Attorney generalcharged with malfeasance, intimidation
Landry promises pardon ‘asfastasthe lawallows’
BY JAMESFINN andSAM KARLIN Staff writers
ANew Orleans grand jury returned a16-countfelonyindictment
Thursday against Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, charging her with malfeasance and intimidation, adding criminal allegations to an already-raginglegal and political battle between theRepublican state official and Democratic localleaders. The grand jury handed up the indictment at NewOrleans’criminal courthouse after meeting for weeks to weigh bringing criminal charges against Murrill. Theattorney general faces eight counts of malfeasance and another eightcounts of intimidation.
Former Judge Laurie White, appointed as aspecial prosecutor in the case, confirmed thecharges against Murrill in anews briefing outside thecourthouse. OrleansCriminal
District Judge Leon Roche issued a
Special prosecutor Laurie White announces the indictment of AttorneyGeneral Liz Murrill outside the Orleans Parish Criminal district Courtbuilding on Thursday.
BY JOEL THOMPSON Staff writer
The St.Landry Parish SchoolBoard approved aschool consolidation plan Wednesdaythatwill close sixschools in the parish, and will resultin layoffs foraround 30% of district staff. According to afinancialstatementgiven to board members, the plan as implemented is anticipated to save $21 millioninthe next fiscalyear in anticipation of what would otherwise be an $18 million deficit.
The plan, introduced by St. Landry schoolsSuperintendent Milton Batiste III on June 13, was mostly unchanged by the board andwas approved in itsentirety acrossamarathon of 17 measures.
Thefollowing changestoschool configurations and closures were approved by the board:
n Close Grolee Elementary School
n Close Northeast Elementary School
n Reconfigure Park Vista Elementary School as apre-K through second grade school
n Reconfigure the former site of Opelousas JuniorHigh School as athird through sixth grade school
n Close Central Middle School
n Reconfigure East Elementary School as afirst through third grade school
n Reconfigure Glendale Elementary School as a fourth through sixth grade school
n Close Krotz Springs Elementary School and reassign itsstudents to various schoolsinPort Barre
n Close Grand Coteau Elementary School and assign its students to either Cankton Elementary School,Leonville ElementarySchool,Arnaudville Elementary School or Sunset Middle School
n Close the Center forAcademic Programs
n Close Grand Prairie Elementary School
Intense debates continued surrounding several agenda items,particularly the closureofKrotz Springs Elementary,which has brought considerable protest from town residents in recent days. Atemporary injunction was issued by the 27th Judicial DistrictCourt on Tuesdaythatprevents the closure of Krotz Springs Elementary until a showcause hearing takesplace on July 10. Initially the injunction would have prevented the
“Louisiana looked at this as aprime opportunity to showcase theLouisiana that peopledon’tknow.”
RACHEL SHIELdS,chief engagement officer for Louisiana Economic development
Ashowcase forthe state
Beads, rice andgo-cups part of Louisiana’s tent at Washington’s GreatAmericanState Fair
BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer
WASHINGTON— At thecenter of the nation’s 250thbirthdaycelebration, the Great American State Fair on the National Mall has endured several rocky days
—including about 10 states notshowing up —but that’sgoing largely unnoticed at Louisiana’sexhibit
“It’sinterestingbecause Louisiana looked at this as aprime opportunity to showcase theLouisi-
warrantfor Murrill’sarrest,setting bail at $400,000. The grand jurors reviewed evidence about whetherthe state attorneygeneralsoughttointimidate local New Orleans public officials, including Mayor Helena Moreno and District AttorneyJason Williams, White confirmed.Murrill told the officials in May that they had imperiledtheir jobs by pushing back on a new law to combine the city’scriminal and district clerks of court White wastapped to handlethe probe after Williams, who was involved in thecityleaders’dispute with Murrill at several turns, recused himself. Aformer Orleans Criminal Court judge, White told reporters that the
ana that peopledon’t know,”said Rachel Shields, the chief engagement officer for Louisiana Economic Development, which is in chargeofthe state’spavilion. Between handing out Mardi Gras beads and bags ofLouisiana rice, the state is using itsspot in the festivities to show off all the economic development opportunities in the state.
“Wewould hopethat every state in the union would take advantage of that opportunity.It’skind of a
once-in-a-lifetimedeal,”Shields said.
Gov.Jeff Landry visited the Louisianaexhibition on Tuesday, including filming asegmentwith Fox News on thegrounds.
“Looking forward toagreat celebration of American exceptionalism all week long,” he wrote on X, before dropping by Described by President Donald Trump as “a giantpatriotic festival” at the June 24 opening, crowds have been sparser thanatsimilar events on the National Mall. Visitors who came over theweekend hadtohunker down when aviolent thunderstorm passed.
ä See SHOWCASE, page 5A
page 7A
STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER
STAFFPHOTO By MARK BALLARd Rachel Shields, the chief engagement officer forLouisiana Economic development, stands in the state’spavilion at the Great AmericanState Fair on the National Mall last week.
STAFF PHOTO By JOHN BALLANCE
AttorneyGeneralLiz Murrill answers questions ata news conference on Wednesday
Batiste
ä See SCHOOLS, page 5A
ä See MURRILL,
Olympian indicted over alleged vandalism
WASHINGTON A former Olympian was indicted Thursday on a felony charge in what President Donald Trump has called vandalism of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, where a renovation project he launched has been riddled with problems.
David Hearn, a former Olympic canoe racer, was indicted on a single count of property destruction in Washington, D.C., court.
District of Columbia U.S Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Hearn ripped up recently installed sealant on the pool in “a deliberate act” that caused more than $1,000 in damage. She accused him of “forcefully and violently” pulling up the bottom liner “with both hands” and acting belligerently toward an employee who told him to stop.
“This is a case with tremendous evidence,” she said, adding that authorities have made about six other misdemeanor arrests.
In a statement, Democracy Defenders Fund co-founder Norm Eisen and Mary Dohrmann, senior counsel at Washington Litigation Group, said that they represented Hearn and that the charges were “outrageous and should be alarming to every American.” Eisen and Dohrmann construed the case as representative of “the misuse of government power against an ordinary citizen based on a concocted narrative.” Hearn didn’t immediately return a phone call seeking comment. He previously told The Associated Press that he reached into the pool on June 19 to examine the newly peeled coating. He said he briefly touched a chunk that was still attached to the side of the pool, then let go shortly after a park worker told him to.
Last-minute problem
delays satellite rescue CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A rush rescue mission to save a NASA space telescope remains grounded, this time because of a last-minute launch problem Northrop Grumman’s rocketlaunching plane took off from the Marshall Islands in the Pacific on Thursday, following weather delays all week. While in flight, the team observed a warning in the stream of data and decided against releasing the Pegasus rocket strapped to the plane’s belly, the company said. It was not immediately clear whether the warning came from the rocket or the plane. The rocket holds a threearmed robotic spacecraft built by Katalyst Space Technologies to capture the Swift Observatory, which will come crashing down by October if no help arrives. No new launch date has been set. NASA paused Swift’s science operations earlier this year to preserve its orbit as long as possible. It has detected thousands of gamma ray bursts and exploding stars since its launch in 2004, tipping off other telescopes for more detailed observations. Anxious to continue Swift’s scanning of the universe, the space agency hired Katalyst Space last September for the $30 million salvage operation
U.N.: Widespread peace deal violations in Congo
DAKAR, Senegal All parties in eastern Congo’s worsening conflict are violating peace terms and committing abuses, U.N. experts said in a report seen by The Associated Press Thursday The Congolese army and the M23 rebel group, along with its Rwandan backers have failed to implement a December peace agreement initiated by the Trump administration that aimed to end the decades-long conflict, the experts said They said that the Congolese army continued to cooperate with a Hutu rebel group, known by its acronym FDLR, which includes fighters who participated in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and escaped to Congo. The government in Kinshasa had promised to cease cooperation as part of the December agreement. Rwanda has repeatedly sent troops and backed armed groups in eastern Congo, saying it was acting to neutralize Hutu fighters and protect its security Congo and the U.S. government have accused Rwanda of using the rebels as a pretext to gain access to the region’s mineral wealth.
Drug proposal could save $1.1B
Administration presents new rule for Medicare patients
BY JOSH BOAK Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is proposing a new rule on Thursday to keep hospitals from charging markups on discounted drugs for Medicare patients and says that could save consumers $1.1 billion next year, according to estimates obtained by The Associated Press.
The rule would apply to hospitals that serve low-income patients under what is known as the 340B program, which lets hospitals buy outpatient prescription drugs at discounted prices. But in many cases, hospitals can bill insurers at rates that exceed those costs, allowing hospitals to keep the difference and resulting in higher costs to patients. Under the proposed rule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services would change the for-
mula for what hospitals participating in the program can get reimbursed, in an effort to cut costs for patients.
The Republican administration has sought to show during an election year that it is tackling the challenges of affordability for U.S. families at a time when rising healthcare costs are driving financial strains for households and the government alike. While the administration has taken several steps it says will save money on medical treatment, it is unclear how much savings might ultimately materialize based on the complexity of the country’s healthcare system
The American Hospital Association said the proposed rule would compound the financial pressures its members face.
“These proposals will undermine the ability of hospitals to maintain essential services and protect af-
fordable access to care for those who depend on the 340B program,” said Ashley Thompson, the group’s senior vice president for public policy analysis and development.
There is the risk that hospital systems could see their revenues decrease, which could have consequences in the communities they serve. The 340B program was initially designed as a way for healthcare providers to stretch scarce federal resources to better serve more patients. But it has long been at the center of a lobbying battle between hospitals and pharmaceutical companies, with each side attempting to enlist lawmakers in maintaining or changing the benefit.
The agency estimates that the average older adult with Medicare Part B coverage who is administered one of these drugs would save $800 a year in co-payments. That would work out to a total sav-
Explosive device goes off in cafe in Syria’s capital
No group immediately claimed responsibility for attack that killed at least 9
BY GHAITH ALSAYED Associated Press
DAMASCUS Syria An explosive device was detonated Thursday in a cafe in the Syrian capital of Damascus, killing at least nine people, Syria’s Health Ministry said.
The explosion near the main courthouse complex left 20 others wounded, the ministry said as reported by Syria’s state-run Al-Ikhbariya network.
No group immediately claimed responsibility Security forces rushed to the cafe and cordoned off the area as they investigate the attack.
The Interior Ministry is set to announce its initial findings soon, said Damascus Gov Maher Idlibi. Idlibi said the device appeared “primitive” and vowed that the perpetrators will be held to account
A video circulating on social media showed several wounded people lying on the ground, with police officers nearby Ambulances later rushed to the scene treating people on site and taking the more severely wounded to hospitals in the Syrian capital. The cafe was frequented by
lawyers who worked in the neighborhood.
Jalal Aljanani, who owns a restaurant next door, ran toward the cafe when he heard the explosion and was horrified by the sight of the bodies on the floor
“We carried the victims to the cars until the traffic police arrived,” he told The Associated Press, his shirt covered in blood. “Many of them had suffered severe impact injuries, and almost all of them were bleeding.”
Since overthrowing the Assad dynasty and taking power in a lightning insurgency in December 2024, Syria’s new rulers have cracked down on militants from the extremist Islamic State group in an attempt to thwart attacks in and around the capital.
During the uprising-turned war in Syria that began in 2011, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa led the Hayat Tahrir al Sham group, formerly affiliated with al-Qaida, but since coming to power has vowed to protect Syrians of all backgrounds, especially religious and ethnic minorities.
Al-Sharaa has reasserted the government’s full authority across the vast majority of the country, wresting control back from extremist groups or Kurdishled forces. However he still contends with security concerns as he tries to stabilize the country
Carney says northern British Columbia tanker ban will stay
Canada pursues pipeline from Alberta to Pacific Coast
BY ROB GILLIES Associated Press
TORONTO Canadian Prime Minister
Mark Carney said Thursday that a proposed pipeline to carry Alberta oil to the Pacific Coast would preserve a longstanding ban on oil tankers off northern British Columbia, as his government addresses environmental concerns and seeks to ease separatist tensions in oil-rich Alberta.
Carney’s government has made expanding pipeline capacity to the Pacific a priority as it seeks to diversify Canada’s oil exports beyond the U.S. market while responding to long-standing complaints in Alberta that his predecessor hindered the province’s energy industry and fueled separatist sentiment.
Alberta is holding a public vote in the fall on whether to hold a referendum on leav-
ing Canada. Getting a pipeline built would alleviate some separatist sentiment.
British Columbia and some First Nations are against a pipeline through northern British Columbia.
“The tanker ban will remain in place. We will be protecting the northern coast of British Columbia,” Carney said.
Carney also said Thursday he will compensate British Columbia for environmental risks if a pipeline is built in the southern part of the province.
A previous memorandum of understanding Ottawa and Alberta included an adjustment of an oil tanker ban off parts of the British Columbia coast, but British Columbia Premier David Eby also said Thursday he secured a commitment to keep the northern tanker ban in place, protecting the province’s pristine northern coast Carney has set a goal for Canada to double its non-U.S. exports in the next decade and has said a pipeline can reduce the price discount on current oil sales to U.S. markets.
ings of $1.1 billion for everyone with that coverage. The savings over 10 years could total about $20 billion, according to a White House official who requested anonymity to discuss the rule before the official announcement. The official said the proposed rule was not previewed for hospital groups before the release. In a policy draft of the rule, the administration gave a specific example of how the current system works for the prostate cancer drug Lupron Depot. Hospitals under the 340B program can acquire a dose for roughly $700, but they can receive about $4,000 in Medicare reimbursement for administering it and an additional $1,000 from the patient co-payment.
The proposed rule would cut by roughly 40% that amount that hospitals in the discounted drug program could be paid through Medicare programs. If approved, the rule would go into effect at the start of next year
ICE arrests spike, 10,000 arrested in 5 days in June
BY REBECCA SANTANA Associated Press
WASHINGTON Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 10,000 people over a five-day period at the end of June, marking a major push by the agency tasked with carrying out the Trump administration’s mass deportations agenda.
The arrest numbers, obtained from a person familiar with the information who spoke anonymously to discuss data that has not been publicly released, comes after the agency shifted its approach from high-profile arrest sweeps in major American cities to quieter ways to reach President Donald Trump’s deportation goals.
The figures indicate that while the administration is no longer cracking down on individual cities, the arrests continue and are surging.
The total number of arrests during the five-day period starting Friday and
ending Tuesday translates into roughly 2,000 arrests per day. It was not clear where the arrests had taken place. The spike in arrests was first reported by The New York Times.
“Since Day One, DHS law enforcement has been delivering on President Trump’s promise to the American people to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members, and terrorists,” said the Department of Homeland Security in a statement. “Our message is clear: if you come to our country illegally, we will find you, we will arrest you, and we will deport you.”
The arrests news also comes as the number of people entered into ICE detention facilities climbed in June to roughly 39,000 after hovering around 30,000 per month since February, according to information obtained by The Associated Press.
Syrian security inspects the site after an explosive device was detonated in a cafe near the main courthouse complex, in damascus, Syria, on Thursday
Teamsin Venezuelacling to hope aftermiraculousrescue
Emergencyworkers celebraterescueof security guard
BY REGINA GARCIA CANO,MEGAN JANETSKY andFERNANDAPESCE Associated Press
CATIA LA MAR,Venezuela The stench of decomposing bodies hung heavy over streets of flattened buildings
Thursday as rescue missionsto
find survivors of Venezuela’sdevastating earthquakes increasingly turned to the recovery of corpses.
Desperate for good news, Venezuelan and international emergency workers celebrated the nearmiraculous rescue of a43-year-old security guard found alive after almost eight days under the rubble.
National broadcasters reran footage all day of the exuberant moment he waspried free from thecollapsed mall andliftedonto astretcher as crowds, including rescuersfrom10countries, embraced one another and cheered.
Trapped in an air pocket beneath the concrete, Hernán Alberto Gil Flores survived on the food and water that rescuers managed to pass him through the crevices. But elsewhere across thehardest-hit state of La Guaira, where thousands remain missing, an air of hopelessness was settingin. The port city of Catia La Mar teemed with officials carryingbodybags and stacking caskets.
The government of actingPresident Delcy Rodríguez, whose response to the earthquake has been widely criticized as slow and disorganized, has counted at least 2,295 people killed by the earthquake and more than 11,000 injured With thousands sleeping in crowded shelters or outside, doctors have voiced concern that the fallout could pave the way for awidening medical crisis of untreated injuries and infectiousdiseases in ahealthcare system already on the brink.
Uncertaintyoverleadership
Faced with complaints thatforeign crews and civilians have shoulderedmost of the rescue ef-
forts, Rodríguezsought to defend the government response aday before theextensionofher 180-day mandate as acting leaderwas setto expire. Rodríguez servedasdeputy to formerPresident Nicolás Maduro until he was ousted by the United StatesinJanuary.She became interim leader with the backing of the Trump administration.
With little transparency by Venezuelan officials,itwas unclear what would happen once the deadline passes on Friday
Under Venezuela’sconstitution, temporary absencesare to be filled by the vice president —which was Rodríguez’sformer role —for up to 90 days.These interim appointments can be extended by thenational assembly for an additional 90 days.
TheVenezuelanleaderhas strong supportfromlawmakers and theTrump administration. The National Assembly,controlled by Rodríguez’sparty,can triggera snap election iflawmakers declare thepost permanently vacant.
U.S. supportunder fire
Since the U.S. capture of Maduro, the Trumpadministration has expandedits role in Venezuelan affairs —aseismic shiftinrelationsbetween the long-adversarial nations.
TheU.S.has thrown supportbehind Rodríguezand largely turned its back on opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner María
Corina Machado, who this week accused Rodríguez’sgovernmentof blocking her return to her country Washingtonhas alsosought to remakeVenezuela’slucrative energy industry and opened thedoor for Venezuela’sstate oilcompany to sell fuel to U.S. companies.
John M. Barrett,the U.S. chargé d’affaires to Venezuela,said Wednesdaythatrevenue from Venezuelanoil production, controlled by the U.S. Treasury since Maduro’sseizure,isalso being madeavailable for relief efforts.
While the U.S. hascommitted over $300 million in assistance to the response, the State and Treasury Departmentteams were working “to makesure that those funds aremade available for this specific reconstruction effort, including forshelter, sanitation, healthand energy generation,” Barrett said. Venezuela’soil and gas production was not directly impacted by the earthquakes, he added, and said production continues to increase.
Oversightofwherethat money flows is crucial,saidLaura Cristina Dib, Venezuela programdirector at the independent human rights organization Washington Office on Latin America. When asked about growing criticism over the Venezuelan government’srelief efforts, U.S. officials have been vocal in their support forRodríguez.
Researcherslaunchstudy on Ebola treatments as outbreak worsens
BY LAURAN NEERGAARD AP medical writer
Researchers begana highly anticipated study of two possible Ebola treatments on Thursday in hopes of fighting the still-growing outbreak in eastern Congo, as the World Health Organization announced the enrollment of the first participant. The virus causing this outbreak,called Bundibugyo, is less common than others that cause Ebola diseaseand there are no specific treatments or vaccines for it. Already more than 1,400 people have been diagnosed and 438 have died, WHO DirectorGeneralTedrosAdhanom Ghebreyesus said Thursday. Standard supportive care, especially if started early, can helpand the WHO says more than 200 people have
recovered.But there’sanurgent needfor better options. Thetrial “offers real hope that we can deliver concrete results for –and with –the communities at the heart of the outbreak,” Tedrossaid in astatement.
Researchers will be testing if twodrugs could improve survival. One is Gilead Sciences’ remdesivir, abroad-acting antiviralapproved to treatCOVID-19 but that has shown some hints inlab tests that itmay help fightthe currently spreading virus. The other is Mapp Biopharmaceutical’sexperimental MBP134, antibodies engineered to targetEbolaviruses including Bundibugyo.
All patients enrolled in the trial would receive today’sbeststandardcare and be randomlyassigned
to also receive remdesivir MBP134,both or neither, said WHO research adviser Dr.Vasee Moorthy.Survival will be tracked for 28 days after starting treatment.
It couldtakemonthsand possibly as manyas1,000 study participants to tell if either drug works, Moorthy cautioned, explaining thatscientists could tell more quickly,and with fewer patients, if oneorthe otherturns outto be highly effective.
Currently the studyis being offered only in one Ebola treatment center in Congo’sIturi province. The region has been hit hard by violence, including toward healthcare workers trying to fighta virus spread by contact with sick patients’ bodily fluids. Officials plan to expand to other locations once it is safe to do so.
