year

Some sedge species owe their aggressive nature to avast network of underground rhizomes and nutlike tubers, Blankenship said. This is true of the two most common sedgeswe deal with in Louisiana: yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) and purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus), which are sometimes collectively referred to as coco grass or nut grass. Yellow and purple nutsedge can be distinguished by the color of their flower heads, which form in late summer Purple nutsedge is abit harder to get under control,Blankenship said, but he recommends similar management strategies for both species.

ä See SEDGE, page 6C

BY JOYHOLDEN |Staff writer

Last Saturday,the Mary Leedonut shop on Drusilla Lanewas serving up adifferent kind of sweet treat to their Baton Rouge patrons —the Rukus XNikeDunk Low “Donut,” apinkand chocolate brown sneaker

Shoe collectors and Nike fans stood in line for the special collaboration shoe andmunched on frosted donuts in theshape of the Nike symbol and the Rukus “R.”

Rukus,a26-year-old Baton Rouge skate shop, has gained notoriety in thesneaker world for their Louisiana-themed skateboarding shoes.

ä See SHOE, page 6C

Curator Jason Robertshangs apictureonthe wall of the BR AfricanAmerican Museum’snew location on St Louis Street in 2023.

JOHNSON

BATONROUGE SKATESHOP LAUNCHES NEW‘SWEET’ SHOE AT BELOVEDDONUT SHOP

BY BRIANNA MEEKS

The Rukus X Nike Dunk

‘Donut’ sneakers and theirMary Lee-inspired shoebox

MaryLee workers frosted and sprinkled donuts in the shape of the Nike symbol and the Rukus R.

LSU AGCENTERPHOTO

By OLIVIA McCLURE

Sedges

stems,

Wise wordsonattirewhenseeking lobstershells

Dear Miss Manners: My husband andIwere on the coast and stopped at aquaint place for lunch. Iordered alobster tail, which came with the shell on. When Istarted to open it, it suddenly flew off my plate and out into the dining room somewhere.

Being an independent and adventurous woman, I decided to go track it down and found myself wandering around the venue, peering sidewise under tables until Ifinallylocated the orange shell. Ipicked it up and went back to my table where my husband was in convulsions.

acknowledging that it was indeed quite not normalfor people’slunch to fly into the center of adining room.But he said it was not so much that Iwent looking for my lunch, but the deep gooeybrown stain Ihad all over mybackside that had beenondisplay throughout my search.

Gentlereader: Aren’tyou going to charge entertainment tax? And perhaps request alimony?

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

Horrified,I peered aroundtocheck, and indeed, there was athick gooeydarksubstance smeared all over the seat of my pants. Ithen discovered additional evidence of there having been brown droppings on the chair where Ihad been seated.

Now mind you, it was summer, so of course Iwas wearingwhite pants. Itried to calm my husband,

By The Associated Press

The question Iamleft with is:

What kind of atip should one be expected to leaveinsuch asituation?

TODAYINHISTORY

Today is Tuesday,June 30,the 181st day of 2026. There are 184 days left in the year

Today’shighlight in history:

On June 30, 1934, AdolfHitler launched his “blood purge” of politicaland military rivals in Germany in what came to be known as the “Night of the Long Knives.”

Also on this date: In 1918, laboractivist and socialist Eugene V. Debs wasarrested in Cleveland, charged underthe Sedition Act of 1917 for aspeechinwhich he denounced U.S.involvement in World WarI (Debs was sentenced to 10 years in prison and disenfranchised for life; President Warren G. Harding commuted Debs’ sentence to time served in 1921.)

In 1921, President Warren G. Harding nominated former President William Howard Taft to be chief justice of the United States, succeeding the lateEdward Douglass White.

In 1936, MargaretMitchell’s novel “Gone With the Wind” was released.

In 1958, the U.S. Senatepassed theAlaska statehood bill.

