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Baton Rouge judge faces misconduct probe Reversal of rape conviction questioned

BY QUINN COFFMAN Staff writer

The state Judiciary Commission is accusing Baton Rouge Judge Gail Horne Ray of misconduct for tossing out a man’s 1973 rape conviction — and life sentence — without allowing prosecutors to argue against it.

The state Supreme Court later overruled Ray, reversing her action and saying she had no authority to make that decision.

The commission, which handles complaints against judges, also says Ray failed to do “any meaningful work” in a client’s case before dropping him. That misconduct allegation stems from Ray’s work as a defense attorney before she was elected judge.

The commission’s notice of hearing against Ray was filed in April and became public this week. The hearing is set for Aug. 26.

Ray has filed a response, saying any legal Ray errors she might have committed were made in good faith and she should not be subject to discipline.

The disciplinary action against Ray also has deepened an ongoing legal battle between her and state Attorney General Liz Murrill. Ray successfully claimed Judiciary Commission member John Sinquefield needed to recuse himself from her case, citing his position as Murrill’s executive counsel.

Murrill is a defendant in a voting rights lawsuit Ray filed earlier this year alongside other Baton Rouge judges.

Murrill sought and got Ray’s removal from a host of criminal cases handled by the Attorney General’s Office in district court, arguing the judge couldn’t fairly handle them after filing the voting rights suit.

Attorney Steven Scheckman, a

STAFF FILE PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Intense scrutiny has been focused on the now-shuttered Louisiana Oilfield Restoration Association, a company charged with plugging orphaned wells such as these near Lettsworth. The company was found to have violated the law after giving a loan to a state official in a department overseeing their work.

Ethics Board hands out fines over improper loan Orphaned wells companies, manager violated law, opinion states

BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER Staff writer

Leaders of a company charged with plugging orphaned oil wells in Louisiana have been fined $5,000 each after the state Ethics Board found they violated the law by giving a $780,000 loan to a top official in the department that oversaw their work.

The fines from the Louisiana Board of Ethics add to intense scrutiny of the now-shuttered Louisiana Oilfield Restoration Association, which already is the subject of an investigation by the Attorney General’s Office and a damning report by the Louisiana legislative auditor.

In an opinion issued last week, the Ethics Board said LORA, its subsidiary Chromos and Andrew Berthelot — a manager for both companies — improperly gave the loan to former Office of Conservation attorney Johnny Adams in 2023.

As a top attorney in the state office at the time, Adams helped organize the state’s program involving LORA and personally drafted the agreement between the conservation office and the new company, the board said.

The board fined Berthelot, LORA and Chromos $5,000 each.

According to the board’s findings, Berthelot served as LORA’s chief financial officer and was a manager of Chromos.

Attempts to reach Berthelot and his attorney were not immediately successful Friday.

Despite the board’s findings, partial owner of LORA Van Mayhall III said Friday that the company did not violate any ethics rules or laws but said the company’s leaders “have decided not to spend any more time or resources contesting the Board of Ethics’ actions.”

“LORA’s owners and directors are

ä See FINE, page 5A

BY THE NUMBERS

$780,000

The loan provided to former Office of Conservation attorney Johnny Adams

$5,000

The amount manager Andrew Berthelot, Louisiana Oilfield Restoration Association and its subsidiary Chromos were fined

2.6%

The unusually low rate of interest charged to Adams and his wife, Baton Rouge Metro Council member Laurie Adams.

ä See JUDGE, page 5A

Housing bill to become law without Trump’s signature President won’t ink his name to bipartisan effort in protest over SAVE Act

BY MICHELLE L. PRICE and JOSH BOAK Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will let the bipartisan housing bill approved by Congress become law without his signature, saying Friday that he was refusing

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to put his name on it because of the little progress made in passing a strict voter ID bill that he has been pushing.

“I will not sign the Housing Bill, which has been fully approved by Congress and sent to the White House, in PROTEST over the fact that the United States Senate is

not capable of passing THE SAVE AMERICA ACT,” Trump posted on social media.

Trump had 10 days until the Friday deadline to sign the bill, issue a veto, or allow the measure to take effect without his signature.

He has chosen to let the measure become law without his express

approval, undercutting his administration’s claims that he considers it a priority to combat inflation.

Trump’s rejection of the bipartiTrump san housing legislation exacerbates tensions with his own party in a midterm election year and cuts

short their efforts to address a key voter concern about rising costs.

His post comes more than a week after he canceled plans to sign the bipartisan legislation, announcing he was using it as leverage in his push for a strict voter ID bill.

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act aims to lower the cost of housing and spur more home

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Islandwide blackout strikes Cuba again

HAVANA — An islandwide blackout struck Cuba on Friday for the second time this week as the nation of nearly 10 million people grapples with a crumbling power grid and fuel shortages stemming from a U.S. energy blockade.

While total blackouts have become increasingly common in the Caribbean country, it’s unusual for back-to-back ones to hit just days apart. Cuba’s Electric Union confirmed the outage on X. Officials had also confirmed the first total power outage, which happened on Monday, although it wasn’t clear what caused it.

Authorities at the time said an investigation was underway.

Fuel has been running out across Cuba since January, when U.S. President Donald Trump threatened tariffs on any country that sells or provides oil to the island, deepening the island’s ongoing economic and financial crisis. Public transportation has largely been halted, and officials have canceled tens of thousands of surgeries.

Cuba produces only 40% of the fuel it needs, while the 730,000 barrels of oil delivered by a Russian tanker in late March ran out by the end of April. The government also has been rationing power with intentional outages that can stretch to more than 24 consecutive hours.

A blackout in mid-May affected the island’s eastern provinces, while a blackout in mid-March struck the entire island.

Former Afghan official extradited to U.S.

NEW YORK — A former Afghan general who also served in his nation’s National Assembly was extradited to the U.S. on Friday to face drug charges, authorities said.

Abdul Zahir Qadeer, 52, of Afghanistan, appeared in Manhattan federal court and was ordered detained until trial, federal prosecutors said in a release.

Qadeer was arrested in Nairobi, Kenya, on April 15 before his extradition to face charges that he conspired to import heroin and methamphetamine, along with related firearms offenses.

Authorities said he previously served as a general in Afghanistan’s Border Force and as first deputy speaker of Afghanistan’s House of the People.

It was unclear who is representing him on the U.S. charges, which if he is convicted carry a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life behind bars.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton described Qadeer as a large-scale international narcotics and military-grade weapons trafficker.

“In an attempt to traffic massive amounts of poison and weaponry — including heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenade launchers — Qadeer allegedly sold a two-kilogram test shipment to a buyer, which was delivered in South Africa,” Clayton said in a release.

The prosecutor said the buyer was actually working with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Abducted students rescued in Nigeria

ABUJA, Nigeria — Students abducted in May by Islamic militants in Nigeria’s southwestern Oyo state have been rescued, the government said Friday.

Government spokesperson Bayo Onanuga did not specify the total number of students rescued, but authorities said at the time of the abductions on May 15 that more than 40 people had been abducted. One of the teachers abducted alongside the students was killed shortly afterward.

Eight militants were arrested as part of the operation, while an unspecified number of the militants were killed, Onanuga said.

The abductions in a southern state had represented an escalation of the country’s security crisis because most such abductions previously had taken place in the north.

“This successful military operation has ended the siege and standoff of over 50 days and has brought relief to the entire nation and the affected families in particular,” Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said in a statement.

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U.S. demands Iran say strait open Officials want Tehran to say it won’t attack ships anymore

BY MICHELLE L. PRICE, JON GAMBRELL and WILL WEISSERT Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The U.S. is demanding that Iran make a public statement saying the Strait of Hormuz is open and that ships crossing the vital corridor won’t be attacked anymore, senior U.S. officials said Friday, adding that internal Tehran power struggles have made it difficult to reach and keep a deal.

The U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe to reporters the state of play with Iran, said the resumption of strikes this week came after what they described as a rogue faction of Iranian hard-liners trying to sabotage the ceasefire between Tehran and Washington.

It comes as President Donald Trump reiterated on social media Friday that he views the interim ceasefire deal as “OVER!” But he said the U.S. would continue talks aimed at putting a permanent end to the war.

The officials said Friday that Trump is giving U.S. negotiators limited time to reach a deal with Iran, but, in a sign of the challenges ahead, they underscored that the president had a wide range of options if talks fall apart. They also said a power struggle was playing out in real time in Iran after U.S. and Israeli strikes at the start of the

The officials said they would never reach a nuclear deal with Iran if it would not first abide by terms of the ceasefire deal and stop renewed attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

That struggle underscores the long-term challenges the Trump administration faces in the wake of the war it started and expected to wrap up months ago. Trump in late February broke off talks with Iran over its nuclear program and launched the military campaign, saying he was taking the action because Tehran was attempting to rebuild its program and deASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ALTAF QADRI velop long-range missiles.

He faces political presA man waves an Iranian flag on Sunday during funeral ceremonies for slain Iranian sure in the U.S. to bring Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and members of his family at Imam Khomeini the conflict and its ecoMosalla Grand Mosque in Tehran, Iran. nomic impact to a close and avoid the kind of prolonged war killed its longtime lead- ran’s diplomat at the United Iran’s grip on the strait Middle East conflict he had er, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Nations told reporters that during the conflict led to a campaigned against. any activity in the Strait of global energy crisis, though Control of the strait Hormuz, including its open- oil prices have sharply Unclaimed strikes The U.S. is working on ing or demining operations, dropped since wartime No one claimed responsipressing Iran to make a “rests exclusively with highs of $120 a barrel. bility Friday for airstrikes public statement that the Iran.” that hit Iran after the U.S. “Any attempt, by external Nuclear deal Strait of Hormuz, a vital said it finished its attacks, waterway for world energy actors, to interfere with or The U.S. officials said to leaving questions about markets, is open and free to establish a power arrange- reporters Friday that any who else may be targeting ships to transit, the officials ment would violate the (in- deal on Iran’s nuclear pro- the Islamic Republic. said.

On Friday, Iranian state terim deal), and undermine gram would require Tehran On a call with reporters, its implementation, delay to turn over its stockpile of media quoted Esmail Kouthe officials suggested that the restoration of normal highly enriched uranium. sari, a member of the Iraleaders in Iran even told commercial navigation, If the U.S. does not reach a nian parliament’s national their U.S. counterparts that jeopardize maritime safety, deal with Iran to turn over security committee and a the ship strikes were a mis- and increase regional ten- its nuclear material, it has former commander in the take and the country hoped sions,” Ambassador Amir military options to ensure paramilitary Revolutionto continue negotiations de- Saeid Iravani said outside that it remains buried un- ary Guard, as warning the the U.N. Security Council. spite that. derground forever, the of- UAE would “pay the price Iran has said the strait ficials said. They did not for its cooperation with the Trump didn’t care that the United States.” He accused firing on ships came from a must now be under its sole detail those options. hard-line faction and re- control and that vessels The highly enriched ma- the Emirates of having a sponded with more power- should begin to pay fees to terial that could potentially “behind-the-scenes” role in ful counterattacks, show- Tehran — even though the be used to make a nuclear the recent U.S. attacks.

U.S. Central Command ing Iran that there would world for decades has con- weapon is believed to be be consequences no matter sidered it an international buried after strikes the U.S. spokesperson Capt. Tim who was behind it, the offi- waterway. About a fifth of launched on Iran last sum- Hawkins said there were all traded oil and natural mer. Iran says its nuclear “no operational updates” afcials said.

But moments before the gas passed through the program is intended for ter Trump’s pronouncement U.S. officials spoke, Teh- strait before the war began. peaceful purposes. about the ceasefire.

Trump ousts election commission members

BY BILL BARROW Associated Press

President Donald Trump has ousted members of a bipartisan federal election commission that resisted his efforts to require would-be voters to document their U.S. citizenship before registering.

The White House on Friday confirmed the executive action against members of the Election Assistance Commission, which distributes Trump federal grants to states, oversees the testing of voting systems and maintains the national voter registration form.

Though the move likely won’t have major effects on the November midterms, it’s the latest instance of the Republican president trying to exert White House influence over how U.S. elections are

conducted, and it’s the first test of his newly expanded presidential power after the Supreme Court ruled recently that the president can fire members of independent agency boards without cause.

“The President, and head of the Executive Branch, reserves the right to remove individuals that may not be totally aligned with the important task of securing America’s elections and ensuring every legal vote is counted. The Slaughter decision gives the President precedence to do so,” said a White House statement to AP. The president removed the four-seat commission’s two Democratic members, Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland. The panel’s Republican member, Christy McCormick resigned. Former Republi-

can commissioner Donald Palmer already had left his post voluntarily earlier this year. The changes were first reported by VoteBeat, a news outlet that covers elections and voting across the U.S. Trump has repeatedly tried to reshape voting regulations, even though the U.S. Constitution grants control of elections to the states and not the president. Citing that separation of powers, courtshaveblocked most of Trump’s two executive orders that sought to reshape voting.

Trump has also launched an investigation of his 2020 loss, which he continues to falsely insist was due to fraud, and this week his administration threatened states if they did not try to purge what federal officials believe are noncitizens from their voter rolls.

Still, Trump has largely been powerless to change election processes through

Graham Platner withdraws from Maine U.S. Senate race

BY MEG KINNARD and PATRICK WHITTLE

Associated Press

PORTLAND, Maine — Graham Platner on Friday submitted his paperwork to formally withdraw from Maine’s U.S. Senate race, officially ending an upstart yet troubled campaign whose dissolution threatens Democrats’ pursuit of chamber control.

Platner’s paperwork was received by the Maine secretary of state’s office and reflected shortly thereafter in its online withdrawal list.

In a letter to the secretary of state’s office, which Platner also posted on social media, he wrote

that the Mainers who had nominated him “voted for a new kind of politics” that is “representative of people down here in the real world — not billionaires, oligarchs, or the political establishment.” It was the same outsider chord that had been a trademark of his tumultuous campaign, in which Platner drew backing from progressive leaders including Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, of California.

“I seek to further the movement we have built together and the future we believe in,” he went on, without detailing what that meant.

Maine is considered a

key state for control of the narrowly divided Senate, and Democrats were desperate for a candidate capable of defeating Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

The formal withdrawal comes two days after Platner said he would quit the race, facing an allegation of sexual assault that he has denied. Maine Democrats are seeking a new nominee, and several hopefuls have already begun jockeying for position.

State law includes a provision for Democrats to replace Platner before the general election but the replacement must by named by July 27.

executive fiat and David Becker, a former Department of Justice attorney who runs the Center for Election Innovation & Research, said his purge of the EAC wouldn’t alter that.

“This doesn’t really change anything about how our elections will be run, and how states are successfully en-

suring secure, convenient, safe elections,” Becker wrote on the social media site BlueSky Friday morning.

On Capitol Hill, the leading Democrats with election oversight responsibility said Trump, rather than bolstering U.S. election integrity, is further politicizing the voting process.

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Detainees say ICE officer shot driver through window

BY LEKAN OYEKANMI, JACK BROOK and RYAN J. FOLEY Associated Press/Report for America

HOUSTON — Three men inside a van who witnessed the fatal shooting of the driver by an immigration officer in Houston said the Mexican man was shot through a passenger window and that the officer was never threatened, a lawyer who has spoken with them said Friday.

The shooting Tuesday during an attempted traffic stop by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Houston has revived critical voices deriding the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown and how ICE operates. Immigration arrests around the country recently surged to 10,000 over a five-day period, fueled in part by massive congressional funding.

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, has released no evidence to support the officer’s story that Lorenzo Salgado Araujo ignored their commands and rammed into an ICE vehicle with his white van, or that the officer fired in self-defense.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia has said the acting director of ICE told her officers thought someone in the van, but not Salgado Araujo, had a final order of removal but did not share a name.

The officers were not wearing body cameras and neither ICE nor DHS have released photos, videos or other evidence from the scene.

Salgado Araujo was a 52-yearold homebuilder who was shot and killed as he was driving his crew to a construction site. His family said he had lived in the U.S. for more than 35 years, had no criminal record and was close to finishing the long process of obtaining legal status when he was killed.

ICE detained the other three men in the van and they all told a lawyer that no officer was in front of the van or even in danger.

“After speaking with these men, I have no doubt that what they’re saying is the truth. I know that these agents — the agency — is going to try to cover it up,” attorney Hugo Balderas-Ibarra said during a news conference.

Images of the van after the shooting appear to show no damage, he said.

ICE has not released the names of the detained men, but family members said they have been able to briefly talk with them. Salgado Araujo’s brother was among those arrested.

Garcia said at the same news conference it was unsurprising that Salgado Araujo drove off when ICE tried to stop his vehicle, given that

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ANNIE MULLIGAN

Democratic U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia speaks Friday during a news briefing regarding her conversation with Acting ICE Director David Venturella outside her office in Houston. their vehicles were unmarked and had no lights.

“What would you do if you were being followed by someone and the cars were unmarked?” Garcia said.

Salgado Araujo was at least the eighth person to die during the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement campaign. No immigration officers have been charged in the killings and video footage in several previous shootings has contradicted the accounts of federal officers.

ICE is pressuring the men to self-

deport, which would make it harder for them to share their version of events with investigators or others, said Juana Degollado, who said her stepfather Daniel Tirado Pantoja is among the detained men. She said he has no legal permission to live in the U.S. but has no criminal record.

“It is extremely important that we preserve the integrity of this investigation,” Balderas-Ibarra said.

“That will all be out the window if they are deported.”

DHS said allegations that the men have been pressured to leave the

country are “categorically false.”

DHS said Thursday that officers investigating a tip weeks earlier saw two white vans at the address of a target. While heading to that address Tuesday, officers saw a white van and someone inside who resembled the person they were looking for, the department said in a statement.

“No one in that van had warrants or any legal problem,” Degollado told The Associated Press in a text message.

DHS said it will not release the officer’s name because they could face threats and violence and their family could be at risk.

DHS also has not responded to requests for other information, including how long the officer has worked for ICE or whether anyone involved in the shooting is on administrative leave.

Unlike some previous deaths involving federal immigration officers, few photos or videos surrounding the shooting have emerged publicly in the days since Salgado Araujo’s death.

The League of United Latin American Citizens offered a $5,000 reward for video or other evidence, but the positions of the vehicles means surveillance cameras in the area were blocked from recording the shooting, CEO Juan Proaño said.

Crews are draining the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool again

BY WILL WEISSERT Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Crews are again draining the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool as President Donald Trump’s problem-plagued effort to revamp the waterway pushes well past his initial goal of having it ready by July 4 to mark the nation’s 250th birthday.

The president at first sug-

gested his renovations would last a century. But, within weeks of the project originally reaching completion last month, the water was beset by an algae bloom and pieces of the new coating appeared to be peeling off the bottom.

Trump has blamed the peeling on vandals, though critics allege it’s from shoddy repair work.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, whose agency

oversees the National Park Service, told conservative podcaster Katie Miller in an interview released earlier this week that the new round of draining was planned. He also said that the water might still contain debris from an extensive Independence Day fireworks display over the National Mall.

“Drain the water, clean up the fireworks stuff,” Burgum told Miller, who is the wife of

deputy White House chief of staff Stephen Miller. “Repair the vandalism that was done.

Fill it back up again.”

The work on the reflecting pool is just one of a number of projects Trump has spearheaded across the nation’s capital. Most prominently, he demolished the White House’s East Wing to build a $400 million ballroom and plans to build a towering arch between the Lincoln

Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

He initially announced his intentions to beautify the reflecting pool this spring, saying he wanted it completed before the nation’s 250th birthday celebrations.

Water was drained and Trump directed that the bottom be painted what he called “American flag blue.”

In May, the president posted on his social media site of the

pool: “The goal is to have it done, at this higher level, prior to July 4th — We are ahead of schedule!”

But problems began quickly after the initial work was finished. Trump blamed vandals, and court documents later showed that the National Park Service reported to the U.S. Park Police a June 9 incident in which a sharp knife or razor cut the pool’s new liner.

Family of Mississippi teen who died after trip seeks transparency, probe

BY MICHAEL R. SISAK Associated Press

NEW YORK — Attorneys for the family of a Mississippi 18-year-old who was found dead after a July 4 boat trip with friends to an island off the Gulf Coast called for a deeper investigation and greater transparency at a news conference Friday with the Rev. Al Sharpton, saying many of the details they’re discovering are “not adding up.”

Noted civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who was retained by the family of Nolan Xavier Wells earlier this week, has said the family has concerns about the investigation and planned to conduct an independent autopsy. Wells traveled by boat to Horn Island, Mississippi, on July 4 with a group of friends, but did not make the return trip with them that afternoon. His body was found early Monday morning, more than a day later.

While Jackson County Sheriff’s Office officials said investigators don’t suspect foul play in the Black college student’s death, the sheriff has asked for any

witnesses or people with video from the popular beach island about 10 miles off the coast of Mississippi to come forward to help shed light on the moments before Wells’ disappearance and death.

Family members have raised concerns, saying they’ve seen video of a fight allegedly involving their son, and saying as an elite athlete he was able to swim. Wells, who would have turned 19 next month, attended Southwest Mississippi Community College, where he played wide receiver on the football team.

At the news conference Friday attorneys said the friends who left Wells on the island, took his phone and keys when they departed. Crump said Wells’ family used an app to track his phone, and a friend went to where it was on land to pick it up.

“What teenager would leave their phone behind if they’re going to stay on this island? What teenager wouldn’t take their phone?

It’s not adding up at all,” Crump said.

He added that the fam-

Crump called for a thor- to law enforcement, “They not taken the path of least ily believes text messages from social media apps had ough investigation, saying want to know that you have resistance.” been deleted from his phone when they got it back, and they plan to employ experts to try to receive all the data they can.

A photo posted to social MONTHS MONTHS media, allegedly from the INTEREST INTEREST Family owned and operated since 1957 boat ride to the island, shows Wells with his arms around <<<< >>>>OR OR<<<< >>>> three White, male friends.

Speculation and suspicion about the teen’s death have been rampant online, as peoDISCOUNTAND AND DISCOUNT ple grapple with the state’s MONTHSNO NO 66MONTHS history of racial tension and what it means to be a Black Seestore storefor fordetails details See person in a majority White space.

Wells’ mother, Christine Wonsley, looked to the sky several times as lawyers spoke Friday, to hold back tears. When she spoke, she said this was not how she wanted the world to know her son.

Wonsley said they had taught him about history, but he was a peacemaker who didn’t like division, and *Other pieces sale priced *Other pieces sale priced wanted everyone to be included.

Regular “We just wanna know $ $ 1349 what happened,” she said, through tears. “And why our baby didn’t come home.”

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4A ■ Saturday, July 11, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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U.S. license could let Ukraine produce Patriot missiles But it won’t be simple or quick

BY ILLIA NOVIKOV Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine — President Donald Trump’s pledge to give Ukraine a license to produce Patriot air-defense systems could mark a major breakthrough for Kyiv, but experts and Ukrainian officials warn that turning the idea into real weapons would likely take years.

Speaking Wednesday alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Trump said the United States would allow Ukraine to make the U.S.-designed systems that Kyiv has long sought to shield its cities and infrastructure from Russian missiles and drones.

“We’ll give them the right to make Patriots. We’ll show them how to do it,” Trump said. “I think they can produce them pretty quickly.”

But the statement left open a crucial question: What exactly would Ukraine be allowed to produce?

“America has recognized Ukraine as a country that is

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By EFREM LUKATSKy

Ukrainian Air Force’s F-16 fighter jets fly over a Patriot Air and Missile Defense System in 2024 in Ukraine. ready to do this,” Zelenskyy told reporters Thursday, adding that Ukrainian and U.S. diplomats and defense officials must now work “without pauses” to finalize the licensing arrangements.

Patriot interceptor missiles, which are fired to shoot down incoming missiles, drones and aircraft, are produced by U.S. defense con-

UNITED KINGDOM

Charles III hosted Prince Harry, family

BY DANICA KIRKA and BRIAN MELLEY Associated Press

LONDON — King Charles III hosted Prince Harry and met with his family for the first time in years Friday as they try to repair a rift that has persisted since his youngest son and wife quit royal life and moved to America six years ago.

Harry, Meghan and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, met with the king and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House, a country estate west of London, Buckingham Palace confirmed.

The Duke of Sussex had arrived Monday in his homeland for a number of charity events that were

overshadowed by speculation of whether he would meet with his father.

British tabloids and news broadcasts were filled with speculation about whether Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, would accompany him and, more importantly, whether they would bring their two children so they can finally get to know Grandpa Charles.

However, the monarch’s schedule is often years in the making, with events penciled in long before they take place. An opportunity to hold such a meeting would have been fleeting, particularly because the children would need to return to school in the fall and because they live in California.

tractors Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, part of RTX. A production license would not automatically allow Ukraine to manufacture complete Patriot batteries — including launchers, radar systems, command posts and missiles — from scratch. It could instead cover narrower parts of the system, such as interceptor missiles, final

Associated Press

LONDON — British police on Friday arrested a 26-yearold man on suspicion of murder in the killing of Ann Widdecombe, a former British member of Parliament and reality TV contestant.

Widdecombe, 78, was found dead on Thursday in her Haytor Vale home on the edge of Dartmoor National Park in southwest England after sustaining what police said were “serious injuries.”

The killing was not believed to be an act of terror and there was no information to suggest it was politically motivated, Devon and Cornwall Police Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said.

Longman did not discuss a possible motive but said the suspect was in custody as the investigation continues.

“This is really shocking news, and my thoughts, I think all of our thoughts, will be with the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe

BY JOEY CAPPELLETTI Associated Press

SAWYER, Mich. — A completed bridge linking Detroit and Canada is expected to open by the end of the month after U.S. and Canadian officials reached an agreement to resolve the dispute that delayed its debut, according to two people directly involved in the negotiations.

The sources were not authorized to publicly disclose the deal before a formal announcement.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for early June was postponed after the WindsorDetroit Bridge Authority said the two countries needed more time to resolve “outstanding issues.” The delay followed President Donald Trump’s earlier threats to block the bridge’s opening.

Commercial traffic is now expected to begin before Aug. 1, according to two officials, though a date for the

at this awful time,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.

“Ann was a distinguished politician over many, many years with many achievements, and it’s a huge, huge loss.”

Widdecombe found fame after leaving Parliament as a contestant on the “Strictly Come Dancing” and “Celebrity Big Brother” reality television shows. She later joined the Brexit Party and became a spokeswoman for the anti-immigration Reform UK party.

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that has shown how quickly weapons production can expand when a country receives designs, technical support and access to components. Ukraine has become a leader in the manufacture of cheap, expendable drone systems. Russia has scaled up domestic production of Iranian-designed Shahedtype attack drones, known in Russia as Gerans, at a factory in Tatarstan.

But experts say Patriot interceptors are far more complex, requiring precision guidance, advanced radar technology, solid-fuel rocket motors, military-grade electronics and strict certification standards.

Yehor Chernev, deputy chairman of Ukraine’s parliamentary committee on national security, defense and intelligence, said the legal and bureaucratic process could be launched within months, but implementing production would take years.

Even if Ukraine received complete component kits from abroad, Chernev said, it would likely need at least 18 to 24 months to launch its first pilot production line, followed by more time to complete the first weapons.

Sources: Detroit-Canada bridge to open by late July

Police in the U.K. arrest suspect in killing of former Parliament member

BY BRIAN MELLEY

assembly from imported component kits or production of selected components.

Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukraine’s defense minister, said a U.S. license would typically come with technical documentation, training for specialists, supplier contacts and foreign consultants to help launch manufacturing.

Other experts say the first step would likely be more limited than full domestic production.

Anatolii Khrapchynskyi, development director of the Fly Group Ukraine defense company, said Trump’s wording was ambiguous because he referred broadly to producing “Patriots,” without specifying whether he meant missiles, launchers, radar systems, command centers or components.

Missile production alone involves a vast supply chain, Khrapchynskyi said, with hundreds of companies making parts such as control surfaces, engines, guidance systems and communications equipment.

The Trump administration has not offered details about the Ukraine license, but an administration official said the U.S. is significantly accelerating and expanding Patriot production to meet growing demand and is forming industrial partnerships with allies and partners globally to deliver Patriots. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Any additional Patriot systems would enter a war

“I had a conversation with the secretary yesterday, Secretary of Commerce Lutnick, and the deal will be announced in the next few days,” Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers said Friday on WJR radio. “This is getting wrapped up. That bridge is going to get open.”

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, congratulated those who have worked to open the bridge.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By PAUL SANCyA “This bridge is a testament The Gordie Howe Bridge is shown under construction on May to the enduring partnership 22 between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit. between Michigan and Canada and what we can get done official ribbon-cutting cer- candidate Mike Rogers ref- when we think big and bet on erenced the deal during an our shared future together,” emony has not yet been set. she said in a statement.

Republican U.S. Senate interview Friday.

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Saturday, July 11, 2026 ■ 5A

lll

JUDGE

Continued from page 1A

FINE

Continued from page 1A proud of the important work that we did to clean up orphan wells in Louisiana as a private company with private funds,” Mayhall said.

LORA was formed in 2019 to work with the Louisiana Office of Conservation on plugging orphaned oil and gas wells, using fees collected from industry operators that purchased financial security through the nonprofit.

To manage that money, LORA hired Chromos, a company run by many of the same people, including Berthelot, according to a recent report from the legislative auditor.

In 2022, after the partnership was active, investigators say LORA transferred $780,000 to Chromos, which then made an identical loan to Adams while he oversaw legal matters for the Office of Conservation. The board concluded the money originated with LORA, despite passing through Chromos.

