The Times-Picayune 07-05-2026

HAVING ABLAST

Celebrating abirthday 250 years in the making is always abig event, and around the New Orleans area, it was a red, white and blue affair

From daylong celebrations along the riverfront and in parks, and plenty of patriotic music, the holiday concluded with fireworks over the Mississippi River,making it aFourth of July for the history books.

High court recalls Murrill’s arrest warrant

Second emergencyruling by La.Supreme Court comeslateFridaynight

BY ANDREAGALLO Staff writer

The Louisiana Supreme Court agreed to recall an arrest warrant forLouisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill in an emergency order late Friday night, the high court’ssecond major intervention to pause Murrill’sprosecution after her indictment by an Orleans Parish grand jury The grand jury indicted Murrill on Thursday, charging her with 16 felony counts of malfeasance in office and intimidation. Orleans Criminal DistrictCourt Judge Leon Roche issuedan aliascapiasarrest warrant andset Murrill’sbail at $400,000.

Theindictment, which happened behind closed doors, set offa flurry of filings to Louisiana’shigh court.

The attorneygeneral quickly asked late Thursday night for the state SupremeCourt to intervene, and the court responded with an order Friday morningthat stayed the indictment.

The court issued the stay order on a5-2 vote, critiquingthe lack of transparency,alleged conflicts of interest and otherdeficiencies in the case.

TheSupremeCourt ruled that Murill was “likely to succeed on the merits of amotion to quash this indictment on either alegal basis or due to apparent procedural irregularities.” They remandedthe case back to district court forMurrill to file motions in her defense.

But by late Friday,Murrill returned to the high court and alleged the special prosecutor appointed to her case, former NewOrleans Judge Laurie White,had refused to recallthe

See MURRILL, page 8A

Specialcoins flip thescripton traditionalpieces

BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer

that remember scenes from American history

“The Mint this year is making morecoin design changes than you’ve ever seen in your entire life,” said Directorofthe U.S. Mint Paul Hollis,a former northshore state legislator andBoard of Elementary &Secondary Education member The nation’ssemiquincentennial LouisiananativebehindU.S. Mint’s 250commemoration

WASHINGTON— While taxpayers arespending tens of millions of dollars on America’s250th anniversary celebrations,suchas ahuge state fair on the National Mall and an epic fireworks show, aMandeville native is raising millions for the governmentthrough the production and sale of coins

ä See COINS, page 8A

‘Onceinalifetime’ Plan to restorewildChandeleur Islandsmoves forward

BY MIKESMITH Staff writer

They are Louisiana at its most remote, accessible only by boat or seaplane.But these islands could be lost forever in the decades ahead.

Far out on the state’ssoutheastern boundary, what’sleftofthe Chandeleur Islands curves into the Gulf like afading parenthesis, heavily eroded but still acting as aspeed bump for storms while providing crucial habitat for wildlife and seagrasses. That’swhy,despite their remoteness and accelerating vanishing act, the state wants to restore as much of themaspossible.Animportantlifeline has

ä See ISLANDS, page 10A

Hollis

STAFF PHOTO By MIKE SMITH

MatthewWeigel, of the state DepartmentofWildlife and Fisheries, and Todd Baker, from the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority,wadetoward NorthChandeleur Island on June 23.

STAFF PHOTOSBySOPHIAGERMER

Fireworks go off from the MississippiRiver duringGoFourth on the River in NewOrleans on Saturday.

The General RoyS.Kelley fireboat offersa water showon the MississippiRiver during Go Fourthonthe RiverinNew Orleans on Saturday.

Murrill

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

Paul Pelosi accused of hit-and-runinNapa County

LOS ANGELES The husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was involved in ahit-and-run in California that left aparked car with “major” damage authorities said Saturday,and he could face misdemeanor charges

Paul Pelosi was driving his brown convertibleFriday in Yountville,a town in the heart of wine country, when he struck alegally parked car on the side of the road, briefly stopped and then drove away,the Napa County Sheriff’s Office said in astatement. No injurieswere reported.

Awitness saw the collision and called 911. Shortly after,sheriff’s deputies foundPelosi with severe damage to the front of hiscar on a nearby road roughly one-quarter of amile away.The octogenarian told officers that he knew he hit something but wasn’tsure when or what caused the damage to his car Pelosi didn’thave any alcohol in his system at the time of thecrash, according to the statement.

3children dead after boat capsizes in Wisconsin

LAKE GENEVA, Wis.

Threechildren who died when aboat capsized in Geneva Lake during aWisconsin storm were wearing life vests, authorities said as the nationassessed damage from storms andaheat wave that marred the July Fourth holiday,leaving hundreds of thousands of utility customers without power

As the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resourcesand the Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency investigated the Geneva Lake tragedy,the city’spolice department issued astatement blaming iton a“sudden and severe storm” that rapidlyproducedhazards forboats. It said aprivately owned recreational motorboat carrying 10 occupants, including four children, tried to race to safety beforeit was overwhelmed by severe wind and waves. As it took on water, it eventually capsized and sank, the release said.

Six adults and achild wererescued from the water,but three children recovered from the lake after an intensive search were unresponsive, police said.

Boat sinks in Congo, killing at least 20,authorities say KINSHASA,Congo— Awooden boat transporting studentsbackfrom state exams sank in central Congo, killing at least 20 people, authorities said. The vessel was traveling in Kasai province when it sank whileenteringthe confluenceofthe Sankuru and Kasai rivers, according to witnesses.

“There were 80 survivors and 20 bodies,” said Francois Kabula, administratorofthe Ilebo territory in Kasai province, where thesinking happened Friday

However,Tshikudi Jean, whowitnessed thecrash,told The Associated Press that the boat was carrying over 200 people.

“The shipowners of theDRC are only after money and don’tcare about human lives,” saidFrançois Malepo, president of the Ilebo civil society organization.

ASSOCIATED

People swim in the Seine River in Paris on Saturday.

3spots opened for swimmingalong Seine

PARIS Swimming in the Seine River is settling into anew Paris summer ritual as the cityonSaturday opened three supervised bathing sites for the second year in arow

The free swimming areas near City Hall, the Eiffel Tower and in eastern Paris will remain open through the summer,depending on water quality and weather conditions. They are placed under strict lifeguards’ watch and authorities conduct daily water quality testing.

Visitors described swimming in the heart of the French capital as an unforgettable experience.

“It’samazing to be swimming in the Seine while looking at the Eiffel Tower,” said Stewart Talbot, atourist from Melbourne, Australia.

Storms forceevacuation aheadofTrump’s speech

BY STEVEN SLOAN Associated Press

WASHINGTON Severe weather disrupted celebrations of America’s250th anniversary of independence Saturday in several East Coast cities, including Washington, wherestorms prompteda roughly two-hour evacuation of the National Mall. Elsewhere, severe weather prompted the cancellation of celebrationsinHartford,Connecticut, along with Harrisburg andWilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

Spectators at Boston’sfireworks andconcertweretold to briefly seek shelter before events laterresumed. An evacuation was also orderedinPhiladelphia.New York andPittsburgh moved forward with fireworks butshifted the timetoaccommodate the shifting weather Anticipation for themilestone holidayhas been buildingfor much of theyear,serving as an opportunityfor Americans to reflect on their complicated historyasonetimecolonists of an empire who became asuperpower of theirown. Organizers of celebrationsmonthsinthe making hadtoadjustorcancel activities entirelyasmuch of the EastCoast sweltered under heat thatapproached and in many cases surpassed triple digits. Heatisdefining the bigweekend in many places

The disruptionwas particularly acute in Washington, where signs at the GreatAmerican State Fair posted an alert shortly after 7p.m.

Crowds were building in the area several hours beforethe evacuation.

DavidKoshko, 42,and his

wife, Jennifer Koskho, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, came to Washington for abaseball game but planned tostay for the city’s fireworksshow. After baking in theheatfor hoursduringthe PittsburghPirates’ win over the Washington Nationals,they took abreak in the shade of an overpass near theNational Mall to plot theirnextstop “Just to be apart of the 250 years(anniversary)isanamazing thing,” saidDavid Koshko, a commercial driver and veteran of the Marine Corps reserves. In Philadelphia, fireworks begantocrackasearlyasmidday in the birthplace of thenation near thesitewherethe Declaration of Independence was adopted by delegates to the Second Continental Congress. Hundreds of visitors were gathering at Independence Hall in the sweltering heat to await the celebrations coinciding with theFranceParaguay World Cup knockout gameatPhiladelphia Stadium which began withcommemorationsofthe holiday

About 45 minutesbeforeanother WorldCup match in Houston,amessage from astronauts aboard theInternational Space Stationnotingthe holiday was beamed into thestadium.

In New York, tall ships, with theirmasts,rigging andwhite sails outlined againstablue sky,made aprocession around theStatueofLiberty andupthe

Hudson River,recalling the fanfarearound America’s200th anniversary in 1976.

The 43 ships were followed by adisplay of aerialmight with astealth bomber and the Navy’sBlue Angels. Patrouille de France, theFrench AirForce’s acrobatic teams, flewoverNew York Harbor with their red, white and blue trails, evoking images of the American flag.

On Coney Island, crowds gathered in the sweltering heat to celebrate the United States’250th birthday by watching famed competitive eater Joey “Jaws” Chestnut defend his world hot dog eating championship in Coney Island, where he downed 66 hot dogs in just 10 minutes. Miki Sudo defended her title as well in thewomen’sdivision.

Saturday marked the 18th time Chestnut, 42, won the socalled Mustard Belt in just 21 appearances at the internationally televised Nathan’sFamous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest.

“It’sa dream, it’s electric, there’snoplace better on Earth,” Chestnut said breathlessly in an interview immediately after the showdown Celebrations unfolded against the backdrop of adeep divide this election year that has been expanding for years, visible in everything from political expression to cultural norms to age-oldquestions over race, class and immigration.

At Mount Rushmore on Friday, Trumpspokeofcommunism as a“mortal threattoAmerican liberty” with theRepublican president saying it was more dangerous than either World Waror9/11.

Egyptuncoverslostcityfrom Byzantineera in westerndesert

BYSAMY MAGDY Asscociated Press

CAIRO— Awell-preserved Byzantine-era residentialcity in the western desert is one of two major archaeological finds announced by Egypt on Saturday

The recent discoveries at the Dakhla Oasis and at the Marina el-Alamein archaeological site,near Alexandria, are thelatest findings which the Egyptian government hopes will boost the country’s vital tourism sector,partially driven by antiquities sightseeing. Alongwith the strategic Suez Canal, tourism is amajor source of foreign currency in the cashstrapped country

The Tourism and AntiquitiesMinistry said that thefirst discovery revealsdetails of daily life, urban development and economicactivities in theDakhla Oasis in thefourthcentury,when Egypt was part of the Byzantineempire.

The unearthed quarters included north-south thoroughfares intersected by east-weststreets forming open squares andpublic spaces, said Hisham el-Leithy,secretary general of thesupreme council of antiquities.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Arecently discovered artifact is displayedin the Marina el-Alamein archaeological site, west of the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, Egypt

Abasilicachurchdating back to the mid-fourth century stands at the settlement’shead, overlooking its main streets, alongwith remainsof two watchtowers to safeguard theoutskirts, said Mahmoud Massoud, who chairs the archaeological mission.

The oasis, located in Egypt’s western province of New Valley in thewestern desert, is on UNESCO‘s Tentative List,astep away from being added to theagency’sWorld HeritageList.

Aheavily fortified structure with thick de-

fensive walls, and many housesconsisting of reception hallsand vaulted roofs were foundinthe area, Massoud said.

Amongthem werethe houseofTisous,identified as achurchdeacon anddating to thesecond half of thefourthcentury,which archaeologists believe served as a house churchbeforethe constructionofthe city’s basilica.

Archaeologists also uncovered breadovens, kitchens and stone grinding toolsthat hadbeen apparently used to produce food.Alsofound were well-preserved bronze coins bearing portraits of Byzantine emperors, Latin inscriptions and Christian symbols, alongside a group of gold coins dating to thereign of Roman emperor Constantius II, who ruled between 337 and 361, the ministry statementsaid.

Diaa Zahran, head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities department, saidthey found acollectionofabout 200 pottery fragments which would have been used as writing material. The fragments, known as octraca, have inscriptions detailing commercial transactions, correspondence and otherdetails of daily life, Zahran said.

Ukrainian drones hit oilterminal in St. Petersburg

By The Associated Press

AUkrainian drone attack struck an oilterminal in St.Petersburg on Saturday, Russianofficials said, as Kyiv presses on with bombardment of Russia’soil infrastructure.

Almost daily long-range attacks on Russian oilfacilities have created a fuelcrisis andheaped political pressure on the Kremlin as its all-out invasion of Ukraine stretches into its fifth year

Gov.Alexander Beglov said the city’s Kirovskydistrictonthe Baltic Sea was hit. He also saidthat airdefensesshot down 72 Ukrainian drones acrossRussia’s second-largest city and the surrounding region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as part of Ukraine’s“long-range sanctions” againstRussia. He saidthat Ukrainianforces also hit amilitary target on the island of Kronstadt, just off the coast of St. Petersburg.

“The Ukrainian defense forces hit the port oilinfrastructure,which earns moneyfor the Russian war,and there were also hits on Kronstadt an important military target,” he said in apost on Telegram St. Petersburg’sKirovsky district waspreviously hit in June, ahead of Russia’sflagship St.PetersburgInternational Economic Forum.

The Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, has suffered particularly from heavy strikes, causing local authorities to suspend gasoline salestocivilians. AUkrainian attack on Saturday killed one person and injured two more, including a10-yearold child, the Moscow-installed Gov. Sergei Aksyonov said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin hasshruggedoff Ukraine’sstrikes on Russia’senergyfacilities as “not critical,” and insisted the war will continue until his goals are met

He has described the attacks on Russianenergy as an effort by Ukraine to distract attention from its losses on the battlefield, although analysts say the advance of Russian forceshas been stymied in recent months.

On Friday, Putinvisited theRussian military headquarters directing the warinUkraine and received areport on the capture of the city of Kostyantynivka, after weeks of intense street battles.

PRESS PHOTO

SupremeCourt ends term with high-profile rulings

BY MATT BROWN Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Supreme Court wrapped up aterm that yielded significant rulingsin cases involving race and discrimination that could have lasting effects on U.S. politics and society Justices were at times bitterly divided —and critical of one another —inrulings that winnowed key provisions of alandmark voting rights law, allowed the governmenttorevoke protections for some immigrantsandevenchallenged the historic understandingof birthrightcitizenship for the children of immigrants.

The decisions come at a momentwhen long-standing debates over race and identity have turned toward immigration, increasing racial diversity and the fairness of policiesmeant to prevent and redress discrimination.

Temporaryprotected status

The court allowed the government to end deportation protections for Haitians and Syrians in the U.S. who have fled violenceand natural disaster.President Donald Trump’sadministration revoked the temporary pro-

liberal minoritysaw the situation.“The references— of filth, disease, andprimitiveness —are shot through with racial stereotypesand tropes. It is hard to imagine the statements being made today of any White community,” Justice Elena Kagan wrote in her dissent.

Birthright citizenship

cause of Black Americans’ fight forfreedom.

Freed Black Americans did not receive citizenship as a “reward,” Roberts wrote, but because “the Amendment recognized theirrightful claim to birthright citizenship simply andsolelybyvirtue of theirhaving been born on American soil.”

criticized Thomas’ claim in a joint opinion. Voting rights

Activistscelebratethe Supreme Court’sbirthright citizenship ruling outside the Supreme

tected status last year With the president’smore thandecadelong track record of denigrating developing nationsand immigrants who come to the U.S. from Africa, Asia,Latin Americaand the Middle East,attorneys for someaffected migrants contended that thegovernment could not cancel the designations, in part because Trump’s comments about immigrants were racist.

“The true reason for the termination is the president’s racial animus towards nonwhiteimmigrantsand bare dislike of Haitians in particular,”Geoffrey Pipoly, an attorneyfor the Haitian nationals

Hill on Tuesday

in thecase, saidduring April oral argumentsinthe case, Mullin v. Doe. The attorneys notedthat, during his second presidential campaign, Trump claimed immigrants “are poisoning the blood of our country” and suggested in another instance thatmigrants have “bad genes.”

In writing for the 6-3 conservative majority,Justice Samuel Alito said none of the cited statements was “overtly racial,” reasoning that any of Trump’sactions could have been taken withoutracial animus andattributing his anti-immigrant comments to “political discourse.”

That’s not how thecourt’s

In one of the highest-profile cases of the term, the court reaffirmedthatthe 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution means allpeople born in the U.S. are citizens.

On hisfirst dayinoffice last year,Trump signed an executive orderseeking to restrict birthright citizenship to the childrenofU.S.citizens, a move thatcivil rightsgroups challenged as unconstitutional and racist

In his majority opinion, ChiefJusticeJohnRoberts traced thearc of birthright citizenship —aprinciple that all people born on U.S. soil are citizens —from itsorigins in Englishcommon law to its codification in the 14th Amendment.

Roberts notedthat race and citizenship hadbeen fiercely debated in courts, speeches, Congressand battlefields be-

The6-3 ruling wasablow to theTrump administration, whichhas made restricting immigration itscentral goal

“The clause does notextend citizenship to thechildrenof temporary visa holders or illegalaliens,”

U.S. Solicitor General JohnSauer argued before thecourt in April.

Justice Clarence Thomas agreed and wrote in his dissent that African descendants of enslaved peopleinthe U.S. are aunique case separate from the children of tourists or people in the country illegally

“Blackswereentitledto citizenship because they were Americans. They had no other homeland, owed no allegiancetoany foreign power, and were subject to no other authority,” Thomas wrote.

In astark move, liberal Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson andSonia Sotomayor directly

The Supreme Court handed down adecision in April that gutted akey provision of theVoting RightsAct meant to remedy efforts to disenfranchise minority voters. Amongthe methods thelaw permitted to stop voting discriminationinstateswas the creation of majority-minority congressional districts. In the majority opinion, Alitofound that because race and partisan voting behavior were so intertwined, it was unfair to conclude that apartisan gerrymander of astate’s congressional districts could be racist, given there may be other reasonsfor themap’s results. Alito reasoned that “in astate whereboth parties have substantial support and where race is often correlated withparty preference,” partisanactorscan “easily exploit” lawsmeant to protect minority political participation fordisingenuous reasons. The liberal justices balked at the logic and criticized the conservative majority for harming minority representation in politics and culture.

Pope praysat Lampedusacemeteryfor migrantvictims

BY NICOLE WINFIELD and ANDREAROSA Associated Press

LAMPEDUSA, Sicily PopeLeo XIV, who has sparred with theTrump administration over its immigration crackdown, spent the Fourth of July on Saturday in the epicenter of Europe’smigration debatetohonor the tens of thousandsofpeoplewho havedied trying to reach Europe to find freedom and prosperity.

Whilethe United States marked the250th anniversaryofthe Declaration of Independence with rallies, partiesand fireworks, the U.S.-born pope traveled to the Sicilianisland of Lampedusatoprayatamigrantcemetery and celebrate asolemn Mass

for the island’sresidents and newest arrivals. LateronSaturday,hegot into the July 4spirit with avisit to the residence ofthe U.S. ambassador to the HolySee, BrianBurch,a rarity for popeswho usually don’tcall on ambassadors. The U.S.Embassy said Burch gave Leo acommemorativebaseball, an apple pie and aU.S. World Cup jersey Leo confirmed he was rooting for theU.S.team,the Embassywrote on X, adding that the two discussed “American efforts to pursuepeace, religious freedom and the need for moral clarityand courage around theworld.”

Atreeless strip of rock 5.6 miles long,Lampedusa is closer to Africa thanthe Italian mainland and is the

main port of entry into Europe for hundreds of thousands of migrants whocrossed by boat from Libya or Tunisia, often smuggled by human traffickers.

Leo met with some migrants at the port and thenwalked alone onto the jagged jetty rocks, thewindwhipping his cassock and blowing his zucchettoskullcapoff as he lookedout to the sea. He then blessed aplaque dedicating thedock to Pope Francis, who visited in 2013, before celebratingMass on land.

“Thisisaplace wheregestures speak louderthan words,” Leosaid. “But for gestures to be human, they need aheart.”

In making the visit on this particular Saturday,Leo was sending

apowerfully symbolic message to theUnited States and Europe of the Christianobligationtoupholdthedignity of every human being, migrants andthe most vulnerable especially, while reminding the United States that it wasfounded by immigrants.

In aletter senttoAmericanson July 4, Leoinsisted that protecting theunborn and all human life also means “welcoming, protecting and assisting immigrants, whose hopes, sacrifices and contribution have formed part of the history of this country from its very beginning.”

“Toreceive them with compassion andgenerosity is not only an act of charity, butalsoarecognition of the dignitythat belongs to every human person,” Leo wrote.

ASSOCIATEDPRESS

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

CourtonCapitol

Iran begins dayslong funeral Supreme Leader

AyatollahAli

Khamenei killed in war

BY NASSERKARIMI and JON GAMBRELL Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran Hundredsof thousands of mournersbegan adayslong funeral on Saturday for Iran’sSupreme LeaderAyatollah AliKhamenei,beating theirchests in sorrow before the glasscase containing his flag-draped coffin in Tehran and calling for revenge against Israel and the United States.

The funeral for Khamenei, who ruled Iran for decades before he was killed at age 86 in aFeb. 28 airstrike in the opening moments of the Iran war,could provide a boost for the country’stheocracy and its new supreme leader,his son Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.

That is important as Iran tries to leverage its hold on the Strait of Hormuz in negotiations with the U.S. over apermanentend to the war and as concern lingers that Israel could attack again The funeral was delayed as the war raged, and talks appear to be on holduntil it is over

During the ceremony, Iran’stop negotiator warned Franceand theU.K.over their commentsabout potentiallylaunchingjoint patrols in the waterway,the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which afifth of all oil and natural gas once passed in peacetime.

Mourners wept at the sight of Khamenei’scoffin alongside those of his family members also killed in the airstrike, withsome chanting: “Our word is one! Revenge! Revenge!” Some carried banners and flags. Billboards across thecity bore Khamenei’simage. Crowds of men rhythmically

beat theirchests in mourning, acommon practice at Shiite funerals.

“Imam Khameneiwas our heart, our father,our everything,” mourner Masoumeh Mohammadi said. “I still can’t believe theymartyred him. We will not rest untilwe avenge his death.”

An outdoor stage at the Grand Mosalla resembled the stage where Khamenei once gave his speeches at a husseiniyah, or congregation hall, at his compound in downtown Tehran. There wasachair like theone he once sat in while giving his sermons, complete with a microphone on astand and atablenextto it.Above it hung an image of the late SupremeLeader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who died in 1989.

Khomeini’s funeral saw chaoticscenesasmillions thronged his mourning ceremony and trip tothe cemetery.Khamenei’sdeathwas only thesecondtimeIran has losta supreme leader since the 1979 Islamic Revo-

lution.

On Saturday, volunteers sprayedcooling water on crowds in the summer heat Men and women congregatedseparatelyinside the GrandMosalla after being checked by metal detectors and body searches. Police withassault rifles stood guard on surrounding streets. Many people stayed outsideinthe street, lounging under the shade of trees because the city hadshut down.

The casketsofhis dead family memberssat beneath Khamenei’s, which had his black turbanatop it,identifying him as adirect descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. The dead includedthe wife of Mojtaba Khamenei, whosepossible appearance at the funeral remained unclear.Hereportedly was wounded in the attack that killed his father and has not been seen publicly since the war began.

“Weattendedthe funeral to showthatweare all committedtodefend our coun-

Far-rightparty reelects leadersas German protesters,policeclash

BY DAVID KEYTON, PIETRODECRISTOFARO and EBRAHIM NOROOZI

Associated Press

ERFURT,Germany— Delegates at the national convention of the far-right Alternative for Germany party on Saturday overwhelmingly reelected its leaders, including Alice Weidel, as tens of thousands of protesters aimed to disrupt the meeting and some clashed with police. Alternative for Germany, or AfD, sought to show unity as it voted to extend the terms of Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, who have headed it for four years as co-leaders and ran unopposed Saturday.Weidel was reelected with 81% of the vote, while Chrupalla earned 70%. German parties elect their leaders every two years. The demonstrationsoutside the convention in the eastern city of Erfurt reflected how AfD has divided Germany even while becoming the biggest opposition party nationally and the strongest political force in Germany’s formerly communist east.

Saturday’seventwas able to start on time despite the protests, which party officials hailed their “fundamental, legally guaranteed right to hold party conventions.”

“There are no peaceful seatedblockades. There are no democratic roadblocks. Nor are there any gangs of thugswho deserve the harmless label ‘civil society.’ These troublemakers are the last resort of our political rivals,” Chrupalla said.

The weekend convention drew additionalcontroversy by coinciding with the 100year anniversary of aNazi

Party meeting held nearby thatconsolidatedAdolf Hitler’spower over the fascist movement.Historiansand political opponents say the timing carries powerful symbolism,anaccusation the AfD rejects.

AfDachieved second place in the February 2025 national electionwith 20.8% of the vote, the best showing by a

far-right party sinceWorld WarII. Since then support hasrisen to first among the nation’spolitical parties.

Despitethe growing support, some want to see the partybanned and protestersthisweekendare likely to underline thosecalls.But Germany’ssupreme court previously has set avery high barfor banning parties

try and religion,” saidone mourner,Ali Kazemi. Khamenei’sbody will be transported to cities in Iran and neighboring Iraq. Authoritieshave shut down streets, airspace and daily life for the mourning, which will end Thursday as he is buried at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, Khamenei’splace of birth.

Authorities offered no immediate attendance count for the event Saturday Othercities across Iranalso held mourning ceremonies. On Sunday,a prayer for the dead is planned at the GrandMosalla. On Monday Khamenei’sbody and those of his family will be taken through the streets of Tehran, whichlikely will draw large crowds.

“I am here to say goodbye to my belovedleader Ali Khamenei,” saidaweeping

Hananeh Mousavi, 27, who attended alongside her mother. “I neverexpected to see such aday.I wish Ihad died before this tragedy.”

By The Associated Press

BAMAKO, Mali The Malian armysaid Saturday that several northern towns, including Gaoand Sévaré, were targeted by rebels.The statement cameasarebel group announced anew offensive to capture anorthern town. Mohamed ElmaouloudRamadane, aspokesperson for the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), said in aFacebook post thatthe townofAnefis wasbeing targeted by the separatists.

Mohamed Cissé, of Gao, toldThe Associated Press that the army is going door to door searching for attackers who are still in the city “For the moment, the calm hasreturned. ButI learned that theattackers arestill in apart of the city,soIstay inside thehouse withthe family,”saidOusmaneMaiga another resident. In alater statement, the Malianarmyclaimedthat “the situation is completely under control.” It added that in Sévaré, “20 terrorists on motorcycles andequipped vehicles were neutralized.” But Rawani Ahmed Bouya, amember of the FLA and head of the National Office of the Azawad diaspora, told the AP thatAnefis wasunder FLA control and that the fighting was almost over.His claim could not independently verified.

foryournextchapter? Let SeniorsReal EstateSpecialist

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByALTAF QADRI

Mourners walk through the grounds of the Imam Khomeini Mosalla Grand Mosque in Tehran, Iran, on Saturdayduring the funeral ceremonies for slain Iranian SupremeLeader Ayatollah AliKhamenei and members of his family

STAFF

PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK

Jan Winter,left, and DenisDaraydancetothe music by the Peyton Falgoust Band during the St. Bernard Salutes America celebration at the Frederick J. Sigur CivicCenter in Chalmette.

STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK

Camden Menn, 5, holdsanarmful of watermelonafter the watermeloneating contest duringthe annual OldFashioned Fourth of July Celebrationalong the Tchefuncte River in Madisonville on Saturday.

STAFFPHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER The VictoryBelles gushoverRonan Giegling,1,after theirperformance at The National WWII Museum’s U.S. Freedom Pavilionduring Independence DayinNew Orleans on Saturday

STAFFPHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

People takepicturesinfrontofJackson Square near theFrench Market District during Go Fourth on theRiver in NewOrleans on Saturday.

LEFT: The boat parade makes its waydownthe Tchefuncte River during the annual Old Fashioned Fourth of JulyCelebration in Madisonville on Saturday

STAFFPHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK

STAFFPHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER Hot dog eating contestants see howmanyhot dogstheycan eat in 10 minutes to win $500 at the MagazineStreet Dat Dog in NewOrleans on Saturday

Tribes hope Farm Bill canfeedpeople,

BY JOSHUAA.BICKEL and JENNIFER MCDERMOTT Associated Press

HOPKINTON, R.I. At Ashawaug Farm in southwest Rhode Island, Dawnand Cassius Spears preserve their Indigenous knowledge of agriculture through the cultivation and keepingof three Narragansett heritage crops: white corn, succotash beans and crookneck squash.

They would like to expand their farm’sreach beyond their farm stand, but it’schallenging. Likemany small food producers, the Spears havesoughtfinancial assistance through federal programs. Some have been cut or significantly scaled back under theTrumpAdministration, including U.S. Department of Agriculture programs that helped tribal farmers.

Tribes relied on these programs to grow and distribute culturally-significant foods locally

“When we go into these federal programs, we’re hoping that they’ll last long enough,” Cassius Spears said. “They usuallystart out with agood song and dance. And they’re going to last a long time. And then something happens where they get cut.” The Biden administration started two programs duringthe pandemic to help states and tribes purchase localfoodfromnearby farmers for food banks and schools:the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative AgreementProgram and the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS). These programs offered farmers, including tribal farmers, reliable markets for their products. Tribal governments received assistance to purchase food from local producers to distributeto tribal members.

This allowed tribes to get federal dollars directly to small-scale producers, said

aside 10% of the program’s funding for tribes.

For anew programto succeed, Congress must include mandatory fundingin ordertohelpfarmers better plan, purchase supplies and hirestaff becausethey know they’regoing to sell productsthrough those programs, said HannahQuigley, apolicy specialist with the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. TheHouse version would requireCongress toagree on funding annually,she added.

he said.

Dawn and Cassius Spears would like to see Indigenous producers prioritizedwhen tribalentities purchase food. And they said they think having dedicatedprograms that Indigenous producers can access outside of their tribal government would help more Indigenous producers.

“Only if you want to,” Spears replied. “It’salways good to know how to do it, right?”

Carly Griffith Hotvedt, executivedirector of theIndigenous Foodand Agriculture Initiativeand amember of Cherokee Nation. The Spears’farmprovidedfood for atribal farm in nearby Connecticut that usedLFPA funds, after an agreement was signed in August 2022. In some instances, tribes used those dollars to source culturally-significant foods fortribal memberssuch as bison meat, certain types of berries andwild rice that were included as part of afood box distribution. Forsome low-income tribal members, it wasthe best way to access these typesof foods, Hotvedt said.

“It wasn’tjust commodity foodsinthatbox. It was highly local,traditionally relevant, culturally relevant foods that were included,” Hotvedtsaid In March2025, underthe Trump administration, the Agriculture Department ended the two programs thatprovided more than $1 billion for schools and food banks, saying that they no longer aligned with the agency’s goals.

U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, a RhodeIsland Democrat, and Sen.Jim Justice, aWest Virginia Republican, intro-

duced abill theysay takes the best from the two programsand creates apermanent grant program. It would allow stateand tribal governmentstobuy local foods from local and regional producers to distributeto nearby hungerreliefprogramsand schools.

Reed said he feared that when the USDA programs were cut, families across the country would have a more difficult time getting access to food. And, he said, theaccess wouldn’tbeto nutritious, freshly grown produce.

Reedsaidhe’shoping to get the legislation passed as part of the Farm Bill, the massive,multi-year law that governs agricultural and food programs. The House passed itsversion of thebill in April, andaSenate committee released its draft in late June.The House version also includesa bipartisan proposal for apermanent program modeled after theLocal Food Purchase Assistance program. It would allowstates, through the USDA, to establish cooperativeagreements connecting local farmers and producers with local food distribution organizations. Both proposals would set

Reed said he’s advocating for mandatory funding in theSenate because without it very little is fundedthese days, andbecause farmsare under so much pressure economically.Anoptional program wouldn’thelpthemas much,hesaid.

“Wereally want to punch through the existing obstacles for small farmers and Native Americanfarmers,”

Under the canopy of one of her farm’s high tunnels at the start of this year’splanting season, Dawn Spears carefully organized her tomatocrop, separating the tiny plants before moving them to afield outside. The nameofthe 6-acre farm is an homage to the Narragansett nameofthe riverthat flowsthrough town. It started as asmall community garden and food sovereignty project.

One of her grandsons, 9-year-old Giizhig, walked in to ask if she needed help.

Teaching thenextgeneration about where food comes from and how to grow responsibly is key forher.But her culture isn’tjust about cultivating crops. It’salso aboutgathering foodsthey eatfromthe wild andbeing able to preserve and access land where those foods are. She’sworking to protect the land around their farm as development grows with the hope of introducing native plantsintothatarea that can be foraged forfood. Federal funding programs canalsohelpwithsecuring access to land, she said.

“Ifyou take aperson away from the land that they come from, thenit’slike they’re not whole,” she said. “We have to eat the foodthat’s naturally from that space that we come from.”

COINS

is providing not just an opportunity to tell America’sstoryonspecial editions of nickels, dimes, quarters, half-dollar and dollarcoins. The historic milestone alsoprovides the Mint with away to increase its revenue.

By how much?

Hollis is unsure if theMint will take in millions or billions but is confident the amount willbesignificant. The changes to pocket change arejust for 2026. Designs returnto pretty much what they were before in 2027

“Coins were always my connection to United Stateshistory,”said Hollis, anumismatistwhosefirst coin collectedasachild,the one thatlaunched his careerbuying and selling coins, was asilver dollar piece pressed in the 1790s “I wouldn’tknow America’sstory if it weren’tfor atangible link,” he added. What scenes to pick?

On July 4, 1776, the SecondContinental Congress in Philadelphia formally adoptedthe Declaration of Independence in which the 13 colonies officially quit theBritish Empire and began calling themselves the United States of America.

The choice of which scenes to depict America’sjourney from that point toward a“more perfect union” has not been without controversy.Acoin showing Ruby Bridges integrating New Orleans public schools, for instance, was consideredbut dropped.

TheU.S.Mintdoesnot receive congressional appropriations. Rather,the agency makes money

Continued from page1A

alias capias arrest warrant despite the stay

“I object to the removal of the capias (warrant), as the accused should not get any more preferential treatment than any othercriminally charged defendant,” White allegedly told Murrill’slegal team, according to their second emergency filing to the Supreme Court.

The Louisiana Supreme Court issued another order shortly before midnight on Friday,saying it was “in order to add clarity and specificity where none should have been required.” The order recalled Murrill’sarrest warrant, ordered the warrant removed fromlaw enforcement databases, and ordered White and law enforcement to “take all necessary actions to comply.”

“This Court’sJuly 3, 2026 Stay obviously prevents the state from pursuing the AttorneyGeneral’s arrest or any other step in the prosecution,” wrote the Supreme Court in its second emergency ruling.

The highcourt also ruledthat the prosecution could still respond to Murrill’sdefensive pleadings in district court while the staywas in place.

Thecourt’s vote on recalling thewarrant was 4-3, withJustices Billy Burris, Cade Cole, Jefferson Hughes and Jay McCallum voting in the majority.Chief JusticeJohn Weimer and Justices Piper Griffin and John Michael Guidryeach dissented. Weimer and Guidry had also dissented earlier Fridayfrom the decision to stay Murrill’sindictment; Griffin had voted in favor of the

from makingmoney.

The face value of acoinisgenerally greater than the costto mintit. That gap —calleda coin’s “seigniorage” —earns themint money,but production prices are increasing

“Sowhere do youmake up that revenue? Youmake it up in the sale of numismatic coins thatyou cansellatapremium over their face value,” Hollis said.

The value of commemorative medals and special coins —particularly theproof and uncirculated versions of thespecialedition coins soldtocollectors —are set by demand,artistry,historical significance andscarcity

Hollis, who as Mint director cannottradecoins, neverthelessstill has his professionalnumismatic chops.

“You see howit’sshiny on Lady Liberty?”saidHollis,pointing out special features on a$50 gold piecefor which collectorswill pay apremium.“Most people don’t even know this, an advanced collector will, the U.S.Capitol is added, and then behind herare rays of sunshine. Andwe’venever had adualdate. Buttocelebrate 250 years, we put 1776and 2026.”

In March, the Mint released a $50 goldpiece, which cost$5,250 each. It sold out in two and ahalf minutes, raising about $30 million, Hollis said.

But that’sfor collectors. Most people will come across the celebratory 1776-2026 coinsaschange from everyday purchases.

Alasting legacy

Because coinsare made of metal, they lastalmost indefinitely Archeologists are constantlyuncovering coins that are thousands of yearsold. The only confirmed contemporary image of Cleopa-

STAFF PHOTO By MARK BALLARD

The front side of acommemorative medalofPresident Donald Trump the U.S. Mint made and is selling is shown

tra’sface is on coins.

“I tell everyoneherethat the footprint thattheyprovide to the American people,and beyond, is this coin isn’tgoing to last not for hundreds of years, but for thousands of years,” Hollis said.

For this year,Jefferson is fullfaced on the nickel and aprofile of the Statue of Liberty replaces President John F. Kennedy on the 2026 half dollar

The dimeprobably had the biggest makeover,whichwas tinged withcontroversy.Hollis includes this year’s dime on his business card

President Franklin D. Roosevelt’sprofile is replacedwith “LadyLiberty”wearinga liberty cap. On thebackside, abald eagle clutches abundle of arrows and the motto “Liberty over Tyranny.”

What caused controversy is the eagle’stalon,which traditionally clutches an olive branch signifying peace, is empty.

Eric David Custer, the artist, told themedia in December he

stay,but against the warrant recall.

Weimer wrote in his Friday night dissent that Murrill’steam had requested “anextraordinary remedy” thatwentfar beyond requesting enforcement of thestayorder.

“In criminal casesprocedural rules are indispensable to serve justice and ensure that allare treated equally,” Weimer wroteover recallingthe warrant. “Yet, ironically, on the eve ofthis July 4th when our nation will commemorate the 250th anniversary ofthe Declaration of Independence, this court is once againcalled upon to provide exceptionstothe normal process pursuant to anotherfeigned emergency by one party.”

Griffin wrote in adissent that recalling thewarrantgoestothe merits of the case. She’d written in aconcurrence earlier Friday that thereason she agreed to stay the prosecution was because it did not reachthe merits of the case.

Guidry wroteinhis second dissentofthe day that themajority had elevated “power and privilege over process.”

“This is yet another unprecedented preferential act by the majority bestowing aprivilege thatnoother criminally charged defendant can reasonably expect toreceive,” Guidry wrote about recalling the warrant.

‘Opencourt’issue

Rochealsodefended thegrand jury process in his own filing to the Supreme Court on Friday.

Roche’scourt appeared to have “violated express provisions of state lawrequiring that grand jury returnsoccurinthe public eye, ‘in open court,’”the Supreme Court said in its stay order

Rocheclosedhis courtroomtothe public while the grand jury handed up Murrill’sindictment. Some reporters were handcuffed and oth-

was referencing the eight-year Revolutionary Warbefore peace was declaredin1783.

The semiquincentennial commemorationseriesoffivenew quarters,the mostused coin, depictsvarious scenes of American history

Theseriesbegan in January with the release of the Mayflower Compact Quarter, which shows two pilgrims.

The Revolutionary Warquarter features George Washington and Valley Forge,which was released in March. Hollis handed out the 25-cent pieces to surprised children on afield triptoMount Vernon, Washington’splantation in the Virginia suburbs of the city that bears his name Third in theseries,released June 16, focusesonthe Declaration of Independence, with Thomas Jefferson, the lead author and thirdpresident.Onthe other side is the ringing Liberty Bell, crack exposed to show “fragility of a young nationatits founding.”

The fourthquarter celebrates theU.S. Constitutionand features its primaryauthor, James Madison, the fourth president. It will be released in August.

A25-cent piece will be released in thefall featuring Abraham Lincoln’sGettysburg Address, with the16th president on one side and twoclaspedhands withthe inscription “A New Nation Conceived in Liberty” on the other Congress authorized in 2021 changing designs to commemorate America’s250th birthday Controversyovercoins

TheMint underDemocratic President JoeBiden workedwith an advisory committeethat suggestedincluding civil rightsand women’ssuffragescenes, along

ers were threatened with arrest whiletheywaitedinthe courthouse hallway for news of the grand jury return.

Roche wrote that “open court” does not mean “open to the public.”

“Rather, it means while the judge is present on the bench,” Roche wrote. “This interpretation is wellestablished in Louisiana law.”

He asked theSupreme Court to clarify their interpretation of “open court.”Ifitmeans“open to thepublic,” Roche said the justices should give guidance to lowercourts about howtoopen theircourtrooms while protecting anonymity andsafety of grand jurors.

The Supreme Court hasnot issuedany response to Roche’sfiling.

Escalation of AG’s dispute

Murrill’sindictment represents the latestflare-up in along-running power struggle between the Republican attorney generaland Democratic localofficials in the Crescent City

The grandjury “chose to investigate” Murrill at the endof its six-month term,White said in anews briefing shortly after the indictment. They combed through evidence about whether Murrill tried to intimidate local political officials in New Orleans, including Mayor Helena Moreno,District AttorneyJason Williams and several City Council members.

Williams recusedhimself, leading to the White’sappointment as special prosecutor.Murrill has alleged atangle of conflictsinvolving White, including that the Attorney General’sOfficerepresentsthe former judge in an ongoing sexual harassment lawsuit in statecourt.

The indictment specifically points to aseries of letters that

with the Declaration of Independenceand the Revolution.

The idea of acoin with FrederickDouglass, who worked to abolish slavery,was forwarded, as was the image of Ruby Bridges to represent racial integration of public schools.

The U.S. Mint shelved previously approved designs of milestones like the abolitionofslavery,women’s suffrage andthe Civil Rights movement in favor of classical imagery

“While Iamglad President Trump respondedtoSenate Democrats’ pressure andabandoned his plantoplasterhis face on our currency as if he were aking, I am deeply disappointed that he chose to scrap coin designs that were alreadyapprovedtocelebrate historic moments forBlack Americans, women and all of us who benefit from equal treatment underthe law,”saidU.S.Sen Catherine Cortez Masto, the Nevada Democratwhose legislation in 2021 authorized the redesign. She supported abillthat blocked puttingTrump on thedollarcoin. His image is on acommemorative medal, however Hollis said theCitizens CoinageAdvisory Committee and Commission of Fine Arts provide opinionsonproposed designs Those panels include artists and engravers as well as public officials. But, considerations of art andpracticality of pressing those designs also playa role. Treasury SecretaryScottBessent ultimately decideswhatdesigns to use

“The process is verysoberminded,” Hollis said. “Weare creative by nature, andwelike to think of everything. We recognize the importance of the coins that we strike andthe fact thatthey’re going to outlive us.”

Murrill sent in May to NewOrleans officials over adispute about the city’scriminal clerk of court position. NewOrleans voters last fall elected former life prisoner Calvin Duncan to the job, whowas freed from prisonwhena judge found him innocent of murder White also previously represented Duncan in his criminal case. But before Duncan could take office, the Republican-led Legislature passed anew law to eliminate the criminal clerk of court position in NewOrleans, combining thecivil andcriminalclerk roles into one role. As formerCivil Clerk Chelsey Napoleon stepped into the combined job, Moreno and Williamsargued that there should be another election to fill the role. Five City Council members voted to trigger an election.

Murrill sentlettersinresponse, warning the local officialswere putting theirjobs at risk by “usurping” Napoleon’sauthority Morenoatthe time responded in asocial media video, noting “there is also acriminal law that prohibits intimidating or threatening a public official in an effort to try to influence their decision or change their position.”

Thelaw,which forbids“public intimidation, retaliation, retribution by the use of force and threat,” is now the backboneofeight counts in Murrill’sindictment. For the other eight malfeasance counts, grand jurors found she “intentionally refused or failedtoperform any duty lawfully required of her,” the indictment states.

Convictionsfor public intimidation can lead to five years in prison and carryoffine of up to $1,000. Convictions for malfeasance can lead to 10 yearsinprisonora fine of up to $5,000.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

The Louisiana Supreme Courtinanemergency order late Fridaynight agreed to recall an

warrant for Louisiana AttorneyGeneral Liz Murrill.

nowarrived.

Along-developing plan to restore a14-mile island in the chain,NorthChandeleur,was granted afinal $90.8 milliontranche of funding last month, allowing construction to potentially begin early next year

The $383 million project aimstorebuild beach, dunes and marsh with enough dredgedsediment to fill the Superdome nearly three times.

It’saunique project for aunique place,partofthe country’ssecond-oldest wildlife refuge,a status that dates to 1904.Apopular fishing spot, it is also an important habitat forendangered Kemp’sridley sea turtles, awide arrayof migrating birds and the northernGulf’smostexpansive collectionofseagrasses

The project willbelargely paid for with funding related to the 2010 BP oil spill, which harmed the islands andrelated wildlife.

“It truly is aonce-in-alifetime opportunity,” Todd Baker,project manager with thestate’sCoastal Protection and Restoration Authority,said recently after landing by seaplane and wading ashore on one of his frequent visits there to documentwildlife.

“When would we have gotten this kind of money for these islands? It wouldn’t happen. It makes it that much more important that it is appropriately used.” Findingtinyturtles Swept by the winds and tides, with the screech of gulls overhead and brown pelicans flapping among mangroves,the islands hold arugged beauty far removed from the Gulf Coast’smanicured beaches and high-rise condos.

While president, Teddy Roosevelt designated the Chandeleurs and nearby BretonIslands anational wildlife refuge. He later visited, and one classic pic-

Island, theywaded ashore andsoughtout thetracks, taking measurements and further location data.

Theyalso explainedthe importanceofthe seagrasses. They constitute Louisiana’sonly marine seagrass beds, providing habitatfor alonglist of marine life ‘Worth theeffort’

But even forthose with no interest in wildlife or remote isolation, the Chandeleurs remain vital. The barrierisland chainprovidesa layerofnaturalstorm protection that can slow hurricanes as they movetoward southeast Louisiana.

Because of that location, they have taken abeating. Hurricanes Georges in 1998 and Katrina in 2005 battered them.Katrina’sdamageincludedblasting outa cut that now divides North andSouth Chandeleur

The islands are also subject to the other forces tearing away at Louisiana’s coastline —sea levelrise, erosion and subsidence. Overall, they have lost around90% of their land over the past couple centuries.

North Chandeleur Island and the smaller NewHarborIsland.

tureshows him seated near the water,gentle waves breaking before him.

The Chandeleurs play many roles at once, giving them an importance that may be overlooked by Louisianans who have never been able to hitch aride out there.

Morethan 170 different bird species havebeen documented there recently, including migratory piping plovers, redknots, snowy plovers and redhead ducks. Theyare theonly known breeding ground for aspe-

cies called theChandeleur gull. In 2022, tiny sea turtle hatchlings werespotted on theislands for thefirst time in 75 years.Theyturned out to be critically endangered Kemp’sridleys, the smallest of the sea turtles.

Between 2022 and2025, thestate observed 202 “crawls,” or tracks, for Kemp’sridleys, loggerheadsand greensea turtles. Documentingthem was an importantpartofthe restorationplan.That’swhy Baker and Matthew Weigel,

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Treatment is expensive— especiallythe servicespeople over 50 often need.

Consider these national averagecostsof treatment. $274for acheckup $299 for afilling $1,471 foracrown.3 Unexpected bills likethis canbeareal burden, especially if you’re on afixedincome.

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from the state Department of Wildlifeand Fisheries, have been makingrepeated trips there.

On the flight over,pilot Michael Chauff of Wildlife andFisheriescircledthe islands while Baker and Weigel searched for turtle tracks in the sand and shells below “Oh, there’sone,”said Weigelashescannedthe beach from his window,noting thecoordinates. After theseaplane droppedthem in the water near North Chandeleur

Projections show they could disappear entirely in the yearsahead

Kristi Trail, executive director of the Pontchartrain Conservancy,said that despite those difficult circumstances, the project must be pursued, even if it means repeatedly returning to replenish the work over time as it erodes

She noted it formspart of the “multiple lines of defense” forthe coast, and thatthe state cannotrely on “levees and floodwalls alone.”

“It’sworth the effort, even if it does involve repeated restoration efforts,” said Trail. “It would be a sadday if we were to throw ourarms up andsay it’snot worth restoring the Chandeleur Islands.”

The plan itself will use around 12 millioncubic yards of sediment dredged from anearby shoal to build some 2,500acres of habitat. It would be focused on

Aunique feature of the project involves building sand reservoirs that can buttress the work and replenish it over time. Construction is estimated to last for up to three years, putting potential completiontime around 2030. But while the need for the project is widely recognized, it also points to a larger problem. The BPrelatedmoney paying for most of it expiresatthe end of 2031, andwhile projects underway at that point will continue, billions of dollars in newcoastal restoration money will no longer be available in the future. The state has used the BP funds for awide range of large-scale projects and faces afunding cliff when it expires. There arecurrently no replacements linedupfor it.

ForBaker andWeigel, the Chandeleur project is a prime example of how the BP funds should be used, employing sound science to repair oil spill damage while also bolstering theresiliency of acrucial island chain. “All of these resources that were impacted —we now have the funds to make those resources whole,”said Weigel.

Email Mike Smith at msmith@theadvocate.com.

Turtle tracks canbeseen in the sand on North Chandeleur Island on June 23.

Erdogan’s warm ties with Trump offer Turkey

BY SEUNG MIN KIM and SUZAN FRASER Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President

Donald Trump has berated and belittled many of his European counterparts expected to attend next week’s NATO summit in Turkey But host Recep Tayyip Erdogan has drawn on his close ties with the U.S. leader to secure his presence at the Ankara event — an appearance that may even come with a significant gift related to Turkish defense.

“I would not have gone for most people,” Trump said last week. “But he called me up He said: ‘Please, I have it in Turkey You got to be there. The United States has to be in there.’ And so I’m going out of respect to President Erdogan.”

Leveraging that respect has helped Erdogan avoid the disarray that Trump’s absence would cause the alliance, particularly at a time when the Republican president has been repeatedly threatening to pull U.S. forces from Europe and scale back America’s role in NATO, unsettling allies.

Trump, who has frequently praised Erdogan and has called him a “hell of a leader,” has long rebuked other NATO countries over their defense spending. He claimed last year’s pledge to collectively boost it as a major personal win. More recently he has clashed with alliance members for failing to back his war against Iran But Trump has sweetened the deal for Erdogan by also hinting that he could make news during his visit related to jet engines and the potential sale of F-35 fighter jets barred for years because of Turkey’s closeness with Moscow Trump’s affinity for strongmen leaders has long made him an admirer of Erdogan, who amassed power in Turkey first as its prime minister and now in his 13th year as president.

“His relationship with Erdogan, which is pretty strong, is consistent with what seems to be a pattern of his preference,” said Philip Gordon, who served as national security adviser for Vice President Kamala Harris. “It has often been pointed out he seems to have better relationships with adversaries and autocrats, and he certainly says nicer things about them than with allies.” Gordon, now at the Brookings Institution, added, “Erdogan is taking full advantage of it.” Trump, who is expected to have a bilateral meeting with Erdogan on the sidelines of the NATO summit, will be the first U.S. president to visit Turkey since Democrat Barack Obama in 2015 By contrast, Democratic President Joe Biden kept Erdogan at arm’s length over Turkey’s democratic backsliding and close ties to Russia.

Opposition parties and human rights organizations have accused Erdogan of undermining democracy and curbing freedom of expression. They say baseless investigations and prosecutions of human rights activists, journalists, opposition politicians and others remain a persistent problem in Turkey Soner Cagaptay of the Washington Institute said Erdogan and Trump “clicked” personally during Trump’s first term. When Biden extended an invitation in 2024 for Erdogan to visit the U.S. after Turkey endorsed Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership Erdogan decided not to go.

“That was Erdogan’s way of signaling to Trump, ‘Hey, you are going to probably win the elections,’” Cagaptay said. “I think Trump saw that as a giant gesture.”

During a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte last week, a reporter asked Trump whether he was taking “a big gift bag for Erdogan” on the trip, noting that Ankara wants F-110 jet engines and F-35 fighter jets.

“Yeah, I think so,” Trump responded. “Yeah, I’m going to probably do something

that’s going to make him very happy.” Trump had also suggested September that the U.S. could soon start selling F-35s to Turkey Turkey was barred from the program in 2019, after it purchased Russian-made S-400 missile defense systems. U.S. officials have feared that Turkey’s use of the Russian system could enable Moscow to gather information on the F-35’s capabilities.

At the Oval Office meeting, Vice President JD Vance said Washington was explor-

ing ways to sell Turkey the jets, emphasizing that any sale would ensure Turkey has complied with U.S. law There is significant bipartisan opposition on Capitol Hill, including from influential Republicans such as Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to selling the F-35s to Turkey as long as Ankara is in possession of the Russian missile defense systems.

Meanwhile, the F-110 jet engines that Turkey is seeking to purchase would power

its domestically produced KAAN fighter jets. The State Department last week took a step toward making those sales, sending key lawmakers a notice that it planned to bypass congressional opposition to more than $700 million of the jet engine sales to Ankara, according to two people granted anonymity to discuss details of a nonpublic notification.

“In this case, the State Department did not even attempt to justify its decision,” New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat

on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement last week. “It did not invoke any emergency authority, did not present a written rationale, and for months refused to make a good-faith effort to brief me on implications of the sale for the U.S.-Turkey relationship, Turkey’s continued possession of the Russian S-400 system, and other regional security concerns.”

The relationship between the U.S. and Turkey is thawing in other ways, too. Earlier this year, Trump’s Department of Justice dropped a major case against Turkey’s state-owned Halkbank, which had been accused of helping Iran evade U.S. sanctions.

When he returned to the White House for his second term, Trump appointed a close friend as ambassador to Turkey: Tom Barrack, a longtime ally who also served as the chairman of his inaugural committee. “Barrack is playing a crucial role as a facilitator in the relationship,” said Ahmet Kasim Han, a professor of international relations at Ankara’s TED University Erdogan and Trump have frequently held telephone calls to discuss Syria, Gaza and the wider Middle East, and Turkey joined Trump’s

Board of Peace aimed at overseeing the ceasefire in Gaza. Trump claimed this month that he asked Erdogan to stay out of the war in Iran and that the Turkish leader complied, though there is no indication that Turkey had ever intended to get involved.

Trump expressed admiration for Erdogan even while standing beside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a joint news conference last year Netanyahu, whose government is at odds with Ankara, had hoped to win Trump’s support for pushing back on Turkish influence in Syria, but instead found himself watching as Trump showered praises on Erdogan and urged Netanyahu to be “reasonable.”

Last year, after meeting with Trump at the NATO summit in The Hague, Erdogan told reporters that the U.S. president is quick to return his calls, an anecdote that illustrated their close ties.

“With my friend Trump, we are opening the door to a new era in Turkish-American relations,” Erdogan said. “The process of telephone diplomacy between us has never exceeded 24 hours so far When we call, the other side responds within 24 hours.”

EDUCATION

TrumpAccountsaim to boostfinancialindependencefor kids

Children born during president’ssecond term get$1,000

BY MORIAH BALINGIT AP education writer

WASHINGTON— On Saturday,President Donald Trump’sadministration was expectedtolaunch Trump Accounts, tying the 250th anniversary of the signing of theDeclaration of Independence to an effort to boost financial independence for American kids. Under the program, parents can open investment accountsfor any child born during Trump’ssecond term andautomatically receive $1,000 fromthe government. Accounts can be opened on behalfof older children —aslongasthey don’tturn 18 beforethe endofthe calendar year —but theywill not receive the $1,000. That money —and anythingelse deposited by employers,philanthropies and relatives —isinvested in thestockmarket by private firms. Children can’taccess the money until theyturn 18, andthen only for specific purposes, like paying for ahome or school.

The accounts have already gotten aboost from billionairesbeyond the $1,000 from the government. Michael Dell, the founder of Dell Technologies, andhis wife, Susan, pledged to give $6.25 billion to the accounts of some kids who don’tqualify for the government’s $1,000. On Wednesday,Trump announcedonTruth Socialthat Sanjay Mehrotra, CEO of Micron Technology,would give $250 million. The donation “will help jumpstart the American Dream for these fabulous children as we celebrate America’s250th Anniversary! This MASSIVE Investment will help MILLIONS of American children and families get astrong start in life, and give themREAL Financial Security,” wroteTrump, aRepublican.