Iran warnsoil tankers to useapprovedroutes in Strait of Hormuz
Shipscould face a ‘forcefulresponse’
BY JON GAMBRELL and DAVID MCHUGH AssociatedPress
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES— Iran’sjoint military command warned Thursday thatall oil tankersmoving through the Strait of Hormuz must use its approved routes or face a“forceful response,” ratcheting up tensions again over awaterway crucial for international energy supplies. The strait, the narrow mouth of the PersianGulf, has emerged as one of the top issues in negotiations seeking apermanentend to the Iran war. Thestatement from the Khatam al-Anbiya military command,reported by Iranian state television, comes after both U.S. and Iranian diplomats metwith mediators Wednesday in Qatar Iran is preparing forthe funeralofthe late Supreme Leader AyatollahAli Khamenei, who was killedinthe war’sfirst moments in February.OnThursday night, Iranian state media broadcast images of what it saidwas the casket with Khamenei’sremains arriving at the Imam Khomeini Hussainiya, for the farewell ceremony Hundreds were seen in the footage, praying andgrievingnearthe casket covered with agreen cloth. The weeklong official funeral is expected to start on Saturday
It wasn’tclear what sparked Iran’s warning Thursdayabout oil tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz.However,the U.S. military’sCentral Command hadput outastatementabout ameeting with officials from Mideast nations in Bahrain that said “leaders underscored their shared commitment to the free flow of commerce through” the strait That could have been the phrase that angered Iran.
“Any failure to comply,deviation fromthe designated route, or disregard for the navigation protocolsofthe Islamic Republic
of Iran in the Strait of Hormuz will be metwith an immediate and forceful response from the armed forces, endangering the security of the violating vessels,” the Iranian statement said. It also said that interference by U.S. forces in the strait “will be metwitha rapid anddecisive reaction.”
Iran and the UnitedStates agreed as part of an interim deal to allow ships to pass without paying chargesfor 60 days. But Tehraninsisted it mustcontrol theroutes of thevessels andlater charge fees for passage, upending decades of practice in the waterway
The U.S. and many Gulf Arab states say they won’tagree to Iran charging for passage through the strait. An effort by Oman anda UnitedNations agency to launch anew route near Oman’sshore sparkedattacksacross the Mideast last weekend, highlighting the tensions. Despite the attacks, ship traffic in the strait continued to rebound. At least258 shipstransited the waterway last week,aperiod that included Iranian strikesontwo commercial vessels, according to marine data and analysis company Lloyd’sList Intelligence. That’supfrom 138 ships the previous week.
Iran’sattacks on June 25 and 27 “seem to have been forgotten,” RichardMeade,editor-in-chief at Lloyd’s, said Thursday during awebinar Traffic in the straithas slowed somewhat sincethe strikes and remainsfar belowlevelsseen before the war,when about 130 vessels passed through daily And with ship operators having to choose between complying with Iran’sdemands or braving the route off Oman watched by U.S. forces, “nothing about this situation is stable,” Meade said. “Routes are being chosen on an hour-by-hour basis and they are contingent on shiftingpolitical approvals andreal-time security assessments,”hesaid. “Thisis not the new normal.”
ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By MATIASdELACROIX
Rescue workerssorthumanitarian aid for earthquakesurvivors in La Guaira, Venezuela, on Thursday
Republicansrevivecommunist attacks
Trump, partyissue warningsagainst democratsahead of midterms
BY STEVEN SLOAN Associated Press
WASHINGTON PresidentDonald Trump and his fellow Republicans are reviving aline of attack against Democrats heading into the midterm elections:They’re communists.
In just the past week, Trump has issued dark warnings that members of the Democratic Party’s ascendantleft are communists who want to “completely destroy the traditionalAmerican way of life” and even engage in assassinations. Vice PresidentJDVance has similarly called out communism as apolitical shiftthat is “something we haven’tseenin theU.S.” House Speaker Mike Johnson has decried “radical candidates” who are “self-described, self-identifying Marxists.”
The GOP’sideological focus conflates democratic socialism, which often centers on securing universal healthcare, higher taxes on the wealthy and stricter corporate regulation, with communism, under which private ownership is largely eliminated. It hasbeen building since Zohran Mamdani, ademocratic socialist,won the Democratic nomination forNew York City mayor lastyear
Butit’skicked intoahighergear recently after democraticsocialists won several New York City congressionalprimaries last week. The primary victory on Tuesday by another democratic socialist, Melat Kiros, for aDenver congressional seat suggested the trend may extend beyond Manhattanliberalism.
“The Democrats are making this easy for us,” Rep. Richard Hud-
son,the NorthCarolina Republican who leads the House GOP’s strategyand fundraising arm, said in an interview.“They’re nominating extremeliberals, leftists who are outoftouch even with mainstream Democrats.”
Republicansholdslim majorities
The messaging effort comes as Republicans scramble to hold onto threadbare congressional majorities in the November midterms.It risks overlookingpublicfrustration,particularly among younger voters, withunfettered capitalism at atime of growing income inequality and rising costs.
ButitalsogivesRepublicans a much-needed opportunity to shift the conversationback to territory that is more comfortable forthem after their party has spent much of theyearondefense over the fallout from Trump’sdecision to launch a war against Iran, which contributed to widespread pricespikes.
Ralph Reed, the longtime conservative activistwho hosted Trump last week at aFaith and Freedom Coalition conference, acknowledged thatRepublicans are facing steep headwinds this year.But the
Schismatic leaders excommunicated
Vaticanwarns followersof traditionalist society
BY NICOLE WINFIELD and JAMEY KEATEN
Associated Press
VATICAN CITY The Vatican responded aggressively Thursday to atraditionalist group that consecratedbishops without the pope’sconsent, declaring the Society of St. Pius Xhad formally broken with the Catholic Church. It excommunicated its bishops and priests, and warned itsfaithful that they too face the harshest sanctions in the church.
By declaring aschism and extending excommunications to potentially thousands of Catholics, the Vatican’sdoctrine office went above and beyond the minimum sanctions foreseen by the church’scanon law to respond to the consecrations Wednesdayoffour new bishops. The society,known by its acronym SSPX, celebrates the ancient Latin Mass and opposes the modernizing reforms of the Catholic Church, which it considers to be rife with heresies and errors. Whilea fringe movement on the Catholic right, the SSPX has beena thorn in the Vatican’sside for five decadesbecause it claimsto be even more Catholic than the Holy See. During aritual-filled, fivehour Mass on Wednesday at its seminary in Econe, Switzerland, the SSPX consecrated four new bishops in direct defiance of Leo who had urged the group to hold off for the sake of church unity.Anestimated 15,500 peopleand their children attended, asign that the SSPX has plenty of supporters who came from around theworld knowing full well they were defying Rome. The harshness of the response suggested that after trying to negotiate with the SSPX, the Vatican under Pope LeoXIV had had enough. In adecree, the Vatican excommunicated the four new bishops and the two exist-
ing SSPX bishops who participated in the ceremony.It declaredthe consecrations a “schismatic act” and that the society itself had created a schism, or intentional rupture with the church It declared SSPX priests —who numberabout 750— to beschismatic, and therefore excommunicated, and invalidated the sacraments of confession and marriage that they administer.The Vatican warned the faithful to stop going to SSPXMasses, decreeing that “those whoadhere formally”tothe society are schismatic and excommunicated
The Vatican said that appliedtopeople who are members of the SSPX lay branch and thosewho “regularlyattend” SSPXMasses and formally share its doctrinalpositions.The sanctions don’tapply to Catholic faithful who attend SSPX Masses “justfor liturgical or spiritualreasons”orthose who go but acceptthe pope’s authority andteaching
TheSSPXdoesn’t have an exact count but estimates around 400,000-600,000 people attend its Masses, meaning Thursday’s decree could potentially involve the excommunicationsofthousands of rank-and-file SSPX faithful.
The sanctions, especially those targeting the priests, the faithful and the sacraments they can receive, were particularly harsh and reversed concessions theVatican hadgrantedthe SSPX in recent yearsaspart of its outreachtobringthe group back under Rome’s wing.
Marc-André Mabillard, mediamanager for thesociety,expressed shock at the severity of the sanctions and called them “unjust.”
“For us, this excommunication extendedtothe faithful is brutal. It’snot what we expect from a father to whom we refer every day,” he told The Associated Press. “Weare told, ‘You claimto have the truth ’Fine. I’mjustsaying thatwecertainly have our
but our mainflaw today is having aleader who doesn’twant to communicatewith us. Andthat’s terrible.”
Presidentdonald Trumpleaves the stageafter speaking at the Burning Hills Amphitheater during the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Libraryopening ceremonyon Wednesday.
ASSOCIATEd PRESS
PHOTO By MATT
ROURKE
recent string of wins by democratic socialists, he said, allows Republicans to present acontrastbetween “common sense and crazy.”
Democratsuncertain
The renewed push could tug at tensions among Democrats who are largely united in their loathing of Trump but are divided over the party’s direction. This year’s primariesare shaping up as areferendum between centrists who are eager to course correct from what they see as progressive overreach earlier in the decade and aleft-wing pushing for even more sweeping change.
“A lot of thisanger hasbeen boilingunderthe surface,” said Joseph Geevarghese, executive director of OurRevolution, which was founded by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders,aVermont independent whocaucuseswithDemocrats “It’s coming to the fore in this momentinavery powerful way.”
ButRep. JoshGottheimer,a centrist New Jersey Democrat, called thevictories in Colorado and New York “aberrations.”
“We’ve gottofightlike hell to keep our party from being hijacked by socialists,”hesaid.
“Most of them are bombthrowers, not problem solvers.”
NevadaAttorney GeneralAaron Fordeasily dispatcheda more progressive rival earlier this year in hisDemocraticbid forgovernor in astate Trump carried in 2024. As he eyes ageneral election challenge to Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, he insisted candidates like those who won in New York don’trepresent all Democrats.
He said the Democratic Socialists of America “is not the face of our party.”
Rep. Suzan DelBene, aWashington Democrat who chairs the House Democratic campaign committee, said in astatement that Republicans were“resorting to desperate attacks thataren’tactually about the pocketbook issues.”
Trumprisks overreaching
Trump and fellow Republicans risk missing the mark when the public’sembrace of capitalism might not be as strong as it was decades ago.
About half of U.S. adults, 54%, have apositive view of capitalism according to an Augustpollfrom Gallup, aslight decline from 61% in 2010. Democrats have driven some of the shift, but favorable opinions of capitalism have fallen among independents as well.
Only 42%ofDemocrats viewed capitalism favorably,while 66% had apositive view of socialism. Thepoll found that both younger and older Democrats have warmed slightly on socialism since2010, but Democrats under age 50 are much less likely to view capitalismfavorably.Democratsage 50 or older didn’tshift meaningfully
“Young voters, who Iwould argue are driving alot of the electoral energythatwe’re seeing, came of age politicallyina post-Soviet world,” Geevarghesesaid. “The attacks don’tland in the same way when Donald Trump waspolitically of age.”
BY NINIEK KARMINI Associated Press
JAKARTA, Indonesia APapua separatist group said Thursday it shot dead an American pilotwho allegedly transported Indonesian troops intothe restive province.
Aspokesman forthe West Papua Liberation Army,orTPNPB, said its fighters fatally shot Nicholas F. Goselin and set fire to an aircraft operated by PT AMA, an Indonesianairline,inBalinggama village
Theplane wascarrying one pilot and seven passengers, Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation said. Afterthe pilot reported that the aircraft had landed, communications with personnel at the airstrip were subsequently lost, the ministry said in astatement. There was no immediate commentfrom the U.S. Embassy Adecades-oldinsurgencyin impoverished Papuabetween Indigenous Papuans andIndonesian security forces hasspiked in the past year,withdozensofrebels, security forces and civilians killed. Therebelshaveespeciallytargeted foreign pilots. TheIndonesian military denied that theplane wasusedtocarry troops. Those on board were seven indigenous Papuancivilians,including three women.They were unharmed, the military said. An evacuationteamattempted to reach the site on Thursday but turned back because of poor weather,military spokesman Lt. Col. WiryaArtadiguna said. Authorities plantotry againonFridaymorning. Papua police said they were still working to verifythe condition of the pilot and the seven passengers. Rebel spokesman Sebby Sambom said the aircraft violated their ban on civilianflightsinareas theseparatist group considers its operational zones.
SUBDI‐VISIONand beingmore particularlydescribed on the official mapofsaid subdivision datedNo‐vember29, 2006 recordedinEntry #20076562 in theofficial records of theParishof Lafayette,State of Louisiana as LotNumber 87, said subdivision,
ofLouisiana Beingthe same property acquiredbythe City of Youngsville by Sheriff Sale/Adjudication and recordedinthe records for theParishof Lafayette under entry number2011-00022231. LOCATEDAT225 TALL OAKSLANE WHEREAS, an appraisal ofthe property wascon‐ductedbyAssociated Appraisers,Ltd.certifica‐tion#G0861, on May11, 2026, andthe appraisal returneda fairmarket value of $38,000 forthe property; and WHEREAS, theproperty willbelistedfor sale in accordance with thepro‐visions of R.S. 33:4712.12; and WHEREAS, this ordinance was introduced by coun‐cilmembersMattRomero and ShannonBares in lawfulsession of the governing authorityon June 11, 2026. THEGOVERNING AU‐THORITY WILL MEET ON THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2026 AT6:00PM, IN THECOUN‐CIL CHAMBERS LOCATED AT201 IBERIA STREET YOUNGSVILLE,LA, AT WHICHTIMEA PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD 191718-JUN19-26-JUL3-3T $110.89 II. DevelopmentReview 1.Hearing Review No 2025-141-HE Proposed Plat Name:A PortionofTract 4, George F.Dupuis, Sr.& Dr ClarenceJ.Saloom,Vir‐ginia HillsSubdivision Lots4-E &4-F Plat Location:200 Blkof VirginiaAve.& 300 Blkof Perkins Dr Jurisdiction:Cityof Lafayette Proposed Use: Residential Surveyor:PaulBriley 2. HearingReviewNo. 2026-52-HE Proposed Plat Name: Patsy Guidry Begnaud Estate, Parcel 1-A& 1-B Plat Location:2809 LA 93 Jurisdiction:Parishof Lafayette Proposed Use: Residential Surveyor:PaulBriley 3. HearingReviewNo. 2026-53-HE Proposed
Electricalproblems kept the Ferris wheelfrom operating full time. Ice cream supplies melted. Amain sponsor withdrewwhen an image of the Confederate flag wasdisplayed at theNorthCarolina exhibit, which is privately funded.
North Carolina is one of 10 state governments that declined to participate, citing high costs —between $100,000 and $500,000,according to news reports when the states dropped out Before the fair opened,about half the musical acts withdrew upon learning the event was part of Freedom250, apublic-private partnership with the Trump administration that sidelined the federalgovernment’sorganizers
TheGreatAmericanState Fair is about 10 blockslong between the Capitol and the WashingtonMonument, surrounded by tall fences with tight security screeningof visitors
Don’tthink deep-fried Oreos, meat on astick, and jambalaya that are ubiquitous at theLouisiana state fairs taking place in Baton Rouge and Shreveport
There is asmall pen foraminirodeo, corn dogs and plenty of merch available.Inthe middle of the event is aFerris wheel anda mockup of the controversialarch that Trump wants to build between the Lincoln Memorial and the gates of Arlington National Cemetery
But the centerpiece of the fair is exhibits where statestout their culture and hometown heroes.
MardiGrasvibes
Visitors entering the Louisiana booth received beads andwere greeted by abustthat usually would be on aMardi Gras float.
Shaka Zulu, Big Chief of the Golden Feather HuntersMardi
SCHOOLS
Continued from page1A
board from taking any action toward closure of the school as well. However, the injunction was modified following arequestbythe schooldistrict.
The injunction was requested by the town of Krotz Springs, and was issued on the grounds that residents in Krotz Springs werenot properly informedofthe June 13 retreat where the plan was first introduced Residents of Krotz Springs in attendance expressed their intention to seek a charter school should the school close,includingthe town’smayor,Carroll Snyder “Wewillcontinue to support our school, and that includes preparing to go down thecharter school route, which we have discussed If the board isn’twilling to fund it, Iwould requestthey release it to us so that we can move forward on our own,” Snyder said.
The board ultimately voted in favor of the measure to close it by amargin of 8-4. Other schoolclosures around which discussion heavily centered included Grand Prairie Elementary School, which saw several alternatives floated in prior meetings. During acommittee of the whole on June 23, which was
Gras tribe, said he presented a lecture at the pavilion Saturday explainingthe elaborate costumes that combineAfrican andNative American traditions. He displayed aqueen’ssuittoillustrate his talk.
Chief Zulu said crowdscirculatedthrough the pavilion as he spoke. Many audience members pausedtolisten to his talk and lingered afterward to askquestions. Some already had knowledge of the masking culture, but not its complexities, hesaid.
“A lot of people know it’spart of Mardi Gras,” he said. “But the presentation clarifiedalot of things for them.”
Chief Zulusaid hewas told 4,000 peoplepassed through the Louisiana pavilion on oneday Shields says theexhibit is really focusedon economic development opportunities. About 80 companies
ameetingofthe fullboard withoutthe superintendent present, theboard voted to recommendkeeping Grand Prairie open for an additional year as PlaisanceElementary School does not have adequatespace to house pre-K students. Council member Tiffany Lyonsencouragedthe board to reject therecommendation during the Wednesdaymeeting, saying, “It doesn’tmake financial sense to keep the school open just for pre-K.”
Thevotetokeepthe school open for an additional year failed with five yes votes, six no votes and an abstention. The followingmotion, to closeGrand Prairie as per theoriginal plan, passedby avoteof7-5,withRaymond Cassimere, BiancaVedell, Renee Aymond, Kyle Boss and Timmakah Hardy opposing it. Additionally,Boss was unsuccessful in an attempt to secure asimilar arrangement forGrand Coteau Elementary School.Heproposedkeeping theschool open for an additional year in order to redraw district lines. Boss argued that due to theoverlapping districts for elementary, middle and high schools, closure of Grand Coteau would cause some studentstomake much longer commutesthan necessary Theconsolidated plan also called for areduction in force of approximately474 employees, or about 30% of
were represented in the booth, Shieldssaid.“Every corner of the state is represented over these 16 days in their spirits and in their products,” she added. About 50 volunteers from private businesses, trade associations and state governmentagencies are manning thebooth —only ahalf a dozen at atime, the spaceisn’tthat large —throughout the event’s run, which ends July 10.
Lanier Thibodeaux, of theNorth Louisiana Economic Partnership in Shreveport, helped tourists take selfies in front of thepresentations. Harrison Crabtree, from theWorld Trade Center in New Orleans, chatted up visitors while handing out swag.
“Louisiana has atremendous amount of opportunityright now; atremendous amount of momentum when we think about infra-
theworkforce.
In afinancial document that outlined the anticipated savings, some boardmembers raisedconcernsabout the way in whichstaffing decreases were reflected in cost savings. Aymond pointed outthat EuniceHigh School was expected to lose only four staff members yet was anticipated to reduce salary costsbyroughly $1.2 million
The Acadiana Advocate was able to verifywith St. Landry Parish schoolsthat thetotal staffreduction for Eunice High was incorrectly stated in the document, but that thereflected cost savings of $1.2 millionremains correct.
The sharp decreases acrossthe board places many schools at the maximumallowed student-toteacher ratios depending on grade level, and could pose future issues if student growthbecomes afactor
The board approved aslate of changes to the district’s reduction in force policy, which evaluates employees considered forlayoffs based on the district’scriteria for demand, effectiveness and performance. The new changesaccount foradditional scenarios more likely to arrive due to themassive scopeofimpending layoffs, particularly for situations where multiple teachers in the same administrative grouping have equal measurements under the board’s
structure, whenwethink about globalinvestments coming into Louisiana. We thinkaboutworkforce development, education, andour incredible people,” Shields said. “This is our chance to marry that with the Louisiana that most people know: Mardi Gras, culture, food,heritage, all those things, all thethings people knowand love about Louisiana.”
Mississippi touted Elvis Presley, whowas born in Tupelo but livedin Memphis, and Florida claims Jimmy Buffett, wholived in that state as an adult but grew up in Mississippi. Georgia had aWaffle House menuand Tennessee allowed visitors totake their photo with a Grand Ole Opry microphone.
Louisianadisplayedatallphoto of Louis Armstrong blowing his trumpet All the state-themed booths
established evaluations. Still, some questions remain unanswered.Aymond pressedBatiste on whether employees for schools receiving studentsfrom closing schoolswould be subject to thesame evaluations as employees from closing schools during theprocess.
have swag. Michigan handed out littleboxes of cereal.Tennessee had gourmet crackers. Louisiana handed out pound bags of rice and plastic cups thatfill kitchen cabinets acrossthe state, but arerare in Washington and points north. Louisianain1776
The fair celebratesAmerica’s birthday 250 years ago. At the time, French-speaking Louisiana was actually aSpanish colony France gave LouisianatoSpain as part of the 1762 Treaty of Fontainebleau. The colony was returnedtoFrancein1800, then sold to the UnitedStates in 1803. The originalLouisiana Purchase Treaty,signed by Napoleon, is on display at theOld State Capitolin Baton Rouge, in adifferent 250th Anniversary celebration.
Louisiana was the 18th state admitted to theunionand thefirst one that had been ruled as acolony of aEuropean nation other than Great Britain.
