Gov. Jeff Landry holds an executiveorderthat calls for taking moneyfrom public school budgets to fund teacher stipends after signingitonJune 2.
BY PATRICK WALL Staff writer
Education advocates have dropped their legal challenge to Gov.Jeff Landry’sorder topull money from public school budgets to pay for teacher stipends.
The order,which tookeffect Wednesday,cuts $168 million from thestate’s main educationfund and uses the money to give $2,000 stipends to teachers and $1,000 to school support staff.
The advocates were scheduled to appear in court Wednesday to ask
aBaton Rouge judge to block the fundingcut, which state lawmakers approved last week. However,onthe eveofthe hearing, theadvocates decided to withdraw their lawsuit.
Katie Baudouin, an OrleansParish SchoolBoard member anda plaintiff in the lawsuit, said she andthe two other advocates determined that they couldn’tstop thegovernor’sorderbefore it wentinto effect.
“The cutsare goingtobemade,” she said. “Whether or not those cuts could berestored at alater date was unclear.”
Earlier this month, theadvocates
obtained atemporary restraining ordertostop thestate from carrying outthe governor’splan.Theyargued that Landry overstepped hislegal authority by effectively reallocatingeducationfunding and thatthe Legislature, which is notinsession, should have reconvenedtopublicly debate the planrather than voting on it remotely Lawmakers“chosetovote on one of themostimportant education funding issues in yearsthrough an online voting platform while calling
ä See LAWSUIT, page 7A
Venezuelansquestionquake rescue efforts
BY REGINA GARCIA CANO
Associated Press
LA GUAIRA, Venezuela Angélica Mundrain wants the bodies of herson, niece and nephew to be pulled from the rubble of her flattened beachfront apartment. She has spent every minute of the past six days waiting for theheavy machinery needed to remove the slabs of concrete and twisted metal that trapped them.
So have other Venezuelanearthquake survivors They,like others across thenorthern stateofLaGuaira, have the same question: Who is in charge? Venezuela’s self-described socialist government, which long prided itself on being protector andprovider,has been neither when it mattered most, many said.
The powerful back-to-back earthquakes on June 24 have brought to theforefrontthe inability of the party
STAFFPHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER
Past and present LSU Board of Supervisors chairs and members walk past the newlyunveiled LSU NewOrleans sign outside the University Center during aceremonymarkingthe University of New Orleans’ entryinto the LSUsystem on Wednesday
UNOmarks newchapter as LSU NewOrleans
School changes namewith celebrationand abig sign
BY MARIEFAZIO Staff writer
It’sofficial: The University of NewOrleans is now LSU NewOrleans.
The namechange and return to the LSU system mark anew chapter forthe nearly 70-year-old university,officials said during aceremony Wednesday attended by hundreds of students, faculty, alumsand local leaders, including NewOrleans Mayor Helena Moreno. The event culminated with the unveiling of alarge LSU New Orleanssign in purple and gold.
“Todayweunveil anew sign,but what we are really unveiling is possibility.”
“Today we unveil anew sign, but what we are really unveiling is possibility,” said Jeanette Weiland, the school’sinterim chancellor and chief administrative officer.She added that the revamped university is aiming forhigherenrollment,strongeracademicprograms, expandedresearch and more community partnerships.
that has ruled thecountry for 27 years —now withacting President Delcy Rodríguezatthe helm —tocarry out basic governmental functions.
“We’vebeen abandoned,”Mundrain said, sitting in achair on the street Tuesday in front of what remainedof the 11-story building she once called home. “Wefeel helpless. What we have seen is alack of organization, alack of
ä See QUAKE, page 4A
Last year,alarmed by dwindling enrollment and precarious finances at the University of New Orleans, Louisiana lawmakers began the process to shiftthe university back to theLSU system, which governed the university from its founding until 2011. Supporters hope the shift will financially stabilize andattract more students to the university,where enrollment fell to 5,700 students last fall, downfrom apeak of 17,000 students before Hurricane Katrina.
Ahead of the official shift, there have been other signs of the coming change on campus.
Banners marking LSU New Orleans recently went up along Elysian FieldsAvenue and purple and golddecals wrapped around the exterior of the library.Officials also took steps they said were necessary to address abudget shortfall and put
JEANETTE WEILAND, LSU NewOrleans interimchancellor and chief administrative officer ä See CHAPTER, page 7A
LizMurrill threatened to remove seven New Orleans leaders from elected office, simmering hostilities between theRepublican attorneygeneral and Democratic local leaders are flaring to new heights.
Murrill now faces an Orleans Parish criminal grandjuryprobe,several sources told The Times-Picayune |The Advocate on Tuesday.The panel is said to be review-
ing whether Murrill broke laws in May involving intimidation of public officials, based on when she wrotetoMayor Helena Moreno, District Attorney Jason Williams andother local officialsand threatened to remove themfrom office if they didnot walk back calls to elect anew court clerk.
On Wednesday,Louisiana’stop lawyer gave ameasured response when asked aboutthe possibilitythatshe mightface criminal charges.
“I can’texplain why they do things in NewOrleans the way they do them,but I
would sayI’m notsurprised,” she said at anewsconference calledinBaton Rouge to discuss the arrests of people accused of bilking Medicaid programs. To some longtime courtroom watchers, newsofthe criminal grand jury investigationseemed to highlight just how far the debate between local and state officials has spiraled off the rails.
“This is an absurd continuation of the silliness between these grown-ups afew months ago,” said Dane. S. Ciolino, alaw professor whospecializes in ethicsat
ä See FEUD, page 4A
STAFF PHOTO By JOHN BALLANCE
AttorneyGeneralLiz Murrill answers questions at anewsconference on Wednesday.
1 dead, 4 hurt after Greece firebomb attack
THESSALONIKI, Greece
One person died and three others were injured in three pre-dawn firebomb attacks that struck the homes of members of Greece’s governing conservative New Democracy party, authorities said Wednesday
The attacks between 4 a.m. and 4:45 a.m. outside apartment buildings in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki used crude explosive devices made with camping gas canisters All the injuries were sustained from the last of the three attacks, where cars and motorcycles were set ablaze, police said.
One of the cars reportedly was owned by a parliamentary candidate for the New Democracy party Afroditi Nestora. Nestora suffered burns but her mother succumbed to her burn injuries in an intensive care unit. Two other residents in the apartment building were also hospitalized, police said.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who also heads New Democracy, traveled to Thessaloniki to visit the injured in hospital Wednesday afternoon. Mitsotakis called the death confirmation of the “blind violence in public life.”
Attacks by shadowy Greek militant groups against symbols of power or the property of politicians, police or other authority figures are relatively frequent. Most cause material damage but no injuries.
Actor Danny Glover has Alzheimer’s disease
NEW YORK Actor and activist Danny Glover, best known for starring as an easygoing police officer in the “Lethal Weapon” franchise, has revealed he has Alzheimer’s disease.
The four-time Emmy Award nominee, who turns 80 on July 22, told “Today” and People magazine that he was diagnosed with the progressive, memorydestroying disease three years ago.
“I’m still not accepting in my mind all parts of it,” he told People magazine. “There are the moments that you keep remembering that validate the fact that you can remember stuff. And there are moments I’ll never forget.”
More than 6 million people in the United States and millions more around the world have Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia.
Glover earned four Emmy Award nominations and an honorary Oscar in 2022. Other awards came from the NAACP and Black Entertainment Television, and he received nominations from the Screen Actors Guild.
Glover also served as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Development Program from 1998 to 2004. It focuses on poverty, disease and economic development in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Administration sues Calif., Va. over gun laws
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration sued California and Virginia on Wednesday over new laws in both states that restrict the sale of semiautomatic firearms.
The two separate lawsuits filed by the Justice Department in federal court say the laws violate the Second Amendment.
“The Constitution is not a suggestion, and the Second Amendment is not a second-class right,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a news release announcing the lawsuit against Virginia.
Virginia’s Democratic governor, Abigail Spanberger, signed legislation earlier this year banning the sale and manufacture of certain semiautomatic firearms. The law, which took effect Wednesday, is facing at least four other lawsuits challenging its constitutionality The California law prohibits gun shops from selling certain handguns that can easily be made fully automatic.
Attorneys general in both states vowed to defend their gun laws. The lawsuit is also challenging additional restrictions on handguns sold in California.
AP reconstructs deadly strike
Pentagon remains quiet on bomb that killed over 100 children
BY JULIA FRANKEL Associated Press
JERUSALEM Itwasthedeadliestreported strike in the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, and most of the victims were children. Yet over four months since a U.S. missile struck anIranian primary school, there is no final accounting of what happened.
The Trump administration has not directly accepted the blame, though the military possessed evidence almost immediately that the site had been struck, a U.S. official with knowledge of the situation, speaking anonymously to discuss an ongoing investigation, told The Associated Press.
Drawing from interviews with U.S. officials, human rights workers and Iranians in direct contact with rescuers and families of victims, the AP reconstructed the strike and its aftermath to reveal new details of what happened Most requested anonymity for fear of retribution against them and their sources.
Details remain elusive. When asked last week about the strike, President Donald Trump said he had seen nothing to make him believe the U.S. was responsible. Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not respond to the AP’s request for comment.
Teachers called parents Skies over the city of Minab
were clear the morning of Saturday, Feb. 28. Students jostled into the Shajareh Tayyebeh school, one of many across Iran established for children of families tied to Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard or other state institutions, said Shiva Amelirad the international representative for an Iranian teachers union who taught in Iran for 18 years and has been in contact with people in Minab.
Though most schools in Iran operate within guidelines proscribed by the Islamic Republic, the Shejareh Tayyebeh schools were more explicitly oriented toward reproducing and reinforcing the Guard’s worldview, she said, adding: “Regardless of the students’ family backgrounds, children are civilians and any attack targeting a school is unequivocally condemnable.”
The building lay within the same compound as a Guard base, according to an AP assessment of satellite imagery It was a Guard building before it was fenced off and converted over a decade ago.
Some of its students were the children of Guard officers. Others were local kids from an area populated by people of a majoritySunni ethnic minority known as the Baluch, often repressed by the Iranian government, said a local rights group.
Hundreds of students were inside when bombs began falling on
Tehran. School staff began calling parents, summoning them for an early pickup, said two people.
One father living nearby rushed to pick up his son, said the resident of Minab, who relayed several families’ stories He noticed young relatives waiting for their parents, said the resident. They declined his offer of a ride home.
Ten minutes later, bombs hit at least five buildings in the compound, according to satellite imagery At least one collapsed the neighboring school.
The father raced back to the chaos at the school, where men pawed through smoking rubble to dig out the bodies, according to video of the aftermath circulated by state media. He saw burned bodies he believed were his relatives.
Bodies arrived at the local hospital in pieces, said the Balochistan Human Rights Group. By the end of the day, doctors at the hospital estimated they had at least 108 bodies, but cautioned that it was likely an undercount, said the resident of Minab.
Soon, state media was reporting a toll of 168.
Clues buried in archives
Racing to document the ongoing bombardment, journalists and rights groups struggled to verify details from Minab. Government restrictions in Iran prevented
most foreign journalists from entering the country Iran had shut down the internet. The Strait of Hormuz became a major battlefield. All branches of Iran’s military deployed heavily in the area, said the resident, heightening fears among families of the victims about speaking out.
With details of the death toll elusive, researchers homed in on the question of responsibility Iran blamed the U.S. Trump blamed Iran. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon was investigating.
Internally, the U.S. military knew more than it initially let on. After the blast, the U.S. military knew they had conducted strikes in the vicinity though it took time to verify Iranian claims that a school was struck and begin an investigation, said the U.S. official. It appears that the building housing the school was identified as such by one analyst as early as seven years ago, but that discovery was not sufficiently made known across different intelligence and military staffs and agencies; the building was not known among target developers as a school, revealing potential systematic shortfalls in the target analysis and review process, they said.
Much of the investigative work has been completed and the military is currently reviewing the findings.
Still, there is no full list of the dead.
Authorities: Rescued youths were ‘almost
16 children recovered from dilapidated conditions
BY JULIE CARR SMYTH and JOHN SEEWER Associated Press
HAMDEN, Ohio Sixteen
children from the same family who were rescued from a dilapidated home in rural Ohio were living in wretched conditions with human waste all around, confined to just one room over much of the past four years, authorities said Wednesday Some of the children discovered Tuesday were unable to speak and one — an 18-year-old who was developmentally disabled could not even write her name, investigators said.
“Most of our livestock was kept in better conditions than the children,” said Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain. “Just a disgusting scene.”
The children’s parents and two grandparents were charged with felony child endangerment, a prosecutor said Officials emphasized the case involved one family Authorities found the children while carrying out a search warrant in an unrelated investigation,
“serious physical harm.”
Gary Siders Jr Gary Siders Sr., Christina Siders and Elizabeth Siders appeared in court Wednesday where a judge entered not guilty pleas on their behalf and set bond at $300,00 for each. They have not yet been assigned lawyers.
Steve Irwin, a spokesperson for the attorney general’s office, would not say whether all of the children are siblings or how they were related.
Neighbor saw no kids
feral’
An open door revealed bits of trash inside while a wooden deck and the backyard were filled with discarded tires, a high chair and other debris. Investigators said members of the family had moved around southern Ohio over the past two decades and that it looks like they avoided setting up medical and government records.
“These folks were pretty good at hiding these kids,” Wilson said.
Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said Wednesday at a news conference.
Officials said it seemed as if no one outside the family knew about the children, who weren’t enrolled in school.
“We didn’t know there were going to be 16 kids there,” said Wilson, who was nearly at a loss for words in describing what officials found in the tiny village of Hamden that sits in one of Ohio’s poorest counties.
“It’s the type of thing that we’re not used to seeing here in America,” he said.
‘Feral animals’
The sheriff said it appears the children spent most of their time in a room that was roughly 12 feet by 12 feet. He didn’t disclose how the kids were
kept inside the home, but said authorities didn’t find any cages in the house.
The children ranged in age from 11/2 years to 18 years old and included both boys and girls, officials said. Seven were transported to hospitals in Columbus and two were flown by helicopters. One was in critical condition on Tuesday while some of the others were admitted for care, Wilson said.
“They looked like almost feral animals,” Wilson said. “It was terrible.”
The children were in temporary custody of the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services.
Vinton County prosecuting attorney William Archer said the four adults were charged with seconddegree felony child endangering because it involves
West Nile virus season hits earliest, worst start since 2004
CDC urges people to prevent mosquito bites
BY DEVI SHASTRI AP health writer
Health officials are encouraging people to use bug spray and mosquitocontrol efforts as West Nile virus season is off to its earliest and worst start in over two decades.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that it had confirmed at least 48 cases 38 of them severe as of June 30. Since 2004, the average number of cases reported to the CDC by the end of June is around 10. Federal health officials said 23 states have report-
ed finding West Nile virus, the most in 10 years.
“These findings serve as an important reminder that mosquito season is well underway,” said Dr Erin Staples, a CDC expert on insect-borne diseases. “As families gather outdoors to celebrate Independence Day, we encourage everyone to enjoy their holiday while taking simple steps to protect themselves and their loved ones from mosquito bites.”
Most of the cases have been in Arizona. Of the state’s 32 total cases, 29 are in Maricopa County
The county, which includes Phoenix, has also recorded four deaths from the virus so far this year Officials there asked people to wear bug spray
containing DEET, patch up broken window screens and get rid of standing water, where mosquitoes often breed.
“Even an overturned bottle cap can hold enough water for mosquitoes to breed,” said Melissa Kretschmer, a county health department official. “It’s important that we remove these breeding sources that can form after rain or watering plants.”
The CDC also recommends people wear long, loose-fitting clothes when outside to make it harder for mosquitoes to bite them. Experts also suggest people avoid being outdoors around dusk and dawn, when the mosquitoes that carry the virus are most active.
The house where the children were found sits on a road tucked away alongside a steep railroad embankment, where tracks carry rumbling trains through Hamden.
The closest neighbors are separated by trees and thick brush, but the house is easily visible from the road.
Investigators were reviewing whether the family was reported to any children’s services agencies in the past.
Neighbor Joseph Stewart, 60, said he saw “no kids at all” since the family moved in three houses down and that he could clearly see the house and yard when passing by “It’s a sad situation,” he said.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JULIE CARR SMyTH
The dilapidated home where authorities say they removed 16 children and arrested four adults remains blocked off by crime scene tape on Wednesday in Hamden, Ohio.
WASHINGTON For decades, disabled people have fought for their rights to go to schooland live alongside peerswithout disabilities— rights that some fear could be losing ground under the Trump administration.
Last month, the Department of Educationannounced it would shift oversight of special education to the Department of Health and Human Services, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose comments on the limits of disabilities suchasautism have drawn sharp rebukesfrom advocates and lawmakers.
Meanwhile, after aWhite House push to police homelessness, the Departmentof
Justice released guidance that loweredthe barrier to institutionalizing anyperson with adisability
Taken together, theactions signal aworryingreturnto areality where people with disabilities are pushed to the marginsofsociety,advocates said “It’sadirect, frontal assault on therightsofpeople with disabilities to livetheir livesthe way that people who are nondisabled live their lives,” said Selene Almazan, legal director for theCouncil of Parent Attorneys and Advocates. “I can’t imagine that as acountry, thatwould be something that we wouldagree we should go back to.”
Move away from confining
Since the1960s, legislation andcourt decisions haveexpandedsupports and protectionsfor peoplewithdisabilities to go to school with nondisabled peers and to
liveand work in theircommunities. Before that,people with mental illnessesor developmentaland intellectual disabilitieswere largely confined to institutions.
Advocates have pushed backonwhatisknownas the “medical model,” where an individual’sdisability is viewed as adefect to be cured. Instead, under a“social model”ofdisability, differences can be accommodated andsupported, as people withand without disabilities learn and work alongside each other Families andadvocates have warned thatmoving special education toahealth department marks areturn to themedical model. They alsohave been angered by Kennedy’sattemptstolink vaccines to autism, going against decades of research that show no such link, and hisframing of autism as a debilitating disease.
Kennedy’scomments last
year,where he said children withautism would never writeapoem, pay taxes or hold ajob, raised questions about how he would oversee an agency meant to help studentsdevelop thoseskills. Kennedylater saidhewas referring to people with“severe autism” or those who are nonverbal.
“Many of the things he said autistic people will never do,(specialeducation)is in charge of making sure students withdisabilities have theopportunitytodo,” said ZoeGross,directorof advocacy at the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. “Will he execute that faithfully,or does he consider disabled students alost causeuntil we findsomemedical cure?”
SupremeCourt weighs in In 1999, theSupreme Court ruled thatsegregating disabled people who are otherwise able to live in their community with
propersupports was aform of discrimination. The Olmstead v. L.C. decision led to requirements that government agencies provide disability services in the most integratedsetting possible —inmainstream schools, homes and workplaces.
But in amemo issuedin June, the Department of Justice’sOffice of Legal Counsel upended that guidance. It argued that neither the Americans with Disabilities Act nor Section 504, two major disability rights laws, requires states to provide services in the mostmainstream setting. While the memo does not change the law,itsignals how federalagencies mayinterpret and enforce civil rights issues related to the topic. It could emboldenstates or school districts to decline to support people with disabilitiesinmainstream environments.
The WhiteHouse has already acted on asimilar phi-
losophy.Lastyear,President Donald Trump issued an executive order on homelessnessthatendorsedcivil commitment, where acourt orders individuals into involuntaryhospitalizationor treatment programs. Trump directed HHS to reduce barriers to institutionalizing people with mental illnesses. In its memo, the Justice Department acknowledged its interpretationofthe SupremeCourt’sOlmstead decision is “outofstep” with the common understanding. TheRepublican administration’ssteps fit aworldview in which the government has no obligationtosupport people with disabilities, said ClaudiaCenter,legal director at Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund. “It’sdark, andit’sawful,” Center said. “And Ithink it’scontrary to themajority view in our country It’s outoftouch withwhere our society is.”
U.S. and Iranian negotiators met separately on Wednesday with Qatari and Pakistani mediators, with “positive progress made,” and they agreed to continue discussions, host Qatar said. The next meeting will be scheduled “at the earliest possible time” after the funeral of Iran’sprevious supreme leader,the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Majed al-Ansari, aspokesman for Qatar’sForeign Ministry said on X. The funeral is set to start Saturday in Tehran
U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner,U.S. President Donald Trump’sson-in-law,were in Qatar for talks seeking a permanent end to the war
Iran on Feb. 28, Iran has usedits abilitytochoke off the waterwayasakey sourceofleverage, disrupting global marketsfor energy and other critical goods.
Strait akey sticking point
Iran and theUnited States agreed as part of an interim deal to allowships to pass withoutpaying chargesfor 60 days. ButTehran insisted it must control the routes of thevessels and later charge fees forpassage,upending decades of practice in the waterway
Wednesday saidthe ship“ran aground with itscargo because of shallow waters along the route it had chosen and was unable to continue sailing.” It said shippers needed to follow the instructions of Iran’sparamilitary Revolutionary Guard in thestrait.
The Guard’s navy hasrepeatedly warned that “any entry or exit through routes other than the ‘Route of Authority’ in thePersianGulf could lead to irreparable incidents.”
and its foreign minister,
Mohammed bin AbdulrahmanAlThani,according to astatement by the Qatari government.
Discussions included details related to traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Vice President JD Vance told reporters in the United States.
along with Iran’stop negotiator,Kazem Gharibabadi. Negotiators aim tonail downspecificstopavethe wayfor topleaderstoseal an agreement,though differences over the Strait of Hormuz and Lebanon loom large. Ashipran agroundin the straitwhile using aroutenot approved byIran, statetelevisioninTehranreported Wednesday.The vessel was
identified as aforeign container ship, with no other details.
The report appeared aimed at underlining Tehran’sclaimstocontrol the strait, which the worldhas long considered an international waterway.Afifthof alloil andnatural gas passed through it in peacetime.
Sincethe U.S.and Israel launchedthe war against
Filing showsTrump took in about$1.2billion
He also earned millions on Bibles
BY BERNARD CONDON Associated Press
NEW YORK President Donald Trump took in nearly $1.2billion from his crypto businesses lastyear, afederal filing released Tuesday shows, locking in profits while his investors were sockedwith losses.
Mere startups when he took the oath of office, the new ventures havenow eclipsed in revenue much of his vast property portfolio that took him decades to accumulate. Fueling their rise were billionaire investors and Trump’sown move to quash afederalcrackdown on the industry
Trump gotmorethan $500 million from his World Liberty Financial business selling new crypto products, including “governance tokens,” according to the required annual disclosure report with the OfficeofGovernmentEthics
It also showed another crypto business, CIC Digital LLC, tookinmore than $600 million from sales of souvenirtype “meme” coins stamped with his face. Both the tokensand the coins have plunged in value since the sales.
Trump also took in millions last year from selling Trump-branded Bibles, sneakers and other small items in another unprecedented move for the presidency.The sale of Trumpbranded watches alone brought in $4.7 million.
The 927-page disclosure formpaints astark, if incomplete picture of the massive growth of the president’s wealthsince taking office last January through aweb
of business interests —many of which have benefited from the policymoves of Trump’s owngovernment.Trump has insisted that his sons direct his financesbut the arrangement rejects theconflict of interest protections that his recent predecessorsinoffice hadinstituted.
Forbes estimates Trump’s net worthat$6billion, up from $2.3 billion in 2024.
Business growingabroad
Theriseofcryptorelative to Trump’spropertyis especially noteworthy because he first rode to office boasting of his property wins. It’salsoremarkable because that mainstay business also boomed lastyear Trump tookintens of millions in fees from aflurry of new hotel, resort and condo dealsoverseas that amounts to the biggest property expansion ever in the century since the family business was founded
Many of thosecountries were negotiatingwith the U.S. over tariffs, military aidand otherimportant matterswhile the family business wasstrikingthe deals Aproperty in theUnited Arab Emirates generated $10.4 million for the Trump business last year. Onein Saudi Arabia being built by areal estate developer close to theruling family sent the president’scompany$9million. And one in Bucharest, Romania, and another inQatar senthim $5 million each.
One of his prominent domesticproperties, Mar-aLago in Florida, notched big growthlast year,too.
Trump tookin$77 million from theproperty, a50% jump from the year earlier whenhewas just another citizen,asheadsofstate and business people flocked to it
in his new term.
The disclosure report doesn’tgive profit figures, just revenue, so it’s impossible to know how much he is earning.
Billion-dollarcryptoman
TrumpsaidWednesday thatmost of his gains last year came from the stock market and he’sjust riding along with everyone else.
“We’re allprofiting,” he said.“I’mprofiting because Ihavea lotofmoney anda lot of cash.”
But crypto was clearly the big revenue generator last year in part due his own moves since taking office pushing policies friendly to theindustry and reversing a Biden administration regulatory crackdown.
The regulatorsare still worried.Before Trump’s World Liberty beganselling “governance tokens,” they issuedwarnings aboutthis newkind of crypto asset, saying thatunlike stocks, the tokens offer no ownership stakeinthe issuingcompany just voting power on certain corporate policies, andare difficult to value.
Buyers pounced anyway, including aChinese billionaire who spent $75 million on the tokens and $200 milliononthe souvenir coins In February last year,afederal lawsuit charginghim withduping investors was pausedbefore being settled for a$10 million fine.
The billionaire, Justin Sun, has repeatedly denied his spending on Trump businesses had anythingtodowith his federal case, while World Liberty has dismissed the notionofaconflict of interest. Meanwhile, investors have seen
of their
The U.S. and many Gulf Arab states say they won’t agree to the charges. An effortbyOman and aU.N agency to launch anew route near Oman’s shore sparked attacks acrossthe Mideast last weekend, highlighting the tensions.
Iranianstate TV on
The report did notmention the twoships Iran attacked in recent days fordaring to head outthrough the strait without Tehran’spermission, including one carrying crude oil from Qatar Qatarmeets both sides Witkoff andKushnermet Wednesday with Qatar’s rulingemir,Sheikh Tamim
“Obviously,we’re worried about the nuclear issue,” Vance said.“We’re going to start talking about that.” Sheikh Mohammed also metwith Gharibabadi and other Iranian officials, with Pakistanimediators also on hand. Gharibabadi saidthe Iranian delegation had no direct talks withthe American side,and itstalks withmediators dealt with Lebanon and plans to return someof Iran’sfrozen assets, Iranian state media reported.
bin Hamad Al Thani,
Sheikh
empathy,alack of everything.”
In the critical 72 hours after residential buildings, food joints, pharmacies, hotels and convenience stores imploded in La Guaira state Caracas and surroundingregions, the on-the-ground response was primarily focused on directing traffic, with police officers, intelligence agents and members of the armed forces manning intersections.
Residentstakeonrescue
Civilians, mostly alone and some with the help of foreign rescuers, searched forloved ones among piles of rubble. Ambulances were stuck in miles-long traffic jams. Hospitals were undersupplied and understaffed. Emergency personnel respondedwith little to no equipment.
Aweek later,many residents in coastal communities of La Guaira were attributing most rescues and recoveriestofellow Venezuelans and foreign teamswithknow-how and equipmentlike thermal cameras and sound detectors as well as trained dogs. They also pointed out that while civiliansand foreign rescuers worked, menand women in Venezuelanuniforms stood watching and state workers took selfies.
Tulane University professor David Smilde, who has studied Venezuela for three decades, said the tragedy has made clearthatthe stunning Jan. 3captureofthenPresident Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces was not aone-off “in which the Venezuelan state wasnot able to defend itself at all.”
