The Advocate 07-13-2026 by The Advocate

MLB DRAFT: EIGHT LSU PLAyERS, nInE SIGnEES

Meta to expand AI data center in La.

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

Meta is planning a major expan-

sion of its Hyperion data center in Richland Parish, more than doubling the size of the already massive project and making Louisiana a key part of the social media giant’s artiﬁcial intelligence strategy The Facebook parent, which began construction of Hyperion last

year, now plans to spend as much as $50 billion on the project and related infrastructure, up from $10 billion two years ago. The site will encompass more than 3,200 acres — more than four times larger than New York City’s Central Park — and increase its computational capacity to 5 gigawatts, making it among the largest in the world.

The expansion will increase the number of construction jobs in Richland, which has just 20,000

residents, to some 7,500 — about 50% more than originally announced And it will double the number of permanent jobs to 1,000 once both phases of the project are fully operational, which is estimated to be in 2036. For Louisiana, the size and scope of the Meta expansion is unprecedented. It represents a win for Gov Jeff Landry, who has aggressively pursued large economic development projects in the state.

It’s also setting a new bar for Meta, one of the world’s largest tech giants.

It will more than double the size of Richland Parish site ä See META, page 4A

“It is huge for us,” Meta President Dina Powell McCormick said in an interview Sunday. “We could not be more proud to be an investor in this amazing state.” At the same time, the expansion is likely to raise new questions about the power demands of the

24 HOURS IN A METABOLIC CHAMBER

Volunteers participate in study on obesity and burning calories

BY AIDAN McCAHILL Staff writer

For those seeking a no-frills, reclusive staycation in Baton Rouge, the second ﬂoor of the Pennington Biomedical Clinical Research Building offers a few unusual options.

The stay is free; the only catch is unusually strict rules.

Check-in begins at 6:45 a.m. with a greeting from Christian Rodriguez, an affable postdoctoral research fellow The ﬂoor resembles a small inpatient unit, with bedrooms attended by registered nurses, dietitians and researchers.

But there are no sick patients. Instead, those staying are paid volunteers in some of the world’s most advanced research on obesity and nutrition. With an operating budget

just shy of $100 million, Pennington probes fundamental questions about human health and metabolism.

“Pennington is strictly this place set up to do the coolest studies

“hyperscale” data center, its water use and its impact on Richland Parish, where many residents have cheered the project while others worry about the rapid changes it is bringing to the rural farming community As part of its expansion, Meta said it will spend $1 billion upgrading roads, water and wastewater systems in the parish, which is among the poorest in Louisiana and is now dealing with a construction project and an inﬂux of workers.

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham dies at 71

Clinic research nurse Annalee Campbell, left, and biomedical engineer Isabella Reed chat outside of reporter Aidan McCahill’s metabolic chamber at Pennington Biomedical on June 23.

you can, because you have all the equipment you could ever want,” Rodriguez said.

ä See STUDY, page 3A

New East Baton Rouge school rules move forward

Handbook proposals cover a number of changes

BY CHARLES LUSSIER

Staff writer

Principals at Baton Rouge public schools no longer would have to expel students the ﬁrst time they are caught with marijuana, but other illegal drugs in the hands of students would still lead to automatic expulsion, according to proposed new rules

The East Baton Rouge Parish school system has proposed a set of changes to its student handbook The School Board has given preliminary approval to the suggested updates, and a ﬁnal vote is set for July 23. Students can already be disciplined for cyberbullying their peers. Under the reworked “Student Rights & Responsibilities and Discipline Policy Handbook,” they would now get in trouble if they are caught harassing a teacher online, even if the students are doing so off school property, according to another proposal. And student athletes, if they are asked to take a random drug test, may be asked to have their saliva checked for drugs as opposed to just a urinalysis.

ä See RULES, page 5A

BY SEUNG MIN KIM, MARY CLARE JALONICK and MEG KINNARD Associated Press

WASHINGTON Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of President Donald Trump’s closest allies in Congress who traveled the globe to advocate for a more aggressive U.S. foreign policy, has died after a “brief and sudden illness.” He was 71. His ofﬁce’s statement posted on social media early Sunday said his family “appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difﬁcult period.” It did not provide any additional details about the circumstances surrounding the Saturday night death of the prominent South Carolina Republican, a former Air Force lawyer who served in Congress for three decades. Hours later, another statement from Graham’s office said the Medical Examiner of the District of Columbia’s preliminary findings are that the senator died of aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. That is an aorta rupture stemming from hardening of Graham’s arteries.

Trump, who talked to Graham frequently, said he was “like a member of the family It’s very tough.” He said on NBC’s ”Meet the Press” that Graham had called him on Saturday night after returning from a trip to Ukraine and “sounded a little bit tired, but perfect.” The president ordered that ﬂags across the country be ﬂown at half-staff until Saturday evening.

A noted hawk, Graham was one of the most inﬂuential ﬁgures in Washington on foreign affairs and he advised Trump on matters such as the Iran war and Russia. On Friday, Graham had announced an agreement with the Trump administration to move forward on a package of Russia sanctions.

As chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, Graham also had a central role during Trump’s second term as Republicans pushed major legislation on party-line votes while holding a narrow 53-47 majority in the chamber

Under South Carolina law, Republican Gov Henry McMaster will appoint a temporary replacement for Graham, who was seeking a ﬁfth term in November A new nominee will be selected in a special primary, which is required

Close ally of Trump remembered for humor, zest in politics ä See

STAFF PHoToS By JAVIER GALLEGoS

Reporter Aidan McCahill works on his laptop while inside a metabolic chamber at Pennington Biomedical on June 23.

McCormick

BRIEFS FROM WIRE REPORTS

Fire breaks out at pub in Bangkok, killing 27

BANGKOK A huge ﬁre engulfed a pub in Bangkok early on Monday morning, killing at least 27 people before firefighters brought the blaze under control, ofﬁcials said.

Footage shared online by first responders shows a huge blaze raging and plumes coming out of the front door of the Na Ladprao pub in the northern part of the Thai capital. People are seen trying to flee as thick black smoke billows into the sky Rescuers said the fire was reported around midnight.

Thailand Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters at the scene that 27 people died and that several of the injured have been taken to the hospital He said the cause of the ﬁre is under investigation.

Anutin said a musician who was performing at the pub told him that he saw smoke coming out of a circuit breaker near the stage before the power went out, then an explosion was heard and thick smoke quickly ﬁlled the place Many of victims were found at the restrooms, at the back of the pub, Anutin added.

Firefighters took about half an hour to bring the ﬁre under control. Photos of the aftermath show charred tables and chairs, and the damaged interior of the pub.

Qatar’s former ruler dies at 74

DUBAI,UnitedArab Emirates Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who as ruler of Qatar transformed the tiny Persian Gulf nation into a global player in diplomacy, media and investment, and then shattered tradition by voluntarily turning over power to his son, has died, state media reported. He was 74.

The state-run Qatar News Agency reported his death. It offered no cause. Sheikh Hamad, who stepped down in June 2013 after 18 years as emir, was the architect of energy-rich Qatar’s stunning ambitions that turned it from a backwater into an international crossroads in less than a generation. Qatar owns the Harrod’s department store in London and founded the powerful Al Jazeera satellite news network Qatar’s political reach today stretches from North Africa to Afghanistan and it hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the world’s most-watched soccer event Sheikh Hamad, though long out of power, received thunderous applause from Qataris attending its opening match.

But Qatar’s rise under Sheikh Hamad also rankled regional and Western allies with its independent-minded policymaking, including its close ties to Shiite powerhouse Iran, the Palestinian militant Hamas group and Egypt’s outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.

Al Jazeera’s blunt reporting, though a much-praised departure from the traditionally deferential habits of Arab media, also was criticized and accused of slanting coverage to suit the views of Qatar’s rulers.

Typhoon Bavi weakens, but brings strong winds

BEIJING Typhoon Bavi weakened to a tropical storm on Sunday hours after making landfall in eastern China‘s Zhejiang province, but was still bringing days of strong winds and heavy rain to parts of the country

The storm’s intensity continued to weaken as it moved northwestward across eastern China into the province of Anhui on Sunday afternoon, according to China’s national weather center Strong winds and heavy rain are expected to impact many eastern and northeastern Chinese cities on Monday, the National Meteorological Center said, adding that heavy to torrential rain was recorded Sunday afternoon in provinces, including Anhui. In Zhejiang province, more than 2.2 million people were evacuated due to Bavi, according to state media. The city of Shanghai, in Zhejiang, evacuated over 290,000 people from at-risk areas, while Fujian province evacuated more than 180,000 people

In the coastal city of Yueqing, also in Zhejiang province, more than 1,300 trees were toppled, including at least 700 uprooted, according to state broadcaster CCTV

U.S. launches more strikes in Iran

Standoff over Strait of Hormuz escalates

BY JON GAMBRELL, WILL WEISSERT and KONSTANTIN TOROPIN Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates The United States launched several waves of strikes on Iran on Sunday over an Iranian attack on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz that set it ablaze and left a crew member missing earlier in the weekend. Iran responded with attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Oman — the nation on the other side of the strait that Tehran has pressed to collaborate in managing shipping trafﬁc.

The U.S. military said it was seeking “to degrade” Iran’s “ability to attack commercial ships freely transiting” the strait. The statement came after a third round of strikes late Sunday night and into Monday in Iran. Iranian state media acknowledged the latest attacks early Monday, describing explosions in several locations

The ﬁrst wave of strikes, on Sunday morning was in response to an Iranian strike on a container ship in the critical waterway the day before. In response, Iran hit Gulf Arab states in an escalating cycle of violence that left the negotiations between Tehran and Washington to end the war at the edge of collapse.

The U.S. struck again

later Sunday The governor of Qeshm Island near the strait told Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency that projectiles were fired at military targets, with no casualties. Explosions were also heard in the coastal city of Bandar Abbas and Hajiabad city to the north.

A U.S. ofﬁcial said a few strikes targeted missile and air defense systems and paramilitary Revolutionary Guard boats. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss military operations.