Adams and his wife — Baton Rouge Metro Council member Laurie Adams —

BILL

Continued from page 1A construction. It’s the broadest federal effort in decades to address America’s housing affordability problems, as state and local regulations have made it difficult to build in many of the communities that are also sources of job growth and economic opportunity. White House economists estimated earlier this year a national shortage of 10 million homes and the bill could help to close a portion of that gap.

But Trump called the bill “a yawn” and “so unimportant” compared to legislation

The allegations In the case involving her time as a judge, Ray is accused of improperly vacating Donald Ray Link’s 1973 aggravated rape conviction after he asked the court to rule whether he should be eligible for parole.

After Ray took up his case in 2024 — a year into her time on the bench — she ruled that erroneous jury instructions had affected the outcome of his case and tossed his conviction.

East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore’s office vehemently objected, saying Link had not even asked the judge to do that.

Ray had “effectively became a ‘one man pardon board,’ ” prosecutors argued in appealing her decision.

The Louisiana Supreme Court quickly intervened, first staying Ray’s ruling and then reinstating Link’s conviction and life sentence.

Ray had committed a “patent abuse of discretion,” the state’s high court ruled.

In the disciplinary filings, the Judiciary Commission says Ray didn’t allow

used the funds to buy a home and quickly paid off the loan in about six months, according to records.

“The loan was not a bona fide loan made by a duly licensed lending institution at the normal rate of interest,” ethics officials said in their opinion last week.

Because of the unusually low 2.6% rate and LORA not being a proper lender, the loan was a “thing of economic value.”

The transaction violated multiple ethics laws, the board said.

Company under scrutiny

prosecutors to present evidence before her decision.

The commission found Ray grossly departed from proper procedure, gave extraordinary relief neither party requested, failed to review the complete record, granted relief that went against well-established precedent and erroneously stated she had the authority to do so.

In her defense, Ray said she did allow argument over vacating Link’s conviction and believed she had reviewed the full record in the case.

“However, if she did not review the complete record this omission might at most be characterized as inadequate but not intentional conduct,” her lawyer argues.

In the other matter against her, Ray is accused of dropping a client after he paid her for more than two years to represent him for postconviction relief related to a 60-year sentence for distribution of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school zone.

Ray sent a letter to the client, Willie Pogue, to terminate their relationship 10 days before she took office as district judge in 2023. But in

in September 2019.

In the same email, Mayhall said “when the DNR wants to look at our books, we can show them the books of (LORA),”and the state would not have access to Chromos’ financial records.

On the day the report was released, Attorney General Liz Murrill — whose office previously opened a civil case against LORA — said in a statement that “we will be further reviewing the case for criminal charges that may be appropriate as well.”

Adams’ attorney Steve Moore said the report did not paint the whole picture, calling it “misleading” and “inaccurate.”

Moore said Adams did not influence the selection of LORA to run the state’s program as the auditor “cherry-picked” information to include in its findings.

Mayhall had ownership in both LORA and Chromos. Like Adams’ attorney, Mayhall said the auditor’s report left out key facts, despite LORA’s cooperation with investigators.

Last month, the legislative auditor released a scathing report on LORA, which detailed a scheme that officials say went on for several years and included numerous improprieties.

As part of that report, investigators cited email chains sent between Mayhall, Berthelot and others while LORA was being formed. Adams, a Louisiana conservation official at the time, was included in the emails.

Email Patrick Sloan“(LORA) will basically just Turner at patrick.sloanbe a shell … ” Mayhall wrote turner@theadvocate.com.

that would require proof of citizenship for all voters.

He surprised Republican lawmakers on June 24, when, shortly before a planned signing ceremony at the Capitol, he announced he would not approve the bill until lawmakers first passed the voting legislation.

That bill, the SAVE America Act, doesn’t have enough Republican support to pass.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, said after submitting the housing bill to the White House that he told Trump he should get the “fattest black marker you have, and sign your name really big on that.”

“I hope he does sign it,” Johnson told reporters at the

time. “If he doesn’t, it’s still law. We’ll still celebrate it.”

He said he also understood Trump was trying to make a point that the elections bill is the top priority. “And I think he’s making it very effectively,” Johnson said.

Still, Trump’s decision not to sign the bill gave Democrats an opening to criticize him on the issue of affordability.

“His priorities couldn’t be clearer: higher cost for families and more power for himself,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on X. The housing bill passed the Senate on an 85-5 vote and the House approved it with an 358-32 vote.

the time he was paying her, she had filed just one motion in the case and had spoken with Pogue once — and that only after he called her, according to the commission.

Pogue also never received the letter from Ray terminating their contract, as he had been moved to a different prison, according to the commission.

Ray admits she never met with Pogue and did accept his payments, but argues that her firm refunded $4,500 of the total $4,800 he paid once the contract was ended.

She adds that what appeared to be lack of action on her part in his case was a handful of good-faith errors as an attorney, including assuming that the matter had been docketed when it had not and that her letter to terminate their contract had reached Pogue.

Ray says her conduct never involved deceit or misrepresentation, and never amounted to an ethical violation, only

ordinary legal error.

Recusal of member

dent’s attorney and, by definition, placed herself in an adversarial posture with the lawyer litigating for one of the parties before her.”

While Sinquefield denied that Ray has “any valid grounds,” he agreed to recuse himself.

Ray had also asked the commission to reconsider its investigation into her without Sinquefield involved.

The commission refused, saying in part that Sinquefield was not a deciding vote in the investigation.

Leon Cannizzaro, who’s been newly appointed to the commission, also recused himself. Cannizzaro previously served as the Orleans Parish district attorney, then as chief of the attorney general’s criminal division from 2021 until his retirement earlier this year.

Reporter John Simerman contributed to this story.

Beyond filing her defense, Ray also successfully moved for the recusal of Sinquefield due to his job at Murrill’s office.

With Ray as one of three Baton Rouge judges suing Murrill in a contentious voting-rights case, Sinquefield’s role as executive counsel for Murrill’s office creates an “objective basis that would reasonably be expected to prevent” him from being impartial, she argues.

Her lawyer, Scheckman, invokes the same arguments against Sinquefield that Murrill wrote in her own requests to remove Ray from criminal cases at the 19th Judicial District Court earlier this year.

Scheckman quoted from Murrill’s recusal motion against Ray in his own motion against Sinquefield: “Recusal is appropriate most Email Quinn Coffman fundamentally because at quinn.coffman@ Judge Ray has sued Respon- theadvocate.com.

r y ou da tY o ar T St ove M

former longtime Judiciary Commission special counsel, is defending Ray before the commission. He said she’s confident in the merits of her defense and respects the judicial process.

“In the defense of the charges, it is Judge Ray’s intention to present a comprehensive case to the Commission and the Court concerning the facts and the law,” Scheckman said in a written statement.

Ray is the third judge on the 19th Judicial District Court bench to have a misconduct case reach the public stage of Judiciary Commission hearings since 2025.

Judge Eboni Johnson Rose returned to the bench last summer after a two-month, unpaid suspension that she agreed to in a consent order with the commission. And late last year, the Louisiana Supreme Court took the extraordinary step of kicking Judge Tiffany FoxworthRoberts off the bench, finding she engaged in a pattern

of falsehoods.

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6A ■ Saturday, July 11, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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TODAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Humid; a p.m. t-storm or two

Showers and a heavier t-storm

Showers and a heavier t-storm

Showers and a heavier t-storm

Some rain and a thunderstorm

Mostly sunny

HIGH

LOW

HIGH

92° 76°

LOW

HIGH

88° 75°

LOW

84° 74°

HIGH

Beaumont 92/77

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

Port Arthur 90/78

Baton Rouge 92/76

Lake Charles 92/77

10s

20s

30s

Houma 89/77

40s

50s

YESTERDAY

TODAY

READING 38 MAIN POLLUTANT Particulates

MAIN POLLUTANT Particulates

60s

70s

80s

90s 100s 110s

JUL 14

City

Atlanta Austin Boston Charlotte Chicago Dallas Denver Houston Las Vegas

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

HIGH

5:36p 11:02a 4:24a 7:35a 7:17a 6:35a 8:25a

FT.

JUL 21

Hi

89 93 78 90 83 99 95 92 110

TODAY Lo

75 75 65 72 67 80 63 77 87

FULL

LAST

JUL 29

W

t t pc t s pc s t s

AUG 5

Hi

88 94 78 88 85 95 96 91 109

SUN. Lo

73 76 65 70 64 75 65 79 88

LOW

0.18” 1.70” 1.88” 38.42” 33.88”

FT.

HIGH

0.8 4:55a -0.2 1.8 11:31p -0.5 2.1 6:24p -1.0 2.0 10:36p -0.2 1.5 6:49p -0.4 1.8 5:13p -0.7 1.9 7:51p -0.6

6:10 a.m.

8:10 p.m.

2:51 a.m.

5:47 p.m.

FIRST

GOOD

PRECIPITATION

88°/75° 92°/74° 88°/73° 100° in 1931 64° in 1947

Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today NEW

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

LOW

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

New Orleans 92/78

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

0s

Hattiesburg 94/75

Alexandria 92/75

Lafayette 92/77

HIGH

91° 74°

Baton Rouge through 5 p.m. Friday

Jackson 95/75 Many 91/73

LOW

90° 74°

TEMPERATURE

Longview 95/76

-0s

LOW

Monroe 95/76

Shreveport 95/77

-10s

HIGH

86° 73°

Once again, some of the same scattered showers and thunderstorms that we experienced yesterday will return today.

So expect a partly to mostly cloudy, hot and humid day with scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms. Some of the thunderstorms could be very strong and result in excessive rainfall that could lead to flash flooding. Temperatures this afternoon will be about where they should be, rising into the low to mid-90s. The humidity will remain high, so temperatures will feel like the triple digits.

W

t t s t s t s t pc

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

FT.

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

SOURCE: LOUISIANA DEQ AND AIRNOW.GOV

LOW

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

FT.

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

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

MAJOR MINOR MAJOR MINOR

Today 8:56a Sunday 9:55a Monday 10:56a Tuesday 11:59a Wednesday 12:32a Thursday 1:34a Friday 2:32a

City

Hi

Los Angeles 82 Miami 94 Nashville 90 New york City 81 Philadelphia 84 Phoenix 108 St. Louis 82 San Francisco 71 Seattle 73

2:40a 9:28p 3:38a 10:28p 4:40a 11:29p 5:43a 12:30p 6:46a 1:01p 7:47a 2:00p 8:44a 2:56p

TODAY Lo

65 81 72 67 69 88 70 58 54

W

pc t t t t pc t pc pc

GOOD

Hi

83 95 84 83 88 108 87 74 74

3:12p 4:12p 5:13p 6:15p 7:15p 8:13p 9:08p

SUN. Lo

67 79 72 68 66 89 67 59 53

W

pc c t s pc pc s pc pc

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

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

FLOOD STAGE

34 48 48 35 27 22 17

FRI. 24-HOUR STAGE CHANGE

9.00 41.00 43.30 27.00 17.80 13.34 9.00

-0.20 -0.46 -0.10 none -0.10 +0.09 -0.03

40

24.71

+0.46

19

-1.38

-0.06

18 29 8

-0.79 11.42 1.53

-0.10 -0.28 +0.05

13 15

3.11 1.86

+0.13 -0.25

47 34 29 20 12 6

23.55 17.93 15.39 12.40 7.00 3.38

-0.28 -0.20 -0.30 -0.03 -0.20 +0.02

data as of 7 a.m. Friday

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

Crews rescue about 20 after building collapses in Mo.

By The Associated Press REYNOLDS COUNTY, Mo. — Emergency crews rescued about 20 people in Missouri on Friday after a building collapsed in a campground following widespread flooding and heavy rainfall in the state.

The campers were on top of a building at the Bearcat Getaway campground near the Black River,

about 85 miles south of St. Louis, when it collapsed and were later rescued from the water, said Sgt. Eddie Young with the Missouri State Highway Patrol at a news conference.

The Reynolds County sheriff’s office said emergency responders had more than 90 water rescues of campers and people in cars after several inches of rain fell over-

night into the morning across a long swath of central and eastern Missouri.

The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings for the area, which got between 6 and 12 inches as thunderstorms piled on the area one after another, said Matt Beitscher, a lead meteorologist with the weather service office in St. Louis.

“It’s very, very popular place for recreation,” said Beitscher of the affected counties. “So there are campgrounds there. There are float trip locations there. A lot of vulnerable populations that would be susceptible to flash flooding.”

Gov. Mike Kehoe declared a state of emergency and activated one of the state’s search and rescue teams to assist. Several major roads were

impassable due to flooding and damage, and a helicopter from the Missouri National Guard was being used to reach stranded people, said Young.

In Reynolds County, two rescue boats capsized in the flooding, but other emergency personnel safely recovered the responders, the sheriff’s office said. A family reunification center has been set up.

Meteorologists warn of extreme heat in U.S. in week ahead

BY SETH BORENSTEIN AP science writer

Most of America’s Lower 48 states are about to swelter under an unusually large, strong and long-lasting heat dome that will spike temperatures in a way that the National Weather Service calls “significant and dangerous.”

The heat wave will start this weekend and last at least a week, with some areas feeling its effects until the end of the month, meteorologists said. Temperatures will be 15 to 25 degrees warmer than normal in many areas, including at night, they said. Hotter nighttime temperatures are especially bad for both human health and efforts to tamp down an already active wildfire season.

“This upcoming heat wave does look pretty remarkable,” said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.

“This is going to be a long duration, widespread and high-intensity heat event that’s going to affect millions of people for over a week.”

East Coast, the heat dome will shift and wobble, maybe even spreading from coast-to-coast over the next 10 days or more, they said.

Forecasters are expecting record triple-digit highs this weekend in Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.

The weather service is predicting more than 90 U.S. local temperature records will be tied or broken through Wednesday, with two-thirds being overnight heat records that can hinder how the human body recovers from broiling days.

“Nights can be just as dangerous as days. If you don’t get heat relief ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JACQUELyN MARTIN at night, that’s going to spill out into your daytime experience and Mickelina Papotto, of Salem, Ore., left, and Lorie Odegaard, of become extremely dangerous,” Gaithersburg, Md., fan themselves while waiting in line for the Ferris said meteorologist Bob Henson wheel on July 1 at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall in with Yale Climate Connections.

“Heat is not to be played with. It’s Washington. just as dangerous as a tornado or A dome of high pressure — which will trap sweltering temperatures hurricane that can kill you just as traps hot air like a pot lid while across as much as two-thirds of the easily, just in a quiet and different blocking cooling winds and rain — continental United States, three way.”

Swain said what makes this heat will initially park over the Northern meteorologists told The Associated Plains, but it will be so big that it Press. While it will initially miss the wave so different is how big a

warm shadow it will cast and how long it will persist.

In the past couple of weeks, major heat waves have caused extensive suffering in Europe, the U.S. East Coast and most recently the U.S. Southeast. Now any place in the United States that escaped the earlier July heat waves will get this one, Swain said.

Rain is likely to sneak below the southern edge of the heat dome and douse the U.S. Southeast during the daytime, setting up something strange, Climate Central meteorologist Shel Winkley said.

Because of the added moisture and humidity, the Southeast could get record-shattering nighttime heat but below-normal daytime warmth, he said.

The weather service is predicting record nighttime heat in a number of locations from Texas to Florida to North Carolina on Saturday.

Temperatures won’t drop below 80 degrees at night in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Miami; Tampa, Florida; Galveston, Texas; and Charleston, South Carolina, according to the forecast.

Wildfire devastates community in southern Spain, killing at least 12

BY SUMAN NAISHADHAM

missing, Andalusia’s regional leader Juan Manuel Moreno said.

The blaze, one of Spain’s deadliMADRID — A wildfire roared est wildfires, broke out late Thursthrough a remote expat commu- day in a semiarid area near the nity in southern Spain overnight, Sierra de Los Filabres mountains killing at least 12 people as victims in Almeria province, as the countried to flee the flames in cars and try has been dealing with soaring on foot, authorities said Friday. temperatures.

Eight people were injured and 23 Most of the victims died after Associated Press

ignoring shelter-in-place instructions, said Antonio Sanz, head of Andalusia’s emergency services.

Some tried to escape via a dry riverbed that “turned into a death trap,” he said.

Four victims were believed to be British nationals because the steering wheel of their burnedout car was on the right side, as

with British vehicles, regional authorities said. Other unspecified nationals also were believed to be among the dead, and the death toll was expected to rise, authorities said.

Seven people died while on foot after abandoning their cars, Sanz said, adding that most of the deceased were believed to be foreign

nationals.

Dean Taylor, a resident who divides his time between Spain and the U.K., said he managed to just barely escape the neighborhood by using back roads to get out.

“It was quite terrifying,” Taylor said in an interview with The Associated Press. “It’s a very sad day, isn’t it? It’s devastating, really.”

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S at u r d ay, J u ly 11, 2026

1BN

EBR Library sued over pronoun controversy Pastor says he was unlawfully fired

BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD

minated his employment a year ago because of his religious beliefs, which Ash said prevented A local pastor has filed a lawsuit him from using a co-worker’s claiming Baton Rouge’s library preferred gender pronouns. He is system unlawfully fired him after also the lead pastor at Stevendale he refused to use someone’s pre- Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, per the church’s website. ferred gender pronouns.

Ash is represented by Liberty The Rev. Luke Ash filed the suit Thursday alleging that the East Counsel, a Christian civil liberties Baton Rouge Parish Library ter- law firm, and said the library’s inStaff writer

clusivity policy violated his First Amendment rights, and his lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction declaring the policy unconstitutional.

The lawsuit also asks the court to order the library to reinstate Ash to his former position, restore his benefits and award back pay and damages.

Liberty Counsel said in a news release that a library co-worker in July 2025 asked that Ash refer to them by their preferred pronouns.

Ash told the co-worker he would

not do so due to his religious beliefs.

Shortly after this conversation, Ash’s supervisors reiterated the library’s policy, which states “all employees have the right to be addressed by their chosen name and pronouns.” According to the lawsuit, Ash said he would not lie.

The lawsuit said that after this encounter, Ash’s employment was terminated and “the library made clear to Ash that he was being terminated because of his refusal to

use preferred pronouns and nothing more.”

Ash was hired as a library technician in late March 2025, and his termination was effective July 11, 2025, according to personnel records obtained by The Advocate.

Library director Katrina Stokes said Friday that the library does not comment on employee and personnel matters.

The lawsuit also names the city

ä See LIBRARY, page 2B

KEEP A SKATE FACE

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Liam Hardin, 11, crosses the street on his cruiser board under the supervision of his mom, Whitney, in downtown Baton Rouge on Friday.

Man pleads guilty in video voyeurism of ex-partner He’ll be deported back to Honduras, officials said

BY QUINN COFFMAN

Staff writer

A Geismar man will serve only a few months in jail for having placed spy cameras in an ex-partner’s attic, but the short plea deal will expedite his deportation back to Honduras, prosecutors said.

Angel Rodriguez, 46, pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of video voyeurism and a count of simple burglary. He was sentenced to seven months in prison for each charge, to run concurrently.

East Baton Rouge Assistant District Attorney Quoc-Huu Nguyen said in court that the plea was made to hasten Rodriguez’s release to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation back to Honduras, his nation of origin.

ä See GUILTY, page 2B

SpaceX among attendees at La. ‘summit’ Speculation over company’s plans swirls

BY MIKE SMITH Staff writer

Two SpaceX representatives attended a recent “summit” in Baton Rouge with senior officials from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Gov. Jeff Landry’s administration, another potential signal of interest in a Louisiana expansion by Elon Musk’s rocket company.

The meeting on June 26 was primarily aimed at discussing ways to speed permitting and other regulatory steps for projects, which often require Corps involvement and approval. The meeting included a broad range of attendees Musk from government agencies, ports, contractors, industry associations and relevant nonprofits.

Two SpaceX representatives involved in governmental and regulatory matters participated, including one, Owen McDonough, who specialized in water and wet-

lands issues for the Environmental Protection Agency during President Donald Trump’s first term.

Michael Hare, executive director of the state’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, said he invited McDonough because he knew him from previous work and believed he could provide valuable insight into regulations surrounding water and wetlands issues. The other SpaceX representative, Brandon Conroy, was involved in required environmental mitigation efforts

related to the company’s “Starbase” industrial and launch facility near Brownsville, Texas.

Hare said there was no discussion of potential SpaceX projects in Louisiana at the event and that McDonough and Conroy came for the same reason as did other attendees: to provide insight and suggestions on how to overcome bottlenecks in the federal regulatory process. Hare has previously worked in Washington and has specialized on mitigation issues.

“I just consider him a national expert on wetland policy,” Hare

ä See SPACEX, page 2B

Longtime WAFB news anchor to leave station Elizabeth Vowell to join LSU faculty

BY IANNE SALVOSA Staff writer

Elizabeth Vowell, a longtime news anchor for WAFB, will leave the station next month to take a job with LSU. She will become director of LSU’s Office of Student Media on Aug. 17 after serving as an adjunct professor at the university

since 2022. Vowell told the local CBS affiliate earlier this year that she was seeking a different role to spend more time with her family, according to the station.

“It has been a privilege to serve my community Vowell through WAFB,” Vowell said in an announcement released by WAFB. “It’s not easy to say goodbye, but I’m excited for my next chapter helping shape young journalists and for the

chance to spend more time with my family.”

Throughout her career at WAFB, Vowell has produced award-winning coverage, including documentaries on the opioid epidemic, the impacts of driving under the influence and the historic flooding in 2016. During that time, she has earned accolades from the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters, the Telly Awards, the national and regional Edward

R. Murrow Awards and Regional Emmy Awards.

Vowell earned a bachelor’s in broadcast journalism from the University of Mississippi. She came to WAFB in 2012 after spending two years at WLOX, the ABC station in Biloxi, Mississippi. She started as a morning reporter at the station, and later moved to the medical beat before becoming a senior reporter.

She currently anchors three of WAFB’s weekday evening broadcasts.

2B ■ Saturday, July 11, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

Man arrested after allegedly shooting two people A Baton Rouge man was arrested Friday after allegedly shooting a man and a woman during a traffic altercation, while four children were in their car.

Jonathan Williams, 44, faces two CRIME counts of attemptBLOTTER ed first-degree murder, along with staff aggravated crimireports nal damage to property and illegal use of a weapon. He is being held in the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

According to Baton Rouge police, at about 7:19 p.m. on June 24, the victims were stopped at the intersection of Scenic Highway and North Street talking to someone when Williams approached their vehicle from behind while repeatedly honking.

The woman said a verbal altercation occurred, during which Williams exited the car with a handgun and began firing multiple

rounds at the male victim. Afterward, he turned the gun on her and continued firing, police said.

The woman tried to retreat to her vehicle, where her four children were sitting; however, she fell to the ground after being struck once in the back of the head. The man sustained about five gunshot wounds.

Man accused of shooting neighbor eight times Baton Rouge police arrested Tyzerrian Castle this week on attempted murder charges after he allegedly shot his neighbor eight times while returning a stolen PlayStation in August.

According to the arrest warrant, Castle, 24, allegedly first stole the PlayStation from his neighbor on Aug. 23. Both men lived in an apartment complex in the 7000 block of Plank Road. Castle lived two floors from the victim’s apart-

ment, and security cameras confirmed that Castle and an unidentified subject were walking away holding a bag, police said.

The neighbor and Castle had known each other for about six months, and the neighbor immediately texted Castle asking for the console back, according to the arrest warrant. After an initial denial, Castle admitted to stealing the PlayStation and stated that he would return it immediately, according to the affidavit.

Castle and the neighbor agreed to meet at 2 a.m. on the next day, Aug. 24, 2025, in the 600 block of North Ardenwood Drive, police said.

After Castle arrived at the agreed-upon location, he allegedly entered the neighbor’s passenger seat. The neighbor asked for his belongings back. While the two were talking, an unidentified individual armed with a rifle pulled on the car door, demanding the neighbor get out of the car, police said.

Police, around 7:20 a.m., a 2026 Freightliner box truck driven by 30-year-old Brandon Koehnke, of Denham Springs, was traveling west on La. 42. At the same time, a Toyota Highlander, driven by 64-year-old Linda Watts with 62-year-old Joseph Watts in the passenger seat, was traveling east.

The Freightliner crossed the centerline in a right-hand curve and struck the Highlander, according to a news release from State Police. Linda and Joseph Watts suffered fatal injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene.

Koehnke sustained minor injuries, and whether he was impaired is unknown at this time.

After being released from the hospital, Koehnke was booked into the Livingston Parish DetenA fatal crash on La. 42, west of tion Center on two counts of negOliver Wheat Road in Livingston ligent homicide and one count of Parish, killed a wife and husband improper lane usage. early Friday morning.

The crash remains under invesAccording to the Louisiana State tigation.

The neighbor quickly drove away, then Castle pulled out a handgun and told him to stop the vehicle, the affidavit stated. The neighbor stopped the car and wrestled over the gun while pleading with Castle to leave the car, police said.

After Castle exited the car, he went to the driver’s side of the car and shot at the neighbor eight times, hitting his side, left leg, stomach area and parts of the car.

The neighbor survived the shooting.

Castle is also charged with illegal use of a weapon and aggravated criminal damage to property.

Crash in Livingston Parish kills 2, driver arrested

Landry, Moreno trade barbs over money, politics GUILTY

Continued from page 1B

Friday. was withdrawing the city’s re- Landry letter N.O. mayor requests she “I understand your desire not to quest to have the State Bond Comapprove a $110 million Landry also sent a letter to leg- trade public letters, as that seems meeting with governor mission bond sale for New Orleans next islative leaders on Friday telling to be an indictable offense in the

BY TYLER BRIDGES

week because she heard from Republican friends that the commission would reject it.

She also said that state leaders “seeking to defund New Orleans to punish, weaken or destroy it must face the harsh truth and consequences that, ultimately, doing so is self-harm to Louisiana.”

In her social media Landry post Friday, she included a video clip of Mike Waguespack, the Louisiana legislative auditor, telling Landry last year that the city would need additional funds this year.

In her letter to the governor Thursday night, she said that not having Moreno access to the additional funds for the rest of 2026 would force city officials to delay infrastructure projects, institute $20 million in budget cuts and continue furloughs of city employees.

“I commend the City for now taking the more fiscally responsible approach,” Landry responded, in his only positive comment to Moreno in his tweet Friday aimed at her.

Waguespack, a certified public accountant and former sheriff, said in an interview Friday that the city’s request to sell bonds would not cost state taxpayers anything unless, in a worst-case scenario, the city defaulted on the bonds.

This would hurt the state’s overall bond rating, he added.

The city’s request before the State Bond Commission, Waguespack said, “is simply a legal and procedural authorization, it’s not financial backing.”

them that he has asked Waguespack to study why the Sewerage & Water Board has moved so slowly to repair Decatur Street in New Orleans.

Three businesses there have said the delays have turned that stretch of the French Quarter into a ghost town, forcing them to shut down.

Moreno has also been criticizing the S&WB for moving too slowly to finish the work.

Jay Dardenne, a Republican who served in the state Senate and as secretary of state, lieutenant governor and as then-Gov. John Bel Edwards’ top budget official, lamented Landry’s unwillingness to meet with Moreno.

“Any time a party is not willing to talk with an opposing side about an issue that could be resolved is not a good thing,” Dardenne said.

“We ought to be about trying to work together for the common good for everybody in Louisiana.

That speaks for people in New Orleans, for people who feel offended

by Republicans and Republicans who think the indictment is a politically motivated attack on them.”

Dardenne was referring to the indictment of Attorney General Liz Murrill, handed down by an Orleans Parish grand jury last week.

It has intensified tensions between New Orleans officials and Republicans elsewhere in the state.

The grand jury indicted Murrill on 16 felony counts for writing a letter to Moreno and other city officials that they called threatening.

Landry trolled Moreno on this

City of New Orleans,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, Murrill appears to continue to feel aggrieved by a grand jury indictment of her.

On Thursday night, she released a statement saying the city didn’t have the means to pay back the $110 million in bonds over the 16year term period.

“That request was dead on arrival,” she said pointedly.

The Attorney General’s Office on Thursday filed a public records request to the city asking for documents related to the decision by Moreno and the City Council to bolster their slim reserves by selling the next nine years of revenue from its lease with Caesars’ casino. In exchange, the city received $103 million.

On Friday, the Attorney General’s Office didn’t respond to a query on the reason for the public records request.

On Thursday, Landry wrote Moreno that the deal cost the city $50 million in future lease payments, “a decision that is tantamount to the largest ‘pay day loan’ by a municipality in recent times.”

One Republican who voiced support for the city and Moreno was Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, who noted in his role as the state’s chief tourism promoter that millions of people visit New Orleans every year.

“Mayor Moreno and her administration have worked hard to get New Orleans moving in the right direction,” Nungesser said in a statement Thursday night. “We should all be focused on building on that momentum by working together. At the end of the day, this is about doing what’s best for the people of Louisiana.”

A spokesperson for the Mayor’s Office declined to comment.

Continued from page 1B “The East Baton Rouge Parish Library violated the U.S. Constitution and Louisiana law for requirof Baton Rouge, the Metro Coun- ing Pastor Ash to refer to a female cil and library board of control as employee by masculine pronouns and then firing him for upholddefendants.

ing his religious beliefs,” Liberty Counsel Founder Mat Staver said.

“The library also violated Title VII for not even considering a religious accommodation for Pastor Ash.” Following Ash’s termination in July 2025, several of Louisiana’s

top GOP leaders weighed in on the situation and criticized the library’s decision.