“It also can’tdoanything like get started with digging people out,” he said, adding thatitshould be aworrying concern for Rodríguez, who was sworn in after Maduro was deposed and takento New York to face drug trafficking charges.
Smilde said the dismal response is linked to thehugenumbers of people who have left the public sector because of extremely low pay as well as corruption, such as the many people who are included in the government’spayroll but
FEUD
Continued from page1A
Loyola University
The battle ratchetedupthis spring when Louisiana’sRepublican-controlled Legislature approved bills to reshape twotypically sleepy public offices: New Orleans’ clerks of civil and criminalcourt. Windinglegal,political fight
Supporters cast the legislation, which eliminated the criminal clerkship and placed itsduties under the Civil Clerk’sOffice, as a needed reform. But NewOrleans leaders slammed the move as unnecessary incursion, slamming the legislation as retaliation against Calvin Duncan, aformer prison lawyer who spent decades behind barsbefore ajudge foundhim innocent of a1981 murder
Duncan won the criminal clerkship last fall with 68% ofthe vote despite opposition from Murrill and other conservatives. Themeasure took effectfourdaysbefore he was to assume the office,at which point Williams andMoreno pressed the City Council tocall aspecial election for thenewly melded seat. They argued the legislation had created anew position
who have not worked in months or years. In afunctioning government, he added, people have specific duties to designprotocols spelling out proceduresincase of emergencies,including earthquakes.
“It’s like trying to have abaseball team with three people on the field. You’re not sure who’sgoing to be the pitcher,who’s goingto be catching, and who’sgoing to be outfielder,” he said of the government’s lack of organization.
Some gethelp
Wealth and government connections also influenced thegovernment’sresponse, withsomesites given preferential treatment.
When one collapsed buildingwas teeming with police and military school students, people accurately guessed that officials or politically connectedindividualsmusthave lived there. The police officers from aneighboring state were indeed searchingfor acaptain, while
that must be filled by voters. Murrill firedoff herletters threatening to removethem from office.
Democrats and some Republicans alike called the move an overstep, and bothsides seemed to calm their rhetoric following that blow-up. On June 1, theLouisiana SupremeCourt issued aruling upholdingthe state law that cut Duncan’sposition. It seemed the fight had ebbed.
Thensources toldThe TimesPicayune this week that agrand jury was weighing evidence against Murrill, reigniting the tensions
“Thematter was ultimatelygoingtoberesolved by theLouisianaSupremeCourt, not by absurd cross-accusationsofcriminal conduct,”Ciolino said.
Many questions remainunansweredabout thegrandjury’sfocusand how far its investigation has progressed. Details such as how many witnesses thepanel has called and what evidence it may be consideringaren’tclear
Also unclear is how much criminalexposureMurrill could ultimately face. The letters she sent to localofficialsclaimed the fivemember City Council majority was helpingto“usurp” ClerkofCourt Chelsea Napoleon’sauthority, citinga statute that makesita misdemeanor to assume office with-
the students anda few members of the national guard were hoping to locate amajor general.
Atelescopic crane, like the one Mundrain needs for the recovery of her family,was parked for several hours in what was thatbuilding’sentrance. The relatives of the well-off families who lived in the building were able to rent it.Mundrain cannot “I thinkthat if there weresomeone in aposition of authorityin each of these apartments,there would be awell-oiled machine working like they have in other residences,” Mundrain saidpointing to her building.
People’sanger over the response hasalsoled to altercations between residents andmachineoperators. In oneinstance, when a government-providedexcavator tried to leavethe siteofaflattened public housing building, people blocked traffictokeep it in place and even pulled theoperator from thecab.
outauthority or to interfere with apublic official.
At leastsome City Council members have been calledtotestify, sources said.
The council members had “put your own offices in jeopardy,” Murrill wrote. She directed them to “rescind or suspend” theresolutions, allegingtheyhad “opted to aid and abet in the usurpationof theofficeholder.”
Somelegal veterans are skeptical that acriminal case built around the correspondence would pass muster “The public intimidation statute requires athreat of violence or an unlawful demand,” Craig Mordock, aveteran defenselawyer, wrote on thesocialmedia site X, formerlyknown as Twitter. “Murrill threatened toenforce alaw the LA SupremeCourt said she read correctly. If that’safelony then half the lawyers in this state are looking at hard time.”
Grandjuriesoperate in secrecy
Grand juries,which at both the federal andstate court levels weigh evidence to decide whether prosecutors have probable cause to criminally indict adefendant, typically meet with the utmost secrecy.But two sources told The Times-Picayune that the probe appears to have been initiated by the
Thegovernmentreported Wednesday that 2,295 died and more than 11,200 were injured in the7.2 and 7.5magnitude earthquakes thatstruckJune 24. Thousands more have beenreported missing.
“Wecontinuetosupport theaffected families anddirectlyoverseethe care and recovery efforts in La Guaira,”Rodríguezpostedon XWednesday.“Iknow that many Venezuelans feelpainand frustration; Ideeply share those feelings.
RescuersonTuesday continued to free some survivors from mountains of debris, offering anguishedfamiliesa sliver of hope even as thelikelihood of finding people alivediminished with each passinghour. Thedesperation led twowomen to fight late at night, one draggingthe other to the mud right next to aflattened building after one of them refused to be quiet whilerescuers tried to listen forsigns of lifeamongthe rubble.
grand juryitself,arare step the panel maytake under state law Sources also toldthe newspaperthat Williamsrecused himself from the probeand that former criminal court judge andveteran defense attorney Laurie White is handlingthe matter as aspecial prosecutor White declined to comment Wednesday on the grandjury investigation,saying only that there was “secrecy” surrounding the matter. She leftthe benchin2023 amid acourt employee’ssexualharassment complaint,whichWhite denied at thetime. Afederal judge in 2023 dismissed alawsuit from theemployee. Whitealso previously representedDuncan in his criminalcase before the Innocence Project, now known as Innocence and Justice Louisiana, took it over Morenodeclinedtocomment
Wednesdayonthe grand jury proceedings, whichCriminalDistrict Judge Leon Rocheisoverseeing Williams and several City Council membersdid not respond to phone calls. Murrill hinted at reports of interest surrounding the allegations of agrand jury investigation as she opened her news conference WednesdayinBaton Rouge.
“Everyone is here for the sole reason we’rehaving anews con-
The first 48 to 72 hours after a natural disaster are crucial to rescueefforts, though survivalcan be extended if people have access to food and water
Electrician Daniel Castillo was able to pull his mother andson alive from theirsecond-floor apartment in acollapsed public housing building in La Guaira just hours after the earthquake struck. The body of his brother remained inside foranother day until he could reach him
On Tuesday,hedecried the government’sresponse while he waited in line to get afree bag of hygiene products, including toilet paper andsoap, froma tent staffed by the Venezuelan armed forces.
“You see the guards, and their uniforms are spotless,not dirty at all,” Castillo said, contrasting members of Venezuela’sNational Guard with dust-covered civilians andforeign rescuers whohave dug through rubble fordays. “The government did nothing.”
ferenceonMedicaidfraud, right?” she asked, laughing. She said she firstheardofthe grand jury investigationwhena reporter contactedher on Tuesday to ask about it. Asked if she had an opinion of White’sreported appointmentasa special prosecutor, Murrill said she would hold her tongue.
“I wouldn’tspeak to it out of respect forthe process, however muchImay have thoughts about it or disagree with it,” she said. “I won’ttalkabout it until we see what happens. Now, whenwesee what happens, Ican assure you that Idohave thoughts, and Iwill express them.”
Recordsshowretired Judge Calvin Johnson, who the City Council tapped as an interim clerk when it called aspecial election in May,filed acomplaint withthe state barcommission againstMurrill on June 17. The document accusesMurrill of “unethical and unprofessional conduct,” naming as examples the letters she sent Johnson,Moreno, Williams and the five council members. In her letter to Johnson at the time, Murrill warned that he could face “imprisonment” even as she said he “appears to be an innocent bystander” to the dispute.
Staff writersJohn Simerman, Andrea Gallo and Meghan Friedmann contributed to this report.
ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByARIANA CUBILLOS
in the earthquakes in La Guaira, Venezuela.
BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS
Kroger buying regional grocer Giant Eagle
Kroger said Wednesday it plans to buyregional grocer and pharmacy retailerGiant Eagle in adeal valued at $1.65 billion.
Giant Eagle, which is privately held, has 197 supermarkets and11standalonepharmacies across northern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana.They would continuetooperate under theGiant Eagle nameunder the termsofthe deal. Kroger,which is the largest U.S. supermarket chain, has 2,685 storesin35statesand the District of Columbia. Its storesoperate under various brand names, including Ralphs, KingSoopers,Smith’sand Fred Meyer The transactionincludes $1.25 billionincash and the assumption of approximately $400 million in outstanding liabilities, the companiessaid Wednesday “Giant Eagle is awell-run, high-quality regional grocer with astrong reputation for fresh products, pharmacy,private labeland customerloyalty,” Kroger CEO Greg Foran said in astatement.“We evaluated theopportunity carefully and thestrategic fit is clear.” Foran, aformer Walmart executive,was named Kroger’s CEO in February French company to buy FedEx’slogisticsarm
NEW YORK French container shipping company CMA CGM Group said Wednesday it will buyFedEx SupplyChain, the third-party logistics subsidiary of FedEx for $1.4 billion, as it works to expand in the U.S CMA CGMGroup said the acquisition willtriple the size of its own logistics arm,CEVA Logistics and helpbuild its presence as acontract logistics providerinNorthAmerica.
In 2025, CMA CGM pledged to invest $20 billion in its U.S warehousing, aircargo and logistics over four years. The two companies said they expected to enter intomultiyearair and ocean freight commercial agreements as well. Rodolphe Saadé, CEO of CMA CGM Group, said the deal will “reinforce our long-term commitment to investinginthe United States and supporting theresilienceand efficiencyof its supply chain.” FedEx, based in Memphis, Tennessee, has been spinning off some businesses to focus on itsdelivery business, focusing on higher-marginbusinessto-business deliveries for the healthcare, automotive, aerospaceand data center industries. It completed its spinoff of FedEx Freight,which transportsheavy and bulky shipments, on June 1.
AOL’s owner hits Wall Street with $1.7BIPO
NEW YORK Theowner of AOL and other tech businesses hit Wall Street with a$1.7 billion initial public offering Wednesday Bending Spoons priced 58 million shares at $29 apiece. The company is getting $1 billioninproceeds, while the rest is going to shareholders. The stocksurged 41% shortly after it started trading under the symbol “BSP”onthe Nasdaq, giving it amarket value of $25.5 billion. Among the company’swellknownholdingsare the event creation and ticketing company Eventbrite, and the video hosting service Vimeo. AOL, formerly America Online,isa more recent acquisition for the company.The email and search engine service dates back to the dawnofthe internet age. AOL itself went public in 1992 and wasa vanguardof technology and communication. It reached amarketvalue of $164 billion in 2000 shortly before merging with Time Warner.Itthen crashed alongwith the rest of the industry following thebursting of the dot-com bubble. It has been boughtand sold several times overthe last two decades.
Warshsignals focusoninflation
or households thought theFed wouldacceptinflationabove 2%, “I guessthey’d be disappointed We’re going to deliver price stability.”
BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP economics writer
WASHINGTON— New Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warshsaid Wednesday that the centralbank would remain independent and seek to bring down inflation, likely foreclosing the rate cuts President Donald Trump has sought In remarksata central bank conference in Sintra,Portugal, Warshsaidthat if businesses
The Fed typically combats inflation by raising borrowing costs. Whenaskedabout Trump’softrepeated desire forlower rates, Warsh underscored the Fed’sindependencefrom day-to-day politics
“We’vebeen an independent central bank for avery long time,” he said.“We’regoing to be an independent central bank at this moment and you’re going to see no changes to that.”
Such commentssuggest that Warsh has shifted his views since
replacing Jerome Powell as chair May 22. He calledfor lower rates last year as he essentially campaigned forthe job. Sincebecoming chair,however,Warsh hasappeared to move away from that stance and instead hassignaled afocus on getting inflationdown.
But on Wednesday he declined to saywhatsteps the Fed would take to achieve that goal, consistent with his opposition to socalled “forward guidance,” in which central bank leadersforeshadow their next policymoves.
“I’m not going to make ajudgmentnow,” he said during the panel discussion withother central bankers. “The tactics, the
strategy, andthe rest,that’sstill to come,” he lateradded.
At his first news conference last month, Warsh also emphasized his goal of getting inflation back down to target. Wall Street investors expect the Fedcould hike its keyinterest rate as soon as in September,fromits current levelof about3.6%toroughly 3.9%. When the Fed last met June 16-17, nearly half of the 19 policymakers signaled that they supported higher rates this year while eight supported no change and one penciled in acut. Warsh did notsubmit aforecast because of hisoppositiontoproviding guidance.
U.S.,Canada, Mexico beginbumpy negotiations to renewtrade pact
BY PAUL WISEMAN AP economics writer
WASHINGTON— Tourists from Chattanooga check into beach resorts in Cancun. Canadian auto parts feed factories in the American Midwest— and vice versa. Happy hour revelersraise glassesofMexican tequilaand mezcal at bars in Seattle. It adds up.The United States trades$1.9 trillion ayear —$5billion aday —worthof goods andservices with its neighbors, Canada and Mexico. They have supplanted China as America’stop two trading partners. So thestakes arehigh when it comes to fiddling with the rulesthat govern trade between the three countries. And after ayear of President Donald Trump’schaotic tariff policies,many U.S.,Canadian and Mexican businesses wouldwelcome the return of stability across North America. They are not likely to get it
Theregional tradepact —the U.S.-MexicoCanada Agreement or USMCA —that Trump negotiated and boasted about in his first term came up for renewal Wednesday, starting a
Congressmanseeks
BYKEN
SWEET AP business writer
NEWYORK— ADemocratic member of Congress is calling forthe federal government to investigate the growing “rent now, paylater” industry, saying Americans may not understand thefees and cost structure of these productsas the services becomemorewidely available Rep. MaxwellFrost, D-Fla., sent aletter toConsumer Financial Protection Bureau Acting Director Russell Vought urging thebureau to investigate rent now, pay later companies andholdthem accountable forpotentialviolationsoffederal consumer financial protection
process that is likely to last months, maybe longer And the path forward is lined withlandmines
“There’sgoing to be alot of drama this summer,” DiegoMarroquínBitar,a fellow in the America’sprogram at theCenter for Strategic and International Studies, said last week at aUSMCA forum sponsored by the Cato Institute.
The U.S. is making demands that could effectively force Canada and Mexicotosurrender someautomaking productiontothe United States.Thatmight bring more auto factory jobstothe UnitedStates.But it would also upend established supply chains and would push up U.S. prices fornew cars thatnow average nearly $50,000 at atime when American consumers are alreadyfurious about the high cost of living Trump, characteristically,has added to the tension by threatening topull out of his own agreement altogether In 2020, theUSMCA replacedthe 1994 North American Free TradeAgreement, which tore down mosttrade barriers be-
tween the three North American countries. Trump and other critics had called NAFTA ajob killerbecause it encouraged U.S. companies to move factories south of the border to take advantage of low-wage Mexican labor, then ship goods back to the United States duty free.
His USMCA ended up being similar to NAFTA— though it pressured factories to payhigherwages andmakesure that moreof what they made originated in North America in an effort to prevent Chinese products from slipping across regional borders duty free TheUSMCAincluded anovel provision requiring thepact to be renewed everysix years. Thatdeadline wasWednesday,and the three countries metvirtually.But U.S. TradeRepresentative Jamieson Greer said in astatement that the United States was not ready to renew the pact as it is for another16 years—which would have been until 2042. The United States wants changes to the agreement to reduce its trade deficits with Canada and Mexico and to resolve specific disputes overissuessuchasCanada’sprotection of its dairy industry
probeof‘rent now, paylater’companies
laws. In the letter,obtained by The Associated Press, Frost also asked thebureautoexplain what it is doing to protect renters and whether landlords are steering tenants towardrent-financing products.
“Rent now,pay later” companies allow renters to split theirmonthly rent into smaller paymentsover the course of amonth.A renter with a $1,000 monthly rentbill might pay in four weekly paymentsof$250 or twopayments of $500. First elected to Congressin2022 at the age of 25, Frost said he frequently used buy now,pay later services to furnish his first apartment in Washington, which put him heavilyintodebt. In an interview, Frost saiditwas only because he
made ahealthy salary as amemberofCongressthathewas recently able to paythosedebtsoff
He said he believes his experience is likely the same as other young Americans.
“Americans should know they have rights when using these buy now, pay later products,” Frost said. “This is why the CFPB was created in the first place.” Frostlookedinto using his credit card to payrent, but “thank God thatdidn’thappen,” he added. Companies suchasFlexand Livble saybreaking rent intomultiple payments can help renters manage cash flow.The buy now, pay later companyAffirm has also done limited trials that allow its
customers to split rent into multiple payments. But several of these payment plans can comewith high fees and finance charges. In February,the AP reported on how users of these services werepaying as much as $50 amonth to split their rent. These RNPL companies differ from companies like Bilt, which allows somerenters to pay rent through its credit card and rewards platform. Bilt says it has more than 5million members, and its customers have historically usedits service to earn rewards points on rent payments. RNPL companies are more focused on allowing customers to finance large rent payments across multiple payments.
ASSOCIATEDPRESS FILEPHOTO By EDUARDO VERDUGO
An employee welds metal at asteel tank factoryinMexico City.
theschool on anew path. They hired aslew of new administrators, including Weiland, closed the liberal arts building and cutsome academic programs and raised tuition.
LSU President Wade Rousse, whoearned amaster’sdegree from University of New Orleans and credited the university for inspiring his love for economics, said the changes have put the university on stable financial footing.
He addedthatthe school will contribute to LSU’smissionto educate students from acrossthe state and prepare them for the workforce. But the university will also remainaresearch institution rooted in New Orleans,Rousse said.
“LSU New Orleans must remain committed to serving as acatalyst for social mobility,for first-generation students, working students, adult learnersand veterans,” he told the crowd. “That is acritical legacy worth keeping.”
Studentsinyellow LSU New Orleans shirts cheered and waved glittery pompoms as attendees arrived at Wednesday’scelebration.
Kamille Isom, agraduate student and president of the Student Government Association, said shewas hopeful the event’shigh energy and optimism would be apermanent feature of LSU New Orleans.
“Wehad alot of people come out,” she said. “Seeing all those people just made me really excited forwhat’stocome.”
Chris Summa, aprofessor and presidentofthe Faculty Senate, said he was nearly moved totears by apromotional video that highlighted faculty members’ commitment to New Orleans. He noted that theuniversity has endured financial hardships since Hurricane Katrina, but said he is optimistic that the new leadership will help the school function more seamlessly “This is achance to getour mojo back and get to doing whatwedo best,” he said. “It’sexciting to see
Continued from page1A
no witnesses, acceptingno public testimony and allowing no transparency in the process,” said Mike Faulk, aformer school superintendent andone of theplaintiffs, in astatement.
On Monday,Judge Richard “Chip” Moore of the 19th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge lifted the temporary restrainingorder and disqualified the plaintiffs’ law firm, Baker Donelson ruling that the firmhad a conflict of interest because it was representing the state in aseparate case.
The plaintiffs hired new attorneys and were scheduled to return to Moore’s courtroom Wednesday to argue for apreliminary injunction, before decidingto pull their lawsuit.
Landry issued the executive order June 2, the day afterlawmakers adjourned withoutallocating money for the stipends. In recent years, the Legislature has allocated about $200 million annually to give teachers one-time payments instead of permanent raises.
this manypeople excited about LSUNew Orleans.”
Arian Verrett, aNew Orleans native who enrolled at UNO after moving backtothe city to carefor herfamily,said she appreciates theuniversity’s close-knit community,though she wouldn’tmind seeing more studentsoncampus. She believes the school can maintainthat sense of communityeven if it’snow called LSU New Orleans. “It doesn’t matter if they change thename,”she said. “It’sstill the same people. It’s stillthe same school.”
Under Landry’splan, that moneywill be taken outof theroughly$4billion the state sends to schools.
Landry and lawmakers say schools can afford the roughly 4% reduction in statedollars by tapping their rainy-day funds. Landry also arguesthat the moneyisstaying in educationbecause it is going toward teacher pay
“Not asingle dollar is being taken away from public education,” he said in a social media post Tuesday. “We’re investing in teachers, not bureaucracy.”
The order says the cut should not come outoffunding for classroom instruction, security,transportation or food services. But school systemleadershave warned
that the funding reduction could result in programs or positions being eliminated, especially in small and rural districts where money already is tight.
After the Legislature approved Landry’sorder, Ouachita Parish Schools announced severalcostcuttingmeasures, including afreeze on nonclassroom hiring, librarybook purchasesand nonemergencymaintenanceprojects. Adistrict spokesperson said the steps are temporary while alonger-term planisbeing developed.
Baudouin saidthateven if classroomspendingis spared from cuts, student learning still could be impacted.
“It’snaivetothink that this will not be felt in theclassroom,” shesaid, arguing that
gains.“Ireallyfearthese cuts are going to slow,or even begin to reverse, that progress.”
STAFF PHOTOSByCHRISGRANGER
The official newsignfor LSUNew Orleans is unveiled outside the University Center on Wednesday
The Soul Motion Brass Band leads LSUNew Orleans students and faculty in aparade across the campus to mark the University of NewOrleans officially joiningthe LSU system
Challengers score victories against Arkansas’ restrictions
Federal judge rules extra conditions on ballot initiatives violate free speech
BY MARC LEVY Associated Press
A federal judge in Arkansas has thrown out a handful of state laws that put extra restrictions on citizen efforts to gather signatures for ballot initiatives, agreeing with challengers that they violated the constitutional free speech rights of voters.
The decision handed several victories to the League of Women Voters of Arkansas and other plaintiffs, which sued last year amid efforts in various states to make it harder for regular citizens to make laws or amend their states’ constitution through ballot initiatives.
One such measure required someone signing a petition to show photo ID. That and other additional ballot-initiative restrictions were imposed by Arkansas’ GOPcontrolled state government after election officials cited a legal technicality to reject petitions submitted by abortion rights supporters in a 2024 effort to legalize abortion in the conservative state.
One of the plaintiffs, Protect AR Rights, called the decision an “important victory for the people of Arkansas and their constitutional right to direct democracy.”
The decision, issued Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks, also rejected some challenges by the league and its fellow plaintiffs, while Brooks sent three other disputes to trial.
The defendant, Arkansas Secretary of State Cole Jester, a Republican who had defended the laws in court, said in a statement that his office plans to appeal Brooks’ decision and “will fight tirelessly for common sense safeguards like voter ID.”
Among the laws Brooks struck down are 2025 measures requiring canvassers to verify a petition signers’ identity through a photo
ID and to read the ballot question aloud or require a petition signer to read the entire ballot question before signing it. The ballot questions are often hundreds of words long
Requiring a petition signer to possess and present a photo ID
“before engaging in core political speech” plainly violates free speech laws, Brooks wrote, and noted that the Arkansas secretary of state’s office reviews every signature to confirm that the petition signer is a registered voter
The ID requirement regulates what a registered voter “must do before signing a petition and what a canvasser must do before allowing them to,” Brooks wrote. “This impedes supporters of a measure from expressing their views by signing a petition.”
State officials had contended that requiring a reading of the ballot question before anyone can sign a petition was necessary to prevent a canvasser from misrepresenting the ballot question
But Brooks wrote that the state had refused to prosecute reported cases of such canvasser misconduct, and that it should enforce its existing laws before it chose a more restrictive alternative of “imposing burdensome speech
codes on good and bad actors alike.”
Twenty-three states and Washington, D.C., allow citizen-initiated ballot measures, according to the nonprofit Ballot Initiative Strategy Center
In March, the center reported that it had found a “sharp escalation” by lawmakers in both the number and severity of anti-democratic attacks on the ballot measure process over the past several election cycles.
Sponsors of such efforts, it wrote, framed them as steps to improve election integrity, administrative efficiency or voter protection.
One of the most common methods is making it harder for initiatives to qualify for the ballot by placing restrictions on where, when and how signatures are collected, it wrote. It singled out efforts in Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio and Oklahoma.
Another common method of restricting ballot initiatives, it said, is requiring a larger majority of voters, rather than a simple majority to approve a referendum, thus making it harder to pass. It cited efforts in Arizona, Florida, Missouri, North Dakota and Ohio.
Israeli forces detain Palestinian women in West Bank raids
Many imprisoned without formal charges
BY SAM METZ Associated Press
JERUSALEM It was shortly after 1 a.m. Wednesday when Abdelrahman Badr said he heard footsteps outside his home in Hebron in the occupied West Bank. Soon Israeli forces were at his door he said. They were looking for his wife.
The forces took Itaf Badr, who serves on the board of a prominent health charity, and said she was wanted for questioning, driving her away in the dead of night, according to Abdelrahman.
She was one of five Palestinian women detained by Israeli security forces across the West Bank on Wednesday The early morning raids targeted multiple cities, including Hebron, Ramallah, Nablus and Bethlehem, the women’s families and Palestinian rights groups said. For most of Israel’s decades-long occupation, Palestinian men and boys have borne the brunt of the military’s effort to enforce it, and have been swept up in mass detentions or spent years in jail for throwing rocks at Israeli troops.
But security forces are detaining more women and girls, said Abdullah AlZaghari, head of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, a nongovernmental organization that supports political prisoners in Israeli jails. He said gender is no longer a distinguishing factor in who the group believes Israel is targeting, from political activists to student leaders at
Palestinian universities
More women arrested
Women now make up a small but growing share of the roughly 9,300 Palestinians currently in detention, according to Israeli rights group Hamoked, which gets data from the Israel Prison Service.
The number of Palestinian women and girls in Israeli detention has more than doubled since the start of the Israel-Hamas war and increased 80% since the start of 2026. Fifteen have been arrested since the beginning of June, bringing the total to 99, according to Prisoners’ Club data.
Some of them were arrested after posting messages on social media, including ones that were critical of Israel’s occupation of the West Bank or the war in Gaza. Others were members of Palestinian political parties’ student branches at their universities, Al-Zaghari said.
Many have been imprisoned without formal charges under Israel’s administrative detention policy, which allows authorities to hold Palestinians for renewable periods of up to six months.
Last month, Israeli soldiers arrested at least five other young women, including four members of the Palestinian national soccer team and a 20-yearold Palestinian-American, Sama Saif
The military said those women were suspected of “promoting terrorist activities.” At least one has since been released. The others have not yet been charged, according to their attorneys. Saif’s arrest has drawn criticism from several U.S. senators, who have
demanded her immediate release.
On Wednesday, the Israeli military referred questions about the arrests in Ramallah and Nablus to Israel’s Border Police, which also operates in the West Bank. It said it was checking for information on the arrest of Itaf in Hebron but did not respond to a request for comment on why she was detained.
Why they were detained
The relatives of the women who were detained early Wednesday said they were unsure why they were taken away In Nablus, Wael al-Faqih said his wife, Maiser alFaqih, was arrested at home by Israeli forces She is a former detainee and, like Itaf, was previously involved with the Union of Health Work Committees, a charity that provides medical care in low-income communities.
Israel has accused the group of ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which it has designated a terrorist organization. The charity denies the allegations.
“We still don’t know what it was about,” Wael said in an interview He said Israeli forces searched him and his son and then asked Maiser to put on her hijab before whisking her away Abdelrahman said he believed his wife Itaf’s work with the charity put her at risk. He told a similar story about her arrest. First, she was taken outside and then handcuffed in the street.