Iran and the U.S. are nearly at the midway point of the 60-day period of their interim deal aimed at reaching a permanent end to the war The strait, a key route for the global supply of oil and natural gas and long considered an international waterway, has become a sticking point in negotiations that seem in

danger of collapse.

“A return to full-scale hostilities would have catastrophic consequences,” United Nations SecretaryGeneral António Guterres said, according to a statement.

The U.S. military earlier Sunday said it hit some 140 targets, including missile and drone launch sites, ammunition dumps, communication equipment and other sites.

The attacks were heavier than in recent days. The U.S. has launched three rounds of airstrikes targeting Iran in the past week over attacks on ships heading through the strait using a route off Oman, seeking to avoid the Islamic Republic’s territorial waters.

“We bombed the hell out of them last night,” President Donald Trump told NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Semiofﬁcial Iranian news agencies reported that a

navy ofﬁcer was killed. Iran retaliated by attacking nations in the region hosting U.S. military forces, while insisting it alone must control the strait and potentially charge vessels for traveling through it.

“The era of one-sided deals is OVER,” Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament and a main negotiator, wrote. “We told you: keep your word or pay the price.

Reality is knocking.”

Iran said the strait was closed until calm is restored, and Tehran would consider targeting “additional enemy bases in the region” if it faced more attacks. The U.S. military and Trump asserted that the strait remained open. The U.S. military said over 140 ships had transited over the past week. A multinational body overseen by the U.S. Navy said trafﬁc continued “at reduced levels”

off both Oman and Iran, and that nearly 140 vessels transited daily before the war About a ﬁfth of all traded oil and natural gas passed through the strait before the war Iran’s grip on it led to a global energy crisis, though oil prices have sharply dropped since wartime highs of $120 a barrel. Missile alerts sounded across several Gulf Arab countries.

Qatar’s military said it intercepted incoming Iranian ﬁre, with explosions heard in the neighboring United Arab Emirates. Three people, including a child, were wounded by shrapnel from the interception of attacks, Qatar’s Interior Ministry said.

Missile alerts sounded in Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet.

Kuwait’s Defense Ministry said three “land border posts” in the north and an offshore drilling platform of the Kuwait Oil Company were damaged, with one worker wounded.

Three Iranian missiles struck areas across Jordan, causing minor damage but no injuries, Jordan’s state news agency reported. And the Omani state news agency said drones struck sites in an area on the waterway a day after Oman and Iran held talks on the strait and agreed to continue discussions. The strait sits in Iran and Oman’s territorial waters. Oman summoned the Iranian ambassador to protest the strikes, the first such move since the war began, calling Iran’s acts “irresponsible.”

Philadelphia area digs out from storm damage

By The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA Residents in some Philadelphia neighborhoods and surrounding counties were cleaning up Sunday from widespread damage caused by a line of severe, short thunderstorms that passed through.

The storms, called microbursts, passed through Saturday afternoon, downing trees and power lines, flooding a handful of streets and causing structural damage. A building that collapsed in a West Philadelphia neighborhood threw bricks into the street, crushing cars and blocking trolley tracks.

The National Weather Service said at least four of the microbursts brought straight-line wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph to Montgomery and Philadelphia counties between about 2:30 and 3:15 p.m. Saturday Despite speculation that the damage — including part of a roof torn off a Philadelphia Housing Authority apartment building had been caused by a tornado, NWS officials confirmed the

straight-line winds were to blame.

The microbursts in Philadelphia were among a range of severe weather across the U.S. this weekend that included heatwaves ﬂooding and wildﬁres.

In a news release early

Mitch McConnell says fall led to his hospitalization

BY MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press

WASHINGTON Sen. Mitch McConnell on Sunday revealed for the first time that a fall led to his hospitalization, breaking the silence about his condition after weeks of mounting speculation about the Kentucky Republican’s health McConnell, 84, said in a statement that he was “brieﬂy unconscious” around the time he was ﬁrst taken to the hospital and has undergone a battery of tests to try and determine what led to his fall. He said he was also treated for mild pneumonia and has been moved to a rehabilitation facility

don’t have any tumors or hemorrhages,” McConnell said, adding that he is now “regaining my strength.”

McConnell’s statement came on the heels of the unexpected death of his fellow Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. McConnell said he cannot return to the Senate “quite yet.”

Coupled with Graham’s passing, that will temporarily whittle the GOP majority in that chamber down by two, to 51-47, as Republicans try to increase military funding, advance President Donald Trump’s agenda and confirm Trump’s nominees.

with growing older.”

“Even in the public eye, I feel that same instinct — I can’t help it,” he said.

McConnell said he will continue to work with his staff on Senate business. His statement included a smiling picture of the senator with his wife Elaine Chao, a tacit response to speculation online that McConnell had died or was incapacitated.

Sunday from Philadelphia ofﬁcials, Mayor Cherelle Parker said she had toured the damage in multiple neighborhoods in her city throughout Saturday afternoon and evening The city issued a Declaration of Disaster Emergency related to the storms.

“Every level of government is working together today, tonight, and for as long as it takes to respond to this storm, restore services, and help our residents recover That is our commitment,” she said. Philadelphia Housing Authority ofﬁcials said 11 residential units were affected by the roof and water damage at its apartment building. All residents were safely evacuated to temporary shelter before being relocated to a nearby hotel. Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management staff also helped evacuate at least one private residential property because of damage as well, city ofﬁcials said.

“My doctors have conﬁrmed that I didn’t break any bones or suffer a concussion. I didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke. I

McConnell explained the four-week silence about his condition by saying that “folks of my generation often hesitate to share the vulnerability that comes

McConnell had provided little information since his hospitalization on June 14, his ofﬁce insisting only that he was “receiving excellent care” and recovering. Speculation about his condition grew so intense that Kentucky’s Democratic Gov Andy Beshear took the extraordinary step last week of issuing a public letter asking McConnell to update the public in a “transparent manner.”

McConnell is retiring at the end of January

McConnell

ISnA PHoTo By AMIRHoSEIn KHoRGooI

Commercial vessels sail on June 30 in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran.

PRoVIdEd PHoTo By WPVI-TV/6ABC

A broken tree branch blocks a street Sunday after a line of severe, short thunderstorms passed through the city the day before in Philadelphia.

Perhaps the most striking features are its four “metabolic chambers” — sealed, climate-controlled rooms that double as sparse bedrooms. Costing upward of $1 million each, they let scientists track, in near-real time, how many calories a person burns while eating, sleeping or exercising.

A few brave volunteers stay in the chambers for several days at a time and can be paid thousands of dollars, depending on the nature and duration of the rest of the study At least one person has stayed a week. I barely made it 24 hours. Booking a reservation for journalistic purposes was difficult, given rising demand. For years, the chambers have supported federally funded projects aimed at answering basic questions about how the body uses energy Recently, pharmaceutical companies have used the chambers to test the effectiveness of drugs like GLP-1s, which are now widely used for weight control. Other GLP-1 studies at Pennington are trying to separate fact from ﬁction about side effects, such as whether the drugs cause muscle loss.

“Is that just a rumor or is it just a perception, or is it true?” said Dr Eric Ravussin, the lab’s director “We don’t have the answer yet.”

Before entering the chamber, preparations include stripping into a hospital gown and stepping onto a platform of electrodes to grip a pair of metallic handles. Because muscle and fat hold different amounts of water a good electrical conductor — the machine can use electrical currents to estimate body composition.

“When you combine height, age, gender, it puts all that analysis in, and it can get a guesstimate on what your fat content is,” explains Annalee Campbell, a registered nurse administering the test.

Ravussin briefly greets me, but there is little time for small talk: The chamber is calibrated and must be sealed by 8 a.m. Sipping coffee from a Styrofoam cup, the tall, lanky physiologist grins, then shuts the door Chamber mechanics

The chamber resembles a stripped-down hostel room: a narrow twin bed, a desk, a sink, a television and a toilet tucked behind a thin, pullable curtain. A camera records continuously for safety

The room is silent and sealed, but not entirely cut off. A window and telephone connect to the outside, where Campbell and biomedical engineer Isabella Reed can communicate and monitor everything in real time. Reed explains the rules. No caffeine, nicotine or any other stimulants No naps, pushups, gum, or anything that could subtly shift metabolism. Usually, diets are controlled for three days before entering.

Through a process called aerobic respiration, the body converts — or “metabolizes” — nutrients from carbohydrates, fats and proteins into ATP, the molecules that power nearly every cellular process. That requires oxygen and produces carbon dioxide, and by measuring the two gases, researchers can determine how much energy the body is using Metabolic chambers are considered the gold standard for such measurements, Reed says. The basic mechanics are simple. Fresh air with a known concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide, is continuously fed into the room through inlet ducts. It mixes with the air exhaled inside, then is drawn out through a series of ceiling pipes. As it leaves, analyzers — similar to ones used in mechanic shops measure slight changes in the gas levels.

“By knowing the flow of fresh air going in and out, and knowing the difference in concentration, you can calculate O2 consumption and CO2 production,” Ravussin said. “We calculate

And there are some people that beneﬁt tremendously.”

To ﬁnd what type of exercise has the most health beneﬁts, and for whom, Ravussin is a lead principal investigator in the largest exercise study in human history: The Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity in Humans. More than 2,300 people have been recruited, about half sedentary and half athletes, to undergo endurance or resistance training. Everything from their genetics, gut microbiome, where they live and education level will be accounted for

lowed a 25% calorie-restricted diet for two years. The protocol was replicated at Tufts University in Boston and Washington University in St. Louis.

Follow-up studies are still assessing participants 15 years later, but initial results were clear, Ravussin said. Even though participants started out healthy, nearly all became healthier after eating less.

out, I spent my time scrolling social media, staring at the ﬂuorescent lights and wondering what the next meal would be: a turkey sandwich for lunch, pasta and meatballs for dinner The whole thing felt like one long airplane ride, with slightly better food.

