The Advocate 07-03-2026

ADVOCATE THE

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA

T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M

|

F r i d ay, J u ly 3, 2026

MURRILL INDICTED Attorney general charged with malfeasance, intimidation Murrill says action ‘corrupt’; Landry promises pardon

$2.00X

BR car emissions tests remain ‘a gray area’ State inspection stickers no longer needed

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

You can no longer get a ticket for not having a state inspection sticker on your windshield after Louisiana put an end to the vehicle safety checks.

But since that law passed, a question has lingered for drivers in the Baton Rouge region: What do we do about emissions tests that are still required under specific federal rules for the area?

Shops that handle inspections said they — and many of their customers — are in the dark about how to proceed.

“Right now, it’s a big gray area,” said Slater Nall, manager at 360 Automotive Solutions, a tire and auto repair shop in Baton Rouge.

Slater said that, after seeing news reports and having informal conversations with state employees who get work done at the shop, he doesn’t think the state will roll out a new process for handling emissions tests until December. But he’s

ä See EMISSIONS, page 5A

Attorney General Liz Murrill answers questions at a news conference on Wednesday.

Special prosecutor Laurie White announces the indictment of Attorney General Liz Murrill outside the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court building on Thursday.

BY JAMES FINN and SAM KARLIN Staff writers

A New Orleans grand jury returned a 16-count felony indictment Thursday against Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, charging her with malfeasance and intimidation, adding crimiä Chaos nal allegations to an already-raging legal erupts in and political battle court as between the RepubMurrill is lican state official indicted. and Democratic local PAGE 7A leaders.

The grand jury handed up the indictment at New Orleans’ criminal courthouse after meeting for weeks to weigh bringing criminal charges against Murrill. The attorney general faces eight counts of malfeasance and another eight counts of intimidation.

Former Judge Laurie White, appointed as a special prosecutor in the case, confirmed the charges against Murrill in a news briefing outside the courthouse. Orleans Criminal

STAFF PHOTO By JOHN BALLANCE

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER District Judge Leon Roche issued a warrant for Murrill’s arrest, setting bail at $400,000.

The grand jurors reviewed evidence about whether the state attorney general sought to intimidate local New Orleans public officials, including Mayor Helena Moreno and District Attorney Jason Williams, White confirmed. Murrill told the officials in May that they had imperiled their jobs by pushing back on a new law to combine the city’s criminal and district clerks of court.

Eyes on water as Gulf shark population grows Experts say swimmers have little to fear

BY MARTHA SANCHEZ Staff writer

White was tapped to handle the probe after Williams, who was involved in the city leaders’ dispute with Murrill at several turns, recused himself.

A former Orleans Criminal Court judge, White told reporters that the 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 growing crowds on Gulf Coast beaches are beginning to confront an uneasy truth: They are now sharing the water with more sharks than they have in decades.

After years of conservation work, the population of many shark species that live near the coastline and out at sea are returning to levels not seen since the 1970s.

Their return is helping restore nature’s delicate balance. It is also raising new safety questions as record numbers of visitors arrive to swim and fish across Alabama and Florida.

“People are just going to have to get used to seeing sharks,” said Dean Grubbs, an associate

ä See MURRILL, page 6A

ä See SHARK, page 5A

“Louisiana looked at this as a prime opportunity to showcase the Louisiana that people don’t know.”

RACHEL SHIELDS, chief engagement officer for Louisiana Economic Development

A showcase for the state

including filming a segment with Beads, rice and go-cups part of Louisiana’s Fox News on the grounds. tent at Washington’s Great American State Fair “Looking forward to a great cel-

BY MARK BALLARD

Staff writer

WASHINGTON — At the center of the nation’s 250th birthday celebration, the Great American State Fair on the National Mall has endured several rocky days — including about 10 states not showing up — but that’s going largely unnoticed at Louisiana’s exhibit.

“It’s interesting because Louisiana looked at this as a prime opportunity to showcase the Louisiana that people don’t know,” said Rachel Shields, the chief engage-

WEATHER HIGH 94 LOW 75 PAGE 8A

ment officer for Louisiana Economic Development, which is in charge of the state’s pavilion.

Between handing out Mardi Gras beads and bags of Louisiana rice, the state is using its spot in the festivities to show off all the economic development opportunities in the state.

“We would hope that every state in the union would take advantage of that opportunity. It’s kind of a once-in-a-lifetime deal,” Shields said.

Gov. Jeff Landry visited the Louisiana exhibition on Tuesday,

ebration of American exceptionalism all week long,” he wrote on X, before dropping by.

Described by President Donald Trump as “a giant patriotic festival” at the June 24 opening, crowds have been sparser than at similar events on the National Mall. Visitors who came over the weekend had to hunker down when a violent thunderstorm passed.

Electrical problems kept the Ferris wheel from operating full time. Ice cream supplies melted.

A main sponsor withdrew when

STAFF PHOTO By MARK BALLARD

Rachel Shields, the chief engagement officer for Louisiana Economic Development, stands in the state’s pavilion at the Great American State ä See SHOWCASE, page 4A Fair on the National Mall last week.

Business ......................6B Commentary ................5B Nation-World ................2A Classified .....................7D Deaths .........................3B Opinion ........................4B Comics-Puzzles .....4D-6D Living............................1D Sports ..........................1C

102ND yEAR, NO. 3

2A ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

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.

lll

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-

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

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By GHAITH ALSAyED

Syrian security inspects the site after an explosive device was detonated in a cafe near the main courthouse complex in Damascus, Syria, on Thursday.

Explosive device goes off in cafe in Syria’s capital

lawyers who worked in the neighborhood.

No group immediately Jalal Aljanani, who owns a restaurant claims responsibility for next door, ran toward the cafe when he the explosion and was horrified by attack that killed at least 9 heard the sight of the bodies on the floor.

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

“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. Getting a pipeline built would Canada pursues pipeline ing alleviate some separatist sentiment. from Alberta to Pacific Coast British Columbia and some First Na-

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-

tions 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.

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.

GET IN TOUCH Customer Service: HELP@THEADVOCATE.COM or 225-388-0200 News Tips / Stories: NEWSTIPS@THEADVOCATE.COM Obituaries: 225-388-0289 • Mon-Fri 9-5; Sat 10-5; Closed Sun Advertising Sales: 225-388-0262 • Mon-Fri 8-5 Classified Advertising: 225-383-0111 • Mon-Fri 8-5 Subscribe: theadvocate.com/subscribe E-Edition: theadvocate.com/eedition Archives: theadvocate.newsbank.com TheAdvocate(USPS363-040)ispublisheddailyinBatonRougeandatadditionalmailingoffices.Periodicals postagepaidatBatonRouge,LA.ISSN:1061-3978.CapitalCityPress,proprietor.POSTMASTER:Send addresschangestoTheAdvocate,CirculationAccounting,P.O.Box588,BatonRouge,LA70821.Newspaper carriers are independent contractors and not employees of Capital City Press.

All home delivery subscription sales are non-refundable. Should you discontinue your subscription during term, the subscription will end with the expiration date on your subscription, and there will not be a refund of a prorated amount. Subscribers who purchased their subscription before Feb. 1, 2023 and wish to cancel can request a refund of a remaining balance at https://www.nola.com/app/forms/refund-request-form/. Refunds are considered on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of Capital City Press, LLC or its designee. All subscriptions purchased that include a special edition will have the special edition value deducted prior to any refund provided to subscriber upon cancellation of service. Standard subscription rates may be effective upon renewal. All standard subscriptions include digital access and e-Edition, a digital replica of the printed Advocate edition(s). The apps are free for tablets and smartphones. Smartphone apps may not be supported on all devices.

The Advocate standard subscription rate is $80.89 per 4-week period, plus tax. The Acadiana Advocate standard subscription rate is $68.48 per 4-week period, plus tax.

Standard digital subscriptions include e-Edition with the rate of $31.15 per 4-week period, plus tax starting 1/1/25. Special editions included in home delivery subscriptions are 1/30/26, 3/11/26, 4/15/26, 5/27/26, 7/8/26, 8/19/26, 9/30/26 11/26/26, 1/22/27, 3/10/27, 4/14/27, 5/26/27, 7/14/27, 8/18/27, 9/29/27 and 11/25/27 and are billed at $6.23 each. The Thanksgiving Day edition will be billed at your regular Thursday rate plus $6.23. To opt out of special edition delivery, email help@theadvocate.com or call 225-388-0395. By opting out of special editions you will not receive that day’s newspaper. Thanksgiving Day is not a special edition and opting out for that edition isn’t permitted. Prices shown are in U.S. dollars. Prices subject to change. Other restrictions may apply. We no longer provide credit for temporary delivery stops of 14 days or less. During a temporary delivery stop donations are made to our News in Education program. This program provides newspapers and digital access to schools across Louisiana. This program is paid for by sponsors and temporary stops so that students may use the newspaper for educational purposes in the classroom. During a temporary delivery stop of the print edition subscribers have unlimited digital access to theadvocate.com, nola.com and the apps for tablet and smartphone. Seasonal delivery times from August 2025 through February 2026 will extend to 8:00 a.m. on weekends. Subscribers may also choose to access our digital replica e-Edition of the printed Advocate, Times Picayune | New Orleans Advocate and Acadiana Advocate only. As a highly valued customer, we also value your privacy. All personal information collected by The Advocate will be used for administration and customer verification; it may be used for promotional purposes in accordance with The Advocate’s privacy policy. Please refer to our policy located at https://www.theadvocate.com/ new_policy/ for information regarding the collection, use and disclosure of personal information. By providing your phone number and email address you agree that we can call or email you to confirm delivery service, satisfaction and/or sales promotions as they may occur from The Advocate.

The Advocate: 10705 Rieger Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70809 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ 3A

lll

Responders cling to hope after miraculous rescue Emergency workers celebrate security guard found alive

BY REGINA GARCIA CANO, MEGAN JANETSKY and FERNANDA PESCE Associated Press

CATIA LA MAR, Venezuela — The stench of decomposing bodies hung heavy over streets of flattened buildings Thursday as rescue missions to find survivors of Venezuela’s devastating earthquakes increasingly turned to the recovery of corpses.

Desperate for good news, Venezuelan and international emergency workers celebrated the near-miraculous rescue of a 43-year-old security guard found alive after almost eight days under the rubble.

National broadcasters reran footage all day of the exuberant moment he was pried free from the collapsed mall and lifted onto a stretcher as crowds, including rescuers from 10 countries, 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 the hardest-hit state of La Guaira, where thousands remain missing, an air of hopelessness was setting in. The port city of Catia La Mar teemed with officials carrying body bags and stacking caskets.

tration has expanded its role in Venezuelan affairs — a seismic shift in relations between the long-adversarial nations.

The U.S. has thrown support behind Rodríguez and largely turned its back on opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado, who this week accused Rodríguez’s government of blocking her return to her country. Washington has also sought to remake Venezuela’s lucrative energy industry and opened the door for Venezuela’s state oil company to sell fuel to U.S. companies.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MATIAS DELACROIX John M. Barrett, the U.S. Rescue workers sort humanitarian aid for earthquake survivors in La Guaira, Venezuela, on chargé d’affaires to VenThursday. The government has counted at least 2,295 people killed by the earthquake. ezuela, said Wednesday that revenue from Venezuelan The government of act- Rodríguez served as deputy permanently vacant. oil production, controlled by the U.S. Treasury since ing President Delcy Rodrí- to former President Nicolás Maduro’s seizure, is also beguez, whose response to the Maduro until he was ousted U.S. support under fire earthquake has been widely by the United States in JanSince the U.S. capture of ing made available for relief criticized as slow and disor- uary. She became interim Maduro, the Trump adminis- efforts. ganized, has counted at least leader with the backing of 2,295 people killed by the the Trump administration.

With little transparency by earthquake and more than Venezuelan officials, it was 11,000 injured.

With thousands sleeping in unclear what would happen crowded shelters or outside, once the deadline passes on doctors have voiced con- Friday.

ANNIVERSARY Under Venezuela’s consticern that the fallout could pave the way for a widening tution, temporary absences medical crisis of untreated are to be filled by the vice injuries and infectious dis- president — which was Roeases in a healthcare system dríguez’s former role — for already on the brink. up to 90 days. These interim appointments can be extendUncertainty over leadership ed by the national assembly Faced with complaints for an additional 90 days.

The Venezuelan leader that foreign crews and civilians have shouldered has strong support from most of the rescue efforts, lawmakers and the Trump Rodríguez sought to defend administration. The Nathe government response a tional Assembly, controlled day before the extension of by Rodríguez’s party, can her 180-day mandate as act- trigger a snap election if ing leader was set to expire. lawmakers declare the post

Classic Eats,Timeless Memories

Iran warns oil tankers to use approved routes in strait Ships could face a ‘forceful response’

BY JON GAMBRELL and DAVID MCHUGH Associated Press

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — Iran’s joint military command warned Thursday that all oil tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz must use its approved routes or face a “forceful response,” ratcheting up tensions again over a waterway crucial for international energy supplies.

The strait, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, has emerged as one of the top issues in negotiations seeking a permanent end to the Iran war. The statement from the Khatam al-Anbiya military command, reported by Iranian state television, comes after both U.S. and Iranian diplomats met with mediators Wednesday in Qatar.

Iran is preparing for the funeral of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the war’s first moments in February. On Thursday night,

While the U.S. has committed over $300 million in assistance to the response, the State and Treasury Department teams were working “to make sure that those funds are made available for this specific reconstruction effort, including for shelter, sanitation, health and energy generation,” Barrett said.

Venezuela’s oil and gas production was not directly impacted by the earthquakes, he added, and said production continues to increase.

Oversight of where that money flows is crucial, said Laura Cristina Dib, Venezuela program director at the independent human rights organization Washington Office on Latin America.

When asked about growing criticism over the Venezuelan government’s relief efforts, U.S. officials have been vocal in their support for Rodríguez.

Iranian state media broadcast images of what it said was the casket with Khamenei’s remains arriving at the Imam Khomeini Hussainiya, for the farewell ceremony.

Hundreds were seen in the footage, praying and grieving near the casket covered with a green cloth. The weeklong official funeral is expected to start on Saturday.

It wasn’t clear what sparked Iran’s warning Thursday about oil tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz. However, the U.S. military’s Central Command had put out a statement about a meeting 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 from the designated route, or disregard for the navigation protocols of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Strait of Hormuz will be met with 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 met with a rapid and decisive reaction.”

Iran and the United States agreed as part of an interim deal to allow ships to pass without paying charges for 60 days. But Tehran insisted it must control the routes of the vessels and later charge fees for passage, upending decades of practice in the waterway.

The U.S. and many Gulf Arab states say they won’t agree to Iran charging for passage through the strait. An effort by Oman and a United Nations agency to launch a new route near Oman’s shore sparked attacks across the Mideast last weekend, highlighting the tensions.

Despite the attacks, ship traffic in the strait continued to rebound. At least 258 ships transited the waterway last week, a period that included Iranian strikes on two commercial vessels, according to marine data and analysis company Lloyd’s List Intelligence. That’s up from 138 ships the previous week.

Now offering Catering

Perfect for parties, events & more 7633 JEFFERSON HWY. | BATON ROUGE 225.924.1391 | DEARMANSDINER.COM CONTACT@DEARMANSDINER.COM

Are you looking for a job that combines competitive pay with good culture?

Have you been considering the automotive industry but don’t know how to break in?

Are you passionate about delivering a unique customer experience that creates a memorable and outstanding impression?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, we want to talk to you!

WHAT WE OFFER

Instant shade at the touch of a button.

Call 1-888-901-3002 now to

Enjoy more quality time with family and friends.

Up to 10-Year Limited Warranty.

Competitive Compensation 401(k) with Company Match Vision / Dental / Health Insurance Bonus Incentives Paid Training Great Culture Promote from Within!

Apply online at gerrylanecadillac.hireology.careers

4A ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

SHOWCASE

Memphis, and Florida claims Jimmy Buffett, who lived in that state as an adult but grew up in Mississippi. Georgia had a Waffle House menu and Tennessee allowed visitors to take their photo with a Grand Ole Opry microphone.

Louisiana displayed a tall photo of Louis Armstrong blowing his trumpet.

All the state-themed booths have swag. Michigan handed out little boxes of cereal. Tennessee had gourmet crackers. Louisiana handed out pound bags of rice and plastic cups that fill kitchen cabinets across the state, but are rare in Washington and points north.

Continued from page 1A an image of the Confederate flag was displayed at the North Carolina 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 Freedom 250, a public-private partnership with the Trump administration that sidelined the federal government’s organizers.

The Great American State Fair is about 10 blocks long between the Capitol and the Washington Monument, surrounded by tall fences with tight security screening of visitors.

Don’t think deep-fried Oreos, meat on a stick, and jambalaya that are ubiquitous at the Louisiana state fairs taking place in Baton Rouge and Shreveport.

There is a small pen for a minirodeo, corn dogs and plenty of merch available. In the middle of the event is a Ferris wheel and a mockup of the controversial arch 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 states tout their culture and hometown heroes.

Mardi Gras vibes Visitors entering the Louisiana booth received beads and were greeted by a bust that usually would be on a Mardi Gras float.

Shaka Zulu, Big Chief of the Golden Feather Hunters Mardi Gras tribe, said he presented a lecture at the pavilion Saturday explaining the elaborate costumes that combine African and Native American traditions. He displayed a queen’s suit to illustrate his talk.

Chief Zulu said crowds circulated through the pavilion as he spoke. Many audience members paused to listen to his talk and lingered afterward to ask questions.

Some already had knowledge of the masking culture, but not its complexities, he said.

“A lot of people know it’s part of Mardi Gras,” he said. “But the presentation clarified a lot of things for them.”

Louisiana in 1776

STAFF PHOTOS By MARK BALLARD

Guests at Louisiana’s exhibit at the Great American State Fair are greeted by a Mardi Gras parade figure.

The fair celebrates America’s birthday 250 years ago. At the time, French-speaking Louisiana was actually a Spanish colony.

France gave Louisiana to Spain as part of the 1762 Treaty of Fontainebleau. The colony was returned to France in 1800, then sold to the United States in 1803.

The original Louisiana Purchase Treaty, signed by Napoleon, is on display at the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge, in a different 250th Anniversary celebration.

Louisiana was the 18th state admitted to the union and the first one that had been ruled as a colony of a European nation other than Great Britain.

Spain aligned with the American war effort in 1779, but had few engagements — save a successful effort by then Louisiana Gov. Bernardo de Gálvez to oust the British from a fort situated about where the RiverCenter is now located in Baton Rouge.

That July 1779 battle is remembered with statues of Gálvez near the U.S. Department of State and at the entrance of the Spanish Embassy in Washington. His statue also is prominently displayed in his hometown of Málaga, Spain.

“When we think about French culture; when we think about Spanish culture; and everyone else in between, we’re bringing that all together 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.

products,” she added.

About 50 volunteers from private businesses, trade associations and state government agencies are manning the booth — only a half a dozen at a time, the space isn’t that large — throughout the event’s run, which ends July 10.

Lanier Thibodeaux, of the North Louisiana Economic Partnership in Shreveport, helped tourists take selfies in front of the presentations. Harrison Crabtree, from the World Trade Center in New Orleans, chatted up visitors while handing out swag.

“Louisiana has a tremendous amount of opportunity right now; a tremendous amount of momentum when we think about infrastructure, when we think about global investments coming into Louisiana. We think about workforce development, education, and our incredible people,” Shields said. “This is our chance to marry State booths line the National Mall at the Great American State Fair. that with the Louisiana that most people know: Mardi Gras, culture, Chief Zulu said he was told 4,000 opportunities. About 80 companies food, heritage, all those things, all people passed through the Louisi- were represented in the booth, the things people know and love Shields said. “Every corner of the about Louisiana.” ana pavilion on one day.

Mississippi touted Elvis Presley, Email Mark Ballard at Shields says the exhibit is really state is represented over these 16 focused on economic development days in their spirits and in their who was born in Tupelo but lived in mballard@theadvocate.com.

The Bath or Shower You’ve Always Wanted

IN AS LITTLE AS 1 DAY

$1,500 OFF* • Tub-to-Shower Conversions • Low-Barrier Showers • Replacement Tubs • Soaker Tubs • Replacement Showers • Accessories and more!

• Walk-in Tubs

PLUS

ZERO Interest, ZERO Payments financing for 12 Months** OFFER EXPIRES 9/30/2026 Military & Senior Discounts Available

CALL NOW!

(855) 845-6566 *Includes labor and product; bathtub, shower or walk-in tub and wall surround. This promotion cannot be combined with any other offer. Other restrictions may apply. This offer expires 9/30/26. Each dealership is independently owned and operated. **Third party financing is available for those customers who qualify/Participating dealers only. See your dealer for details. ©2026 Bath Concepts Industries.

Bloodlines and Storylines:

Identity, Memory, and the Modern Search for Belonging

This presentation will explore how genealogy has evolved beyond names and records into a deeper search for identity and connection.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ 5A

lll

EMISSIONS

Continued from page 1A gotten no formal communication from officials about how to handle it in the meantime.

“They didn’t have an answer,” Slater said about reaching out to the state for clarification. “They’re trying to figure out what to do.”

What do state officials say?

Drivers in five parishes in the Baton Rouge area — Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Livingston and West Baton Rouge — have to get yearly emissions tests to ensure that their vehicles are not putting out too much pollution into the atmosphere and that the region meets federal standards in the Clean Air Act. The requirement stems from the early 2000s, when the area had too much ground-level ozone, a harmful air pollutant.

The Department of Environmental Quality, which oversees emissions testing, did not respond to questions, such as whether drivers can now get an emissions test without completing the state safety in-

SHARK

Continued from page 1A director of research at Florida State University, who has studied the animals for more than two decades.

“And they’re going to have to take precautions.”

Florida Panhandle residents were rattled earlier this summer when a shark attacked and severely injured a man swimming near a U.S. Navy installation in Panama City. Days earlier, authorities near WaterColor, Florida, temporarily closed 5 miles of beachfront amid reports of a possible shark bite after a child emerged from knee-deep water with a leg wound.

The incidents made harrowing headlines for the first time since 2024, when sharks bit three tourists in one day at beaches along Florida’s Scenic Highway 30A. But researchers say beachgoers have little to fear.

Sharks are already swimming in their midst, and the chances of being attacked are almost infinitesimal.

“If everybody knew how close they swam to sharks, they’d be terrified,” said Gavin Naylor, director of a shark research program at the Florida Museum of Natural History, which manages a database of shark attacks around the world.

“If the sharks really wanted to target people, we’d have about 5,000 shark bites a day,” he added. “But the fact that we see so few of them means the sharks are doing their level best to avoid these people.”

Shark resurgence It is difficult to track precisely how many sharks are living across the Gulf.

But researchers know the population of many species dropped when the U.S. opened trade with China in the 1970s, which gave fishermen access to international shark fin markets.

Fisheries management plans that began in the 1990s started to help populations

STAFF FILE PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Caleb Barrient backs out in a customer’s vehicle after inspecting it at Express Oil Changes and Tire Engineers on June 4.

been unable to get answers to their questions.

As the safety check is phased out, High Tech Car Care business manager Keith McAllister said “it’s unclear” how the state wants inspection stations to handle emissions testing.

McAllister said that, without new instructions, his Baton Rouge repair shop will continue to offer inspections following the same process they’ve used in years past, completing both the state safety inspection plus the federal emis-

spection and how drivers should demonstrate compliance with the federal test.

The Office of Motor Vehicles confirmed that emissions testing is still required in the five parishes and costs $8 each year.

Confusion at inspection stations Employees at several Baton Rouge-area businesses that offer safety inspections and emissions tests said they haven’t received any information from the state about new procedures and have

“If the sharks really wanted to target people, we’d have about 5,000 shark bites a day. But the fact that we see so few of them means the sharks are doing their level best to avoid these people.”

GAVIN NAyLOR, Florida Museum of Natural History

bounce back. Now, the resurgence is posing a complex new question for many fast-growing beach communities: Are humans ready to live with sharks?

Some governments are already responding. President Donald Trump last week signed legislation backed

by Alabama Sen. Katie Britt creating a process for sending emergency cellphone alerts to beachgoers near any past shark attacks. The bill is known as “Lulu’s Law” in honor of Lulu Gribbin, an Alabama teenager who survived the 30A attack in 2024.

“The timing of this law couldn’t be better,” Britt said last week, “as countless Americans are enjoying our nation’s beaches this summer.”

Researchers say the return of sharks, which Gulf Coast visitors sometimes spot from condo balconies overlooking the water, can keep other species in check.

Scientists have documented the number of baby bull sharks in Mobile Bay, Alabama, has grown by fivefold over the past two decades as waters warm there. Great white sharks are migrating thousands of miles from the northeast United States to the Gulf each winter, though most stay miles from shore.

The shift is also forcing fishermen to adapt. One angler was bit last month after he hooked a bull shark near Pensacola, Florida. Congress is considering establishing a federal task force that would help anglers solve the pesky and growing problem of sharks snatching fish from their lines.

And scientists are con-

fronting a surge of questions as they race to understand how climate change will impact sharks’ behavior in the future. Researchers believe some shark species are now swimming closer to Gulf Coast shores earlier in the year and staying there longer as water temperatures warm. But they are still studying how shark habitats might change and what species will prove most resilient as climate change intensifies.

“It is a giant unknown,” Grubbs said.

Twenty-three unprovoked shark attacks have been reported over the past 25 years in the waters between southeast Louisiana and the Florida Panhandle, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s database.

Just one has been fatal: A bull shark killed a 14-yearold from Gonzales, who was boogie boarding about 100 yards offshore from a beach near Destin in 2005.

Researchers say such tragedies are often the result of confusion. John Carlson, who researches sharks for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told WJHG-TV in Panama City Beach that the recent attack there probably involved a bull shark in murky waters that may have confused the victim with a sea turtle. The man was hospitalized and remained in intensive care last month.

“It’s a very sad situation,” Carlson told the news outlet.

“It was a likely mistake.”

Many Gulf Coast beach cities already monitor their waters for dangerous marine life and fly purple flags at beaches to warn visitors of animals, including sharks, stingrays and jellyfish. Scientists say precautionary steps — like avoiding swimming near fishermen or in cloudy waters — could become more important over the next decade.

“Everybody’s always saying there’s so many sharks around,” Naylor said. “Their numbers are coming back to where they should be.”

r

e al

S

%* 35

Supe

Su

m mer S

Goodbye Clogged Gutters Upgrade your gutters this summer!

LeafFilter blocks out common debris.

Save up-to*

“In accordance with the new law, Louisiana state troopers are not issuing citations for violations of the current motor vehicle inspection sticker law, in its entirety, during this transition period, which runs from now until Jan. 1,” Sgt. Jacob Pucheu, a Louisiana State Police spokesperson, said in response to questions about enforcement of federal emissions testing requirements.

Pucheu noted the legislation prohibits law enforcement from issuing citations for not displaying a sticker or having an inspection certificate from June 30 to Jan. 1.

New Orleans area Separate from federal emissions testing, the cities of New Orleans, Kenner and Westwego have independent local safety inspection programs that were launched before the statewide requirement and are not affected by the new state law.

A spokesperson for Mayor Helena Moreno said again this week that New Orleans is still “evaluating the law and its potential impact on operations within Orleans Parish to determine how the city will proceed.”

! t e e Sw

Red, White, and

Rare attacks

up ave to

Before LeafFilter

sions test.

“At this point, we’re six months out from the new requirement,” he said. “I don’t see it as a major problem, not having received a communication from the state. I’m sure it will come.”

Nall said his shop is taking two approaches while waiting for more direction.

For customers who come in and need an inspection done but don’t ask any questions, Nall said they’ll continue to do the state safety inspection plus the federal emissions test and issue a sticker, just like they’ve done in previous years.

But for those who do ask questions, Nall said he advises them based on what shop employees themselves have decided to do: Hold off on testing and getting a new sticker until December when they have guidance on how to handle emissions.

“There’s no reason to do it now unless they want peace of mind,” he said.

Under the new law, law enforcement officers can’t issue citations for not having a sticker, but the requirement to get a safety inspection technically doesn’t officially go away until Jan. 1.

8646 GOODWOOD BOULEVARD (225) 928-7000

FIND YOUR DEAL TODAY

BATON ROUGE'S TRUSTED FURNITURE STORE SINCE 2008

• Sectionals • Bedrooms • Mattresses • Dining

EVERYTHING YOU NEED, ALL IN ONE PLACE

After LeafFilter

+ Free gutter inspection, quote good for 1 year Promo code: 285

35% Off Call 1-877-855-8610

*Promotional offer includes 25% off plus an additional 10% off for qualified veterans and/or seniors. Cannot be combined with other offers. See representative for full warranty details. AR 366920925, AZ ROC 344027, CA 1035795, CT HIC.0671520, DC 4.20223E+11, FL CBC056678, IA C127230, ID RCE-51604, LA 559544, MA 213292, MD MHIC111225, HIC164488, MI 262300331, 262300330, 262300329, 262300328, 262300318, 262300173, MN IR810524, MT 2661922, ND 47304, NE 50145-24, 50145-23, NJ 13VH13285000, NM 408693, NV 86990, OR 218294, PA PA179643, RI GC-41354, TN 10981, UT 10783658-5501, VA 2705169445, VT 174.0000871, WA LEAFFLH-763PG, WI No. 537-DCFRR WV WV056912. Promotion exp: 8/31/2026.

(225) 925-1182

9802 Cortana Pl, Baton Rouge, LA 70815

lll

MURRILL

Continued from page 1A

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. 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

CALL NOW 1.844.219.1540

SPECIAL OFFER

Waiving All Installation Costs!

Add’l terms apply. Offer subject to change and vary by dealer. Expires 12/27/26.

Renewal by Andersen has replaced more than 8.5 million windows in over one million homes Buy 1 window or door, get 1 window or door

40% OFF $0 down, $0 payments, 0% interest for 12 months*

ULE ED

SELF-SCH TO

YO

T

Safety. Style.

Stress-Free Installation.

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 hard-charging conservative who has sought criminal indictments of a slate of public officials 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

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 letters 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.

SCAN

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

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 having 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 newlymelded office.

Murrill responded with her May 13 letters to Williams, Moreno and five City Council members

U

R

AP P

EN

6A ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

OI N T

M

Schedule Your FREE Multi-Point Window & Door Inspection Today!

225-605-9678 renewalbyandersen.com •Expires June 30 10414 Plaza Americana Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70816

*Offer not available in all areas. Discount applied by retailer representative at time of contract execution and applies to purchase of 4 or more windows and/or entry or patio doors. Buy one window and/or door, get the second window and/or door, of equal or lesser value, 40% off. Discount applied to lowest-priced window and/or door products in purchase. Cannot be combined with other offers. To qualify for discount offer, initial contact for a free Window and Door Diagnosis must be made and documented on or before 06/30/26, with the appointment then occurring no more than 10 days after the initial contact. 12-Month Promo Period financing available to well-qualified buyers on approved credit only. During the Promo Period, no payments are required and interest accrues but will be waived if the promo balance is paid in full before the Promo Period expires. Any unpaid balance remaining after the Promo Period, including accrued interest, will be repaid under the terms outlined in the customer’s loan agreement. Not all buyers will qualify. Higher interest rates may apply for customers with lower credit ratings.

Financing is not valid with other offers or prior purchases. Renewal by Andersen retailers are neither brokers nor lenders. Any finance terms advertised are estimates only, and all financing is provided by third-party lenders unaffiliated with Renewal by Andersen retailers, under terms and conditions arranged directly between the customer and such lender, all subject to credit requirements. Renewal by Andersen retailers do not assist with, counsel or negotiate financing, other than providing customers an introduction to lenders interested in financing. By responding to this offer, you agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and consent to receive marketing communications from Renewal by Andersen and its affiliates, including calls, prerecorded messages, AI-assisted calls, emails, and text messages (SMS/MMS) at the phone number and email address provided, even if your number is listed on a state or federal Do Not Call registry. Consent is not required as a condition of purchase. Calls may be recorded. Renewal by Andersen is an independently owned and operated retailer. “Renewal by Andersen” and all other marks where denoted are marks of Andersen Corporation. ©2026 Andersen Corporation. All rights reserved. †It is the only warranty among top selling window companies that meets all of the following requirements: easy to understand terms, unrestricted transferability, installation coverage, labor coverage, geographically unrestricted, coverage for exterior color, insect screens and hardware, and no maintenance requirement. Visit renewalbyandersen.com/nationsbest for details. ‡Review aggregator survey of the most 5-star reviews earned in 2023 by leading local window and door replacement companies. Reputation.com, January 2024. For J.D. Power 2025 award information, visit jdpower.com/awards.