“I looked at them from the window, they shouted at me and my son,” he said. Then, “they grabbed her, blindfolded her and put her in the military vehicle.”
New autopsy of a baby killed by police deepens outrage
Mississippi family is challenging claims about the shooting
BY HANNAH FINGERHUT Associated Press
A Mississippi family whose 1-year-old child was killed when police fired into a moving car offered evidence Wednesday that they say challenges the officers’ account of being in danger when one opened fire.
A preliminary autopsy requested by the family of Kohen Wiley suggested the baby was shot from the side of the car, not the front, civil rights attorney Ben Crump said, disputing officers’ claims that the car was heading toward them. Kohen’s mother who was holding her baby in the passenger seat, says her friend was driving away from the officers.
Kohen and his mother are Black, and the June 14 shooting has sparked protests and outrage in the small town of Senatobia. Residents point to a string of troubling encounters with police in recent years. Crump said the child was killed after police were called to a Walmart parking lot about diapers that may have been shoplifted.
“We’re going to try to continue to demand transparency,” Crump said. He spoke from the pulpit of Senatobia Church of Christ, surrounded by more than a dozen people including the baby’s grandparents, some of them holding “Justice for Baby Kohen” signs.
However, Crump repeatedly emphasized that the pathologist did not have access to complete information He said the family won’t rest until authorities release the police body camera and dashcam video, as well as Walmart surveillance video.
A spokesperson for the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, which is in charge of the ongoing inquiry, declined to comment Wednesday Tate County Coro-
ner Ernie Lentz said in an email the official autopsy report is not complete. An email was sent to Senatobia Police Chief Harold Vanderford seeking comment. An email was also sent to a Walmart spokesperson seeking comment.
On display at the church were photos and diagrams of Kohen’s body and a photo of the car The passenger window was shattered and an apparent bullet hole pierced the windshield on the passenger side. The other woman in the car was badly wounded, authorities said.
The broken passenger-side window indicates a bullet was fired into that side the car, Crump said
The preliminary findings, Crump said, show the bullet entered the baby’s torso on his right side and exited on his left. Crump said that assessment is supported by the clusters of cuts on the right side of his chest and abdomen that would have been caused by the broken tempered glass.
“That’s very important as we try to solve a puzzle,” he explained, adding: “The reason that we’re having to try to solve the puzzle is because they won’t release the video.”
In an initial account of the shooting, state investigators said: “Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver drove in the direction of the officers, almost striking one. An officer then discharged their weapon and the vehicle fled the scene.”
Investigators will try to figure out the vehicle’s position, how everyone was sitting inside, and where the officers were standing, said policing expert Ian Adams, who teaches criminal justice at the University of South Carolina. They will need to look at damage to the car as well as bullet wounds, because people can move around.
“We need to know a lot more before drawing firm conclusions based on bullet wounds alone,” Adams said.
Kenner mayor, others sworn into office
Returning officials vow to build on their progress
BY LARA NICHOLSON Staff writer
Kenner Mayor Michael Glaser and Police Chief Keith Conley were sworn into their second terms of office Wednesday at the Pontchartrain Center, along with the Kenner City Council and its two new members.
Glaser and other returning officials vowed in their speeches to build upon the progress they’ve made over the last four years to improve the city’s infrastructure, finances and economic development after overhauling the city government in his first term.
“This inauguration is not simply the beginning of another journey, it’s the continuation of a journey that began four years ago with a clear vision to rebuild a city that was stuck in neutral into a stronger and more prosperous community for every resident,” Glaser said. Glaser, a Republican, secured his second term with just over 50% of the vote in the May election against two opponents. He won his election outright in the primary, though his margins were thinner than his 2022 win against then-incumbent Mayor Ben Zahn, where he scored 75% of the vote.
Woman
Slidell mayor, council, police chief sworn in
‘We are growing,’ Fandal says
BY WILLIE SWETT Staff writer
Slidell Mayor Randy Fandal and Police Chief Tommy Williams were sworn into their positions at a packed inauguration ceremony in Slidell on Wednesday, along with several new City Council members elected this spring.
“The future of Slidell is bright. We are growing, investing and improving, but these accomplishments do not belong to one person or one administration, they belong to all of us,” Fandal said, pointing from the lectern to the over 600 people in the city’s crowded auditorium.
Fandal, who has already been serving as mayor since winning a special race against former council member Bill Borchert in the fall, won a four-year term in the May 16 election after running unopposed.
“When I first sought this office, I promised to focus on public safety, infrastructure, economic development and quality of life Today, I’m proud about the progress we’ve made and the future ahead,” Fandal said.
Williams, the new police chief, did not speak during the ceremony, but in an interview afterward said that he “went back to work the day after I was elected.”
Williams retired from the Slidell police department in 2015, but had been serving as a reserve member before deciding to take the leap to the top office and winning a decisive victory in May against former police Officer Brian Nicaud.
Williams said he plans to make the former interim Police Chief Daniel Seuzeneau the assistant police chief unless Seuzeneau decides to step away Seuzeneau has said he is considering running for St. Tammany Parish sheriff.
“Daniel and I have always worked closely together We started at the same time at the Police Department, and we just knew that we have a cohesive team, and
Former NOPD officer accused of fraud
Inspector general refers payroll case for prosecution
BY MISSY WILKINSON Staff writer
The New Orleans Office of the Inspector General released new details Wednesday about payroll fraud allegations against a former New Orleans police officer and federal task force member, the result of an investigation that Inspector General Ed Michel said has been handed off to prosecutors.
The OIG did not identify the former officer or the federal task force in an eightpage summary of its investigation. But Skip Gallagher, a whistleblower whose complaint sparked the probe, identified “Officer A” as Chad Cockerham, a veteran officer who joined an FBI task force in 2018.
The OIG likewise did not disclose which prosecutors received its report. However, Cockerham’s attorney, Jessica Vasquez, said the case was provided to the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office, which declined to prosecute, and Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, who took no action.
“It’s disappointing to see this resurfaced now as a strategy against Officer Cockerham who has challenged OIG’s investigation tactics and integrity,” Vasquez said in a statement.
The OIG’s summary report detailed examples of Cockerham’s alleged payroll fraud, including that he claimed to be at work while taking four-day cruises in 2022 and 2023 and while out of state in cities that coincided with New Orleans Saints football games. Cockerham also logged overnight shifts in his capacity on the federal task force, though federal supervisors did not authorize those hours.
According to the report, Cockerham claimed to have worked more than 5,200 hours in 2023 — nearly 14 hours a day,
BY JONI HESS Staff writer
Organizers behind the effort to recall Gov Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill are raising money to expand their
STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE
Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley takes the oath of office during the city of Kenner inauguration ceremony at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner on Wednesday.
STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE
Kenner Mayor Michael Glaser takes the oath of office during the city of Kenner inauguration ceremony at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner on Wednesday.
STAFF PHOTO By WILLIE SWETT Slidell Mayor Randy Fandal, right, is sworn in by Judge Vincent Lobello on Wednesday.
21 arrested in Medicaid fraud investigation
La. providers accused of false claims
BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer
Attorney General Liz Murrill on Wednesday announced 21 arrests related to Medicaid fraud and abuse of patients that are part of a state and nationwide crackdown on fraud in the program.
Many of the arrests relate to Louisiana providers accused of submitting false claims to receive Medicaid reimbursement for services they did not actually provide according to a release from Murrill’s office. The release says the frauds involve sums ranging from $500 to $100,000, though most are
SLIDELL
Continued from page 1B
we’re going to continue that,” Williams said.
Williams also said he has been in touch with interim St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Brett Ibert, who was named sheriff after a dramatic shakeup at the top of the department last week, when Sheriff Randy Smith and his secondin-command both resigned. Smith resigned after pleading guilty to beating a parish resident at a steakhouse near Madisonville in May
“My primary function is the city of Slidell, but Brett Ibert, the sheriff, has already reached out to me and he wants to form a more cohesive team than what we’ve had in the past,” Williams said.
The May election also featured races for two at-large seats and five district seats on the nine-person Slidell city council.
On Wednesday, some of the city council members gave speeches about America’s history and promise in a nod to the country’s 250th anniversary just a few days away Newly elected at-large council member Leslie Denham encouraged the crowd to recognize the long history of activism and po-
KENNER
Continued from page 1B
One of his opponents, Diane Schnell, a Democrat, challenged the results after the election, alleging that technical issues on voting machines prevented voters from casting their ballots. A recount of absentee ballots did not change the outcome of the election.
Conley and Kenner City Council District 3 Member Joey LaHatte won their seats back unopposed. On the Kenner City Council, Joe Stagni is making a return after vacating his state representative seat to serve as an at-large council member, and Danny Riehm joins the body as a first-time candidate who won the District 5 seat. All council members are Republican except Dee Dunn, a Democrat. During the ceremony, Glaser pointed to several infrastructure achievements from his first term in office, like the rebuilding of Roosevelt Boulevard that’s nearing completion, upgrades to the city’s sewer treatment plant and improvements to Kenner’s recreation spaces like the reopening of the A.P Clay Resource Center splash pad.
These projects, he said, were achieved while stabilizing the city’s finances after inheriting a $2.2 million deficit.
Glaser also lauded economic development projects that are set to arrive in the next four years, like the New Orleans Pelicans’ GLeague Team, renamed the “Lake-
FRAUD
Continued from page 1B
every day of the year Investigators found that over a three-month period in 2024, Cockerham was in the federal task force’s jurisdiction for only about 400 of the roughly 1,200 hours he reported working. He had not requested or received authorization for remote work from the federal agency, the New Orleans Police Department or the city, the report states “In general, FBI Special Agents and FBI Task Force Officers do not Telework or work Remotely, as their investigative rigor is down either in the field or within an FBI workplace,” NOPD Public Bureau of Integrity investigators wrote in a 2024 formal disciplinary investiga-
between $5,000 and $10,000.
“One of my top priorities has been rooting out fraud and holding accountable individuals and companies who try to cheat the system,” Murrill said during a news conference at the State Capitol “Every dollar that is stolen by fraud is a dollar that is taken away from a child, a senior or a family that relies on these critical services and support.”
“These individuals are trying to profit at the expense of hardworking taxpayers, and while Louisiana is not immune to these schemes, we’re making it clear that we won’t tolerate them,” she added. The arrests stem from investigations performed by Murrill’s
Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. That unit is being turned into a standalone division within the Louisiana Department of Justice, Murrill announced. It is led by Matt Stafford.
The FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and other federal partners helped in the operation, which was part of a coordinated national investigation, Murrill said.
Other arrests involve cases where people allegedly falsified documents in response to Medicaid-related audits, such as CPR investigations. Some concern workers accused of abusing patients in their care. In two additional cases being prosecuted at the federal level,
litical work that led to people of color and women having the right to vote, including through the passage of the 15th and 19th amendments.
“When we embrace our differences, we not only get delicious food and great music, but more importantly, we build solid communities and life experiences that drive our decisions, and vote for the entire community rather than self-serving policies,” Denham said.
“I am thankful, very thankful to live in a city that understands that
community is bigger than race, gender class or political affiliation,” she said. At the end of the ceremony, the recently sworn-in officials were escorted by their spouses and family members down the center aisle of the auditorium, as fans and supporters clapped and cheered, and local musician and former school principal Bobby Ohler sang “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood.
Email Willie Swett at willie. swett@theadvocate.com.
town Squadron,” at the Pontchartrain Center later this year, and the renovation of Kenner’s dock on the Mississippi River so American Cruise Lines can add a stop there. Jefferson Parish also plans to build a $12.5 million amphitheater in Laketown in the coming years.
Glaser and the council face challenges in the new term, however
Residents are frustrated with widespread street flooding that took place there in the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur as hurricane season gets underway, and many within Kenner’s sizable Hispanic community were shaken by the U.S. Border Patrol’s deployment there last December
The city still faces conflict with its firefighters, who say a new pay structure put into effect last year to comply with state law isn’t fair
tion of Cockerham initiated by Gallagher’s time sheet analysis.
More than 200 time entries in 2024 originated from Cockerham’s home IP address, though the supervisor whose credentials were used denied making or approving them, the report says.
The OIG did not disclose which prosecutorial agency, if any, is now reviewing the case. Murrill, whose Louisiana Bureau of Investigation investigated along with the OIG and the NOPD, did not comment. The District Attorney’s Office did not return a request for comment.
Cockerham was fired from the NOPD earlier this year for untruthfulness related to an alleged cheating scandal involving the department’s captains and majors promotions test. In that scandal, anonymous cheating allegations submitted from an
providers in Louisiana allegedly defrauded Medicaid for between $800,000 and $28.4 million, per the release Those arrests are in addition to related indictments Murrill has obtained since taking office, during which time she “has indicted, arrested, or charged 95 individuals for programmatic offenses, including Medicaid fraud and abuse and neglect in residential facilities,” the release says. “She has also secured 105 convictions and over $73 million in ordered restitution.”
to them. The council amended the city’s budget to give all firefighters 2% pay raises, although Glaser swatted down the raises while litigation with the firefighters remains ongoing. And the longtime operator of the Pontchartrain Center, Legends Global, terminated its contract with the city Wednesday, forcing the administration to take over management.
Kenner hired four Pontchartrain Center employees to act as a skeleton crew as $5 million in renovations take place there for the basketball team, while 10 other employees say they were terminated by Legends without a severance package.
“The agreement we had was outdated and it didn’t work,” Glaser said after the ceremony
IP address linked to Cockerham introduced what the OIG later described as “baseless complaints” into the promotional exam process, delaying and disrupting the promotions. The OIG discovered the link between Cockerham’s IP address and the anonymous cheating allegations during his payroll fraud investigation, according to a termination letter for Cockerham signed by NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick in March.
Cockerham was fired from the NOPD on March 25. He is appealing his termination.
In April, the OIG issued an open letter to Kirkpatrick warning that weak oversight of timekeeping and overtime left the department vulnerable to fraud and abuse. That letter built on a January report that probed the NOPD’s failure to budget
The Louisiana Department of Health has also been a partner in rooting out fraud, according to officials.
“LDH has completely changed our paradigm on fraud detection, prevention and recovery in the last year or so to better police spending in the Medicaid program,” said agency head Bruce Greenstein, who appeared alongside Murrill at the news conference.
The Health Department created an in-house Medicaid fraud detection unit in 2024 and has been able to audit many more tips and program anomalies than it has in previous years, Greenstein said, adding that some of those cases were referred to the attorney general.
Murrill’s Medicaid fraud unit received about $13.3 million in funding during the fiscal year that ended Wednesday, according to the release, which says that $10 million came from a federal grant and $3.3 million came from the state.
DISPUTE
Continued from page 1B
campaign co-founder Marion Gbaiwon said in a social media post would “strip away their independence” and “steal their grassroots momentum.”
“They explicitly wrote clauses into their contract giving themselves the right to ‘pop up’ unannounced at our studio headquarters to monitor us, mandating that we get their absolute approval before we say anything to the media, and making us share all our advocacy and lobbying plans with GNOHA (the alliance) in advance,” Gbaiwon said in the post dated June 21.
But Housing Alliance Executive Director Andreanecia Morris said they cut ties because Gbaiwon’s group ignored their guidance on how the money could be accessed and spent. To get the funds, the recall group would have to set up a political action committee and become a tax-exempt 501(c)(4) organization, she said.
“We were ready to help inside the rules, but their refusal to work together meant we were at a standstill,” Morris said. The donor kept the cash, she said.
The loss of the donation complicates an endeavor that already faced a tough road. The chances of recalls in Louisiana generally are slim, and there has not been a successful recall of a statewide elected leader in the past six decades.
“You have to raise money from external sources. There’s no way around that to even stand a chance, and this is a very long-shot campaign,” said Dillard University political science professor Robert Collins.
The campaign launched shortly after the governor’s decision to postpone an election to make way for a new congressional map that eradicated one of two majorityBlack districts. Residents who have signed their names said the new GOP-aligned map, imposed by a Supreme Court’s April ruling, and Landry and Murrill’s uncompromising conservative policies fueled their decision.
CONVICTED
Continued from page 1B
the street. When the group was followed, Lindsey opened fire. Prosecutors used the surveillance footage to identify Lindsey, 28, as the one who fired the fatal gunshots. Prosecutors said the Columbia, Mississippi, woman was spotted on video walking toward a 2016 Honda Civic afterward.
Investigators tracked the vehicle to her home city Deputies there arrested Lindsey and 28-year-old Mariah Campbell days later
Campbell was charged as an accessory after the fact to second-
for or oversee its overtime hours, which were a major contributor to the city’s 2025 budget shortfall.
It was the latest manifestation of a long-running NOPD payroll fraud issue that Gallagher says has morphed over the years This year, Sgt. Henry Burke was accused of payroll fraud, and internal investigations were launched into officers Christopher Kalka, Bianca Boone and Rene Benjamin.
Those incidents followed a 2022 federal probe that investigated 33 NOPD officers and led to an overhaul of the department’s payroll and secondary employment systems. More recent investigations have led the department to adopt in-person biometric time clocks, conduct physical checks and reset all timekeeping user accounts.
“We commend the NOPD for taking critical steps to strengthen its
The Republican Party of Louisiana has responded with a social media campaign highlighting Landry’s and Murrill’s accomplishments. The “Don’t You Recall” posts point to improvements in post-pandemic education and reduced crime in New Orleans.
Organizers say over 340 signing locations are scattered across the state in areas such as New Orleans, Alexandria, Lake Charles and Harvey It’s unclear how many signatures have been collected thus far
The organizers did not respond to requests for an interview
Organizers would need to collect more than 600,000 signatures on a petition targeting the governor and the attorney general by November 2026. If enough people sign, the state would be forced to put the issue on the ballot.
Louisiana Deserves Better lacks federal tax-exempt status, a status that allows the group to collect large political donations and to compensate its volunteers, according to the state Campaign Finance Disclosure Act.
Separately, the Louisiana Board of Ethics requires individuals or PACs that receive or spend $5,000 or more on recall-related activities to register with the board and file finance disclosure reports.
Failure to do so could result in fines and other civil penalties.
Gbaiwon called the suggestion to get a tax-exempt designation a distraction from the recall effort and an attempt to siphon control.
“We refuse to let an outside entity hijack the integrity of this recall,” she said in a social media post.
Collins noted that in 2023, the organizers of a failed recall campaign for former Mayor LaToya Cantrell established themselves as a nonprofit entity, allowing residents to track nearly $1.2 million raised as the effort grew from a collection of volunteer-manned signing outposts to a much larger operation.
The money was largely spent on canvassing, administrative work, advertising, data management and legal fees.
Email Joni Hess at joni.hess@ theadvocate.com.
degree murder and is set to stand trial Aug. 17.
Cameron Lindsey, 27, was also indicted on a charge of obstruction of justice in the shooting Records show he pleaded guilty to the charge May 7 in a deal with prosecutors poised to guarantee him a five-year prison stint deferred for three years of probation. Cameron Lindsey withdrew his guilty plea three weeks later and told the judge he planned to hire a new attorney Records show he’s retained New Orleans lawyer Kenneth Willis and his trial is also set to begin Aug. 17. Email Matt Bruce at matt. bruce@theadvocate.com.
oversight of officer timekeeping, and we encourage the department to continue improving its payroll and overtime management,” Michel wrote “In light of the City’s financial circumstances, it is essential that public funds are used efficiently and effectively for the people of New Orleans.”
Murrill
STAFF PHOTO By WILLIE SWETT
Slidell Police Chief Tommy Williams, right, stands with Judge Vincent Lobello of the 22nd Judicial District Court at the Slidell Municipal Auditorium on Wednesday.Williams said he was officially sworn in the day before.
STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE
Members of the Kenner Police Department Color Guard present the colors during the city of Kenner inauguration ceremony at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner on Wednesday.
NewOrleans Area Deaths
Bartley, Robert Davis,Anna Jacobs,Lorraine
James, Cornelius
Johnson, Darryl
King Wise,Deborah
Lemon, Taris
Lewis, Lawrence
Lind, Eugenia
Reddick,Arthurine
Smith,Delphine
Williams,Mary
Obituaries
Bartley, Robert Charles
Robert Charles Bartley (of Marrero LA.) was born on March 10, 1954 in New Orleans, LA. and received his heavenly call on Friday, June 19, 2026.
Son of the late Dorothy and Frank Bartley Jr. Beloved brother of Brendalyn Booker, Barbara LaMothe,Jacquelyn Edwards, Frank Bartley III, Pamela Johnson(Glen Sr.), Michael Bartley, and the late Dorothy Young,Diann Dabney and Matthew Bartley.
Mr. Bartley is also survived by ahost of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and devoted friends.
Relatives andfriends of the familyare invited to attend the funeral service on Thursday, July 2nd, 2026 at SecondZion Baptist Church 6520 Second Zion Ave, Marrero LA., 70072. The visitation will begin at 9AM followed by an 11AM service. Bishop James Nelson Brown will officiate andinterment will follow in Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in AvondaleLA.
Funeral planning entrustedtoRobinson Family Funeral Home. Avisitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM on 2026-07-02 at Second ZionBaptist Church, 2929 Second Zion Street
Acelebration of life will be held at 11:00 AM on 2026 -07-02 at Second Zion Baptist Church, 2929 Second Zion Street
ANNA MAE DIGGS-DAVIS -was ,born September 2, 1942, in Oakville, Louisiana, entered into eternal rest surrounded by love and faith. She was the daughter of the late Chester Diggs and Elnora King and the widow of Freddie Davis. Shewas adevoted Registered Nurse who served at Charity Hospital, Meadowcrest Living Center, ChristianHome Health, and ABeam of Life
death by her parents, her husband, herbrothers Chester Diggs, Joseph Diggs, and Alvin King, and her sisters MarvaDenet and Yvonne Allen.
Sheleaves to cherish hermemoryher daughter Alicia Marie DavisBailey; grandchildrenVincent (Lakeisha) Davis, Daniell Bailey,Harold Bailey,and Akayla (Rickey) Duronslet; 17 great-grandchildren; siblings Brenda Kinchen, Herman (Karen) King, Larry (Brenda) King, and Andre' (Lisa) King; sisters-in-law Linda Davis,Lola Davis, and ElaineDavis;and a host of family and friends.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 2, 2026, at MorningStarMissionary BaptistChurch1000 Walkertown Way, Marrero LA. Visitation is from 8:00 a.m. to 9:50a.m.ONLY, service is at 10:00 a.m. Pastor T.J. Brown Jr.officiating. Interment willfollowat McDonoughville Cemetery Gretna, Louisiana
Funeral planning entrusted to Robinson Family Funeral Home. Avisitation will beheld from 8:00AM to 10:00 AM on 2026-07-02 at MorningStarBaptist Church ,1000 Walkertown Way.
Acelebration of lifewill be held at 10:00AMon2026 -07-02 at Morning Star BaptistChurch ,1000 Walkertown Way.
Lorraine Jacobs entered eternal rest atThe SanctuaryofPassages Hospice on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at the ageof75. Shewas anative and resident of Marrero, LA Lorraine wasa graduate of L.W. Higgins High School, and she received an associate degreefrom Delgado Community College. She later attended theUniversityofNew Orleans.Lorraine was employed at West Jefferson Medical Center forover 35 years as aMedical Secretary. Beloveddaughter of the late Johnny Jacobs,Jr.,and Elvera J. Jacobs. Sister of Myra (Min. Henry, Jr.) Johnson, and the late Curtis Jacobs, JohnJacobs Lawrence Jacobs,and ElaineJ.Woods. She was preceded in death by her grandparents. Lorraine is also survivedbya host of nieces, nephews,godchildren, otherrelatives, and friends. Relatives and friends of the family, also pastors, officers, and members of Good Hope BaptistChurch, True Vine BaptistChurch, St,Joseph MissionaryBaptist Church, Mount Calvary International Worship Center,and allneighboring churchesare invitedtoattend the Celebration of Life at GoodHope Baptist Church, 2028 WeyerStreet, Gretna, LA on Friday, July 3, 2026,at10:00a.m. Pastor Eddie Cross, III officiating. Visitationwillbegin at 8:30a.m. until service time at the above named church. Interment: Woodlawn Park Memorial Cemetery- Westwego,LA. ArrangementsbyDavis Mortuary Services,230 Monroe St. Gretna, LA. To view and signthe guestDavis, Anna Mae Diggs
She was preceded in
Jacobs, Lorraine
OUR VIEWS
Sexual assault victimsshould be at top of state’s priority list
Louisiana’syearslong struggle to properly respond to the victims of alleged sexual assaultshas beenwell documented. Whetherit’sa lack of personnel to perform exams, abacklog in handling ofrape kits, or strugglespursuing criminal charges,the problemshavebeen persistentand intractable.
Andevenwith recent efforts to addresssome of the issues, anew report bythe Louisiana Legislative Auditor notesthatplenty of work remains to be done.
The audit identified major gaps in theefforts to respond to sexual assaults. Amongthe findings: The various agencies, which include law enforcement, advocacy groupsand healthcare providers, often don’tcoordinateontheir response;some regions of the statedonot have responseplans thatmeet therequirements of state law and, even whenthey do, some arein need of significant improvement; some of those plans have not been approved by coroners, as they are required to be; at leastfourparishesdo not have an accredited sexual assault advocacy center;and many victimsdonot have accessto Sexual Assault NurseExaminers, or SANEs.
One advocate told this newspaper’sMeghan Friedmann that the state’sbiggestproblem boils downtoinconsistency of services andresponse “Everything is siloed,” said Morgan Lamandre, CEOofSexual Trauma Awareness &Response
The report comes as some legislators in recent years have taken stepstotackle the problem. Threeyears ago, Sen.BethMizell, RFranklinton, authored abill thatcreated asystemtotrack rape kits in the process of analysis.
This year,abill authored by Rep. Annie Spell, R-Lafayette, sought to centralize and strengthen oversight of the statewideresponse to sex crimes Spell’s bill, which was signed into law by Gov. Jeff Landry,creates anew position in the attorney general’soffice tasked with getting a statewide picture of the responses. The person will also help direct resourcestoareas where it is lacking, Spell said. The law also creates a mobile SANE team, requires regional health officials to submit annual reportsonthe response and sets up apanel to create statewidestandards
We believe all of these measures are positive. We also agree withLamandre that the new rules need to include accountabilityfor the officials responsible.
“Weneed more teeth behindthings,” Lamandre said. “Weneed consequences.”
The auditor’sreport also noted some needed additional steps,includingfinding consistent fundingfor advocacycentersand improved oversight.
All of these seem like good ideas to us. For years, the old system has toofrequently failed theverypeopleitwas supposed to help. Louisianaisalaw-and-order state; therights andprotection of sex crime victimsshouldbeatthe top of the priority list.
LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE AREOUR
GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’scity of residence
TheAdvocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address andphone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor,The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com.
TO SEND US A LETTER, SCANHERE
Jeffersonschoolboard must work to supportsystem’sgains
The Jefferson Chamber has long maintained that strong public schools arethe backbone of astrong parish. Overthe past several years, the Jefferson Parish School System, under the steady leadership of Superintendent James Gray,has delivered measurable progress and sustainedimprovement, not just one-year gains.That deserves recognition. For the first time in years, thedistrict has zero F-rated schools.Jefferson Parishhas achieved thelargestdistrict performance scoregrowthinadecade, earned aB rating for thefirst time in 10 yearsand maintained thatB for two consecutive years.
Morethan70% of schools grew or maintained performance, and students earned over 10,000 industry-based credentials, preparing them for high-demand careers.