In 1971, the SupremeCourt ruled, 6-3, that the government could not prevent The New York Times or The WashingtonPost frompublishingthe Pentagon Papers

In 1971, aSoviet space mission ended in tragedy when three cosmonauts aboardSoyuz 11 were found dead of asphyxiation inside their capsule afterithad returned to Earth.

In 1985, 39 American hostages from ahijacked TWAjetliner were freed in Beirut after being held for 17 days.

In 1994, the U.S. Figure Skating Association stripped Tonya Harding of the national championship and banned her for life for her role in the attack on rival Nancy Kerrigan.

In 2009, U.S. Army Pfc. Bowe R. Bergdahl went missing from his base in eastern Afghanistan, and was later confirmed to have

been captured by insurgents after walking away from his post (Bergdahl was released on May 31, 2014, in exchangefor five Taliban detainees; he pleaded guilty to desertion and misbehavior before theenemy, but was spared aprison sentence by amilitary judge.)

In 2012, Islamist Mohammed Morsi was sworn in as Egypt’s first freelyelected president. In 2016, then-Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced that transgender peoplewould be allowed to serveopenly in the U.S. military,ending one of the last bans onservice in thearmed forces.

In 2019, Donald Trumpbecame thefirst sitting U.S. president to set foot in North Korea, meeting Kim Jong-un at theDemilitarized Zonebetween North and SouthKorea.

In 2020, then-Mississippi Gov Tate Reeves signed abill retiring thelast U.S.state flag bearing the Confederate battle emblem. Thesame day,Boston’s arts commission voted to remove astatue depictingafreed slave kneeling at Abraham Lincoln’sfeet.

In 2022, Ketanji Brown Jackson was sworn in to theU.S. SupremeCourt, shattering aglass ceilingasthe first Black woman on thenation’s highestcourt. Today’sbirthdays: Actor Nancy Dussault is 90. Olympic track champion Billy Mills is 88. Oceanographer Robert Ballard is 84. Singer-songwriter Glenn Shorrock(Little River Band) is 82. Jazz musician Stanley Clarke is 75. Actor David Garrison (“Married …with Children) is 74. ConductorEsa-Pekka Salonen is68. Actor Vincent D’Onofrio is 67. Actor Deirdre Lovejoy(“TheWire”) is 64. Actor Rupert Graves is 63. Boxer MikeTyson is 60. Actor Monica Potteris55. Actor Rick Gonzalez is 47. Actor Lizzy Caplan is 44. Countrymusicsinger-songwriter Cole Swindell is 43. Singer andactress Fantasia is 42. Olympic swimming champion MichaelPhelps is 41.Baseball player Trea Turner is 33.

LSU AGCENTER PHOTO By OLIVIA McCLURE Sedges are notoriously tough weeds that thriveinboth lawns and landscaped areas.

Leavingaside the marital failing for the moment, Miss Manners can assure you that you needn’tindulge in retrospective embarrassment. Small accidents, although no fault of your own, may cause this.Had you merely walked around peering under people’stables, unkind people may have snickered —and resolved not toorder the lobster

Butadding thepants display madeitsoawful that no one would have had theemotional freedom to makefun of you. They were all too busy being grateful that it had not happened to themselves.

To answer your question: One should always tip extra when

SHOE

Continuedfrom page5C

Jaylin Ordone, chief executive officer,and his business partner, Devin Chriss, chosethe NikeDunk shoe for aspecial collaboration to tell the Rukus 103 story.The business uses 103 in itsbrand because the police code for adisturbance is 103. The idea of adonut shoe inspired by the connection of police officersand donuts struckachord.

“As soon as we saw that Nike was coming out with adonut dunk shoe, we knew it was aperfect opportunity to tell Nike ourconcept,” Ordone said.

Chriss, Ordone andtheir friend Joey Park brainstormedideas for theshoe, and they came up with theideaofaMary Lee box. The concept expanded from there.

In today’s world of viral unboxingvideos,the Rukus 103 team created aMary Lee-inspired shoeboxthatincludedabevyofbonus goodies —anRdonut plush toy, a donuthat,customRukus stickers and astory card that provides an in-depthlook on the process. The first 50 customers also got acustom keychain.