Renewal by Andersen Impact Resistant Windows

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ 7A

lll

Chaos erupts in N.O. court as Murrill indicted Judge closes courtroom to spectators

BY JAMES FINN Staff writer

While a grand jury returned a criminal indictment Thursday against Louisiana’s attorney general in a closed New Orleans courtroom, chaos erupted in the hallway as security officers placed a news reporter and an attorney in handcuffs after they questioned why a judge booted onlookers from the proceeding.

The episode ended with combative, dueling news conferences on the courthouse steps. The special prosecutor assigned to the probe lamented that she had taken the case; defense lawyers for Attorney General Liz Murrill decried a system of “kangaroo courts” in New Orleans.

The special prosecutor, former Orleans criminal court Judge Laurie White, walked into Judge Leon Roche’s courtroom minutes before the brouhaha. White had been in and out of the courtroom all day, and it seemed that an indictment of Murrill, which The TimesPicayune reported on Tuesday had been under review for several weeks, could be imminent.

Around 2:45 p.m., Roche ordered the room sealed so the grand jury could make its returns in secret — though he didn’t explain his reasons for ushering spectators out. Louisiana law says grand jury indictments handed up in state courts “shall be returned in open court.”

A half-dozen or so news reporters there to cover the indictment waited in the hallway for Roche to reopen the proceeding. WWL-TV reporter Danny Monteverde called a First Amendment

judge closed off the court,” White told the gaggle of reporters. “I wasn’t the judge for that. I’m the prosecutor.”

When Monteverde and Beiser were detained, White said she “helped get them out of the arrest.”

“You all were handcuffed by sheriff’s deputies because you wouldn’t obey an order,” White added. “You all weren’t willing to walk out when you were asked to do so.”

White then outlined how the grand jury had returned a 16-count indictment against Murrill for violating anti-intimidation laws.

The charges, she added, STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER stemmed from letters the attorney general sent to MayTelevision reporter Danny Monteverde leaves the Orleans or Helena Moreno, District Criminal District Court building after being released from Attorney Jason Williams, rehandcuffs on Thursday. tired Judge Calvin Johnson and five City Council mem“I’m gonna start cuffing bers threatening to remove lawyer, Elana M. Beiser.

Beiser arrived minutes people if y’all don’t move,” them from office if they did later with what she titled a one OPSO deputy told a “motion to open courtroom Times-Picayune reporter.

Monteverde and Beiser for room of indictment” and banged on the door. were cuffed. When a TimesThe document quoted the Picayune reporter left the state law that says grand building, then tried to reenjury returns must occur in ter several minutes later, a open court. deputy told the reporter that Roche, however, did not media representatives were reopen his courtroom. not being allowed back inHalf an hour after he shut- side.

Monteverde and Beiser tered the proceedings, about a dozen Orleans Parish Sher- emerged from the courtiff’s Office deputies flooded house at 3:22 p.m. “I was the hallway. They shouted at just handcuffed for 20 minreporters to walk away from utes,” said Monteverde, the door and stand at the end who was handcuff-free by of the hall. then.

(Later on the courthouse Judicial Administrator steps, White would accuse Rob Kazik referred quesreporters of trying to iden- tions about court security’s handling of the episode to tify the grand jurors.)

As several reporters the Orleans Parish Sherpressed the deputies about iff’s Office, which oversees why they were being barred security at the courthouse. entry to the courtroom, a Sheriff’s Office spokesperman who did not identify son Keith Lampkin did not himself came out from the respond to a request for courtroom. He warned that comment. if reporters did not leave, White walked down the they would face contempt courtroom steps about three of court charges. minutes later. “You OK?” Beiser was trying to hand she asked Monteverde. “I’m copies of her motion to court angry,” he replied. staff when deputies started “I know all of you media moving to detain people. were very unhappy that the

• Tile • Countertops • Cabinets • Luxury Vinyl Flooring • Vanities • Hardwood Flooring

not walk back support for electing a new court clerk.

White also said she wished she hadn’t taken the special prosecutor assignment.

“This will teach you not to say yes when people call and ask you, ‘What’re you doing today? Can you come into town? I have something you’d be great for,’ ” she said. “Don’t ever let people tell you you’re good at something. Then you might show up and your ego gets you into the middle of this.”

While White addressed reporters, Murrill’s attorneys, Laura Cannizzaro Rodrigue and Blake Arcuri, walked into the courthouse behind her. When White finished her remarks, they stepped to the row of mics.

Rodrigue said she, too, was barred from the courtroom

by Roche when she tried to enter.

She then reeled off a litany

of allegations — of conflicts of interest by Roche, whom she noted was handling cases being prosecuted by Murrill’s office, and by White, who is represented by the Attorney General’s Office in a civil lawsuit in which she’s accused of sexual harassment; and of unspecified communications between grand jurors and the public.

“That will affect the integrity of every indictment that came out of that grand jury,” Rodrigue said.

Within a few hours, Murrill herself chimed in on social media, calling the indictment “retaliatory, meritless and unconstitutional.” She said she would be making an emergency filing to the Louisiana Supreme Court.

“Hopefully this will be sorted out quickly,” she said.

Email James Finn at jfinn@theadvocate.com.

OLD HOUSE DEMOLITION Demolition of Houses, Barns & Out Buildings FREE ESTIMATES

225-485-3947

• Backsplash • Outdoor Kitchens • Painting • Carpet • Exteriors • Home additions

Come Visit Our Showroom 6435 Siegen Lane, Unit 103 Baton Rouge, LA 70809

CHECK US OUT

225-218-4668

LacosteandYoung.com Fully Licensed & Insured • License #566226

8A ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

TODAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

A t-storm around in the p.m.

A stray afternoon thunderstorm

Variable clouds with a t-storm

A stray afternoon thunderstorm

Partly sunny, a few showers

A couple of afternoon showers

HIGH

LOW

HIGH

94° 75°

LOW

HIGH

92° 77°

LOW

90° 76°

Beaumont 92/76 Port Arthur 91/78

Baton Rouge 94/75

Lake Charles 92/77

New Orleans 93/77 Houma 89/74

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

0s

Hattiesburg 95/74

Alexandria 91/76

Lafayette 92/76

10s

20s

30s

40s

50s

LOW

HIGH

LOW

93° 77°

Baton Rouge through 5 p.m. Thursday

Jackson 94/74 Many 91/74

HIGH

92° 77°

TEMPERATURE

Longview 93/76

-0s

LOW

Monroe 95/77

Shreveport 94/76

-10s

HIGH

91° 75°

Expect some very hot conditions to end the workweek across the Baton Rouge area. Expect partly cloudy, hot and humid conditions for Friday. Temperatures this afternoon will rise to the mid-90s.

Humidity will remain high, so heat index values will rise to the triple digits, almost to 105 or greater. There is a 20 to 30% chance of rain, so isolated showers are possible. Again, the UV index is almost at the extreme level, so wear your hat, your shades and your sunscreen.

60s

70s

80s

90s 100s 110s

High/low Normal high/low Last year’s high/low Record high Record low

TODAY’S TIDES Lake Pontchartrain (Tchefuncte River) Shell Beach South Point, Marsh Island Cypremort Point Grand Isle (Barataria Pass) Mississippi River (Southwest Pass) Wine Island

Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today LAST

JUL 7

City

Atlanta Austin Boston Charlotte Chicago Dallas Denver Houston Las Vegas

Shown are areas of precipitation and high temperatures for the day.

90°/73° 91°/73° 93°/76° 102° in 2024 62° in 1924

24-hour total Month to date Normal month to date year to date Normal year to date

HIGH

10:20p 4:44p 8:43a 11:19a 11:55a 11:19a 1:03p

6:07 a.m.

8:11 p.m.

10:49 p.m.

9:18 a.m.

NEW

FIRST

JUL 14

Hi

TODAY

95 97 97 101 90 97 92 95 102

Lo

80 75 79 76 74 80 60 77 78

FULL

JUL 21

W

t pc t s t pc pc t s

JUL 29

Hi

95 98 93 102 86 98 88 94 104

SAT. Lo

78 74 71 77 70 79 59 78 80

W

t pc t s t pc pc t pc

FT.

LOW

YESTERDAY

TODAY

READING 48 MAIN POLLUTANT Nitrogen oxide

MAIN POLLUTANT Nitrogen oxide

GOOD

PRECIPITATION

0.20” 0.89” 0.39” 37.61” 32.39”

FT.

HIGH

0.6 9:33a -0.1 1.5 2:21a -0.2 1.7 10:53p -0.1 1.8 2:22a 0.2 1.2 10:48p 0.0 1.4 9:17p -0.1 1.5 11:50p 0.0

SOURCE: LOUISIANA DEQ AND AIRNOW.GOV

FT.

---------------

---------------

LOW

---------------

FT.

---------------

The solunar period schedule allows planning days so you will be fishing in good territory or hunting in good cover during those times. Major periods begin at the times shown and last for 1.5 to 2 hours. The minor periods are shorter.

MAJOR MINOR MAJOR MINOR

Today Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

City

2:27a 3:16a 4:04a 4:51a 5:37a 6:23a 7:11a

Hi

8:38a 9:27a 10:15a 11:02a 11:48a 12:11a 12:57a

TODAY Lo

Los Angeles 80 Miami 92 Nashville 98 New york City 100 Philadelphia 102 Phoenix 107 St. Louis 95 San Francisco 71 Seattle 73

60 78 72 79 84 84 77 55 55

2:49p 9:00p 3:38p 9:49p 4:26p 10:36p 5:12p 11:23p 5:59p ---6:47p 12:35p 7:38p 1:24p

W

pc t t s s pc t pc pc

GOOD

Hi

80 91 95 95 99 107 92 68 74

SAT. Lo

62 79 74 74 77 86 74 55 55

W

pc t t t t s t pc s

Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice.

MISSISSIPPI Memphis Vidalia-Natchez Red River Landing Baton Rouge Donaldsonville Reserve New Orleans OHIO Cairo COMITE Near Olive AMITE Near Darlington Denham Springs Port Vincent TICKFAW Montpelier Holden ATCHAFALAYA Simmesport Melville Krotz Springs Butte La Rose Bayou Sorrel Morgan City

FLOOD STAGE

34 48 48 35 27 22 17

THU. 24-HOUR STAGE CHANGE

19.40 40.00 40.00 26.60 17.40 13.05 8.50

+1.08 +0.27 -2.64 +0.41 +0.25 +0.30 +0.17

40

35.54

-0.19

19

-1.34

+0.01

18 29 8

-0.70 11.92 1.63

+0.05 +0.54 +0.05

13 15

3.15 3.65

+0.33 +1.98

47 34 29 20 12 6

22.90 17.32 14.90 11.84 6.60 3.56

+0.11 +0.07 +0.09 +0.02 -0.10 -0.02

data as of 7 a.m. Thursday

Forecasts and graphics, except for Damon’s Outlook, provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2026

Erie Roofing Since 1976

PROTECT

YOUR HOME Get A FREE Gutter Inspection today

225-324-3164 acadianagutter

LICENSED RESIDENTIAL CONTRACTOR

whereitneverrains.com

Trust the Nation’s #1 Roofing Contractor Award-Winning Roofing and Customer Service

LIMITED TIME OFFER

50% 50 % OFF Installation

FREE ESTIMATE

SCHEDULE TODAY! Call 1.855.296.6825 • $0 Down Today • Same Day Financing Available • Premium Warranty Protection

Join over 400,000 satisfied homeowners with an ultra-durable roof from Erie Home.

CALL TODAY! 1.855.296.6825 New orders only. Does not include material costs. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Minimum purchase required. Other restrictions may apply. This is an advertisement placedon behalf of Erie Construction Mid-West, Inc (“Erie”). Offer terms and conditions may apply and the offer may not be available in your area. If you call the number provided, you consent to being contacted by telephone, SMS text message, email, pre-recorded messages by Erie or its affiliates and service providers using automated technologies notwithstanding if you are on a DO NOT CALL list or register. Please review our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use on homeservicescompliance.com. All rights reserved. License numbers available at eriehome.com/erielicenses/

BATON ROUGE • ASCENSION • LIVINGSTON • FELICIANAS WEST BATON ROUGE • TANGIPAHOA • IBERVILLE

METRO

T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M

|

F r i d ay, J u ly 3, 2026

1BN

WBR rollbacks could save taxpayers $5M Officials say they’re largest in decades

tax rates after the Parish Council voted June 25 to roll back more than 6 mills, the largest rollback decision in at least a decade.

Parish officials said the move will save taxpayers about $5 million in 2027 compared with what could have been collected under

BY AIDAN McCAHILL the full voter-approved millages.

Staff writer “Taxpayers are keeping $5 milWest Baton Rouge Parish tax- lion in their pocket from the maxipayers could see a dip in property mum amount the council could

charge,” Parish President Jason Manola said. “We only want to collect what we need to collect.”

A millage is the basic property tax rate used by taxing authorities in Louisiana, equal to $1 for every $1,000 of taxable assessed value. Across the entire West Baton Rouge Parish tax base, one mill currently generates roughly $800,000, according to Chance Stephens, parish finance director.

For residents whose property values have not risen sharply in the past year, Stephens said the council’s unanimous decision will mean lower payments to the parish government.

Every 10 years, parish voters approve millages for the council to levy, currently giving them the authority to oversee a little more than 32 mills that fund a range of parish services. Based on current

The Louisiana Sons of the American Revolution President Steve Kubicek carries the modern United States flag with the color guard for the toast to the Lee Resolution at the Louisiana Old State Capitol Museum in Baton Rouge on Thursday.

Louisiana Old State Capitol director Mary Durusau raises a glass during the toast to the Lee Resolution on Thursday.

STAFF PHOTOS By MICHAEL JOHNSON

TOAST TO HISTORY

assessments, that would amount to roughly $25.6 million that the parish stands to receive in 2027. After Thursday’s decision, the government will take in 25.82 mills, or around $20.6 million.

Those millages help fund the West Baton Rouge community center, health unit, library, drainage, museum, Council on Aging,

ä See ROLLBACKS, page 2B

Safety first when it comes to fireworks Fire marshal offers tips for holiday weekend Staff report As Independence Day approaches on Saturday, the Office of State Fire Marshal is asking residents to put safety first.

“Public fireworks displays remain the safest way to celebrate,” Chief Bryan Adams said in a news release.

The laws on home firework displays vary from parish to parish, but safety recommendations concerning fireworks don’t change: n Use fireworks in open areas at least 200 feet from buildings, vehicles and flammable materials, the Office of State Fire Marshal says. n Never allow children to handle fireworks; consider safer alternatives such as glow sticks or public displays. n Never use homemade, altered or illegal fireworks and always follow label instructions. n Do not use fireworks while impaired by alcohol or drugs. n Light one firework at a time and keep a hose or bucket of water nearby. n Soak used fireworks before disposal and never place dry fireworks in the trash. n Check local burn bans and avoid fireworks during dry or windy conditions.

Regulations on home fireworks in area parishes include: n East Baton Rouge: Prohibited in the parish and in the cities of Baton Rouge, Baker, Zachary, Central and St. George.

ä See FIREWORKS, page 2B

Children gather in front of the flags presented by the Louisiana Sons of the American Revolution during the Pledge of Allegiance on Thursday.

COMING UP

Formation Credit Union expanding operations Staff writer About a year after its rebrand, a local credit union is expanding its operations in a $4 million project.

Formation Credit Union, formerly known as Louisiana USA Federal Credit Union, is building a drive-thru with interactive teller machines and an ATM near its headquarters at 10289 Airline Highway. The organization rebranded to Formation Credit Union last year.

The interactive teller machine drive-thru is expected to open in October, according to Formation.

The system is a more modern version of an ATM that allows clients to do things like cash checks or make large withdrawals at the drive-thru with a live teller, which Formation said will make banking

Facebook post by Centurion Construction Management, the general contractor.

The organization has been in Baton Rouge for about 80 years and has one branch on Airline Highway, with more across the country through shared branching, which allows clients to access their accounts at other credit unions. It has more than STAFF PHOTO 9,000 members and $95 million in assets as of the first quarter, acFormation Credit Union is building a drive-thru with interactive teller machines and an ATM near its headquarters at 10289 Airline Highway. cording to National Credit Union Administration data. more convenient.

“Members will still find the same friendly tellers inside the branch, while those who prefer the convenience of technology will have access to our new ITMs for extended banking services,” the

credit union said in a statement.

The credit union also plans to launch a business banking division and update its Airline Highway branch.

The first phase of construction started in May, according to a

Is there a building under construction or renovation in your neighborhood and you want to know what it is? Send an email with a picture or the location to ianne.salvosa@ 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 exboyfriend, 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, after a trial before Judge Cody Martin in the 23rd Judicial District Court. Lilly originally was charged with second-degree 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

ä See CONVICTED, page 2B

2B ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

LSU cuts 25 administrative positions Savings will go toward faculty, research

BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer

LSU eliminated 25 staff positions in administrative offices Thursday to put more money toward faculty and research, LSU system President Wade Rousse said in a statement.

“Louisiana deserves transformational change

from LSU,” Rousse said. “I committed to streamlining operations and finding efficiencies so the university can focus on, and afford, the faculty needed to become a top 50 research institution.”

The employees affected worked in the communications, student engagement and executive departments, an LSU spokesperson said.

Rousse went on to say the cuts would enable the university to restructure and direct savings toward faculty and research. He has stated LSU will need to

hire more faculty to reach its goal of being a “top 50” research university, a distinction based on the National Science Foundation Higher Education Research and Development Survey, which tracks how much each university spends on research.

It’s not the first move LSU has made to get closer to the top 50. Earlier this year, the Board of Supervisors approved a systemlevel restructuring to bring the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, two

health science centers and LSU AgCenter under the umbrella of the 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.

Ex-N.O. mayor’s federal trial delayed again had already been punted resents federal defendant Orleans Police Department Cantrell’s defense that repeatedly following her Au- Sean Alfortish, a former officer, Christian Claus, gust 2025 indictment. She is Kenner magistrate set for found guilty of wire fraud attorneys’ charged alongside her New an August trial on murder, and lying to the FBI in an schedule Orleans Police Department wire fraud and witness tam- art-insurance scam.

The postponement of bodyguard, Jeffrey pering. Alfortish is cited as reason Vappie, with spendthe alleged leader of Cantrell’s trial comes weeks

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

a yearslong scheme ing taxpayer money by local lawyers and on romantic liaisons, fixers who staged then lying and decar wrecks with bigstroying evidence to rig trucks, snagging conceal signs of their millions in bogus inalleged romance.

Their new trial surance payouts. date is March 15, Cantrell Vitter, too, has pre2027. sided over a packed In an order signed Wednes- docket of late: She oversaw day, Chief U.S. District the marathon March jury triJudge Wendy Vitter of Loui- al of two personal injury lawsiana’s Eastern District cited yers convicted of wire fraud the “arduous trial calendar” and obstruction for their facing Vappie’s attorneys for role in the staged-wrecks scheme. the delay.

In June, Vitter ran the twoOne of the defense lawyers, Shaun Clarke, also rep- week trial of a former New

after The Times-Picayune | 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.

Police: 7-year-old dead, woman injured in fight 911 call about the girl from a home in the 8000 block of La. 1 south in West Baton Rouge Parish, shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday.

The police officers initiated lifesaving efforts for the girl before she was taken to a hospital. She died later that evening, A

ddis Police said in an online post.

A woman was also taken to the hospital with injuries she received in a physical altercation with a man, who was identified to police by witnesses.

“Detectives continue working with the appropri-

sion 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 pro-

nounced 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.

in unincorporated areas but prohibited in Denham Continued from page 1B Springs and Walker. n West Baton Rouge: Allowed in unincorporated arn Ascension: Allowed in eas. Allowed in the town of unincorporated areas but Brusly, from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. prohibited in the city/town Friday through Sunday. Allimits of Gonzales, Donald- lowed in the town of Addis from through Sunday. Firesonville and Sorrento. n Livingston: Allowed works are prohibited in the

city of Port Allen. n Iberville: Fireworks allowed throughout the parish. n East Feliciana: Fireworks allowed throughout the parish. n West Feliciana: Fireworks are allowed in unincorporated areas, but are prohibited in St. Francisville.

Staff report A 7-year-old girl died Wednesday after being found unresponsive in a home where there had been a fight between a man and a woman, the Addis Police Department said.

Officers responded to a

CONVICTED

Continued from page 1B to present a defense” and sent the case back to the district court for trial.

The jury convicted Lilly of the lesser charge of manslaughter.

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 Ascen-

FIREWORKS

ate investigative agencies to determine the circumstances surrounding the child’s death and any potential criminal charges,” the police department said.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Addis Police Department at (225) 687-2222.

ROLLBACKS

Continued from page 1B recreation and 911 dispatch. The Parish Council is also constitutionally required to levy millages for the parish general fund.

With the exception of the 911 dispatch center, the general fund and the West Baton Rouge Museum, those services will receive less taxpayer funding than they could under current property values.

For example, voters approved 7.2 mills for parish drainage services, but the Parish Council voted to roll it back to 5.7 mills, meaning it will receive roughly $1.17 million less than voters allow. The Council on Aging received a similar 1.5-mill rollback. The library and community center were rolled back by 1 mill, while the health unit was rolled back by 0.5 mill.

Stephens said the rollbacks followed a yearly review of each fund’s balance sheet and discussions with the council. The strong financial position of those funds allowed the parish to lower the rate at which property taxes are collected.

“We have the funds where you could roll back,” he said. “It’s a constant up-and-down, catand-mouse game figuring out where you can take cuts one year, where you can’t, and maybe flip them the next year.”

The rollbacks also put the rates below the stateadjusted maximum millage, which aims to keep revenue neutral and is calculated every four years after property reassessments. That means the community center, health unit, drainage, library, Council on Aging and recreation will all see less tax revenue than they did in 2026.

Stephens said the parish has approved increasingly larger rollbacks since 2020, resulting in more than $20 million in savings

for West Baton Rouge taxpayers over the past six years — or conversely, $20 million less that could have gone to parish services.

Before 2020, Stephens said parish governments always collected the maximum amount.

“This was not a thing that was done in the past,” he said. “I would venture to say (this year’s rollback) was the highest ever.”

With the exception of East Baton Rouge Parish millages dedicated to BREC, Stephens said no other surrounding parishes — Pointe Coupee, Iberville, West Feliciana or East Feliciana — have made similar rollbacks in recent years.

“We are unique, and we want to stay unique, if we can,” said Parish Council Chair and District 6 representative Carey Denstel, who praised the council’s work and the financial stewardship of Manola’s administration and the prior administration. Denstel added that the rollbacks will not affect the quality of services or the parish’s ability to carry out capital outlay projects.

“We definitely wouldn’t roll back things to where we couldn’t do our services or capital outlay,” he said. “But there is no use in building a big savings account and letting it sit there, or spending it just to spend it. Our goal is to be good custodians of the people’s money.”

LOTTERY

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2026 PICK 3: 2-8-3 PICK 4: 2-1-1-7 PICK 5: 3-4-0-2-6 EASY 5: 6-7-12-17-23 LOTTO: 2-15-17-24-27-33 POWERBALL: 2-6-26-39-68 (6)

Unofficial notification, keep your tickets.

Yo

u ar r M ts o He ve re

St

Get your FREE home value now Safety that lets you enjoy the little things.

Call Now to Redeem Over $230 in Savings!

1 (855) 949-5044

addressbatonrouge.com DRE#01901536 This website is a marketing and information program that sends all inquiries to state-licensed real estate professionals.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ 3B

lll

Funerals Today Hebert, Delores

St. John’s Catholic Church, 4727 McHugh Dr. in Zachary at 9am.

Henson, Samuel

Baker Funeral Home, 6401 Groom Road in Baker, at 2 p.m.

James, Martha

Immanuel Baptist Church, 10870 Lovett Rd., Baton Rouge, LA at 10am.

Jones, Talyn

Greater Olive MBC, 3155 Victoria Dr. at 10:00 a.m.

Russell, Nina

Unity Church of Baton Rouge, 15255 Jefferson Hwy. at 11am.

Obituaries Cangelosi, Aline Geraci Francis

Aline Francis Geraci Cangelosi, a native and life -long resident of Baton Rouge, La, passed away peacefully on June 28, 2026 at the age of 95 years old.

She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. Aline is survived by her three loving daughters, Fran Cangelosi Hampton (Mark), Lafayette, LA; Terri Cangelosi Tuminello (Patrick) Madisonville LA; Dana Cangelosi Cannon (Ace), Watson, LA; 10 grandchildren, Blake Hampton, Hannah Hodgins (Grant), Carly Rankin (Mark), Stephen Rice, Brandon Tuminello (McKensey), Brent Tuminello, Joseph Tuminello (Mariana), Amber McFee (Roger), Amie Anderson (James), Anna Watkins; 9

great-grandchildren, Hampton Hodgins, Porter Hodgins, Covey Rice, Patrick Tuminello, TheoRose Tuminello, Samuel Tuminello, Madison McFee, Heath McFee and Declan McFee, brother, John "Bubba" Geraci, and many loving extended family members. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Frank Cangelosi; son, Darrel Michael Cangelosi, parents, Ross and Francis Piazza Geraci; sisters, Rose Caruso, Lena Bourgeois, Genevieve Jordan and Louise Branum.

Aline was a realtor for 45 years, retired when she was 85 years old. She was acknowledged for many valuable contributions, including Million Dollar Agent in 1995 and Realtor of the Year in 1997. She loved cooking and shared her Italian traditions.

Spaghetti-meatballs was her signature dish served every Sunday after church.

She enjoyed playing cards, dancing, shopping, and Casinos. She was a lady of strength and class. Aline was a devout Catholic and was honored to be part of the legacy of St. Thomas More Catholic Church. Visitation will be at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, on Monday, July, 6, 2026, from 10:00 am until Mass time of 12:00 pm. Interment will immediately follow at Greenoaks Memorial Park.

Pallbearers are Blake Hampton, Stephen Rice, Heath McFee, Brent Tu-

minello, Joseph Tuminello and Randy Corsentino.

Lieu of flowers, the family requested that donation be made in her memory to Dementia Society of America.

Monk, Ruth Powers

"Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her."

Proverbs 31:28 Ruth Powers Monk, age 87, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. She was born on April 6, 1939, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Ruth was a devoted wife, loving mother, cherished grandmother and great-grandmother, and a faithful servant of the Lord.

She lived a life marked by unwavering faith, unconditional love, and selfless devotion to her family. Her kindness, strength, and

gentle spirit touched the lives of all who knew her, leaving a legacy that will continue for generations.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 68 years, Harold Monk; her children, Harold and Marlene Monk, Suzi and Will Parchim, Darryl and Lisa Monk, her grandchildren, Melody and Jason Ray, Megan and Kyle Mallett, Macy and Tanner Ross, Leah Parchim, Jonathan and Addie Monk, Morgan and Noah Lanier, Colton and Megan Monk; and her great-grandchildren, Nathan and Luke Ray, Harlan and Hansen Ross, Adler, Case, Dolly, and Jesse Monk, and Slade Monk.

Visitation will be held at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church on Friday, July 3, from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. A second visitation will be held on Saturday, July 4, from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m., with the funeral service beginning at 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Greenwell

The Advocate The Times Picayune The Acadiana Advocate

Obituary Department 4th of July Holiday Hours Due to the 4th of July Holiday our offices will be closed Friday, July 3, 2026.

EARLY DEADLINES FOR OBITUARIES

DEADLINE

RUNDATE

WEDNESDAY 7/1 @ 3 PM ................. THURSDAY 7/2 WEDNESDAY 7/1 @ 3 PM ........................ FRIDAY 7/3 THURSDAY 7/2 @ 3 PM .....................SATURDAY 7/4

or call 225-388-0289

Protection your loved ones deserve ...

GUARANTEED Life Insurance up to $30,000.00

Modified Whole Life Insurance from Physicians Life Insurance Company

EMAIL:

OR CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION:

friendship, loving support, and for walking alongside our family throughout this journey.

Ruth's greatest joy was her family, and her greatest strength was her faith.

She will be deeply missed, forever loved, and always remembered.

Email obits@theadvocate.com

How to place an Obituary Notice obits@theadvocate.com

Springs Baptist Church or The Carpenter House Hospice in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate caregivers at St. Joseph's Hospice and The Carpenter House for the exceptional care, comfort, and love they showed our mother during her final days. A special thank you is also extended to Sheryl Schafer for her steadfast

Imagine what $30,000.00 could mean to your family after you’re gone — cash to help pay your funeral, medical bills or other final expenses.

225-388-0289

• Guaranteed acceptance for ages 45 to 85* • No medical exam, no health questions • Lock in your rate for life

How to place a Memorial Ad An “In Memory Of” ad, is a way to pay tribute to your loved one. This remembrance is often printed on the anniversary of a loved one’s death. The deadline is two days prior to the day you want your ad to appear.

TO PLACE A MEMORIAL AD GO TO: obituaries.theadvocate.com, click submit an obituary and select create a memoriam.

Find out how affordable this coverage can be — Call for your FREE Information Kit

1-888-348-7520 Life55plus.info/Batonrouge

 Plus — you’ll also get a FREE

Final Wishes Planner just for calling!

*Ages may vary by state. Guaranteed for one of these life insurance policies. Benefits Benefits reduced first first two years. Insurance Policy L770 (ID: L770ID; OK: L770OK; TN: L770TN).

6236-0625

NEWSLETTERS

The biggest stories customized to your interests – delivered direct to your inbox.

ACADIANA BUSINESS TODAY

LSU SPORTS UPDATES

BATON ROUGE DAILY UPDATES

SAINTS INSIDER

LAKE CHARLES NEWSLETTER

LOUISIANA INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM

NEW ORLEANS MORNING HEADLINES AND LUNCH LINE

plus more... nola.com/newsletters

SIGN UP

TODAY

4B ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

OPINION AMERICA 250

Judiciary’s responsibility to fulfill Declaration’s promise On the Fourth of July, our nation principle both bold and enduring: That when a government bewill commemorate the 250th anniversary of its founding charter: comes destructive of the people’s the Declaration of Independence. rights, the people possess the Adopted on July 4, 1776, authority to alter or abolby the Second Continental ish it. The 56 delegates Congress, the document, who affixed their names to which was then titled “The the document, at least 25 Unanimous Declaration of of whom were attorneys, the Thirteen United States understood their act was of America,” announced to considered high treason, John the world that the 13 colopunishable by torture and Weimer death. Benjamin Franklin nies were free from the GUEST quipped, “We must all rule of Great Britain.

COLUMNIST hang together, or most asThe declaration arose from a period of profound suredly we shall all hang strain between the colonies and separately.” the crown led by a king many At a time when monarchies colonists considered to be tyranruled over nations, the United States put its faith in the citizens nical and prone to putting his to govern themselves. In the years thumb on the scales of justice. that followed independence, the The authors set forth 27 grievideals announced in 1776 were ances against the king of Great Britain, asserting that his actions woven into the fabric of our constitutional structure. In The had undermined representative government and the fair adminis- Federalist No. 78, Alexander Hamtration of justice. ilton metaphorically described the In doing so, they articulated a judiciary as the “least dangerous”

branch of government, possessing neither the sword of the executive nor the purse of the legislature.

The judiciary’s authority, he explained, rests in neither force nor will but in judgment alone. At the same time, Hamilton emphasized that an independent judiciary is absolutely essential to preserving liberty as a check upon the political branches.

Over the course of two and a half centuries, the Declaration has become one of the most widely circulated and influential political documents in human history. Its assertion that “all men are created equal” and “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights” has echoed far beyond our shores, both attracting 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 the United States must

Before La. joined the U.S., N.O. nuns had questions Today, it’s not easy to imagine New Or“There was no comfortable place for the Ursulines in this changed world,” she leans as anything other than part of the wrote in her book “Masterless Mistresses: United States.