By 9 p.m., I was tucked into the twin bed. An hour later, the order came down to shut off all screens. The sooner deep sleep was reached, the better the data. At 6 a.m., the wake-up call came. After another hour of lying in bed, it was time to leave the chamber Outside Pennington, motorists packed Perkins Road, many pulling into fast-food joints before work.

Around the 1980s, as both calories and cars became more pervasive in American life, obesity rates began to climb, Ravussin said. He added the U.S., and Louisiana in particular are among the worst environments for obesity According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than two out of five Americans are classified as obese, a condition strongly linked to a range of life-threatening diseases.

Despite new technology exercise programs and wonder drugs, Ravussin believes obesity will remain a stubborn foe.

minute by minute; it’s getting it as fast as it can.”

From those measurements, researchers can determine how many calories are burned. They can also use the ratio of the two gases to tell whether a person’s body is primarily using fat or carbohydrates for fuel.

On the counter sits an orange jug to be used in lieu of the toilet. Urine contains nitrogen, a byproduct of protein metabolism. Measuring it allows researchers to gauge how much protein was broken down for energy, completing the metabolic picture.

Discovery science

Ravussin, who sports a white goatee and droll sense of humor, has spent the past 45 years researching how the human body converts food into energy. He enjoys discovery science, which isn’t driven by speciﬁc hypotheses.

“It’s on the creativity of the scientist to address the question,” he said. “It’s not a question of is it good for society; it’s trying to understand human physiology.

It is fitting he oversees most of the studies conducted in Pennington’s metabolic chambers, given that he helped build the ﬁrst one ever as a Swiss Ph.D. student in the 1970s A few years later, the director of the National Institutes of Health, the federal agency that leads biomedical and public health research, recruited him to design one in Phoenix At the time, there were only two in the world, one in Switzerland, the other in Cambridge, England, he said.

A central through line in his career is the interplay between metabolism and weight gain In one of his earliest studies, Ravussin tracked energy expenditure among the Pima tribe in Arizona, ﬁnding that those with lower metabolic rates were more likely to gain weight over time The work helped advance the idea that traits once advantageous during famine may increase obesity risk in today’s calorie-rich environment.

“Caucasians would be the worst survivors in periods of famines,” he said Ravussin later tracked the metabolic rates of contestants on “The Biggest Loser,” a show where overweight contestants compete to see who can lose the most pounds. Successful contestants saw their metabolic rates drop sharply Six years later, Ravussin said, their rates still hadn’t changed a phenomenon known as a

“metabolic adaptation.”

Together, those findings clariﬁed a frustrating reality: As people lose weight, their bodies become more energy efficient, burning fewer calories and making it harder to keep the weight off.

“Basically you run on a more efficient engine,” he said. That dynamic now complicates the promise of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, which have reshaped obesity treatment by mimicking gut hormones to curb appetite and improve blood sugar

“All the companies are afraid of two things with the GLP1s: It’s a loss of skeletal muscle, and it’s also this metabolic adaptation, which basically tries to pull you back,” Ravussin said. “If you stop the drug, you gain the weight.”

So far, Ravussin has published one study that showed Zepbound, a drug by Eli Lilly that combines GLP-1 with another peptide, did not reduce metabolic adaptation. Pennington is conducting several other studies examining the effects of combining GLP-1s with other peptides. At least one will require participants to spend 47 hours in the chambers. Due to conﬁdentiality reasons, Ravussin declined to name the companies involved.

Exercise vs. diet

At 8:30 a.m., Campbell opens an outside latch and slides breakfast through an airtight pass-through. Once she seals it, I open my end and eat a boiled egg, Cheerios, blueberries and milk, ﬁnishing everything within 30 minutes.

Campbell smiles and waves. The same routine is repeated four more times throughout the day The end result: 2,900 kilocalories consumed, and 2,869 burned.

Most participants work remote jobs while staying at Pennington, but I’m groggy without my morning coffee and struggle to get anything done. At 11 a.m., a 30-minute stationary bike ride bumps my metabolic burn rate how fast calories are expended — from about 2 kilocalories per minute to 4.

In general, exercise is beneﬁcial for metabolic health but has less clear effects on actual weight loss, Ravussin said. The same uncertainty goes for its impact on tissues, organs and longevity “As soon as you exercise, you have a stimulus of eating more,” he said. “There are some people who exercise and don’t beneﬁt very much.

A separate NIH-funded study at Pennington is approaching the same question from a nutrition angle. Both aim at advancing the growing ﬁeld of precision medicine.

Perhaps the most highproﬁle study led by Ravussin and Pennington is CALERIE. In the mid-2000s, more than 200 healthy, average-weight Baton Rouge residents fol-

“If you look at their lipid proﬁle their insulin, glucose level, all these things were improved,” he said. “Less inﬂammation, they had a better quality of life. They all liked it much better.”

“I think caloric restriction has been very clearly shown to increase longevity,” Ravussin added. For exercise, the “jury is still out.”

Obesogenic environment

For most of the day in the chamber, the hardest part was staving off sleep. As the chilly air whooshed in and

“Obesity is a total disaster for public health and it’s not going to improve,” he said. “The only thing would be to reverse some of the obesogenic environment.” Ravussin recalled the Pima study, where he compared obesity and diabetes rates between communities in Arizona and those in more remote parts of Mexico. The Pima in Mexico had about nine times less diabetes than those in Arizona When he presented the data to the tribal council in Arizona and discussed whether some habits could be changed, the chief, responsible for maintaining the well-being of his tribe in the modern world, replied:

“Do you think I’m not going to offer a truck to my son?”

STAFF PHoToS By JAVIER GALLEGoS

Reporter Aidan McCahill gives

the right, after

Biomedical on June 23.

Biomedical engineer Isabella Reed talks to reporter Aidan McCahill on the phone at Pennington Biomedical on June 23.

It is also providing $5 million to the Louisiana Delta Community College to train area residents for data center jobs and also donating $250,000 to the New Orleans Career Center,anonprofit that provides technical training to high school juniors and seniors.

Landrysaid that the partnership betweenthe state, Meta andEntergy,which is building new power plants to supply electricity to Hyperion, is amodel forhow to bring economic growth to the state.

“WhatMetahas done in cooperation with Louisiana and the way we havepartneredand what we have built with Entergy shouldbe the template and not the exception for these facilities,” Landry said.

Long expected

For months, signs have been growing that Meta’sinvestment in northeast Louisiana would expandbeyond the 4million-square-foot data center that was originally announced in 2024.

Last summer,MetaCEO

Mark Zuckerberg disclosed the potential increase in the size of the facility,an announcement later promoted by President Donald Trump on social media. Earlier this year,agents

GRAHAM

Continued from page1A

to be held within weeksofa vacancy.The winner of November’sgeneral election will start afull six-year term in January

Complicatedrelationships

Graham,elected to the Senate in 2002 after serving in the House, long promoted apolicy of robust U.S. military interventionism and strong national defense that in later years wouldput him at odds with the growing isolationist wing of his party Over time, Graham became well-known for his close ties with Trump, whom the senator briefly ran against for the presidential nomination in 2016. Their relationship would begin on arough note, with Grahamcallingthe thenNew York businessman “unﬁt for ofﬁce.” Graham used a profanity to describe Trump after Trump made disparaging comments about Arizona Republican John McCain, Graham’sbest friend in the Senate and aVietnam War veteran. McCain and Graham, along with Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., were knownasthe “Three Amigos” and frequently traveled together to promote their foreign policy views around the globe.

During acampaign rally in South Carolina, Trump read out Graham’spersonal cellphone number and continued to belittle him throughout the 2016 race as Graham made it clear he wouldnot

forthe company bought up 1,400 or so acresofcorn and soybean fields just west of the construction site. And in March, Entergy ﬁledapplications with the Public ServiceCommission seeking approval to build seven additional natural gas power plans along with solarfarms and battery storage. Together,they would generateanadditional 4.5 gigawattsofelectricity,nearly ﬁve times the amount it takes to power thecity of New Orleans on ahot day

Supportand concerns

Meta and other companies in the AI race, known ashyperscalers, have beenspending billionsoncomputing powertotrain their models, which has meant building massive data centers to hold those computers. As they do, concerns have grown across the U.S. about their impact on local communities So far,most Louisiana elected officials have welcomed data centers,seeing it as a new industry that couldhelp reverse decades of population declines andlackluster economic growth. But the plans have faced some criticism, particularlyfor their electricity use, which consumer groups fear could raise power costsfor residents For its part, Meta has agreed to pay for the construction of all 10 newpower plantsEntergy is building and has committed to funding

support Trump. Graham,however,shifted significantlyonceTrump won the WhiteHouseand emerged as one of Trump’s top allies —speaking with him frequently and becoming aregular presence on the golf course alongside the president —even asMcCain remained acritic.

In a2018interviewwith The Associated Press, Grahamexplainedhis pivot by saying McCain taught him thatthe country must move forward after elections and that meant “you havean obligation”tohelp the president. McCain ran twice for theWhite House. “AndI’ve tried to be helpfulwhere Icould becauseI thinkheneeds allthe help he canget,” Graham saidof Trump. “Youcan be abetter criticwhen people understand that you’re trying to helpthembesuccessful.”

Graham was aprominent defender of Trump during the president’stwo firstterm impeachments —a reversal from Graham’srole as aHouse prosecutor during Democratic President Bill Clinton’simpeachment in 1998, when he urged senators not to make up their minds before listening to all of the arguments. Both Trump and Clinton were eventually acquitted Graham appeared to break with Trump after theJan 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, saying in adramatic speech on the Senate floor that night, “Count meout. Enough is enough.” But thesenator soon returned to Trump’ssideand the two remained close during

2.5 gigawatts of newrenewable energyresources, 240 milesofnew transmission lines and battery energy storage systems. McCormick said one of Meta’sbiggest prioritiesis“to

notonly makesurethatwe arepayingfor what we use but thatweare investing in the grid in away thatmakes energy even less expensive for citizens.”

Landry saidthat“projects like this arestrengthening thegrid.” In June, he directed his economicdevelopment agency to come up withnew rules to guide futuredata center development in the state to protect consumers from shouldering the cost of newplants.