Trump Accounts launch amid widespread affordability concerns.The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge rose to anew three-year high in May as gaspricespeaked during thewar with Iran. Food prices have risen since Trump’sinauguration, too. Meanwhile, manyAmericansare bracing for changes to social safety netprograms like Medicaid and theSupplementalNutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP,which were cut under the same legislation that created TrumpAccounts. What is aTrump Account?

It’s anew savings tool in which money is investedinthe stock marketona child’sbehalf. The child can’taccess the money until they turn 18 and can use it only for specific purposes, such as paying tuition,startinga business or making adown payment on ahome. Families can already sign up at trumpaccounts.gov After aparentorguardian opens an account, the U.S. Treasury Department will contribute $1,000 for

newborns. Private banks andbrokerageswill manage the money whichmust be investedinU.S equity index funds that track the stock market and charge the accounts no morethan 0.10% in annual fees.

Parents can contribute up to $2,500 annually in pretax income, much like they do for retirement accounts. Parents’employers, relatives, friends, local governments andphilanthropic groups can also pitch in. Yearly contributions are cappedat$5,000, but contributions from governments andcharities don’tcount toward that total.

“We’redoing something much better than giving the next generation ahandout,” Trump said. “We’re giving them ownership of America’sfuture.”

Whogets$1,000?

As part of the initiative’slaunch, parents of older children also are encouraged to open accounts,but they won’tget the$1,000 bonus. That money is reserved for babies born during the calendaryears of

the current Trumpadministration

To qualify for the $1,000 seed money,a baby must be aU.S. citizen, have aSocial Security number and be born between Jan.1,2025, andDec. 31, 2028. Any parent can open an account foraqualifying child, regardless of the parent’s immigration status.

It’simportant to note the child won’tbeable to access the money until they turn 18, except in rare circumstances. So the money can’t help withimmediate expenses. And disbursements from the accounts will be subject to taxes.

Canolder kids getany bonuses?

Some can, thanks to contributions from some of the country’s wealthiest entrepreneurs.

TheDells’ $6.25 billiondonation will allow somechildren who are age 10 or under to receive $250 in seed money if their parents open an account. That money is reserved for kids wholive in ZIP codes with amedian family income of $150,000 or less who are too old to get the $1,000 seed money from the Treasury Hedge fund founder Ray Dalio and his wife, Barbara, pledged $75 million for kids under age 10 in Connecticut, where Dalio lives. That wouldamount to $250 for 300,000 children in qualifying ZIP codes.

Trumpannounced in January that investor Brad Gerstner would donate $250 to TrumpAccounts for everychild underage 5inIndiana.

Several major companies also plan to add TrumpAccount contributions to their benefits packages, including Uber,Intel, IBM, Nvidia andSteak ‘n Shake. The administration has encouraged such donationsthroughwhat U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent calls the “50 State Challenge.”

What’s behind theaccounts?

Backers of the accounts say they wanttointroduce morepeopletothe stockmarketand give even children born into poverty a chance to benefit from it. Supporters also say the accounts bolster

capitalism when openly socialist candidates are growing more popular

“The answer to more socialism is morecapitalism,” Gerstner said in January at aWhite House event. “This makes every child in America acapitalist from birth.”

About 58% of U.S. households held stocksorbonds in 2022,according to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, though the wealthiest 1% owned almost half the value of stocks in that year Before Trumpcreated the accounts, California,Connecticut and the District of Columbia were piloting baby bonds programs, which are similar to TrumpAccounts in some ways. Severalother states,including Maryland,are weighing programs.

Butthoseprogramsare targeted to youths growing up in poverty or foster care, plus children wholost aparent to COVID-19. Wealthier childrendon’t benefit fromthem. They’re also managed by the state, not private investment firms. What do criticssay?

Critics point out the accounts do little to help children in their early years, when they’remostvulnerable and mostlikely to be in poverty.The accounts, they say,also fail to offset cuts the Trumpadministration and congressional Republicans have made to other programs that benefit young people and the adults in theirlives, including food assistance and Medicaid. Republicans created the accounts in the Trumptax and spending cuts bill that reduced spending forsome of those programs. And even with the contribution from the government,critics say the Trump Accounts will widen the wealth gap. Affluent families that can afford to make the maximum pretax contribution to the accounts will realizethe greatest benefits. Poor familiesthatcan’t affordto setaside money for the accounts will benefit theleast. Assuming a7%annual return, the $1,000 in seed money would growtoroughly $3,570 over 18 years.

LOUISIANAPOLITICS

Johnson, ScaliseleverageMamdani’s wins

WASHINGTON —House Speaker Mike Johnson and HouseMajority Leader Steve Scalise likened recentdemocratic socialist primary victories to the revolution that founded the Soviet Union in 1917.

“You could call it the Bolshevik Revolution of 2026, but theMamdani takeover of the Democrat Party is official now,” said Scalise, R-Jefferson, referring to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose endorsed candidatesknocked off incumbents in closed New York party primaries. They’ll nowrepresent Democrats in the Nov.3midterm elections that will decide which party will control the U.S. House starting in January Democratic Party candidates openlyrallying around the democratic socialist banner —noparty of that name is certified forelections —advanced to general elections for avariety of postsinNew York, Denver,Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Washington —all decidedly blue cities. They beat incumbent Democraticofficials.

“Weare not done working and delivering for the American people while the Democratsare fighting to see how far left to the socialistleft they can go,” Scalise added. Johnson, R-Benton, picked up on the theme.

“It’scommon senseversuscommunism, because that’swhat’s happening in the Democrat Party. The insurgent left is taking it over —the insurgent leftthat hates America, hates our foundingprinciples. They hatethe idea of borders and prisons,” hetold reporters.

Prior to ascending the speakership in October 2023, Johnson was in charge of messaging andmaking sure Republicans were saying thesame things.

“We’re no longer in abattle just between Republicans and Democrats arguing over marginal tax rates or the size of regulation this election and this year,” Johnson continued.“Right now,wehave a

Trump

Trump approves disaster request for Arthur President DonaldTrump this week approvedLouisiana’srequest for$8.6 million in federal aid for the damagecaused by Tropical Storm Arthur last month. The storm dumped record rainfall on Avoyelles Parish and the surrounding areas, causing widespread flooding. It also generated numerous tornadoes across southeast Louisiana. In apost on Truth Social announcing he had approved Gov Jeff Landry’srequest forfederal funding, Trump praised Louisiana’sRepublican leaders.

“Louisiana is trulyaspecial place, withGovernor JeffLandry, Senator John Kennedy,soon to be Senator Julia Letlow,Speakerof the House Mike Johnson, House Majority Leader SteveScalise, and Congressman Clay Higgins,” he said.

Athlete agent registration system goes online

Louisiana’s new system for registering agents who represent Louisiana athletes is nowonline, Attorney General Liz Murrill’sofficeannouncedWednesday

Capitol Buzz STAFF REPORTS

The system is part of anew law the Louisiana Legislature passed this year seeking to more closely regulatehow athletes —particularly high schooland college students navigate anew era in whichtheycan be paidfor their name, image and likeness. Coaches and parents have raised concerns that, withoutsome protections, agents could takeadvantage of youngathletes.

Agents are now required to completean application that includes abackground check andmust undergo mandatorytraining, among other requirements. Those applicationsare reviewedbythe Attorney General’s Public Protection Division.

contrast between people who love thecountry and its founding principles, and those who have open disdain and hatred for them.”

President Donald Trumpalso likened Democrats to communistswho need to be stopped.

“They use theword ‘social democrat’because it sounds so nice, but it’s really communism you’re talking about,” he told reporters in the Oval Office.

LouisianaDemocratic Party Chair Randal Gaines, of LaPlace, says this is falderal, an attempt to divert MAGA voters’ attention away from the Republican majority’sinabilitytogovern. Over the past few weeks, GOP factions in the House have failed to rally enough to pass legislation, includ-

Agents can submit an application online at nil. ag.louisiana.gov

“Louisiana’sstudent athletes deserve advocates whooperate with integrity, transparency,and their best interests at heart,” said Attorney General Liz Murrill.

JohnOliver mocks

Louisianaredistricting

As theredistricting battles that Louisiana helped launch continue to reverberate across thecountry in thelead-up to midtermelectionsthis fall, comedian John Oliver took shots at Louisiana and Gov.Jeff Landry for eliminating one of the state’s twomajorityBlack congressional districts.

On an episode of theHBO program “LastWeek Tonight”that airedlastSunday,Olivercriticized President Donald Trump’s push forstates to drawnew votingmapsfavoring Republicans, which was superchargedbyan April U.S.Supreme Court ruling

ing araise forthe troops, requiring Johnson to send Congress homeearly forthe nation’s250th birthday

“That’s the usual tactic of the Republican Party when they’re losing,” Gaines said. “And typically,those sound bites are incorrect,wrong, and misleading, and dishonest.”

Republican leaders want to tie images of gulags to all Democratic candidates, Gaines said.

While perhaps moreextreme in their rhetoric and conclusions, democraticsocialists are adopting the general positions of more moderate Democratic candidates who also chafe at the GOPwhittlingdown Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act while passing

tax breaks, they see as mostly benefiting the wealthy,headded.

Gaines’ read is shared somewhat by Steve Bannon, the rightwing podcaster whohelped get Trumpelected president twice. Bannon told Politico last week that the democratic socialists’ prescription isn’tcrazy,it’s resonating. Voters seem open to a widespread affordability appeal coupled with ousting mainstream incumbents.

“They campaign as anti-establishment,” which the GOPhasn’t fully grasped, said Bannon. “If you just sit there and demonize, that’scertainly not enough.”

Structurally,Republicans are in better shape to maintain their majority in the House. Trump insisted that GOP-run states draw moreseats to favor GOPHouse candidates.

Democrats responded in kind, but Republicans have been more successful.

The House currently has 218 Republicans, 212 Democrats, an independent whousually votes with the GOP, and four vacancies.

For the midterm elections, 205 seats favor Democrats, 212 districts back Republicans and 18 races rated as “Toss Ups,” according to The Cook Report with AmyWalter,arespected electoral handicapper based in Washington. Democrats need to win13ofthe 18 toss-up contests to reach the 218 representatives necessary to retake the majority in the House, Still, Trumpisunpopular with 60% to 75% of the voters as are manyofthe administration’s policies, according to aseries of recent surveys conducted by pollsters from both parties.

Despite Johnson’soptimistic rhetoric, Republicans seem worried about losing their majorities in the House when the ballots from the Nov.3midterm are counted.

Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate.com.

William; andthree, he sounds like Elmer Fudd if he exclusively went to schoolsnamed afterRobertE Lee,” he said.

Aspokesperson for Landry did notrespond to arequest for comment.

in thecase Louisiana v. Callais. Oliver tauntedthe White Louisiana plaintiffs who originally brought thecase challenging the constitutionality of amajorityBlack voting district, saying their reasoning amounted to,“Thismap hurt my feelings, and now Iwant to talk to yourmanager.”

The comedian mocked an interview Landry did with“60 Minutes” in which Landry defended thestate’sredistricting effort, arguing thathe understood thelived experience of African Americans because he grew up in apredominantly Black community,heshould not be judgedfor being White, and theracism of the past hasalready been rectified.

“He shouldn’tbejudged just becauseheisWhite,” Oliver said.

“He should be judged because one, he just had to have the concept of racism explainedtohim on TV;two, he’sfor some reason dressedlike 30 Rock’s Leap Day

Landry has said Louisiana was requiredtodrawanew congressional map after theSupreme Court ruled the state’sprevious onewas unconstitutional.

The watershed Supreme Court decision released in Aprilweakened akey provisionofthe federal Voting Rights Act, whichfor decades hadrequiredsomestates with ahistoryofracialdiscriminationtodrawmajority-Black districts as aremedyfor the racist voting practices

Thejustices ruled that using race to draw district lines is unconstitutional in virtually all circumstances In the wake of that decision, Louisiana anda numberofother southern statesdrewnew voting maps eliminating majority-Black districts that favor Democratic candidates in an effort to win more GOP seats in Congress in the November midterm elections.

Mark Ballard

Murrill

Oliver

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILEPHOTOS

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, left, and Speakerofthe House MikeJohnson, R-Benton, arrivefor aclosed-door conference withfellowRepublicans at the Capitol in Washington last week.

Newyork MayorZohran Mamdani speaksduring arally

THE GULF COAST

Miss.man contractsflesh-eatingbacteriawhile fishing

Conditionis

day-by-day as he fights to save leg

BY KASEY BUBNASH Staff writer

It started with ahorseflybite.Or, at least, that’swhat doctors think. Steve Wilson didn’thave acut when he cast his firstline in the Gulf off the coast of Mississippi last Saturday,but Amanda Wilson remembers her husband pausing to apply bug spray

Lifelong Mississippi residents and avid fishers, the Wilsons have heard all the horror stories about vibrio vulnificus, adangerous flesh-eating bacteria found in warm, brackish coastal waters and raw or undercooked seafood.

It’srare to contract it at all, but 1in5people who develop severe infection die, sometimes within 48 hours Amanda Wilson, a47-year-old nurse, said she’sexceedingly carefulwhenitcomes to vibrio. The Wilsons never swiminthe Gulf and stay on Cat Island’ssouth side whilefishing, where the openwaters are thought to be lessproneto bacteria propagation.Before they hit the water,they always check for cuts and other open wounds, gateways through which vibrio can enter the body and trigger necrotizing skin infections,bloodstream infections or gastrointestinal illness.

LateronSaturdayafternoon, when they launched their boat into Jourdan River from McLeod Park, the Wilsons made suretohead farther upriver away from the Gulf before getting in the water

“It’scrazy because it wasjusta typical day,” Amanda Wilson said. Despite all the precautions, 50-year-old Steve Wilsonawoke early the nextmorning to searing pain near his right ankle, pain so severe he couldn’twalk. His ankle was swollen and hot, Amanda Wilson said, and she noticed what lookedlikeasmall bruise at the center of the swelling.

Vibriowas her first thought She rushed her husband to Slidell Memorial Hospital,and by the end of the 45-minute drive from NecaiseCrossing, he’d developed afever of 103.6 degrees andwas septic.Doctors there confirmed theworst:he’d contracted vibrio vulnificus and the infection was eatingaway at the flesh of his foot and leg. After surgery and acocktailof antibiotics, Steve Wilson’s leg had finally shown some improvement by Tuesday.But he wasstill in the ICU, and doctors warnedhis wife that infectionslikethese can take dramatic turnspractically overnight “Wehave to take it day by day,” shesaid.“It’saday-by-day issue.”

Last year’s spikeincases Cases of vibriovulnificusspiked

across theGulfCoast last year, prompting Louisianapublic health officials to issue warnings abouta sharp increaseinhospitalizations and deaths related to the bacterium last fall.

Most Gulf states are seeing fewer cases so far in 2026, though healthofficials say infections peak between Mayand October, when Gulf waters are warmest and residents are mostlikely to swim and fish.

Rising summer temperatures and runoff from stormscan also help vibrio flourish.

In Mississippi, whereatotal of 58 vibrio cases were reported in 2025, seven cases have been reported so far this year,noneofwhich have proven fatal, according to data collected by the Mississippi State Department of Health. The rarer, flesh-eating species vibrio vulni-

ficus has been behind just oneof those cases.

Twelve vibrio infections have been reported to the Alabama Department of Public Health so far thisyear,and three of those cases involved vibriovulnificusspecifically,according to ADPH spokespersonRyanEasterling. One case proved deadly

Atotal of 19 vibrio cases were reported in Alabama last year,Easterling said.

Louisiana’snumbers were not immediatelyavailable,but by September of last year,vibrio vulnificus had ledto26hospitalizationsand five deaths, compared to annual average of about 10 cases and one deathoverthe previous decade.

Preventing infection

With much of vibrio peak season left to go andanupcoming warm holiday weekend, Amanda Wilson worriescases along the Gulf Coast could spike.

She anddoctors aren’tsure where exactly Steve Wilson contracted the infection. Could it have been when he poured acup of Gulf water onto his boat to wash away alittleblood from acaughtfish,

Roughly 10 hours after exposure

using his foot to splash the water around? Wasithis dunk in the Jourdan River,shortly after the area sawmassiveflooding from Tropical Storm Arthur?

“The thing Iwant people to know is to think outside the box,” Amanda Wilson said.

It’seasierthanyou might think to becomeinfected, she said. It could be cutting yourself on something that’sbeen in the water recently,eating abad oyster or going foraswiminthe Gulf with afresh tattoo.

Public health officialsadvise thosewithchronic health conditionstoavoid eating raw oysters or undercooked shellfish,keep wounds covered when in brackish water and wear protective gloves when handling seafood. Wash anycutsexposed to seawater or raw seafood with soap andclean water,and seek medical care immediately if awound showssigns of redness, swelling or blistering.

“It takes just as little as abug bite that we werenot even aware of,” Amanda Wilson said. Email KaseyBubnash at kasey bubnash@theadvocate.com.

InspiringThroughEducation

CornerstonehasbeenacommunitypartnerinWaggamanand JeffersonParishforover70years.AtCornerstoneEnergyPark, weinvestincollaborativecommunityprogramstochampion educationandempowerthelocalscience,technology,engineering, andmathematics(STEM)workforceofthefuture. We’recommittedtoourcommunity.Togetherwithourcommunity partners,wearehelpingbridgethegapbetweeneducationand opportunitytoinspirelearning,locally.

to vibrio, Steve Wilson’sleg began to swell and was painful. His wife rushed himtoSlidell Memorial Hospital.

PROVIDED PHOTOSByAMANDAWILSON

SteveWilson spent June 27 fishing south of CatIsland in the Gulf.

BY JESSE BEDAYNand RODLAMKEY Associated Press

MOUNT VERNON, Va.— The people who were about to become United States citizens sat in folding chairs on George Washington’slawn at Mount Vernon on Saturday,250 years after the Declarationof Independence.

The sun beat downand thewelldressed crowd was aflutterof paddle fans stamped with American flags. Their familiesclung to theshade of the trees oneither side, whereone woman hadtwo American flagsstuck through her ponytail.

“Well, good morning, everybody,” said Anne Neal Petri, the regent of the Mount VernonLadies’ Association

“Good morning!” an excited crowd returned.

“And Happy Birthday,United States of America!” exclaimed Petri.

There were 150 people from 50 globe-spanning countries sitting in front of the small stage as they prepared to be sworn in as U.S. citizensonthe July Fourthholiday and America’s250th birthday Among them was U.S. MarineSgt. Diakaria Sangare fromGuinea, who attended in his pressedDress Blue uniform with three medals pinned to his left breast. Sangare had servedtwo deployments, and, like all assembled,

had gone through the long citizenship process: The test,interviews, green cards and biometrics. Others in thecrowd,itwas said, came from countries bathed in violence.

Some fled persecution.

After aspeechabout Washington, the crowd was asked to rise for the national anthem.

They did. Theirhatscame off and theirhands covered their hearts. The paddle fans calmed.

The singer beltedthe words:

“And the rocket’sred glare, the bombs bursting in air,gave proof through the night that our flag was still there”— as Sangare held his right hand in arigid salute, his face sober As the song concluded, the soonto-be citizens clapped and returned to theirseats,while another speaker asked them to stand and remain standing when their country was called.

“Albania.” Awoman inthe front row with long black hairrose with abroad grin, asmall U.S. flag in her hand.

“Bangladesh.”

Aman in ablack shirt stood. The Albanian woman, looking back,

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOS By RODLAMKEy

Followinganaturalization ceremonyonIndependence DayatGeorgeWashington’sMount Vernon in Alexandria, Va., newU.S.citizens pose for portraits, including fromleft, twice-deployed U.S. Marine Sgt. Diakaria Sangare, from Guinea; Raina Pinto, from India; Martha Flores de

beamed at him. It wentonfor 50 countries, through China and El Salvador and Iraq and Mongolia, as people stood, sometimes smiling, sometimes sedate.

At “Morocco,” aman in the back thrusts hisfists in the air in support. Ayoung boy looked up at him andthendid thesame, alittleflag in his fist.

Then the crowd, with hands raised, recited an Oath of Allegiance, not so different from the oath Washington signedin1778.

“Congratulations,” they were told. “You just became U.S. citizens.”

There wasapplause andlaughter, then the Pledge of Allegiance. Sangare, his hand now over his heart, closed his eyes for amoment.

Taylor Swift, Travis Kelcemarry

BY KIMBERLEE KRUESI and ANDREWDALTON Associated Press

NEW YORK Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce married Friday night at Madison Square Garden, where actor Adam Sandler was the surprising officiant at a ceremony and Stevie Nicks performed among acrowd packed with stars of sports and entertainment. The deep secrecy that surrounded the buildup to the nuptials lifted when amarquee outsidethe Midtown Manhattan arena proclaimed “JUST&T MARRIED” once the deed was done.

Thecoupledid nothave bridesmaids or groomsmen, instead having Swift’s younger brother Austin Swift serve as her man of honor with Kelce’sbig brother and podcast co-host Jason Kelce his best man, Swift’s publicist Tree Paine saidin an email. The bride and groom’s outfits came from Christian Dior Haute Couture and its designer JonathanAnderson with shoes custom-made by Christian Louboutin.She wore Cartier jewelry The long anticipated union of sportsand song brought hype to new heights at avenue made more for historic NBA games and bucket-list concerts. TheKansasCity Chiefs’ superstar tight end and the music megastar married as fans and spectators gathered outside in blistering heat, eager to be part of the occasion, even though the event was almost entirely hidden.

Actors Bradley Cooper, Zoë Kravitz, Hugh Grant and Ethan Hawke; models

is displayedonMadison Square Garden in celebrationofthe weddingbetween singerTaylorSwiftand NFLplayerTravisKelceonFridayinNew york.

Gigi Hadid and KarlieKloss; comic Chris Rock; director Steven Spielberg;singer Camila Cabello and author Jenny Han were among the guests from the world of arts and entertainment Kelce’s coach AndyReid and Chiefs teammates including running back Kareem Hunt were among thesportsfigures in thearena, along with retired NFL superstarTom Brady, Seattle Seahawks receiver and recentSuper Bowl champCooperKupp, New York Giantsreceiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and ESPNpersonalities Joe Buck and Stephen A. Smith. In acultureobsessedwith famous couplings it may have been theapex celebrity wedding, with perhaps only royal unions getting more attention.Holding such aceremony in ahuge, iconic space that sits at thecenter of the U.S. media universe while keeping allthe details secret made for asurreal scene, but it was amix of hypeand hush that isnot outofcharacter

for Swift.

An Associated Press camera outside the arena showed along line of black SUVs dropping off wedding-goers in tuxedos and evening gowns, surrounded by New Yorkers in shorts and Swifties amassing for theoccasion. Rain briefly cutthe heat shortly after the marriage was announced.

There wasa seemingly total lack of social media postsfromguestsoncethey had enteredthe arena,with phones apparently banned.

However,onSaturday, hosts of Good Morning America who had been invited to the wedding, confirmed thatNicks performed and described the space as “intimate.”

“Asintimate as it could possiblybegiven it was Madison Square Garden. Really this garden inside thegarden, justsobeautiful,” said George Stephanopoulos. “It’s hard to imagine aplace that big and awedding with such stars could feel so personal

Nearby stood atulip poplar tree, planted at Washington’sdirection 250 yearsago, thathad lived through America’shistory

Thenextspeaker,historian DouglasBradburn, pointeditout in his speech before the day’sspecial guest.

“Allthe storiesthatare part of you, nowbecomeAmerican stories,” said Bradburn. “When people ask me whatare American people like, Inow can talk about you, and your stories.”

“The secondside of that is that, now,all America’sstories, and ourhistory,are your stories. The father of your countryisGeorge Washington.”

The first president, it turned out, was the next speaker As he was introduced, the re-

enactor stood by amassive draped American flag, asword scabbard on his hip. Thenhedonnedthe stage, doffedhis cap to the audience, and began to speak.

“Today the name of ‘American’ belongs to youevery bit as much as it does to me,” he said. He spoke to their arduous journeys to this point and their histories, now merged with America.

“So, my fellow Americans, to you, Isay simply: ‘Welcome home’.”

Afterward,Sangare,the U.S. Marine, posed for aportrait, hands clasped in front of him, holding the American flagpaddle fan, his Marine cap slightly askew

“I just became aUnited States citizen,”hesaid, his emotions pushing out in an earnest smile.

Friday at MadisonSquareGarden

and so intimate.”

Robin Roberts added that both Swift and Kelce wrote their own vows. Weddings have been aconstantsubject in Swift’ssongs sinceshe was ateenager,and her actually walking the aisle for the firsttime at age36 added to thedrama. It was also thefirst marriage for the36-year-old three-time Super Bowl champKelce, whocould have been oneof the jock characters in Swift’s early hits Sandler,starof“The Wedding Singer” andmany other hit comedies, can’t

have been high on anyone’s betting list for who would marry the couple, though he’s become an increasingly warm and paternal cultural figurewithage.The email announcing themarriage described him as “a friend” of the couple.Kelce was one of the many athletes who appeared in “Happy Gilmore 2,” Sandler’s2025 sequel to one of his first hits, and Sandler appeared last year on the Kelcebrothers’ “New Heights” podcast. The Swift-Kelcerelationship has thrilled and fascinated millions around the world

—particularly the Swifties, the pop star’senormous and ardent fan base —ever since thepairfirststarted dating in 2023 after he showed up at herErasTourconcertatthe Chiefs stadium. Happy fans mixed with frazzled tourists outside the arena. Lori Powers, who livesan hour north of Manhattan and rode the train in to be near the nuptials, said Swift’s “music is the soundtrack behind so many amazing moments in my life.Relationships, friends, like my husband and my kids.”

Venice mayor proposes dynamic pricing for day-trippers

BY COLLEEN BARRY Associated Press

MILAN Venice’s new mayor is proposing a dynamic pricing system for the city’s three-year-old day-tripper access fee, seeking government approval to raise the charge to as much as 50 euros on the busiest days to ease overcrowding in the UNESCO world heritage city

Mayor Simone Venturini told

The Associated Press in an interview Friday that the current 10-euro fee for last-minute reservations has not done enough to discourage visitors on peak days Instead of imposing a fixed higher fee, the city wants to enact a form of surge-pricing, allowing the charge to rise with demand on the busiest days.

Venturini said the system would both discourage overcrowding and help cover the costs of maintaining the city

“We spend 100 million euros a year just to maintain Venice physically, and nobody gives us that money Not Europe. Not the Italian state. International critics don’t pay it either It’s paid by the people of Venice, and in part through tourism taxes,” said Venturini, who was elected mayor last month after serving as the city’s

top tourism official when the daytripper tax was launched in 2024.

The access fee itself has been widely criticized by activists, housing advocates and opposition politicians for not doing enough to ease crowding in the city while reducing Venice to a tourist attraction by charging admission.

They also say the focus is too much on managing tourist flows, and not enough on bringing more

residents back to the historic part of the city

Venturini said the money is necessary to clean and maintain the city The proposal for a surgepricing structure would require an amendment to Italy’s special law governing Venice, and Venturini said he had already discussed the idea with the tourism minister

“Day-trippers obviously gener-

ate waste they eat, they drink, they throw things away That comes at a huge cost,” which he said are driven up “because everything has to be done by hand, with brooms, boats and handcarts.”

While the 50-euro price proposal has made headlines and drawn criticism for being prohibitive for many visitors, particularly families, Venturini said the amount was chosen as an upper limit, giving the city room to experiment with different pricing levels. He said they are still working with researchers to determine the right threshold.

“If, for example, more than 40,000 people had already booked for a given day, those above that threshold might be asked to pay a little more — 20, 25 or 30 euros,” Venturini said “We asked for a broad range, up to 50 euros, and then it would be up to the city to manage the system through further testing. It doesn’t mean everyone who comes to Venice would pay 50 euros.”

While opposition politicians have proposed putting a cap on the number of visitors a day, Venturini said current Italian law does not allow that.

The number of residents of Venice’s canaled historic center has

dropped to below 48,000 while the number of tourist beds has risen to more than 51,500, according to the most recent figures tracked by the Ocio housing advocacy group from January

Venturini argued that the city’s population is understated because many students and seasonal workers spend most of the year in Venice without registering as residents.

“That doesn’t mean we are satisfied. We need to do more,” he said. Venice collected 2.4 million euros on 29 peak days from more than 485,000 day-trippers during the test phase in 2024. That rose to 5.4 million euros last year after Venice increased the number of days to 54 and doubled the fee to 10 euros for last-minute registrations on the city platform. This year, an additional six days have been added, but no figures have yet been released on arrivals or revenues.

Venturini said the money collected covers “only a small part of the costs of managing tourism.”

“The goal is not to raise money or to turn Venice into a ticketed city,” he said. “The goal is to give both residents and visitors a better experience on days when the city would otherwise be too crowded.”

BY BOUBACAR DIALLO Associated Press

FRIA, Guinea Kazaliou

Balde’s parents started worrying about him when as a small child he avoided eye contact and had difficulty communicating.

First, the family in the West African nation of Guinea turned to a traditional healer who suggested protective amulets. Then, as the boy dragged himself along the ground instead of walking, they took him to a hospital in the capital, Conakry where he was diagnosed with autism — something the family had never heard of before. Neither had their neighbors. Some of them made rude comments about the child.

“Some suggested that I take him to the bush and throw him away,” said his mother, Kadiatou Diallo, a 55-year-old trader Misconceptions are common around children with autism in parts of Africa that lack reliable data, awareness and government support Some mistakenly attribute autism to evil spirits. Experts say the misconceptions have often delayed diagnosis and brought stigma for children and their families.

Autism is a complex developmental condition now known as autism spectrum disorder that affects people in different ways. It can include delays in language, learning or social and emotional skills. For some people, profound autism means being nonverbal and having intellectual disabilities, but the majority of people experience milder effects. Guinea’s government does not keep records around

daughter with autism was her inspiration.

At the school, children are taught basic things like identifying objects and assembling toys as well as everyday skills such as operating a TV remote.

Last year, the school organized what it called the country’s first international seminar on autism.

Balde has had to spend his life outside school away from many community members because they still attribute his condition to an unknown “evil” and want him shunned.

Developmental Disorders, which said the region’s “rich genetic diversity” could improve understanding of autism globally

The gap has kept many parents from seeking help.

autism. The World Health Organization says about one in 127 people worldwide had autism in 2021, but it notes that the prevalence in many low- and middle-income countries remains unknown.

Diallo decided to stand up for her son and seek better care. She said she has four children but loves him especially “because I’ve suffered so much with him.”

In Guinea, a nation of about 15 million people, only a few schools cater to children with autism and they can cost up to $300 per month. Not many families can afford it in a country where the minimum wage is $63 a month, and where 43.7% of citizens live below the poverty line, according to the World Bank.

“In Guinea, the care for autism is very poor,” said Dr Alhassane Cherif, a psychologist and clinician in Conakry “Private organizations and nonprofits are the only ones addressing this disorder and training staff to try to identify children.” Balde first attended both private and public schools, but none fit him. His teachers did not introduce him

to writing and reading, his mother said, recalling their comments that her son “has no provision for school.”

“I refused to consider these negative judgments. I refused to take him out of school,” Diallo said.

She said her late husband “went to every corner of the country” looking for assistance for their son before dying in a road accident.

The solution appeared in their own hometown.

In 2023, Balde enrolled in the newly opened Salim Foundation for Children with Autism, a rare free school for children with autism. The school’s authorities were conducting an outreach program when they learned of Balde and visited his family

The school teaches him and 14 other students in a large house with three teachers. It has toys in bright colors and pictures of animals on the walls.

The school, registered with Guinea’s educational authorities but not receiving government funding, is the brainchild of Mariam Aisha Barry, a social worker and philanthropist who said her

“Our mission is to break the stigma surrounding autism through awarenessraising, family training and advocacy for better care. These children deserve acceptance, understanding, education and unconditional love,” Barry said.

Still, the now-15-year-old

“I categorically refused,” his mother said. Studies on autism are often conducted in high-income countries, with less attention to places like Guinea. That makes it difficult to identify risk factors or plan effective intervention strategies, experts say Sub-Saharan Africa is “critically understudied” in autism research, according to a 2023 study in the Review Journal of Autism and

“We have 15 autistic children here, but there are several hundred in this city

Some parents hide them in their homes to avoid mockery and stigmatization,” said Hassanatou Diallo, advocacy officer at the Salim school.

Balde’s mother said that despite the challenges, she will not give up on her son’s education

“My most ardent wish is that he knows how to read and write,” she said

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By LUCA BRUNO Stewards check tourists’ QR code access outside the main train station in Venice in 2024.

Houssainatou Diallo, right, an advocate and communicator dedicated to supporting children with autism, spends time with Kazaliou Balde, an autistic child in Fria, Guinea.

the opening night of the 2026

OPENING NIGHT

Essence Fest show ran more or less on time, concluding just before 1 a.m

BY KEITH SPERA Staff writer

The 2026 Essence Festival of Culture’s opening night in the Caesars Superdome was that rare event where featuring both R-rated rapper Cardi B and former first lady Michelle Obama made sense. And by finishing on time, Friday’s show corrected a major issue that hindered the 2025 Essence Fest’s evening concert series. The 43,000 or so tickets available for 2026’s opening night didn’t sell out; the sides of the upper terrace level contained rows of empty seats. But otherwise, the Dome was mostly full. Obama is no stranger to Essence Fest, which launched in 1995 as a celebration of Essence magazine’s 25th anniversary and has been a mainstay of New Orleans’ otherwise slow summer tourism season ever since. She was interviewed by Gayle King on the main stage of the Superdome in 2019. This time around, following

an opening set by vocal group SZN4, Obama spent an hour chatting with singer/actress Keke Palmer Their conversation revolved around her relationship with fashion, which she explores in her recent book “The Look” and its affiliated podcast, “IMO: The Look.” Palmer was an engaged, informed interviewer as Obama demonstrated her trademark frankness and thoughtfulness. Growing up in a household with little money, she recalled, she

wore the “Garanimals” line of matching clothes sold at Sears. She admires confidence in young people, she said, but “you have to earn the right to have an opinion.” When acquaintances turn out not to have your best interests in mind, she recommended disassociating via a process called “slow ghosting.”

As insightful as the conversation was, some audience members started getting restless

Arthur raises drainage concerns in Kenner

Storm wreaked havoc in city

BY LARA NICHOLSON Staff writer

The remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur swept through the New Orleans area last month and, for many residents, felt like a passing blow

But for Kenner and other parts of Jefferson Parish, the storm brought flooding that stalled more than 50 cars, made the hospital and airport inaccessible and ruined the inventory at one car dealership, according to parish officials.

The storm brought back troubling memories from Hurricane Francine in 2023. The Category 1 storm spared most of the region but flooded hundreds of Kenner homes and left residents wondering why Kenner got the brunt of flooding. Those questions arose anew at town hall meetings last week hosted by Jefferson Parish Council member Arita Bohannan, who represents Kenner. During one of the meetings, some residents began to express skepticism that the pumps were working at all.

“When they say the pumps are up and running, we are looking at the canal and we don’t see the water moving,” one woman told Bohannan. Bohannan and Jefferson Parish Drainage Director Ben Lepine said the parish’s east bank pumps all operated normally as the storm came through, and that the amount of rain from Arthur’s remnants and Francine would have overwhelmed the drainage system no matter what. Kenner received over 7 inches of rain in a matter of hours from both of those storms.

“In this last storm, our pumps worked at full capacity, there were no errors, and we just couldn’t keep up,” Bohannan said. “If we had a pump on every corner of every street, I don’t know if we could’ve kept up.”

Still, the parish and Kenner have roughly $170 million in major projects underway to build new pump stations and add capacity to existing ones in hopes of helping flooding hot spots, including in Kenner

“All we can do is give it our best shot at minimizing it, but nature is going to do what nature does,” Bohannan said. “These storms are stronger and lasting longer, it seems like.”

Jefferson Parish has 198 pumps across both sides of the river that altogether can pump out 21 million gallons of water per minute. Many of the pumps are clustered in areas that historically flood often, like low-lying neighborhoods between the railroad tracks and River Road, or around Pontiff Playground where water drains into the green space available there.

As in New Orleans, Jefferson Parish’s drainage system can usually handle about 1 inch of rainfall in the first hour and half an inch every hour after that, according to Lepine. Once the drainage system gets overwhelmed, it can take several hours for water to clear out into Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River

But Kenner has emerged in recent years as an area in need of additional capacity, especially in the University City neighborhood, as development in Kenner over the past four decades has led to additional subsidence and limited the parish’s ability to add green space or widen canals to help with drainage.

The parish also can’t dredge canals to deepen

Members-only club Common House under new management

Schulte Hospitality Group takes over

BY JONAH MEADOWS Staff writer

When it opened in 2024 inside the former Louisiana Children’s Museum in the Warehouse District, Common House New Orleans was an ambitious bet on a trendy idea: a private social club and co-working space appealing to remote workers and transplants.

Now, after less than two years, the building’s owners have brought in a new management team and rebranded the club as

420 Julia, raising questions about the future of a high-end, members-only business model that has proved volatile in other markets.

Beginning June 30, Schulte Hospitality Group, the Louisville, Kentucky-based hotel management firm that also operates the Pontchartrain Hotel on St. Charles Avenue, took over management for building owner AJ Capital Partners, according to a joint statement from the companies involved. “As the club enters its next chapter, ownership and Common House have mutually agreed that now is the right time for Schulte Hospitality Group to lead the property’s future opera-

tions,” a joint statement from AJ Capital, Schulte and Common House said.

It’s unclear what, if anything, will change at the 20,000-squarefoot club, which includes a restaurant, bar, rooftop pool, fitness center, courtyard, conference room and co-working spaces, along with event programming such as wine tastings, guest speakers and live music. In their statement, company representatives said programming and hospitality will remain the same and that “new opportunities” will be available in the future.

PROVIDED PHOTO By PARAS GRIFFIN

Cardi B performs during

Essence Festival of Culture in the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Friday.

STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK

Fana Tesfagiorgis, from Los Angeles, dances to the music of DJ Kid Vice.

STAFF PHOTO By JONAH MEADOWS Common House opened the fourth location of its members-only social club concept at 420 Julia St. in June 2024. Two years later, it withdrew from management of the building, putting an end to the brand’s

remaining outpost.

Michelle Obama talks fashion, self-esteem at Essence

Former first lady promotes her book at festival

BY VIOLET BUCARO Staff writer

When Michelle Obama

first stepped into the spotlight as first lady, some media outlets who covered her appearances would often first describe her outfit not the work she was actually doing. So, she “made it a point not to talk about fashion,” Obama told a crowd on Friday at the Essence Festival of Culture, the largest Black music and culture event in the country But, realizing the importance of her presentation, the former first lady often let her well-styled hair and clothing do the talking for her.

“America is struggling enough, having a Black first lady. I didn’t want my hair to be the problem,” she said. “We need healthcare fast, getting kids educated. It wasn’t about what I needed to look like. I needed to show up in a way that the country needed me to show up.” The lessons she learned are chronicled in “The Look,” her best-selling book that explores how fashion and beauty can make women feel like the best version of themselves. Obama, joined by actress Keke Palmer, used the main stage at Essence to promote the book and to tape a live episode of her podcast, “IMO: The Look.”

Continued from page 1B

and chatty as it approached the hour mark. Any longer would have been too long.

The Aunties showed up

This year’s Essence is being curated by actress/ singer Teyana Taylor and her creative collective The Aunties Taylor made a brief appearance onstage after Obama’s talk; she and her fellow Aunties wore what looked like especially hip denim coveralls, signifying that they were working. Their fingerprints were all over opening night, from the Rose-Thorns-in-Harmony string ensemble that performed between acts to the troupe of Zulu Tramps who made their way across the floor The DJs and emcees, including Kenny Burns who felt obliged to remove his grills before introducing Obama — kept the energy in the Dome up.

So did Atlanta rapper Latto. Showing off her curves in a pink fringed ensemble accented with high boots, she prowled a stage with pink cheetah-print risers as a blinged-up digital cheetah snarled on the screens behind her A live drummer and guitarist, a DJ and six dancers backed “Big Mama” as she rapped to prerecorded vocal tracks on “Get Money Girl” and elsewhere.

Hers was a solid mid-bill Essence Fest set. Following “Georgia Peach,” she and her dancers shared a welldeserved toast.

Shortly after arriving onstage at 10:42 p.m., the singer Kehlani uttered those words that give fans pause: “I’m going to play a lot of stuff from my new album, if that’s okay with you.”

But Kehlani’s self-titled fifth album, released in April, has earned strong reviews. So the midtempo R&B of “No Such Thing,” “Shoulda Never” and other tracks from “Kehlani” were generally well-received, if not ecstatically received Kehlani didn’t use a band, but participated in some tidy choreography with her six dancers as she cruised through “After Hours.” Exactly 40 minutes after she started, she waved goodbye. That enabled Cardi B to launch her set just before midnight.

Obama, a marquee name on the three-day festival’s lineup, last appeared at the Caesars Superdome in 2019 for an interview with Gayle King Other headliners this year are rap stars Cardi B, Josh Levi, George Clinton and T.I., among several others. The festival has pumped more than $4 billion into New Orleans’ economy in its three-decade run, festival organizers have said. Aside from the nightly concerts, the event boasts free daytime empowerment panels and opportunities for local and national vendors to sell and offer samples of their wares.

The event runs through Sunday Of all of the festival’s many draws, for audience member Kinsha Walker, Obama was the biggest.

“She is what we all of us aspire to be,” Walker, of Baton Rouge, said. “I am so honored to see her tonight.”

Obama’s hourlong talk with Palmer covered fashion, social media and the lessons she offers her daughters, Malia and Sasha Obama. The live podcast taping will be released on July 15 on YouTube and other channels. It is produced by Higher Ground, a media company founded by former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama. Though her latest book is about fashion, Michelle Obama told Palmer that “clothes were never the point.”

“I love a pretty dress, but if my dress is saying more than what I am try-

ing to say to a young person, then get it off of me,” Obama said.

The conversation shifted to the first lady’s public and private life Obama in her role was frequently in the public eye Palmer pointed out. “How does one protect their inner selves, being so perceived, constantly?” she asked.

“I think it is becoming more and more difficult with A.I., with social media,” Obama replied “To put it in perspective, when we were in the White

House, there was no social media. We had Blackberries. They did not let Barack have an iPhone because it was a social media breach.”

“When it became a part of my reality social media, I wasn’t addicted to it. I’m on it, but not of it.” She tries to get her daughters to stay off of social media platforms and especially, not to read the comment sections, she said.

Obama gave a passing reference to some of the

negative reactions she received as she and her husband stepped into the spotlight.

“The more popular I became, the more of a threat I became,” she said. Although, Obama added, holding on to her true self was not hard for her

“I want us all, as Black people, as Black women, to own our spaces,” Obama said.

Email Violet Bucaro at violet.bucaro@ theadvocate.com

Cardi B closes it down

She soon shed her structured, high-collared cloak to reveal a bustier-type top in black with matching hiphigh boots, all covered with silver rings in a style that could be described as “burlesque bondage.” She then demonstrated why she was the obvious choice to headline Friday Quite simply, she offered more than everybody else. More fierceness. More swagger More charisma. More intensity More pyro. More dancers (as many as 16). And more costume changes. When she disappeared after 20 minutes, momentum was lost until her DJ

locked in with what the audience wanted to hear

Cardi B worked hard to recapture that momentum after she returned in a red outfit that made her yellow tresses pop all the more. She twerked She tap-taptapped the microphone on the stage, urging attendees to wake up. She made a lap around one section of the floor seats near the stage. She bore down on “Pretty & Petty.” Literal fireballs went off during “WAP,” the outra-

geously sexual romp that is one of her signatures “Bodak Yellow” was similarly themed.

Running on time Essence didn’t release Friday’s performance times until two hours before the show started at 7 p.m. But once it did, the program ran more or less on time. That represents a vast improvement, punctualitywise, from 2025, when two of the three Essence Fest

They declined to disclose how many members the club had at the time of the turnover in management. Common unhoused

The building at 420 Julia was built in the 1840s as a home for Alphonse Loubat, a French wine merchant and inventor who designed early streetcars in Paris and New York. It was converted to a warehouse for the Port of New Orleans in the 1880s and for much of the 20th century housed Dixie Art Supplies. In the early 1990s, it became home to the Louisiana Children’s Museum, which added its distinctive blue shutters.

AJ Capital purchased the building after the museum relocated to its current location in City Park and invested millions in renovating much of the historic two-story structure. It partially demolished the rear and added five stories that now house a mixture of hotel rooms and apartments, already managed by Schulte which also operates more than 200 properties under brands such as Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt, while running its own boutique and lifestyle division.

Looking to introduce the private social club model to the local market, AJ Capital originally sought to partner with the trendy London-based Soho House to run the club, as it did in Nashville, Portland and Chicago. When that deal fell through, it brought in Common House location instead.

Based in Charlottesville, Virginia, Common House launched in 2017. It went on to add locations in Richmond, Virginia; Chattanooga, Tennessee; and New Orleans, where members paid nearly $2,000 a year to belong to the club on top of a $500 initiation fee.

But this year, Common House has fallen on hard times. Over the past three months, all four owners of the buildings that housed its clubs have severed ties with the company In April, Common House CEO Ben Wood — a former WeWork executive hired to lead the company in 2024 — abruptly announced the firm’s original location would close due to a “landlord dispute.”

The building’s owners attributed the closure to Common House’s failure to pay rent, even at a reduced rate, local media reported. In May, management of the Richmond location was turned over to Schulte, according to local media reports.

Later that month, Schulte also took over management of the Chattanooga club after Common House was unable to “agree on a sustainable, long-term solution” with the owners of the building it leased, Wood told members. It’s not clear if the owners of the Common House brand are plotting a revival of the concept in a different location in the future. Wood did not respond to a request for comment.

Ahead of the opening of the New Orleans location, Common House reportedly had about 4,000 members across its three original locations.

No information about how many members remain was available on Monday, and company representatives were not made available for an interview

Email Jonah Meadows at jonah.meadows@ theadvocate.com.

evening concerts concluded at 3 a.m. or later

On those nights, which included as many as eight acts, the Dome was essentially empty for the headliners. But for Friday’s more streamlined program of five acts, much of the crowd stuck around for Cardi B’s whole hourlong closing set. It concluded at 12:55 a.m.

That felt like a win.

Email Keith Spera at kspera@theadvocate.com.

STAFF PHOTOS By ENAN CHEDIAK

Destin Conra performs on the Coca-Cola Main Stage during the Essence Festival of Culture at the Ernest N Morial Convention Center in New Orleans on Friday.

Latoya Louis, left, and Kinsha Walker take a selfie during the Essence Festival

Shaunte Tobias, left, and Lovette Hayes, from Florida, flaunt their colorful hats.

STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK

Former first lady Michelle Obama, right, enters the stage with Keke Palmer during the Essence Festival of Culture at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Friday.

Celebrating in style

STAFF PHOTOS By SOPHIA GERMER

ABOVE: The Victory Belles perform at The National WWII Museum’s U.S. Freedom Pavilion during Independence Day in New Orleans on Saturday

LEFT: People gather along the railing of the sold-out Steamboat Natchez during Go Fourth on the River along the Mississippi River

Community Coffee offers unique tasting experience

Family-owned company works to entice next generation

BY LIZ SWAINE Staff writer

It is not unusual for Matt Saurage Sr to strike up a conversation in the coffee aisle at the grocery store. If someone looks confused about a roast or flavor, he said he has given some advice Saurage is part of the fourth generation to own and run Baton Rougebased Community Coffee and is the current chair of the board. “We’re one of the few remaining regional companies, much less independent family-owned companies, in the United States,” he said. Community Co ffee is available worldwide through e-commerce, but in terms of grocery store

DRAINAGE

Continued from page 1B

them without risking their collapse, and adding larger pipes wouldn’t make a difference during severe rainfall, according to Lepine.

Bohannan said Kenner has had over 800 acres of development in the past three decades. From the river to the lake in Kenner, there’s an 8to 12-foot drop in elevation From east to west across the east bank, there’s a 6-foot drop, putting Kenner’s northwest neighborhoods at the bottom of a bowl

“What we struggle with in Kenner is you have such little capacity,” Lepine said. “The canals aren’t wide enough; the rain table is high. It’s not ideal for perfect stormwater management, and it makes it more complicated.”

Lepine said the canals are designed to equalize water from east to west when one part of the east bank gets hit with more flooding, which helped clear out rain from Arthur’s remnants faster But in larger storms like Francine, enough water can dump on the entire system that there’s nowhere else for it to go. What’s next?

penetration, Saurage says to think of the reach of Southeastern Conference football — from south Louisiana through Texas to southern Missouri across to the Carolinas and up the East Coast. The company’s connection to the communities they serve matters. Saurage’s emails include his cellphone number, which he answers. He is also a regular at the grocery store, where he buys his own coffee and occasionally shares recommendations with other shoppers.

“I want to know what it feels like to buy it and pay for it and drink it. So when people are able to reach me and tell me a story good or bad, it really connects me to the business,” he said. “It connects my son and my daughter who work here. I share the emails with my mom. She responds to a lot of them because they may be stories of things that happened in the past.”

Saurage’s day gener-

ally starts with a signature blend dark roast, hot, and usually black, one of his up to six cups of coffee per day He might switch to one of the company’s cold brews before dinner

He said he believes coffee is unique in that, as much as a beverage, it is an important social ritual

“You know, there’s not many things you do during the day that you have to go through a process of preparation for yourself and to enjoy So there’s a lot of therapy to it. I believe that’s why people say that coffee relaxes them and centers them, even though it has caffeine,” Saurage said. Challenges aplenty

The coffee industry, like others, has faced years of challenges and changes. There was COVID-19, then supply chain issues, then weather, then tariffs.

“I’ve challenged the company, and we just kept doing what we can do, and as a family just accepted this

is going to be a really tough year and we’re not gonna make money But we’re not going to sacrifice the brand for short-term gain,” Saurage said.

Thankfully, things are looking better While tariffs are unpredictable, agricultural conditions are “really good,” he said.

The grocery/retail part of the business is also changing. No longer is shelf space a determinant of the number of products that can be offered

“In some ways, the shelf is getting larger because of the Walmart dot com, the Amazon dot coms of the world have created a virtual shelf now,” Saurage said. “You still have to perform, but it’s a little easier to have flavors in limitedtime offers multiple times during the year by rotating them through e-commerce.”

It’s not just about flavored coffees, although Community’s caramel cookie butter, French vanilla, ha-

zelnut crème, Irish cream, pecan praline and vanilla waffle cone continue to duke it out with long-time favorite Mardi Gras king cake. It’s also about people wanting to buy whole beans to grind and brew at home.

“I see whole bean coffee and brewing at home to be an exciting area for our brand,” Saurage said.

Home preparation is changing as well, from a traditional drip pot to single-serve K-Cups and capsules Younger customers are purchasing ready-todrink cold brews.

Community offers another unique regional appeal with its chicory-blend coffee, which incorporates endive root sourced from northeastern France. The carrot-shaped root, which is caffeine-free and sweet, is broken and roasted.

“It adds a lot of body and color and mouth feel to the coffee, so it can be heavy To bring out the sweetness, though, you need to

Jefferson Parish has nine pump station projects in the works. Two of those are parish projects to build new pump stations, including a $50 million project at the west end of Vintage Drive and another $13 million Woodlake pump station, slated for the very northwest corner of the parish. At the parish line pump station in Kenner,

Mayor

grant to proceed with construction.

“We live in a bowl,” Glaser said. “We

million pump station on Coventry Court and an $18 million pump station that’s already in use on Veterans Boulevard. Another two pump stations intended to drain water from neighborhoods into canals are slated for Russell Street near Bunche Elementary School and Independence Park near Lowe’s in Metairie

put just a touch of sugar, and it absolutely just brilliantly makes it kind of a sweet flavor to it,” Saurage said. “The hidden benefit to chicory is that it is a superfood.”

It is possible coffee flows through Saurage’s veins. His mother first put a little coffee in milk and sugar for him when he was around 3 years old. “I remember distinctly when I was in elementary school, drinking coffee with milk and sugar with my grandparents.” His business is planning now for the next generation of coffee drinkers.

“We want to have a real growing, energetic, healthy industry for my children, my grandchildren to inherit, and our employees to participate in over a very long time. We owe all of our success as a brand to the people who consume our product, you know, it’s as simple as that,” he said. Email Liz Swaine at Liz. Swaine@theadvocate.com.

The pump stations will all be paid using a mix of parish, state and federal funds. The drainage department has an annual budget of about $30 million per year for all capital projects, including the pump stations. Funding challenges

According to Bohannan, it can prove challenging to secure the federal funds necessary to proceed with these projects.

She said the parish didn’t get the state funds from the Legislature this year that it requested for the Woodlake Pump Station, and that they’d instead have to pick whether to use parish funds for that or for the parish line pump station expansion.

“It’s a horrible position to be in as a councilperson because you are choosing which neighborhood gets aid first,” Bohannan said.

“The hard thing for me is (that) this is not a problem that we don’t know the solution for It’s a problem we need money for that we don’t have and the state may not have.” Bohannan said she and Jefferson Parish Council member Byron Lee, who represents south Kenner, intend to meet with their congressional delegation soon to discuss federal funding options for drainage projects.

Email Lara Nicholson at lnicholson@theadvocate. com.

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Ben Lepine, director of Jefferson Parish Drainage Department, gives a tour of the pumping station at the end of Caryota Drive in Metairie on Monday.

Area Deaths

Beil, Steven

Blanda,Casmier

Bradford,Jan

ClarkAlford, Karron

Edwards, Cheryl

Harrison, Thomas

Jeanfreau,Lydia

Judin, Bjorn

Kessel,Agnes

Kinabrew III, John

Lind, Eugenia

Mayeaux, Frances

Michel,Raymond

Petagna Jr., John

Tabor,Jenna

Voltolina, Cindy

Windhorst,Gwendolyn

Wolfe, Laura

Obituaries

Beil, Steven Richard

Steven 'Steve' R. Beil passed awayonJune 18, 2026,athis home in New Orleans, Louisiana, age 80.

Steve had put up strong battle against Alzheimer's then recently discovered cancer. He was born on December 7, 1945, to Elizabeth "Jo" Beil and Lawrence "Larry" A. BeilJr. He graduated fromSalina High School in 1964 and was the class president his senior year. He was active in Saline Valley 4-H Club and Cub Scouts. As ayouth he enjoyed playing piano and taking dance classes. He graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor's degree in Psychology, and then stayed another two years to receive his master's degree in Social Work, attaining B.C.S.W status while working. He was in the Army Reserves as amedic; therefore, was an army veteran. Steve worked in Kansas City, moved to Omaha,then moved to New Orleans in 1979. He made lifelong friends in each city where he lived. He worked for Catholic Charities, Touro Hospital and Peoples Health in New Orleans. As one colleague recently said: "Steve was such an angel and touched so many lives in his history of providing psychotherapy.".

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, his grandparents LawrenceF Beil (Nancy) and James Dunn (Flora), his aunt Marguerite (Dunn) Pipes, his Uncle James Dunn, Jr his aunt Helen Graves, his aunt VirginiaBrookhouser, and his aunt Irene Woolsey, who helped raise him as achild. Survivors include his life -companion, David J. Peltier of 46 years, his brother Lawrence "Larry" F. Beil, II (Hedy), Overland Park, KS, three nieces: Lindsey S. Wannamaker (J. J.), their children Chloe and James; Lisa A. Erisman (Gary) their children William "Will" and Reece; and Lacy L. Mahlandt (Andy), and their child Olivia,all of Overland Park, KS; his aunt Fayetta Hart; and his cousins JoAnn Weber, Donna Reinbold, Ginny Sue Brookhouser, Judy Dunn- Michaels, Marvin Pipes, Jeff Brookhouser, and Tiffany Reich. Plus, so many friends from across the country who he diligently kept in touch with all his life.

Steve was considered the quiet one who was reliable, had an open earto all, was gentle, considerate, loved his family, had long time friendships and kept all in touch with each other through letters and emails, but mostly phone calls.