On Saturday, Rukus showedup with500 pairs of shoes at Mary Lee Donuts, and they sold out in a few hours. The shoes can still be purchased at Nike.com,but they do nothave any of the Rukus and Mary Lee crossover packaging.

“Since Saturday,we’ve been receiving numerous calls and direct messages asking if we’regonna restock,” Ordone said, “but we don’t plan on restocking as of now. We’re on to the next one.”

Louisianalaces

The first Louisiana Rukus shoe debuted in 2014 —the Nike SB Dunk Low Rukus Crawfish.

Park, who is amember of the Sneaker Politicsmedia team in Dallas, said that the Crawfish shoe madeamark because of its details andcustom packaging. ARukus customer sincehewas in high school, Park said sneaker people know Rukus for thatspecificity nationwide.

Chriss and Ordone teamed up to create three Louisiana shoes —the 2023 Rukus XNew Balance Numeric Reveal 440 “Voodoo Doll”

MUSEUM

Continuedfrom page5C

public July 1— operating 10 a.m. to 5p.m. Friday through Sunday.

The reopening after RobertsJoseph’smurder took roughly five years of planning, renovations and fundraising by Roberts-Joseph’s children, Angela Roberts Machen and Jason Roberts. Machen serves as CEO and Roberts as curator Roberts said he spent nearly threemonths constructing the museum’s sharecropper cabin exhibit, often working late nights after finishing hisjob at theIndependence ParkTheatre.

“This is our continuation of her dream, her legacy,” Roberts said.

causing extra work. Presumably thestaff will have to clean up that chair —although, how did the messget there?

Butthere is another question you should be asking. It is asacred marital duty to rescue one’s spouse from adifficult, not to say ludicrous, situation. What was yours doingwhile you wentlobster hunting?Laughing? Eating his own lobster? Pretending he was not with you?

Dear Miss Manners: Igot in line at the grocery store checkout, quickly followed by another woman behind me. Apparently, she thought she should have gotten my place in line, as she began loudly grumbling about the rudeness of people! When we approached the checkout counter,she still grumbled.

So Iasked her to go ahead of me. She looked startled and shook her head dismissively.I insisted, saying she had only one item, whereas Ihad several. She darted ahead without a word as if I’dinsulted her.My common courtesy ruined her day Gentle reader: Unkind people would condemn this as passiveaggressive behavior.Miss Manners commends it as better than the usual aggressive-aggressive behavior —and moreeffective.

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

shoe, the 2025 Rukus XNew Balance Numeric 480 “Mallard Duck” shoe and the “Donut” shoe.

“The majority of the collabs that we’vedone in the past have been shining alight on Baton Rouge or Louisiana, whether it’sthe Voodoo or the Mallard. We definitely plan on continuing telling more stories aboutLouisiana, just because we haven’t even scratched the surface yet,” Ordone said.

TheRukus collaboration with Nike was significantfor Ordone, but working with alocal business that he haspatronizedsince he was in high school was alittle sweeter

TheMaryLee connection

Not only have Ordone and Chriss dinedatMaryLee Donutssince they were teenagers, but their friend Parkhad even closer connections. His mom, Susan Park, and aunt, Mija Kang, own two Mary Lee shops —the Drusilla Lane and theHighland Road locations.

Joey Park and Ordone met through Rukus over adecadeago and bonded over their shared love of sneakers. Donuts werealso acommon thread between the friends. JoeyPark worked early mornings during high school, and Ordone would drive to Mary Lee to pick up donuts before school. This month, Joey Park drove down from Dallas to help facilitate the launch,assisting his mother andhis Rukus friends.

examine them.People dressedin sunny,scarlet and green hues representing African pridewaited in aback room where vintage books satonshelves. Nearby,apainting depictingbrown hands breaking free from chains stretched across ayellow canvas. Aquote by Martin Luther King Jr.shone from agray plaque on theopposite side of the room:“We mustlearn to live as brothers, or we will perish as fools.”