Amid theconcerns, Meta has made investments in the community whereHyperion will be located. Though data centers employ fewer work-

Trump’ssecond term. Foreignpolicya focus

Graham had just been in Ukraine to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy,who said the senator visited his country10 times during theyearssince Russia invadedinFebruary 2022. “Lindsey was atrue defender of freedom and the values that make ourworld safer,” Zelenskyy said.

He was also one of the chief backersofTrump’swar in Iran, having advocated for yearsfor direct confrontation between Washington and Tehran. Graham continued to defend Trump this summer even as manyofhis fellow Republicans questioned atentative June ceasefire agreement that they worried could send billions of dollars to Iran.

“I’drather trydiplomacy than takeitoff the table,” Graham said of Trump’s memorandum of understanding with Tehran.

Graham’stravels made him afamiliar face to dozens of world leaders.

Israeli Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahu said Graham understood that the security of Israel andthe United States was inseparable “Israel has lostone of its greatestfriends. America haslost agreat patriot. I have lostabeloved friend,” Netanyahu said.

Multiple committees

As Budget Committee chairman,Grahamhelped oversee aSenateprocedure that allowed Republicans to pass signiﬁcantpoliciessuch as last year’stax law without thethreat of aDemocratic ﬁlibuster.

He had previously led the SenateJudiciary Committee when Republicans conﬁrmed Amy Coney Barretttothe Supreme Court in 2020. The senator wasinlinetoregain that gavel if theparty kept its majority after the midterm

ers on apermanent basis than thosewho arrive to build them, the company has said it will makeaneffort to hire as many current residents for permanent positions as possible.

Teachers in Richland Parishrecentlyreceivedannual bonuses of up to $50,000, while other school workers received $17,000 supplements funded by increased tax revenuesfromMeta’s data center project.

Every public school and many youth programs in Richland Parish have also receivedsupportfromMeta through direct giving and the company’sgrant program

elections and had pledged to conﬁrm “as many conservative judgesaspossible.”

Graham was akey player in the Senate’sefforts to craft amassive immigration overhaul in 2013 as amember of abipartisangroup. The legislationpassedthe Senate with 68 votesbut wasnever taken up by the House,soitdid not become law.

Graham’sviews on immigration, particularly an endorsement of apathtocitizenship forpeople in the U.S. without legal status, put him at odds withsome Republican factions.

Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, aDemocrat who was his ally on thatissue,saidGraham was“part of everyimportant policyissueand an indispensable player” in bipartisannegotiations.

An ‘irreplaceable’force Grahamoften worked across theaisle,evenashe remained fiercely loyal to Trump. Virginia Sen. Mark Warner,aDemocrat, said in astatement that “personal relationships often mattered moretohim than the political disagreements of theday.”

Sen. RichardBlumenthal, D-Conn.,saidGraham was “over the moon”with the Russian sanctions deal announced Friday.“The last thing in the world Iwould have guessed wasthat he was sickorill or in anyway vulnerable,” Blumenthalsaid.

Jaime Harrison,aformer nationaland state Democratic Party chairmanwho unsuccessfully ran against Grahamin2020, said that even during their “fiercest political battles,” the two

Deal terms

In return for its investment, Meta will be exempt from allstate andlocal sales taxes forawide range of spending that covers most data centercosts, including servers,chillers,electricinfrastructure andconstruction. The 100% exemption will apply to Meta’sadditional spendinginthe next phase of the project, state officials confirmed. It wasnot immediately clear howmuchthe exemptionwill be worth. The original deal also included alocal property tax breakthatMetanegotiated with Richland Parish, making it eligible fora 60% break on local propertytaxes if it creates 300 permanent jobs that pay150% of thestate averagesalary. Meta negotiated anew paymentinlieuoftaxes, or PILOT,with Richland Parish officials forthe secondphase of theproject.Italso makes the company eligible for a 60% property tax break by 2032, provideditcreates 300 permanent jobs paying 150% of the state’s averagesalary —about $93,000 —bythen. The incentive increases withthe number of jobs, making the company ultimately eligible for an 80% reductiononceitcreates 500 permanent jobs.

Email Stephanie Riegel at stephanie.riegel@ theadvocate.com.

men“could still share aconversation, alaugh anda mutual respect for South Carolina.”

Grahamwas unique in theSenatefor his inﬂuence not only on Trump, but also with his fellow Republicans whowere aware of his ability to sometimes move the president’sthinking. He was also known for his sense of humor, often deployedtodiffuse tensions.

Wyoming Sen. JohnBarrasso, thesecond-ranking Republican, said Graham will be missedfor his “quick wit andinfectiouslaughter.” McMaster saidina statement that Graham was “irreplaceable.” Former Republican President George W. Bush said Graham“understood how the world works” and “was akind and funny manwho lovedour country andloved serving it.” Graham often spoke about his humble roots,growing up in thebackofa SouthCarolina barand helping to raise his sister, Darline,afterhis parents died at ayoung age. Graham was not married and did nothavechildren.

Graham won 57% of the GOPvote in SouthCarolina’s primary in June andwas up against Democrat Annie Andrews,a pediatrician,and several minor party and independent candidates in November.

His death will likely prompt ascramble to fill a rare open Senate seat. Anumber of Republican names begancirculatingas possible replacements to serve outthe rest of Graham’sterm,including Reps. Nancy Maceand Russell Fry

PRoVIdEd PHoTo By UKRAInIAn PRESIdEnTIAL PRESS oFFICE Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy, left, and U.S. Sen.LindseyGraham, R-S.C., takea photo together in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Friday

Keystone Pipeline system’s operator to pay penalty

Firm agrees to pay $26.9M over Kansas oil spill

BY JOHN HANNA Associated Press

TOPEKA,Kan.— A proposed legal settlement with the U.S. government would require the Keystone Pipeline system’s operator to pay a $26.9 million civil penalty over a major oil spill in Kansas in December 2022 and spend about $40 million more to prevent future accidents.

The agreement would resolve allegations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Kansas that South Bow, based in Canada, violated U.S. and state clean water laws. The rupture dumped nearly 13,000 barrels of heavy crude oil into a creek running through a rural pasture in Washington County, Kansas, about 150 miles northwest of Kansas City

The accident was the largest onshore crude pipeline spill in the U.S. in nine years and surpassed all 22 previ-

ous ones on the same pipeline system combined, according to a 2021 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Ofﬁce. The total amount of oil spilled would have nearly ﬁlled an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

South Bow also would pay Kansas more than $3 million for environmental restoration projects under a proposed decree ﬁled Friday in U.S. District Court in Kansas. A judge would have to approve the proposal after a 30-day public comment period

South Bow also would pay Kansas more than $3 million for environmental restoration projects under a proposed decree ﬁled Friday in U.S. District Court in Kansas A judge would have to approve the proposed decree after a 30-day public comment period.

“The oil spill blanketed land and water, rendering the waterway lifeless and useless and requiring extensive cleanup and remediation,” Jeffrey Hall, the EPA’s assistant administrator for its enforcement ofﬁce, said in a statement. “The substantial

penalty reﬂects the seriousness of the environmental harm.”

South Bow officials did not respond immediately Sunday to a phone message and email seeking comment, but the company told The Canadian Press that it “proactively” began cleaning up

the area before receiving directives from U.S. ofﬁcials.

The cleanup was completed early in 2024.

The company that built the pipeline, TC Energy, spun off South Bow as a separate ﬁrm in 2024, after the Kansas cleanup was done. No pipeline workers or

area residents were injured, and ofﬁcials said public water supplies weren’t affected by the spill. However, a complaint filed Friday by the U.S. government along with the proposed settlement said more than 2,700 animals were harmed or killed. The area is home to an endan-

gered species, the long-eared bat.

In a May 2023 report for the U.S. government, an engineering consulting firm said that a bend in the Keystone system where the spill occurred had been “overstressed” since its installation in December 2010 — likely because construction activity itself altered the land around the pipe. The complaint filed Friday in court said soil under the pipe had been “improperly compacted” and that while the company re-excavated the site in 2013, it did not replace that section of pipe.

The 2,689-mile Keystone system carries thick, Canadian tar sands oil to reﬁneries in Illinois, Oklahoma and Texas. In April, President Donald Trump gave the go-ahead for South Bow and another company to build a second pipeline from Canada to Wyoming, a smaller version of a massive $8 billion pipeline project known as Keystone XL blocked by former President Joe Biden’s administration in 2021 over environmental concerns.

Ga. teen charged in school shooting to appear in court

Plea and sentencing hearing set

BY KATE BRUMBACK Associated Press

ATLANTA A judge has set a plea and sentencing hearing later this month for a teenager accused of killing four people in a September 2024 shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia.

Colt Gray 16, had pleaded not guilty to charges including murder in the shooting that killed two students and two teachers, and left several others wounded, at the high school northeast of Atlanta. In a court ﬁling Friday, the judge overseeing his case set a “Non-Negotiated Plea and Sentencing Hearing” to begin July 24. The judge had previously said that if Gray wanted to plead guilty ahead of trial, he must notify the state and court by this coming Wednesday A non-negotiated plea means that the state and the defense have not reached an agreement on a sentence Unlike a negotiated plea, or plea deal, where a defendant reaches an agreement with prosecutors to plead guilty in exchange for an agreed

Colt Gray

upon sentence and possibly reduced charges, this leaves sentencing entirely up to the judge who makes a decision after giving each side a chance to present a summary of the case and a sentencing recommendation. Gray’s attorney did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Sunday Gray’s trial had been set to begin in mid-October in Columbia County, about 100 miles from Barrow County where the shooting happened, after the judge agreed to a defense request to change the venue. Gray’s father, Colin Gray, was convicted by a jury in March on charges including second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter after prosecutors said he gave his teenage son the assault-style riﬂe used to open ﬁre at the school. The elder Gray is set to be sentenced later this month.

The Sept. 4, 2024, shooting killed teachers Richard “Ricky” Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, and students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14. Another teacher and eight more students were wounded, seven of them hit by gunﬁre. Colt Gray, who was 14 at the time of the shooting, was charged as an adult with 55

RULES

Continued from page 1A

The board voted 6-0 in favor of the new handbook on Thursday Board members Mike Gaudet, Dadrius Lanus and Carla Powell-Lewis were absent.