Steve loved his cats, doted on any feline he saw, raised countless pets, and cared for the feral cats around his home in New Orleans. Music and old movies were his other passion. He would work for hours on creating musical playlists for himself and others. When technology advanced, he took hold and used it until one day everything crashed, and he

lost all therecordings he had worked sodiligently to create. He had ahuge collection of vinyl records that he started collecting at the ageofsix, and he also collectedDisneyand othercartoon characters, especially aSnow-White Collection

Steve,along with his partnerDavid,enjoyedcollecting older items, especially their vintage Fiesta Ware dishes that always impressed anyone who visited their home.Healso had alove of Roseville "Silhouette"pottery, and VanBriggle pottery, alldisplayedintheir home. He was an avid gardener and mower and enjoyed the flowersand extensive gardens maintainedattheir historic homein Bywater NewOrleans, wherethey residedfrom1984untilhis death.Hehad aspecial attraction to orchids and AfricanViolets. There willbea Celebration of Life forfamilyand friends at his home on Saturday, June 11, 2026, from 5:00-7:00. Cool,comfortable attire suggested. To viewand signthe online guestbook, visit www.LakeLawnMetairie.co m

Blanda,Casmier Joseph 'C.J.'

Actual Obituary of Cas‐mierJosephBlanda(C.J.). C.J.Blandawas born to Josephine (Centanni)and Anthony Blanda on Novem‐ber 24,1929 in NewOr‐leans,LA. HisfatherAn‐thony wasborninPoggio‐reale,Italy,his mother was borninthe US to Italianim‐migrants. He is survived by his only sister,Amelia Mae"Boo" Blanda Gerst‐ner.Throughout theirlife‐timetheywere very close astheywereonly18 monthsapart.Heisalso survived by hisonlyniece Deborah andtwo great nieces, Michelle andCourt‐ney anda great-great niece andnephew. He was predeceased by his brother-in-law, TerryP Gerstner, Sr.and his nephew, TerryP.Gerstner, Jr. He was95atthe time of his deathon July 3, 2025 Hewas agraduateofJe‐suitHighSchool.Hegradu‐atedfromTulaneUniver‐sity4 yearslater earninga BAinArt.Duringhis career heworkedfor Fireman's Fund andlater retiredfrom Aetna InsuranceCompany C.J.was alifelongBache‐lor,however he hadnu‐merouslong-lifetime friends,manyofwhomhe traveledabroadwithand sharedthe cultural aspects ofopera and symphony C.J.a proudownerofhis restoredhistorichomeon Esplanade Avenue that was decoratedinthe his‐toric FirstEmpireperiod, makingita showcase and gaveannualmultipletours for numerous organiza‐tions.C.J.was adedicated preservationist.Inhis life‐timeC.J.was engagedwith numerouspreservationor‐ganizations such as the New OrleansHistoricCol‐lection,SpringFiestaAsso‐ciation,Patio Planters, Vieux CarreCommission and Beauregard-Keyes Home. Hiscivic contribu‐tions to philanthropy and preservationofthe French Quarter anda resident of the French Quartersince 1961 were honoredinthe ceremony

Jan Christopher Bradford, belovedwifeof John Batty. Jr., passed awayonJune 9following several years of dementia. Born in Memphis,TNon April 11, 1940,toher loving mother Martha Nichols Bradford, she attended Bellevue PrivateSchool.It is there that she learned childhoodsongsthatshe never forgot and often sharedwith her godchild. Shegraduatedfrom CentralHigh School and received aB.A.from MemphisState University in 1962 where she greatly enjoyed astudent tripto Europe with their professors. Her interestswere wideand varied,including British and French literature and culture,aswellas theatre,ballet, and southernculinary arts. Followingadditional time in England,she moved to New Orleans in 1972and worked asa librarianatTulane University. She later earned aM.A. in Art History from the University

of Kansas. Upon herreturn to thecity, she was employed by theWomen's Exchangeascurator at the Hermann Grima House, a positionshe held for 30 years. WhenTulane University transferred its ownership of the Gallier Housetothe Women's Exchangein1996, Janassumed curatorial responsibilities there as well. In this role, she was instrumental in creating programming to enrich the visitor's experience. Jan received theLouisiana Museum Professional Award in 2007 fromthe Louisiana Associationof Museums. She retiredin 2010.

Jan and John met in the early 1980s. They bothparticipated in activitiesto bring about therenovation of the LowerGarden District.They married in 1986 and continuedtolive there until they moved to Metairiepost-Katrina. It was therethatJohn shared Jan's love of rosesand togethertheycreated a beautiful gardenalways in bloom.

Jan had alwayswritten short storiesinher younger years. In 1996, she fulfilled alongtime goal of being recognized as awriter when she became afinalist in anational short storycontest.She received theBeau Monde Awardin theRoyal AscotContest

Her strength and perseverance during her final illness was morethanremarkable.Iflifeiswhat we make it,Jan madeitmemorable and fulloflove for her husband John, and her many friends. Her wide and varied interests contributed to her beingan engagingand wonderful friend.

Jan is survivedbyher loving husband John Batty and his sisters Becky and Jane, as well as her lifelong friends Mary Len Costa and VirginiaD'Errico, whomshe cared for with an overabundant, neverquestioning love and respect.Throughout the years they supported each otherand relied upon the growing depth of their friendship.She is also survivedbyher godchild, LenoraCosta, who is following in Jan's footsteps as amuseum curator.

AMemorial Service will be held on July9 at 11:00 AM at Munholland Methodist Church, 1201 MetairieRoad. In lieu of flowers donations accepted to Munholland Methodist Church in honor of JanBatty.

KarronAngelaClark Alford of Baton Rouge, LA was called home to her Heavenly Father on June 30, 2026, at theage of 48. Karron's greatest joy and highest calling was being amother. Her deep, unconditional love liveson throughher twochildren, Zoe and Keaton, who were theabsolute center of her world and her greatest blessings. Her gentle spirit and devotion willcontinue to guide them as they carry her legacy forward Some of their most cherishedmomentsasa family were spent togetherright at home, baking with Zoe, tending to thegarden with Keatonand actingashis number one fan, or enjoying their laughter and friendly competitionon family game nights. Her memory willalso be lovinglykeptalive by her sisterShannon and her husband GeorgeVeeder, alongwith their children Bailey and Ietta, and by her brotherJason and hiswife Dulcie. Karronisnow peacefully reunited in glory with her mother, Susan, and her father, Stan Clark. Afaithful servant with a quiet, humble heart,Karronpouredher love into her home and community. While she enjoyed her work with theStateof Louisiana Tourism and lovedhelping others discover new places, her true dedication was always to thefamily God entrusted to her. Her kindness, grace, and steady love willforeverremaininthe heartsofthose who knew her.

To honorKarron's memoryand walk in her spirit of generosity,the family welcomes actsofkindness or donations to theMultipleMyeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) at https://themmrf.org/. Adatefor Karron's memorial servicehas not been decided at this time.

CherylAnn Wilson Edwards, born October 9, 1961, passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of her family on May 7, 2026, at theage of 64.

Cherylwas adevoted mother, sister, aunt,and friend whose greatest joy in life was caring for the people she loved. She possessed remarkable strength,unwavering determination, and agenerous heart that carried her throughlife'schallenges and touched everyone fortunate enough to know her. Whether offering advice, sharing alaugh, or simply being present when someone needed her, Cherylmadethose around her feelloved and supported Aboveall,Cherylcherishedher family.She was a proud and loving mother to Cory Edwards and Alexis Vega, whom she lovedbeyond measure.Her love for her family was constant and enduring,and the memories she created with them willbetreasured forever. Cherylfacedher battle with cancer with extraordinary courageand grace. Evenduring her most difficultdays, she remained focused onthe people she loved, demonstrating an inspiring resilience She was preceded in death by her parents, Betty WilsonJudin and David Wilson, and her sister, BeckieWilson. She is survivedbyher children, Cory Edwards and AlexisVega; her brothers, Troy Wilson andDavid (Kim) Wilson; her nieces and nephews, Kristian and James DeBerardinis, and Joshua and Kaytlen Judin; and many extended family members and friends.

ThoughCheryl'spassing leavesanimmeasurable void, her love,strength, and spirit willremainwith those who knew her. Her memory willcontinue to live on in thecountless livesshe touched and with thefamily she lovedso deeply. In lieu of flowers,donations may be madein Cheryl'smemory to organizations supporting cancer researchand patient care, or to another charity of your choice. Online condolences may be offered at www.gardenofmemoriesm etairie.com.

Harrison, Thomas John'Tom' Thomas "Tom" Harrison, was born on March 30, 1950. He was proceeded in death by his parents John and Lovie Harrison and his brother PeterHarrison. He is survivedbyhis siblings Jack (Jenny)Harrison, Lovie (Bart) Geraci, Michael (Cherrie) Harrison, and Mary Alexander, also sister -in-law Betsy Harrison. He is survivedbymany nephews, nieces, and grandnephews and nieces. Every summer he would gather his nephews and take them on avacationin his RV.They went to Gettysburg,Grand Cannon, Mt.Rushmore, and many other places. He taught at Millaudon Elementary School in Violetfor many years. He also taught theG ED program at Nunez and the parish prisonfor theSt. Bernard ParishSchool Board. Relatives and friends are invitedtoattend a memorial gathering to be held at St. Bernard Memorial Funeral Home, 701 W. Virtue St Chalmette,LAonSaturday, July11thfrom 11:00AM1:00PM, followedbya Memorial Mass in Thomas' memory beginning at 1:00PM. He will be laid to eternal rest in St.Bernard Memorial Gardens. To view and sign theFamily Guestbook,pleasevisit www.stbernardmemorial.c om

Lydia Hingle Jeanfreau, born March31, 1962, anative of NewOrleans and longtime residentofBelle Chasse, Louisiana, passed away peacefullyonJune 30th, 2026, surroundedby thelove of herfamily.

Lydia wasborninNew Orleans, Louisiana, to the lateRay JamesHingle, Sr andTressie Levatino Hingle.She wasthe devoted wife of Raymond T. Jeanfreau Ill for 46 years andthe loving motherof Stefanie Mclemore (Chris), Stacie Radosta(Jeff), Raymond Jeanfreau IV (Amy), and Daniel Jeanfreau Sr.(Lindsey). Shewas aproud and cherished grandmother to BreannaMclemore ChristopherMclemore, PyperStowe,Peyton Stowe, Raymond Jeanfreau V, Emmet Mclemore, Luca Radosta, DanielJeanfreau Jr., Lainey Jeanfreau,and ShelleyJeanfreau. Sheis also survived by herbrother,Ray JamesHingle Jr (Sylvia), as well as numerousnieces, nephews, cousins, extendedfamily members, andlifelong friends whowill forever remember herkindness, strength,and unwavering love

Lydia wasa graduate of SetonAcademy in New Orleans. Shededicated several years to serving theyouth of hercommunity throughthe Catholic YouthOrganization (C.Y.O.) in Port Sulphur, whereshe helped guide andmentor young people through faith, fellowship andservice Agiftedartist, Lydia had apassion for paintingand wasalways exploring different artistictechniques to createher uniquemasterpieces. Hercreativity wasanexpression of her spirit,and she found great joyinsharing herartwork with familyand friends. Sheespecially treasured Christmas, when family traditions, laughter, and spirited Christmas games broughteveryonetogether.Her home was aplace of warmth,love, and cherished memories. Lydia wasknown for her strength,honesty, and fiercelove for herfamily. Shewas authentic and compassionate, always offeringsupport,guidance, andencouragement to those she loved. Family wasatthe center of everythingshe did, andthe valuesshe instilledwill continuetoliveonthrough future generations.

Aboveall else, Lydia's greatest accomplishment and deepestjoy was her family. Nothing made her happierthanhaving her childrenand grandchildren gathered. Shewas the heartofher family, andher greatest happiness came from seeingthoseshe lovedtogether.Her children andgrandchildren will forever remember her love,guidance, andthe strongfamilyvaluesshe instilledineach of them Thememories she created andthe lessons she taught will continue to live on through thegenerations she cherishedsodearly Though herpresence will be deeply missed, the love she shared and the legacy she leaves behind will remain in thehearts of all whoknewand loved her.

Friends andfamilyare invited to attenda Funeral Mass at 11AM on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 at OurLady of Perpetual Help,8968 LA-23, in Belle Chasse, LA Visitation will begin at 9AM.Interment will immediately follow at OurLady of Perpetual Help Cemetery.Please visit mothefunerals.com to view andsignthe online guestbook.

Born on September16, 1941, in Vestmarka, Norway, Bjorn discovered hislove for the sea and travel whileserving in the Norwegian Navy. He workedasa radio operator in theMerchant Marine until1967, when he became a shipping agent, first in LongBeach, California, and later on the Mississippi RiverinLouisiana. He retiredfromKinderMorgan in 2006. He wasdevoted to his familyand friends and neverlet distance weaken thebonds he shared with those he loved. He kept careful recordsofeverythingimportant, and there wasnohome repairorimprovementprojecthe couldn't tackle. He lovedlutefisk, charbroiledoysters, and agood crawfish boil,aswell as a cold beer whilewatching theSaintsorLSU football. He washappiest when his familywas togetherand doting on histwo dogs, "the girls." Bjorn willberememberedfor his adventurous spirit,unwavering devotion to family, generous heart, andunmistakable Norwegian-NewOrleanian accent. Bjorn is survivedbyhis daughter, Monica (Peter) DeBerardinis; hisson Michael (DeAnna)Judin; hisstepsons, David (Kim) WilsonJr. andTroyWilson; hisgrandchildren,James, Kristian,Kaytlen, Joshua, Cory, andAlexis;his sisters, Gry Josefsson and KariJudin; hisbrother,Finn (Vivi) Judin; nieces and nephews. He waspreceded in death by hisparents, Liv andKaare Judin; his wife, Betty Judin; hissister, Eva Berg; andhis stepdaughters, Cheryl Edwards andBeckie Wilson. Thefamilywishesto thank MetairieHealthcare for theirkindnessand care over thelast several years. Aprivate burialwill be held Online condolencesmay be offered at www.garden ofmemoriesmetairie.com.

Agnes MaeFrischhertz Moore Kessel passed away peacefully on June 14, 2026, at the age of 79. Born on March7,1947, in New Orleans, Louisiana, she wasthe cherished daughter of Lloyd Nicholas Frischhertz, Sr.and Yvonne Ellen Dupas. Aproud graduate of St JamesMajor Elementary andHigh School, Agnes went on to earnher nursingdegree from Mercy NursingSchool, beginning avocationofcareasa Registered Nurse.Agnes built herlifearoundthe things that mattered most—home, family, and thejoy of beingtogether Sheloved gathering for familyparties, whereher warmth,humor, andunmistakable presence filled theroom. Acreative spirit, Agnesexpressed herself through art andwriting, leaving behind pieces of herheart in everysketch andeveryword. In herlater years, she found comfort,companionship,and a sense of home at VilleSte Marie Senior Living Agnes waspreceded in death by herparents;her husband, LawrenceMoore; andher eldest sister, Yvonne Frosch. Sheleaves behindher devoteddaughters, Deborah Moore Barnes (David) of Tampa, Florida, andDana Kessel Keyes (John)ofWellfleet Massachusetts. Agnes treasured herrole as grandmother to Cameron Barnes, GarrettBarnes, Mary Keyes, andNola Keyes, each of whom broughther immeasurable joyand pride.She is also survived by hersiblings, Patricia Arnold,Kathleen Pilie', Lloyd Frischhertz,Jr. (Marcelle),and Lawrence Frischhertz (Isabel), as well as manybeloved extended familymembers andfriends. Thefamilyextends heartfelt gratitude to the compassionatestaff of VilleSte Marie Senior Living andThe Sanctuary at Passages Hospice, whose kindness, dignity andattentivecarebrought comforttoAgnesand her familyduring herfinal days. Familyand friends are

Edwards, Cheryl Ann Wilson

Jeanfreau, Lydia Hingle

Kessel, AgnesMae Frischhertz Moore

ClarkAlford, Karron

Bradford, JanChristopher

Judin, Bjorn

Bjorn Judin, 84, of River Ridge,Louisiana, passed away on May26, 2026.

invited to the Funeral Mass celebrating Agnes's life on Monday, July 13, 2026,at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70124. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. until the mass at 12:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Metairie Cemetery.

Kinabrew III, John Monroe

John MonroeKinabrew III, known to most as John and to fish everywhere as apersistent adversary, passed awayonJune 24, 2026 at the age of 79.

John was aNew Orleans original -a graduate of Isidore Newman School (Class of '64) andWilliams College (Class of '68) -who spent his career in the industrial supply business and his retirement doing what he arguably did best: showing up for other people. Throughvolunteer work at City Park, the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, Start the Adventure in Reading (STAIR),and Hotel Hope, he gave his time generously and without fanfare.He was adevoted member of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in New Orleans and St. Thomas More CatholicChurch in Decatur, Georgia, both of which had the good sense to keep him busy. When he wasn't volunteering, he was fishing. The fish didn't always cooperate, but that never seemed to slow him down.

John was the son of the late June Coney Kinabrew and J.M. (Jack) Kinabrew, Jr. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 28 years, Carolyn Wood Kinabrew -a woman of deep and abiding faith who set astandard he spent the rest of his life tryingto honor. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Catherine Dyer Kinabrew; his sons John Kinabrew IV (Amy) and Christopher Kinabrew (Jackie); his daughter Suzi Kukucka (Wayne); his step -daughters Helen Bouzon (Shaun) and Catherine Bouzon Martinez (Eric); and his grandchildren Maggie, Jonas, Kira, Lulu, Elle, Justin, and Miles -seven very good reasons he kept showing up.

Acelebration of John's life will take place on Saturday, July 11, 2026 at 2:00 pm at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home Visitation will precede the service from 12-2pm. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to the Lake PontchartrainBasin Foundation, Hotel Hope, or Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church -three organizations that meant a great deal to John and will carry his spirit forward.

Eugenia Niehaus Lind, a devoted educator, jewelry maker, community servant, and loving mother, passed away peacefully on June 28, 2026, leaving a profound legacy of love, faith, and service. Born in El Paso, Texas on February 3, 1939, Eugenia touchedcountless livesacross Texas and Louisiana. She shared 63 wonderful years of marriagewith her beloved husband, Thomas Otto Lind Eugenia dedicated her professionallife to teaching young children in El Paso, Dallas, and New Orleans at McGehee's,St. Andrew's Episcopal School, and Trinity EpiscopalSchool. She graduated from the University of Texas, El Paso, and did graduate work at Dominican College in New Orleans.Asa jewelry maker, her signature "JustMeDesigns" necklaceswere loved and worn by many, reflecting her creativity and generous spirit. Her commitment to

communitywas unwavering.AtTrinityEpiscopal Church,she sanginthe TrinityChoir,servedonthe Vestry, and was Director of ChristianEducation. She volunteeredatDePaul's, Tulane Hospital, Memorial Medical Center,and in the NICU at Baptist Hospital Shewas honored as one of Louisiana's most outstanding citizensin1993. She was alsoa memberofthe Junior League of New Orleansand acharter memberofTARTS(tapped outs).

Eugenia loved herfamily fiercely. Sheissurvived by her devotedhusband, ThomasOttoLind; children, Ashley Lind Zarr Kearney(Michael), and Elizabeth KellyLind; grandchildren,Luke Zarr (Jillian) and Ellie Zarr;great-grandson, "Ford"; twin sister, Virginia Niehaus Roddy; nephews, Jameyand HardyRoddy and Winand Scott Messersmith, and nieces, Lynley Lind Hicks, Carla Lind Compton, and Leslye Lind Lockfield. Her family wishes to express their gratitudetothe staffofLambeth House for the kindness, compassion, anddedicated carethey providedthroughout the past several years. Acelebration of Eugenia'slife willbeheldMonday, July 6 at 11:00AMatTrinity Episcopal Church. Inhonor of her vibrant spirit, guests arerequestedtodress in bright, colorfulattire. There willbenovisitation before or reception after the service.

Frances Cantone Mayeaux passedaway peacefully on June 28, 2026 at the ageof89. Frances was born in NewOrleans on July 30, 1936. Alongtime resident of Harahan, Francescontinuedtoenjoy and lovethe flavor, culture,and foodNew Orleans has to offer. Shewas predeceasedindeath by her parentsVincent and Daisy Cantone and her beloved sonChris Mayeaux.In1977 Franceswas appointed Administrative Director of the Louisiana Cemetery Board, apositionshe held until her retirementin 1996. Relatives and friends areinvited to attend a Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 at Tharp Funeral Home,1600 N. Causeway Blvd Metairie, LA 70001. Visitationwillbegin at 9:00 AM. Interment willbein Lake Lawn Park Mausoleum, 5454 PontchartrainBlvd., New Orleans, LA 70124. To view Frances' fullobituary and to leave expressions of love and sympathy,please visit www.tharpcares.com.

Michel, Raymond Paul

Raymond PaulMichel, Jr.passed awaypeacefully on Wednesday, July 1, 2026,after alongbattle with cancer, at the ageof 75. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana,on January 18,1951, to the late Helen and Raymond Michel, Sr.

He was the brotherof Joycelyn Treuil,Ronald Michel(Beverly),Robert Michel, and the late Beverly Liuzza and was the lifetime companion of the late Betty DiGiovanni. He is also survivedbymany nieces, nephews,cousins, and wonderful lifelong friends.

Anative and proud lifelongresident of Algiers, Raymond graduated from Martin Behrman High School in 1969.After high school, he joinedthe Airforce Reserves,serving as aFireman. Raymond worked many years as the maintenance manatthe Westbank campus of Delgado Community College.Raymond waswell likedbyall those he workedwith.

Raymond was aloving, compassionate and most of alla very caring person to all. He enjoyedriding his scooter andspending time with his friends of the Deux Over Scooter Club.

Raymond was alifetime member of theKnightsof Columbus SantaMaria Council#2829. He willbe deeply and dearly missed by allwho knew and loved him.

The family expresses theirdeepest gratitude to theoutstanding care providedbyPassages Hospice.

Relatives and friends are invitedtoattend the funeral servicesatHoly Name of Mary Church, 400 Verret Street,Algiers, Louisiana on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at 11 a.m. with visitation from9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Interment willfollow in St Bartholomew Cemetery, 500 De Armas Street,Algiers, Louisiana.

MOTHE Funeral Home has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.The family kindly invitesyou to share thoughts, fondest memories,and condolences online at www.MotheFunerals.com. Avisitationwillbeheld from9:00 AM to 11:00 AM on 2026-07-07 at Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church , 400 VerrettStreet.

Afuneralservicewillbe held at 11:00 AM on 2026-07 -07 at Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church, 400 VerrettStreet

Aburialwillbeheldat St.Bartholomew Cemetery, 500 De Armas Street.

John "Cooper" Petagna, Jr.passedaway peacefully on June 24, 2026. Cooper was anative New Orleanian and proud graduateofJesuitHighSchool and LoyolaUniversity. He was theson of thelate Jack and Betty Petagna of NewOrleans. Although Cooper moved fromNew Orleans to Floridamany years ago, thecityhad always remained dear to his heart and was agreat source of pridetohim.

Cooper was abeloved husband, father, grandfather,brother, uncleand friend to many. He was well loved, deeply respected,adoredand willbeforever missed.

Afuneralservicewillbe held at 10:30 AM on July 28, 2026 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in St.Petersburg, Florida. More details can be found at theAnderson McQueen funeral home website.

Jenna Vee Tabor,a belovedwife,mother, grandmother,sister, and aunt,passedaway on Sunday, June 28, surrounded by theloveofher family.BornonMay 7, 1939, in NewOrleans, Louisiana, Jenny carriedthe warmth, spirit, and hospitalityof her hometown throughout her life

Aproud graduateof Redemptorist HighSchool, Jenny beganher career with AT&T, whereshe worked with dedication and pride.She later chose to devote her life to her family as alovingand committed homemaker. Her home was her heart, and she poured her energy intocreating alifefilled with care, stability, and joy forthose she loved.

Jenny's greatest joywas found in thepeopleshe loved. She cherishedtime with her family and friends, never missing an opportunity to bring everyone together formusic, dancing, laughter, and one of herunforgettableparties. She hada heartfor serving others, both in her home and through her workwithCatholic Charities, always extending kindness, compassion, and ahelpinghand to thoseinneed.

Those who knew Jenny will fondly remember her wonderfulsense of humor, her unwavering faith, her loyalty, and her legendary standardsfor cleanliness—making sure everyone washedtheir hands and removed their shoes beforeenteringher home. It was all part of theloving way she cared for thepeoplearound her and the home she so proudly kept

Aboveall,Jenny willbe remembered as adevoted mother, alovinggrandmother, and acompassionatecaregiver whose life reflected thevaluesoffaith, service, and love.Though she willbedeeplymissed, her family takescomfort in knowing she has been welcomed into thelovingarms of our Lord,where thereis no morepain, only eternal peace. Her legacy liveson in thecountless livesshe touched,and her love will remain in theheartsofall who knew her.

Jenny was preceded in death by her devoted husband, DonaldTabor,her sonCraig Tabor,and her cherished grandson Owen Tabor.Also, herparents, Carlton Sr. and Mabel LabbeMorris, and her siblings Woodrow,Myrna, Estelle, Merle,Warren Glen, and Malcolm.

Jenny is survivedbyher loving sons, Mitch Tabor and Jordan Tabor;her daughters_in_law, Kelli Tabor and Lisa Tabor;and her treasuredgrandchildren,Victoria Tabor and Reed Tabor.She is also survivedbyher siblings Marion, Lynwell, Wesley, andLola, alongwith numerous extended relatives and friendswho adored her. She waspreceded in death by her parents, Carlton Sr. and Mabel LabbeMorris, and her siblings Woodrow,Myrna, Estelle, Merle,Warren Glen, and Malcolm.

ACelebrationofLife will be held on Saturday, July 25, at TharpFuneralHome in Metairie.Visitation will take place from 10:00 a.m to 12:00 p.m., followedbya Mass beginning at noon.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be madetoRainWillBring Flowersat rainwillbringflowers.orgor by mailing checks to: Rain Will Bring Flowers 8829 Phaeton Xing Dr. Baton Rouge,LA70817

Cindy RottsVoltolina, born on August 4, 1964, in St.Joseph, MO,passed away on June 23, 2026, in Ponchatoula, LA. Shegrew up in Metairie, LA andwas thedaughter of Eric C. "Ric"Rotts andthe late Betty Gomeck Rotts. She wasthe cherished wife of 41 years to Albert F. "Chip" Voltolina, Jr.and thedevotedmothertoAlbertF "Tre" Voltolina, III and Adam M. Voltolina. Sheis also survived by hersiblings, Deborah R. Lane (Brian), Katherine R. Lewis, Eric"Ricky" Rotts, and Michael Rotts, along with numerousnieces, nephews, great-nieces, andgreat-nephews.Cindy wasa graduate of Grace King High School and foundjoy in the simple pleasures that made everyday momentsspecial. Sheenjoyed doing crafts andshoppingwas also one of herfavorite pastimes. Shemade it ahobby she truly enjoyed,often finding delightinthe experience andthe treasures she discoveredalong theway. Cindy RottsVoltolina will be deeply missed by all whoknewand lovedher Mass will be on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 1PMat GreenwoodFuneral Home. Visitation beginningat11 AM untilMass time.

Gwendolyn "Gwen" ChaplainWindhorst passed peacefullyonJune 24, 2026 with herhand held by herson,JudgeStephen J. "Steve"Windhorst. Gwenwas born in New OrleansonDec.28, 1934, beloved daughter of the lateFrederick Chaplain andCatherineSchmitt Chaplain. Sheissurvived by herloving anddevoted son, Steve,and by hislovingpartner of many years, Wilma Heaton, whodiligently helped himcare for herand whoshe lovedasa daughter; andbySteve's sister,Judith Windhorst (Chip Cahill); and by her cousin,Gail LeNormand Heine(Ted), all of whom she wasvery fond Shegrewupduring the depression near the Irish Channel andwas abeautifulchild whosang like an angelona weeklyradio programoriginating from Schram StudiosinNew Orleans. She graduated Redemptorist High School with honorsin1952, and marriedthe lateFritz H. Windhorst in 1954. After divorcein1961, she moved with heryoung son to Terrytownin1965, where she built anew home for himand also onefor her parents, andresidedfor 61 years. Sheretired as Executive Admin.Asst from West Jefferson Medical Center in 2003. Gwenwas adevout Catholic of Christ theKing

Church and raisedher son in love andservice.She wasa superb writer and taughthim to write with clarity andproperEnglish and grammar.She reviewed his papers throughout college and law school, and he credits herfor thefundamentals he continuestorelyonin hislegal profession. Gwenloved to travelincluding trips to Greece, Israel, andEgypt, where she rode acamel. She cherished thetrips with herson from San Francisco to NewYork, London, and Paris. In herlast years she needed much care and Steve receivedmany blessingsspending time and taking care of her. She leaves this worldinpeace to be with ourHeavenly Father. Visitation:Mothe Funeral Home, 2100 West Bank Expy., in Harvey,LA on Tues.July7,2026 at 4:30 PM, followed by Mass at 6:30 PM.Burial will be held privately at West Lawn SouthCemetery

Wolfe,Laura Relle Laura RelleWolfe, alifelong resident of Gretna, LA for 94 years. Shepassed away on July 1, 2026 surroundedbyfamilyathome in Garden Park, whereshe resided for 60 years. Survivedbyher six children Sheila Wolfe, CharleneWolfe, Robert Wolfe(Debbie), Pam Pecquet(Bobby), John Wolfe, and Tina Daigle (Kevin,) as well as seven grandchildren, Jacob Wolfe (Shelby), Ryan Wolfe (Mallary), Jason Wolfe (Sarah), Josh Daigle,Kelly Daigle Maggio (Samuel), Connor Wolfe(Bryanne), and NatalieWolfe. And nine great grandchildren, Emma, Leo, Lily, Luke and LizzyWolfe, Zion, Magnolia, Koaand Olive Maggio andmanynieces andnephews. Preceded in death by herparents Frank and Rose Relleand hersiblings JoeRelle,Rosemary Fedele and Sal Relleaswell as her husband M. Leon Wolfe. Familyand friends are invited to attend the Memorial Mass at St Joseph Church,610 6th St in Gretna, LA on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 at 11AM Visitation will begin at 9:30AM.Interment will followimmediately at Westlawn Memorial Park, 1225 WhitneyAve in Gretna, LA. Please visit mothefunerals.com to view andsignthe online guestbook.

Voltolina,Cindy Rotts

Mayeaux,Frances Cantone

Petagna, John'Cooper'

Windhorst, Gwendolyn Chaplain 'Gwen'

Tabor,Jenna Vee'Jenny'

Lind, Eugenia Niehaus

AMERICA

What started 250years ago continues today

The founding of anation is seriousbusiness. And as they gatheredinPhiladelphia 250 years ago, the delegates of the SecondContinental Congressknewthis.

To break with all that they knew and to establish something the world had never before seen —anationrooted in theright of the peopleto govern themselves —took ameasure of courage that we can only marvel at today. The Declaration of Independence openswith that famous triad of “Life, Libertyand thepursuit of Happiness.” And it endswithanother as the signatories stood on aprecipice of history and proclaimed, “we mutually pledgeour Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor” to this cause.

These final words are worthyofreflection for us two and ahalf centuries later

The founders had no guaranteeofsuccess. No model to follow.They surely had their individual differences and pettygrievances.Yet they put these aside and joined together with faith in one another and in the future. And whatthey started succeededbeyond their wildestdreams Couldtheyimagine that 13 colonieswould grow into anation that leadsthe world in commerce, technology,innovation and so many otherareas? Thatour land mass would span from sea to shining sea? That oneday,their descendants would be calledonintwo world wars to save the lands they had left?Thatthe United States of America they created in penand ink would land aman on the moon?

That’snot to say that there have not beenfailures,challenges and upsetsover the course of this history.There werethe dark days whenwe turned on each other in civil war.Westill wrestlewiththe factthatthe framers’ versionof freedom left so many people onthe outside lookingin. Butwe alsomust acknowledgethatthey gave us institutions to address these injustices Howthey found the strength to build the America we live in today is embeddedinthat last line of the Declaration —theymutually pledged. They stood together come whatmay They were ready to loseeverything —except belief in one anotherand this greatexperiment they were about to embark upon.That’sthe only way anyone could take such arisk. So in this 250th year,wetoo must turn to one anotherand pledge again touphold idealsofthis nation come what may.For all our divisionsand disagreements, when most Americanssee their neighbor in need, they cometohelp.Whenwe are called to serve, we answer.Whenthere’s a job to do, we do it.

That’sthe American way.It wastrueatour founding and it is truetoday.May this semiquincentennial year not only remind us of ourhistory,but also of the continuing work of building anation thatbegan 250 years ago.

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COMMENTARY

The Declaration of Independence was only the beginning. In order to form a working government,the founders drafted theConstitution, which laid aframework for ourcountry.The Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787. Shortly afterward,the framers appended10amendments knownasThe Bill of Rights to limit the powers of thegovernment they hadcreated. The Bill of Rightswas ratified by the states on December 15, 1791.

ThePreamble

We the People of the United States,inOrder to form amoreperfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide forthe common defence, promote the general Welfare, and securethe Blessings of Libertytoourselves and our Posterity,doordainand establish this Constitution for the United States of America

TheBill of Rights

THE Conventions of anumber of the States, havingatthe time of their adopting the Constitution, expresseda desire,inorder to prevent misconstruction or abuseofits powers, thatfurther declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: Andasextendingthe ground of public confidence inthe Government,will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.

RESOLVEDbythe Senateand HouseofRepresentatives of the United States of America,inCongress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the followingArticles be proposed to theLegislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all, or anyofwhichArticles,whenratifiedby three fourthsofthe said Legislatures, to be valid to all intentsand purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz. ARTICLES in addition to,and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to thefifthArticle of the original Constitution.

AmendmentI

Congressshall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging thefreedom of speech, or of thepress; or theright of thepeople peaceably to assemble, and to petition theGovernment fora redress of grievances.

AmendmentII

Awell regulated Militia, being necessary to thesecurity of afree State, theright of the people to keep and bear Arms,shall not be infringed.

AmendmentIII

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war,but in amanner to be prescribed by law

AmendmentIV

Theright of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation,and particularly describing theplace to be searched, and thepersons or things to be seized.

AmendmentV

No person shall be held to answer for acapital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on apresentmentorindictmentofaGrand Jury,except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in timeof Warorpublic danger; nor shall any person be subject for the sameoffence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be awitness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private propertybetaken for public use, without just compensation.

AmendmentVI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to aspeedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law,and to be informed of the natureand cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him;tohave compulsoryprocess for obtaining witnesses in his favor,and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

AmendmentVII

In Suits at common law,wherethe value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by juryshall be preserved, and no fact tried by ajury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any Courtofthe United States, than according to the rules of the common law

AmendmentVIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

AmendmentIX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

AmendmentX

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively,or to the people.

These Saints in position to breakout

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

It would be an overexaggeration to say the New Orleans Saints’chances next season start and end with Tyler Shough. But not by much.

Yes, the same could be said about every starting quarterback andteam inthe NFL. The idea hasbecome acliche for agood reason. But at the risk of relying on tired tropes, the Saints are banking on Shough to carry them in 2026.And the second-year signal-caller has more than embraced the responsibility

From organizing workouts with teammates in the off hours to taking on moreof aleadership role, Shough understandsthe weight thejob entails. Forthe Saints to snap afive-year playoff drought, the 26-year-old will have to buildonhis electricrookie campaign —and then some.

“I’ve been able to learn over time just to be yourself,” Shough said. “Tobeagood leader,you have to serve others and you have to develop those relationships.

That said, Shough isn’t in this alone. He and the Saints would likely point out that results rarely come down tojustone player. Andso, as much as the Saints are counting on their quarterback’sgrowth this coming fall, there are ahandful of others whocould alsobeon the verge of taking their game to another level

These are the Saints’ breakoutcandidates of 2026, not including Shough

CB Kool-Aid McKinstry

McKinstry already has changed his jersey number more times (four) than he’splayed seasons (two). But the Alabama productis backwearing No. 1, the samenumber when he became abona fide star in college and erased an entireside of thefield. Will this be the year he earns that reputation as ashutdown corner in the NFL?

He has work to do for that to happen. According to Pro Football Focus, McKinstry allowed the seventh-most yards (676) among cornerbacks last season. But it wasn’tall bad. He allowed apasserratingof101.1 on those plays, which ranks just 74th. He also

ä See SAINTS, page 3C

July is theseason for optimism in the NFL.

Every team is undefeated and magically has fixed whatever ailed it in theoffseason. It’sthe time for unbridled hope and optimism, and the New OrleansSaints are in that number

The Saints are coming off a6-11 campaign that marked their third losing season in the past four years. They missed theplayoffs for the fifth consecutive campaign.

Butthere are reasons tobelieve those streaks will end this season, and the Saints have become trendy picks by someleague observers to go from worst to first in theNFC South. Here are five reasonstobelieve the hype in New Orleans: TylerShough

In aquarterback-driven league, the Saints might have found afranchise talentwith the No. 40 overall pick of the2025 draft —amassive coup. Shough has started only nine games, so there’sreason

to be cautious, but he has all the tools and is doing everything right in his first offseason as the starting quarterback. On the field, he has looked noticeably moreconfident and comfortable in Kellen Moore’soffense. Offit, he has embraced his role as one of the team leaders and galvanized the locker room behind him

Forthe Saints, everything starts with Shough. He’s raised the expectations foreveryone in the building and is the primary reason foroptimism throughout the organization.

More dynamicpassing attack

In ashow of belief in Shough, the Saints front office spentthe offseason building its offense around him and adding offensive weaponry to his arsenal. Veteran running back Travis Etienne is amultipurpose threat out of thebackfield, atrue every-down back.

Orgeronworks recruiting angles with No.1prospect

TexasTechpledgegives view into LSUcoach’s pitch

BY JON BLAU Staff writer

How does acoach recruit an athlete who has everything?

JalenBrewster,a 6-foot-3,300-pounddefensive tackle, is rated as theNo. 1prospect in the 2027 class. He’scommitted to Texas Tech, one of the nation’srichest programs in the NIL era.

But this is also aday andage where “commitments”are onetantalizing pitch away from “flipping.” LSU’stitle-winning coach, Ed Orgeron, who has returned to LaneKiffin’s staff as an ace recruiter,triedhis best to turn Brewster duringa visittoBaton Rouge this summer.

“Weall need something,” Orgeron told an athlete who not only pounces on quarter-

backs for Cedar Hill High School (Texas) but also lines up at quarterback, running for touchdowns with frightening size and speed.

“Weall need to get better,” continued Orgeron, whotold Brewster that he could make himeven better.Hepointed to apiece of advice Brewster heard moments earlier, which he otherwise never knew he needed.

“Because nobodyevertoldyou that,” Orgeron said.“Think about that.” Brewster, whoposted anearly15-minute recap of his LSU visit to his personal YouTube channel on Friday, offered aglimpse of what Orgeron hasbrought back to LSUasa

“special assistant to recruitingand defense.”

Duringthe visit, the64-year-oldCajun called Michael Irvin on FaceTime, presentinga Hall of Fame receiver to Brewsterin thepalm of his hand.

“Meand Mike are buddies,” Orgeron said.

“Been knowing Mike for awhile.”

After the callended, Orgeron added his pitch: He’slearned so much in four de-

cades as acoach and defensive line guru that he couldimpartthatwisdomtothe nation’stop recruit. Brewster turned to his own camera to say “Getting coached by alegend, 1of1.” It remains to be seen if Orgeron left a strong enough impression to pry Brewster away from Texas Tech, but theTigers are certainly battlingacross theborder LSU just flipped four-star defensive back Karnell James fromthe University of Texas,and James said shortly after his Thursday announcement that he’sworking to persuade Easton Royal, afive-star receiver from New Orleans,toalso flip from the Longhorns to the Tigers. Lamar Brown, LSU’stop recruit in the 2026 class, posted to XonFriday,just before Brewster’svideo release, writing: “Comebe

See LSU, page 3C

Ed Orgeron STAFFFILE

PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

Jeff Duncan

Saints quarterback Tyler Shoughlooks to make apass during minicamp on June 16 at the team’sindoor practice facility in Metairie. STAFF FILEPHOTO By SOPHIAGERMER

STAFFFILE PHOTO By BRETT DUKE Saints cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstryruns drills during organized team activities on June 10 at the team’spractice facility in Metairie.

WIMBLEDON

Eala upsets 2025 champion Swiatek

BY KEN MAGUIRE AP sportswriter

LONDON Iga Swiatek’s title defense at Wimbledon ended Saturday in a 7-6 (9), 6-2 third-round loss to 21-year-old Alexandra Eala, who continues to make history for the Philippines.

Eala is the first Filipino player male or female, to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam singles tournament on a day of upsets in the women’s draw

The left-handed Eala dropped to her knees and rolled onto her back on Centre Court after hitting a forehand winner on her third match point.

“It’s incredible to have my countrymen cheering me on and knowing that we’re all in this together,” she said in an on-court interview as she looked around at the Philippines flags.

“This goes out to them, this goes out to my family, this goes out to all the little girls with ruffled socks and chubby cheeks It means the world,” said the 29thseeded Eala, who saved two set points in the first-set tiebreaker The third-seeded Swiatek earned her first Wimbledon women’s title a year ago when she beat Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in the final.

Eala, who has trained in Mallorca at the Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy, gained worldwide support last year on her breakthrough run to the Miami Open semifinals, which included an upset of Swiatek.

She next faces 13th-seeded Jasmine Paolini for a spot in the Wimbledon quarterfinals.

Shortly before Swiatek’s exit, 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina was upset in the

third round by Elise Mertens 7-6 (4), 6-1. At No. 2, Rybakina is the highest seed on the women’s side to be eliminated. Her loss ensures that Aryna Sabalenka — who faces Naomi Osaka in the fourth round on Sunday will keep her No. 1 ranking after the tournament Belgium’s Mertens is the No. 25 seed at Wimbledon, where she’s won two doubles titles. She will next face 21st-seeded Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic. In another upset, Madison Keys rallied to oust the sixth-seeded Anisimova 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 in an all-

American contest on the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. The 26th-seeded Keys, the 2025 Australian Open champion, was asked how she’ll celebrate the U.S. holiday “I have no plans,” she told the Centre Court crowd after her victory “When you’re not in the States, it’s just kind of another day.” Keys will next play ninth-seeded Linda Noskova. Ashlyn Krueger, another American, has come through qualifying to reach the fourth round. She beat Ukraine’s Daria

Snigur 6-3, 6-2 and will face another Ukrainian — 12th-seeded Marta Kostyuk for a spot in the quarterfinals.

French Open champion Alexander Zverev, the No. 2 seed, got past American Marcos Giron 6-2, 7-6 (4), 6-4 to set up a fourth-round match against 13th-seeded Jiri Lehecka. Ninth-seeded Flavio Cobolli the runner-up at Roland Garros overcame a slow start against Karen Khachanov to win 0-6, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-2 and will face No. 5 seed Alex de Minaur in the fourth round.

Williams’ coach: Nerves, closed roof were factors in loss

BY ANDREW DAMPF Associated Press

LONDON Looking back, it seems perfectly understandable that it took Serena Williams some time to settle her nerves in her first singles match in nearly four years.

Rennae Stubbs, one of Williams’ coaches, pin-pointed a moment about an hour into the 44-year-old’s defeat to an opponent less than half her age earlier this week at Wimbledon.

“I noticed in the middle of the second set her take a big sort of deep breath and I actually turned around to Venus and said, ‘Oh I think she just relaxed,’” Stubbs said, referring to Serena’s older sister In an interview with The Associated Press on Saturday, Stubbs also revealed that she first started coaching Williams again in March and immediately noticed that the 23-time Grand Slam champion could still play.

Williams was beaten 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 by 20-year-old Maya Joint of Australia on Tuesday

While the result on the court was a loss, the reaction in the locker room from other players and coaches was a resounding victory, according to Stubbs.

“They know what it would be like to be in that position of not playing a match for close to four years, going on Centre Court at Wimbledon, knowing there’s how many millions of people around the world watching this match,” Stubbs said. “There’s 15,000 people in Centre Court. They expect good tennis They expect you to not embarrass yourself. So all the players know, to a small degree, what it must be like.” The match set ratings records on ESPN and Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka and Novak Djokovic are among the players who have publicly complimented Williams for her performance.

Williams injured her right knee

Tuesday.

toward the end of the first set against Joint and withdrew from her doubles match with Venus on Saturday

An Instagram update from Serena included images of four syringes that she said “shows the fluid they drained from my knee after my singles match.” An accompanying video showed her walking with strapping up and down her right leg and what appeared to be one of her daughters holding a cane for her.

“The good news is my knee shouldn’t swell or collect that much fluid again,” Serena said.

“The bad news is that, as hard as I tried, I just wasn’t able to get it ready for doubles.”

However, with the U.S. Open approaching, Serena indicated she could play again somewhere else soon.

“All I can say,” Serena said, “is stay tuned to a city near you.”

Right attitude

Serena became known for her emotional outbursts and run-ins with chair umpires and linesjudges toward the end of her career

So Stubbs was concerned about

her on-court behavior during her comeback.

But Williams maintained her composure from start to finish.

“That was sort of like the one sort of thing that I asked, is that she try and — as hard as it was going to be — to control her emotions and her nerves and all that sort of stuff,” Stubbs said. “I don’t think people even remotely can quantify the amount of pressure that was on her to walk out there and do what she did.”

Negative reactions

Stubbs was disappointed, though, to see negative reactions to Williams’ return on social media. She was also criticized for skipping her post-match duties – since the injury was not announced until a day later

Stubbs herself was also criticized on social media.

“I just don’t understand why people feel the need to tear somebody down,” Stubbs said. “What she’s doing out there is trying to play a sport she loves. That’s what it’s about. Show the kids, be out there, enjoy it and give the people another look at playing. What is wrong

Serena’s knee injury forces

Williams sisters to withdraw

Serena Williams withdrew from her doubles match with sister Venus at Wimbledon on Saturday due to a right knee injury

The 44-year-old Serena was injured during her singles return earlier in the week in a three-set loss.

“I’m heartbroken to have to withdraw from doubles. Coming back to compete again has been a gift, and the opportunity to play alongside @venuswilliams once more meant the world to me. I did everything I could but unfortunately my knee just isn’t ready to compete,” Serena said in an Instagram post.

The post included images of four syringes that Serena said “shows the fluid they drained from my knee after my singles match.”

The sisters are six-time champions as partners in women’s doubles at Wimbledon.

Astros send OF Meyers to Triple-A in slew of moves

The Houston Astros optioned struggling outfielder Jake Meyers to Triple-A Sugar Land in one of four roster moves made before Saturday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Astros also optioned outfielder Joey Loperfido to Triple-A, recalled outfielder/infielder Zach Dezenzo from Triple-A and reinstated infielder/outfielder LaMonte Wade from the injured list.

Meyers, a Gold Glove finalist in 2024 and the Astros’ third-longest-tenured position player, went hitless in Friday’s 3-1 loss to the Rays, dropping his batting average to .206 for the season. He has posted a .167/.231/.250 line since June 2, and he started just three of the Astros’ previous 10 games Loperfido is batting .136 since returning from the injured list June 4.

Reese’s double-double not enough in Dream loss

Veronica Burton scored 21 points and Gabby Williams had 14 of her 19 points in the second half to help the Golden State Valkyries complete a season sweep of the Atlanta Dream with an 88-83 victory on Saturday Burton made 6 of 9 shots, with two 3-pointers and 7 of 8 free throws for Golden State (14-7) in its fourth straight victory Williams sank 7 of 14 shots, including four 3-pointers, to help the Valkyries hand Atlanta (12-9) its fifth straight loss. Reserve Janelle Salaun had three 3s and scored 14 points.

Allisha Gray led the Dream with 22 points, and former LSU star Angel Reese had 17 points and 13 rebounds for her 14th double-double of the season.

on with a seven-time Wimbledon champion a 23-time Grand Slam champion — wanting to play another time at Wimbledon? God let her.”

Closed roof

Because the match started late in the day and there were concerns about darkness, the roof over Centre Court was closed for the match.

“She was hitting the ball so well in practice and moving really well and the conditions were very different indoors,” Stubbs said. “They were heavy Her ball wasn’t shooting through the court like it was outside.”

Despite being away for so long, Williams still hit serves beyond 120 mph and showed off her heavy groundstrokes that landed within inches of the baseline.

The only real issue was her movement

“When you’re great, you’re great,” Stubbs said. “When you have great timing, you always have great timing. I saw that from the moment I stepped back on court with her I was like, ‘Well, you never lost that.’

“And then it’s just getting the movement going and getting the body going and all that sort of stuff again and at a certain age you also have to monitor the workload. So what I saw out there didn’t surprise me at all, because I had been seeing it for months: The capacity to hit the ball as well as she’s always hit the ball.”

What’s next

While Williams indicated in her injury post that she would play again, her team is still awaiting details.

“She’s not just going to do a one-off,” Stubbs said. “I think she would like to play more but that is 100% her decision. I’m sure she’ll re-evaluate and reassess how she wants go forward and then we’ll be there for her either way.”

Celtics extend contract of breakout center Queta

The Boston Celtics have signed center Neemias Queta to a fouryear extension, according to a person familiar with the agreement.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because the signing cannot be announced until Monday at the earliest. The extension is reportedly worth $56 million.

Retaining Queta seemed to be a priority for the Celtics, who traded perennial All-Star Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia on Wednesday for Paul George and draft picks. Queta, who turns 27 on July 13, is coming off a breakout season with the Celtics. He averaged a careerbest 10.2 points, a career-best 8.4 rebounds and was a full-time starter for the first time. He averaged 11.2 points on 68% shooting after the All-Star break.

Hodges, Glover share lead at John Deere Classic

SILVIS, Ill. — Lucas Glover chipped in for eagle early and made a birdie late, his only two subpar holes Saturday for a 2-under 69 that was just enough for him to share the lead with Lee Hodges in the John Deere Classic that now has plenty of possibilities.

Hodges had four birdies in a sixhole stretch on the back nine of the TPC Deere Run for a 67 to join Glover at 16-under 197 going into the final round.

Nine players were within four shots of the lead, a group that ranges from 50-year-old Zach Johnson to NCAA champion Preston Stout of Oklahoma State.

Zac Blair (67), Ben Kohles (66) and Jackson Suber (66) were one shot behind. Another stroke back was Doug Ghim (67).

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MAJA SMIEJKOWSKA

Serena Williams of the United States waits for the service of Maya Joint of Australia during their first-round singles match at Wimbledon in London on

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MAJA SMIEJKOWSKA

Alexandra Eala of the Philippines celebrates after winning a third-round singles match against Iga Swiatek of Poland at Wimbledon in London on July 4.

Skenes amongMLB All-Star selections

BY RONALD BLUM AP baseball writer

Pittsburgh’sPaul Skenes, Milwaukee’sJacob Misiorowski and Dodgers’ two-way star ShoheiOhtaniall

could miss All-Star mound appearances because of startsnextweekend, whilefour players from the World Series champion Dodgers were voted to the NationalLeague’s starting lineup.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout earned his 12thAllStar selection and firstsince 2023 based on the second round of fan balloting announcedSaturday by Major League Baseball. Trout, who grew up near Philadelphia in Millville, New Jersey,was voted by fans to startfor the11thtimeand hopes to return from astrained right hamstring sufferedJune 17.

First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr among four All-Stars from the AmericanLeague champion TorontoBlueJays, said he will skip the July 14 game at Philadelphia’sCitizens Bank Park to rest a bad back that has bothered him for much of the season.

“Those four dayswill be great,” Guerrero said through atranslator,“to come back strong in the second half.”

Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, elected to his eighth start, will miss the gamebecause of abrokenrib that has sidelinedhim since May Skenes, the NLstarter in the last

LSU

Continued from page1C

apart (sic) of something that will be themostdominant groupin the country for the next 3-4 years brudda.”

Nothing is ever over in recruiting, especially when NIL and revenue-sharing negotiations are invariablypart of the process for five-star prospects. LSU isshowing it has the resources,brand name and coaching cachetobein the mix for top recruits.

If the Tigers flip Brewster, it would supercharge adefensive line room that brought in five-stars Brown and Richard Anderson, and upper-tier four-star Deuce Geralds in 2026. It als currently has top-50 edge rushersKJGreen and Chris Whitehead committed in 2027.

Brewster may be aTexas Tech commitment, but he’snot so devoted to theRed Raiders that he wouldn’tpublicizehis positive thoughts about LSU.

“Asfar as thepeople, it’s different,” Brewster said in his YouTube video.

At LSU, he shot jumpers on a basketball hoopbrought into the Tigers’ team meeting room. He played pickleball on LSU’scourts. He met with Kiffin.

He also toured the Tigers’ locker room and was impressed with their custom helmets and cleats that can change color

“That helmet was hard,” Brewster said. “I ain’tgonna lie.”

Dialing up the former Miami Hurricanes legend wasn’tanew trick for Orgeron because Irvin recently joked on Instagram about another time Orgeron, wholed the Hurricanesdefensive line from 1988-92, brought him into an LSU

SAINTS

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recorded three interceptions and 12 pass breakups, makinghim disruptive at times. This is apivotalseason for McKinstry.WithAlontae Taylor leaving in free agency,McKinstry is unquestionably the No. 1corner.And in the third year of afour-year contract, McKinstry’sperformance next seasoncould go alongway in determining his value if extension talks commence after the year

OT Kelvin Banks

If not for an ankle injury early in theSaints’ seasonfinale,Banks likely would have led all rookies in snaps lastseason. Heck,hestill finished third with 1,066 snaps. No playeronthe Saints arguably benefited more from his playingtime. Banks demonstrated tremendous growth as his rookie season progressed, as the first-round tackle went from allowing28pressures in his first eight gamesto18in his final nine. Banks increasingly found ways to use his size (6-foot5, 315 pounds) and athleticism to dominate hismatchup.The next natural step for the 22-year-old would be to generate more consistency, so he canbeviewed among the best at his position.

“Rookies that play early like

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By GENE J. PUSKAR

PittsburghPirates pitcher Paul Skenes collects himself on the mound duringthe secondinning of agameagainst the Cincinnati Reds on June 26 in Pittsburgh.

two All-Star Games,isscheduled to pitch for Pittsburgh on Tuesday andSunday.The 24-year-old righthanderis0-6 in hislast nine starts, dropping to 6-8 with a3.62 ERA for the season. He was voted in by players, as wasMisiorowski.

“Tobehonest, probably alittle surprised,” Skenes saidofhis selection.

Misiorowski,averaging 100.4 mph with his fastball and leading themajor leagueswitha 1.47 ERA,

was an All-Star lastyear after just five big league games. He also is scheduled to startSunday “We’re lookingfor September, October,” he said Friday.“It sucks —obviously Iwanttothrow in a gamelike that —but so be it.”

Ohtani,athree-time, two-way AllStarand six-time pickoverall, is unlikely to pitchinthe game because of aright biceps issue thatwill push his last pre-break start to next weekend, Dodgersmanager Dave Roberts said.

Former LSU coachEdOrgeron watches his players before kickoff against TexasA&M on Nov. 27, 2021, at TigerStadium. Orgeron returned to LSU as aspecial assistanttorecruiting and defense.

recruiting visit virtually

“I couldn’tsay anything to Coach Obecause that’s my guy,” said Irvin, who burst out laughing when he recalled that recruit ultimately pledged to Miami.

He could be referring to fivestar edge rusher Jaiden Bryant, whoflippedfromthe Tigers to the Hurricans on June 3.

“He got my subliminal (messages),” Irvin said At least with Brewster,Orgeron didn’tlet Irvin have thelast word.

He led Brewster down ahallway to where previous LSUgreats are depicted. Orgeron pointed to defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence, whocouldrecall Orgeron telling himhe’d be the captain of anational title team during arecruiting visit.

“Speak and it’ll become,” Orgeron said Nextinline was Joe Burrow

“Ohio State didn’twanthim,” he said of the Heisman winner.

Then Orgeron tapped on safety GrantDelpit, adding “Texas boy, Houston,”before he ended with offensive lineman Lloyd Cushenberry,who was judged as too smalland committed to South Carolina before LSUswiped him late.

Cushenberry is now in theNFL.

“How aboutthat, guys? It’sgonna happen,” Orgeron said to Brewster’sfamily.“I’m gonna put aring on y’all so darn big you’re gonna have to have three fingers to wear that thing.”

Brewster’stakeaway: “LSU and Louisiana coaching, way different. Life after ball, development and getting to the League —that’sthe main goal for me.”

Email Jon Blau at jon.blau@theadvocate.com.