Lastly,JeffersonParishteachers were recognized nationally with the 2025-2026 National Institute for Excellence in Teaching District AwardofExcellence for Educator Effectiveness. These resultsare no accident;they existinspite of politics and chaos caused when boardmembershave oversteppedtheir governance line into
the day-to-day job of the superintendent.Gray’scontinuedlaser focus on students, teachersand improvement deserves credit Gray,his leadershipteam,teachers and schools have repeatedly demonstratedthat they know how to do their jobs and do them well.
The Chamber PAC’spriorities remain clear:
n Aboardthat governs responsibly not one thatcreates chaos n Members who come prepared, informed and ready to work n Respect for the superintendent’s role and professional staff n Fiscal responsibility and transparency n Acommitment to stability,collaboration and student-centered decision-making. As we look towardthe fall elections, the Chamber’sPAC is focused on ensuring voters can elect leaders who will build on this momentum. Our community depends on strong schools.
NORA VADEN HOLMES Jefferson Chamber PACchair RUTH LAWSON Jefferson Chamber PACadministrator Metairie
Fed-up countryhas news forits waywardleadership
Who’sgoing to tell him?
That theaffordability crisis is real news —not fake news —and needs attention.
That thepurpose of the presidency is not to enrich oneself and one’sfamily
That preoccupation with aballroom that redefines ostentatious and an arch that mocks taste and proportion is not helping Americans.
That shotgun tariffs,implemented based on grudges and bullying, hurt Americans.
That apoorly planned war based on false premises (theregime will be overthrown) will hurt us economically in the short run, militarily in the intermediate term and politically in the long run.
That repeatedly insulting and dismissing our long-term allies will leave us isolated and scorned by theworld.
That cozying up to autocratic leaders who share his penchant for thearbitrary acquisition of free and independent countries is wrongheaded.
That letting ascience- and evidenceaverse attorney direct American healthcare is atravesty.
That being insecure about one’smasculinity is not aqualification for heading the Defense Department.
That promising to remove“theworst of theworst” does not mean indis-
criminately arresting asylum seekers, shooting Americans whoprotest, separating 100,000 children from their parents, nor shipping nonviolent offenders to El Salvador or the Congo.
That aJustice Departmentthat exists primarily to exact revenge for perceived slightsand disloyalty to one person is an anathema to its mission.
That pardoning criminals whoconfessed or were convicted by juries of crimes on Jan. 6, 2021, is unconscionable, and compensating them is unimaginable.
That promises matter Who’sgoing to tell him?Weare, on Nov.3,2026.
CHARLESZEANAH Metairie
My church had manylatecomers on arecent Sunday after astopped train blocked traffic on Metairie Road. Again.
Stoppages are happening more often since the railroad relocated its inspections and crew changes. The resulting blocked traffic is not only annoying; it’sdangerous, as emergency vehicles cannot get through. Who approved this?
Years ago, there wasaproposal to moverail traffic from the Back Belt running through Old Metairie to the Middle Belt track south of Airline Highway Rerouting madesense considering population differences. And, there are farmore residences, businesses, schools and churches along the Back Belt.
Likewise, traffic volumeismuch higher along this route, which crosses seven streets. No streets would be crossed by the proposed Middle Belt reroute. Zero.
Bolstered by such facts and demographics, rerouting had much momentum,but there wasone problem: The current route goes through a White, affluent neighborhood, while the proposed route passes through neighborhoods that are predominantly Black.
When that becamethe media’sfocus, the proposal ended.
The recent increase in stoppages should revive this issue with newfound resolve.
What needs to be done is simple: Open both routes and split the trains 50-50 between the Back Belt and Middle Belt. That’sfair
This will at least cut Metairie’s problem in half and allow strategic scheduling. The Middle Belt should be used on Sunday mornings, rush hours and when trains will require stoppages —but keep the number of trains evenly divided.
“Evenly divided” should answer any claim that this is “injustice.”
I’ll call this proposal “railsplitting.” It will also allay concerns that aclosed Back Belt might becomean unwanted thoroughfare. Moreover the railroad benefits by having alternative routes. The logic and fairness of railsplitting are clear,and these frequent stoppages must end.
LOUIS MCFAUL Metairie
STAFF FILEPHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK Protesters march down astreet toward Williams Boulevard in Kenner on Jan. 10.
AMERICA250
Joyeux anniversaire et merci
Closetiesbetween France andLouisiana stretchbacktobeforeRevolution
By Rodolphe Sambou
ON THECALENDAR
Istill remember it vividly On asunny Saturday morning in December 2011, Iarrived in Louisiana for the first time Dropped off in the heart of the French Quarter,in front of an old bookstore, Iheard ayoungstreet musician playing “La Vie en Rose.” Aroundmewere balconies that reminded me of those in my mother’s Basque village. It may sound like acliché, but I immediately felt at home.
partnerships are being created every year
In that moment, Irecognized something familiar: aEuropean heritage that so many French people —and Europeans more broadly —can still feel in Louisiana today Since then, Ihaveencountered thatconnection throughoutthe state.
Ihave seen it in Louisiana’s French immersion schools, where studentssometimes surprise their parents by speakingFrench with their grandparents, or even greatgrandparents Ihave felt it in Lafayette, in its music, literature andtraditions. Ihave discovered it through the works of EdmondDédé and through the remarkable history of L’Union, the first African American newspaper in theSouth,published in French. Isee it in Mardi Gras celebrations, in thelove of food, culture andcommunity, and in the countless Louisianians seeking to reconnect withtheir French roots. This heritage is not simply about preservingmemories. It is about building opportunities. Learning French opens doors to education, careers, traveland cultural understanding. It prepares future generationstothrive in an interconnectedworld. And this friendship is notmerely cultural.
France is today amongLouisiana’sleading foreigninvestors and foreign employers. Bilateral trade has nearly tripled over the past five years, approaching$3 billion annually.More Louisianians are studying French,more French visitorsare discovering Louisiana and more economic
The relationship between France and Louisianaisnot alegacy of the past; it is a living partnership, growing stronger every day.The New OrleansSaints game in Paris this fall is proof that even after three centuries, our story continues to be written. This year,wecelebrate the 250th anniversary of the relationship between France and theUnited States. I often joke with my fellow French diplomats in Washington that, compared with the centuries-old ties between France and Louisiana, it is still arelatively recent story.Yet it is aremarkable one.
When Imeet Louisiana veterans wholanded on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day,Iamalways struck by asimple thought: The alliance between France and the United States is not an abstract diplomatic concept. It was built by menand women willing to cross an ocean —and sometimes to sacrifice their lives —sothat others could live in freedom. Some of the veterans are Cajuns. Onetold me that theFrench of his childhood wasonce often overlooked, but hadbecomea source of connectionand pride. Regardless of what they spoke, France remains profoundly grateful for their sacrifice.
From Lafayette and RochambeautoNormandy,our alliance was forged in decisive moments when liberty,sovereignty,democracy,and human dignitywere at stake. Those values remain just as relevant today
Theworld has changed since 1944. Yetthe fundamental question remains thesame: Howdo free nations preserve peace, security and human dignityinan increasingly unstable world?
We face immense challenges: climate change, economic uncertainty,regional conflicts and growing geopolitical tensions. Warhas returned to Europe with Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. France’ssupport for Ukraine is rooted in asimple principle: Bor-
ders cannot be changed by force, and nations have theright to determinetheir own future. These principles matter not only for Europe, but for thestability of the international system as awhole. France alsobelieves that today’s challenges —whether climate change, maritime security,public healthoreconomic stability cannot be solved by any country acting alone. Cooperation among allies and within international institutions remains indispensable. Take coastal erosion, which threatens communities in Louisiana just as it threatens parts of France. On issues like these, cooperation is not ideological; it is practical. We can share expertise, innovation and solutions.
The United States has played, since 1945, adecisive role in the securityand stability of Europe. We are grateful for that commitment. At thesame time, France has consistently advocated for Europe to assume greater responsibilityfor its own defense, thereby strengthening thetransatlantic partnership rather than replacing it.
Louisianaoccupies aspecial place in this story. It is where French,American, African, Caribbean and Native influences came together to create something unique. It is aliving reminder that identities can be enriched rather than diminished through openness to others. As America 250 approaches, may we remain faithfultothe legacy of Jefferson and Lafayette, and inspired by thecourage of those who crossed the Atlantic in bothdirections to defend liberty. May we also remember thesoldiers who landed in Normandy and all those, throughout the world, who have risked everythinginthe nameoffreedom and democracy We owe it to them. We owe it to ourselves. Andweowe it to future generations. Merci, Louisiana, for keeping that friendship alive.
Rodolphe Sambou, acareer diplomat, is consul general for France in New Orleans.
Thereare several events around Louisiana to celebrate the 250thanniversaryofthe adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Here is alist of somegoing on now.
For afull list, go to america250la.org
n The Historic NewOrleans Collection, 520 Royal St., NewOrleans, is featuring the exhibit,“American Revolution: The Augmented Exhibition,”where visitors can immerse themselvesin3Dinteractive reconstructions of keymoments in Americanhistory. This free, interactiveexperience,which runs through Jan. 17, utilizes360-degree augmented realityto immerse visitors in 20 defining moments of the nation’sfounding,from thesparks of theBoston TeaParty to the victoryatyorktown.The “American Revolution” wasproducedand designed by Histovery withpromotional supportfrom NewOrleans & Company and Louisiana America 250.The exhibition offersa fresh, technologically driven waytoexplore the American story. For more, go to hnoc.org
n The Louisiana State Museum at the Cabildo, 701 ChartresSt.,New Orleans, is featuring the exhibit, “Gálvez and Louisiana in theAmericanRevolution, which explores the life of Spanish Gov. Bernardo de Gálvez and the diverse people of Louisiana who fought forAmerican independence.Through May15, 2027. louisianastatemuseum.org
n Louisiana’sOld State Capitol, 100 NorthBlvd., Baton Rouge, is featuring the exhibit,“Bought fora Song: Ayoung Nation Expands,”whose only artifact is the French exchangecopyofthe convention between the Republic of France and theUnited States that finalizedthe Louisiana Purchase.Through July 11. louisianaoldstatecapitol.org
ABOUTTHISSERIES
Throughout the year,the Opinion pages are featuring columns and conversations from historians, scholars, politicians and others about what this 250thanniversaryofAmerica means.To read previous pieces, go to the Opinion section of our website.
PROVIDED PHOTOByHISTOVERy
An imagepromoting‘American Revolution: The Augmented Exhibition’ designed by the French firm Histovery,iscurrently on display at the Historic NewOrleans Collection.
book,
please go to www.da vismortuaryservice.com.
Cornelius
Cornelius James, born on December 26, 1948, passed awayonJune 25, 2026.Viewing, Friday July 3, 2026 form 5PM -7PM and on Saturday, July4,2026 from 8AM until funeral service at 9AM at Mt Calvary Baptist Church, 8969 LA-18 St. James, LA. Rev. Dr. Samuel Jones, officiating.
James Johnson was born on July 1, 1977 in New Orleans, La to Claudia Mae Johnson. He was raised in NewOrleans by his grandmother Dorothy Johnson andhis Aunt Thadius and Uncle William Billy Sr. after the passing of his mother. Darryl attended Willing Workers Missionary Baptist Church where he was baptized at ayoung age and was a member of the church choir. Darryl was educated in the public school system where he attended Thomy LafonElementary School, Carter G. Woodson Jr. High School and Graduated from Warren Easton High School. Darryl was a Manager at several McDonald'srestaurants and also worked at Ochsner Medical Center as the Food Service Manager. Darryl is survived by his brothers, Robert Johnson Sr. (Tihisha), Steven Johnson (Sarah) and ahost of other relatives and friends. The Memorial Service will be held at The Boyd FamilyFuneral Home, 5001 Chef Menteur Hwy, at 1:00pm on Friday, July 3, 2026.
DeborahAnn Lucy King Wise, 72, aNew Orleans native, peacefullyentered eternal rest on June 14, 2026,ather home in Houston, Texas.
Deborah was aproud graduate of Joseph S. Clark High School, Class of 1971, and attendedSouthern UniversityatNew Orleans. Throughouther life, she servedothersthrough careers in healthcare,education,insurance,and retail management. She was a faithful Christian whose lovefor family, laughter, music, anddancing touched everyoneshe met
Visitationwillbeheld Friday,July 3, 2026,at10:00 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m., at 1925 UrsulinesAvenue, NewOrleans, Louisiana. A repastwillfollow at 1:00 p.m. at Letter Carrier Hall 4200 Elysian Fields Avenue, NewOrleans, Louisiana
TarisEarnell Lemon enteredeternal rest at East JeffersonHospital on Sunday,June 21, 2026, at the ageof55. He was anativeofNew Orleans, LA and aresidentofMarrero, LA. Taris was aformer porterand shipyard worker.Beloved husband of Angeletta Marie Lemon. Devoted son of the late Arnold Hammond, Sr.,Arie Veronica Hammond, and RobertCollette, Jr.Stepson of Cheryly Collette. Grandson of the late Eddie and Lizzie Lemon, Robert Sr. and Marybell Collette. BrotherofAhsaki,Aron, Ramona, Treneida Trichena,and the late Arnold Hammond, Jr., also survived by ahost of nieces, nephews, inlaws, other relatives, and friends. Relativesand friends of the family, also pastors, officers, and members of Tabernacle Church, and allneighboring churches are invited to attend the Celebrationof LifeatTabernacleChurch 355 Sala Ave Westwego, LA on Friday, July 3, 2026, at 10:00a.m.Pastor Charlie Greer,Jr.,officiating. Visitationwillbegin at 8:30a.m. until service time at the above named church. Interment: Woodlawn Park Memorial Cemetery- Westwego,LA. sbyDavis vices,230 Gretna, LA. To nthe guestto www.da vice.com
Lewis, Lawrence'Plug'
Lawrence "Plug" Lewis peacefully departedthis life on Tuesday June 23, 2026. Sonofthe lateAltis andFabiola Louis. Devoted husband to Tammy Lewis, father of KyraHarry,Tyler, Taylor,Damone Lewis, De'AvonaDavis, Darrious "Chelan"PattersonSr. Marchez Patterson, and Ashley (Barrion)" Dumas. Brother of AltisJune (Jackie)Louis Jr., Madeline (Wardell)Bowie,Mary (Leo) Dumas, Alana (Alvin) Burke, Curtis (Hedi) Louis, Sarah Boudoin, and Denise Louis. Lawrence is also survivedbyhis grandchildren Kyrie McGuffery Darrious Jr., &Darrian Patterson, Autumn and Barrion Dumas Jr.,godchildren,and ahost of other relatives and friends.
Family and Friendsare invited to attend thefuneral service on FridayJuly 3, 2026, at 11:00a.m. at Riverland ChristianCenter Church 123 Redemption Way Reserve, La 70084. Rev. StevenPerrilloux, Pastorofficiating Interment in St. John Memorial Gardens. Laplace, La. Visitation from 4-5:30pm on Thursday and 10a.monFriday. Service entrusted to the Caring Professionalsof Hobson Brown Funeral Home 134 Daisy St. Garyville, Louisiana 985535-2516.
Eugenia NiehausLind,a devoted educator, jewelry maker, community servant, and loving mother passed away peacefully on June 28, 2026, leaving a profound legacy of love, faith, and service.
Vestry, and was Director of ChristianEducation. She volunteeredatDePaul's, Tulane Hospital, Memorial Medical Center, and in the NICU at Baptist Hospital. She was honoredasone of Louisiana's most outstanding citizensin1993. She wasalso amember of the Junior League of New Orleans and acharter member of TARTS (tapped outs).
Eugenia lovedher family fiercely. She is survivedby her devoted husband, Thomas OttoLind; children, Ashley Lind Zarr Kearney (Michael), and ElizabethKelly Lind; grandchildren, LukeZarr (Jillian) and Ellie Zarr; great-grandson, "Ford"; twinsister, VirginiaNiehaus Roddy; nephews, Jamey and Hardy Roddyand Win and Scott Messersmith,and nieces, Lynley Lind Hicks, Carla Lind Compton,and LeslyeLindLockfield Her family wishes to express theirgratitude to the staff of LambethHouse for thekindness, compassion, and dedicatedcare they provided throughout the past several years. AcelebrationofEugenia's life will be held Monday, July 6 at 11:00 AM at Trinity Episcopal Church. In honor of her vibrantspirit, guests are requested to dress in bright, colorful attire. There will be no visitation before or reception after theservice.
at her
by her
companion: Russell Sylve, Sr
Arthurine wasthe GoddaughterofRosalyn Narcisse and thelate Malcolm Picquet
Shewas proceededin death by herfather,Arthur Reddick, Sr brothers, the lateTimothyReddick, Sr andVictor(Darcel)Battle, andgranddaughter, NashellNarcisse.Arthurine wasloved by herfamily andwill be tremendously missed.
Arthurine is also survived by ahostofnieces, nephews, familyand friends.
Relativesand friends of thefamily, Compassus Hospice,Ochsner (Jefferson Hwy) Benson Cancer Center,RiverbendNursing Home and Landmark Rehabilitation Center are invited to attendthe Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, July 3, 2026 at St Thomas Catholic Church locatedat17605 Hwy15in Pointe-ala-hache, Louisiana 70082 at 11 am. Visitation at 10 am. Funeral entrusted to Robinson FamilyFuneral Home.A visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM on 2026-07-03 at St.Thomas Catholic Church, 17605 Highway15.
Amass of christian burial will be held at 11:00 AM on 2026-07-03 at St Thomas Catholic Church, 17605 Highway15.
(Lawanda) Lewisboth of Woodville, MS;one Brother -in-Law,Joseph (JoAnn) Smith, Fairfield, CA; Sisters -in-law, Joyce C. McFarland andRita Smith both of New Orleans, La. Delphine waspreceded in death by herparents, Carroll McFarlandand John andAnnie Lewis; two sistersEarndean Tuesno andEmma Jean Tolliver andone brother, Nolan McFarland.Delphine was also preceded in death by special Brother andSisterin Lawsand otherfamily members that sheloved andcared for deeply. Funeral planningentrustedtoRobinsonFamily Funeral Home.
Mary
BorninElPaso, Texas on February 3, 1939, Eugenia touched countless livesacross Texas and Louisiana. She shared 63 wonderfulyears of marriagewithher beloved husband, Thomas Otto Lind. Eugenia dedicatedher professional life to teaching youngchildren in El Paso, Dallas, and in New Orleans at McGehee's, St Andrew's Episcopal School, and Trinity Episcopal School.She graduated fromthe University of Texas,El Paso, and did graduate work at Dominican College in NewOrleans. As ajewelry maker, her signature "Just Me Designs" necklaces were lovedand worn by many, reflecting her creativityand generous spirit.
Delphine "Teesie" McFarland Smith departed this life June 25, 2026 escorted by ahost of angels. Delphine wasbornin Woodville, Mississippi on August 1,1954. Delphine wasone of eightchildren Delphine wasborntothe lateCarroll andAnnie Cooper McFarland andafter thedeathofher father Carroll, Delphine was reared by theunionofthe lateJohnand AnnieLewis. Shereceivedgeneral education from Wilkinson County Training School andgraduatedin1972.
Hercommitment to community was unwavering.AtTrinity Episcopal Church, she sang in the Trinity Choir,served on the
family on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Shewas 65 yearsold.Arthurine was born on November 10, 1960 to Daisy Mae BarthelemyReddick and thelate Arthur Reddick, Sr.She was adedicateddaughter, sister, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She is survived by her sisters and brothers: Albertine (Melvin, Jr) Cross, Arthur Reddick, Jr., Albert Reddick,Terrance (Janae) Reddick, Carla (Reginald,Jr.)Ware, Chad (Marquita) Reddick, Chonda Reddick,Yolanda (Tory) Sylve,Rondell (Juanita) Battle, Otis Reddick,Chance (Kanana) Reddick,LynellReddick, Ashley (Ryan) Moliere, Mia (John) Johnson, Rosalyn Narcisse,and IvyEncalade. Arthurine is also survivedbyher loving and devotedchildren, Shelly Reddick,Ferlin (Shelita) Reddick,Sr.,Jason (Shelly) Reddick,Sr.,Terrance Reddick, Brielle Reddick, and Cody Reddick,grandchildren: Zanaya Reddick, NavonNarcissse, Jr., Nashaun Reddick, Trent Raymond,Ferlin Reddick, Jr., Jasyonna Reddick, Jayvionna Reddick, Kingston Reddick,Cory Reddick,Kayden Barthelemy, Cody Reddick, Jr., Kylen Reddickand Major Reddick.Greatgrandchildren: Narvell Narcisse and Josiah Holmes as wellasher
Delphine leaves to cherish hermemories herhusbandofthirty-nine years, Charles Smith,her three children; Charlita Patterson of NewOrleans, La.; Joel (Chastity) Smith of Baton Rouge,La.; Joshua Smith of Boutte,La.; one Son-in-Law, Derrick Shepherd,Marrero, La. and oneDaughter-in-Law, Shannon Smith, New Orleans, La.; six grandchildren;one great-grandchild; onesister,Myrtis Tolliver, Woodville, MS; threebrothers, Carroll McFarland,Maywood, IL; Curtis(Tammy) McFarland;Malcolm
Mary Louise Growe Williams, age94, transitioned peacefullytoher heavenly home on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. She wasa native of Vacherie, LA anda longtime resident of Marrero,LA. Mary retiredfromthe Jefferson Parish Public School System after manyyears of dedicatedservice as a Special Education Teacher's Assistant. Belovedwife of thelate Isreal Williams, Sr.Devoted motherofJacquelyn "Jackie" Williams, Wanda Jackson,and thelate Isreal, Jr.and Reginald Williams. Loving grandmother of Chandra (Cory) Cullier,LaKeishaFrazier, Robert Lee(Carla) Jackson, Jr., andDamion (Anetria) Clark. Daughter of thelate AmesGrowe,Sr. andLeona HodgesGrowe.She was preceded in death by 7sisters andfivebrothers. Also cherishingher memories are 13 great grandchildren, 1great great grandchild, anda host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends. Relativesand friends of thefamily, also pastors, officers, and members of MorningStarMissionary Baptist Church andall neighboringchurches are invited to attendthe HomegoingCelebrationat MorningStarMissionary Baptist Church,1000 Walkertown Way, Marrero, LA on Friday, July 3, 2026, at 10:00a.m. Pastor Thomas J. Brown,Jr., officiating.Viewingwill be held from8:00a.m-9:50a.m. Only at thechurch. Interment: RestlawnParkCemeteryAvondale,LA Arrangements by Davis Mortuary Service,230 Monroe St.Gretna, LA To View andsignthe guestbook, please go to www.da vismortuaryservice.com.
When youneed thenews. Wherever youreadthe news
James,
Williams,
Louise Growe
Lemon, Taris Earnell
Johnson, Darryl James
Darryl
Reddick,Arthurine Marie
Arthurine "Reenie" ReddickofPointe ala hache, Louisiana passed away peacefully
home surrounded
loving
Smith, Delphine McFarland
Lind, EugeniaNiehaus
NBAfree agency heatsup
Teamscontinue to shaperosters with sizzlingblockbuster moves
The Associated Press
Add Norman Powelltothe listofthispast season’sAll-Stars who are changing addresses thissummer in NBA free agency
Powell has agreed to atwo-year deal that could be worth up to $45 million with the Chicago Bulls, aperson with knowledge of thetalks said Wednesday. Powellalsohad received some interest fromthe Detroit Pistons, said the person, who spoke toThe Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract cannot befinalized untilJuly6atthe earliest.
ESPN and Chicago Sports Networkwere among those who first reported the agreement between Powell and the Bulls, who will hold ateam optionfor 2027-28. Powell spent this past season in Miami, where hebecame an All-Star for the first timeand averaged 21.7 points in 58 games with theHeat. Miami willhavea verydifferent look this coming season, after theacquisition of Giannis Antetokounmpo in atradethatsent Tyler Herro and others toMilwaukee. Powellwill be joining his fifth team, after past stints with Portland, the Los Angeles Clippers,Toronto and the Heat All-Starsonthe move
Powell is among five —and there likely will be more —All-Star selections from 2026 alone to be on the move thisoffseason.
He joins Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee to Miami), Kawhi Leonard and BrandonIngram (the headliners of atrade that brings Leonard back to Toronto andsendsIngram to the Los AngelesClippers), and LeBron James (who is leaving the Los AngelesLakers for ayet-to-be-decided team).
Of the 62 players with at least oneAll-Star selection in the lastfiveyears, just over
ä See NBA, page 6C
AP FILE PHOTO By CHRIS SZAGOLA Miami Heat’sNorman Powell drives the ball during agame againstthe Philadelphia 76ers on Feb.26inPhiladelphia. Powell signed an agreement with theChicagoBulls on Wednesday
SPORTS
ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByMARTIN MEISSNER
United States’ Malik Tillman, left, celebrates withteammates after scoring agoal on afree kick during the WorldCup match against Bosnia on WednesdayinSanta Clara, Calif. The United States won2-0
ON TO THE NEXT ONE
U.S. beats Bosnia-Herzegovina to advancetoround of 16
BY JOSHDUBOW AP sportswriter
SANTACLARA, Calif. Folarin Balogun scored his third goal of the World Cup beforebeing sentoff with ared card in the second half, and Malik Tillman converted on afree kick to give the10-man United States squad a2-0 winoverBosnia-HerzegovinaonWednesday nighttoadvance to theround of 16. Balogun dominated the first half withhis goal and several other chances that helped theU.S.control the match early,but the Americans had to scramble down aman afterhis foulagainstTarikMuharemovic in the 64th minute. Tillman helpedseal thewin when he scored on afree kick from just outside the box in the82nd minutewith a shot off the hand of goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj. That gave theU.S. justits second World Cup knockoutround win. The Americans made it to thesemifinals in thefirst tournamentin1930 by winning their group and won around of 16 matchup against Mexico in 2002. The winoverBosniainthe round of 32 in this year’s expanded tournament sets up amatchup on Monday in Seattle against Belgium as the U.S. hopes to makeadeep run on homesoil.
TheAdvocatewinsLSWA awards, includingtop honor
Staff report
Georges Media publications, including The Advocate, Times-Picayuneand Shreveport Bossier-City Advocate, piled up along list of honors in the 2025 Louisiana Sports Writers Association Annual Contest, including one staff member who was named Sportswriter of the Year
The awards were handed out Sunday during aceremony in Natchitoches, honoring the best the state has to offer in print, television and media relations.
Roy Lang of The Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate was named SportsWriter of the Year for his coverage of the LSU-Shreveport baseball team on its undefeatedrun to an NAIA national championship, his writing following the tragic death ofa member of theCalvary Baptist Academy softballteam and his work after apair of Shreveportarea natives performed well at last year’sU.S Open. “2025 was meaningful for me,with orwith-
out anyawards. I’m honored to be apart of theAdvocate team we have in Shreveport andacrossthe state,” Lang said of hishonor Five other Georges Media employees pickeduptop individual honors. Wilson Alexander,who served as the LSU football beat writer forThe Advocate, claimed Beat Writer of TheYear after taking the topspot in theCollege Event andCollege Feature categories. As aSaints beat writer for The TimesPicayune, Luke Johnsonearnedfirstplace in the Pro Event and Pro Feature competitions. In thePro Column category, Times-Picayune veterancolumnist JeffDuncan landed thetop spot. For his coverage of the Division Istate football championship game between Edna Karr and St. Augustine, Rod Walker of The Times-Picayune took first place in the Prep Eventgroup. Michael Johnson of TheAdvocate came outontop in the Photography category
The game was played less than 20 milesfrom the site of the first U.S. knockout round gameofthe modern era, when the Americans lost 1-0 to heavily favored Brazil at Stanford Stadium in 1994.