Spain aligned with the American war effort in 1779, but had few engagements —save asuccessful effort by then Louisiana Gov. Bernardo de Gálvez to oust the British from afort situated about where the RiverCenter is now located in Baton Rouge. That July1779 battleisrememberedwithstatues of Gálvez near the U.S. Department of State and at the entrance of the Spanish Embassy in Washington. Hisstatue also is prominently displayed in his hometown of Málaga, Spain.
“When we think about French culture; whenwethink about Spanish culture; and everyone else in between,we’rebringing that alltogether under this banner,” Shields said.“We wanted to show up, showcase our state for the beauty and the wonder and the amazing things that we’re doing.”
Staff writer Doug MacCash contributed to this article.
Both Batiste andboard attorney Courtney Joiner were uniform in their response, saying, “It depends,” with no specific clarifications given. The amendedreduction policiesultimatelygive the superintendent discretion over decisions involving employees in the same grouping with identical evaluations. Aymondand Vedell both ultimately voted against the measure to amendthe district’spolicies. The School Boardwas scheduled to meet forits regularboardmeeting at 5p.m. Thursday.Further legal action on the temporary injunction forKrotz Springs Elementary will takeplace at theJuly 10 show cause hearing at 9a.m. at the St. Landry Parish Courthouse.
STAFFPHOTO By MARK BALLARd
BRIEFS FROM STAFFAND WIRE REPORTS
TopEUcourtdismisses
Google antitrust appeal
BRUSSELS Judges at the European Union’stop court dismissed an appeal by Google over alandmark, $4.5billion antitrust fine imposed for throttling competition and reducing consumer choice throughthe dominance of its mobileAndroid operating system.
The case has been tangled up in courts since the European Commission announced the fine in 2018. But the European Court of Justice dismissal on Thursday marks the end of that process.
“The appeal brought by Google and its parent company Alphabet against the judgment of the General Court is dismissed, thereby confirming the penaltyimposed for Google Search’sabuseofa dominant position in the context of the Android operating system,” the Luxembourg-based judges wrote in their ruling.
Google previouslyargued free and open-source Android has resulted in low-cost phones and driven competition with its chief rival, Apple. Android is the most popular mobile operating system, beating even Apple’siOS.
The fine is one of three antitrust penalties totaling more than $8 billion that the EuropeanCommission slapped on Google between 2017 and 2019,putting the 27-nation bloc at the forefrontof theglobal push to rein in tech giants. Since then, the commission has widened its crackdown on digital giants with more antitrust investigations targeting Amazon,Apple and Facebook and sweepingnew rules aimed at clamping down on the biggest digital companies.
Average U.S. mortgage rate falls to 6.43%
Theaverage long-termU.S mortgage rate fell this week to its lowest level since mid-May, easing borrowing costs for prospective homebuyers.
The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate fell to 6.43% from 6.49%last week,mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday.One year ago, the average rate was 6.67%.
The average rate has been mostly hovering around 6.5% going back to mid-Mayand trending higher overallinthe months since the war between the U.S. and Iran began in lateFebruary, disrupting the flow of crude oil from the Persian Gulfto customers worldwide. That’ssentoil prices sharply higher,helping drive up inflation, bond yields and mortgage rates. Despite the modest decline from last week, the average rate is now at its lowest level since May 14, when it was 6.36%.
Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, often sought by borrowers refinancing ahome loan, also declined this week. That average ratefell to 5.79% from 5.84% last week. Ayear ago, it was at 5.8%, FreddieMac said.
U.S. filings forjobless aid fall to 215,000
WASHINGTON U.S.applications for jobless aid inched down last week as layoffs remain at historically healthy levels. The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits in the week ending June 27 fell by 1,000 to 215,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday.That’sfewer than the 225,000new applications forecast by analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet. Weekly filings for unemployment benefits are considered representative of U.S.layoffs and areclose to areal-time indicator of the health of the job market.
The government also released its morecomprehensiveJune jobs report on Thursday,aday earlier than usual duetothe July 4holiday
That data showed that U.S. employers pulled back on hiring last month, addingonly 57,000 jobs. That’s less thanhalf the previous month’stotal and asign companies remain cautious. Theunemployment rate dropped to 4.2% from 4.3% in May,though that declineismostly due to the fact that manyout-of-workpeople gave up looking for jobs and were no longer counted as unemployed.
WorldCup fans sueStubHub
Customers file lawsuitoverticket cancellations
BY MICHAELR.SISAK Associated Press
NEW YORK After weeks of complaints fromfrustratedfans, StubHub is being sued by customers who say theticket reseller’sinability to fulfillorderscrushedtheir dreams of going to World Cup.
Julia Reeker Moghal and Reuben Renteria, both of California,sued the ticketing giant this week in federal court inNew York, alleging that “false andmisleading” sales practicesleftthem withoutthe tickets they purchased for group stagematches last month.
The lawsuit, which seeks to become aclass action, says Moghal andRenteriaare among hundreds or even thousands of World Cup fans who purchased ticketsonly to find out thatthey “did not exist, were revoked withoutany forewarning,orhad been erased” be-
cause of what thetournament’sorganizer,FIFA, deemed “poor digital infrastructure.”
In additiontomonetary damages, Moghal andRenteriaare asking thatStubHub be barred from selling World Cup ticketsand that any profits from those sales be given to affected customers.
StubHub declined to comment on the lawsuit but said in astatement that its“singulargoal is to get fans into events.”
If anything goes wrong, “our FanProtect Guarantee provides replacement tickets or afull refund,” thecompany said. “The World Cupisnodifferent,and theissues fans have experienced are largely driven by problems with the event organizer’sown ticketing infrastructure.”
FIFAencourages fanstobuy tickets through its own marketplace, where it adds a30% surchargeto every resold ticket —15% each from the buyer and seller.
In astatement, the organization said it “has no visibilityover, or control of, secondarymarket ticket transactions carried out on
third-party platforms” and“rejects any suggestion that thefunctional issuesbeing experienced by users of third-party platforms” are the result of FIFA’sticketing infrastructure
For weeks, fans have been complaining on social media about tickets that never arrived from resellers, orders that were canceled at the last minute and hours they spent trying to sort out problems between FIFA’sticketing system and outsideresale platforms.
According to the lawsuit, Moghal paid $1,905 for threetickets to the June 18 Switzerland-Bosnia and Herzegovina match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California,but never received them and never got arefund, whichwould violate the company’sguarantee.
As thematch approached, Moghal wasgivenconflicting information about the status of her order,first receiving anoticethat the tickets were ready, then learning that StubHub had canceled her order,then being misledinto thinkingher tickets wouldbedelivered after all, the lawsuit said.
After the initial cancellation, Moghalspent hours on the phone withStubHub, whichsaidthe order would remain canceled but then reversed course and promised her that they wouldbedelivered an hour before thematch, the lawsuit said. Moghal drove to the stadium and waited in line, but never received hertickets,the lawsuit said. She was then promised arefund but never got one, the lawsuit said. Had she known“that StubHub was eitherunable to deliverornot authorized to deliver her World Cup Tickets to her, she neverwould have purchased them,” the lawsuit said.
Similarly,Renteria paid $2,294 for two tickets to the June 18 Mexico-SouthKoreamatch in Guadalajara,Mexico,but never received his tickets, the lawsuit said. Like Moghal, Renteria received a notice that his tickets were ready, only to find that StubHub canceled the order, the lawsuit said. He was only refundedafter“significant complaints to StubHub,” but had to eat the cost of traveling to Mexico, the lawsuit said.
Dowhitsrecordasmoststocksrise
ButslumpingAIstocks keep indexesmixed
BY STAN CHOE Associated Press
NEW YORK Most U.S. stocks rose on Thursday, and theDow Jones Industrial Average rallied to another record, but more drops for computer chip companies and other winners of the artificial-intelligence boom kept indexes mixed.
TheS&P 500 finished theday virtually unchanged and edged up by less than0.1%, even though sevenout of every 10 stocks within the index rose. The Dow jumped 594 points, or 1.1%,while theNasdaq composite dropped0.8% after erasinganearly gain.
Stocks broadly got some helpfrom areport showing that U.S. employers added 57,000 jobs to their payrollslast month. That’s growth, which is good for the economy,but it was also short of the 100,000 jobs that economists expected and aslowdown from May’s hiring pace
Thebright side of the weaker-than-expected result is that it could keep pressure off inflation, which has been accelerating worldwide becauseofjumps in oilpricescaused by thewar with Iran. Andnow that oil prices are back below where they were before the war,ifinflation slows in upcoming months, theFederal Reservemay feel less need to raise interest rates several times this year
That would be arelieffor investors,who tend to love lower interest ratesbecause theycan givethe economy aboost by making it less expensive for U.S. households and businesses to borrow money andspend. Lower ratesalsotendtopushupwardonprices for stocksand other investments
The yield on the10-year Treasury got to 4.50% in the morning, up from 3.97% just before thewar.But after the release of the U.S. hiring data, it immediately fell back to 4.46% before drifting to 4.48%.
Traders now seean82% chance that the Fedand its new chairman,Kevin Warsh, will not raise the federal funds rate at its next meeting later this month. That’supfrom the 71% chanceseen aday earlier,according to
BYCARSON HARTZOG
The Minnesota Star Tribune (TNS)
How much betterdoes aTVhave to work before shoppers are willing to spend upward of $1,500 to replacethe one already hanging on their walls?
That’sthe questionfacing Minnesota-based Best Buy as it becomes theexclusive nationalretailer for anew generation of premium TVs that promises brighter colors, deepercontrastand less glare than today’smodels.
After several sluggish years for consumerelectronicsfollowing the pandemicbuying boom, executives andWall Street analysts believethe TV market may finally be on the verge of along-awaited replacement cycle.
Best Buy is betting that improved picture quality —combined with millions of aging TVs purchased during COVID-19 —will finally persuade shoppers it’stime to upgrade.
datafrom CME Group.
“The labor market isn’toverheating,” said Brian Jacobsen, chief economic strategist at AnnexWealthManagement. He said the data could allow the Fed to wait through the summer to get more clues abouthow inflation is behaving before having to decide on hiking rates On Wall Street, the companybehind LaCroix sparkling waters climbed 7.5%after National Beverage said it will pay aspecial dividend of $3.25 for each share that investorshold.
DollarTree rose 2.4% after the retailer said it approved aprogram to send up to $2.5 billion to its shareholders by buyingback its stock.
Stocks of companies in the crypto industry were also strongafter theprice of bitcoin rose roughly 2%,aday after dropping near itslowestlevel since2024. Robinhood Markets rose 3.8%, and CoinbaseGlobal gained 3.9%.
Incoming CEO Jason Bonfig has said Best Buy is “notjust aretailer anymore,” but itsstores remain central to thecompany’sstrategy andgenerate most of its revenue. Expanding into categories such as Lego andtrading cardsispartof that evolution, butthe electronics chainstill relies on newphone and TV releases to drive storetraffic.
“For us,it’salways been about making sure we servecustomers across every price point,” Bonfig said in an interview at the Richfield store. “When new technologycomes in, that absolutely helps our business. But at thesame point in time, it’sour jobwith our vendors to tell them what customers want.That’s really when our model works best.”
BestBuy is thenational retailer withexclusive rights for one year selling RGB LED televisions from leadingmanufacturersincluding Samsung, Sony,LG, TCL and Hisense The setsare positioned above con-
But moredrops for computer chip companies weighed on indexes. They’ve come under pressure because of worries that their stock prices shot too high in the frenzy around AI and that all the spending on chips and data centers may notresult in as much profit and productivity growth as hoped. Memorymaker Micron Technology erased an early gain to drop 5.5%, aday afterplunging 10.6%. Nvidia fell1.4%, and Lam Research sank 10.2%. They were some of the heaviest weights on the S&P 500 because they’ve grown so huge in size amid AI mania.
Nvidia hasatotal value of nearly $4.7 trillion, for example, which means that its stock’smovements have moreweight on the S&P 500 than any other All told, the S&P 500 rose 0.01 to 7,483.24 points. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied594.83 to 52,900.07, and the Nasdaq composite sank 207.36 to 25,382.67.
ventional LEDmodelsand compete with OLED televisions, withprices ranging from about $1,000 to more than$30,000 fora115-inch screen
Thechallenge is convincing shoppers thetechnology is worth the premium. Bonfig believesseeing theTVs in personwill make the difference —atagline Best Buy hasembraced withits “Believing Is Seeing” marketing campaign.
“There is really something very powerful about whenpeople get an opportunity to see it,” he said. “Or some people say, ‘Oh,it’samazing, butI actually need something in this price range.’ We have that covered as well.”
Unlike traditional LED televisions, which use awhite backlight, RGB LED sets use separate red, green andblue LEDs, producing brighter colors, stronger contrast and lessglare in sunlit rooms.
Bonfig said innovation also has returnedtoamore “normal” pace since thepandemic,when compa-
nieswerefocused on producing “as much productaspossible,” ashift he said hashelpedimprove sales trends across categories, including TVs.
Best Buy has struck similar deals before.In2023, it became the exclusiveretailerfor Roku-made TVs. Afew years before that, it partnered with Amazon on amultiyear agreement to sell Toshiba and Insignia TVs.
That wasn’tthe case when OLED TVs entered the market. In 2013, Best Buy became thefirst U.S. retailertosellLGOLED TVs, but it didn’thave the kind of marketexclusivity this deal provides.
“It’snot about just asking foran exclusive,” Bonfig said. “The exclusive meansthat we’re going to represent the products in away thevendors want.We’regoing to show the technology like nobody else can.We’re going to trainour employees (and) have the digital resources.”
ASSOCIATEdPRESS
By RICHARd dREW
Specialist Gennaro Saporito works June 26 on the floor of the Newyork Stock Exchange.
grand jury “chose to investigate” Murrill at the end of their six-month term.
“Aren’t we a little tired as New Orleanians having everyone in the state kicking New Orleans?” White said in a news briefing on the courthouse steps. “Why would we want people to be afraid to run for office if they’re going to be intimidated?”
Murrill said in a statement late Thursday that she’s filing an emergency request for the Louisiana Supreme Court to review the indictment, adding that it’s “no surprise the status quo is looking for ways to stop me” over her efforts to fight crime and corruption in New Orleans. If the indictment moves forward, Murrill would likely be required to turn herself in and face an arraignment.
“This unprecedented action and the corrupt indictments spawned from it are retaliatory meritless, and unconstitutional,” Murrill said. “After confidential information was illegally leaked to members of the press by the grand jury or the improperly appointed, unqualified special prosecutor, there are now indications that the court handcuffed and locked out members of the media — and threatened them with contempt in clear violation of Louisiana law.”
White was in and out of Roche’s courtroom Thursday before the judge closed it to the public and the grand jury returned the indictment. Reporters were threatened with arrest if they entered the courthouse while the indictment was handed up. At least one reporter was handcuffed by sheriff’s deputies.
Murrill’s attorney, Laura Cannizzaro Rodrigue, called the indictment “embarrassing” and said Roche also prevented her from returning to the courtroom after he issued Murrill’s bail “This is a complete misuse of the criminal justice system for various reasons,” Rodrigue said.
White said the court had issues with several reporters “looking into the grand jury room” and that reporters who “failed to obey” orders to leave were handcuffed.
“When there are security issues, security is tantamount in this building and also anonymity for the grand jury,” White said.
Murrill disputed White’s reasoning for closing the courtroom.
“It is beyond ironic that the improperly appointed special prosecutor, who called my office and violated the confidentiality of the grand jury proceedings herself, claims protecting confidentiality justified closing the courtroom,” Murrill said “And the grand jury that leaked information like a sinking ship hardly seemed concerned about privacy.”
Judicial Administrator Rob Kazik referred questions about the court security’s handling of the episode to the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, which oversees
security at the courthouse. Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Keith Lampkin did not respond to a request for comment.
Gov Jeff Landry, along with other high-profile Republicans, took to social media to express their support for Murrill shortly after news broke Thursday that she’d been indicted He said he would order State Police to investigate the grand jury’s alleged improprieties.
“I would like to inform the great citizens of Louisiana who care about the rule of law, that our fabulous (Attorney General Liz Murrill) will not have to worry about having her reputation tarnished by this kangaroo grand jury or the Orleans Kangaroo court as I will pardon her as fast as the law allows,” Landry said “The criminal justice system is a circus at its finest in Orleans and we will not have any of that!”
Asked about the governor’s comments, White said afterward in a news briefing: “Good, let’s get her convicted and then he can pardon her.”
White left the criminal court bench in 2023 amid a court employee’s sexual harassment complaint, which she denied at the time A federal judge that year dismissed a lawsuit from the employee, and Murrill’s office represented White in a separate lawsuit the employee filed in state court that was also dismissed Moreno, meanwhile, said Thursday that her focus remains on building momentum to improve New Orleans.
“Today’s development involving the attorney general is a matter for the courts,” the mayor said.
The criminal charges represent a stunning escalation of the back-and-forth city-versus-state feud that erupted last fall during the city’s municipal election cycle and reached new heights during this spring’s state legislative session in Baton Rouge. Murrill, a hardcharging conservative who has sought criminal indictments of a slate of public of-
ficials across Louisiana, now faces charges of her own in a courthouse where just months ago she secured an indictment of New Orleans’ outgoing sheriff.
Louisiana’s law barring public intimidation and retaliation, revised statute 14:122, says it can be applied in two ways: Breaking the statute can involve “violence, force, extortionate threats, or true threats” against public officials “with the intent to influence his conduct in relation to his position, employment, or duty.”
The law also says it can involve retaliation against public officials when “violence, force, or threat is related to the duties of the elected official,” or when the actions involve “retaliation or retribution for actions taken by the elected official as part of his official duties.”
The law says convictions can carry a fine of up to $1,000 or five years in prison. The malfeasance in office statute, which involves employees intentionally failing to perform their duties, can carry a fine of up to $5,000 or 10 years in prison.
The fight that seemed to yield Thursday’s charges revolves around a power struggle between city and state leaders. The structure of New Orleans’ courts had triggered the latest fissures
An early inflection point came when Murrill waded into the city’s municipal election last fall, sending cease-and-desist letters to a candidate for the criminal clerk of court position, former life prisoner Calvin Duncan The attorney general warned Duncan, a prison lawyer freed from behind bars when a judge found him innocent of murder, to stop calling himself “exonerated” on the campaign trail. After mounting a campaign that drew national headlines, Duncan defeated a powerful incumbent in the runoff by securing 68% of the vote.
Williams was also pulled into the election-cycle brawl. In her letter to Duncan’s campaign, Murrill accused Williams of hav-
ing represented Duncan as a defense attorney years before Williams became a prosecutor and his office negotiated Duncan’s release from prison, and of failing to recuse himself during those negotiations. Williams called the accusation a fabrication.
Months later, Louisiana’s Republican-controlled state Legislature created and passed a law eliminating Duncan’s position.
The law did nothing to combine New Orleans’ separate civil and criminal courts themselves, which are unique among court systems in the state. But supporters called it a needed reform for the only local government with separate clerks’ offices for civil and criminal matters
White, the special prosecutor in Murrill’s indictment, also once represented Duncan in his criminal case before the Innocence Project, now known as Innocence and Justice Louisiana, took it over
The legislation, which Landry ushered through the Capitol and signed days before Duncan would have assumed the criminal clerkship, spurred furious pushback from local activists and elected leaders, including Moreno and Williams. The two city officials in early May asked the City Council to trigger a special election, arguing the voters must fill the newly-melded office.
Murrill responded with her May 13 letters to Williams, Moreno and five City Council members who voted to trigger the election, warning them they were at risk of “usurping” the authority of Chelsea Napoleon, the former civil clerk who assumed the duties of the combined clerk job after the new state law took effect. The Louisiana Supreme Court has since issued a ruling upholding that law Moreno posted an Instagram video hours after receiving the letter in May warning Murrill that the let-
ters might violate the antiretaliation law
“It is surprising that the attorney general put all of this in a letter considering there is also a criminal law that prohibits intimidating or threatening a public official in an effort to try to influence their decision or change their position,” Moreno said then. “Bottom line: I’m not going to be threatened, I’m not going to be intimidated, and I won’t back down.”
The Times-Picayune | The Advocate broke the story this week that Murrill’s letters had become the focus of a grand jury probe at the criminal courthouse on Tulane Avenue and South Broad Street. While some legal watchers have questioned the extent of criminal exposure Murrill might face over the letters, the indictment thrusts upon a state Republican from Lafayette the uncomfortable prospect of facing a jury in one of Louisiana’s few Democratic strongholds.
At a Thursday evening news conference on a balcony on the corner of Toulouse and Decatur streets in the French Quarter, former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial called the grand jury indictment an instance of New Orleanians pushing back on an unnecessary state incursion. He called Murrill and Landry to “lay down their arms” and cease their “attack” on New Orleans. And he also said the relationship between city and state can be repaired.
“It can always be repaired,” Morial said. “We can work things out. But it takes two to tango.” Meanwhile, Dane S Ciolino, an ethics attorney and law professor at Loyola University, said many in New Orleans dislike what some perceive as bullying from statewide officials.