Freddie Freeman became a10time All-Star when the LA first baseman was announced Sunday withDodgers third baseman Max Muncy and outfielder Andy Pages as winners in the secondphase on fanvoting, which ranfrom June 29 to Thursday. They joined Ohtani, who won theNLdesignated hitter spot by finishing with the most votes in the initial round of fanselection announced June 25. In the closestrace, Pagesedged Atlanta’sMichael Harris by fewer than 5,000 votes for the third NL outfield spot. Four Dodgerswere electedto start for thefirst timesince Steve Garvey,Davey Lopes, Bill Russell and Reggie Smith in 1980. World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto waspickedfor the NL pitching staff by Major League Baseball with one of its six selections, giving theDodgers five or more AllStars for the seventh straight time Twenty-six first-time All-Stars wereamong the 64 players picked, including four rookies: Cleveland second baseman Travis Bazzana, Detroitshortstop KevinMcGonigle, Cleveland left-handerParker Messick andCincinnati third baseman Sal Stewart. McGonigleisthe youngest player at 21, andBoston closer Aroldis Chapman at 38 is the oldest. Atlanta andthe host Phillieseach have five All-Stars. Philadelphia outfielderBrandon

DUNCAN

Continued from page1C

Veteran free agent Noah Fant and rookie Oscar Delpshould team with Juwan Johnson to give the offense acapable trio of tight ends. And rookie receivers Jordyn Tyson, Bryce Lance and Barion Brownadd speed and playmaking ability to the perimeter group.

Further,veteran leftguard David Edwards wasapriority signing in free agency.Heshould shore up alingering hole on the left side of the line and improve thepass protection on Shough’s blind side. The result has been noticeable this offseason. The offense is moreversatile, dynamic and wide open in Year 2under Moore.

Improved kickinggame

There’snosugar-coating how bad theSaints werehere ayear ago. The addition of free agent punter Ryan Wright and kicker Tanner Brownhas bolstered two of the shakiest spots on the roster

Wright should provide an immediate upgrade to the punter position andwill give the Saints their first top-10 punter since Thomas Morstead’srun from 2009-20.

Few noticed when the Saints added Brown to the roster after astrong tryout last month, but he couldbethe surprise of the offseason. He was named the UFL Special Teams Player of the Year and becamethe first kicker in pro football history to make two fieldgoals from 60 or more yards in agame this season.

that usuallytakeapretty big jump from Year 1toYear 2,” offensive line coachBrendan Nugent said.

“And he’sonthat path.EverythingIseenhere from theoffseason program, he’sfigured out what worked, what we neededto tweak and he’sworked on it.We’ve worked on it. And he keeps getting

better.”

DE ChaseYoung Twenty sacks.

That’s what CamJordan said he thought Young was capable of next season. And, forthe first time since Young’srookie season,the possibilitydidn’tfeel absurd. Young,

after all, racked up 10 sacks in just 12 games last year.That’snot quite a20-sack pace, but Young madehis presence felt as apass rusher in 2025. Notably,hestarted turning his pressures into sacks— finally reaching double digits as apro. Admittedly,20sacks is ahard threshold to reach. Myles Garrett

Marsh was elected to start and will be joinedbyfourfellowPhillies: first baseman Bryce Harper,DH Kyle Schwarber,reliever Jhoan Duranand left-hander Cristopher Sánchez. Harper was alegend pick added by baseball commissioner Rob Manfred. Atlantacatcher Drake Baldwin and second baseman Ozzie Albies were voted in as starters andwill be joined by left-hander ChrisSale, a10-time All-Star,and closer Raisel Iglesias. Toronto has four,with Guerrero joined by second baseman Ernie Clement, wholed AL players in the first phase of voting from June 3-25, andpitchers Dylan Cease and Louis Varland.

“Our fan support is unlike any other team,obviously,because of the countrybacking you,”saidToronto’s John Schneider,the AL manager “Not just Canada —Ithink alot of baseball people really recognized howthose guys play thegame.”

Elected AL starters also include Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers; Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.; Tampa Bay third baseman JuniorCaminero; Houston designated hitter Yordan Alvarez; andthe New York Yankees’ Judge andMinnesota’sByron Buxton in theoutfield. Guerrero will be replaced in the starting lineup by theAthletics’ Nick Kurtz and Judge by Yankees teammateCodyBellinger. Replacements are based on player, manager and coach voting.

Brownisnot just the proverbial “campleg,” brought in to ease the load on incumbent Charlie Smyth during camp. He has a strong chance to supplant Smyth and earn the starting spot on the final 53-man roster

Full year (hopefully)ofYoung Chase Young is the mosttalented defender on the roster.He might be the mosttalented player on the team. When healthy and engaged, as he wasinthe second half of last season, he is ahandful on the edge, where he racked up acareer-high 10 sacks in only 12 games last season. Young has blossomed in Brandon Staley’s3-4 schemeand is poised forabreakout campaign if he can stay healthy.That’sa big “if.” Young has played afull season just once in his six-year NFLcareer Young looked terrificthroughout the offseason and will be asked to play akey leadership role forthe front line. He is poised forabreakout year Staffcarryover

After afoundational 2025 season, Moore managed to keep almost the entire coaching staff intact for2026, ararity in today’sNFL. The lone exception is Jahri Evans, the assistant offensive line coach, whodeparted forPittsburgh.

Otherwise, the Saints managed to protect their key coordinators, including prized defensive coordinator Staley,and position coaches from being poached this offseason.

The continuity has shownin practices, where players are noticeably morecomfortable and confident in Year 2ofthe offensive and defensive systems.

and T.J. Watt are the only rushers in the last five years to hit that mark, andthose twoare seen as the twobest pass rushers in today’sgame. But2025was alreadya revelation for Young, and still only 27 yearsold, anotherbreakoutseason could be in store.

SJonas Sanker

It might seem lazy to put athird member of last year’sdraft class on this list, but hear us out: The Saints have bigplans forSanker in 2026. They’re trusting himto replace Taylor at the Star position, defensive coordinatorBrandon Staley’sversion of an inside cornerback.Sankerearnedthe role after asurprising season in which he proved to be reliable after aseason-ending injury to Julian Blackmon. Safeties coach Terry Joseph said Sanker displayeda “mental toughness” that will serve the 23-year-old as he adapts to anew position.

“I think it’sreally hard to evaluate off of college film that this guy can (playthe)Star,” Josephsaid. “I think you got to get him in your organization, in your building, and you gotta really get afeel for where that guy is mentally,how tough he is andhow muchcan he handle, because alot’sonthe plate of the star.”

Email Matthew Parasatmatt. paras@theadvocate.com

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MATTHEW HINTON Saints safetyJonas Sanker runs adrill during organized team activities on June 17 in Metairie.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARySCHEINUK

PRO BASEBALL

Sánchezc

Rosarioph

Wellsc

Totals38 1111 11Totals33474 Minnesota32010014011 New York000130000—4 E—Chisholm (6), McMahon (5). DP—Minnesota 1, New York 1. LOB—Minnesota 7, New York 9. 2B—Buxton (16), Bell (18), Domínguez (8), Bellinger (17). HR Clemens (16), Keaschall (4), Jackson (1), Larnach (6), Bell 2 (13), Domínguez (4), Schuemann (2). SB—Grisham (7), Martin (9). SF—Buxton (2). IPHRERBBSO Minnesota Matthews

Adams pitched to 5 batters in the 6th, Hill pitched to 2 batters in the 5th.

HBP—Bird (Keaschall), Rogers (Rice). Pitch timer violations—Doval (pitcher). T—3:21. A—40,156 (47,309).

Jung (22). HR—Greene (12)

Chapman becomes strikeout king of relief

BY GREG BEACHAM AP sportswriter

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Aroldis Chapman became the Major League Baseball career leader in strikeouts as a reliever Friday night, toppling a record that had stood for more than half a century The 38-year-old left-hander for the Boston Red Sox didn’t do it with one of the triple-digit fastballs that have made him one of the most imposing pitchers of his generation and one of the most accomplished relievers in baseball history Instead, his high pitch to the Denzer Guzman of the Angels was clocked at a mere 98.6 mph and Guzman still couldn’t get around in time.

“I feel very happy, very proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish,” Chapman said through an interpreter “I just feel very satisfied right now.”

The strikeout was the 1,364th in Chapman’s 17-year career It broke the record long held by Hoyt Wilhelm, the Hall of Famer whose 21-year career ended back in 1972, just five days shy of his 50th birthday Chapman paused and soaked in the moment only briefly after fanning Guzman, aware of the significance of the strikeout while also knowing he still had to get two more outs. He promptly gave up two hits, but he escaped the jam with a double-play grounder to secure Boston’s 5-2 win over Los Angeles and his 383rd career save. The Red Sox celebrated Chapman’s achievement in their Angel Stadium clubhouse, showing a video retrospective of Chapman’s career to his younger teammates — everything from his debut with Cincinnati in 2010 to his two World Series championships with the Cubs and Rangers.

“It’s cool. We’ve been waiting for that one,” Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said. “What a career he’s had. The cool thing is watching the video, and you’re seeing him at a young age throwing 102, and he’s still doing it. It’s just incredible.” In his 889th major-league appearance all of them in relief — Chapman saved a deserved victory for Red Sox rookie Jake Bennett, who was making his seventh appearance.

“It’s incredible,” said Bennett, who tired in the eighth “It’s incredible to even just be a part of a team that it happens on.” Chapman hadn’t pitched since he tied the strikeout record last Sunday while blowing a save against the Yankees, with whom he spent parts of seven seasons before an acrimonious split four years ago. He has pitched for seven teams since he defected from Cuba in 2009, earning eight All-Star selections and moving up to 10th on the majors’ career

his 1364th career strikeout to hold the MLB record for most strikeouts by a relief pitcher during the ninth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday in Anaheim, Calif.

saves list. This record spanned across a half-century of baseball history and a fundamental change in the way pitchers are used. Among the 14 pitchers in major-league history who have recorded 1,000 strikeouts as a reliever, only Lindy McDaniel was a contemporary of Wilhelm, a World War II veteran and a pioneer in relief pitching. The crafty knuckleballer was among the first pitchers to be used regularly as what’s now known as a highleverage reliever, coming into close games and tight situations regardless of whether the starter was tired or not. Chapman has spent his entire career in those tight spots, and he usually has excelled when healthy, often with a fastball that has topped 105 mph at times during his career

He has even been in a renaissance since joining the Red Sox before last season. After earning AL Reliever of the Year honors in 2025 with a minuscule 1.17 ERA, he has 17 saves in 19 chances this season still taking high-leverage assignments and usually succeeding.

“I was just focused on doing the job, day in and day out over the course of the last few weeks getting to this point where I had the opportunity to break the record,” Chapman said. “I had some highs and some lows, but I’ve just tried to stay positive throughout.”

AP PHOTO By WILLIAM LIANG Boston Red Sox pitcher Aroldis Chapman gestures after getting

OUTDOORS

Summertime is forfamily fishing

School is just around thecorner

BY JOE MACALUSO Contributing writer

Don’tlook now,not on this landmark holiday celebration, but time is running out to get youngsters on the water for one of those memorable summertime fishing trips.

That’sbecause, as much as young folks don’tlike to look that far ahead, school begins formost of them in five weeks.

Oh, no! Youmean in 35 days?

Or thereabouts, yes!

So with half of their summer vacation gone, what’sleft?

Enough time for Andy Andolsek of Thibodaux to make sure his grandchildrenknow alittlebit more about Louisiana’ssummertime fishing than they knew when schoolended back in late May

“It’swhat life is all about,” he said acouple of days after taking grandson Jack Bonvillain into the gulf to compete in the FourchonEnergy Fishing Tournament.

Andolsek’schildren andgrandchildren are spending this Fourth of July weekendonthe Central Coast chasing after red snapper and other deep-water species and sprinkling in anearshore try for speckled trout and redfish.

“Life’sabout spending time with our children and grandkids,” Andolsek said. “I’m fortunate to have them and be able to do whatwe like to do —catch fish.”

He said he has amore-than-willing partner in 11-year-old Jack, who “enjoys this experience. If I say we’regoing, then he’s ready to go. He’sinthe truck and ready to head to the island (Grand Isle). And, last weekend, Jack caught his share.”

Andolsek said he’scarefulabout the when and where oftaking

youngstersinto what sometimes is ahostile environment,being cautious about not startingatrip with the old“the sea was angry that day, my friend” saying.

“Wealwaystry to pick acalm day to do both offshore and trout fishing,” he said

That advice follows what many a top-flight charterboat skipper has followed for years —guys like Mike Gallo,who works in the Pontchartrain Basin, Ryan Lambert at Buras andGrandIsle’s Frank Dreher

To aman, these veteran guides practice cautionwhentaking young anglers on atrip.

Their firstwarning is weather, mostlystaying at the dockwhen seas are too rough, and taking in account summer’sheat to leave early andmake sure nottooverdo time on the water whentemperatures soar into the 90s.

“Makesuretotake enough water and snacks,” Dreher said,inaddition to ensuring the youngfolks wear lifejacketsand understand the importance of being safe while on thewater Lambert and Gallo makesure parents understandthe need to have their children wear appropriateclothingand hatsand bring alongsunscreen to protect tender skin

“The onething aboutyoungsters is they want to catchfish,and it doesn’tmean youhave to chase bigfish,” Gallo said. “There’snothinglikeputtinga smile on their faces when theyreelintheir first speckled trout or redfish, and size doesn’tmatter. Sizemight make a difference when they get older,but not now.”

In freshwater Someofthe same cautionary

Making memories

AndyAndolsek, along withgrandchildren Claire Bonvillain, 9, and JackBonvillain, 11, was proud to weigh these red snapper during last weekend’sFourchon EnergyFishing Tournament at Port Fourchon. Andolsek said

Jack is aconstant fishing companion and is always readytohead out, whether it be for adeep-sea trip or in pursuit of speckled trout and redfish. Andolsek saidhis family is spending the Fourth of Julyweekend fishing because, he said, ‘Life’sabout spending time with our children and grandkids.’

practices can be applied tobream and sac-a-lait trips in July and early August. Take youngsters toplaces where youknow they can catch any of a number of species like bluegill, chinquapin, sac-a-lait and catfish

—and make sure they know about how much acatfish’sfincan hurt.

Water is amust to keep young bodies hydrated.Packsnacksand sunscreen, too, andbeready to head out early andplantoreturn well before noon.

Don’tforget to takealong asmall first-aidkit to take care of the ouchies. This goes fortrips to apond and adventures by boat. Yep, only five more weeks. Enjoy the days.

InshoreshrimpseasonclosesMonday

After reviewing data collected by Wildlife and Fisheries’ Shrimp Study staff, the order was issued to closethe spring inshore shrimp season effectiveat sunset Monday The closure affects all

inshore waters except the “...openwatersofBreton and Chandeleur sounds.” All “outside” waters will remain open. The closure came after biologistsand managers foundincreasingnumbers

CALENDAR

WEDNESDAY

BUGS &BEERS: 6:30 p.m., Skeeta Hawk Brewing, 455 N.Dorgenois St., NewOrleans. Casual fly tying. Open to public. EmailA.J. Rosenbohm: ajrosenbohm@gmail.com. Website: neworleansflyfishers.com

THURSDAY

JUNIOR SOUTHWEST BASSMASTERS MEET-

ING: 7p.m., Seminar Room, Bass ProShops, Denham Springs. Boys and girls age-group bass tournaments for ages 7-10,11-14 and 15-18 anglers. Fordetails, call Jim Breaux, 225-772-3026.

THURSDAY-SATURDAY

CATHOLIC HIGH ALUMNIFISHINGRODEO: Fourchon Marina, Port Fourchon.Adult and Youth divisions. Inshore, Rig andOffshore divisions. $50&$100 Redfish Stringer,Mangrove Snapper, RedSnapper, SpeckledTrout and OffshoreGrand Slam calcuttas. Checkin/registration party 5-8:30 p.m. Thursday. Weigh-in 4-6:30 p.m. Fridayand 3-6 p.m. Saturday. Website: catholichigh.org/alumni. Call Catholic High School Alumni Relations, 225-228-0831.

SATURDAY

NSCAREGISTERED SPORTING CLAYS: Bridge View Gun Club, Port Allen.

ONGOING

STATEWIDE TOURNAMENT &ANGLERS

RODEO/S.T.A.R.: Through Sept.7,Coastal Conservation Association’s summer-long fishing event. Tagged redfish, coastal/offshorespecies categories &youth division. CCAmembership required. Website:ccalouisiana.com/star

AROUND THECORNER

JULY13—RED STICK FLYFISHERS PROGRAM: 7p.m., Bluebonnet Regional Library,9200 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge. Opento

of small whiteshrimp in test trawls. This closed period will allow the white shrimp to grow tomarketable sizesfor thefallinshoreseason, whichusually opens in midAugust.

—Joe Macaluso

the public. Email BrianRoberts: roberts. brian84@gmail.com. Website: rsff.org

JULY15—FLIES &FLIGHTS: 7-9 p.m, Rally Cap Brewing, 11212 Pennywood Ave., Baton Rouge. Casual fly tying. Open to public. Email Chris Williams: thefatfingeredflytyer@ gmail.com

JULY16—ACADIANA FLYRODDERS PROGRAM: 6p.m., Pack andPaddle,601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette. Open to public. Email Darin Lee: at cbrsandcdc@gmail.com. Website: acadianaflyrodders.org

JULY16 —FRIENDS OF NRA/SOUTHWEST LA BANQUET: 6p.m., Riverside Bar &Grill, 3748 Louisiana 3059, Lake Charles.Call Brack Cole, 337-912-1620. Email: jbcoleair@yahoo. com

FISHING/SHRIMPING

SHRIMP: Spring inshoreseason open;all outside waters open.Spring inshore season will close at sunset Monday, July 6, except Breton/Chandeleur sounds, whichwill remain open. OPEN RECREATIONAL SEASONS: Private recreational redsnapper; gray triggerfish; flounder;lane, blackfin, queen andsilk snappersand wenchmenamong othersnapper species; allgroupers except closed for goliath and Nassau groupers in state/federal waters.

CLOSED SEASONS: Greater amberjack; bluefin tuna; gag, goliath &Nassau groupers in state/federal waters. Commercial greater amberjack season closed.

LDWF UPDATES

n Reopened: Pearl RiverWMA (including Honey Island Shooting Range)&GrassyLake WMA.

n Closed: Roads on Pomme de Terre, Richard

Yancey &Bogue Chitto WMAs (flooding); Hope Canal Road/boat launch(Maurepas Swamp WMA, leveeconstruction) EMAIL: jmacaluso@theadvocate.com

STAFFPHOTO By JOHN BALLANCE

WORLDCUP 2026

BRAZIL VS.NORWAY 3p.m., FOX, Telemundo,Peacock

Mbappé,Franceprevail in heated matchup

BY DANGELSTON AP sportswriter

PHILADELPHIA KylianMbappé

laughed and smiled —and scored, of course —when Paraguay tried to bait him and his French teammates into fouls and provoke fights, as hot heads became arecurring theme during one of the steamiest World Cup games on record.

After the final whistle, Mbappé kept on walking and left Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill hanging as Gill extended his right hand in ashow of sportsmanship In response, Gill thew theball right at the No. 10 on Mbappé’s jersey Mbappé got the last laugh as he scored his19th career World Cup goal, and France survived stifling heattobeat Paraguay 1-0 on Saturday,sending Les Bleus into the quarterfinals for the fourth straight time.

“Weknew what kind of match it was going to be,” Mbappé said in French. “Wecan also get our hands dirty,weknow how to do it. We know how to play ugly football. Guess they were thinkingwewere going to show up in tuxedos, but we were ready.”

France advanced to play Morocco on Thursday in Foxborough, Massachusetts. France beat Morocco 2-0 in the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar With an extreme heat warning

Franceforward Kylian Mbappe celebrates afterscoring agoal from the penalty spot

against Paraguay on Saturday in Philadelphia.

in effect throughoutthe match as temperatures hovered around 100 degrees Fahrenheit, Mbappé finally broke through against aphysical,defensive-mindedParaguay sidewhen he converted apenalty

DAVID J. PHILLIP

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By

Morocco’sAzzedine Ounahi is throwninthe air by his teammates after the WorldCup round of 16 matchagainst Canada on Saturdayin Houston

Moroccoblanks Canada,denounces ‘surprise’ label

BY KRISTIE RIEKEN AP sportswriter

HOUSTON Morocco is heading back to the quarterfinals and coach Mohamed Ouahbi believes histeamhas establisheditself among soccer’selite.

Azzedine Ounahi scored twice to lead Moroccotoa3-0 win over Canada in the World Cup round of 16 Saturday to make the country the first African nation to reach the quarterfinals more than once.

“Weare no longer asurprise,” Ouahbi said through atranslator

“Now when people talk about Morocco, we’re amajor contender and it’sagreat source of pride. Ithink it’s only the beginning, andI hope we continue to have runs like this.”

And despite already making history in this World Cup, Morocco has much higher goals.

“Wewant to keep going,” Ouahbi said. “Wedon’twant to stop.”

It’sMorocco’ssecond straight appearance in the round of eight after becoming the first African team to reach the semifinalsin 2022.

“Weare so proud to represent Africa because it’sacontinent with alot of talent and Africa deserves to be in the best level in football,” Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou said. Neither team was able to break through until Ounahi took afree kick from Achraf Hakimi and made aright-footed shot through traffic from outside thebox to the bottom right corner to putMorocco on top 1-0 in the 50th minute.

Ounahi madeit2-0 on arightfooted shot from the middleof thebox off apass from Brahim Díaz in the 82ndminute.

Soufiane Rahimi added agoal in the final minute of stoppage time.

The loss endsa historic runfor WorldCup co-hostCanada, which won its first-ever knockout round match with a1-0 victory over South Africa to reach Saturday’s match. The country was playing in the World Cupfor just the third time andthe runenchanted anation that is normally far more interested in hockeythan the pitch.

Canada coach Jesse Marsch shared his postgame message to theteam

“I told them that Iwas proud of them andIchallenged them to understand that we can play like this all the time against the best teams in theworld,” he said. “We can be betteronthe day.And then thechallenge is, can we hold that standard for 90 minutes?”

Morocco, which is ranked sixth in the FIFArankings, dispatched theNetherlandsinapenalty shootout to reach the round of 16.

Though Marsch mistakenly said Morocco is ranked onespot lower than it is, he laudedhow his teamperformedagainst a squad of its caliberand of how Canada controlled the match for much of the day

“The way we pushed, the way we were in thematch, the qualityweshowed, theoverall impact in the match, we were better,” he said. “Wewere better than the No.7team in theworld today.”

kick in the70th minute.

Mbappé was awarded thepenalty when DiegoGomez was called for trippingafter avideoreview. Then he stutter-stepped on hisway to his19th goal in 19 World Cup

appearances, one behind career record holder Lionel Messi of Argentina.Mbappé andMessi have sevengoals in this tournament to top theGolden Boot race. Mbappé won thataward four years ago, but

SUNDAY LOOKAHEAD

GLANCE

Scores, schedule ROUND OF 16

Saturday Canada 0, Morocco 3 Paraguay0,France1 Sunday

Messi and Argentina beat France in the final.

Mbappé —who frequently trashtalked the Paraguayans in Spanish —isnow the only player to score at least three goals in the knockout stage of three World Cups.

Mbappé botcheda breakaway attempt in the second half, and Manu Koné had his top-corner shot knocked away by Gill after he was wiped out in the netting by Ousmane Dembélé only moments earlier Gill also stoppedtwo strong attempts by Mbappé in second-half stoppage time.

The 26-year-old Gill hadbested GermangreatManuelNeuerin apenalty shootout in the previousround. He then lost hiscool after the loss to France when he chucked the ball at Mbappé.

Mexico vs.England stars in dynamicduo of matches

BY STEVEREED AP sportswriter

Mexicoiscounting on ahuge home-field advantage to help it reach the World Cup quarterfinals for thefirst time in 40 years.

England stands in the way

It’sone of two epic round of 16 knockoutmatchups on Sunday. Brazil faces Norway in the other game.

Mexico appears to have itsbest chance in decades to endthe drought in what many are calling thebiggest match in the country’s history,largely because of where thegame will be played.

Mexico has woneightmatches and tiedtwo at its“home” stadium since Estadio Azteca opened in 1966.

In this tournament, El Trihas threehomewins without conceding agoal. Mexico won 2-0 against South Africa and 3-0 againstthe Czech Republic in the group stage, and beat Ecuador 2-0 in the round of 32. Mexico also defeated South Korea 1-0 in the group stage in agame that was played in Guadalajara.

“The stadium is amonster;that explains the high number of wins and draws, andthe few losses which were just accidents,”said Hugo Sánchez, thestriker who played for Mexico in the 1986 World Cup and nowserves as an ESPN analyst. “Weapproachthis with optimism because we know it’s England, but if we playthe way we did against Ecuador,we can beat them.”

Since last reaching thequarterfinals in 1986, Mexicofailed to make the tournament once, failedtoadvance out of group stage play once and been bounced in the round of 16 seven times.

“I’mone of those who couldn’t make it through; it happened to me in South Africa andKorea,” saidJavier Aguirre, who managed El Tri during those campaigns.“It’sdeeply painful because you play agreat group stage,only to be knocked out for avariety of reasons.”

England will be counting big time on HarryKane to deliver against Mexico.

That’snothing newfor England’sall-time leading scorer in theWorld Cup.

England trailedfor theopening 75 minutesofits round of 32 match against Congo on Wednesday,Kane remained confident. The6-foot-2 forward scored two late goals to earn a2-1 win and send England to theround of 16 to face Mexico in Mexico City.

Brazil vs.Norway

Norway is hoping forarepeat of its stunning upset of Brazil during the1998 World Cup. However,Norway remains a slight underdog as it tries to advancetoface thewinnerofthe matchup between Mexico and England outside Miami on Saturday Seleção haswon three in arow since opening the tournament with adraw against Morocco, also at the Meadowlandsinnorthern New Jersey

Norway hasawin of itsown at the stadium outside New York, defeating Senegal to advance to the knockout round. Brazil coach

CarloAncelotti calledNorwaya challenging opponent because of structure, as well as talent.

“Theyhavegreat players,”BrazilmidfielderBruno Guimarães said through an interpreter.“They are notinthe knockoutrounds by accident. It’snot thatweare notrespecting Norway.Wejust believe in ourfootball. We believe in our country,and we want to continue on this dream.”

ErlingHaalandhas five goals at the World Cup for Norway and 25 over his past 14 competitive matches internationally and 60 in 53 with the national team

But he faces aformidable challenge against Brazil’sbackline duo of Gabriel Magalhães andMarquinhos that Norway coach Ståle Solbakken called one of the best central defenses around.

“There will certainly be some tough duels between them and Erling,” Solbakken said. “But forme, it’smore about Brazil against Norway and not that those twoagainst Erling.”

Brazil has adangerous forward trio ledbyVinícius Júnior, who has combined with Matheus Cunha for seven goals through four games.

Asked to compare the 6-foot-5, 205-pound Haaland andthe 5-9, 170-pounder known as “Viní,” Solbakken said, “One is amachine that you can see the accelerations and the great physique, and the other is more aballerina that can dance with the ball.”

MEXICO VS.ENGLAND 7p.m., FOX, Telemundo, Peacock

AP PHOTO By TONy GUTIERREZ Norway forward ErlingHaaland celebrates after scoring agoal during aWorld Cup match against IvoryCoast on TuesdayinArlington, Texas.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOByMATTSLOCUM

during aWorld Cup match

ASSOCIATEDPRESS PHOTOByNATACHA PISARENKO Mexico forward Raul Jimenez celebrates with teammate Julian Quinones after scoring agoal during aWorld Cup match against Ecuador on TuesdayinMexico City

Home field sizable part of World Cup lore

BY NOAH TRISTER AP sportswriter

This weekend, England faces the ultimate road game at this World Cup.

Sunday’s round of 16 matchup against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium will present challenges above and beyond what the Three Lions have faced so far

The altitude, the hostile atmosphere, plus whatever extra gamesmanship might await, it’s all part of the experience of taking on El Tri in Mexico City

It’s also gripping theater

There’s nothing quite like a big World Cup match involving the host nation, and when that team has a famously impressive home record — which Mexico certainly does at the Azteca — there’s a real intimidation factor. Six times the men’s tournament has been won by the country playing at home, most recently in 1998. But there is hope for England. Some of the most famous matches in World Cup history were games the home team actually lost.

Here’s a look at home-field advantage through the years: Italy, 1934

The

first two World Cups were won by the hosts — Uruguay in 1930 and then Italy in 1934. The latter gained infamy because of Benito Mussolini’s use of the tournament as a political tool and perhaps his impact on the officiating?

“The fascist regime made a political abuse of the event,” Italian writer Marco Impiglia said nearly 80 years later. “It was a questionable win and it raised many doubts at the time.” It should be acknowledged that four years later, Italy became the

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By HEINZ DUCKLAU

Argentine President Jorge Rafael Videla looks on after he presented the World Cup trophy to Daniel Passarella of Argentina at the presentation ceremony after the World Cup fi

first team to win a World Cup away from home, prevailing in France.

Brazil, 1950

The Brazilian men have won a record five World Cups, but have never triumphed at home.

The hosts needed only a draw against Uruguay to take the title in 1950 there was a final group stage instead of a singular title game — but with maybe 200,000 on hand at Rio’s Maracana Stadium, the Brazilians went down to an unthinkable

Buenos Aires.

2-1 defeat.

Alcides Ghiggia, who scored the winning goal, once said only three people had silenced the Maracana: “The Pope, Frank Sinatra and me.”

That 1950 loss hovered over the proceedings when Brazil hosted again in 2014 — and the team’s semifinal loss to Germany may have been even more embarrassing. At least that time, the suspense was removed early when the visitors scored a flurry of first-half goals on their way to

NASCAR makes return to Chicagoland Speedway

BY JAY COHEN AP sportswriter

JOLIET Ill. It has been seven years since NASCAR last raced at Chicagoland Speedway Seven years of Midwest heat, rain and snow covering the aging asphalt at the 1.5-mile track.

That last weekend also was before NASCAR moved into its Next Gen cars.

The Cup Series returns to Chicagoland on Sunday, and what was old is new again.

“It is definitely like learning a new racetrack,” Joe Gibbs Racing driver Chase Briscoe said NASCAR ran 19 Cup races on the D-shaped oval in Joliet about 50 miles southwest of downtown Chicago — from 2001-19. It tried to build interest in the event in a crowded market, even making Chicagoland the opening race of the 2011 playoffs. But the race struggled with attendance before NASCAR pulled out.

NASCAR raced on a street course in downtown Chicago on the first weekend in July each of the previous three years The future of that concept is in question; it could return in 2027 on a different weekend. In the meantime, Chicagoland Speedway is back.

“I would say from a character standpoint, this is the closest thing we have to Homestead or maybe Darlington,” Richard Childress Racing driver Austin Dillon said. “But mile-and-a-half wise, this thing has a lot of character, so I love it and I think it’s going to put on a great show for TV.”

Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney and Kyle Larson participated in two days of tire testing at the facility in April. But the drivers largely stayed in one line lower on the track. As rubber accumulates on the asphalt this weekend, Hamlin and company could begin to explore the higher lines.

“I’ve been around long enough to know that a test racetrack and a race weekend track are two vastly different things,” said Hamlin, who has the pole position for Sunday’s race “So, lots of unknowns.”

The biggest unknown is the Next Gen car, which debuted in 2022. Chicagoland Speedway is rough and bumpy, and the Next Gen cars do not like rough and bumpy. But Brad Keselowski thinks that might be a good thing.

a 7-1 rout.

England, 1966

England’s lone World Cup championship came on home soil, and not without controversy In the final against West Germany at Wembley Stadium, Geoff Hurst’s shot in extra time bounced down off the crossbar Did it go in or not?

Goal-line technology was still decades away

Officials awarded the goal, which put England up 3-2. Hurst later scored again to complete a hat trick, and the final score was 4-2.

Argentina, 1978

The Netherlands lost backto-back finals in 1974 and 1978 both times losing to the host country In 1974, the Dutch scored early, but lost 2-1 to West Germany Four years later they had to take on Argentina in front of a frenzied crowd in Buenos Aires. The Argentines took the field several minutes after the Dutch, leaving the visitors by themselves in front of the hostile fans. Argentina eventually won 3-1 in extra time.

The Dutch nearly faced Brazil in that final. Argentina needed at least four goals against Peru in its final match in its second-round group to make the final. The Argentines won 6-0, leading to plenty of conspiracy theories.

Italy, 1990

Sometimes, it’s not all that clear who the home team really is. At least that’s what Diego Maradona was hoping when Argentina prepared to face Italy in the 1990 semifinal in Naples. A club star for Napoli, Maradona was beloved there, but would the local fans really cheer for him and Argentina against their own country? Maradona certainly tried to stoke divi-

sions between northern and southern Italy

“After so much racism, only now they scurry to remember that Naples is part of Italy,” Maradona told Corriere dello Sport. ”Now that they have slapped the Neapolitans in every possible way, someone tells them they are Italians, that only Italy counts. It is incredible, absurd, offensive.”

Ultimately, fans cheered for Italy, but Argentina became the first team all tournament to score against the Italians, forging a 1-1 draw Then Argentina won the penalty shootout to eliminate the Azzurri. In the final in Rome, Argentina received an unpleasant reception and lost to West Germany France, 1998

The most recent host country to win the title was France, which had never gone all the way until 1998. The French hadn’t even qualified for the 1990 or 1994 World Cups, but at home they reached the final, where they denied Brazil a repeat championship.

South Korea, 2002

The 2002 World Cup was cohosted by Japan and South Korea, with the latter making a remarkable run to the semifinals. Italy and Spain saw little to celebrate about the Korean breakthrough.

After the Italians lost to South Korea in extra time in the round of 16, FIFA said it received hundreds of thousands of emails from Italy fans furious about the officiating. In the quarterfinals, South Korea beat Spain on penalties after the Spaniards had multiple goals disallowed.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter denied any conspiracy but acknowledged some bad calls.

Cink, Harrington battling for U.S. Senior Open again

The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio It is shaping up as another duel between Stewart Cink and Padraig Harrington for the U.S. Senior Open championship.

Cink shot a 64 in Saturday’s third round at Scioto Country Club, tied for the tournament’s lowest round. At 9-under 201, he leads reigning champion Harrington by one shot.

This is the second straight year Cink and Harrington will be in the final group. Harrington, Cink and Mark Hensby were tied after last year’s third round at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado, before Harrington won his second Senior Open title by one shot.

to become the first to win the first three senior majors. He has four victories 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.

Cink and Harrington were tied going to the par-4 No. 18 when Harrington bogeyed.

“Today was a good day The golf course was a bit softer,” Cink said. “It felt like you could be more attacking and had more control of the ball when it landed.”

Chase Briscoe, Toyota, 177.637. 8. (23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 177.515. 9. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 177.491. 10. (24) William Byron, Chevrolet, 177.212. 11. (16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 177.160. 12. (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 177.038. 13. (45) Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 176.916. 14. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 176.887

15. (77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, 176.869. 16. (38) Zane Smith Ford, 176.748. 17. (42) John H. Nemechek, Toyota, 176.678 18. (35) Riley Herbst, Toyota, 176.609.

19. (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 176.586.

20. (60) Ryan Preece, Ford, 176.304 21. (88) Connor Zilisch, Chevrolet, 176.286.

22. (43) Erik Jones, Toyota, 175.993

23. (2) Austin Cindric, Ford, 175.861.

24. (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Chevrolet, 175.496.

25. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 175.444.

26. (7) Daniel Suárez, Chevrolet, 175.353.

27. (10) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 175.251.

28. (67) Corey Heim, Toyota, 175.171.

29. (34) Todd Gilliland, Ford, 174.695.

30. (97) Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet, 174.413.

31. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, 174.216

32. (4) Noah Gragson Ford, 174.076.

33. (41) Cole Custer, Chevrolet, 173.779.

34. (21) Josh Berry, Ford, 173.327

35. (33) Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 173.238.

36. (44) JJ Yeley Chevrolet, 168.914

37. (51) Cody Ware, Chevrolet, .000

38. (71) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, .000.

“It should be interesting to see the car-versus-track combination,” Keselowski said, “because the fact that the car hates the track could

actually be really good for the racing, as it opens up different grooves and makes you do different things to try to accommodate that as a driver or as a team with the car setup.”

Bubba Wallace is driving a “Space Jam”-themed car in honor of the 30th anniversary of the Looney Tunes movie. Wallace also attended an event at Navy Pier paying tribute to the movie in the run-up to the race.

Wallace drives the No. 23 Toyota Camry for 23XI Racing, which is co-owned by Michael Jordan, one of the stars of the 1996 movie.

“I just remember watching that like on repeat and so to have that connection and be representing the Looney Tunes, Warner Brothers, ‘Space Jam, ” Wallace said, “you know just everything that that movie provided as a kid, to be reliving that is super cool So appreciate all the parties involved. It was a great event at Navy Pier Had a great turnout, met a lot of new fans.” Carson Hocevar is making his 100th career Cup Series start He made his Cup debut in 2023 and got his first win at Talladega on April 26.

“I mean, you just kind of blink and you’re at

“It probably naturally does add a little bit because we did this last year We’ve done it a number of times other than last year, and before the PGA Tour Champions, as well, back in the early days. I think we did this in the Ryder Cup,” Cink said. “I’m going to have my hands full with him and all these other guys tomorrow, but mostly with Scioto and myself.” Cink could become the fifth player to win the event after being runner-up the previous year Fred Funk was the last to do so in 2009. George McNeill is the other player in the final pairing. He led by two shots after the second round but is now two shots back after shooting 69. Harrington birdied four of the first five holes on the back nine to reach 9 under for the tournament but dropped a shot on the final hole to finish with a 66. The 54-year-old from Ireland said earlier in the week that he felt some pressure being the reigning champion, but not anymore.

“I think that feeling is gone now, as in Stewart is leading the tournament. It’s on his shoulders. He’s the one with the lead. I’m now chasing, so I don’t have that feeling at all,” said Harrington, who is trying to become the first repeat Senior Open champion since Allen Doyle in 2006. Cink is also chasing a pair of milestones. The 53-year-old aims

Saturday’s tee times were moved up a couple of hours because of the threat of late-afternoon thunderstorms in central Ohio. Early morning showers helped soften the course.

Final-round tee times were also moved up to avoid possible delays. More rain overnight will affect everyone’s strategy for Sunday

“If that storm dumps a half an inch of rain on this golf course, it’s going to be a completely different test. I don’t think it would be smart to formulate any kind of a score plan right now,” Cink said. “Whatever score that leads to, part of my mantra is I have to be willing to accept that. That’s the only way I can free myself up.”

McNeill is a PGA Tour Champions rookie whose last PGA Tour victory was in 2012. The 50-year-old never broke 70 in five U.S. Open appearances but was one shot back after a firstround 68 and led with a 66 on Friday

“Playing on the Champions Tour, I played in a couple final groups this year; played fairly well so far this year Maybe I’ll just try and revert back to that,” said McNeill, who is at 7-under 203 after 54 holes.

McNeill is attempting to become the 13th player to win in his first U.S. Senior Open. The last to do it was Richard Bland in 2024. Miguel Angel Jiménez (67) is three shots back in fourth at 6-under 204. Darren Clarke also shot a 64 on

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By NAM y. HUH

Bowman celebrates after winning the last NASCAR race at Chicagoland Speedway on June 30, 2019, in Joliet, Ill.

nal soccer match against the Netherlands in the River Plate Stadium on June 25, 1978, in

Lehecka(13), Czechia, def. Jaume Munar, Spain, 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Arthur Fery,Britain,def. Zizou Bergs, Belgium, 2-6, 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5) Taylor Fritz (6), United States, def. Lorenzo Sonego, Italy,4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(5) Grigor Dimitrov,Bulgaria, def. Matteo Berrettini, Italy,6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-3. Women’s Singles

ThirdRound Marta Kostyuk (12), Ukraine, def. Emma Navarro(23), United States, 6-2, 4-6,6-1. Ashlyn Krueger, United States,def. Daria Snigur, Ukraine, 6-3, 6-2. Marie Bouzkova(21), Czechia, def. Liudmila Samsonova,Russia,4-6, 7-6 (3),6-4. Elise Mertens (25), Belgium, def. Elena Rybakina (2), Kazakhstan,7-6 (4), 6-1 Jasmine Paolini (13), Italy,def. Maria Sakkari, Greece, 6-1, 6-2. AlexandraEala (29), Philippines, def. Iga Swiatek (3), Poland, 7-6 (9),6-2. Linda Noskova(9), Czechia, def. Sorana Cirstea (17), Romania, 2-6, 6-3,7-6 (9). Madison Keys (26), United States,def. Amanda Anisimova (6), United States,3-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Men’s Doubles Second Round Simone Bolelliand Andrea Vavassori(4), Italy,def. Jesper De Jong,Netherlands, and Valentin Royer, France, 6-1, 6-4 Thanasi Kokkinakis, Australia, and Aleksandar Kovacevic,United States, def. Robert Cash and James Tracy (12),United States 7-6 (4), 6-3. Hendrik Jebens, Germany, and RayHo, Taiwan, def.Albano Olivetti and Theo Arribage (10), France, 7-5, 7-6 (4). Sander Gille, Belgium, and Sem Verbeek, Netherlands, def. Marcel Granollers, Spain, and Horacio Zeballos (2), Argentina, 6-4 7-6 (9). Jean-Julien Rojer, Netherlands,and TheodoreWinegar, United States, def. Edouard Roger-Vasselin, France, and Hugo Nys(9), Monaco, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (6) Guido Andreozzi, Argentina, and Manuel Guinard(8), France, def. Fernando Romboli, Brazil, and John-Patrick Smith, Australia, 6-4, 7-6 (2). Fabien Reboul andSadio Doumbia (13) France, def. Vit Kopriva, Czechia, and Filip Pieczonka, Poland, 6-2, 3-6,6-3. Women’s Doubles First Round Camila Osorio, Colombia, and Solana Sierra Argentina, def. Samantha Murray Sharan, Britain, and Lanlana Tararudee, Thailand, 6-3, 6-4.

Women’s Doubles

Second Round Vera Zvonareva, Russia, and Laura Siegemund (7), Germany, def. Eudice Chong, Hong Kong,China,and Anastasia Tikhonova Russia, 6-2, 6-2. Kristina Mladenovic, France, and Hanyu Guo (10), China, def. EkaterinaAlexandrova, Russia, and Maya Joint, Australia, 6-2, 6-3 Gabriela Dabrowski, Canada, and Luisa Stefani (2), Brazil, def. CarolineDolehide and Alycia Parks, United States,6-4, 6-2 Xu Yifan and Xinyu Jiang, China, def. Lyudmyla Kichenok, Ukraine, and Desirae Krawczyk (11), United States,6-4, 7-5 Storm Hunter, Australia, and Caty McNally (14), United States, def. AlexandraPanova Russia, and Magali Kempen, Belgium, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2. Irina Khromacheva, Russia, and Anastasia Detiuc, Czechia, def. Jelena Ostapenko, Latvia, and Sofia Kenin (8), United States 3-6, 7-5, 6-4. Elena-Gabriela Ruse, Romania, and Marta Kostyuk, Ukraine, def. AldilaSutjiadi and Janice Tjen, Indonesia, 6-4, 7-6 (8). Taylor Townsend,UnitedStates, and Katerina Siniakova(1), Czechia, def. Sara Sorribes Tormo, Spain, and Marie Bouzkova, Czechia, 6-2, 6-1. AleksandraKrunic,Serbia, and Anna Danilina (3), Kazakhstan,def. Anhelina Kalinina and Dayana Yastremska, Ukraine, 2-6, 6-4, 6-0. Mixed Doubles Second Round Zhang Shuai,China,and Christian Harrison (3), United States, def. AndreGoransson, Sweden, andErin Routliffe, New Zealand, 6-4, 6-4. Joe Salisbury,Britain, and Leylah Fernandez, Canada, def. Demi Schuurs,Netherlands, and JulianCash (5), Britain, 7-6 (7), 6-4

Maia Lumsden and Ben Jones,Britain, def. Eden Silvaand Joshua Paris, Britain, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. SaraErrani and Andrea Vavassori(1), Italy, def. Jodie Burrage and David Stevenson, Britain, 6-4, 6-1 Storm Hunter and MarcPolmans,Australia, def. Nicole Melichar-Martinez,United States, and Theo Arribage, France, 6-3,6-3. Mate Pavic, Croatia, and FannyStollar Hungary,def. Hugo Nys, Monaco, and Quinn Gleason, United States,3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 Neal Skupski,Britain, and Desirae Krawczyk (6), United States, def. FreyaChristie and Billy Harris,Britain, 7-6 (3), 6-7 (5),6-4 Marcelo Arevalo, El Salvador, and Jelena Ostapenko(2),Latvia, def. Vera Zvonareva, Russia, and Albano Olivetti, France, 6-2,6-7 (4), 7-6 (7).

Golf

U.S. Senior Open Championship

Saturday At Scioto County Club Columbus, Ohio Purse: $4 million Yardage: 7,170; Par: 70 ThirdRound Stewart Cink

67-70-64—201 -9 Padraig Harrington

69-67-66—202 -8 George McNeill

68-66-69—203 -7 Miguel Angel Jimenez

69-68-67—204 -6

DarrenClarke71-72-64—207 -3 Paul Stankowski

69-70-68—207 -3 Jamie Donaldson

69-70-69—208 -2 TommyGainey 69-69-70—208 -2 Simon Griffiths 68-72-68—208

Ian Poulter

Billy Andrade 72-72-65—209

Alex Cejka69-69-71—209

Devlin 70-68-71—209

ErnieEls 71-69-69—209

-13

RyoHisatsune67-65-69—201 -12 Max Homa 67-66-68—201 -12 Chandler Phillips 69-67-65—201 -12 Preston Stout 66-69-66—201 -12 BladesBrown 69-66-67—202 -11

RickieFowler70-69-63—202 -11

Chris Gotterup 66-68-68—202 -11

Troy Merritt 66-66-70—202 -11

William Mouw 66-68-68—202 -11

Andrew Putnam 67-68-67—202 -11

Aaron Wise 66-69-67—202 -11

TylerDuncan 66-66-71—203 -10

Emiliano Grillo70-66-67—203 -10

Beau Hossler70-67-66—203 -10

MattKuchar 72-66-65—203 -10

DavidLipsky67-65-71—203 -10 Mac Meissner 67-70-66—203 -10

Pontus Nyholm 68-66-69—203 -10 Erik VanRooyen70-69-64—203 -10

Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Coody

-9

-9

-9

Griffin69-65-70—204 -9

Higgs

-9

73-64-67—204 -9 Stephan Jaeger 64-72-68—204 -9

67-68-69—204 -9

69-69-66—204 -9 KevinYu66-72-66—204 -9

Jacob Bridgeman67-70-68—205 -8

DavisChatfield 69-66-70—205 -8

Sungjae Im 68-69-68—205 -8

DavidSkinns 72-67-66—205 -8

Austin Smotherman 66-69-70—205 -8

Springer 66-68-71—205 -8 Karl Vilips 72-65-68—205 -8 Michael Brennan66-68-72—206 -7 Nick Dunlap 67-72-67—206 -7

Finau 70-68-68—206 -7

-7

-7

-6

Eckroat71-67-69—207 -6

-6

-6

-6

-6

-5

O. Guillamoundeguy,France69-67-70—206-10 Jack Senior, England69-65-72—206-10 ManuelElvira, Spain 67-69-71—207 -9 Casey Jarvis, South Africa71-67-69—207 -9 Jeong-Weon Ko,France67-73-67—207 -9 MarcoPenge,England68-69-70—207 -9 K. Aphibarnrat,Thailand70-68-70—208 -8 T. Clements,England68-70-70—208 -8 Oliver Lindell, Finland69-69-70—208 -8 Joaquin Niemann, Chile 68-70-70—208 -8 Freddy Schott, Germany70-70-68—208 -8 Ashun Wu,China 70-66-72—208 -8 Davis Bryant, UnitedStates66-74-69—209 -7 AlejandroDel Rey, Spain 68-71-70—209 -7 Nacho Elvira, Spain 67-71-71—209 -7 FinnKolle, Germany70-67-72—209 -7 Frederic Lacroix, France 69-66-74—209 -7 Renato Paratore, Italy

Eichenried Munich Purse: $3 million Yardage: 7,354; Par: 72 ThirdRound M. Hollick, South Africa66-68-69—203-13

Bernd Wiesberger, Austria 68-68-67—203-13 Carlos Ortiz, Mexico 67-67-70—204-12

H. Du Plessis, South Africa64-69-72—205-11

T. Rosenmueller, Germany69-71-65—205-11

BY VIOLETBUCARO | Staff writer

The doors to thearchiveare locked when youarrive, openingonlyby appointment. Rare, historic collections are shelved on each wall, some locked glass cases, otherscurated by hand, sprawled openontables.

Hambrick, the executivedirector of the Amistad Research Center,holds acopyof the book ‘Bulbancha is StillaPlace: Indigenous Culture of NewOrleans’ at the archives.

It maylook like an entrance to a library,but it is the world’s largest independent archiveofBlack history,tucked inUptown New Orleans.

For 60 years now,scholars searchingfor overlooked histories of African Americansand other minorities have foundtheir way to the Amistad Research Center

The nonprofit, located in Tilton Hall at Tulane University,ishome to an estimated 15 millionpages, 1,000 fine artworks, 400 oral histories and 33,000 books. Some notable materials include papers by John O’Neal’srecords of the Federation of Southern Cooperative, Helen Keller’shandwritten inscription from her book “The World ILive In,”George Herriman’s“Krazy Kat” newspapercomics and arecentacquisition of papers by American-Mexican artist Elizabeth Catlett.

“Without the Amistad Research Center,many documents from the African American experience would end up in

ä See AMISTAD, page 10D

“I sincerely NEVERTHOUGHT theywould have this much or many materials Icould use for theresearch.The staffhas been helpinga lot; IT’S BEEN ABLESSING.Iwill have to keep coming back every day.”

TAIWOBELLO,Ph.D., aprofessor whoteaches African history at Oklahoma State University said of the AmistadResearchCenter

BY RICHARD CAMPANELLA

STAFF PHOTOSByENAN CHEDIAK

Lisa Moore, head of research services at the Amistad Research Center,shows visitors abook from the archives at Tulane University in NewOrleans..

KatheHambrick and Lisa Moore look through acollection of the Louisiana Weekly in the archives atthe Amistad Research Center

Avisitor points to some handwritten letters from the archives at the Amistad Research Center

An aerial photograph of Dillard University can be seen in abook on display at the Amistad Research Center at Tulane University.

Kathe

Contributingwriter

DININGSCENE

NewOrleans restaurantschanged American dining

Happy birthday,America. And on behalf of Louisianaand New Orleans, you’re welcome.

Ian McNulty WHAT’S COOKING

That’sfor the debt of gratitude owed for many contributionsto this great nation, including in the world of food and drink. The food culture thriving in New Orleans has made an outsized impact on the spectrum of American dining. It’sa narrative that flows through aprogression of influential local restaurants like acommon thread

It starts withthe fact that New Orleans has its own food. As the country’smost successful fusion cooking, Creole cuisine is apolyglot tale of blended influences in the New World.

It survived America’sculinary dark ages, the era of homogenization, and it kept evolving.It made New Orleans agastronomic destination long before the current craze for it.

Thegrand Creole restaurant

Consider Antoine’sRestaurant, founded in 1840, the oldest in the country in continuous operation It’snot just the restaurant’slongevity thatmakes it influential, noreven the canonical dishes created in its kitchen.

Instead, it’sAntoine’srole in establishing the idea of arestaurant destination serving alocal cuisine distinctive to the city,an early“bucket list” to experience aplace and its culture through dining. It setthe templatefor the grand Creole restaurant that was in place when, nearly80years later,Arnaud’sRestaurant opened in 1918. It was founder and namesake “Count” Arnaud Cazenave, a Frenchman and wine salesman with an assumed title of nobility, who issued adare to French Quarter barkeepOwen Brennan.The count claimed an Irishman could never operate aproper finedining restaurant Brennan, essentially saying “hold my Burgundy and watch,” proceeded to openOwen Brennan’sVieux Carre across from Arnaud’s on BourbonStreet in 1946, and the Brennan family restaurantsagabegan.

That would lead to thenowlandmark Brennan’sonRoyal Street in 1956, which today is the ongoingevolution of ahistoric Creole restaurant into amodern one.

Anew American cuisine

From Brennan’s, we get to Commander’sPalace, which one branch of the Brennan family

took over and, through the 1970s, turned intoaforerunner of the idea of modernAmerican cuisine. It was aLouisiana creation that elevated local ingredients and dishes at atime when regional cuisines from coast to coast were gettingfresh recognition as worthyofpursuit Commander’sPalace was apivotal example and helped embolden chefs all over the country to forge their own paths, rather than strive to fit European ideals. Butperhaps it was the late Commander’sPalace matriarch Ella Brennan’seye for talent, and

ability to cultivate it, that would have themost wide-ranging influence nationally It was abreak from the tradition of kitchens led by Frenchtrained chefs when she named a young Louisiana native from Cajuncountry to be head chef. That was Paul Prudhomme, of course, who went on to open K-Paul’s LouisianaKitchen, which was its own engine of influence through the1970s and 1980s.

In thebeginning, K-Paul’swas small and casual,with communal tables and no reservations. That was amarked change from the traditional Creole restaurants of theday.Itbecame asensation for its robust Louisiana flavors, and Prudhomme becameasuperstar If it’scommon now forcasual, creative restaurants to winhighprofile awardsand draw throngs of eager diners, K-Paul’sblazed thepath early Waybefore social media, Prudhomme’sblackened redfish “went viral,” igniting anational craze for the dish that prompted fishing restrictions on redfish. He even hosted the equivalent of pop-ups, setting up temporary traveling versions of K-Paul’sinother cities. So much that feels new with modernrestaurant trends had an earlier iteration flowing from New Orleans.

In thesame era as Prudhomme, chef AustinLeslie rose to national prominence forhis mastery of Black Creole cooking at his restaurant Chez Helene. It inspired theCBS television sitcom “Frank’sPlace,” which in 1987 gave America aglimpse of New Orleanslifethrough the lens of ahomey,backstreet joint, with

food as the entry point to bigger cultural issues.

Leslie’sway with fried chicken still lives on Jacques-Imo’sCafé (where he cooked later in life) and the related Crabby Jack’s. Part of his lasting legacy wastogive ahigh profile face and persona to the Black chefs whohave long been vital to NewOrleans food and too often wentunrecognized.

Thestory continues

Back at Commander’sPalace, the chef whosucceeded Prudhomme was Emeril Lagasse, who was just 25 when he wastapped forthe job. It wasthe launching pad to open his own Emeril’sRestaurant in 1990 and that, in turn, set his star trajectory in creating anew kind of celebrity chef, one moreakin to arock star From his cookbooks and TV shows, his influence on successive generations around the excitementofcuisine, and even the career path of achef,can’tbe understated.

One of those he influenced clearly was his own son, E.J. Lagasse, whonow leads Emeril’s Restaurant in its new age as a two-Michelin-Star destination. It too, is showing anew side of American dining, one that sets local cuisine on the highest global plane of refinement.

In NewOrleans, history is around every corner.Sometimes on that corner is arestaurant where we can visit to experience the living laboratory of what American cuisine can be.

Email Ian McNultyat imcnulty@theadvocate.com.

FILEPHOTO By J.N. PITTS

rock salt at Antoine’s

STAFFFILE PHOTO

Chef Paul Prudhomme and Margaret Orrin1985.

STAFF FILEPHOTO

Emeril Lagasse in his first restaurant, Emeril’s, in 1993.

STAFF FILE PHOTO

Chef AustinLeslie at work in his Treme restaurant, Chez Helene, in itsoriginal location, at 1536 N. Robertson St., in 1988.

Hail,America!