Children stood with their fathers near the entryway as the Hill YouthChoir from Rose Hill Churchsang“Calling on Jesus, including 8-year-old Sydney Louis, whosaid Juneteenth is important because “we are celebrating and supportingour people.”

SEDGE

Continued from page5C

Herbicides are effective —if you choose the correct product. “Really read that label,” Blankenship said. “That’salways important, but you especially want to make sure that sedges are listed on that label underthe ‘weedscontrolled’section.Ifa product is designed just tokill grasses, it won’tkill asedge.” Hand-pulling is another option

Be sure to grab plants at their base and remove as much of the root system as possible. Tryto remove plants while they are still small —and be persistent

“You’re probably going to leave some of thosetubersin theground,” Blankenship said. “That’sgoing to besomething youhave to manage over time, and likely it’sgoingtobeafew years oftryingto pull them up andmaybeeven usingherbicides dependingonwhere they are. It’sgoingtobea long war and not an individual battle.”

Roberts said the sharecropper cabin exhibit was inspired by memories of visitstohis grandfather’s property and wasdesigned to honorhis mother’s childhoodin aMississippi sharecropping family,which now sits towardthe back of themuseum

The gallery features alarge centralspace surrounded by eight or more rooms. No two roomsare alike. Each space reflectsadifferent aspect of African American history,culture and education through artifacts, books,photographs and immersive exhibits.

During the Juneteenth event, antique African tribal wood carvings from themid-tolate 20th century reflected light across the faces of visitors whopaused to

The celebration also featured asolo performance of “Someday We’ll AllBeFree” by 11-year-old Erin Johnson,asong selected by organizers because it was one of Roberts-Joseph’sfavorites.

Louisiana Supreme Court Associate Justice John Michael Guidry said he had along-standing relationship with Roberts-Joseph, recallingthatshe invitedhim to speak at her Juneteenth programs each year

“This is asafe haven,”Guidry said. “This is aspace where our young people in our community can get their history and know the struggles that brought about the progress, and to inspire them to do even better.”

In the Trailblazer Room, children stood beside adentist chair honor-

“Wecouldn’thave done it without them,” Ordone said of the Parks.

Joey Park said his mother and hercrew werepuzzledatthe customers showing up Saturday morning asking about “donut shoes.” While the event didn’tstart until 1p.m., there was already acustomer waiting at 7:30 a.m. Throughout the morning, people cameinto buy donuts, sat down and waiting to buy sneakers.

“By 11 a.m., it was getting pretty full and crazy in there,” Joey Park said. “I was passing out donuts, helping my mom and helping Rukus.”

Rukusonthe resale market

Sneaker collecting is abig business online, and the resale market can get expensive.

As of June 24, there are two Ebay listings, forthe RukusX Nike Dunk “Donuts” —one for $299.99 and another for $599.99 with the packaging and extra goodies. Chriss andOrdone’splan has worked with bringing attention to the Rukus 103 brand.

“That meansalot, especially being from Baton Rouge,” Ordone said. “If it wasuptome, Iwould makehowever manymore pairs to make sure everybody can get them, but considering thatpeopleare willing to pay over retail to make sure they secure them speaks volumes.”

Email Joy Holden at joy.holden@ theadvocate.com.

ing Dr.Beverly Victor Baranco, a dentistand leader in the desegregation of East Baton Rouge Parish.

ACongressional Record honoring the lifeand legacy of RobertsJoseph hung on the wall in the Founders Room as visitors walked through theexhibit.Portraits of Roberts-Joseph lined the room alongside certificates recognizing her contributions to the community

Laura Sherman,who said she knewRoberts-Josephfor nearly twodecades, noted that an exhibit depicting cotton picking brought back memories of her mother, Wanda Clark, whogrew up picking cotton. Sherman said the display connected her family’sexperiences to the history preserved throughout the museum Jimmy McKnight, 17, of Zachary, said events like the museum’sJuneteenth celebration help younger generations understand the sacrifices that came before them.