But it wasn’t always so, and an exchange The New Orleans Ursulines and the Deof letters in 1804 between the Ursuline velopment of a New World Society, 1727sisters of New Orleans and American 1834.” They were neither Protestant nor President Thomas Jefferson reminds us of wives and mothers. What was the place of an important reality: New Orleans became unmarried women as property holders? an American city in a distinctive The Ursulines quickly showed way — by governance quickly, but savviness and courage by courtby culture much more slowly. ing good relations with the new This year, we celebrate 250 years American governor, W.C.C. Claiof the political independence of the borne, successfully seeking his United States of America as well support with the American presiChristopher dent. Their letter to Jefferson caras the development of the distinctive American political worldview, Wiseman ries this core assertion: “that the which includes two key principles: treaty of cession, and the sense GUEST a respect for a diversity of religions of justice which marks the charCOLUMNIST in society and a separation between acter of the United States, would the institutions of government and have secured to them [the Ursureligion. lines] the property they now possess …”

These two points were at issue when The nuns’ argument is about morality, Sister Therese de Saint Xavier Farjon not only about property rights, citing their wrote with her sister nuns to President seclusion from the world, shunning of Jefferson. Simply put, the Ursulines were wealth and commitment to “the cause of not confident that their convent would be the orphan, of the helpless child of want.” recognized as their property under newly In their Catholic worldview, the nuns established American rule. speak not about individual rights but rathThe cultural context of the day made er about the common good and care for their concern justified. These French nuns those most vulnerable. By this measure, would have remembered two very differtheir worldview is not yet American.

Jefferson’s reply was reassuring. ent revolutions. The American Revolution “The principles of the constitution and of 1776 was not a sectarian one. Christians in English colonies of all denominations or government of the United States are a sure guarantee to you that it will be preserved none joined in opposition to English rule to you sacred and inviolate, and that your from London. institution will be permitted to govern The Ursulines also had the powerful memory of the French Revolution of 1789, itself according to its own voluntary rules, without interference from the civil authorwhich was a revolution against both the king and the Roman Catholic Church in ity,” he wrote.

France. Convents and other religious comIn the nuns’ Catholic tradition, liberty of conscience allowed religious error to munities were destroyed, disbanded or grow, and separation of church and state confiscated in reaction to the privileged was condemned. Jefferson’s acceptance of position held by the Catholic Church in religious diversity and assurance that the French society. nuns would operate “without interference The same year, the American Constitufrom civil authority” was new to them tion had become law, soon after including indeed. the First Amendment and its famous first This exchange of letters about property words “Congress shall make no law rereveals much about differences in worldspecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” In views. The Ursuline sisters and other American law, no particular church would Catholics in early America had to grow hold a privileged position. comfortable over time that their church For the Ursulines, these memories would could thrive in this democratic republican cause concern about their future under context.

American rule. Their French experience Today, you can see a replica of President of democratic anti-royalism was that it was Jefferson’s letter at the Old Ursuline Conviolently anti-church. vent Museum in the French Quarter, but In addition, frequent recent regime the original document remains part of the changes in New Orleans — in just 40 years Ursuline order’s archives — now located from French to Spanish, back to French, at Boston College, a Catholic institution in then American — caused angst about the a city that was a hotbed of the American legitimacy of property claims. The histoRevolution. rian Emily Clark notes that young America was broadly Protestant and emphasized Christopher Wiseman is the executive women’s place in the home as wives and director of the Catholic Cultural Center mothers. of New Orleans.

continually aspire. He viewed it as a prism through which the Constitution should be understood and applied. He relied on the principles of the Declaration of Independence in his Gettysburg address, calling the United States a nation “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 for the people[.]”

To preserve the principles embodied in the Declaration of Independence, our founding 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 the other branches. The role of the judiciary is to resolve issues which those before the court cannot resolve themselves, not by declaring “winners or losers,” but by applying the rule of law as enacted by the legislative branch,

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 a court of justice.

As we celebrate this 250th anniversary, we recognize not only a historic document, but the lasting principles it sets forth: liberty under law, equality in dignity and a government accountable to the people. The Declaration of Independence continues to stand as a reminder of the courage and conviction of those who signed it and of their belief that justice must rise above power. As we reflect 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 justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court.

HBCUs help America do unfinished work of freedom This summer, America turns 250 years ried those values into the wider world. old. Across the country, communities are From the suffrage movement to the Civil marking the occasion with celebrations Rights Era, HBCU students and alumni and ceremonies. Flags will fly, speeches have been at the forefront of every major will be given and the nation will pause to campaign to redraw the moral and legal marvel at two and a half centuries of the architecture of American democracy.

American experiment.

They organized sit-ins and freeTwo hundred and fifty years of dom rides. They registered votdemocracy is, by any measure, an ers in counties where doing so extraordinary achievement. A nation required extraordinary courage. that began as a bold experiment in They argued cases before the self-governance has grown into the Supreme Court, wrote the legislaReynold tion, preached the sermons and world’s longest-standing constitutionVerret paid the prices that made the al republic, proving to be a beacon of GUEST Civil Rights Act and the Voting progress and inspiring movements COLUMNIST Rights Act not just possible, but for freedom and liberty across the inevitable. When we speak of the globe. legal victories that transformed While this milestone is cause for this republic, we are speaking, in no small celebration, it is also a moment for honpart, of men and women shaped on HBCU est reckoning — asking ourselves which campuses. chapters of our story we have told in full, This legacy did not end with the passage and which we have too long consigned to of landmark legislation. It endures. the margins.

Today, HBCUs continue to produce a disAmerica’s founding promise — that all men are created equal — was a declaration proportionate share of Black professionals the nation had not yet earned, “the promis- in law, engineering, medicine, education, the sciences and public service. Across sory note” referred to by Dr. Martin Luther King. The work of earning it has been every industry and in every region of the the great, unfinished labor of every gener- country, the fingerprints of an HBCU eduation since. The emancipation of enslaved cation are visible proof of what an equipeople and the century-long struggle of table higher education system can produce their descendants to claim full citizenship — and what this nation is capable of when rights represent perhaps the most proit invests in all of its people.

There is a temptation in moments of nafound achievement in that ongoing project of liberty. And historically Black colleges tional celebration to flatten complexity and and universities (HBCUs) were built pretell the story of America as a straight and unbroken line from promise to fulfillment. cisely at the hinge of that achievement, But the truer and, I would argue, the more making it possible for Black Americans to pursue lives of dignity, purpose and full patriotic story is the one that acknowledgcitizenship. es how much each generation has had to The story of HBCUs is one such chapfight for the ideals the founders declared.

It is the story of a republic perpetually ter. And it belongs not at the footnotes of reforming itself, perpetually reaching toAmerican history, but at its very center.

Born in the aftermath of the Civil War, ward and securing a more perfect union.

HBCUs were created out of necessity. A HBCUs are a part of the American story shattered nation, reconstructing itself, rein its deepest sense. They did not merely fused to open the doors of higher education respond to injustice. They modeled the possibility of a better day. They said, in to Black Americans. And with the assisbrick and mortar and curriculum and comtance of generous and committed friends, Black Americans built their own. Against munity, that Black intellectual life was not immense opposition, HBCUs emerged first a concession to be granted but a truth to be as institutions of learning that soon becelebrated, a gift to the nation — and that the American project of liberty could not came engines of Black self-determination be complete without fulfilling its promise and, in turn, pillars of American democto all. racy itself.

As the nation raises a toast to 250 years, Consider what that moment demanded: we would do well to remember: Our denot only the courage to imagine freedom, but the discipline to build the institutions mocracy endures because every generathat freedom requires. Schools. Librartion has had the courage to demand that its promise extend further — to insist that ies. Laboratories. Lecture halls. HBCUs liberty is not a gift bestowed on some, but provided the educational infrastructure and thought leaders for a people emerging a right belonging to all. HBCUs have carfrom bondage. ried that promise for generations.

The principles of justice, service and This is not a footnote. That is the story of democratic citizenship that were cultiAmerican progress. vated on HBCU campuses did not remain Dr. Reynold Verret is president of Xavier confined to classrooms and yards. They University of Louisiana. took root in students and alumni who car-

WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR LOCAL REPORTING

KEVIN HALL

President & Publisher

RENE SANCHEZ

VP/News, Executive Editor

KARYN KEARNEY EVP/Strategic Partnerships

ARNESSA GARRETT Managing Editor/ Opinion

JUSTIN MITCHELL

Managing Editor/ Audience

HANK STUEVER

Managing Editor/ Enterprise

FRED KALMBACH

JENNIFER BROWN

JERRY DICOLO

EMMA DISCHER

Managing Editor

Managing Editor, New Orleans

KRISTIN ASKELSON Managing Editor, Acadiana

BARBARA LEADER Managing Editor, Shreveport

Senior Editor Senior Editor

ANDREA GALLO

ROGER HOLMES

Chief Revenue Office

ASHLEY WHITCHER

VP/ Consumer Sales

JIM MYERS

General Manager/ Advertising

VP/IT

Senior Editor/ Investigations

VP/Finance

JESSICA WILLIAMS

ROBERT STOLL

Senior Editor

CHASE HEATHERLY

Executive VP, Operations

VP/Distribution

KYLE WHITFIELD

G

GEORGES MEDIA GROUP JOHN D. GEORGES Owner

JUDI TERZOTIS

ROBERT YOUNG

Chief Executive Officer

LOU HUDSON

Editorial Page

VP/ Majors & Nationals

DAN SHEA

Chairman

ARNESSA GARRETT STEPHANIE GRACE WILL SUTTON QUIN HILLYER FAIMON ROBERTS

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ 5B

lll

COMMENTARY

The Great American State Fair on the National Mall is seen through an American flag in Washington.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JEN GOLBECK

ISSUE OF THE WEEK AMERICA 250 As the nation celebrates its semiquincentennial on July 4, the focus has turned to our founding documents and what they mean today. Has America lived up to the promise in its Declaration of Independence? What lessons should we take from history? Here are two perspectives:

Celebrating a milestone The background that made without being chauvinistic the Revolution possible Even with semiquincentennial cel(“Men may be trusted to govern themebrations and anniversary essays in the selves without a master”) and saying, air, and with readers already saturated “This was the most revolutionary idea in with commentaries on American the world at that time. It remains democracy and 250 years of inthe most revolutionary idea in the world today.” dependence, there’s good reason This is a speech that’s celebrato linger, if just for a moment, on what Gerald Ford had to say when tory without in any way being the country, exhausted by the chauvinistic. It is a fundamentally Vietnam War and besieged by Waoptimistic view, but Ford wasn’t David an apology for America. tergate, marked its bicentennial a Shribman issuing He was simply saying the country half-century ago. had unfinished business and must Ford delivered remarks even overcome a history that in many ways perfectly suited to his time, and all wasn’t the history we wished it were. It’s time, including and especially our own. important to remember that this speech What the country wouldn’t give to hear was issued after the country came speeches like these now. What the country wouldn’t give to believe speeches like through Watergate’s severe test of our founding and the nation’s defining values. these in this era.

He then went on to speak of the contriThe president began his July 2, 1976, remarks by reminding his listeners that butions of America’s immigrants, saying July 4 may not really be the beginning of that their “transfusions of traditions American independence. But the Foundand cultures, as well as of blood,” have enriched the country and transformed ers, those sages in powdered wigs and America into “a new kind of people.” In knee breeches, did what editors do to today’s environment, it is worth quoting columns like this one: They read and reread what Thomas Jefferson had drafted, Ford at length: “Foreigners like Lafayette, Von Steuoffered some suggestions, made some adjustments. “They took two more days ben, and Pulaski came to fight in our to debate and to approve this declaration Revolution because they believed in its and announcement to the world of what principles that they felt were universal. they had done and the reasons why,” Ford Immigrants like Andrew Carnegie came explained. as poor boys and created a great steel Standing in the National Archives, the industry, then gave his fortune back to home of America’s cherished founding America for libraries, universities and documents, Ford reminded the country museums. Maria Francesca [Ste. Frances that the Declaration of Independence Xavier] Cabrini came as a missionary was far more than the beloved melodic sister to serve the sick and the poor. opening language, with its “self-evident Samuel Gompers worked in a sweatshop, truths” and ‘unalienable rights” and spent his lunchtime helping other imits high-minded goals to achieve “Life, migrant workers learn to read so they Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” could become citizens. We have gained that have been memorized by American far, far more than we have given to the school pupils for generations. He pointed millions who made America their second to the document’s list of grievances the homeland.” onetime colonists deplored (obstructUsing the metaphor of Jacob’s multicoling justice, establishing an “Arbitrary ored coat to describe the modern United government,” and “cutting off our Trade States, he cited “the rich treasures you with all parts of the world”) and urged brought from whence you came, and let Americans to read what he called the us share your pride in them.” “dull parts.”

Hardly anyone at the time pointed to Two days later, at Monticello, the these speeches as especially eloquent. home of Thomas Jefferson, Ford used a They were delivered by an accidental naturalization ceremony to expand his president whose eloquence was in his thoughts. simple appreciation of the achievement He spoke about independence — not of the Founders. only about independence from Great So think of this time as more than the Britain but also from governmental tyr250th anniversary of American indepenanny. dence. Think of it as the 50th anniversary “Jefferson and his colleagues very of two remarkable speeches. deliberately and very daringly set out to construct a new kind of nation,” Ford Email David Shribman at dshribman@ said, quoting the Declaration’s author post-gazette.com.

As we near the 250th anniversary of the ects, starting in New England and New signing of the Declaration of IndepenYork, was to abolish the colonial legisladence, let me share a couple of reflections tures. William III reinstated the legislaon the background of how this extraortures, leaving them to tussle with royal or proprietorial governors or lieutendinary, unprecedented and daring event succeeded. ant governors. Over the next 75 Two decades ago, I set out to write years, these political arenas were a book about the events known as schools of practical politics and the Glorious Revolution of 1688philosophic principle, whose star 89. I suspected that this revolupupils included Benjamin Franklin, tion — the ouster of the Catholic Michael George Washington, John Adams King James II of England and the Barone and Thomas Jefferson.

Progressive historians portrayed installation of his Protestant son-inthe legislatures as devices for longlaw (and nephew) William III and established rich people to hold on to their daughter Mary I — was helpful, perhaps money. But property was widely held in a necessary precursor of the American the colonies, and with manpower always Revolution. scarce, the older legislative leaders were I was convinced then and am more so always on the lookout for talented young now that the events of the Glorious Revomen. Both Washington and Jefferson were lution and their reverberations over the next three-quarters of a century made pos- given important assignments while still in their 20s. sible the success of the American RevoluThe colonies were founded at different tion.

First, because the ouster of one king with times, were of different heft and the proda clear hereditary claim, the exclusion uct of diverse religious traditions after a of his male heirs, and the installation of century of wars centered on religious difthree foreign successors left a cloud over ferences the title of whoever held the monarchy.

Franklin’s idea that the colonies, for James and his Stuart son and grandsons all their particularities, shared common were Catholics, unsuitable for Protestant interests had consequences in 1774 when England. grievances in a few colonies prompted the William was a Dutchman, stadtholder summoning of a Continental Congress and of the Dutch Republic; his English wife, its continual meetings during the RevoluMary, was subservient and died six years tionary War. into his reign; they were childless and The American Revolution was a chancy succeeded by the very English Queen event, unsure of success at every turn, Anne. After her one surviving child died and, at the same time, of enormous posof smallpox in 1700, Parliament passed the sibility: Franklin and Washington contemAct of Succession barring Catholics (and plated that the American republic could be anyone who married a Catholic) from the the world’s largest and strongest nation. It throne, and when Anne died in 1714, she was the product of extraordinary individuwas succeeded by George I, elector of Ha- als, whose clustering genius at one time and in one place is reminiscent of Perinover, who spoke no English.

George I spoke to his ministers in clean Athens or Renaissance Italy.

French, the lingua franca of continental But background circumstances also courts; his son George II spoke English contributed. Without a lightly governing with a German accent, and both were susking-in-parliament, unwilling to press for absolutist rule; without locally elected pected of caring more for their German legislatures, left largely to their own initialands in Hanover than for England. Only in 1760 did England get a plainly English tives and devices; without the willingness king, the young George III. to perceive common interests despite difThe clouds on the titles of both the Stuart ferences in religious belief and cultural pretenders and the Hanover incumbents folkways that had been so recently the left room for philosophers to concoct theo- stuff of violent disagreement and war — without all these advantages, it is hard to ries of resistance to kings. see how the Revolution whose Declaration At the same time, English monarchs, aware of their arguable illegitimacy, avoid- we celebrate this week, of which we are the fortunate, if often also the querulous ed the fashion for absolutist government heirs, could have been so largely, though pursued and championed by Louis XIV in imperfectly, successful.

France, Charles III in Spain, Joseph II in Happy Fourth!

Austria and Frederick III in Denmark.

James II’s taste for absolutism was apMichael Barone is on X, @MichaelBarone. parent before his ouster. One of his proj-

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE ARE OUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the

writer’s city of residence. The Advocate | The Times-Picayune require a street address and phone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor, The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@theadvocate.com.

TO SEND US A LETTER, SCAN HERE

6B ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

BUSINESS T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M/news/business

DOW 52,900.07 594.83 1.14%

NASDAQ 25,832.67 -207.36 -0.80%

BRIEFS

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Top EU court dismisses Google antitrust appeal

BRUSSELS — Judges at the European Union’s top court dismissed an appeal by Google over a landmark, $4.5 billion antitrust fine imposed for throttling competition and reducing consumer choice through the dominance of its mobile Android 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 penalty imposed for Google Search’s abuse of a dominant position in the context of the Android operating system,” the Luxembourg-based judges wrote in their ruling.

Google previously argued 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’s iOS. The fine is one of three antitrust penalties totaling more than $8 billion that the European Commission slapped on Google between 2017 and 2019, putting the 27-nation bloc at the forefront of the global 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 sweeping new rules aimed at clamping down on the biggest digital companies.

Average U.S. mortgage rate falls to 6.43% The average long-term U.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-May and trending higher overall in the months since the war between the U.S. and Iran began in late February, disrupting the flow of crude oil from the Persian Gulf to customers worldwide. That’s sent oil 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 a home loan, also declined this week. That average rate fell to 5.79% from 5.84% last week.

A year ago, it was at 5.8%, Freddie Mac said.

U.S. filings for jobless 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’s fewer than the 225,000 new applications forecast by analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet. Weekly filings for unemployment benefits are considered representative of U.S. layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the job market.

The government also released its more comprehensive June jobs report on Thursday, a day earlier than usual due to the July 4 holiday.

That data showed that U.S. employers pulled back on hiring last month, adding only 57,000 jobs.

That’s less than half the previous month’s total and a sign companies remain cautious. The unemployment rate dropped to 4.2% from 4.3% in May, though that decline is mostly due to the fact that many out-of-work people gave up looking for jobs and were no longer counted as unemployed.

S&P 500 7,483.24 0.01 0.00%

EURO 1.1431 0.0053 0.47%

CRUDE OIL 68.69 0.11 0.16%

GOLD 4,112.70 44.40 1.09%

6-MO T-BILLS 3.94 -0.03 -0.76%

30-YR T-BONDS 4.99 0.01 0.22%

World Cup fans sue StubHub Customers file lawsuit over ticket cancellations

BY MICHAEL R. SISAK Associated Press

NEW YORK — After weeks of complaints from frustrated fans, StubHub is being sued by customers who say the ticket reseller’s inability to fulfill orders crushed their dreams of going to World Cup. Julia Reeker Moghal and Reuben Renteria, both of California, sued the ticketing giant this week in federal court in New York, alleging that “false and misleading” sales practices left them without the tickets they purchased for group stage matches last month.

The lawsuit, which seeks to become a class action, says Moghal and Renteria are among hundreds or even thousands of World Cup fans who purchased tickets only to find out that they “did not exist, were revoked without any forewarning, or had been erased” be-

cause of what the tournament’s organizer, FIFA, deemed “poor digital infrastructure.”

In addition to monetary damages, Moghal and Renteria are asking that StubHub be barred from selling World Cup tickets and that any profits from those sales be given to affected customers.

StubHub declined to comment on the lawsuit but said in a statement that its “singular goal is to get fans into events.”

If anything goes wrong, “our FanProtect Guarantee provides replacement tickets or a full refund,” the company said. “The World Cup is no different, and the issues fans have experienced are largely driven by problems with the event organizer’s own ticketing infrastructure.”

FIFA encourages fans to buy tickets through its own marketplace, where it adds a 30% surcharge to every resold ticket — 15% each from the buyer and seller.

In a statement, the organization said it “has no visibility over, or control of, secondary market ticket transactions carried out on

third-party platforms” and “rejects any suggestion that the functional issues being experienced by users of third-party platforms” are the result of FIFA’s ticketing 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’s ticketing system and outside resale platforms.

According to the lawsuit, Moghal paid $1,905 for three tickets to the June 18 Switzerland-Bosnia and Herzegovina match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, but never received them and never got a refund, which would violate the company’s guarantee.

As the match approached, Moghal was given conflicting information about the status of her order, first receiving a notice that the tickets were ready, then learning that StubHub had canceled her order, then being misled into thinking her tickets would be delivered after all, the lawsuit said.

After the initial cancellation, Moghal spent hours on the phone with StubHub, which said the order would remain canceled but then reversed course and promised her that they would be delivered an hour before the match, the lawsuit said.

Moghal drove to the stadium and waited in line, but never received her tickets, the lawsuit said. She was then promised a refund but never got one, the lawsuit said.

Had she known “that StubHub was either unable to deliver or not authorized to deliver her World Cup Tickets to her, she never would have purchased them,” the lawsuit said.

Similarly, Renteria paid $2,294 for two tickets to the June 18 Mexico-South Korea match 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 refunded after “significant complaints to StubHub,” but had to eat the cost of traveling to Mexico, the lawsuit said.

Dow hits record as most stocks rise But slumping AI stocks keep indexes mixed

BY STAN CHOE Associated Press

NEW YORK — Most U.S. stocks rose on Thursday, and the Dow 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.

The S&P 500 finished the day virtually unchanged and edged up by less than 0.1%, even though seven out of every 10 stocks within the index rose. The Dow jumped 594 points, or 1.1%, while the Nasdaq composite dropped 0.8% after erasing an early gain.

Stocks broadly got some help from a report showing that U.S. employers added 57,000 jobs to their payrolls last month. That’s growth, which is good for the economy, but it was also short of the 100,000 jobs that economists expected and a slowdown from May’s hiring pace.

The bright side of the weaker-than-expected result is that it could keep pressure off inflation, which has been accelerating worldwide because of jumps in oil prices caused by the war with Iran. And now that oil prices are back below where they were before the war, if inflation slows in upcoming months, the Federal Reserve may feel less need to raise interest rates several times this year.

That would be a relief for investors, who tend to love lower interest rates because they can give the economy a boost by making it less expensive for U.S. households and businesses to borrow money and spend. Lower rates also tend to push upward on prices for stocks and other investments.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury got to 4.50% in the morning, up from 3.97% just before the war. But after the release of the U.S. hiring data, it immediately fell back to 4.46% before drifting to 4.48%.

Traders now see an 82% chance that the Fed and its new chairman, Kevin Warsh, will not raise the federal funds rate at its next meeting later this month. That’s up from the 71% chance seen a day earlier, according to

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By RICHARD DREW

Specialist Gennaro Saporito works June 26 on the floor of the New york Stock Exchange. data from CME Group.

“The labor market isn’t overheating,” said Brian Jacobsen, chief economic strategist at Annex Wealth Management. He said the data could allow the Fed to wait through the summer to get more clues about how inflation is behaving before having to decide on hiking rates.

On Wall Street, the company behind LaCroix sparkling waters climbed 7.5% after National Beverage said it will pay a special dividend of $3.25 for each share that investors hold.

Dollar Tree rose 2.4% after the retailer said it approved a program to send up to $2.5 billion to its shareholders by buying back its stock.

Stocks of companies in the crypto industry were also strong after the price of bitcoin rose roughly 2%, a day after dropping near its lowest level since 2024. Robinhood Markets rose 3.8%, and Coinbase Global gained 3.9%.

But more drops 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 not result in as much profit and productivity growth as hoped.

Memory maker Micron Technology erased an early gain to drop 5.5%, a day after plunging 10.6%. Nvidia fell 1.4%, 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 has a total value of nearly $4.7 trillion, for example, which means that its stock’s movements have more weight 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 rallied 594.83 to 52,900.07, and the Nasdaq composite sank 207.36 to 25,382.67.

Best Buy banks on next-gen TVs to spur upgrades

BY CARSON HARTZOG

The Minnesota Star Tribune (TNS) How much better does a TV have to work before shoppers are willing to spend upward of $1,500 to replace the one already hanging on their walls?

That’s the question facing Minnesota-based Best Buy as it becomes the exclusive national retailer for a new generation of premium TVs that promises brighter colors, deeper contrast and less glare than today’s models.

After several sluggish years for consumer electronics following the pandemic buying boom, executives and Wall Street analysts believe the TV market may finally be on the verge of a long-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’s time to upgrade.

Incoming CEO Jason Bonfig has said Best Buy is “not just a retailer anymore,” but its stores remain central to the company’s strategy and generate most of its revenue.

Expanding into categories such as Lego and trading cards is part of that evolution, but the electronics chain still relies on new phone and TV releases to drive store traffic.

“For us, it’s always been about making sure we serve customers across every price point,” Bonfig said in an interview at the Richfield store. “When new technology comes in, that absolutely helps our business. But at the same point in time, it’s our job with our vendors to tell them what customers want. That’s really when our model works best.”

Best Buy is the national retailer with exclusive rights for one year selling RGB LED televisions from leading manufacturers including Samsung, Sony, LG, TCL and Hisense.

The sets are positioned above con-

ventional LED models and compete with OLED televisions, with prices ranging from about $1,000 to more than $30,000 for a 115-inch screen.

The challenge is convincing shoppers the technology is worth the premium. Bonfig believes seeing the TVs in person will make the difference — a tagline Best Buy has embraced with its “Believing Is Seeing” marketing campaign.

“There is really something very powerful about when people get an opportunity to see it,” he said. “Or some people say, ‘Oh, it’s amazing, but I actually need something in this price range.’ We have that covered as well.”

Unlike traditional LED televisions, which use a white backlight, RGB LED sets use separate red, green and blue LEDs, producing brighter colors, stronger contrast and less glare in sunlit rooms.

Bonfig said innovation also has returned to a more “normal” pace since the pandemic, when compa-

nies were focused on producing “as much product as possible,” a shift he said has helped improve sales trends across categories, including TVs. Best Buy has struck similar deals before. In 2023, it became the exclusive retailer for Roku-made TVs. A few years before that, it partnered with Amazon on a multiyear agreement to sell Toshiba and Insignia TVs. That wasn’t the case when OLED TVs entered the market. In 2013, Best Buy became the first U.S. retailer to sell LG OLED TVs, but it didn’t have the kind of market exclusivity this deal provides.

“It’s not about just asking for an exclusive,” Bonfig said. “The exclusive means that we’re going to represent the products in a way the vendors want. We’re going to show the technology like nobody else can. We’re going to train our employees (and) have the digital resources.”

SPORTS

T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M

|

F r i d ay, J u ly 3, 2026

U N I T E D S TAT E S V S . B E L G I U M • 7 P. M . M O N D Ay • F O X

‘A GREAT FEELING ’

1CN

New NCAA 5-for-5 rule could alter the look of LSU rosters

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

ä See NCAA, page 3C

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

Soft-spoken Tillman delivers loud statement with World Cup goal

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

ä See WORLD CUP, page 5C

MOVING ON: Oyarzabal fires Spain past Austria to World Cup Round of 16 | Portugal, Ronaldo survive late scare from Croatia, Page 4C

McAllister has big-time college potential Son of legendary Saints RB is a two-sport standout

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL DEMOCKER

Saints linebacker Keith Mitchell looks to tackle Bills quarterback Rob Johnson during a game on Sept. 9, 2001, in Buffalo, N.y.

Mitchell died on Thursday.

Former Saints Pro Bowl LB Mitchell dead at 51

BY CHRISTOPHER DABE

BY JEFF DUNCAN

Curtis McAllister cradled the football in his right arm and asked coach Ben Powell if this was how he was supposed to do it.

It was the first day of spring practice — the first time McAllister stepped on the field with Powell as the head coach at Country Day, and the son of New Orleans Saints legend Deuce McAllister wanted to make sure he was doing it right.

“We basically asked them to make a target with their hands, catch the ball, look it in,” Powell said. “There’s a bunch of little, tiny details to it, and it was like, ‘Hey, coach, OK, hold it like this? Where do I put my hands?’ ” For McAllister, 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.

Former New Orleans Saints linebacker Keith Mitchell has died, according to a report

by KBTX-TV in Bryan, Texas. He was 51.

Mitchell signed with the Saints in 1997 as an undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M. He went on to become a starter and standout special teams performer.

Mitchell’s best season came in 2000, when he starred for a Saints team that won the NFC West Division title and captured the first playoff win in franchise history. In the Saints’ 31-28 victory against the St. Louis Rams in the NFC Wild Card playoffs, Mitchell had three tackles and a sack of Rams quarterback Kurt Warner.

He played five seasons for the Saints from 1997 to 2001 and finished his tenure with 272 solo tackles, including 20 tackles for loss. In 2000, he returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown in a 21-10 win against the Arizona Cardinals and returned a fumble 90 yards for a touchdown in a 20-10 win against

Staff writer

Staff writer

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 ä See McALLISTER, page 3C with potential to play either sport in college.

ä See SAINTS, page 6C

2C ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS On TV AUTO RACING 10:30 a.m. F1: Sprint Qualifying APPLETV 1 p.m.

Indy NXT Series: Practice FS2 2 p.m.

NTT IndyCar Series: Practice FS1 5 p.m.

NASCAR Cup Series: Practice TRUTV 7 p.m.

ARCA Menards Series FS1 GOLF 10 a.m. PGA: U.S. Senior Open GOLF 3 p.m.

PGA: John Deere Classic GOLF 4:30 p.m. PGA: U.S. Senior Open NBCSN

HORSE RACING Saratoga Live FS2 Saratoga Live FS1 MLB 3 p.m.

St. Louis at Chicago Cubs MLBN 6 p.m.

White Sox at Cleveland MLBN 7:15 p.m. Tampa Bay at Houston APPLETV 8:45 p.m. Milwaukee at Arizona APPLETV 9 p.m.

Toronto at Seattle MLBN NBA 7 p.m.

Miami vs. San Antonio ESPN2 9:30 p.m. L.A. Lakers at Golden State ESPNU noon 5 p.m.

IN BRIEF

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

WORLD CUP 1 p.m.

Australia vs. Egypt FOX 5 p.m.

Argentina vs. Cape Verde FOX 8:30 p.m. Colombia vs. Ghana FOX TENNIS 5 p.m.

Wimbledon TENNIS TRACK AND FIELD 10:30 p.m. USATF: Prefontaine Classic NBCSN WNBA 6:30 p.m. Minnesota at New york ION 9 p.m.

Chicago at Las Vegas ION

Clark to start third straight WNBA All-Star Game

NEW YORK — 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

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By BRIAN INGANGA

Amanda Anisimova returns the ball to Sofia Kenin in a second-round singles match at the Wimbledon Championships on Thursday in London.

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 reigning champion gets Filipino rising star Alexandra Eala, who rallied to beat Maya Joint

3-6, 6-2, 6-0, in the third round. button as you pull them off in one On Tuesday, Joint spoiled Serena tug.

Williams’ singles comeback.

“I took it off slowly in the first round. I kind of actually made a Fritz emulates Tiafoe mess of it,” Fritz said in his press A well-dressed Taylor Fritz conference. “It’s actually just a impressed again, beating compa- lot easier to just rip them off. I triot Patrick Kypson 6-2, 6-2, 7-5 saw a video of Frances (Tiafoe) doing it. I was just trying to copy to reach the third round.

Fritz’s white blazer and NBA- him today. ” Later, an equally dapper Tiafoe style warmup pants for his walkon at No. 2 Court drew attention showed how it’s done — earning but his play wasn’t bad either — applause for quickly pulling off he fired 19 aces and avoided get- the bottoms before his match against Jan Choinksi. ting pushed into a fourth set.

Naomi Osaka’s fashion stateThe sixth-seeded American, a semifinalist last year, emphati- ments have made her court walkcally pumped his right fist when ons must-see viewing at Grand he broke Kypson to convert his Slam tournaments — Wimbledon included. fourth match point.