■ Spirit

The National WWII Museum’s American Spirit Awards gala was presented by the Patrick F. Taylor Foundation and recognized “individuals and organizations whose work reflects the values and spirit of those who served our country during World WarII.” Honored wasformer safety for the New Orleans Saints and CongressionalGold medalist Steve Gleason,atireless advocate for people livingwith amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and with his wife, Michel Varisco,afounder of Team Gleason. Also, composer and conductor John Williams, who hasinspired audiences for decades with his “American Sound;” has written some of the most recognizable movie scores, such as that for “Star Wars” and “Jaws;” andhas received 54 Academy Award nominations (and won five), “the most of any living person.” And, Rosie the Riveters: America’s Women Wartime Workers, acollective group representing the millions of women at home who joined the wartime workforce. Accepting on their behalf were RubyVirginia Ball, MarjorieBaumgartner, Maxine Boeve, Marie Dingle, Earline Gaither,Blanche Garrett, Jeanne Gibson, Rita Graham, Iris Munter Herse, Ellen Hunton, Susan King,Delphine Klaput, Clarice Lafreniere, Dolores Leonard, Helen Leqve, Dolly Marshall, MaryMasciangelo, Frances Masters, Jennifer McMullen, Jean Melby, Alma Momberger and Dorothy Nicholas. Also, Margaret Roling,Virginia Rusch, Joyce Schramek, Sylvia Tanis, ElizabethTate, Mary Elizabeth Thurman, Roberta Tidmore,Florence Troutman and Ardeth Woods. The 2025 ASA recipientswere Donald T.“Boysie” Bollinger,C.Paul Hilliard

and Gordon H.“Nick” Mueller, Ph.D. In 2003, the first award recipient was the now deceased Stephen E. Ambrose, Ph.D., museum founder

■ HMS Trent

Hailing Great Britain, His Majesty’s Consul General Richard Shackleton, MBE (Houston), alongside New OrleansHonorary Consul Dr Quinn Peeper, welcomed local luminaries aboard the HMS Trent, ariver-class patrol vessel named after the River Trent in England.They were joined, respectively by PedroRuiz and Michael Harold. Mayor Helena Moreno,state Rep. Michael Bayham, New Orleans City Council member Eugene Green, Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture MikeStrain, The Advocate owners Dathel and John Georges,and the Royal Navy’sLt. Cdr Charles Stevenson and Cdr David Brannighan mingled with Renee and Paul (Royal Society of St. George) Masinter, Jane and Leonard (English-Speaking Union) Caruso,host committee member andU.S. Navy Community Ambassador for Louisiana Will Hales, Mark Romig (of the Louisiana consular corps, honorary consul of Thailand) and David Briggs, Gregg (The Churchill Society)and Joan Collins, Greg (consular corps, honorary consul of Iceland) and AveryBeuerman, Peter Crean (National WWII Museum) and Theresa (U.S. Army), and Elizabeth Bertram and Jessie Dodwell from the British Consulate in Houston.Tomention afew of those assembled whoenjoyedguided tours of the ship and the daily ceremonyof lowering the flags at sunset They also partook of canapes, specialcocktails, and such favorite libations as mint juleps and gin and tonics, which nodded to both British and Southern traditions. Cheers!

Mark Romig opened the 2026 program as master of ceremonies. Then came thePresentation of Colors and thenational anthem by The Victory Belles, theinvoca-

The Heights

Sail 250 brought seven international tall ships, military vessels, and thousands of officers and sailors to theCrescentCity for America’sbirthday.

Socializinginthe form of lunchesand receptions added to thecelebrations.

tion,the recognition by museum president andCEO StephenJ.Watson, and the respective appreciation and Champagne toast by Suzanne T. Mestayer and James E. Maurin,chairs, in turn, of the museum board and of the ASAselection committee. Dinner followed.

After the palate pleasures of mixed berry salad, primebeef filet, cookie cream cheesecake and wine selections, and the visual attraction of red-roses centerpieces, theprogram continued. Phyllis M.Taylor,wifeofthe late Patrick F. Taylor andfoundation chair, presented sponsor remarks. Then

came the awards to the honored threesome, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra’sperformance, and The Victory Belles’ closing tribute.

Hundreds of attendees filled the venue, the U.S. Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center,coming from the ranks of past awardees, museum board officers and trustees, student leaders, sponsors, and the 2026 American Spirit Award Selection Committee.

As asold-out event, the gala attested to acollective need to connect to American history and patriotism

■ Esmeralda

Amongthe visiting tall ships showcased as part of Sail 250 was theB.E. Esmeralda, atraining ship for theChilean navy,which is affectionatelyknownas“La Dama Blanca,” (The White Lady). It was docked at the Bienville Wharf.

Invitations were sent foranonboard Sunday evening cocktail reception by theAmbassador of Chile to the U.S.H.E. AndresErgas and the Commanding Officer Capt. Edward Gibbons. Cocktail attire was requested, and, forthe military, summer white or equivalent.

Notables included Honorary Consul of Chile Angel Carreras and spouse Maritza, Archbishop James Checchio, and honorary consuls Maria IsabelPage (Spain), Cecilia Kjellgren (Sweden), ConnyWillems (emerita, the Netherlands), and, with spouse Veronica Lihn (New Orleans Hispanic Heritage Foundation), Cesar Lurati (Uruguay). From the younger set came Anna Koveleskie, EugeniePhilipson, Kathleen Keen,Adele Barba, sisters Grace and MargoRamsey, and Grace Trelo.

Scores more milled about —some double-dipping with the festivities on the Argentine ship, Fragata ARA Libertad. The Esmeralda’shospitality included lots of taste treats, servedcocktail style, wines, and pisco sours. Greenery in clear crystal vases decorated the tables.Anaddress by Captain Gibbons resonated with the crowd, whorelished the visit aboard the picturesque ship and the spirit behind the historic visit. All hailed the sails!

PHOTOSByJEFF STROUT

Seated: Roberta Tidmore, Helen Leqve; standing: Charles Hooper

Rivers, Steve and Gray Gleason, Michel Varisco

Paul and Madlyn Hilliard Mel and Jennifer McMullen

PHOTOSByJEFF STROUT

Quinn Peeper, Michael Harold, British Consul Gen. Richard Shackleton, Pedro Ruiz

Lt. Jacob Mikurenda, Lt.Abbey Ovens Will Hales, Mark Romig Commander Dave Brannighan

Lt. Commander Charlie Stevenson, SLT. Katie Hobbs

Peruvian tall shipBAP Union

STAFFPHOTO By NELL NOLAN

PHOTOSByNELL NOLAN

Capt. Edward Gibbons, Maria Page,Lt. Cmdr. Patricio Acevedo

Angel Carreras, Cecilia Kjellgren

Martin Idiaquez, Veronica LinhLurati, CesarLurati

TRAVEL

Summertime is when theopenroadcalls

BY CHERÉ COEN Contributing writer

Travel doesn’thave to mean flights, rental cars and apacked itinerary

Sometimes, agreat adventure may be had by the road, pausing for roadside attractions and sampling indigenous cuisine in unexplored towns.

Here are afew road tripsto considerthis summer,all only a few hours from south Louisiana.

Highway7,Arkansas

One of the best ways to view Arkansas in all its diversity,from cotton fields to mountains, is to follow Route 7from El Dorado at the Louisiana border to its finale at Missouri.

The highway was the state’s first state-designated scenic byway,and visitors can enjoy four geographical regions as they head straight up the center of the Natural State.

Scenic Byway 7begins in the state’scoastal plains andcontinues through the Ouachita Mountains and Hot Springs, then up through the Ozarks, including passing through the Buffalo National River —perfect for hiking, camping and white water rafting. Along the way are springs, historictowns and authentic Southern cuisine.

Length: 290 miles.

Stop: Indulge in hot mineral soaks and massagesonBathhouse RowinHot Springs National Park, one that is uniquely integrated into the downtown area.

TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER

By ChristopherElliott

Imbibe: CliffHouse Inn and Restaurant in Jasper not only serves up Southern meals for the hungry traveler but offers amazing vistas of the “Grand Canyon of the Ozarks.” Most Arkansas establishmentsserve yummy Possum Pie, thankfully chocolaterich and not the mammal

Stay: The 1920s Arlington Hotel Resort &Spa finished its massive renovations and continues to serve as adowntown Hot Springs icon.

What’sunique: Youcan hunt for diamonds —yes, diamonds —at Crater of Diamonds State Park or stop in Mt. Ida, where crystals are in abundance.

Highway61, MississippiDelta

AlthoughU.S. 61 begins in New Orleansand runs through Baton Rouge, theportion known as the Blues Highway starts around Vicksburg andmoves north throughthe Deltatojust shy of Memphis.

This stretch contains numerous blues landmarksand attractions,

but thehighway also marks the routemany African Americans took heading northtoward Chicago during the“Great Migration” during mostofthe 20thcentury

Their movementbrought theindelible sounds of the blues to the rest of the country and contributed toalmost all of what Americans listen to today

It’sthe reason why the Mississippi DeltaNational Heritage Area was formed, apartnership with the National Park Service, one of only 55 such designations in the country

Length: 1,400 miles if you head from New Orleansall the way to Minnesota. For Delta road trip ideas, visit www.visitthedelta. com/delta-blues-road-trip.

Stop: Just outside of Greenwood lies one of three graves of bluesman RobertJohnson. Dockery Farms near Cleveland is, arguably,the place where theblues were born.

Imbibe: The Crown Restaurant in Indianola —B.B. King’shome-

town —focuses on Delta favorites such as catfish, hushpuppies and homemade pies.

Stay: Choose between the Alluvian Hotel in Greenwood, The PeabodyHotel in Memphis or the Shack Up Innoutside Clarksdale, where sharecropper cabins were relocated forunique accommodations.

What’sunique: Didyou know that Mississippi has moreGrammy Award winners per capita than any other state? The Grammy Museum in Cleveland, Mississippi, celebrates theirachievements.

Route66

Arguably the most famous American road trip begins in Chicago and travels more than 2,000 miles to the Pacific Ocean at Santa Monica. This year, Route 66 turns 100, so there will be lots of celebrationsalong the way Route 66 was established on Nov.11, 1926, after the American Association of State Highways was formed to create solid surfaces now known as the nation’s highways. It wasfamous before Bobby Troup’ssong, “Get Your Kicks on Route 66,” and everyone from tourists to celebrities traveled from Chicago to California, staying in “tourist homes” and motor courts built alongthe highway Length: 2,400 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles.

Stop: The Route 66 Museum in Lebanon, Missouri, explains not only the famousroadbut the chronology of America’shighways.

Imbibe: The halfwaypoint of Route 66 is in Adrian, Texas, the perfect spot to stop and enjoy the Elvis Pie —among other diner favorites —atthe Midpoint Café.

Stay: Imagine you’re traveling in time at the historic 1939

BootsCourt in Carthage,Missouri, amotel thatClark Gable frequented. Or choose amore elegantstayatHotel Vandivort, aboutique hotelinthe former Masonic building in downtown Springfield.

What’s unique: Guy Mace has collected more than 70 classic sports andcollector cars, and he displays themathis Route 66 CarMuseum in Springfield. Look for aBatmobile, a1963 Morgan ownedbyDesertStorm’sGen Norman Schwarzkopf andthe truckusedinthe film “Grapes of Wrath” with Henry Fonda. OldSpanish Trail

U.S. 90, known as the Old Spanish Trail, is considered by some as the “Route 66 of the South.”

The OST runs along Southern statesfromFlorida to California andincludesthe width of south Louisiana,fromSlidell to Texas crossing the Mississippi Huey P. Long Bridge fromNew Orleans andwest-northwest toward the Acadiana towns of Lafayette, Rayne andLakeCharles. Length: 2,750 miles.

Stop: Highway90follows the Mississippi coastfrom Alabama to Pass Christian, Mississippi, where it veersnorthward toward Kiln andthenSlidell. Stop and enjoythe beaches,great restaurants andfun attractions of CoastalMississippi.

Imbibe: In Houston, savorcrawfish with an Asianflareatthe Viet-Cajun Crawfish &Noodles. Steaming andspiced boiled crawfisharrive with side dishes suchascrawfish fried rice and shrimp spring rolls.

Stay: Forhistory lovers, the magnificentHotel del Coronado, which just finishedarestoration of its redspires, liesatthe end in SanDiego.ClosertohomeisMobile’s historic Battle House

Rivercruiserefuses to covercosts forcanceledRhine trip

of abad motor

My wife and Ihavebeen looking forward to our six-dayRhine River cruise with CroisiEurope. It wassupposed to be arelaxing trip before we continued on to Dublin.What we gotinstead wasaseries of mechanical problems —and alot of anxiety

Christopher Elliott

The trouble beganalmost immediately.On the first night, the ship stopped cruising early The next morning, scuba divers worked under the hull.We departed late and ascheduledexcursion to Heidelberg was canceled. That night, around midnight, the ship hit something.The hull shook.At 1:30 a.m.,all passengers were woken up and sent to the lounge.This lasted for an hour before we were allowed to go back to our staterooms.

The final announcement came the next morning: The cruise wascanceled because

Our original disembarkationwas Amsterdam, and we hadnonrefundabletravel booked fromthere to Dublin.Mywife and Idid not want to risk further delays.We immediately booked noncancelabletrain travel to Amsterdam,plustwo nonrefundable nightsatthe Hotel des Arts. Later that afternoon, aCroisiEurope representative advised that some guestswould continue by bus,but by then, we had already made firm commitments andcould not join that alternative trip.

CroisiEurope refundedthe original cruise fare of $4,792, butwehaveadditional expenses of about $1,400. Can you help us geta refund?— MichaelCawley,West Chester,Pa.

Ithink CroisiEurope should have reimbursedyou for all of your expenses Mechanical failures,aninter-

rupted night’s sleep after the ship struck something —these are not minor inconveniences.

Under EU Regulation 1177/2010, aEuropean consumer protection law,passengers on inland waterway journeys are entitled to reimbursementincases of cancellation because of technical faults, which includes meals and, if an overnight stay becomes necessary,reasonable accommodations.

Butthe regulation for inland waterways is alittle tricky.Once an event like yours happens, the operator must offer two options: either rerouting you to thefinal destination free of charge or providing afull refund of the ticket price.

CroisiEurope offered abus rerouteafter you had already com-

mitted to the nonrefundable train and hotel to Amsterdam.This timingisimportant. Youwere forced to makearrangements because thecompany did not provide the necessary assistance immediately.The offer of abus came too late. What couldyou have done differently?

The momentthe cruise was officially canceled, you should have contacted amanager at CroisiEurope and ask that it book and pay for your rerouting, which the regulation implies it should do.

Bookingnonrefundable tickets on your own, especially without a clear paper trail confirming CroisiEurope’srefused assistance, makes recovering that money harder

Since CroisiEurope has already

issued the full cruise refund, your dispute is over the out-of-pocket expenses. After we contacted the company,CroisiEurope offered you a$1,400 credit forafuture cruise.

“Per our legal analysis, the Regulation (EU)No. 1177/2010 does not apply to Mr.Cawley’scase, as this law concerns apackage travel contract and not merely a river transport service,” arepresentative told us.

That’snot the resolution you were hoping for—and frankly,it wasn’tfor me, either

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy,anonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at chris@elliott.org or get help by contacting him on his site.

PHOTO By CHERÉ COEN

ART&CULTURE

NewOrleanian’s collection of French porcelainondisplay

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT AREA MUSEUMS

Theroyal porcelain factory on the outskirtsofParis hasbeen producing beautiful works of breakable art fornearly three centuries. Because aNew Orleanscollector took special interest in aspecific periodofthe factory’soutput, 75 pieces madefor France’sdoomed royal family between1758 and 1766 are now on view in “Sèvres Magnifique: French Porcelain from theCollection of Thomas B. Lemann”atthe New Orleans Museum of Art

Founded in 1740 in Vincennes, the factorymoved in 1756 to be closertoVersailles andits fancy residents.

“This little factory,which was modest in the beginning,became such an emblem of France that it caught the attention andthe patronage of the royals,”said Mel Buchanan, NOMA’s RosaMary Curator of Decorative Arts & Design. “So, it was King Louis XV whobecame apatron of thefactory,or, well, more directly his mistress, Madame de Pompadour.”

The trays, tea sets, plates and bowls in the exhibit beloved by thepre-guillotine set somehow survived the French Revolution, as did the factory,which still operates today

Many of those who ostensibly handled the objects —including Marie Antoinette, or at least her servants —did not

“These were used objects, but in avery rarified world of the elite in acourt setting,”Buchanan said. “All of these things would have had aplace and been part of that ceremony of dailylife at the court.”

Theanswerisonthe back

Some of the exhibit pieces are mounted so visitors can see their undersides, wherevarious markings identify the factory,and sometimes the artist,that painted the piece.

“If you turn over ceramics, as I

PHOTOSByDAVEWALKER

maybe the original designer.It’s very rare thatthe individual artists gettoclaim ownership of the piece.

“There is an archive at the Sèvres factory today that you can go visit. If you make the appointmentand request theright materials, you can be looking at thepay schedules for agilder that worked in the1760s. It’sreally extraordinary.Incredible.”

So, thank you, 18th-century cake-eating annotators of Sèvres, from curators of thepresent and future.

The documentation was part of theappeal to Lemann, Buchanan said.

sometimes joke, theanswer is on theback,” Buchanan said.

Because of these marks and the meticulousrecordskept by the factory,it’spossible, afew centuries later,tocredit the proletariat painters andgilders in exhibit textaccompanyingthe porcelain.

“So, each individual painter which were some of the best artistsoftheir generation worldwide —had the privilege of marking theirpiece,” Buchanan said. “In a factory setting, that’s pretty rare. Generally in afactory setting, it’s thefactory thatgets the credit or

“Asa historian, Iimagine he was possibly attracted to Sèvres because they were their own historians,” she said.

Important to Lemannaswell was that the pieces be in pristine shape.

“Condition was very important,” Buchanan said. “Some collectors are not as concerned with somethinghaving alittle ding or alittle repair.Tommy Lemann wanted everything to be perfect, which is wonderful for amuseum because we feel the sameway,to

have pristine examples.”

From Versailles to City Park

The delicate porcelain’sjourney into NOMA’s permanent collection spanned several decades. It’s been on display at the museum afew times, dating back to the 1980s, but always anonymously Lemanndied in 2023 at age 97, and the collection was donated to themuseum.

His story,well-known to acertain vintageoflocals, is worth pondering as you enjoy his giftof theroyal platters, etc., to his fellow citizens.

n The artexhibit “Festival/New/ Works,” which pairs established artists withemergingtalents, closes Mondayatthe Contemporary Arts CenterofNew Orleans. More: cacno.org

n Wednesday’s6p.m. Gallier Gathering,tobeconducted forfree on Zoom, will feature adiscussion withauthor and historian Andrew N. Wegmann on the topic “From Cuba to Creole: The Lacroix Household and Creole Identity in 19thCenturyNew Orleans.” hgghh.org

n At 6p.m.Thursday, the Ogden Museum of Southern Artwill host a “Culture &Cocktails” gathering to explore the musicians and music represented in the photography exhibit “Herman Leonard: Images of Jazz.”Advance registration is encouraged. ogdenmuseum.org

n At 6:30 p.m.Thursday, a Dinnerwith aCurator event at the National WWII Museum will pursue the theme “Press Start: WorldWar II in Video Games.” nationalww2museum.org n The Ogden Museum of Southern Artexhibits “Herman Leonard: Images of Jazz” and “Focu: Noel Rockmore” will close July 12. ogdenmuseum.org

n Afreeopening reception for the traveling exhibit “Drawnto Combat: Bill Mauldin and the ArtofWar” will startat5 p.m. July 16.Apaneldiscussion, which will takeplace in-person and online,will startat6 p.m. nationalww2museum.org

ANew Orleans native, he served in World WarIIand wasa Harvard Law graduate thereafter There are YouTube videos of him reciting, late in life and in Greek, the poetry of Alcaeus and Homer “Often when we talk about Tommy Lemann, Ialways use ashortcut to describe maybe how his mind worked: He was a codebreakerduring the Second WorldWar,” Buchanan said. “He made his career as alawyer (but)heliveda life of the mind, operating on alevel that …most of us struggle just to keep up. He was avoraciousreader,traveler anddeeply knowledgeable about allparts of history andart.” The exhibit will remain on view through Jan. 3, 2027.

Dave Walker focuses on behindthe-scenes coverage of the region’smany museumshere and at www.themuseumgoer.com. Email Dave at dave@themuseumgoer com.

Thanks to meticulous recordkeeping by the factory, many of the Sèvres artists can be credited in exhibit text.

The Sèvrestrays, tea sets, plates and bowls in the NewOrleans Musuem of Fine Artexhibitsomehowsurvived the French Revolution, as did the factory, which still operates today.

Dave Walker

‘Darkology’

Princetonprofessor’s book delves into the rootsofblackface in American society

BY RIEN FERTEL

Contributing writer

“Darkology: Blackface and theAmerican WayofEntertainment,”byRhae Lynn Barnes, Liveright, 528 pages.

Acentury and ahalf ago, as centennialcelebrations touched off across thecountry,muchof White America was united by the crude caricatureknown as blackface. Once thedominion of professional minstrel performers, amateur blackface began to proliferateinthe waning days of Reconstruction, permeating everydayAmerican life.

From coast to coast, blackface became inescapable.

Fraternal organizationsused blackface to build brotherhood.Publishing houses marketedblackface-themed books.Blackface helped Hollywood sell tickets. Students in elementary schools and colleges performed in public blackface showcases. The government supplied troopswith blackfacekits for DIY minstrel shows.

In 1872, areporter for theNew Orleans Republican newspaper estimated thatthreequarters of Mardi Gras maskers costumedin blackface.

The ugly persistence of blackface in American culture is the subject of PrincetonUniversity professor Rhae Lynn Barnes’sbombshell of abook, “Darkology,” arangyhistory that should be required readingthisSemiquincentennial.

Barnes begins with the Benevolentand Protective Order of the Elks, a“burnt-cork brotherhood” founded by professionalblackface minstrelsin1868 in NewYork City.The Elks produced and disseminated how-to manuals to welcome new members to thefold,trainingthemin what Barnes terms darkology, “the commodification, study, anddehumanization of Blacklife.”

Performing in blackface before theirfellowbrothers became arite of passage for these respectable, patriotic-minded men, and later for the generation of Polish, Irish and Italian immigrants eager to enforce boundaries of race By the early 20th century,darkology had leaptfrom thecloaked confines of theElks to TinPan Alley, where publishers churned outblackface-themed theatrical productions, joke books and sheet music thatrevived the career of minstrel maestro StephenFoster —and paved the way for thepreeminent blackface superstar of stage and screen, Al Jolson. Destined for living rooms, church fellowship halls andschools,these publications were the blueprint for much of what White America called entertainment. Following the twin crashes of the Great Depression and World WarII, PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt, an exalted Elk member,leaned on blackface toadd some peptoAmerica’sstep.

The New Deal’sFederal Theatre Project distributed original blackface contenttoanation hungry for amusement, including three versionsof“The Story of Little Black Sambo.”

The WarDepartment flooded troopswith burnt cork makeup, black wigsand banjos,ensuring that every G.I. Joe could put on ashowfor theirfellow soldiersabroad. Back home, convalescing service members weretreatedtominstrel shows at Walter Reed Army Medical Center And the government provided Japanese-American concentration camp prisoners withthe same racist accoutrement, an “unlikely cultural bridge,” Barnes writes, to Americanization.

In one of the book’smost damningsections,Barnes tells thestory of thestrange footnote to FDR’sembrace of blackface. On the day he diedofacerebral hemorrhageathis Little White HouseinWarm Springs, Georgia, the presidenthad planned to preside over akids’ musical showcase he had cowritten titled “Polio Minstrels.”

His wife, Eleanor,insisted that theshowgoon, with young White polio patients in blackface.

At war’send, riding thetideofBlack respectability and Civil Rights legislation to end Jim Crowsegregation, the NAACP ramped up across-country antiminstrel campaign. The widespreaduse of blackface showcases in publicschools, and thepsychological damage they inflicted on children,wereanearly target. When ateacher asked aclassroom whata “suitable punishment for Hitler” would be, ayoung Black girl

raisedher hand: “Paint him black,andbring himto America.”

In 1963, the NAACP pressured the Universityof Vermont totweak apopular campus tradition known as the Kake Walk. Adance competition featuring blackfaced fraternitymembers, theKake Walk harkened back to bondage, when enslavers forcibly conscripted Black bodies to parade for the rare promise of sweet treats. For three years, greenface replaced blackface, before theoverwhelmingly Whitestudent body restored the insidious custom UVMofficially banned theKake Walk in 1969, after the university’ssix Black studentsintrepidly attended the event. The following year,the fraternities surreptitiously walked anyway.A handful of Black studentsshowed up, including Charlie Titus of nearby Saint Michael’sCollege, who came armed withabaseball bat.

“Anybody who wantstodoaKake Walk,” he screamed after walloping the multi-tiered cake the gathering planned to eat, “Kake Walk over my dead body!”

(In another 1960s episode that Barnes does not mention,the NAACP also called out the Zulu Social Aid &Pleasure Club for their continued use of black makeup, resulting in that organization banning the practice for several years.)

In acrowded field of blackface scholarship, one of the merits of Barnes’sbook is her focus on individuals who pushed back against what she calls “the longest-running gag in American cultural history.”

Onesuch true American patriot was Betty Reid Soskin, née Charbonnet,aNew Orleanian who relocated toCalifornia after the 1927 flood (she later gained famefor being theoldest serving National ParkService ranger in theUnited States). In 1952, she was horrified to learnthat her son’sintegrated elementary school would host aminstrel show fundraiser,featuring the principal in blackface.

She showed up, sittingfront and center,forcing the company to “perform that show in front of me.” California banned blackface in public schools soon after Butblackface has never really disappeared.

Cyberscholars warn of “digital blackface,” the application of AI and other technologies by non-Black individuals to perform and perpetuate racist stereotypes. In April, Georgia GOPState Representative Kasey Carpenter apologized for wearing blackface to acostume partyover adecade ago. In Baltimore, Republican House of Delegates primary candidateBobby Berger was forced toanswer questionsabout his former career as apopular blackface entertainer Though he retired his act in 2015, after performing over 1,000 shows, his longtimenickname appeared on the ballots: Al Jolson.

Rien Fertel is the author of four books

Book highlights La.activism during AIDS epidemic

BY MOLLYTERRELL Staff Writer

In the ’80s and ’90s, muchlike the rest of the country, Shreveport was grappling with the peak of the AIDS crisis. Much of the government indifference, medical neglect and religious hostilityduring theheight of the epidemic prompted activists to form support organizations, like AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP).

David W. Hylan, an award-winning documentary filmmakerand longtime LGBTQ+ advocate, has spent years preserving the stories of those who livedthrough the epidemic in northwest Louisiana. Hylan, aShreveport native,co-directed “Small Town Rage: Fighting Back in the Deep South” (2016) with Raydra Hall, examining the work and influence of ACT UP Shreveport.

He has now written abook with the same title, released in June,thatexploresthe organization andthe activists who confrontedfear, silence,discrimination andpolitical indifference during the AIDS crisis in northwest Louisiana, according to a newsrelease from Hylan.

The organization wasfoundedinNew York City in 1987 as apolitical action group in response to the AIDS crisis and has since expanded with independent local chapters across the country According to Hylan, it was important to write this book because he felt like there were alot of storiesand people that wereleft out of the original documentary

“I was reliving allthose stories allover again— and people’smemories and the pain of the pandemic the loss of my ownfriendsand thefriends and family of those that we had filmed,” said Hylan, whoserved formore than three decades as executive director of the Betty andLeonardPhillips Deaf Action Center in Shreveport.

Today,Hylan is retired and living in Mexico. In researching forthe book, he conducted about 75 interviewsand collected over 400 clippings from newspapers and magazines. He noted that telling the stories over againinprint assured him that the AIDS pandemic experience for Shreveport residents would not be forgotten and would be documented through interviews andmaterials.

He saidthe silence and the way Shreveport and the surrounding areas chose to handle the AIDS epidemic made it even morepainful forthose involved.

“Inthe South, we have acultureofsilenceand politeness, andpeople didn’twanttodeal with it,” Hylansaid. “I think Shreveport had an overwhelming feeling that this was happening somewhere else.”

Hylan said he believes alot of patients weren’tgiven the services they needed in someplaces, and somewere starved because nurses didn’twant to go in their rooms, leaving food trays outside.

According to Hylan, the book is morein-depth than the film

“The book is not an expansion in the sense of telling the same story as the movie —asthe film —but it gave alot more detail aboutwho thosepeople were andwhatwas going on in their lives and what motivated them to get involved,” Hylan said.

Hylan

Barnes

By The Associated Press

Today is Sunday,July 5,the 186thday of 2026. Thereare 179 days left in theyear

TodayinHistory:

On July 5, 1996, Dolly thesheep, the first mammalclonedfrom an adult somatic cell by scientists at the RoslinInstitute at the UniversityofEdinburgh,was born.

Also on this date:

In 1687, Isaac Newton first published his Principia Mathematica,a three-volume worksettingout his mathematical principles of naturalphilosophy

In 1811,Venezuela became the first South Americancountry to declare independence from Spain.

In 1852, Frederick Douglass deliveredhis speech“What to the Slaveisthe Fourth of July?” atCorinthian HallinRochester, New York.

In 1865, the Secret ServiceDivision of the U.S. TreasuryDepartment wasfounded in Washington, D.C., withthe mission of suppressing counterfeit currency

In 1935, President Franklin D. Rooseveltsignedthe National Labor Relations Act.

In 1937, Hormel introduced acanned meat productcalled Spam; more than 9billion cans have been sold since In 1940, during World WarII, Britain and the Vichy government in France brokeoff diplomatic relations

In 1943,the BattleofKursk beganduring World WarII; in the weeks thatfollowed, theSovietswereable to repeatedlyrepel the Germans, whoeventually withdrewindefeat.

In 1946,the modern bikini, designedbyFrenchmanLouis Reard, was first modeled in Paris.

In 1947, Larry Doby made his debut with the Cleveland Indians,becomingthe first Blackplayerinthe American League three months after Jackie Robinsonbroke thecolor barrier in the National League.

In 1954, Elvis Presley recordedhis firstsingle, “That’sAll Right,” at Sun StudioinMemphis, Tennessee.

In 1971, President RichardNixon certifiedthe 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, whichlowered the minimum voting age from 21 to 18.

In 1975, Arthur Ashe becamethe first Blackman to win aWimbledon singles title, defeating Jimmy Connors

In 1977, Pakistan’sarmy,led by General Mohammad Zia ulHaq, seized power from President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

In 1980, Bjorn Borg became the firstmaleplayer to win five consecutive Wimbledon singlestitles.

In 1994, Amazon was foundedbyJeffBezos as an online marketplace for books.

In 2011, ajury in Orlando, Florida,found Casey Anthony,25, notguilty of murder,manslaughterand child abuse in the2008 disappearanceand deathofher 2-year-old daughter,Caylee.

In 2013, Pope Francis clearedtwo of the20thcentury’s most influentialpopestobecome saints in the Roman Catholic Church, approving amiracle neededtocanonize Pope JohnPaulIIand waiving Vatican rules to honor Pope John XXIII. Today’sBirthdays: Julie Nixon Eisenhoweris78. Rock star Huey Lewisis76. Baseball HallofFamepitcher Rich “Goose” Gossage is 75.NFL Hall of Fame receiverJames Lofton is 70.Cartoonist Bill Watterson (“Calvin and Hobbes”)is68. Singer-songwriter Marc Cohn is 67.Actor Edie Falco is 63. ActorKathryn Erbe is 61.Actor MichaelStuhlbarg is 58. RapperRZA is 57. Author Gary Shteyngart is 54. R&B singerJoe is 53.RapperRoyce da 5’9” is 49. International Tennis HallofFamer Amelie Mauresmo is 47. Actor Ryan Hansen is 45. Country musician Dave Haywood (LadyA)is44. Actor Danay Garciais42. Retired soccer player MeganRapinoe is 41. ActorJasonDolleyis35. LosAngelesDodgers pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani is 32.

Delete theemails, notthe friendships

Dear Miss Manners: It is like acompulsion for manypeople to forward emails they’ve received, usually filled withjokes and such. To my surprise, manyseem to enjoy those emails. Istopped everybody from forwarding me thoseemails by tellingthem the truth: If Iwant jokes, Iwill buy abook of jokes. Ihave TV sets, radios, newspapers and all kinds of ways Ican get thelatest news from around the world. Ialso have acomputer that gives me everything Iwant and need, but when Iwant and need it

if that is your test forgood companionship, Miss Manners fears you will have alonely lifeofcensoring everyone you know Because badtaste in humor (or moreaccurately,taste that is somethingother than your own) is not just confined to inboxes, but to all social situations, even (especially) familial ones. Onewould think it would be easier just to humor the humorless and quietly delete their emails, rather than obliterate the relationship with their senders.

Someofmyfriends were surprised at mydecision. “Oh, but my jokes are SO funny!” they tell me, but Inever lost an interesting correspondent by tellingthem not to send me anyforwarded messages. Idelete them right away

GentleReader: So you already have asolution. Youjust want toadmonish your humorless friends and boast about how dispensable they are?

Yes, thepractice of forwarding these emails can be annoying. But

Dear Miss Manners: My partner,Derek, our lady friend, Jessica, and Idined at a highly renowned restaurant in the big city. The waitstaffwas young and attractive, the silverware was clean, and the food was attractively displayed when we wereserved.

Derek and Jess each had adrink, Ihad water,and the bill came to somethingjust south of $200.

My companions are used to fine dining, but Iwas shocked when the food was delivered. It waslike a joke—the plate wasnearly empty The“meal” wasartfully prepared, probably with rare and desirable

ingredients, but after dinner,I went to areal restaurant and got a cheeseburger It’s not my inclination to makea scene when we’re out having anice time, so Ididn’t, but if we ever go “fine dining” again, what are my rights as acustomer? Should Ihave sent the plate back to the kitchen and told them to put somereal food on it?

Gentle Reader: Youalready know the answer to that.

“Fine dining” is often synonymouswith pretentiousness and sadly,the joke is on us when the portions are laughably small —if no doubt artfully prepared and sustainably sourced.

Miss Manners suggests that next timearestaurant like this one is suggested, you look up the menu (and accompanying pictures) online beforehand. At least that way you can be prepared —either by suggesting somewhere else or by eating hearty appetizers beforehand.

Sendquestions to Miss Manners at herwebsite, www missmanners.com or to heremail, dearmissmanners@gmail.com.

Anew appcan screen your phonecalls

Dear Heloise: Imake calls for work concerning client requests, and somenumbers now have an app that screens all calls. This starts after waiting for the voicemail. Youhave to give aname, a reason for the call, or aphone number, then wait some morewhile alist is checked. Then, if you’re on the list, it goes to voicemail. Noneofthis is efficient,as it wastes my time andalso ties up your phone. The person can see who’scalling, and they don’thave to answer.Not all calls are spam. This isn’trespectful to people you’ve given your number to. —Ann, via email Ann, this may seem tobeanannoyance to you, but thegeneral public is tired of spamcalls. Ican tell you that when I’m sittingatmy

desk during working hours, it’snot uncommon to get between 10-11 spam calls in one day Thank heavens my phone alerts me to thesespam calls, and Iignore them. While I’m not thrilled by the system you’ve written about, Ican certainly understand it. —Heloise Disposingofshreddedpaper

Dear Heloise: Regarding Anni’sletter,Icalled 311 (the city helpline) in Houston about recycling shredded paper.Iwas told to empty the shredded paper into apaper bag, staple it shut, then put it in the recycle bin. —Linda S.,via email Shampoobars

Dear Heloise: Abar of shampoo that is packaged in acardboard box saves our planet from moreplastic. Ifound this product during COVID, and I’ll never buy aplastic bottle of shampoo again. Even my hairconditioner comes

in abar.The best part is that it saves me money because these bars, when used properly,last fora while. —B., in Prairie du Sac,Wisconsin

Markingwineglasses

Dear Heloise: We keep cute little flower suction cups to stick on our glasses to identifythem during the day

They’re in different colors, and my husband and Ihave aparticular one that we use all the time and different ones to give company Ialso have cute little glass ornaments on metal rings that will fit around awine glass stem so that when Ihave company,each person has their own wine glass. They can refill it, leave it somewhere, and know which one it is. This way,weonly have to wash the glasses at the end of the day —Emily M., in Kingwood,Texas Send ahinttoheloise@heloise com.

Cole SENSE AND SENSITIVITy

Dear Harriette: My crush is moving soon, and I’m considering asking him for his number before he goes. I’ve been interested in him for more than ayear now, but I’ve been far too shy to express romantic interest. Instead, we’ve seen each other at partiesand interacted mostly as friends of friends. Although that’snot my ultimate goal with him, it gave me achance to see if my crush was someone I should try to pursue. Now that he’sleaving, I think it’stime to be more direct. Our mutual friend let me know that my crush has been waiting for me to say something all year and would be surprised by how long Iwaited to say something. Would asking for his number now be worth it, or has the ship sailed? —Say Something Dear SaySomething: If your crush knew you were interested and didn’tspeak up while you also didn’tsay anything, it seems that both of you must be shy Don’tlet this moment pass. Reach out to him and express your interest. Ask for his number and, more important, ask for adate beforeheleaves. Send questions to askharriette@ harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel

Hints from Heloise

Judith Martin MISS MANNERS

Harriette

Voiceof Minionsnow understandsthem

Coffinisthe creator of Minionese, butit’s adialect that’s taken time to hone

BY JAKE COYLE AP film writer

NEWYORK Filmmaker PierreCof-

fin is the creator and chief practitioner of Minionese, but it’s adialect —like most things Minions that’staken time to hone.

“I have this file on my phone of Indian dishes or weird words.”

Coffin says. “People come up to me and say,‘Youshould say that!’ and Iwrite it down.”

“The hardest thing,” adds Coffin, “is just to find the melody.”

It’sbeen 16 years since Coffin co-directed Illumination’s“Despicable Me.” He has made three more movies in the franchise, directing “Despicable Me 2,”

“Despicable Me 3” and “Minions.” But the Minions, like Coffin’spersonal version of Frankenstein’smonster,have often remained adeviling, evenmystifying force to him.

Coffin,a FrenchIndonesian animator who lives in Paris, where Illumination productions are based, has struggled with both the dictates of Hollywood franchise-building andthe strange narrative conundrums of moviesbased around a supervillain and gibberish-speaking henchmen.

“That’swhy Ikindofdisappeared from the series,” Coffin said in arecent interview from Paris. “I mean the first one was reallygood. Abad guybecoming agood guyafter contact with three little girls,I could see it. The second one was alittle bit more shady because it was like: That guy who’snolonger abad guy falls in love and there’sa marriage at the end. That’sliterally how Chris (Meledandri) pitched it to me. My French sensibility threw up alittle bit.”

If you can’ttell, Coffin— the stillmischievous59-year-old son of a French diplomatand an Indonesiannovelist —isunusually candid about the franchise he helped create.Evenmovies that he directed, he’shighly critical of.

The previous “Minions” spinoff, 2022’s “Minions: TheRiseofGru,”

ILLUMINATION/UNIVERSAL PICTURES Ascenefrom Illumination’s‘Minions &Monsters’

Coffin won’t eventalk about because, hesays, “I don’tnecessarily like it and it’sstrange to me.” “Despicable Me 3,” the2017 sequel, was the last movie Coffin directed, but he says he didn’teven want to make it. Afterward, Coffintold Meledandri,the Illumination chief executive, that hewas done.

“I told him: Igot to move on. Idid my trilogy,myprequel —I’m good. Ican help with the voices, no problem. But Iwant to move on,” Coffin says. “I worked on separate things, but Ialways get pulled back by the Minions.”

The Minions have away of manipulating their bosses, Coffin included. After walking away from them, he’sbackfor “Minions & Monsters,”the third standalone feature for the little guys.

“All the other ones Ihad doubts about. Iwas guided into adirection thatI did not necessarily like or understand,”saysCoffin of the previoussequels. “Butthe things were a huge success. Iwas humbled. OK, there has to be something Idon’t understand.

“This one is horrible becauseI’m thinking Ireally likeit,” Coffinsays, laughing. “And I’m thinking, man, maybe Ijust killedthe franchise.”

Making Minionsmaincharacters

On the contrary,“Minions &Monsters,” which opens in theaters Wednesday,may be thebest“Minions” movie yet. In it,the Minions turn filmmakers.Alongside Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd, they try to make amonster movie in 1920s

Hollywood.

The premise, suggestedbyMeledandri, was too enticing for Coffin to turn down. He even wanted to write the script,which he did with co-writer Brian Lynch. “Minions & Monsters” makesthe yellow troublemakers something morethan chaos-inducing sidekicks. They’re silent film stars who forthe first time feel like actual protagonists.

“This movie has so much for people whowere kids whentheyfirst encountered theMinions,” saysMeledandri.“More than anyprevious Minion movie, it incorporates all of that wonderful silliness of the Minions but it’s alsoaterrific story.”

Even after seven films and more than$5billion in box office, the Minions are still revealing themselves to Coffin. They were, in the first place, aproduct of evolution. For“Despicable Me,”they were first designed like hulking thugs, thenmore like robots,then more like mole men. Coffin, Chris Renaud and art director Eric Guillon kept refining. Add in some goggles, overalls and names like Stuart and Kevin and, bingo: movie history Howtospeak Minionese

Yetgiven that the Minions areimpossibletounderstood,exceptfor a word or two, theymake for tricky protagonists. Hand them over to anew boss,and you risk making theMinions second bananas again. At the same time, long sections of uninterrupted Minionese can grow tiresome without some human interpreter

“If it’stoo long and annoying to theear,wejust kill it,” Coffin says. “All of these movies, we do until we find thelittle formula.”

Even just writingfor the Minions isn’taclear process. Coffin, who voices all the Minions, is accustomed to improvising their dialogue back and forth. (For the first “Minions” movie, he’d begin his mornings with twohours alone with amicrophone before commutingtothe studio.) Putting pen to papercame less naturally

“Brian didn’tknow how to write them,” Coffin says. “He tried writinggibberish. Itold him, ‘Don’t write gibberish. Idon’tunderstand what they’re saying. Let’swrite them in English.’ It took us awhile to establish that dumbthing.”

Coffin can sound almost parental aboutthe Minions. The characters he gave voice to aren’tjust in the movies. They’re like mascots for Illumination,generatedbillionsin merchandising. Not every treatment nails their singular nature.

In writing “Minions &Monsters, Coffin wanted to think about the origins of friendships. He began surveyingpeople abouthow theymet their best friends. Many of the replies inevitably went back to when someonewas 8or10years old.

“That made it very clear to us: The Minions are kids,” Coffins says. “I discovered that on this movie. It dawned on me.They’re irresponsible, they don’tlisten, they makea mess, they don’tlisten to authority From that moment onward, it was very easy.”

Newcomer putinworktoplaya teen Elle Woods

BY ALICIA RANCILIO Associated Press

When Lexi Minetree auditioned for the part of ateenage Elle Woods in a“Legally Blonde” prequel seriesfor Prime Video, she went for it with the determinationand creativity that the character herself used to apply to Harvard Law School in the original film. Minetree, said “Elle” executive producerLauren Neustadter,“actually recreated her own version of the Harvard admissionvideo featured in the 2001movie that starred Reese Witherspoon, “and she hit it out of the park.”

The preparation to play Elle in the series debuting on Wednesday, didn’tstop there. Minetree says she watched “Legally Blonde” about “200 times at this point,” studying Witherspoon’sperformance, but steering clear of an outright impression of the Oscar winner “Reese brought her essenceto the character,”Minetree said. “And that is something that no one could ever replicate. It would be adisservice if Itried to do that,soI tried to bring the parts of myself that I thought were reflected in Elle.”

A fish outofwater

In “Legally Blonde,” we met Elle as asorority girl who applies to Harvard LawSchool, gets accepted,and is astar in her class.

“When Iread the script it re-

minded mealot of old Goldie Hawn movies, or ‘Working Girl,’ Witherspoon told the AP in 2001.

“You think this girl is certainly not very smart because of the way she speaks and theway she looks, and then she justturns the tables on everybody andbecomessmarter than everyone, andIjust love that.”

“Elle”underscores thatpeople don’thave to sacrifice their true selves in order to achieve success.

Howwemeet Minetree’sElle is at her blowout16thbirthday party, shortly before her parents(played by TomEverettScottand June Diane Raphael)break thenews that

they’re all moving to Seattle.

Thestudents at her newschool arelessthanfriendly andshun Elle’ssunny disposition and pink attire.This is Seattlein1995 and both grunge musicand its cultureare everything. Even the cheerleaders wear flannel. It takes time forthe student’stowarm up to their new classmate.

“Such an integral part of the ‘Legally Blonde’IPisnot judging a book by its cover,” said Chandler Kinney,who playsKimberly, one of Elle’sschoolmates who is particularly judgy —atfirst

Thelasting influenceof‘Blonde’

The time seemed right to explore more of Elle’sstory when Witherspoon noticed thepressures young women feel to live up to unrealistic standards curatedonline.Studies have linked social media to mental healthissues among teens

Witherspoon “really sawwhat washappening to youngwomen,” said Neustadter of Witherspoon’s desire to explore the character as ayoung woman.“She felt like this was the right moment to give Elle to thenext generation.

“Elle reminds us that we should feel good about being ourselves, feel proud of who we are and to be kind andgood to others. It feelslike agood reminder forthis moment in time.”

Telling an origin story of this characterjustmakes sense, Rapha-

el said. We’ve seen prequels about all kinds of malecharacters —but “we rarely gettodothatwiththe iconic female characters that we love,”she said.

Asurprisecastmember

Viewers will recognize afamiliar face in the firstseasonof“Elle.”

James VanDer Beek, who died in February after adiagnosis of bowel cancer,plays Dean Wilson, superintendent of Elle’snew school and amayoral candidate.

Raphael had the most scenes with VanDer Beek and says it was an honor to share scenes with him

“It’ssospecial to me,” she said. “His work on theshow is so lovely, and he is such alovely person. I’d never met him before, and Iwas so excited to workwith him.I was really blown away by his charm and his charisma andmainly his ease.”

More ‘Elle’ is coming Season 2of“Elle” has wrapped filming, andMinetree is happy viewers won’thave to wait long to seeacontinuation to the story

“Honestly, Season 2, it’ssogood,” Minetree said. “Season 1isamazing, but season 2might be better.”

Thereare also plans to make a third “Legally Blonde” film starring Witherspoon.

“Absolutely,we’re on it,” Neustadter said. “Don’tyou worry We’reinthe kitchen, we’re cooking something up.”

DearAnnie: My husband and Iraised our grandson from the time he wasa baby.He is now 19, anduntil recently,wewere very close. When he first introduced us to his girlfriend, Ithought she seemed nice enough. But now she is constantly by hisside. Whenever Itry to talk to him privately,offer advice or help him with something, she appears and takes over the conversation. It feels as if Ican no longer have amoment alone with theyoung ma nw e raised. He is also fa cing a court matter, andIhave textedhim severaltimes with thenames andphone numbers of lawyers who might be able to help. He rarely responds. Iworry that his girlfriend is discouraging him from speaking with us or convincing him that he no longer needs our support. Irealize that he is 19 and wants to be independent. I also understand that aserious girlfriend may become the centerofhis world at this age. Still, it hurtsto feel pushedaside after my husband and Idevoted so much of our lives to raising him Should Iconfront him about his girlfriend, or would that only drive him farther away? How can I remindhim that we love him and are here to help without making him feel controlled? —Grandmaonthe Outside Dear Grandma: Your grandson is 19 and in love. Young love is often all consuming. It can be painful to watch someoneyou love make choicesthatseemunwise, especially when youfear theymay be headed toward heartache. But part of growing up is learning through experience. His girlfriend sounds controlling andmay even have narcissistic traits.But tread carefully.Ifyou attack her,hewill likely rush to defend her,and you may endupfarther away from him than you are now Tell him you love him.Tell him you are worried about the court situation. Offer your help once, clearly and calmly.Then give him somebreathing room Tryinviting him to lunch or fora drive,just the two of you. Don’tlecture him on how you really feel about his relationship. Don’tthrow any criticism toward him. He doesn’tneed to experience across-examination worthy of the courtroom he is already facing. Youand your husband raised him.That bond does not disappear because he is wrapped up in agirlfriend. Keep the door open, keep your words gentle and let him know he can always come home to you. If he knowshecan turn to you without fear of judgment, he will be far morelikely to reach out when he needs support. Sometimes the best way to hold on is to loosen your grip.

Send yourquestions forAnnie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.

Annie Lane

DEAR ANNIE

PRIME VIDEO PHOTO By JESSICA BROOKS

Lexi Minetree, as Elle Woods, in a scene from ‘Elle’

Coffin

LOOK BACK

furs, cotton, lumber, rice and various other articles produced on the plantations,” according to a visitor in this era.

Behind the quai (wharf) circulated food vendors offering, according to Cabildo records, “salt meats of all grades, oil, suet and pork lard rice, corn, peas, beans chickens and turkeys,” and other foodstuffs to homemakers.

No one in this remote outpost of some 3,000 people would have known that, a thousand miles away American patriots had just declared their independence from British rule.

That’s not to say locals were unaware of the unrest in the 13 colonies; as French Creoles under Spanish rule, they too scorned the British.

But outside of the halls of government and military garrisons, you would have heard little about the American Revolution in circa-1776 New Orleans.

Crossing the muddy Camino Real (or Calle de Muelle, today’s Decatur Street) would bring you to the Plaza de Armas, now Jackson Square Little more than a barren parade ground strewn with cannons, the unfenced plaza proliferated with peddlers and vendors, including hunters and fishmongers who, according to Cabildo records, sold their catch “in the heat of the sun” and dumped “blood, gills and other waste” wherever convenient. Meat spoiled, produce rotted, flies buzzed everywhere and noxious odors wafted in the subtropical humidity Through the 1770s, Spanish authorities tried various ways to improve food retail and ultimately decided that centralization would enable inspection and sanitation. In 1780, they erected the city’s first public market, a 60-by-22-foot wooden butchers’ pavilion, the predecessor of today’s French Market.

An unimpressive cityscape Buildings surrounding the plaza mostly date to the French regime, which had fully withdrawn by 1769 English Capt. Philip Pittman, who spied on Spanish New Orleans around that time, reported that “the church dedicated to St. Louis (was) a very poor building, framed with wood; it is in so ruinous a condition that divine service has not been performed in it since the year 1766, one of the king’s storehouses being at present used for that purpose.”

To the right of the empty church, where the Presbytère now stands, was the “very handsome and commodious brick house” of the Capuchin priests, “which is

totally deserted and gone to ruin.” To the left “is the prison and guardhouse which are very strong and good buildings.” The flanks of the plaza were home to the intendant’s house, the king’s storehouse and an artillery yard

Walking through the calles (streets) was a messy slog Dirt surfaces were prone to eroding and puddling, thanks to constant hoof beats, stray livestock and torrential rains. The year 1776 brought an uptick in tropical activity, such that six hurricanes would strike the region in the next six years.

All urban drainage was gravitational; engineers could only remove stormwater by digging gutters to steer the runoff toward the backswamp. Ditches were so deep they made the blocks appear like “isles,” each surrounded by “corrupted and stagnant waters” into which residents dumped their bedpans.

Officials strove to improve urban conditions by building puentes (bridges) over the ditches, introducing sanitation services, regrading street surfaces, installing oil lamps for nocturnal illumination and relocating the fetid old burial grounds to outside the city limits, today’s St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. But all these improvements came one to two decades later; New Orleans circa-1776 more resembled a bucolic village than the sturdy city it would later become.

The only praise Pittman could offer New Orleans regarded its orderly design. “All the streets are perfectly straight,” he noted, “and cross each other at right angles, (which) divide the town into sixty-six squares, eleven in length and six in depth; the sides of these squares are one hundred yards each, and are divided into twelve lots.” Except for some split squares and peripheral blocks, what Pittman wrote closely describes today’s French Quarter

The city’s 700 to 800 houses hardly looked like the French Quarter buildings of today, most of which date to the 1820s through 1850s. Rather, they resembled extant buildings such as Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop at 941 Bourbon (probably built in the 1770s), the Hotel St. Pierre at 901 Burgundy and Madame John’s Legacy

at 632 Dumaine (both dating to the 1780s).

“The general plan of building,” wrote Pittman of local architecture, “is with timber frames filled up with brick; and most of the houses are but of one floor, raised about eight feet from the ground, with large galleries round them.” Houses varied by size, orientation and setback distance, but most were Creole in design, with hipped roofs and center chimneys, and usually surrounded by picket-fenced gardens.

Only one extant edifice definitely stood in 1776, the Old Ursuline Convent at 1112 Chartres St., by this time already 24 years old. “The convent of the Ursulines and general hospital, which is attended by the nuns, occupy two …squares facing the river,” wrote Pittman. “These buildings are strong and plain, well answering the purposes for which they were designed.”

Most residents lived in the heart of the city; the undeveloped blocks along the fringes “are mostly laid out in gardens (with) orangetress.” Neither Canal Street nor Rampart nor Esplanade Avenue yet existed; each were open commons fronting primitive fortifications, beyond which were enslaved plantations, with impenetrable swamps to the rear New Orleans in 1776 had no faubourgs (suburbs), no access to Lake Pontchartrain except for Bayou Road and Bayou St. John, and no urbanization on the West Bank.

A Creole society

Walking through the populated blocks, you would have noticed a roughly even split of White and Black faces. Regardless of race, most folks were Creole, meaning locally born. French was the dominant language, and Roman Catholicism was the primary religion.

Though now Spanish subjects, residents of European descent hailed predominantly from France, French Canada or the French Caribbean, else Spain and its colonies or greater Germany and other regions. Despite the enmity with Britain, English merchants, as well as those from France, Spain and their colonies, dominated the shipping trade and brought a multinational air

to this otherwise provincial city Smuggling abounded to the point that nearly everyone partook of the illicit economy

Three-quarters of those of African ancestry were enslaved, their ancestors having arrived when French slavers in the 1720s abducted over 5,000 people of the Bambara, Mandingo, Wolof, Susu and Ibo nations from the Senegambia region of West Africa. Most Native people had already been displaced from New Orleans proper The nearest sizable encampments were those of the Choctaw across Lake Pontchartrain; the Biloxi and Pascagoula in the Manchac area; and the Alibamon, Houma and Chitimacha farther up the Camino Real, or River Road.

By the 1770s, Spain had ended the enslavement of Native people and launched a policy called “coartación,” which gave people in bondage some opportunities for manumission (freedom). But in the 1780s, Spain also reopened the transatlantic slave trade to Louisiana, this time mostly from the Congo region.

Seeking to Hispanize the colony Spain also recruited their own people to migrate to Louisiana. In 1777, Spanish subjects from Málaga and Granada made their way to New Orleans, followed by Canary Islanders starting in 1779. They eventually settled in New Iberia, Gálveztown and the San Bernardo region, now St. Bernard Parish, where descendants of Isleños live today

War with the British

As in the 13 Colonies, defense against British troops was a major concern among Spanish leaders in New Orleans. Eying Redcoats just across Lake Pontchartrain, Gov Luis de Unzaga in 1775 organized the Battalion of New Orleans, and in 1776 Col. Bernardo de Gálvez took command of the Louisiana Infantry Battalion, shortly before becoming governor himself.

As battles raged in the American Revolution, Spain found common cause with the patriots, and in June 1779 declared war on Great Britain. In Louisiana, Gov Bernardo de Gálvez led attacks on British West and East Florida.

Over the next two years, Gálvez and his troops won decisive victories at Baton Rouge, Natchez, Mobile and Pensacola. Their triumphs freed American patriots to focus on engagements along the Eastern Seaboard, where they achieved victory in 1783.

A new world order

None of this, of course, could have been foreseen in New Orleans on that undistinguished July morning in 1776. But the outcome of the events in Philadelphia that same day would have

profound impacts on New Orleans, to say the least.

For one, all British claims east of Baton Rouge became Spanish. Americans migrating westward into the Ohio and Mississippi valleys, meanwhile, became dependent on transshipping their cargo at New Orleans. Spanish authorities began to resent the encroachment of these Anglo-Americans, much as they had the British previously

What ensued were a series of capriciously ambivalent policies made by Spanish officials through the 1780s and 1790s, culminating with the 1802 revocation of Americans’ right to deposit at New Orleans. That news became all the more alarming to Americans when it came to light that, two years earlier, Napoleon Bonaparte had secretly persuaded Spain to retrocede Louisiana to France.

Many predicted war over New Orleans, “through which the produce of threeeighths of our territory must pass,” wrote President Thomas Jefferson, “the possessor of which is our natural and habitual enemy.”

Hoping for a peaceful solution, Jefferson in 1803 dispatched diplomats to Paris to persuade Napoleon to sell New Orleans to the U.S., so that the city could become an American transshipment port surrounded by European possessions. In a way, it already was.

One eyewitness counted 120 ships at New Orleans one morning: “French, Spanish, and mostly AngloAmerican — spread far out like a floating forest a prospect worthy of the busiest regions of the earth.”