“It’simportant because of how we got to the point thatweare in modern America,” McKnight said, “and all the wonderful things our ancestors did to get us here.”

This story was reported and written by Brianna Meeks, a journalism student at Southern University, withthe support of thenonprofitLouisiana Collegiate News Collaborative, an LSU-ledcoalitionofeight universitiesfundedbythe Henry Luce and JohnD.and Catherine T. MacArthurfoundations.

STAFFFILE PHOTOByJAVIER GALLEGOS

SusanPark smilesasshe hands acustomer abox of freshglazeddonuts at MaryLee Donuts on Drusilla Lane on Nov. 7.

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Take the initiative and follow through. Stop putting yourself last and letting others take advantage of you. Put your energy into self-help, health and a lifestyle that makes you happy.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Don't wait for someone else to make the first move. If you look on the bright side and let your smile and positive attitude lead the way, those you encounter will find it hard to resist you.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Engage in activities that encourage you to expand your circle of friends and to participate in a cause that helps you make a difference in your community. Don't make abrupt changes or spontaneous decisions.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Putemotionsaside anddedicatemoretimetofindingoutthe truth and making whatever adjustments are necessary to clear a path forward. Once you display your options, you'll get a sense of what's possible.

scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Take the high road, speak up for those who can't and make a difference. Protect your reputation and your physical well-being from careless individuals or those contesting your beliefs.

sAGIttARIus (nov 23-Dec 21) Whether it's visiting a place you've never been or reaching out to someone who can shed lightonasubjectyouwanttoincorporate into your life, what you encounter will help build momentum.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Sort matters through before you address issues

involving other people. Choosing the right words will make a difference to the outcome.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Set the tone for what's to come. Speak up, make a to-do list and execute your plans with finesse. The interest you attract will make a difference to how things unfold at home.

PIscEs (Feb 20-March 20) Sittight,regardless of what others choose to do. Pay more attention to self-preservation, health, exercise and overall happiness. Ease your stress, and pick your pastimes to suit your mood and ensure peace of mind.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Rethink your professional strategies first. Keep your dialogue simple, honest and upbeat. The highest return will come from how you present and deliver what you want to pursue.

tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Choose positive support instead of criticism when dealing with friends, family and colleagues. Offering enthusiasm will help further your agenda and assist those in your personal or professional circles.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Make a powerful statement, and get things done on time. Step outside your comfort zone, try new things and explore unique ways to utilize your skills and personality to reach your heart's desires.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2026 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

FAMILY CIrCUS

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

toDAy's cLuE: P EQuALs s

CeLebrItY CIpher For better or For WorSe

SALLY Forth

beetLe bAILeY

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

LAGoon

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers1 to 9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Yesterday’s PuzzleAnswer

THe wiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

CurTiS

By PHILLIP ALDER Bridge

Jon Bon Jovi said, “Success is falling nine timesand gettingup10.

Success in three no-trump is getting up nine tricks and falling four times.How should South plan to do that in this deal afterWest leads the spade king?

South starts with eight top tricks:one spade,twohearts,fourdiamondsandone club. The extra winner might come from hearts or clubs. In isolation, in hearts, one would cashdummy’s king, then take afinesse; or, in clubs, take twofinesses. The snag is that all of those finessesare intothe West hand, the defender who presumably has long and strong spades (tobeleadingdeclarer’sknownfour-card suit). Is there anythingbetter?

Of course! Southshouldduck the first two rounds of spades to find out if the suitis4-3 or worse. If it is worse,hehad better run hisdiamonds to try to bring pressure to bear on West, then probably hope thatthe heart finesse works.

Here, though, spades are 4-3. Now it cannot hurt declarer to take the third spade and return his fourth spade, pitching aheart and aclub from the board. If West shifts to aheart or club, it concedes the contract. So let’s assume he safely leadsadiamond. South takes the trickonthe board and runs the club 10.