TheU.S.was favoredthis time around forthe firsttime on record in aknockout round match and didn’tlet down thelarge contingent of red-white-and-bluecladfansat Levi’sStadium who were chanting “U-S-A! U-S-A!” in the closing minutes. Thewin snapped a10-gamelosing streak forthe U.S. against European teamsdating to atie against England in the2022 World Cup. It marked the first wininthe World Cup forthe Americans against aEuropean team since awin over Portugalinthe 2002 opener.Theywerewinlessin13straight World Cup matchups againstEuropean teams sincethen, including a2-1 loss in extra time to Belgium in the round of 16 in 2014.
TheU.S.had started fast in thegroup stagematches by scoring in the first 15 minutesofall threegames.But it was Bosnia that had the better chances early with Matt Freeseneeding to maketwo saves early to stop Ermedin Demirovic following adeceptive goal kick that caught
Krejcikova upsets Andreeva at Wimbledon
BY MATTIAS KAREN Associated Press
LONDON Barbora Krejcikova
needed seven match points to knock French Open champion Mirra Andreeva out of Wimbledon in the biggest upset of the women’s tournament so far, winning 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.
Andreeva faced six match points when Krejcikova the 2024 Wimbledon champion — served for the match at 5-3 and saved them all before finally converting her fourth break point in a marathon game.
The fifth-seeded Russian teenager handed her opponent a seventh match point when she sliced a backhand wide in the next game, and this time Krejcikova converted with a bit of luck. Her shot hit the net cord and bounced in and Andreeva could only return it long.
Andreeva, coming off her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, threw her racket away in disgust and later smashed it into her bag before leaving Centre Court.
“What a match,” Krejcikova said, trying to sum it all up. “What a match.”
Earlier No. 1 ranked Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner both advanced in straight sets, with Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka also reaching the third round.
Krejcikova is a two-time Grand Slam winner, also taking the 2021 French Open title, but has struggled with back and knee injuries and has fallen to No. 38 in the rankings.
Andreeva had shown signs of frustration throughout the third set including when her bead bracelet broke during a point at 1-1 and she had to spend a few moments picking beads out of the grass along the baseline and throwing them toward the back of the court.
Two ball kids and the chair umpire joined her in cleaning up before play resumed.
There was also some loud cheers during the third set that had nothing to do with tennis. Some in the Centre Court crowd had half an eye on England’s World Cup match against Congo and celebrated both
of Harry Kane’s goals and the final whistle.
Gauff came from a break down in the third set and then won the last six points of the tiebreaker to beat Solana Sierra 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7).
Gauff was two points away from losing the match when Sierra served at 5-4 in the third set but won three straight points to break back In the 10-point tiebreaker, she trailed 7-4 but didn’t lose another point, sealing the win with an ace and then screaming out loud with both fists clenched.
“When she had to serve for the match I just reminded myself that I’m a great returner as well,”
Gauff said. “I was just trying to be positive and I think that showed.”
Gauff had her breakthrough at Wimbledon in 2019 when she reached the fourth round as a 15-year-old, beating Venus Wil-
liams in the first round. But while she has won both the U.S. Open and the French Open since then, she has yet to make the quarterfinals at the All England Club despite two more trips to the fourth round. As it happens, that win over Williams also came on July 1 on No. 1 Court. “It was kind of my breakout moment, and playing against one of my idols was insane,” Gauff said. “Every time I walk down this hallway I get deja vu and I just remind myself, like, if I could do that (seven) years ago I’m definitely a better player since then. So I definitely can do it now.”
Osaka showed off a new look again before winning her secondround match.
Osaka, whose fashion reveals have become an event of their
own at Grand Slam tournaments,
wore a less elaborate outfit for her walk-on than the “Kill Bill” inspired kimono she sported for her opening-round match on Monday
It still drew plenty of attention as she made the walk from the locker room to No. 2 Court, trailed by photographers and fans wanting to take their own photos.
This all-white outfit featured a wide belt and a long train that trailed behind her, which the fourtime major winner took off as she began warming up for her match against qualifier Anastasia Gasanova.
She went on to quickly dispatch Gasanova 6-3, 6-2.
“I’m just trying to mix it up a little bit,” Osaka said about her outfit, adding she had been worried that a loss might have ruined her daughter Shai’s third birthday on Thursday
“I just wanted to be here for longer, I didn’t want to make her get on a plane on her birthday,” Osaka said.
Sabalenka soon followed her into the third round, beating McCartney Kessler 6-1, 7-6 (9) on No. 1 Court.
Sinner, the defending champion who came from a set down twice to win in five sets in the first round, had a more comfortable victory Wednesday Sinner beat Nuno Borges 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2), 6-4 in the first match on Centre Court.
It wasn’t entirely straightforward for the Italian, though, as he had to break back for 5-5 when Borges served for the second set, before winning in just over 2½ hours.
“Second set was very, very tough,” Sinner said.
Other winners included French Open runner-up Flavio Cobolli, No. 8 Daniil Medvedev, No. 17 Frances Tiafoe and No. 21 Tommy Paul. Next up on Centre Court Novak Djokovic taking on Stefanos Tsitsipas.
On Tuesday Serena Williams returned to Centre Court but lost in three sets to Maya Joint in her first singles match in nearly four years. Williams, who tweaked her knee in the match, still hopes to play doubles with sister Venus later in the week.
Serena Williams wins praise from fellow pros
BY ANDREW DAMPF AP sportswriter
LONDON There were still serves beyond 120 mph. Plenty of heavy groundstrokes landing within inches of the baseline, too.
Serena Williams won plenty of praise about her game from her fellow players at Wimbledon a day after her first singles match in nearly four years.
The 44-year-old Williams was beaten 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 by 20-yearold Maya Joint of Australia in the first round on Tuesday but showed she could be competitive after being away for so long.
Coco Gauff ended her dinner early to find somewhere to watch Williams.
“I think Serena’s level was insane,” Gauff said Wednesday. “It proves even more how she’s the GOAT despite age and all that. I don’t know how she can play that level not playing for four years. I was already nervous not playing two weeks before this tournament. I couldn’t imagine four years.
“I just love her I love her fight And the serve is unbelievable,” Gauff added after her second-round win. “You just look at her and you think, ’This is like 10 years ago.’ It’s really insane. I think it was cool for the sport.”
The 87th-ranked Joint was in the top 30 earlier this year
“Maya played top-10, top-5 tennis. Obviously she’s a great player,” Gauff said. “She seems like an even, chill girl. I do think if anyone was ready for the moment, it would be her.” Williams announced on Wednesday that she tweaked her right knee toward the end of the first set but said she still hopes to play doubles with sister Venus later in the week.
Serena, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion who won seven of her titles at Wimbledon, did not ask for medical treatment during the
match and did not meet with media afterward.
“Serena tweaked her right knee at the end of the first set and was therefore excused from her media obligations by the Wimbledon and WTA medical teams,” said Jill Smoller, Williams’ agent. “She left site that night unaided and is doing everything she can to be ready for her doubles match later this week.”
Williams confirmed the injury on Instagram and added, “It felt so good to be back on the grass (at) Wimbledon I’m incredibly thankful for the wild card — and even more grateful my daughters got to see that it’s never too late to chase something you love.
“Congratulations to Maya Joint on a great match, and thank you to everyone who showed up and showed me so much love. That feeling will never get old,” Williams added.
Serena received wild card invitations from Wimbledon organizers to play both singles and doubles with Venus.
Serena has said that having her two daughters off from school inspired her comeback and it marked the first time that her youngest daughter, Adira, who is almost 3, saw her play singles Adira sat next to her 8-year-old sister, Olympia in the front row of Serena’s players’ box.
Alexis Ohanian, Williams’ husband, wrote on social media: “Our little family is so proud of you (at) serenawilliams — even though it wasn’t the outcome you wanted, you’re an inspiration. We love you” He added that the kids “are also happy they got to stay up a bit past their bedtime.”
Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka also paid tribute on so-
RHP Smith transfers to LSU from South Florida South Florida transfer and righthanded pitcher Kaden Smith is transferring to LSU baseball, he announced on Wednesday Smith posted a 4.24 ERA in 46 innings this past season, his only with the Bulls. He spent his freshman year at TCU and had a 5.25 ERA in 12 innings. At USF, Smith had 52 strikeouts and walked 25 hitters. Control was sometimes an issue for him, as he hit 17 batters, but he also has starting experience. He started eight games for the Bulls. Smith is the seventh player LSU has added out of the portal, joining Notre Dame outfielder Bino Watters, Tulane outfielder Jason Wachs, Texas State infielder Dawson Park, Southern Cal pitcher Diego Velazquez, Florida second baseman Cade Kurland and Gonzaga pitcher Landon Hood.
Rangers’ Seager back on IL with back inflammation
CLEVELAND — Corey Seager is back on the injured list. The Texas Rangers shortstop was placed on the 10-day injured list before Wednesday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians because of lower back inflammation.
Seager was in the lineup for Tuesday’s game but was removed before his first at-bat when his back flared up during warmups. He returned from the IL on June 25 after missing 12 games because of a concussion he sustained in a home plate collision with Kansas City catcher Carter Jensen on June 11.
Seager is batting .182 with 10 homers and 25 RBIs in 50 games. The five-time All-Star went 1 for 10 but walked five times in 15 at-bats since returning from his concussion.
WTA Finals moving from Saudi Arabia to Indian Wells LONDON The WTA Finals, the elite season-ending event in women’s tennis, is moving from Saudi Arabia to Indian Wells, California, this year The 2026 finals, which the top eight singles players and doubles teams qualify for, are scheduled for Nov 8-15.
The women’s professional tennis tour and Saudi Arabia had signed a three-year deal in 2024 to stage the event in Riyadh. The agreement provided a big increase in prize money There were concerns about going back to Saudi Arabia due to military conflicts in the Middle East.
Indian Wells also hosts the BNP Paribas Open for both men and women in March.
Sony Open flips over to PGA Tour Champions
HONOLULU The golf season in Hawaii again starts at Waialae Country Club next year as a PGA Tour Champions event that will be called the Sony Championship. The PGA Tour and Sony on Wednesday announced the change, which had been expected since April when the tour said it would not be returning to Maui for The Sentry, which since 1999 had preceded the Sony Open. The Sony Championship will be Jan. 14-16 — ending on a Saturday — at Waialae, which had hosted a PGA Tour event since 1965. The prize fund will be $3 million. Past champions at Waialae now on the 50-and-older circuit include Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Zach Johnson and Jerry Kelly
Nationals RHP Cavalli apologizes for remark
cial media: “I really wonder if Serena and Venus know how much they mean to us,” Osaka posted. Then after winning her secondround match, Osaka discussed watching Serena play
“The montages that they had before the match started made me really emotional because I feel like I’ve watched her growing up,” Osaka said. “Now I feel like I’m grown up and I get the privilege of watching her again. So it was really cool.”
Fellow American Tommy Paul watched, too.
“It’s pretty impressive at her age,” Paul said. “She was striking the ball pretty well, returning pretty well. I thought she was going to go after it a little bit more. I think it would have helped her a lot to have maybe a match of singles before coming out to Wimbledon. But she’s Serena. She can do whatever she wants.”
BOSTON Washington Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli apologized Wednesday for shouting “sit down boy” at Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras while instigating a benches’ clearing scrum a night earlier
“I’m extremely torn up about the way that things were perceived,” Cavalli said. “Obviously, there was no ill intention behind that.” Cavalli shouted at Contreras after striking him out looking with a full-count pitch in the fourth inning of the Nationals’ 8-1 victory over the Red Sox.
“My teammates know me, my family knows me, this organization knows me,” Cavalli said. Cavalli said he hadn’t apologized to Contreras yet, but he hopes he hears his explanation.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By BRIAN INGANGA Barbora Krejcikova of Czech Republic celebrates her victory against Mirra Andreeva of Russia following their second-round singles match on Wednesday at the Wimbledon Championships in London.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MAJA SMIEJKOWSKA
Serena Williams plays a forehand against Maya Joint of Australia during their singles match at the Wimbledon Championships on Tuesday in London.
U.S. Senior Open demands precision rather than power
Cink has won the first two majors this year on PGA Tour Champions
BY JOE REEDY AP sportswriter
Stewart Cink has won the first two majors this year on the PGA Tour Champions, though isn’t thinking about the Grand Slam this week at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio. He just wants the U.S. Senior Open title that he fell just short of last year
“The way I think about it is I would rather just have won the U.S Senior Open than have it be part of some series of events like the Grand Slam,” he said. “It means a lot to me that this is a big tournament. It’s certainly one of the biggest tournaments of the year on my schedule, and that’s why we’re here, to compete and win.”
The 52-year-old Cink has four wins in nine starts this year, including the Senior PGA Championship and the Tradition. It is the second straight year that a player has won the first two majors. Cink will try to avoid
the fate of Angel Cabrera, who did not make the cut in last year’s Senior Open.
Cink leads the tour in driving distance, but that might not be an advantage beginning Thursday, because Scioto’s layout is more about precision than power
“It does take the driver out of your hand in places, a lot of places, but power translates all the way through the bag. So power is an advantage coming into the greens, too.
It’s not just about hitting the driver far,” Cink said. “I think the biggest challenge here is just going to be to remain yourself and not try to be someone you’re not. The golf course has got a lot of challenge out there. I don’t think it really fits one type of player It’s just a really good overall golf course.”
Cink finished second in last year’s U.S Senior Open at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado, as Padraig Harrington won his second Senior Open title by one shot. Harrington, who also won in 2022, is trying to join Miller Barber as the only three-time champions in the event’s 46-year history
“There always seems to be something in front of you that you kind of have to layup off. Most of the
field will play from the same positions on pretty much every hole, so it will be a second-shot golf course, approach shots. And the greens are very good, so the standard of putting should be very high this week,” said Harrington, who is in the middle of a stretch of playing eight straight weeks.
Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson are among the 50 golfers in the 156-player field making their first Senior Open start.
Besides the usual challenge of a USGA championship, another factor will be temperatures near triple digits. Cink feels like he is ready for whatever is thrown his way.
“It’s going to be a grind and a test, and stay hydrated and stay rested But really just stay kind of in the present and just be myself,” he said.
“I think the way the year or so has gone, I’ve proved to myself that it’s enough just to be pretty ordinary And I don’t mean that in a negative sense. I mean being ordinary in extraordinary circumstances like these is enough and just to remember that.”
This marks the third time Scioto has hosted the U.S. Senior Open. Gene Sauers won in 2016 and Dale Douglass in 1986.
Baseball players propose limiting optional assignments in minors
BY RONALD BLUM
AP sportswriter
NEW YORK Baseball players proposed optional assignments to the minor leagues be cut from a maximum of five per season to three and those sent down get more pay and service time, aimed at reducing roster churn that teams use for their bullpen back ends in an era when relief pitchers throw an increased portion of games. During a bargaining session Wednesday with Major League Baseball, the union proposed that a pitcher optioned after an outing of at least nine outs or 50 pitches during the seven days before the break be given major league pay and service time up until his team’s fourth game after the break.
In addition, a pitcher who is optioned at any time after a game or the next day after an outing of nine outs or 50 pitches would get major league pay and service time for the four days following the appearance.
There often is a wide disparity of pay for players with so-called split contracts. While the major league minimum is $780,000 this year, the minimum in the minors for those with split contracts is primarily $127,100 — and $63,600 for those signing a first big league deal.
Teams have averaged 4.2 to 4.3 pitchers per game in each season since 2022, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The last season under 4 was 2014 at 3.98.
Players also asked that active rosters be increased to 28 from 26 during the first 15 days of each season, including a maximum of 14 pitchers that would be up from the current 13.
Players also proposed the 60-day injured list open at the time of the November tender deadline rather than the first day players can report to spring training The change would allow teams to protect more players from the Rule 5 draft during the winter meetings because players on the 60-day IL do not count against the
40-man roster limit. The union asked that MLB agree to accelerate eligibility for the Rule 5 draft, restoring the ages in place through 2005. A player 18 or younger on the June 5 preceding his signing would be eligible for the fourth succeeding draft rather than fifth and a player 19 or older would be eligible for the third rather than the fourth.
Players also want to ensure the draft will be held this year, even if management locks out the union after the current five-year labor contract expires Dec. 1. It also wants pitchers to be credited with major league service time if they are optioned to the minors during the All-Star break or after a game in which they meet specified performance thresholds.
Players also want a guarantee of access to team performance and video data that is not proprietary Owners have proposed a salary cap for the first time since the 199495 strike that led to the first cancellation of the World Series in 90 years.
State runner-up Brother Martin wins another summer league championship
BY CHRISTOPHER DABE Staff writer
Brady McCluskey drilled a single to center field — just as he had done so many times during the high school season. Now in the Crescent City Sports summer league championship game, the left-handed leadoff hitter got things started as Brother Martin-based K’s for Kids scored seven runs in the first two innings on the way to an 8-1 victory against Hannan-based Arena Title Company on Tuesday at John Ryan Stadium in Metairie.
He wasn’t the only experienced Brother Martin batter in the lineup. Seven of the eight position players on Tuesday also started the LHSAA Division I state championship series in May against Catholic-Baton Rouge.
“We definitely have more experience, and we have a lot of depth too, this year,” McCluskey said. “We’ve got a lot of returners coming back, so it’s just another year to build.”
Brother Martin won the summer league championship for the third year in a row — after also advancing to the LHSAA state finals the past two seasons, losing twice to Catholic. The team began this summer season with far more experience than it did a year ago. Last summer, the team replaced 13 graduated seniors, six of them starters.
“This is a veteran group that has been there,” coach Jeff Lupo said. “They know the challenges that it takes. They know the mental toughness that it takes. You also need to have a little bit of luck, but a lot of times you make your own luck by the way that you prepare, and they’ve embraced that.”
In the summer league final, McCluskey, Colton Elliott and Dominic Toten all had two hits in the first two innings. Elliott’s two-RBI single made the score 2-0 in the first inning. Toten’s two-RBI double capped the scoring in the second. Luke Gab scored two runs. Brody Shannon had a sacrifice fly Dominick Jabbia and Kamber Keller were the other two starters. Tyler Durand was out with an injury Nolan Amato pitched five innings, followed by relievers Gavin Jeanfreau and Tyler Snider for one inning each Their combined efforts followed Chance Pecoraro’s six-inning no-hitter in a 10-0 semifinal win against Lakeshore-based Messina’s
Catering on Monday.
“This summer, you really saw Chance grow up and you saw that in his performance (Monday) night. He was really dominant,” Lupo said. “And Nolan got hit around a little bit but didn’t get rattled, and that’s what a veteran pitcher does on the mound. He can win when he doesn’t have his best stuff.”
Amato pitched the last six innings in Brother Martin’s 15-inning loss to Catholic in the second game of the championship series. He went to the mound in the 10th inning.
“I was like, alright, let’s go attack some of these hitters,” said Amato, who pitched five scoreless innings before Catholic scored against him in the 15th.
Brother Martin completed its summer season with a 24-3-1 overall record, including a 9-2 mark in the Crescent City Sports league
“I think this puts us on the right track,” Amato said about the summer championship. “Definitely setting a tone for the season and what it’s going to bring.”
Contact Christopher Dabe at cdabe@theadvocate.com
Wings star Bueckers approached this WNBA season differently
BY MYAH TAYLOR
The Dallas Morning News (TNS)
DALLAS When Paige Bueckers
strolled into the Dallas Wings’ training camp after an offseason full of excursions, it was clear she’d also made time for the weight room ahead of her sophomore year in the WNBA. The guard, historically slight, gained 15 pounds of muscle on a regimen that included three-hour lifting sessions five to six days a week and a new diet. She no longer looked like the freshfaced rookie from the year prior, but someone built to take on the physicality of a league that she’s already become a face of.
“Unfortunately, a lot of times throughout college I was always rehabbing something in the summer,”
Bueckers told The Dallas Morning News. “This was my first long offseason where I really got to hone in.” Added time in the gym has seemingly paid off for Bueckers, the 2025 No. 1 overall pick and WNBA Rookie of the Year She’s averaging 19.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 5.9 assists for the new-look Wings, who finished 10-34 overall in 2025 and are currently 11-8 near the midpoint of the 2026 season. The 24-year-old ranks top 10 in the league in points and assists, and recently achieved 1,000 career points.
Bueckers became the fourth-fastest player in history to reach 1,000 points and the fastest to reach 1,000 points and 250 assists, but these feats can’t all be attributed to work in the gym Though physically more built, Bueckers has also strengthened her mind.
“I believe in the power of positive thinking. I’m probably delusionally positive,” Bueckers said “Situations could be 99 percent negative and I’ll try to find that 1 percent.”
That mindset has made Bueckers a beloved teammate. It’s also helped her navigate the weight of responsibility and the pressure of being in the public eye.
And she’s still learning how to fight against the perfectionism that comes with that role. Time in the gym made her even more elite on the court, but life in the spotlight has taught Bueckers being a leader doesn’t negate her own humanity
Humble teammate, leader
A big sister to three siblings, Bueckers has long been a connector
That warmth is part of what’s made Bueckers a household name in
the sport, though she often deflects the spotlight away from herself and on to her teammates.
While she can take over a game, she has more of a pass-first mindset.
When Bueckers has a great performance, she’ll credit a teammate for creating space. You won’t see her placing blame on anyone.
“I ride for my teammates. Good, bad, ugly, win, loss, whatever,” Bueckers said. “Everybody’s important No person’s bigger than the other.”
During her time at UConn, where she became one of the top NIL earners in women’s college sports, she often included her teammates in NIL deals and used her influence to create pathways for minority content creators and advertisers. Bueckers also left additional money on the table.
“At the beginning of that NIL thing, I remember saying to her
‘All right, listen, we’re going to sit down and talk about how much money we’re going to give you,’ “ longtime UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma said during a recent media availability “And she’s like, ‘I don’t want it.’ “ When Auriemma pushed
Bueckers
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By FRANK FRANKLIN II
Stewart Cink hits from the first fairway during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15 in Newtown Square, Pa.
STAFF PHOTOS By BRETT DUKE
Brother Martin-based K’s for Kids’ Kamber Keller flips the ball to first base for an out against Hannanbased Arena Title Company on Tuesday during the Crescent City Sports Prep Summer League championship game at John Ryan Stadium.
Brother Martin-based K’s for Kids’ Dominick Jabbia bunts the ball against Hannan-based Arena Title Company on Tuesday during the Crescent City Sports Prep Summer League championship game at John Ryan Stadium.
WORLDCUP 2026
Belgiumconverts late penalty to beat Senegalinextra time
BY ANDREW DESTIN
AP sportswriter
SEATTLE Down to its final lastgasp chances, Belgium came through with goals —three of them. The Red Devils overturneda two-goal deficit with two scores in the final minutesofregulation time and then added athirdin the final seconds of extratime to somehow claw back into thegame and beat Senegal 3-2Wednesday in the round of 32 at the World Cup. YouriTielemans scored the equalizing goal in the89th minute and then converted from the penalty spot in the fifth minute of stoppage time in extra time for the latest goal in World Cup history.He was fouled with onlyseconds to go and with apenalty shootout looming, and the refereeawarded the spot kick after avideo review “I do not want to interpret the decision. We all have different interpretations when it comes to awarding apenalty,”Senegal coach Pape Thiaw said. “I’d rather not comment,not interpreting the referee’sdecision.”
The win for Belgium marked the second timeinthe last 11 World Cups that ateam trailed bytwo or more goals in theknockout round and advanced. Belgiumalso did so in a3-2 victory overJapan in the round of 16 at the 2018 tournament.
Many of the key players from that Belgium team, which finished in thirdplace in Russia, were instrumental to Wednesday’svictory
Striker Romelu Lukaku, who leads his nation in goals scored, came off the bench to getBelgium back into the match by scoring in
vs.Algeria, 10 p.m.
vs.Egypt, 1p.m.
vs.Cape Verde, 5p.m.
vs.Ghana, 8:30 p.m. ROUND OF 16
Canadavs. Morocco, noon Paraguay vs.France, 4p.m.
Sunday Brazil vs.Norway,3p.m. Mexico vs.England, 7p.m.
the 86th minute, setting the scene for Tielemans to force extra time.
“It is acruel loss,aswewere good in thegame,”Thiaw said.“We had the advantage. We were leading 2-0. However afootball match is not an 85-minuteone.Belgium cameback, and we werenot able to dealwiththat. We must congratulate Belgium as they progress.”
Belgium is back in the round of 16 for the third time in four tournaments. The team reached the quarterfinalsin2014 and the semifinalsin2018 but failed to getout of the group stage four years ago in Qatar
TheBelgians will next face either the United States or BosniaHerzegovina on Monday in Seattle.
Ismaïla Sarr scored his fourth
like afamily.It is spectacular.”
goal of the World Cup, and one of the most beautiful of the tournament, to give Senegal a2-0 lead in the 51st minute. He made aperfect first touchoff hischest on along ball from Moussa Niakhaté and then sent his shot past Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois Senegal, whichwas withoutgoalkeeper Édouard Mendy because of akneeinjury,took thelead on Habib Diarra’sgoal in the 25thminute. Courtois, whoisplayinginhis fourth World Cup, then made three key saves to keep Senegal from increasing its lead. It’s the second time this year Senegalhas been hit with alate penaltyinabig game.
In the Africa Cup of Nations finalonJan.18, Senegal’splayers left the field in stoppage timeafter having alate goal ruled outbefore Morocco was awardeda potentially game-decidingpenalty.There were scuffles between rival playersbefore Senegal coach Pape Thiaw led mostofhis players off thefield. They returnedafter about10 minutes later and play resumed withMorocco midfielder Brahim Díaz having his penalty saved by Mendy.Senegal midfielderPape Gueye then scored theonly goal in extra time, but thevictory was taken away in Marchbythe governing body of African soccer and Morocco was awarded a3-0 default victory In Wednesday’smatch,Senegal defender PathéCiss went down with an injurydirectly on top of the penaltyspot in an apparent protest as his teammates argued with thereferee. Ciss only moved once it wastimefor Tielemansto takethe shot
LATE TUESDAY
Kane liftsEngland to Roundof16after winagainst Congo
BY JAMES ROBSON AP soccer writer
ATLANTA— England handled the pressureand is nowheadedto Mexico City
Harry Kaneensured England avoided an earlyexitfrom the inaugural 48-team WorldCup by scoring two second-half goals in acome-from-behind 2-1win over Congo in theround of 32 on Wednesday
The late victory,England’ssecond ever at theWorld Cup after conceding thefirst goal,earned the 1966 champions aspotinthe round of 16 and amatch against co-host Mexico.
“It was just about pounding the rock, keep pounding the rock and our moment would come,” Kane said after scoring his fourth and fifth goals of the tournament. “We spoke about people having hero moments. It can be anyone in the team …Whoever it is, we have hero moments, and formeitwas theday.”
That team’snext match will be playedatthe Azteca Stadium, thesite of Argentina great Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God”goal that eliminated England fromthe 1986 World Cup quarterfinals.
Getting there didn’tcome easy against aCongo team that nearly pulled off one of the biggest upsetsinWorld Cup history England’sonly other World Cup victory after trailing 1-0 came in the1966finalagainst West GermanyatWembley Stadium
“That’s agood sign. It just shows youthe levelofdetermination andthe level of belief and alsothe level of focus,” England coach Thomas Tuchel said. “I didn’tfeel the weight on their shoulders and Ifound that we played it with the exactly right attitude andwetrusted ourspirit
“The goalkeeper kept on saving
incredible saves but this team todaydid notaccepta defeat as an outcome.”