Gov. Jeff Landry, in reference to Ash’s firing, said on X that “Louisiana is the real world, and in the real world, preferred pronouns don’t exist — only biological ones!”

Staff writer

Gov. Jeff Landry showed no interest Friday in New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno’s request the night before to have the two of them hash out their escalating differences over money and politics.

Landry jabbed her in a tweet Friday for having sought state approval to hold a bond sale for the cash-strapped city.

It confirmed to him, he wrote, that the city is treating the state “as an ATM” to balance its budget.

He added, “Please remember the State and its citizens are not an ATM on Bourbon Street!”

Moreno responded several hours later with a digital media post where she once again asked to sit down with him.

“Governor, let’s find a way for New Orleans to be successful so that the state can be successful as well,” she said from her City Hall office.

“As goes the city of New Orleans, so goes the state of Louisiana.”

Moreno ended by jabbing him back.

“Happy to meet you anywhere, even on Bourbon Street, and you can show me your favorite ATM machine,” she said, barely suppressing a smile.

Upper hand Landry has the upper hand in this dispute with Moreno because she has inherited a budget shortfall from her predecessor, LaToya Cantrell, and the city needs authorization to borrow money or sell bonds from the State Bond Commission — populated by the governor’s Republican legislative allies.

On Thursday, Moreno announced

LIBRARY

SPACEX

“LED doesn’t comment on prospective projects,” said agency spokesperson Emma Wagner.

Continued from page 1B

Reducing red tape said of McDonough, who was involved in developing a wetlands policy in the first Trump administration known as the Waters of the U.S., or WOTUS. “He just happens to work at SpaceX, and so that was the easy button I hit on inviting him there.”

Hare said the summit would help Louisiana projects, but that the issues discussed are relevant on a national level and that he organized the meeting with that in mind.

“This is really meant to help inform national policy,” he said.

Clearing the way SpaceX’s attendance, however, comes as the state appears to be clearing a path for aerospace development in Louisiana. State legislators this past session approved incentives designed to attract such companies and another measure granting them broad immunity from lawsuits. Lawmakers also granted them exemptions from public records laws related to critical infrastructure.

The state’s recent deal with Exxon to settle long-standing coastal

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By DAVID J. PHILLIP

SpaceX representatives joined officials in Baton Rouge to discuss regulatory processes and potential expansion opportunities in Louisiana.

The meeting aimed to streamline permitting procedures and foster collaboration between government agencies, industry stakeholders and environmental experts. damages lawsuits also heightened speculation over whether SpaceX is interested in large tracts of coastal land in Vermilion Parish. Exxon owns the land, which it had initially intended to use for carbon capture, and removing legal liability connected with it could ease a sale.

McDonough and Conroy did not

respond to requests for comment, nor did SpaceX’s media affairs office. The Governor’s Office also did not respond to requests for comment.

Louisiana Economic Development, the state’s business promotion arm, declined to comment on any potential discussions with SpaceX.

Any potential SpaceX development, particularly along the coast, would likely require permits from the Corps. Rene Poche, a spokesperson for the Corps’ New Orleans district, said the agency has not received any permit applications from SpaceX and has not held discussions with the company on the topic.

The June event, dubbed the “Summit at Sea Level,” was billed as a first-of-its-kind between the Corps and local leaders. Corps leadership at both the national and local levels attended, including Army Assistant Secretary for Civil Works Adam Telle.

The meeting concluded with a Q-and-A session between Telle and Landry. The Corps and CPRA issued a joint statement on Thursday detailing areas targeted for improvements and describing a plan to address them.

“Attendees from across the public and private sectors together identified 19 priority actions designed to tear down administrative red tape, align complex permitting requirements and significantly shorten project delivery timelines,” it said.

“If it was not for your immigration status, I would not be giving you the sentence I’m giving you,” Judge Carson Marcantel said during sentencing.

“I find your actions inexcusable and despicable. I would be giving you the maximum that I could have given you on these charges.”

Rodriguez was arrested on Dec. 16 after a woman with whom he had previously had a sexual relationship called police to report finding two cameras hidden in her attic that were pointed through air vents down toward her bedroom and bathroom.

The woman told police she was having trouble sleeping due to a noise she couldn’t identify. Then one day, she saw what appeared to be a camera lens through a ceiling air vent in her bedroom.

When she entered the attic, she found wiring running from above her bedroom to an area above her living room, according to a warrant for Rodriguez’s arrest.

In court, Nguyen said one of the cameras was pointed toward the victim’s bathroom.

She suspected that her former partner, Rodriguez, had placed them there, telling police she had ended their casual relationship two months before, when Rodriguez had asked her to date. He reportedly did not take this well, continuing to text her persistently and make unannounced visits to her house.

The victim suspected Rodriguez had planted the spy cameras in October 2025, the last time he had been to her house.

That day, Rodriguez had texted the victim, saying he was coming over for sex, and disregarding her texts that he should stay away.

Rodriguez entered a closed garage door using a code he knew, but found the interior garage door locked, according to his arrest affidavit. He then accessed the building’s attic through the garage and used it to move inside the home.

The victim wasn’t aware Rodriguez had entered inside until he kicked down her bedroom door, coming inside and grabbing her, she told police.

She further told police that Rodriguez had said, “Angel gets what Angel wants, and I want sex. I haven’t had sex in three weeks.”

She pushed him away and fled the home, but instructed Rodriguez the following day to repair the broken bedroom door.

He repaired the door while she wasn’t at home, and the victim believes it was then that he placed the cameras in her attic, his warrant said.

Detectives with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office obtained a search warrant for the two cameras, finding that a number tied to Rodriguez was used to register the Amazon account linked to the cameras.

Email Quinn Coffman at quinn.coffman@theadvocate. com.

LOTTERY

THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2026 PICK 3: 8-6-1 PICK 4: 4-9-9-1 PICK 5: 9-2-0-8-0

Unofficial notification, keep your tickets.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Saturday, July 11, 2026 ■ 3B

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4B ■ Saturday, July 11, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

Funerals Today Anderson, Rochelle

Parkview Baptist Church at 2 p.m.

Bajoie, Lawrence

St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 1120 Myrtle Walk Avenue, at noon.

Crain, Patrick

Feliciana Baptist Church in Clinton at 11 a.m.

Davidson, Ellen

MJR Friendly Service Funeral Home, 7803 Florida Boulevard in Denham Springs, at 10 a.m.

Evans, Carolyn

Winnfield Funeral Home (North Chapel), 7221 Plank Road, at 11 a.m.

Holmes, Randell

Saintsville C.O.G.I.C., 8930 Plank Road, at 11 a.m.

Hudson, Thomas

Winnfield Funeral Home at 11 a.m.

Joseph, Linda

Hall Davis and Son Celebration Center, 9348 Scenic Highway, at 10 a.m.

Ketelsen, Patricia

University United Methodist Church, 3350 Dalrymple Drive, at 11 a.m.

Menier, Susan

First Baptist Church in Denham Springs at 11 a.m.

Ray, Jan

St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 8833 Goodwood Boulevard, at 10 a.m.

Richardson, Rose

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, 502 E. Highway 30 in Gonzales, at 10 a.m.

Robins, Sallie

Jordan United Methodist Church, 4619 Stearns Street, at 11 a.m.

Shackelford, John

St. Andrew's United Methodist Church, 17510 Monitor Avenue, at 11 a.m.

Stevens, Patsy

Our Lady of Mercy at 11 a.m.

Travis, Georgia

Comite Baptist Church, 12250 Greenwell Springs Road, at 10 a.m.

Williams Jr., Alphonse

St. Gabriel Catholic Church, 3625 LA-75 in St. Gabriel, at 11 a.m.

Obituaries Jenkins, Judith 'Judy'

Judith "Judy," affectionately known as "JuJu,"

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Jenkins passed away peacefully on June 30, 2026, at the age of 81. Born on August 4, 1944, in St. Amant, Louisiana, Judy was a longtime resident of White Castle, Louisiana.

She was a devoted wife, loving mother, cherished sister, and faithful friend whose greatest joy came from the people she loved.

Judy will be remembered for her kind heart, gentle spirit, unwavering strength, and the warmth she shared with everyone she met. Her life was a beautiful reflection of love, compassion, and selflessness. Judy was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Emerald "Bubba" Jenkins; her beloved son, Craig Thomas Jenkins; and her parents, Beatrice Lindsay Guercio and Jimmy Joseph Savoy as well as her step father Sam Guercio. She leaves behind to cherish her memory her sisters, Rose Mary Johnson and Ruth Cedotal; her brothers, Jim Savoy and Tim Guercio; along with many nieces, nephews, extended family members, lifelong friends, and all whose lives were blessed by knowing her. Though our hearts grieve her absence, we find comfort in knowing that Judy's faith has become sight and that she has been welcomed into the presence of her Savior, Jesus Christ. The love she gave so freely will continue to live on in the hearts of her family and friends, and her memory will be treasured for generations to come. A Celebration of Life will be at a later date.

Smith, Daisy Eileen Gates

Daisy Eileen Gates Smith, a lifelong resident of Livingston died July 9, 2026. She was born November 25, 1926, to the late Henry Gates and Pearl Sickles Gates. She was an honor graduate of Doyle High School. As a member of the "Greatest Generation", she worked diligently for the war effort on the "home front" as her future husband fought in the Pacific during WWII. On August 23, 1947, she married Charley Ross Smith. Their lives served as a wonderful example for their family as they both worked hard, lived for the Lord, and loved their family and friends. Daisy was a charter member of Bethel Baptist Church, an honorary lifetime member of the Livingston Parish Fair Association, and a retired clerk of

the parish health unit in Livingston.

She was preceded in death by her husband: Charley; her parents: her mother-in-law: Inez Lard; a son-in-law: Kenny Barksdale; four sisters: Bea Hood, Pearl McDonald, Lucy Brister, and Goldie Breland; and one brother: Al Gates.

She is survived by her daughters: Jennifer Smith Goodwin and Cynthia S. Barksdale Dill (John); her son: Keith Russell Smith; her beloved grandchildren: Ashley Smith, Alan Barksdale and wife, Brooke, Trish Mack, Rachel Barksdale, and Matthew Barksdale and wife, Lizzie. Great -grandchildren: Cole Mack, Lexi Mack, Whitney Smith, Easton Barksdale, Katherine Barksdale, Charleigh Barksdale, Everly Barksdale, Kenleigh Barksdale, Barrett Barksdale, and Harper Barksdale. She is also survived by many dear nieces and nephews including, Tim, Sylvia, and Vicky Hill whom she raised from a young age.

Seale Funeral Services were entrusted with final arrangements and care.

Visitation will begin at 2PM at Bethel Baptist Church, Sunday July 12, 2026, until time for funeral service at 3:30PM. A private burial will immediately follow.

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

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Even if you’ve had quality dental work in the past, you shouldn’t take your dental health for granted. In fact, your odds of having a dental problem only go up as you age.2

Early detection can prevent small problems from becoming expensive ones.

The best way to prevent large dental bills is preventive care. The American Dental Association recommends checkups twice a year.

Treatment is expensive — especially the services people over 50 often need.

Consider these national average costs of treatment ... $274 for a checkup ... $299 for a filling ... $1,471 for a crown.3 Unexpected bills like this can be a real burden, especially if you’re on a fixed income.

1 “Medicare & You,” Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2025. 2 “Aging changes in teeth and gums”, medlineplus.gov, 4/17/2022. 3 FairHealth, Inc. National average dental fees. Data current as of July 2025; subject to change.

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BUSINESS

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Saturday, July 11, 2026 ■ 5B

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

DOW 52,637.01 149.60 0.28%

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BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

China blocks exports of helium, key for chips

HONG KONG — China on Friday said it is temporarily blocking the export of helium, a key element for chipmaking, as the Iran war’s escalation adds to global supply disruptions.

China’s commerce ministry and its customs agency said in a brief statement that they are imposing a temporary export ban on helium, effective immediately, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Foreign Trade Law of the People’s Republic of China.

They did not elaborate further on the reasons.

Helium is crucial for semiconductor manufacturing, and is also used in the medical sector such as in the cooling of MRI machines. Since the Iran war began in late February, global helium supply has been disrupted and prices have gone up substantially.

China only produces about 15% or less of its own helium, importing much of it from Qatar, which generates roughly one-third of the world’s supply, according to estimates cited in a research note by the consultancy Trivium China.

China is looking to protect its industries as global supply of helium has become “very tight,” said Gary Ng, a senior economist at the French bank Natixis.

“Such an export control measure is intended to protect the local industry, especially as it is critical to chipmaking,” he said. It is imposing the measure likely more to secure supply for local usage than for political reasons, Ng said.

The move comes at a time when China is stepping up its self-sufficiency capabilities in chipmaking and artificial intelligence as its technology race with the U.S. heats up.

It is not known when global helium supply will return to normal, said Cameron Johnson, a senior partner at Shanghaibased consultancy Tidalwave Solutions.

Kia launches new recall for 463,000 Tellurides NEW YORK — Kia America has issued a new recall for nearly 463,000 of its Telluride SUVs, urging owners to again park their vehicles outside and away from buildings after several customers reported fires following previous repairs.

The recall, announced this week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, replaces a prior one Kia initiated in 2024. Certain Tellurides from the 2020-24 model years are affected, with the NHTSA warning that the front power seat motor of these vehicles may overheat due to a stuck slide knob.

That could result in a fire while the car is parked or being driven. And even after Kia rolled out a remedy in 2024, recall documents note several customers filed complaints of alleged fires underneath the passenger seat.

The automaker investigated other vehicles that had received the prior repair and identified “sporadic dealer workmanship issues” — later deciding to initiate a new recall.

Between October 2024 and April 2026, Kia North America’s safety office identified 18 incidents involving either localized seat fires or melting of the seat motor, per recall documents. No associated injuries or crashes have been reported.

In a statement, Kia America noted that “an external impact with excessive force” to the vehicles’ front power seat side cover or slide knob could cause their switch to become dislodged or otherwise damaged — resulting in overheating if the motor continues to be used over time. To prevent this, Kia’s new fix will be for dealers to install an electronic fuse assembly, free of charge.

That remedy will be available in early August, according to an advanced dealer notice published by the NHTSA. And owner notification letters are set to be mailed starting Aug. 13.

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EU demands Facebook design changes

commission overseeing tech. “Pro‘Addictive features’ must be disabled to meet social media law, it says tecting the physical and mental

BY KELVIN CHAN

Associated Press

The European Union accused Meta on Friday of breaching its social media law by designing Facebook and Instagram to get users hooked, and demanded it disable “key addictive features” like infinite scrolling.

The EU’s executive arm issued a fresh set of charges against Meta Platforms as part of its investigation under the 27-nation bloc’s strict digital rule book known as the Digital Services Act. The sweeping set of regulations from Brussels requires tech platforms to protect internet users under threat of hefty fines.

The European Commission said Meta failed to properly assess the risks its design features pose to the physical and mental health of users, including minors. And while the company has tools and controls to help manage Facebook and Instagram use, it said they were easily overridden, dismissed, or technically challenging to use.

Meta “needs to implement design changes” to Instagram and Facebook, such as disabling “key addictive features” like autoplay of videos and infinite scroll so they’re not turned on by default, the commission said in its preliminary findings.

Meta now has the chance to respond and defend itself before the commission issues its final deci-

sion, which could result in a fine worth up to 6% of the company’s global annual revenue.

Meta said Friday that the preliminary findings do not recognize the steps that the company has already taken to protect teens.

“Since this investigation began, we rolled out Teen Accounts that automatically protect teens and put parents in control — allowing them to block access to Instagram at night and cap daily screen time at just 15 minutes,” Meta said in a prepared statement.

Europe is committed to enforcing its legislation that holds platforms accountable for addictive design features, said Henna Virkkunen, an executive vice-president at the

health of Europeans must be a priority for social media platforms,” Virkkunen said in a statement.

Facebook and Instagram design features, including personalized recommendations and push notifications, serve up an endless stream of content, putting users’ brains on “autopilot” and fueling compulsive use, the commission said.

Meanwhile, screen time controls that parents can impose on their teens’ devices can be “easily dismissed” and don’t result in a meaningful reduction of use, the commission said. And the controls are undermined by the technical expertise, time and effort that parents need to understand and use them, it said.

SK Hynix rises 13% in debut Demand for memory chips soars amid AI frenzy

BY DAMIAN J. TROISE Associated Press

NEW YORK — Shares of South Korean memory chipmaker SK Hynix rose 13.1% as they made their debut on Wall Street, at a time when demand for chips is surging thanks to the frenzy around artificial intelligence.

The company is already one of the largest in South Korea, along with Samsung Electronics, and is a member of the Kospi index.

Even with a recent pullback, the country’s Kospi index is up 77% so far this year and SK Hynix shares have more than tripled.

SK Hynix priced its American depositary receipts, or ADRs, at $149 each Thursday.

They opened Friday at $170 and closed at $168.49. The offering of 177.9 million ADRs raised proceeds of $26.5 billion, making it the biggest-ever initial share sale in the U.S. by a foreign company. An ADR is issued by a bank or broker and is a simplified way for U.S. investors to own foreign stocks through the U.S. markets.

SK Hynix is going public in the U.S. amid a surge in IPO proceeds. There were 48 IPOs raising a total of $104.8 billion during the second quarter, according to Renaissance Capital. It is the biggest quarter for deal proceeds in five years, in large part because of SpaceX raising $75 billion. Many of the companies going public are capitalizing on the demand for all things AI. SK Hynix has a dominant position globally for high bandwidth memory, which is essential for the development of advanced AI technology. The company recently entered a partnership with Wall Street’s most valuable company, Nvidia, for advanced memory

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By AHN yOUNG-JOON

A currency trader watches monitors near a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics Co. stock price at the foreign exchange dealing room of the Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, on Thursday. chips as AI infrastructure expands globally.

Increasing demand for AI has been driving a surge in profits for chipmakers. Memory chips have become more expensive as demand outpaces supply along with the advancement of artificial intelligence technology. Technology giant Apple recently announced an increase in prices for Macs and iPads because of the jump in price for memory chips.

The U.S. is SK Hynix’s largest market, accounting for 68.8% of its revenue last year. It is planning an expansion that includes build-

ing its first U.S. production facility, located in Indiana. Overall, the company had revenue of just under $65 billion in 2025. That helped profits double to about $28 billion.

The company recently joined with Samsung and the government in announcing plans to invest a combined $518 billion in building a new computer chipmaking hub in South Korea’s southwest region, part of national efforts to expand investment beyond the greater Seoul metropolitan area, the country’s economic center and heart of its semiconductor sector.

Wall Street shows it’s hungry for AI winners

BY STAN CHOE Associated Press

NEW YORK — U.S. stocks ticked higher Friday after Wall Street showed its appetite is still big for winners of the artificial-intelligence boom.

The S&P 500 rose 0.4% to close out its fourth winning week in the last five. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 149 points, or 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.3%.

That’s led to sharp recent

swings for AI stocks, which have grown into some of Wall Street’s most influential because of their huge sizes.

Nvidia was the strongest single force lifting the S&P 500 Friday after rising 4%.

Delta Air Lines said it was able to absorb higher fuel prices from April through June because of strong demand from customers to fly, including a wide range of corporate travelers. That helped it report profit and revenue for the spring that topped analysts’

expectations, and it gave a forecasted range for upcoming profit in the summer whose midpoint was above analysts’ expectations. Delta’s stock fell 1.8%, though, after coming into the day with a strong 28.2% rise for the year so far.

Companies across industries will need to produce big growth in profits to justify the big moves for their stock prices, which are broadly near records.

Elsewhere on Wall Street, Circle Internet Group rose 5%. The

company behind the USDC cryptocurrency, which is supposed to keep the value of $1, said it won U.S. regulatory approval to establish a bank. It will operate under the name Circle National Trust, and CEO Jeremy Allaire said the move “marks a defining step in bringing blockchain technology and digital assets into the core of the U.S. financial system.”

WD-40’s stock jumped 10.6% after reporting much stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected.

Apple accuses ChatGPT maker OpenAI of stealing trade secrets

BY KAITLYN HUAMANI and MATT O’BRIEN AP technology writers

Apple on Friday accused OpenAI of stealing trade secrets as it seeks to build its own hardware for ChatGPT, a major rupture in a partnership between the iPhone maker and the artificial intelligence company.

Apple said in the lawsuit filed in a California federal court that the theft of its trade secrets was part of a “coordinated pattern of misconduct at an institutional level”

by OpenAI. “This case is about Apple’s former employees stealing Apple’s trade secrets for the benefit of OpenAI,” the filing says. “Apple brings this suit to put a stop to it.”

Two former Apple employees who now work for OpenAI are also named as defendants. One is Tang Tan, who helped design the iPhone, Apple Watch and iPod and is now OpenAI’s chief hardware officer.

The other is Chang Liu, a former electrical engineer Apple says it entrusted with some of its most sensitive product development efforts before Liu left Apple to join OpenAI earlier this year.

OpenAI did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By DAVID ZALUBOWSKI OpenAI has never said exactly A shopper looks over Apple MacBook laptops on display in a Costco what type of device it is building warehouse on June 2 in Sheridan, Colo. Apple said in a lawsuit Friday but has described it as an effort to find a new way of interacting with that former employees were stealing trade secrets for OpenAI. AI that goes beyond “traditional products and interfaces.” It’s part advances, a decade after Amazon The lawsuit claims the effort of a broader push to create a physi- and Google introduced screen-free was built partly on knowledge stocal embodiment of the latest AI talking speakers into homes. len from Apple.

6B ■ Saturday, July 11, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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OPINION T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M/opinions

ANOTHER VIEW

The next American revolution is already here Recently, we looked back tance for the disadvantaged, at the American Revolution. higher taxes on the rich and Now it’s time to look ahead an array of free or subsito the next revolution aldized social services. These proposals will appeal to the ready taking shape. left, especially newly enerThis new revolution won’t be fought with muskets and gized Democratic Socialists. cannon, but with code, modThey will also find support among others who are els and automated less liberal, but who workflows. Sparked are losing jobs and caby artificial intelligence, it will fuse reers due to AI. technology, economEconomic conservaics and government tives need to be on policy in ways we’re guard; they have big Ron only beginning to fights ahead of them.

Faucheux Voters will demand acunderstand.

Seen by many as tion, and that usually mysterious and creepy, AI is means more spending, taxes imposing new demands on and bureaucracy. Democrats an unprepared government. will be comfortable in that It’s setting off alarms loud political environment; Reenough for both parties to publicans won’t. hear.

So, what will Republicans AI should lift productivity. offer? Economic growth and It will also bring fear and government reform could be churn to the job market. It popular solutions. But concould dislocate millions of servatives must spell out exworkers, widen the wealth actly how these policies will gap and further strain our directly help those in need; limping democracy. if they can’t do that, DemoThe size and speed of the crats will have the edge.

AI transformation remain One idea that may gain uncertain, but its scale will traction is “universal babe revolutionary. Goldman sic income” (UBI), which Sachs says two-thirds of would give all Americans occupations could face siga monthly check without the need to perform work. nificant AI exposure within Numerous entrepreneurs, a decade. The Organization investors and pundits have for Economic Co-operation floated various forms of UBI and Development finds to cushion against economic higher-wage, knowledge workers to be most exposed. disruptions caused by AI. This includes Elon Musk, McKinsey estimates nearly who says it will be “necesa third of U.S. work hours could be automated. Imagine sary” as AI automates work. the ripple effects.

UBI would appeal to Politicians aren’t driving politicians looking for a fast this change; technology is. fix. But UBI would cost a AI will force government fortune to implement — as to think and act differently. much as $4 trillion a year — It will put a premium on making it an awfully big bet. competence, efficiency and That’s why hard quesnimbleness in public agentions need to be asked about cies. Americans won’t need a UBI and other new safety net proposals: Would they technical manual to protect change the nation’s work themselves, but a new viethic? Would they swell the sion for managing governnational debt beyond what ment and safeguarding the the economy and currency economy. can stand? What other proMany agencies can’t untangle yesterday’s IT grams could be cut to offset problems, much less master costs? today’s surging computing Expensive social welfare power. That’s why we must proposals would likely face ask: Does government — stiff opposition from the federal, state and local — right, but an economic crisis have the capacity to handle could force Congress to get what’s coming? the ball rolling on one or One challenge cannot be some of them, even when dodged: reform of civil sermany members are disinvice, the system government clined to do so. Remember uses to hire, fire and comhow fiscal conservatives during the pandemic relucpensate public employees.

AI will eliminate the need tantly voted for pumped-up for hundreds of thousands of unemployment benefits and government jobs and create rounds of cash giveaways the need for new ones. that sent deficits and debt Civil service must make into orbit? sweeping changes to job They say never waste a descriptions, recruitment ef- crisis, but they should also forts, training and pay scales ask, how much will it really cost? to keep up.

The next revolution has AI rewards speed and flexstarted. Whether it renews ibility; civil service, with its America or hardens its diviendless paperwork, doesn’t.

That will put Democrats in sions depends on whether a political bind; do they sup- we can match the speed of port necessary reforms even technology with the light of wisdom. if they offend their allies in public employee unions?

But Democrats have plen- Ron Faucheux is a nonpartity off-the-shelf remedies to san political analyst, pollster reduce AI’s negative effects: and writer based in LouisiMedicare for All, cash assis- ana.

YOUR VIEWS

Pay attention to storm surge protection projects

End sale of flavored tobacco to protect La. minors

ing them. The saltwater infusion issue will continue to harm the communities of the delta and possibly locations further upriver.

The destruction of thousands of acres of east bank oyster and associated fisheries continues.

The completed Neptune crevasse USACE structure was not designed to accomplish storm surge protection. That structure is said to be currently sinking.

Timely mitigation by elevated temporary structures constructed utilizing sheet piling effectively solves the issue. The sheet piling can be easily removed at some point of that process or remain. Permanent sheet piling structures were constructed in Lafitte and Lake Borne postKatrina projects.

In May, the Food and Drug Administration announced that it authorized four flavored e-cigarette products, including mango and blueberry flavors. This marks the first time the FDA has authorized a flavored e-cigarette product (other than menthol and tobacco flavors) and it’s very concerning for the health of our kids.

After years of recognizing the dangers flavored e-cigarettes pose to youth, it is deeply troubling to see the FDA ignore the scientific evidence and reverse course. According to the FDA’s own report, youth often start vaping because of flavored products, including fruit flavors. One in 10 middle school students and 1 in 5 high school students in Louisiana currently use a tobacco product. More than 70% of youth initiate tobacco use by vaping.

Proven policies like comprehensive flavored tobacco laws, high tobacco taxes, strong smokefree laws and public education campaigns work. We have done a tremendous job in reducing smoking over the last 50 years and even saw a 70% decrease in youth e-cigarette use from 2019 to 2024. But we cannot go backward.

With the FDA failing to protect our kids from tobacco use, Louisiana lawmakers must take action to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products to protect the health and safety of our youngest residents.

The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority is currently stressing storm surge mitigation projects. Timely elevated structures are the only adequate method of accomplishing that goal. A 10- to 15-foot storm surge event will cause severe damage to the span of populated areas only protected by various low landforms.

The CPRA is trying to accomplish effective storm surge protection through the construction of adequate mitigation projects.

Can that be achieved within the CPRA guidelines and budget?

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can construct the necessary projects to accomplish that goal. They are currently not doing that based on the support of the many Mississippi River crevasses by not adequately clos-

KENNETH RAGAS New Orleans

Hammond overrides guidelines that made downtown unique I write with deep disappointment about the June 9 Hammond City Council decision to overturn the Historic District Commission’s denial of a request to paint exposed brick and stone at 408410 W. Thomas St. The commission’s denial followed the Hammond Historic District guidelines and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, which discourage painting historic masonry.

The commission has applied these standards consistently for 48 years. We were appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council because we possess the training and experience to interpret preservation guidelines and protect downtown Hammond’s historic fabric.

Our work contributed to the district’s national recognition in 2022 with a Great American Main Street Award. The commission has been a cornerstone of downtown’s resurgence: Vacancies are under 5% and many properties have been responsibly rehabilitated using historic tax credits and established guidelines.

Visitors, residents, businesses and film productions are drawn to downtown’s unique sense of place.

When council member Carlee Gonzales seconded council member Steve Leon’s motion to override the denial for Christopher Edwards, she remarked that the commission gives little consideration to economic development.

That is incorrect. Since 1978, the commission’s preservation standards have been grounded in economic development. Those standards are why downtown is attractive, why investments worth millions align with them, and why altering historic features, such as painting masonry, would degrade materials and harm the character that sustains commerce.

The council’s reversal disregards decades of policy and expert review and substitutes politics for preservation principles.

I respectfully request that Mayor Pete Panepinto veto this action.

If Hammond is serious about preserving downtown’s character and economic vitality, the council should respect the commission’s role, consult the guidelines and base decisions on informed review rather than expedience.

ERIC WEINZETTLE director of advocacy, American Lung Association

Comparing Confederates to Nazis beyond the pale As the descendant of three generations of New Orleanians who served in the Army of the Tennessee — one of whom was a prisoner of war at Meridian, I take great exception to Michael Burnside’s comparison of Confederate soldiers to Nazi soldiers. Not only is it historically inaccurate, it is also an ethnic slur on people who emigrated from Ireland to New Orleans in 1832 and became respectable businessmen.

They served on the Confederate side because that was their home and their livelihood. And by the way, they never owned any slaves.