Also Thursday, both secondFritz also won his opener in straight sets and had worn a simi- seeded Alexander Zverev and lar outfit with tear-away warmup fifth-seeded Alex de Minaur repants — designed to easily un- corded 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-

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By MATT SLOCUM

Stewart Cink hits from the 10th fairway during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 15. Cink shot a 3-under 67 for a share of the first-round lead in the U.S. Senior Open on Thursday. 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.

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

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 card with seven winners in seven races at Ascot in September 1996, has amassed more than 3,350 victories in his career.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ 3C

lll

Brown still processing

being traded to 76ers

BY DAN GELSTON AP sportswriter

PHILADELPHIA — Jaylen Brown said he was still processing how the trade agreement went down that will send the former Boston Celtics star to one of its most storied rivals, the Philadelphia 76ers.

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 Paul 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 condition of anonymity because the trade does not yet have the required league approvals.

“I’m still processing how this all went down,” Brown wrote on social media 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.

The relationships I built here, the battles we fought together, the championship we brought to this city, and the connection I shared with the fans, I’ll carry on with me.”

Jayson Tatum missed most of this past season while recovering from an Achilles tendon tear that happened during the 2025 playoffs, meaning Brown had to carry even more of the load for Boston — and he wound up with careerbest averages of 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.

It seemed, though, that Brown has felt underappreciated, espe-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CHARLES KRUPA

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown drives to the basket in a first-round playoff game against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 21 in Boston.

Brown was traded to the 76ers on Wednesdayn. cially after it became known that Boston had included him in trade talks with Milwaukee when Giannis Antetokounmpo was on the market.

“Saying goodbye isn’t easy when you’ve invested your heart into something,” Brown wrote.

The Sixers have another star to pair with two-time NBA scoring champion Joel Embiid — and the true franchise cornerstones in All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey and second-year standout VJ Edge-

combe — after new team president of basketball operations Mike Gansey pulled off a whale of a move in his first month on the job.

“I’m excited for what’s ahead and grateful for the opportunity to join Philadelphia,” Brown wrote.

“Every city has its own identity, its own passion, and its own expectation. I respect that, and I’m looking forward to earning that respect the only way I know how, through the work.

“Philly — throw the ball up let’s get it!”

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

McALLISTER

Continued from page 1C “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

the third on the defensive side of 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 Composite. “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.

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 direction 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.

Contact Christopher Dabe at cdabe@theadvocate.com

Central football star safety Joseph commits to Houston

BY JACKSON REYES Staff writer

Central safety Marvin Joseph sat at a table in the high school’s student union with three college pennants in front of it: Houston, Kansas State and Arkansas State.

At Joseph’s commitment ceremony, a video began playing behind him with messages of support from his family and coaches.

At the end of the video, the senior revealed to those in attendance where he planned to spend the next three to four seasons: the University of Houston.

“It feels great to make my decision,” Joseph said. “It’s been a long journey, but a long process.

Now that I’ve got that out of the way, now I’m home, so I feel great.”

Joseph, a 6-foot, 180-pound safety, is a three-star recruit, according to 247Sports. He joins his teammate, wide receiver Marcus Watson, and former teammate DK Mays in Houston.

He was a member of the Wildcats squad that won a Division I nonselect state title in 2024. Joseph also earned second-team All-District 4-5A honors last season on a Central team that went 10-3 and made it to the quarterfinals.

Shortly after donning a Houston hat, Joseph was met with applause from those in attendance.

It was an emotional day for him after his uncle gave a speech, highlighting the work his nephew has put in.

“My uncle didn’t get to see me play,” he said. “He told me I was going to be special, so really, just doing it for him. It’s a lot of emotion that comes with it, but I use that emotion. It’s really just toughness.”

Joseph said he felt settled on the Cougars after Houston safeties coach PJ Hall visited him at his house. He remembers Hall talking about the opportunity to enroll early and getting that chance to make an early impact.

“That really played a big factor because that was the first time a coach has ever done that for me,” Joseph said.

He also visited Houston’s campus. He felt the love from the Cougars coaching staff from the moment he stepped on campus.

Joseph quickly built a connection

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 program 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

PHOTO By MICHAEL BACIGALUPI

Central High School safety Marvin Joseph poses for a photo after announcing his commitment to the University of Houston on Thursday at a ceremony at Central High School.

with the coaches and got a family feel from them.

Mays, who is already playing for Houston, also played a part in Joseph’s recruitment.

“His message was to really just give it all up to God,” Joseph said.

“If it feels right, then come. If it doesn’t, then go to another one, but I knew it felt right.”

When describing what he can bring to Houston, Joseph said he offers a high work ethic.

“I bring energy, passion and pride,” Joseph said. “You’ll get a hard worker. I’m going to show up every day, ready to work. I’m just ready to work. I’m ready to play.”

He hopes to make an impact early. The coaching staff told him that if he shows he’s ready to play in his freshman year, then he’ll get his chance to show it on the field.

“When I get up there in January, just focus in, lock in, learn the plays, and make a name for myself,” he said.

Joseph is excited to be reunited with one of his former teammates in Mays and keep playing with Watson. Although he’ll be leaving the state, he knows Houston will still feel like home.

“Just going up there with them, and balling with them,” Joseph said, “it’s just going to feel like nothing new.”

this year 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 four-game 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 fifthyear 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.

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 Email Jon Blau at true juniors who not only have jon.blau@theadvocate.com.

4C ■ Friday Friday, July 3, 3 2026 ■ the theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

WORLD CUP 2026 W C A N A D A

TODAY’S GAMES

•

U N I T E D S T A T E S

•

M E X I C O

AUSTRAILA VS. EGYPT 1 p.m., Fox, Telemundo, Fox One | ARGENTINA VS. CAPE VERDE 5 p.m. Fox, Telemundo, Fox One | COLOMBIA VS. GHANA 8:30 p.m. Fox, Telemundo, Fox One

Oyarzabal’s 2 goals send dominant Spain past Austria

BY GREG BEACHAM AP sportswriter

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CHARLIE RIEDEL

Argentina forward Lionel Messi trains ahead of a World Cup match against Cape Verde on Monday in Kansas City, Kan.

Messi, Argentina await Cape Verde in round of 32 GLANCE

BY TIM REYNOLDS AP sportswriter

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Argentina has the World Cup titles, arguably the best player of all-time in Lionel Messi, the rich history and a roster filled with stars.

Cape Verde has none of that.

Soccer’s version of David vs. Goliath happens Friday night at Hard Rock Stadium, where defending World Cup champion Argentina faces a Cape Verde squad with absolutely no burden of expectations going into the round of 32 match.

“I believe we can do a great thing here,” Cape Verde backup defender Ianique dos Santos Tavares, who goes by the name Stopira, said through a translator on Thursday. “And this is no exception. This match is no exception.”

A win by Cape Verde would be one of the most stunning upsets in soccer history, maybe even sports history. Think of it on a “Miracle on Ice” scale from 1980, when the youthful U.S. hockey team stunned the supposedly unbeatable Soviet Union at the Lake Placid Olympics and went on to win the gold medal.

This would be a Miracle on Grass, without question.

The Argentines mean no disrespect when they say this, but when the draw for the tournament came out they thought Spain or Uruguay would be waiting for them in this round. It was going to be the Group J winner — three-time champion Argentina — against the Group H runner-up, and most people would have picked Spain or Uruguay for that spot.

Enter Cape Verde, the tiny island nation with a 40-year-old goalkeeper, the tale of how his mother need-

Scores, schedule ROUND OF 32 June 28

Canada 1, South Africa 0

June 29

Brazil 2, Japan 1 Paraguay 1 (4-3 PK), Germany 1 Morocco 1 (3-2 PK), Netherlands 1

Tuesday

Norway 2, Ivory Coast 1 France 3, Sweden 0 Mexico 2, Ecuador 0

Wednesday

England 2, Congo 1 Belgium 3, Senegal 2, OT United States 2. Bosnia-Herzegovina 0

Thursday

Austria 3, Spain 0 Portugal 2, Croatia 1 Switzerland vs. Algeria, n

Friday

Australia vs. Egypt, 1 p.m.

Argentina vs. Cape Verde, 5 p.m.

Colombia vs. Ghana, 8:30 p.m.

ROUND OF 16 Saturday

Canada vs. Morocco, noon Paraguay vs. France, 4 p.m.

Sunday

Brazil vs. Norway, 3 p.m.

Mexico vs. England, 7 p.m.

Monday

United States vs. Belgium, 7 p.m.

Spain vs. Portugal, 2 p.m.

July 7

TBD, 11 a.m.

TBD, 3 p.m.

ed help to get to the U.S. to watch some of the group stage, and how one of the longest long shots in the tournament grabbed everyone’s attention by playing Spain to a draw in its opening match.

“The truth is that when the draw was decided, the group that we would (have) to face ... there were two world champions there,” Argentina midfielder Rodrigo de Paul said.

Spain, the 2010 champion, got through the group stage. Uruguay, a two-time World Cup winner, did not. Cape Verde did, and a showdown with Messi — the 5-foot-7

Goliath, so to speak — awaits.

“The most important match in our history,” Cape Verde coach Bubista said. “So, we are being responsible and also trying to enjoy the match. We did not reach this stage by chance. It was on our own merits and we want to show the world our qualities, our values and that there’s a lot of quality in Cape Verdean football.”

Cape Verde hasn’t yet won a match at this year’s World Cup, making it the only team to reach the round of 32 without a victory.

It had three draws in the group stage; Argentina won all three of its matches, with Messi starring in each of them.

They’re even now. It’s win or go home. And it’s no fluke that Cape Verde is here, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said.

“We are not surprised, to be honest,” Scaloni said. “They are a good team. And they are not here by chance. We must respect them.

And that’s what we will do.”

Cape Verde insists it has a plan for Friday night. It wants to be aggressive on set pieces. It wants to try to control possession as much as possible. It will rely on a defense that yielded only two goals in three group matches and kept Spain scoreless.

And it’ll try to be ready for Messi, though no team in the world ever really seems to be ready for Messi.

“We have our own strategy, not only against Messi, but the whole team,” Bubista said. “We know they are the current world champions, one of the best teams in the tournament. And we will play against the whole team, not just Messi.”

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 proSpanish 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 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.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JAE C. HONG

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.

Ramos, Ronaldo score as Portugal comes back to beat Croatia 2-1

BY LEXIE LINDERMAN Associated Press

TORONTO — Goncalo Ramos headed in a pass from Rafael Leao in stoppage time as Cristiano Ronaldo, who had earlier converted a penalty kick, watched from the bench as Portugal defeated Croatia 2-1 on Thursday, ending Luka Modri ’s fifth bid for a World Cup. Ronaldo initially tied things up in the 68th minute on a penalty kick to equalize and give the megastar his first knockout stage goal at the World Cup, but it was Ramos who gave Portugal the victory.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By STEPHANIE SCARBROUGH The game ended in controPortugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring his team’s versy as Croatia thought it had opening goal during a World Cup match against Croatia on Thursday in tied things up 2-2 in the very last moments, but Mario Pasalic was Toronto. called offside as VAR ruled no goal.

Portugal moves on to face Spain first time in World Cup history to Croatia fans threw bottles on the feature two outfield players who on Monday in the round of 16. field and whistled in protest.

Modri led Croatia to second- and are at least 40 years old in Modric Croatia opened the scoring in the 53rd minute when Ivan Perisic third-place finishes in 2018 and and Ronaldo. The two former Real Madrid teammates shared a hug at scored in the 53rd minute off a 2022 but could not come back.

Thursday’s match marked the midfield after the match. cross from Josip Sanisic.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MIKE STEWART

Portugal defender Ruben Dias celebrates a win following a World Cup match against Croatia on Thursday. Portugal won 2-1 to advance to the Round of 16.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ 5C

lll

WORLD CUP

Continued from page 1C

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 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 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 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.”

A red card means trouble, controversy Americans seeing red over biggest red card issued so far in World Cup

BY JIM VERTUNO AP sportswriter

The Americans are seeing red over the most controversial and consequential red card so far in the World Cup. While the United States celebrated a 2-0 win over BosniaHerzegovina, fans and players were angry and frustrated by a second-half red card that sent off star striker Falorin Balogun. It will sideline him for the next match against Belgium on Monday.

The penalty, called after the referee watched a video replay, ignited debate over whether it was too harsh and whether other players, most notably Argentina’s Lionel Messi, have unfairly avoided similar punishment.

What is a red card Red cards are the most serious form of punishment in a referee’s pocket. A red card does more than just send a player out of the game.

It also means the team can’t replace them and must play shorthanded. The ejected player is also suspended for the next match — and sometimes longer depending on the offense.

The red and yellow card system of discipline was invented after the 1966 World Cup by former referee Ken Aston, who came up with the color-coded level of discipline while stopped at a traffic light.

“I thought, ‘Yellow, take it easy; red, stop, you’re off’,” said Aston, who died in 2001.

Much is left to the referee’s discretion in the heat of play. A player who receives a second yellow card during a game is automatically ejected with a red card. Direct red cards usually result from more serious offenses, such as dangerous tackles and violent play.

Under FIFA rules, “Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety

ferred during a one-year “probationary” period. Ronaldo missed only a 9-1 win over Armenia.

Are star players getting calls?

Critics have been raising this question since the start of tournament as some of the top players have been entangled in questionable plays, most notably Messi.

In Argentina’s first match, Messi’s studs-up challenge from behind caught Algeria defender Aissa Mandi on the calf and Achilles tendon. It left Mandi rolling on the ground and clutching his leg.

Messi immediately put his arms up like he didn’t mean to hack Mandi’s leg. Algeria was awarded a free kick but the tournament’s biggest star wasn’t booked, stayed in the game finished with a hat trick.

Video clips of the Messi foul began flying around social media by the next day, and caught fire again after the Balogun red card.

American defender Weston McKennie called the red card ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JULIO CORTEZ against Balogun “disappointing.”

Referee Raphael Claus shows a red card to United States forward Folarin Balogun is the top scorer for the U.S. with three goals.

Balogun during a World Cup match against Bosnia on Wednesday in “I think there’s been many othSanta Clara, Calif. The call will sideline him for the next match against er plays like that throughout the Belgium on Monday. tournament on other players that a card wasn’t given at all,” McKenThat sparked another debate of nie said. of an opponent is guilty of serious whether the play looked worse and foul play.”

Welcome to World Cup controversy Balogun’s red card sparked a de- more intentional in slow motion.

Former France striker Thierry bate over whether the foul should The American aren’t the first to have been deemed intentional or Henry, now a studio analyst for the howl over a red card and won’t be just a hard tackle that would have World Cup with Fox Sports, criti- the last. The complaints come afjustified a warning with a yellow cized the red card. ter send-offs and no-calls alike. card.

“You need to have some common In 1998, England’s David Beck“It never was intentional,” U.S. sense,” Henry said. “Where is the ham was dismissed in the second coach Mauricio Pochettino said. player supposed to put his foot half of a round of 16 match against “If the intention is to damage the there in that situation?”

Argentina for tripping Diego opponent, OK, I understand. But Simeone in retaliation. In 2006, that never was. It was a normal There is no path to appeal England’s Wayne Rooney was sent action in football that you are fightAs it stands, Balogun will miss off of a quarterfinal loss to Portuing for the ball and your feet land.” the next game but could return for gal after he stomped prone Portuthe quarterfinals if the U.S beats guese defender Ricardo Carvalho The use of video review Belgium to advance. in the groin.

There is no appeal for a red card The most famous World Cup red The referee has the challenge of watching all the action all the time. suspension unless FIFA assesses card sent France legend Zinedine In a tangle of bodies, something a penalty of more than one game. Zidane out of the 2006 final after he could be missed. FIFA introduced FIFA could increase the ban if it headbutted Italy’s Marco Materazzi. the use of Video Assisted Review, believes the challenge deserves a Italy would win on penalty kicks.

The most famous non-call came or VAR, in the World Cup in 2018. harder punishment.

Portugal star Cristiano Ron- in the 2010 final when the NetherIn Balogun’s case, Brazilian referee Raphael Claus didn’t initially aldo avoided missing games in lands’ Nigel de Jong wasn’t sent signal a card. But an order from the World Cup after a serious red off for his studs-up kick into the the VAR officials to review the re- card incident in qualifying. FIFA chest of Spain’s Xabi Alonso in the play in slow motion resulted in the instead determined two games of first half. Spain would win in extra a three-match ban would be de- time. red card.

N O R T H A M ER I CA’S

Print subscriber but haven’t set up your digital access yet?

FREE Back by Pop SHOW ular De ER P mand!

AC K A GE !

1Selling Walk-In Tub

#

Featuring our Free Shower Package Plus 15% Off

Now relaxing warm bath, or enjoy a convenient refreshing shower while seated or standing with Safe Step Walk-In Tub’s FREE Shower Package!

It’s easy!

✓ First walk-in tub available with a customizable shower ✓ Fixed rainfall shower head is adjustable for your height and pivots ✓ High-quality tub complete with a comprehensive lifetime warranty on the entire tub ✓ Top-of-the-line installation and service, all included at one

Now you can have the best of both worlds–there isn’t a better,

FREE SHOWER PACKAGE PLUS $1600 OFF FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY

Call Toll-Free 225-297-1369

With purchase of a new Safe Step Walk-In Tub. Not applicable with any previous walk-in tub purchase.

Offer available while supplies last. No cash value.

Must present offer at time of purchase.

Call Today for Your Free Shower Package

myaccount.nola.com

225-297-1369

FINANCING AVAILABLE WITH APPROVED CREDIT CSLB 1082165 NSCB 0082999 0083445 13VH11096000

6C ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

Tigers baseball 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 neutral-site tournaments. The last loss the Tigers suffered came in 2023 at the hands of Iowa at the

MLB Friday

American League FAVORITE LINE at N.Y YANKEES -180 at CLEVELAND -132 at HOUSTON OFF at LA ANGELS OFF at SEATTLE OFF National League FAVORITE LINE St. Louis -124 at WASHINGTON -136 N.Y Mets -116 at COLORADO OFF Milwaukee -162 at LA DODGERS -235 Interleague FAVORITE LINE Baltimore -120 at ATHLETICS -130

UNDERDOG Minnesota Chi. White Sox Tampa Bay Boston Toronto

LINE +152 +112 OFF OFF OFF

UNDERDOG at CHI. CUBS Pittsburgh at ATLANTA San Francisco at ARIZONA San Diego

LINE +106 +110 -102 OFF +136 +194

UNDERDOG at CINCINNATI Miami

LINE +102 +110

Pro basketball WNBA glance Eastern Conference Atlanta New York Indiana Washington Toronto Chicago Connecticut

W 12 12 11 10 9 6 4

L 8 8 8 9 10 13 15

Pct .600 .600 .579 .526 .474 .316 .211

Minnesota Las Vegas Golden State Dallas Los Angeles Portland Phoenix Seattle

W 15 14 13 12 8 8 7 5

L 4 5 7 8 10 12 13 15

Pct GB .789 — .737 1 .650 2½ .600 3½ .444 6½ .400 7½ .350 8½ .250 10½

Western Conference

Wednesday’s games

GB — — ½ 1½ 2½ 5½ 7½

No games scheduled.

Thursday’s games

Washington 81, Atlanta 76 Dallas 86, Connecticut 83 Seattle at Phoenix, n

Friday’s games

Minnesota at New York, 6:30 p.m.

Chicago at Las Vegas, 9 p.m.

Pro tennis Wimbledon results Thursday

At All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club 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

SAINTS

National League

American League East Division Tampa Bay New York Toronto Baltimore Boston Central Division Cleveland Chicago Minnesota Detroit Kansas City West Division Seattle Texas Houston Athletics Los Angeles

W 51 48 41 40 37

L 33 38 46 48 48

Pct .607 .558 .471 .455 .435

GB — 4 11½ 13 14½

W 46 45 42 38 35

L 42 41 46 49 53

Pct .523 .523 .477 .437 .398

GB — — 4 7½ 11

W 44 44 43 41 36

L 43 43 46 46 51

Pct .506 .506 .483 .471 .414

GB — — 2 3 8

Wednesday’s games

Baltimore 6, Chicago White Sox 1 Cleveland 9, Texas 4 Detroit 6, N.Y. Yankees 2, 11 innings Washington 10, Boston 2 Toronto 9, N.Y. Mets 3 Tampa Bay 4, Kansas City 0 Minnesota 8, Houston 3 Athletics 7, L.A. Dodgers 1

Thursday’s games

Friday’s games

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Oregon State first baseman Garret Forrester gloves the ball to get LSU batter Tre’ Morgan out at first on June 5, 2023, at Alex Box Stadium.

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.

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, 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

year tenures with the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Continued from page 1C At Texas A&M, Mitchell was a member of the famed “Wrecking Crew” defense from 1993-96. He earned All-Southwest Conferthe Carolina Panthers.

Mitchell is one of just eight line- ence honors in 1995 and was an backers in the Saints franchise All-Big 12 selection and College history to make the Pro Bowl. He Football News All-America selecfinished his NFL career with one- tion in 1996.

Atlanta Philadelphia Miami Washington New York Central Division Milwaukee Chicago St. Louis Pittsburgh Cincinnati West Division Los Angeles San Diego Arizona San Francisco Colorado

W 50 49 46 45 36

L 35 39 42 43 51

Pct .588 .557 .523 .511 .414

GB — 2½ 5½ 6½ 15

W 53 49 45 44 40

L 32 38 39 44 46

Pct .624 .563 .536 .500 .465

GB — 5 7½ 10½ 13½

W 56 43 43 36 35

L 31 42 43 50 53

Pct .644 .506 .500 .419 .398

GB — 12 12½ 19½ 21½

Wednesday’s games

Washington 10, Boston 2 Chicago Cubs 23, San Diego 3 Toronto 9, N.Y. Mets 3 Atlanta 5, St. Louis 1 Philadelphia 10, Pittsburgh 6 Colorado 6, Miami 3 Milwaukee 4, Cincinnati 2 Athletics 7, L.A. Dodgers 1 San Francisco 6, Arizona 4

Thursday’s games

L.A. Angels (Ureña 5-6) at Seattle (Miller 3-2), 8:40 p.m.

Minnesota (Paredes 0-1) at N.Y. Yankees (Cole 2-3), 6:05 p.m.

Baltimore (Rogers 5-7) at Cincinnati (Singer 3-7), 6:10 p.m.

Chicago White Sox (Kay 6-3) at Cleveland (Williams 9-4), 6:10 p.m.

Tampa Bay (Martinez 7-2) at Houston (Arrighetti 7-4), 7:15 p.m.

Boston (Bennett 2-3) at L.A. Angels (Detmers 3-5), 8:38 p.m.

Miami (Phillips 1-3) at Athletics (Perkins 2-3), 8:40 p.m.

Toronto (Cease 4-4) at Seattle (TBD), 9:10 p.m.

Friday’s games

St. Louis (Pallante 9-5) at Chicago Cubs (Peterson 4-6), 3:05 p.m.

Pittsburgh (Keller 6-5) at Washington (Griffin 8-2), 5:45 p.m.

Baltimore (Rogers 5-7) at Cincinnati (Singer 3-7), 6:10 p.m.

N.Y. Mets (Scott 2-0) at Atlanta (Holmes 4-4), 6:15 p.m.

San Francisco (Webb 5-5) at Colorado (Feltner 2-2), 7:10 p.m.

Miami (Phillips 1-3) at Athletics (Perkins 2-3), 8:40 p.m.

Milwaukee (Harrison 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.

BOX SCORES

Boulter, Britain, 6-4, 6-7 (10), 6-3.

Jelena Ostapenko, Latvia, and Sofia Kenin (8), United States, def. Alexandra Eala, Philippines, and Nikola Bartunkova, Czechia, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Pro golf U.S. Senior Open Championship par scores Thursday

At Scioto County Club Columbus, Ohio Purse: $4 million Yardage: 7,170; Par: 70 First Round Stewart Cink Charlie Wi Simon Griffiths Fredrik Jacobson George McNeill Alex Cejka Greg Chalmers Ben Crane Jamie Donaldson Tommy Gainey Richard Green Padraig Harrington Miguel Angel Jimenez Soren Kjeldsen Paul Stankowski Stephen Ames Chris Devlin Darren Fichardt Retief Goosen Justin Hicks Colin Montgomerie Tim Petrovic Ian Poulter Omar Uresti Michael Wright Woody Austin Chad Campbell Michael Campbell Jason Caron Darren Clarke Stephen Dodd Ernie Els Jeff Maggert David Mathis Cameron Percy Vanslow Phillips Henrik Stenson Ken Tanigawa Y.E. Yang Steven Alker Billy Andrade Shane Bertsch Michael Block Brian Guetz J.J. Henry Thongchai Jaidee Robert Karlsson Jerry Kelly Hank Kim Pat Perez Brett Quigley John Rollins Andrew Sapp Thammanoon Sriroj Jerod Turner Boo Weekley Mike Weir Ryan Armour K.J. Choi Burke Cromer Matt Daniel Scott Dunlap Joe Durant Steve Flesch Ricardo Gonzalez Mark Hensby Keith Horne Brendan Jones Brad Lardon Davis Love III Andrew Marshall Katsumasa Miyamoto Scott Parel Chris Riley Haymes Snedeker Kevin Sutherland David Toms Bo Van Pelt Steve Allan Thomas Goegele Takashi Iwamoto James Kingston Hank Kuehne Rob Labritz Alan McLean Stephen Nichols Greg Owen Tracy Phillips Dicky Pride Gene Sauers Patrik Sjoland Michael Stamberger Mark Wilson Stuart Appleby Notah Begay Craig Bowden Angel Cabrera Chris Eassy Joakim Haeggman Scott Hend Bradford Kuester Justin Leonard Mikael Lundberg Ryan Malby Timothy O’Neal

East Division

Pittsburgh 6, Philadelphia 1 Cincinnati 7, Milwaukee 2 Colorado 14, Miami 4 San Diego at L.A. Dodgers, n St. Louis 11, Atlanta 5

Detroit at Texas, n Cleveland 6, Chicago White Sox 5 L.A. Angels at Seattle, n Tampa Bay 5, Kansas City 2

SCOREBOARD Odds

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

37-30—67 33-34—67 35-33—68 35-33—68 33-35—68 34-35—69 36-33—69 34-35—69 34-35—69 33-36—69 35-34—69 34-35—69 36-33—69 32-37—69 37-32—69 32-38—70 33-37—70 34-36—70 34-36—70 36-34—70 36-34—70 35-35—70 36-34—70 36-34—70 33-37—70 35-36—71 34-37—71 35-36—71 35-36—71 33-38—71 36-35—71 37-34—71 35-36—71 36-35—71 36-35—71 36-35—71 37-34—71 38-33—71 35-36—71 37-35—72 36-36—72 39-33—72 36-36—72 36-36—72 36-36—72 40-32—72 37-35—72 39-33—72 38-34—72 35-37—72 37-35—72 38-34—72 38-34—72 34-38—72 35-37—72 37-35—72 35-37—72 38-35—73 36-37—73 36-37—73 35-38—73 38-35—73 35-38—73 36-37—73 35-38—73 35-38—73 37-36—73 37-36—73 37-36—73 34-39—73 34-39—73 34-39—73 36-37—73 36-37—73 39-34—73 36-37—73 35-38—73 35-38—73 37-37—74 37-37—74 37-37—74 36-38—74 37-37—74 36-38—74 38-36—74 35-39—74 38-36—74 36-38—74 35-39—74 37-37—74 37-37—74 36-38—74 37-37—74 37-38—75 36-39—75 39-36—75 38-37—75 36-39—75 37-38—75 39-36—75 37-38—75 39-36—75 38-37—75 40-35—75 35-40—75

-3 -3 -2 -2 -2 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 E E E E E E E E E E +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +4 +4 +4 +4 +4 +4 +4 +4 +4 +4 +4 +4 +4 +4 +4 +5 +5 +5 +5 +5 +5 +5 +5 +5 +5 +5 +5

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 singleseason sacks.

Mitchell was inducted into the Texas A&M Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.

Pittsburgh 6, Philadelphia 1

Cincinnati 7, Milwaukee 2

Pittsburgh Philadelphia ab r h bi ab r h bi Mangu. cf-lf 5 2 3 0 Turner ss 4 0 1 0 Lowe 2b 4 1 2 0 Schwarb. dh 3 0 0 0 Reynolds lf-rf4 0 1 0 Harper 1b 4 0 1 1 Valdez rf 4 1 2 3 Marsh lf 4 0 0 0 Cook cf 0 0 0 0 Bohm 3b 4 0 1 0 O’Hearn 1b 5 0 1 0 Stott 2b 4 0 1 0 Gonzales 3b 5 1 3 2 Rincones rf 3 0 0 0 Ozuna dh 3 0 1 0 Crawford cf 3 0 0 0 Rodríguez c 4 1 1 1 Marchán c 2 1 0 0 Triolo ss 4 0 0 0 Totals 38 6 14 6 Totals 31 1 4 1 Pittsburgh 000 010 221 — 6 Philadelphia 001 000 000 — 1 DP—Pittsburgh 0, Philadelphia 2.

LOB—Pittsburgh 12, Philadelphia 5.

2B—O’Hearn (12), Mangum (9), Bohm (12), Harper (16). 3B—Valdez (1). HR— Rodríguez (5), Gonzales (4). SB—Lowe (1).

SF—Valdez (1).

IP H R ER BB SO Pittsburgh Jones 4 2 1 1 2 6 Mlodzinski W,5-3 3 2 0 0 0 0 Soto 1 0 0 0 0 1 Montgomery 1 0 0 0 0 3 Philadelphia Rangel 4 3 0 0 4 4 Mayza 1 3 1 1 0 1 Bowlan 1 2 0 0 0 2 Alvarado L,3-3 1 3 2 2 0 2 Trivino 1 2 2 2 2 2 Backhus 1 1 1 1 0 1 ABS Challenge—Harper (Strike-Confirmed); Turner (Strike-Overturned to Ball); O’Hearn (Strike-Confirmed); Rangel (Ball-Overturned to Strike); Rincones (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Valdez (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Mlodzinski (Ball-Confirmed); Trivino (Ball-Confirmed).

Umpires—Home, Jansen Visconti; First, Andy Fletcher; Second, Alex Tosi; Third, Cory Blaser.

T—3:02. A—37,851 (42,901).

Cincinnati

Milwaukee ab r h bi ab r h bi De La Cr. ss5 0 1 0 Yelich dh 3 0 0 0 Stewart 3b 4 1 1 1 Chourio lf 4 1 1 0 Bleday lf 4 1 1 0 Turang 2b 4 0 1 1 Suárez dh 4 1 1 0 Contreras c 4 0 0 0 Lowe 1b 4 0 1 0 Bauers 1b 4 0 0 0 Steer pr-1b 1 0 0 0 Mitchell cf 3 1 1 1 Marte rf 5 1 1 1 Frelick rf 2 0 0 0 Arroyo 2b 3 0 0 0 Pratt ss 3 0 0 0 McLain 2b 1 1 0 0 Hamilton 3b 2 0 1 0 Trevino c 4 1 3 3 Ortiz ph-3b 1 0 0 0 Friedl cf 3 1 2 2 Totals 38 7 11 7 Totals 30 2 4 2 Cincinnati 100 400 110 — 7 Milwaukee 000 011 000 — 2 E—De La Cruz (6), Bauers (6). DP—Cincinnati 1, Milwaukee 0. LOB—Cincinnati 8, Milwaukee 4. 2B—Turang (18). HR—Stewart (17), Trevino (1), Friedl (3), Mitchell (7). SB—Yelich (6), Hamilton (18). S— Friedl (5).

IP H R ER BB SO Cincinnati Burns W,10-1 6 4 2 2 2 4 Moll 11⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 2 Antone ⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 Burke 1 0 0 0 0 1 Milwaukee Misiorowski L,9-4 5 5 5 1 0 10 Anderson 12⁄3 1 1 1 0 2 1 Koenig ⁄3 1 0 0 2 0 Kuhnel 1 3 1 1 0 0 Stallings 1 1 0 0 1 1 HBP—Moll (Frelick).

ABS Challenge—Misiorowski (BallOverturned to Strike); Koenig (BallConfirmed); Stewart (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Suárez (Strike-Confirmed); Yelich (Strike-Overturned to Ball).