Kane made sure the early deficitwasn’ta problemWednesdayatMercedes-Benz Stadium by extendinghis record as his country’s leadingscorerintournament history to 13. He has a record 84 goalsfor the national team in total.
His first goal came in the 75th minute. Substitute AnthonyGordonlifteda crossfromthe left anddespite Congogoalkeeper Lionel Mpasi getting ahand to Kane’sheader,hedidn’tstop it from nestling into the bottom corner Eleven minuteslater,Kanesent his shot into the top corner to put the thoughts of an upset to rest.
“Whenyou gettothe knockouts, the pressure and the risks are so muchhigher.But from an attacking point of view, that was easily our best game of the tournament,” Kane said. “Sometimes you just have to grind wins out andwedid exactlythattoday.I toldthe boys to enjoy it.We’re through, andwegoagain in four days.”
BrianCipenga hadput Congo in the lead in the seventh minute after collecting across on the left of the box and shooting lowpast England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford at the near post.
Mpasi did his best to keep that 1-0lead alive.Hedenied Jude Bellingham on three occasions blocking two close-range headers before halftimeand then clawing away another deflected effort after the break.
Kane nearly made abreakthrough late in thefirsthalf, but Mpasi blocked apowerful shot at the near post. And the keeper was also caught up in acollision with Kane in the box. England thought it should havebeen awarded apenalty,but referee
BYCARLOS RODRIGUEZ
AP sportswriter
MEXICO CITY The 40-year wait is over.Mexicans had learned to live with defeats in the knockout stagesofthe World Cup. On seven occasions,ElTri fans wereleft heartbroken at thisstage. Not anymore
Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez scored within anine-minute span in the first halfand Mexico defeated Ecuador 2-0 on Tuesday night to breakafour-decade drought in the knockout stageand progress to the round of 16.
Quiñones opened the scoring in the 22nd minute and Jiménez added agoal in the 31st for the Mexicans, who had not won aknockoutstage match since defeatingBulgaria in the round of 16 when they hosted the tournament in 1986. Mexicocoach Javier Aguirre was one of the starting midfielders in that ‘86 team.
“It means alot to me because Iamone of those who could not progress in the knockout stage,” Aguirre said. “Weare in the round of 16 anditishappeningagreat connection with the fans. We are
Mexico lost seven consecutive timesat thatsamestage from 1994 to 2018 and didn’tadvance past the group stage in 2022
Aguirre, who returned as Mexico’shead coach in August of 2024, was an assistant in 1994 and was the coach in 2002 and2010.
“Wewill be on highalert from here untilSunday. We will tryto have the players recover from this and we will seeifweare able to win again,” Aguirre said.
In theexpanded, 48-teamWorld Cup, there’sanextra round in the knockoutphase—theroundof32was insertedforthistournamentbetween the group stage and the round of 16. Quiñones goals
Athird goal in the tournament makes QuiñonesElTri’ssecondhighest scorer in World Cuphistory behind Luis“Matador”Hernández and Javier “Chicharito”Hernández, who scored four each. Quiñones, who was thescoring leader in theSaudi Pro League last season, has become the spark in the attack that Mexico lacked in previousWorld Cups. “I am just happy with the result,
that is all that matters now,” said Quiñones, whoisplayinginhis first World Cup withMexico. The 29-year-old forward arrived in thecountryfromColombia at age 17 and became anaturalized citizen in 2023. “Life is about struggle and fight
until you get what you want,” he said, “and Iamtaking full advantageofthe opportunity that Igot.”
Jiménez scored his second goal of the tournament and has 47 with thenational team to break atie withJared Borgetti.Heisfive away from tying “Chicharito”
Hernández as the all-timeleading scorer forMexico.
Mexico will play another home match Sunday againstthe winner of Wednesday’s match between England and Congo. Playing at the iconic Azteca Stadium, the Mexican squad boasts an undefeated record across 10 World Cup matches. Mexico has just two official lossesatthe venue —the last being aWorld Cup qualifying defeat to Honduras on Sept. 6, 2013. With thewin, Mexico extended itsunbeaten runto12games,dating back to afriendly loss against Paraguay in November Mexicoalso became the first CONCACAF side to eliminate a team from CONMEBOL in aWorld Cup knockout match. Teams from South America won the previous five meetings. The match startedone hour after the original scheduled timedue to athunderstorm It wasthe second match of the tournament delayed by weather Astorm during the France-Iraq match at Philadelphia on June 22 caused a2-hour,11-minute suspension
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By LINDSEy WASSON
during the WorldCup Round of 32
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By SILVIA IZQUIERDO
Mexico’sRaul Jimenez celebrates with teammates after scoring agoal during the WorldCup Round of 32 match against Ecuador on
ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByBUTCH DILL England’sHarry Kane celebrates after scoring agoal next to his teammates Jude Bellingham, center,and AnthonyGordon, right, during the Round of 32 match against CongoonTuesday in Atlanta.
with meteorologist DamonSingleton
Many awaitLeBron’sdecisionduringfreeagency
BY TIM REYNOLDS
basketball writer
AP
MIAMI Minnesota Gov.Tim Walz made his sales pitch. So did DJ Khaled, the New York Jetsand the Winnipeg Jets. Even the PGA Tour took aswing, trying to appeal to someone who has quickly become obsessed withgolf.
“We’re waiting for you Bron,” the tour posted on social media. Get in line. Every team and every league, it would seem, wants LeBron James.
Thewaiting-for-LeBrongame is on, with theentire basketball universe —and, evidently,the political, entertainment, football, hockey and golf universesaswell —waiting to hear what the greatest scorer in NBA history willdecide about the 2026-27 season. All that is known so far are two things: He isn’tretiring yet, and he won’t be playing for the Los Angeles Lakers.
James let the world know on Tuesday that he’scomingback for at least one more season and that he’sdecided to move on from the Lakers, those decisionsbecoming known afew hours before the start of free agency.Whathappens next, and when it willhappen, is anyone’s guess. Theoldestactive player in the NBA is still aguy who
Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James prepares to shoot in the first half of Game 2inasecond-round NBAplayoffs series against the Oklahoma City Thunder on May7inOklahoma City
movesthe needle, andit’snot even clear if heknows how long this process will take.
“LeBronJames,come on,let’s do it again,” DJ Khaled, aregular courtside patron at MiamiHeat games, said in avideo posting in an effort to recruit James back to the
place where he won his first two NBA titles. “Come on,man.Let’s do it again.After the game, we’ll go play golf. Youknow Miami’sthe best cityinthe world.” Aperson familiar with James’ planning told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he wanted
his agent,Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, to take meetingswithinterestedteams —actualNBA ones which means it doesn’tlook good for other online suitors such as the Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers andsoccer’sMinnesota United before reporting back.
For the most part, James and Paul went into this process knowing much of what the teams would say.Cleveland’spitch would be that Northeast Ohio is home, that his career started there and that it would make sense to enditthere. Miami’spitch would be that he won two titles there,that it’sknown he loves the city,that it just landed Giannis Antetokounmpo and James still has deep ties to coach Erik Spoelstra and the front office. Golden State’spitch would include playingwithStephen Curry and Draymond Green, two guys who click with James on multiple levels.
Walz wanted James to see a newspaper clip touting that Minnesotahas the best quality of life when compared to other states.
TheNew York Jets pointed out that Jameswore green and white in high school, matching their color scheme. The WinnipegJets simplyoffered to change their name to LeWinnipeg Jets.
“Never say never,” the Bills
posted. Jokes aside, James is obviously worth allthe effort that some team will maketoget him signed. He still plays at an All-Star level, even at his age —there have been 24 instances, including playoffs, of someoneinhis 40sscoring30 or morepoints in an NBAgame, and James is responsible for 17 of those.Noplayerhad averaged morethan 15 points per gameina season after turning 40; James averaged 24.4 points in 2024-25 and 20.9 points this past season, even whileoften beingthe Lakers’third option.
Plus,James’ next home will seeanimmediate rush of activity Season ticket packages, if any are available, will get gobbled up quickly.James’ Lakers jersey wasthe fifth-hottest seller in the league at the end of this past regular season, based on sales from NBAStore.com,Fanatics.com andFanaticspartnersites; his next jersey (even if it is aCavs or Heat jersey again) will fly off the racks as soon as they can be printed. And it’ll probably make fans in that city,whichever city it is, truly believe they have areal shot at the 2027 NBAtitle. Only James knowswhen the waiting gamewill end.
half —32ofthem —havechanged teams at least once in that span.
Robinson to Boston Mitchell Robinson, theChalmetteHighSchool alum who helped the New York Knickswin an NBA championship in June, has found anew team.
The 7-foot center hasreached a deal with the Boston Celtics, according to an ESPN report
The dealwas reached on Wednesday, thesecondday teamswereallowed to negotiate with free agents. Robinson spoke about his free agency last Thursdaywhen he was in Chalmette for his annualcamp andaparade thatwas held in his honorfor winning the NBA championship.
“I’mjust going to see what’sout there andwe’ll see what happens,” Robinson said He has agreed to athree-year, $47.4 million deal with the Celtics. The dealhas aplayeroptioninthe third season,according to the report. Draftedbythe Knicks in the secondroundofthe 2018 draft,Robinson had been with the Knicks longer than anyone elseonthe roster.He averaged 7.5 pointsand 8rebounds in his time with the Knicks. He was akey reservefor ateam that won its first NBAchampionship in 53 years. His ability to rebound and protect the game made himone of themost coveted big men in this year’sfreeagencyclass. He was instrumental throughout theplayoffs, including the job he did against San Antonio Spurs’ center Victor Wembanyama in theFinals. Robinson was guarding the San Antonio star when Wembanyama missed apotential game-winning shotinGame 2. And it was Robinson’sclutch rebound on aSpurs’ missed free throw that
clinched the series in Game 5. NowRobinsonheadstoplay for oneofthe Knicks’ biggest rivals, the Boston Celtics. He will help fillthe void left by center Nikola Vucevic, who agreed to adeal with theOrlando Magic on Wednesday CelticsstarBrown to 76ers
The Boston Celtics are trading 2024 NBAFinals MVP Jaylen Brown to thePhiladelphia76ers forPaulGeorge and aslew of draft capital in yetanotherblockbuster offseason moveinthe NBA, aperson with knowledge of the terms said Wednesday Bostonalso gets twofirst-round picks and two second-round picks, accordingtothe person who spoke to TheAssociated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade had not received the required league approvals. ESPN first reported the trade agreement,and theterms werelat-
er confirmed by The Boston Globe. It brings Brown’stenure to Boston to an end after five All-Star appearances in a10-season run that sawhim play in more wins —when counting both regularseasonand playoff games —thanany other playerinthe league over thatspan. Harris to SanAntonio
The Western Conference champion Spurs got another veteran, adding Tobias Harris on atwo-year deal worth about $15 million this coming season and about $16 millionin202728, aperson with knowledge of the agreement told the AP Including playoffgames, Harris has played in 466 victories over the last decade —the sixth mostof anyplayer in theleagueoverthat span. Harris, who turns 34 later this month, averaged 13.3 points this past season forDetroit. ColumnistRod Walker contributed to this report.
Acut above
Here’s an Alexandriainspired steaksandwich recipe from thenew ‘MyEgypt’cookbook
BY MICHAELMINA Voracious
Not far from the Cornichealong theEastern Harbor in Alexandria, Egypt, there’s El Fallah, atiny place that only makesone thing: liver sandwiches.
Yousay liver sandwich in Alexandria and people know you’re talking about thisspot —it’ssofamous that the owner has dozens of pictures of himself posingwithEgyptian celebrities.
The reason the sandwich works is the meat is cut paperthin and is generously seasoned with spices. That liver sandwich inspired this recipe in my book “My Egypt,” made with rib-eye, which applies similar flavors to steak sliced super-thin (as in, Philly cheesesteak thin).
If you’d rather make the sandwich with beef liver instead of steak, slicethe liver in half horizontally,season generously with salt and pepper,and brush with the garlic butter used in this recipe. Broil the liver for 1to2minutes or until brown on the outside and slightly pinkinthe center Letitcool for acoupleofminutes,thenslice it crosswise and add it to thebowl with the cooked shallots and otherfixings.
Youcan make the garlic butter aheadand refrigerate it with the garlic cloves inside. This recipe makes more garlic butterthan youneed, but the extra keeps, sealedinan airtight container,for amonth,readytobe pulled out and used to make many other things, like garlic bread or scampi.
Flavor to remember
Arthur,the first named storm of 2026, made landfall in Texas, churning up theGulf waters and tropical moisture into southeast Louisianaearly on June 18.
BY LINDAGASSENHEIMER
Tribune News Service (TNS)
Recipe, 2D
Ilook forward to mangoseason,when perfectly ripe, sweet mangoes are easy to find in themarkets. Their juicy,tropical flavor adds arefreshing twist to everyday dishes. Tossed into a quick coleslaw,mango brings atouch of natural sweetness and vibrantcolor,transforming it into alight, satisfying vegetariansalad that’s perfect for awarm evening. Here are some tips on how tohandle a mango. Mangoes continue to ripen afterthey arepicked. Keep them at room temperature until they yield to gentle pressure. To speed up theripening, place mangoes in acovered bowl or paperbag
Red Beans and Rice
Makes 8-12 servings. Recipe is from the cookbook “Cooking Up aStorm:Recipes Lost and Found from The Times-Picayune of New Orleans,” edited by Marcelle Bienvenu and Judy Walker
1largebay leaf
The local meteorologists were less concerned about Tropical Storm Arthur’swinds thanthe possibilityofasignificant amount of rain. Iwent to bed wondering if we would wake up to flooded streetsora few puddles. Early in themorning, theunmistakable shrill ring of the emergency alert system warning of apossible tornado jolted me out of bed. Iturned on the local news station to watch theweather and the familiar feeling of uncertain angst during hurricane season in Louisiana hit me. In New Orleans, and manyother cities along the Gulf Coast, summertimehurricane preparation and conversation are ever-presentelements of theculture. Inevitably,stories about Hurricane Katrina resurface, and withit the physical destruction and communal loss that residentsstill grapple to comprehend.
1pound dryred kidney beans ½pound fatty ham or another seasoning meat, such as salt meat, or smoked ham 1medium onion, chopped 1or2stalks of celery, chopped 1green bell pepper, chopped 1clovegarlic, minced
1to2teaspoons Creole seasoning Salt to taste Black peppertotaste
2tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, or more to taste ¼cup choppedgreen onions (green partonly) Hotcooked rice forserving Hotsauce forserving
1. Pick over the red beans to remove any stones or brokenbeans. Soak overnight in alarge bowl with about 3inches of water to cover.Drain the water,rinse the beans, drain again, and set aside.
2. Render the ham or seasoning meat in aDutch oven over mediumheat to obtainthe fat, then remove the meat andset aside.Saute theonion, celery,bell pepper and garlic in the rendered fat, adding alittle oil if needed, until softened. Add the beans, return the meat to the pan, and pour in 8to 10 cups of water,orenough to covereverything by at least acouple of inches. Bring to aboil. Add the bay leaf and the Creole seasoning to thebeans, then reducetoasimmerand gently cook, uncovered, for about 1½ hours, or until the beans are tender.Add morewater while cooking if necessary
3. Toward the endofthe cookingtime, mash some beanswitha spoon againstthe side of thepot to makethe mixture creamier,ifdesired, and add the salt and pepper to taste, the parsley and the green onions as agarnish. Discardthe bayleaf and serve in bowls over white rice. Pass the hot sauce.
PHOTOSByLIZ FAUL
Red beans and rice
VORACIOUS PHOTO By JOHN LEE
Alexandria Steak Sandwiches, Recipe 2D
Liz Faul
Frank Brigsten’sMarinatedCrabClaws with Green OnionSauce
Makes 8servings. Recipeisfrom thecookbook “Cooking Up aStorm: Recipes Lost and Found from The Times-PicayuneofNew Orleans,”edited by Marcelle Bienvenuand
Judy Walker
GREEN ONION SAUCE:
1largeegg yolk
1cup thinly sliced green onions (white and green parts)
1teaspoon salt
½teaspoon black pepper
2tablespoons white vinegar
1cup vegetable oil MARINATED CRAB CLAWS:
½cup red wine vinegar
1tablespoon Creole mustard
1tablespoon paprika
1teaspoon minced garlic
½teaspoon salt
½teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1teaspoon sugar
1cup olive oil
24 Louisiana blue crabs
CUCUMBER CUPS:
3large, wide cucumbers (Sliced in 2-inch-thickpieces)
1. Forthe green onion
CULTURE
Continued from page1D
The preservation of recipes is akey way of retaining cultural identity. This is even more the casewhen the culture is essentially built around the food and recipes of the region. In New Orleans, Mondays meanred beans, cold snaps conjure cravings for spicy gumbo and spring means crawfish. And when New Orleanians leave home, they dream of their favorite foods cooked in neighborhood restaurants.
After Hurricane Katrina, when residents werescattered all overthe country, readers of The Times-Picayune and Nola.com wrote to ask the food editor,Judy
sauce: In afood processor, combinethe egg yolk, green onions, salt, black pepper andwhite vinegar.With the processor running,slowly addthe vegetable oilina thinstream until fully incorporated. Refrigerated until ready to serve.
2. For the marinade: In a mixing bowl,combine the red wine vinegar,Creole mustard, paprika, garlic, salt, oregano andsugar Slowlyadd theoliveoil, whisking constantly until fully incorporated.
3. For thecucumber cups: Trim theends off thecucumbers and cut them so you have atotal of 8slices, each 2inches thick. Fromone end of each slice,hollow outthe
Walker,and co-author Marcelle Bienvenutocompile abook of manyauthentic New Orleansrecipes so they could cook their favorite comfort foods while the city was beingrebuilt and revived. This is how“CookingUpA Storm:Recipes Lost andFound from The Times-Picayune of New Orleans” came to be apopular cookbook that holdsimportantfood history
This summer,food writers for TheAdvocate| The Times-Picayune were assigned to cook recipes from “CookingupaStorm.” For July,Imadeadelicious summer appetizer,Frank Brigtsen’s marinatedcrab claws with green onion sauce, astaple of thepopular seafood platter that is served at Brigtsen’s,his restaurant in the Riverbend
seed toform acup.
4. For the marinated crab claws in cucumber cups: Marinatethe crab claws for 15 minutes. Remove from the marinade and drain. To serve, spoon 2tablespoons of green onion sauceinto each cucumber cup. Place 3 crab claws in each cup.
NOTE: If you are short on time, the marinated crab claws are asimpleappetizer that is madeinadvanceand best served cold in thebowlwiththe marinade sauce. Thecucumbers withgreen onion sauceisa delicious addition thatcan be added if you have time, but not necessary to enjoy these tasty marinated crab claws.
neighborhood of New Orleans. This recipe is easy to follow at home and will be a crowd-pleaser at asummer party.
Ialways say,“When I don’tknow what else to do, cook apot of beans.”Red beans and rice is my favorite New Orleans dish. It was not surprising to me at all that red beans and rice was thefirst nomination of recipes to add to this archive of New Orleanscooking. Ialso learned in “Cooking Up aStorm” that Louis Armstrong signed his letters“Red Beansand Ricely Yours.” So listen toyour favorite Louis Armstrong album —mine is “Ella and Louis”(1956) —and make this red beans and rice recipe. Youwill taste, hear and feel what New Orleans is all about.
Alexandria SteakSandwiches Serves 4. Recipe is excerptedfrom “My Egypt” by Michael Mina.
GARLIC BUTTER:
¼poundunsalted butter
5garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
¼teaspoon fine sea salt
Freshlyground black pepper
SANDWICH:
4soft French sandwich rolls, cut in half and toasted cut side up 2boneless rib-eye or New York stripsteaks (about 12 ounces)
1teaspoon vegetable oil
Fine sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2tablespoons unsalted butter
3shallots, thinly sliced
1small hot pepper (Anaheim or jalapeño), thinly sliced crosswise
½teaspoon ground cumin
½teaspoon ground turmeric
½teaspoon paprika
1lime, halved
1handful cilantro sprigs
1. To make the garlic butter,inasmall saucepan, melt the butter with the garlic overmedium heat, about2 minutes. Season with salt and afew pinches of pepper and let cool to awarm room temperature, about 10 minutes.
2. Using apastry brush, lightly coat the cut sideof the sandwich rolls with the garlic butter, about 1tablespoon per roll.
3. Trim some of the fat fromthe steakand save to renderinthe pan. Cut away any gristle.Sliceeach steak in half crosswise, then slice thinly across the grain into 3- to 4-inch-long pieces (try to get as close as you can to Philly cheesesteak thinness with theslices).
4. In alargeskilletover medium-high heat, render thesaved beef fat for 1minute,thenremove(it’sOKif notmuchfat comesout). Add the oil and heatfor afew seconds, thenadd the sliced steak andsear briefly, turning the pieces once or twice andseasoning with afew pinches of saltand agenerous pinch of pepper,until the beef is cooked through, about 2minutes.Transfer the beef and any juices to aheatproof bowl and keep warm.
5. In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the shallots, hot pepper, cumin, turmeric and paprika and cook until theshallotshave softened slightly, about2minutes. Add to the bowl withthe steak and stir together well. Squeeze thelime over the bowl,thenmix again, adding moresalt if needed.
6. Divide the steak and shallots among the sandwich rolls and finish withcilantro sprigs. Slice thesandwiches in half before serving.
Shamingguestsnot the flex youthink it is
Dear Miss Manners: My daughter was recently married —asecond marriage bothfor her and for her new husband. They had alovely ceremony and invited close family and good friends —well, some good friends. Three of my daughter’sfriends workwith her new husband’sex-wife. The couple received neither cards nor gifts from this trio. She feels they have been manipulated by the ex. What should she do?
But we have aproblem
Three, actually First, the trio breached no rules of etiquette or good taste —atleast nothing that you have related. Wedding gifts are not, you will be surprised to hear, mandatory.Sowe have nothing to charge them with.
1.
2.
3.
TNSPHOTO By LINDA GASSENHEIMER MangoColeslaw
no cholesterol,16.4 gprotein, 44.1 gcarbohydrates,12.7 g fiber,153 mg sodium
Judith Martin MISS MANNERS
1. Should she not send a thank-you note to them?
2. Should she just send a notethanking them for attending and celebrating?
3. Should she send acard thanking them for attending, with aP.S. such as, “I fear your card/gift was lost”? She does not value thefriendship of these three ladies and wantsto shamethem for their lack of class and manners.
Gentlereader: Beforewe get to thehow,Miss Manners wantstobesure she understands the goal, which is to “shame” three guestsatyour daughter’s wedding for their “lack of class and manners,” presumably while having your daughter display her own
Second, you do not send thankyou letters simply because someone attended your wedding; thanking them forattending would therefore not demonstrate your daughter’sfamiliarity with etiquette, but rather,the reverse. This eliminates one of your proposed courses of action. Third, shaming (or extorting) guests is aserious breach of etiquette. This eliminates another proposed course of action. To answer your question then, if your daughter wants to demonstrate her good manners, she should forget about this trio and enjoy her honeymoon.
Dear Miss Manners: Afew years ago, my mother-inlaw,anamateur painter, gave my husband and me a large portrait of ourselves. Idon’twish to judge the skill of the artist, but will say that it was“not our
thing.” We thanked her profusely and hung it up forafew years in aremote corner of the house. We have since moved to asmaller place without the space to display it, so it’s been packed away in acloset. Nowmyhusband wishes to get rid of it altogether Setting aside the question of whether any secondhand store would even want it, what is the appropriate etiquette? We are likely never to hang up this painting again, but Ifeel guilty disposing of aheartfelt, homemade giftthat’s so personal in nature.
Gentle reader: Paintings can be removed from their frames, rolled and shoved into atube at the back of acloset. This way if you absolutely have to produce it at alater date, you can claim that it wasin storage while you thought about reframing it. Consider yourself lucky your mother-in-law did not take up sculpting.
Sendquestions to Miss Manners at herwebsite, www.missmanners. com; to heremail, dearmissmanners@gmail. com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.
Tryfun wayofmakingmagnets
Dear Heloise: Ireceive magnetic calendars from charities.After theyear has ended, Icarefully remove thefront picture, leaving thepaper backing. Ithen glue on school pictures of my grandchildren. After theglue dries, Icut out each picture and have fridge magnets of their smiling faces. —Frances R., in Manchester New Hampshire Hair advice
Dear Heloise: Tanya G. might want totake acareful look at her diet. What you put in your body is often reflected in your skin and hair.She could ask her hairstylist to recommend productsthat will help her hair,and adoctor could suggest adiet to improve thecondition of her hair and skin. —JeanieB., in Paramus, New Jersey Protecting privateinfo
Dear Heloise: My wife and Iare preparing for a major house moveafter
By The Associated Press
Today is Thursday, July 2, the 183rd day of 2026. There are 182 days left in the year
Today’shighlightinhistory: On July 2, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed intolaw asweeping civil rights bill passed by Congress prohibiting discrimination and segregation based on race, color, sex, religion or national origin.
Also on this date:
In 1776, theContinental Congress passed aresolution saying that “these United Colonies are, and of right ought tobe, free and independent States.”
In 1881, President James A. Garfield was shot by Charles J. Guiteau at the Washington, D.C., railroad station; Garfield died the following September.(Guiteau was hanged in June 1882.)
In 1917, rioting erupted in East St. Louis, Illinois, as White mobs attacked Black residents; at least 50 and as many as 200 people, mostofthem Black,are believed to have died in the violence.
In 1937, aviator Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan disappeared
40 years of living in one place. We’ve been going through mountains of old paperwork —pay stubs, insurance records from defunct policies, etc. It’s simply astounding how manyofthese have our Social Security numbers on them, but 40-50 years ago, nobody knew about “identity theft.” Everyone should periodically go through old papers and destroy anything with an SSN on it. If you don’thave ashredder, you can burn papers in a charcoal grill or aburn barrel, or you can use aconfidential commercial shredding service for big jobs. Unfortunately,some government agencies still use SSNsasanidentifier.One of the worst offenders in this respect is the DepartmentofVeterans Affairs. I’ve repeatedly written to the VA secretary —and my congressman —toask that this policy be changed, but nothing has happened
TODAYINHISTORY
over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to make the first round-the-world flight along the equator
In 1962, the first Walmart store opened in Rogers, Arkansas.
In 1976, the U.S. SupremeCourt, in Gregg v. Georgia, ruled 7-2 that the death penalty was not inherently cruel or unusual.
In 1979, the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin was released to the public.
In 1986, ruling in apair of cases, the Supreme Court upheld affirmative action as aremedy forpast job discrimination.
In 1990, morethan 1,400 Muslim pilgrimswere killed in astampede inside apedestrian tunnel near Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
In 2018, rescue divers in Thailand found alive 12 boys and their soccer coach, whohad been trapped by flooding as they explored acave morethan aweek earlier
In 2020, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell wasarrested in New Hampshire on charges that she had helped lure at least three girls —one as young as 14 —tobesexually abused by the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. (Maxwell would be convicted on five of six
so far. All veterans who read your column should do the samefor their own protection.
Thousands of people in the VA have access to this data. Most likely,99.9% of them are honest and will keep such things private, but all it takes is one bad ‘un to let it out with dire consequences. —AnAvid Reader, via email
Platform bedpreference
Dear Heloise: Since my husband and Ilived in Japan forafew years, we figured out that we don’treally like the western-style bed. So, my husband built aplatform bed, and we placed anice mattress on it. The platform is about 1foot larger than the mattress all around. This serves as both abed and nightstands foruswith wall-mounted lights on both sides. Idon’t know whymore people don’ttry this! —Kate and Greg H., in LasVegas Sendahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.
counts and sentenced to 20 years in prison.)