MICHAEL HOLLY commissioner, Hammond Historic District Hammond

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S at u r d ay, J u ly 11, 2026

MLB DR AF T INTEL

BREATHING ROOM LSU’s big offseason gave Johnson more options with draft signees

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

Jay Johnson’s job this summer was never going to be easy.

LSU needed to replace its starting outfield. It had to revitalize an infield defense that struggled throughout 2026, and changes were needed to a pitching staff that finished last in the Southeastern Conference in ERA. But, for the most part, those questions LSU entered the summer with have been answered.

It’s why Johnson heads into this weekend’s MLB Draft — which begins on Saturday at noon with rounds 1-4 and continues on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. with rounds 5-20 — feeling good about this offseason and where his team stands heading into next year.

“We retained just about everybody we wanted to retain,” Johnson said.

“And then with the portal, we’re excited about what we’ve added. And we’ve got a third layer of this with the draft and the high school recruits, and we’re just kind of trying to get prepared for a lot of different scenarios with that.”

LSU has 22 high school signees who could be swooped up by MLB teams in the coming days. Johnson expects about 14 of them to make it to campus, but after adding eight players from the transfer portal and bringing back numerous key pieces on both sides of the ball, LSU won’t have to rely on a positive outcome

ä MLB Draft Rounds 1-4

NOON SATURDAy, MLB NETWORK, NBC at the MLB Draft to finish off the lineup or starting rotation.

With only 17 signees, LSU lost eight players to the draft last summer.

“It’s really hard to forecast because I think we have maybe only one that’s going to go in the first round (this year), but there’s a huge ‘but’ behind this: There’s going to be (more than) $350 million given away to players in this draft,” Johnson said. “So that’s a lot of wiggle room when you talk about the second and

Owners suggest eliminating high school players from draft

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

If Major League Baseball goes into a lockout, the ramifications would be obvious.

Players would be out of work. Team employees would likely be furloughed or, even worse, laid off. And fans wouldn’t be able to enjoy the sport that they love.

But the consequences of a work stoppage in MLB wouldn’t end there. A lockout and the effects of a new collective bargaining agreement — the current one expires in December — would also strike at the heart of how LSU baseball fills out its roster every year.

That’s because this year’s MLB Draft could be the final one under its current set of rules.

“I think probably the biggest thing is it’s just a bunch of question marks for everybody,” one MLB scout said. “I think at the end of the day, the same thing that always kind of rings true is that the owners don’t want to spend as much money, and the owners want a more efficient way for talent to get to MLB.” Last month, in the early stages of negotiations with the MLB players union, owners laid out a variety of proposed changes to the MLB Draft and amateur development system. The proposal included eliminating high school players from the draft, forcing those players to stay in college for at least two years, shrinking the draft to 12 rounds and slashing signing bonuses in half.

For context, clubs have over $358 million to spend on players during this weekend’s MLB Draft, and high school players have been eligible for the draft since it began in 1965. Changing the latter custom would not only add more talent to the college game, but it would also save money for major league owners.

“I think Major League Baseball appreciates the fact that it has a very strong pipeline coming from college baseball,” ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan told The Advocate months before the owners’ latest proposal. “A lot of

ä See MLB, page 3C

Rebuilding the lineup LSU brought back four of its five best hitters by the end of last year, including Omar Serna, Cade Arrambide, Mason Braun and Steven Milam. Convincing Milam, who was draft-eligible, to return was arguably the best news Johnson got all summer.

Milam caught Johnson off guard when he told him he’d be returning

ä See LSU, page 3C

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

AP PHOTO

MLB’s proposed changes could transform college ball

third round for teams to pay guys $2 million or more. And we have a number of guys that I think are capable of commanding that bonus.”

LSU coach Jay Johnson walks out of the dugout before a game against Oklahoma on March 21 at Alex Box Stadium.

Jannik Sinner

1CN

AP FILE PHOTO By MATT SLOCUM

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin swings at a pitch during a spring training game on Feb. 22. Under MLB’s proposed changes, LSU would have high school players on its roster for two years.

Sinneer routs Djokovic in Wimbledon semifinal With vicctory, Italian star advancess to final vs. Zverev

BY ANDREW DAMPF Associated Press

LONDON — Novak Djokovic didn’t dwell on Centre Court after getting dominated by Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semifinals.

The 39-year-old Djokovic enjoyed a warm, smilefilled embrace with his 24-year-old opponent at the net after the 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 defeat Friday, quickly packed up his tennis bags and then waved to the boisterous crowd as he held one hand to his chest to show his appreciation as he walked off.

Will the seven-time Wimbledon champion ever be back to play on these hallowed lawns again?

Only time — something that Djokovic is running out of — will tell.

It’s been nearly three years since Djokovic won his record-extending 24th Grand Slam singles title at the 2023 U.S. Open. And despite reaching the semifinals at all four Grand Slams last year and reaching a final and another semi in two of three Slams this year — he acknowledges that’s not enough.

“For 99% of the players, that would be a very good Grand Slam result,” Djokovic said. “For me, it’s good but not good enough, because I’m blessed and cursed to be used to something of a highest degree in terms of results and achievements.

“I always have the highest expectations for myself,” Djokovic added. “So it’s kind of

that internal battle really of what I’ve been through for the 20-plus years of my career, what the goals were always, the expectations, and trying to balance it out and really be a little more humble in that sense.”

Still, Djokovic expressed interest in playing Wimbledon when he’s 40: “I would like to, at least one more time,” he said.

“I feel when I’m healthy,” Djokovic added, “I’m still able to play as a top-five player, still able to compete at the highest level.”

For Sinner, it was a measure of revenge after Djokovic won their last meeting in five sets in this year’s Australian Open semifinals.

“Playing against Novak,” Sinner said, “what he’s still showing is true inspiration.”

Aiming to defend his title at the grasscourt Grand Slam, the top-ranked Sinner

ä See WIMBLEDON, page 2C

2C ■ Saturday, July 11, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS On TV

MEN’S AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL Midnight (Sun.) Richmond at Melbourne FS2 AUTO RACING 7:55 a.m. FIM Moto: Germany Grand Prix FS1 8 a.m.

NASCAR Trucks: Practice FS2 8:30 a.m. NASCAR Trucks: Practice FS1 9 a.m.

Pro Motocross: Southwick Nat’l NBCSN 9:05 a.m. NASCAR Trucks: Qualifying FS1 11 a.m. Pro Motocross: Southwick Nat’l NBCSN Noon NASCAR Trucks: LiUNA 150 FS1 Noon Pro Motocross: Southwick Nat’l NBCSN 3:30 p.m. NASCAR Cup: Qualifying TRUTV 6 p.m.

O’Reilly: Focused Health 250 CW BEACH VOLLEYBALL 3:30 p.m. League Week 5 CW CFL 6 p.m.

Calgary at Montreal CBSSN CYCLING 7 a.m.

Tour de France, Stage 8 NBC 5:30 a.m. (Sun.) Tour de France, Stage 9 NBCSN GOLF 9 a.m.

DP World/PGA: Scottish Open Golf 11 a.m. DP World/PGA: Scottish Open CBS 11 a.m. Kaulig Companies Champ.

Golf

1:30 p.m. American Century Champ.

NBC 3 p.m.

DP World/PGA: ISCO Champ. Golf 3 a.m. (Sun.) LPGA: Evian Championship Golf GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL 11 a.m. Run 4 Roses Classic ESPN2 1 p.m.

Run 4 Roses Classic ESPN2 HORSE RACING 11:30 a.m. Saratoga Live FS2 7 p.m.

America’s Day at the Races FS1 MLB Noon MLB Draft: First Round NBC 1:30 p.m. MLB Draft: Rounds 1-4 MLBN 3:10 p.m. Boston at N.y. Mets FS1 6:15 p.m. Atlanta at St. Louis MLBN 9 p.m.

Arizona at L.A. Dodgers (JIP) MLBN NBA SUMMER LEAGUE 2:30 p.m. Miami vs. Orlando Prime 3 p.m.

New Orleans vs. Charlotte ESPN 4:30 p.m. Indiana vs. Philadelphia Prime 5 p.m.

New york vs. San Antonio ESPN 6:30 p.m. Denver vs. Minnesota Prime 7 p.m.

Atlanta vs. Brooklyn ESPN 8:30 p.m. Houston vs. Toronto Prime 9 p.m.

L.A. Lakers vs. Dallas ESPN RODEO 9 p.m.

PBR Teams: Bulls and Beats CW

IN BRIEF

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

MEN’S RUGBY 3:10 a.m. (Sun.) Gold Coast at Melbourne FS2 WOMEN’S RUGBY 8:55 p.m. New Zealand at Canberra FS2 10:40 p.m. Parramatta at St. George Illawarra FS2 MEN’S SOCCER 4 p.m.

World Cup: Norway vs. England FOX 8 p.m.

Chattanooga at San Antonio ESPN2 8 p.m.

World Cup: Argentina vs. SwitzerlandFOX WOMEN’S SOCCER 5:30 p.m. Washington at North Carolina ION 7:45 p.m. Angel City at San Diego ION SOFTBALL 1 p.m.

Carolina at Texas ESPN 4 p.m.

Chicago at Portland CBSSN TENNIS 7 a.m.

Wimbledon, Doubles Champ. ESPN 10 a.m. Wimbledon, Women’s Final ESPN 10 a.m. Newport-ATP/WTA Challenger Tennis WNBA Noon New york at Minnesota ABC 3 p.m.

Portland at Atlanta CBS 5 p.m.

Phoenix at Los Angeles NBCSN X GAMES 6 p.m.

MoonPay X Games 2026 ESPN2

McIlroy shares lead at Scottish Open Scheffler misses cut for first time in nearly four years

BY DOUG FERGUSON Associated Press

NORTH BERWICK, Scotland — Rory McIlroy took advantage of the scoring holes in windy conditions Friday and posted a 4-under 66 for a three-way share of the lead in a Scottish Open that no longer has Scottie Scheffler.

As comfortable as McIlroy looked, Scheffler struggled from the start and wound up with a 72 to miss the 36-hole cut for the first time in nearly four years. He had made 78 cuts in a row, the longest streak since Tiger Woods set the record (142) more than 20 years ago.

“Got off to a poor start and after that, I didn’t really it close enough to give myself a bunch of looks,” Scheffler said. “That’s how you shoot over par.”

Jordan Smith of England had the low score of the tournament with a 63 and was the first to post at 9-under 131, joined by the resurgent Tom Kim (66) and McIlroy, who has not won since going backto-back in the Masters in April.

“It would have been nice to be a couple better,” McIlroy said. “But it’s obviously another good day and in good position.”

But the most surprising development at The Renaissance Club was Scheffler. Instead of heading to the range after his round, he was making plans to head south earlier than he imagined for his title defense in the British Open at Royal Birkdale.

He had not missed the cut since the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship.

Scheffler had company that was equally surprising. Patrick Cantlay and Bernd Wiesberger became the first players since Jordan Spieth at the 2023 Sony Open to share the 18-hole lead and then miss the cut. Cantlay shot a 74, while Wiesberger shot 43 on the back nine for a 78.

WIMBLEDON Continued from page 1C

will face second-seeded Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s final.

Zverev ended the “Ferytale” run of British wild card Arthur Fery with an overpowering 7-6 (0), 6-2, 6-4 victory earlier as the starstudded crowd on Centre Court witnessed two one-way contests.

Zverev will be playing for another major trophy a month after winning his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros.

If there were any lingering questions over Sinner’s physical status after his meltdown at the French Open, they should be answered now.

Sinner blasted his way past Djokovic and showed off the kind of dominance he displayed before that second-round defeat in Paris.

“I knew mentally,” Sinner said, “that today I had to raise my level, which I’ve done.”

Andre Agassi attributed Sinner’s performance in part to Djokovic: “What these guys can do now is all because he has shown them what’s possible,” Agassi said on the BBC.

Dodgers’ Ohtani to miss All-Star Game due to knee

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani will have his left knee drained on Sunday to relieve continued irritation, and the procedure will force him to miss next week’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia.

Ohtani will have fluid removed from his left knee following a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks in which he will continue to start at designated hitter. Ohtani had been scheduled to pitch on Friday night, but the Dodgers instead decided to make it a bullpen game to avoid further aggravating the ongoing discomfort in his left knee.

Ohtani has been dealing with discomfort in his left knee for at least a month. The right-hander had an outing cut short against the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 11 because of inflammation in the knee.

Cardinals, Wetherholt agree to $112.5M deal The St. Louis Cardinals and JJ Wetherholt have agreed to an eightyear, $112.5 million contract that starts next season and buys out the rookie second baseman’s first several years of potential free agency.

St. Louis selected Wetherholt seventh overall out of West Virginia in the 2024 amateur draft and he rocketed through their farm system. The 23-year-old made his major league debut on opening day and was hitting .267 with 13 homers and 36 RBIs and nine stolen bases going into Friday night’s game against the Atlanta Braves.

Advanced metrics also have graded Wetherholt as one of the best defensive second basemen in baseball this season.

He is earning the major league minimum $780,000 this year.

Wembanyama’s extension with Spurs may top $250M

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MALCOLM MACKENZIE

Rory McIlroy plays on the 14th fairway during the first round of the Scottish Open on Thursday at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland. McIlroy had a share of the lead after two rounds.

Brooks Koepka, who was one shot off the lead going into Friday, also missed the cut.

McIlroy, who won the Scottish Open three years ago, found a new wedge to help him with firm turf at Renaissance and next week at Birkdale. He still faces a busy leaderboard going into the weekend.

Smith ran off four straight birdies early on the back nine, all of them inside 10 feet. Kim, who tied for third in the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, holed a 40-foot eagle putt on the par-5 seven and finished with two birdies on his last five holes.

Kim fell out of the top 100 in the world before steadily climbing back up. The U.S. Open was a big step, and it eventually got him into the British Open next week.

“I think being under the radar was kind of nice, just be able to work on my game and keep get-

ting better,” Kim said. “Not being in the spotlight all the time, you don’t see everything, you don’t see all the good stuff. I knew I was really, really close. And I’m still working towards trying to be the best I can be. But all those little things kind of kept adding, kept adding, and I think it’s shown the last couple weeks.”

Matt Fitzpatrick had a 65 and was one shot out of the lead along with Min Woo Lee. The group at 133 included defending champion Chris Gotterup and Scotland’s own Robert MacIntyre, who thrilled the gallery in the arena around the par-3 15th with a 30-foot birdie putt. The cheer was so loud he raised his putter to salute them.

Gotterup, who played alongside McIlroy and MacIntyre, was one shot out of the lead playing the 18th when he drove right into high, wispy grass. With the wind at his back, his iron bounced hard

and rolled close to 100 yards, onto and through the green and against a television tower.

He chipped beautifully from the drop area, but failed to convert the par. Even so, he was only two back going for his fourth win of the year. Gotterup is coming off a victory last week in the John Deere Classic.

The British Open is offering three spots to the leading finishers not already qualified. Among those in position at the halfway point was Nicolai Von Dellingshausen of Germany, at No. 258 in the world who won his first European tour event last year in the Austrian Open.

“Honestly, I was nervous,” he said. “This is the best player field I’ve played during the year. There are a couple good names out there.

Trying not to look too much into it and playing my own game.”

From the start, Sinner pushed Djokovic back with his powerful groundstrokes and came up with big serves in big moments.

When Sinner faced his only break point of the match early in the third set as late-afternoon shadows started creeping across the court, he produced an ace.

Sinner undefeated vs. Zverev

Zverev, whose breakthrough at Roland Garros came in his fourth Grand Slam final, is attempting to become the first man in the professional era (since 1968) to win his second major title at the next event immediately after his first.

Sinner has won his last nine meetings with Zverev and 14 straight sets.

“I have to trust myself and I have to believe that I can win and that’s what I’m going to do,” Zverev said before he knew who ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By BRIAN INGANGA his opponent would be.

Jannik Sinner serves to Novak Djokovic in their singles semifinal match The 114th-ranked Fery, who on Friday at Wimbledon in London. grew up five minutes from the All England Club and played at StanDjokovic was coming off the ford University, was attempting rising to about 85 degrees. It was also breezy, though, and a bit cloud- longest quarterfinal in Wimbledon to become the first wild card to history, when he outlasted Felix reach the final since Goran Ivanier than in recent days.

Still, it felt nothing like the suf- Auger-Aliassime after 5 hours, 15 isevic won Wimbledon in 2001.

Zverev did well not to let the profocating heat and humidity in Par- minutes on Tuesday.

Sinner, by contrast, hadn’t lost a Fery crowd get behind the local is when Sinner wasted a big lead No heat issues for Sinner against Juan Manuel Cerundolo, set since he was pushed to five by player too much, and a double fault It was another warm day in south- who was ranked No. 56, and had his Miomir Kecmanovic in the first from Fery early in the first-set tiebreaker put Zverev in control. round. west London, with the temperature 30-match winning streak ended.

Victor Wembanyama has signed what will be the richest contract in San Antonio Spurs history, a fiveyear extension that could exceed $250 million if the player option in the final season is picked up, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said Friday.

The Spurs, who went to the NBA Finals this past season behind the All-NBA center and unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, announced that Wembanyama had signed, simply saying the sides agreed on “a multi-year contract extension.”

The agreement comes at a discount; Wembanyama could have agreed to a deal that topped $300 million but chose a lesser amount to help give the Spurs flexibility going forward with their young core, the person said.

Top-ranked Korda misses cut; Woad takes Evian lead

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — Topranked Nelly Korda’s bid for a third straight major and fifth overall ended early when she missed the cut after the second round of the Evian Championship on Friday.

As Korda scrapped to stay in the tournament, English golfer Lottie Woad carded a 7-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead from overnight leader Aki Iwai of Japan.

Korda had a poor opening round of 74 on Thursday and, although she improved with 69 on Friday, her 1-over total left her tied for 67th and she missed the cut by one stroke. She last missed a cut at the 2024 Women’s PGA Championship.

Woad’s round featured eight birdies and a bogey and put her on 11 under overall at the midway point of the fourth of the five women’s majors this year.

Percy shoots 66 at rainy Firestone to take lead

AKRON, Ohio — Cameron Percy shot a 4-under 66 on Friday at rainy Firestone Country Club to take a one-stroke lead in the Kaulig Companies Championship, the fourth of the five major tournaments on the PGA Tour Champions.

Percy had a 7-under 133 total.

The 52-year-old Australian is winless on the senior tour.

“You can’t fake it around here.

You’ve got to hit it solid,” Percy said. “The par 3s are hard, everything’s hard. You’ve got to hit it really good. You can’t just slap it everywhere and shoot a 68.”

First-round leader Jerry Kelly was tied for second with Zach Johnson. Kelly shot 69, and Johnson had his second straight 67.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Saturday, July 11, 2026 ■ 3C

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Nawrocki Cholowsky, Emerson among top withdraws prospects for White Sox at No. 1 name from

BY DAN GELSTON

White Sox director of player development Paul Janish said. “You have the draft in July, the minorleague season is over in early September. There’s not a huge window. You take all those things in consideration, really the motive is health. We’re going to get you as ready as you can be for next spring training to have a good first full pro season.”

AP sportswriter

PHILADELPHIA — The Chicago White Sox are done playing for first.

In the standings? Of course not.

Led by All-Star third baseman Miguel Vargas, the White Sox have emerged as one of the top surprises and are in AL Central contention after enduring three straight 100-loss seasons.

In the MLB draft? The White Sox have the No. 1 pick in the draft for Saturday’s event in Philadelphia as part of All-Star Game weekend festivities.

The No. 1 pick belongs to Chicago — after it lost 102 games last season and won the draft lottery — and perhaps a future star that can help the White Sox win their first World Series title since 2005 will get selected in the top spot.

There are no clear-cut No. 1 picks in this year’s draft much like current Philadelphia Phillies slugger and 2026 All-Star Bryce Harper was in 2010.

The White Sox will likely pick one from the following three players: UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, Texas high school shortstop Grady Emerson or Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey.

MLB said Friday no amateur players are scheduled to attend the draft, which is the same as last year.

Here’s a look at the most enticing prospects for the White Sox and the rest of the teams drafting early in the first round. n Cholowsky. A 6-foot-2 righthanded hitter, he was a Golden Spikes finalist at UCLA and had a

MLB

Continued from page 1C the baseball education that’s done these days happens at the college level, and MLB teams essentially don’t have to pay for it.

“So farming out labor sounds good. Baseball organizations will sign up for that eight days a week.”

It’s unlikely that all of MLB’s proposals will be implemented.

The MLB players union has already decried the plans in a statement, saying that “MLB made another set of proposals that are flat out bad for baseball, ones that would cripple the next generation of players and damage the future of our game.”

Before MLB’s latest proposal,

LSU

Continued from page 1C to LSU for his senior season. The possibility of him coming back was brought to Johnson in April, but LSU’s coach didn’t believe it because he thought MLB would prioritize Milam as a slick-fielding shortstop who was coming off his best season at the plate against SEC competition.

“I’m probably his biggest fan as a player. I think (he has) tremendous value for a Major League Baseball team,” Johnson said. “He went out and did his research about where he felt he would be and decided that he wanted to come back.

“I think that’s the cool side of this. This is more about (the fact that) he wasn’t ready to leave yet. I think that’s pretty awesome.”

With Milam, Braun, Arrambide and Serna providing LSU a strong core for the lineup, Johnson was aggressive in the transfer portal to supplement what he already had.

LSU added outfielders Angel Laya (Oregon), Jason Wachs (Tulane) and Bino Watters (Notre Dame) to replace its starting outfield from the past two seasons. Laya, Wachs and Watters were all in the top-60 of ESPN’s portal rankings.

The only question surrounding the trio is who plays center field.

Laya, Wachs and Watters were primarily corner outfielders at their past stops.

“I think they all are good outfielders,” Johnson said. “I need to, frankly, see more before I would comment on that, but we’ll probably play them all in center at some point during the fall and go from there.

“I think Jason could do it. I think Angel can do it, and Bino’s a good runner. I mean, he has like six or seven stolen bases up in the (Cape Cod Baseball League).”

On the infield, the Tigers also brought in Texas State shortstop Dawson Park and Florida second baseman Cade Kurland. Park is expected to shift to third base —

The draft order Here’s the rest of the top 10 following Chicago for the start of the draft Saturday.

Tampa Bay picks second and Minnesota is third. San Francisco is fourth and Pittsburgh fifth. Kansas City, Baltimore, the Athletics, Atlanta and Colorado round out the top 10.

Like father, like son ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By KyUSUNG GONG

UCLA’s Roch Cholowsky reacts after hitting a home run during a game against Texas Christian on Feb. 20 in Los Angeles. Cholowsky is one of several prospects for be selected at No. 1 in the MLB Draft.

1.088 OPS with 21 homers and 60 RBIs in his junior season. n Lackey. The 21-year-old catcher didn’t receive any Division I offers until his senior year of high school and has since blossomed into one of the top catching prospects in the draft out of Georgia Tech. The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder showed some versatility by also playing third base. n Emerson. Just 18 years old, the 6-3, 185-pound shortstop bats left, throws right and is widely considered the best all-around

player in the draft.

The White Sox are in win-now mode after years of rebuilding and could lean toward a college player such as Cholowsky.

Cholowsky is a proven prospect with plenty of seasoning at a major college program and could help the White Sox faster, even maybe this season — except for the pitchers they may draft.

“Most of the guys we take, even if they played in college versus a high school pick, they haven’t thrown competitively in a while,”

two scouts had speculated in interviews with The Advocate that MLB was intent on removing high school players from the draft. Last month’s offer from the owners only confirmed their suspicions.

“MLB wants to have a really good working relationship with the college teams,” one scout said.

“Owners want more assurance with drafting college players. Just look at the amount of money that’s spent on high school players. The data is just not very good. It’s a lot of wasted money.”

If MLB’s proposals had been in place over the past few seasons, LSU would have had the likes of Konnor Griffin, Justin Crawford and Robby Snelling wearing the purple and gold for two years.

All three players were LSU signees who were drafted out of high school, became top prospects and

have since debuted in the major leagues.

Having players of Griffin’s caliber on LSU’s roster would transform not just the Tigers, but every program in college baseball.

There’d be a significant trickledown effect that would raise the level of talent at mid-major schools and junior college programs.

That’s, in part, because not every top signee is ready to contribute in a league such as the Southeastern Conference right away.

“In the SEC, there’s so much pressure to win right now,” a scout said. “You go through the starting lineups; it’s almost an anomaly now when you see a freshman playing every day.”

Ultimately, high school players may not get boxed out of the draft.

Passan didn’t believe that would be the case in his conversation

Jim Thome helped changed the perception of the Phillies from long-time losers to championship contenders when he left Cleveland and signed a six-year, $85 million contract ahead of the 2003 season. Thome hit 47 homers in his first season, his 400th career homer the next in Citizens Bank Park’s first season and now can enjoy another milestone in the city — his 18-year-old son, Landon, is a likely first-round pick.

The Nazareth Academy (Illinois) infielder, who is committed to Florida State, is ranked among the top 50 prospects.

“All the hard work, which at the end of the day, they do it all. As a dad, you sit back, you watch the journey,” the elder Thome told MLB Network.

with The Advocate before MLB’s latest proposal, and the MLB players union has already taken a hard stance on the issue.

But even if high school players are still allowed to be selected under the next CBA, other changes could arise. The draft could be shortened further, the bonus pools for players may shrink or the ability for teams to sign players to over- or under-slot deals could be eliminated.

Whatever happens, the owners seem intent on making sweeping changes, not just with the draft but with the entire sport — the introduction of a salary cap being the most notable proposal.

The owners are so motivated to make changes that one scout told The Advocate he expects there to be a lockout that would last through all of next year, which

with Milam returning to shortstop — and Kurland will likely play second base after starting there for four years at Florida.

Park is coming off a big season, hitting 13 home runs and posting a .962 on-base plus slugging percentage last year at Texas State. But his campaign was cut short in early May after he got into an on-field altercation with a teammate and left the program for the remainder of the season the day after.

“Relative to the situation, I did what I needed to do to find out everything about that,” Johnson said. “And I’m comfortable with it, and feel very good about Dawson. And I have zero concerns about him fitting into our team and adding to our team.”

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

LSU high school signee and lefthanded pitcher Lucas Nawrocki has taken his name out of the 2026 MLB Draft and is coming to school, he announced on social media Friday.

He’s the third player from LSU’s 2026 recruiting class to withdraw his name from the draft and decide to come to LSU, joining outfielder Nathaneal Davis and left-handed pitcher Braxton Beaty.

Nawrocki is the No. 115 player in ESPN’s draft rankings and the No. 151 player in MLB.com’s list.

He went to Aledo High in Aledo, Texas, and was a two-way player in high school. He even hit in front of scouts at the MLB Draft Combine last month.

Nawrocki is on the shorter side at 5-foot-10, but he has a fastball that’s up to 95 mph and an excellent slider. He also has a changeup, but he did not use it much in high school.

Nawrocki, according to a scout who spoke with The Advocate, isn’t expected to be a two-way player in college.

“It’s more like a fastball slider (combo). He’ll throw fastballs up in the zone and then try to get the slider down,” the same scout told The Advocate. “And, I mean, it works. He’s got a pretty good idea what he’s doing.”

Email Koki Riley at koki.riley@theadvocate.com.

would mean there would be no MLB games in 2027.

And nobody who loves the game would want that scenario.

“Ownership is in such a different position than it was when we were coming off of COVID that I think they’re going to draw a huge line in the sand: ‘Hey, we’re going to stick to this, and we want a (salary) cap,’ ” the scout said. “And I think the players have just fought it for so long that I don’t see them going down without a fight as well.

“Both sides just seem to be so dug in right now that it’s hard for me to see a path to them playing in 2027.”

Email Koki Riley at koki.riley@ theadvocate.com. For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate.com/ lsunewsletter

pitching talent through will be important.”

How the freshman class fits in

Pitching staff taking shape LSU was aggressive in the portal in adding hitters, but the same wasn’t true for the Tigers’ portal strategy with pitchers. They were more timid in the market, only adding three arms, none of whom are left-handed.

That, in part, was because the market for pitchers wasn’t strong in Johnson’s eyes. LSU aggressively pursued only one left-handed pitcher in the portal, he said, and Gonzaga right-hander Landon Hood — one of the Tigers’ three pitching additions — was among the few pitchers with the profile they were seeking.

“Early on, as we were evaluating what was in the portal, I didn’t think there would be many guys like him entering,” Johnson said about Hood. “And we were right about that.”

Johnson’s excitement about Hood, therefore, can’t be understated. The rising sophomore was the West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year after posting a 2.48 ERA in 541/3 innings. He struck out 78 batters while only walking 21.

“He’s a really good pitcher and a really good competitor,” Johnson said.

Along with Hood, LSU also added right-handers Diego Velazquez (Southern Cal) and Kaden Smith

MLB Draft

FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL BACIGALUPI

LSU coach Jay Johnson makes a pitching change in the first inning of a game against Southeastern on April 28 at Alex Box Stadium.

(South Florida).

Velazquez, a two-way player, is another rising sophomore who was a top recruit from California in the 2025 class, posting a 4.26 ERA on the mound as a freshman and playing 26 games as a position player.

Johnson wouldn’t close the door on his future as a hitter, but he views Velazquez as a pitcher first moving forward.

“The focus is pitching,” Johnson said. “He’s going to be an excellent draft pick out of here in two years as a pitcher. I think he’s good enough to be a position player for us. We may investigate that, but I think he’s got the ability to be a significant contributor to the pitching staff.”