Umpires—Home, Dan Merzel; First, Dan Bellino; Second, Mark Ripperger; Third, Brock Ballou.

T—2:40. A—41,390 (41,700).

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL LEAGUE LEADERS AMERICAN LEAGUE

BATTING—Y.Díaz, Tampa Bay, .329; Alvarez, Houston, .319; Clement, Toronto, .299; Antonacci, Chicago, .295; Aranda, Tampa Bay, .294; Jo.Jung, Texas, .294; Caminero, Tampa Bay, .293; Witt, Kansas City, .293; Greene, Detroit, .285; Arozarena, Seattle, .283; Contreras, Boston, .283.

RUNS—Kurtz, Athletics, 60; Alvarez, Houston, 59; Neto, Los Angeles, 59; Rice, New York, 57; Buxton, Minnesota, 56; Vargas, Chicago, 56; Caminero, Tampa Bay, 54; McGonigle, Detroit, 54; Trout, Los Angeles, 54; Alonso, Baltimore, 53; Ward, Baltimore, 53.

RBI—Kurtz, Athletics, 64; Alvarez, Houston, 60; Dingler, Detroit, 59; Alonso, Baltimore, 59; Aranda, Tampa Bay, 58; Bell, Minnesota, 56; C.Walker, Houston, 56; Rice, New York, 54; Okamoto, Toronto, 54; Caminero, Tampa Bay, 54.

HITS—Alvarez, Houston, 100; Y.Díaz, Tampa Bay, 100; Clement, Toronto, 96; Jo.Jung, Texas, 93; Witt, Kansas City, 93; Caminero, Tampa Bay, 92; Greene, Detroit, 89; McGonigle, Detroit, 89; Ju.Rodríguez, Seattle, 89; Aranda, Tampa Bay, 87; Kurtz, Athletics, 87; Langeliers, Athletics, 87.

DOUBLES—Clement, Toronto, 22; Arozarena, Seattle, 20; Jo.Jung, Texas, 20; Nimmo, Texas, 20; Soderstrom, Athletics, 20; Witt, Kansas City, 20; Rafaela, Boston, 19; Dingler, Detroit, 18; McGonigle, Detroit, 18; Ramírez, Cleveland, 18; Torkelson, Detroit, 18; Ward, Baltimore, 18.

TRIPLES—Taveras, Baltimore, 5; C.Simpson, Tampa Bay, 4; W.Abreu, Boston, 3; Bellinger, New York, 3; McGonigle, Detroit, 3; Nimmo, Texas, 3; Rafaela, Boston, 3; 18 tied at 2.

HOME RUNS—Alvarez, Houston, 26; Buxton, Minnesota, 25; Caminero, Tampa Bay, 24; Rice, New York, 23; C.Montgomery, Chicago, 21; Murakami, Chicago, 20; Langeliers, Athletics, 20; Dingler, Detroit, 19; Okamoto, Toronto, 19; Vargas, Chicago, 19; Kurtz, Athletics, 19; C.Walker, Houston, 19; Alonso, Baltimore, 19.

STOLEN BASES—Witt, Kansas City, 28; Chisholm, New York, 26; Ramírez, Cleveland, 24; Arozarena, Seattle, 19; Caballero, New York, 19; C.Simpson, Tampa Bay, 19; J.Naylor, Seattle, 15; Acuña, Chicago, 14; Rocchio, Cleveland, 14; Mullins, Tampa Bay, 13.

PITCHING—S.Gray, Boston, 9-1; D.Martin, Chicago, 9-3; G.Williams, Cleveland, 9-4; Schlittler, New York, 8-5; Soriano, Los Angeles, 8-5; Eovaldi, Texas, 8-7; N.Martinez, Tampa Bay, 7-2; Cantillo, Cleveland, 7-3; Warren, New York, 7-3; Bradley, Minnesota, 7-3.

ERA—Schlittler, New York, 2.077; Rasmussen, Tampa Bay, 2.446; N.Martinez, Tampa Bay, 2.662; Messick, Cleveland, 2.851; R.Suarez, Boston, 2.944; D.Martin, Chicago, 3.000; Ginn, Athletics, 3.042; Montero, Detroit, 3.312; Wacha, Kansas City, 3.313; L.Gilbert, Seattle, 3.420; Soriano, Los Angeles, 3.420.

STRIKEOUTS—Cease, Toronto, 128; Schlittler, New York, 123; G.Williams, Cleveland, 117; deGrom, Texas, 115; Ryan, Minnesota, 113; Detmers, Los Angeles, 112; Soriano, Los Angeles, 111; L.Gilbert, Seattle, 107; Messick, Cleveland, 106; Gore, Texas, 104.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

BATTING—O.Lopez, Miami, .332; Arraez, San Francisco, .326; J.Lee, San Francisco, .319; Marsh, Philadelphia, .315; Johnston, Colorado, .313; Gonzales, Pittsburgh, .305; X.Edwards, Miami, .303; F.Freeman, Los Angeles, .294; Contreras, Milwaukee, .293; Harris, Atlanta, .293; J.Soto, New York, .293.

RUNS—Wood, Washington, 75; Ohtani, Los Angeles, 60; Turang, Milwaukee, 60; Happ, Chicago, 59; Turner, Philadelphia, 59; Reynolds, Pittsburgh, 58; Crow-Armstrong, Chicago, 56; Harper, Philadelphia, 56; Schwarber, Philadelphia, 55; Swanson, Chicago, 55.

RBI—Abrams, Washington, 60; S.Stewart, Cincinnati, 60; Pages, Los Angeles, 60; L.García, Washington, 59; J.Walker, St. Louis, 59; Swanson, Chicago, 57; Harper, Philadelphia, 57; Burleson, St. Louis, 57; B.Lowe, Pittsburgh, 57; Schwarber, Philadelphia, 55; Wood, Washington, 55.

HITS—O.Lopez, Miami, 112; Arraez, San Francisco, 105; Marsh, Philadelphia, 97; X.Edwards, Miami, 96; Crow-Armstrong, Chicago, 94; J.Lee, San Francisco, 94; F.Freeman, Los Angeles, 93; Gonzales, Pittsburgh, 93; Tatis, San Diego, 92; Contreras, Milwaukee, 91; Pages, Los Angeles, 91; J.Walker, St. Louis, 91.

DOUBLES—Devers, San Francisco, 24; F.Freeman, Los Angeles, 22; Johnston, Colorado, 22; O.Lopez, Miami, 22; Olson, Atlanta, 22; Hoerner, Chicago, 21; Wood, Washington, 21; Adames, San Francisco, 20; Burleson, St. Louis, 20; Pages, Los Angeles, 20; Reynolds, Pittsburgh, 20.

TRIPLES—Carroll, Arizona, 10; Arraez, San Francisco, 7; X.Edwards, Miami, 5; McCarthy, Colorado, 5; Crow-Armstrong, Chicago, 4; O.Lopez, Miami, 4; 12 tied at 3.

HOME RUNS—Schwarber, Philadelphia, 30; Goodman, Colorado, 27; Wood, Washington, 22; Harper, Philadelphia, 20; B.Lowe, Pittsburgh, 20; Olson, Atlanta, 20; Crow-Armstrong, Chicago, 19; Ohtani, Los Angeles, 18; Abrams, Washington, 18; J.Walker, St. Louis, 18.

STOLEN BASES—Nuñez, Washington, 32; Crow-Armstrong, Chicago, 21; Cruz, Pittsburgh, 21; Tatis, San Diego, 19; D.Hamilton, Milwaukee, 18; Marsee, Miami, 18; Merrill, San Diego, 18; K.Griffin, Pittsburgh, 16; O.Lopez, Miami, 16; E.Ruiz, Miami, 16; Stott, Philadelphia, 16; Turner, Philadelphia, 16.

PITCHING—Ashby, Milwaukee, 12-1; Burns, Cincinnati, 10-1; Wrobleski, Los Angeles, 10-2; C.Sánchez, Philadelphia, 10-3; Meyer, Miami, 9-1; S.Alcantara, Miami, 9-4; Misiorowski, Milwaukee, 9-4; Pallante, St. Louis, 9-5; Senzatela, Colorado, 8-0; Wheeler, Philadelphia, 8-1; Harrison, Milwaukee, 8-1.

ERA—Misiorowski, Milwaukee, 1.471; C.Sánchez, Philadelphia, 2.000; Sale, Atlanta, 2.100; E.Rodriguez, Arizona, 2.206; Burns, Cincinnati, 2.396; Meyer, Miami, 2.534; Yamamoto, Los Angeles, 2.672; Wrobleski, Los Angeles, 2.796; F.Griffin, Washington, 2.929; L.Webb, San Francisco, 3.089.

STRIKEOUTS—Misiorowski, Milwaukee, 156; C.Sánchez, Philadelphia, 136; Skenes, Pittsburgh, 119; Burns, Cincinnati, 116; Luzardo, Philadelphia, 116; B.Ashcraft, Pittsburgh, 115; McLean, New York, 113; Meyer, Miami, 112; Sale, Atlanta, 109; Cavalli, Washington, 102.

T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M

PATRIOTISM, POP AND MORE

Trio to usher in Fourth of July at the Manship

|

F r i d ay, J u ly 3, 2026

1dN

John Schneider will perform at the America 250 on the River concert.

BY JOHN WIRT

Contributing writer The Victory Belles transport audiences to the 1940s, during World War II, when USO shows boosted morale for American soldiers, sailors and Marines serving in the fight against fascism.

Through their songs, choreography, fashion and between-song patter, The National WWII Museum’s Victory Belles — and Victory Swing Orchestra and Victory Band — recreate the war years’ music and patriotic spirit.

“We like 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, aka USO, the Victory Belles first deployed at the museum’s BB’s Stage Door Canteen in 2009.

The Belles currently headline the canteen’s “Salute to Hope” show, a tribute to that indefatigable entertainer of U.S. military personnel, Bob Hope.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Victory Belles Shelby Donovan, from left, Andrea Pizza and Gabrielle Treas will take the stage at the Manship Theatre in Baton Rouge for a Fourth of July Eve concert.

Friday, Fourth of July Eve, the Victory Belles will join the sixpiece Victory Band at the Manship Theatre in Baton Rouge.

While the museum in New Orleans is the Belles’ home base, demand is such that more than a dozen singers perform as Belles, making 250 appearances a year, 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 a full-time job, because there are so many gigs to go around. We’re always up for it.”

Enlistment in the Victory Belles requires vocalists to sing three-part harmony of the kind famously crooned by the Andrews Sisters (“Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree (with Anyone Else but Me)”). Every iteration of the Belles contains a soprano, second soprano and alto.

At the Manship, Pizza is singing alto alongside sopranos Shelby

ä See BELLES, page 2D

THE VICTORY BELLES 7:30 p.m. Friday l Manship Theatre, 100 Lafayette St., Baton Rouge l $30-$50 l manshiptheatre.org

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRAD KEMP

Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. gets the crowd ready for 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 perform 5 p.m. Saturday at the America 250 on the River concert in Baton Rouge.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

AMERICA’S TURNING

Fireworks erupt over the river as people gather near the Sing the River Sculpture on River Road for Fireworks on the Mississippi in 2025.

LEFT: Amanda Shaw will perform during the America 250th on the River concert at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

Here are 14 events in the BR area to celebrate the red, white and blue

BY JUDY BERGERON Staff writer

Touches of red, white and blue have been popping up on homes and businesses in Baton Rouge for weeks. Louisiana’s capital city is doing it up big, joining the rest of the country for the America 250 commemoration.

The series of patriotic events marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and celebrates the people, places and events that shaped the nation’s history.

The biggest of the parties is the America 250th on the River concert on Saturday, starting at 2 p.m. in Repentance Park between Louisiana’s Old State Capitol and the Raising

STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

Float riders throw beads and candy as the annual Kenilworth Independence Day parade rolls through the namesake neighborhood last year.

Cane’s River 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 patriotic favorites and honoring the nation’s military heritage through a stirring musical tribute. n Amanda Shaw, 3:30 p.m., with Louisiana’s celebrated fiddler, singer and songwriter blending Cajun, rock, country and pop music. n Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters, 5 p.m., a high-energy show from the internationally acclaimed ambassadors of Louisiana zydeco music. n John Schneider, 6:30 p.m. The actor/producer/singer who formerly called Louisiana home has had a successful country music career, which includes multiple No. 1 hits.

ä See EVENTS, page 2D

LOVING AMERICA

LSU grad, news anchor part of book

BY JUDY BERGERON

of America’s Greatness.” In the new book by Rachel CamposDuffy, Smith and 29 other TV Sandra Smith, LSU graduate news personalities offer their inand former track and field star, sights on what makes our nation loves America and loves talking great — specifically the country’s about America. people and places.

That made the Fox News anSmith, 45, co-anchors the netchor a natural for “All American work’s “America Reports” weekPatriotism: Celebrating 250 Years days alongside John Roberts. The Staff writer

duo kicked off the week with live stories from the nation’s capital, broadcasting from the National Mall. Returning to New York, they’ll be covering the parade of 40-plus tall ships on the Hudson River on Friday as part of the America 250 celebration. On

ä See BOOK, page 2D

2D ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

EVENTS

Continued from page 1D

lll

More info at lbatonrouge.

General admission tickets are $31.51 and available at com. eventbrite.com.

Call it an extravaganza n Wayne Toups, 8 p.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 evening will culminate at 9 p.m. with the Visit Baton Rouge and WBRZ Fireworks on the Mississippi, lighting up the downtown skyline.

The fireworks also will stream on WBRZ+, WBRZ. com, and WBRZ News 2’s YouTube Channel.

The concert is hosted by the Louisiana America 250 Commission and Office of 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.

A neighborhood tradition The Kenilworth Civic Association again starts off the Independence Day celebration a day early with its annual parade at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

With the theme “Celebrating America’s 250th,” the patriotic procession starts and ends at McKinley Senior High, 7600 Boone Drive, and runs almost 2 miles through the Kenilworth neighborhood.

Mary and Mike Surman are residents of the year, and Jay Dardenne is the parade grand marshal.

For more info, go to kenilworthneighborhood. com/parade.html.

Party with a view Tsunami’s Terrace Bash runs from 6 p.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. A separate bar service will be available on the terrace, also a great place to stick around to watch Fireworks on the Mississippi.

BELLES

Continued from page 1D Donovan and Gabrielle Treas.

“That makes the sound so full, and I love it,” she said of the close harmonies.

Concertgoers can expect pop and swing music, patriotic selections and a salute 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 the Victory Belles, comes from the 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 a degree in mass communication.

Pizza was at LSU when she learned the WWII Museum

Louisiana’s Old State Capitol, 100 North Blvd., will host a day of family fun from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be games, karaoke, crafts and exhibits. Also check out the original Louisiana Purchase document signed

by Napoleon Bonaparte. On loan from the National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C., the document will return to its home on July 11. Free.

Raise a glass Join the Do The Red, White, & Brew Pub Crawl at Somewhere Neighborhood Bar, 214 Third St., from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Look for contests and prizes. No tickets will be sold at the door. Order them ($24.43) at eventbrite.com.

Strike up the band!

Would it really be the Fourth of July without the Baton Rouge Concert Band?

Once again, the longtime community symphonic band will perform in the outside plaza of the Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd.

The free 7 p.m. concert, expected to last 21/ 2 hours, also celebrates the nation’s 250th anniversary.

“Bring your chairs, refreshments and patriotic spirit for a night filled with uplifting tunes,” states a news release.

“This free, family-friendly event will feature a rousing selection of American classics, marches and tributes that celebrate the enduring spirit, history and pride of the United States.

Can’t make it to the concert? Watch live online at facebook.com/ events/1016735014281755.

Westside fun

Fourth Fest will return to the Mississippi River levee in Port Allen from 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Activities include face painting, magicians, clowns, space walks for kids, food and drinks, live entertainment and a watch spot for Fireworks on the Mississippi.

Party in the park The City of Walker’s 250th Celebration in the Park will run from 2 p.m. to dark at Sidney Hutchinson Park, 13750 Ball Park Road.

The free, family event will include: n Vendor market n Food trucks n Children’s village n Live music n DJ entertainment n Hot dog eating contest n Watermelon eating contest n Fireworks finale at dark.

“Bring your lawn chairs and spend the day with family and friends,” a Facebook post states.

Free parking will be available on the Ball Park Road lot, Field Five parking lot and Challenger Field parking lot.

Handicap parking will be at the pond parking lot only.

The Community Gym parking lot on Corbin Avenue will be designated as VIP parking for $25.

Also in Livingston

L’Auberge Baton Rouge will host its annual Fireworks Extravaganza on Saturday, offering live music, food, and a fireworks show.

Lawn viewing is free of charge.

Soulful Baton Rouge singer and former “American Idol” finalist Jovin Webb will perform. Webb’s second album, “Son of a Sinner,” is due out Sept. 18.

Denham Springs: Fireworks, 9 p.m., North Park, 30372 Eden Church Road.

Livingston: Celebration, 5 p.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, 9 a.m., from Canal Bank Club to Blind River Bar. Satsuma: Grand opening, 11:30 a.m.-dark, Patriots RV Park, 16912 Spring Ranch Road. Concert, fireworks.

Free.

Watson: Parade, 7 p.m.

Starting from Live Oak Junior High along La. 16 to Janelle Drive and back to LOJH. Features writer Robin Miller contributed to this report.

was holding auditions for singers who could perform 1940s music.

“Because my voice has that sound and I love this music,” she said, “I thought, ‘That’s me.’”

Pizza made her WWII Museum debut in the cast of “Let Freedom Swing,” the inaugural revue at BB’s Stage Door Canteen. “Saving Private Ryan” star Tom Hanks, the museum’s most famous supporter, was in the audience.

Pizza’s love for 1940s music dates to watching the 1954 movie musical “White Christmas” on TV with her family when she was 5 years old. Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen star in the film classic, singing songs

by Irving Berlin.

“I wanted to watch ‘White Christmas’ all day, every day,” Pizza said. “I wanted to learn all the songs and the

dances. It started there and kept snowballing for me.”

A mother of three, Pizza works as a voice therapist by day. Nights and weekends, she’s a Victory Belle.

“I started this job as a way to help me get through school,” she said. “Now it’s what I do for fun, and all these girls are my best friends. It’s a job, but it’s so fun. I feel blessed that this is still part of my life.”

Erica Jensen, the Bob and Dolores Hope Foundation’s director of entertainment at The National WWII Museum, says Pizza and the other Victory Belles have an important mission.

“The songs they share remind us of the resilience, sacrifice and joy that helped carry a nation through wartime,” Jensen said in a museum statement. “The Victory Belles help ensure that the stories and spirit of the 1940s are never forgotten.”

Bet on this

SHOWS TO WATCH — BATON ROUGE AREA FRIDAY

DAK THE MARTIAN: Le Chien Brewing Co., Denham Springs, 6 p.m.

MATT HOLT: Rio Verde Mexican, 6 p.m.

KIRK HOLDER: Galvez Seafood, Prairieville, 6 p.m.

KENDALL SHAFFER: Just Wingin It, 6 p.m.

MIKE HOGAN: BLDG 5, 6 p.m.

VICTORY BELLES: Manship Theatre, 7:30 p.m.

BILLY VS. ELTON — A TRIBUTE TO BILLY JOEL AND ELTON JOHN: L’Auberge Event Center, 8 p.m.

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

VIC & THE BOYS: Fred’s on the River, Prairieville, 9 p.m.

CHRIS LEBLANC BAND: The Edge Bar at L’Auberge, 9 p.m.

TRUE SPIN: Icehouse Tap Room, 9 p.m.

N’TUNE: The Showroom, 9 p.m.

JAKE ROUNDS: Moonlight Inn, French Settlement, 9 p.m.

SATURDAY

DOWN SOUTH: Fred’s on the River, Prairieville, 2 p.m.

U.S. MARINE CORPS CONCERT BAND: Repentence Park, 2 p.m.

BACK ALLEY BAND: Archibald’s Dockside Bar, Plaquemine, 3 p.m.

ROCKIN’ DOPSIE JR.: Repentance Park,

6 p.m.

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

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

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

SONGWRITERS OPEN MIC WITH HEATH RANSONNET: Coop’s on 621, Gonzales, 7 p.m.

ANDY PIZZO TRIO: Hayride Scandal, 7:30 p.m.

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

PROVIDED PHOTO FROM BATON ROUGE BLUES FEST

Catch the Chris LeBlanc Band at The Edge Bar at L’Auberge at 9 p.m. Friday.

3:15 p.m.

AMANDA SHAW: Repentance Park, 4:45 p.m.

SUBFLUENCE: O’Hara’s Irish Pub, 6 p.m.

WAYNE TOUPS: Repentance Park, 6:15 p.m.

2 DOMESTIC 1 IMPORT: Curbside Burgers, 7 p.m.

JOHN SCHNEIDER: Repentance Park, 8 p.m.

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

TRUE SPIN: Fred’s on the River, Prairieville, 9:30 p.m.

SUNDAY

ERIC BASKIN: Watermark Hotel, 10 a.m.

JUSTIN BURDETTE TRIO: Superior GrillMidCity, 11 a.m.

3RD STREET BAND: Fred’s on the River,

BOOK

Continued from page 1D Saturday, Smith and Bill Hammer will co-anchor two more hours of live programming, again covering the parade of ships.

“So it will be a very eventful 250 for all of us,” Smith said by phone last week.

Not surprisingly, the interview drifted to talk about America, its greatness, beauty and how she’s instilling her passion for the nation in her children.

The interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Sandra, in your words, what makes America great?

Obviously, freedom is No. 1 for all of us. And on America’s birthday we stop and we think about all those who sacrificed before us so that we could have the freedoms that we have today.

It’s something I talk to my children about so often. …

It’s just so important that we stop and we remember all that has happened to make America what it is today. So I never take my freedoms as an American for granted.

In your passage in the book, you mention Mount Rushmore. Tell us about your memories of visiting the historic site.

So we didn’t go to Disneyland or Disney World growing up; we didn’t do those kind of vacations or go to the Caribbean islands. My dad was really big about

Prairieville, 3 p.m.

I-10 BOUND BAND: Boondocks Bar, French Settlement, 3 p.m.

HEATH RANSONNET: Icehouse Tap Room, 4 p.m.

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

LUCY YOES: Pizza Byronz, 5 p.m.

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

MONDAY

CHRIS LEBLANC: Superior Grill-MidCity, 6 p.m.

TUESDAY

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

WEDNESDAY

JEFF BAJON: La Divina Italian Cafe,

building our family trips around learning American history. And at the time I was kind of like, “Can’t we just go to a hotel with a pool?” But looking back, it had a profound impact on me as a child. And now as an adult, I look back at those memories as extremely special. We would go to historical sites and learn as much as we could. It helped develop my deep appreciation for this country and to build my historic understanding of our nation.

It’s one of those things, you’ve seen it in pictures so many times, but if you stop, you are wowed by it (Mount Rushmore). It is quite remarkable to see in person.

You also discuss your fly-fishing hobby. Did your dad teach you to flyfish as well?

No, actually I learned through my husband. I developed through fly-fishing such a deep appreciation for America’s gorgeous rivers and streams and all that we do to protect them, to keep them clean, to help them thrive.

I could fish all day and not get mad that I didn’t catch anything because fly-fishing is super particular. You have to be matching your dry fly exactly to mimic the fly that may or may not be hatching right then or about to hatch. And then the purpose of that delicate casting is to mimic the flight of that fly and the delicate landing on top of the water so that you hope that that fish

THURSDAY

PATRICK, DOC & BILL: La Divina Italian Cafe, 6 p.m.

KYBALION: El Paso, 6 p.m.

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

2 DOMESTIC 1 IMPORT: Thai Kitchen, 6 p.m.

RALPH DAIGLE: Rio Verde Mexican, 6 p.m.

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

BLUES JAM: Phil Brady’s, 9 p.m.

Compiled by Marchaund Jones.

Want your venue’s music listed?

Email info/photos to showstowatch@ theadvocate.com.

The deadline is noon FRIDAY for the following Friday’s paper.

comes up, rises up to take a bite of that. But it has to all come together. There’s a true science behind it.

You’re standing there and the water’s blowing through your legs as you’re wearing waders and you look up, you see bald eagles, birds, flying tadpoles. It’s like a really therapeutic experience.

Since you grew up going on these history kind of trips with the family, are you now following through with that with your kids and do they appreciate it like you do?

I should probably take them more on trips like that, but I certainly do. And wherever we go, we learn the history of that location.

I think Charleston would be a a good example of that.

Some of these places you can go visit are equally beautiful, have access to top chefs and culinary delights. But you could also go follow a lot of history.

So I always make a point to do that. But I also think what I’m doing at home is a result of how I grew up always learning American history, is I do, while the kids are reading on their own, obviously, and they have their novels and their fantasy stuff and all this kind of stuff. I do make it a point to always have a book going with them on history, American history, world history, so that we’re reading that together.

Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate. com.

As Doctors, We Couldn’t Recommend a Single Brain Supplement. So We Built One.

YEARS

Mental Clarity

Memory

Sleep Energy

Focus

FREE SHIPPING • 30 DAY RISK FREE

Start Your Brain Support - $1.08/day

M A R AT H O N E V E N T !

America - Made in Virginia:

Use coupon code: “BRAdvocate” for an additional 20% off your first month Start your brain support: www.mentaidhealth.com/BRadvocate

250 Years Together

Tonight at 7PM

Saturday, July 4 from 7AM – 7PM

Saturday, July 4 at 7PM

WLPB 27

www.lpb.org

l pb w. w w

.

s tr ive l / org

m ea Dr. Erik Hanson, MD Psychiatrist Louisiana

Dr. Shannon Bierma, PhD Neuro-psychologist Louisiana

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ 3D

lll

AROUND BATON ROUGE

TODAY IN HISTORY

SATURDAY

By The Associated Press

RED STICK FARMERS MARKET: 8 a.m. to noon, Fifth and Main streets, downtown. Farmfresh produce and goods, including wine, seafood, plants, flowers, prepared and baked items and more. breada.org.

SUNDAY

“A PINKAPERFECT BIRTHDAY!”: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Manship Theatre, 100 Lafayette St. Pinkalicious gets her birthday wish and accidentally turns all of Pinkville into a pink wonderland. Family animated special presented by LPB and PBS. Free. manshiptheatre.org.

FREE FIRST SUNDAY: Louisiana Art & Science Museum, 100 S. River Road; Old Governors’ Mansion, 502 North Blvd.; Magnolia Mound Museum + Historic Site, 2161 Nicholson Drive; LSU Museum of Art, 100 Lafayette St.; Cary Saurage Community Arts Center, 233 St. Ferdinand St.; and LSU Center for River Studies, 100 Terrace Ave. Free admission to all exhibits and installations, plus reduced-price entry to LASM’s Irene Pennington Planetarium shows.

“BACKROOMS” + SHORT FILM “TICK”: 2 p.m.-4 p.m., Manship Theatre, 100 Lafayette St. In “Backrooms,” a therapist’s patient disappears into a dimension beyond reality, and she must venture into the unknown to save him. In “Tick,” produced by LSU students, a troubled night guard’s shift at a mysterious antique shop goes awry when he is forced to confront his regrettable past. $8.50. manshiptheatre. org.

TUESDAY

RED STICK FARMERS MARKET: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd. Farm-fresh produce, goods, cooking demonstrations. breada.org.

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

TUESDAY, THURSDAY

TWILIGHT TOURS: 6 p.m.7:30 p.m., BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo, 3000 Zoo Circle. Take a tram ride through the zoo in the cool of the evening, enjoy a narrated ride through the zoo, an animal encounter at the Wildlife Safari Theatre and an evening snack. Adults and teens, $16; children ages 2-12, $13; registration required. https://brzoo.org/.

WEDNESDAY

RED STICK FARMERS MARKET: 9 a.m. to noon, ExxonMobil YMCA, 7711 Howell Blvd.

Farm-fresh produce, goods and more. www.facebook. com/redstickfarmersmarket.

STAN ROUTH ART RECEPTION: 6 p.m.-8 p.m., La Divina Italian Café, 3535 Perkins Road, Unit 360. Hors d’oeuvres, wine tasting and music. ladivinaitaliancafe.com.

DIALOG ON RACE AND THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE: 6 p.m.7:30 p.m., River Center Branch Library, 250 North Blvd. In conjunction with the Old State Capitol exhibit, “Bought for a Song: A Young Nation Expands,” display of the Louisiana Purchase, through July 11. Register free at givebutter. com.

THURSDAY

RED STICK FARMERS MARKET: 8 a.m. to noon, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road. Farm-fresh produce, goods and more. facebook.com/redstickfarmersmarket.

STORYTIME AT THE SWAMP: 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., BREC’s Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center, 10503 N. Oak Hills Parkway. Children ages 2-5

STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

Jaguar Jenny vocalizes in the direction of her cub, Lacumba III, as she explores her exhibit in April 2025 at the Baton Rouge Zoo. Visit the zoo during a cooler part of the day during Twilight Tours on Tuesday and Thursdays. Registration is required. (with accompanying adult) can listen to a few themed books, engage in short rhymes and songs, and interact with an education animal. swampevents@brec.org or (225) 757-8905.

OUTDOOR COMMUNITY YOGA: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., pavilion by the pond, LSU Hilltop Arboretum, 11855 Highland Road. Drop-in; no registration required; bring your own mat.

Free, but donations welcome. lsu.edu/hilltop.

“SPIRITED AWAY”: 7:30 p.m.9:35 p.m., Manship Theatre, 100 Lafayette St. Screening plus happy hour set by DJ Buktooth + short film. In this animated feature by noted Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki, 10-year-old Chihiro (Rumi Hiiragi) and her parents (On Young-sam, Lee Sunjoo) stumble upon a seemingly abandoned amusement park. $5. manshiptheatre.org.

WEEKLY SOCIAL BIKE RIDE: 7:30 p.m., Geaux Ride, 601 Laurel St. Free. geauxridebikes.com.

KARAOKE, TRIVIA, BINGO AND MORE: 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., Brickyard South Bar + Patio, 174 South Blvd. Presented by BarFly Entertainment. Free to play. acebook.com/brickyardsouth.

ONGOING

ANN CONNELLY FINE ART: 1670 Lobdell Ave. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Free. (225) 927-7676 or annconnelly.com.

ART GUILD OF LOUISIANA: Independence Park Theatre, 7800 Independence Blvd.

“Workshop Show,” July 10Sept. 9. Life Drawing sessions 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Wednesdays. $15 per session; open studio; no instruction. Classes are held at AGL Park Studio, 2490 Silverest Ave. BATON ROUGE GALLERY CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART: 1515 Dalrymple Drive. Works

by Mitchell Gaudet, Mark Jane Parker and Brandon Surtain, through July 26. Hours: noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. batonrougegallery.org.

CAPITOL PARK MUSEUM: 660 N. Fourth St. “We the People,” a living portrait of 21st-century American identity through nearly 200 paired photographs by Steven G. Smith shown across two giant screens, together measuring about 12 feet high and 36 feet wide, through Jan. 2, 2027.

(225) 342-5428 or louisianastatemuseum.org.

THE GALLERY AT MANSHIP: 100 Lafayette St. “The Monsters We Sometimes Become,” multimedia art exhibition featuring original works of artist Nathaniel A.J. Landry with an original musical score and live performance

by Monoblack, through Aug. 14. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Tuesday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.

to 5 p.m. Sunday.

LOUISIANA ART & SCIENCE MUSEUM: 100 S. River Road. “Then, And Now, And Always: The Artwork of Nick Bustamante,” through July 19, SoupCon Gallery; “Pinpointing the Stars,” through Aug. 1; and “Crossroads & Connections: A Century of the Railway in Baton Rouge,” through Oct. 1. (225) 344-5272 or lasm.org.

LSU MUSEUM OF ART: Shaw Center for the Arts, 100 Lafayette St. “ReVision: Women in Photography,” through Aug. 30. “South Arts Southern Prize & State Fellowships for Visual Arts, through Sept. 6. “The Folk Art Gallery,” through June 30, 2027. (225) 389-7200 or lsumoa.org.

LSU TEXTILE & COSTUME MUSEUM: Human Ecology Building, Tower Drive, LSU campus.

“Quilts & Fashion,” exploring the enduring dialogue between quilt making and dress, through Jan. 15. (225) 578-5992 or email textile@lsu. edu.