In 2022, the police chief for the Uvalde, Texas, school district stepped down from his City Council seat amid criticism of his response to the mass shooting at an elementary school in which 19 students and two teachers were killed on May 24 of that year Today’sbirthdays: Former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos is 97.Racing Hall of FamerRichard Petty is 89. Former White House chiefofstaff and former New Hampshire governor JohnH.Sununu is 87. Writer-directorcomedianLarry David is 79. ActorWendy Schaal is 72. Actor-model Jerry Hall is 70. Former baseball playerJoseCanseco is 62. Race car driverSam Hornish Jr.is47. Former NHL centerJoe Thorntonis47. SingerMichelle Branch is 43. Retiredfigure skater Johnny Weir is 42.ActorsingerAshleyTisdale is 41. Former professional soccer playerAlexMorganis37. ActorMargot Robbie is 36. SingerrapperSaweetie is 33.U.S. Olympic swimming gold medalist RyanMurphy is 31. ActorCaitlin Carmichael is 22.
VORACIOUS PHOTO By JOHN LEE Alexandria Steak Sandwiches
Hints from Heloise
cAncER (June 21-July 22) It's mind over matter; if no one minds, it doesn't matter. Reset your schedule to meet your needs and pursue what excites you most. Utilizeyourstrengths,connectionsandcash flow to set your plans in motion.
LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) A broad-minded attitude will open doors to new people and experiences.Whatyoudiscoverwillhelp you secure and stabilize your prospects and lifestyle. Let your uniqueness shine through with unfiltered truthfulness.
VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Keep your ears and eyes on high alert. What you see and hear will indicate your best move. Someone may exaggerate, but don't let that deter you from gathering the facts yourself and making a move that is fair.
LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Talks, incentives and living up to your promises will keep you in the conversation. What you offer will have an impact on someone eager to make a change or a difference. Take a stance, and set the record straight.
scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Adversity and emotional turmoil will surface. If you compromise and meet others in the middle, it will help you put unfinished business to rest and maintain a healthy relationship.
sAGITTARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Go for it. The stars are aligned, and your timing is impeccable if you are confident and refuse to let hesitation or second-guessing stand between you and what you want.
cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Be careful not to overextend yourself physically or
financially. You owe it to yourself and those you deal with to pursue what's feasible instead of chasing a dream.
AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Push forward withenthusiasm,andyou'llflourishemotionally. Test out your surroundings and make adjustments that are conducive to what you enjoy doing most. Don't embellish anything.
PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Initiate only necessary change. Refuse to be bullied or pushed into something you know little about or have no interest in. Discipline will be necessary where money, emotions and entertainment collide.
ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Network and thrive. Step into the spotlight and let onlookers see what you can do. Your intelligence and enthusiasm will lead to an offer you cannot turn down. Rise to the occasion.
TAuRus (April 20-May 20) Keep life, conversations and domestic situations simple and within your means. Refuse to agreetosomethingyouknowlittleabout. Consider the advantages and disadvantages that might result if you proceed.
GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Don't spread yourself too thin. You have plenty to gain if you concentrate on what's important and most likely to get you where you want to go. A passionate presentation will help others.
Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.
ToDAy's cLuE: G EQuALs A
FAMILY CIrCUS
CeLebrItY
For better or For WorSe
Sudoku
InstructIons: sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1to9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the sudoku increases from monday to sunday.
Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer
BaBY BLueS
Bridge
By PHILLIPALDER
Steven Wright, acomedian whospecializes in deadpan delivery, said,“Right nowI’m having amnesia and dejavuat thesame time.”
Castyourmindbacktoyesterday’scolumn. Then look at this one. Maybe you will have aSteven Wright moment West is defending against fourhearts. Heleadsoffwiththeclubace:six,queen, nine. How should he hope to defeat the contract?
Thebidding is instructive.North is right to makeatakeout doubleover one club. True, if Southdoes not have afivecardmajor,theensuing4-3major-suitfit might be worse thana 5-3 or 5-4 diamond fit. But agood South will have afive-card major. Eastmadeapre-emptive jump raise to three clubs, promising fiveor more clubs and aweak hand. With gameinvitationalorgreaterstrength,hewould have responded withanartificial two notrump. (When responder hasa big balanced hand, he starts with redoubleover an opponent’s takeout double.) South cue-bid four clubs to show astrong twosuiter. (With agood one-suiter, he would have jumped in that suit.)
Note East’s play of the club queen. When adefender cannot win atrick, he plays top of touching honors.
Each Wuzzle is aword riddle which creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: nOOn gOOD =gOOD aFTErnOOn
Previous answers:
word game
InsTRucTIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Wordsthat acquire four lettersbythe additionof“s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are notallowed. 3. additional words made by adding a“d” or an “s” may notbeused. 4. proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.
ToDAy’s WoRD oBLIQuELy: oh-BLEEK-lee: Indirectly.
Average mark 16 words
Timelimit 30 minutes
Can you find 25 or more words in OBLIQUELY?
yEsTERDAy’s WoRD —soJouRnER
wuzzles
Areyou on the Lord’s side?Can He count on you? G.E. Dean
marmaduKe
Bizarro
hagar the horriBle
Pearls Before swiNe
garfield
B.C.
PiCKles
dIrectIons: make a 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row. add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter have no point value. all the words are in the Official sCraBBlE® players Dictionary, 5th Edition.
Scrabble GramS Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer
ken ken
InstructIons: 1 Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 thorugh 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging) without repeating. 2 - The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners. 3 - Freebies: Fill in the single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner. HErE is a
roSe
DuStin Drabble
/nolalibrary @nolalibrary
Main Library
219 Loyola Avenue (504) 596-2570
Algiers Regional Library
3014 Holiday Drive (504) 596-2641
Alvar Library 913 AlvarStreet (504) 596-2667
Central City Library
2020 Jackson Avenue,Suite139 (504) 596-3110
Children’s ResourceCenterLibrary 913 Napoleon Avenue (504) 596-2628
Desire /Florida Satellite Location 3250 Industry Street
East New Orleans Regional Library 5641 Read Boulevard (504) 596-0200
Cita Dennis Hubbell Library 725 Pelican Avenue (504) 596-3113
Robert E. Smith Library 6301 Canal Boulevard (504) 596-2638
The NewOrleans Public Library
offers storytimes for children from birth to age 5and playtimes for ages2–5atall of our locations. Visitnolalibrary.org/early-literacy formore information
MUSIC &MOVEMENT
Dance,wiggle,and stretch as we use music and movement to practice early literacy skills.This program is designed for children ages 2– 5and their caregivers
Monday,July 13 from 10:30am –11am and 3:30pm –4pm
Monday,July 20 from 10:30am –11am and 3:30pm –4pm
Milton H. Latter Memorial Library
TODDLER TIME
Read, sing, and wiggle during an interactive storytimegeared towards toddlers and their caregivers, followed by atimetoplay with toys, sensory activities,orcrafts.
Wednesdays from 10:30am –11:30am and 3:30pm –4:30pm
Algiers Regional Library
SharedStories
LUB and big imagi’book club for ages 2–5features agroup reading, a themed craft, and afree book for your homelibrary.
Register at nolalibrary.co/first-book-club
Wednesday,July 1 from 2pm–3pm
Wednesday,July 15 from 2pm–3pm
Wednesday,July 29 from 2pm–3pm Norman Mayer Library
PICTUREBOOKPALOOZA
FEATURING PETE THECAT
Celebrate the groovy Pete the Cat and the beloved book series with themed activities and storytime.For children ages 2–5and their families.
Friday,July 10 from 2pm–4pm Mid-City Library
PICTUREBOOKPALOOZA
FEATURING MOUSE &FRIENDS
Celebrate the If YouGive aMouse a Cookie series by Laura Numeroff with themed activities and storytime.For children ages 2-5and their families.
Friday,July 24 from 2pm–4pm Mid-City Library
WITH LOCALAUTHORS STORYHOUR
Meet children’s andYAauthors, purchasebooks, and enjoy book-relatedcrafts andauthor readings.
Authorsinterested in participating cansignupat nolalibrary.co/shared-stories-2026 until June 24th or until event is at capacity.
Saturday,July 11 from10:30am –12:30pm East NewOrleans Regional Library
CHILDR EVENTS
THEMAGICAL PO
Jump into summer wi Poodles. Witness ex interesting facts abo jobs, get in on the show dog gone good time
Wednesday,July 1 from 11am –12pm Milton H. LatterMemorial
Wednesday,July 1 from 2pm –3pm Main Library
STORYHOUR WITH DRAG QUEEN LAVEAU CONTRAIRE
Read andsing along with localdrag queen Laveau Contraire at this special family event.
Friday,July 10 from 10:30am –11:30am Cita Dennis Hubbell Library
Friday,July 31 from 10:30am –11:30am Central City Library
BUBBLESFOR EVERYONE WITH HEYNOW PRODUCTIONS Experiment andplaywitha varietyof bubble tools andtoystomakethe biggest,prettiest, most fantasticbubbles. This interactiveoutdoor program is fun for kids andfamilies.
Saturday,July 11 from 11am –12pm Central City Library
Saturday,July 25 from 11am –12pm Cita Dennis Hubbell Library
CRESCENTCIRCUS
MAGIC SHOW
The CrescentCircus,featured on The TonightShow, fuses award-winning magic and circus arts into aperformance that willamaze kids and keep them laughing.
Monday,July 13 from11am –12pm Mid-City Library
Monday,July 13 from2pm –3pm Nix Library
THESECRET LANGUAGE OF BEES
WITH CARL HARRISON JR.
Local filmmaker,artist, and beekeeper Carl Harrison Jr.leads “The Secret LanguageofBees,”anengaging workshop for kids that blends storytelling, film, and hands-on learning.
Wednesday,July 15 from 2pm –3:30pm AlvarLibrary
Saturday,July 18 from 2pm –3:30pm Nora NavraLibrary
SOUTHERNPUPPETTHEATRE
WITH OGDEN MUSEUMTEEN INTERNS
Discover the worksofSouthern paintersand sculptors with this interactive puppet show performed by the Ogden Museum Teen Interns. Don’t miss the puppet meet-and-greet after the show.
Thursday,July 16 from 11am –12pm Nix Library
Friday,July 17 from 11am –12pm NormanMayer Library
Monday,July 20 from 11am –12pm Mid-City Library
Tuesday,July 21 from 11am –12pm Martin Luther King, Jr.Library
CATURDAY
Louisiana SPCAcats are headed to the Library. Kids and families can meet these back le Saturday from Mid-City AF WO WI Dive drumming ex drum, rh hi Frid from Nora
TEEN&TWE EVENTS
Tuesday,July 14 from 4pm –6pm MiltonH.Latter Memorial Library
PATCHMAKINGMAGIC FORTEENS
WITH ARTIST LEXY HO-TAI
Make your clothesortextile items of-a-kind and truly you. In thisw celebratethe joy of creative selfby creating and sewing your own
Register at nolalibrary.co/pat
Wednesday,July 8 from 2pm –4pm Alvar Library
Thursday,July 9 from 2pm –4pm Main Library
Cita Dennis Hubbell Library
ADULT EVENTS
CREATIVE MENDINGHAND SEWING TO HIGHLIGHT REPAIRS WITH LEXY HO-TAI
Bring an item you’dliketorepair, and learn various visible hand-mending techniques to fix rips, stains, or holes using patches. Adults at all skill levels welcome
Registration is recommendedat nolalibrary.co/creative-mending.
Thursday,July 2 from 4:30pm –6:30pm Rosa F. Keller Library and Community Center
Wednesday, July29 from 11am –1pm Mid-City Library
GARDENINGWELLNESS AND YOU-WITHMASTER GARDENER CHRISBELSER
Discover many wellness benefits (physical, mental, emotional, social, etc.) of gardening and, more generally, being in nature.
Wednesday, July8
from 5:30pm –6:30pm Milton H. LatterMemorial Library
UNDERSTANDING
DIGITALTRUST: HOWSCAMS, CYBERCRIME, AND AI REALLYWORK
Dr.Vassil Roussev,LSU NewOrleans Professor and Computer Science Chair shares simple ways to understand complexcybersecurity topics so we can makesense of new information as it comes our way
Register at nolalibrary.co/digital-trust
Thursday,July 9
from 5:30pm –6:30pm Algiers Regional Library
RHYMEWRITING WO
WITH ALFRED BANKS
Hip-hop artistAlfred Bank rhyme writing workshop.L hiswriting process and ge tips to use in your own mu
Tuesday,July 14 from 2pm –3pm Norman Mayer Library
Monday,July 27 from 2pm –3pm EastNew Orleans Regional
CAREER
EXPLORATIO
FIND YOUR WHYDISCOVERPURPOSE CAREER PATHWAYS
Complete acareer assessm explore career paths, and learn what education and skills are neededto achieve your goals.
Thursday,July 16 from 5:30pm –6:30pm
Register at nolalibrary.co/career-exploration.
Thursday,July 9 from 12pm –4pm
EastNew Orleans Regional Library
Wednesday,July 15 from 12pm –4pm AlgiersRegional Library
THEUNSAID:
ABSENCE AS FORMPOETRY WORKSHOP WITH STACEY BALKUN
This workshop exploresabsence in poetry,fromellipsis to erasure.Experiment with writing poemsusing white space and implication to create meaning out of mystery.All adult writerswelcome.
Thursday,July 16 from 5pm –6:30pm Nora Navra Library
Norman Mayer Library
AUTHOR NIGHT AT HUBBELL LIBRARY: MICHAEL STRECKERTHEKNIGHTSOFWADE
In this comedicnovelset in New Orleans in the late 1980s, an inveterate lottery playerwill risk everything except gainful employment to strikeitrich.
Tuesday,July 21 from 6:30pm –7:30pm
Cita Dennis Hubbell Library
HOUSE OF SCHLOCKCHRISTMASINJULY
It’sChristmas in July at the House of Schlock.Join Dr.Dewey for ascreening of the1960s sci-fi classic, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964).
Saturday,July 25 from 2pm–4pm Algiers Regional Library
AUTHOR NIGHTFANTASYFICTION
Localauthors Marguerite Sheffer,TQ Sims, GretaHayer,and Amber Sanchez read fantasy fiction in avariety of styles. Look forward to psychicpowers, fairy tales, ghosts, and otherstrangeness.
Monday,July 27 from 5:30pm –6:30pm Rosa F. KellerLibrary and Community Center
INVESTINGWITH APLAN:
STEP-BY-STEP STOCKANALYSIS
Most peoplesee financial news every day butaren’t sure how to use that information. Dr.LucaPezzo offers a straightforward look at how professional stock analysis actually works. Register at nolalibrary.co/investing-plan.
Thursday,July 30
from 5:30pm –6:30pm Rosa F. KellerLibrary and Community Center
2, 2026
SPOT SPECIALIZES IN SANDOS page 4 CELEBRATE THE FOURTH WITH FIREWORKS AND MORE page 6
don’tmiss don’tmiss don’t miss
stagedooridol french quarter museum night
sing-a-thon kicks off he National WWII Museum reliminary round of competition. ntage looksand croon tunes in thehopes of winning $2,000, which will be decided at the finalsinAugust. Admission is $15, with food and drinks available for purchase at BB’sStage Door Canteen, 945 MagazineSt. nationalww2museum.org.
celebratingveteransvoices
Wounded Warrior veteran Mike Norotsky will discuss theorganization andshare personal stories on military service at 1p.m.Thursdayat Lakeshore Library, 1000 W. Esplanade Ave., Metairie. Theorganization,which helps warriors thrive for alifetime, will be the program priortothe library’sStars &Stripes celebration at 2p.m. calendar.jplibrary.net.
ABOUTLAGNIAPPE
HHHThe member organizations of the French Quarter Museum Association will keep extra hoursThursday in advance of the country’s 250th anniversary.The highlight will be aclosing reception at 7p.m. at The Historic New Orleans Collection and an after-party starting at 8p.m. at Preservation Hall; the All-Starsperform at 8:45 p.m. Additional participants in thefree night of events include the 1850 House, the Cabildo and thePresbytère, Hermann-Grima House, Historic BK House, LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana, New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, New Orleans Foundation for Francophone Cultures and theOld Ursuline Convent Museum. fqma.org.
The Lagniappe section is publishedeach ThursdaybyThe Times-Picayune |The New Orleans Advocate. All inquiries aboutLagniappe should be directed to the editor. LAGNIAPPE EDITOR: Lauren Walck, lauren.walck@theadvocate.com
COVER DESIGN: Andrea Daniel
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Victor Andrews, Leslie Cardé, Marco Cartolano, Keith Spera, Poet Wolfe
GETLISTEDINLAGNIAPPE
Submitevents to Lagniappe at least twoweeksinadvance by sendinganemailto events@theadvocate.com.
ON THECOVER
Elliott performs at the 2018 Essence FestivalofCulture.
by Scott Threlkeld. Music writer Keith Sperashares apreviewofthis year’s eventonPage 8.
One of four of Napoleon Bonaparte’sdeath masks is on display at the Cabildo.
Missy
Photo
don’t miss don’t miss don’t miss
movies in the park soul-sip
Take Paws Rescue puts on the dog with “ultiMUTT” movie nights at The Dog House, 2736 Banks St. Humans and their hounds (members only and on a leash) are invited to watch “The Sandlot” at 7 p.m. Friday alongside adoptable pups. Bring a bag of food to donate if possible. doghousenola.com.
lsu campus mounds
Retired state archaeologist Charles “Chip” McGimsey, the featured speaker at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the East Bank Regional Library in Metairie, will talk about a pair of 20-foottall earthen rises on the Baton Rouge campus started by Native American inhabitants more than 11,000 years ago, predating the Great Pyramids of Egypt. jefferson.lib.la.us.
The New Orleans Museum of Art wraps its summer meditations with an afterhours wine and unwind event at 6 p.m. Wednesday A guided meditation is followed by a three-part wine tasting and gallery tours highlighting winerelated objects from the permanent collection of NOMA, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, in City Park. Tickets start at $55. noma.org.
food food food
Sandos to stand out
Local chef’s focus on viral Japanese dish elevates pop-up to brick-and-mortar in the Marigny
BY POET WOLFE Staff writer
When he was 8 years old, Zac Hill turned to his grandmother one summer day and said four unexpected words: “I need to cook.”
She then pulled a recipe book off the shelf, drove him to a grocery store and helped him gather ingredients. Hill drew a blank on which dish they made — maybe pork tenderloin — but remembered doing what he could while she stepped in where he needed help.
Hill recently recalled that memory while sitting inside his new restaurant, Gaijin Sandos, which spent more than a year as a pop-up.
The brick-and-mortar eatery opened in May in New Orleans’ Marigny neighborhood, bringing Japanese-style sandwiches to a dining scene long dominated by po-boys and muffulettas.
That changed when he visited San Francisco after graduation and dined at one of the city’s most renowned restaurants, Atelier Crenn. Witnessing the restaurant’s attention to detail and theatricality pushed him toward food and the concept of creating a robust dining experience.
But long before this, the process of learning how to cook was always “magical” for Hill — the successes, the failures and how both shape the final product.
“I’ve always been drawn to cooking,” Hill said. “There’s a mystery to it, initially, and figuring that out.”
3304 St. Claude Ave, New Orleans (504) 3809344 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday
In recent years, Japanese sandos — short for the Japanese word “sandoitchi” — have evolved from a viral internet trend to a mainstream staple in restaurants across the United States. Gaijin Sandos is among the first to bring the newly popularized dish to New Orleans.
But Hill’s love for Japanese cuisine came later, after spending much of his childhood turning to recipes from “Better Homes & Gardens” and “The Joy of Cooking” to prepare Southern dishes, before taking a detour once he went to college.
Hill moved from Birmingham to New Orleans to attend Tulane University, where he studied architecture before switching to business school with the idea of one day opening a coffee shop.
That persistence is what drew him to “the additionality and simplicity” of Japanese cuisine.
It was something he “kind of fell into” during the pandemic, when he decided to take a job at the freshly opened Union Ramen to cure his lockdown boredom. Hill worked there for more than four years, eventually becoming chef de cuisine A bartender at dba on Frenchmen Street, asked whether he wanted to host a pop-up there.
In August 2024, Gaijin Sandos began appearing at bars along the music corridor, where Hill sold fried chicken, shrimp, beef and miso cabbage nestled between slices of milk bread. By October, he had quit his job at Union Ramen and was hosting weekly pop-ups while working part time at a coffee shop.
During the final six months of the pop-up, Hill cooked at a string of local bars — Bud Rips, Abita Brewery, Skeeta Hawk and Tchoup Yard — six to eight times a week. When the building that had housed Rosalita’s Tacos became available, he decided it was time for Gaijin Sandos to have a
permanent home.
Inside, the restaurant echoes the simplicity Hill admires in Japanese food. Paper lanterns hang above two concrete tables lined with wooden chairs, set against tan walls. A bar table faces an open window looking out onto St. Claude Avenue. In the back kitchen, cooks dip chicken thighs battered with buttermilk and bourbon into oil until they’re fried crisp
The fried chicken sando — tucked between slices of toasted, buttery milk bread layered with pimento cheese, pickled jalapeños and sesame slaw — arrived on a tray minutes later. Sitting next to the sandwich was a bowl of cucumber melon salad: smashed cucumbers and cantaloupe cubes in a jalapeño kosho vinaigrette, topped with smoked sea salt and toasted sesame seeds.
The menu includes some of the sandwiches featured at his pop-up, including the tamago sando — a simple delicacy of egg salad, a hard boiled egg and lettuce. There are new ones as well, such as the fruit sando, featuring seasonal fruit enrobed in yuzu Chantilly cream.
All of the sandwiches are made fresh in-house, including the milk bread — an arduous process of whisking and kneading until the sticky dough forms, baking each loaf and cutting them into thick slices of soft, pillowy bread.
Hill spends three hours a day preparing the bread. Time is the cost of his approach to cooking — a craft he said showed him he “never wanted to do things halfway.”
STAFF PHOTO By POET WOLFE Sandos and melon salad are among the dishes offered at Gaijin Sandos, a new Japanese-inspired restaurant on St. Claude Avenue.
Hill GAIJIN SANDOS
food food food
Local wine programs named among top in the world
BY MARCO CARTOLANO Staff writer
Wine Spectator has added seven New Orleans restaurants to its annual list of top wine programs in the world — nine total across Louisiana — spotlighting more options wine enthusiasts have to find a nice glass across the state.
In total, 47 Louisiana restaurants were honored in the wine and lifestyle magazine’s 2026 Restaurant Awards, which has honored wine service since 1981
All of the new selections received either the Award of Excellence or the Best of Award of Excellence.
The following New Orleans restaurants were new to the list this year: Criollo Restaurant, Desi Vega’s Steakhouse, The Italian Barrel French Quarter, Lilette, Muriel’s Jackson Square, Pulcinella! and Superior Seafood & Oyster Bar.
Proverbial Wine Bistro in Baton Rouge and The Prime Rib in Bossier City were also added this year
Over 3,800 restaurants received awards across the separate categories. Only 99 received the Grand Award, the magazine’s highest honor
n GW Fins, Award of Excellence
n Jack Rose, Award of Excellence
n Mr. B’s Bistro, Award of Excellence
n The Pelican Club, Award of Excellence
n King Brasserie, Award of Excellence
n Meril, Award of Excellence
n Briquette, Award of Excellence
n The Country Club, Award of Excellence
n Criollo Restaurant, Award of Excellence
n Ristorante Del Porto, Covington, Award of Excellence
Three New Orleans institutions earned that top prize — Brennan’s Restaurant, Commander’s Palace and Emeril’s.
Wine lists are evaluated on a variety of factors for the annual award. Recipients should have interesting selections, complement the food and appeal to a wide range of customers.
The following 35 New Orleans restaurants were honored:
n Ralph’s On The Park, Award of Excellence
n Gabrielle Restaurant, Award of Excellence
n Superior Seafood & Oyster
Bar, Award of Excellence
n Chemin à la Mer, Award of Excellence
n Clancy’s, Best of Award of Excellence
n Desi Vega’s Steakhouse, Award of Excellence
n The Italian Barrel French Quarter, Award of Excellence
n Lilette, Award of Excellence
n Muriel’s Jackson Square, Award of Excellence
n Pulcinella!, Award of Excellence
n Gautreau’s, Best of Award of Excellence
n MaMou Restaurant, Award of Excellence
n Galatoire’s, Best of Award of Excellence
n Galatoire’s 33 Bar and Steak, Best of Award of Excellence
n Restaurant R’evolution, Best of Award of Excellence
n Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse, Best of Award of Excellence
n Doris Metropolitan, Best of Award of Excellence
n Dakota, Covington, Best of Award of Excellence
n August, Best of Award of Excellence
n Tableau, Best of Award of Excellence
n Tujague’s Restaurant, Best of Award of Excellence
n The Grill Room, Best of Award of Excellence
n Commander’s Palace, Grand Award
n Brennan’s Restaurant, Grand Award
n Emeril’s, Grand Award Around Louisiana
Five restaurants in Baton Rouge received awards.
n Sullivan’s Steakhouse, Award of Excellence
n Tallulah Crafted Food and Wine Bar, Award of Excellence
n Proverbial Wine Bistro, Award of Excellence
n Bin 77 Bistro & Sidebar, Award of Excellence
n Mansurs on the Boulevard, Best of Award of Excellence
Two Lafayette restaurants, Marcello’s Wine Market & Cafe and Charley G’s, were bestowed Award of Excellence designations.
Superior’s Steakhouse in Shreveport (Best of Award of Excellence) and 2John’s Steak and Seafood in Bossier City (Best of Award of Excellence) took home awards for another year, along with Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse (Best of Award of Excellence) and Bodega Restaurant & Wine Bar (Award of Excellence) in Lake Charles.
The Jamaican restaurant 14 Parishes has closed its Oak Street location, but owners are teasing future plans to continue serving its Caribbean dishes.
The restaurant’s owners announced
June 20 in an Instagram post that the 8227 Oak St. location would close after five years on the popular Uptown street.
However, 14 Parishes will still sell jerk dishes and meat pies from its food truck, and owners are preparing for the “next project.”
“Ten years in the game and five great years on Oak Street, we’re turning the page on a new chapter,”
14 Parishes’ Instagram post read.
“We’re saying goodbye to this loca-
tion, we’re not saying goodbye to 14 Parishes ever!”
14 Parishes opened its Oak Street location in 2021. The restaurant, owned by husband-and-wife team Charles and Lauren Blake, had a stand at the now-closed Pythian Market and a previous Central City location on Clio Street.
In 2023, 14 Parishes expanded to an Algiers Point location, but the restaurant storefront closed late last year after Charles Blake had health issues.
Chef Charles Blake and Lauren Blake are the couple that opened 14 Parishes five years ago on Oak Street.
STAFF FILE PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER
Pulcinella! chef Matty Hayes, center, inspects a bottle of wine for patrons.
STAFF FILE PHOTO By IAN McNULTy
events events events
Fireworks, hotdog-eating contests, musicplanned around themetro area forthe Fourth
BY VICTORANDREWS Staff writer
New Orleans got ahead start on America’s 250th birthday whenthe tall ships visited last month, but for the Fourth of July weekend there are plenty of annual events andfireworks to entertain locals and visitors.