In addition to the proposed rule changes, the handbook itself has been overhauled to be more user-friendly for families trying to make sense of it. It now includes charts, graphics and color-coding.

“It’s going to make things so much easier on the school level,” said Storm Matthews a teacher and a member of the district’s student disciplinary committee, which oversees annual changes to the student handbook. “They did a phenomenal, phenomenal job.”

Several board members praised the update.

Board member Patrick Martin V, an attorney, said the 113-page document is much more understandable than past versions. Nevertheless, he said, in a better world, less prone to misconduct, it could be even shorter and cleaner

“I wish that our society was such that we could have a much simpler document than this,” Martin said.

Some of the proposed disciplinary changes are the out-

growth of changes in state law, and some are strictly local decisions

The greater latitude for school principals when it comes to marijuana stems from a 2025 state law, authored by state Rep Marcus Bryan, D-New Iberia. It loosens the state’s zero tolerance law for drugs at school, but only when it comes to possession of marijuana, “tetrahydrocannabinol, or any chemical derivative thereof” and only for the ﬁrst offense. Students caught possessing marijuana a second time would be subject to zero tolerance rules

The proposed new protections for teachers against online harassment represent an optional district-level change. Under the change, if a student commits a cyber harassment infraction — even if the behavior occurs off school property — they would be referred for expulsion. An infraction would be considered to have happened if a student, at school or elsewhere, uses the internet “to threaten others or make statements that are indecent, vulgar, lewd, slanderous, abusive, threatening, harassing, or terrorizing.”

The new code also would expand the deﬁnition of “cyberbullying” to include students who use “deepfakes” on school property, in school

total counts, including murder, cruelty to children and 25 counts of aggravated assault.

Investigators testiﬁed that Colt Gray carried the rifle given to him by his father onto the school bus with the barrel wrapped in a poster board. They said the teenager left his second-period class and emerged from a bathroom with the riﬂe, shooting people in a classroom and hallway Investigators have said the teenager carefully plotted the shooting at the high school of 1,900 students. A Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent testified that the boy left a notebook in his classroom with step-by-step instructions and a diagram to prepare for the assault, including an estimate that he could kill as many as 26 people and wound as many as 13 others.

Colt and Colin Gray were interviewed by sheriff’s deputies about an online threat linked to Colt Gray in May 2023. Colt Gray denied making the threat at the time He skipped eighth grade, enrolled as a freshman at Apalachee after the academic year began, and then skipped multiple days of school.

Family members had been seeking psychological help for Colt Gray before the shooting, but it appeared he never saw a counselor Colt’s mother, Marcee

vehicles, at school events or at a school bus stop

A “deepfake” is deﬁned in the handbook as audio or video that “is created, altered, or digitally manipulated in a manner that would falsely appear to a reasonable observer to be an authentic record of the actual speech or conduct of the individual or that replaces an individual’s likeness with another individual as depicted in the recording.”

The new rule would exempt any “work of political, public interest, or newsworthy value, including commentary, criticism, satire, or parody, or that includes content, context, or a clear disclosure visible throughout the duration of the recording” and which could not be reasonably construed as “a record of a real event.”

The proposed new handbook also includes more explicit language than existing rules against students who take or post video at school that would also apply when they are riding the school bus.

Board member Nathan Rust singled out that change.

“We really need to equip and help our bus drivers to make sure they can manage our children and keep our children safe,” Rust said.

Email Charles Lussier at clussier@theadvocate. com.

Gray, who was separated from Colin Gray, told investigators that she had argued with Colin Gray weeks before the shooting, asking him to secure his guns and re-

strict Colt’s access. Instead, over time, he bought the boy ammunition, a gun sight and other shooting accessories, records show Colt Gray even created a shrine in his

Secure your season ticketsnow to experience TheFaulk EffectEra... TheJaguarStandardatSouthern footballgames this year

By Amanda McElfresh,amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

Anew coachingstaff,arevampedroster andrenewed excitement aresetting the stagefor amemorable football season for theSouthernJaguars.Withthe Sept.5 home opener againstKentuckyState just weeksaway, nowisthe time to secure season ticketsand experience anew chapterfor theprogram

“We’re excitedabout theexcitement that’s around what we have to bring, and we’relooking forwardtoit,”saidHead Football CoachMarshallFaulk.“Ifeel really good aboutthe groupofguysthat we have here.”

CoachFaulk,a Proand CollegeFootball Hall of Famerenteringhis ﬁrst season as theJaguars’headcoach,saidthe team is embracingthe work required to build achampionship-caliber programwhile feedingoff theenthusiasmsurroundingwhatmanyhavedubbed ‘The Faulk Effect’ era.

“Weexpectgreat things.I’m notafraid to saythat,”Coach Faulksaid. “I know it’s anew era, butit’sthe same standard that we have always had–championships and winning. That’s what we came heretodo.

TheSept. 5homeopeneratA.W MumfordStadium willalsoserve as the Pete Richardson Classic.The game will take placeonthe fieldnamed afterthe legendaryJaguars coachwho compiled 134winsduringa 17-yearcareerand is in multiple HallsofFame. CoachRichardson himself willbeinattendancefor both theopeningcontest andother games throughout theseason.

“I’m excitedabout this year,” Coach Richardson said.“Ithink CoachFaulk is goingtodoanoutstanding job. Gamedays on TheBluff will once again featuregreat food andtailgatingtraditions thathavemadeSouthernfootballSaturdays adestination forgenerations of Jaguar supporters.Leading theexcitementwill be theworld-renownedHuman Jukebox MarchingBand. Dr.KedricD.Taylor, band director,saidHuman Jukeboxmembers have beenpreparing forthe season for thepastseveral months andare eagerto showcase theirskills.

“The students areexcited.They’re locked in andthe Jukeboxisdefinitely goingtotakeittoanother levelthisyear,” Dr.Taylorsaid.

SouthernFootball’s2026homeschedule also includes matchups againstLouisiana Christian(Sept.19),UniversityofArkansas– Pine Bluff (Oct.3 -Homecoming), Bethune-Cookman(Nov. 7) andAlcorn State(Nov. 14).

Season ticketsstart at $85for general admission, dependingonlocation. S-Club endzoneindoorsuitesare also available. To purchasenow or learnmore, visit gojagsports.comorcall225-771-3171.

bedroom to Nikolas Cruz, the shooter in the 2018 massacre at Florida’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, prosecutors said.

METRO NEWS

Audit finds 11 issues at West Ascension Hospital

discovery includes misappropriated funds

BY ANNAKATE FREELAND Staff writer

A state audit identified 11 findings at the West Ascension Parish Hospital Service District, citing everything from an unauthorized $71,520 payment to its former CEO to violations of state bidding, public records and open meetings laws. One of the audit’s most signifi-

cant ﬁndings involved the former CEO, who received $71,520 more in accrued vacation pay than district policy allowed. According to auditors, the hospital district was unable to provide documentation supporting the additional payout.

Auditors also found the district violated Louisiana’s public bid law after awarding a renovation contract without advertising the project for competitive bids as required. The audit said the district lacked adequate procedures to ensure compliance with state bidding requirements.

The audit also questioned nearly $150,000 in contributions to com-

munity organizations, because the hospital district did not receive anything of “commensurate value” in return. In addition, auditors found the district paid $65,850 in employee bonuses that were not authorized through an incentive program, employment contract or collective bargaining agreement.

Other ﬁndings included failure to file financial statements with the legislative auditor on time, failure to maintain sufﬁcient collateral on one bank account, paying more than the appraised value for property, violating Louisiana’s public records law, violating the

open meetings law, violating the state’s dual employment law and lacking adequate internal controls over ﬁnancial reporting.

Hospital board Chair Bill Dawson said the board has already begun making corrections.

“We’re in the process of addressing all of those ﬁndings,” Dawson said. “As soon as next week, the board will discuss and hopefully adopt the proposed remedies.”

The board has scheduled a special meeting for 5 p.m Tuesday at West Ascension Hospital to discuss potential policy changes and corrective actions.

The hospital CEO and compli-

ance ofﬁcer did not comment further

The audit follows significant leadership changes at the hospital district over the past few years. In November 2023, the Ascension Parish Council unanimously removed all five hospital board members following months of public criticism over the district’s ﬁnances and governance. Former CEO Vince Cataldo stepped down soon after In August 2025, the Parish Council ousted hospital board Vice Chair Glenn Price with an 8-3 vote following ongoing controversies and legal disputes.

Neoprene plant settles hazardous waste probe

denka Performance

Elastomer to pay nearly $1 million

BY DAVID J MITCHELL

Staff writer

The now-idled Denka neoprene plant in LaPlace has reached a settlement with the federal government over allegations it mishandled hazardous waste and disposed of the material in landﬁlls not designed for it.

Under a federal consent agreement, Denka Performance Elastomer has agreed to pay a nearly $1 million penalty to settle the hazardous waste violations. The plant, which suspended production in May 2025, had long been the subject of regulatory action and concern from residents over its emissions of chloroprene, classiﬁed as a likely carcinogen

For at least seven years, Denka workers ferried and dumped byproducts later determined to be hazardous waste in open air, new federal settlement papers allege. That process also emitted toxic and ﬂammable chloroprene fumes at levels tens to hundreds of thousands of times greater than the long-term federal air safety standards, they say The chloroprene emissions, which federal regulators say were “excessive and dangerous,” were around workers and eventually wafted into neighborhoods near the plant that at one time had the highest cancer risk from air pollution in the nation. Workers were required to wear full-face respirators around some of the work questioned for its open-air emissions, regulators said.

The company also agreed to clean up the site and put in new processes, improved equipment and worker training programs to control emissions if operations restart under its control or another company’s. The property has no chloroprene currently in inventory, according to the EPA.

“Denka’s mishandling of hazardous chloroprene waste and its many violations of the law exposed workers and the surrounding community to excessive chloroprene

Here is a list of commercial and residential building permits issued by East Baton Rouge Parish government from July 6-10.