That losesand West produces another diamond. Now declarer should play off histwo top hearts. Here, thequeen drops and the contract is home. Butifshe does not appear, after cashing his last two diamond tricks, South should plan on taking asecond club finesse

©2026 by NEA,Inc., dist. By

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Each Wuzzle is awordriddlewhich creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON

Previous answers:

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 MEDALs: MED-uls: Small pieces of metal having astamped design.

Average mark18words

Timelimit 20 minutes

Can you find 22 or morewords in MEDALS?

yEstERDAy’s WoRD —cAnoED

sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusts in

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles

hidato

mallard fillmore

THEADVOCATE.COM/news/business

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Price of corndrops

ahead of USDAreport

Corn tumbled as traders looked past potential crop stress from the building heat dome to aU.S. Departmentof Agriculture reportdue Tuesday that’s expected to show the largest American stockpile since 1988.

The agency is set to publish quarterlystocks data along with annual acreage data showing how much U.S. farmers were able to plantinthe spring. While growers pared back on corn planting in favor of soybeans,existing supplies of the yellow grain are seen 17%higher than ayear ago after arecord autumn harvest, according to aBloomberg survey of analysts.

The excess supply has contributedtoabearishsentiment on corn with the growingseason offtoarelativelysmooth start prior to the arrival of warmer-than-normal temperaturesthis week. Still, even with hot conditions that are boosting energy demand, there still couldbeprecipitation to benefit fields.

Corn for December delivery fellasmuch as 2.5%, the biggestintraday decline in about sixweeks,toa freshcontract lowof$4.305 abushel July is considered the most crucial month of the U.S. corn crop’sdevelopment.

Warner exec is one of highest-paid CEOs LOS ANGELES Even before Warner Bros. Discovery’ssale to Paramount Skydance Corp. closes, David Zaslav has already madeabig payday His executive compensation package —which includes stock options, salary, bonuses andotherperks —was valued at $165 millionlast year,placing himasthe eighth-highest-paid CEO for alarge U.S. publicly traded company,accordingto research firm Equilar

Tech companies dominated the list led by Tesla Chief ExecutiveElon Musk with apay package worth nearly $132.3 billion. RJ Scaringe, CEO of Rivian, the Irvine-based EV truck company,came infifth with$402.6 million.

Zaslav has previously ranked amongAmerica’shighest-paid CEOs and that was truelast year,when his total pay was morethan three times whathe earned at the company in 2024, Equilar said.Hewas the only Hollywood executiveonthe list of the 10 highest-paid CEOs in 2025.

“If he were an animal, he’d be aCheshirecat with this biggrin ear to ear,” said Lloyd Greif, chief executive of the Los Angelesinvestmentbank Greif & Co. “It’sunprecedented. It’s a huge payday.”

WhatsApp to allow usernames as handles

LONDON WhatsApp users will soonget theoptionofgoingby usernames instead of phone numbers,the company said Monday announcingplans to address aprivacy blind spot

The app said it has started allowing users to reserve unique usernames, which can be used to contact WhatsApp users whenthe feature is launched laterthis year

WhatsApp, which says it has more than 3billion users globally,has until now allowed users to be contacted by anyone who hastheir phone number

Theapp,owned by Meta Platforms, said in ablog post that over the “coming months” users will get theoption to be found and contacted only by their username, and not their number.Itwasn’tmore specific about the timeline.

“Wehave designed this as a core privacy feature,” Alice Newton-Rex, WhatsApp’s vice president of product, told reporters There won’tbea directory of usernames on the app, and the app won’t suggest names as you type

“People will need to know your exact username to contact you for the first time,” shesaid.

BY STAN CHOE AP business writer

NEWYORK U.S. stocks rose Monday and recovered some of their losses from ararelosing week.

The S&P 500 climbed 1.2% and broke afive-day losing streak.It was coming off just itssecondlosing week in the last 13. The Dow Jones Industrial Averageadded 306points, or 0.6%, and the Nasdaq composite rallied2.1%.