ST.JOHN PARISH INDEPENDENCE DAYCELEBRATION: 6p.m. Thursday,St. Peter Catholic Church, 1550 La. 44, Reserve, and St. John the BaptistParishCatholic Church, 2349 La. 18, Edgard. The annual celebration held on both sides of the Mississippi River concludes at 9p.m. with fireworks. st-peterreserve.org.
UNCLE SAM JAM: Gates open at 3p.m. Friday,Lafreniere Park, 3000 Downs Blvd.,Metairie. Wilson Phillips and John Waite headline the Jefferson ParishIndependence Day celebration; acts also include Birdand DJ Slim McGraw.The free festival willhave afood village and art market and concludes at 9:10 p.m.with fireworks. Parking is available at the Shrine on Airline withshuttle service.unclesamjamjefferson.com.
ST.CHARLES ANNUAL 3RD OF JULYCELEBRA-
LEFT: The Port of New Orleans’ fireboat, the Gen. RoyS Kelley, shoots out red, white and blue water on the Mississippi River during the 2023 Go 4th on the River in New Orleans.
BELOW: Dat Dog hosts itshot dog eating contest Saturday at itsMagazine Street location.
TION: 5p.m. Friday,West Bank Bridge Park, 13825 River Road, Luling. Get ajumponfestivities in the River Parishes with live music, food truck vendors and fireworks at 9p.m. stcharlesparish.gov
COVINGTONCELEBRATES AMERICA 250 CONCERT: 5:30 p.m.Friday,Covington Trailhead Museum and Visitors Center,419 N. NewHampshire St. Southern rockers Cypress Creek give apre-Fourth performance. visitthenorthshore.com.
HAPPY 3RD OF JULY: 6:30 p.m.Friday, NewOrleans City Park. Festivities on the Goldring/Woldenberg Great Lawn feature music by the Marine Forces Reserve Rock Band and fireworks over the Peristyle at 9p.m. neworleanscitypark.org.
PEARL RIVER INDEPENDENCE DAYCELEBRATION: 6p.m. Friday,Pearl River Town Hall, 39460 Willis Alley.Take part in
STAFF FILE
PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER
STAFF FILE
PHOTO By JOHN McCUSKER
events events events
People gather in City Park’s Goldring/ Woldenberg Great Lawn for the 2025 Happy 3rd of July concert and fireworks.
baby barrel racing, bucket toss, pieeating contest, sack races, a petting zoo plus free food and drinks. Then, fireworks start at dusk visitthenorthshore.com.
AMERICAN LEGION BAND CONCERT: 7 p.m. Friday, Deutsches Haus, 1700 Moss St., New Orleans. Hear the patriotic strains of tunes from the American Legion Post 377 Band. Free. deutscheshaus.org.
FOURTH OF JULY AT THE MUSEUM: Saturday, The National WWII Museum. Commemorate the country’s 250th anniversary with a day filled with activities and honors for the generation that fought and won the war that changed the world. Included are Storytime: “Happy Birthday to You” by Dr Seuss at 10 a.m.; the Victory Belles at 1 p.m. in the U.S. Freedom Pavilion; custom dog tag stations; food and beverage specials at The American Sector in the museum from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Rosie’s on the Roof at the Higgins Hotel at 3 p.m.; and stay to watch the fireworks. nationalww2museum.org.
MADISONVILLE OLD FASHIONED 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION: 11 a.m. Saturday. Kids’ games, a boat parade, a veterans ceremony, a flyover, DJs, fireworks at dusk and more take place along the Tchefuncte River in Madisonville on La. 22. visitthenorthshore.com.
INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION: 1 p.m. Saturday, Ogden Museum of Southern Art. Doors open 12:30 p.m. for a performance by the New Orleans Concert Band, featuring patriotic favorites and a salute to the armed forces, plus surprises. Seating is on a first-come, firstserved basis. ogdenmuseum.org.
MANDEVILLE INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE:
4 p.m. Saturday, Mandeville lakefront. Floats, marching groups including the Mande Milkshakers, walkers, golf carts, vehicles and more celebrate under the theme “America 250 — Celebrating 250 Years of Freedom, Community and Patriotism.” facebook.com.
OLDE TOWNE SLIDELL 4THE OF JULY CELEBRATION: 4 p.m. Saturday, 2200 block of Carey Street, Slidell. “Put on your red, white and blue” and enjoy the day, with food, cooling zones, kids’ activities, music at three spots, a hot dog-eating contest at 6 p.m. and a fireworks show at dusk. visitthenorthshore.com.
FOURTH OF JULY FEST: 4 p.m. Saturday, Dat Dog, 3336 Magazine St. The winner of the Son of a Saint Dog Design contest will be announced. Live music and samples will be offered. Plus, a hot dog-eating contest will crown a winner datdog.com.
SPARKS IN THE PARK: 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Covington’s Bogue Falaya Park. Enjoy entertainment, kids’ activities, vendor booths and local food trucks. The Kiwanis of Covington will sell concessions and host a hot dog-eating contest. The fireworks start at dusk. vistthenorthshore.com.
ST BERNARD SALUTES AMERICA: Saturday, Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center Grounds, 8245 W. Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette. There’ll be music featuring Adam Pearce and the Peyton Falgoust Band, food trucks, craft vendors and more, with a fireworks show at 10 p.m. visitstbernard.com.
GO 4TH ON THE RIVER: Saturday. Both sides of the Mississippi River in New Orleans and Algiers offer prime view-
ing of the annual fireworks display from barges afloat on the waterway, starting at 9 p.m., plus a red, white and blue water show at 6 p.m. from the Gen. Roy S. Kelley fireboat. Throughout the day, the Steamboat Natchez will provide patriotic calliope concerts. For music to match, visit wwl.com for a link. go4thontheriver.com.
Email Victor Andrews at vandrews@ theadvocate.com.
f people
tropical delight
STAFF FILE
PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER
STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRETT DUKE
A spectator sports patriotic glasses and hat for the 2024 Uncle Sam Jam at Lafreniere Park in Metairie.
music music music
CORE SOUNDS
BY KEITH SPERA Staff writer
Will less music be more at the 2026 Essence Festival of Culture?
Last year, the Essence concerts at the Caesars Superdome packed in as many as eight acts per night. That was one reason two of the three nights finished at or past 3 a.m., after most attendees had already left.
The 2026 Essence concert series, which runs Friday through Sunday at the Superdome, features only five acts a night as the festival keeps moving more emphasis onto other areas such as author talks and an economic forum.
At press time, Essence had revealed the order of each
orchestra, plus a tribute to the late singer Aaliyah curated by hip-hop icon Missy Elliott.
To make room for them, Essence moved Patti LaBelle and Babyface — both previously scheduled for Sunday — to Saturday. Fans who had already purchased single-night Sunday tickets subsequently expressed their frustration on social media
Essence Fest, founded in 1995, is about much more than the Dome concerts. All weekend, Essence takes over the Ernest N Morial Convention Center with a plethora of panels, product promotions, activations and giveaways, a food court and more.
ä See ESSENCE, page 10
Brandy & Monica
Kehlani
Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds
Former first lady Michelle Obama will return to Essence Fest for a live podcast recording
Flavor Flav and Chuck D, of Public Enemy
Cardi B
Latto
music music music
ESSENCE
Continued from page 8
Admission to the Convention Center is free.
But the Dome concert series is the marquee event. Single-night tickets start at $84 on Ticketmaster.
Barring any more last-minute changes, here’s who you will see and hear each night in the Superdome, listed in order from the earliest to latest.
FRIDAY
The 2026 Essence opens with SZN4 The R&B vocal quartet consisting of Katie Roeder, Cameron Goode, Donzell Taggart and Aaliyah Rose came together during the 2025 season of the Netflix competition “Building the Band,” finishing second. Netflix canceled “Building the Band” after one season, so SZN4 has outlasted the show
Next up on Friday is former first lady Michelle Obama During the 2019 Essence, Gayle King interviewed her in the Superdome. For her Essence encore on the main stage, Obama will tape an episode of “IMO: The Look,” a podcast series based on her most recent book, the fashion- and style-focused “The Look,” with moderator Keke Palmer. In a news release, Essence said the conversation will feel “less like a celebrity stop and more like a continuation of a dialogue Black women have long been having with one another.”
Atlanta rapper Latto is slated to follow Obama. Following the recent release of her fourth album, “Big Mama,” Latto is making her Essence debut as she finds herself at a career crossroads.
Kehlani, another Essence first-timer, scored a Top 10 hit with “Folded” and won Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song during the 68th annual Grammy Awards in February
Cardi B, the ever-colorful rapper responsible for “WAP” and continuous pop culture/social media content, is on the road with her “Little Miss Drama Tour.” She detours to the Dome to headline Essence’s opening night.
SATURDAY
Josh Levi opens Saturday at the Superdome. The Houston native acted on the TV show “Friday Night Lights” before competing on “The X Factor USA.” He voiced the character Aaron Z from the fictional boy band 4*Town in the 2022
GETTy IMAGES FOR ESSENCE
Patti LaBelle performs onstage during the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture at the Caesars Superdome.
Pixar animated feature “Turning Red” and scored a hit with “Nobody But U,” co-written by Billie Eilish. He released his first full-length studio album, “HYDRAULIC,” in October.
Leon Thomas is a multithreat producer, songwriter and singer. The former Broadway child actor won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song for co-writing SZA’s “Snooze.” His 2024 album “Mutt” won Best R&B Album; his “Vibes Don’t Lie” took home the Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance.
Following Thomas is a legend with a long history with Essence. Going back to the first Essence in 1995, Patti LaBelle has performed her own shows and been
the subject of multiple tributes. At the 2025 Essence, she appeared briefly during a set curated by Jill Scott. At 82, she’ll presumably play a longer set this year
LaBelle is followed by another familiar face, that of Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds At the 2025 Essence, he was part of the infamous night, topped by Maxwell and Lauryn Hill, that concluded at 3:37 a.m. During his set, he served up a sampling of ’80s and ’90s R&B hits that he wrote and/or produced for Johnny Gill, Bobby Brown, TLC, Tevin Campbell and Boyz II Men, among others.
Closing out Saturday is the duo of Brandy and Monica. In 1998, they joined forces on the title track of Monica’s album “The Boy Is Mine”; their duet spent a remarkable 13 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. More than a quarter-century later, their 2025 co-headlining “The Boy Is Mine Tour” filled arenas across the country, including New Orleans’ Smoothie King Center. From concept to costume changes to choreography to cinematic film clips, the sleek show was a full-fledged collaboration. Whatever version of it they present at Essence should go over well.
SUNDAY
The final night opens with a full-circle moment of music history Funk legend George Clinton and his Parliament-Funkadelic crew first unveiled their iconic Mothership spaceship during a 1976 concert at New Orleans’ Municipal Au-
ditorium. Fifty years later, Clinton will deploy a new Mothership at the Essence Fest, which he first funked up in 1997. Special guests slated to join him include Durand Bernarr, Nona Hendryx, Scarface, Kim Burrell, Savion Glover, OutKast’s Big Boi and New Orleans’ own Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews and Big Freedia. After the Mothership departs, Doug E. Fresh, the crowd-pleasing Human Beatbox, makes his annual Essence appearance with a host of musical friends. He’s followed by the old-school hip-hop legends of Public Enemy, still “Fight(ing) the Power” more than 40 years after the group’s formation. Public Enemy released its 16th studio album, “Black Sky Over the Projects: Apartment 2025,” last year.
Aaliyah, the hitmaking “Princess of R&B,” was just 22 when she died in a 2001 plane crash in the Bahamas. Twenty-five years later, her friend and collaborator Missy Elliott is curating an Essence tribute as part of the “Essence Flowers” series, which honors legacy artists on the festival’s final night. The tribute marks the 30th anniversary of Aaliyah’s acclaimed “One In a Million” album, which Elliott helped craft. Details about the tribute, which was just announced on June 22, had not been revealed at press time.
The honor of closing out the entire 2026 Essence falls to Atlanta rapper T.I., who was quietly added to the bill last week. His new “Kill the King” album may or may not be his swan song. Before embarking on a brief tour to promote the album, he’ll perform with an orchestra late in the Superdome on Sunday.
Email Keith Spera at kspera@ theadvocate.com.
PROVIDED PHOTO By BENNETT RAGLIN/GETTy IMAGES FOR ESSENCE
T.I. performs during of the 2023 Essence Festival of Culture at the Caesars Superdome.
INVISION/AP FILE PHOTO By CHARLES SyKES George Clinton performs during the 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame induction and awards gala in New york.
SALON SUPPER CLUB
PRESENTED BY
ASurreal Summer
THURSDAY, JULY16 | 6PM
FEATURING AN ART-INSPIRED MENU CRAFTED BY CHEF WILEYWILKINSON LEWIS OF DELACROIX IN PARTNERSHIP WITH RALPH BRENNAN CATERING ANDEVENTS
SPONSORS&LEADERSHIP
PRESENTING SPONSOR
PLANTINUM SPONSORS
EUGENIE AND JOSEPH JONES FAMILYFOUNDATION
GOLD SPONSORS ANONYMOUS
THE LUPIN FOUNDATION
PEGGYAND TIMBER FLOYD
SILVER SPONSORS
ELIZABETH BOH
FEIL FAMILYFOUNDATION
BENEFACTORS
WALDABESTHOFF
EILEEN AND JOEYDEVALL
PAULA LEE
TICKETS:
SUPPORTERS
WAYNE AMEDEE
DR. SALVADOR AND LUZCAPUTTO
CATHERINE AND DAVID EDWARDS
LINDSAYAND PETER FALCONER
SARAHAND MARSHALL HEVRON
ROBERTAND MILLIEKOHN
ELLY AND MERRITT LANE
BLANCAROSAMALDONADO,M.D
RENEE AND PAUL MANISTER
CAMMIE AND CHARLESMAYER
AMY AND GARRISON NEILL
JUDITH YOUNG OUDT
MARK ROMIG AND DAVID BRIGGS
KENYAAND TODSMITH
MICHAEL J. SIEGEL
BOBAND SUZANNE THOMAS
ELIZABETH AND JAMESWILLIAMS
LELE AND BRENT WOOD
LIBATIONS
MEDIA SPONSORS
SPECIAL THANKS
music music music
Keith Spera SOUND CHECK
Themainmusic eventthis weekendisthe Essence FestivalofCulture in the CaesarsSuperdome.But thereismuchmoremusic to be heardaroundtown.
THURSDAY
The night before the Essence Fest kicks off in the Superdome, Tipitina’s and SiriusXM’sHeart &Soul channel host a “NightinN’awlins” featuring five contemporaryR&B singers: Lalah Hathaway, Daley,Raheem DeVaughn, Keith Robinson and Coline Creuzot Showtime is 7p.m. Tickets start at $40.
Quiana Lynell is aclassically trainedvocalist from Texas who graduated from LSU and won the 2017 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. More recently,she toured with Jazz at Lincoln Center and continues tolead her own band, Lush Life,which draws on gospel, jazz, blues, funk and R&B. Lynell performs with Lush Life at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Thursday at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro on Frenchmen Street.Tickets are $35 plus fees.
Harmonica player and accordionist Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes and his Louisiana Sunspots are featured for the weekly Zydeco Night at Rock ’N’ Bowl. Tickets are $17.
FRIDAY
Stephanie Jordan grew up in ahousehold full of music thanks to herlatefather,avantjazz saxophonist and educatorEdward “Kidd” Jordan, andher musician siblings. She carved her own pathasanespecially refined jazz vocalist with aclear,strong voice and pinpoint control.Jordan sings at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday,backed by MaxBronstein on
guitar, Darrell Lavigne on piano and Peter Varnado on drums. Tickets are $35 plus fees.
The Brass-A-Holics headline this week’s installment of the summer-long “Free Fridays” weeklyconcert series at Tipitina’s. VegasCola opens the show at 9p.m. Admission is free.
At Rock ’N’Bowl, the Topcats perform a salutetothe 1960s starting at 7:30 p.m. They’re followed later by rock band Meduzza.Tickets are $17.
Lalah Hathaway
Stephanie Jordan
SATURDAY
music music music
Gruff-voiced Baton Rouge rapper Kevin Gates is at the Fillmore. Tickets start at $61.
The men of BRW sing Motown classics at Roc ’N’ Bowl; tickets are $17.
Singer-songwriter Paul Faith arrived in New Orleans 14 years ago. Drawing on ’90s grunge and classic folk rock, he released his first album, “The Smell When It Rains,” in early 2024. A year later, he released “Oh Well” with his band, the Barstool Prophets. His latest endeavor is an album of new protest songs written by New Orleans-based musicians, including Dusky Waters, Burris, Ever More Nest and Basch Jernigan. Faith and 15 other artists will celebrate the release of the protest album at Chickie Wah Wah on July Fourth, starting at 7 p.m. Pre-sale tickets are $20. Proceeds benefit Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy, which provides free legal services to people in immigration detention and their families
New Orleans-based singer-songwriter Kelly “Love” Jones draws on Americana music and reggae to craft her songs. She’ll perform a free happy hour show at 4:30 p.m. at Snug Harbor Later on Saturday at Snug Harbor, master New Orleans drummer Herlin Riley, who spent many years with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, powers his quartet for two sets, at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $45 plus fees.
SUNDAY
Donald Harrison Jr. grew up in New Orleans surrounded by the Black Masking Indian tradition, but his approach to the saxophone is decidedly modern. He and his band present a “Soul and Smooth Jazz Lovers” show at the New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard at 8 p.m Sunday. Tickets start at $34.
From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., the Broadside’s indoor Pavilion hosts a celebration of Brazilian choro and samba music. Admission is free; Brazilian food and specialty drinks will be available for purchase. All ages are admitted.
Pianist Phil Melancon has held down long residences at the Columns Hotel and the Pontchartrain Hotel’s Bayou Bar, in addition to producing cabaret shows and writing jingles. He’ll play a free happy hour show at Snug Harbor at 4:30 p.m. Later on Sunday, Snug Harbor presents a pair of solo shows by New Orleans pianist Kyle Roussel at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.; tickets are $30. Gospel funk band Higher Ground hits the Maple Leaf Bar at 8 p.m.; tickets are $18.
MONDAY
Every Monday in July, reggae/ska band Firebrain plays a “Free Mellow Mood Mondays” show at the Broadside’s indoor Pavilion from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m Firebrain is led by longtime south Louisiana music manager Rueben Williams and features members of 4 for Nothing, The Uppressors, the Jamaican Me Breakfast Club, the Creole String Beans, and Cha Wa. Admission is free.
Looking for a taste of real New Orleans before leaving town after Essence Fest? Catch singer Charmaine Neville and her band for their weekly Monday night residency at Snug Harbor, with shows at 7:30 p.m.
and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $30. Or see Meters bassist George Porter Jr and his trio, augmented by guitarist Chris Adkins, at the Maple Leaf Bar. Tickets are $18.
TUESDAY
Modern New Orleans jazz pianist and composer Michael Pellera is backed by an all-star band consisting of Grayson Brockamp on bass, Tony Dagradi on saxophone and Johnny Vidacovich on drums at Snug Harbor at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $30.
WEDNESDAY
Pianist Tom McDermott and clarinetist Tim Laughlin team up for this week’s installment of the “Summer Music Series” in the lounge of the New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market in Central City Tickets are $17.
Sullivan Dabney and the Muzik Jazz Band play a free happy hour show at Snug Harbor at 5 p.m. Later on Wednesday, Snug Harbor hosts the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, led by trombonist Wes Anderson IV, at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $45.
Email Keith Spera at kspera@ theadvocate.com.
Neville
Donald Harrison Jr.
Kevin Gates
stages stages stages
Juries &jesters
From legal eagles to aleggy chorus, the action onstage stretches from Uptown to Kenner. It’s musicalmayhem with a touch of rouge as SummerLyric swings into full gear and Rivertown heads to Harvard.
‘LaCageaux Folles’
Tulane University’s SummerLyric Theatre “drags” out atried-and-true poignant classic for the secondshowofthe season as it stages “La Cage aux Folles” for the fourth time sincethe genderbending love story hit the stage in the last century.
The story started in 1973 as alittle French play (it translates to “the cage of madwomen”) about ayoung couple in love who want to getmarried, so it’s time for all the in-laws to meet. But hisparents are anightclub owner and his longtime gay companion (who’s the star of the cabaret show). Herparents are ultraconservative
Fast forward to aFrenchmovie in the late ’70s followed by asix-time, Tony-winning Broadwayblockbuster with music by Jerry Herman(“Hello, Dolly!”) and book by HarveyFierstein (“Torch Song Trilogy”) that has also produced one of the LGBTQ movement’smost anthemicsongs of being true to oneself: “I Am WhatI Am.”
While the gender illusions are visually stunning, the heartofthe story lies in the power of love. Soaring melodies like “The Best of Times,” “Song on the Sand” and “LookOver There” pair with some ofHerman’s frothier works like “Masculinity” and the title song.
The action moves from the best of intentions to mascaraed mayhem at record speed. Along the way,the audience gets treated to an assemblage of characters including headliner Zaza/Albin; club ownerGeorges, who
is walking the tightrope of pleasing everyone; the young loves; the“maid” Jacob;restaurateurJacqueline; and the tap-dancing fabulousness of Les Cagelles
DianeLala, amainstay at Summer Lyric, takes thedual roles of directorand choreographerfor theshow Artistic director C. LeonardRaybon is the musical director and orchestra conductor
Michael Paternostro is club owner Georges with Scott Sauber as Zaza/ Albin. The young lovers are Luke Boucvalt as Jean-Michel the sonand Camille von Hoven as Anne.Elizabeth Argus and Robert Pavlovich play the
conservative Dindons,withMaria Hefte as Jacqueline, Juan L. Williams as the “housekeeper” Jacob and Keith Claverie as Francis,club manager,in his debut at SLT. Filling out the ranks of charactersare Trina Beck, Aaron Brewer,DarrenHayes,Justice Hues, KeitaKawahara, Garrin Mesa,Sasha Munchak, Tristan Olivier, Anna Parisi, Daniel Rigamer and Lawrence J. Weber Jr
The show is at 7:30 p.m. July 9-11, witha2p.m. matinee July 12, at Dixon Hall on NewcombCircle on the Uptown campus.Ticketsstartat$32. Visit liberalarts.tulane.edu/summerlyric-theatre.
PROVIDED PHOTOS
‘La Cageaux Folles’ has been produced at Tulane University’sSummer Lyric Theatre three times before. It opens July9atDixon Hall.
The mythical St. Tropez,France, nightclub in the upcoming production at Tulane provides a dazzlingspectacleeachnight.
Victor Andrews
stages stages stages film film film
‘Legally Blonde’
Can afashion merchandising major and sorority girl make it into one of the world’stop law schools in pursuit of her perfect boyfriend or will she just curl up anddye?
Well, she can if she’sa “Legally Blonde” Delta Nu named Elle Woods. Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts makes the case for why this book-moviemusical is the highlightofthe summer
When avivacious, rich, California sorority girl gets dumped by her East Coast snob boyfriend, she makes it her business to not only learn thelaw.She rescues the day,finds out she deserves “so much more,” and saves awoman from getting railroaded in court
Filled with fun numbers like “Omigod YouGuys” and “Bend and Snap,” the show is an upbeat and heartwarming fest of fashion and finding oneself.
Kelly and Marc Fouchi take the roles of director and producer.Victoria Ventura is Elle, Jake Wynne-Wilson is Warner (the boyfriend), Bryce Slocumb is Emmett Forrest, Meredith Owens is Vivienne and Allee Peck is Paulette, with Frank Von Hoven as Harvardprofessor Callahan. Additional cast includes Stephanie Abry,Amber Lemelle, CharlotteMay, Ruby Levin, Lorena Gonsoulin, Clark Long, Maddie Fry, Alli Bullach, Andrew Antoine, Rachel Gangnard, Aimee Gonsoulin, Elizabeth Donner, Kelly Laines, Nina Ballon, Regan Nugent, Beau Moss, Brady Lewis, Brandon Garza, Jordan Davis, Kerry Lambert and Ramon Ramos. The show is at 7:30 p.m. July 9-11, plus July 15-18, 2p.m. July 12 and 19, and 1p.m. July 11 at 325 Minor St in Kenner.Tickets start at $52. Visit rivertowntheaters. com.
Beau Moss, Kerry Lambertand NinaBallon hold up ‘Legally Blonde’ title character Elle, played by Victoria Ventura, for theupcoming productionat Kenner’sRivertown Theater for thePerforming Arts, opening July 9.
In production
“MACBETH”: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 1:30 p.m. Sundays through July 12, Lupin Theatre in Dixon Hall Annex, Tulane’s Newcomb Circle. The New OrleansShakespeare FestivalatTulane presents the shortest of the Bard’s tragedies; there’smayhem and murder tokeep things moving along, as well as madness just to make things more Shakespearean. There are more propheciesand conniving and bewitching as lifegetsmessier for all concerned. Ticketsstart at $25. Visit neworleanshakespeare. org.
Email Victor Andrews at vandrews@theadvocate. com.
Louisiana’sLNG plants featured in newGreenpeacedocumentary
Louisianaplays abig part in anew documentary by Greenpeace USA and celebrity actress and activist Jane Fonda called “Gaslit.” Fossil fuels and their effect on the planet are thefocus of the new film by theinternational environmental nonprofit that has long madeheadlines on issues like climate change and oil exploration.
“Gaslit”describes impending disaster related to one of themost aggressive fossil fuel expansions in history —particularly in Texas and Louisiana, where liquefied natural gas is being refined.
LNG is methanegas that’s been liquefied so it can be loaded onto tankers and exported across the globe. Methane is also known as agreenhouse gas because it traps heat in theatmosphere.
In “Gaslit,” one scene shows Fonda withanactivist who is using an industrial, thermal camera to view emissions from aplant.
“It’s horrifying,”producer/ director Katie Camosy said. “So, we trytoreplicate in the film what you see through your own naked human eye and then show you through thelens of this special camera what’sreally happening.”
PROVIDED PHOTOByGREENPEACE USA
A flare erupts from the Venture Global plant in Cameron Parish in the Greenpeace USA documentary‘Gaslit,’set for aone-night showing MondayatAMC Elmwood Palace20inHarahan.
and Baton Rouge has over 200 fossil fuel, petrochemical plantsand refineries lining the 85-mile stretch. It was dubbed “Cancer Alley”inthe 1980s.
‘GASLIT’
PREMIERE
7p.m.Monday AMC Elmwood Palace 20, 1200 Elmwood Park Blvd., Harahan
The areas in which LNG plantsare built are known in thefossil fuel industry as “sacrifice zones,”according to thefilmmakers. The industrial corridor along the Mississippi River between New Orleans
This film includes thestories of shrimpers, cattle ranchers and ordinary residents, allreluctant activists whofeel exploited andare fighting back.
The film features Connie Britton (“Nashville,” “Friday Night Lights”) and musician MaggieRogers, along with several Louisiana locals:
n Jo and Joy Banner,ofWal-
lace
n John Allaire, of Cameron Parish
n Travis and Nicole Dardar, of Cameron Parish
n Sharon and Shamyra Lavigne, of St. James Parish
n Bishop Wilfret Johnson, of Plaquemines Parish
n Roishetta Sibley Ozane, of Lake Charles
n Debra Ramirez, of Lake Charles
Camosy said that while activists on the ground are still trying to document environmental violations and sending them to regulators, there’s now apush to get this information to those in positions of power and the voting public.
“Gaslit” premieres at 7p.m. July 6atthe AMC Elmwood Palace 20 in Harahan forone night only.Camosy will be in attendance foraQ&A after the screening.
Contact Leslie Cardé at lesliecardejournalist@gmail. com.