BUSINESS

5551 CORPORATE BLVD.: interior renovation to ﬁrst-ﬂoor common area, $100,000; applicant, Britany Dealminana; owner, Scott Berg; contractor, D&S Enterprise General Contractor.

3251 DRUSILLA LANE: steel-framed lean-to for Plantation Tire & Auto, $13,520; applicant, Chris Sutton 9475 GREENWELL SPRINGS ROAD: fence permit for auto dealership, $15,000; applicant, Kimberly Showstead; contractor, Amarok 3930 BURBANK DRIVE: wall sign, $8,500; applicant, Ricky Mellenthin 8989 INTERLINE AVE.: wall sign,

This manway was left open on June 22, 2022, at denka Performance Elastomers in Reserve, potentially letting likely human carcinogen chloroprene to escape into the air unabated, according to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency engineer

and potentially serious health risks,” Jeffrey A. Hall, an EPA assistant administrator, said in a statement.

“Although this facility has suspended operations for business reasons separate from these enforcement actions, this order ensures that if the facility resumes operation, it will be in compliance with the law.”

Denka didn’t admit to any of the six alleged hazardous waste violations and avoided a penalty that could have reached in the hundreds of millions of dollars at maximum, though a precise total isn’t clear

In a statement, Denka officials said that the modified processes required under an earlier 2022 agreement “improved waste handling at our facility and delivered further emissions reductions, reflecting the company’s additional investment and innovation by our dedicated employees.”

“DPE is pleased to have this matter fully and comprehensively resolved,” the company added.

‘Didn’t slip through the cracks’

Denka operated the only neoprene production plant in the Unit-

$3,000; applicant, Cody Jenkins; owner, Kimberly Ambeau; contractor, Brightbox Wholesale Signage.

5139 BLUEBONNET BLVD.: law ofﬁce; applicant, Pam Payer. 11924 JUSTICE AVE.: home care operations ofﬁce; applicant, Corinnee Vallier.

6401 BLUEBONNET BLVD.: candy store; applicant, Rajashekar Reddy Velapati.

8635 HIGHLAND ROAD: full-service restaurant; applicant, Mary Chapman; owner, Will Chapman.

4455 AMERICAN WAY: commercial monument sign; $38,897; applicant, Destiny Sam; contractor, AAA Signs.

11311 FLORIDA BLVD.: commercial wall sign, $20,000; applicant, Kemp Dousay. 7111 AIRLINE HIGHWAY: restaurant;

ed States. The synthetic rubber is used in many products, from wet suits, engine hoses and fan belts to electrical insulation and mouse pads.

In 2010, however, EPA scientists determined chloroprene the critical chemical building block of neoprene — would be considered a likely human carcinogen.

The announcement set off years of regulatory efforts, community activism and litigation to have DuPont, which invented neoprene in the early 1930s, and then Denka, which bought the plant from DuPont in late 2015, slash chloroprene emissions.

The latest agreement stems from an unresolved EPA hazardous waste inquiry dating to 2022.

Since 2023, other regulatory actions against the company have been dropped amid the shifting focuses of the Biden and Trump administrations. The Trump EPA is also reconsidering chloroprene air standards finalized by the Biden EPA in 2024.

The latter administration has seen the former’s emphasis on environmental justice as an inappropriate racial focus and legal overreach that hurts economic growth.

applicant and owner, Nooraldeen Alawadhi.

16310 COMMERCIAL AVE.: semitruck sales and service; applicant, Jake Isom.

7871 GREENWELL SPRINGS ROAD: barbershop; applicant, Shawn Collins.

8230 S. CHOCTAW DRIVE: automotive audio and electronics installation shop; applicant, Eldricque Singleton.

2207 N. FOSTER DRIVE: storage unit; applicant, Jonathan Nicholas.

2414 BUNKER HILL DRIVE: commercial monument sign, $8,855; applicant, Jason Ellison.

2385 COLLEGE DRIVE: commercial wall sign, $1,000; applicant, Mohammad Darkhalil.

525 FLORIDA ST.: 400-square-foot ofﬁce suite to coordinate care plans for disabled and elderly recipients;

Some alleged violations, including those related to hazardous waste handling and disposal, continued for seven years until an EPA order in late 2022 directed interim changes. But the violations also faulted the company for not identifying the waste as hazardous for more than a decade. Under the law, the EPA could have assessed ﬁnes of as much as $124,426 for each day of a violation, plus inﬂation, under each of the six hazardous waste counts. The precise penalty is $996,703.35, representing about eight days of violations at maximum penalty

A representative for a St. John community group that, for years, has highlighted toxic pollution concerns said they welcomed the settlement.

“We are very happy that this actually didn’t slip through the cracks just to be totally removed, because every other protection that’s been given to us has been reversed, so this makes us feel really good,” said Tish Taylor, program director for Concerned Citizens of St. John. Taylor added the penalty seemed sufﬁcient, given Denka is no longer operating, but said she would like it to remain closed.

Previous investigations

For years, Denka attempted to challenge the EPA cancer risk standard for chloroprene and had charged that a now-dropped Clean Air Act suit the EPA ﬁled against the company in 2023 was politically motivated after it had spent $35 million to cut emissions.

EPA says the interim changes to the waste handling had cut chloroprene emissions by 1 ton, a small portion of Denka’s overall air emissions.

In 2016, Denka emitted 119 tons

applicant and owner, Ronsone Mims.

10467 AIRLINE HIGHWAY: bar; applicant and owner, Kimberly Cage.

11832 NEWCASTLE AVE.: salon suites; applicant, Dejah Augustine. 1624 WYOMING ST.: co-working ofﬁce space; applicant, Paul Barrial; owner, Mike Wampold; contractor, Wampold Properties.

990 W. LEE DRIVE: change in ownership of restaurant; applicant and owner, Salahaldin Masalma.

3627 PERKINS ROAD: remodeling former Jabby’s Pizza into Tsaocaa bubble tea shop, $70,000; applicant, David Albrecht; contractor, NKE Developments.

4010 GOURRIER AVE.: apartment complex; applicant, Donna Keophommavong.

of chloroprene into the air By 2024, the last full year of operations, annual emissions had fallen by 90% to 12 tons, according to an EPA database. Before EPA inspectors uncovered the hazardous waste handling process, Denka and DuPont had faced earlier federal and state investigations. It reached an earlier consent agreement with the state in 2017 to cut emissions.

The open-air, hazardous waste process continued, however according to the consent agreement. State hazardous waste inspections also did not ﬂag that process, as a site inspection in 2021 found no violations.

Known as “Poly Kettle Strainer Waste” and as treated chloroprene and butadiene popcorn waste, the materials are a mix of chloroprene, butadiene, toluene and other chemicals and were the result of Denka’s batch production of neoprene.

That process involved reacting chemicals, then washing and straining them and carrying them in open carts to open, outdoor brine pits to solidify the material. An excavator was then used to grab and move the solidiﬁed waste into open waste bins for landﬁll shipment, according to the consent agreement.

EPA testing showed the material was highly reactive and could easily catch ﬁre. It also found high chloroprene emissions from the waste handling.

In one example, EPA inspectors found that when the Poly Kettle Strainer Waste was ferried to the open brine pits, chloroprene levels hit 243,000 micrograms per cubic meter, which is 810,000 times the lifetime exposure standard allowed at the plant’s fence line.

The brine pits were used to reduce the “Poly Kettle” waste’s potential risk for fire and explosions before disposal in residential or industrial landfills not designated for hazardous waste. The EPA says this process was never authorized; Denka began using a hazardous waste landfill in early 2023. EPA found similar unauthorized treatment and disposal with the butadiene and chloroprene popcorn, which are now sent to a hazardous waste incinerator

1431 GARDERE LANE: commercial wall sign, $12,500; applicant, Cody Jenkins; owner, Fred Garcia; contractor, Brightbox Signs & Service.

4550 GOVERNMENT ST.: commercial monument sign; $3,968; applicant and owner, Tracy Schultz; contractor, Sign Lite.

7939 ESSEN PARK AVE.: wall sign, $16,000; applicant, Kimberly Gremillion; contractor, Gulf South Signs.

NEW HOMES

4623 ARROWHEAD ST.: $263,640, 3,380 square feet; applicant, Kristal Jarreau; owner and contractor, Level Construction.

21312 STRICKLAND ROAD: $416,998, 3,990 square feet; applicant, Shane Boudreaux; contractor, Boudreaux Contractors.

Business First Bancshares acquires financial consulting company

bers to the 20 employees with Smith Shellnut Wilson. At the beginning of this year, Business First acquired Progressive Bank, its seventh bank acquisition, bringing $800 million in assets to the company

EAST BATON ROUGE AREA BUILDING PERMITS

TISH TAyLoR, program director for Concerned Citizens of St. John

Shooting near Toronto street festival kills 2

Police say another 2 hurt

BY ROB GILLIES Associated Press

TORONTO A shooting near a Toronto street festival killed two men and wounded four other people Saturday evening, police said, adding that what initially prompted an active-shooter warning was an exchange of gunﬁre between two people targeting each other

Toronto Police Deputy Chief Frank Barredo said investigators recovered two firearms after the shooting that was reported at 8:12 p.m. near St. Clair Avenue West and Arlington Avenue, where the Salsa on St. Clair festival was underway No suspect or suspects had been arrested by the time of a late-night news conference, where Barredo confirmed both of the deceased victims were men Officers initially urged the public to avoid the area before later announcing the scene had been secured.

“There was some concern about an active shooter That turned out not to be the case,” Barredo said But the two gunmen involved in the shooting “indiscriminately put vast numbers of people in danger.”

Valerie Rodriguez said she was sitting outside a nearby restaurant when people sud-

denly began screaming and running.

“A bunch of people told us to lay down onto the ﬂoor,” she said. “We got scared because we didn’t know exactly what was happening.”

Festival vendor Patsy Gutierrez said she was serving customers when

she saw “a huge wave” of people ﬂeeing.