“But at the end of the day, this is a legal issue,” Ciolino said. “A grand jury can always indict the proverbial ham sandwich.”
Staff writer Joni Hess contributed to this report.
STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER
Laura Cannizzaro Rodrigue, Attorney General Liz Murrill’s attorney, speaks outside the Orleans Parish Criminal district Court building on Thursday.
Democrats accuse Trump-linked fundraisers of fraud
Consultants allegedly diverted donations for America’s anniversary
BY MICHAEL BIESECKER and JOSH BOAK Associated Press
WASHINGTON Consultants tied to President Donald Trump may have engaged in financial fraud, tricking donors who wanted to support the nation’s bipartisan 250th anniversary organizer into sending their money instead to a rival group set up by his administration, according to a report released Thursday by House Democrats.
The report draws in part on interviews by Democratic staffers of the House Committee on Natural Resources. Those interviews suggest that donors seeking to celebrate America fell for a baitand-switch that, if true, could have violated various criminal statutes.
Donors who were intending to contribute funds to America250, a bipartisan committee created by Congress, were instead given the banking and routing numbers for a different but similarly named group, Freedom 250, the Democratic report says.
The key difference was that Freedom 250 was set up under the auspices of Trump’s Republican administration to be “a vehicle for a Christian nationalist, partisan, and
BY ANDREA RODRÍGUEZ Associated Press
BATABANO, Cuba After two surgeries and several rounds of radiation therapy over the past four years to treat a tumor, Irisleydis Tristá has spent the past seven months unable to get a CT scan to determine whether the cancer has grown or spread.
The CT scanner at Havana’s Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital, the country’s leading hospital, is broken Doctors have told her that, because of a lack of resources, they cannot operate on her again in Cuba, she said.
Trump-centered vision of American identity,” according to the report.
Freedom 250, which has denied the report’s claims, has focused on staging big splashy events largely held in Washington, such as the UFC cage fight at the White House on Trump’s 80th birthday, the Great American State Fair on the National Mall and the upcoming July 4 celebration featuring a Trump speech and a fireworks extravaganza the president is touting as the “show of a lifetime.”
‘Partisan smear’
Freedom 250 spokesperson
Danielle Alvarez dismissed the Democrats’ report as “categorically false” and a “partisan smear from politicians who would rather manufacture division” than celebrate a national milestone.
“Freedom 250 remains fully
“I feel like my life is in danger,” Tristá, 34, a mother of a 13-year-old from Batabanó, a town 43 miles south of Havana, told The Associated Press. “I don’t know if it has grown. We have no way of knowing,” she said.
Cuba’s once-vaunted system of free universal healthcare has deteriorated sharply The crisis, say analysts, has been compounded by fuel shortages they attribute to tightened U.S. sanctions on the island’s energy sector, worsening an economy that had already been struggling for years.
The Trump administration is pressuring Cuba’s socialist gov-
President donald Trump arrives on the Freedom 250 train on Wednesday in Medora, N.d., for the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
ASSOCIATEd PRESS
By JULIA dEMAREE NIKHINSON
committed to uniting Americans at this historic moment and giving all Americans a spectacular birthday they can be proud of — and we won’t be distracted by those rooting for it to fail,” said Alvarez, who previously served as a spokesperson for the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee.
Democrats allege in the report that this fits a broader pattern in which Trump hijacked the nation’s 250th birthday celebration, redirecting tens of millions of dollars in both taxpayer money and private donations to boost “the President’s ego, political ideology and pet projects.” Much of the spending was directed to companies connected to Trump’s political operation, including the event planners for the Trump rally that immediately preceded the Jan. 6, 2021, riot by a mob of his supporters at the U.S. Capitol.
ernment to implement major economic reforms and change its way of governance in return for a lifting of sanctions. Hospitals across the island face shortages of supplies including syringes, gauze, vaccines and anesthetics. They also lack spare parts to repair equipment such as hemodialysis and CT scan machines, leaving patients like Tristá without critical care. Food shortages have also made it difficult for her to follow the diet prescribed by her doctors. Medical specialists and technicians have left the country in large numbers.
“The American people are the big losers in this,” said Rep. Jared Huffman, the ranking Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee. “I’m old enough to remember the bicentennial in 1976. No one cared about party labels or political agendas, religious agendas or anything else. Donald Trump stole that. He took this unifying America250 moment, and he made it all about himself.”
The White House did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Effort to control America250
The Democratic report recounts how the Trump administration sought to control America250, the nonprofit arm of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission established by Congress in 2016 to plan celebrations for this year’s anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
After the Trump administration faced pushback, Freedom 250 was created last fall as a limited liability corporation that is a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Park Foundation, the fundraising arm of the National Park Service.
Freedom 250’s sole employee appears to be CEO Keith Krach, a wealthy Trump supporter who served in the State Department during the president’s first term.
Democrats said this structure enables Freedom 250 to operate as a “financial black box,” shielded from having to comply with com-
petitive bidding, accounting and transparency rules that would typically apply to a federally controlled entity receiving tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds and private donations.
Under Trump’s big tax and spending cuts bill approved by Congress last year, $150 million in federal funds was allocated to the Interior Department for events celebrating the 250th anniversary America250 was expecting $100 million of that, though it has received only $25 million, according to the Democratic report.
Even as a member of a congressional oversight committee, Huffman said that he has no way to know exactly how much taxpayer money has been redirected into Freedom 250 by the Trump administration.
Solicited donations
The Democrats alleged Krach, the Freedom 250 CEO, traveled in January to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to personally solicit foreign government officials and business leaders for money to help fund America’s birthday celebrations. The report says Trump appointees at the State Department, including some ambassadors, have also held fundraising events overseas and sent out written solicitations seeking foreign donations for Freedom 250. Krach did not respond to an email seeking comment. Alvarez denied the group accepts foreign donations
Cuba was already grappling with an economic crisis following the COVID-19 pandemic and the tightening of U.S. sanctions. The situation worsened after U.S. authorities captured then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in early January, depriving Cuba of one of its staunchest allies. The White House then threatened countries that sold fuel to the island and stepped up pressure on foreign companies and individuals to stop doing business with Havana. The result was persistent power outages lasting more than 20 hours, gasoline rationing and declines in industrial and food pro-
duction, among other effects. For Cuba, a country with health indicators comparable to those of developed nations — including low mortality, high life expectancy, broad vaccination coverage and widespread prenatal care the situation “is shocking,” said Mario Cruz Peñate, the Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization representative in the island. Cruz Peñate said the fuel shortages have caused “quite large” disruptions to health services, affecting not only the service itself, but the entire process around the continuity of care.
PHOTO
FAMILY FUNAND FIREWORKS
Fourth of July celebrated in Acadiana communities
BY KRISTINASKELSON Staff writer
Acadiana communities are celebrating Independence Day with fireworks displays,festivals, live music and familyactivities throughout the region. Here’saparish-by-parish guide to public Fourth of July events. Unless otherwise noted, events are scheduled for July 4.
Acadia Parish
n Red, Rice and Blue,Crowley Pavilion, Crowley —Noon
n Rendezvous Downtown, Depot Square, Rayne —4 p.m. to 7p.m.
Evangeline Parish
n Friday: Celebration of Independence, Ville Platte —Gates open at 4:30 p.m.
LafayetteParish
n Friday: Red, White Boom:IndependenceDay Celebration, YoungsvilleAmphitheater,Youngsville
5p.m. to 9p.m.
n Lafayette Stars and Stripes, Parc International, Lafayette 5p.m. to 10 p.m.
n Fat Pat’sHot DogEating Contest, Parc International, Lafayette —5p.m.
n BroussardIndependence Day Festival, St. Julien Park, Broussard —5 p.m.to9 p.m.
Iberia Parish
n Fourth of July with Loreauville Community Project, Loreauville Park —Begins at 4p.m St.LandryParish
n Red, White &Boom Fireworks Show,Yambilee Grounds, Opelousas—6 p.m. to 9p.m.
AMERICA
n FourthofJulyFireworks Show, Eunice Recreation Complex, Eunice —9p.m.
n Lebeau Zydeco Festival, Immaculate Conception Church, Lebeau 1p.m. to 10 p.m.
n Leonville Fireworks Show,Leonville Boat Launch —6 p.m. to 9p.m
n Fireworks on the River, Nall Park, Krotz Springs —6 p.m. to 9p.m
St.MartinParish
n Tunesonthe Teche, Parc des PontsdePont Breaux, Breaux Bridge —6 p.m. to 9p.m VermilionParish
n Through Saturday: Erath Fourth of July celebration, Erath Fairgrounds (corner of Edwards and Broadway) —Hours vary by day.
One of two people wounded in ashooting Tuesday afternoon in Lafayette has died, police said John Andrus, 24, of Lafayette, died Thursday from injuries he suffered in the shooting, according to the Lafayette Police Department. The second victim remains hospitalized in stable condition. Theshooting happened about 2:55 p.m. Tuesday in the 600 block of NorthSt. Antoine Street, where officers found two peoplewith gunshot wounds. Both were taken to a hospital. The investigation remainsongoing. Anyone with informationis asked to contact the Lafayette
Police DepartmentorLafayette Crime Stoppers at (337) 232-8477. Anonymous tips also can be submitted through the department’s app or the P3 Tips mobile app.
Police: Branch man killed in I-10 crash
ABranch manwas killed Tuesday in athree-vehicle crash on Interstate 10 in Acadia Parish, according to Louisiana State Police. The victim was identified as Dana Ortego, 54. He was pronounced dead atthe scene. The crash occurred shortly after 4:30 p.m. on eastbound I-10 near Jennings, just inside theAcadia Parish line According to thepreliminary investigation, Ortego wasdriving a2022 GMC Canyon east in theleft lanebehind aChevrolet
Tahoe when traffic slowed because of an object in the roadway.Trooperssaid the Tahoe brakedsuddenly,and Ortego attempted to avoid it but struck theSUV’sleft rear before moving into theright lane. For reasons still underinvestigation, theGMC then entered thepath of acommercial motor vehicle.The driverofthe commercial vehicle attempted to avoid the pickup but struck its rear,sending the GMC offthe roadway and intoatree line. State Police saidOrtego was notwearing aseat belt at the time of the crash. Thecrash remains under investigation.
Police: Twomen killed after car overturns TwoBreauxBridge men died after theywere ejected
froma vehicle that overturned Wednesday near Arnaudville, according to Louisiana State Police. The victims were identified as Kiemonte Pigott, 32, and Darius Haywood,30. State Policedid notsay whichman was driving. The crashoccurred shortly after 3a.m. on La. 686 near Moise Mallet Road,southeast of Arnaudville According to the preliminary investigation, a2010 Chevrolet Impalawas traveling west on La.686 when it failed to negotiate acurve, left the roadway, struckaditchand overturned. Both occupantswere ejected fromthe vehicle.Pigott diedat the scene. Haywood wastransported to ahospital with serious injuries, where he later died. The crash remains underinvestigation.
LAFAYETTE
I-49 connector project moves forward
BY CLAIRE TAYLOR and STEPHENMARCANTEL Staff writers
Local and state officials signed adocument Wednesday that is important in advancing the Interstate 49 Lafayette Connector project.
The draft supplemental environmental impact statement signed Wednesday by Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Glenn Ledet and Lafayette Parish Mayor-President Monique Bouletmeansthe six-lane interstate proposed through Lafayette is readyfor the additionalpublic comment requiredbeforefinalapproval of the project.
The Lafayette Connector is aproposed partially elevated extension of I-49 from its current terminus at Interstate 10 in LafayettetoLafayette Regional Airport. It’s part of alarger effort to extend I-49 to the west bank of New Orleans. The entire project is estimated to cost billions. Funds have not been secured. This is the second timethe project has gone through this process. Afederal record of decision was issued in 2003 but the project never advanced. When the projectwas resurrected in 2016, the community pushedback against the original plans, plus too much time had passed, warranting areevaluation.
Apublic hearing is expected to be held this summer on the statement. Adate has not been announced.
Following the public hearing, DOTD and the Federal Highway Administration will reviewthe comments and respond to them
The final step will be publication of the recordofdecision, whichclears the project to moveforward.
Boulet, meanwhile, is requesting $30 millioninfederal grantfundingtohelp cover pre-construction costs for asegmentofthe connector
Savingswillgotoward faculty, research
BYHALEYMILLER Staff writer
LSU eliminated25staff positions in administrative offices Thursday to put moremoney toward faculty and research, LSU system President Wade Rousse said in astatement.
“Louisiana deserves transformational change from LSU,” Rousse said. “I committedtostreamlining operations and finding efficiencies so the university can focus on, and afford, the faculty needed to becomeatop 50 research institution.” The employees affected worked in the communications, student engagement andexecutive departments, an LSU spokesperson said.
Rousse wentontosay the cuts would enable the university to restructure and direct savings toward faculty and research.Hehas statedLSU will need to hire more faculty to reach its goal of beinga “top 50”researchuniversity, a distinctionbased on theNational Science Foundation Higher Education Research and Development Survey,which tracks how much each university spends on research.
It’snot the first move LSU has made to getclosertothe top50. Earlierthis year,the BoardofSupervisors approved asystem-levelrestructuring to bring the Pennington BiomedicalResearch Center, two health science centers and LSU AgCenter under the umbrella of the
PHOTOSByLEE BALL
Natalie anddennis Mouton placea flag on their homeonBroadwayStreet in Erath on Wednesday. The Fourth of July celebrations in Erathalso included fais do dosand carnival rides.
Briggs Berard, from left, Amelia Frederick, Ellen Greig andBriella Berard lead their families throughthe midwayduring the Fourth of July celebration in Erath.
OPINION
Judiciary’sresponsibilitytofulfillDeclaration’s
promise
On the Fourth of July,our nation will commemorate the 250thanniversary of its founding charter: the Declaration of Independence. Adopted on July 4, 1776, by the Second Continental Congress, the document, which was then titled “The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America,” announced to the world that the 13 colonies were free from the rule of Great Britain. The declaration arose from aperiod of profound strain between the colonies and the crown led by aking many colonists considered to betyrannical and prone to putting his thumb on the scales of justice. The authors set forth 27 grievances against the king of Great Britain, asserting that his actions had undermined representative government andthe fair administration of justice.
principleboth bold and enduring: That when agovernment becomes destructiveofthe people’s rights, thepeople possess the authority to alter or abolish it. The 56 delegates who affixed their names to thedocument, at least 25 of whom were attorneys, understoodtheir act was considered high treason, punishable by tortureand death.Benjamin Franklin quipped, “Wemust all hangtogether,ormost assuredly we shall all hang separately.”
In doing so, they articulated a
At atime whenmonarchies ruledovernations,the United Statesput its faith in thecitizens to govern themselves. In theyears that followed independence, the ideals announcedin1776 were woven into the fabric of our constitutional structure.InThe FederalistNo. 78, Alexander Hamiltonmetaphoricallydescribed the judiciary as the “least dangerous”
branch of government, possessing neither the swordofthe executive nor the purse of the legislature. The judiciary’sauthority,heexplained, rests in neither force nor will but in judgment alone. At the same time, Hamilton emphasized thatanindependent judiciary is absolutely essentialtopreserving liberty as acheck upon the political branches. Over the course of two and ahalf centuries, theDeclaration has becomeone of the most widely circulated and influential political documentsinhuman history. Its assertion that “all men are created equal” and “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights” has echoed far beyond our shores, bothattracting new citizens and influencing other countries to emulate these principles.
Abraham Lincoln,our nation’s 16th president, regarded the declaration as the moral standard to which theUnited States must
Before La.joinedthe U.S., N.O. nuns hadquestions
Today,it’snot easy to imagine New Orleans as anything other than part ofthe UnitedStates.
But it wasn’t always so,and anexchange of letters in 1804 between the Ursuline sisters of New Orleans and American President Thomas Jeffersonremindsusof an important reality: New Orleans became an American city in adistinctive way —bygovernance quickly,but by culture much more slowly
This year,wecelebrate 250 years of the political independenceofthe United States of America aswell as the development of the distinctive American political worldview, which includes two key principles: arespect for adiversity of religions in society and aseparation between the institutions of government and religion.
“Therewas no comfortable place for the Ursulines in this changed world,”she wrote in her book “MasterlessMistresses: The New Orleans Ursulines and theDevelopment of aNew World Society, 17271834.”Theywereneither Protestant nor wives andmothers. Whatwas the place of unmarried women as property holders?
continually aspire. He viewed it as aprism through which the Constitution should be understood and applied. He relied on the principles of theDeclaration of Independence in his Gettysburg address, calling the United States anation “conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” Lincoln also wrote about a“government of the people, by the people, and forthe people[.]” To preservethe principles embodied in the Declaration of Independence, ourfounding citizens adopted an intricate system of checks and balances in the Constitution providing each branch with separate powers, checked and balanced by the power of theother branches. The role of thejudiciary is to resolve issues which those before the court cannot resolvethemselves, not by declaring “winners or losers,” but by applying the rule of law as enacted by the legislative branch,
This summer,America turns 250 years old. Across the country,communities are marking theoccasion with celebrations and ceremonies. Flags will fly,speeches will be given and the nation will pause to marvel at two and ahalf centuries of the American experiment.
tempered by the fundamental law of the Constitution. The judiciary must remain above the fray and resolve matters fairly,justly, impartially and independently without partisanship, personality or politics. All stand equal before acourt of justice. As we celebrate this 250th anniversary,werecognize not only a historic document, but the lasting principles it sets forth: liberty under law,equality in dignity and agovernment accountable to the people. The Declaration of Independence continues to stand as areminder of the courage and conviction of those whosigned it and of their belief that justice must rise above power.Aswereflect on its words, we must renew our commitment to the ideals that shaped our nation and that continue to guide it today
John L. Weimer is the chief justiceofthe Louisiana Supreme Court.
These two points were at issue when Sister Therese de Saint Xavier Farjon wrote with her sister nuns to President Jefferson. Simply put, the Ursulineswere notconfident that their convent wouldbe recognized as their property undernewly established American rule.
The cultural context of the day made their concern justified. These French nuns would have remembered two very different revolutions. The AmericanRevolution of 1776 was not asectarianone.Christians in English colonies of all denominations or none joined in opposition to English rule from London.
The Ursulines also had the powerful memory of the French Revolution of 1789, whichwas arevolution against both the king and the Roman Catholic Churchin France. Convents and other religious communities were destroyed, disbandedor confiscated in reaction to the privileged position held by the Catholic Churchin French society
The same year,the American Constitution had become law,soon after including the First Amendment and its famous first words “Congress shall make no lawrespecting an establishment ofreligion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” In Americanlaw,noparticular church would hold aprivileged position.
For the Ursulines, these memories would cause concern about their future under American rule. Their Frenchexperience of democratic anti-royalism wasthatitwas violently anti-church In addition, frequent recent regime changes in New Orleans —injust 40years from French to Spanish,back to French, then American —caused angstabout the legitimacy of property claims. The historian Emily Clark notes thatyoung America was broadly Protestant andemphasized women’splace in the home aswives and mothers.
The Ursulines quickly showed savviness and courage by courtinggood relationswiththe new American governor,W.C.C. Claiborne, successfully seeking his support with the American president.Their letter to Jeffersoncarries this coreassertion: “thatthe treaty of cession, and the sense of justicewhich marks the character of the United States, would have secured to them[the Ursulines] the property theynow possess …”
The nuns’ argument is about morality, notonly about propertyrights, citing their seclusionfromthe world, shunning of wealthand commitment to “the causeof the orphan, of the helpless child of want.”
In their Catholic worldview,the nuns speak not about individual rights but rather about thecommon good and carefor those mostvulnerable. By this measure, their worldview is not yet American.
Jefferson’sreply was reassuring.
“The principles of the constitution and government of the United States area sure guarantee to you thatitwill be preserved to you sacredand inviolate, and thatyour institutionwill be permitted to govern itself according to its own voluntary rules, without interference from thecivil authority,” he wrote.
In thenuns’ Catholic tradition, liberty of conscience allowed religious errorto grow, andseparation of church and state was condemned. Jefferson’sacceptanceof religious diversityand assurance that the nuns wouldoperate “without interference from civilauthority” was new to them indeed.
This exchange of lettersabout property reveals much about differences in worldviews.The Ursuline sistersand other Catholicsinearly America had to grow comfortable over timethat theirchurch couldthrive in this democratic republican context
Today, you can seeareplica of President Jefferson’s letter at the Old Ursuline Convent Museum in the French Quarter, but theoriginal document remains part of the Ursulineorder’sarchives—now located at BostonCollege,aCatholic institution in acity that was ahotbed of the American Revolution.
ChristopherWisemanisthe executive director of the Catholic Cultural Center of New Orleans.
Twohundred and fiftyyears of democracy is, by any measure, an extraordinary achievement. Anation that began as abold experiment in self-governance has grown into the world’slongest-standing constitutional republic, proving to be abeacon of progress and inspiring movements for freedom and liberty across the globe.