MAGNOLIA MOUND MUSEUM + HISTORIC SITE: 2161 Nicholson Drive. Guided and selfguided tours. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday-Saturday and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. brec.org/ facility/MagnoliaMound.

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

OLD GOVERNOR’S MANSION: 502 North Blvd. Open for tours.

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Free admission. oldgovernorsmansion.com.

OLD STATE CAPITOL: 100 North Blvd. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tuesday-Saturday, plus Free First Sunday. Exhibits include “Bought for a Song: A Young Nation Expands,” display of the Louisiana Purchase, through July 11; and “Excursions, Expeditions, and Discoveries: A Young Nation Expands & Reimaging America: The Maps of Lewis & Clark,” through Dec. 18. Free. louisianaoldstatecapitol.org.

USS KIDD VETERANS MUSEUM: 305 S. River Road. Displays of a variety of artifacts that celebrate veteran and naval military history. Note: Vessel is in Houma for dry dock repairs. usskidd.com.

WEST BATON ROUGE MUSEUM: 845 N. Jefferson Ave., Port Allen. Travel exhibit “Awkward Family Photos,” through Aug. 9. (225) 336-2422 or westbatonrougemuseum.org.

Compiled by Judy Bergeron. Have an open-to-the-public event you’d like to promote? Email details to red@theadvocate.com.

Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday for the following Friday’s paper.

Today is Friday, July 3, the 184th day of 2026.

There are 181 days left in the year.

Today’s highlight in history: On July 3, 1863, the Civil War Battle 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’s Charge.

Also on this date: In 1775, Gen. George Washington took command of the Continental Army at Cambridge, Massachusetts.

In 1944, during World War II, 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 against North Korean 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 a gala ceremony in New York Harbor that saw the relighting of the renovated Statue of Liberty.

In 1988, the USS Vincennes shot down an Iran Air jetliner over the Persian Gulf, killing all 290 people aboard.

In 2011, Novak Djokovic won his first Wimbledon, beating defending champion Rafael Nadal.

In 2012, Andy Griffith who made homespun American Southern wisdom his trademark

as the wise sheriff in “The Andy Griffith Show,” died at his North Carolina home.

He was 86.

In 2015, Andre Borschberg landed his solar-powered aircraft in Hawaii after a 4,000-mile flight of nearly 118 hours from Japan, claiming the longest nonstop flight harnessing the sun’s energy. The Solar Impulse 2 had 17,000 solar cells spanning wings wider than a Boeing 747’s.

In 2022, a man opened fire at a mall near Copenhagen in Denmark, killing three people, believing the victims were zombies.

Twenty-three other people were injured in the attack and the rush to flee; the man, who was not identified during the trial because of court rules, was later convicted of murder and other charges and sentenced to a secure medical facility.

Today’s birthdays: Attorney Gloria Allred is 85. Actor Kurtwood Smith is 83.

Country singer Johnny Lee is 80. Humorist Dave Barry is 79. Actor Betty Buckley is 79. Talk show host Montel Williams is 70.

Country singer Aaron Tippin is 68. Rock musician Vince Clarke (Depeche Mode, Yaz, Erasure) is 66.

Actor Tom Cruise is 64.

Actor Connie Nielsen is 61.

Actor Yeardley Smith is 62. Actor-singer Audra McDonald 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 Sara Waisglass is 28. Dancer and actor Corinne Joy is 19.

Living Waters has affordable rooms and houses for rent.

Please call our office for more information at 225-356-7142

AMERICA

250 1776-2026

Love is in Full Bloom:

Design Your Dream Wedding Today.

Locally Owned, Trusted For Generations

Located in Towne Center and Denham Springs 7450 Jefferson Hwy, Baton Rouge

225-383-8383

121 Bass Pro Blvd Ste A, Denham Springs

225-665-5181

www.rickeyheromans.com

4665 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70808 Call / Text 225-927-4130 Store Hours: Open Monday - Friday 9:00am to 5:30pm Saturday by appointment, Closed Sunday Lacoursbr.com

4D ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

FrAnK And erneSt

roSebUdS

zItS

lll

zodIAC CANCER (June 21-July 22) 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 may have to juggle a few things to reach your goal, but the time and effort it takes will be worthwhile. Set your sights on what's important to you, and don't deviate from your plans until you satisfy your soul.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Take a moment to observe. Don't let anyone talk you into something you do not want to do. Your best opportunities will be the ones you devise yourself. Take control of your destiny.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) It's time to have some fun, 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 into something, you will have regrets. Emotions will be hard to disguise. Take a moment, think matters through and keep your thoughts to yourself while observing how others 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 others and what you share will make a difference in how others treat you.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Share your concerns, and know when to walk away

from people and situations that you find sketchy or unreliable. Concentrate on home improvements that will make your life easier and your relationships less tense.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Participate in something exhilarating. A change of pace, scenery or people will be uplifting. Physical activity will touch your soul.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Refuse to let what others choose to do ruin your plans.

Getting out and socializing will help you gain insight into what and who makes your day worthwhile. Emotions will be close to the surface.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Take pride in what you do. Discipline coupled with innovation and enthusiasm will help you make your way forward in whatever manner you apply yourself. Refuse to let criticism stifle your dreams.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Trust your instincts. Follow the rules, and vouch for what's tried and true. Know your 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) Let your inquiring mind lead you on a research mission.

Satisfy your soul by engaging in what interests you and exploring how you can reach your objective.

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

For better or For WorSe WonderWord

peAnUtS

SALLY Forth

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

TODAy'S CLUE: N EQUALS A

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon FAMILY CIrCUS

dooneSbUrY

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ 5D

lll

CurTiS

Hi and LoiS

Sudoku InstructIons: Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers.

The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

BaBY BLueS

BLondie

THe wiZard oF id

nea CroSSwordS

La TimeS CroSSword

6D ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

B.C.

Bridge

BY PHILLIP ALDER Jef Mallett, the “Frazz” cartoonist, said, “Writing well means never having to say, ‘I guess you had to be there.’”

When the defenders play perfectly, declarer is sometimes unable to make his contract. On other deals, though, a defender 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 a diamond. How should South continue?

A four-heart opening bid usually indicates an eight-card suit. However, South decided to tell a small white lie because he was nonvulnerable and the opponents were vulnerable. West wondered if his side could do well, but he had too few points to act at the four-level. North and East had easy passes.

When West had to guess which suit to lead at trick four, he decided that South would be more likely to pre-empt when very short in the other major. Hence his diamond lead. (As you can see, a spade switch would have been lethal.)

Now let’s look at South’s predicament.

He needs to take three pointed-suit tricks to go with his seven trump winners. Should he finesse in spades or in diamonds?

Either is a pure guess. But he can slightly improve his chances. He should win with dummy’s diamond ace, ruff a

garfield

Pearls Before swiNe

hagar the horriBle

diamond in his hand, cash the heart ace, play a heart to dummy’s nine and ruff another diamond.

Here, the king comes tumbling down.

So South can draw trumps and claim.

But if the diamond king does not appear, declarer can run his trumps, planning to fall back on the spade finesse. © 2026 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

wuzzles Each Wuzzle is a word riddle which creates a disguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD = GOOD AFTERNOON

PiCKles

Previous answers:

mallard fillmore

word game InstRuctIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3.

Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

toDAY’s WoRD — GERMAnE: jer-MANE: Fitting; appropriate.

Bizarro

marmaduKe

Average mark 31 words Time limit 45 minutes Can you find 39 or more words in GERMANE? YEstERDAY’s WoRD — oBLIQuELY obey oblique oily bell belly bile bill blue boil bole boll

boule bull bully buoy libel lieu lily lobe lobule lube quell

quill yell yule

loCKhorNs hidato Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

today’s thought “Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was [done]; he commanded, and it stood fast.” Psalms 33:8-9 AV) There is no one like the Lord. Stand in awe of Him. G.E. Dean

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ 7D

lll

sifiedsclassifieds.theadvocate.com classifieds & Place Search Search Ads & Online &Place Place at Ads Ads classifieds.theadvocate.com Online Onlineatatclassifieds.theadvocate.com classifieds.theadvocate.com * Call Us Monday-Friday * Call * CallUs UsMonday-Friday Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM at8AM-5PM 225-383-0111 8AM-5PMatat225-383-0111 225-383-0111

Announcements

Merchandise

BUSINESS PERSONAL New to Baton Rouge Area looking to service your delivery needs. No package too big or too small, call 225 620-9145 more info

7 DAYS A WEEK

AREA 3 5135 & 5137 Fairfield (Duplex) 1BR/1BA, Rent $500, Dep $300 Updated 225-357-6436

MISC FOR SALE Two 38” Tall Cement Cranes Each Crane $50 225-752-7273

AREA 3

AREA 2 3BR 2BA, 16x80 Mobile Home in Central School District on 1 acre treed lot, $600 dep, $950/mth rent.

Large storage bldg, Lawn Service Included. 225-603-4395

WANT TO BUY Old Records 33's, 45's & 78's. All types of music. Call 985-259-1889

AREA 3 3060 N. Acadian Thrwy 1BR/1BA $500/mth $300Dep Water/Sewer Paid 225-357-6436

PRINT ADVERTISING WORKS

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Public Notices

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Bids will be received by the Office of Purchasing, Room 213 Thomas Boyd Hall, Louisiana State Uni‐ versity and Agricultural and Mechanical College 70803 until 11:00 AM on Tuesday, July 28, 2026 ** Refer to www.centerl inebidconnect.com for bid submission instruc‐ tions. All bids must be submitted via email to lsubids@lsu.edu ** ANY PERSON REQUIRING SPECIAL ACCOMMODA‐ TIONS SHALL NOTIFY LOUISIANA STATE UNI‐ VERSITY, OFFICE OF PUR‐ CHASING OF THE TYPE(S) OF ACCOMMODATION RE‐ QUIRED NOT LESS THAN SEVEN (7) DAYS BEFORE THE BID OPENING. FOR: Furnish Labor and Materials for LSU Foun‐ dation Building Chiller In‐ stallation LSU SOLICITATION NUMBER: RFQ-0000002850 Complete Bidding Docu‐ ments for this project may be obtained from: www.centerlinebidco nnect.com.

Printed copies are not available from the Designer, but arrangements can be made to obtain them through most repro‐ graphic firms.

Contractors unable to access bidding docu‐ ments at www.centerl inebidconnect.com should contact Louisiana State University Procurement Services 213 Thomas Boyd Hall Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803 Phone: (225)578-2176 All bids must be accom‐ panied by bid security equal to five percent (5%) of the sum of the base bid and all alter‐ nates, and must be in the form of a certified check,

PRINT ADVERTISING

WORKS

cashier’s check or Bid Bond Form written by a surety company licensed to do business in Louisiana, signed by the surety’s agency or attor‐ ney-in-fact. Surety must be listed on the current U.S. Department of the Treasury Financial Man‐ agement Service list of approved bonding com‐ panies as approved for an amount equal to or greater than the amount for which it obligates it‐ self in the Bond, or must be a Louisiana domiciled insurance company with at least an A- rating in the latest printing of the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide. If surety qualifies by virtue of its Best’s list‐ ing, the amount of the Bond may not exceed ten percent of policyholders’ surplus as shown in the latest A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide. The Bid Bond shall be in favor of the Louisiana State Uni‐ versity and Agricultural and Mechanical College, and shall be accompa‐ nied by appropriate power of attorney. No Bid Bond indicating an oblig‐ ation of less than five percent (5%) by any method is acceptable.

The successful Bidder shall be required to fur‐ nish a Performance and Payment Bond written by a company licensed to do business in Louisiana, in an amount equal to 100% of the Contract amount. Surety must be listed currently on the U.S. Department of Trea‐ sury Financial manage‐ ment Service List (Trea‐ sury List) as approved for an amount equal to or greater than the con‐ tract amount, or must be an insurance company domiciled in Louisiana or owned by Louisiana resi‐ dents. If surety is quali‐ fied other than by listing on the Treasury list, the contract amount may not exceed fifteen percent of policyholders’ surplus as shown by surety’s most recent financial state‐ ments filed with the Louisiana Department of Insurance and may not exceed the amount of $500,000.

However, a Louisiana domiciled in‐ surance company with at least an A- rating in the latest printing of the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide shall not be subject to h $ li i i

Public Notices Bids/Proposals j the $500,000 limitation, provided that the con‐ tract amount does not exceed ten percent of policyholders’ surplus as shown in the latest A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide nor fifteen percent of policyholder’s surplus as shown by surety’s most recent financial state‐ ments filed with the Louisiana Department of Insurance.

The Bond shall be signed by the surety’s agent or attor‐ ney-in-fact.

A PRE-BID CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD

Monday, July 13, 2026, 10:00AM Riverbend Hall (Southeast Corner) 109 Gateway Center Lane Baton Rouge, LA 70803 Bids shall be accepted from Contractors who are licensed under LA. R.S. 37:2150-2163 for the ME‐ classification of CHANICAL. Bidder is re‐ quired to comply with provisions and require‐ ments of LA R.S. 38:2212 (A)(1)(c). No bid may be withdrawn for a period of thirty (30) days after re‐ ceipt of bids, except under the provisions of LA. R.S. 38:2214.

The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause. In ac‐ cordance with La. R.S. 38:2212 (A)(1)(b), the pro‐ visions and requirements of this Section, those stated in the advertise‐ ment for bids, and those required on the bid form shall not be considered as informalities and shall not be waived by any public entity.

When this project is fi‐ nanced either partially or entirely with State Bonds or federal funds, the award of this Contract is contingent upon the granting of lines of credit, the sale of bonds by the Bond Commission or the commitment of federal funds. The Uni‐ versity shall incur no obligation to the Con‐ tractor until the Contract Between Owner and Con‐ tractor is fully executed.

192136 June 26, July 3, 10, 3t $200.79

CLASSIFIEDS.THEADVOCATE.COM Legal Notices

in observance of

4th of JULY

PUBLIC NOTICE --CITY OF ST. GEORGE

BY COUNCIL MEMBER EDMONDS PROPOSED ORDINANCE NO. 2026-xxx TO DECLARE THAT CER‐ TAIN REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY THE CITY IS NO LONGER NEEDED FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES, AP‐ PROVE THE SALE THEREOF, AND PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS WHEREAS, Lavo Lane, an approximately 392.50 foot long, 60 foot wide roadway right-of-way on the east side of High‐ landia Road that dead ends private property which is adjacent to In‐ terstate 10; and WHEREAS, the “back por‐ tion” of Lavo Lane, ap‐ proximately 188.82 feet in length, is adjacent to and only serves one property; and WHEREAS, the entire length of the Lavo Lane Roadway, from High‐ landia Road to Buyer’s property, is in poor con‐ dition and in need of sig‐ nificant repairs; and WHEREAS, R.S. 33:4712 A. provides that a munic‐ ipality may sell property that it has determined is no longer needed for public purposes to pri‐ vate persons at a private sale; and WHEREAS, the owner of the property adjacent to the “back portion” of Lavo Lane (the “pro‐ posed buyer”) is inter‐ ested in purchasing that portion of Lavo Lane; and WHEREAS, Article VII, §14 of the Louisiana Con‐ stitution requires that the City receive fair mar‐ ket value for the portion of Lavo Lane being sold; and WHEREAS, the City has obtained an ap‐ praisal of Lavo Lane, and the proposed buyer is willing to compensate the City for that amount by repairing and main‐ taining the 203.77 foot long portion of the road‐ way it is not acquiring; d

DOGS Shih Tzu, m/f, 10wks old, paper trained $250+, Adult Shih Tzu's $200, Cash Only. Call (504) 418-3046

y and

And will be observing the following Early Deadline: Deadline: Tuesday 6/30 @ 2pm Wednesday 7/1 @ 2pm Wednesday 7/1 @ 2pm Wednesday 7/1 @ 2pm

WORK q

g

WHEREAS, prior to its passage, in accordance with R.S. 33:4712 B., this ordinance was published in The Advocate three times in fifteen days, one week apart.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the St. George City Council, State of Louisiana, as fol‐ lows: Section 1: The following portion of Lavo Lane, that only serves one property and cannot be extended through that property due to Inter‐ state 10, is hereby deter‐ mined to be no longer needed for public pur‐ poses: A certain tract or parcel of ground being in High‐ landia Subdivision in Section 57, Township 8 South, Range 2 East, Greensburg Land District, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana and being identified as the Lavo Lane right-of-way con‐ tained in the following calls: Beginning on the northern Lavo Lane rightof way line, 203.77-feet Northeast of the inter‐ section of the eastern right-of-way line of High‐ landia Drive along the northern right-of-way line of Lavo Lane, then proceed Northeast along the Lavo Lane right-ofway-line a distance of 188.72-feet; then proceed Southeast along the eastern Lavo Lane rightof-way line a distance of approximately 60.0-feet to the perpendicular Lavo Lane right-of-way line, then proceed South‐ west a distance of 188.72-feet; then proceed Northeast a distance of 60.0-feet to the point of beginning.

Section 2: The sale of the above described por‐ tion of Lavo Lane is hereby approved subject at the price and pursuant to the terms set forth in the Real Estate Purchase Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A. Section 3: Conflicts.

The specific terms and conditions of this Ordi‐ nance shall prevail against other ordinances of the City to the extent that there may be any fli f h

Run Dates Friday 7/3 Saturday 7/4 Sunday 7/5 Monday 7/6

As always, you may place your ad 7 days a week, 24 hours a day online at www.theadvocate.com or call Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

CLASSIFIEDS

Legal Notices

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

THE CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT will be closed on FRIDAY, JULY 3rd

PETS • SUPPLIES • SERVICES • OBITUARIES • LOST & FOUND

DOGS CKC YORKIES - (YORKIES w/papers) also BISHON YORKIES vet checked shot worming meet in Gulfport $750 (334) 467-3416

STAY INFORMED

MOBILE HOME 1, 2 & 3 BR mobile homes, $675 & up 6061 Plank Rd. CALL 225-978-4653

PLACE YOUR PET SERVICES INFORMATION IN THE PET SERVICES DIRECTORY TODAY! • IT IS FAST AND EASY! • CALL 225-383-0111

CATS RAGAMUFFIN & RAGDOLL KITTENS www.CatsByFrancy.com/kittens $1500up! Reg. Shots & Guaranty 337-230-3150

ROOMS FOR RENT Furnished Rooms. $125/wk. $500/mo.

225-933-7560

AREA 5 1BR $550, 2BR $650 Tigerland. $500 Deposit. 225-475-1737

Pets / Pet Services Directory DOGS 6 Female 2 Male German Shepherd pup‐ pies, S/W 6wks old. 225-205-4311

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

AREA 5 655 North St. Subsidized eff Apts cpabr.org 225-383-5551.

TDD/TTY /711RELAY

Move In Ready!

3017 Chippewa St. 5159 Frey St. Both Properties 3BR 1BA Rent $800/mo, $300/dep 225-357-6436

Baton Rouge Rental

Employment HOSPITALITY We are currently seeking experienced Chefs/Utility Hand/Housekeeping per‐ sonnel for offshore work rotating hitches of 14 days/12 hours per day then 14 days off. Must have the follow‐ ing: RIG PASS • SAFEGULF • HUET • BOSIET • MMC • TWIC • THREE YEARS OFFSHORE UTILITY EXPERIENCE. Appli‐ cants will also be required to pass a USCG Merchant Mariner Physical and a USCG DOT Drug Test. https://cardinal. bamboohr.com/jobs.

MISC FOR SALE SMALL SOLID BLACK THROW PILLOWS MANY AVAILABLE! EACH $5 225-752-7273

(225) 383-0111

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

Legal Notices

y y conflict. Except for the foregoing, the use of the subject property is sub‐ ject to the terms of all applicable ordinances and regulations of the City of St. George, includ‐ ing any amendment thereto.

Section 3: Severability.

If any provision of this Ordinance is declared in‐ valid by a court of com‐ petent jurisdiction, the other provisions shall re‐ main in full force and ef‐ fect.

Section 4: Effective Date.

This ordinance shall be effective upon publication, but not sooner than ten days after its passage.

This proposed ordinance was introduced at the 6/23/2026 Council Meet‐ ing and will be heard at the 7/14/2026 Council Meeting.

192323 June 26, July 3, 10, 2026 3t $198.24 PUBLIC NOTICE --The Louisiana Office of State Parks is requesting proposals for a PublicPrivate Partnership pro‐ ject to design, construct, and operate a high-qual‐ ity recreational vehicle campground and related amenities. For more in‐ formation go to opportu‐ nitiesinlouisiana.com.

192994-jul 2-aug 15-45t $207.90

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

g cated:

g g p p y longing to: CALVIN STER‐ LING

WT-3-26 Verizon Wireless Facility (1210 South Aca‐ dian Thruway) Proposed wireless communication tower on property lo‐ cated on the west side of South Acadian Thruway, north of Broussard Street, on property now or formerly known as Lot 7-A-2 of Cleon Place Sub‐ division. Section 96, T7S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Coun‐ cil District 7- Harris)

2023 USED GMC / SIERRA 1500 3GTU‐ UBED5PG127281 MILEAGE-UNKNOWN STORED AT SMART TOW‐ ING 3045 ROSENWALD ROAD TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITH Appraisement and according to law.

MODEL #74721 STORED AT SMART TOWING 3045 ROSENWALD ROAD TERMS OF SALE: Cash to the highest bid‐ der, at Public Auction WITH Appraisement and according to law.

Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish ADVERTISED DATE July 03, 2026 $155.57

Sid J. Gautreaux, Sheriff East Baton Rouge Parish

Run Dates: 7/3/26 192899 July 3, 1t $12.52

ADVERTISED DATE July 03, 2026 $158.13

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

ORDER PAGE REPRINTS ANYTIME

SHERIFF'S SALE Suit No: (17A) 2104264 GULFSOUTH CREDIT LLC vs WILLIE J BAUNCHAND

SHERIFF'S SALE

Baton Rouge City Court Parish of Baton Rouge City Court State of Louisiana

Suit No: (17) 778706 ON PATH FEDERAL CREDIT UNION vs CALVIN STERLING

Acting under and by virtue of a Writ of Fieri Facias issued out of the honorable court afore‐ said, in the above enti‐ tled and numbered cause, dated, March 03, 2026 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, via an online auction site at www. bid4assets.com/EBR SOsheriffsales, offer for sale at public auction the following described property belonging to wit:

19th Judicial District Parish of East Baton Rouge State of Louisiana Acting under and by virtue of Writ of SEIZURE AND SALE issued out of the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled and numbered cause, dated, June 03, 2026 and to me directed, I did seize and will, be‐ ginning at 10:00 o'clock a.m. on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, via an online auction site at www. bid4assets.com/EBR SOsheriffsales., offer for sale at public auction the following described mortgaged property be‐ l i

2024 UTILITY TRAILER VIN#4P7U71627RF084935 TOMO TIME CUTTER SS 4225 SERIAL#400731625,

STORE.NOLA.COM

PUBLIC NOTICE --The Planning Commis‐ sion of the City of Baton Rouge and the Parish of East Baton Rouge will hold a public meeting on Monday, July 20, 2026 at 5:00p.m., in Room 348, City Hall located at 222 St. Louis Street, 3rd floor, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The Planning Commis‐ sion will consider the fol‐ lowing Site Plans as indi‐ d

The digital edition of today’s paper is always at your finger tips with

E-EDITION

View the e-edition from the Advocate app OR

in your web browser by visiting TheAdvocate.com and clicking E-EDITION

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA

ADVOCATE

95th year, No. 281

THEADVOCATE.COM

THE

HIGH 83 LOW 66 FORECAST, MORE ON 6B

WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR LOCAL REPORTING

COVID-19

MONDAY APRIL 6, 2020

$1.00

CORONAVIRUS: THE LATEST

Officials: BR area to see infections surge Capital region records deadliest day

CASES IN LA.

477 13,010 deaths

positive cases

BY YOUSSEF RDDAD and DAVID J. MITCHELL

The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus rose to 656 in East Baton Rouge Parish on Sunday for third-most in the state, while the The coronavirus killed more peo- number of deaths in the capital reple in the Baton Rouge area in a 24- gion hit 54, new data from the Louihour span than any previous day, siana Department of Health shows.

East Baton Parish reported eight adaccording to state and local officials who say the worst is yet to come as ditional deaths, bringing the parish’s Louisiana, too, saw record-breaking total to 22 as of Sunday afternoon, the most reported in a single day. deaths Sunday across the state.

Staff writers

Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome exhorted residents to heed social distancing measures while echoing federal officials’ warnings that the coming week will likely be the deadliest since the pandemic gained a foothold in the U.S. “We have to support each other during this season, and not allow ourselves to succumb to feelings of fear or hopelessness,” Broome said in a statement Sunday. “Things will likely get worse before they get better, but they will get better.”

The human toll from the virus reached 477 deaths in Louisiana by Sunday — an increase of 68 — and, like the capital region, marked the largest single-day jump in fatal cases. An earlier record was set between April 2-3.

Sunday’s death tally in the Baton Rouge area was the largest singleday increase in at least a week when the region saw nine in one day. The number of deaths in the 12-parish

ä See SURGE, page 4A

INSIDE

ä Trump tempers grave assessments with optimism. Page 2A ä Sugar cane farmers concerned as planting nears. Page 1B ä Historic Saints player Tom Dempsey dies after battle with virus. Page 4A

OPEN PALMS 192929-664159-July 2, 3-2t $ 205.18

192931-664164-July 2, 3-2t $ 205.18

IMAGE FROM VIDEO

Employees at BBQGuys, a Baton Rougebased online retailer, hold an online meeting using Zoom.

Companies weigh pros f

8D ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

FREE ESTIMATES

ON ALL TV’S THAT NEED REPAIR WHEN BROUGHT INTO THE SHOP!!

SHERWOOD TV & APPLIANCES *In-Home major appliances serviced at a charge.

WASHERS, DRYERS, REFRIGERATORS, FREEZERS, ELECTRIC & GAS RANGES

SHERWOOD MINI-STORAGE

MINI-WAREHOUSE (CLIMATE & REGULAR), MOTOR HOMES & BOAT STORAGE UP TO 45’ DEEP

11756 Florida Blvd. Baton Rouge 70815

BUSHHOGGING LOTS MOWED 225-505-3907 OR 225-272-5614

$125 First Visit - 1 Computer

225-803-8241 | THECOMPUTERDOCTORx.com

225-275-6900

SIMPLE ELECTRIC

Remove & Replace Driveways, Patios and Parking Lots.

Install culverts.

New Construction & Commercial

40 years experience

House calls | NoFixNoPay

IF NO ANSWER LEAVE MESSAGE

A1 CONCRETE

THE COMPUTER DOCTORx

Professional work • Lic/Ins/Bond.

40+ years experience No job too smalll/large

25 Years Experience

Call 225-803-8013

Call 225-921 2633

We are your go to company for your Gutter and Patio Top installations

HEATH WISE

VETERAN OWNED

WISE GUY’S GUTTERS & PATIOS DENHAM SPRINGS, LA 70726 WISEGUYSGUTTERSANDPATIOLA.COM GOLDDOG3447@YAHOO.COM

CALL 225-305-3776 FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE

LANDSCAPING 5 Fixtures, Controller & Wire

WE PAY CASH FOR YOUR UNWANTED VEHICLES!

HandyMan

Home Repairs

(100 ft. Wire) • $999 Special

SUMMER HOUSEWASHING SPECIAL!!

Call For A Free Estimate • I Look Forward To Working With You

• Doors • Tile • Painting • Windows & Door Awnings • Pressure Washing • Bathroom & Kitchen Repairs • Porch Roof and Metal Patio Covers

225-726-8096

LA CASH FOR CARS FREE TOWING | CASH AT PICKUP

Cars • Trucks • RVs • Boats • Motorcycles • Golf Carts

CALL OR TEXT 225-715-4852

QUALITY PAINTING • Interior/Exterior • Pressure Washing • Sheetrock Repair • Texturing/Acoustics • Handyman Work

American Green LLC Lawn Service

CALL (225) 806-5619 ROOF LEAKS STOPPED Free Estimates Licensed & Insured

No Job Too Big or Too Small James Wells DBA

Big Jim Construction

N f or R i on A T R f New R Roofs Repairs Any Type Roof Roofing • Painting • Carpentry

Over 50 Years Experience

225.338.6809

QUALITY TREE SERVICE STUMP REMOVAL Serving Baton Rouge & all surrounding areas.

We provide a full service for all your tree care needs.

• Now Providing all equipment on rubber tracks • Low Impact to Yard

Insured & Licensed Specializing in Tree Removal, Trimming, Pruning, Debris Removal Call Jay for your free estimate today

(225) 205-9875

All Work Warrantied

• Wood Refinishing • Affordable Prices • RELIABLE • No Mess Left Behind • Licensed & Insured

Over 30 years Experience • No Jobs Too Big or Small FREE Estimates

225-256-8518

DISCOUNT FOR FIRST RESPONDERS

225-290-1980 / 225-993-9204

tree trimming/flower bed clean up/flower bed designs/irrigation/ lighting pathways/prune & mulch/weeding/drainage/sod/pergola deck/power washing/stump grinding/consulting available

CALL FOR SPECIAL PRICING! INSTALL NEW ROOFS, J-W SHINGLES, METAL, ROOFING* FLAT, & REPAIRS.

STOP ALL LEAKS! CARPENTRY & PAINTING Lic/Ins. 225-205-9537

MILITARY DISCOUNTS

*Senior Citizen Discount

LEAK SPECIALIST

Quality Care Q

FIND AND FIX LEAKS ON ANY ROOF All work 35+ years of guaranteed experience No job to locally! big or small • Flashing • Gutters • Siding • Tree Pruning • Carpentry • Fences

Roofing & Maintenance R

Denham Springs & Gonzales

• All Types Roofing & Repairs • Fllashings • Sheet Metal • Dry Wall • Painting • Masonry • Carpentry C • Flooring • Electrical Spe cialty Ventilation and Insulation

KEVIN ROBERTS

FREE ESTIMATE!

(225) 603-2125

Swimming Pool Fill-In’s

STEVE ROBINS

RUSSELL CARPENTER ZACH CARPENTER

La. Lic. # 64014

(225) 603-2125 Cell KMRNBR55@GMAIL.COM

225-338-6922

FIBERGLASS - GUNITE - LINER 20 Years of Experience - Licensed and Insured

Call Casey For a Free Estimate

225-329-9502

pooldemolitionbycasey.com

tree service

Member of the BBB Licensed & Insured FREE Verbal Estimates to EBRP Residents 50 Years Experience Pruning & Trimming of Large Trees Small Tree Removal

Call 225.925.0610 Reasonable Rates for Quality Work!

Visit jobs.nola.com today to see job listings in Baton Rouge, New Orleans and surrounding areas.

GET FULL DIGITAL ACCESS On your phone. On the go.

Interested in Print?

Sign up for home delivery of the newspaper in addition to full digital access on your phone, tablet or computer. Access to the daily e-replica of the newspaper is also included.

Subscribe today Scan the QR code CANCEL ANYTIME

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ 9D

lll

Legal Notices

Legal Notices

Legal Notices

CITY OF ST. GEORGE

Legal Notices

Legal Notices

Uses

Residential

Legal Notices

Mixed Use

Business

ORDINANCE NO. 2026-020

WHEREAS, the City’s planning staff has studied the size and placement of signs and billboards in the City and has recommended the updates and changes to the sign and billboard regulations attached as an exhibit to this Ordinance; and WHEREAS, a public hearing was held on the proposed changes on June 1, 2026, before the City of St. George Zoning Commission; and WHEREAS, the Zoning Commission recommended approval of the text amendments.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the St. George City Council, State of Louisiana, as follows: Section 1: That the deletions and additions to the UDC set forth in Exhibit 1 attached hereto are hereby adopted.

Section 2: That the moratorium on new billboards established and extended in Ordinances Nos 2024-002 and 2025-038 is hereby declared expired.

Section 3: The specific terms and conditions of this Ordinance shall prevail against other existing ordinances of the City to the extent that there may be any conflict.

Section 4: Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance is declared invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 5: Effective Date. This ordinance shall be effective upon publication.