“Everybody started getting frantic and then we stopped serving,” she said. “I don’t think it should be something that’s happening at these types of events.”

A large police presence remained around the festival, an annual celebration

of Latin American culture that draws thousands of people to Toronto’s St. Clair West neighborhood for live music, dancing, food and cultural performances.

“I’m deeply disturbed and angry about this reckless and irresponsible act of violence right in the middle of a festival attended by families,” Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in a social media post that his thoughts were with the victims, families and others affected by the shooting.

“I am devastated by the senseless violence at the Salsa on St. Clair Festival that has claimed two lives and injured others,” Ford said.

Toronto, Canada’s largest city is among North America’s safest major cities. Fatal shootings, particularly those involving multiple victims in public places, are relatively rare.

“Toronto is one of the safest cities in the world but we are 3 million people and unfortunately we are not immune,” Barredo said.

Ukraine’s PM steps down amid government reshuffle

BY SAMYA KULLAB Associated Press

KYIV Ukraine Ukraini-

an Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko stepped down on Sunday as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced fresh changes to Ukraine’s government, saying he had offered a new and important position to the former premier Zelenskyy, who has remained in ofﬁce under martial law because wartime elections are prohibited, has periodically reshuffled his government in an effort to bring fresh momentum to his administration.

Svyrydenko, who has served as Ukraine’s economy minister, was named prime minister in July 2025 at the age of 39 after playing a lead role in securing a mineral agreement between Ukraine and the United States, seen as an important way of tying U.S. interests to Ukraine’s security In a statement on social media, Svyrydenko said she was “proud to have had the honor of leading the govern-

ASSoCIATEd PRESS FILE PHoTo By MIndAUGAS KULBIS

Ukrainian Prime Minister yulia Svyrydenko arrives on June 1 for a meeting with Lithuania’s President Gitanas nauseda at the Presidential palace in Vilnius, Lithuania. Svyrydenko stepped down on Sunday.

ment during one of the most difﬁcult periods in Ukraine’s modern history.” She also said she had discussed “next steps” with Zelenskyy, but did not provide further details.

“I remain ready to serve the Ukrainian state and carry out every task aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s position, defending our national interests and bringing a just peace closer,” she said.

Zelenskyy announced her resignation in a post saying that Ukraine was “chang-

ing its political strategy.” He also said he had offered Svyrydenko the opportunity to lead “a new, important area” in Ukraine’s relations with a key international partner

“Each priority area of foreign policy will be assigned to a specific person with substantial experience who is capable of implementing what we agree on at the leaders’ level and what the Ukrainian people expect,” Zelenskyy said, describing the impending reshufﬂe.

The Ukrainian leader also said there would be changes among the top ranks of Ukraine’s law enforcement agencies.

Zelenskyy met with a series of senior officials following the announcement, including Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko and Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov

The overhaul, which Zelenskyy has yet to explain in detail, would be the fourth major reorganization of his government since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Elsewhere, a Ukrainian attack in southwest Russia killed one person and wounded three more, local ofﬁcials said Sunday, as Kyiv’s forces continued to bombard Russia’s oil facilities.

The head of Russia’s Samara region, Gov Vyacheslav Fedorishchev, said that a child was among the injured He also said that residential homes and apartment buildings were damaged in the strike, as well as an unspeciﬁed “industrial site.”

Russian media outlets reported that the attack’s target was the region’s Syzran Oil Refinery, with many sharing images that appeared to show plumes of black smoke rising over the site. The refinery, which is owned by oil and gas giant Rosneft and sits some 800 kilometers (500 miles) east of the border, has been a repeated target for Kyiv’s forces. Meanwhile the governor of Russia’s Rostov region, Yuri Slyusar, said that a tanker had been damaged in a drone attack in the AzovBlack Sea maritime canal. The tanker was empty and there is no threat of an oil spill, Slyusar said. Ukraine’s drone strikes on oil refineries and other infrastructure across Russia have triggered a widespread fuel crisis with gasoline shortages and rationing in multiple regions and motorists waiting for hours to fill their tanks. Moscow has responded by intensifying its bombardment on Kyiv and other cities, exposing Ukraine’s vulnerability to ballistic missile strikes.

her family on June 25, 2026. Paula is preceded in death by her beloved husbandKirby of 57 years. She is survived by her children Curla, Beau, and Lars. Eight grandchildren,five great grandchildren,and her dearest friend, Sandra Patrick. Paula was known for her compassionate heart, her wonderful sense of humor, and the way she made everyone feel welcome. Family was always at the center of her life, and she gave endlessly to those she loved. She leaves behind a family whoadored her and countless memories that will be treasured forever. A special thank you to the team of people at Hospice of Baton Rouge.

Croft, Marilyn Wiley

Entered into eternal rest at East Jefferson Medical Center on July 6, 2026. She was a70-year-old native of Zachary, LA, and aresident of Baker, LA. Visitation will be held at LivingFaith Christian Center on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at 9:00 am until theCelebration of Life Service at 11:00 am, conducted by Bishop Raymond W. Johnson; interment to follow at Southern Memorial Gardens. Survivors include herhusband, Walden A. Croft; sons, Corey andWalden A. Croft, II (Nakyraih); siblings, Donna Harrison, Theodore Wiley (Carolyn), and her twin, Carolyn Wiley Hall (Onslow Keith); grandchildren,Godchildren, nieces,nephews, other relatives andfriends; preceded in death by her parents, Theodore and Dorothy Wiley. Arrangements entrusted to Miller &Daughter Mortuary.

BY WAFAA SHURAFA and NATALIE MELZER Associated Press

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip Israeli fire in Gaza on Sunday killed at least six Palestinians, including a 9-year-old girl, and wounded over a dozen others, according to local health officials. A drone strike on a blacksmith shop in Gaza City’s Sabra neighborhood killed at least four Palestinians, according to officials at Shifa hospital, where the casualties were taken. The Israeli military acknowledged striking the area, saying it targeted “terrorist infrastructure,” without elaborating. It later said it struck a Hamas weapon

production site Palestinians received an evacuation order from the military following the first strikes. Roughly an hour later, intense airstrikes targeted the same blacksmith shop The Palestinian Red Crescent Society’s ambulance service said the strikes in Gaza City wounded 14 people. Also on Sunday, Israeli gunﬁre killed 9-year-old Tala Abu Matar in a displacement camp in central Gaza, according to ofﬁcials at the Health Ministry The Israeli military said it was unaware of such an incident. And an Israeli strike on a displacement tent in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis killed one Palestinian, according to health officials

at Nasser hospital, where the body was taken. Israel’s military said it carried out a strike in that area and called it “part of routine activities.” The military said it was not aware of casualties.

Israeli strikes have lessened considerably since a ceaseﬁre took effect on Oct. 10, but they continue almost daily Israel’s military says it targets Hamas and other militants, often asserting they were planning attacks. The strikes have also killed many civilians. At least 1,098 Palestinians, including at least 260 children, have been killed since the ceasefire, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry Five Israeli soldiers have been killed in that time.

Syria’s new parliament holds first session since ouster of Assad

By The Associated Press

DAMASCUS Syria Syria’s newly elected parliament on Sunday held its ﬁrst session since the ouster of former President Bashar Assad, hoping to restart the legislative process in the country after years of conflict and autocratic rule. The launch of the parliament indicates Syria is moving ahead with drafting new laws as it recovers from decades of brutal rule under the Assad family and

a deadly civil war that killed about half a million people.

Two-thirds of the 210-member People’s Assembly were elected through electoral colleges while one-third were appointed directly by the country’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The new parliament will serve a 30-month term while preparing for future elections.

“After liberating our homeland and regaining our freedom, we are all moving toward consolidating the state,” al-Sharaa said in an

address to parliamentarians.

After taking an oath, the legislators elected Abdul Hamid al-Awak as speaker Al-Awak, who is from northeastern Hassakeh province, served as a judge in the Justice Ministry for a decade, according to Syria’s staterun SANA news agency Reports said he was among many Syrian officials who defected from the Assad government in the early days of the uprising and left to Turkey

CAnAdIAn PRESS PHoTo By KEITo nEWMAn Paramedics respond Saturday to a shooting at the Salsa on St. Clair event in Toronto that killed two and wounded four according to authorities.

In shielding Murrill,court exemplifies dangersof judicial power

Oh the irony of it all!The July 3newspaper included an opinion piece by Chief Justiceofthe Louisiana Supreme CourtJohn Weimer (“Judiciary’sresponsibility to fulﬁll Declaration’s promise”) in which he writes, “Alexander Hamilton metaphorically described the judiciary as the least dangerous branch of government, possessing neither the sword of the executive nor the purse of the legislature. The judiciary’s authority,heexplained, restsin‘neither force nor will but in judgment alone.’”

That same Friday,the Louisiana Supreme Court issued an order in State of Louisiana vs. Murrill, staying the indictment against the attorney general. Five justices voted for astay order: “Attorney General makes acompelling argument concerning the disturbing defects in the grand juryproceedings and in the trialcourt’s handling of those proceedings.”

Twojustices dissented, sayingthe appearance of the stay order is thatthe attorney general is gettingspecial treatment (i.e getting to cut the line”). They said, “This perilous and unprecedented action threatens this court’slongterm legitimacy in the eyes of the public.”

Majority and dissenting opinions, though expressing stark disagreement in strong words, don’tthreaten the legitimacy of the Louisiana judiciary.But,the concurring opinion by Justice McCallum does exactly that, referring to allegations by the attorney general on the indictment: “At worst,they are indicativeof invidious motives; at best,they suggest incompetence. In either case, if they prove to be even partially accurate, thenadditional proceedings beforethe newly reconstituted Judiciary Commission and Ofﬁce of Disciplinary Counsel will no doubt become necessary.”

Maybe this is an example of why Hamilton referred to the judiciaryas“the least dangerous” branch of government, not abranch of government without danger.