Severalstocks boosted by thear-

tificial-intelligence boom rose after Samsung Electronics andSKHynix saidthey will invest roughly $518 billion in anew chipmaking hub in SouthKorea, as its president hopes to capitalize on surging AI demand. AppliedMaterials,whose equipment helps make semiconductors, rallied 10.8% to vault its gain for the year so far above 170%. AI stocks have been on arollercoaster ride recently after soaring to tremendous heights. They’re underpressure because of wor-

riesthat their profits can’tpossibly keep pace with the huge gains for theirstock prices.And the moves have an outsized effect on investors because AI stocks have become some of Wall Street’slargest and mostinfluential,giving them more weight on indexes than others. Nvidia wasone of the strongest forces liftingthe S&P 500, forexample,afterits stock rose 1.3%.

That’sbecause it’sWall Street’s biggest stock with atotal value of morethan$4.7 trillion.

SpaceX, which ownsthe xAI business along with rockets, has alreadybecome worth more than$2 trillionafter itsstock’s ballyhooed debut on the Nasdaq earlier this month, with sharp risesand falls along the way It’s become big enough thatNasdaq said Elon Musk’scompany will join the Nasdaq 100 index before trading begins on July 7, which will force funds tracking the index to buy the stock.SpaceX climbed 7.2%.

BY WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS and MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP business writers

NEW YORK Communications giant Comcast is planning to split itself into two: one mediacentered business that would include brands like NBCUniversal andSky andaseparate company focused on broadband and wireless services.

In aMonday announcement, Comcast said the breakup will put both of these operations in abetter position to pursue their own prioritiesand growth. Themovearrives as communications companies continue to wrestle with years of cord-cutting, and shifting habits in howconsumersnow buy subscriptionsfor anything from their phone plans to streaming budgets more broadly

“The world is changing fasterthanever,”

Comcast Chairmanand co-CEO BrianRoberts saidonaMonday call —adding thatit “has becomeclear”the company’s technologyand media businesses each “have compelling opportunities in front of them that are distinct in nature and best pursued with dedicated focus.”

Upon thespinoff’scompletion,bothbusinesses wouldbecometheir own publicly traded companies. Comcastsaid it expects to complete the process in aboutayear,pendingregulatoryapprovals and afinalgreenlightfrom its board.

Thatmeans consumers shouldn’tfeel immediateimpacts.But ahost of major brands currently sit underComcast’sumbrella from internet and wireless provider Xfinity to streamingplatform Peacock, NBCNews and Universal Studios. And analysts are eyeing what those businessescould look like further down the road.

“In the short term, bundles, pricing, and distribution will likely hold,” saidMike Proulx, avice president and research directoratmarket research firmForrester.For NBCUniversal— set to head the mediacentered company Comcast is spinning off —the split in itself carries little effect on its currentbusiness, he noted,and is “more to do with what it becomes longer term.”

Proulx is bracing for future acquisitions in this space, adding that “Comcast is following aplaybook we have already seen.”

He pointed to WarnerBros. Discovery, which announcedits own intention to split just last June —beforebecoming atakeover target that eruptedintoa messytug-of-war betweenNetflix andSkydance-ownedPara-

BY KIM TONG-HYUNG Associated Press

SEOUL, SouthKorea South Korean tech giants Samsung Electronics andSKHynix said Monday they will invest acombined $518 billion in building anew computerchipmaking hubinthe country’ssouthwest region,capitalizing on surging artificial intelligence-driven demand.

President LeeJae Myung joined the companies’ chairs Mondayin announcingthe plan, which dovetails with the government’s efforts to expand investmentbeyond the greater Seoul metropolitan area, the country’s economic center and heart ofits semiconductor sector

Thesouthwest has been aparticularfocus, as it lacks major industrial hubs and hashistorically trailed in economic development.

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByGENE J. PUSKAR

‘The worldischanging faster than ever,’ ComcastChairman and co-CEO Brian Roberts said Monday—addingthat it ‘has become clear’ the company’stechnologyand media businesses each ‘have compelling opportunities in front of them that are distinctinnature and best pursued withdedicated focus.

mount. Paramount eventually became victorious, and is now edging closer toclosing its $81 billionbuyout of Warner’sentire company Comcastexecutiveshaveappeared to so far dismiss the possibility of heading toward asimilar fate. Whenasked on Monday’scallwhether investors should view theseparation as astep toward “potential strategic transactions” for either business, Roberts said: “Absolutely not.”