While this milestoneiscause for celebration, it is also amoment forhonest reckoning —asking ourselves which chapters of our story we have told in full, and which we have too longconsigned to themargins America’sfounding promise —that all men arecreated equal —was adeclaration thenation had not yet earned,“the promissory note” referred to by Dr.Martin Luther King. The work of earning it has been thegreat,unfinished labor of every generation since. The emancipation of enslaved people and the century-long struggle of their descendants to claim full citizenship rightsrepresent perhaps the mostprofound achievement in that ongoing project of liberty.And historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs)were built precisely at the hinge of that achievement, making it possible for Black Americans to pursue lives of dignity, purpose and full citizenship.
The story of HBCUs is one such chapter.And it belongs not at the footnotes of American history,but at itsvery center Borninthe aftermathofthe Civil War, HBCUs were created out of necessity.A shattered nation, reconstructing itself,refused to open the doors of higher education to Black Americans. Andwith the assistance of generous and committed friends, Black Americansbuilt their own. Against immense opposition, HBCUs emerged first as institutions of learning that soon became engines of Black self-determination and, in turn, pillars of American democracy itself.
Consider what that moment demanded: not only the courage to imagine freedom, but thediscipline to build the institutions that freedom requires. Schools. Libraries. Laboratories.Lecture halls. HBCUs provided theeducational infrastructure and thought leaders for apeople emerging from bondage.
The principles of justice, service and democratic citizenship that were cultivated on HBCU campuses didnot remain confined to classrooms and yards. They took root in studentsand alumni whocar-
ried those values into the wider world. From the suffrage movement to the Civil Rights Era, HBCU students and alumni have been at the forefront of every major campaign to redraw the moral and legal architecture of American democracy They organized sit-ins and freedom rides. They registered voters in counties where doing so required extraordinary courage. They argued cases before the SupremeCourt, wrote the legislation, preached the sermons and paid the prices that madethe Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act not just possible, but inevitable. When we speak of the legal victories that transformed this republic, we are speaking, in no small part, of men and women shaped on HBCU campuses. This legacy did not end with the passage of landmark legislation. It endures. Today,HBCUscontinue to produce adisproportionate share of Black professionals in law,engineering, medicine, education, the sciences and public service. Across every industry and in every region of the country,the fingerprints of an HBCU education are visible proof of what an equitable higher education system can produce —and what this nation is capable of when it invests in all of its people.
There is atemptation in moments of national celebration to flatten complexity and tell the story of America as astraight and unbroken line from promise to fulfillment. But the truer and, Iwould argue, the more patriotic story is the one that acknowledges how much each generation has had to fight forthe ideals the founders declared. It is the story of arepublic perpetually reforming itself,perpetually reaching toward and securing amore perfect union.
HBCUsare apart of the American story in its deepest sense. They did not merely respond to injustice. They modeled the possibility of abetter day.They said, in brick and mortar and curriculum and community,that Black intellectual lifewas not aconcession to be granted but atruth to be celebrated, agifttothe nation —and that the American project of liberty could not be complete without fulfilling its promise to all. As the nation raises atoast to 250 years, we would do well to remember: Our democracy endures because every generation has had the courage to demand that its promise extend further —toinsist that liberty is not agift bestowed on some, but aright belonging to all. HBCUshave carried that promise forgenerations. This is not afootnote. That is the story of American progress.
Dr.Reynold Verretispresident of Xavier University of Louisiana.
COMMENTARY
ISSUE OF THE WEEK AMERICA 250
As the nation celebrates itssemiquincentennial on July 4, the focus hasturnedtoour founding documentsand what they meantoday.Has America lived up to the promise in itsdeclaration of Independence? What lessons should we takefrom history? Hereare twoperspectives:
Celebratinga milestone withoutbeing chauvinistic
Even with semiquincentennialcelebrations and anniversary essays in the air,and with readers alreadysaturated with commentaries on American democracy and 250 years of independence, there’sgood reason to linger,ifjust for amoment, on what Gerald Ford had to say when the country,exhausted by the Vietnam Warand besieged by Watergate, marked its bicentenniala half-century ago Ford deliveredremarks even perfectly suited to his time, andall time, including and especially our own. What the country wouldn’tgivetohear speeches like these now.Whatthe country wouldn’tgive to believe speeches like these in this era The president began his July 2, 1976, remarks by reminding his listeners that July 4may not reallybethe beginningof American independence. But theFounders, those sages in powdered wigsand knee breeches, did what editors do to columns like this one: They read andrereadwhat Thomas Jefferson haddrafted, offered some suggestions, made some adjustments. “They took two moredays to debate and to approvethisdeclaration and announcement to the world of what they had done and the reasonswhy,” Ford explained. Standing in the National Archives, the home of America’s cherished founding documents, Ford reminded the country that the Declaration of Independence was far more than the beloved melodic opening language, withits “self-evident truths” and ‘unalienable rights” and its high-minded goals toachieve“Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” that have been memorized by American school pupils for generations. He pointed to the document’slist of grievancesthe onetime colonists deplored (obstructing justice, establishing an “Arbitrary government,” and “cutting off ourTrade withall parts of theworld”) andurged Americans to read what hecalled the “dull parts.” Twodays later,atMonticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson,Ford used a naturalization ceremony to expandhis thoughts.
(“Men maybetrusted to govern themselves without amaster”) and saying, “This was the most revolutionary idea in theworld at that time. It remains themost revolutionary idea in the world today.”
Thebackgroundthatmade theRevolutionpossible
David Shribman
This is aspeech that’scelebratory without in any way being chauvinistic. It is afundamentally optimistic view,but Fordwasn’t issuing an apology for America. He was simply saying thecountry had unfinished business and must overcome ahistory that in many ways wasn’t the history we wished it were. It’s important to remember that this speech was issued after the country came through Watergate’ssevere test of our founding and thenation’sdefining values. He then went on to speak of the contributions of America’simmigrants, saying that their “transfusions of traditions andcultures, as well as of blood,”have enriched the country and transformed America into “a new kind of people.” In today’senvironment, it is worth quoting Ford at length: “Foreigners like Lafayette, VonSteuben, and Pulaski cametofight in our Revolution because they believed in its principles that they felt were universal. Immigrants like Andrew Carnegie came as poor boys and created agreat steel industry, then gave his fortune back to America for libraries, universities and museums. Maria Francesca [Ste. Frances Xavier] Cabrini came as amissionary sister to serve the sick and the poor Samuel Gompers worked in asweatshop, spent his lunchtime helping other immigrant workers learn toread so they could become citizens.Wehave gained far,far more than we have given to the millions whomade America their second homeland.
Usingthe metaphor of Jacob’smulticolored coat to describe themodern United States, he cited “the rich treasures you brought from whence you came, and let us shareyourpride in them.”
As we near the250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, let me share acouple of reflections on the background of how this extraordinary,unprecedented and daring event succeeded.
Twodecades ago, Iset out to write abook about the events known as theGlorious Revolution of 168889. Isuspected that this revolution —the ouster of the Catholic King James II of England andthe installation of his Protestant son-inlaw (and nephew) William III and daughter Mary I—was helpful, perhaps anecessary precursor of the American Revolution.
He spoke about independence —not onlyabout independencefrom Great Britain but also from governmental tyranny “Jefferson and his colleagues very deliberately and very daringly setout to construct anew kind of nation,”Ford said, quoting the Declaration’sauthor
Hardly anyone at the time pointed to these speeches as especially eloquent. They were delivered by an accidental president whose eloquence was in his simple appreciation of the achievement of theFounders. So think of this time as more than the 250th anniversary of American independence. Think of it as the50th anniversary of two remarkable speeches.
Email David Shribman at dshribman@ post-gazette.com.
ects, starting in NewEngland and New York, was to abolish the colonial legislatures. William III reinstated the legislatures, leaving them to tussle with royal or proprietorial governors or lieutenant governors. Over the next 75 years, these political arenas were schools of practical politics and philosophic principle, whose star pupils included Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
Iwas convinced then and am moreso now that the events of the Glorious Revolution and their reverberations over the next three-quarters of acentury madepossible thesuccess of the American Revolution
First,because the ouster of one king with aclear hereditary claim, the exclusion of his male heirs, and the installation of three foreign successors left acloud over thetitle of whoever held the monarchy James and his Stuart son and grandsons were Catholics, unsuitable forProtestant England.
William was aDutchman, stadtholder of the Dutch Republic; his English wife, Mary,was subservient and died six years into his reign; they were childless and succeeded by thevery English Queen Anne. After her one survivingchild died of smallpox in 1700, Parliament passed the Act of Succession barring Catholics (and anyone who married aCatholic) from the throne, and when Anne died in 1714, she was succeeded by George I, elector of Hanover,who spoke no English.
George Ispoke to his ministers in French,the lingua franca of continental courts; his son George II spoke English with aGerman accent, and both weresuspected of caring more for their German lands in Hanover than for England. Only in 1760 did England get aplainly English king, theyoung George III.
The clouds on thetitles of both the Stuart pretenders and the Hanover incumbents left room for philosophers to concoct theories of resistance to kings.
At thesame time, English monarchs, aware of their arguable illegitimacy,avoided the fashion for absolutist government pursued and championed by Louis XIV in France, Charles III in Spain, Joseph II in Austria and Frederick III in Denmark.
James II’staste for absolutism was apparent before his ouster.One of his proj-
Progressive historians portrayed the legislatures as devices forlongestablished rich people to hold on to their money.But property was widely held in the colonies, and with manpower always scarce, the older legislative leaders were always on the lookout fortalented young men.Both Washington and Jefferson were given important assignments while still in their 20s.
The colonies were founded at different times, were of different heftand the product of diverse religious traditions after a century of wars centered on religious differences
Franklin’sidea that the colonies, for all their particularities, shared common interests had consequences in 1774 when grievances in afew colonies prompted the summoning of aContinental Congress and its continual meetings during the Revolutionary War.
The American Revolution was achancy event, unsure of success at every turn, and, at the sametime, of enormous possibility: Franklin and Washington contemplated that the American republic could be the world’slargest and strongest nation. It was the product of extraordinary individuals, whose clustering genius at one time and in one place is reminiscent of Periclean Athens or Renaissance Italy But background circumstances also contributed. Without alightly governing king-in-parliament, unwilling to press for absolutist rule; without locally elected legislatures, leftlargely to their owninitiatives and devices; without the willingness to perceive common interests despite differences in religious belief and cultural folkways that had been so recently the stuff of violent disagreement and war without all these advantages, it is hard to see how the Revolution whose Declaration we celebrate this week, of which we are the fortunate, if often also the querulous heirs, could have been so largely,though imperfectly,successful.
Happy Fourth!
Michael Barone is on X, @MichaelBarone.
Michael Barone
ASSOCIATEdPRESS PHOTOByJEN GOLBECK
The Great AmericanState Fair on the National Mall is seen through an American flag in Washington.
Voyeurism charges reinstated against N.O. man
Appellate court rules time element decision incorrect
BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer
The 4th Circuit Court of Appeal
reinstated dozens of video voyeurism charges against a man accused of taking nude photos and videos of at least seven different women while they were unconscious.
Authorities allege Jeffrey Darlak, 45, of New Orleans, spent nearly two decades amassing a stockpile of lewd photos that he took of his female acquaintances without their knowledge or consent. Police seized Darlak’s cellphone and computers and found the explicit images and footage of the women that Darlak collected in several cities and states, according to court records
The activity dated back to 2003, according to charging documents filed against Darlak in 2024. New Orleans appellate judges last month reversed a lower court’s decision to dismiss 100 counts from Darlak’s cache of felony charges.
Months after prosecutors from
District Attorney Jason Williams’ office formally charged Darlak with 124 video voyeurism counts in May 2024, his attorney convinced a judge that all but 24 of the counts should be quashed because the state came forth with charges too late.
Darryl Derbigny, then a criminal judge in New Orleans’ district court, ruled in September 2024 that the district attorney filed charges against Darlak well past the six-year window in which the state must initiate prosecutions, according to Louisiana law
In time-barring and dismissing the charges, Derbigny decided the six-year prescriptive period was triggered when each of the alleged offenses occurred.
According to the 124-count indictment filed two years ago, 76 of the charges were tied to offenses that happened separately in 2003 2010 and 2011. The state later filed an amended indictment that placed those offense dates between 2017 and 2021.
But in a June 22 opinion overturning Derbigny’s decision, the New Orleans-based 4th Circuit ruled those offense dates didn’t matter because the clock for the state to file Darlak’s charges didn’t begin until March 2022, when one of his alleged victims first discov-
ered the pics of herself and other women on his Google Drive.
The woman reported her discovery, prompting a New Orleans Police Department investigation.
A short time later, her friends found illicit Google Drive photos of themselves while Darlak was in a rehab facility, police said.
When detectives searched his phone, computer and external hard drive, they found images that included at least three videos of a woman being raped while unconscious, NOPD sex crimes Detective Brandon McDonald wrote in an affidavit.
“The victims in this case are very pleased with the ruling and look forward to having their day in court,” said Penny Kissinger, deputy chief of the District Attorney’s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative
“We expect Darlak to seek review by the Louisiana Supreme Court, which will further delay the prosecution.”
State lawmakers tweaked Louisiana’s video voyeurism statute in 2016 and again in 2023. Those changes to the state law delayed the clock from ticking until victims first discover the images tied to the crime. In Darlak’s case, Derbigny barred the prosecution of any crimes that took place before Aug. 1, 2016, the date the law
change took effect.
4th Circuit Judge Tiffany Chase wrote the appellate court’s opinion. She was joined on the review panel by judges Sandra Jenkins and Monique Morial.
Prosecutors acknowledged that time had expired on two video voyeurism charges that were filed as low-level offenses. Those two counts had four-year prescriptive periods. The state agreed to dismiss both of them.
But the appeals court determined the statute of limitations didn’t run out on the remaining 98 counts before the new law took effect in 2016. Since that window hadn’t closed, judges applied the exception to the charges
“If the counts were not timebarred prior to the effective date of, Aug. 1, 2016, then its provisions apply and the state has four or six years from the date the victim discovered the crime to institute prosecution,” Chase wrote.
Each of the voyeurism counts may be punishable by up to five years in prison at hard labor
Not only did Derbigny lop away 100 of Darlak’s charges in 2024, he also slashed the man’s bond to $50,000, down from $450,000, and allowed him to be released on house arrest.
Afterward, Derbigny recused
himself from the case, citing a long friendship he had with the father of one of the alleged victims
The case was shuffled to District Judge Simone Levine until a hearing last July, when fellow Judge Kimya Holmes took her off the case. She did so after Kenn Barnes, Darlak’s defense attorney at the time, filed a motion for Levine’s recusal, arguing a member of her staff is a former prosecutor who had loose ties to the case while working for the District Attorney’s Office. District Judge Benedict Willard handled the case afterward as it stalled in anticipation of the appellate court’s decree. He appointed a public defender to represent Darlak on March 26.
In its order last week, the 4th Circuit sent the case back to Criminal District Court for further proceedings. Willard transferred the matter to Judge John Fuller’s section during a subsequent June 25 hearing, according to district court records.
Representatives from Orleans Public Defenders declined to comment on the ongoing litigation. It’s not clear if they plan to appeal the decision.
Email Matt Bruce at matt. bruce@theadvocate.com.
Retired New Orleans judge appointed to ex-sheriff’s case
dennis Waldron to preside over public corruption case
BY MATT BRUCE Staff writer
The Louisiana Supreme Court on Tuesday appointed retired New Orleans criminal Judge Dennis Waldron to preside over the criminal case of ex-Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson. A special grand jury in April handed up a combined 50 indictments on Hutson and her former chief financial officer, Bianka
Brown. The counts were tied to court filings regarding inmate transfers and failures to shore up security lapses at the Orleans Justice Center leading up to last year’s mass jailbreak, which Hutson controlled at the time. All 12 judges on the Criminal District Court bench have recused themselves, citing the fact that most of them could be called to testify against Hutson and Brown. Chief Judge Juana Marine Lombard asked for an ad hoc replacement in a letter to the state Supreme Court on Tuesday The high court responded by ap-
pointing Waldron, who served 26 years as a Criminal District Court judge before retiring in 2008. Hutson, 59, and Brown, 40, have yet to be formally arraigned on their slate of respective charges. No arraignment date was listed on the docket as of Thursday morning. Hutson has said she will pursue every legal option to prove the allegations against her are false. “I will aggressively fight to clear my name,” she said following her first appearance in court in April. Prosecutors from Attorney Gen-
eral Liz Murrill’s office secured the indictments April 29 in the final days of Hutson’s term. The outgoing sheriff was indicted on 30 criminal charges that included counts of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, malfeasance in office and filing or maintaining false records. Brown was hit with 20 similar indictments.
Eleven of the Criminal District Court’s 12 judges were on the bench last July when Hutson and the judges clashed over inmate transfers to court from the jail.
After Hutson claimed she lacked the money or manpower to resume the practice of bringing the new arrestees to the courthouse for weekend and holiday hearings, the court
Ex-N.O. mayor’s federal trial delayed again
Cantrell’s defense attorneys’ schedule cited as reason
BY JAMES FINN Staff writer
A federal judge this week delayed LaToya Cantrell’s corruption trial until the spring of 2027, citing defense attorneys’ packed schedule during a summer filled with high-profile trials at the federal courthouse on Poydras Street.
The former New Orleans mayor had been set to face a jury on wire fraud, obstruction and conspiracy counts starting on Oct. 19 a date that had already been punted repeatedly following her August 2025 indictment. She is charged alongside her New Orleans Police Department bodyguard, Jeffrey Vappie, with spending taxpayer money on romantic liaisons, then lying and destroying evidence to conceal signs of their alleged romance. Their new trial date is
March 15, 2027. In an order signed Wednesday Chief U.S. District Judge Wendy Vitter of Louisiana’s Eastern District cited the “arduous trial calendar” facing Vappie’s attorneys for the delay One of the defe nse l aw yers, Shaun Clarke, also represents federal defendant Sean Alfortish, a former Kenner magistrate set for an August trial on murder, wire fraud and witness tampering. Alfortish is the alleged leader of a yearslong scheme by local lawyers and fixers who staged car wrecks with big-rig trucks, snagging millions in bogus insurance payouts.
Claus, found guilty of wire fraud and lying to the FBI in an art-insurance scam.
The postponement of Cantrell’s trial comes weeks after The TimesPicayune | The Advocate reported that the case’s lead prosecutor, Assistant U.S Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, was placed on leave amid an internal Department of Justice probe into allegations that he concealed a workplace relationship with a subordinate in the local U.S. Attorney’s Office.
A longtime public corruption prosecutor, Ginsberg had been promoted this spring to lead all of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s criminal prosecutions.
have not come up so far in court proceedings or filings related to Cantrell’s case, and attorneys for Vappie and Cantrell have declined to comment on them. Still, Cantrell’s Oct 19 trial date seemed to pose logistical challenges for the government.
Assistant U.S Attorney Nick Moses, another prosecutor assigned to the Cantrell matter, has another trial set to begin that day: that of Randy Farrell, an electrician charged under a 2024 indictment with bribing Cantrell in a bid to shirk scrutiny over his firm’s permitting practices. Farrell’s case is overseen by U.S District Judge Jay Zainey (Cantrell has not been charged in that scheme.)
CUTS
held her in contempt. John Fuller, elected May 16, was the lone judge not on the bench at the time.
Tracey Flemings-Davillier who was the court’s chief judge last summer, issued Hutson’s contempt order following a July 17 hearing inside her courtroom. Each of her colleagues signed off on the contempt ruling. In court filings, prosecutors from Murrill’s office indicated 18 of the charges against Hutson and Brown stem from documents the two submitted to the court during last July’s legal showdown.
Email Matt Bruce at matt. bruce@theadvocate.com.
Continued from page 1B
flagship campus in Baton Rouge for the purpose of counting research dollars altogether. The changes ruffled feathers outside of Baton Rouge as some advocates for LSU Health Shreveport worried about the medical school losing autonomy The president and the Board of Supervisors have said ranking in the top 50 will make LSU eligible for more grants and increase its academic prestige.
PROJECT
Continued from page 1B
Vitter, too, has presided over a packed docket of late: She oversaw the marathon March jury trial of two personal injury lawyers convicted of wire fraud and obstruction for their role in the staged-wrecks scheme. In June, Vitter ran the two-week trial of a former New Orleans Police Department officer, Christian
He was withdrawn from the Cantrell prosecution team around the time that the internal probe became public Ginsberg has since been pulled off several more cases on which he had continued handling case work since being named the office’s criminal chief.
Ginsberg’s allegations
“There was no objection to the requested continuance (of Cantrell’s trial) by counsel for the Government,” Vitter wrote in this week’s order Cantrell left office in January Both she and Vappie have pleaded not guilty to their federal charges.
Email James Finn at jfinn@theadvocate.com.
Prairieville man convicted in 2022 shooting
Jury returns manslaughter verdict
BY ANNAKATE FREELAND Staff writer
A Prairieville man has been found guilty of manslaughter in the 2022 shooting death of his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend, bringing to a close a case that included a successful appeal over the defendant’s right to claim self-defense.