If Napoleon seemed distracted when the Americans paid their visit, it might have been on account of news arriving from Saint-Domingue, the invaluable sugar island in the Caribbean to which French troops had been dispatched to quash a major slave insurrection. Instead, disease and fierce resistance ultimately led to their defeat, resulting in the independence of Haiti.

Losing Saint-Domingue forced Napoleon to weight his ambition of reclaiming

Louisiana against fighting Britain’s dominance through military actions in Europe. He agonized with his decision and finally opted for the latter As one French aide later recalled, Napoleon declared to his cabinet, “Irresolution and deliberation are no longer in season. I renounce Louisiana. It is not only New Orleans that I will cede. It is the whole colony without any reservation, (but) with the greatest regret.”

Shortly thereafter the aide posed a momentous question to the American diplomats: “Would the United States be interested in buying all of Louisiana?” Louisiana Purchase Following some puzzlement, the Americans lunged at the offer They eventually negotiated the Louisiana Purchase for $15 million plus interest and the assumption of some minor debts, totaling $27,267,621 for what turned out to be 828,000 square miles. The news spread across the Atlantic, into the Gulf and up the Mississippi. On Nov 30, 1803, the Spanish flag came down over New Orleans, replaced by the French tricolor Twenty days later, in an elaborate ceremony at what is now Jackson Square, “the French colors were lowered and the American flag was raised,” recounted French prefect Pierre Clément de Laus sat. “When they reached the same level, both banners paused for a moment,” after which the Stars and Stripes rose to the top. Much had indeed changed since that July morning in 1776 in New Orleans, in the United States and in the world.

Richard Campanella, a geographer with the Tulane School of Architecture and Built Environment, is the author of “Draining New Orleans,” “Bienville’s Dilemma,” “Crossroads, Cutoffs, and Confluences,” and other books from LSU Press. He may be reached at http://richcampanella. com, rcampane@tulane. edu, or @nolacampanella on X.

landfills, and many stories would end up in cemeteries,” said Freddi Williams Evans, an independent scholar and New Orleans author Evans’ work led to New Orleans renaming Congo Square in 2011, and she’s also worked to get permanent markers at historic slave trade sites.

“When I first started looking at this history, I searched Louisiana and New Orleans history books, and I was very discouraged to find that many of them, I would say over 50%, did not even mention African American presence here in the city,” Evans said. “Sometimes if the African presence was mentioned, it was distorted and misrepresented.”

History makers

The Amistad Research Center shares its records across the country, loaning documents, manuscripts, films and art to museums such as the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History. Collections include the Congress of Racial Equality and the American Committee on Africa, along with works by Jacob Lawrence, Chester Himes and Fannie Lou Hamer

But it started in 1966 as a stack of the American Missionary Association’s papers at Fisk University

Historian Clifton H. Johnson, a former professor at LeMoyne College in Memphis, founded the center with the conviction that African Americans’ stories had been systematically left out of documentation used for education.

“Traditionally, historians, especially White American historians, have chosen to exclude the positive contributions of African Americans and other ethnic minorities to our history and culture,” Johnson said in a 2005 lecture at Texas A&M University “They have been treated not as actors in history, but as a part of the historical landscape upon which Whites were the history makers.”

His vision for the center took shape while organizing Civil War and Reconstruction archives of the American Missionary Association, which supported education for Black Americans and racial equality. It started as one collection, and grew with documents from Civil Rights leaders, educators, social justice organizations, ministers, pastors and artists, gathering thousands of papers over Johnson’s tenure.

Now, the staff can lay out hand-picked archives for viewers based on appointment and specific interests.

Restricted files and the art collection are caged for protection including original writings by Lewis Tappan, who helped free slaves aboard the Amistad. The archive even has a halon fire suppression system for security in the event of potential damage

Preserving stories

Professor Taiwo Bello, Ph.D., teaches African his-

tory at Oklahoma State University and recently visited the center for its historical account of the American Committee of Africa. At the beginning of his archival dig, he had trouble finding any research on the topic.

“Virtually every document that I found pointed me toward the Amistad Research Center as the hub for this type of research, which then gave me a sense that, look, you’ve not even started (research) at all until you take yourself there,” Bello said. He said he could visit every day for 10 years and still not cover the extent of materials available. His topic alone has 300 boxes of documents.

“I sincerely never thought they would have this much or many materials I could use for the research,” Bello said. “The staff has been helping a lot; it’s been a blessing. I will have to keep coming back every day.”

Here researchers like Bello can receive a personalized, “intimate experience with history” curated by appointment for each visitor, Executive Director Kathe Hambrick said. Throughout the center’s history, finding a permanent residence for a growing collection proved complicated. After Fisk University, it moved to Dillard University in New Orleans, then the U.S. Mint in the French Quarter But Hambrick said the Mint’s conditions were insufficient, prompting another relocation in 1987 to Tulane, where the center has remained.

Tulane marked the kickoff to the Center’s 60th year in late May at President Mike Fitts’ house, where he quoted Henry Louis Gates Jr. in remarks to attendees. “If you don’t tell your stories, other people will tell their stories about you,” Fitts said. “It’s important that we nurture and protect these memories.”

One part of New Orleans history preserved at Amistad is that of the Morial family “It almost makes me want to cry because not every family gets the opportunity to have their history preserved in this way,” Judge Monique Morial told WGNO at the event “And it’s an honor for us to be able to share my father’s papers, own my mother’s papers, with them and

have it be available.”

Looking to the future

Amistad also unveiled a new commemorative poster called “Head Start” for the 60th anniversary It’s by Ayo Scott, son of artist John T. Scott, whose work is included at the center, and based on Norman Rockwell’s painting of Ruby Bridges, but with a heavier burden atop her head in the form of ships.

The art and posts double as a fundraiser for the center, which saw its federal funding slashed by 40% after Trump administration changes last spring. Half of the staff was laid off, and Hambrick said they looked to local and private donors for support. In 200 days, they raised $1.8 million and staff was rehired. She said the process has been hard, but they are meeting their annual $1.3 million budget to run the institution. The center has also received a $150,000 Wisner Family Foundation grant for the virtual education program called “Amistad on the Go” for junior archivists. As part of the launch, teachers and school leaders can learn more at the Summer Teacher Institute from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 18.

Hambrick said they hope to implement digital humanities into the school curricula and bring more accessibility to education on an international scale.

Hambrick has also introduced quarterly pop-up vinyl fundraisers, where community members bring personal records to spin on a chosen theme. The next one is at 5:30 p.m., July 18 at The Blue Crawfish Hotel & Bar with $25 entry Amistad hosts a variety of events and lectures. On May 21, the collective Who Owns Black Data discussed the protection of digitalized media with scholars and activists from around the world. Other events, like book signings by local authors and researchers, are scheduled this summer One is Conversations in Color by former Chief Justice Bernette Joshua and attorney and Amistad Board Chair Kim Boyl on July 15.

The plaque marking the anniversary, in the hands of Hambrick reads, “The ship is still sailing,” a nod to the

STAFF PHOTOS By ENAN CHEDIAK

Lisa Moore, head of research services at the Amistad Center, left, shows visitors a collection of letters from the archives at the Amistad Research Center at Tulane University in New Orleans on May 21.

left, Alexandre White

Valeria Acevedo

MADE TO MA

EXPERIENCE

From roller rinkstolaundromats, Bywatercompany builds memorablemarketing installations at festivals, sporting events,more

IDEAS INNOVATION &

“Wewant to continue to push the boundaryof what’spossible in the time that you’re given to build something. Over the last 20 years, we’ve seen some amazing advances in technology, and I want Raventobe the leader.”

CHRIS BERENDS, Ravenco-founder

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

For the last two years, the half-millionattendees of theLollapalooza summer music festivalinChicago’s Grant Park have been treated to anew feature: abright red Coca-Cola-branded pop-up rollerskating rink, complete witha DJ booth, cubbiesfull of skates and plenty of frosty soda cans.

The marketing ploy was thebrainchild of Coke and Live Nation Experiential, an in-house division of the globalcompanythatowns thefestival. But the rink itself was built about athousand miles south —inNew Orleans’Bywaterneighborhood —byRavenPMG, an under-the-radar Louisianabusiness that’s found success in the $130 billion and growing experiential marketing industry Operating out of awarehouse on Montegut Street, not far from wherethe train tracks cross St.Claude Avenue, Ravenisaspecialty fabrication company that designs, builds, ships and installs elaborate temporary structures used to promote productsand brands at festivals, sporting events and conventions while giving attendeesa shady place to sip adrink, use the bathroom or get agreat view of whatever action is going on outside.

The private company,which was founded more than a decade ago but grewdramatically afterthe pandemic, ä See EXPERIENCE, page 2E

AirProductsdecisionpointsto

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

On the same day last week that Air Products announced it was scrapping plans for its $4.5 billion “clean” hydrogen plant in Ascension Parish, which would have captured carbon emissions andstoredthemunderground,ExxonMobil canceledoffshore leases in the Gulf it had acquired for potential carbon-capture projects. Twoweeks earlier, Houston-based SunGas Renewablesdropped itsplans for a$2.4 billion plant in central Louisiana that alsohad acarboncapture and sequestration component. And in February,aHoustonfirm that had been planning a$9.2 billion clean energy project at the Port of Greater

Baton Rouge since 2020 was acquired by aSilicon Valley company thathas shelved the project —GrönFuels —for the foreseeablefuture,ifnot altogether Takentogether, theprojectstotaled more than$15 billion in planned investmentsinthe state andpromised hundreds of permanentnew jobs,thoughLouisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois saidnone of them was among the $110 billionworth of new capital spending that Louisiana has secured since 2024. Still, therecent decisions raise questions about the futureofan industrial boom in thestate that was predicated, at leastinpart, on state and federal policies that incentivizedcom-

Barfield

RavenPMG executiveJosh Beck holds a3D-printed hippohead at the New Orleans warehouse.

TOP: Workers build a structure made out of shipping containers, steel and other materials at Raven.

LEFT: A walk-in disco ballisput in storage.

panies to reduce their carbon footprint by capturing emissions and burying themunderground. Those policies, under President Donald Trump, are changing, at atime when Gov.Jeff Landry’s administration has pausedpermittingfor new carboninjection wells amidgrowing environmental concerns from local communities. “Wethought therenaissance wasgoing to be this energy transformation,” said Tim Barfield, president andCEO of Baton Rouge-based consulting firmCSRS, which was working with the developersofthe Grön Fuels project.“Someofthose projectshave

ä See ENERGY, page 2E

STAFF FILE PHOTOByMICHAEL JOHNSON Air Products crewawaitadetonation on LakeMaurepas in Akers during ademonstration in 2022.

STAFFPHOTOSBySOPHIAGERMER

Victim of 1,700scamcreditcardcharges hadtofight fortheir removal

Imagine you receive your credit card statement and find 32 pages of more than 1,700 unauthorized charges, made one right after another over three days. The majority of the debits are for $4.38, withabout adozen for $2.19, all to the same vendor,totaling close to $8,000.

Simple to fix, right?

Michelle Singletary THE COLOR OF MONEy

Well, for one 66-year-old widow from Minnesota, getting those transactions removed became an odyssey.Her story is a warning for anyone —and that’s manyofus—who ever hasto dispute fraudulent activity on a credit card. Federal law provides protections for unauthorized charges Butyou can’tprocrastinate on reporting fraud. And in some cases, asserting your rights may require filing complaints withevery state and federal agency responsible for protecting consumers Lisa’ssaga began when she got atext message from Citibank.It flagged the very first unauthorized charges of $2.19 to Apple com on her Costco-branded Visa card. The bank representative didn’t suggest she cancel the card, and she didn’tthink it was necessary, either

EXPERIENCE

Continued from page1E

oversees nearly 200installations —or“experiences,” in industry parlance —annually for major events like Lollapalooza,the WorldCup Bonnaroo and Essence Festival of Culture. It works for roughly 100 brands or agencies, including Live Nation’s in-house team. It has about 70 full-time employees,and contractorsswell that number to well over 100 during busy seasons.

Dependingonthe scaleand complexity of the work involved, Raven will charge as little as $10,000 to morethan $1 million for aproject. The company declinedtoprovide its annual revenues butsays the number quadrupled over athree-year period after the pandemic.

It’sanimpressive trajectory for aventure that began by providing sound systems for concerts at NewOrleans bars. Raven co-founder Chris Berends said that success owes much to the company’s Louisiana roots, which have informed its ability to make massive events more fun.

“At the end of the day,we wanttobuild something that when someone attendsan event, they want more of it, whether it’sa tequila drink or atickettothe next festival,” he said during an interview last week.

To thebig time

Larose native James Dufrene founded Ravenin2009 primarily to provide audio production at New Orleans events. Three yearslater he forged aprofessional bond with future business partners Berends and Mélinda Cohen while designing stages,lighting and sound systems on ashoestringbudget for the fledgling BUKU Music+Art Project, an electronic music event that was active from 2012 to 2022.

In 2015, Berendsand Cohen joined Raven full-time as thecompanypivoted to focus on fabrication. Early New Orleans successes for the trio included aproject to promote aDisney video game at the Voodoo music festivaland another marketing Mountain Dew during the 2017 NBA All-Star weekend.

The company continued to grow throughthe end of the decade, moving its headquarters several times along the way, graduating from what was essentially astorage space underneath the Eiffel Tower buildingon St. Charles Avenuetoa series of warehouses in town beforemoving to its current locationin2019.

During the pandemic, which brought events-based marketing to ahalt, Raven pivoted to using its fleet of 18-wheelers to haul loads for customers outside of the entertainment industry.Then, after the lockdown —when attendance at festivals, concerts, sports events and other gatherings skyrocketed

Lisa, who asked that Inot use herlast name to prevent further fraud,had no idea that those debits were the first in an onslaught of fraudulent activity spanning three days, March9-11. After returning home from atrip to California, she saw the hundreds of charges. Citibank told her to call Apple. Apple,she learned, had no record of the smalltransactions, but it was awareoftwo legitimate charges, for anew iPhone and an Apple Watch.

She called Citibank back and was repeatedlytold thatthey were looking into the matter.

Then camethe “scary” letter, she said.

“During our investigationwe learned that you provided the merchant(s) with your account information,” Citibank concluded.

“The charge(s) totaling $7,816.65 will remainonyouraccount,” the letter from Citibank said.

There may have been some confusion, because the multitude of charges included two for Apple products shehad actually purchased

“I calledCitibank,explicitly stated that noneofthese hundreds of charges were mine, and spentover an hour withthe fraud

department representative,” Lisa said. “I live alone. Idon’tplay games. There is no kid in my house downloading games.”

If there is another lesson from Lisa’ssituation, it is thatquick, constant communication with your credit card company provides abettersafeguard. It’s not aguarantee, but you have proof you tried. Keeping thatinmind, here’s how federal law provides consumer protections for unauthorized charges.

If your physical card is lost or stolen, and you report the loss to your bank before athief can use it, you are not responsible for a single penny.Ifthe missing card is swiped before you report it, your maximum legal liability is capped at $50. In practice, however,you will rarely payeven that much,because almostall major credit cardcompanies go further and offer zero-liability policies. Youshould also have no liability for fraudulent billing if your card number is stolen but you still have the card—which happens far too often.

Because of federal consumer protections, financial companies aresupposed to absorbthese huge losses. But you must dispute the unauthorized action within 60 days of the date the bank mailed

or electronically delivered the billing statementshowingthe fraud. Missing that window can costyou your legal leverage. In Lisa’s case, she took the right steps to clear up the matter.She called the number on the back of her card and reported the incidents to her bank immediately. She was eventually issued anew card. Isuggest you get areplacementcard if the disputeinvolves unauthorized activity,because it’s clearly been compromised.

When thecharges weren’tremoved, Lisasent Citibanka letterdisputing the transactions. If you’re not sure what to include in such aletter or where to send it, the Federal Trade Commission has instructionsyou can follow Go to FTC.gov andsearch for “Sample Letter for Disputing Credit or Debit CardCharges.”

The FTC suggests you send the letter by certified mail and ask for areturn receipt.

She also complained to the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and multiple seniorexecutiveoffices at Citibank. With each calltothe bank, she took notes that includedthe day and names of therepresentativesshe spoke with.

“I hadtokeep complaining, because no one at Citiwould state

RavenPMG, which operates out of warehouse near the MississippiRiver in NewOrleans, is aspecialtyfabrication companythat designs, builds, shipsand installs elaborate temporarystructuresused to promote productsand brands at festivals, sporting events and conventions nationwide.

PROVIDED PHOTO

HaciendaPatrón, constructed by NewOrleans-based Raven PMG forLiveNation Experiential, is atemporarystructure thathas madeappearances at several majorfestivals since debuting in 2025 at Lollapalooza.The ‘moveable mansion’ —built using acombination of specialized steel construction and scenic carpentry—has space for aDJ, abar and views of the festivities outside.

—Raven grew as well.

“People were clamoringfor real experiences,” Berendssaid. “Audiences wanted to touch grass again and buildrelationships with brands in amorerealistic way and not just get hammered by digital trash.”

Promotingbrands

Experiential marketing is nothing new.Think of the world’sfairs from the 19th century,whencompanies assembled pavilions to unveilinnovationslikeelectric lights andwashing machines.

But theindustryisoperating at adifferent gearthis decade, as marketers and brands look tobuild consumer trust by connecting with audiences at big events like Formula 1races,the SuperBowl, the WorldCup and scores of big musicfestivals.Atthose gatherings companies competetocreate memorable experiences, hoping for exposure at theevent plus coverage on traditionalmedia and social mediaduring and after The Wall Street Journal reportedlastyear that advertisers’ interest in experientialand live marketing surged after thepandemic, with spending in 2024increasing10.5% year-overyear to $128.35 billion globally, surpassing2019’s pre-pandemic spending of $121.87 billion

This marketing arms race has led to increasingly elab-

orate“activations,”touse theindustry jargon.

In additiontothe temporary roller-skating rink, Raven has created apop-up laundromat promoting the South Korean electronics company LG. The activation debuted in 2018 at Bonnaroo, the Tennesseemusic festival. Lastyear,the company built amovable mansion for Live Nation Experiential to promote the Mexican tequila brand Patron. Thestructure,recently named“best festival activation” by an industry publication, debuted at Lollapalooza and has since madethe rounds.

This summer, Ravenworkersare putting thefinishing touches on afree airbrush station to promote aT-shirt brand. The company’slist of creative builds alsoincludes a35-foot-tall steel middle finger that shoots fire, dragons thatspray water and a temporary tattoo parlor

“The space has become more and more competitive andimpressive,”Berends said.

Busy workspace

RavenPMG’sBywater manufacturingfacility was bustling with activity recently as metal workers, carpenters andscenicartists finishedbuilding several structures using repurposed shipping containers and other materials. Employees assemble all projects completely at the factory beforetaking them apart and

shipping them to events usingaflat-packingsystem that’slike IKEA on steroids.

In an open area outside the factory,workers applied finishes to atwostory VIP lounge, secondfloor viewing platform and garden promotinga national bank thatwill be installed at the Minnesota Yacht Club music festival this July in St.Paul. Elsewhere,team members worked on projects for other clients, including a liquor company,several clothingmanufacturers, adoughnut and coffee chain, and amouthwash maker

The scenelooked like a combination of what you’d see at one of Louisiana’s Mardi Gras float-building studios and its many industrial manufacturing facilities. Berends said that’sbecause Raven’s strength is pulling talent from many of thestate’s industries, including artists from Bywater, carpenters and electricians with backgrounds in film production, construction pros,transportation industry vets, and ahealthy contingent from “down thebayou.”

“There’s aheavyCajun componenttoour business,” Berends said. “The buildmethodology forour steel structures really reflects that identity,because all of these guys are coming from the shipping industry or the oil field.”

Berendssaidthose skillsets help Raven provide turnkey service and keep up with competitors as the experientialmarketing industry continuestochase innovation.

“Wewant to continue to push theboundaryof what’spossible in the time thatyou’re given to build something,” he said. “In2005, youwould haveatent with afolding table and someone giving out shots. Over thelast 20 years, we’ve seen some amazing advances in technology, and Iwant Raven to be theleader.”

Email Rich Collins at rich.collins@ theadvocate.com.

anything withcertaintyexcept that they would keep investigatingand callback,” she said. Extremelyfrustrated,Lisafinally emailedmeearlierthis month Ireviewed her statements and correspondence withCitibank and then calledthe bank.

“Citihas resolved the case and communicated the outcome directlytothe customer,” aspokesperson emaileda few daysafter my inquiry.“We are committed to helping our customers protect theiraccounts andstandbehind our $0 liabilitypromiseonunauthorized charges.”

In aletter to Lisa, Citibank said that after a“comprehensive reevaluation”ofher account,itwas reversing thethousands of dollars in Apple.com charges, “alongwith applicable interest adjustments.”

Yet, she’sstill concerned about thispoint madeinthe letter: “The security investigation can take up to 90 days to complete. If you do not hear from us after 90 days, the credits will becomepermanent.”

“I thought the rules werethat if it wasn’tyou, it wasn’t you,”Lisa said. “And how obvious that it wasn’tme.”

Email Michelle Singletary at michelle.singletary@washpost. com

ENERGY

Continued from page1E

dropped down on the priority list because of broader,macroeconomic factors.”

“I do thinkitwillcome back,” he said. “Maybe not with the same kind of vigor and blind optimism we had at one timebut eventually.”

Differentpriorities

Nearly two decades ago, as agrowing body of research establishedthe impact of greenhousegas emissions on climate change,the federal government beganoffering federal tax credits to companies that lowered theircarbon footprint by capturing and storing carbon dioxide.

President Joe Biden’sadministrationexpandedthe program in an effort to boost projects that would limit the impactsofclimate change. That led to the proliferation of carbon capture andsequestrationprojectsalong the Gulf Coast.

Though Trump hasnot done away with the tax credits in his second term, he has questioned the effects of human activity on climate changeand focused on increasing traditional fossil fuel production, shifting the focus away from low-carbon projects.

At the same time, the global market forlower carbon products like the so-called “blue” ammonia that Air Products planned to make in Ascension Parish has chilled somewhat, experts say,reducing the demand.

Closer to home, Landry has givencredencetoconcerns aboutthe impact carboninjectionwells couldhaveon aquifers and communities near where they’re located, imposing amoratorium on new well permits in 2025.

The combinationoffactors, experts say,ismaking some companiesrethink decisionstheymadeseveral years ago.

“It’sfair to say that that regulatory uncertainty has been one of the factors that contributed to some of these projects maybenot moving forward,” saidGregUpton, executive director of the LSU Energy Institute.

Instability,unpredictability

While regulatory uncertainty impacted each of the recently canceled or shelved clean energy projects once plannedfor Louisiana,each project also faced unique circumstances.

As farback as last year, Air Products indicated to investors it was it was looking to sell off the ammonia and carbon-capture components of its project to focus on its core business of transporting and selling industrial gases.

Last week, its Norwegianpartner in thedeal announced that it would not acquirethe ammoniacomponent of Air Products’ Louisiana project, citing low projected financial returns. In the case of Beaver Lake, the proposed wood fiber-to-

low carbon methanol facility planned fora former paper mill in central Louisiana, SunGas blamed several factors for its decision not to move forward. Among them: “slower-than-expected marketadoptionoflow carbon methanol,uncertainty regarding thecarbon capture and storage pathway for the project and clarity on the available regulatory support andfinancing conditions needed to support aproject of this scale.”

GrönFuels, alow-carbon projectplanned for the west bank of Baton Rouge that would have usedsoybean and canola oil, tallow and used cooking oil to produce renewablediesel fuel, was put on the back burner after theHouston firm behind the project, FidelisEnergy, was acquired by California-based Nscale. Though Nscale did not say outright that it is canceling theproject, arelease announcing the Fidelis acquisition said the deal would enable Nscale to focus on artificial intelligence data center construction.

Barfield, who worked with Fidelisonthe Grön project formorethanfive years, said the country’senergy industry is in adifferent place than it wasin2020, withdifferent priorities and mandates.

“There is more geopolitical instability, there is more unpredictability,the world was moving in onedirection and now it is swinging back the other way,” he said. “Some of these projects that were good projects mayhave missedtheir window.”

Changing dynamics?

LED’sBourgeois cautions againstdrawing too many parallelsbetween recent company decisions and said the state’senergy policy is not based on carbon capture and sequestration.

“Wehaveanall-of-the above energy strategy and carbon capture wasnever thedriverofthat,”she said. “Itwas avaluable component but Idonot think the dynamicsare changing as much as people think they are.”

To that point, on the same day AirProducts canceled its project, a$2billion renewable diesel project planned for Caldwell Parish in north Louisiana received apermit from the state to inject captured carbon in several deep underground wells. The project was one of several to have appliedfor permits before Landry’smoratorium last year

Bourgeoissaidwhile lowcarbon projects may be on the back burner at the moment, she doesn’tthink they’re dead. “I still think that is the longer play,” Bourgeois said. “But whenthe Strait of Hormuz is closed, people quit worrying about sustainable jet fuel and just start worrying about jet fuel.”

EmailStephanie Riegel at stephanie.riegel@ theadvocate.com.

STAFF

PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

TALKING BUSINESS

ASK THE EXPERTS

Biomedical corridor touted as best hope for city’s future

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

When Tulane University

Kopplin

announced last month it had reached an agreement to take control of the long-stalled effort to redevelop the former Charity Hospital downtown, Andy Kopplin was among those cheering the most.

Since 2016, Kopplin has served as president and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Foundation, backer of the BioDistrict, which would bring together hospitals, research and teaching institutions to reinvigorate downtown and stimulate the economy

A reimagined Charity Hospital is a key part of the plan.

Kopplin has decades of experience bridging the gap between government, business and nonprofits. He assumed the reins at GNOF after serving as former Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s chief administrative officer

His CV also includes stints as a senior adviser to Teach for America, executive director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority and chief of staff for Govs. Kathleen Blanco and Mike Foster In this week’s Talking Business, Kopplin discusses the role GNOF has played in the creation of the BioDistrict, why it matters and what he sees as New Orleans’ biggest opportunities — and challenges.

Interview has been edited for length and clarity

We’ve been talking about a biomedical corridor downtown for 30

years, but there’s still not much to show for it.What is the problem?

The BioDistrict was created (by the state) in 2005 before Katrina but didn’t have any money. It got some one-time funding in 2008 but nothing after that Then, in 2018, the GNOF board made a generational commitment to get behind the idea of a redeveloped Charity So, we did a strategic plan that talked about everything that could flow from that — small-business development, entrepreneurship, increased research, reactivating that section of downtown.

Part of the plan called for creating an economic development entity a publicprivate partnership — that would lead the way We started working on that and

invested resources in getting the BioDistrict back up and secured funding from the city and the state. So, we really feel that from 2018 to today, the biggest champion of the BioDistrict, hopefully anchored now by Charity, is GNOF

How much money does the district have now? What is it actually doing?

Between now and 2040, the district is eligible to receive up to $40 million from the city through tax increment financing, and the state will match up to $25 million. So, we have the ability to earn up to that amount assuming there is incremental sales tax revenue generated in that area. But there’s not much around there yet, so where does the revenue come from?

Not yet, but the new Trad-

er Joe’s on Tulane Avenue is in the district, and it has been a significant generator of sales taxes, so that has been a real boost We actually got our very first funds at the end of 2025, about $1 million in all.

What have y’all spent it on?

We spent some on an immediate beautification effort, landscaping the area. We also have been investing through the New Orleans Bioinnovation Center (a nonprofit business incubator on the edge of the BioDistrict), helping researchers get seed funding to develop new companies based upon their research.

Why does this have the power to be so transformative?

When you look at other cities around the country, you can see how this works.

Q&A WITH ANDy KOPPLIN PRESIDENT AND CEO OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS FOUNDATION

Pittsburgh is one example. It has done some really impressive things, transforming the old industrial district into a medical district, thanks to the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Of course, there’s Kendall Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which has spawned countless tech companies. And from a medical district standpoint, Birmingham (Alabama) is a good example of a city that has become a hub of worldclass medicine in just one generation. There is no reason we cannot do that here.

But, again, this requires a lot of cooperation among rival teaching institutions that have not really collaborated over the years.

Thirty years ago, they did not. During Mike Foster’s administration, my job was to negotiate a détente between LSU and TU. What is different today is that the leadership of these institutions now recognize that as a small region, we have to work together to punch above our weight. Today there is more collaboration than there has ever been, and I think the BioDistrict’s work has advanced that because it includes Tulane, LSU, Delgado, Ochsner, Xavier, LCMC and folks appointed by the mayor Why is GNOF, a community foundation, doing this kind of place-based work?

Because if you look at the biggest challenges facing this community, it is economic development. We cannot address the dis-

parities in our city without growing our economy New Orleans, if it is going to be successful, has to grow, and we have to grow in a way that enables all our folks to benefit.

There seems to be an optimism in New Orleans around the new mayor How much of that is grounded in real, positive change that is actually happening?

There is a lot of reason to be optimistic. Tulane’s research investments are the biggest untold economic development story of the past decade. They are bringing in $100 million more a year to New Orleans than they were a decade ago — net new money to the region. There is excitement around the BioDistrict. And several big projects are finally moving forward. The NSA apartments in Bywater is under construction. Lindy Boggs is being knocked down. The River District is activated, and the Shell

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

ACROSS THE REGION

Meta mayhaveasolutionfor La.workforce challenges

BY IANNE SALVOSA and STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writers

In early June, Meta identified BatonRouge as the siteofthe first class of America’sWorkforce Academy,aprogram training people how to build artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centers. As the tech giant invests billions of dollars in the AI boom, including amassive ongoing project in RichlandParish, the academy signals an intensifying need to fill worker gaps in the skilled trades Trainings will be hosted at the Asso ciate d Builders and Contractors Pelican Chapter training center,o n Highland Road in the southeast corner of East Baton Rouge Parish,this fall.

“For years, we’ve talked about workforce shortages in the construction industry, and Ithink this partnership represents exactly the kind of innovative collaboration that we need.”

DAVID HALVESTON, Associated Builders and Contractors Pelican Chapter CEO

ABC Pelican Chapter Presidentand CEO David Halveston said the academy has already received thousands of applicants. It’s free of charge to participants, who will receive a stipend and aguaranteed job with aMeta contractorfollowing completion of the four-tofive-week training program.

ABC Pelican has trained students on the craft trades since the early 1980s buthas not seen afully funded, large-scalepartnership like this before, Halveston said. The program, which is still under development, will be unique to ABC duetoits short-term, accelerated format.

Though many industriesin the state have struggledwith recruit-

Leaders at GrowNELA, the northeast Louisiana economic development partnership,

artificialintelligence data center in Richland Parish is helping to create alarger

thatwill serve not only the Meta data center but projects throughout the region.

ingand retaining employees, Halveston saidthe academy’s promise of employment will make the difference. Demandfor trades workers in the U.S. increased by double digits from 2022 to 2026, according to consultingfirm Randstad.

“For years, we’ve talked about workforce shortages in the construction industry,and Ithink this partnership represents exactlythe kind of innovative collaboration that we need,”Halveston said.

Backlash,opportunity

The announcement comes as state and local governments

around the country are beginning to push back against therapid proliferation of AI data centers, which use massive amounts of electricity andwater to power super computers andhavedriven up utilityrates in many communities where they operate.

Even Louisiana, whichcourted Metatwo years ago with agenerous incentive package, recently imposedwhatGov.Jeff Landry’s administrationdescribedas guardrails intended to shield ratepayers from being saddled with highercosts because of Meta’s power needs. Critics have also pointed out that

while AI data center construction can create an economic boom in a region, as it has in northeast Louisiana, fueling land deals, spawning new retail establishment andcreatingthousandsofconstruction jobs, theeffects are temporary Oncethe construction work is over,the communitymay be left with empty mancamps, dollar storesand only afew hundred fulltime jobs.

Anew study by Dutch-basedfinancial consulting firm ING, which specifically mentions theHolly Ridge project, says as AI data centers grow ever larger,communities have an opportunity to turn

short-termactivityinto longerterm economic gains.

The key is to transition from beinga construction hub to part of a“broaderAIecosystem,” which could include partnerships with nearby colleges to support R&D, train skilled labor,and facilitate AI adoption among local companies, according to the report.

Leaders at Grow NELA, the northeast Louisianaeconomicdevelopment partnership, believe the Richland Parish data center already is helping to create alarger logistics hub in nearby Monroe that will servenot onlythe Meta data center but projects throughout the region.

They point to several companies that haverelocated to the area signing long-term leases forwarehouse space to provide mechanical and electrical supplies and equipmenttodata center projects.

“These are notthree-year leases,” Grow NELA President and CEO Rob Cleveland said earlier this year.“These are companies making a20-year commitment to the community.”

Construction fundamentals

Halveston believes the new Meta training program at the ABC training center is an important first step in preparing local workers forwhat economic development boosters hope will materializeinthe months andyears to come.

The curriculum will include fundamentals like safety and construction mathand introductions to crafttrades like electrical and plumbing work. The goal is to prepare students, who are notrequiredtohaveconstruction experience, to entera work site after thetraining andcontinue on with aconstruction career after their project with Meta.

Classsizeistobedetermined, but Meta projectsthe academyto train thousands.

“This is just thefirst step of their career in construction,” Halvestonsaid.

Good evening! Apair of important stories forthis week’shighlight:

1) Violent crimeinNew Orleanshas fallen to itslowestlevel since the1960’s

TheNew Orleans PoliceDepartmentrecorded 38 murdersthrough June25, representing oneofthe lowest year-to-date totalsthe city hasseen in decades. If this paceholds, NewOrleans will finish 2026 with about 78 murders, nearly matching the 76 recorded in 1969. Violent crime has fallen dramatically in allother categories, as well.

Four yearsago this month,the NOLA Coalition wasfounded to combat awaveof deadlyviolence in NewOrleans, andtoinvestinour children fora betterfuture. Since thattime, themurder rate has fallen 74%.

NewOrleans’improvementisabout 60% betterthan thenational average.Multiple factorsare driving this remarkable improvement, including: courageous first responders, broad civic action, proactiveand precisionpolicing, cooperation between city,state,and federal agencies, andtechnology andanalytics. Thenext step forsafetywillbethe use of first-responder drones,which arenow employed from NewYork City to Nashville to California;inJefferson Parish,first-responder drones have reduced response times to 90 seconds.

June2022 -June2026

•Homicides- 74%decline

•Shootings-64% decline

•Carjackings- 78% decline

•Armed Robber 66%decline

2) Tulaneannoun

Aftersitting vacan

Working

“This is asignificant step forwardin what would be thelargest andmost consequentialeffortofits kindinthe history of Tulaneand perhaps in the history of NewOrleansitself,” said TulanePresident Michael Fitts.

Project Details

•650,000+ squarefeet devotedtoTulaneeducation, health,research, andinnovation, including newhomes forthe CeliaScott WeatherheadSchool of PublicHealthand Tropical Medicineand theTulane University InnovationInstitute

•700 researchers, innovators, andsupportstaff concentrated in asingle building, creating oneofthe largesthealthand biomedical research clusters in theGulf South

•Residential, retail, andcommunity spaceoccupying theremaining one-thirdof theone-million-square-foot structure

•Constructionstartsbeforeend of 2026, with completionexpectedin2029

•The project is projected to generatea$1.2 billion one-time economic impact on Louisiana’s economy, create approximately 7,300construction-phase jobs, andproduce2,400 permanent newjobs once complete

Youcan read more here

ospital

Lastweek, TulaneUniversity ent to become lead of thetransfo tonabuilding thecity has been tr

GNO,Inc.has longsupportedBioDistrictNew Orleans andthe broader innovation economyanchoredinthe medical corridor,including theTulaneUniversity InnovationInstitute. Theredevelopment of CharityHospital notonlyturbocharges theBioDistrict but moreover promisestorevitalize an urban “blindspot” intoamajor economicand civic catalyst forthe city andregion

Finally,aspecialtip of thehat to Chalmette,St. Bernard’sown Mitchell Robinson, whohelped theNew York Knickswin theirfirstNBA championship since,well, there were actualknickerbockers in NYC. June25was Mitchell RobinsonDay in Louisiana.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

saythe development of an

logistics hub in nearbyMonroe

Michael Hecht President&CEO GNO Inc.

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NATION & WORLD

Gen Z shoppers energizing malls as they stroll, scroll

BY JUDITH KOHLER

The Denver Post (TNS)

Teens to 20-somethings hang-

ing out at the mall, maybe trying on clothes meeting friends at the food court or a nearby restaurant, checking out the window displays.

The scene isn’t from an ’80s movie or a flashback moment shared by millennials or baby boomers.

Many of the young people strolling while also scrolling for the latest fashion trend are members of Generation Z, ages 14 to late 20s.

And Gen Z, which grew up with the internet and smart phones, is being credited with helping to energize shopping malls that have struggled through the Great Recession, the COVID-19 pandemic and the proliferation of e-commerce.

Flatiron Crossing in Broomfield Colorado, is in the middle of a multimillion-dollar project outside the mall on the center’s grounds: a mixed-use development that will have housing entertainment and new places to dine. Inside the mall, new stores are being added and existing stores are being transformed.

Several of the changes are geared toward Gen Z shoppers.

“We have a Gen Z group. We sit and focus and pay attention to what we think would attract Gen Z and continue that customer experiencing the mall,” said Kate Taggart, Flatiron’s general manager Employees at Flatiron and Macerich, which owns and operates the mall, use social media to track trends and new businesses that are opening, Taggart said.

“It’s not always just going to be pure retail,” she added. “It has to be all the other aspects that make it a little more holistic of an experience.”

For instance, Macerich is looking at incorporating businesses focused on wellness and fitness to the new development, called HiFi.

“I think nationally, Gen Z represents about 19% of shoppers Here at Flatiron, we’re seeing it be about

30% of our shopper base,” Taggart said.

Macerich, which owns 36 malls across the country, told The Wall Street Journal that it is redesigning some of the centers’ common areas, making them photogenic for shoppers who want to take and post photos on social media.

Josh Weber, senior general manager of the Park Meadows mall in Lone Tree, Colorado, said it’s common to see younger shoppers in search of the right backdrop for a TikTok or Instagram post, whether in a retailer’s space or throughout the center He said shopping centers used to discourage photography and video recordings.

“Today, social sharing is a natural part of the customer journey,” Weber said in an email. “Park Meadows’ distinctive lodge-inspired design creates an environment that

photographs well, and retailers have embraced that shift by creating visually engaging store experiences and they highlight products that are trending online.”

The shopping malls that have survived and even thrived are those that have transformed themselves to offer a mix of uses to appeal to customers looking for a different experience, said Ray Wimer, a professor of retail practice at Syracuse University High-end malls, considered Class A, are doing well, Wimer said. Others, especially ones that haven’t made updates, are struggling or closing, he said.

In 2016, there were roughly 1,220 of the traditional enclosed malls in the U.S. About 890 of them were left in 2025, Wimer said. E-commerce, overbuilding and lack of investment contributed to the de-

mise of shopping centers.

“Existing malls that are in decent metropolitan areas or near an urban population are trying to redevelop or recreate themselves,” Wimer said “OK, there’s some shopping, but there’s dining, there’s entertainment, there’s condos, apartments. There’s office space.

“Instead of a retail mecca, it’s becoming a mixed-use development,” he added.

The evolution of shopping malls fits with what experts say is younger people’s craving for socializing.

About 58% of shoppers ages 1834 often or sometimes patronize malls, compared with 48% for ages 35-54 and 38% for those 55 and older according to research by Ipsos, a market research and public opinion polling firm.

Younger shoppers emphasized

socialization, convenience and physical interaction when talking about in-store experiences, Ipsos reported.

Nearly almost 50% of total Gen Z spending on general merchandise is done in stores, a 2025 report by Deloitte said. “With Gen Z’s spending power projected to reach $12 trillion by 2030, retailers should consider evolving to meet their expectations,” Deloitte advised.

“The thing with Gen Z is that they enjoy it. It’s the social experience,” Wimer said of shopping malls. “We talk about digital and how isolated people are becoming, but there’s a social dimension to shopping because you go with your friends or you go with your mom.”

And it’s instant gratification if people find what they want at the store, Wimer said.

Mattea Drake, 19, a University of Colorado-Boulder student, likes not having to wait for a purchase to arrive.

“Especially if you’re crunched on time or you see something, you’re just like, ‘Wait, I need it now I can’t wait,’ ” Drake said. “That’s a really fun aspect about the mall. It’s so accessible. You can just go in, grab it, super, super easy.” Drake often visits Flatiron Crossing, which is a short drive from Boulder She said going to the mall is “a great way to kind of unplug and hang out with my friends.” She likes touching the fabrics and trying on the clothes.

“I find things in the store that I never would have searched for online,” Drake said. “Finding my new favorite outfit is way more fun than scrolling on my phone, like I do on a day-to-day basis.”

Going to the shopping mall is almost a fresh concept for younger shoppers, said Meghan Kaltenstein, vice president of leasing at Flatiron.

“They grew up in the digital era,” Kaltenstein said. “We grew up in the mall, and then we kind of got over it. We were excited about online. Now, it’s full cycle back to that.”

Beyond isn’taplace —it’samindset. Andit’sabeliefthathas poweredusfor over80years We areJones Walker LLP,a firmdrivenbyanentrepreneurial spirit,adeepsenseofcommunity,and afierce determination to deliverexceptional serviceand valuefor our clients.

Since1937, ourfirm hasbeencommitted to workingwithcommunityleaders to develop business opportunitiesacrossthe state. We aresteadfast in continuing ourdedicationtogobeyondinadvising clientsand supportinginitiatives andorganizations that make Louisiana abetterplace to live andwork

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THE DENVER POST/TNS FILE PHOTO By TIMOTHy HURST

Shoppers walk past a soon-to-be-opened Gorjana Jewelry store at a mall in Broomfield Colo.

NATION &WORLD

WorldCup Panini packssellout

BY DAVE SKRETTA AP sports writer

KANSAS CITY,Mo. AdamMartin

remembers taking boxes of Panini stickers and their accompanying WorldCup albums to aFormula1 race in May,shortly after his collectibles shop had received ashipment and long before the tournament was to begin.

The idea was to give them to friends with kids. But what happened next surprised him.

“When Iwalked in with this box of cards,” Martin recalled, “hundreds of people of all creedsand cultures said something: ‘Where did you get those? How can Iget some?’ Those Panini stickers are just that iconiccollectible that goes beyond sports collectors.”

The stickers depicting players andteams in the World Cup have beenaround since 1970,whenfour Italian brothers paid $1,000 to procure the rights to produce theimages. More than 50 years later,the stickers are available in packs all over the world, and fans young andold not only purchase them but also swap among themselves, helping each other filltheirkeepsake albums.

This year’sbook is the largest ever,partly due to an enlarged 48team tournament, with 980 distinct stickers. They’vebecome sucha hot commodity that many stores are sold out, and backorders may not ship until the tournament has crowned achampion.

“We’ve sold an unbelievable amount of the stickers,” said Martin, one of the owners of Daveand Adam’sCard World, which has shops in New York and Europe.

“Wethought the order we placed months ago would be enough to tide us over,” Martin said. “We’ve

hadtoreorder twice.”

Panini had produced more than 2billion packs —each containing seven stickers —bythe start of the tournament, said Jason Howarth,the senior vice president of marketingand athlete relations forPaniniAmerica.That’squite afeatconsidering thefieldwasn’t setuntil April 1.

Most stickersare not valuable by themselves, though older ones such as the debutsofLionel Messi andCristiano Ronaldo —can fetch hundreds ofdollars. The value comes in trying to fill the World Cup album.

“In European and SouthAmerican culture, completing thesticker albumissomething almost every child does at some point,” said MattBlazey, of Milton Keynes, England, whose YouTube channel featuring cards and collectibles has more than 62,000 subscribers.

“Most rediscover it in adulthood,” Blazey said,“when they realize they have adult money,which brings back allofthose memories of bringing stickers into school, showing them off to your mates and swapping them to complete the album.”

Indeed,part of the beauty of the Panini stickers is in their accessibility.Each pack only costs about $2 or 1.50 euros.

Beginning with thelastWorld Cupin Qatar,though, Panini also began producing variations with special borders that aremuch more scarce. Suddenly,stickers with red, purple or orange edges became especially sought-after, and collectorshave put huge bounties on ultrarare,black-bordered, 1-of-1s —asin, oneinthe world depicting Messi, Ronaldo, Lamine Yamaland otherbig stars.

Some industry experts believe

theblack Messi sticker alone could command $200,000 at auction.

“We’retracking and following through social media who pulls the black 1-of-1s,”Howarthsaid.

“Neymar,Leo,Ronaldo —thisis probablytheir last World Cup. What do those stickers sell for?

That’s going to be anew high mark forthe category ”

Sammi Kaewsawang hadnever participated in the World Cup album experienceuntil thisyear, when the content creator from LongBeach, California, decided to seehow long it wouldtaketo physically peel andstick all980 examples into the album.

By the time Kaewsawangfinished with Panama, thelast of his 48 teams, he’d beenatitfor about 7hours, 47 minutes.

“Now I’m on my second one, helping my fiancé’snephew complete his,” Kaewsawangsaid. “Whatmadethe experienceso memorable wasthe people Imet

alongthe way.Trading stickers brought me together with fansof all ages.”

That is undoubtedly part of the appeal: Even though Panini has adigital collection available, the sense of community that comes from swapping your doubles for aplayer you might needbrings with it aquaint sense of nostalgia, notunlike theway American kids have collectedand traded baseball cards for generations.

Many shops help by scheduling swap meets. Panini itself has atruckatRockefeller Center in New York, where thousands have shown up in the evenings to trade.

Message boards allow fans to connect anywhere in the world, and about8,000 collectorsrecently showed up at astadium in Santiago, Chile, to swap.

“I’ve made genuine new friends though this hobby,” Kaewsawang said, “and that means more than completing the collection itself.”

Even though Panini stickers have neverbeen hotter —apartnership with Coca-Cola means stickers can be found under labels of certain bottles —the company is facing theend of an era after the 2030 tournament in Morocco, Portugal and Spain.

The Fanatics brand Topps will take over the rights to produce World Cup cards, stickers and other FIFAcollectibles, and it’s unclear whetherthe U.S.-based company will produce asimilar product as its Italian rival.

“Itisareal bittersweet moment,” Blazey said. “From my side,and forprobably 90%ofcollectors at the moment— more so outside theU.S., where Panini is a household name —it’saverysad momentfor this to be the end. So many people grew up collecting them,and it’s synonymouswith their childhood, so the loss of the license is very muchseen as sacrilege.”

Staff report

South Louisiana businesses and nonprofit groups recently announced the following promotions, new hires and resignations.

NewOrleans

RobbyTravis has been hired as the communications directorfor KID smART, anonprofit that brings arts education to public schools in the New Orleans area. Travispreviously led communications and creative strategy forDickie Brennan &Co. as its senior marketing andcreative manager

Dr.Brian Moore willbecomethe next chief physician executive and president of Ochsner Clinic, lead-

Fool’sTake:

E-commerce giant

MercadoLibre (Nasdaq:MELI)

ingclinical strategyfor thehealth system. Moore was previously medical directorofthe OchsnerCancer Institute and Ochsner MD Anderson CancerCenter,overseeing theexpansion of TheGayle andTom BensonCancer CenterinNew Orleans He will succeed Dr.RobertHart, whose retirement will be effective Jan. 1.

Daniel Maurin,seniorvice president and business banking manager for FirstHorizon Bank,has joinedthe board of Junior Achievement of GreaterNew Orleans

pany,Mercado Pago, whichispursuing growthopportunities such as expanded creditcard offerings.

is an e-commerce giant in the fast-growing Latin American market that helps people acquire goods and pay for them, too. It recently operated in 18 countriesand boasted 83 million monthly active users. Over the past 12 months, its shares were down 36% Despite some challenges, though, there are good reasons to consider buying and holding MercadoLibre. For starters, it’sgrowing briskly In the first quarter,MercadoLibre’srevenue grew by 49% year overyear to $8.8 billion. That’s impressive, but its profit margins and profits declined meaningfully Why? Well, it has been facing stiff competition and has chosen to sacrifice short-term margins and profits to extend initiatives that may pay off handsomely.For example, it lowered the threshold for free shipping in Brazil, which is resultingin greater sales volume. That may help MercadoLibre scale up its higher-profit-margin advertising business. MercadoLibre is also home to a majorfinancial technologycom-

Many of the people in the markets it serves areunderbanked, providing another major growth opportunity

Shares of MercadoLibre appear fairly valued or undervaluedat current levelsand coulddeliver strong long-term returns to investors who buy today.(The Motley Fool ownssharesofand recommends MercadoLibre.)

Fool’s School:

Historylessons

Former UniversityofPennsylvania professorJeremy Siegel has collected and reviewed data on investment returns goingback to 1802.

His book “Stocks forthe Long Run: The DefinitiveGuide to Financial Market Returns &LongTerm Investment Strategies,” features seven “guides to successful investing.” Here’s arecap:

n “Keep your expectationsin line with history.” Siegel points out that, afteraccounting for inflation, stock market returns have been between about 6% and 7% historically,but might fall to 5%

n “Stocks are real assets and. excellent long-term hedgesagainst inflation.” Ashareofstock, after

KatherineSeghers has been promoted to vice president, marketing manager,for Republic Business Credit. Seghers joined the companyin 2023 in an accounting capacitybeforeassuming leadership of the company’smarking functions.

BatonRouge

for Jefferson FinancialCredit Union.

DekeCarbo treasurer and Dr.Anna Pou secretary

Missy Matherne has been promoted to senior vice president of finance, risk and payments for Pelican Credit Union.

Beforejoining Pelican, Matherne was chief financial officer of Louisiana Federal Credit Union and vice president of finance

all, represents asmallownership claim on areal asset-owning business.

n “Stock returns are much more stableinthe long run thaninthe short run.” He adds that people with longer investment horizons “shouldhold agreaterproportion of their portfolio in (stocks) and a lower proportion in bonds.

n “Invest the largest percentage of your stockportfolio in low-cost stock indexfunds that span aglobal portfolio.” Broad indexfunds, such as S&P 500 index funds, have performed well over long periods andare especially good for those of us whoaren’t expertinvestors.

n “Invest at least one-third of your (stock) portfolio in international stocks.”

n “Tilt your portfoliotoward value (stocks)” by favoring “those with lower prices relative to their fundamentals, such as earnings anddividends” —asthey“have superior returns andlower risk than growth stocks.”

n Have “firm rules to keep your portfolio on track.” He urges investors to keepemotionsincheck andnot act outofanxiety or fear

Ask the Fool:

Valuation shortcuts

Are there anyquick and easy ways to figure out if acompanyisover-orundervalued?

Dr.Logan Townsend hasbeen appointed as an assistant professor of LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center,wherehe will lead the newly established Integrative Stress Metabolism Laboratory Townsend was, mostrecently, a postdoctoral fellow at the Centre forMetabolism, Obesityand Diabetes ResearchatMcMaster University in Canada.

The LSU Health Foundation announced the addition of four new board members and the election of new officers. PaigeSensenbrenner becomes board chair, Dr.Najeeb Thomas vice chair,

Even if you undertake many calculations, it’shard, if notimpossible, to determine for sure what astock is really worth —and, therefore, whether it’sover- or undervalued. Evensmart stock analysts will likely arrive at differentnumbersfor anycompany they study because theyall make differentassumptions, suchasthe company’sgrowth rate

Thereare some quickand easy waystoget arough ideaofvaluation. One is the price-to-earnings ratio, dividing acompany’sstock price by its annualearnings per share;itcan sometimes be helpful to use the EPSexpected over the comingyear.A lowP/E suggests a low valuation, though it’ssmart to compare it with peers’ P/Eratios andits own five-year P/Erange

TheP/E shows howmuchyou’d be paying for each dollarofearnings. Youmight also check outthe price-to-sales ratio,whichdivides the company’smarketcapitalization (its market value —the total value of all its sharesoutstanding) by its annual revenue (sales). The P/S shows howmuchyou’d be payingfor each dollarofrevenue

My Dumbest Investment: No time machine

My mostregrettable investment move was

Newboard members include Nelson Daly, Chris Dyba, Dr LukeLeBas and Michael Pou

Acadiana

John Blohm has retired as CEO of the University of Lafayette Foundation after 11 years in the role. KarlMeche,the foundation’schief financialand administrative officer has been appointed to therule of interim CEO. Separately, the university has appointed GeoffreyStewart as interim vice president for advancement and strategy

Do you have personnel changes to shareorother ideas for our business coverage? Drop us a line at biztips@theadvocate.com.

notinvesting

Actually,mymost regrettable move was about 20 years ago; Ilistened to afriend who’dhad modest success in the stock market, and he casually mentioned Silicon Graphicsasasmartbuy.Weall know what happenedthen: stiff competition, rapidmarket share contraction, the stock nose-diving,then Chapter11bankruptcy.The

but each of us should

ourown research into anyrecommended companybeforebuying. Don’tassume thatanyone will be prescient aboutany givenstock Also,ifyou’regoing to invest in individualstocks, youmust accept thatsome will disappoint you. To minimize losses, try to keep up with your holdings so thatyou can noticewhena companyisstruggling. At suchtimes, determine whether the problems seem to be temporary or long-lasting, and thendecide whethertohangon or sell. Selling fora loss can hurt, but it’sbetterthanexperiencing a biggerloss. And there arealways otherattractive stockstomove money into

Motley Fool

P.M., Hickory, North Carolina

Matherne

Townsend

Sensenbrenner

Travis

Hart Moore

Seghers

BY GRACE MAYER Staff writer

SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Not many retail businesses make it to 108.

Fewer still have survived the wars, economic downturns and disruptions of e-commerce over the past century without making major changes to their operations.

But Gem Printing has been selling custom party and wedding stationery in much the same way it always has — printing in-house and on-site — since it was founded in 1918 by the great-grandfather of its fourth-generation owners Tommy Cousans, 44, and Melissa Cousans Mortillaro, 45.

From an unassuming storefront

in a Metairie strip mall Cousans and Mortillaro have defied the odds and the broader market forces of evites and Amazon — to keep their family business afloat by building on customer loyalty diversifying into a broader array of party supplies and holding fast to a guaranteed 24-hour turnaround time that dates to the store’s founding.

“The one-day service is obviously a blessing,” Cousans said. “I silently curse my grandfather for that every once in a while, but it’s probably one of the biggest reasons that this business is still around.”

Storied history

Photos on a store wall trace the company’s history back to 1918, including one of Cousans and Mortillaro’s great-grandfather, Sidney Cousans, wheeling around a wooden cart with a Gem Printing sign.

He sold business cards printed from a small hand press and offered to shine customers’ shoes.

Another picture shows the company’s brick-and-mortar storefront on St. Charles Avenue, opened by their grandfather Sidney Cousans Jr sometime after he took over the business in the 1930s — when he was just 14 years old. His grandchildren today credit him with carving out Gem’s niche in the wedding and party invitation category and also for coming up with the one-day service guarantee.

Today, Gem operates from a bridal-white brick storefront on Veterans Boulevard near Bonnabel Boulevard that has been its home since 1976, with eight fulltime employees.

Though Cousans and Mortillaro, who are brother and sister, declined to provide company revenues, they say Gem regularly sees year-over-year sales growth of 5%-10%.

Customer service and loyalty

The siblings attribute their longevity and steady growth to several factors, chief among them being their quick turnaround time.

On the second floor of Gem’s otherwise unassuming 5,000-squarefoot storefront, the company has a printing studio that holds more than a dozen presses and modern digital printers, the key to fulfilling one-day orders.

While the store’s hours run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the week, the team prints products overnight, often working on Sundays and Mondays — their typical days off.

The team prides themselves on fast sometimes instant service.

“We’ve had people pull up in limos and run out in bow ties, going,

‘I need a pillow right now,’ and they get to skip the line and grab a ring pillow and head to their church and get married,” Mortillaro said.

That customer service has helped fuel loyalty in a traditional market in the Deep South and a pervasive party culture.

Customers who designed wedding invitations with Gem come back for anniversaries, christenings, birthday parties, all the way up to condolence cards. The tradition is often passed down. Parents recommend Gem to their children, then grandchildren.

“I’m the fourth generation helping sometimes the fourth generation of a customer’s family,” Cousans said. “It’s kind of crazy that it’s a family tradition on both sides of the counter.”