Hisco-CEOMikeCavanagh— whoisset to becomethe chief executive of the NBCUniversal spinoff —echoed that sentiment. Cavanagh reiterated plans to “build andinvest for growth” withmorefreedom as astandalone business.

Still, analystslike Proulx speculate that even if NBCUniversal doesn’tbecomea takeover target, “it’ll likely be thecompany doing theacquiring.”

“As it stands, traditional TV is dying, and Peacock alone isn’tenough to compete at scale against the biggest streaming services,” Proulx saidvia email. “One way or the other,NBCU’s entertainmentbusiness will look different within the next couple of years.”

Like other companies, Comcast in recent yearshas shifted itsbusinessemphasis away fromtraditional cable toward streaming and

othersources of revenue,suchasits movie studio, theme parks and home wireless and internet services.

NBCUniversal includes that theme parks division, Universalfilm andtelevisionstudios, NBC and Telemundo networks, Peacock, and Bravo —and with the spinoff, European media business Sky will also be part of that portfolio led by Cavanagh.

Meanwhile,Philadelphia-based Comcast will continue providing internetservices to residential and business customers. Comcast’sformer Chief Financial Officer Michael Angelakis will becomethe CEO of that company following its separation.

Comcast has split off assets before. Monday’smove arrives just months after the company officially completed its separation of Versant Media Group —which, as first announced in November 2024, is the new home of networks like USA, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and GolfChannel, as wellasCNBCand MSNBC (now MS NOW). Movie ticketing platform Fandango and the Rotten Tomatoes movie rating site werealso included.

Once the latest split is complete, Comcast shareholders will ownshares in both Comcast and NBCUniversal.

Comcast expectstokeepa stake of up to 19.9% ownership positioninNBCUniversal for up to one year after the spinoff is complete.

Theregionhas long been apolitical base for Lee’sliberal Democratic Party Samsung and SK Hynix, which together produce about two-thirds of theworld’smemory chips, said they will each build two fabrication plants in thesouthwest, expanding beyond theirexisting manufacturing complexes in Gyeonggi Province, southofSeoul.

Samsung Chairman Lee Jaeyong said thecompany’snew fabs will be builtinthe southwestern cityofGwangju, where experts have proposed several potential sites, includingthe groundsofa militaryair base slated for relocation The companies didn’tspecify when thefabsinthe southwest regionswould be completed.SK Hynix’sChairmanChey Tae-won

said the project would be acomplex, large-scale effort requiring “vast sites, along with sufficient power,water andskilledworkers.”

He said it took nine years for SK Hynix to establish its major manufacturing cluster in Gyeonggi Province. Still, asignificant expansion of manufacturing facilities is needed for the companytokeep up with global demand, Chey said. Government officialsdismissed questions about whether the southwest has enough power and water to support major semiconductor fabs. They said the region’s strength in renewable energy would give the chipmakers an edge as they face growingglobal pressure to use cleaner sources of electricity Samsung and SK Hynix have reported record profits in recent monthsassoaring global investment in data centers and other AI infrastructure has fueled demand for memory chips.

Government officials andbusiness experts expect AI-driven demand to continue increasing as the technology spreads to AI-powered industrial robots and autonomous vehicles. The chipmakers’ existing semiconductor complexes in Gyeonggi Province may reach capacity sooner than expected,they say During Monday’sevent, government officials outlined plans to build what they called anationwide semiconductor ecosystem, with existing manufacturing hubs in the southeast expanding production of chip components and materials, the centralChungcheong region specializing in chip packaging, while data centers are built across the country “Wemust establish the core building blocks of artificial intelligence faster than any other country.Semiconductors, physical AI and AI data centers are the three pillars of our next great leap forward,” the president said.