The Ascension Parish jury returned the verdict June 26 against Jerome Lilly, 41, af-
ter a trial before Judge Cody Martin in the 23rd Judicial District Court. Lilly originally was charged with seconddegree murder in the July 2022 death of 40-year-old Tarrence Williams. The trial came after the Louisiana 1st Circuit Court of Appeal last fall reversed a 2024 ruling by Martin that would have prevented Lilly from arguing self-defense at trial The appellate court found that “a criminal defendant has the constitutional right to present a defense” and sent the case back to the district court for trial. The jury convicted Lilly of the lesser charge of man-
slaughter Sentencing is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 14. Lilly faces up to 40 years in state prison if sentenced to the maximum penalty for manslaughter
According to the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a home on Cherry Creek Drive in Prairieville after receiving a report of a shooting. When deputies arrived, they encountered Lilly who had called 911. Investigators said he told deputies he had gotten into an altercation with Williams, his girlfriend’s ex, before shooting him.
Williams was found lying in the entryway of the residence with multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.
During the investigation, detectives determined Lilly and Williams had engaged in a heated phone conversation regarding Williams’ minor children before Williams went to the home to pick them up.
Although investigators found no evidence that the argument became physical, authorities said Lilly fired multiple shots, striking Williams. He was arrested at the scene and booked into the Ascension Parish Jail.
Specifically, Lafayette Consolidated Government is requesting $30 million from the Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight and Highway Projects Program. The funding would go along with $20 million from DOTD to cover pre-construction costs for the U.S. 90 and E. Kaliste Saloom Interchange Project. The $626.7 million U.S. Department of Transportation funding program is for transportation infrastructure projects aimed at improving safety efficiency and reliability by modernizing aging assets and expanding capacity, according to a notice of funding opportunity If awarded, the pre-construction will advance final engineering plans, right of way acquisition and utility
relocation for the E. Kaliste Saloom Project to be “shovel-ready,” according to an LCG announcement. This project will convert the existing intersection into a grade-separated interchange. This includes work on ramps, flyover bridges and roadway improvements along 2.2 miles of Kaliste Saloom Road and 3.5 miles of U.S. 90.
Hutson
Cantrell
UNITEd STATES VS. BELGIUM • 7 P.M. MONdAy FOX
FE G ‘ ’
BY JOSH DUBOW AP sportswriter
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Malik Tillman is soft-spoken off the field with his interviews often given at a volume just above a whisper
He spoke loudly with his bloody right foot at one of the biggest moments of the World Cup for the United States. Still feeling the affects of being stomped on by an opponent’s studs, Tillman scored the first free kick goal in a World Cup for the Americans in 32 years to seal a 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday night that sent the U.S. into the round of 16.
Tillman celebrated the biggest moment of his young career with a smile and a scream as he ran to celebrate with his teammates in front of the large contingent of American fans at Levi’s Stadium.
“I’m a different type of person on the pitch,” he said after the game. “Of course maybe you don’t really see my emotions, but then if you score a goal like this, I think also you guys saw my emotions. It’s a great feeling.”
Tillman showed off his bloody sock — perhaps the most famous in American sports lore since Curt Schilling’s in the 2004 baseball playoffs for the Boston Red Sox after the game, saying he was still in a bit of pain.
But the discomfort was lessened by pure joy as the U.S. now prepares to play Belgium on Monday night in Seattle with a chance to make it to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002.
Tillman’s goal came with the U.S. protecting a one-goal lead and down a man after Folarin Balogun was sent off with a red card early in the second half Balogun scored his third goal of the tournament in the first half but Tillman delivered the game-sealer in the highlight of what has already been a productive World Cup for the 24-year-old.
“Obviously he’s been playing so well,” captain Tim Ream said. “I’d argue he’s other than Balo’s goals, he’s one of our best players. Everywhere on the field, doing the dirty things, making the hard things easy I think it is just that. He just wanted to feel like he had a place. He’s
McAllister has big-time college potential
Son of legendary Saints RB is a two-sport standout
BY CHRISTOPHER DABE
details mattered That attention to detail carried over to Friday nights in the fall and to two straight basketball championship seasons. Now a junior, the 6-foot-4 McAllister has emerged as a two-sport standout with potential to play either sport in college. Which one will he choose? Nobody knows.
ä See MCALLISTER, page 3C
BY JON BLAU Staff writer
At first blush, it doesn’t appear that last month’s change in NCAA eligibility rules will affect LSU football all that much.
There are just four true seniors who can now return for a fifth season in 2027 because college athletes have five years to play five. And those four players, defenders Whit Weeks, Princewill Umanmielen and Ty Benefield and wideout Jayce Brown, each find themselves one big season away from NFL draft-worthiness.
Plus, LSU’s seven redshirt seniors, by the letter of the law, aren’t eligible to return for a sixth year
But there are ways the NCAA’s attempt to simplify its eligibility rules could factor into Lane Kiffin’s build of LSU next offseason and beyond. The pool of players available via high school recruiting, roster retention, and transfer portal acquisitions just changed.
NFL or bust … but not totally
If anything, the likes of Weeks, Umanmielen, Benefield, and Brown don’t have to go pro after this season.
But some are more likely than others to consider a fifth year Benefield, the 6-foot-3, 208-pound transfer from Boise State, seems like a long shot. He’s been listed by ESPN experts as a topfive safety in the 2027 draft class. Umanmielen, the Ole Miss transfer, just
BY JEFF DUNCAN Staff writer
Soft-spoken Tillman delivers loud statement with World Cup goal
STAFF
STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRETT dUKE Country day’s Curtis McAllister, center, runs the ball as Newman’s Jack Falgoust, left, defends on Oct. 20 in New Orleans. McAllister has emerged as a two-sport standout with potential to play either sport in college.
United States midfielder Malik Tillman takes a corner kick during a World Cup match against Bosnia on Thursday in Santa Clara Calif. The United States won 2-0 to advance to the Round of 16. AP PHOTO By EAKIN HOWARd
Anisimova avoids upset in tiebreaker
BY KEN MAGUIRE AP sportswriter
LONDON Amanda Anisimova
served three of her 20 aces in the deciding tiebreaker to hold off
Sofia Kenin 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (3) and reach the third round at Wimbledon on Thursday as Kate, the Princess of Wales, visited the All England Club Anisimova, who was consoled by Kate a year ago after being routed by Iga Swiatek in the final, trailed 3-1 in the third set before she broke back in the sixth game against her fellow American.
“Some moments were really awful. I’m just so happy through to the next round,” Anisimova said on No. 2 Court.
“I never thought that I’d be saying this but thank you to my serve today,” she added. “I’m
not an amazing server Now, I can finally say I can serve pretty good.”
The sixth-seeded Anisimova whacked her racket on her leg at one point in the deciding set
“I was down 3-1 and I told myself to just keep fighting and this might be your last moments at Wimbledon just try and maybe have fun and enjoy it,” said Anisimova, who will next face 26thseeded Madison Keys. “I try to remind myself, just have fun, you are playing at Wimbledon. I do get hard on myself sometimes.”
Swiatek, who beat Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 for the 2025 title on Centre Court, needed just 70 minutes to get past 2021 Wimbledon finalist Karolina Pliskova 6-1, 6-3.
The defending champion gets Filipino rising star Alexandra Eala, who rallied to beat Maya
Joint 3-6, 6-2, 6-0, in the third round. On Tuesday, Joint spoiled Serena Williams’ singles comeback.
pants — designed to easily unbutton as you pull them off in one tug.
Clark to start third straight WNBA All-Star Game
NEWYORK Caitlin Clark was voted to start her third straight All-Star Game and will be joined by Indiana Fever teammates Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston, the WNBA announced Thursday It’s the second time in four years that three players from the same team were chosen to start the game, with Las Vegas doing it in 2023. Clark and Mitchell will be joined this year in the backcourt by Dallas’ Paige Bueckers and Minnesota rookie Olivia Miles. It’s the fourth consecutive year that a rookie was chosen as an All-Star starter Bueckers played last season.
A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Jessica Shepard, Natasha Howard and Gabby Williams were selected for the frontcourt for the game that will be played in Chicago on July 25.
St. John’s forward Freeman to miss next season
NEW YORK St. John’s forward Donnie Freeman will miss next season with an Achilles injury after getting hurt during a workout.
It’s a significant blow to the Red Storm, who landed Freeman in the transfer portal from Syracuse this offseason and were expecting him to be a top player on the 2026-27 team.
The rising junior was injured Monday and had surgery on his right Achilles tendon, the school announced Wednesday night.
“Donnie had a non-contact injury in a workout and will miss the season,” Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino posted on social media.
The 6-foot-9 Freeman averaged 15.3 points and 7.5 rebounds in 37 games over two seasons at Syracuse.
Raptors agree to multiyear contract with coach Rajakovic
Fritz emulates Tiafoe
A well-dressed Taylor Fritz impressed again, beating compatriot Patrick Kypson 6-2, 6-2, 7-5 to reach the third round.
Fritz’s white blazer and NBAstyle warmup pants for his walkon at No. 2 Court drew attention but his play wasn’t bad either — he fired 19 aces and avoided getting pushed into a fourth set
The sixth-seeded American, a semifinalist last year, emphatically pumped his right fist when he broke Kypson to convert his fourth match point Fritz also won his opener in straight sets and had worn a similar outfit with tear-away warmup
“I took it off slowly in the first round. I kind of actually made a mess of it,” Fritz said in his press conference. “It’s actually just a lot easier to just rip them off. I saw a video of Frances (Tiafoe) doing it. I was just trying to copy him today ” Later, an equally dapper Tiafoe showed how it’s done earning applause for quickly pulling off the bottoms before his match against Jan Choinksi.
Naomi Osaka’s fashion statements have made her court walkons must-see viewing at Grand Slam tournaments — Wimbledon included.
Also Thursday, both secondseeded Alexander Zverev and fifth-seeded Alex de Minaur recorded straight-set victories.
Cink, Wi share U.S. Senior Open lead after opener
BY JOE REEDY AP sportswriter
COLUMBUS,Ohio Stewart Cink got off to a great start in a bid to win his third straight senior major Cink was the only player to make five birdies on the back nine at Scioto Country Club on Thursday shooting a 3-under 67 for a share of the first-round lead in the U.S. Senior Open with Charlie Wi Cink struggled on the front nine, shooting a 2-over 37, but found momentum once he made the turn I’ve been off for a little while, and I started like I’ve been off for a little while I had to prove it to myself again that I could play decent golf a certain way,” Cink said. “The back nine was really nice. I actually could have shot quite a bit lower on the back nine. I missed three very reasonably like inside right around 10 feet or less birdie putts.” The 53-year-old Cink has four wins in nine PGA Tour Champions starts this year, including the Senior PGA Championship and the Tradition. The last player to win the Senior PGA, Tradition and U.S. Senior Open in the same year was Jack Nicklaus in 1991. Scioto, the Donald Ross course hosting its third U.S. Senior Open, is where Nicklaus learned to play the game. Simon Griffiths, Freddie Jacobson and George McNeill were tied for third at 68. Defending champion Padraig Harrington was among a group of 10 players at 69.
“Of course it’s tough, we know that, so once you get through that, the golf course itself is playing nicely,” Harrington said Cink is also attempting to be-
come the fifth player to win the event after being runner-up the previous year Fred Funk was the last to do it in 2009. Cink was part of the seventh afternoon group to tee off from the first hole and played in the tough-
est conditions of the day when the temperature reached 95 degrees midway through his round and a heat index of 103 according to the National Weather Service.
“The heat is a factor for sure. It affects your focus and your en-
ergy level Sometimes even the simplest shots just kind of it’s easy to fall asleep at the wheel when the conditions are like that,” he said. Cink tied Wi with a birdie on the par-4 18th. Cink’s tee shot found one of the bunkers on the left hand side, but he got a great lie. His second shot landed within 2 feet near the front of the hole, and made for an easy putt.
Wi was at even par through his first 11 holes before his string of birdies on holes three through seven holes. Wi made a double bogey on the par-4 eighth before ending his round with a par Wi thought his best shot came on the par-3 fourth, when he hit his tee shot within a couple feet with a 5-iron on the 205-yard hole.
“I hit the ball pretty solid today made a couple of putts. It was a hot day I just made sure that I stayed in the ballgame, meaning like mentally, because you could easily lose it out there,” he said.
Wi’s run of bridies ended on the eighth hole when his second shot went left and into the water near the green. He is the 14th player in the 46-year history of the Senior Open to have at least five straight birdies in a round. The last time it happened was in 2022 when Thongchai Jaidee birdied Nos. 5-9 at the Saucon Valley Country Club’s Old Course in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, during the third round.
The 54-year old South Korean player has nine worldwide professional victories — including five on the Korean Tour — but none on the PGA Tour or Champions circuit
TORONTO The Toronto Raptors have agreed to a multiyear contract extension with coach Darko Rajakovic, who will soon lead a team featuring Kawhi Leonard. The Raptors announced the agreement on Thursday, days after making a blockbuster deal to bring Leonard back the franchise he led to the 2019 NBA title.
Rajakovic led Toronto to 46 wins last season, guiding the team to the playoffs for the first time since 2022 before losing in Game 7 of an first-round series against Cleveland. He helped the Raptors bounce back from winning 30 or fewer games the previous two seasons under him. Rajakovic is 101-105 over three seasons with the Raptors.
Congo coach suprised to share news of father’s death
ATLANTA The death of the father of Congo coach Sébastien Desabre was revealed at a media conference after his team was eliminated from the World Cup, an announcement in public that appeared to startle the Frenchman.
Desabre had just finished taking questions from the media after Congo’s agonizing 2-1 loss to England in the round of 16 on Wednesday
The team’s spokesman then closed the session by saying in French “the coach has lost his father Sincere condolences.”
Kalemo Ngoy said Thursday the passing of Desabre’s father had been known to him before the game.
The 49-year-old Desabre has coached Congo for four years.
Horse racing great Dettori injured in car accident
NEWMARKET England Frankie Dettori, one of the most successful jockeys in horse racing history, sustained “several broken ribs and a broken thumb” in a car crash and is undergoing further tests in hospital, his representatives said Thursday
The 55-year-old Dettori was driving a car that was involved in a collision with another vehicle in Newmarket, a town in eastern England regarded as the country’s home of horse racing, H Talent Management said in a statement.
“Frankie was taken to hospital, where he was found to have sustained several broken ribs and a broken thumb,” the agency said. The Italian jockey, who famously went through the
ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By BRIAN INGANGA
Amanda Anisimova of the United States returns the ball to Sofia Kenin of the United States in their second round women’s singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships on Thursday in London.
ASSOCIATEd PRESS FILE PHOTO By FRANK FRANKLIN II Stewart Cink hits from the first fairway during the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15 in Newtown Square, Pa. Cink shot a 3-under 67 for a share of the first-round lead in the U.S Senior Open on Thursday.
“Maybe they just want me to go play football at Ole Miss or something like that,” McAllister said.
“I may I may not. I’m not sure.”
Given his father’s career a first-round pick out of Ole Miss who ended his Saints career as the franchise’s rushing leader — many assume football is the obvious path.
“On the football side of it, he’s an SEC football player, period,” Powell said. “He can play Saturdays in that league — Saturdays in the Big Ten. Now, of course, you never want to project anything past that.”
He also has a future in basketball after participating in last week’s Nike Elite 100 camp in St. Louis, Missouri, an event for the nation’s top prep players.
“He knows that he’s got a chance to do something special in either sport,” Country Day basketball coach Mike McGuire said. “He may grow another inch or two (and choose basketball). He may get like Deuce — 15 more pounds of muscle If that happens, he’s going to pick his sport.” Basketball, like football, is in the bloodlines. McAllister’s mother, Danielle McAllister, was a defensive-minded standout at Flint (Mich.) Northern High School in the 1990s and played on two SWAC championship teams at Alcorn State in the early 2000s. On the basketball court, McAllister plays more like mom than dad.
“She says that I get all my defense from her,” McAllister said with a smile.
His aggressiveness and physicality are most like what she brought to the floor, she said
“Always on his toes, shuffling his feet, active hands,” Danielle said. “Playing the passing lanes. Making sure you have the right angles.” It was McAllister’s play on defense that put him in the starting lineup late in his freshman season.
“He’s just so disruptive,” McGuire said. “And he’s real long — longer than most people think.”
McAllister ended that season with the LHSAA outstanding player award for his 17 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals in the state finals victory over top-seeded Calvary Baptist. He keyed another title run last season, scoring on a one-handed put-back dunk that helped carry momentum in a last-second semifinal win against Dunham
“He’s gotten so many and-1s at the rim,” McGuire said. “And then his dunk — that turned the whole momentum of the game.”
McAllister gets plenty of di-
rection at home with two former athletes as parents His younger brother, Emory, is a skilled point guard entering seventh grade.
Older brother Kaleb won a high school powerlifting state title in Mississippi and is now a defensive lineman at Tuskegee University
“There’s a lot of teaching going on,” Danielle said. “I don’t know if he always likes it Not a lot of letting things go when you’re not doing something right.”
Deuce’s guidance has him focused on the here and now
“You want to keep your head down and work,” Deuce said.
“If you’re being honest about it, you’re proud and pleased and thankful for the success you have. At the end of the day, it’s really just understanding and knowing if you’re going to be successful a long time, every day you’re getting one percent better.”
McAllister has been into basketball for as long as he can remember He first dunked during warmups before a sixth-grade game. His first in-game dunk came in an eighth-grade game at Country Day
“I like the pace and how one player can control the entire game,” McAllister said. “I like shooting the ball, scoring, a lot of that. It’s fun.”
McAllister has always been taller than most kids his age. He played defensive end, linebacker and running back in his first season of tackle football in seventh grade—eventually moving to wide receiver and defensive back, where he could put his high reach and ranginess to good use.
He also has potential in track and field. McAllister tried the triple jump as a freshman and fell three inches short of qualifying for the state meet without any training.
“The coaches just threw me in the event and said, ‘Go try and jump,’” McAllister said, recalling how his “technique was terrible. I think I was landing on my butt and everything.” Come August, McAllister’s attention turns fully to football.
With two high school seasons still ahead, there’s still time before any college decision becomes official.
“If Deuce calls anybody (and says), ‘My son wants to play football, give him a scholarship,’ he’s going to get a scholarship,” McGuire said Deuce is not looking to speed up the recruiting process
“Recruiting, it’s good and bad,”
Deuce said. You see so many kids, so young they have opportunities, and they forget what got them those opportunities. I want him to be a kid as long as he can.”
Whatever he chooses, it will be his decision
“We’ll see,” McAllister said.
Coliseum in Lake Charles.
SAINTS
Continued from page 1C
the Carolina Panthers. Mitchell is one of just eight linebackers in the Saints franchise history to make the Pro Bowl. He finished his NFL career with one-year tenures with the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars. At Texas A&M, Mitchell was a member of the famed “Wrecking Crew” defense from 1993-96. He earned All-Southwest Conference honors in 1995 and was an All-Big 12 selection and College Football News All-America selection in 1996. A native of Garland, Texas, he ranked fourth in A&M history with 34 career sacks, including 14.5 during his senior season. The 1996 total is tied for the sixth most in A&M history for single-season sacks Mitchell was inducted into the Texas A&M Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.
Oyarzabal’s 2 goals send dominant Spain past Austria
BY GREG BEACHAM AP sportswriter
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Mikel Oyarzabal scored two goals and Spain beat Austria 3-0 on Thursday for its first World Cup victory in a knockout match since winning the title in 2010.
Pedro Porro added a goal in the second half for Spain, which put on its most impressive performance of the tournament while dominating possession and demonstrating the offensive creativity across its vaunted lineup.
Spain also has yet to allow a goal at this year’s World Cup. Unai Simón didn’t have to make a save while keeping his fourth consecutive clean sheet, since Austria failed to get a shot on target.
“I’m happy to have helped the team for us to go through another round,” Oyarzabal said. “Now just rest and get ready for the next one. It was a complicated match. We knew that it was going to be difficult against a very physical team, but we had a very good day and played a good match.”
La Roja will next face the winner of Portugal’s match against Croatia in Dallas on Monday in the round of 16.
Lamine Yamal had four of Spain’s 10 shots on goal while getting wild cheers from the pro-Spanish sellout crowd at SoFi Stadium. The 18-year-old Barcelona sensation played his longest stretch of the tournament before coming off in the 85th minute, moments after Austria defender David Alaba deflected Yamal’s hard shot off the goal line.
Spain got its marquee offense from Oyarzabal, the Real Sociedad captain who doubled his goal total at this year’s World Cup by opening the scoring in the 36th minute and clinching the victory in the 89th. Marc Cucurella had assists
Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal during a World Cup match against Austria on Friday in Inglewood Calif Spain won 3-0 to advance to the Round of 16.
on both of Oyarzabal’s goals, demonstrating an excellent connection from the left side.
“The great teams step up when it’s needed,” Spain coach Luis De La Fuente said. “We played a great match. We came close to perfection, but we must keep improving. There is always room for improvement, because every upcoming match will be very difficult.”