Smith was a later addition to LSU’s portal class. He posted a 4.24 ERA over 462/ 3 innings, working as both a starter and a reliever for the Bulls after transferring from TCU, where he spent his freshman year. Johnson believes he is good enough to get outs in the SEC. With Casan Evans, Cooper Moore

LSU’s freshman class enters this year’s draft as the No. 2 class in the nation, according to Perfect Game.

But ask Johnson which signees make it through the draft, and he can’t pretend to give a straight answer.

“All I’m doing right now is (thinking about) what’s going to happen with the draft this week,” Johnson said. “Like it’s 1000% my focus. Having conversations with players and their advisers, and those types of things.

“We’ll see. I wish I could be a better prognosticator of how it’s going to go, but nobody really gives anybody a straight answer in regards to these things.”

It’s hard to deny the impact some of LSU’s top signees could make if they made it to school.

Dominic Santarelli has one of the most powerful high school bats in the draft. Malachi Washington is a power-hitting center fielder with top-tier athleticism. Will Adams is a first baseman who’d be ready to contribute as a hitter on Day 1.

But if none of them make it to school, Johnson has made sure to cover his potential losses with top hitters in the transfer portal, such as Laya, Watters and Park.

LSU may be more reliant on its top high school signees to make it through the draft on the pitching side — including left-hander Lucas Nawrocki and right-hander Cooper Sides — but Johnson still has most of his top arms returning and has added three more from the portal.

According to Johnson, LSU landed eight of the 10 players it coveted in the portal.

“I think, for the most part, we met the needs for this team that were maybe lacking with some of the returning players in the portal,” Johnson said, “probably about as good as you can.”

and William Schmidt already set to return, LSU didn’t need to remake the top of its staff. Hood has a chance to crack that rotation, and Velazquez and Smith could contribute as important relievers, but the rest of the staff will likely be made up of freshmen and returning arms.

LSU is set to bring back righthanders Zion Theophilus and Reagan Ricken and left-handers Danny Lachenmayer, Jonah Aase, Ethan Plog and Cooper Williams.

The Tigers also have one junior college commit (right-hander Major Osbolt) and 11 high school signees they could add depending on the outcome of the MLB Draft.

One of those signees, left-hander Braxton Beaty, has already withdrawn his name from the draft.

“There are a few targeted players that we feel will help us get to another level next year,” Johnson said. “And, obviously, for the long-term success of the program, Email Koki Riley at I think getting some of this young koki.riley@theadvocate.com.

4C ■ Saturday, July 11, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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SCOREBOARD Hole-in-one Hudson Greene

Course: Santa Maria Hole: No.5 Club: 9 Iron Witnesses: Parker Greene, Maddox Mowad

Odds Sports Betting Line MLB Saturday

American League FAVORITE LINE at MINNESOTA -152 Athletics -118 Seattle -116 at BALTIMORE -158 Houston -122 National League FAVORITE LINE at SAN FRAN -157 Milwaukee -130 Chicago Cubs -116 Atlanta -110 at LA DODGERS -275 Interleague FAVORITE LINE N.Y Yankees -190 at N.Y METS OFF at MIAMI -144 Philadelphia -146 Toronto -120

UNDERDOG LINE LA Angels +124 at WHITE SOX +100 at TAMPA BAY -102 Kansas City +134 at TEXAS +104 UNDERDOG LINE Colorado +128 at PITTSBURGH +110 at CINCINNATI -102 at ST. LOUIS -106 Arizona +225 UNDERDOG at WASH Boston Cleveland at DETROIT at SAN DIEGO

LINE +160 OFF +122 +124 +102

Pro basketball WNBA Glance EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlanta Indiana New York Washington Toronto Chicago Connecticut

W 13 13 13 10 9 7 5

L 9 9 9 10 12 14 17

Pct .591 .591 .591 .500 .429 .333 .227

GB — — — 2 3½ 5½ 8

Minnesota Las Vegas Golden State Dallas Los Angeles Portland Phoenix Seattle

W 16 16 16 14 9 9 8 6

L 6 6 7 8 11 13 15 18

Pct .727 .727 .696 .636 .450 .409 .348 .250

GB — — ½ 2 6 7 8½ 11

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Thursday’s Games

Atlanta 89, Seattle 78 Las Vegas 88, Portland 80 Indiana 92, Phoenix 89

Friday’s Games

Dallas 108, Toronto 95 Golden State 79, Connecticut 64 Chicago at Los Angeles, n

Saturday’s Games

New York at Minnesota, noon Portland at Atlanta, 3 p.m.

Phoenix at Las Vegas, 5 p.m.

Sunday’s Games

New York at Toronto, 2 p.m.

Seattle at Washington, 2 p.m.

Chicago at Dallas, 6 p.m.

Indiana at Las Vegas, 8 p.m.

Golf Genesis Scottish Open Friday

At The Renaissance Club North Berwick, United Kingdom Purse: $9 million Yardage: 7,282; Par: 70 Second Round Tom Kim, South Korea 65-66—131 R. McIlroy, Northern Ireland 65-66—131 Jordan L. Smith, England 68-63—131 Matt Fitzpatrick, England 67-65—132 Min Woo Lee, Australia 66-66—132 Chris Gotterup, United States 68-65—133 Joost Luiten, Netherlands 67-66—133 Robert MacIntyre, Scotland 67-66—133 Keita Nakajima, Japan 67-66—133 Victor Perez, France 69-64—133 N. Von Dellingshsn, Germany 69-64—133 S. Yellamaraju, Canada 68-65—133 W. Clark, United States 67-67—134 Nicolai Hojgaard, Denmark 68-66—134 M. Thorbjrnsn, United States 66-68—134 Karl Vilips, Australia 70-64—134 Danny Willett, England 67-67—134 Marcus Armitage, England 68-67—135 Ryan Gerard, United States 68-67—135 Oliver Lindell, Finland 66-69—135 Guido Migliozzi, Italy 68-67—135 Patrick Reed, United States 68-67—135 Kevin Roy, United States 67-68—135 Darius Van Driel, Netherlands 70-65—135 Ricky Castillo, United States 70-66—136 Cameron Davis, Australia 70-66—136 H. Du Plessis, South Africa 70-66—136 Austin Eckroat, United States 70-66—136 Ryan Fox, New Zealand 71-65—136 Tyrrell Hatton, England 70-66—136 Calum Hill, Scotland 67-69—136 Casey Jarvis, South Africa 68-68—136 John Keefer, United States 68-68—136 R. Nrgrd-Petersen, Denmark 68-68—136 A. Putnam, United States 71-65—136 Andy Sullivan, England 68-68—136 Justin Thomas, United States 69-67—136 Laurie Canter, England 69-68—137 Corey Conners, Canada 67-70—137 Tommy Fleetwood, England 67-70—137 Si Woo Kim, South Korea 70-67—137 Chris Kirk, United States 70-67—137 Mikael Lindberg, Sweden 69-68—137 Francesco Molinari, Italy 68-69—137 Andrew Novak, United States 66-71—137 Matti Schmid, Germany 68-69—137 Nick Taylor, Canada 70-67—137 S. Theegala, United States 70-67—137 M. Brennan, United States 67-71—138 Eric Cole, United States 71-67—138 Alejandro Del Rey, Spain 72-66—138 Nicolas Echavarria, Colombia 68-70—138 Nacho Elvira, Spain 69-69—138 M. Greyserman, United States 69-69—138 Brian Harman, United States 70-68—138 Rasmus Hojgaard, Denmark 65-73—138 Viktor Hovland, Norway 68-70—138 Scott Jamieson, Scotland 69-69—138 Yuto Katsuragawa, Japan 71-67—138 Kurt Kitayama, United States 66-72—138 J. Kruyswijk, South Africa 69-69—138 E. Lopez-Chacarra, Spain 70-68—138 T. McKibbin, Northern Ireland 67-71—138 Mac Meissner, United States 71-67—138 Shaun Norris, South Africa 68-70—138 Jon Rahm, Spain 73-65—138 Davis Riley, United States 68-70—138 Adrien Saddier, France 72-66—138 Adam Scott, Australia 69-69—138 J.J. Spaun, United States 68-70—138 Jesper Svensson, Sweden 70-68—138 Missed Cut Ludvig Aberg, Sweden 68-71—139 Z. Bauchou, United States 67-72—139 Dan Bradbury, England 71-68—139 Patrick Cantlay, United States 65-74—139 Harris English, United States 71-68—139 Ewen Ferguson, Scotland 70-69—139 Dylan Frittelli, South Africa 70-69—139 M. McCarty, United States 67-72—139 Marco Penge, England 70-69—139 David Puig, Spain 75-64—139 Antoine Rozner, France 69-70—139 J. Trey Schaper, South Africa 68-71—139 Sepp Straka, Austria 70-69—139 Angel Ayora Fanegas, Spain 66-74—140 Daniel Brown, England 73-67—140 Grant Forrest, Scotland 69-71—140 Doug Ghim, United States 71-69—140 J. Gumberg, United States 72-68—140 Joe Highsmith, United States 71-69—140 Michael Kim, United States 68-72—140 Brooks Koepka, United States 66-74—140 Joakim Lagergren, Sweden 70-70—140 Shane Lowry, Ireland 71-69—140 Max McGreevy, United States 69-71—140 Adrian Meronk, Poland 69-71—140 N. Norgaard Moller, Denmark 71-69—140 Thorbjorn Olesen, Denmark 70-70—140 A. Potgieter, South Africa 70-70—140 S. Scheffler, United States 68-72—140 Alex Smalley, United States 72-68—140 Erik Van Rooyen, South Africa 71-69—140 Alex Fitzpatrick, England 71-70—141 Julien Guerrier, France 71-70—141 71-70—141 Harry Hall, England Angel Hidalgo, Spain 68-73—141 Billy Horschel, United States 74-67—141 Matteo Manassero, Italy 72-69—141 Aaron Rai, England 71-70—141 J. Veerman, United States 73-68—141 Paul Waring, England 71-70—141 72-70—142 R. Johnston, United States Jake Knapp, United States 72-70—142

-9 -9 -9 -8 -8 -7 -7 -7 -7 -7 -7 -7 -6 -6 -6 -6 -6 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +2 +2

Richard Mansell, England 70-72—142 +2 Dylan Naidoo, South Africa 70-72—142 +2 Ockie Strydom, South Africa 69-73—142 +2 Matt Wallace, England 70-72—142 +2 P. Coody, United States 71-72—143 +3 Rikuya Hoshino, Japan 71-72—143 +3 Pablo Larrazabal, Spain 71-72—143 +3 Junghwan Lee, South Korea 72-71—143 +3 Hao-Tong Li, China 68-75—143 +3 Kristoffer Reitan, Norway 71-72—143 +3 X. Schauffele, United States 69-74—143 +3 Sam Stevens, United States 68-75—143 +3 Bernd Wiesberger, Austria 65-78—143 +3 Seungbin Choi, South Korea 71-73—144 +4 Padraig Harrington, Ireland 74-70—144 +4 Mark Hubbard, United States 70-74—144 +4 T. Lawrence, South Africa 71-73—144 +4 Alex Noren, Sweden 69-75—144 +4 Ashun Wu, China 73-71—144 +4 C. Hoffman, United States 74-71—145 +5 Sungjae Im, South Korea 72-73—145 +5 Daniel Rodrigues, Portugal 72-73—145 +5 B. Snedeker, United States 69-76—145 +5 Connor Syme, Scotland 75-70—145 +5 Kevin Yu, Chinese Taipei 75-70—145 +5 Brian Campbell, United States 72-74—146 +6 Daniel Hillier, New Zealand 75-71—146 +6 Kota Kaneko, Japan 71-75—146 +6 A. Otagi, United Arab Emirates 76-70—146 +6 John Parry, England 75-71—146 +6 Matthieu Pavon, France 70-76—146 +6 David Ravetto, France 73-73—146 +6 A. Smothermn, United States 74-72—146 +6 Martin Couvra, France 73-74—147 +7 Taylor Moore, United States 70-77—147 +7 Yurav Premlall, South Africa 71-76—147 +7 Frederic Lacroix, France 73-75—148 +8 Marcel Siem, Germany 69-79—148 +8 Richard Sterne, South Africa 72-76—148 +8 Bud Cauley, United States 73-76—149 +9 Baekjun Kim, South Korea 75-74—149 +9 Taehoon Ok, South Korea 72-78—150 +10 Freddy Schott, Germany 85-68—153 +13

The Amundi Evian Championship Friday

At Evian Resort Golf Club Evian-les-Bains, France Purse: $9.1 million Yardage: 6,479; Par: 71 Second Round Lottie Woad Aki Iwai Hae-Ran Ryu Mao Saigo Charley Hull Nastasia Nadaud Jeeno Thitikul Miyu Yamashita Perrine Delacour Erika Hara Brooke Henderson Jin Hee Im Auston Kim Anna Nordqvist Shuri Sakuma Hinako Shibuno Maja Stark Ariya Jutanugarn Minami Katsu Lydia Ko Somi Lee Amy Yang Casandra Alexander Kajsa Arwefjall Jodi Ewart Shadoff Cara Gainer Nataliya Guseva Soo Bin Joo Sei Young Kim Sara Kouskova Jennifer Kupcho Shiho Kuwaki Mary Liu Yuka Saso Patty Tavatanakit Jing Yan Ina Yoon Pajaree Anannarukarn Aditi Ashok Chella Choi A Lim Kim Alison Lee Andrea Lee Maria Marin Ruoning Yin Karis Davidson Ayaka Furue Melanie Green Wei-Ling Hsu Anna Huang MinJi Kang Lauren Kim Nanna Koerstz Madsen Cassie Porter Chiara Tamburlini Shannon Tan Jenny Bae Brianna Do Linn Grant Hyo Joo Kim Farah O’Keefe Ryann O’Toole Pauline Roussin-Bouchard Yunseo Yang Arpichaya Yubol Rose Zhang Hye Jin Choi Allisen Corpuz Lauren Coughlin Hannah Green Chizzy Iwai Nelly Korda Gaby Lopez Julia Lopez Ramirez Yealimi Noh Kyorim Seo Asterisk Talley Suvichaya Vinijchaitham Kelsey Bennett Robyn Choi Amanda Doherty Isi Gabsa Leonie Harm Esther Henseleit Agathe Laisne Yuna Nishimura Rio Takeda Dewi Weber Weiwei Zhang Celine Boutier Helen Briem You Min Hwang Jiwon Jeon Megan Khang Grace Kim Frida Kinhult Mi Hyang Lee Polly Mack Leona Maguire Sayaka Takahashi Carla Tejedo Mulet Lilia Vu Manon De Roey Aphrodite Deng Alexandra Forsterling Gina Kim Lucy Li Yu Liu Alexa Pano Lauren Walsh Hyunjo Yoo Yuri Yoshida Ashleigh Buhai Carlota Ciganda Yan Liu Brooke Matthews Kiara Romero Jenny Shin Jin Young Ko Mimi Rhodes Ana Belac Pornanong Phatlum Chanettee Wannasaen Lindy Duncan Na Rin An Esme Hamilton Alice Hewson Ingrid Lindblad Minjee Lee Miranda Wang Gabriela Ruffels Nasa Hataoka

ISCO Championship

67-64—131 63-69—132 66-68—134 66-68—134 66-70—136 68-68—136 72-64—136 70-66—136 65-72—137 67-70—137 67-70—137 66-71—137 70-67—137 69-68—137 70-67—137 69-68—137 66-71—137 70-68—138 70-68—138 69-69—138 68-70—138 70-68—138 73-66—139 69-70—139 69-70—139 67-72—139 70-69—139 72-67—139 69-70—139 72-67—139 69-70—139 70-69—139 70-69—139 72-67—139 70-69—139 67-72—139 69-70—139 73-67—140 70-70—140 68-72—140 71-69—140 69-71—140 70-70—140 74-66—140 67-73—140 70-71—141 68-73—141 71-70—141 69-72—141 70-71—141 67-74—141 70-71—141 72-69—141 69-72—141 71-70—141 69-72—141 76-66—142 72-70—142 69-73—142 69-73—142 68-74—142 69-73—142 74-68—142 72-70—142 70-72—142 70-72—142 71-72—143 72-71—143 71-72—143 70-73—143 70-73—143 74-69—143 73-70—143 72-71—143 72-71—143 74-69—143 70-73—143 76-67—143 74-70—144 73-71—144 72-72—144 73-71—144 73-71—144 72-72—144 73-71—144 70-74—144 72-72—144 71-73—144 70-74—144 76-69—145 73-72—145 72-73—145 73-72—145 71-74—145 73-72—145 73-72—145 71-74—145 74-71—145 71-74—145 71-74—145 73-72—145 72-73—145 74-72—146 72-74—146 71-75—146 75-71—146 74-72—146 74-72—146 70-76—146 73-73—146 74-72—146 73-73—146 75-72—147 72-75—147 77-70—147 72-75—147 74-73—147 75-72—147 74-74—148 76-72—148 74-75—149 76-73—149 78-71—149 73-77—150 77-74—151 80-71—151 77-74—151 78-74—152 77-77—154 77-77—154 78-77—155 80-WD

-11 -10 -8 -8 -6 -6 -6 -6 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 E E E E E E E E E E +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +4 +4 +4 +4 +4 +4 +4 +4 +4 +4 +5 +5 +5 +5 +5 +5 +6 +6 +7 +7 +7 +8 +9 +9 +9 +10 +12 +12 +13

Friday

At Championship Course Louisville, Ky. Purse: $4 million Yardage: 7,056; Par: 70 Second Round Lucas Glover, United States Steven Fisk, United States Chan Kim, United States Jeong-Weon Ko, France Aaron Wise, United States William Mouw, United States D. Chatfield, United States Stephan Jaeger, Germany Rafael Campos, Puerto Rico Manuel Elvira, Spain A.J. Ewart, Canada Tom Hoge, United States

63-64—127 63-66—129 64-65—129 65-65—130 65-65—130 68-63—131 68-64—132 63-69—132 66-67—133 68-65—133 66-67—133 66-67—133

-13 -11 -11 -10 -10 -9 -8 -8 -7 -7 -7 -7

Romain Langasque, France 66-67—133 -7 Justin Lower, United States 68-65—133 -7 D. McCarthy, United States 68-65—133 -7 Taylor Pendrith, Canada 70-63—133 -7 C. Phillips, United States 67-66—133 -7 Alejandro Tosti, Argentina 67-66—133 -7 Zac Blair, United States 69-65—134 -6 Joel Dahmen, United States 67-67—134 -6 Nick Hardy, United States 66-68—134 -6 Mackenzie Hughes, Canada 66-68—134 -6 B. James, United States 65-69—134 -6 Takumi Kanaya, Japan 66-68—134 -6 Patton Kizzire, United States 65-69—134 -6 Niklas Lemke, Sweden 67-67—134 -6 Troy Merritt, United States 63-71—134 -6 Chad Ramey, United States 67-67—134 -6 K. Streelman, United States 70-64—134 -6 Danny Walker, United States 69-65—134 -6 Jonathan Byrd, United States 71-64—135 -5 A. Dmnt De Chassrt, Belgium 69-66—135 -5 J. Koivun, United States 67-68—135 -5 Ben Silverman, Canada 67-68—135 -5 Preston Stout, United States 68-67—135 -5 C. Champ, United States 66-70—136 -4 Ugo Coussaud, France 69-67—136 -4 Wenyi Ding, China 67-69—136 -4 Joel Girrbach, Switzerland 67-69—136 -4 Fabian Gomez, Argentina 69-67—136 -4 O. Guillamoundeguy, France 67-69—136 -4 Ben Martin, United States 67-69—136 -4 T. Rosenmueller, Germany 66-70—136 -4 Kris Ventura, Norway 68-68—136 -4 Camilo Villegas, Colombia 69-67—136 -4 Dylan Wu, United States 68-68—136 -4 Sam Bairstow, England 67-70—137 -3 C. Bezuidenht, South Africa 72-65—137 -3 Davis Bryant, United States 69-68—137 -3 Nick Dunlap, United States 72-65—137 -3 Lanto Griffin, United States 70-67—137 -3 Rico Hoey, Philippines 71-66—137 -3 Max Homa, United States 67-70—137 -3 Beau Hossler, United States 69-68—137 -3 Marcus Kinhult, Sweden 67-70—137 -3 Ben Kohles, United States 71-66—137 -3 C. Lamprecht, South Africa 68-69—137 -3 David Lipsky, United States 71-66—137 -3 Luke List, United States 69-68—137 -3 Felix Mory, France 69-68—137 -3 Pontus Nyholm, Sweden 64-73—137 -3 Jacob Skov Olesen, Denmark 67-70—137 -3 Paul Peterson, United States 70-67—137 -3 Marcel Schneider, Germany 69-68—137 -3 Adam Svensson, Canada 65-72—137 -3 Hugo Townsend, Sweden 69-68—137 -3 Euan Walker, Scotland 67-70—137 -3 Jimmy Stanger, United States 74-WD Daniel Gavins, England 78-WD Missed Cut Jorge Campillo, Spain 70-68—138 -2 Filippo Celli, Italy 68-70—138 -2 Todd Clements, England 67-71—138 -2 Austin Cook, United States 68-70—138 -2 Trace Crowe, United States 70-68—138 -2 Zecheng Dou, China 67-71—138 -2 Tyler Duncan, United States 66-72—138 -2 Will Gordon, United States 72-66—138 -2 Ricardo Gouveia, Portugal 69-69—138 -2 Lee Hodges, United States 68-70—138 -2 C. Musselman, United States 66-72—138 -2 Neal Shipley, United States 72-66—138 -2 Davis Thompson, United States71-67—138 -2 Daniel Van Tonder, South Africa69-69—138 -2 Ivan Cantero Gutierrez, Spain 68-71—139 -1 Luke Clanton, United States 68-71—139 -1 Sean Crocker, United States 68-71—139 -1 Brice Garnett, United States 69-70—139 -1 Tommy Kuhl, United States 69-70—139 -1 David Micheluzzi, Australia 73-66—139 -1 Seung-Yul Noh, South Korea 72-67—139 -1 Jeremy Paul, Germany 68-71—139 -1 Scott Piercy, United States 70-69—139 -1 Gordon Sargent, United States71-68—139 -1 Adam Schenk, United States 70-69—139 -1 Jack Senior, England 71-68—139 -1 Maximilian Steinlechner, Austria71-68—139 -1 Brandon Stone, South Africa 69-70—139 -1 Robert Streb, United States 70-69—139 -1 Tom Vaillant, France 70-69—139 -1 John VanDerLaan, United States72-67—139 -1 Tyler Collet, United States 69-71—140 E Patrick Fishburn, United States67-73—140 E Josiah Gilbert, Australia 70-70—140 E Marcus Helligkilde, Denmark 67-73—140 E Tobias Jonsson, Sweden 72-68—140 E Jeffrey Kang, United States 65-75—140 E Richie Ramsay, Scotland 72-68—140 E Trey Shirley, United States 70-70—140 E Vince Whaley, United States 69-71—140 E K. Aphibarnrat, Thailand 72-69—141 +1 Ryan Brehm, United States 70-71—141 +1 Jens Dantorp, Sweden 72-69—141 +1 Drew Doyle, United States 70-71—141 +1 Harry Higgs, United States 71-70—141 +1 David Law, Scotland 72-69—141 +1 JC Ritchie, South Africa 73-68—141 +1 S. Soderberg, Sweden 72-69—141 +1 Quim Vidal, Spain 71-70—141 +1 S. Garcia Rodriguez, Spain 71-71—142 +2 Adam Hadwin, Canada 67-75—142 +2 Kensei Hirata, Japan 72-70—142 +2 Anders Larson, United States 73-69—142 +2 Peter Malnati, United States 70-72—142 +2 Stefano Mazzoli, Italy 73-69—142 +2 William McGirt, United States 73-69—142 +2 Rocco Repetto Taylor, Spain 72-70—142 +2 Miles Russell, United States 71-71—142 +2 H. Springer, United States 74-68—142 +2 Martin Laird, Scotland 73-70—143 +3 Hank Lebioda, United States 73-70—143 +3 Renato Paratore, Italy 73-70—143 +3 B. Rbnsn-Thompson, England 72-71—143 +3 David Skinns, England 70-73—143 +3 Joshua Berry, England 71-73—144 +4 Rafa Cabrera Bello, Spain 71-73—144 +4 Daniel Young, Scotland 74-70—144 +4 C. Blanchet, United States 74-71—145 +5 J.B. Holmes, United States 71-74—145 +5 Jansen Preston, United States 70-75—145 +5 Jared Wolfe, United States 72-73—145 +5 Daniel Iceman, United States 75-73—148 +8 Marcelo Rozo, Colombia 72-76—148 +8 Brendon Todd, United States 76-75—151 +11 A. Van Horne, United States 72-82—154 +14

Tennis Wimbledon Results Friday

At All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club London Purse: £30,060,000 Surface: Grass Results Friday from the Championships at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (seedings in parentheses):

Men’s Singles

Semifinals Alexander Zverev (2), Germany, def. Arthur Fery, Britain, 7-6 (0), 6-2, 6-4.

Jannik Sinner (1), Italy, def. Novak Djokovic (7), Serbia, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

TEXAS SHOWDOWN

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By LM OTERO

Texas Rangers center fielder Evan Carter, right, is tagged out stealing second base by Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena during the second inning of a game on Friday in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers beat the Astros 7-3.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL American League East Division

National League

Tampa Bay New York Toronto Boston Baltimore

W 54 51 44 43 43

L 37 42 49 48 51

Pct GB .593 — .548 4 .473 11 .473 11 .457 12½

Cleveland Chicago Minnesota Detroit Kansas City

W 48 47 46 43 38

L 46 45 48 50 56

Pct .511 .511 .489 .462 .404

Texas Seattle Houston Athletics Los Angeles

W 47 47 46 41 37

L 46 47 49 52 57

Pct GB .505 — .500 ½ .484 2 .441 6 .394 10½

Central Division

West Division

Thursday’s Games

GB — — 2 4½ 10

N.Y. Mets 7, Kansas City 3 Cleveland 5, Minnesota 2 N.Y. Yankees 12, Tampa Bay 4 Baltimore 3, Chicago Cubs 2 Boston 2, Chicago White Sox 1 Detroit 4, Athletics 1 Miami 8, Seattle 4 Texas 7, L.A. Angels 6

East Division Atlanta Miami Philadelphia Washington New York

W 54 52 52 48 40

L 38 42 42 46 54

Pct .587 .553 .553 .511 .426

Milwaukee Chicago St. Louis Pittsburgh Cincinnati

W 59 52 48 47 42

L 34 41 44 47 50

Pct GB .634 — .559 7 .522 10½ .500 12½ .457 16½

Los Angeles Arizona San Diego San Francisco Colorado

W 61 46 46 39 38

L 33 47 47 54 57

Pct .649 .495 .495 .419 .400

Central Division

West Division

Thursday’s Games

GB — 3 3 7 15

GB — 14½ 14½ 21½ 23½

N.Y. Mets 7, Kansas City 3 Atlanta 10, Pittsburgh 5 Baltimore 3, Chicago Cubs 2 Philadelphia 1, Cincinnati 0 Miami 8, Seattle 4 Milwaukee 8, St. Louis 4 Arizona 3, San Diego 1 San Francisco 8, Colorado 2

Friday’s Games

Friday’s Games

Detroit 10, Philadelphia 2 N.Y. Yankees at Washington, n Baltimore 5, Kansas City 3 Tampa Bay 7, Seattle 2 Cleveland 3, Miami 2 Boston at N.Y. Mets, n Chicago White Sox 14, Athletics 1 Texas 7, Houston 3 L.A. Angels at Minnesota, n Toronto at San Diego, n

Milwaukee at Pittsburgh, n Detroit 10, Philadelphia 2 N.Y. Yankees at Washington, n Cincinnati 4, Chicago Cubs 0 Cleveland 3, Miami 2 Boston at N.Y. Mets, n Atlanta at St. Louis, n Toronto at San Diego, n Arizona at L.A. Dodgers, n Colorado at San Francisco, n

Athletics (Jump 3-3) at Chicago White Sox (Fedde 4-6), 1:10 p.m.

L.A. Angels (Johnson 1-4) at Minnesota (Ryan 6-5), 1:10 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees (Schlittler 9-5) at Washington (Mikolas 3-7), 3:05 p.m.

Boston (TBD) at N.Y. Mets (Peralta 5-7), 3:10 p.m.

Cleveland (Bibee 2-9) at Miami (Pérez 5-6), 3:10 p.m.

Seattle (Gilbert 7-5) at Tampa Bay (Jax 4-6), 3:10 p.m.

Philadelphia (Sánchez 10-4) at Detroit (Mize 4-5), 5:10 p.m.

Houston (Lambert 7-5) at Texas (Rocker 2-7), 6:05 p.m.

Kansas City (Cameron 5-6) at Baltimore (Bradish 5-9), 6:05 p.m.

Toronto (Yesavage 4-4) at San Diego (Buehler 5-5), 7:40 p.m.

Colorado (Freeland 2-7) at San Francisco (Mahle 1-8), 3:05 p.m.

Milwaukee (Drohan 4-2) at Pittsburgh (Chandler 3-8), 3:05 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees (Schlittler 9-5) at Washington (Mikolas 3-7), 3:05 p.m.

Boston (TBD) at N.Y. Mets (Peralta 5-7), 3:10 p.m.

Cleveland (Bibee 2-9) at Miami (Pérez 5-6), 3:10 p.m.

Philadelphia (Sánchez 10-4) at Detroit (Mize 4-5), 5:10 p.m.