Over time, Gem’s customer pool spread around the country, particularly after many New Orleans natives moved following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Those customers are “constantly ordering” quintessential New Orleans items, including second-line handkerchiefs, party cups and feather-trimmed umbrellas, Mortillaro said.

The company ships dozens of orders a week all over the country Gem also benefits from New Orleans being a party town, Cousans

said. The shop stays busy during August through February during holiday and festival season.

“I don’t know if printers in Jackson, Mississippi, get a Halloween rush, but we get a Halloween rush,” Cousans said. The business has also diversified by growing its party supplies line over the years. Lately, that’s meant learning how to print matchbooks. Wedding cake toppers currently displayed in-store, popular in the ’80s, are also making a comeback among younger generations. The team also learned how to print onto tambourines, another wedding favor reclaimed in recent years.

Planning for the future

As a kid, Cousans remembers watching Mardi Gras parades pass by the store windows. Mor-

Note pads celebrating the 108-yearold Gem Printing Co.’s milestones were recently uncovered from storage.

tillaro recalls making netted rice bags for weddings, which Gem used to sell for 10 cents. In high school, they both started working in the shop. By college, they realized they couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

The biggest challenge Gem faces today is navigating fluctuating material prices, Cousans said. He vigilantly checks prices to purchase materials at a low cost, but due to inflation, their team has had to eat higher prices to avoid raising costs for customers.

While Gem has largely leaned on word-of-mouth referrals, the company is also making a concerted effort to bolster its social media presence to attract younger consumers, Mortillaro said. Cousans and Mortillaro hope to pass on the business to the fifth generation — possibly Mortillaro’s kids. Her 11-year-old daughter has already shown an early enthusiasm for the career: For a school career day, she wore business casual clothing and a name tag that read, “fifth-generation Gem Printing manager.”

“It’s definitely in our minds to keep this going. I want this to be a fifth-, sixth-generation business,” Mortillaro said. “When it comes to planning for the future, it’s honestly just watching the trends and making sure that you’re servicing the next generation.”

Email Grace Mayer at grace. mayer@theadvocate.com.

Mortillaro sorts through metal type.

STAFF PHOTOS By CHRIS GRANGER

Siblings Melissa Cousans Mortillaro and Tommy Cousans are fourthgeneration owners of Gem Printing Co. in Metairie.

4164 E. Loyola Drive•Kenner$349,900

Lowerhomeownersinsurance withnew construction!Thisbeautiful 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath,1,958-sqfthome in aconvenientlocation features aprivate fenced backyard,quartzcountertops,stainless steelappliances&durable vinylplank flooring.Relax in the luxuriousprimarysuite w/ spa-inspired bath,freestanding tub, separate shower &modern finishes throughout. Don’tMissOut! Laurie Lionnet504-462-9376 KellerWilliamsRealty455-0100Metairie504-455-0100

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Stepsfromthe waterand Dunbar Pier,thisfully furnished 3BR/3.5BAcoastal retreat sits on threeparcels totaling ±0.83 acresbeneath majestic oaks.Features include high ceilings, fireplace, quartz kitchen, main-level primarysuite,exteriorlift, screened porch, beachaccess, andanunbeatableMississippi

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Furnished5BR/3BA canal-fronthomeinBay St.Louis’Riverview community withdirectJourdan Riverboating access.Features 2,500+ sqft., open-concept living,vaulted ceilings,designer kitchen,private primarysuite,covered porch, outdoorkitchen, boat andjet skilift, cargolift, andexceptional investment or vacation-home potential. Turnkeycoastal living awaits ReganKane228-363-0331 JohnMcDonaldRealtyLicensed in MS 228-467-5500

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$1,075,000 Primelocation! Custom-built andimpeccablymaintained, this 4,639sq. ft.homeoffers4 ensuitebedrooms, lots of naturallight soaringceilings,anupdated chef’s kitchen, office,expansive third-floor flex space, new roof (2025),new windows, attached garage,abundantstorage,and coveredpatio—all within walkingdistancetorestaurants,shopping, andMetairieRoad. KenHamrick kenh@kw.com504-628-5428 KellerWilliams RealtyNew Orleans504-862-0100 2ShadowLane•Old Metairie

$799,000 Nestledbeneath mature live oaks on aprivate cul-de-sac, this charming home sits on an oversized0.3-acre lotjust minutesfromI-10. Features include terrazzo floors,pecky cypressden walls, updatedkitchen andbaths,doublepanedwindows,covered carport, storagegarage, abundant off-street parking, privacy, character, andtimelessappeal AprilBrown 504-606-0466 HospitalityRealtywww.hospitaltyrealty.net

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PLOTS MausoleumCrypt locatedatMount Olivet Cemetery,Phase VII, Single Unit,Pristine, Peaceful location Valued at $7,500, asking $7k Transfer fees areBuyers responsibility. Call/Text Lisa M. (832) 444-8007.

Orleans hasreleased Requests for Proposals (RFPs) forNew Projects to be considered for inclusion in the FY 2026 U.S. DepartmentofHousing andUrban Development (HUD)ContinuumofCare (CoC) Program Competition. Nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, units of local government, andpublic housing agencies are invited to submit proposals for consideration. Organizations thathavenot previously participated in the CoC Program are encouragedtoexplore this opportunity Individuals are NOTeligible to apply.Interested parties are invited to attend avirtual information session on July 6, at 11am. Learn more at https://coc.unitygno.org

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA In re:§ CASE NO. 26-10678 §(JOINTLYADMINISTERED) CROSBY MARINE TRANSPORTATION, LLC,§ §CHAPTER 11 §COMPLEX CASE Debtors. § §SECTION: A NOTICE OF BAR DATES FOR FILING PROOFS OF CLAIM

NOTICE: Your rights may be affected. Youshould read these papers carefully and discuss them with your attorney,ifyou have one in this bankruptcy case. If you do not haveanattorney,you maywish to consult one. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE on March 23, 2026 (“Petition Date”), Crosby Marine Transportation, LLC (“Transportation”),Crosby Tugs, LLC (“Tugs”), Crosby Dredging, LLC (“

§13101(5); (c)The date the lien was established; (d)The amount of the lien claimed; AMaritime Lien can arise from amaritime tort or the provision of “necessaries” to avessel. Necessaries can include any essential goods, supplies, or services provided to avessel to keep it operating safely,efficiently,and in navigation.

ADDITIONALLY, if you areasserting amaritime lien against anyofthe Debtorsorthe Debtors’ vessels, you must also attach documentation supporting your lien claim (e.g. invoices, receipts, charter agreements, bills of lading, supply or repair contracts, vessel logs, time-and-material logs and/or ledger entries, any notices of claims of lien filed withNational Vessel Documentation Center). If you assert morethan one maritime lien (e.g. for services provided to multiple vessels), you will need to submit aseparateproof of claim and addendum for each claim/lien asserted.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE the deadlinefor any Creditor with aclaim that arises from the rejectionofanexecutory contract or lease is on or beforethe later of (a) the General Bar Date; or (b) thirty (30) days after the effective date of such rejectionasordered by the Court.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE Youcan file aProof of Claim using one of three methods: 1. By using the

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New Orleans’s very best

Sunday,July5,2026

Here’show NewOrleans TopWorkplaces aredetermined

Bob Helbig •Energage

Top Workplacesdon’t happenby accident. Theyare createdthrough apeople-firstapproach to workplace excellence.

Forthe 12th year,employeesurvey company Energage haspartneredwiththe TimesPicayune to honor thebestplacestowork in GreaterNew Orleans.

The awardisverified and earnedthrough an employeesurvey process. Workplaces where employees offer positive feedback abouttheir experiencemakethe winners list. The survey is strictly confidential, allowing employees to sharehonest feedbackanonymously.

Energage, basedinsuburbanPhiladelphia, administers thesurveyand analyzes feedbackbasedonresponses to 26 questions. Thesurveyasksemployees about such factorsaspay and benefits, direction, leadership,meaningfulness, and appreciation. Energagescorescompanies basedonthe responses.Energagehas establishedbenchmarksbasedonfeedback

from about 30 millionemployees over 20 years.

The awardcannotbebought; it is earned. There is no cost to employers to survey their employees.Iftheychoose, organizations can purchase the survey data from Energage. There is no obligationfor winners to purchase anyproduct or service.

Forthe 2026winners list, 1,641organizations were askedtosurveytheir employees,and 97 agreed to do so.Based on the survey feedback, 84 have earned recognitionas TopWorkplaces in GreaterNew Orleans

“Earning aTop Workplaces awardisa celebrationofexcellence,”EnergageCEO Eric Rubino said.“It serves as areminder of the vital role apeople-firstworkplace experienceplays in achieving success. ”

To qualify forTop Workplaces recognition, employers must have at least35workers in the region.Beginning thisyear, employers aregroupedbythe overall size of their organization, and the numberof

employees invited to survey,whichmight includeemployees outsideofGreater New Orleans. Employers aregroupedintosimilar sizes to best comparesimilar employee experiences.Theyare ranked within those groups basedonthe strength of the survey feedback.

Surveyresults arevalid only if 35% or more employees respond;employers with fewer than 85 employees have ahigherresponse threshold,requiring responsesfromatleast 30 employees

Whymight aparticular employernot be on the list? Perhaps it chosenot to participate, or perhaps it didand employeefeedback scores were notstrongenough. Energage alsorunstests on survey feedbackand in some casesmay disqualifyanorganization if,for example,a highnumberofemployees said theyfeltpressured to answerpositively. To participate in the 2027 TopWorkplaces awards,orfor more information, go to the nominationpageat https://www.nola.com/ topworkplaces/.

LargeBusinesses

GALLO MECHANICAL,LLC

Founded: 1945

Sector: Building Construction

Region Employees:240

LAITRAM

Founded: 1949

Sector: Machinery

Region Employees: 1,684

NEWORLEANS ERNEST N. MORIAL CONVENTION CENTER

Founded: 1985

Sector: SpecialEventsand Catering

Region Employees: 436

AMPIRICAL

Founded: 2006

Sector:Engineering

Region Employees: 366

MARSHMCLENNAN AGENCY

Founded: 2008

Sector: InsuranceConsultants andBrokers

Region Employees: 78

HARVEST MIDSTREAM

Founded: 1993

Sector: Petroleum, Gasand PetroleumProducts

Region Employees: 59

CAPITALONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION

Founded: 1994

Sector: Banks

Region Employees: 464

LOEWSHOTELS ANDCO.

Founded: 1960

Sector: Hotels

Region Employees: 94

THE FREEMAN COMPANY

Founded: 1927

Sector: Hospitality, Entertainment, Recreation andTravel

Region Employees: 66

HOTEL MONTELEONE

Founded: 1886

Sector: Hotels

Region Employees: 400

PANDARESTAURANT GROUP

Founded: 1973

Sector: Restaurants

Region Employees: 62

Region Employees: 514 17 28 3 9 4 10 5 11 6 12

CRESCENT CITY SCHOOLS

Founded: 2010

Sector: Primary/SecondarySchools

RAISINGCANE’S CHICKENFINGERS

Founded: 1996

Sector: Restaurants

Region Employees: 1,271

BOARDWALK PIPELINES

Founded: 2006

Sector: Pipelines

Region Employees: 38

EISNERAMPER

Founded: 1965

Sector: CertifiedPublicAccountants andConsultants

Region Employees: 138

SONESTAINTERNATIONAL HOTELCORPORATION

Founded: 1937

Sector: Hotels

Region Employees: 300

OCHSNERHEALTH

Founded: 1942

Sector: Hospitalsand Health Systems

Region Employees: 21,774

FIRSTLINE SCHOOLSINC.

Founded: 1998

Sector: Primary/Secondary Schools

Region Employees: 414

RENEWSCHOOLS

CHENMED

Founded: 1984

Sector: Hospitalsand Health Systems

Region Employees: 75

COXENTERPRISES

Founded: 1898

Sector: Services –Other

Region Employees: 1,234

PT SOLUTIONS

Founded: 2003

Sector: Rehabilitation

Region Employees: 39

PENN ENTERTAINMENT

Founded: 1972

Sector: Casinos

Region Employees: 382

CREOLE CUISINE RESTAURANT CONCEPTS

Founded: 1989

Sector: Restaurants

Region Employees: 1,181

KLOECKNER METALS

Founded: 1906

Region Employees: 45 13 20 14 21 15 22 16 23 17 24 18 19 25

Founded: 2009

Sector: Primary/Secondary Schools

Region Employees: 436

Sector: Distribution,Logistics andFreight– Other

The NewOrleans Ernest N. Morial ConventionCenterhas been named aUSA TodayTop Workplace, anational recognitionthatreflects intentional investmentinemployees anda culture thatsupports professional growth and regional impact. ConventionCenter

Presidentand CEOJim Cook said it is a validationofthe conceptthatdelivering exceptionalexperiences forvisitorsbegins with apositive, supportiveenvironment forthe people behindthe scenes

“Itreinforcesthatthe ConventionCenter is aplacewhere employees can build rewarding careers while being part of something largerthan themselves, supporting events thatdrivetourism, sustain localbusinessesand create jobs acrossthe region,” Cook said.“Forthe community,ithighlightsour ongoing commitmenttoworkforce development, economicgrowth and improving access to opportunitiesthathelpNew Orleans remain avibrant, competitivedestination.”

Sinceopening in 1985, the Convention Centerhas had an estimated$93.2 billion economic impact and generated$6billion in stateand localtax revenue.In2025, the venue wasresponsible for$7.56 million in operational small businessspending and $20.2 millionincapital small business spending.

“Whenemployees feel supported,valued and equippedwith the right toolsand training,theyare better positionedto anticipate client needs, solvechallenges efficiently and maintain the high standards required to host large-scale

events,”Cook said.

The ConventionCenter has442 employees with acombined 3,886 years of service andanaverage tenureofjustunder nine yearseach.Nearly 50 team membershave been at theConvention Center formorethan20 years. Cook attributed that longevity to the workplace culture, growth opportunities anda widerangeofcareerpaths. The Skills Studio opensdoorstonetworking, professional conferences, certifications, executivecoachingand leadership courses. Team membersalso benefit from bilingual training,accessto industry-leadingspeakersand content, performanceconsulting anddepartmental teambuilding.

The ConventionCenterisplaying akey role in transformative initiatives,including theheadquartershotel projectand the developmentofa newneighborhood in

theRiver District. The ConventionCenter is alsoamida multiphase $763 million Capital Improvement Plan to support long-termgrowthand modernization.

“Working at the ConventionCenter offersthe opportunitytobepart of an organizationthatplays ameaningful role in thecity’ssuccess,”Cook said.

Visit mccno.com to learn more about careeropportunitiesatthe NewOrleans Ernest N. Morial ConventionCenter.

Support, collaboration andpurpose help

FirstLine Schools earnTop Workplace honors

Thisarticleisbroughttoyou byFirstLineSchools.

For the firsttimeever, FirstLineSchools hasbeen named aNew OrleansTop Workplace, adistinctionthatreflects many months of intentional work to improvethe employeeexperienceacrossits networkof four charter schools.

The recognitionisbasedentirelyon employeefeedback collected through aconfidential survey administeredby workplaceresearch firm Energage.In theirresponses, many FirstLineteachers and staff applauded thecommunication, support, collaboration that they feel each day. Some feedback included:

•“The leadership teamscommunicate consistently to us aboutgoals and expectations to ensurethatweunderstand ourmissionofgrowthand excellence.”

•“Whenmistakesare made,there are positiveconversations aboutwhat has gonewrong,and thenfeedbackis purposeful. We areallowedtolearn and growninour roles.”

•“Everybody is so caring,thoughtfuland supportive. It doesn’tfeellikea job– it feels likea family.”

Dr.SabrinaPence,CEO of FirstLineSchools, said theleadership team has worked to ensureits leavepolicies, benefits, salaries and working conditions meet people’s needs.One keychangeisthatFirstLine teachers nowhavededicatedblocksof timeduring the week to planlessons, preparefor class andreach outtoparents.

“It hasbeenabout alignmentand putting ourprinciples into practice,”added Brittney Richardson,FirstLineSchoolsChiefHuman ResourcesOfficer. “It feelsgoodto see howthatworkaligns with what we pour into ourkids. Whenpeople feel motivated, appreciatedand excited abouttheir work, it’snot only they whobenefit. Thekids benefitaswell.”

Dr.Pence said anotherkey changehas been an adjustmenttopaid timeoff.Now, employees receive five sick days and five personal days,ratherthan eightsick days and twopersonal ones

“It wasa big dealfor people because sometimes youare ill and need that day, and sometimes youneed aday to handle otheraspects of your life. Ithink restructuring the allotmenthas given people moreroomtobreathe,” shesaid “It wasa keypartofthe work we’vedone around ouradult cultureand whatitmeans to be somebodywho workshere. Thathas levelset us to have amorecollaborative and supportiveenvironment.”

Employeewellness has alsobecome a larger priority.Richardson said FirstLine

has createdmoreopportunitiesfor staff memberstosharefeedback, listentoone another, connect with colleaguesand access wellness resources.

“One of ourprinciplesistonurtureeach child’s mind,bodyand spirit. That’strue foremployees as well,”Richardson said “Weare committed to bringing joyand collaborationtothe workplace. We’re continuing to look at wellness as atop priority and howwecan mitigatepressures so people can showuptoworkastheir best selves.”

FirstLine SchoolsoperatesSamuelJ Green Charter School,Arthur Ashe Charter School,Langston Hughes Academyand Phillis WheatleyCommunity School.Visit firstlineschools.org to learn more

PROUDTOBEA TOPWORKPLACE

At FirstLine Schools, our mission begins with ourpeople.

We arehonored to be recognized as aTop Workplace, adistinction that reflectsthe dedication,passion,and commitment of our educators, school leaders, andsupport staff.Every day, our team workstocreateexceptional learning environments where students canthriveand reachtheir full potential.

Empowering Students. SupportingEducators. StrengtheningCommunities. firstlineschools.org

Thankyoutoevery memberoftheFirstLine Schoolsfamilyformaking ourorganizationaplace wherepeoplefeelvalued, supported,andinspired tomakeadifference.

Strong workplaces also prove to be moreprofitable

Bob Helbig •Energage

There’s profitina positive workforce.As confirmed by both rigorousresearch and live financial performance, companies with astrongcultureand workforce tend to outperform thestock market.

IrrationalCapital LLC, an investment research anddevelopment firm based in suburbanPhiladelphia, createdan exchange-traded fund indexthatselects companiesbasedonthe strength of the relationship with their employees.The HumanCapital Factor®measures the relationship betweenworkplaceculture andpotentialequityperformance. Irrational Capital found that whenacompanygets it right,it’snot only good formorale;it also drives acompany’sequityvalue as measured by shareprice.

The NYSE-listedHarbor Human Capital Factor ETF (HAPI) turned threeyears old in October. This flagship,large-cap core investmentisderived from Irrational Capital’shighest HumanCapital Factor® scores.HAPI has beaten more than 90 percentofits peer fundsand its benchmark sinceitlaunchedinOctober 2022,accordingtoMorningstar as of October20, 2025.

The HumanCapital Factor®appearsto be proofthatexceptional workforces outperform themarket. In backtesting, companieswithHCF scores have consistently outperformed theS&P 500by more than 70 percentover14years.These returns have been independently verified by J.P. Morgan Research.

“The HCI[HumanCapital Index] exhibits aperfect track record forcalendar year performance, outperforming the benchmark in everysingle year of our sample.While it only didso marginally in three yearsthe overall performancerecord forthis period is stellar.Evenin‘24 YTD,it has managed to outperform abenchmark

thathas so farreturnedinexcessof20%.”

JPM’sQuantResearch– “US ‘Human Capital Factor’, Still Going Strong” (December 2024)

Irrational Capital incorporatesthe same employeesurveycriteria used to recognize TopWorkplaces to determine their Human Capital Factor®, and identifies those companieswhere employees feel valued, appreciated, motivated,are aligned, have confidenceinleadership and more. This isn’tjustfeel-goodstuff;itisclear evidence thatstrongcultures deliver financial rewards.

Khuram Chaudry,J.P.Morgan’sheadof European quantitativestrategy, told the Financial Times:“People used to go to work to offer aservicetoa corporation, and in exchangetheywould getasalary. Butin the past, there wasalsoa community— youwould have the church, or you’dhave your neighbors.Today whatweare asking from the workforceorthe companyat

large is to providea lotofthese services.”

“Whenemployees feel valued, theyinvest themselvesintheir employers,whichin turn boosts performance,”Keyia Burton,a seniorprincipal with Gartner, aConnecticut research and consulting firm,also told the Financial Times.Hewentontoshare, “We don’tput enough stockinhow powerful thatisasacatalyst to generate real change.”

BobHelbigismediapartnershipsdirector at Energage, aPhiladelphia-based employeesurvey firm. Energage isthe surveypartnerforTopWorkplaces

MidsizeBusinesses

STOA GROUP

Founded: 2018

Sector: Integrated Development, Construction andManagement Region Employees: 152

RNGD

Founded: 2013

Sector: Building Construction Region Employees: 298

MSBCONSULTING ENGINEERS

Founded: 1978

Sector: Engineering Region Employees: 146

GOOTEE CONSTRUCTION INC.

Founded: 1991

Sector:Heating,Ventilation, AirConditioningand Refrigeration Region Employees: 133

THE WOODHOUSE DAYSPA

Founded: 2011

Sector: Hospitality, Entertainment, Recreation andTravel–Other Region Employees: 125

THEGRAYINSURANCE COMPANY

Founded: 1953

Sector: SpecialtyInsurance Region Employees: 158

AUDUBONCOMPANIES

Founded: 1997

Sector: Engineering Region Employees: 319

THE WINDSORCOURT

Founded: 1984

Sector: Hotels

Region Employees: 250

HOMEINSTEAD

Founded: 2000

Sector: Home Healthcare Services Region Employees: 180

STONECREEK CLUB ANDSPA

Founded: 2009

Sector: Fitness Region Employees: 220

CYPRESSPOINTE SURGICAL HOSPITAL

Founded: 2010

Sector: Outpatient Test,Treatmentand Surgery Region Employees: 170

GLOBALSTAR

Founded: 1991

Sector: Restaurants Region Employees: 285 1 8 7 2 9 3 10 4 11 5 12 6 13

Sector: Telecommunications andCable Region Employees: 374

MESSINA’SCATERING ANDEVENTS

Founded: 1962

UNIVERSAL PARKING

Founded: 2021

Sector: Services –Other

Region Employees: 42

RENUITY LLC

Founded: 2004

Sector:Restoration

Region Employees: 87

WOODWARD

DESIGN +BUILD

Founded: 1923

Sector: Building Construction

Region Employees: 160

ACCUTRANS

Founded: 1998

Sector: Other Industrial Services

Region Employees: 75

THEDOMAINCOMPANIES

Founded: 2004

Sector: Development

Region Employees: 49

AVALA

Founded: 2000

Sector: Hospitalsand Health Systems

Region Employees: 333

BIBBEO LTD.

Founded: 2012

Sector: Other –BusinessServices

Region Employees: 66

TASTEBUDSMANAGEMENT ANDZEA ROTISSERIE &BAR

Founded: 1989

Sector: Restaurants

Region Employees: 296

GIS

Founded: 1948

Sector: Other –EnergyIndustryServices

Region Employees: 258

ONPATH CREDIT UNION

Founded: 1961

Sector: Credit Union

Region Employees: 236

CHRISTWOOD RETIREMENTCOMMUNITY

Founded: 1996

Sector: Senior Living Region Employees: 265

BELLE CHASSE ACADEMYINC.

Founded: 2002

Sector: Primary/SecondarySchools

Region Employees: 184

OUTSOLVE

Founded: 1998

Sector: Other– Business Services Region Employees: 129

NORTHSHORE REHABILITATIONHOSPITAL

Founded: 2019

Sector: Rehabilitation Region Employees: 144

CRESCENTCARE

Founded: 1983

Sector: Hospitalsand Health Systems Region Employees: 278

COMPLIANCE ENVIROSYSTEMS

Founded: 1995

Sector: Pipelines Region Employees: 40

Globalstar It Takesa Team to MakeaConnection

Thisarticleisbroughttoyouby Globalstar

Connection begins with data. It may come from ahiker checkinginfrom milesbeyondcellular coverage,a driver moving acrossaremote transportation route, or abusinessmonitoringequipment in the field. It’sasimple act.Datamoves from onepoint to another But behind thatmovement is aglobal team working together to make it possible Long before data reachesasatellite, Globalstaremployees have already shapedits journey. Engineersdesignthe technology behindthe network.Product teamstransformideasintodevices and solutions customerscan rely on Manufacturing and operations teams support the systemsthatbring those solutions to life. Networkteams monitor performanceacrossasatelliteconstellation built to keep informationmoving.Customer careteams support the people depending on that connectionevery day.

Each transmissiontells abigger story. Astory built by hundreds of employees contributing differentskills toward the same mission.

Thatshared purpose is partofwhatmakes Globalstara TopWorkplace.

Across thecompany, employees are connected by the knowledgethattheir work reachesfar beyond the walls of an office.A line of code, acustomer conversation, and product improvement, or an operational decisioncan all become part of someone’smostimportantconnection.

As Globalstar continuesadvancing satellite technology forconsumers, businesses, and industriesaround the world,thatmission remains at the center of its culture.

The company’ssuccess is notbuilt on one person,one team,orone idea.Itcomes from the collaborationofemployees across disciplines, locations, and backgrounds who each playa role in moving technology forward.

Becausetothe people at Globalstar,data isn’tjustthe movement of information. It’s aconnection.

Support, growth and purpose drive The Gray InsuranceCompany’s TopWorkplace culture

Thisarticleisbroughttoyou

byTheGray InsuranceCompany

For theseventh consecutiveyear, The Gray InsuranceCompanyhas been named aNew OrleansTop Workplace, adistinction itsleaderssay reflects the cultureGrayemployees have helped create over decades of growth

Founded in 1953 by Denver F. Gray,the Metairie-basedcompanyhas become a trustedinsurance partnerfor contractors in the oiland gas, maritime, industrial and heavyconstructionindustries. Today, Gray employs approximately170 people and provides workers’ compensation, general liabilityand business autocoverageto185 contractorsthroughoutthe Southeast.

“This is ameaningful honorbecause it reflects the voices of ouremployees and the cultureweworkhardtobuild every day. It shows that ourteammembersfeel supported, valuedand proudtobepart of the organization,”company leaderssaid “Teamworkiscentral to who we are. People step up to support oneanother,celebrate successestogetherand stay connected acrossthe organization.”

Those sentiments were echoed in commentsfromemployees who responded to this year’sTop Workplaces survey by Energage.ManypraisedGray’s family-like environment, openness to new ideasand collaborative spirit.

“I work with people Icareabout and who careabout me,who challengemetobe better than Iwas before,” oneemployee wrote. “I am able to do my jobconfidently and feel supported to trynew things. There is no fear of making mistakes.”

Gray leaderssaid that cultureisbased on strong communication, including regular check-ins, ongoingconversations and recognitionofindividual andteam

contributions.Professional growth is anotherkey priority,with Gray investing in training,development opportunities and leadership initiatives to help employees strengthentheir skills and advancetheir careers.

However, at Gray,nothing is more important than the well-being of its employees.Recentinitiatives encourage healthyhabits and overall well-being,while flexible scheduling and timeoff options help employees balancepersonal and work responsibilities. Communityoutreach and volunteering opportunitieshavebecome ways foremployees to gain fulfillmentby giving back to their communitieswhile bonding withone another.

“My peersand membersofleadership have continually poured into me –supporting my career,encouraging my growth and helping me recognizejusthow capable Itruly am,” oneemployeenoted.“Icome to work everyday with astrongsense

of purpose.Weare averytight-knit organization, and in many ways,our coworkersare more than colleagues. They areclose friendsand even family.”

Visit grayinsco.comto learn more about The Gray InsuranceCompany.

Howdoyou handle feedback in the workplace?

Bob Helbig •Energage

Feedbackcan be apainful truthinthe workplace. Whetherit’sfroma customer or aco-worker,feedback can oftenfeellike an irritant.

But thatgut-punch feedbackisreally agift, says Nebraska-basedworkplaceconsultant

JasonLauritsen, whoauthors aweekly check-ine-newsletter on workplaceissues.

“Years ago, during atalentreviewprocess, my boss handed me whatInow call my YOUSUCK List,” Lauritsenrecently wrote.

“It wasaroundup of critical feedbackfrom herand afew seniorleaders aboutwhat I’dneed to changetobeconsidered fora promotion.

“It felt brutal.Likea list of all the ways Iwas failing —compiledbythe very people who had asay in my future.

“But that list changed my career.Whatfelt likecriticism wasactually aroadmap.These were real barriers —justonesI couldn’t seeonmyown.OnceI could seethem, I couldaddressthem.”

Lauritsenalso points outour firstreaction to critical feedbackisusually wrong.

“Our brains arewired to protectus, so whenwefeel attacked (evenbyfeedback), we defend,” he said.“We deflect. We shut down.

“WhenIgot that list, Ididn’tsay thank you. Igot angryand defiant. It took me weeks to even look at thefeedback again, and even longer to put it to use.”

Saying “thank youfor sharingthat” creates spacebetween your reaction and your response.“It buysyou time to getcurious instead of combative,”hesays.

Lauritsenoffersthree choicesyou can make whenyou getunexpectedor uncomfortablefeedback:

1. Ignore it. “You can hear feedback, thank the person,and then decidenot

to act on it. But —there’s acatch. If the feedback is pointingout something that’sgettinginyourway,ignoring it won’thelpyou move forward.”

2. Investigateit. “Feedback from others is always filtered thoughtheir lens. Research shows thatover50percent of ourevaluations of others reflect moreabout the evaluatorthan the evaluated. So takeitseriously —but not personally.”

3. Embraceit. “Remember whenwewere in schooland the teachercorrected our work?Thatfeedback wasn’t personal it wasmeant to help us learn.”

Regular,helpful feedback is essential foremployeegrowth, performance, and engagement. Whenemployees consistently receiveclear,constructiveinput,theygain a better understanding of their strengths and areasfor improvement,empowering them to developtheir skills and contributemore effectively

Ongoing feedback also fostersopen communicationand shows thatmanagers areinvestedintheir team’s success.

Energage urgesemployers to use employeesurvey results, comments, and otherfeedback to identify gaps in learning opportunitiesand to improveexisting programs.

Feedback helps employees improveand feel valuedfor the skills they’vedeveloped. Ensuremanagersprovideregular feedback about employees’work, including strengths and areasfor growth, especially those relevant to currentordesired roles.

Over time, this kind of supportivefeedback culturebuildsconfidence, accountability, and continuous improvementacrossthe organization.

BobHelbigismediapartnershipsdirector at Energage, aPhiladelphia-based employeesurvey firm. Energage isthe surveypartnerforTopWorkplaces

Small Businesses

LAMMICO

Founded: 1981

Sector: SpecialtyInsurance Region Employees: 117

RESTECH

Founded:1992

Sector: ManagedServicesand Outsourcing Region Employees:41

SCOTTVICKNAIR INJURYLAWYERS

Founded: 2015

Sector: Law Region Employees: 41

STOKES &ASSOCIATESINC.

Founded: 1998

Sector: Consulting Region Employees: 58

LANDIS CONSTRUCTION

Founded: 1956

Sector: Restoration Region Employees: 74

NEWORLEANS FIREMEN’S FEDERALCREDITUNION

Founded: 1934

Sector: Banks Region Employees: 85

MAGNOLIAPHYSICAL THERAPY

STRYKER ORTHOPAEDICS

Sector: Behavioral andMentalHealth Region Employees: 108 18 2 9 3 10 4 11 5 12 6 13 7

Founded: 2005

Sector: Rehabilitation Region Employees: 39

Founded: 1941

Sector: Vendor ServingHealthcareIndustry

Region Employees: 55

RYAN GOOTEE GENERALCONTRACTORS

Founded: 2004

Sector: Building Construction Region Employees: 46

METAIRIEBANK& TRUST COMPANY

Founded: 1947

Sector: Banks Region Employees: 113

FORMAN WATKINS &KRUTZ

Founded: 1986

LLP

Sector: Law Region Employees: 42

KEAN MILLER LLP

Founded: 1983

Sector: Law Region Employees: 78

BRIDGE HOUSE CORPORATION

Founded: 1964

LOUISIANATECHNOLOGY GROUP

Founded: 1999

Sector: InformationTechnology–Other

Region Employees: 56

BELLWETHER

Founded: 1980

Sector: ManagedServicesand Outsourcing

RegionEmployees: 60

AGENDA FORCHILDREN

Founded: 1984

Sector: Education–Other

Region Employees: 43

LOUISIANAPUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE (LPHI)

Founded: 1997

Sector: Nonprofit–Other

RegionEmployees: 59

DELRICHT RESEARCH

Founded: 2014

Sector: Healthcare –Other

Region Employees: 64

NOLAHOTEL GROUP

Founded: 2012

Sector: Hotels

Region Employees: 100

INFINITYENGINEERING CONSULTANTS

Founded: 2004

Sector: Engineering

Region Employees: 39

EPIC FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

Founded: 1925

Sector: Banks

Region Employees: 56

KENT DESIGN BUILD

Founded: 1996

Sector: Building Construction

Region Employees: 85

NEWORLEANS &COMPANY

Founded: 1960

Sector: Visitors Bureau Region Employees: 98

KARL SENNERLLC

Founded: 1972

Sector: Machinery

Region Employees: 65

EDGE FINANCIAL SERVICES

Founded: 2017

Sector: Credit andFinance

Region Employees: 45

BLUE WILLIAMSLLC

Founded: 1982

Sector: Law

Region Employees: 100

TOTALQUALITY LOGISTICS (TQL)

Founded: 1997

Sector: Logistics Region Employees: 106

ECMCONSULTANTS INC.

Founded: 1995

Sector: HeavyConstructionand CivilEngineering Region Employees: 69

STAR SERVICE NEWORLEANS

Founded: 1952

Sector: Cleaning/Maintenance Region Employees: 85

VIALINKINC.

Founded: 1920

Sector: Humanand Social Services Region Employees:54

Work-life balance doesn’t happen by accident

Bob Helbig •Energage

Ifyou believethe stereotype of remote workers, everyone who worksoutside the office has it easy.But data releasedby survey companyGallupsuggestsotherwise So much forthe joysoffreedom.

“These findingssuggest thatbeing afully remote worker is oftenmorementally and emotionally taxing than workingon-siteor working in ahybrid arrangement,”Gallup said in aMay release.

Furthermore,fully remote employees are also morelikelytoreportexperiencing anger,sadness and lonelinessthan hybrid and on-siteworkers,Gallup said.Theyare morelikelytoreportexperiencing alot of stress the previousday (45percent)than on-siteworkers (39 percentfor remotecapable,38percent fornon-remotecapable), while havingabout thesame stress levelashybrid workers(46 percent). Thesedifferencesholdtrueevenwhen accounting forincome,Gallupsaid The data suggestorganizations that want to support thework-lifebalancegoals of employees can’t assumeworkers,including remote employees,are achievingbalance on their own. These best practices can help encouragea workplaceenvironment that supports work-lifebalance:

Reviewcompanypolicies: Rulesaround vacation,sick time, scheduling, and other timeoff can have unnecessary obstacles. Reviewpoliciesfor opportunitiesto simplify,streamline, and otherwise improve.

Consider whatthe workplaceculture conveys:Messaging the importance of

work-lifebalanceisgood,but whatdoes your culturereward? If promotions typically go to those burning the midnight oil, your organizationmight be sending mixed messages about whatisvalued.

Assess staffing needs: While keeping a lowoverheadisimportant, employee well-being must alsobea priority.Review staff levels acrossthe organizationto ensure oneemployee’svacationdoesn’t burden employees who arecovering for them. If thatishappening,itcan create an atmosphere of resentment.

Manage meetingtimes:Whenfolks try to schedule alarge meeting, especially at the lastminute, doing so mightcreate problems.Lunchtimemeetings,early meetings,and late meetingsalso can interferewith employees’non-working hours. Avoidthem.

Foremployers looking to go further,here aresome othertips on creating apositive culturefor work-life balance:

•Consider flexible work arrangements: Flexible schedules, remote work options, and hybrid models can accommodate individual needsand preferences.

•Offer additional timeoff:Giveworkers additional timetorecharge their batterieswith morepaid holidays, half

days before long weekends,summer Fridays, or extradaysoff forbirthdaysor wellness.

•Givemental-health and well-being support: Provideresources for counseling or stress reduction, mental health days,and encourageemployees to prioritizeself-care.

•Implement family-friendly policies: Programsthatsupport childcare and adult careneeds,and even ones that allowpetsatthe office,can support employees andreducestress.

•Communicate and setexpectations: Provideclear communicationregarding work hours, meetings, and availability Consider implementing automated remindersfor managerstorespect time off and encourageemployees to unplug during vacations.

Here’sanothersuggestionthatcan help employees whostruggle: Place transition work blocksonthe calendar before and afterpaid timeoff.This allows timeto preparetobeoff and timetocatch up uponreturn.

BobHelbigismediapartnershipsdirector at Energage,a Philadelphia-based employeesurvey firm. Energage isthe surveypartnerforTop Workplaces.

Formorethanadecade, our incredible facultyand staff have made Belle Chasse Academy aplace whereeducatorsfeel supported,valued, andinspired.

We arehonoredtoberecognized as a TopWorkplacefor 12 consecutive yearsand it’sall thanks toour amazingteam.

View our jobs and apply today! www.bellechasseacademy.org BELLECHASSE ACADEMY Wheregreateducatorsthrive.

OutSolv aTopW

fortheeighth

Joinusincelebratinga whereexcellencethrive innovationleadsthewa

outsolve.com 888.414.2410 info@outsolve.com

GIS’s storyreflects thelegacywe have built over four generations, 78 years, andour core principle of “Putting People First”.Our employees arethe foundation of our success,and we remain dedicatedtosupportingtheir growth,well-being, andlongterm careers. Ouremployees’ steadfastcommitmenttosafety, performance, integrity, and innovation collectivelypositions us as oneofthe most reliable and trustedpartners. GIS hasthe resources to span thefull life cycle of our customers’ projectsand thecapabilitytodeliver solutions across theenergy, industrial, infrastructure,and powermarkets

Scantobepart ofourteam:

SpecialAwards

Thefollowingspecialawardrecipientswerechosenbasedon standoutscoresfor employeeresponses tospecificsurveystatements. Employeesratethese statements on asevenpointscalefrom stronglydisagree tostronglyagree.

CLUEDINSENIOR MANAGEMENT

LAMMICO

Seniormanagersunderstand whatisreallyhappeningat thecompany.

COMMUNICATION

Magnolia PhysicalTherapy

Employees feelwell-informed aboutimportantdecisionsat thecompany.

DIRECTION

Stoa Group

Employees feelthecompany is goingintherightdirection.

DOERS

RNGD

Peopleat thecompanydo thingsefficientlyandwell.

LEADERSHIP

GalloMechanical LLC –

JPHymel

TheWoodhouse DaySpa –GiselleMcBee

ScottVicknair InjuryLawyers –BradScott,DavidVicknair

Employees have confidencein companyleadership.

MANAGERS

Ampirical

Managershelpemployees learn andgrow,andcareabout their concerns.

MEANINGFULNESS

Crescent City Schools

Employees feelliketheirjobis part ofsomethingmeaningful.

NEW IDEAS

Laitram

Newideas areencouraged at thecompany.

VALUES

MarshMcLennanAgency

Thecompanyoperatesby strong value.

WELL-BEING

Stokes &Associates Inc.

Thecompanyprioritizes employeewell-being.

WORK/LIFEFLEXIBILITY

Home Instead

Employees have theflexibility to balancetheirworkand personallives.

Whatis AI saying about your companyasanemployer?

Abigail Moncoeur •Energage

For years, employers have worriedabout those pesky employerreviewsites

Glassdoor.Indeed. Redditthreads Anonymousreviews.But there’sanew reputationrisk in town —and it’sfar more powerful: AI.

AI mightalready be helping your organizationincountless ways.It streamlinesworkflows, supports productivity,and even assists recruiters. But whenitcomes to hiring and recruiting, AI mayalsobeworking against you.

AI toolsare telling job seekersabout your employerreputation— thegood and the bad —in seconds. Andcandidates arepayingattention.So, therealquestion becomes:Doyou knowwhatAIsaysabout your companyasanemployer?

Here’swhatyou need to know:

•AIshapesyouremployerreputationin real time, whetheryou manageitornot.

•Job seekersare using AItoolsto evaluate workplaces faster than ever

•AIpulls signals from across the internet and turns them into asingle narrative.

•Youremployer brandisnolongerjust what yousay —it’swhatAIcan verify

•Employers who activelymanagetheir reputations gain ahiringadvantage As jobseekers research employers

before applying,theyare asking simple questions suchas:

•“Is [Company] agoodplacetowork?”

•“What do employees sayabout working at [Company]?”

•“What is the culturelikeat[Company]?”

Withinseconds,job seekershavea neatly organized, summarized answer.Togenerate those answers,AIscans signals from across the internet,thendistills all those signals into asingle narrative.

And thatnarrativebecomes the first impressionjob seekersreceive about your organization.

If there arerecurringsignals about leadership,culture, growth opportunities, or work-lifebalance, AI will highlight them. And thatsummary can strongly influence whethera candidatechooses to engage with your company.

Consider this:69percent of jobseekers saytheywould reject ajob offer from a companywith apoor reputation, according to aReputationManagementStudyby MRINetwork, aglobal recruitment firm.

So,ifAIwereevaluating your companyas an employertoday,whatsignals would it find?Glossyemployerbranding alone isn’tenough. Real signals of the employee experienceare whatmatter.

Here arefour ways to shape whatAIsays about your workplace.

1. Employeelistening:The foundation of anystrongemployerreputationis employeefeedback. Regular employee surveysgiveyou visibility into how your workforce feelsabout their experiencebyidentifying culture strengths, uncovering opportunitiesfor improvement, measuring engagement and alignment, and taking actionto strengthenthe employeeexperience. Survey insightscan also help organizations shape their employer brand and tell more authentic stories externally

2. Amplify your voice: AI systems placesignificantweightonauthentic employeevoice.Organizations should showcase real employeeperspectives acrosstheir digital presence.That includes employeetestimonials, culture videos, team stories, employeequotes on careerpages,and behind-the-scenes workplacecontent.Authenticity always carriesmorecredibility than polished marketing language.

3.Showcredible recognition: Thirdparty employerrecognitionawards matter because theyare another powerful signal foremployerreputation. Workplaceawardsand rankingsprovide independent validationofculture and employeeexperience. These recognitions help reinforcethatyour cultureisn’t justclaimed —it’sverified

4.Makeyourbrand easy to find: Organizations should ensurekey reputationsignals areeasyto find, including prominent displayof workplaceawards, employeestories and testimonials, updated career pages,authentic culturecontent,and connections betweenrecognitionand jobpostings.

Because if youdon’t shape your employer reputationstory,AIwill shape it foryou AbigailMoncoeur isawriter forEnergage, aPhiladelphia-basedemployee survey firm. Energage isthesurveypartnerforTop Workplaces.

We’rehonored to be recognizedasa topworkplace -and it’sallbecause of you. Your passion, dedication,and commitment to ourmission make Strykeranincredible placetoworkand grow

Thank youfor choosingtobepartofour team Thisrecognitionisa reflectionofyourhardwork andthe exceptionalculture we’vebuilt together Join ourteam! -careers.stryker.com

https://patients.stryker.com/orthopedics

Face the employeeretention problem mostcompanies miss

LauraBrinton• Energage

You didn’t seeitcoming.A highpotential employeegives notice.A top performerleavesfor acompetitor.Another person on thebusinessdevelopmentteam resigns. And thenanother

Suddenly,the team feelsunstable.Hiring starts again. Managersare stretchedthin. Momentum slows

And the frustratingpart? Theseweren’t struggling employees.Theyweresome of the strongest.

Most organizations treatemployee retentionlikeanonboarding problem. Get people in. Getthemengaged early.Build culture. Create agood firstexperience. But thebiggest retentionrisk usually shows up later, right around the timeemployees should be hitting their stride.

Employeeengagementproblems start long before theresignation letter.That’s whatEnergageresearchuncovered in what we call the TenureLifecycle Curve— a predictable patternacrossmorethan 30 millionemployeesurvey responses showing thatworkplace experiencesteadily declines afteronboarding,bottoms outbetween years3–5,and only gradually recovers afterward.

And timing matters. Because3–5 yearsis also whenemployees aredecidingwhether theystill seea futureinanorganization. Employees start outoptimisticand engaged. Early onboarding creates momentum. Managersare attentive. Learning curves aresteep.New opportunitiesfeel exciting Thenresponsibilitiesexpand.Expectations rise.Cross-functional complexity increases. Employees gainvisibilityintohow decisions getmade. And engagementstarts to fall. Energage research found thatbetween entry and the 3–5 year mark: •Employeeengagement declines 12.3

percent.

•Empowered to executedeclines11.6 percent.

•Overall workplaceexperiencedeclines9 percent.

This is apredictable pattern. The lowest pointinemployeeexperienceconsistently happens duringthe exact periodwhen employees areexpected to contributeat the highest levels.That’sthe disconnect Mid-tenureemployees aren’t disengaging becausetheycareless. They’redisengaging becausetheysee more.

Organizations oftenassume disengagementisabout motivation. Energageresearchsuggestssomething different: As employees grow more capable, the systems around themoften fail to keep pace. It is adisconnect between increasing employeecapability and the operational systemsmeant to support execution. Employees aren’t learning the jobanymore They’re navigating the organizationitself That’swhere frictionstarts to build through unclear decision-making,competing priorities, coordination breakdowns,lack of visibility,and limited authority despite growing accountability

The good news is thisproblemis measurable,which means it’smanageable. Organizations thatreduceregrettable turnover tend to approach retention differently.Theystoptreating it as an onboarding issueand starttreating it as an employeelifecycle strategy

Here’s wheretofocus:

1. Measureemployeeengagementby tenure: The 1–3-year and 3–5-year windows deserve dedicatedattention.

2. Equipmanagerstocoach,not just manageperformance: Retentionimproves whenemployees can seemomentum in their future. That’swhy it’simportantto build practical coaching capability into managementexpectations, including career conversations, developmentplanning, growth mapping,stretch opportunity discussions, and forward-looking check-ins.

3. Systematizegrowth and development: Developmentneedsstructure. The organizations making the strongest progress integratedevelopment into howworkactually happens. It’snot more programs.It’samoreconnected growth experiencethrough individual development plans (IDPs),careerpathing,internal mobility,mentoring,cross-functional projects, ongoing growth conversations, andintegrated talentsystems

4. Reduce executionfriction: One of the clearestinsightsinthe research is thatengagementand executiondecline together. Employees lose energy when work becomesunnecessarily difficult, and retentionproblems oftengrowfrom operational friction. Employees cantolerate hardwork, but theystrugglewith avoidable friction.

5. Pull senior-tenureadvantageforward earlier: Employeeengagementimproves amonglong-tenured employees,because senioremployees oftenexperience greaterclarity,moreinfluence, stronger relationships, increasedautonomy, and deeper organizational understanding

The companiesthatimprove employee retentionwill build better mid-career experiences

LauraBrinton isdirectorofcontent marketingforEnergage,a Philadelphiabasedemployeesurvey firm. Energage is thesurveypartnerforTopWorkplaces.

ATOP WORKPLACEBECAUSE OF OURPEOPLE

At Woodhouse Spa, creating exceptional experiencesbeginswith an exceptional team.

We are honored to be recognizedasa TopWorkplace. This achievement reflects the passion, dedication, and commitment of our employeeswho bring wellness, care, and luxury to every guestexperience.

Thankyou to our talented team for making Woodhouse aplace where people lovetowork, grow,and thrive.

Wherewellness begins with aculture of care. Mandeville -Metairie -New Orleans

Ourteams

Skills vs.behavior: Find balance in hiring

Karla Vallecillo •TalentQuest

W

henhiring, it’s easy to getcaught up in checking theskillsbox Can theydothe job? Do theyhavethe rightcertifications? Howmanyyears of experience?

But skills alone don’t guaranteesuccess Acandidatemight have all thetechnical know-how, butiftheycan’t collaborate, adapt, or communicate effectively,they maynot be theright fit.

On the flip side, hiring someonepurely fortheir attitude andpotential —without considering if theyhavethe skills —can backfire,too.So, howdoyou balancewhat acandidate knows and howtheyworkwith others?Let’s breakitdown.

Skills matter (but aren’t everything):Adata analyst needs to understand numbers Asoftwareengineer has to knowhow to code. Asalesperson must close deals. Skills should takepriority:

•Whenyou need someone to hit the ground running in aspecialized role.

•Whenthere’s little timeorbudgetfor training.

•Whentechnical knowledge is critical to success.

The role of behavior in hiring: Soft skills likeadaptability,teamwork, and emotional intelligence playa hugerolein long-termsuccess andjob satisfaction. Aproject manager whocan’t leada team won’tget very far. Asalesrep who createsatoxic work environmentisn’t worth thestress. Behaviorshould take priority:

•Whenhiring forroles thatrequire collaborationand leadership

•Whenyourcompany cultureiskey to success.

•Whenlookingfor long-termpotential ratherthan immediateexpertise.

So,how do youmakesureyou’renot overindexing on oneatthe expenseofthe other? Here area fewwaystoget it right Identify must-havevs. trainable skills. Not everyskill needs to be mastered from day one. Askyourself: Which skills areessential, andwhich can be learnedonthe job? Example:Instead of requiring five years of experiencewith aspecificsoftware, consider whethera strong problemsolver could learnitinafew months.

Usebehavioralassessments early on. Behavioralassessments give insight into howpeople thinkand work.These tools help predict howacandidatewill handle challenges,collaborate,and fitintoyour team.Example:Ifthe jobrequires resilience, an assessmentcan help determine howa candidatedeals with setbacks.

Structureinterviews to test both. Ask questions thatevaluate both skills and behavior. An example of askills question is,“Tell us about atimeyou used data to

solvea business problem.”Anexample of a behaviorquestionis, “Describe asituation where youhad to adapttoa majorchange. Howdid youhandle it?”This way, you’re not justhiring someonewho candothe job; you’re hiring someone whowill do it well within your team dynamic Don’tjusthirefor culture fit; look for cultureadd.You don’twanttohireclones of your currentteam. Look forthose who bring something newtothe table.Ifyour companyvaluesinnovation, hirepeople who challengeideasand push forcreative solutions —not justthose whoagree with everything

So next timeyou’remaking ahire, ask yourself: Areyou hiring fortoday’s job, or fortomorrow’spotential?

ThisarticlewaswrittenbyKarlaVallecillo, abusiness developmentmanager with TalentQuest,a talentmanagement companyacquiredbyEnergage. Energage isthesurveypartnerforTopWorkplaces.

subscribe.nola.com When youneed thenews. Wherever youreadthe news.

CELEBRATING AMERICA’S 250TH BIRTHDAY HHH

250 years

Andmore thanacenturyofpoweringthe GulfSouth SPONSORED by

Harvey Couch, president of Arkansas PowerCompany, hasthe ideatobring safe, affordable, reliable power to theMiddle South. He and H.H.Foster, president of Arkansas Land and Lumber,shakehandsonadeal to useFoster’ssawdustasfuel to generate power, the beginning of what would eventually becomeMiddle South Utilities

MississippiPowerand Light Company,orMP&L, is formed.

Louisiana Powerand Light Company, or LP&L,iscreated as part of Electric Powerand Light Corporation.

LP&L’s Little GypsyPlant,near NewOrleans,becomes theworld’s first fully automated generating unit

MiddleSouth Utilitiesofficially changesits name to Entergy Corporation –acomposite of thewords “enterprise,”“energy”and “synergy,”three qualities that described the company’snew approach

TheEntergy Charitable Foundation is established to focus on low-income initiatives,educationand literacyprograms.

Hurricane Katrina devastatesthe Gulf Coast, leaving 1.1million Entergy customerswithout power. Twentysixdayslater, Hurricane Ritaleaves 800,000 Entergy customersinMississippi, Louisiana, Texasand Arkansas in the dark.Thousands of our employees help the region recover, despite living in the hardesthit places

Entergycelebrates 20 consecutiveyears of recognition by DowJones as aleader in sustainability.

United WayofSoutheastLouisiana names Entergyasthe leading companyinits Top 10 Most Generous Workplaces for20242025. This is the 11thyear Entergyhas been recognized in the top 10 list.

NewOrleans Public Service Inc or NOPSI, is established as the sole provider of electricity, gas andtransit service in NewOrleans

Gulf States Utilities Company is incorporated in Texas.

Originally headquartered in NewYork,Middle South Utilities Inc.,isformed as aholding company forAP&L, LP&L,MP&Land NOPSI.

AP&L’sArkansasNuclear One becomes the first nuclear powerplant to operate in the Southeast.

Entergy merges with Gulf States Utilities Company, addingRiver Bend Stationasits fourth nuclear site. Entergy nowservesmorethan 2.3 millioncustomers.

Entergy becomes the country’sfirst utilitytopledge to hold greenhouse gasemissions to year 2000 levels

Entergy begins installing advanced metersfor 3million customersthroughout its servicearea. The newtechnology allows forfasterdetection of outages and greater insight into energy usage.

Entergy announced as the founding partner of theSuper Bowl LIX HostCommittee.

The Super Bowl ultimately generates $1.25 billion in total economic activitystatewide.

2026

Entergy establishes its Fair SharePlus pledge, which ensures that data center customers moving into ourregion payfor the powerthey use, pluscreate additionalsavings or benefits forall of ourcustomers. To date, atotal of $7 billion in savingstoour customersare expected overthe next twodecades

stronger grid for 50 years

gridstronger to stand up against weather.

upgrading approximately 3,300 and reinforcingutility poles to up to 150 mph—efforts that will estimated $1.2 billioninavoided sfewer and shorter outages when and we’re committedtopowering dcommunities today andfor

LOUISIANA

“Thesun is dangerous. If you’vegot asunscreen, it’sbetter to putitonthan notput it on.”

ANEW WAY TO BLOCKTHE RAYS

Bemotrizonal, awidely-used ingredientinternationally, is coming soon to asunscreen near you

BY MARGARETDELANEY

Staff writer

In June, theFood and Drug Administration approvedthe activeingredient, bemotrizinol, for use in over-the-counter sunscreens —the first change tothe active sunscreen ingredient list in 27 years.

Butit’snot available on U.S. shelves just yet The European company,DSM Nutritional Products,has exclusive rightstoproduce and manufacture bemotrizinol sunscreens for18months. Theyexpect to deliver productstoAmerican shelves, under the brand nameParsol Shield, as early as September

Bemotrizinal, although newtoU.S.markets, was authorized in European sunscreens in 1999 andhas been widelyused in international sunscreen brands from Asia, Europe and Australia.

Sunscreen protects the skin from two types of ultraviolet radiation. Ultraviolet

Arays penetrate the skin moredeeply, causing skin aging, andultravioletBrays penetrate thesurface layer of the skin, causing sunburns. Both types of UV can degrade the integrity of skin, damage its DNA structure and cause skin cancer

“That’swhy protectingyourskinwith sunscreen is so important,” said Dr.Guy German, associate professor of biomedical engineering at Binghamton University, State University of NewYork.

There are two forms of sunscreen: chemical and mineral.

Mineralsunscreens, with ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium oxide, coat the top layer of skin and physically block the sun’sUVrays from hitting the skin. These mineral sunscreens, approved by the FDA, often leave achalky white cast.

“Ifyou see lifeguards or cricketers, they usually have the white stripesontheir

ä See RAYS, page 3X

Tanningbedsare trending,and they shouldn’tbe

Editor’snote: This is acolumnina series from Dr.OliviaRagusa,a primary care physician at Baton Rouge General, sharing insight on avariety of health topics for patients of all ages, including prevention, wellness tips and everyday strategies to help individuals and families stay healthy. For years, public health effortsappearedtobeworking: tanning bed usewas declining. Butrecently,I’ve become increasinglyconcerned by signsthat indoor tanningmay be making acomeback, particularly among youngerwomen. Arecent survey from theAmerican Academy of Dermatologyfound that about 20% of Gen Zrespondents prioritize getting atan overprotecting their skin. Even more concerning,

Dr.Olivia Ragusa DOCTOR SAyS

oneinfoursaid they believe looking goodnow isworth potential health consequences later.As aphysician, that mindset is troubling because we know therisks of tanning beds are not theoretical; they are well documented. Justlook at the science.Tanning beds can emit up to 15 times moreultraviolet radiation thanthe sun. That exposure damages DNA in skin cells and increases therisk of mutations that can eventually lead to skin cancer.Infact, UV radiation is considered acarcinogen, in the same categoryastobacco and asbestos

Research continues to reinforce these dangers. People who use tanning beds are nearly three times morelikely to develop melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.Starting young raisesthe stakes even more:Using tanning beds before age 20 increases melanoma risk by nearly 50%. Unfortunately,myths still persist Many young adultscontinue to believe a“base tan”offers meaningful protection against sunburn, despite evidence showing otherwise. The desire for atan may be understandable, but from amedical standpoint,the risks are clear.Myhope is that better awareness helps people makechoices that protect not just how their skin looks today,but their long-term health as well.