Goalkeeper Alexander Schlager made six saves in an outstanding performance for Austria, which reached the knockout rounds of its first World Cup since 1998 by squeaking out a late draw with an injury-time goal against Algeria. Coach Ralf Rangnick’s team
hasn’t won a knockout match at the World Cup since 1954.
After an unbeaten group stage that still didn’t quiet the questions about this star-laden team’s championship potential, Spain is firmly back in World Cup contention for the first time since winning it all in South Africa 16 years ago. Spain lost two knockout matches and got eliminated in the group stage over the past three World Cups. Spain is now unbeaten 35 straight competitive matches since March 2023. La Roja won the 2023 Nations League and the 2024 European Championship in that stretch, but also lost the 2025 Nations League final on penalties to Portugal.
LSU steals 4-star DB James from Texas
BY JON BLAU Staff writer
LSU didn’t have a defensive back commit in its 2027 class.
Until the Tigers got “Greedy.”
On Thursday, Lane Kiffin and Co. reached into the state of Texas to flip four-star Karnell “Greedy” James from a commitment to the Longhorns. The Manvel, Texas, native had pledged to his in-state program in December James, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound defensive back, is the 15th commit in the Tigers’ 2027 class, including the third on the defensive side of
WORLD CUP
Continued from page 1C
a quiet kid, but he’s just come on leaps and bounds.”
Tillman is the son of an American serviceman and German mother and grew up in Germany playing on the Bayern Munich youth squad and the German national youth team before making the switch to the U.S. team in 2022. His big moment came last summer in the Gold Cup when he scored two goals against Trinidad and Tobago and another against Haiti in the group stage. He then
NCAA
Continued from page 1C
ranked third in the SEC with nine sacks last season, along with 13 tackles for loss. If the edge rusher stacks productive seasons, he’s likely to be a Day 1 or Day 2 pick at what NFL teams regard as a premium position. But in this era of name, image, and likeness (NIL) and revenuesharing pay, athletes with a Day 3 grade could realistically earn more money playing a fifth year in college than they would manning an NFL practice squad. This could factor into decisionmaking for not only the quartet of true seniors on LSU’s roster but also fourth-years across the country, which should have ripple effects in the player market Kiffin and Co. will pull from in Year 2.
There may be an uptick in fringe NFL players aiming to play a fifth season elsewhere, either because they want to maximize their earning potential or their current pro-
gram decided to allocate scholarship and NIL resources elsewhere.
LSU, which acquired 40-plus transfers this offseason, hasn’t been shy about adding college veterans. And the Tigers could continue to be aggressive if their 2027 recruiting class, which currently has 15 commits, remains on the smaller side. Whether it’s bringing back a senior or two for a fifth year or collecting transfers from elsewhere, LSU could increase the average age of its roster, hoping to increase its odds of winning in the near term.
Recalibrating the development timeline
There’s no change for the 22 redshirt juniors on LSU’s roster because they still have one season to play in 2027, barring some unforeseen lawsuit where redshirted athletes argue they were unjustly sidelined and a court grants them a sixth year Without dispute, LSU has 12 true juniors who not only have this year
the ball. LSU already has top-50 national prospects KJ Green and Chris Whitehead in the fold at defensive end.
If James has his way, the Tigers could add another five-star recruit. He was asked during his 274Sports commitment livestream if he’s recruiting anyone to come with him to Baton Rouge, and James pointed to one of the Longhorns’ current receiver commits.
“Definitely my dog, Easton Royal, for sure,” James said of the fivestar wideout from New Orleans, who is ranked as the No. 6 overall recruit in the 247Sports Compos-
missed a penalty kick in the first half of the quarterfinals against Costa Rica before making one in the penalty shootout that sent the U.S. to the semifinals.
“The Gold Cup was really huge for him,” Ream said. “I think the adversity of the Costa Rica game, the penalty was really big for him. Now you look at him and he looks like he’s just playing such an easy game. It’s incredible to see. He’s had that in him all this time. It was just a matter of him finding the confidence and him believing in himself.”
This past year wasn’t easy for him after he moved from PSV Eindhoven to Bayer Leverkusen in a transfer worth a reported $41
to play but two more after that.
There are 12 true sophomores who have four seasons remaining, and there are 17 true freshmen who don’t have to worry about the fourgame redshirt rule anymore.
The latter was important to coaches because rosters will be hard-capped at 105 players once walk-ons grandfathered into the House settlement depart. Freshman availability is essential for depth, while sophomores and juniors now have more time to develop.
Sophomore safety Faheem Delane, who played his freshman season at Ohio State, still has four years to chase greatness similar to his brother, Mansoor Sophomore receiver Winston Watkins, who came from Ole Miss, has four years in Kiffin’s LSU offense.
Junior defensive tackle Dominick McKinley who just started flashing his five-star potential in 2025, has three seasons left to reach his ceiling.
That’s not to say any of these players, specifically will stay all five years. But several fifth-
ite. “We’ve always been talking. James is an intriguing prospect himself with a reported 6-6 wingspan. He has the length and range to play safety, which is where he has predominantly lined up at Manvel High in 2025, but James also has the versatility to play cornerback.
As a high school junior, James posted 53 tackles, two interceptions, and six pass breakups, as well as two punt return touchdowns.
Email Jon Blau at jon.blau@ theadvocate.com.
million. He had six goals and one assist in 29 games in the Bundesliga and scoring two more in the Champions League. His biggest goal came Wednesday night when he became the first American man to score off a free kick in a World Cup since Eric Wynalda in the 1994 opener against Switzerland.
“It was amazing,” coach Mauricio Pochettino said. “I think Malik is an amazing player, full of talent. We knew that he has the talent to do what he did. I’m so happy for him Tough season for him in Leverkusen but I think now he’s enjoying and we are enjoying and the fans are enjoying his football.”
year seniors could decide to stick around in the coming years, sort of like athletes with added eligibility from COVID, which will have a similar downstream effect. There will be fewer scholarship opportunities for high school athletes if current college players stick around longer Schools, however, will have more seasoned athletes if coaching staffs identify talent correctly and maximize all five years of development.
For example, Lamar Brown, Deuce Geralds, and Richard Anderson were probably going to be turned loose for LSU’s D-line in 2026 regardless, but there’s no need to wonder if one will be shut down after four games to preserve a redshirt. There are no redshirts.
From week to week, the best players can play — regardless of whether they are on a three-, four-, or five-year development track.
The 5-for-5 rule has certainly changed a coach’s calculus.
Email Jon Blau at jon.blau@theadvocate.com.
STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRAd KEMP
Country day guard Curtis McAllister right steals the ball from Calvary Baptist guard Robert Wright, left, during their LHSAA Boy’s division III Select Championship game on March 14 at Burton
ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By JAE C. HONG
LSU set to play in Live Like Lou Las Vegas Classic
BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer
LSU baseball will face Oregon State, Iowa and Arizona State at the 2027 Live Like Lou College Baseball Classic from March 5-7, tournament officials announced on Thursday
All three games will be played at Las Vegas Ballpark, the home of the Las Vegas Aviators, the Athletics’ Triple-A minor league affiliate.
The dates and first pitch times for each matchup have not yet been revealed.
After the tournament, LSU will remain in Las Vegas on March 8 to face UNLV at Earl E. Wilson Stadium on the university’s campus. Last season, LSU played its midseason tournament in Jacksonville, Florida. The Tigers took
down Indiana, Kansas State and UCF before returning home, as their three victories capped off an 8-0 start to the season.
LSU has won 10 consecutive nonconference games held at neutralsite tournaments. The last loss the Tigers suffered came in 2023 at the hands of Iowa at the Round Rock Classic in Texas.
LSU’s loss to the Hawkeyes is the last time the two sides have faced each other The Tigers haven’t played Oregon State since the 2023 Baton Rouge regional, when they took down the Beaves twice on their way to winning a national championship
LSU last faced Arizona State for a two-game set in 2005. The Tigers won both of those mid-March matchups at Alex Box Stadium, winning 6-5 and 20-3.
the ball to get LSU batter Tre’ Morgan out at first on June 5, 2023, at Alex Box Stadium.
Brown set to form All-Star trio with Embiid, Maxey in Philadelphia
BY DAN GELSTON AP sportswriter
PHILADELPHIA — Reeling from an early exit in the NBA playoffs, Jaylen Brown was still a Boston Celtics star when he dissed Joel Embiid and called him a flopper on a livestream.
“Joel Embiid is a great player, one of the best bigs in (expletive) basketball history,” Brown said. “Flops. He know it. This ain’t breaking news.”
Did someone say breaking news?
Brown might have to make amends with Embiid now that they are teammates on the 76ers in the wake of an out-of-nowhere trade that rocked the NBA and again positions Philadelphia as an instant contender for the franchise’s first NBA title since 1983
You know, because trying to win it all with a hired gun worked so well for the Sixers with Paul George. And James Harden. And Jimmy Butler
All flops of the postseason kind in Philly
The Sixers have another star to pair with Embiid — and the true franchise cornerstones in All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey and secondyear standout VJ Edgecombe — after new team president of basketball operations Mike Gansey pulled off a whale of a move in his
first month on the job Brown the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, a five-time All-Star and the league’s fourth-leading scorer this past season — is getting traded by the Celtics to the Sixers, a person with knowledge of the deal’s terms said Wednesday Boston is getting George, along with a slew of draft capital that could become two first-round picks and two second-round picks, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on con-
dition of anonymity because the trade does not yet have the required league approvals.
“I’m still processing how this all went down,” Brown wrote in a statement released Thursday “I’m excited and disappointed at the same time. I earned my respect from this city I never asked for shortcuts or special treatment. I simply showed up every day, put my head down, and accepted every challenge. Without a game played, the Six-
ers are the early winners in this deal.
Gansey somehow shed the two years and $110 million left on the oft-injured and aging George’s deal for a bona fide superstar who was sixth in the NBA MVP voting this past season. The 36-year-old George who was suspended 25 games for flunking a drug test — played in only 78 total games for the Sixers and has played more than 56 in a season only one time since 2019. His contract seemed immovable Suddenly — as they say in Boston — anything is possible in Philadelphia.
Gansey continued his summer shopping spree on Thursday when the Sixers agreed to terms on a twoyear, $12.3 million deal with guard Anfernee Simons, adding him to a list this week that includes former Knicks center Ariel Hukporti and veteran Cavaliers forward Dean Wade a person with knowledge of the agreements told the AP, speaking on condition of anonymity because the deals cannot be signed until the league’s offseason moratorium is lifted on Monday The Celtics had to move on from Brown after they dangled him as trade bait to Milwaukee in a failed bid to land Giannis Antetokounmpo from Milwaukee.
Following the first round of the NBA draft, Boston president of
SCOREBOARD
8-1) at Arizona (Cabrera 0-1), 8:45 p.m. San Diego (King 5-7) at L.A. Dodgers (Ohtani 8-2) 9:10 p.m.
p.m. Chicago at Las Vegas, 9 p.m. Pro tennis Wimbledon results
London Purse: £30,060,000 Surface: Grass Men’s singles Second Round Alex de Minaur (5), Australia, def. Adrian Mannarino, France, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. Taylor Fritz (6), United States, def. Patrick Kypson, United States, 6-2, 6-2, 7-5. Arthur Fery, Britain, def. Otto Virtanen, Finland, 5-7, 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-3. Lorenzo Sonego, Italy, def. Gabriel Diallo, Canada, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (6), 6-2. Zizou Bergs, Belgium, def. Jaime Faria, Portugal, 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Zachary Svajda, United States, def. Kamil Majchrzak, Poland, 2-6, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3. Marcos Giron, United States, def. Quentin Halys, France, 7-6 (5), 6-3, 6-4. Alexander Zverev (2), Germany, def. Valentin Royer, France, 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (3) Jaume Munar, Spain, def. Jacob Fearnley Britain, 6-4, 7-6 (3), 6-4. Karen Khachanov (19), Russia, def. Yannick Hanfmann, Germany, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Matteo Berrettini, Italy, def. Arthur Fils (20) France, 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3. Flavio Cobolli (9), Italy, def. James Duckworth, Australia, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-1. Jiri Lehecka (13), Czechia, def. Alex Molcan, Slovakia, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. Alexander Bublik (10), Kazakhstan, def. Kyrian Jacquet, France, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (5) Frances Tiafoe (17), United States, def. Jan Choinski, Britain, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5, 6-2. Grigor Dimitrov, Bulgaria, def. Jakub Mensik (15), Czechia, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. Women’s singles Second Round Daria Snigur, Ukraine, def. Leolia Jeanjean, France, 6-4, 6-3. Marie Bouzkova (21), Czechia, def. Tyra Caterina Grant, Italy, 7-5, 6-3. Emma Navarro (23), United States, def. Oksana Selekhmeteva, Russia, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1. Liudmila Samsonova, Russia, def. Diana Shnaider (15), Russia, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. Ashlyn Krueger, United States, def. Mariam Bolkvadze, Georgia, 6-1, 6-0. Madison Keys (26), United States, def. Katie
Swan, Britain, 6-1, 6-4. Iga Swiatek (3), Poland, def. Karolina Pliskova, Czechia, 6-1, 6-3. Alexandra Eala (29), Philippines, def. Maya Joint, Australia, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0. Marta Kostyuk (12), Ukraine, def. Anna Blinkova, Russia, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3. Amanda Anisimova (6), United States, def. Sofia Kenin, United States, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (3). Maria Sakkari, Greece, def. Kamilla Rakhimova, Russia, 6-3, 0-6, 7-6 (7). Elise Mertens (25), Belgium, def. Maria Timofeeva, Russia, 2-6, 6-3, 6-0. Sorana Cirstea (17), Romania, def. Kimberly Birrell, Australia, 6-3, 6-4. Elena Rybakina (2), Kazakhstan, def. Caty McNally, United States, 6-1, 6-2. Jasmine Paolini (13), Italy, def. Viktorija Golubic, Switzerland, 7-6 (0), 6-4. Linda Noskova (9), Czechia, def. Camila Osorio, Colombia, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2. Men’s doubles First Round Albano Olivetti and Theo Arribage (10), France, def. Rafael Matos and Orlando Luz, Brazil, 6-3, 6-2. Hendrik Jebens, Germany, and Ray Ho, Taiwan, def. Robin Haase, Netherlands, and Constantin Frantzen, Germany, 6-4, 7-6 (4). Marcel Granollers, Spain, and Horacio Zeballos (2), Argentina, def. John Peers, Australia and Robert Galloway, United States, 7-6 (5), 6-3. Sander Gille, Belgium, and Sem Verbeek Netherlands, def. Marcelo Demoliner, Brazil, and N. Sriram Balaji, India, 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4. Petr Nouza, Czechia, and Neil Oberleitner, Austria, def. Evan King, United States, and Andre Goransson, Sweden, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (7), 6-3. Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela, Mexico, and Ivan Liutarevich, Belarus, def. Matthew Christopher Romios, Australia, and Benjamin Kittay, United States, 6-1, 6-3. Marco Trungelliti, Argentina, and Ignacio Buse, Peru, def. Anirudh Chandrasekar, India, and Takeru Yuzuki, Japan, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (7). Jean-Julien Rojer, Netherlands, and Theodore Winegar, United States, def. Michael Venus, New Zealand, and Yuki Bhambri, India, 6-3, 6-4. Robert Cash and James Tracy (12), United States, def. Nicolas Barrientos, Colombia and Nuno Borges, Portugal, 6-3, 6-4. Fabien Reboul and Sadio Doumbia (13), France, def. Vasil Kirkov, United States, and Bart Stevens, Netherlands, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3. Botic Van de Zandschulp and Tallon Griekspoor, Netherlands, def. David Pel and Sander Arends (15), Netherlands, 6-4, 6-4. Thiago Agustin Tirante and Roman Andres Burruchaga, Argentina, def. Dino Prizmic, Croatia, and Raphael Collignon, Belgium, walkover. Guido Andreozzi, Argentina, and Manuel Guinard (8), France, def. Pablo Carreno Busta and Jaume Munar, Spain, 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-1. Women’s doubles First Round Ulrikke Eikeri, Norway, and Quinn Gleason (15), United States, def. Darija Jurak Schreiber and Antonia Ruzic, Croatia, 6-0, 6-3. Aleksandra Krunic, Serbia, and Anna Danilina (3), Kazakhstan, def. Yulia Putintseva Kazakhstan, and Leylah Fernandez, Canada 6-2, 1-6, 6-3. Lyudmyla Kichenok, Ukraine, and Desirae Krawczyk (11), United States, def. Renata Zarazua, Mexico, and Oleksandra Oliynykova, Ukraine, 6-1, 6-0. Eudice Chong, Hong Kong, China, and Anastasia Tikhonova, Russia, def. Ann Li, United States, and Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Italy, 6-3, 7-6 (3). Kristina Mladenovic, France, and Hanyu Guo (10), China, def. Jodie Burrage and Mika Stojsavljevic, Britain, 6-3, 7-5. Yuliia Starodubtseva, Ukraine, and Peyton Stearns, United States, def. Panna Udvardy
basketball operations Brad Stevens declined to say how close the team got to executing a trade for Brown. But he said he still viewed Brown as part of the Celtics’ future. It’s why the team sat down recently with Brown recently, who currently overseas.
“Jaylen Brown is a big part of us. I don’t want to predict the future. I look at it as this is our team,” Stevens said.
He’s now a big part of the plan in Philadelphia, a franchise that seemed stuck in the mud after it was swept by the eventual NBA champion Knicks in the second round — after rallying from 3-1 down to topple Boston in the first round — and was third among sportsbooks late Wednesday night to win the Eastern Conference. Gansey said last month that he wasn’t concerned the Sixers were traveling on two timelines — a win-now mode while Embiid and George were nearing the end of their deals versus dealing with the long term of trying to find pieces that can contribute in the future while Maxey is the undisputed leader of the team and Edgecombe is entering his prime.
“They’re our four guys,” Gansey said. “They’re under contract. We’ve got to do the best to get them to their best selves. I think every night, at 7 o’clock, we’ve got to get them to their best to help us.”
Hungary, and Isabelle Haverlag, Netherlands, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Shuko Aoyama, Japan, and En-Shuo Liang (13), Taiwan, def. Zeynep Sonmez, Turkiye, and Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, Spain, 5-7, 6-2, 6-2. Hsieh Su-wei, Taiwan, and Wang Xinyu, China, def. Alicia Dudeney and Mingge Xu, Britain, 6-3, 6-4. Sara Sorribes Tormo, Spain, and Marie Bouzkova, Czechia, def. Anastasia Potapova Russia, and Lilli Tagger, Austria, 6-2, 6-0. Ingrid Neel, Estonia, and Giuliana Olmos, Mexico, def. Eri Hozumi, Japan, and FangHsien Wu, Taiwan, 6-3, 6-2. Alexandra Panova, Russia, and Magali Kempen, Belgium, def. Magda Linette, Poland, and Iva Jovic, United States, 6-7 (0), 6-1, 7-5. Taylor Townsend, United States, and Katerina Siniakova (1), Czechia, def. Hao-Ching Chan, Taiwan, and Clara Tauson, Denmark, 6-4, 6-0. Aldila Sutjiadi and Janice Tjen, Indonesia, def. Harriet Dart and Maia Lumsden, Britain, 6-3, 6-4. Jesika Maleckova and Miriam Skoch, Czechia, def. Olivia Nicholls, Britain, and Tereza Mihalikova (12), Slovakia, 6-2, 7-6 (3). Vera Zvonareva, Russia, and Laura Siegemund (7), Germany, def. Amelia Rajecki and Madeleine Brooks, Britain, 6-4, 6-2. Ekaterina Alexandrova, Russia, and Maya Joint, Australia, def. Veronika Erjavec, Slovenia, and Petra Marcinko, Croatia, 6-2, 6-4. Katarzyna Piter, Poland, and Anna Siskova, Czechia, def. Heather Watson and Katie Boulter, Britain, 6-4, 6-7 (10), 6-3. Jelena Ostapenko,
Oregon State first baseman Garret Forrester gloves
STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON
ASSOCIATEd PRESS FILE PHOTO By CHARLES KRUPA
Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown drives to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, right, during a game on Oct. 22 in Boston.
PATRIOTISM, POPAND MORE
Trio to usherin Fourth of July at the Manship
BY JOHN WIRT
Contributing writer
The Victory Belles transport audiences to the1940s,during World WarII, whenUSO shows boosted morale for American soldiers,sailors and Marines serving in thefight against fascism. Through their songs, choreography,fashion and between-song patter,The National WWII Museum’sVictoryBelles —and Victory Swing Orchestra andVictory Band —recreate the war years’ music and patriotic spirit.
“Welike to call ourselves the living history portion of the museum,” Victory Belle Andrea Pizza said.“We’re still teaching history,but the fun part of it.”