Chicago Cubs (Assad 6-1) at Cincinnati (Lodolo 3-2), 6:10 p.m.

Atlanta (López 4-1) at St. Louis (Liberatore 4-6), 6:15 p.m.

Toronto (Yesavage 4-4) at San Diego (Buehler 5-5), 7:40 p.m.

Arizona (Pfaadt 2-1) at L.A. Dodgers (Yamamoto 9-5), 8:10 p.m.

Saturday’s Games

Saturday’s Games

BOX SCORES Detroit 10, Philadelphia 2

Baltimore 5, Kansas City 3

Philadelphia

ab r h bi McGongle ss5 1 1 2 Keith 3b 5 1 1 1 Greene lf 1 2 1 0 Malgeri lf 0 0 0 0 Torkelson 1b 4 1 1 2 Carpenter rf 2 0 0 0 Vierling ph-rf1 1 0 0 Valencia dh 4 1 2 1 McKinstry 2b3 1 0 1 Outman cf 4 1 1 2 Rogers c 3 1 1 0 Totals 32 2 4 2 Totals 32 10 8 9 Philadelphia 001 100 000 — 2 Detroit 002 005 30x — 10 E_Mayza (1), McKinstry (4). LOB_Philadelphia 7, Detroit 4. 2B_Greene (19). 3B_ Outman (2). HR_Hill (7), McGonigle (8), Keith (8), Torkelson (16). S_McKinstry (3).

IP H R ER BB SO Philadelphia Nola 5 3 2 2 2 8 Mayza L,2-3 1 2 5 4 2 1 Lazar 1 3 3 3 1 0 Stubbs 1 0 0 0 0 0 Detroit Flaherty W,3-8 6 2 2 2 3 6 2 Waguespack ⁄3 1 0 0 0 0 1 Sommers ⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 Brieske 2 1 0 0 0 1 HBP_Flaherty (Bohm).

ABS Challenge_Harper (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Flaherty (Ball-Overturned to Strike); McGonigle (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Turner (Strike-Confirmed); Brieske (Ball-Confirmed).

Umpires_Home, Hunter Wendelstedt; First, Vic Carapazza; Second, Edwin Moscoso; Third, Nic Lentz.

T_2:32. A_34,084 (41,083).

Kansas City Baltimore ab r h bi ab r h bi Jensen c 4 0 0 0 Henderson ss4 0 1 1 Witt ss 4 0 1 0 Rutschman c3 0 1 0 Caglianone rf4 1 2 1 Ward lf 3 0 1 0 Thomas cf 4 0 0 0 Alonso 1b 3 1 1 0 Massey 2b 3 1 1 0 Basallo dh 4 1 1 2 Perez 1b 4 0 1 0 Beavers rf 3 1 1 0 Rojas 3b 4 0 2 1 O’Neill ph-rf1 0 0 0 Loftin dh 3 0 0 0 Cowser cf 4 0 0 0 Collins lf 3 1 2 1 Alexander 3b4 2 2 1 Holliday 2b 3 0 1 1 Totals 33 3 9 3 Totals 32 5 9 5 Kansas City 000 200 010 — 3 Baltimore 020 100 02x — 5 DP_Kansas City 0, Baltimore 2. LOB_Kansas City 4, Baltimore 6. 2B_Witt (21), Rojas (2), Collins (16), Massey (16). HR_ Caglianone (15), Collins (5), Alexander (4), Basallo (15).

IP H R ER BB SO Kansas City Avila 5 7 3 3 3 3 Cruz 1 0 0 0 0 1 Lynch 1 0 0 0 0 1 Strahm L,3-2 1 2 2 2 0 2 Baltimore Young 7 8 3 3 1 5 Garcia W,4-1 1 0 0 0 0 1 Kittredge S,3-5 1 1 0 0 0 1 Young pitched to 1 batter in the 8th.

ABS Challenge_Young (Ball-Confirmed).

Umpires_Home, Nick Mahrley; First, Marvin Hudson; Second, Ryan Additon; Third, Ryan Blakney.

T_2:18. A_26,993 (45,971).

Tampa Bay 7, Seattle 2

Cleveland 3, Miami 2

Seattle

Cleveland

ab Turner ss 4 Schwarbr dh3 Harper 1b 3 Marsh lf 4 Bohm 3b 3 Stott 2b 3 Rincones rf 4 Hill cf 4 Marchán c 4

Detroit r h bi 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 2 0 0 0

Women’s Doubles

Semifinals Gabriela Dabrowski, Canada, and Luisa Stefani (2), Brazil, def. Shuko Aoyama, Japan, and En-Shuo Liang (13), Taiwan, 7-5, 6-3.

Kristina Mladenovic, France, and Hanyu Guo (10), China, def. Xu Yifan and Xinyu Jiang, China, 7-6 (5), 6-4.

Transactions Major League Baseball

American League ATHLETICS — Placed 3B Zack Gelof on the 10-day IL. Recalled 1B Joey Meneses from Las Vegas (PCL).

CHICAGO WHITE SOX — Reinstated 1B Munetaka Murakami from the 10-day IL. Optioned 1B Jacob Gonzalez to Charlotte (IL).

HOUSTON ASTROS — Sent RHP Kai-Wei Teng on a rehab assignment to FCL Astros.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS — Reinstated 1B Vinnie Pasquantino from the 10-day IL. Recalled RHP Eli Morgan from Omaha (IL). Agreed to terms with RHP Vince Velasquez on a minor league contract. Ooptioned CF Kameron Misner and RHP Jose Cuas to Omaha.

MINNESOTA TWINS — Optioned LF Kyler Fedko to St. Paul (IL).

TAMPA BAY RAYS — Sent RHP Steven Wilson on a rehab assignment to FCL Rays.

National League ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS — Recalled OF Ryan Waldschmidt to Reno (PCL). Designated INF Pavin Smith for assignment.

ATLANTA BRAVES — Reinstated RHP Tyler Kinley from the paternity list. Optioned RHP Hurston Waldrep to Gwinnett (IL).

CINCINNATI REDS — Reinstated 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes from the 10-day IL. Placed 2B Matt McLain on the 10-day IL retroactive to July 8.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS — Agreed to terms with RHP Bryse Wilson. Designated RHP Easton McGee for assignment. Optioned LHP Drew Rom to Nashville (IL). Sent LHP Rob Zastryzny on a rehab assignment to Nashville.

NEW YORK METS — Placed 1B Mark Vientos on the 10-day IL. Designated RHP Dan Hammer for assignment. Selected the contract of SS Zack Short from Syracuse (IL).

Tampa Bay

ab r h bi ab r h bi Crawford ss 4 1 2 0 Díaz dh 5 0 0 0 Arozarena lf 4 0 1 0 Aranda 1b 5 1 3 0 Canzone dh 4 0 0 1 Caminero 3b 4 2 2 2 Raleigh c 4 0 0 0 Mullins cf 4 1 1 1 Naylor 1b 3 0 1 0 Simpson lf 4 1 3 1 4 1 3 1 Raley cf-rf 3 0 0 0 Mesa rf Young 2b 3 1 1 1 Walls ss 3 0 0 1 Mastrobuni rf2 0 0 0 Palacios 2b 4 1 1 1 Robles ph-cf 1 0 0 0 Feduccia c 4 0 1 0 Kennedy 3b 3 0 0 0 Totals 31 2 5 2 Totals 37 7 14 7 Seattle 000 011 000 — 2 Tampa Bay 001 120 30x — 7 DP_Seattle 0, Tampa Bay 1. LOB_Seattle 3, Tampa Bay 8. 2B_Crawford (8), Aranda (15), Caminero (13). HR_Young (11), Palacios (3), Mullins (11), Mesa (5), Caminero (28). SB_Mesa (3), Naylor (18).

SF_Walls (3).

IP H R ER BB SO Seattle Castillo L,3-8 5 9 4 4 1 4 Bazardo 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 ⁄3 4 3 3 0 0 Ferrer 2 ⁄3 0 0 0 0 0 Davila Wilcox 1 1 0 0 0 0 Tampa Bay 2 1 1 Martinez W,8-2 5 1⁄3 4 2 2 ⁄3 0 0 0 0 1 Sulser H,9 Cleavinger H,16 1 1 0 0 0 2 Kelly 2 0 0 0 0 1 ABS Challenge_Martinez (Ball-Overturned to Strike).

Umpires_Home, Tom Hanahan; First, Ron Kulpa; Second, Derek Thomas; Third, Manny Gonzalez.

T_2:22. A_15,568 (25,025).

ab r h bi Bazzana 2b 3 0 0 1 Rocchio ss 4 1 1 0 DeLauter rf 4 1 2 2 Manzardo 1b4 0 0 0 Hoskins dh 4 0 0 0 Watson cf 3 0 0 0 Schnemnn 3b3 0 0 0 Hedges c 3 1 1 0 Kwan lf 3 0 1 0

Miami

ab r h bi Lopez ss 4 0 0 0 Hernández lf3 1 1 1 Edwards 2b 4 0 1 0 Sanoja 3b 4 0 0 0 Stowers 1b 4 0 0 0 Jiménez dh 3 1 1 1 Hicks ph 1 0 0 0 Ruiz rf 0 0 0 0 Conine ph 1 0 0 0 Marsee cf 3 0 1 0 Mack c 2 0 0 0 Totals 31 3 5 3 Totals 29 2 4 2 Cleveland 000 210 000 — 3 Miami 000 001 100 — 2 DP_Cleveland 1, Miami 0. LOB_Cleveland 2, Miami 6. HR_DeLauter (10), Hernández (13), Jiménez (2). SB_Ruiz (20), Marsee (19). SF_Bazzana (3). S_Mack (3).

IP H R ER BB SO Cleveland Messick W,8-5 6 1 1 1 4 1 1 ⁄3 1 1 1 1 0 Sabrowski H,20 2 ⁄3 1 0 0 0 1 Holderman H,8 Gaddis H,17 1 1 0 0 0 1 Smith S,28-31 1 0 0 0 0 0 Miami Alcantara L,10-5 7 5 3 3 0 8 Gusto 2 0 0 0 0 1 ABS Challenge_Watson (Strike-Confirmed); Messick (Ball-Confirmed); Alcantara (Ball-Overturned to Strike); Ruiz (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Gusto (Ball-Confirmed).

Umpires_Home, Brian Walsh; First, Chad Whitson; Second, Chad Fairchild; Third, Bill Miller.

T_2:24. A_15,605 (37,446).

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Saturday, July 11, 2026 ■ 5C

lll

WORLD CUP 2026 W C A N A D A

•

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

•

M E X I C O

TODAY’S GAMES NORWAY VS. ENGLAND 4 p.m., FOX, Telemundo, Peacock | ARGENTINA VS. SWITZERLAND 8 p.m. FS1, Telemundo, Peacock

Merino stars again as Spain edges Belgium

BY GREG BEACHAM AP sportswriter

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Mikel Merino scored in the 88th minute on a rebound yielded by backup Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens, and Spain advanced to the World Cup semifinals with a 2-1 victory on Friday.

Merino was the late hero for the second straight match for Spain, which will face tournament favorite France in the semifinals on Tuesday in the Dallas area.

“It will be a clash of giants,” Spain coach Luis De La Fuente said through a translator.

Merino came on in the 86th minute and scored on his second touch of the match, charging into the box and pouncing after Lammens spilled a rebound of Pau Cubarsí’s long shot.

The Arsenal forward also scored as a substitute early in injury time to secure Spain’s 1-0 victory over Portugal in the round of 16. This second clutch goal against an upset-minded Belgium sent La Roja to the semifinals for the first time since they won the World Cup in 2010.

“I’ve done this again, and it’s happened to me again, so it would seem that coincidence exists,” a smiling Merino said. “If you’re ready and you try, it can happen for you. I’m very, very

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARK J. TERRILL

Spain midfielder Mikel Merino celebrates scoring a goal during a World Cup quarterfinal match against Belgium on Friday in Inglewood, Calif. pleased.”

Lammens, the capable Manchester United keeper, was forced into the match in the 71st minute after longtime Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois left with an apparent thigh injury.

Courtois made four saves, but the Real Madrid keeper went down to the grass four minutes before his substitution. He re-

ceived treatment during the hydration break, but he left the match in tears.

Only Germany’s Manuel Neuer has played more World Cup matches than Courtois, while Lammens had not yet played at this year’s World Cup. Belgium desperately pressed for an equalizer in the final minutes with substitute forward Rom-

elu Lukaku leading the effort, but Aymeric Laporte acrobatically volleyed the best chance out of the box in the second minute of injury time.

Fabián Ruiz scored in the 30th minute for Spain, but Belgium forward Charles De Ketelaere notched the first goal allowed by Spain in the entire World Cup in the 41st minute.

Spain remained unbeaten since March 2023 in a streak of 37 matches, while Belgium’s streak of 18 straight unbeaten matches ended.

After a cautious start from both teams in the World Cup’s second quarterfinal match, Spain broke through when Lamine Yamal and Pedro Porro moved the the ball down the right side and got it to Dani Olmo, whose shot was stopped by Courtois. The rebound went straight to Ruiz, who hammered home his first goal of the tournament.

Ruiz was making his first start since Spain’s World Cup opener, replacing Pedri in the lineup in a mildly surprising tactical decision

by De La Fuente — whose later substitute decisions paid off even more.

Spain didn’t allow a goal in its first five matches at this year’s tournament, and goalkeeper Unai Simón hadn’t conceded in a World Cup-record 650 minutes dating to Qatar. The streaks

WORLD CUP GLANCE QUARTERFINAL Thursday’s game France 2, Morocco 0

Friday’s game

Spain 2, Belgium 1

Saturday’s games

Norway vs. England, 4 p.m.

Argentina vs. Switzerland, 8 p.m.

SEMIFINAL Tuesday

France vs. Spain, 2 p.m.

Wednesday TBD, 2 p.m.

3RD PLACE PLAYOFF July 18 TBD, 4 p.m.

FINAL July 19

TBD, 2 p.m

abruptly ended when De Ketelaere muscled past Cubarsí and headed home a cross from Timothy Castagne for Belgium’s tying goal.

Belgium hadn’t generated anything close to a strong scoring chance before the latest big moment for De Ketelaere, the Atalanta forward who scored two goals in Belgium’s 4-1 rout of the co-host U.S. on Monday.

Belgium captain Youri Tielemans was removed from the starting lineup after getting injured during warmups. He joined injured defender Amadou Onana on the sidelines, although Kevin De Bruyne returned for Belgium and started the match.

It’s England vs. Norway Messi, Argentina play upstart in the quarterfinals, Switzerland in quarterfinals with all eyes on Haaland

BY DAVE SKRETTA

BY TIM REYNOLDS AP sportswriter

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Everyone knows that England’s master plan coming into the World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday will revolve around stopping Norway striker Erling Haaland.

As they would say in Norway, “Lykke til.” Translated: Good luck.

“Has anyone ever stopped Erling Haaland?” England midfielder Morgan Rogers asked, probably only somewhat rhetorically. “I’m not sure they have, but we’re going to try. You’re going to have to try.”

Stopping Haaland — who has seven goals in this year’s World Cup, one behind France’s Kylian Mbappé and Argentina’s Lionel Messi for the most at the tournament — will be the primary subplot of the Norway-England match at Hard Rock Stadium.

Among the others: Haaland versus England’s Harry Kane in a striker showdown, a Norway team with no pressure versus an England team with enormous expectations, even British Airways versus Norwegian Air in a social media chirping battle. At stake for the teams is a berth in Wednesday’s semifinals, with the winner to face either Argentina or Switzerland.

“I think it’s Norway vs. England,” Norway coach Ståle Solbakken said Friday, after his team went through its final walk-through before perhaps the biggest match in the nation’s soccer history. “But I don’t think it’s a secret that Kane is matchleader No. 1 for England and Haaland is match-leader No. 1 for us.”

Indeed, there are two elite strikers in this game — not just one.

England coach Thomas Tuchel raved about Kane on Friday, and rightly so. Kane has six goals so far in this year’s World Cup. “He’s in the shape of his life and in the highest peak of his career,” Tuchel said.

When Haaland — who stands nearly 6-foot-5 — gets the ball in his preferred spots, opponents realize that stopping him is almost out of the question. He’s too big, too strong, too skilled, and the ball is almost certainly going to find its way into the back of the net.

England’s Nico O’Reilly — Haaland’s teammate at Manchester City — has seen it happen time and again. And if there is a solution to the Haaland problem, O’Reilly might have the closest possible thing to an answer.

His plan: Don’t let the ball get

to him.

“We all know what he’s like,” O’Reilly said. “He can score goals, he’s dangerous in the box, he’s a real threat. They need to get him the ball there first.”

Haaland — who didn’t play for Norway in its loss to France in the group stage — has gotten his goals in bunches in this tournament. Against Iraq, his two goals came 14 minutes apart. Against Senegal, his two goals were 10 minutes apart. Against Brazil, his two goals were 11 minutes apart.

He was born in England; his father was playing for Leeds at that time. And Haaland certainly sees the significance.

“It’s a special game, definitely,” Haaland said. “I think, for me, it’s super special because I play in England and I’m born in England and I’ll be playing against (Manchester City) teammates and everything.”

It’s not just Haaland in that friends-turned-foes spot. There are nine players for Norway who play for clubs in England, so there will obviously be familiarity between the sides on Saturday.

“Everything is on the line,” O’Reilly said. “Everything is at stake.”

Both teams riding high The teams got to Saturday’s match in dramatic fashions, with Norway holding off perennial power and five-time World Cup champion Brazil 2-1 and England going into Mexico City and stunning previously unbeaten — and unscoredupon — co-host Mexico 3-2.

Both sides have acknowledged that coming down from the high of such wins took a little extra time.

“We discussed that we need to put the drama and the emotions of the Mexico game behind us,” England forward Bukayo Saka said.

“Now we need to focus on Norway, which is going to be another tough challenge, a different challenge, and we’re fully focused.”

They might be close to fully loaded, too.

Declan Rice, Marc Guehi and Reece James, all sidelined in recent days, trained Friday and Tuchel said he anticipates having a “full choice” awaiting him when the lineup for Saturday gets decided. England will be without defender Jarell Quansah as he begins serving his two-match suspension that was handed down after he got red-carded against Mexico in the round of 16.

AP sportswriter

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On one side of the field will be Argentina, the defending World Cup champions, boasting a roster that features the likes of Lautaro Martinez, Julián Alvarez and, of course, Lionel Messi, perhaps the greatest player of his generation.

On the other side, Switzerland.

Yes, the final quarterfinal match Saturday night could hardly seem a bigger mismatch.

Argentina has the glitz and the glamor, to say nothing of the stars and the trophies, while the Swiss have never even reached the World Cup semifinals; in fact, they haven’t been to the quarterfinals since 1954, when they lost to Austria in a tournament they hosted.

But anything can happen on the field as Argentina and the rest of the world learned when the three-time champions struggled to beat Cape Verde, and when La Albiceleste had to rally from a 2-0 deficit in the final 11 minutes to beat Egypt on Tuesday. And that has given hope to a Switzerland team that beat Colombia on penalty kicks to earn a date with the Argentines at Arrowhead Stadium.

“We know Argentina has many fine qualities. Few talk about the Swiss qualities,” defensive midfielder and team captain Granit Xhaka said Friday. “Tomorrow we will talk on the pitch, and we will show what we can do, and everything else doesn’t matter.”

The winner will play either Norway or England on Wednesday in Atlanta for a spot in the World Cup final.

“It’s obviously a very tough challenge,” Switzerland defender Manuel Akanji said, “but I think we’re ready. I think we can play against any opponent and make it hard for them. We know it’s going to be difficult but we’re going to give our best.”

Everything starts on defense for Switzerland, which has allowed only three goals in five matches, and which shut out Luis Díaz and Colombia for 120 minutes in the round of 16. The job of stopping Messi’s charmed World Cup will fall on the shoulders of Xhaka and Akanji, along with Remo Freuler, Nico Elvedi and goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.

Meanwhile, La Albiceleste is riding an 11-match World Cup unbeaten streak dating to 2022 in Qatar, and they’ve scored multi-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By UNCREDITED

Lionel Messi celebrates scoring Argentina’s second goal during a round of 16 match against Egypt on Tuesday in Atlanta. ple goals in each of those games, which ties them with Uruguay for the longest such streak in tournament history.

Messi, who had a hat trick against Algeria in a group match at Arrowhead Stadium, is even with France forward Kylian Mbappe with eight goals apiece in their race for the Golden Boot.

The 39-year-old Argentina captain has scored a record 21 goals in his World Cup career, and that includes at least one in a record six consecutive knockout matches.

Messi’s goal against Egypt leveled the game in the 83rd minute before Enzo Fernández delivered the winner in stoppage time.

“Especially for those players on the bench, the players who watch Lionel Messi play and can’t believe what they’re watching — he should be a role model for them,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said. “He tries again and again, and I get goosebumps.”

He might give goosebumps to his own side, but Messi sends a different kind of chill through the opposition.

“I don’t know that we can stop him over 90 minutes. It’s going to be difficult,” Xhaka said. “But we have to be smart, compact, close the gaps and not give him too many spaces. We just try to play our game.”

going into the match, but Switzerland will once again be without midfielder Johan Manzabi because of a knee injury. The SC Freiburg star scored two goals in a 4-1 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the group stage.

“We tried everything we could to get him back in peak form,” Switzerland coach Murat Yakin said.

“Momentum was on his side, and there was so much joy when he plays, and he has his teammates by his side. Everything worked out so well for him until now.”

Reprieve from weather in K.C. One of the big concerns for games in Kansas City had been the weather, not only because of severe storms in the Heartland but also heat indexes that frequently top triple digits in the summer. But temps should be in the upper 80s Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius) for the start of the match with only a slight chance of precipitation.

Eyes on the referees

Several games throughout the World Cup have found the spotlight cast on the referee, but FIFA decided to turn attention there before this match began.

Usually, FIFA tries to appoint referees from different confederations to avoid any potential bias. But it will be João Pinheiro of Portugal — like Switzerland, a UEFA nation — who will be Injury outlook for Switzerland monitoring the action Saturday Argentina appears to be healthy night.

6C ■ Saturday, July 11, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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LeBron to Warriors? Clark’s physical play continues to Curry shares his pitch stoke debate about fair officiating

BY JOSEPH DYCUS

Bay Area News Group (TNS) As he prepares for the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament at Lake Tahoe, Warriors star Steph Curry fielded questions Thursday about the Warriors’ offseason.

The most notable topic of conversation at Edgewood Tahoe was a move the Warriors have not yet made.

Golden State is a candidate to sign longtime nemesis LeBron James as an unrestricted free agent.

Steph Curry, 38, said he did not have an exact percentage that he could ascribe to the Warriors’ chances of signing James, but he already had his reasoning for why the Bay Area would be the perfect landing spot for the league’s alltime leading scorer.

“The pitch is we want to play good basketball and be around people that know how to play the game,” Curry said, sitting next to the past two ACC tournament champions, tennis player Mardy Fish and former Sharks captain Joe Pavelski. “Hopefully, raise our floor on our competitiveness this year. We’re an organization that’s been there and he knows that. It’s self-explanatory. It’s just a matter of where he sees himself fitting, and at the end of the day, that’s up to him.”

He also noted that the Bay Area has plenty of great golf, Curry’s top pastime and one James has been taking up more.

On a recent podcast by James’ agent, Rich Paul, the Warriors were listed among 10 teams with a realistic shot at signing his client.

The Warriors have run most of last season’s roster back this offseason after going 37-45 and being bounced in the play-in tournament.

They re-signed Kristaps Porzingis, De’Anthony Melton and Al Horford on two-year deals and agreed to terms with backup center Charles Bassey on a one-year deal Thursday, just after losing Quentin Post to Memphis. Aside from drafting Yaxel Lendeborg No. 11 overall, have not brought

in any outside talent. Curry is fine with the steady approach.

“It’s great to get KP back, it’s great to get Melton back,” the twotime MVP said. “We’re in a very unique situation because Jimmy’s hurt and Moses is hurt, and they’re going to miss a good amount of the season. You’ve got to try to hold the fort down until those guys get back because we do have an idea of who we could be with them.”

Curry and James met in four consecutive NBA Finals from 2015-18, with the Warriors winning three series and the Cavaliers coming back from a 3-1 deficit in the other.

After so many legendary battles — and a thrilling stretch as teammates at the 2024 Paris Olympics — Curry saw the appeal in ending their careers on the same team.

“Until probably two, three years ago, it was like a pipe dream question or even a thought. That is part of the allure,” Curry said, “For him going into his 24th season, and me going to my 18th, and the battles that we’ve had, that would be such a unique story in NBA history. But it’s a little premature right now to talk about it.”

As for the work on the Edgewood resort course, Curry said he’d love to play a round with James in Tahoe, where he won the tournament in 2023 and finished fifth last season.

“I missed it during the Olympics in ’24, but coming back, you just have higher expectations now ’cause you’ve actually won it,” Curry said. “I think that’s good and it’s also dangerous because you kind of want to stay composed in the first round and just enjoy yourself and let it come to you.

“I have so much fun in competition with these guys — they bring the best out of you. But more so than just the golf, it’s just the camaraderie out here. You know the guys who have a legitimate shot at it and you just want to be there on Sunday just to have a chance.”

Wednesday and Thursday were the celebrity pro-am, with the three-day tournament scored in a modified Stableford format beginning Friday.

BY MICHAEL MAROT Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — Conversations about whether Caitlin Clark is getting officiated fairly in the WNBA can be polarizing as fans, players, coaches and even lawmakers have opinions about whether the league needs to take some action about the physical play.

Congress is looking for answers

by July 24.

“Millions of casual fans now tune in to watch her play,” 11 members of the House Republican Study Committee wrote in a letter sent to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Englebert. “Unfortunately, what they too often witness is not simply aggressive competition, but repeated acts of physical hostility and violence.

Clark has been hip-checked, poked in the eye and struck in the throat during games.

“These incidents go far beyond routine physical play, yet the WNBA and its officiating have too often failed to address these unacceptable incidents and hold players accountable.”

It’s the latest chapter in the Clark saga about whether league officials must do more to protect one of the WNBA’s top players from unnecessarily aggressive physical contact.

The letter was sent two weeks after Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas made contact with her fist to Clark’s throat in a June 24 game. Thomas was not called for a foul on the play during the game, but the league subsequently upgraded the play to a flagrant foul and suspended her one game for “recklessly making contact with her fist.”

League officials have not yet issued a statement in response.

Thomas has called the play a “complete accident,” adding that she has received death threats since the incident. Clark and her coach, Stephanie White, an ardent defender of Clark, have condemned threats levied at Thomas.

The 24-year-old Iowa alum has helped increase WNBA ticket sales and driven women’s basket-

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL CONROy

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, right, drives on Atlanta Dream guard Te-Hina Paopao during a game on June 18 in Indianapolis. ball television ratings to unprecedented heights with her play.

However, many conversations around her tap into a variety of combustible hot-button topics, including race, officiating, money and politics. Clark has largely managed to thrive, but can’t completely escape the noise.

“I think sometimes people think I’m a robot. I’m not a robot,” she said. “It can be really frustrating to me at times. I’m 24 years old trying to navigate a lot. I’ve been in this world for four years now — and you would never change any of it — but there are times that it is hard. And there are times when it affects me a little bit more than I do put on. I think it’s important that people remember that part of it, too.”

Lawmakers also suggested in their letter that government agencies such as the Department of Justice should investigate if discrimination or retaliation are creating a hostile work environment in the WNBA. Fever officials said in a statement that neither Clark nor team officials have been in contact with the Congressional group and that they were unaware of the letter before its release.

Clark is one of the league’s most popular players, but she’s also one of the most polarizing — even amongst her peers.

Fans made her the No. 2 votegetter for next week’s All-Star Game while Clark’s fellow players ranked her 11th among league guards — something three-time WNBA champ and Hall of Famer Candace Parker took exception with.

“If you’re sitting down and putting Caitlin Clark as the 11th best guard ... y’all need to go to a therapist and figure out what childhood issues you have,” Parker wrote on social media.

Clark instantly became the face of the league from the moment she was drafted first overall in 2024, before ever playing a pro game and even though she had not won an NCAA championship.

To accommodate her fan base, opponents moved games from home arenas to larger venues, which generated more revenue.

Fever games quickly became a regular feature on national television even though Indiana missed the playoffs from 2016-23.

Clark supporters say her immediate notoriety created resentment among WNBA veterans and has led to the hard fouls that cross the line.

Opponents counter that because of Clark’s ability to shoot the ball and beat opponents with her ballhandling, players defending her try to be as physical as a referee will allow to slow her down.

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S at u r d ay, J u ly 11, 2026

INTO THE FIRE

Terry Robinson FAITH MATTERS

Belfair Church feasts on ‘Lunch and Learn’ series Bibles were open. Pens moved across notebooks. Eyes followed both while ears were fixed on the Rev. Jon Bennett’s teaching.

Members of Belfair Church in Baton Rouge have been getting their fill during the annual two-month summer “Lunch and Learn” Bible study series, trading in their Wednesday noon lunch hours for an opportunity to dig deeper into Scriptures.

Bennett, the church’s pastor for 24 years, said it gives him joy to see the enthusiastic turnout for the series, which concludes with group discussions.

“It encourages me as a pastor to see that our members love the Word and that they want to grow,” said Bennett, 47. “In the middle of the day, they bring their lunch and feast on the Word.”

This series has Bennett centered on the seven churches described in the prophetic Book of Revelation.