DR. GUy GERMAN, associate professor of biomedical engineering at Binghamton University,State University of Newyork

‘I

HEALTH MAKER

had to kick Mr. Cancer to the curb’

Zeeland Street owner says

fresh food aided recovery

BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer

Zeeland Street owner Stephanie

Phares was diagnosed with Stage

3 lung cancer in 2024, the same year The New York Times recog-

nized her Baton Rouge restaurant in its “Restaurants List 2024.”

She started out hosting potluck dinners, which transitioned to a deli, which led to her opening the restaurant in 1992 During the pandemic, she prepared plate lunches for her elderly neighbors near the restaurant in exchange for fresh rosemary

Phares completed treatment this year and received “encouraging news” from her doctors.

She credits much of her recovery to eating fresh, homemade food and maintaining a healthy routine.

“I thank my customers for the first 35 years,” she said. “Now we’re working toward 25 more.” This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Tell me about your lung cancer diagnosis. At the time I was going through a lot. I had just received The New York Times nomination, I had a biopsy on my lung and was visiting my daughter for a wedding.

When I came back from my trip, they gave me my diagnosis. They said I would be all right, but would have to do some radiation.

I was totally confused because I was the healthiest person

When I was going through radiation and chemo, I told my doctor that I didn’t really want to hear any of his predictions. I was going to use mind over matter I was going to stay positive.

I didn’t want to hear the possible symptoms. The more people plant stuff in your brain, it’s as if the body can manifest it

They told me my lung cancer was an environmental cancer I never smoked. The doctor said to quit using coated pans, no more styrofoam, use a filter for water no more bottled waters — I did it all.

I just tried to stay positive and I ate real food.

Now, my oncologists told me my

blood test shows that I’m 50 years old, rather than 65. Where did your love for real, whole foods begin? I’m always honoring my grandmother, Miss Rachel, and all the ways she made real food. She never threw anything away I always thought of cooking food like feeding (God’s) sheep. Would He be happy if I fed the sheep AstroTurf? No!

Once you start cooking from scratch, it’s hard to go the other way I also had a child who was allergic to a lot of things, but she didn’t come along until I was 40.

I did work at one or two fast food restaurants when I was a teenager I saw, even back then in the ’70s and ’80s, how bad the food was.

My husband, we married when I was 24, loved fresh food. We always cooked. One day, we gave a potluck on the last Friday of the month. There were 75 people outside our door I fed them all. He told me I needed to own a restaurant.

What kept you going with the restaurant, even during your cancer battle? I’m not just in to make a profit.

This is our 36th year, and I get up every morning. I did it every day that I was going through radiation and chemo.

I got up every morning, I went into the restaurant and I made the biscuits I cooked all day Then right before close, around 1 p.m., I’d come home, take a shower and go to the hospital for chemo. It kept me with a routine. There was no time to feel fearful or scared.

I kind of treated cancer like it was a bad boyfriend I was breaking up with: We weren’t getting en-

gaged We weren’t getting married. He’s not coming home with me. I had to kick Mr Cancer to the curb. I’m just grateful for the following that I’ve had for 35 years — most restaurants don’t make it that long. I’m feeding third or fourth generations. I may not win all the awards, but I get so much love from my customers. I know I’m doing the right thing for my community

Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@theadvocate. com.

AI system treating Floridians with brain tumors

BY LAUREN PEACE Tampa Bay Times (TNS)

TAMPA,Fla.— Dr. Brian Collins was completing his medical residency at Georgetown University in the early 2000s when the institution invested in a new and groundbreaking technology that would shape the course of his career The system was called CyberKnife.

Developed at Stanford University three decades ago, the CyberKnife System is one of the earliest adoptions of artificial intelligence in medicine, Collins said. It’s a specialized and effective way to treat challenging tumors — like those in the brain.

Today, Collins is a radiation oncologist and one of the world’s leading experts in CyberKnife treatments. That drew the attention of researchers at Tampa General Hospital and USF Health, who recruited Collins from D.C. to Florida’s Gulf Coast in 2022. He started the hospital’s CyberKnife program in 2024.

Why it matters

When tumors form in the brain, surgeons face a daunting task in the operating room.

The growths are often entrapped in clusters of arteries and nerves that control a person’s ability to see, hear, move and breathe. Error can result in paralysis and death.

The operations are risky But CyberKnife helps minimize the likelihood that something will go wrong. Using the machine, doctors like Collins can zap away bits of tumor using highly targeted radiation after surgery That means surgeons can be more conservative when making cuts — they can leave remnants of tumors behind That was the case for Mallory McLean, who learned she had a brain tumor while pregnant last year McLean, who underwent surgery a week after giving birth, had a tumor the size of a golf ball growing near her brain stem.

In an hours long operation, doctors were able to remove around 93% of the mass. But the remaining 7% lingered dangerously close to her body’s essential wirings.

That’s where CyberKnife comes in. How it works

Radiation can be used to treat cancerous and noncancerous tumors by exposing the abnormal cells to beams of high energy that kill them The trouble is, radiation kills healthy cells, too.

Exposing areas of the brain to high doses of radiation could come with its own negative side effects. But the CyberKnife system has made it

TAMPA BAy TIMES PHOTO By DIRK SHADD

Mallory McLean holds up the mask she wore during CyberKnife radiation treatment. She learned she had a brain tumor while pregnant with her second child Doctors embarked on a treacherous waiting game — delaying surgery to protect her baby. Now, they’re both healthy.

possible to target fragments of abnormal cells while sparing healthy tissue.

First, doctors like Collins take images of a patient’s brain and plug them into a computer Once they distinguish the healthy tissue from the unhealthy telling the computer which areas to target, it forms a sophisticated plan.

Artificial intelligence is able to map the brain, or another part of the body, to find the best path to the tumor cells. When the tumor is hit from different, highly calculated angles, the unhealthy tissue is exposed over and over again, while healthy tissue avoids the repeated exposure.

And CyberKnife eliminates the higher risk of injury or error if a surgeon were to attempt it by hand.

“It does it independently, and it does it better than any human can deliver radiation,” Collins said.

Because of the degree of accuracy, this type of therapy can be used to treat a broader range of patients than those who were treated by radiation in the past. And, Collins said, the procedure is far less invasive. Previously, radiation oncologists would have

to still patients using heavy frames that were screwed into their skulls to prevent movement. Because the treatment is noninvasive, it can be administered over several sessions. That lessens the side effects and protects the brain stem and facial nerve from damage.

A robotic remedy

Outside of brain tumors, the system can be used to treat lung tumors and those in the spine. More recently, researchers have studied CyberKnife and its effectiveness in treating neurologic conditions like tremors, and mental health conditions like depression and obsessive compulsive disorder But its primary use, Collins said, is treating brain tumors because of its precision.

For patients with small tumors, CyberKnife treatment can sometimes spare them from surgery altogether, clearing the growth on its own.

For others, like McLean, CyberKnife is the final step toward recovery She underwent five sessions — each between 15 and 20 minutes — in the months after her surgery Now, her tumor is gone.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

The Louisiana Health section is focused on providing in-depth, personal accounts of health in the state.This section looks at medical innovations, health discoveries, state and national health statistics and reexamining tried and true methods on ways to live well.

Health editions will also profile people who are advancing health for the state of Louisiana. Do you have a health story? We want to hear from you. Email margaret. delaney@ theadvocate.com to submit health questions, stories and more.

June 21

STAFF FILE PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Owner Stephanie Phares chats with customers during lunch at Zeeland Street.

Eat Fit LiveFit

Sweat-smart sips to beatthe Louisiana heat

Waterisalwaysthefoundation. Iwanttostarttherebecause electrolytepowders,tablets andready-to-drinksareeverywhere. WhileIlovehavingthoseoptions,water isoftenthebestoptionformanyofus, mostofthetime.

Ifwe’reinsideintheA/Candmoving throughanormalday,waterisusually enough.Wealsogetelectrolytesfrom food:sodiumfromsaltandnaturallysalty foods;potassiumfromfruits,vegetables, beansanddairy;magnesiumfromnuts andgreens;andcalciumfromdairyand fortifiedfoods.

ButLouisianaheatchangesthemath Whenwe’reexercising,workingoutdoors orevenjustrunningerrandsintripledigit“feels-like”temperatures,we’re losingmorethanfluid–we’relosing electrolytes,especiallysodium.When sweatlossesclimb,plainwatermaynot beenoughtokeepenergy,focusand musclefunctionwherewewantthem. Low-leveldehydrationcanshowup asfatigue,headache,higherheartrate andcrampingwhilemoresignificant dehydrationraisestheriskofheatillness andheatstroke.

Electrolyteshelptoregulateourfluid balance,nervesignalingandmuscle contractions.Sodiumisthebigonewhen itcomestosweat.Potassiummatters too,especiallyformusclecontractions andfluidbalanceinsideourcells,but wetypicallylosefarlesspotassium thansodiuminsweat.Magnesiumand calciumalsosupportmuscleandnerve function,thoughthey’renotusuallythe toppriorityforsweatreplacement Apracticalruleofthumbforheavy sweatingistoaimforabout300to 600mgsodiumperhourofexerciseor outdoorwork.Somepeoplemayneed more.Cluescanincludesaltstreaks

onclothes,grittyskinafterworkouts frequentcrampingorfeelingwipedout despitedrinkingplentyofwater.

Idon’trecommendmosttraditional sportsdrinksasadailygo-tobecause theybringmoreaddedsugarand syntheticfooddyesthanIwouldwantin aneverydayhydrationchoice.

MyTopFiveOptions

LMNT,pronounced“element,”is myhighest-sodiumpick:1,000mg sodium,200mgpotassiumand60mg magnesium,withnosugarandsteviaas thesweetener.Ittastessalty,notsyrupy, whichiswhatmanyheavysweatersneed Ilikeitforlongruns,intenseworkouts, tennis,pickleball,longoutdoorevents oranyonewhofinisheswithsaltringson theirshirt.

TransparentLabsHYDRATEsurprised memostthisyear.Ithas500mgsodium, 250mgpotassium,50mgmagnesium, 84mgcalciumand1gramtaurine,with5 calories,1gramcarbohydrateandnosugar. It’sstevia-sweetened,withnoartificial colorsorartificialsweeteners.Iappreciate the“transparent”part:thelabelgives amountsforeventhesmalleringredients, andthecompanyprovidesthird-party testingandcertificatesofanalysis.The packagealsonotesbanned-substance testing,helpfulforcompetitiveathletes. UltimaReplenisherisacompletely differenttypeofproduct.Ithasonly

55mgsodium,with250mgpotassium, 100mgmagnesiumand47mgcalcium, 0calories,0sugarandsteviaasthe sweetener.Thisisnotmypickfor replacinglargesodiumlossesaftera sweatyworkout,butitisagreatoption forthosewhoneedtolimittheirsodium intakeandwanttosipsomething flavorfulwithaddedminerals.

BodyArmorLyteismygrab-and-go bottleoption.It’seasytofind,which matterswhenwe’reoutandabout.A 16-ouncebottlehasabout20calories,2 gramssugar,noartificialdyes,roughly30 to40mgsodiumandabout680to700 mgpotassium.LikeUltima,it’scentered onpotassium,notsodium,soIgenerally

MollyKimball,RD,CSSD,isaregistereddietitian withOchsnerHealthandfounderofOchsnersEatFit nonprofitinitiative.Formorewellnesscontent,tuneinto Molly’spodcast,FUELEDWellness+Nutrition,andfollow @MollykimballRDand@EatFitOchsneronsocialmedia. Emailnutrition@ochsner.orgtoconnectwithMollyor scheduleaconsultwithherteam.

BY THENUMBERS

don’trecommenditasaheavy-sweat sodiumreplacer,butIdoloveitas alower-sugar,easy-accesssports drinkswap.

TheDIYoptionisthemostaffordable andcustomizable:add1/4teaspoonsea saltortablesalttoabout20ouncesof waterforroughly600mgsodium.You canaddapinchofpotassiumchloride (availableonlineasasingleingredient, orinstoresassaltsubstituteslikeNoSalt orNu-Salt).Then,flavoritwithlemon orlime,freshgingerjuice,hibiscustea, mintteaornaturallysweetenedno-sugar lemonade.Thefunctionisthesodiumand potassium;theflavorjustmakesitmore interestingandpalatableforthosewho preferflavor

TheBottomLine

Waterwinsforeverydayhydration. Whenheat,humidityandsweatlossesgo up–addelectrolytes.Matchtheproduct tothepurposewithhighersodiumfor heavysweat,lowersodiumforeveryday sippingandlowsugarwithnosynthetic dyeswheneverpossible

LOUISIANAHAS THELOWESTMARRIAGERATEINTHE U.S.

In 2023, there were over2 million marriages in the United States,atarate of 6.1 marriages per 1,000 people.

Louisiana had the lowest marriage ratein the countrywhencompared to other states at 3.7 marriagesper 1,000 people, according to marriagerate data publishedbythe Centers forDisease Control and Prevention.

Marriage rates, compiled by data from the National Center for Health Statistics,are calculated based on where, by state,a couple gotmarried.Nevada, with LasVegas in mind, has had the highestmarriagerate in the U.S. for36years —although it has declined,from 99 marriages per 1,000 peoplein1990 to 24.6marriages in 2023.

Louisiana sawits lowest marriagerate in 2020 with3.4 marriages per 1,000 people.The marriageratefor the statehas been steadily declining since1990:

n 9.6 marriages per 1,000 people in 1990; n 9.3 marriages per 1,000 people in 1995; n 9.1 marriages per 1,000 people in 2000; n 8marriages per 1,000 people in 2005; n 6.9 marriages per 1,000 people in 2010; n 6.8 marriages per 1,000 people in 2015;

n 3.4 marriages per 1,000 people in 2020.

These states had the lowest marriage rates in 2023:

n Louisianawith 3.7 marriages per 1,000 people; n Delaware and NewMexico with 4.7 marriages per 1,000people;

n Minnesota with 4.8 marriages per 1,000 people; n Michigan and Wisconsin with 5marriages per 1,000 people; n Illinois, North Dakota and Ohio with 5.1marriages per 1,000 people; n Iowa, Maryland and Massachusetts with 5.2 marriages per 1,000 people.

These states had the highest marriageratesin2023:

n Nevada with 24.6 marriages per 1,000 people;

n Hawaii with 12.5 marriages per 1,000 people;

n Utah with 11.2 marriages per 1,000 people;

n Montana with 9.2 marriages per 1,000 people;

RAYS

Continued from page1X

faces, which is indicative of the physical sunscreen,” German said “It’sfar more aesthetic to havean invisible layer.” Chemical sunscreens are transparent andact “likeasolar sponge,” German said, that absorb photons in aharmless chemical reaction. Chemical sunscreens available in the U.S. combine ingredients that filter UVArayswith separate ingredients that filter UVB rays. Thosesunscreens, oftencalled “broad-spectrum protection,” are only effective for ashort time

“(Bemotrizinal)isverystable in sunlight, so it keeps working longer

than someolder sunscreen ingredients,” saidDr. Therese Pacheco, a dermatologyprofessor at theUniversity of Colorado Anschutz. Bemotrizinal, achemical sunscreen, blocks bothUVA and UVB rays and does not leave awhite cast on theskin.

“The chemical sunscreens are becoming better and better,” Germansaid On top of the aesthetic benefits, bemotrizinalstays on the surface of theskin with very little absorption or irritation to theskin.

Regardless of new sunscreen ingredients,it’simportanttostill applyit before hittingthe beach or thetennis court this summer

Choosing the right sunscreen can help reduce the risk of skin cancer,including melanoma, the

Marriagesper 1,000people living in each state, in 2023

Source:Centers

n Arkansas and Coloradowith 7.8 marriages per 1,000 people;

n Tennessee with 7.3marriages per 1,000 people;

n Vermont with 7.2marriages per 1,000 people;

n Florida,Idaho, Maineand Wyoming with 7marriages per 1,000 people.

deadliestform of skin cancer

Here’s whattolook outfor on the shelves:

Blocking both UV rays

Back in 2012, the FDA did amajor update of sunscreenstandards, including banning theinaccurate, misleadingterms “sunblock”and “waterproof.” Now manufacturerscan only label products“water resistant” andmust state howsoon they break down fromswimming or sweating, either 40 or 80 minutes. In the meantime, use sunscreen that protects against both harmful types of ultraviolet rays, UVAand UVB.

The level of protection against UVBrays is measured by SPF,or sun protection factor.For UVA rays, sunscreens are rated as

passing or failing government standards. Pick sunscreen rated at least SPF 30,considered theminimum needed.

“The higher theSPF,the better,” German said. Make sure the labelsays“broad spectrum” to ensure the ingredients block both UVAand UVB rays. Applyitproperly

Most people using sunscreen don’trealize they’re applying too little, too late and too infrequently, says Dr.Darrell Rigel of the American Academy of Dermatology’s sunscreen regulations task force.

An average-sized person should apply roughly an ounce, or about two tablespoons, on all exposed skin. That’sabout twice what most

people use. Apply it 15 to 30 minutes before going outside,thenreapply at least everytwo hours, morefrequently if swimming or sweating alot. With spray-on sunscreen, apply two coats, then rub it in to ensure even coverage.

‘Anythingisbetterthannothing’

“The sun is dangerous,” German said. “If you’ve gota sunscreen, it’sbetter to put it on than not put it on.” While looking at the options on the shelf,ifa greasy sunscreen feels better on the skin, or ascented one makes the summer day feel better,that’sfine, German said.

“The sunscreen that best suites you is the best sunscreen. Anything is better than nothing.”

BROUGH TT OY OU BY Molly Kimball RD,CSSD

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AtOchsnerUrgentCare,ourexpertproviders getyouthecareyouneed,whenyouneedit, offeringsame-day,walk-invisits.Fromurinary pain, to sprains and fractures, to common coldsorrashes,tohydrationtherapy*,weare here to provide you with the treatment you needtofeelbetterandgetbacktothemusic. Learnmoreatochsner.org/ucorvisitoneof ourconvenientlocations.

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Aidingthe industry

Groups work to supportand promote Louisiana’sfragile shrimp industry

BY LAUREN CHERAMIE

Staff writer

When Lance Naciostarted out in the shrimping industry in thelate 1990s, he had abag phone.Atthe dock, he could get $4 apoundfor shrimp,and he paid alot lessfor diesel.

Today,hehas Starlink satelliteinternet, navigation technology and

an iPhone on his shrimping boat, theAnna Marie. Thegenerationthat came before Nacio didn’thaveaccess to thesetools,but,compared to today, those shrimpers andbusiness owners weren’tgrapplingwith the negative effectsofimportedshrimp.

Statewide, organizations like Shrimp Aid are dedicated to supportingthe industry andshrimpers like

McCUSKER

Nacio, whose family made aliving offthe land and grew up in atrapping camp.The nonprofit promotes responsible harvesting practices and connects with policymakerstoenact change within the industry “Wehave this natural resource, andmyfamily’smade aliving for several generations—living offthe resource. Now we’re justhaving to do it alot differently than they used to.They’ve all hadtheir share of struggles,but theynever hadimportedshrimptocompeteagainst,” Naciosaid as he waited outashort summer rain shower from thedock of hishome in Montegut, where he operatesAnna MarieShrimp. Louisiana leads the nation in the shrimp industry,ranking as thetop harvester of shrimp in the Gulf and theUnitedStates, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife andFisheries.The state alsohas the largestcommercialblue crab fishery and leads theway in oyster production and crawfishproduction

“More than 70% of the seafood and other fisheries products landed in the Gulf each year comes through Louisiana, creating atotal annual economicimpact of nearly $2 billion,” LDWF states. The shrimping industry is an anchor of the state’sseafood industry, butit’satrisk.

Shrimp Aidexecutive director and chef Dana Honnsays that most of theseafood industry’sinfrastructure wasbuilt around shrimping,interms of the state’swaterfronts, processors, icehouses and docks “Thewhole thing would crumble if theshrimping industry collapsed,” said Honn, who owns Nikkei Izakaya andTempero’sKitchen in New Orleans. “There wouldbecataclysmic cultural effects throughout theregion. Ithink it’shard to quantify and qualify just howdire that would be foreverybody.” Through collaboration, education andadvocacy,Shrimp Aid’sgoal is to protect the livelihood of Louisiana’s shrimpers.

ä See SHRIMP, page 2Y

JanRisher

Taking a cold plunge outwest

More thana thousand miles from Louisiana,Ifelt completely at home in the steam sauna at Iron Mountain Hot Springs in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The small room felt like aJuly afternoon in NewOrleans after arain.

Our daughterPiperlivesin Denver.Two days after Iarrivedfor avisit, she and Idrove farther west to spend time in springs thatrun hotoverlooking the Colorado River that runs cold.

We made the same trip at the same time last year —just weeks before ourhouse fire in August. Sincethen, my days have been filledwith work andmynights with insuranceadjusters, tile samples, paint colors, delayed sinks, doorsthatopen out when theyought to open in and the wrong-sized windows. Piperand Iarrived early and lovedsitting in the hot pools watching the mist rise and fall acrossthe surrounding mountaintops. Afull dayinand out of mineral water was just what I needed

Iron Mountain has35poolsthat range from 45 to 107 degrees, with minerals from potassium to sodium, calcium andmore. This year it also hasfive newsaunas —steam, salt, redlight, aromatherapy anda traditional Finnish one.

I’ve been fascinatedbysaunas sincestudying the role theyplay in life in Finland. Iwas eager to try themall. Finland hasbeen named the world’shappiest country for nine yearsrunning —a ranking that measures life satisfaction rather thanpassing joy. Researchers sometimes credit sauna culture as onecontributor

Forall those reasons, Istarted the dayinthe saunas.

Iskippedthe coldplunge pools. Iskippedthemagain after a while, andagain afterthat. Last year,Itrieda coldplunge once, gotpartwayin, anddecided it was notfor me.

Drew Brees may swear by them, but Ihad made my peace. In the early evening, awoman who lives in Glenwood Springs startedtalking with us as we relaxedina magnesium pool. The lady makes almost daily use of herannualpassand spoke about the coldplunge the waysome people talk abouta miracle drug. She explained how it had genuinely changedthe wayshe felt. Herconfidencemademereconsider, andImustered the courage to once againtry the coldplunge

Igot onefoot in, up to the calf.

“Let’sdothe steam sauna,” she said, “thentry again.”

So we satinthe heat that reminded me of home, and then we went back out. The second time I gotinuptomywaist.

Icountedthatasavictory and retreated to the steam where a talkative group had gathered.

Theystarteddiscussing the coldplunge.One by one, they decidedtotry it.

One by one, theycameback into the steam sauna. They had allgonein, allthe wayunder Thenthis group of strangers begantoencourage me to give it onemoretry

WhenIstood up to try the cold plunge fora third time, people Ihad known for 20 minutes cheered me on

Iwalkedoutside,walked right into the 45-degree water, lowered myself allthe wayin, even dunking my head

Idid nottarry

WhenIwalkedtothe steam

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Lance Nacio packages shrimp for shipment to another state recently at Anna Marie Shrimp in Montegut

INSPIRED DISCUSSIONS

ASK THE EXPERTS

Creative director helps others see a world without prisons

BY JOY HOLDEN Staff writer

In 2024, artist and activist

Jackie Sumell established the nonprofit Freedom to Grow, an abolitionist-driven initiative of art, land-based healing justice, community empowerment and archival practices. The abolitionist movement works to end incarceration and create alternatives to punishment. Sumell serves as the creative director.

Freedom to Grow’s current projects include Herman’s House, Solitary Gardens, the Abolitionist’s Apothecary the Abolitionist’s Sanctuary and an artists-in-residence program.

Originally from New York, Sumell moved to New Orleans in 2005 and says she’s lived there longer than she’s lived anywhere.

Sumell’s creative practice has been supported by residencies and fellowships, including the 2024 Guggenheim Fellowship, 2023 Christian A. Johnson Fellowship, 2022 Marguerite Casey Foundation Fellowship and Rockefeller Foundation. Her collaboration with Herman Wallace, one of the Angola 3 (Wallace, Albert Woodfox and Robert King — former Angola prison inmates who lived in solitary confinement for several decades), was featured in the Emmy Awardwinning documentary “Herman’s House.”

This interview has been edited for length and clarity For those who may be unfamiliar with the term “abolitionist work,” how would you describe that?

It’s really important that we think about abolition as a practice that isn’t precisely defined. I personally think of abolition as a practice where we respond to inevitable harm with the intention of not creating more.

Freedom to Grow Creative Director Jackie Sumell leads an Abolitionist’s Tea Party, discussing how natural ingredients grown by incarcerated individuals can be used for connection and healing

There are many people who speak much more eloquently to this, but I think of abolition as something that not only exists as the desire to live outside of a punitive system, but as something that we do relationally every day with every thought, word and action.

How did you get involved in abolitionist work in Louisiana?

I started off as a pen pal with Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox of the Angola 3. That evolved into moving here to be closer to them, and I began work on a project called “The House That Herman Built.”

It really reorganized my life and value system. The next 20 years of this work has been a way to say thank you to Herman and Albert and John Thompson.

As a practice of gratitude to be closer to them, I have created family relationships with other folks who are still incarcerated.

RISHER

Continued from page 1y

sauna with my hair dripping they cheered again. That sounds small. It was small. It was also something I had been sure I would never do, and I did it because a roomful of strangers encouraged me. I smiled despite myself and had to admit: I felt fantastic. Maybe the moment wasn’t as much about the cold water as being reminded how quickly strangers can become allies. For the past few weeks, the World Cup has been everywhere, with North America hosting visitors arriving from all over the world. That story keeps surfacing in interviews and clips guests amazed by how welcoming Americans have been, how warm, how generous with directions, seats, time and breakfast.

For the first time, I have been glued to the World Cup this summer mostly for that strangers-turning-

allies feeling. (As a side benefit, I’ve even begun to understand offsides.)

Lately, I’ve felt as if our country is constantly being reminded of what separates us. The World Cup has shown that we can still be the people I grew up believing we are.

I don’t know exactly what a cold plunge in Colorado says about a country turning 250. Maybe nothing. Maybe this: People who will never see one another again stood up and cheered for a stranger over something that did not matter at all and mattered completely

We do not have to agree, but we can still be kind. We can still talk someone into the cold and cheer when she goes under — and welcome her back into the warmth.

A country turning 250 is a lot to hold in the mind at once. A roomful of strangers cheering someone in and out of cold water is not.

I will take this small thing — and be ready to celebrate the next one.

Email Jan Risher at jan. risher@theadvocate.com.

Q&A WITH JACKIE SUMELL ARTIST AND ACTIVIST

hope is that we inspire a world where we don’t rely on punishment to respond to harm.

We just started a capital campaign to be able to retrofit the John Thompson Legacy Center to be this museum.

How do the Freedom to Grow Solitary Gardens spread that abolitionist practice?

Solitary Gardens, in particular, is birthed out of Herman’s House — creating garden beds that are the same size and blueprint that solitary cells are. Then they’re grown in collaboration with folks who are currently incarcerated and tended to by folks on the outside who are formerly incarcerated.

My elders often say those of us who are closest to the problem are also closest to the solution.

live and exist outside the world that we know That’s terrifying. We’re asking them to look at the legacy, not only of the horrors that have happened on the land now occupied by the Louisiana State Penitentiary, but to imagine, to feel and to think about the magic or the resistance or ways that people not only survived the impossible, but transmuted it. Ultimately, to look at the ways that people can take the impossible and alchemize it into a different outcome.

How can Freedom to Grow impact Louisiana?

What’s been so beautiful is that it no longer is just Angola. It’s prisons across the country.

I feel very deeply committed to this land and this place. I’m here for the long haul.

How did Freedom to Grow evolve into the organization it is now?

It’s an outgrowth of this work and the legacy of the Angola Three.

Starting a nonprofit was not something that I, as an artist, ever imagined, but it became necessary in a world in which it has become increasingly difficult to fundraise.

Doing abolitionist-centered work and visiting folks in prison has been a labor of love for most of this journey, but the larger the projects get the more they require sustenance.

Freedom to Grow will continue long beyond my own life, and it allows us to create a means of fundraising and sharing. The

SHRIMP

Continued from page 1y

In 2024, Honn hosted the first Louisiana Shrimp Festival in New Orleans, which featured live music, food vendors, panel discussions and presentations from leaders in the industry Last year, SeaD Consulting, a private thirdparty testing company that conducts genetic testing on shrimp dishes, was present to conduct testing. This year’s festival is scheduled for Oct. 18 at The Broadside (600 N. Broad St., New Orleans).

Honn also wants to start a “Shrimp Drops” initiative to bring Louisiana shrimpers, chefs, musicians and culture bearers to people beyond the South His goal is to educate people on how their seafood choices can have an effect on Louisiana’s coastal communities.

“Ultimately, it is the consumer that has the power,” he said. “They wield a huge influence over the entire system.”

Nacio has also done his fair share of advocacy for the industry working with the Louisiana Shrimp Task Force, making trips to Washington, D.C., to meet with lawmakers and encourage opposition to imported shrimp — which often poses health and environmental risks because of the use of banned antibiotics, habitat destruction to coastal communities and unsustainable farming practices.

Honn says these risks were introduced with imported shrimp, and awareness has increased over the past decade. Many imported shrimp include silicone that’s used make shrimp appear larger Others include carcinogenic antibiotics, preservatives or biological toxins. Some processors use illegal and unethical labor practices

Many European countries require shippers to prove they tested shrimp for contaminants If it doesn’t pass, they destroy the packages. In the U.S.,

What is the Freedom to Grow Artistin-Residency program and who are the artists?

Artists are the vanguards of complicated and sometimes impossible conversations. Art is a critical vehicle, and so, how do we engage artists in abolitionist and revolutionary thinking?

New Orleans icons Chandra McCormick and Keith Calhoun are our inaugural artists in residence. This was a relationship that was like literally born out of deep admiration for their work and for their legacy, both inside Angola and inside New Orleans.

We’re asking Keith and Chandra, who are very established photographers, to work outside of their medium and comfort zone as an abolitionist practice. It’s challenging them to be an example of growth within the realm of productive discomfort.

An abolitionist future is not reform, but it requires us to really

I want people to know that the entire world is born from the tip of intention. If our intention is to be kinder, faster, we can build that world. If our intention is to be bigger and meaner then we will build that world. So, what Freedom to Grow is hopefully doing is creating an alternative universe that is rooted not only in possibility but in lived experience.

Herman used to say to me, “Slow down, baby this is a marathon.” What I’ve come to realize is that it’s actually a relay race, and Freedom to Grow is the baton. I want people to know to trust, and to believe that another world is possible. The first step is an act of faith. Our relationship to faith and to spirituality is actually a superpower, and we can think of abolition as a practice of faith. In some ways, I want Freedom to Grow to be a container for folks to feel safe in abolitionist thought and practice.

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

Nacio said, we return it to the shipper if contaminants are found.

“So, there’s no risk sending to the U.S. The risk is sending to the European countries, so that’s why we became a dumping ground for shrimp,” he said.

In June, Louisiana passed several laws to support shrimpers, including one that expands the authority of the agriculture department to destroy seafood that fails to meet the state’s testing requirements.

Shrimp fraud is also another industry concern.

Louisiana law requires restaurants to explicitly state when they serve imported shrimp, but some establishments are getting caught for serving it without accurate labels. SeaD Consulting has conducted

research throughout the state to expose seafood fraud — efforts that also move the needle.

“I want to see people survive and thrive in the industry And the only way is if we can combat the fraud and get people to be aware of what they’re eating,” Nacio said. “That’s the biggest problem: People aren’t aware of what they’re consuming.”

Nacio and Honn encourage consumers to always ask a retailer where their shrimp comes from. Honn even suggests going a little deeper and making a connection with a local shrimper or fisher because “your life, and your table, will be much richer.”

Louisiana’s fisheries are shaped by a mix of ethnic groups that are deeply tied to the Gulf’s coastlines,

including Vietnamese Americans, Cajuns, Croatians, indigenous African Americans, Native Americans, Filipino communities and others. When so much of the state’s culture is imbued in the spirit of gathering around food, what happens when those ties are severed? Honn, Nacio and other coalitions are championing the industry, in hopes that Louisianans don’t have to find out.

“We’re talking about an activity of harvesting wild seafood that is rarefied today, so we have to be in awe of and have respect for that,” Honn said. “We are stewards of that resource.”

Email Lauren Cheramie at lauren.cheramie@ theadvocate.com.

PROVIDED PHOTO

STAFF PHOTO By JAN RISHER Morning mist rises and falls near the mountaintops in Glenwood Springs, Colo., on June 25.

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Anna Marie Shrimp packages soft shell shrimp in Montegut on June 5. Statewide, organizations like Shrimp Aid are dedicated to supporting the industry and shrimpers.

Locals help addressneighborhood’shousing needs

BY BRIANNAMEEKS

Contributing writer

Damon Walker remembers adifferent Scotlandville. As achild in the 1980s, he rode his bike through the neighborhood on Baton Rouge’snorth side, visited the local “candy lady” and watched residents support nearby businesses.

At the time, he said, local stores were woven into the neighborhood and children could walk to gathering spots without traveling far from home.

“It was afun place growing up,” Walker,now 40, said. “Parents could trust you to go to the corner store.”

It’sdifferent today Walker and his partnerin life and business, Brittany Moss, 43, are working to bring new investments into the neighborhood they once explored as children. They said they want to create opportunities for future generationswhile helping address housing needs.

“The idea wasalways there,” Walker said.

Earlier this year,they brokeground on the CottagesatRavelle Homes, which they said will provide affordable housing for students at Southern University

Investinginthe community

Moss and Walker both knew they wanted to invest in their community.For years, separately and now together,they workedtoward that goal through entrepreneurship, real estate and property development.

“Everythingacquired over time,” Moss said. “So it was just destiny.”

The couplemet at aLouisiana Leadership meeting in 2022. At the time, Walker owned acar wash and detailing business. Soon, they started real estate ventures, including aproperty they bought together

acrossfromWalker’sbusinesses near where the Cottages at Ravelle Homes are being built.

Walker oversees development projects while Moss handles the real estate side of the business. Sitting recently at French TruckCoffee on Government Street, Mossand Walker reflected on their childhoods.

Moss described herself as atalkative kid. Walker said he had aknack for building things fromthe ground up.

In addition to operating awindshield repair business with his cousin,Walker invested in property throughout Scotlandville.

One of his earliestdevelopment projects was the Compound, located across the street from where the future Cottages willstand.

Mossstartedworking at ChaseBankat18, thinking she’d transition to college at Southern University with thegoalofbecoming asocial worker.She was a first-generation college student, but there was another motivation pushing her forward.

She became amother at a young age.

Still, at 22,she purchased her firsthome. It was in thathome, she said, where her daughter took her first steps. After becoming a mother,she wanted to create stabilityfor her daughter

So,in2019, Moss made avision board of what her life could be in thefuture. She reimagined every piece sheput onthatboard andcouldn’tbelieveall that she’d already accomplished.

“You don’t realize you’ve done so much withina circle of time,” said Moss, who eventually changed her mind about pursuing a career in social work

Moss said she hasgenerated morethan $15 million in sales as areal estate

intended as

is buildingthe houses

agent while helping over 50 families purchase homes in Baton Rouge. Years of vision,property acquisitions and community investment eventuallyled Moss and Walkertodeveloping the CottagesatRavelle Homes Breaking ground

TheRavelleHomes LLC broke groundonnew student housing near Southern at 56668thAve.onMarch 21. Theproject aims to address blight in the Scotlandville area. With increased enrollment at Southern, dorms have reached maximum capacity, creating a need formore affordable options forstudents.

Moss and Walker worked with local officials, includingEast Baton Rouge Par-

ishMetroCouncil member Anthony Kenney,tomove theproject forward.Kenney said the development will provide studentswith an opportunity to live closer to campus andwas thrilled to help rezonethe area.

“Outofthe 8,000 students at Southern, about 5,000 need housing,”hesaid. The development will consistofeight small, standalone houses under 1,000 square feet, each including two bedrooms,one bathroom and accessibility features for individuals with disabilities. The homeswill also include kitchens, porches and designated parking spaces, along with in-unit stackable washers anddryers.

Construction is expect-

ed to take sixmonthsto ayear,Walker said, with occupancy starting for Southern’sspring 2027 semester.

Current on-campus housing at Southern University typically ranges from about $1,880 to $3,000 per academic year,depending on the housing style, said Nevaeh Paschall, who worksasa resident assistant. Affordability remains aconcern, Paschall said, noting that housing applications fill quickly due to limited availability

“A lot of studentsare barely making it with the rates we currently have,” Paschall said.

Rental rates for the Cottages at RavelleHomes areexpected to range from about $1,100 to $1,300 per

unit,according to Moss. Since this project is Moss and Walker’s first, they will alsomanage the properties and maintain safety measures, including 24-hour securitycameras, they said. In the future, the team hopes to createmore opportunities fordevelopment in the Scotlandville area and improve the community while doing so This storywas reported and written by Brianna Meeks, ajournalism student at Southern University,with the support of the nonprofit Louisiana CollegiateNewsCollaborative, an LSU-led coalition of eight universities funded by the HenryLuceand John D. andCatherineT.MacArthur foundations

“I am honored and excited to take on this newrole.Shell Norcoisanimportant site with alonghistory and areputation forhavinggreat people and astrongculture.” AlexMarkos, ShellNorco VP

ShellwelcomesAlexMarkosasthe newlyappointed Vice President of theNorco site. Markoshas worked in severalcountriesinavariety of roles. Most recently,his leadership at Shell Polymers MonacainPennsylvania andthe Sarnia Manufacturing Centre in Canada prepared himfor balancing thedemands of large-scale operations with theimportanceofculture, trust, andvisible leadership.AtNorco,he steps intoaworkplace widely recognized within Shell forits strong culture.“There’sa real sense of pride here,”hesays. “People care about thesite, about each other, and about doingthingsthe rightway.You can feel that immediately.”

At thecoreofhis leadership philosophyisthisprinciple:safety comesfirst. “Nothing is more important than making sure everyperson who comesto work goeshomesafely,” he says.His focus alsoincludesenvironmental performance reliability, and developing thepeople who keep thesite running. “You have to deliver today while preparingfor tomorrow.”

ShellNorco is one of themostimportant sitesinShell’sU.S. operations. Theonly Shell refinery in thecountryintegratedwith chemicals manufacturing, Norcoplaysa centralrole in thecompany’soperationsand remains astrongeconomic engine forthe Gulf Coast.

PROVIDED PHOTO

DamonWalker,left, and Brittary Mossy speak at the March groundbreakingfor the Cottages at Ravelle Homes,

housing for SouthernUniversity students. Walker and Moss co-own Ravelle Homes, which

A ‘dig of the century’ unearths 1,700 years of history

Archaeologists are exploring beneath Notre Dame

BY THOMAS ADAMSON and JEFFREY SCHAEFFER Associated Press

PARIS Wilting in the summer

sun, a line of tourists waits to climb Notre Dame cathedral and meet its gargoyles.

13 feet beneath them, a team of archaeologists is digging the other way — straight down and back in time, to Roman Paris 2,000 years ago. In 2019, fire brought Notre Dame’s spire crashing down as the world watched. The cathedral was rebuilt and reopened in late 2024, and now Paris wants to soften the hot, bare square in front of it with trees and shade

But in a city this old, the soil cannot be turned until what lies beneath it is excavated, in case it is damaged during works.

So a slice of Notre Dame’s forecourt has become an excavation site — an open pit ringed by barriers and crossed by a wooden walkway, a few steps from the lineup

A modern Da Vinci Code

French media have dubbed it the “dig of the century.”

“It’s a rare opportunity for us to work on something that’s tangibly going to make a difference to the history of Paris,” Lucie Altenburg, a conservator with the Paris archaeology unit, told The Associated Press.

Among the hundreds of objects already found: a fourth-century coin stamped with the face of the Emperor Constantine, and shards of medieval pottery painted on the inside with marks no expert has yet deciphered — like a modern Da Vinci Code.

“It makes Notre Dame feel alive again,” said Emily Carter, 34, a tourist from Manchester waiting in line with her two children. “You come to see the cathedral, then realize there’s another city under your feet. That’s almost more moving.”

The first traces appear 20 inches down; 13 feet lower, the team is still pulling up the past. Some days they fill 15 crates — from ground that has lain untouched for decades.

Archaeologists monitoring digs

This is the bargain in every old city: The past is not in a museum down the street it is under the

street Cities rise. Each age builds on the rubble of the last, and the ground climbs with it; in Rome, it has risen about 30 feet since the empire fell in the fifth century AD.

When Athens built its metro for the 2004 Olympics, it set off the largest excavation in Greek history and turned up tens of thousands of objects, now shown in the stations themselves. Paris is no different.

It all comes from the island in the Seine, the Ile de la Cite, where Paris began.

Centuries later, Notre Dame rose on the same ground.

At the cathedral’s birth in 1163, the entire square was packed with medieval houses, split by a single street, said Camille Colonna, the archaeologist leading the dig. Digging down, her team has reached their cellars — and therefore also the time in history they represent.

Below them lie Merovingian and Carolingian grain pits, from the sixth to the 10th centuries; below those, darker and deeper still, a dense Roman quarter from the fourth and fifth centuries.

Twenty centuries are stacked in 13 feet of earth — or about the height of two-and-a-half Napoleon Bonapartes standing on top of one another

“Here you can see the layers

— medieval Paris, Roman Paris, maybe even before that,” said Yasmine Benali, 22, an archaeology student watching from behind the barriers. “It makes the city feel less like a postcard and more like something still being discovered.”

Coins, ceramics

The richest finds here come from the foulest place: the deep pits beneath the medieval houses, old latrines that doubled as rubbish dumps. Out of them the team keeps lifting whole jugs and cups thrown away centuries ago, yet

still intact — among the broken plates and animal bones.

It’s “rare to find complete ceramics,” said Valentine Breloux, an archaeologist with the unit.

Here the soft waste cushioned them, and centuries later they miraculously came up whole.

Then some other objects came that confounded experts. As conservators cleaned what looked like ordinary medieval pottery, they found faint reddish writing painted on the inside — the same mysterious markings on shard after shard. What they mean has yet to be

Young people search for new ways to stay

BY AUDREY PACHUTA

Chicago Tribune (TNS)

CHICAGO There’s something addictive about it. Sitting in bed late at night watching one 30-second clip after another Bright, blue light illuminating the room. Whipping out a camera the moment a restaurant server brings a meal or a favorite performer appears onstage. Succumbing to the urge to scroll Instagram the second conversation grows quiet or social awkwardness creeps in The alarm bells began to ring in recent Loyola University graduate Kamryn McPhaul’s head when she realized a third of her waking life was spent on her cellphone.

She, like so many others, craved the “cheap hits of dopamine,” the sense of mindless joy she received from watching a short video only to forget it moments later Earlier this year, she decided enough was enough. Goodbye to Instagram and Snapchat; hello to sightseeing adventures, solo trips to the movies and hours spent at the Art Institute. The moment McPhaul installed a “permanent black-and-white filter” on her screen and deleted all her social media apps, she felt something shift. She doesn’t plan on going back.

While McPhaul’s mission to curb her screen time has been an individual endeavor, others are increasingly seeking out social spaces to join like-minded people hoping to unplug. The number of phone-free experiences grew by 567% globally in 2024 and 2025, according to Eventbrite, a platform where organizers can advertise events.

In Chicago, this trend has taken various forms: everything from creative spaces relegating devices to cotton bags and locked boxes to phone-free raves moshing into the morning’s wee hours

Some of these events are planned and attended by young adults, most of whom hardly remember a world before instantaneous digital communication. In many cases,

phone-free parties emerge in the form of novelty pop-ups, advertised as a chance to escape the pressures of an ever-demanding online universe.

“Some people want to let loose and be free and they don’t want to be filmed while they’re doing that,” said 29-year-old Samantha Boehlen, an event producer who helped plan multiple phone-free dance parties around the city

‘How all of our parents hung out’

After acquiring her first iPhone at 13, Olivia Gork spent most of her young life wondering what a party free of digital disruption would look like.

She dreamed of dance floors packed with crowds who let music move through them. Bars where people entered as strangers and left as friends. But the more she went out, the more she realized phones inherently stood in the way of the experience she longed to have.

“I was ending the night just being like: Where were we?,” Gork said. “Were we just capturing the moments or were we living them?”

Unbeknownst to her, Gork’s vision was one she shared with event producer Chinaecherem Nwaubani, whom she met at North Coast Music Festival in 2024. Now business partners, the pair founded an agency Saturnalia, to plan “otherworldly phone free(dom) gatherings.”

Back in December, they hosted their first and only party to date at Fulton Street Collective, a West Town art gallery and event space.

The event, with bright colorful fabrics draped from the ceiling drew a crowd of more than 100 people, Nwaubani said.

Some came with friends and others came alone, but all followed the night’s one rule: Phones must be kept in a locked box by the entrance.

“We debated putting them in little pouches, but something for me is that I just hate being encumbered and I was just like, what is

a way that everyone can be as unencumbered as possible?” Gork, now 23, said. “I think the phone just needs to be completely locked up.”

The zero-tolerance phone policy brought people together in ways even Gork and Nwaubani couldn’t have predicted. They were particularly struck by a moment when a group gathered to play chess with a security guard, and the fact that one attendee got so caught up in being screen-free, she forgot her phone at the venue when she departed for the night.

“This is how all of our parents hung out,” Nwaubani said. “There was a time not that long ago where this was just normal.”

Boehlen, the 29-year-old event producer whose work ranges from creative collage clubs to nightlife, said she wishes she had been “more stringent” about phone usage when she helped plan a January dance party in Wicker Park.

Over the years, she has advertised many of her events as being “phone-free,” but unlike the owners of Saturnalia, she never enforced the rule as anything more than a friendly suggestion.

Recently she said she attended a few events that weren’t marketed as screen-free, but ended up operating that way once she arrived. She recalled a concert’s policy of storing phones in automatically sealed bags as something that could be a good idea for her future functions.

“I think people can use their phone as a crutch,” Boehlen said.

“It’s very easy to look down at your phone and just scroll or answer a text message, rather than sitting in that uncomfortability.”

Phone-free creative spaces

For some, the notion of unplugging isn’t a new idea. With its eclectic collection of vinyl records and board games, Kibbitznest, a WiFi-free book bar in Lincoln Park, has been capturing the fancies of those seeking a digital detox for nearly a decade.

deciphered. Of everything she has cleaned from Notre Dame, Breloux said, these are the most “astonishing.”

Coins can help date the layers

The coins came up as black discs, eaten by rust. But under an X-ray, a face returned: it was Constantine, the Roman emperor who ruled in the early 300s AD. Such objects also “can be invaluable in giving us the date of the (underground) layer,” Altenburg said.

The Roman finds are the ones the archaeologists value most — the deepest, oldest and least understood. In Roman times, the town was called Lutetia, and its center lay across the river, on the Left Bank.

As the Roman empire collapsed, people pulled back to the Ile de la Cite, where Notre Dame would later rise, and fortified the island with walls of stone taken from earlier buildings.

Colonna’s team found some proof: a Roman doorstep found in the dig, taken from a much bigger building, carried over, turned upside down, and laid in a road as paving.

Paris houses thousands

Every find leaves the pit and travels north, to the city’s archaeology center — what Colonna calls “a huge archaeological store,” a treasure house of Paris.

For archaeologists, the cathedral dig is a rare treat. In France, like elsewhere, they work only where building work is about to begin — a bit like how industrial quarry workers end up unearthing dinosaur remains.

“This only happens because the city of Paris decided it wanted to beautify the area,” Altenburg said. The new square should be mostly finished by 2028: a kind of woodland clearing, with 160 new trees and a thin film of water sliding over the stone to cool it in summer — part of how Paris is bracing for ever hotter summers induced by global warming.

The tourists who now wait in the bare sun beneath the gargoyles will, in a few summers, line up in the shade. The old underground parking lot will reopen as a visitor center looking onto the Seine. Until then, the Notre Dame team wants to go deeper still — past the Romans, toward whoever came before them, the Gauls who gave the city its first name.

“The hope is that we are able to go back in time even further than we’ve ever been before,” Altenburg said.

While phones are technically permitted inside, those visiting find themselves hard-pressed to spot anyone choosing to use them. Instead, groups gather on comfortable furniture and chat while sipping cocktails and dealing playing cards. The dark interior features walls covered with books of every genre, encouraging those who enter to keep their laptop tucked away for the sake of the written word.

One weeknight in May around 30 people gathered for an event called “Skip the Small Talk” in Kibbitznest’s back room. As the name suggests, the night was centered around facilitating deep conversations between strangers, a task much easier when phone usage is kept to a minimum, event organizers said.

Over two hours, attendees shuffled from partner to partner, engaging in 10-minute conversations centered around cardprompted topics like “What are some of your biggest hopes for your personal future?” and “What are some things you loved about yourself as a child?”

Jessa Fuller, an event curator and co-founder of experiential marketing agency Little Council, sought to cultivate a similar sense of belonging when her team hosted a phone-free pop-up event on a Saturday morning in River North last month.

The event, called Fulfillment Center, was geared toward people of all ages who were encouraged to come, put their phone in a cotton bag and engage with one of the many activities centered around reading, writing, making and playing at a long, communal table.

“Right now, when you think of a fulfillment center, you think of a large, giant, warehouse-y building built to get us things we order online super fast,” Fuller said “So we said: ‘What would it look like if we took up space with one that was more focused on personal fulfillment?’” Fuller’s team hosted the pop-up over two days. For her, the most

striking part of the weekend was seeing people come to the Fulfillment Center alone and leave with plans to reconnect with the people they met at her event.

Students, teachers

For some, the conversation around limiting screen time has extended beyond social circles and into professional or academic ones.

This spring, Olivia Stewart Lester a Loyola professor who typically teaches classes on the New Testament and early Christianity, proposed and taught a new class that investigated the intersection of religion and technology

Eighteen students joined her for her semester-long passion project, together exploring topics such as artificial intelligence and online religious communities, as well as participating in a monthlong digital fast coinciding with the start of Lent and Ramadan.

“They were surprisingly enthusiastic,” Stewart Lester said, adding she was unsure of how students would respond to a professor mandating a behavioral change.

In assigned reflection papers, students described how the fast gave them the chance to take up new hobbies, she said. Given the choice of how to implement the assignment in their lives, some students opted to eliminate certain apps like TikTok, while others chose not to use their devices on public transportation in order to be more aware of their surroundings.

“(They found) once they got through the kind of rocky adjustment period of getting used to detaching from those devices, that their mental health improved,” she said. “That they were sleeping better and forming more connections with other people that felt more authentic to them.”

At the University of Illinois Chicago, 20-year-old engineering student Nawar Masood sometimes employs the help of an app called FocusFlight, which allows her to lock her phone for the typical duration of any flight.

Archaeologist Valentine Breloux holds ceramic fragments discovered during excavations.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS By NICOLAS GARRIGA

Archaeological workers wearing hard hats dig 13 feet underground during excavations outside Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

SUNDAY, JUlY 5, 2026

CURTIS / by Ray Billingsley

SLYLOCK FOX / by Bob Weber Jr

GET FUZZY / by Darby Conley

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE / by Chris Browne

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM / by Mike Peters

ZIGGY / by Tom Wilson

ROSEBUDS / by Supr Dee

ZITS / by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

SALLY FORTH / by Francesco Marciuliano & Jim Keefe

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE /byStephan Pastis

directions: Make a 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row Add points of each word, using scoring directions at right. Finally, 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. “Blanks” used as any letter have no point value All the words are in the Official SCRABBLE® Players Dictionary, 5th Edition.

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 — LeoPArd: LEH-perd: A large, strong cat with black spots. Average mark 47 words Time limit 60 minutes

Can you find 66 or more words in LEOPARD?

ken ken

instructions: 1 -Each rowand each column must contain thenumbers 1through4 (easy) or 1through6 (challenging) without repeating 2 -The numbers within the heavily outlinedboxes, called cages, must combine using thegiven operation (inany order)toproduce the target numbersinthe top-left corners. 3 -Freebies: Fillinthe single-boxcages withthe numberinthe top-left corner

instructions: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 gridwith several given numbers. The object is to placethe numbers 1to 9in theempty squares so that each row,each column and each 3x3 boxcontains the same number only once. The difficultylevel of the Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday

directions: Complete thegridso that numbers 1–132 connect horizontally, vertically or diagonally

Sudoku

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

sHeLdon poLonsKy

The elegant way

Today’s deal is from a pairs tournament in Turkey and overtricks were crucial West won the opening diamond lead with his king. The lead was a certain singleton given the missing spot card, so East returned the five of diamonds. West ruffed and shiftedtothethreeofclubs.South played the jack from dummy and overtookitwithhis ace whenEast played low An obvious line for an overtrick, assuming West held thequeenofclubs,wastocashthe ace of trumps and lead a trump to dummy’s queen for a ruffing finesse in diamonds. That would require West to be out of trumps intwomorerounds.Southfounda more elegant way He led a heart to the queen and began to run his trumps This was the position with one trump remaining:

♠

On the last heart, West had to keep all his clubs so he discarded a spade. Dummy then discarded a club and East a spade. A club to the10andthekingofclubsforced East to discard another spade. The ace and eight of spades took the last two tricks. Very nice!

wuzzLes

super Quiz

this Super Quiz to a Ph.D. Score 1 point for each correct answer on

Tannah Hirsch welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency inc., 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, Ny 14207. E-mail responses may be sent to gorenbridge@ aol.com. © 2026 Tribune Content Agency

and legal matters are updated. Paying attention to detail will put your mind at ease. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) You’ll be drawn to unique individuals who offer both enrichment and a learning experience that will help you curb unnecessary habits. You are overdue for a change. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Indulge yourself in travel, social events or learning something new and exciting. A partnership will change how you view prospects and enhance your goals. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Change thingsupathometohelpyouexplore

new possibilities. Use your imagination to elaborate on ideas and plans you want to pursue. Someone who interests you will warm up to the idea of collaboration CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19) Push for what you want. Dreaming won’t get you to the finish line. Take heed of what others do and say, but take control of your destiny Don’t skirt issues or leave out important details.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Put your ideas and plans into motion. Turn your surroundings into a workspace dedicated to bringing in extra cash. Invest more time and money in

yourself and what you enjoy doing most.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Fact-check your resources before following through with your plans. Networking events will encourage you to explore new possibilities. Share your feelings and intentions with someone of interest.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Distance yourself from trouble or those trying to talk you into something you don’t want to do. Volunteer work that addresses a cause touches you emotionally TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Don’t make unrealisticpromisesoraskformore

than others can offer Pay more attention to detail, how you look and feel, and creating your lifestyle and personal happiness.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Focus on learning, preparing and perfecting whatyouwanttopursue.Implement changes that require your time and energy and are not dependent on outside influences. Choose your words carefully

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

goren Bridge

Answers to puzzles

1. Margaret Thatcher.2.John Adams. 3. Alexander Graham Bell. 4. AmeliaEarhart 5. Nelson Mandela. 6. Yuri Gagarin.7.Roald Amundsen. 8. Vladimir Lenin. 9.Roger Bannister.10. "Wings." 11. Delaware. 12. "The Jazz Singer." 13. Thurgood Marshall 14. Ferdinand Magellan. 15.Marie Curie.

SCORING: 24 to 30 points —congratulations, doctor; 18 to 23 points—honorsgraduate; 13 to 17 points —you’replenty smart, but no grind; 5to12points —you really shouldhit the booksharder;1point to 4points —enroll in remedial courses immediately; 0points who reads thequestions to you?

Saturday's Cryptoquote: America wasnot built on fear.Americawas built on courage, on imagination andanunbeatable determination to do the job at hand. —Harry S. Truman

Crossword Answers

jeFF mACnelly’sshoe/ by Gary Brookins &Susie MacNelly

FoXtrot/ by BillAmend dustin /bySteve Kelley&JeffParker