This ordinance having been submitted to a vote; the vote thereon was: For: Cook, Edmonds, Himmel, Monachello, Murrell, Talbot Against: Absent: Dellucci Adopted this 23rd day of June, 2026 Signed this ____ day of _____________, 2026 Delivered to the Mayor on the ___ day of ___________, 2026 ______________________________ Lorraine Beaman, City Clerk Approved: ___________________________ Dustin Yates, Mayor Received from the Mayor on the ____ day of ______________, 2026 ______________________________ Lorraine Beaman, City Clerk Adopted Ordinance published in The Advocate on the ___ day or ___________, 2026 EXHIBIT 1 NOTE: Underlined text is new. Strike-through text is deleted. [notes provide instructions] * * * CHAPTER 6 – ENFORCEMENT * * * Sec. 7:6.7. Violations and Penalties Sec. 7:6.7.1. Generally

* * * C. In the event the City of St. George incurs the expense of correcting a violation, the City of St. George shall be entitled to a privilege and lien upon the property for the costs of correcting the violation. * * * CHAPTER 7 – NONCONFORMITIES * * * Sec. 7:7.2. Nonconformities Defined A nonconformity shall be any use, lot, improvement, or structure that was legally established but, as a result of adoption of or amendments to this ordinance UDC, does not meet the current standards of the ordinance UDC. * * * C. Nonconforming Structure. A nonconforming improvement or structure shall be any legally established building or structure that fails to meet current ordinance UDC standards for setback, height, or similar factors.

D. Nonconforming Improvement. A nonconforming improvement shall be any legally established improvement, including but not limited to landscaping, parking, lighting, and signs, that does not meet the current standards of the UDC. * * * Sec. 7:7.4. Nonconforming Uses A. Continuation * * * 3. A nonconforming billboard: a. Shall not be structurally altered beyond 50% of its replacement value; and b. May be rebuilt if it is destroyed by an act of God such as a storm, hurricane, or otherwise. * * * Sec. 7:7.7. Nonconforming Improvements A nonconforming improvement may remain and continue, subject to the following: 1. No action shall be taken which increases the degree or extent of the nonconformity.

2. Where this UDC requires an improvement to come into conformance with this UDC, those requirements shall apply in addition to the regulations in this chapter.

3. A nonconforming sign structure may remain so long as it supports a sign that is maintained in good condition. If the property on which the sign structure is located is vacant for any period longer than 24 months, the sign structure shall be removed.

CHAPTER 8 – ZONING DISTRICTS * * * Sec. 7:8.3.3. Bluebonnet Overlay (BO) * * * Sec. 7:8.3.3.1. BO North A. Uses.

1. of Publicly Owned Land. On publicly owned lots, the use shall be limited to green space or access to a publicly dedicated right of way.

2. Billboards are prohibited. * * * C. Signage * * * 2. Prohibited Signs. (a) Billboards (b) Electronic message centers changeable copy * * * CHAPTER 9 – USE REGULATIONS Article 9.1. Allowed Uses * * * Sec. 7:9.1.3. Use Table * * * Table 7:9.1.3.A. Uses Allowed in Residential, Mixed Use, and Business Base Zoning Districts

*

*

B-3

*

B-2

*

B-1

MX-2

*

MX-4

R-291

R-6

R-91

R-4

*

MX-3

WHEREAS, the City, in Ordinances Nos 2024-002 and 2025-038 established and extended a moratorium on the installation of new billboards in the City; and

MX-11

WHEREAS, the UDC has been incorporated into the St. George Code of Ordinances as Title 7; and

RC

WHEREAS, on July 23, 2024, the St. George City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2024-002, in part, adopting the EBR Unified Development Code (with some changes) as the City’s interim Unified Development Code (“UDC”); and

R-1

TO AMEND TITLE 7, UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE, TO UPDATE REGULATIONS FOR SIGNS AND BILLBOARDS AND PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.

P L

P L

-

P L

P L

Specific Use Standards (if L, C, A, T) Sec. 7:…

MISCELLANEOUS Billboard

-

-

-

-

-

-

*

*

9.2.5

*

Article 9.2. Specific Use Standards * * * Sec. 7:9.2.5. Billboard A. Intent and Purpose. The uncontrolled use of billboards and their location, density, size, shape, motion, illumination, and demand for attention can be injurious to traffic safety and to the well-being of the public and destructive to adjacent property values and the purposes of this section. It is understood that these conditions can be relieved, prevented, and often eliminated through planned and properly enforced regulations, thereby resulting in the overall enhancement of the general health, safety, and welfare of the people of the City of St. George. The purposes of this section are to: 1. Promote the reasonable, orderly, and effective display of billboards while remaining consistent with the national policy to protect the public investment in the Interstate and Federal Aid Primary highways; 2. Promote the safety and recreational value of public travel; 3. Promote and enhance the beauty, order, and attractiveness of the City of St. George to residents, tourists, and visitors; 4. Positively influence the economic prosperity of the area; and 5. Support and complement the land use objectives of this UDC. B. Permit and Inspections Required. A billboard permit with inspections is required before any billboard is erected or replaced. If electrical work is involved, a separate electrical permit is required. An application for a billboard permit: 1. Shall be submitted to and decided upon by the Building Department; 2. May only be submitted by a licensed billboard company; 3. Shall include: a. A site plan; b. Engineered structural drawings; c. A lighting plan; and d. Property owner consent; and 4. For a new billboard, may only be approved if an existing billboard is removed, with the existing billboard permit surrendered prior to issuance of a new permit. If the surrendering party does not have a location ready to build, the surrendered permit will be held as a credit by the permit office for future use for 36 months. If not used within this time period, the credit will expire.

C. Where Allowed and Prohibited 1. Allowed only in the base zoning districts indicated in Table 7:9.1.3.A when also within 200 feet of an: a. Arterial that is designated as a major street on the Major Street Plan; or b. Interstate; and 2. Prohibited, as measured in a straight line from the billboard pole, within: a. 2,000 feet of another billboard; b. 500 feet of an interstate on- or off-ramp or continuous interstate ramp; and c. 200 feet of: (1) The property line of any property developed with a residential use; (2) Any school, public park, or public building; (3) The Mississippi River levee right-of-way; (4) Any historic site, district, or place; (5) The following Overlay Zoning Districts: (a) City Center Character Area Overlay; and (b) Bluebonnet Overlay; (6) The following roads: (a) Highland Road west of I-10; and (b) River Road; (7) The following waterways: (a) Amite River; (b) Bayou Manchac; (c) Comite River; and (d) Mississippi River; and (8) The following areas; (a) Bluebonnet Swamp (Figure 7:9.2.5.A); and (b) Manchac Swamp (Figure 7:9.2.5.B).

D. Standards 1. Design and Construction. Billboards shall: a. Be designed to meet applicable building codes, including for wind pressure and dead load; b. Be securely fixed upon a substantial surface; c. Not contain any mirror-like surfaces greater than two (2) square inches or that create a traffic hazard; d. Not contain, depict, or provide a digital link to obscene material; and e. Not emit smoke, vapor, particles, or odor.

2. Setbacks, Minimum. All the following minimum setbacks shall apply, which shall be measured from the extremities of the billboard excluding embellishments: a. Yard requirements of the base zoning district; b. Distance from residentially zoned or used property, when the billboard face is: (1) Less than 275 square feet, 110 feet; (2) 276 to 378 square feet, 165 feet; or (3) 379 or more square feet, 250 feet; c. Ten (10) feet from a right-of-way; and d. Distance from electrical utility lines or other facilities in compliance with appropriate and applicable codes and regulations, including the National Electrical Safety Code, with additional clearance required on a case-by-case basis.

3. Height and Clearance. No portion of a billboard, including embellishments, may be: a. Higher than 50 feet above the nearest road centerline; or b. Closer than ten (10) feet to the ground, excluding the structural pole.

4. Size a. Surface area, per billboard face, is: (1) Minimum 72 square feet; and (2) Maximum, excluding embellishments, for: (a) Static billboards, 1,100 square feet; or (b) Digital billboards, 672 square feet. b. Maximum face dimensions, per side, including embellishments, are: (1) Height, 25 feet; and (2) Width, 52 feet.

5. Stacking. No billboard may be stacked or placed one above another.

6. Faces a. A billboard shall have no more than: (1) Two (2) faces; and (2) One (1) face per side. b. All billboard faces shall be, in relation to the road upon which they front, either: (1) Perpendicular; or (2) No less than a 45-degree angle. c. When a billboard has two (2) sides: (1) Both sides shall be the same size and shape, except for embellishments, so that no substantial portion of the back of the opposing billboard shall be visible; and (2) Those sides shall be either, in relation to each other: (a) Parallel and separated by no more than 48 inches; or (b) No more than a 45-degree angle and separated by no more than 36 inches at the apex.

7. Embellishments. Embellishment may be added as a temporary extension: a. Comprising no more than 15% of the face; and b. Extending from the face no more than: (1) Five (5) feet above; (2) Two (2) feet to either side; or (3) One (1) foot below.

8. Illumination and Changing Messages a. A static billboard may be illuminated only by a reflected or internal light source oriented or otherwise controlled to prevent glare towards any part of a residentially used or zoned property, or a public street or highway. b. A digital billboard shall comply with the following: (1) Maximum luminance shall comply with recognized industry standards; (2) Brightness shall automatically adjust based on ambient light; (3) Messages may not change more frequently than once every 8 seconds; and (4) Brightness shall automatically adjust based on ambient light.

9. Identification. Every billboard shall have the name of the installer

Legal Notices

Legal Notices

Legal Notices

and manufacturer and the voltage of any electrical apparatus used marked on it in a conspicuous place.

E. Maintenance, Continued Use, and Enforcement 1. All billboards, together with all their structures and components, shall be kept in good repair and be maintained in a safe condition.

The site upon which they are located shall be maintained in a neat, clean, and attractive condition. The display surface of all billboards shall be kept neatly painted or posted.

2. In the event the use of any billboard has been discontinued for a period of ninety (90) days or more, as determined by the Building Official, said billboard shall be deemed abandoned. The Engineering Director shall notify the owner of the property on which the billboard is located as well as the owner of the billboard if not the same, 15 days written notice to: a. Submit documentation to the Engineering Director to establish that the billboard has not been abandoned as provided in this section; or b. Remove the billboard as well as any support structure; upon the failure of the owner of a billboard to remove the it and any support structure, the City of St. George may remove the billboard and the support structure and the City of St. George shall be entitled to a privilege and lien upon the property for the costs of removal; in the event the owner of a billboard fails to remove the billboard and any support structure as requested, a penalty in the amount of 250 dollars per day may be imposed upon the record owner of the billboard until the date of removal as well as any costs of removal incurred by the City of St. George.

3. See Chapter 6 – Enforcement and Chapter 7 – Nonconformities of this UDC. Figure 7:9.2.5.A. Bluebonnet Swamp

Figure 7:9.2.5.B. Manchac Swamp

Sec. 7:9.2.56. Cemetery/Columbarium/Mausoleum * * * [Renumber subsequent sections and correct references to the renumbered sections, including in the Specific Use Standards column of Table 7:9.1.3.A.] * * * CHAPTER 10 – GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS * * * Article 10.6. Signs and Graphics [Delete the contents of this article (Secs. 7:10.6.1 to 7:10.6.2) and replace with the following, which is new but is not underlined for ease of reading.]

Sec. 7:10.6.1. Purpose and Findings A. Purpose. The purpose of this article is to: 1. Ensure that the constitutionally guaranteed right to free speech is protected; 2. Promote and protect the public health, safety and welfare of residents and visitors to the city and parish; 3. Enhance effective visual communications; 4. Protect property values; 5. Create an attractive economic and business climate throughout the parish; 6. Enhance and protect the physical appearance of all areas of the parish; 7. Improve pedestrian and vehicular safety by reducing distractions, obstructions and hazards caused by the excessive number, excessive size or height, inappropriate means of illumination or movement, indiscriminate placement, overconcentration, or unsafe construction of signs; and 8. Enable people to identify destinations and locations.

B. Findings. The St. George City Council finds that: 1. Unlike oral speech, signs may cause harm by taking up space, obstructing views, distracting motorists, displacing alternative uses of land, and endangering the safety of persons or property.

The City has a substantial and compelling interest in: a. The purposes set forth above; and b. Regulating signs in such a way that the harm caused by signs might be reduced and mitigated; 2. Regulation of the size, height, number, structure, location, lighting, and spacing of signs throughout the city is necessary to: a. Protect the public safety; b. Ensure compatibility of signs with surrounding land uses; c. Enhance the economy; d. Protect the public investment in streets and highways; e. Maintain the environment of residential areas; f. Promote industry and commerce; g. Eliminate visual clutter and blight; h. Provide an aesthetically appealing environment; i. Provide ample, meaningful opportunities for persons who desire to display information by means of a sign to have their information seen and understood; and j. Provide for the orderly and reasonable display of advertising and other messages for the benefit of all persons in the city; 3. These regulations do not: a. Apply to every form and instance of visual speech that may be displayed anywhere within the city, but are intended to regulate those forms and instances that are most likely to meaningfully affect the purposes of this article; or b. Entirely eliminate all the harms that may be created by the installation and display of signs. They strike an appropriate balance that preserves ample channels of communication by means of visual display while still reducing and mitigating the potential extent of harm caused by signs; 4. Some signage has a single targeted function that makes identifying such signs by description impossible without referring to function. Whenever a sign is described, in part, by referring to the function it serves, the provisions of this part that limit such a sign are designed to be neutral with respect to the content of the speech appearing on it; and 5. These regulations are neither intended nor designed to restrict or control signs for the purpose of promoting or stifling any messages that might appear on them.

10D ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate Legal Notices

Legal Notices

lll

Legal Notices

Legal Notices

Sec. 7:10.6.2. Administration A. Content-Neutral 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article or of related standards referenced in this article, applications will be reviewed only with respect to sign structure or placement, or with reference to materials, and excluding any reference to message, category, subject, topic, or viewpoint.

2. Signs containing non-commercial speech are permitted anywhere that advertising or business signs are permitted, subject to the same regulations applicable to such signs. Nothing in this article shall be construed to favor commercial speech over non-commercial speech, or one non-commercial message over another non-commercial message.

B. Definitions. See Chapter 19 – Definitions and Measurements of this UDC. C. Sign Calculation Standards. See Chapter 19 – Definitions and Measurements of this UDC. Sec. 7:10.6.3. Applicability, Permits, and Standards A. It shall be unlawful to display, erect, place, establish, paint, or maintain a sign except in conformance with this article. The effect of this article is to: 1. Allow a variety of types of signs in the office, commercial and industrial districts, and a limited variety of signs in other districts, subject to content neutral standards requirements and limitations; and 2. Establish standards, requirements and limitations, and a permit system that honor constitutional rights and requirements.

B. Permit Required 1. A sign permit shall: a. Be required to erect, substantially modify, or relocate all signs permitted by this article; and b. Not be required for: (1) Temporary signs for any use in a residential base zoning district; or (2) Repainting, cleaning, or other normal maintenance to prolong the life of a sign as originally permitted.

2. In addition to a sign permit, the following permits shall also be required for any sign: a. Requiring electricity, an electrical permit; or b. Located in the public right-of-way, a license agreement in accordance with Sec. 7:10.6.8.

3. When a sign requires footings, it shall require a footing inspection which may only be performed by an individual with the appropriate state license.

4. An applicant shall submit a complete sign permit application to the Building Official, who shall be the deciding authority.

C. Standards. All signs shall comply with the allowances, standards, and prohibitions in: 1. Permitted Sign Types and Allowances in Sec. 7:10.6.4; 2. Standards for All Signs in Sec. 7:10.6.5; 3. Standards for Specific Sign Types in Sec. 7:10.6.6; and 4. Prohibited Signs in Sec. 7:10.6.7.

Sec. 7:10.6.4. Permitted Sign Types and Allowances A. Sign Types. Types of permitted signs include: 1. Permanent. Signs that are permanently installed in the ground or affixed to a structure, and erected for an extended period of time (generally years).

2. Temporary. Signs that are not permanent.

B. Allowances. See the following Tables: 1. 7:10.6.4.A. Permitted Sign Types, Maximum Number; 2. 7:10.6.4.B. Freestanding Sign Maximum Dimensions; 3. 7:10.6.4.C. Attached Sign Maximum Dimensions; and 4. 7:10.6.4.D. Directional and Temporary Signs Maximum Dimensions.

C. Notes to Tables 7:10.6.4.A, 7:10.6.4.B, 7:10.6.4.C, and 7:10.6.4.D 1. Per street frontage, except for subdivision entryways which shall be, for: a. Residential districts, at each subdivision entrance; or b. Nonresidential districts, for every 1,000 linear feet of street frontage.

2. Not permitted in the City Center or Urban Character Area Overlays or the MX-1, MX-2, or B-1 base zoning districts.

3. Per establishment, except for: a. Projecting signs, in the City Center Character Area Overlay, per street frontage per establishment; or b. Suspended signs, per exterior wall per establishment.

4. No maximum number, provided maximum sign area is not exceeded, which shall include signs on the wall surface, signs affixed to the wall parallel and in the same plane as the wall, signs on awnings or canopies, window signs, door signs, signs on the lower slopes of roofs or canopy roofs, and signs on parapets above roofs.

5. Per structure, but only permitted with a conditional use permit on buildings of 80 feet or more in height in Regional Centers and Employment Centers as designated on the future land use map.

6. No maximum.

7. One (1) freestanding sign, either monument or pylon.

8. Maximum sign area is per sign, unless otherwise specified.

9. One (1) square foot for every linear foot of frontage of the subdivision on the street on which the sign is proposed, or 36 sqft, whichever is greater.

10. In the Suburban and Rural Character Area Overlays, may be 20 feet if set back at least 20 feet from any road right-of-way or private access servitude.

11. A pylon sign’s maximum area or height may be increased as follows: a. Maximum area: (1) 201 to 500 linear feet of street frontage, 150 sqft; or (2) 501 or more linear feet of street frontage, 200 sqft. b. Maximum height: (1) 501 or more linear feet of street frontage, 40 ft; or (2) 50 feet when the property is: (a) Within 400 feet of the right-of-way of a controlled access highway; (b) Either adjacent to, or within 150 feet of, an interchange providing access to the controlled access highway; and (c) No closer than 200 feet to a residential district.

12. Maximum sign area is the sum of all signs of this sign type.

13. Maximum wall sign area shall be reduced by the area of any roof sign.

14. May be 15% of the wall area.

15. The smaller of: a. 15% of the largest wall area; or b. 600 sqft.

16. May be 30% of the wall area.

Table 7:10.6.4.A. Permitted Sign Types, Maximum Number

Attached

Pylon2

Projecting3

Suspended3

Wall4

Nonresidential

1

-

-

1

P

-

P

2

Residential, multiunit dwelling

1

-

1

1

P

-

P

2

Subdivision entryway

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

All other uses

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

Base Zoning District and Use

Roof5

Monument

Directional6

Freestanding

Temporary

Permanent 1

Residential Districts

Nonresidential Districts All uses, except below

17

17

1

1

P

1

P

2

Subdivision entryway

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Table 7:10.6.4.B. Freestanding Sign Maximum Dimensions Base Zoning District and Use

Monument

Pylon

Area8 (sqft)

Height (ft)

Area8 (sqft)

Height (ft)

Nonresidential

24

6

N/A

N/A

Residential, multiunit dwelling

32

6

N/A

N/A

Subdivision entryway

369

6

N/A

N/A

All uses in MX-1, MX-2, B-1

24

6

N/A

N/A

All uses in all other districts

64

1010

10011

3511

Subdivision entryway

369

6

N/A

N/A

Residential Districts

Nonresidential Districts

Legal Notices

Legal Notices

Table 7:10.6.4.C. Attached Sign Maximum Dimensions Base Zoning District and Use

Area8 (sqft) Projecting

Suspended

Wall12,13

Roof13

Nonresidential

48

N/A

3214

N/A

Residential, multiunit dwelling

48

3

3214

N/A

All uses in MX-1, MX-2, B-1

48

3

3214

Note15

All uses in all other districts

48

3

3216

Note15

Residential Districts

Nonresidential Districts

Table 7:10.6.4.D. Directional and Temporary Signs Maximum Dimensions Base Zoning District and Use

Directional Area8 (sqft)

Legal Notices

Height (ft)

Area8 (sqft)

Nonresidential

6

8

2412

Residential, multi-unit dwelling

6

8

2412

All other uses

N/A

N/A

6

6

8

4812

Nonresidential Districts

Sec. 7:10.6.5. Standards for All Signs A. Placement 1. Signs shall be placed so as not to block: a. Sight distance triangles; b. Windows, doors, or other means of ingress and egress; or c. Architectural detail.

2. No sign shall be: a. Permitted on a site without a building; or b. Allowed on public property, except in accordance with Sec. 7:10.6.8.

B. Design, Construction, and Maintenance. Signs shall be: 1. Designed to meet applicable building codes, including for wind pressure and dead load; 2. Constructed of durable materials; and 3. Maintained in good condition at all times and kept free of: a. Cracked or peeling paint; b. Missing or damaged sign panels or supports; and c. Vegetation that obscures the view of the sign message.

C. Illumination 1. Any sign, except not temporary signs, may be illuminated in a manner that: a. Avoids glare or reflection which in any way interferes with traffic safety; and b. Is not detrimental to adjacent residential property, as determined by any artificial light greater than two (2) footcandles falling eight (8) feet outside the boundaries of the property where the illuminated sign is located.

2. Unless otherwise permitted by this UDC, signs shall not be illuminated by moving lights, flickering lights, or a string of lights placed around the sign.

D. Changeable Copy, Manual or Electronic 1. Changeable copy shall be allowed only on signs, except not roof signs, that are: a. For a nonresidential use in a residential zoning district; or b. In a nonresidential zoning district.

2. The area of a sign devoted to changeable copy shall, for: a. Electronic changeable copy, be limited to no more than 100 percent; or b. Manual changeable copy, be: (1) Limited to, in: (a) Residential zoning districts, no more than 50 percent; or (b) Nonresidential zoning districts, no more than 80 percent; and (2) Protected by a locked, vandal-proof cover.

3. Changes of message shall comply with the following: a. Each message shall be displayed for at least, in: (1) Residential zoning districts, twenty (20) seconds; or (2) Nonresidential zoning districts, eight (8) seconds. b. Changes of message shall: (1) Be accomplished within two (2) seconds; and (2) Occur simultaneously on the entire sign face. c. No flashing, dimming, or brightening of message shall be permitted except to accommodate changes of message.

4. Electronic changeable copy shall: a. Not have displayed copy that is animated, blinking, chasing, or flashing, or has other moving effects; b. Be programmed with a static default message or image so that, if a malfunction occurs, the default message shall freeze the electronic changeable copy in one position; c. Have high-definition resolution displays that do not pixelate; d. Either: (1) Have an automatic dimmer that limits the brightness based on ambient light conditions; or (2) Be adjustable to comply with the 0.3-footcandle measurements; and e. Not increase night-time ambient illumination by more than 0.3 footcandles when measured perpendicular to the electronic changeable copy face at a distance (feet) equal to the square root of the sign area (square feet) multiplied by ten (10) (Distance in feet = sqrt(Sign Area in square feet) * 10) using an illuminance meter set to measure footcandles accurate to at least two (2) decimals, with the burden of proving compliance with this standard on the property owner.

Sec. 7:10.6.6. Standards for Specific Sign Types A. Permanent, Freestanding Signs. Each sign may have up to two (2) sign faces.

1. Monument a. Shall have plantings: (1) Covering the area within two (2) feet from the sign base on sides parallel to the face; and (2) Maintained in good condition, and free and clear of trash and weeds. b. For subdivision entryway use: (1) Shall only be allowed: (a) At the entry to the development; and (b) Within ten feet of public right-of-way that serves as internal access to the development; and (2) For nonresidential subdivisions, shall be for a unified development, as demonstrated through an approved recorded nonresidential subdivision, a development plan, or approved site plan(s), even if the property has various owners.

2. Pylon. See Table 7:10.6.6.A for minimum setbacks.

B. Permanent, Attached Signs 1. All. An attached sign and its structure shall: a. Not be closer than two (2) feet, measured in horizontal distance, from the curb line of any street; b. When above any space that may be used by a pedestrian, bicycle, or vehicle, have a vertical clearance of seven feet six inches to the ground; and c. When in a public right-of-way: (1) Extend no more than five (5) feet into the right-of-way; and (2) Require a license agreement approved by the Engineering Director in accordance with Sec. 7:10.6.8.

2. Projecting. Shall not extend: a. Above the top of the wall to which it is attached, except that a sign 18 inches or less in width and perpendicular to such wall may extend up to two (2) feet beyond the top of the wall; and b. Into a required front yard more than six (6) feet.

3. Wall a. Awning. Only one sign allowed over each door or window, and: (1) Shall be flat against the surface of the awning; and (2) May cover up to half of the awning. b. Canopy. Sign: (1) May cover up to half of the canopy; (2) Maximum height of two (2) feet unless a larger sign is approved by the Engineering Director; and (3) Shall not extend beneath the vertical edge of the canopy to which it is attached. c. Marquee. Only one per establishment. Sign: (1) May extend the full length of the marquee; (2) Shall not exceed eight (8) feet in height; and (3) Shall not exceed 200 square feet. d. Wall, All Other. Sign shall not extend more than 16 inches from the wall to which it is attached.

C. Temporary Signs 1. Shall remain in good condition during the display period, with corrective action taken immediately for any problems with appearance, condition, or maintenance of the sign or support hardware.

2. Moveable Signs on Sidewalks. Shall: a. Not be chained or attached in any way to street furniture,

Legal Notices

other signs, street trees, other landscaping, or other fixtures or appurtenances on or in the sidewalk; b. Be limited to no more than one (1) per building street frontage; c. Be located no more than ten (10) feet from the main pedestrian entrance, increased only by the minimum amount necessary to achieve the minimum width for pedestrian clearance established in “d” below; d. Be placed to allow at least five (5) feet of sidewalk width for unrestricted pedestrian movement; and e. Not exceed, in: (1) Width, two and one half (2.5) feet; (2) Height, four (4) feet; and (3) Area, 6 sqft per sign face.

3. All Other. Shall be displayed for no more than three (3) continuous months with a maximum period of two (2) per year and a minimum of seven (7) days between each period or 14 days after the event concludes.

Table 7:10.6.6.A. Pylon Sign Minimum Setbacks

Temporary

Residential Districts

All uses in MX-1, MX-2, B-1

Legal Notices

Sign Area Abutting Property

32 sqft or less

More than 32 sqft

Residentially Zoned

12 feet

20 feet

All Other, including Right-of-Way

5 feet

10 feet

Sec. 7:10.6.7. Prohibited Signs It shall be unlawful to erect, construct, maintain, or display the following signs: 1. Dilapidated or Damaged. Signs that have missing or broken panels, broken or damaged supports or frame, or otherwise display inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, obsolescence, or abandonment.

2. Illegal. Signs that have not received required permits, do not comply with a valid permit, and other signs that fail to comply with this article. See Sec. 7:10.6.10.

3. Located in Public Right-of-Way. Except as expressly allowed in Sec. 7:10.6.8, all signs, including supports, frames, and embellishments, that are in a public right-of-way, whether on their own sign structure or attached, affixed, or painted on any object.

These prohibited signs shall be considered litter.

4. Obscene. Signs containing, depicting, or providing a digital link to obscene material.

5. Obsolete. The structure for a sign that is not allowed if such structure cannot be used for a legal use or does not comply with the height, size, or other physical requirements of this UDC, unless the sign structure is associated with a nonconforming sign.

6. Portable. Signs designed or intended to be readily relocated and not permanently affixed to the ground or to a building, including “A-” or “T-” frame signs, signs on wheels, trailers, truck beds, or any other device intended to be moved from one location to another, unless allowed as an exempt sign.

7. Rotating. Signs that have rotating or moving parts that revolve more than seven (7) revolutions per minute.

8. Unsafe. See Sec. 7:10.6.10.A.3.

9. Windblown or Inflated. Fluttering, spinning, windblown, or inflated devices, such as balloons, feather flags, pennants, and propeller discs, which do not conform to the requirements of this UDC, unless associated with a permitted temporary sign.

10. All Other Unlisted. All other signs that are not expressly permitted by this article.

Sec. 7:10.6.8. Signs in Public Right-of-Way A. The following signs may be allowed in the public right-of-way: 1. Awning, marquee, projecting and suspended signs; 2. Moveable signs on sidewalks; 3. Emergency warning signs erected by a government agency, utility company, or a contractor doing work in a public right-of-way; 4. Public signs erected by or on behalf of any governmental entity; and 5. Signs erected pursuant to a temporary use permit issued by the Engineering Director, subject to such ordinances or regulations as may apply.

B. When the sign is a permanent sign, it shall require a license agreement approved by the Engineering Director.

Sec. 7:10.6.9. Nonconforming Signs See Chapter 7 – Nonconformities of this UDC. Sec. 7:10.6.10. Enforcement, Violations, and Penalties A. Enforcement. The Building Official shall have the authority to enforce this article and to order the maintenance or removal of a sign or its supporting structure which constitutes a hazard to safety, health, or public welfare if the Building Official finds that the sign is: 1. Inadequately maintained, dilapidated, or damaged (e.g. faded, torn, broken, or weathered); 2. Abandoned or obsolete, including any sign which: a. For a period of 60 days or more: (1) Remains without a message; or (2) The use of which has been discontinued; b. Pertains to a time, event, or purpose which no longer applies; or c. Remains after: (1) Demolition of a principal structure; or (2) The business to which it pertains is no longer in operation; 3. Unsafe, including but not limited to signs: a. Preventing free ingress to or egress from any door, window, or fire escape; b. Located in sight triangles; c. Containing reflective materials which may cause glare; or d. Which obstruct the view of or may be confused with a traffic control or safety sign; or 4. Illegal.

B. Violations and Penalties. See Chapter 6 – Enforcement of this UDC. * * * CHAPTER 16 – SIGNSRESERVED [Delete the contents of this chapter (Secs. 7:16.1 to 7:16.7.5) and reserve the chapter.] * * * CHAPTER 19 – DEFINITIONS AND MEASUREMENTS Article 19.1. Definitions * * * Sec. 7:19.1.2. Defined Terms * * * Billboard: a large-format outdoor advertisingement (typically 300 square feet) structure designed to attract attention to goods, services, or messages which are not located on the same lot as the structure.for which rent is charged according to: A. The amount of traffic that passes its location; B. Its visibility; and; C. Its size.

Billboard, Digital: a billboard that displays digital images that are periodically changed by a computer. * * * Billboard Embellishment (for purposes of Chapter 16, Signs, only): the area of design made as a cutout that extends beyond the basic rectangular space of an advertising signbillboard. * * * Height, Building: the vertical distance from grade to (a) the top level of a flat roof; (b) the deck line of a mansard roof, or (c) the average height between eaves and ridge for gable, hip and gambrel roofs.

Height, SIgn: the vertical distance from grade, street pavement, or building facade, as applicable, to the highest point of the sign.

Height, Tower: the distance from grade to the top of the tower structure or any attached wireless transmission or relay equipment. * * * Obscene Material: material that appeals to prurient interests, is patently offensive, and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value, as set forth in Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:106. * * * Pennant: a sign, with or without a logo or words, made of flexible material that is suspended from one or two corners and typically used in combination with other such signs to attract attention.

Prurient Interests: abnormal, unhealthy, shameful, or morbid interest in sex, nudity, or excretion, as defined by the U.S. Supreme Court in Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15 (1973), when the material: 1. Appeals to the prurient interest, applying contemporary community standards; 2. Depicts or describes sexual conduct in a patently offensive way; and 3. Lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. * * * Sign: any words, lettering, parts of letters, figures, numerals, phrases, sentences, emblems, devices, structures, designs, trade names, or trademarks by which anything is made known, used to designate, or used to attract attention to an individual, firm, association, corporation, profession, business, commodity, or product that is legible from any public right-of-way or adjacent property, including the structure (other than a wall) on which the sign message is displayed. This definition does not include flags or trade dress, architectural features identified with a product or business, or billboards.