Azalee Barlow, a minister and member of Belfair for nearly 48 years, said the study of the churches has given her an understanding of how to cope during the difficult times in which we are living.

“It’s speaking of what’s going on now and getting us prepared,” said Barlow, 70. “We have to realize that we have to go through all this stuff, but we have to keep our eyes focused on the prize — and that prize is Jesus.”

Last week’s study focused on the church at Thyatira.

Bennett said Thyatira was a working church characterized by love, faith, service, patience and endurance. But he highlighted from Revelation 2 that the church tolerated “that woman Jezebel,” which represents corrupting influence and named for the idolatrous Old Testament figure.

“She lived kind of a loose lifestyle. She not only lived it, but she told other people that it was OK,” Bennett shared with the class.

He warned that Jezebel and her followers will be judged.

“We forget who we’re messing with,” Bennett said. “We think just because folks in the world get away with sin, we can get away with sin. (Jesus) says, ‘When I

1dN

Louisiana duo returns to TV food competition scene on ‘Pitmasters’

BY JUDY BERGERON

Staff writer

PROVIDED PHOTO FROM FOOD NETWORK

Louisiana mother-and-son barbecue team Leslie Roark Scott and Jacob Scott are one of nine teams on the first season of Food Network’s ‘Pitmasters.’

When Leslie Roark Scott and her son, Jacob Scott, “go the whole hog,” they mean it literally.

The dynamic barbecuing duo are fourth- and fifth-generation pitmasters and Yazoo City, Mississippi, natives who moved south last year and immersed themselves in life in New Orleans’ Marigny neighborhood.

“I like to say the same river (the Mississippi), different swamp,” Roark Scott said Monday on a phone call shared with her son/grilling partner.

Viewers can see the Scotts in action starting Monday on Food Network’s new competition series “Pitmasters,” not to be confused with the network’s 2009-15 show “BBQ Pitmasters.” ä See FIRE, page 3D

ä See FAITH, page 2D

10 0 states still to go for 22026 Postcard Project

BY JAN RISHER

seum in Iowa.”

From tiny Grand Coteau, the Blanchards kept it simple: “PreEight weeks in, and the count cious lodging, cute shops, lovely E sta ands at 142 postcards from 40 homes, good food — great experista ates and 14 counence.”

Michele Snyder trie es. ä The invitation stands. wrote from Little They keep arrivT Send postcards to: Rock, Arkansas, ing g — from Grand Cotteau, from Chica- Jan Risher,The Advocate with a New Orleans history lesson on a go, from Ireland and 10705 Rieger Rd. poiints beyond.

Baton Rouge, LA 70809. postcard, explainJohn James Makeing that Sicilian immigrants landed in la took the chalnge of making his own postcard, New Orleans in the late 19th and len in k keeping with part of this year’s 20th centuries and left their mark the eme. He sent his interpretation on the produce trade — fruit, oysof C Cathedral Rock in Sedona, Ari- ters — and on the city’s table, from the muffuletta to the St. Joseph alzon na.

The McGovern family went on tar tradition.

T an unconventional pilgrimage to Ten states remain unclaimed: Iow wa.

Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachu“ My mom worked for John setts, Nebraska, Nevada, New Dee ere,” Mr. McGovern wrote. “We Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoalw ways have to bow our heads when ma, South Carolina and Vermont. we see a Deere tractor. So, of course, The 2026 Postcard Project ends on we had to visit the John Deere Mu- Labor Day. Stafff writer

So far we have received 142 postcards from 40 states and 14 countries.

2D ■ Saturday, July 11, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

Job hunter too focused on negativity

DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently applied for and interviewed for an internship in the city. I felt like the interview went well, and I was told I met the requirements and qualifications for the role. The company ended up going in a different direction, and I am Harriette at a loss. I normally Cole get everything I SENSE AND want and apply for, SENSITIVITy and I have never faced rejection before. I don’t know what to do. I feel down about it and like I have let myself and my family down.

I always aim to be the best, and now I’m not. I’m writing to see if you have any words of encourage-

ment or advice to help get me out of this post-interview funk. — PostInterview Funk DEAR POST INTERVIEW FUNK: There’s a saying: Don’t put your eggs in one basket. What does that mean?

I have another friend who just experienced this same thing. He applied for one internship, was over-the-moon excited about it, and then he was crushed when he didn’t get it. Plus, he didn’t have a pivot because he hadn’t even looked at other opportunities.

That is crushing, but as hard as it seems, you have to pick yourself up and look for something else.

Of course, rejection sucks. But the good news is there are lots of choices out there. You just have to go out and find them. Look around, ask for help and don’t

give up. It stings, but it’s OK. That wasn’t for you even though you wanted it.

So, what’s next? The best way to get out of your negativity is to double down on finding something else. Get up every day and search for opportunities. Stop talking about what didn’t happen for you and focus on what you want. Say out loud what you are looking for.

Tell other people, and invite the universe to help you manifest a job.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have been going out with a guy for the past five months. He attends military college, and every chance he got this past semester, he would travel an hour to spend time with me in the city. When we weren’t seeing each other in person, we were

texting and FaceTiming all day and night. I recently came home for the summer, and everything has changed. Our conversations slowly started to fade, and then out of nowhere, he texted me saying that he wanted to take a pause on our relationship and pursue someone else. I’m hurt and confused by this, especially since the day before, he told me how much he missed me and yearned to see me. I’ve spent the whole day crying, and I feel like I have done something wrong. Why doesn’t he want me? Why am I suddenly no longer good enough? How do I get past this rejection and the relationship? — Rejected and Gutted DEAR REJECTED AND GUTTED: Being abruptly sidelined for no apparent reason can be devastating. It’s

no wonder you are upset. Sometimes you cannot understand a person’s motivations. Clearly, he met someone else and wants to see where that may lead. While that is painful, be glad he told you rather than either just ghosting you or cheating on you.

Give yourself time to mourn this loss, but also get up and go out. Don’t allow yourself to wallow in the pain. The season of sunshine is here. Go out and enjoy it.

Get in touch with friends and do some exploring of your city. Keep busy as you heal your heart.

Send questions to askharriette@ harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

No excuse for putting feet on furniture

Attendees participate in a recent Lunch and Learn Bible study at Belfair Church in Baton Rouge.

FAITH

Continued from page 1D judge her, the church will wake up and realize that we can’t compromise (and) we can’t tolerate sin. We got to

call a spade a spade.’”

The Lunch and Learn series reflects what Bennett calls the “new energy” that Belfair continues to enjoy since relocating in 2023 to the more visible Mid City location at 5550 Florida Blvd. The church spent its

first 50-plus years on Fairfields Avenue.

“The church is going well,” said Bennett, who answered his call to ministry at age 21 and was named pastor of his childhood church at 23. “We see a lot of visitors here at the church.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Our members are serving in a lot of different ways.

There are lot of needs in the church, and the members are rising to the occasion.”

Contact Terry Robinson at terryrobinson622@gmail. com

Nut allergy scare occurs with beer Dear Heloise: This is a warning/tip for adults with a nut allergy. My 40-year-old daughter was at a craft brewery with friends enjoying a beer when she began having a mild reaction, as she has with her allergy to several nuts.

She took the appropriate steps immeHints from diately and Heloise is fine. She called me the next day asking “what are the chances?” When I went on the brewery’s website, this particular beer had already been removed, so we couldn’t even check the ingredients.

So, this is a word to the wise. Apparently, beer ingredients needn’t be listed on the label. If you have a nut allergy, ask before you drink. — J.D., in St. Louis

J.D., thanks for the warning. I found out that mangos were a first cousin to poison ivy after I ate one. They’re a delicious fruit, but they’re not for me. — Heloise

Vaping isn’t harmless Dear Heloise: My daughter gave up cigarettes and took up vaping! She went from bad to worse as far as I’m concerned, but she keeps saying that vaping is harmless. Is it harmless? — Andrea K., in Iowa Andrea, no, it’s not harmless. According to the Centers for Disease Control, many vaping devices contain more nicotine than cigarettes. They also have cancer-causing chemicals and heavy metals, and they can irritate the lungs.

The use of an e-cigarette isn’t safer than cigarettes, but many young people believe that they’ll quit before there is any real danger — or that they

won’t be affected by vaping. — Heloise

Have medical info ready Dear Heloise: When someone calls emergency services and rescue personnel comes to your house, you may not be able to give them the facts that they’d need to take care of you.

This is why I have vital medical information on one sheet of paper, which I have laminated and affixed to the back of my front door. It includes my full name, date of birth, age, my primary care physician with their phone number, emergency contacts with their addresses and phone numbers, allergies, important highlights of my medical history, medications and supplements, surgeries, etc.

I also indicate that I have a cat and include the name of their veterinarian and the vet’s phone number.

This information could save your life if you’re unable to speak to the rescue personnel. — Hannelore R., in Omaha, Nebraska

Toothpaste tablets Dear Heloise: Regarding the different ways to squeeze the last bits of toothpaste from a tube, I have a “greener” solution: Purchase toothpaste tablets! I buy these in bulk at a sustainable shop in Webster Groves, Missouri.

Toothpaste tablets take a bit of getting used to, but they clean teeth just as well as “regular” toothpaste.

According to Nature.com, toothpaste tubes take 500 years to decompose. — Jan, in St. Louis Jan, in all honesty, I’ve never seen toothpaste tablets in any store. Still, it’s an interesting idea. — Heloise Send a hint to heloise@ heloise.com.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I would like to explain why some people put their feet on the furniture, or tuck their feet under and sit on them.

The women in my family are short. Most furniture is designed for people taller than us. Our feet do not reach the floor, nor do they reach the stools or Judith ottomans Martin that are usuMISS ally placed a MANNERS long-legged length away.

Our backs hurt after (properly) sitting on most furniture. One hour of dangling feet equals three days of back pain.

In our homes, we each have a small chair for our own comfort.

When we spend time in public, at friends’ houses or at each other’s places, we find ourselves tucking at least one foot under, or sitting sideways in the corner of a couch with crossed legs. My daughters and I frequently fight over the corners.

We don’t stay long in places where sitting prop-

erly means that we will be in pain. We usually ask our host(ess) if we can tuck up our impeccably clean feet after we explain the pain of being short.

GENTLE READER: “The pain of being short”?

Miss Manners herself suffers from that affliction. And yet somehow she has managed never to have put her bare feet on other people’s furniture. So forgive her if she remains steadfast in requiring that the rest of the population behave similarly.

However, in the game of “I get an exception for medical reasons,” she applauds your effort and originality.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: When is the proper time to attach an anniversary band to your wife’s wedding band?

GENTLE READER: While you are still married.

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

RELIGION BRIEFS Social justice Sunday Wesley United Methodist Church, 544 Government St., Baton Rouge, will host Social Justice Sunday at 10 a.m. July 12.

During the service, the church will recognize three community members for their contributions.

All are invited.

Father’s day luncheon The Women’s Ministry of Berean Seventh-day Adventist Church, 5100

Osborne Ave., will honor fathers and the men of the church and community with a special Father’s Day luncheon on Saturday, following the 11 a.m. worship service.

The Rev. T. Ron Weegar, pastor, will deliver a tribute to fathers during the service. The luncheon, originally scheduled for Father’s Day weekend, was rescheduled due to the Southwest Region Conference’s annual camp meeting.

The public is welcome.

Places of Worship Directory Places of Worship Baha'i Faith Baton Rouge Baha'i Faith Public Informational Meeting 2nd Sunday of Each month @ 2:30-3:30 pm Goodwood Library Room B Visit bahai.org, bahai.us and bahai-br.us

SHOP TODAY! Something for everyone.

store.nola.com

Baptist

Bapt-Southern

Mount Zion First Baptist Church Dr. Rene’ F. Brown, Pastor 356 T. J. Jemison Blvd.

Sunday School: 8:30 am Sun. Service: 9:30am Wednesday Bible Study: 12 noon & 7:15 pm Communion Service First Sunday: 6pm Broadcast: 11am 106.5 FM www.mtzionfirstbaptist.com

TRUE LIGHT CHURCH Rev.BAPTIST Dennis R. Hebert, Pastor 3836 North Street Phone 383-3912 Sunday School – Sunday Worship – 9:00 10:00A.M. Wed. Prayer Service &A.M. Bible Study – 6:00 P.M. Communion Service 2nd Sunday 10:00 A.M.– CLASSIFIEDS.THEADVOCATE.COM

Methodist

Presbyterian

Quakers

UNIVERSITY PRESBYTERIAN Dalrymple @ State St Worship 10:00 In person • Facebook • www.upcbr.org

B.R. FRIENDS MEETING Worship 11:30 AM SUNDAYS Information 225-665-3560

Facebook.com/universitypresbyterian

930 North Boulevard (Corner of North & T.J. Jemison) 225-383-4777 Rev Brady Whitton Senior Pastor www.firstmethodist.org Sunday Worship Sanctuary 8:30 AM & 11:00 AM America Street - 9:45 AM First Baptist Church Baton Rouge 529 Convention Street Sunday School 9:15 am Sunday Worship 10:45 am.

Broadcast live stream of Sunday Worship on Youtube and Facebook.

Wednesday Prayer meeting and Bible Study 5:30 pm www.fbcbr.com

Sunday School (for all ages) - 9:40 AM Services Broadcast Sunday 9:30 AM WBXH (Cox Channel 16, Digital Channel 39, Dish TV Ch. 39) 10:30 AM WAFB Channel 9 Radio Broadcast 5:30 AM- WYNK 101.5 FM 8:00 AM- THE RIVER 96.1 FM

Mugs, shirts, hats, posters, books.

Something for everyone at the Advocate Store!

STORE.ADVOCATE.COM

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Saturday, July 11, 2026 ■ 3D

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FIRE

Continued from page 1D For the new one, “teams of the world’s most elite pitmasters push live fire cooking to its limits as they compete in a non-stop weeklong battle for BBQ glory. …

Bold flavor, innovation and mastery of the pit is the name of the game,” according to a show synopsis.

It’s not the first rodeo for either Jacob Scott or his mom.

“So this is going to be my third appearance on Food Network,” the recent Chef John Folse Culinary Institute graduate said. “I did ‘Kids BBQ Championship’ back in 2015. I was 12 then, and then a year later when I was 13, I did ‘Chopped Jr.’ And then me and Mom did a show called ‘Stove Tots,’ where we worked together.

“So this is kind of us revisiting that. And getting a chance to yet again be a duo on TV,” he said.

For “Stove Tots,” Scott, now 22, was the main cook while his mom was sous chef. She was required to stand back and watch, unless her son used a lifeline to call her in for assistance.

His mother, 53, has competed on “BBQ Pitmasters,” appeared a few times on “Chopped” and one episode of “Beat Bobby Flay.”

“And I didn’t beat Bobby.

I mean, who beats Bobby?

It’s impossible,” she said.

Roark Scott squared off against veteran chef and Food Network personality Flay with each’s take on barbecue wings.

The Scotts’ latest barbecue adventure, “Pitmasters,” was a different kind of competition, they agreed.

“We were in the mountains in Utah, and it was as far from sea level for

PROVIDED PHOTO By KIM RAFF/FOOD NETWORK

Host Andrew Zimmern, second from left, gathers with ‘Pitmaster’ judges Ernest Servantes, from left, Jess Pryles and Moe Casen in the Utah mountains. me and Jacob than it could have possibly been. It was just such a different environment,” Roark Scott explained. “All I’ll say is everyone was equally equipped, and the show did a really good job at showing that barbecue isn’t just one thing. We had pitmasters from all over the place.

Everybody with their own styles and methods.

Each team that you watch, they’re gonna be doing something completely different.”

The Scotts have been part of New Orleans’ Hogs for the Cause charity event since its third year.

She operated a restaurant for 20 years, still caters,

and also appears at events such as upcoming demonstratons for Royal Oak Charcoal at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Her great-grandfather started the family’s barbecue tradition, and handed it down to her grandfather, who would share his special barbecue sauce with the neighbors.

The family eventually started bottling and selling the sauce, called Ubons, which is still available, along with a bloody mary mix.

The mother-son team have wanted to cook on TV side-by-side again for a while.

“Just because it’s some-

thing that we do so well,” she said. “But just getting to be on a team with Jacob and watch him work so hard. This was a grueling competition, truly.

“I’ve been doing barbecue competitions overnight, starting as a kid where you’re on site at 4 a.m. and you’re done at 7 p.m. — this was even more than that.

This was 24 hours a day.

This was super intense, and I wouldn’t have done it with anybody else,” she said.

Her son expressed similar sentiments.

“I was catching side-eye from the competitors, not because of who I am and them trying to get a jump on me, but it was because

TODAY IN HISTORY

By The Associated Press

great bell inside the famous London clock tower, chimed for the first time.

Today is Saturday, July In 1864, Confederate forc11, the 192nd day of 2026.

There are 173 days left in es led by Gen. Jubal Early the year. began an abortive invasion Today in History: of Washington, D.C.; the On July 11, 1995, the U.N.- raid was turned back the designated “safe haven” next day. of Srebrenica in BosniaIn 1914, Babe Ruth made Herzegovina fell to Bosnian his Major League baseball Serb forces, who subsedebut, pitching the Boston Red Sox to a 4-3 victory quently carried out the over Cleveland. killings of more than 8,000 In 1921, fighting in the Muslim men and boys.

Irish War of Independence Also on this date: ended with a truce.

In 1798, the U.S. Marine In 1960, Harper Lee’s novCorps was formally reestablished by a congressioel “To Kill a Mockingbird” nal act that also created the was published.

In 1972, the World Chess U.S. Marine Band.

Championship opened as In 1804, Vice President Aaron Burr mortally wound- grandmasters Bobby Fisched former Treasury Secreer of the United States and defending champion Boris tary Alexander Hamilton Spassky of the Soviet Union during a pistol duel in Weehawken, New Jersey. (Ham- began play in Reykjavik, Iceland. (Fischer won after ilton died the next day.)

21 games.)

In 1859, Big Ben, the

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In 1979, the abandoned U.S. space station Skylab made a spectacular return to Earth, burning up in the atmosphere and showering debris over the Indian Ocean and Australia.

In 1991, a Nigeria Airways DC-8 carrying Muslim pilgrims crashed at the Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, international airport, killing all 261 people on board.

In 2006, eight bombs hit a commuter rail network during evening rush hour in Mumbai, India, killing more than 200 people.

In 2022, President Joe Biden revealed the first image from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, the farthest humanity had ever seen in both time and distance, closer to the dawn of the universe and the edge of the cosmos.

Today’s Birthdays: Actor Susan Seaforth Hayes is 83.

Actor Bruce McGill is 76.

Actor Stephen Lang is 74.

Actor Mindy Sterling is 73.

Actor Sela Ward is 70. Reggae singer Michael Rose (Black Uhuru) is 69. Singer Peter Murphy (Bauhaus) is 69. Actor Mark Lester is 68. Saxophonist Kirk Whalum is 68. Singer Suzanne Vega is 67. Rock guitarist Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi) is 67. Actor Lisa Rinna is 63. Author Jhumpa Lahiri is 59. Wildlife expert Jeff Corwin is 59. Actor Justin Chambers (TV: “Grey’s Anatomy”) is 56. Actor Michael Rosenbaum (TV: “Smallville”) is 54. Rapper Lil’ Kim is 52. Pro Football Hall of Famer Andre Johnson is 45. Pop-jazz singermusician Peter Cincotti is 43. Actor Serinda Swan is 42. Actor David Henrie is 37. Actor Connor Paolo is 36. R&B/pop singer Alessia Cara is 30.

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Roark Scott said.

Starting with Monday’s premiere, all nine teams will be presenting their finished dishes to a panel of judges including Andrew Zimmern, Jess Pryles, Moe Cason and Ernest Servantes.

The winner will receive up to $50,000.

“Pitmasters” will air at 8 p.m. Mondays on Food Network and will stream the following day on HBO Max.

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I think I had a lot of people jealous of me because I got to do this with my mama,” he said. “And so we were a team to make everybody jealous.”

The six days of almost 24-hour cooking challenges, with very limited time for showers or rest, ran the gamut as far as weather conditions — warm, sunny days, contrasting with quite cool mountain nights.

“I’d pack my stuff up and do it again right now,”

CHARISSE HANCHEY, REALTOR®,CRS, ABR,

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4D ■ Saturday, July 11, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

FrAnK And erneSt

roSebUdS

zItS

For better or For WorSe

lll

zodIAC cAncER (June 21-July 22) Opportunity requires doing your part to investigate what's possible. Waiting for someone to do the work for you leads to unfulfilled dreams and disappointment. Be your own bestie.

LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Test the water, focus on what's favorable and head in a direction that makes you feel content and happy to be alive. Surround yourself with people who make you think.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Take a second look at what's available to you before you take a leap of faith. You may want to redirect your energy into something more stable and reassuring regarding your lifestyle.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Taking advantage of opportunities that lead to interesting partnerships or encounters with those doing something that you see yourself participating in will encourage you to go the distance. scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) An observant attitude will prompt you to improve your standards, qualifications and prospects. Dig into what's trending, and apply your skills and experience to ensure you stay ahead of challenges. sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Confront what isn't working for you. Concentrate on your lifestyle, and ensure you find peace of mind from your surroundings and those you hang out with. cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Take better care of yourself. Don't follow the crowd or give in to temptation. Impul-

sive actions will lead to regret. When in doubt, take a pass. Pay attention.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) A change of scenery will give you back your spark and reunite you with your dreams.

Don't be too quick to let outside influences step in and take over. You must satisfy your needs.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Take a break, venture out, find your circle and enjoy your day. Focus on health and your emotional well-being. A spa day or an activity that brings out the best in you will help you put your life in perspective.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Dream it, believe it and follow through. Actions speak louder than words. Put your plans in motion, and stop worrying about what others think, say or do. tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Stick close to home, and turn your place into a comfort zone where you can relax, formulate your next move and feel free from the stress and tension that outside influences have on you.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) Send a message to those you want to back away from and those you want to spend more time with. How you use your time is instrumental in getting what you want out of life.

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

WonderWord

peAnUtS

SALLY Forth

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

toDAy's cLuE: H EQuALs R

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon FAMILY CIrCUS

dooneSbUrY

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Saturday, July 11, 2026 ■ 5D

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CurTiS

Hi and LoiS

Sudoku InstructIons: Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers.

The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

BaBY BLueS

BLondie

THe wiZard oF id

nea CroSSwordS

La TimeS CroSSword

6D ■ Saturday, July 11, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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B.C.

Bridge

By PHILLIP ALDER Jimmy Carter, in his farewell presidential address, said, “Our American values are not luxuries, but necessities — not the salt in our bread, but the bread itself.”

Bridge is full of rules that need to be taken with a large pinch of salt. Always treat each deal on its own merits; do not thoughtlessly assume that the “textbook” play will be right.

How does that apply to this deal? South is in three no-trump. West leads his fourth-highest heart. South takes East’s 10 with his king and runs the diamond 10.

What should happen after that?

South did not like to open one no-trump with two unstopped suits, but he had no more accurate sequence available.

The books recommend returning partner’s suit in no-trump — and it is true that that will be right much more often than not. (In a suit contract, shifting will be better a lot of the time.) But if East does that here, South will take the trick with his heart ace and drive out West’s diamond ace. West may shift to a club, but declarer plays low from the dummy and loses only two diamonds and two clubs.

Instead, East should pause for thought at trick three. Surely West has the diamond ace, because if South had that card, he would have cashed it before trying the diamond finesse. And if West is about to

garfield

Pearls Before swiNe

hagar the horriBle

gain the lead, East should see how to defeat the contract. At trick three, he leads his club three.

South wins with his 10 and continues diamonds, but West should take the trick and lead his second club. Then East gets three tricks in the suit to defeat the contract. © 2026 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

wuzzles Each Wuzzle is a word riddle which creates a disguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD = GOOD AFTERNOON

PiCKles

Previous answers:

mallard fillmore

word game InstRuctIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3.

Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

toDAy’s WoRD — conVERsE: kun-VERSE: Talk.

Bizarro

marmaduKe

Average mark 31 words Time limit 55 minutes Can you find 48 or more words in CONVERSE? yEstERDAy’s WoRD — MAtRons manor mart mason mast matron moan moat morn most arms arson

atom tarn taro torn tram trans transom tsar ransom rant roam

roan roast roman oast osar norm santo smart snort soar sonar

sora sort star storm

loCKhorNs hidato Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

today’s thought “Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivers from death.” Proverbs 11:4

What do you value? Think it over. G.E. Dean

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Saturday, July 11, 2026 ■ 7D

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Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Public Notices

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

LSUHSC IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. DEBORAH HOLMES PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST dholme2@lsuhsc.edu 504-568-2598

PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT FOR BID SEALED PROPOSALS AS LISTED BELOW WILL BE RECEIVED BY THE: PURCHASING DEPARTMENT LSU HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER 433 BOLIVAR STREET, 6TH FLOOR ROOM 623 NEW ORLEANS, LA 70112 UNTIL TIMES AND DATES INDICATED, AT WHICH TIME AND PLACE THE PROPOSALS WILL BE PUBLICLY OPENED AND READ: BID WILL BE OPENED AND PUBLICLY READ ON JULY 30, 2026 AT 2:00 PM FOR DENTAL SUPPLIES SOLICITATION NUMBER: 002994 BUYER: DEBORAH HOLMES SPECIFICATIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT OR https:// wwwcfprd.doa.louisiana. gov/OSP/LaPAC/Agency/ outMain.cfm THE RIGHT IS RESERVED TO REJECT AND ALL BIDS AND TO WAIVE INFORMALITIES,

193773-jul 11-1t $41.05 PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Sealed bids will be ac‐ cepted in the Purchasing Department at Louisiana Delta Community College until 2:00 P.M., CST, July 29, 2026, as per the speci‐ fications. Bids must be returned to the Purchas‐ ing Office in a sealed en‐ velope marked with the Bid Number and Opening Date and Time. Bids must be submitted on the form enclosed herewith, and in strict conformity with the intent of same with‐ out modifications. Bids must be signed in ink, dated, and title of person signing bid must be shown on bid. Bid Num‐ ber 40010-10625 – Provide Welding Gas & Demur‐ rage Cylinders. No bid may be withdrawn for a period of thirty (30) days after receipt of bids.

Louisiana Delta Commu‐ nity College reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive any in‐ incidental formalities thereto. Complete bid‐ ding documents may be obtained from Louisiana Delta Community Col‐ lege, Kori Hearon, khearon@bpcc.edu tele‐ phone (318) 678-6242.

193718 July 11, 1t $120.35

Public Notices Conservation

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PUBLIC NOTICE --- 1SAN MIGUEL CREEK FIELD 26-240 thru 26-243 LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF LOUISIANA, DE‐ PARTMENT OF CONSER‐ VATION AND ENERGY, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA. In accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana, and with par‐ ticular reference to the provisions of Title 30 of Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, a public hearing will be held in the Hearing Room, 1st Floor, LaSalle Building, 617 North 3rd Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 9:00 a.m. on TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026, upon the application of EX‐ PAND OPERATING LLC. At such hearing the De‐ partment of Conserva‐ i d ill

Public Notices Conservation p tion and Energy will con‐ sider evidence relative to the issuance of Orders pertaining to the follow‐ ing matters relating to the Haynesville Zone, Reservoir A, in the San Miguel Creek Field, Sabine Parish, Louisiana.

1. To authorize Applicant to drill, designate and utilize one cross unit hor‐ izontal well to serve as an alternate unit well for HA RA SUW, HA RA SUSS, HA RA SUH and HA RA SUG, and two cross unit horizontal wells to serve as alternate unit wells for HA RA SUSS and HA RA SUH, at the locations and in the general man‐ ner shown on the plat submitted with the appli‐ cation, or at any other legal locations within such units, and to ap‐ prove exceptions to the spacing provisions of Of‐ fice of Permitting and Compliance Order No. 1165-K, effective October 28, 2008, as to the com‐ mon boundaries of the units which will be served by the cross unit horizontal wells, and in accordance with LAC 43:XIX.4307, et seq.

(Statewide Order No. 29S).

2. To find that the pro‐ posed horizontal wells are necessary to effi‐ ciently and economically drain a portion of the Haynesville Zone under‐ lying the units on which it is proposed to be drilled which cannot be efficiently and economi‐ cally drained by any ex‐ isting well on such units, will prevent waste, avoid the drilling of unneces‐ sary wells, protect cor‐ relative rights and pro‐ mote the full and effi‐ cient development of the natural resources of this state.

3. To provide that if the horizontal portion of a well is cased and ce‐ mented back above the top of the Haynesville Zone, Reservoir A, the distance to any unit boundary and offset well(s) will be calculated based on the distance to the nearest perforation in the well and not on the penetration point or ter‐ minus of the well in the Hayesville Zone, Reser‐ voir A. 4. To provide that pro‐ duction from the pro‐ posed wells shall be sep‐ arated and metered indi‐ vidually and that this in‐ formation shall be re‐ ported in the manner prescribed by the Office of Permitting and Com‐ pliance.

5. To provide that the unit allowables for the units to be served by the pro‐ posed wells may be pro‐ duced from the unit well, from any alternate unit well, or from any combi‐ nation of such wells serving the unit, at the discretion of the opera‐ tor.

6. To provide that pro‐ duction from a cross unit horizontal well shall be allocated to each unit

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penetrated by the well in the same proportion as the perforated length of the lateral in each such unit bears to the total length of the perforated lateral as determined by an “as drilled” survey performed after the well has been drilled and completed.