Inspired by the United Service Organizations, akaUSO, the Victory Belles first deployed at the museum’sBB’s Stage Door Canteen in 2009. TheBellescurrently headline thecanteen’s “SalutetoHope” show,atribute to that indefatigable entertainer of U.S. militarypersonnel, Bob Hope.
from left, AndreaPizza and Gabrielle Treas will takethe stageatthe Manship Theatre in Baton Rougefor aFourth of July Eveconcert.
Friday,Fourth of JulyEve,the Victory Belles will join the sixpiece Victory Band at the Manship Theatre in BatonRouge. Whilethe museum in New Orleans is the Belles’ homebase, demand is such that more thana dozen singers perform as Belles, making 250 appearances ayear, at the museum, in the New Orleans area and as far afield as Hawaii and Normandy,France
“We’re busy,” Pizza said. “During Christmas, sometimes this feels like afull-time job, because there are so many gigs to go around. We’re always up forit.”
Enlistment in theVictory Belles requires vocalists to sing three-part harmony of the kind famously crooned by the Andrews Sisters (“Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” “Don’tSit Under the Apple Tree (with Anyone Else but Me)”). Every iteration of the Belles contains asoprano, second soprano and alto. At theManship, Pizza is singing alto alongside sopranos Shelby ä See BELLES, page 6C
THE VICTORYBELLES
7:30 p.m. Friday l Manship Theatre, 100 Lafayette St., Baton Rouge l $30-$50 l manshiptheatre.org
John Schneider will performat the America 250 on the River concert.
STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRAdKEMP
Rockin’ dopsie Jr.gets thecrowd readyfor the 4 Generations of the dopsie Family band during Festivals Acadiens et Creoles at Girard Park in 2025. dopsie will bring his Zydeco Twisters to perform5p.m.Saturday at theAmerica 250 on the River concertinBaton Rouge.
AMERICA’STURNING
BY JUDYBERGERON Staff writer
Touchesofred,white andblue have been popping up on homes and businesses in Baton Rouge for weeks. Louisiana’scapital city is doing it up big, joining the rest of the country forthe America 250 commemoration.
The series of patriotic events marks the 250th anniversary of the signingofthe Declaration of Independence and celebrates the people, places andevents that shaped the nation’shistory
Thebiggest of theparties is the America 250th on theRiver concert on Saturday,startingat2 p.m.inRepentance Park between Louisiana’s Old StateCapitol and the Raising
Here are14eventsinthe BR area to celebratethe red, whiteand blue
erupt over the riveraspeople gather near the Sing the River Sculpture on River Road for Fireworks on the Mississippi in 2025.
LEFT: Amanda Shawwill performduring the America 250th on the River concert at 3:30 p.m. Saturday
Cane’sRiver Center in downtown Baton Rouge.
Patriotic music is the order of the day with performers including:
n The U.S. Marine Corps Concert Band, 2:15 p.m.,performing patrioticfavoritesand honoring the nation’smilitary heritage through a stirring musical tribute.
By
riders throwbeads and candyas the annual Kenilworth Independence dayparaderolls throughthe namesakeneighborhood last year
n Amanda Shaw, 3:30 p.m., with Louisiana’scelebrated fiddler,singer and songwriter blending Cajun, rock,country and pop music.
n Rockin’ Dopsie Jr.& TheZydeco Twisters, 5p.m a high-energyshow from the internationally acclaimed ambassadors of Louisiana zydeco music.
n JohnSchneider, 6:30 p.m. The actor/producer/singer whoformerly called Louisiana home hashad asuccessfulcountry musiccareer,whichincludes multiple No. 1hits.
ä See EVENTS, page 6C
BY JUDYBERGERON
Fireworks
STAFF FILE PHOTOByMICHAEL JOHNSON
PROVIdEd PHOTO VictoryBelles Shelbydonovan,
STAFF FILEPHOTO
HILARy SCHEINUK
By The Associated Press
Today is Friday, July 3, the 184th day of 2026. There are 181 days left in the year
Today’shighlight in history:
On July 3, 1863, the Civil WarBattle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania ended in a major victory for the North as Confederate troops failed to breach Union positions during an assault known as Pickett’sCharge.
Also on this date:
In 1775, Gen. George Washington took command of the Continental Army at Cambridge, Massachusetts.
In 1944, during World WarII, Soviet forces recaptured Minsk from the Germans.
In 1950, the first carrier strikes of the Korean War took place as the USS Valley Forge and the HMS Triumph sent fighter planes
EVENTS
Continued from page5C
n Wayne Toups, 8p.m., the Grammy Award-winning musician widely recognized as the “King of ZydeCajun,” has been fusing Cajun music, zydeco and rock for more than four decades.
The eveningwill culminate at 9p.m. with the Visit Baton Rouge and WBRZ Fireworks on the Mississippi, lighting up the downtown skyline. The fireworks also will streamonWBRZ+, WBRZ. com, and WBRZ News2’s YouTube Channel
The concert is hosted by theLouisianaAmerica 250 Commission and Officeof the Lieutenant Governor in partnership with the Office of the East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President, the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge and Visit Baton Rouge Admission is free.
America 250th on the River is only the beginning of the many celebrations in and around Baton Rouge on Independence Day.Note that all events take place on Saturday unless otherwise noted.
Aneighborhood tradition
The Kenilworth Civic Association again starts off the Independence Daycelebration aday early with its annual parade at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
With the theme “Celebrating America’s250th,” the patriotic procession starts and ends at McKinley Senior High, 7600 Boone Drive, and runs almost 2miles through the Kenilworth neighborhood.
Mary and Mike Surman areresidentsofthe year, and Jay Dardenne is the parade grand marshal. For more info, go to kenilworthneighborhood. com/parade.html.
Partywithaview
Tsunami’sTerrace Bash runs from 6p.m. to 10 p.m. on the rooftop of the Shaw Center for the Arts, 100 Lafayette St. Kick back with music by DJ MEOWMIX. Aseparate bar service will be available on the terrace, also agreat place to stick around to watch Fireworks on the Mississippi.
BELLES
Continued from page5C
Donovan and Gabrielle Treas
“That makes the sound so full, and Ilove it,” she said of the close harmonies.
Concertgoers canexpect pop and swing music, patriotic selections and asalute to the U.S. Army,Navy and Marines.Selections include vintage hits by the Andrews Sisters, Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Shore, Rosemary Clooney and more.
Pizza, like most of theVictory Belles, comes fromthe New Orleans area, specifically Slidell. Before the Belles, she studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York City and appeared in theater productions at LSU while pursuing adegree in mass communication.
Pizza was at LSU when she learned the WWII Museum was holding auditions for
TODAYINHISTORY
against NorthKorean targets.
In 1971, singer Jim Morrison of The Doors died in Paris at age 27.
In 1979, Dan White, convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the shooting deaths of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, was sentenced to seven years and eight months in prison.
In 1986, President Ronald Reagan presided over agala ceremony in New York Harbor thatsaw the relighting of the renovated Statue of Liberty. In 1988, the USS Vincennes shot down an Iran Airjetliner over the Persian Gulf, killing all 290 people aboard. In 2011, Novak Djokovic won his first Wimbledon, beating defending champion Rafael Nadal. Today’sbirthdays: Attorney
General admission tickets are$31.51 and availableat eventbrite.com
Call it an extravaganza
Louisiana’s Old State Capitol, 100 NorthBlvd., will host aday of family fun from 9a.m.to5 p.m.There will be games, karaoke, crafts and exhibits. Also check out the original Louisiana Purchasedocumentsigned by NapoleonBonaparte. On loan from the National Archives andRecords Administration, Washington, D.C., the documentwill return to its home onJuly 11.Free
Raiseaglass
Jointhe Do TheRed, White, &BrewPub CrawlatSomewhere Neighborhood Bar, 214 Third St., from 4:30 p.m. to 9p.m. Look for contests andprizes. No tickets will be sold at the door.Order them ($24.43) at eventbrite.com.
Strike up theband!
Would it really be the Fourthof July without the BatonRouge Concert Band? Onceagain,thelongtimecommunity symphonic band will perform in theoutside plaza of the Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd.
The free 7p.m. concert, expected to last 21/2 hours, also celebrates the nation’s 250th anniversary “Bring your chairs, refreshments and patriotic spirit for anight filled with uplifting tunes,”statesa newsrelease. “This free, family-friendly eventwillfeature arousing selection of American classics,marches andtributes thatcelebratethe enduring spirit,history and prideof theUnited States Can’tmakeittothe concert? Watch live onlineatfacebook com/ events/1016735014281755.
Betonthis
L’Auberge Baton Rouge will host its annualFireworks Extravaganza on Saturday,offering live music, food, and afireworks show.
Lawn viewing is free of charge. Soulful BatonRouge singer and former “American Idol” finalist Jovin Webb will perform. Webb’s second album, “Son of aSinner,”is due out Sept.18.
singers who could perform 1940s music.
“Because myvoicehas thatsound and Ilovethis music,” she said, Ithought, ‘That’s me.’”
Pizza made her WWII Museum debut in thecast of “Let Freedom Swing,” the inaugural revueatBB’s Stage Door Canteen.“Saving Private Ryan”starTom Hanks, the museum’smost famous supporter, was inthe audience.
Pizza’slove for 1940s musicdates to watching the 1954 moviemusical “White Christmas” on TV with her family when she was5 years old. Bing Crosby,Danny Kaye, RosemaryClooney and Vera-Ellen star in the film classic, singingsongs by Irving Berlin.
“I wanted to watch ‘White Christmas’ all day,every day,” Pizza said. “I wanted to learn all the songsand the dances. It started there and kept snowballing for me.”
FRIDAY
Gloria Allred is 85. Actor Kurtwood Smithis83. Countrysinger Johnny Lee is 80. Humorist Dave Barry is 79. Actor Betty Buckley is 79. Talk show hostMontel Williams is 70. Countrysinger Aaron Tippin is 68. Rock musician Vince Clarke (Depeche Mode, Yaz, Erasure) is 66. Actor TomCruiseis64.
Actor Connie Nielsen is 61. Actor Yeardley Smith is 62. Actor-singer AudraMcDonald is 56. Hockey Hall of Famer Teemu Selanne is 56. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is 55. Actor Patrick Wilson is 53. Former mixed martial artist Wanderlei Silva is 50. Actor Olivia Munn is 46. Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel is 39. Rock singersongwriter Elle King is 37. Actor Mia McKenna-Bruce is 29. Actor SaraWaisglass is 28. Dancer and actor Corinne Joy is 19.
Moreinfo at lbatonrouge. com.
Westside fun
FourthFest will return to the Mississippi River levee in Port Allen from 4p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Activities include face painting, magicians, clowns,space walks for kids, food anddrinks, live entertainment anda watchspotfor Fireworks on the Mississippi. Partyinthe park
The City of Walker’s250th
Celebration in the Park will run from2 p.m. to dark at SidneyHutchinsonPark, 13750 Ball ParkRoad.
The free, family event will include:
n Vendor market
n Food trucks
n Children’svillage
n Livemusic
n DJ entertainment
n Hot dog eating contest
n Watermelon eating contest
n Fireworks finale at dark.
“Bring your lawn chairs and spend theday with family and friends,” aFacebook post states.
Free parking will be available on the BallPark Road lot, Field Five parking lot and Challenger Field parking lot.
Handicap parkingwillbe at the pond parking lot only
The Community Gym parkinglot on CorbinAvenue will be designated as VIP parking for $25.
Also in Livingston
DenhamSprings: Fireworks, 9p.m., NorthPark, 30372 Eden Church Road
Livingston: Celebration, 5p.m.-dark, Johnny Sartwell Memorial Park,29405 S. Range Road. Kickball tournament,watermelon eating contest, live music by United We Jam and fireworks.
Maurepas: Boat parade, 9a.m., from Canal Bank Club to BlindRiver Bar
Satsuma: Grand opening, 11:30 a.m.-dark, Patriots RV Park,16912 Spring Ranch Road. Concert,fireworks. Free.
Watson: Parade, 7p.m. Starting from Live OakJunior High along La. 16 to Janelle Driveand back to LOJH
Features writer Robin Miller contributed to this report.
Amother of three, Pizza worksasa voice therapist by day.Nights and weekends, she’s aVictory Belle.
“I started this job as a waytohelpmeget through school,” shesaid. “Now it’swhat Idofor fun, and allthese girls are my best friends. It’s ajob,but it’s so fun.Ifeelblessed thatthis is still part of mylife.”
EricaJensen,the Boband Dolores Hope Foundation’s director of entertainment at The National WWII Museum, says Pizza andthe other VictoryBelles have an important mission.
“The songs they share remind us of theresilience, sacrifice and joy that helped carry anation through wartime,” Jensen said in amuseumstatement. “TheVictory Belles help ensure that thestories andspirit of the 1940s are never forgotten.”
Email John Wirt at j_wirt@ msn.com.
LIVE MUSIC: Cane River Pecan CompanyPie Bar,New Iberia, 5p.m
Saturday,Smith and Bill Hammer will co-anchor two morehours of live programming, again covering theparade of ships.
“So it will be averyeventful250 for allofus,” Smith said by phone last week Not surprisingly,the interviewdrifted to talkabout America, its greatness, beautyand how she’sinstillingher passionfor the nation in her children.
The interview has been edited for clarity and length. Sandra, in your words, what makesAmerica great? Obviously, freedom is No. 1for all of us.And on America’sbirthdaywestop and we think about allthose who sacrificed beforeusso thatwecould have thefreedoms that we have today It’s something Italk to my children about so often. It’sjust so important that we stop and we remember all that hashappenedtomake America what it is today.So Inever take my freedoms as an American for granted.
In yourpassage in the book, you
DUELINGPIANOS: Adopted Dog Brewing, Lafayette, 6p.m.
LIVE MUSIC: CharleyG’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6p.m.
LIVE MUSIC: Jim Deggy’s Brick Oven Pizza&Brewery Lafayette, 6p.m.
LIVE MUSIC: Prejean’s, Broussard, 6p.m.
ETHAN HUNT: SHUCKS!, Abbeville,6:30 p.m
GOOD DUDESTRIO: Buck &Johnny’s, BreauxBridge, 6:30 p.m
4-HORSES: La PoussiereCajun Dancehall, BreauxBridge 8p.m.
ALPHONSE ARDOIN & ZYDECO KINGZ: Hideaway on Lee, Lafayette, 8p.m.
GEE SCOTTAND THE POCKET
+COURTLAND MACK: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 8p.m.
LIVE MUSIC: The Barrel of Broussard, Broussard, 8p.m.
THE SWEET POTATO NUTS: Lakeview Park, Eunice,8p.m.
WAYNE SINGLETON &THE URBAN KREYOL BAND + GENO DELAFOSE &FRENCH
LIVE MUSIC: CharleyG’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6p.m.
GENO DELAFOSE: Rock ’n’ Bowl de Lafayette, Lafayette, 9p.m.
MONDAY PATRICIO LATINO SOLO: Cafe Habana City, Lafayette, 11 a.m.
mentionMount Rushmore. Tell us about your memories of visiting the historic site. So we didn’tgotoDisneyland or Disney World growing up;wedidn’tdo those kind of vacations or go to the Caribbean islands. My dad was really big about building our family trips around learning American history Andatthe timeI was kind of like “Can’twejust go to ahotel with a pool?” But lookingback, it hadaprofound impact on me as achild. And now as an adult, Ilook back at those memories as extremely special. We would go to historical sitesand learn as much as we could. It helpeddevelop my deep appreciation for this country and to build my historic understandingofour nation.
LIVE MUSIC: CharleyG’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6p.m.
BLUEGRASS JAM: Citédes Arts, Lafayette, 6:30 p.m
TUESDAY ACADIANA TALENT PRESENTS —STORYTELLERS ASINGERSONGWRITER OPEN MIC
NIGHTHOSTED BY JASON HARRINGTON: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 6p.m.
LIVE MUSIC: CharleyG’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6p.m.
GREENLIGHTSESSIONSOPEN MIC: The Jefferson Street Greenroom, Lafayette, 7p.m. WEDNESDAY DULCIMERJAM: St. Landry VisitorCenter,Opelousas, 10 a.m.
MUSIC: CharleyG’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6p.m.
MUSIC: Park Bistro, Lafayette, 6p.m. WANTED WEDNESDAY KARAOKE NIGHT: The Barrel of Broussard, Broussard, 6p.m. LIVE MUSIC: The TapRoom, Youngsville,6:30 p.m CAJUN JAM: Blue
CompiledbyMarchaund Jones.Want yourvenue’s music listed? Email info/ photos to showstowatch@ theadvocate.com. The deadline is noon FRIDAY forthe following Friday’s paper
PROVIdEd PHOTO Sandra Smith says shecan stand in the water and flyfish allday
It’sone of those things, you’ve seen it in pictures so manytimes, but if you stop, you are wowed by it (Mount Rushmore). It is quite remarkable to see in person. Since yougrew up going on these
history kind of trips with the family, are you nowfollowingthroughwith that withyourkidsand do they appreciate it like youdo? Ishould probably take them moreontrips like that, butI certainly do. And whereverwego, we learn thehistory of that location.I think Charleston would be aagood example of that. Someofthese places youcan go visit are equally beautiful, have access to topchefs andculinary delights. But you could also go followalot of history So Ialways makeapoint to do that. But Ialso think what I’mdoing at homeis aresult of howIgrewup always learning American history,isIdo, while the kids are reading on their own, obviously,and they have theirnovels andtheir fantasy stuff and all this kind of stuff. Idomake it a point to always have abook going with them on history, American history,world history,sothat we’re reading that together
CANCER (June 21-July22) Be careful what you share and with whom;not everyone will be sincere. Let your imagination wander, and you'll discover obscure options that help you navigate your way through any uncertainty you face.
LEO(July 23-Aug.22) You mayhave to juggle afew things to reach your goal, but the time and effort it takes will be worthwhile.Set your sightsonwhat's important to you, anddon'tdeviate from your plans until you satisfy your soul.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Take amoment to observe. Don't let anyone talk you into something you do not want to do. Your best opportunities will be the ones you deviseyourself. Take control of your destiny.
LIBRA (Sept.23-Oct. 23) It's time to have somefun, learn through experience and engage in events that push you to make new friends and explore what life has to offer.Practicing clear communication will encourage you to participate.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Take your time If you rush intosomething, you will have regrets.Emotionswill be hard to disguise. Takeamoment, think matters through and keep your thoughtstoyourself while observing howothers react
SAGITTARIUS (Nov.23-Dec. 21) Participate in events that motivate you to take better care of yourself. Paying attention to how you present yourself to othersand what you share will make adifference in how others treat you.
CAPRICORN(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Share your concerns, and know when to walkaway
from people and situations that you find sketchyorunreliable. Concentrate on homeimprovements that will make your life easier and your relationships less tense.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Participate in something exhilarating. Achange of pace, sceneryorpeople will be uplifting. Physical activity will touch your soul.
PISCES(Feb. 20-March 20) Refuse to let what others choosetodoruin your plans. Getting out and socializing will help you gain insight intowhat and who makes your day worthwhile. Emotions will be closetothe surface.
ARIES (March 21-April19) Take pride in what you do. Discipline coupled with innovation and enthusiasm will help you makeyour way forward in whatever manner you apply yourself. Refuse to let criticism stifle your dreams.
TAURUS(April20-May20) Trustyour instincts. Follow the rules, and vouch for what's triedand true. Knowyour limits and strengths, and parlay what you do best into getting what you want and letting go of what's holding you back.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Letyour inquiring mind lead you on aresearch mission. Satisfy your soul by engaging in what interests you and exploring how you can reach your objective.
Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, pastand present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.
TODAy'SCLUE: NEQUALS A
CeLebrItY CIpher
bAILeY
GooSe And GrIMM
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 samenumber only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.
Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer
THe wiZard oF id
BLondie
BaBY BLueS
Hi and LoiS CurTiS
Bridge
BY PHILLIP ALDER
Jef Mallett, the “Frazz” cartoonist, said, “Writing well means never having to say, ‘I guess you hadtobethere.’”
When thedefenders play perfectly, declarer is sometimes unable to make his contract. On otherdeals, though, adefender will fail to find the killing play. Then declarer needs to take full benefit.
In this deal, West cashes three club tricks against four hearts. He then shifts to adiamond. Howshould South continue?
Afour-heart openingbid usually indicates an eight-card suit. However, South decided to tell asmall white lie because he was nonvulnerable and the opponents werevulnerable.Westwondered if his side could do well, but he had too few points to act at the four-level. North and Easthad easy passes When Westhad to guesswhich suit to lead at trick four, he decided that South wouldbemore likely to pre-empt when very short in the other major. Hence his diamond lead. (As you can see, aspade switch would have been lethal.)
Now let’s look at South’s predicament. He needstotake three pointed-suit trickstogowith his seven trump winners. Shouldhefinesse in spades or in diamonds?
Either is apureguess. But he can slightly improve his chances. He should winwith dummy’s diamond ace, ruff a diamond in hishand, cash the heartace, playa heart to dummy’snineand ruff another diamond.
wuzzles
Here, the king comes tumbling down So South can draw trumps and claim. But if the diamond king does not appear, declarer can runhis trumps, planning to fallback on the spade finesse.