Sign, Abandoned: a sign or sign structure that remains in a state of disrepair or on which the sign face remains without content for a period of six months. Such signs shall be removed or repaired within

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ 11D

lll

Legal Notices

Figure 7:19.2.5.E. Wall Area Illustration

_________________________________________________________________ CITY OF ST. GEORGE ORDINANCE NO. 2026-019 TO AMEND TITLE 7, UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE, TO ESTABLISH STORAGE OF HAZARDOUS MATERIAL IN BULK AS A USE WITH STANDARDS AND PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS. WHEREAS, on July 23, 2024, the St. George City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2024-002, in part, adopting the EBR Unified Development Code (with some changes) as the City’s interim Unified Development Code (“UDC”); and WHEREAS, the UDC has been incorporated into the St. George Code of Ordinances as Title 7; and WHEREAS, there are numerous locations in the City where, as legal nonconforming uses, hazardous materials are stored and further recognizes that the bulk storage of hazardous materials is necessary for some uses; and WHEREAS, the City has determined that the UDC does not regulate the storage of hazardous materials in a way that adequately protects the public health, safety, and welfare; and WHEREAS, the City’s planning staff has recommended the changes to the UDC attached as exhibits to this Ordinance; and WHEREAS, a public hearing was held on the proposed changes on June 1, 2026, before the City of St. George Zoning Commission; and WHEREAS, the Zoning Commission recommended approval of the text amendments.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the St. George City Council, State of Louisiana, as follows: Section 1: That the deletions and additions to the UDC set forth in Exhibit 1 attached hereto are hereby adopted.

Section 2: The specific terms and conditions of this Ordinance shall prevail against other existing ordinances of the City to the extent that there may be any conflict.

Section 3: Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance is declared invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 4: Effective Date. This ordinance shall be effective upon publication.

This ordinance having been submitted to a vote; the vote thereon was: For: Cook, Edmonds, Himmel, Monachello, Murrell, Talbot Against: Absent: Dellucci Adopted this 23rd day of June, 2026 Signed this ____ day of _____________, 2026 Delivered to the Mayor on the ___ day of ___________, 2026 ______________________________ Lorraine Beaman, City Clerk Approved:

Legal Notices

Legal Notices

CHAPTER 9 – USE REGULATIONS Article 9.1. Allowed Uses * * *

Specific Use Standards (if L, C, A, T) Sec. 7:…

B-3

B-2

*

B-1

*

Business

MX-4

MX-2

*

MX-3

R-291

MX-11

R-6

R-91

Use

Mixed Use

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

*

A

*

Legal Notices

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the St. George City Council, State of Louisiana, as follows: Section 1: That the deletions and additions to the UDC set forth in Exhibit 1 attached hereto are hereby adopted.

Section 2: The specific terms and conditions of this Ordinance shall prevail against other existing ordinances of the City to the extent that there may be any conflict.

Section 3: Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance is declared invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 4: Effective Date. This ordinance shall be effective upon publication.

WAREHOUSE Storage, Hazardous Material in Bulk

Legal Notices

WHEREAS, the Zoning Commission recommended approval of the text amendments.

* * * Table 7:9.1.3.A. Uses Allowed in Residential, Mixed Use, and Business Base Zoning Districts Residential

Legal Notices

June 1, 2026, before the City of St. George Zoning Commission; and

Sec. 7:9.1.3. Use Table

R-4

90 days of being issued a citation.

Sign Area: the entire area within a single, continuous perimeter of regular geometric form enclosing the extreme limits of sign display together with any frame or other material or color forming an integral part of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the background against which it is placed, excluding poles, supports or uprights.

Sign, Awning: a sign that is painted, sewn, or affixed on an awning.

Sign, Canopy: a sign on a permanent, decorative porch or walkway cover other than an awning which is attached to a building or supported by columns extending to the ground.

Sign, Changeable Copy: a sign that is that is permanently affixed to a site and is designated to allow the changing of copy through manual, mechanical, or electrical means.

Sign, Directional: a sign that is designed and erected for the purpose of providing direction and/or orientation for pedestrian or vehicular trafficserves to guide people to the location of facilities intended to serve the public, such as restrooms, public telephones, public walkways, parking areas, and other similar facilities.

Sign Face: the entire area of a sign upon, against, or through which copy is placed.

Sign, Freestanding: a sign anchored directly to the ground or supported by one or more posts, columns, or other vertical structures or supports, and not attached to or dependent for support from any building.

Sign, Marquee: a sign attached to or painted on a marquee.

Sign, Monument: a freestanding sign, generally having a low profile where the base of the sign structure is no more than 12 inches above the lowest point of the ground adjacent to the sign, creating the appearance of a solid baseand and opaque base extending to the ground or integrated into landscaping creating the appearance of a solid base.

Sign, Portable: any sign designed or intended to be readily relocated and not permanently affixed to the ground or to a building, including “A-” or “T-”frame signs, signs on wheels, trailers, truck beds, or any other device intended to be moved from one location to another.

Sign, Projecting: a sign attached to a building and extending away from the building face by more than 12 inches, generally visible at right angles to the building.

Sign, Pylon: a freestanding sign that is supported by uprights, braces, columns, poles or other vertical members that are not an integral part of a building or structure.

Sign, Roof: is a sign that is wholly or partially fastened to and supported by or on the roof of a structure and which extends above the highest point of the roof line or parapet.

Sign Setback: the horizontal distance between any property line and the outermost point of a sign or sign structure situated on premises.

Sign Structure: any structure that supports, has supported or is capable of supporting a sign, including any decorative cover for the sign structure.

Sign, Suspended: a sign that is suspended from the underside of a horizontal plane surface and is supported by such surface.

Sign, Temporary: a sign that is not permanently installed in the ground or affixed to any structure or building, and which is erected for a limited period of time.

Sign, Wall: a sign applied to or mounted on the wall, window or door of a building or a structure, the display surface of which is approximately parallel to the wall; a sign mounted on the roof of a building that does not project above the highest point of the roofline. Painting on the wall is not a wall sign. * * * Article 19.2. Measurements * * * Sec. 7:19.2.5. Signs * * * E. Wall Area for Wall Sign Allowance. See Figure 7:19.2.5.E. * * *

Legal Notices

RC

Legal Notices

R-1

Legal Notices

A

A

A

A

A

9.2.34

*

Article 9.2. Specific Use Standards * * * Sec. 7:9.2.34. Storage, Hazardous Material in Bulk A. Shall: 1. Not be established on a property before a principal use or structure; and 2. Require a conditional use permit in the following zoning districts: (a) RC Resource Conservation; (b) MX-2 Mixed Use Neighborhood; (c) MX-3 Mixed Use Community; (d) MX-4 Mixed Use Regional; and (e) B-1 Business-1.

B. The use shall comply with all applicable industry standards and state and federal laws, including but not limited to the: 1. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA); 2. National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE); 3. American Petroleum Institute (API); 4. American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM); 5. Clean Water Act; 6. Clean Air Act; and 7. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. C. The site shall: 1. Be at least 100,000 square feet; 2. Provide ready access for fire and emergency equipment; 3. Provide adequate safeguards to limit obnoxious or offensive emissions of smoke, gas, vibration, light, noise, glare, dust, and odors, or other noxious or offensive fumes or spilled liquids; and 4. Be posted with signs at multiple locations clearly visible to the public providing the phone number of a 24-hour manned hotline.

D. Structures used for bulk storage: 1. Shall comprise no more than fifty (50%) percent of the total site area; and 2. Shall be located at least three (3) times the minimum distance required by NFPA 30 from all property lines; and 3. May be listed as available for the storage of more than one (1) hazardous material, provided that all listed materials are compatible.

E. Any application involving the bulk storage of hazardous materials shall: 1. Include: a. A site plan demonstrating compliance with this section; b. A list of materials for each storage container, referenced to the site plan and certified correct by an authorized safety officer, listing the: (1) Chemical name; (2) U.S. Department of Transportation Hazard Class; (3) UN/NA Identification Number; (4) Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) Number; (5) NFPA 704M Hazard Rating (health, flammability, reactive and special hazards); and (6) Maximum amount to be stored in the container; and c. If the use requires any state or federal air emission or water discharge permit, proof of application for the permit; and 2. Be reviewed by the St. George Fire Department, which shall have the authority to deny the application when the bulk storage of hazardous materials would present an unacceptable risk to public health and safety or cause unacceptable adverse impact to the environment or property.

Sec. 7:9.2.3435. Vehicle Storage, Wrecked * * * [Renumber subsequent sections and correct references to the renumbered sections, including in the Specific Use Standards column of Table 7:9.1.3.A.] * * * CHAPTER 19 – DEFINITIONS AND MEASUREMENTS Article 19.1. Definitions * * * Sec. 7:19.1.2. Defined Terms * * * Hazardous Material: any toxic or hazardous substance, material, or waste, or any pollutant, contaminant, infectious, or radioactive material, including but not limited to those regulated now or in the future under any of the following, and any and all of those substances included in the definitions of “hazardous substances,” “hazardous materials,” “hazardous waste,” “toxic substances,” “hazardous air pollutant,” or “solid waste” in the following: 1. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. § 9601, et seq.

2. Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. § 1801, et seq.

3. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), 42 U.S.C. § 6901, et seq.

4. § 311 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1321.

5. Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C. § 136 et seq.

6. Toxic Substances Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq.

7. Atomic Energy Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2011 et seq.

8. Nuclear Waste Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. § 10101 et seq.

9. Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), 29 U.S.C. § 651 et seq.

10. Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq.

11. National Fire Prevention Code, NFPA 1. * * * Storage, Hazardous Material in Bulk: storing, or the ability to store (e.g. existing tanks for hazardous material storage not in use or empty), hazardous material not under active shipping papers: 1. In the following cumulative amounts: a. Gases with a liquid capacity equal to or greater than five thousand (5,000) gallons; b. Liquids or slurries equal to or greater than ten thousand (10,000) gallons or one hundred thousand (100,000) pounds; or c. Solids equal to or greater than one hundred thousand (100,000) pounds; and 2. Except not the storage of hydrocarbon materials in: a. Above-ground tanks used in a facility’s operation of fleet vehicles or equipment; or b. Underground tanks used in fueling operations. * * * _________________________________________________________________ CITY OF ST. GEORGE ORDINANCE NO. 2026-021 TO AMEND TITLE 7, UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE, TO UPDATE PROCEDURES FOR CHANGING STREET NAMES AND PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS

This ordinance having been submitted to a vote; the vote thereon was: For: Cook, Edmonds, Himmel, Monachello, Murrell, Talbot Against: Absent: Dellucci Adopted this 23rd day of June, 2026.

Signed this ____ day of _____________, 2026 Delivered to the Mayor on the ___ day of ___________, 2026 ______________________________ Lorraine Beaman, City Clerk Approved: ___________________________ Dustin Yates, Mayor Received from the Mayor on the ____ day of ______________, 2026 ______________________________ Lorraine Beaman, City Clerk Adopted Ordinance published in The Advocate on the ___ day or ___________, 2026 EXHIBIT 1 NOTE: Underlined text is new. Strike-through text is deleted. [notes provide instructions] * * * CHAPTER 13 – TRANSPORTATION * * * Sec. 7:13.5. Street name change procedures A. Street Name Change Application. Once a final plat has been recorded and streets dedicated, an application to change the name of a street shall be required. The application may be initiated by owners of property fronting the street or by the City Council. Such applications shall be submitted to the Planning Department and shall include: 1. The current street name; 2. The proposed new street name; 3. A map identifying the street segment to be renamed; and 4. The petition described in subsection B below.

B. Petition of Owners along Street. A petition of a majority ofat least twothirds (2/3) of property owners along the entire length of the street to be re-named agreeing to the proposed re-naming shall be included with the application. The petition shall include the written name, signature, and address of each property owner signing the petition, and the signature of the individuals who witnessed the property owner signatures.

C. Fees 1. The designated application fee shall be paid to the Planning Department.

2. The applicant shall be responsible for the cost of replacing existing street signs. If the request is approved, the cost, which shall be determined by the Engineering Department. Property owners will be responsible for any other costs that may be incurred if the street name change is approved, such as refiling mortgage documents.

D. Public Notice and Inter-departmental Coordination 1. In addition to the agencies listed in Sec. 7:13.4, Street Names, prior to advertising for public hearing, the Planning Department shall also notify the following agencies of the proposed street re-naming: Fire Department, Police Department, Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Postal Services, and utility companies servicing the City of St. George.

2. The Planning Department will advertise and display a legal notice of the proposed street re-naming in the Official Journal of the City of St. George at least ten days prior to the public hearing.

E. Public Hearings 1. Planning Commission. The Planning Commission shall hold a public hearing on the proposed street re-naming. The Planning Commission shall forward its recommendation to the St. George City Council.

2. St. George City Council. The proposed street re-naming shall be placed on the agenda of the St. George City Council for public hearing introduction and will then be heard at the next regularly scheduled St. George City Council Zoning Meeting. Final action on re-naming of any public and/or private street rests with the St. George City Council upon completion of public hearing. The City Council may approve, via ordinance, the street renaming only after determining: a. The petition has been completed as required by subsection B above; b. The renaming will not adversely impact public safety or municipal infrastructure; and c. The proposed street name complies with the street name standards of Sec. 7:13.4 of this UDC and any Parish regulations regarding street addressing systems.

F. If the street name is changed, the Planning Department shall notify the agencies as listed in Sec. 7:13.5.D.1, of the new street name * * * APPENDIX B – APPLICATION FEE SCHEDULE Description

Processing *

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Public Notice

MISCELLANEOUS Street Name Change

$2001,000

$200

*

* * * _________________________________________________________________ CITY OF ST. GEORGE ORDINANCE NO. 2026-018 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A MAJOR CHANGE TO THE FINAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR A SMALL PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT AND PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS. (Kenilworth Science and Technology Academy) WHEREAS, application has been made (Case No. PD-26-0004) for a major change to Final Development Plan for SPUD-4-13 adding an additional ~2.9 acre parcel to the existing ~7.2 acre site; and WHEREAS, contingent on approval of this ordinance, applicant has also applied for approval of a site plan for Phase 2 of the Kenilworth School Development adding three (3) modular buildings totaling 11,857 sq. ft and a new secondary campus access drive on Perkins Road; and

Received from the Mayor on the ____ day of ______________, 2026

WHEREAS, on July 23, 2024, the St. George City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2024-002, in part, adopting the EBR Unified Development Code (with some changes) as the City’s interim Unified Development Code (“UDC”); and

______________________________ Lorraine Beaman, City Clerk

WHEREAS, the UDC has been incorporated into the St. George Code of Ordinances as Title 7; and

Adopted Ordinance published in The Advocate on the ___ day of ___________, 2026

WHEREAS, renaming streets causes disruption and expense to residents and businesses located on the street being renamed; and

EXHIBIT 1

WHEREAS, the City believes that revising the requirements and procedures for renaming streets is in the best interests of the City’s citizens, businesses and property owners; and

Section 1: That the property that is the subject of this Ordinance is legally described in Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part hereof.

WHEREAS, a public hearing was held on the proposed changes on

Section 2: That the previously approved Final Development Plan for

___________________________ Dustin Yates, Mayor

NOTE: Underlined text is new. Strike-through text is deleted. [notes provide instructions] * * *

WHEREAS, a public hearing was held on June1, 2026, before the City of St. George Zoning Commission at which the Zoning Commission recommended approval of the change to the Final Development Plan subject to improvements to access barriers at Siegen Lane and Perkins road and approved the site plan for Phase 2 of the Kenilworth School Development, conditioned on the approval of the change to the Final Development Plan.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the St. George City Council, State of Louisiana, as follows:

12D ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate Legal Notices

Legal Notices

lll

Legal Notices

the SPUD, on a portion of the subject property (Lot F-4), is hereby revised, adding additional property (Lot D-1) to the Kenilworth School Small Planned Unit Development (SPUD 4-13) and approving Phase 2 subject to compliance with the flowing Plans and Conditions: A. Kenilworth School Small Planned Unit Development (SPUD 4-13) Phase 2, prepared by DDG, Project # 25-2145 Sheet 1: Title Sheet, Rev 1, dated 5/12/26 Sheet 2: Existing Site Conditions, dated 2/27/26 Sheets 3R1 and 3.1R1: Development Plan, Rev. 1, dated 5/12/26 Sheets 4 and 4.1: Circulation Plan, Rev 1, dated 5/12/26 Sheet 5: Drainage and Utility Plan, Rev 1, dated 5/12/26 Sheet 6: Landscape Plan, dated 2/23/26 Sheet A400: Exterior Elevations Modular Buildings, dated 2/23/26 B. Prior to issuance of any construction permits Construction drawings shall be approved by planning staff showing an enhanced and permanent right in/right out barrier at the Siegen Lane access drive that will prevent left in/left out ingress and egress to the subject property from Siegen Lane. Additionally, the Perkins Road access drive shall be redesigned with a permanent barrier preventing left out onto Perkins Road. All such barriers shall be installed, inspected and approved prior to the issuance of occupancy certificates for the modular buildings.

Section 3: The specific terms and conditions of this Ordinance shall prevail against other ordinances of the City to the extent that there may be any conflict. Except for the foregoing, the use of the subject property is subject to the terms of all applicable ordinances and regulations of the City of St. George, including any amendment thereto.

Section 4: Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance is declared invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 5: Effective Date. This ordinance shall be effective upon publication.

This ordinance having been submitted to a vote; the vote thereon was: For: Cook, Edmonds, Himmel, Monachello, Murrell, Talbot Against: Absent: Dellucci Adopted this 23rd day of June, 2026 Signed this ____ day of _____________, 2026 Delivered to the Mayor on the ___ day of ___________, 2026 ______________________________ Lorraine Beaman, City Clerk Approved: ___________________________ Dustin Yates, Mayor

Legal Notices I.

Legal Notices

Legal Notices

______________________________ Lorraine Beaman, City Clerk Adopted Ordinance published in The Advocate on the ___ day of ___________, 2026.

EXHIBIT A Lot F-4 of the Louis Kleinpeter Tract Section 55, Township 8 South Range 1 East, Greensburg Land District, City of St. George, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana Lot Id Number: 163075883 AND Lot D-1 of the Louis Kleinpeter Tract Section 55, Township 8 South Range 1 East, Greensburg Land District, City Of St. George, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana Lot Id Number: 1630750423 _________________________________________________________________ Minutes of Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Council Members of the City of St. George, State of Louisiana, held on Tuesday, June 9 at 5:00 pm at the St. George Fire Dept, 14100 Airline Hwy, St. George, LA 70817

Legal Notices

Legal Notices

Preliminary Business:

by law and to provide for related matters

1. Call to Order: Mayor Dustin Yates called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.

2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Invocation 4. Roll Call: Present: Council Member Cook, Council Member Himmel Council Member Edmonds, Council Member Dellucci, Council Member Talbot, Council Member Monachello, Council Member Murrell 5. Approval of Minutes: Motion by Council Member Himmel, seconded by Council Member Monachello to approve the minutes of the May 26, 2026 council meeting.

AYES: Cook, Himmel, Edmonds, Monachello, Dellucci, Talbot, Murrell

Public comment was opened with no speakers.

NAYS: None ABSENT: 6. Presentation to Staff Seargent Daralin Acevedo of Proclamation recognizing June 14th as 251st birthday of the US Army 7. Presentation by Scot Byrd on Monthly Activity Report.

8. Motion by Council Member Edmonds, seconded by Council Member Murrell to add introduction items.

(1) Motion to defer by Murrell, seconded by Himmel Zoning Commission Case No. Z-26-0001 Amendment - To Rezone Tract X, Lots LRK LLC-1, LRK LLC-2, LRK LLC-3, LRK LLC-4, 9-A, 9-B and 9-C of the of the Leon R Kleinpeter property from C-2, C-1 and R to the New Base Zoning District and to provide for related matters.

Public comment was opened with the following speakers: Paul Plauche AYES: Cook, Dellucci, Himmel, Edmonds, Monachello, Talbot, Murrell NAYS: None

ABSENT:

(2) Motion by Council Member Murrell, seconded by Council Member Himmel to move Ordinance to create, equip, maintain, operate and support a Municipal Library System; To Establish the St. George Municipal Library Board of Control; To provide for authority, governance and to provide for related matters to end of the agenda.(Murrell) AYES: Cook, Dellucci, Himmel, Edmonds, Monachello, Talbot, Murrell NAYS: None

ABSENT:

(3) Motion by Council Member Monachello, seconded by Council Member Cook to approve Amending Title 4, Chapter 1 relative to the service of notice in advance of an Administrative Hearing within the Division of Administrative Adjudication. (Cook)

AYES: Cook, Himmel, Dellucci, Edmonds, Monachello, Talbot, Murrell NAYS: None

ABSENT:

(4) Motion by Council Member Murrell, seconded by Council Member Talbot to approve Ordinance to Amend the 2025-2026 General Fund and Special Revenue Fund Budgets Public comment was opened with the following speakers: Brandon Boylan AYES: Cook, Himmel, Dellucci, Edmonds, Monachello, Talbot, Murrell NAYS: None

ABSENT:

(5) Motion by Council Member Himmel, seconded by Council Member Monachello to approve Ordinance to Adopt the 2026– 2027 General Fund and Special Revenue Fund Budgets Public comment was opened with the following speakers: Brandon Boylan AYES: Cook, Himmel, Dellucci, Edmonds, Monachello, Talbot, Murrell NAYS: None

AYES: Cook, Dellucci, Edmonds, Monachello, Talbot NAYS: Murrell, Himmel (7) Motion by Council Member Murrell, seconded by Council Member Edmonds to approve Resolution to authorize the Mayor to appoint Kenny Hooks as AD HOC Hearing Officer Public comment was opened with no speakers.

AYES: Cook, Himmel, Dellucci, Edmonds, Monachello, Talbot, Murrell NAYS: None

ABSENT:

(8) Motion by Council Member Edmonds, seconded by Council Member Himmel to approve Resolution authorizing the Mayor to appoint 5 members to the Construction Board of Appeals.

Public comment was opened with no speakers.

II. New Business (Items for Public Hearing and Action)

Public comment was opened with no speakers: Sherry Tucker

Received from the Mayor on the ____ day of ______________, 2026

Legal Notices

ABSENT:

(6) Motion by Council Member Talbot, seconded by Council Member Monachello to approve Resolution selecting the Advocate to continue as the official journal for publication of notices required

AYES: Cook, Himmel, Dellucci, Edmonds, Monachello, Talbot, Murrell NAYS: None

ABSENT:

(9) Motion by Council Member Talbot, seconded by Council Member Himmel to approve Resolution to approve the selection of contractor for Post-Disaster Roadway Clearing Services (PUSH) and authorizing the Mayor to execute a contract and provide for related matters Public comment was opened with the following speakers: Melinda Kyzar AYES: Cook, Himmel, Dellucci, Edmonds, Monachello, Talbot, Murrell NAYS: None

ABSENT:

(10)Motion by Council Member Himmel, seconded by Council Member Monachello to approve the selection of contractor for Emergency Catering Services and authorize the Mayor to execute a contract and provide for related matters.

Public comment was opened with no speakers.

AYES: Cook, Himmel, Dellucci, Edmonds, Monachello, Talbot, Murrell NAYS: None

ABSENT:

(11)Motion by Council Member, seconded by Council Member to approve Ordinance to create, equip, maintain, operate and support a Municipal Library System; To Establish the St. George Municipal Library Board of Control; To provide for authority, governance and to provide for related matters to end of the agenda. (Murrell) Public comment was opened with the following speakers: Morgan Lamondre, Marlene Guitner, Steve Irving, Michael Mercantile, Ronnie Pearce, Ryan Bauman, Shawn Luke, Joann Comaga, Michael Lola, Julia Daudree daughter, AYES: Cook, Himmel, Dellucci, Edmonds, Monachello, Talbot, Murrell NAYS: None

ABSENT:

Meeting adjourned at 6:13pm.

Meeting minutes approved on ____________________. ____________________________ Dustin Yates, Mayor ____________________________ Attest: Lorraine Beaman, City Clerk

192709-663544 July 3, 1t $ 2,962.58

For the latest news, sports and entertainment, download the Advocate app

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ 1S

lll

SAVE $ 02 5 LB

— ONLY —

11

$

USDA PRIME BEEF

LB Boneless Whole New York Strip

1297

$

USDA PRIME BEEF

Boneless New York Strip Steak

97 LB

LB

SAVE $ 11 3 — ONLY —

5

$ 88

LARGE 15 - 20 LB AVERAGE Seeded Watermelon

SAVE $ 02 3 — ONLY —

3

$ 97

48 OZ

Tillamook Ice Cream

4 DAY SALE TH THUR FRI

JULY 2 - 5 ND

SAVE $ 53 1

2

3

1

$ 76 LB LIMIT 3

SAVE up $ 76 to 5

NORTHWEST GROWN

2

$ 47

Red Cherries

LB

SAVE up $ 47 to 5

When You Buy 3

When You Buy 3

— ONLY —

5

— ONLY —

3/$ 7 - 8 OZ PACK

5

— ONLY —

— ONLY —

Pork Spare Ribs

4

SAVE $ 52 2 LB

LB

PREVIOUSLY FROZEN MEDIUM

SAT SUN

8

3/$ 24 PACK HALF LITERS

Kraft Rouses Shredded or Chunk Cheese Spring Water

flip over for more

2S ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

4 DAY SALE TH THUR FRI

JULY 2 - 5 ND

2

SAT SUN

3

4

5

SAVE $ 29 2 When You Buy 2

— ONLY —

7

2/$

12 OZ PACK

Jimmy Dean Bacon

Applewood or Hickory

SAVE $ 00 2 — ONLY —

7

$ 99

2.5 LB BAG FROZEN

Bell & Evans Cut Chicken Wings

SAVE up $ 16 to 8 When You Buy 4

— ONLY —

9

4/$

5 - 9.625 OZ BAG

Lay’s Potato Chips

SAVE $ 00 2

r in ou I L DE tment r depa

— ONLY —

6

$ 99

6 COUNT

Smoked or BBQ Baked Chicken Leg Quarters

SAVE $ 00 1

r in ou RY E K BA artment dep

SAVE up $ 82 to 3

— ONLY —

6 COUNT

4

$ 99

White Almond, Chocolate or Yellow Cupcakes

— ONLY —

28 OZ BAG

Grown in Idaho Potatoes

SAVE up $ 00 to 5

SAVE up $ 98 to 6 When You Buy 2

— ONLY —

8 PACK 20 OZ BOTTLES

Gatorade Sports Drinks

2

$ 97

11

2/$

— ONLY —

12 MEGA ROLLS PACK

Cottonelle Bath Tissue

11 99

$

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ 3S

lll

and RED GRILLING

EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR STAR-SPANGLED GRILLING! ???????????????????????????????

8 COUNT PACK

Ball Park Hamburger or Hot Dog Buns

5

2/$

15 OZ CAN NO BEANS

Hormel Chili

38 OZ SQUEEZE BOTTLE

Heinz Ketchup

9

2/$

5

2/$

Bush’s Baked Beans 10 OZ

Lawry’s Marinade

Kerrygold Butter

A-1 Steak Sauce or Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce

4

$ 79

4

$ 69

24 OZ JAR

5 - 6 OZ

1.5 - 14 OZ SELECTED

8 COUNT

Mt. Olive Pickles

Pam Cooking Spray

Rouses Spices

New York Texas Toast or Garlic Knots

2

3

$ 79

2

$ 42

8 OZ SALTED OR UNSALTED

5

5

Sargento Sliced Cheese

27.5 - 28 OZ CAN

12 OZ BOTTLE

2/$

2/$

6.67 - 8 OZ PACK

5

$ 49

$ 99

7

2/$

GRILLING ESSENTIALS

5

2/$

48 COUNT CLEAR

Rouses Cutlery

10 - 50 COUNT

Rouses Storage Bags

5

2/$

SINGLE COUNT SELECTED

Rouses Aluminum Pans

5

4/$

3

$ 99

32 OZ

Rouses Charcoal Lighter

24 - 48 COUNT

70 COUNT

2.94 LB

16 COUNT

Rouses Everyday Plates

Scott on-the-go Pop Up Cloths

Best Choice Wood Smoking Chips

Royal Oak TumbleWeeds Charcoal Starter

7

10

2/$

2/$

3

5

$ 49

$ 99

25 - 40 COUNT

130 SQUARE FEET

20 LB PACK

20 LB BAG

Glad Trash Bags

Rouses Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil

Pit Boss Wood Pellets

Rouses Hardwood Lump Charcoal

10

9

$

$ 49

10

99

$

17

99

$

FUN FOR THE FOURTH

AMERICANA

Plates, Bowls or Tumblers

8 X 12 INCHES

American Stick Flags

3

2/$

5

4/$

ASSORTED

Red, White, Blue Accessories

ASSORTED

Red, White, Blue Glow Sticks or Accessories

4

2/$

3

2/$

STARTING AT

1

$ 79

SINGLE COUNT

Red, White, Blue Melamine Tray

10 - 10.05 OZ BAG PLAIN OR PEANUTS

9

2/$

Sharing Size Red, White & Blue M&M’s

99

WHILE SUPPLIES LAST

SELECTED

Betty Crocker Red, White, Blue Icing or Sprinkles

1.8 LB

Red, White, Blue Sour Patch Kids or Mini Swedish Fish

25

7

%

OFF

$ 99

Prices good at Baton Rouge, Zachary, Gonzales, Prairieville, Lafayette, New Iberia and Youngsville locations July 1st thru July 8th, 2026.

4S ■ Friday, July 3, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

Buy a Pie, Support American Heroes.

From June 24–July 8, $2 from every 8" apple pie purchased in our bakery benefits Paralyzed Veterans of America.

PRICES GOOD JULY 1st - 8th, 2026

SAVE $ 02 3

Louisiana Local

SAVE $ 61 1

LB

— ONLY —

— ONLY —

4

$ 97

WILD-CAUGHT HEAD-ON

9/12 Count Louisiana Shrimp

PREVIOUSLY FROZEN

Chicken Drumsticks

87

2

Blue Plate Mayonnaise

¢ Sugardale LB 12 OZ PACK

Hot Dogs

99

4

USDA PRIME BEEF

7

Smoked Sausage

Yellow Squash, LB Zucchini or Eggplant

SAVE up $ 28 to 1

When You Buy 2

1

8

$ 99 Country Style $ 88 FAMILY SIZE 2/$

Boneless Whole Beef Brisket

LB

Pork Ribs or Pork Steaks

full slab

8 - 19.5 OZ NABISCO

LB

Chips Ahoy or Oreo Cookies

17.5 - 18 OZ BOTTLE

Kraft BBQ Sauce

FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY

sizzlin’ ribeye steak dinner

fridays $11 99

FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY

Full Slab Ribs

23

$

24 PACK 12 OZ CANS

Miller Lite, Coors Light, Bud Light or Yuengling

LIMIT 6

15 99

$

Grilled 10 oz USDA Choice Ribeye Steak and Twice Baked Potato

10

Cellars $ 99 Josh or Kendall 750 ML SELECTED

Jackson Wine

99

1.75 LITER

Tito’s Handmade Vodka

31

$

99

750 ML

Crown Royal

23

$

NEW!

Corazon Blanco Tequila

97

¢

SAVE up $ 00 to 7

SAVE $ 00 1

750 ML

1

$ 49

FRESH

SAVE up $ 94 to 3

VALUE PACK

97

Coke, Pepsi, Diet Coke or Sprite LIMIT 6

¢ Hillshire Farm 2/$

LB

10

$

24 PACK 12 OZ CANS

12 - 14 OZ PACK

SAVE $ 61 2

LB

— ONLY —

$ 88

30 OZ JAR

LB

SAVE $ 00 2

SAVE up $ 02 to 5

19

$

99 Taaka

1.75 LITER

Vodka

13

$

15

99 Svedka $ 8 PACK 355 ML

Vodka Water Variety

12 PACK 12 OZ

Variety

TH C

THC

1.5 LITER SELECTED

Woodbridge Wine

8

$ 99

4 PACK 12 OZ

Crescent 9 THC Seltzer

9

$ 99

15

99 Fresca Hard $

4 PACK 12 OZ

9

$ 99

Urban South Driftee THC Seltzer

99

1.75 LITER

Skyy Vodka

19

$

49

NEW!

13

99 Minute Maid $ 8 PACK 12 OZ

Vodka Lemonade

Available at Customer Service

8 COUNT

Fleur de Leaf THC Gummies

TH C

8

10

99 Buzzballz 3/$

$ 99

200 ML

Cocktails

Available at Customer Service

8 COUNT

Cheech & Chong’s THC Gummies

TH C

8

$ 99

Prices good at Baton Rouge, Zachary, Gonzales, Prairieville, Lafayette, New Iberia and Youngsville locations July 1st thru July 8th, 2026.