7. Except insofar as set f h b fi

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Public Notices Conservation p forth above, to confirm and continue in full force and effect the provisions of Order No. 1165-K, ef‐ fective October 28, 2008, as amended and supple‐ mented by the 1165-K Se‐ ries of Orders, the units created thereby, and of all applicable Statewide Orders.

8. To consider such other

Public Notices Conservation

matters as may be perti‐ nent.

The Haynesville Zone, Reservoir A was defined in Order No. 1165-K, ef‐ fective October 28, 2008.

A plat is available for in‐ spection in the Depart‐ ment of Conservation and Energy in Baton Rouge and Shreveport, Louisiana.

Public Notices Conservation

http://dnr.louisiana.gov/ conshearings All parties having inter‐ est therein shall take no‐ tice thereof.

BY ORDER OF: DUSTIN H. DAVIDSON, SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND EN‐ ERGY

Public Notices Conservation

Baton Rouge, 7/8/26;7/11/26 S lck

LA

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE, PLEASE CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT OF CON‐ SERVATION AND ENERGY AT P.O. BOX 94275, BATON

Public Notices Conservation

ROUGE, LA 70804-9275 IN WRITING WITHIN TEN (10) WORKING DAYS OF THE HEARING DATE. 193886 July 11, 1t $81.93

CLASSIFIEDS.THEADVOCATE.COM

PUBLIC NOTICE EBR PARISH GUD #1 The purpose of this message is to inform the public that EBR Parish GUD has buried gas pipelines throughout the gas service area that provide safe reliable energy to its customers. EBR Parish GUD maintains these pipelines to a high standard and they are considered reliable. A Damage Control Program (line markers) and an Emergency Plan for responding to an emergency situation has been established and we work closely with Fire and Emergency Response Personnel.

Prior to any excavation in and around any gas facilities contact either of the numbers below.

One-Call System 1 (800) 272-3020 or 811 Help Us Keep You Safe How to Recognize a Natural Gas Leak

Or show your support for our journalists with our Advocate coffee mugs and tote bags.

Natural gas leaks may be detected by one of the following indications on or near our pipelines right-of-way: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

A gaseous or hydrocarbon odor.

A blowing or hissing sound.

Dust blowing from a hole in the ground.

Continuous bubbling in one spot in wet or flooded area.

Dead vegetation (grass, shrubs or trees.)

Abnormally dry or hardened soil.

Fire apparently coming from the ground or burning above the ground.

CAUTION: Gas that has accumulated in a confined space is subject to EXPLOSION. Please stay away from immediate area of any suspected gas leak and contact the EBR Parish GUD #1 Gas Maintenance Department!

NOTE: EBR Parish GUD does not maintain buried piping between the gas meter and the house or business. The customer is responsible for maintaining and repairing this section of gas piping from leakage.

These buried gas lines should be checked periodically for leakage.

If you need additional information, suspect a natural gas leak or in case of an emergency concerning a EBR Parish GUD System gas main or service line, immediately call: EBR GUD #1 (225) 654-4020 or 1(225)654-5205 (24 Hour No.) 193686-666223-jul 11-15-5t $ 415.80

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8D ■ Saturday, July 11, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate Public Notices Conservation

PUBLIC NOTICE ---2BAY MARCHAND BLOCK 2 FIELD 26-244 and 26-245 LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF LOUISIANA, DE‐ PARTMENT OF CONSER‐ VATION AND ENERGY, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA. In accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana, and with par‐ ticular reference to the provisions of Title 30 of Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, a public hearing will be held in the Hearing Room, 1st Floor, LaSalle Building, 617 North 3rd Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 9:00 a.m. on TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026, upon the application of CAN‐ TIUM, LLC. At such hearing the De‐ partment of Conserva‐ tion and Energy will con‐ sider evidence relative to the issuance of Orders pertaining to the follow‐ ing matters relating to the 3,700’ Sand, Reservoir A and 4,200’ Sand, Reser‐ voir A, in the Bay Marc‐ hand Block 2 Field, Lafourche Parish, Louisiana.

1. To approve a cyclic in‐ jection project for the op‐ eration of the Cantium, LLC-State Lease 1367 II No. 2 Well, by the method of enhanced recovery, without the formation of a unit under R.S.30:5(C).

2. To find that the cyclic injection project for both sands will not drain any area of the subject reser‐ voirs different from that being drained by the pro‐ ject well prior to initia‐ tion of the project, and that the projects will not otherwise adversely af‐ fect other owners having rights in the same reser‐ voir in which the appli‐ cant proposes to con‐ duct cyclic injection.

3. To find that said reser‐ voir boundary for each sand encompasses the maximum area which may be efficiently and economically drained by one well utilizing cyclic injection.

4. To find that the ap‐ proval of a cyclic injec‐ tion project shall not cause any change or al‐ teration in the reservoir boundaries, tract partici‐ pations or other aspects for either sand and reservoir.

5. To confirm Cantium, LLC as the operator of the proposed cyclic in‐ jection project for both the 3,700’ Sand, Reservoir A and the 4,200’ Sand, Reservoir A. 6. To consider such other matters as may be perti‐ nent.

The 3,700’ Zone, Reser‐ voir A is hereby defined as being the strati‐ graphic equivalent of that oil and gas bearing sand encountered be‐ tween the depths of 4,203’ and 4,260’ (electri‐ cal log measurements) in the Cantium, LLC (for‐ merly Chevron U.S.A., Inc.)-State Lease 1367 II No. 2 Well.

The 4,200’ Sand, Reser‐ voir A, is hereby defined as being the strati‐ graphic equivalent of that oil and gas bearing sand encountered be‐ tween the depths of 4,536’ and 4,587’ (electri‐ cal log measurements) in the Cantium, LLC (for‐ merly Chevron U.S.A., Inc.)-State Lease 1367 II No. 2 Well.

Plats are available for in‐ spection in the Depart‐ ment of Conservation

Public Notices Conservation

and Energy in Baton Rouge and Lafayette, Louisiana. http://dnr.louisiana.gov/ conshearings All parties having inter‐ est therein shall take no‐ tice thereof.

BY ORDER OF: DUSTIN H. DAVIDSON, SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF CON‐ SERVATION AND ENERGY Baton Rouge, 7/8/26;7/11/26 L lck

LA

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE AT THE HEARING, PLEASE CON‐ TACT THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND ENERGY AT P.O. BOX 94275, BATON ROUGE, LA 70804-9275 IN WRITING WITHIN TEN (10) WORK‐ ING DAYS OF THE HEAR‐ ING DATE. 193887 July 11, 1t $68.78 PUBLIC NOTICE ---3TROUT CREEK FIELD 26-246 thru 26-250 LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF LOUISIANA, DE‐ PARTMENT OF CONSER‐ VATION ANND ENERGY, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA. In accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana, and with par‐ ticular reference to the provisions of Title 30 of Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, a public hearing will be held in the Hearing Room, 1st Floor, LaSalle Building, 617 North 3rd Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 9:00 a.m. on TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026, upon the application of CTR OIL, INC. At such hearing the De‐ partment of Conserva‐ tion and Energy will con‐ sider evidence relative to the issuance of Orders pertaining to the follow‐ ing matters relating to the Wilcox A, B and C Zones, Reservoir G, in the Trout Creek Field, LaSalle Parish, Louisiana.

1. To establish rules and regulations for the explo‐ ration for and the pro‐ duction of oil and gas from the Wilcox A, B and

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lll

Public Notices Conservation

C Zones, Reservoir G, and to create five drilling and production units for the Wilcox A, B and C Zones, Reservoir G, as shown on the plats submitted with the application.

2. To force pool and inte‐ grate all separately owned tracts, mineral leases and other prop‐ erty interests within the proposed units in accor‐ dance with Section 10, Title 30 of the Louisiana Revised Statues of 1950, with each tract sharing in unit production on a surface acreage basis of participation.

3. To propose the future wells drilled to the Wilcox A, B and C Zones, Reservoir G, within or outside the proposed units, be located no closer than 330’ from unit lines and no closer than 660’ to any other well, permitted or drilling to such zone. This tolerance should not apply to units with a common bound‐ ary and identical inter‐ est.

4. To designate CTR Oil, Inc. as operator of the proposed units desig‐ nated WX A, B and C, Sand Units J, K, L, M and N as shown on the plats submitted with the appli‐ cation.

5. To extend to the pro‐ posed units for the Wilcox A, B and C Zones, Reservoir G, except as they may be in conflict herewith, all applicable Statewide Orders.

6. To consider such other matters as may be perti‐ nent.

The Wilcox A, B and C Zones, Reservoir A thru E were previously defined in Office of Permitting and Compliance Order No. 1267-A, effective Jan‐ uary 1, 1986.

The Wilcox A, B and C Zones, Reservoir F were defined in Order Nos. 1267-A-22, 1267-A-23 and 1267-A-24, effective De‐ cember 20, 2011.

The Wilcox A Zone, Reservoir G is defined as that hydrocarbon bear‐ ing interval encountered between the depths of 2,190’ and 3,041’ (electri‐ cal log measurement) in the CTR Oil, Inc.-Francis No. 2 Well, located in Sec‐ tion 23, Township 8 North, Range 2 East.

The Wilcox B Zone, Reservoir G is defined as that hydrocarbon bear‐ ing interval encountered between the depths of 3,041’ and 3,308’ (electri‐ cal log measurements) in the CTR Oil, Inc.-Francis No. 2 Well, located in Sec‐ tion 23, Township 8 North, Range 2 East.

The Wilcox C Zone, Reservoir G is defined as that hydrocarbon bear‐ ing interval encountered between the depths of 3,308’ (electrical log mea‐ surements) in the CTR Oil, Inc.-Francis No. 2 Well located in Section 23, Township 8 North, Range 2 East, and the equiva‐ lent base of the C Zone as defined in Order No. 1267-A, effective January 1, 1986.

Plats are available for in‐ spection in the Depart‐ ment of Conservation and Energy in Baton Rouge and Monroe, Louisiana. http://dnr.louisiana.gov/ conshearings All parties having inter‐ est therein shall take no‐ tice thereof.

BY ORDER OF: DUSTIN H. DAVIDSON, SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF CON‐ SERVATION AND ENERGY Baton

MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF ZACHARY Monday, June 01, 2026

Rouge, l k

LA

6:00 PM

A. CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Slaughter called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m., on Monday, June 01, 2026, at the Zachary City Hall located at 4700 Main Street, Zachary, LA B. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance were carried over from previous meeting C. OPENING PROCEDURES 1. ROLL CALL MEMBERS PRESENT Jared Watkins James Peay Tommy Womack Christi Murphy Kevin Williams (arrived at 6:05 p.m.)

MEMBERS ABSENT Mindy Slaughter (excused, gave prior notice) Jason Floyd 2. READING OF CITY POLICY RELATIVE TO OPEN MEETINGS An opportunity for public comment shall be observed before a vote is taken on any agenda item. Once recognized by the presiding officer, the person afforded the floor, shall identify the agenda item upon which he or she wishes to provide comment and shall limit his or her comments to matters that are strictly relevant to that agenda item. Commentary shall not exceed three (3) minutes per person. No dialogue between Planning and Zoning board members and the public shall be permitted at these meetings, except to clarify the nature of questions and/or comments. The presiding officer reserves the right to limit and/or terminate any commentary when deemed necessary or outside of public decorum.

3. CHANGES/ADDITIONS TO AGENDA The motion was made by Commissioner Peay The motion was seconded by Commissioner Watkins To approve amending agenda, moving consent items G1A, G1B, G1C, G1D, G1E, to New Business G3A, G3B, G3C, G3D, G3E and other items follow below.

YEAS: Watkins, Peay, Womack, Murphy, Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Slaughter, Floyd ABSTAINED: None D. READING OF THE MINUTES 1. Approval of minutes of May 04, 2026, regular meeting and approve them as written.

The motion was made by Commissioner Peay The motion was seconded by Commissioner Watkins To approve minutes of the May 04, 2026, regular meeting and approve them as written.

YEAS: Watkins, Peay, Womack, Murphy, Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Slaughter, Floyd ABSTAINED: None E. HONORS, RECOGNITIONS, AND INTRODUCTIONS Commissioner Womack recognized former Council Member Pete Charlet and current Council Member James Graves at the meeting.

F. ANNOUNCEMENTS G. PLANNING The consent agenda consists of items with no outstanding issues that do not require plan amendments, text amendments, variances, or waivers.

Consent agenda items may be approved with a single motion without a public hearing, UNLESS removed from the consent agenda and placed in the regular agenda order.

Items placed on the Consent Agenda by the Planning & Zoning Staff will not have time allocated for speaking, UNLESS there is a member of the Planning & Zoning Commission of the public at the meeting who wishes to speak on the item. In such cases, the item will be removed from the consent agenda and placed in the regular agenda order for discussion.

1. Consent Agenda 2. Old Business 3. New Business a) RESUB-01-26 (23000-24000 Brian Road) - Proposed resubdivision of Lot Sec 3 into Tracts TB-1 & TB-2 of the Tracy M. Brian Tract, on property located at 23000-24000 Brian

Public Notices Conservation g 7/8/26;7/11/26 M lck IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE, PLEASE CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT OF CON‐ SERVATION AND ENERGY AT P.O. BOX 94275, BATON ROUGE, LA 70804-9275 IN WRITING WITHIN TEN (10) WORKING DAYS OF THE HEARING DATE. 193890 July 11, 1t $76.50 PUBLIC NOTICE ---5TROUT CREEK FIELD 26-239 LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF LOUISIANA, DE‐ PARTMENT OF CONSER‐ VATION ANND ENERGY, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA. In accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana, and with par‐ ticular reference to the provisions of Title 30 of Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, a public hearing will be held in the Hearing Room, 1st Floor, LaSalle Building, 617 North 3rd Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 9:00 a.m. on TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2026, upon the application of CTR OIL, INC. At such hearing the De‐ partment of Conserva‐ tion and Energy will con‐ sider evidence relative to the issuance of Orders pertaining to the follow‐ ing matters relating to the C-2 Sand, B Zone, Wilcox Formation, in the Trout Creek Field, LaSalle Parish, Louisiana.

1. To permit the applicant to drill the CTR Oil, Inc.Placid Fee No. 10 at an exception location for the Wilcox Formation, in the Northwest Quarter of the Southwest Quarter (NW/4 of SW/4) of Sec‐ tion 14, Township 8 North, Range 2 East, at the location shown on the plat submitted with the application.

2. To permit the operator to produce the CTR Oil Inc.-Placid Fee No. 10 Well.

3. To approve the loca‐ tion of the CTR Oil, Inc.Placid Fee No. 10 Well, as shown on the plat sub‐ mitted with the applica‐ tion, as an exception to the well location require‐ ments in the Office of Permitting and Compli‐ ance Order No. 1267-A, effective March 11, 1986.

4. To consider such other matters as may be perti‐ nent.

The C-2 Sand, B Zone, Wilcox Formation was fully defined in the Order No. 1267-A, effective March 11, 1986, and re‐ quires wells drilled to the C-2 Sand, Wilcox Forma‐ tion to be located 330’ from unit lines and 660’ between wells. The pro‐ posed location of the CTR Oil Inc.-Placid Fee No. 10 Well does not meet these require‐ ments, for it is 535’ from the East line and 180’ from the South line of the Northwest Quarter of the Quarter Southwest (NW/4 of SW/4).

The B Zone is defined as the interval between 3444’-3740’ in the H. L. Hunt;Goodpine No. C-6 Well in Section 29, Town‐ ship 8 North, Range 3 East. The C-2 Sand (BZone) is situated at a depth of 3122’-3126 on the C.T.R. Oil, Inc.;Placid Fee No. 9 log. Both the Placid No. 9 and the Placid Fee No. 10 are lo‐

Public Notices Conservation

cated in Section 14, Township 8 North, Range 2 East.

A plat is available for in‐ spection in the Depart‐ ment of Conservation and Energy in Baton Rouge and Monroe, Louisiana. http://dnr.louisiana.gov/ conshearings All parties having inter‐ est therein shall take no‐ tice thereof.

BY ORDER OF: DUSTIN H. DAVIDSON, SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND ENERGY Baton Rouge, 7/8/26;7/11/26 M lck

LA

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE, PLEASE CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT OF CON‐ SERVATION AND ENERGY AT P.O. BOX 94275, BATON ROUGE, LA 70804-9275 IN WRITING WITHIN FIVE (5) WORKING DAYS OF THE HEARING DATE. 193882 July 11, 1t $40.92

Legal Notices

Legal Notices

as amended and adopted by the Office of Permit‐ ting and Compliance of the State of Louisiana Hilcorp Energy Company P.O. Box 61229 Houston, Texas 772081229 713-209-2400 Is applying to the Injec‐ tion and Mining Division of the Office of Conser‐ vation for a permit to dispose of produced flu‐ ids generated from oil and gas production by means of an injection well, which is identified as Cockrell-Moran SWD Well No. 313 Serial Number 233984. The injection well will be located in Section 018 Township 20S Range 27E, Lake Washington (5759), Field, Plaquem‐ (38) Parish, ines Louisiana. The injection Zone is Proposed to be at 1,191 ft. to 2,928 ft.

All interested parties are hereby given an opportu‐ nity to submit written comments no later than fifteen (15) days from the date of this publication.

Identify the well when corresponding direct comments to: Office of Permitting and Compliance Engineering Division P.O. Box 94275 Baton Rouge, La 70804-

PUBLIC NOTICE In accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana and the partic‐ ular reference to the pro‐ visions of LA R. S. 30:4, and the provisions of Statewide Order No. 29-B as amended and adopted by the Office of Permit‐ ting and Compliance of the State of Louisiana Hilcorp Energy Company P.O. Box 61229 Houston, Texas 77208-1229 713-209-2400 Is applying to the Injec‐ tion and Mining Division of the Office of Conser‐ vation for a permit to dispose of produced flu‐ ids generated from oil and gas production by means of an injection well, which is identified as Cockrell-Moran SWD Well No. 284 Serial Num‐ ber 230559 The injection well will be located in Section 019 Township 20S Range 27E, Lake Wash‐ ington (5759), Field, Plaquemines (38) Parish, Louisiana. The injection Zone is Proposed to be at 1,828 ft. to 4550 ft..

All interested parties are hereby given an opportu‐ nity to submit written comments no later than fifteen (15) days from the date of this publication.

Identify the well when corresponding direct comments to: Office of Permitting and Compliance Engineering Division P.O. Box 94275 Baton Rouge, La 708049275 Re: Comments for SWD Applications 193776 July 11, 1t $181.09 PUBLIC NOTICE In accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana and the partic‐ ular reference to the pro‐ visions of LA R. S. 30:4, and the provisions of Statewide Order No. 29-B

Legal Notices

9275 Re: Comments for SWD Applications 193803 July 11, 1t $186.20

p p ject to design, construct, and operate a high-qual‐ ity recreational vehicle campground and related amenities. For more in‐ formation go to opportu‐ nitiesinlouisiana.com.

192994-jul 2-aug 15-45t $207.90

PUBLIC NOTICE --The Louisiana Depart‐ ment of Environmental Quality announces the following date for the meeting of the Louisiana Motor Fuels Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund Advisory Board: Thursday, August 20, 2026 1:00 P.M.

Public Notices Successions

PUBLIC NOTICE --19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT

The meeting will be con‐ ducted in the Galvez Building, 602 North Fifth Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802, in the Pensacola (Room # C110).

Questions regarding the meeting can be directed to Ms. Danielle McCarty, Environmental Project Coordinator, at (225) 2193541 or via email at Danielle.McCarty@la.gov.

193788-jul 11-1t $34.48 PUBLIC NOTICE --The Louisiana Office of State Parks is requesting proposals for a PublicPrivate Partnership pro‐ j d i

Public Notices Successions

Legal Notices

PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA PROBATE NO. 117063 DIV. 32 IN THE MATTER OF

p First and Final Tableau of Distribution has been filed by John Taylor Hero‐ man, Jr., the administra‐ tor of this Succession, with his petition praying for homologization of the Tableau and for authority to pay debts of the Es‐ tate listed thereon and distribute Estate assets as described therein; and that the First and Final Tableau of Distribution can be homologated after the expiration of seven (7) days from the date of the publication of this notice. Any opposi‐ tion to the Petition and First and Final Tableau of Distribution must be filed prior to homologization.

Signed this ______ day of____________ 2026, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. _________________ Deputy Clerk of Court East Baton Rouge Parish 193732 July 11, 12, 2t $66.20

THE SUCCESSION OF JOHN TAYLOR HEROMAN, SR. ***************** NOTICE OF FIRST AND FINAL TABLEAU OF DISTRIBUTION NOTICE IS GIVEN to the creditors of this Succes‐ sion and to all other in‐ terested persons, that a i d i l bl f

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WORK

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AS REQUIRED BY LA. RS 39:1306-1310, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT ALL REQUIREMENTS OF THAT SECTION HAVE BEEN MET AND THE WEST BATON ROUGE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING BUDGET FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2027 ADOPTED BUDGET FOLLOWS: GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE 07/01/2026 REVENUES: Taxes Intergovernmental Revenues: State Grants State Revenue Sharing State Supplemental Pay Dare Grant Federal Grants Local grants Fees, charges and commissions for services: Commissions on State Revenue Sharing Civil and criminal fees Court attendance Feeding and keeping prisoners Court cost Interest Sale / Commissions of merchandise Miscellaneous Other financing sources: Operating transfer Loss on assets Sale of assets Total revenues and other financing sources

13,810,535

FUND BALANCE 06/30/2027

917,892

14,114

b) RESUB-02-26 (4200-4300 Rollins Road) — Proposed resubdivision of Lot 9 into Lots 9-A & 9-B of the Place Land & Cattle Company, LLC Tract, on property located at 4200-4300 Rollins Road, Zachary, La 70791.

Commissioner Womack opened the PUBLIC HEARING at 6:14 p.m. Shane Nichols, Surveyor for Engineering & Land Surveying was there to speak in favor of the RESUB. There being no one else to speak in favor of or against the RESUB, Commissioner Womack closed the PUBLIC HEARING at 6:15 p.m.

The motion was made by Commissioner Peay The motion was seconded by Commissioner Womack To approve RESUB-02-26 (4200-4300 Rollins Road) — Proposed resubdivision of Lot 9 into Lots 9-A & 9-B of the Place Land & Cattle Company, LLC Tract, on property located at 4200-4300 Rollins Road, Zachary, La 70791.

YEAS: Peay, Womack, Williams NAYS: Watkins, Murphy ABSENT: Slaughter, Floyd ABSTAINED: None c) COB-01-26 (4045 & 4055 Nelson Street) — Proposed combination of lots of Lots 24 & 25 into Lot 25-A of the West End Addition, on property located at 4045 & 4055 Nelson Street, Zachary, La 70791.

Commissioner Womack opened the PUBLIC HEARING at 6:29 p.m. Nikkita Parker, 4045 Nelson Street was there to speak in favor of the COB. There being no one else to speak in favor of or against the COB, Commissioner Womack closed the PUBLIC HEARING at 6:31 p.m.

The motion was made by Commissioner Peay The motion was seconded by Commissioner Watkins To approve COB-01-26 (4045 & 4055 Nelson Street) — Proposed combination of lots of Lots 24 & 25 into Lot 25-A of the West End Addition, on property located at 4045 & 4055 Nelson Street, Zachary, La 70791.

YEAS: Watkins, Peay, Womack, Murphy, Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Slaughter, Floyd ABSTAINED: None d) CUPMH-01-26 (7215 Lower Zachary Road) — Proposed placement of manufactured home on Lot 2-A of the Pace Properties, on property located at 7215 Lower Zachary Road, Zachary, La 70791.

Commissioner Womack opened the PUBLIC HEARING at 6:35 p.m. Gabriel Mouton, owner, 917 Feliciana Crossing Dr., Jackson, LA 70748, was there to speak in favor of the CUPMH. There being no one else to speak in favor of or against the CUPMH, Commissioner Womack closed the PUBLIC HEARING at 6:36 p.m.

The motion was made by Commissioner Womack The motion was seconded by Commissioner Murphy To approve CUPMH-01-26 (7215 Lower Zachary Road) — Proposed placement of manufactured home on Lot 2-A of the Pace Properties, on property located at 7215 Lower Zachary Road, Zachary, La 70791.

YEAS: Watkins, Peay, Womack, Murphy NAYS: Williams ABSENT: Slaughter, Floyd ABSTAINED: None e) CUPAB-02-36 (20191 Plank Road) — Proposed convenience store for the sale of liquor, on property located at 20190 Plank Road Zachary, La 70791.

Commissioner Womack opened the PUBLIC HEARING at 6:40 p.m. Karanjit Singh, applicant, 20191 Plank Rd., was there to speak in favor of the CUPAB. James Graves spoke to ask the applicant to continue the upkeep of the property. There being no one else to speak in favor of or against the CUPAB,

7,504,286

72,000 21,500

73,007 3,374,169 7,188 16,360 441,811 191,695 301,031

TOTAL 22,246,827

316,317 166,661 365

2,205

61,085

13,200,764

53,686,663

4,299,097 1,162,143 139,270 19,512 70,000 0

23,618,478 4,003,270 779,249 122,996 773,055 0

1,713,049 39,762

589

58,880

413,642 73,225 622,564 0 141,199 7,511,752 73,007 6,800,050 7,188 1,713,049 16,360 798,479 358,356 301,396

3,425,881

957,654

36,203

32,000 7,000

21,500

23,546,526

39,000

21,500

5,690,022

29,297,048

15,945,516

918,654

14,703

7,510,742

24,389,615

HUNTER BERAUD, CHIEF CIVIL DEPUTY WEST BATON ROUGE SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Road, Zachary, La 70791.

Commissioner Womack opened the PUBLIC HEARING at 6:10 p.m. Shane Nichols, Surveyor for Engineering & Land Surveying was there to speak in favor of the RESUB. There being no one else to speak in favor of or against the RESUB, Commissioner Womack closed the PUBLIC HEARING at 6:11 p.m.

The motion was made by Commissioner Peay The motion was seconded by Commissioner Williams To approve RESUB-01-26 (23000-24000 Brian Road) — Proposed resubdivision of Lot Sec 3 into Tracts TB-1 & TB-2 of the Tracy M. Brian Tract, on property located at 2300024000 Brian Road, Zachary, La 70791.

YEAS: Watkins, Peay, Womack, Murphy, Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Slaughter, Floyd ABSTAINED: None

WORK RELEASE CENTER

12,548,484

413,642 73,225 550,564 0 119,699 7,511,752

19,319,381 2,787,627 632,979 103,484 703,055

Total expenditures and other financing uses

FEDERAL NARCOTICS FUND

12,548,484

39,492,042

EXPENDITURES: Personal services and related benefits Operating services Materials and supplies Travel and training Capital outlay Purchaes of merchandise for resale

PRISONER WELFARE FUND

193747 Jul-11 1t $117.40

Commissioner Womack closed the PUBLIC HEARING at 6:42 p.m.

The motion was made by Commissioner Watkins The motion was seconded by Commissioner Williams To approve CUPAB-02-36 (20191 Plank Road) — Proposed convenience store for the sale of liquor, on property located at 20190 Plank Road Zachary, La 70791.

YEAS: Watkins, Peay, Womack, Murphy, Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Slaughter, Floyd ABSTAINED: None f)

Deannexation-01-26 (8465 Zachary-Deerford Road) — Proposed petition of deannexation of property located at Tract A-1-A of the J.M. King, Jr. Tract, T5S R1E Sect 37, 8465 Zachary-Deerford Road, Zachary, La 70791.

Commissioner Womack opened the PUBLIC HEARING at 6:47 p.m. Tammy Dellinger, 8262 Zachary Deerford Rd. Plank Rd., was there to speak in favor of the Deannexation. Pete Charlet, 1161 Memorial Square, was there to speak against the Deannexation. There being no one else to speak in favor of or against the Deannexation, Commissioner Womack closed the PUBLIC HEARING at 6:59 p.m.

The motion was made by Commissioner Womack The motion was seconded by Commissioner Peay To table Deannexation-01-26 (8465 Zachary-Deerford Road) — Proposed petition of deannexation of property located at Tract A-1-A of the J.M. King, Jr. Tract, T5S R1E Sect 37, 8465 Zachary-Deerford Road, Zachary, La 70791.

YEAS: Watkins, Peay, Womack, Murphy, Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Slaughter, Floyd ABSTAINED: None

g) Discussion of the current draft of the Master Plan.

There was discussion between Planning and Zoning Director D’Monda Hill and the Commissioners regarding the current draft Master Plan, including potential revisions. James Graves spoke regarding the draft Master Plan. Mr. Pete Charlet expressed his appreciation to the Commissioners for their hard work and efforts on the Master Plan. h) Resolution to schedule a public hearing for adoption of Master Plan.

The motion was made by Commissioner Womack The motion was seconded by Commissioner Peay To approve items g) Discussion of the current draft of the Master Plan and h) Resolution to schedule a public hearing for adoption of Master Plan, to the August Planning Commission meeting.

YEAS: Watkins, Peay, Womack, Murphy, Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Slaughter, Floyd ABSTAINED: None G. REPORT OF THE CITY PLANNER James Graves came up to speak to the Commissioners about the Planning and Zoning Bylaws recently passed on May 4, 2026.

H. REPORT OF THE CHAIRWOMAN J. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:33 p.m. _____________________________ Karen Burdette Recording Secretary ________________________________ Tommy Womack – Commissioner

Karen Burdette, Recording Secretary CITY OF ZACHARY PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA

193652-666134-July 11-1t $ 436.59