CATHERINE BREWTON neworleans

LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR AREWELCOME.HEREARE

YOUR VIEWS

Speechtherapists,audiologists in schoolsalsodeserve raises

Thirty yearsago, in 1996, Iwrotetothis newspaper on thetopic of teacher pay raises andthe exclusion of communication professionals. It was based on anarrow reading of personnel categories and ignorance of the services provided to students. Back then, the point was acknowledged and the pay raise was amended, with apromisethat future raises and stipends would include educational professionals who provide direct services to students. That inclusion has continued until today Thecurrent stipend does not include professionals who provide critical services that allow students to progress educationally, includingspeech therapists and audiologists, who are not recognized for their daily contributions to student achievement,their qualiﬁcationsorthe critical role they play within schools.

SLPs and audiologists provide essential support for studentswith challenges in hearing, listening, understanding, speaking and expressingthemselves. They work with students throughout all school settings to support them. They use specialized knowl-

edge to help teachers and families support students. Their services are mandated by stateand federal law,which recognize that communication is abasic right and forms the basis for all educational skills.

SLPs andaudiologistsare paid on the teacher pay scale, and they perform manyof thesame duties as teachers within aschool. In schools, they are generally accepted as professional peers of the teachers. Their qualiﬁcations often exceed those of teachers: master’sand doctoral degrees, state licenses to practice, teacher certiﬁcationsand national credentials.

There is acritical shortage of SLPs and audiologists,and school settings are among the mostneedy.They are not less deserving than teachers,nor are their contributions less. The governor and thestate Legislature were wrong to structure this stipend according to anarrow deﬁnition of “teachers.”

Thirty years, and here we are again. We can do better,Louisiana.

ROSEMARYKERRIN past president, SpeechPathologists and AudiologistsinLouisiana Schools

Socialismisn’t what we should fear

An op-ed by Megan McArdle on June 24

warns of socialism. What we should fear is plutocracy,which is theform of government we live under today.Republicans say we can’t afford funding for education, healthcare, infrastructure, reducing thedeﬁcit or payingdown the national debt. Buttheykeep giving tax cut after tax cut to the wealthiest amongusand big corporations. We apparently can afford that

tax rebates

Stop the circus around executions

In the Opinion section under Our Views, the issue of nitrogen hypoxia executions wasdiscussed. Does anyone ever bring up the suffering of the victims? Any suffering by the prisoner cannot compare to the victims’ suffering. Once the prisoner has exhausted all state appeals, it is timetomove forward with the execution. Eliminate federal court appeals. It will save the taxpayers’ legal fees as well as the cost of housing and feeding the prisoners. Bring back the firing squad in all 50 states. If any prisoner survives the firing squad, then you can ask them if they suffered at all. Let the warden decide when the execution will be and get on with it. Do not reveal the date or time because no one needs to know.The family can be notified after the execution is over.It’satwo-sided coin: The victim’s family suffers and the prisoner’sfamily does too. My sympathy to both of the families.

MICHAEL BOWEN Baton Rouge

To SEnd US ALETTER SCAn HERE

OUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name and the writer’scity of residence.The Advocate |The Times-Picayune require astreet address and phone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor,The Advocate, P.o. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@theadvocate.com.

Starting in 1981 (Ronald Reagan’spresidency),the wealthiestpeople and big corporations have had their taxes slashed. They have also benefited from numerous complex tax avoidance loopholes. Dozens upon dozens of big,profitable corporations have paid zero taxes on profitsyear after year.Many received millions (and sometimes billions) in

Since 1989, the wealthiest one-tenth of 1% of Americansincreased their share of U.S. wealth 13% to 25%. The rest of the top 1% saw their share of U.S. wealth increase from 22% to 30%. The wealthiest 1% of the population holds 55% of the total wealth of the nation.Everyone in the bottom 90% saw their share of total wealthdecrease. Meanwhile, Republicans wring their hands about fraud and waste while the current president pardons multi-millionaire white collar criminals and the Pentagon has “lost” (can’t account for) hundreds of millions of dollars in equipment.Achangeintaxes and oversight is long overdue.

ANDREW GALLIEN Harahan

WorldCup visitors made us look at Americaanew

As arelative novice to theworld of soccer,I’ve been pleasantly surprised with my World Cup exposure. Thegames themselves have been inspiring. The athletes are so obviously proud to represent their countries. Instead of bored looks and/or kneeling during national anthems, they show notonly respect but genuine emotion They sing those anthems proudly and show thedepthsoftheir emotions without shame. Duringthe games, their camaraderie with not onlytheir teammates but also their opponents is refreshing.

Andthe reaction of fans from around the world to our United States is awonderful reminder of the blessings we have. Whether it’sBuc-ees, BassPro Shops, WafﬂeHouse, free drink reﬁlls, ranch dressing or just the friendly and welcoming nature of our people, thereviews are overwhelminglyfavorable. As we celebrate our nation’s250th birthday year,perhaps we should takeafresh look at, and embrace anew appreciation for, the wonderful country our Founding Fathers brought forth—one of availability,abundance, opportunity,ingenuityand freedom.

TRUDYBORDELON Metairie

Itrust that our president is aware that it is possible to be MAGA and also adecided supporter of Ukraine. Polling has consistently shownoverwhelming American sentiment not only forUkraine’s survival but formeaningful material aid in its defense. The parallels between Russia’sterror bombing tactics and Adolf Hitler’s1940 Blitz on Britain seem obvious, and with the sameresult. The senselessness of targeting innocent victimsonly hardens their nation’sresolve —another strategic and tactical failure of the aggressor Putin has ridden this tiger nearly to an end. Russian military collapse and civilian disenchantment seem closer than ever.Touse President Donald Trump’scard gamemetaphor,Ukraine now holds the stronger hand. Isuggest that he channel the soul of Winston Churchill and encourage all peace-loving people that while we maynot be seeing “the beginning of the end” forVladimir Putin, we have clearly witnessed “the end of the beginning.” PETERMEISNER River Ridge

Politiciansshouldpay forteacher raises outof theirown pockets

What is wrong with our Gov.Jeff Landry in that he is cutting funding foreducation to pay forateacher pay raise? The issue is that it has not been thought out clearly,inthat the reduction in funding will hurt everyone in the long run. The ones whoare really going to sufferare the children of this great state. What Landry should do is take someofthe money that is being paid not only to him as governor but also to all the administrators who are making apretty penny.That is where the teacher pay raise should come from and not take money from the education budget.

VINCENT

YOUNG Baton Rouge

FILE PHoTo

Lilah Bertucci, 4, whohas autism,receives speech, languageand behavioral therapypractice from line technician therapist nicole Jordan at Spears Learning Center in Metairiein2017.

Government overreachwon’t fi

xyouth gender medicine

The Trump administration’spolicymaking apparatus is often achaotically uncoordinated mess. TheWhite House issued awell-designed roadmap for American dominance in artiﬁcial intelligence, andthen the Defense Department launched aquixotic attack on Anthropic, one of the nation’sfrontier AI ﬁrms. Immigration and Customs Enforcement went back and forth on workplace raids after the Agriculture Departmentsecretary said that rounding up farm laborers would make it hardto deliver the lower food prices PresidentDonald Trump promised on the campaign trail.

ega McArdle M n

But there’sone policy area where the administration is united and monomaniacally on-task: thewar on pediatric medical transition (PMT). From Trump’sexecutive order titled “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation” to therecent Federal Trade Commission lawsuit against the World Professional Association for Transgender Health,the administration has done everything in its power —and some things that weren’t—tohalt these treatments.

True conservatives regard these efforts with uncomplicated glee. But we more libertarian-minded skeptics have something of aquandary.Onthe onehand, some of the administration’s actions have been novel —and dubiously legal —expansions of regulatory power.Onthe other hand, as the medical nonproﬁt Do No Harm wrote, “WPATHdeserves it.”

I’ve been covering this issuefor four years with growing dismay at the shoddy research and obvious conﬁrmation bias of clinicians whoinsisted, based on thin observational studies, that these treatments were “evidencebased, medically necessary care.” I wasstunned when doctors claimed

that it would be unethical to do randomized controlled studies that might have providedproof of effectiveness, because how can we deny the control group treatments that are thestandard of care? Then some of WPATH’sinternal deliberationsbecame public via leaks and lawsuits, andgosh darnit, Iamrunning outofsynonyms for “absolutely gobsmacked.” WPATHseems to have axed minimum-age guidelines at the requestofaDepartment of Health and Human Services ofﬁcial in the Biden administration. The ofﬁcial, who is a pediatrician and atransgender woman,argued that settingminimum ages might spur “devastating legislation.”

This is not how serious medical professionals behave. It is not how science works. It is activism dressed up in alab coat. Is it adeceptive business practice, though?

Ican makethe argument: WPATH members earn quitealot of money from these interventions, and theFTC lawsuit alleges that the organization crafted its guidelines to maximize insurance reimbursement, “including by replacing objectivecriteria with provider discretion,removing age minimums,and issuing broad ‘medical necessity’declarations for nearly every medical-transition intervention. However,Idon’tthink they’re misinformingthe public for fun and profit Ithink they are convinced these treatments work, and that confirmation biasand groupthinkled them to behave like political activists rather than dispassionatescientists.Itdeserves areckoning, but it shouldn’t come from theFTC. Because this topic hasbeen so politicized, cracking down in this way comes uncomfortably close to free speech restrictions. False confidence isn’tthe samething as false advertising.

Andwhere, theskeptics might justly ask, will that reckoning come from? They believe that PMT amounts to grotesque medical experiments on children. It will be the“next lobotomy,”Ihave been told manytimes since Iwroteacolumn on the sordid history of that medical horror story Ihave sympathy for those who believe PMTisa disastrous medical mistake. That practitioners seem to ardently believe in their interventionsdoesn’tmean they work: Medical history’smost destructive quacks weren’tcharlatans selling snake oil, but people who believed withall their heart that they could cure patients by dunking them in ice baths or scarring theprefrontal regions of their brains. Given how little we know,Ican’trule out this becoming another one of those episodes. That said, medical history also contains pioneers who were wrong about small things and nonetheless right about somethingimportant: The 19th-century Hungarian doctor Ignaz Semmelweis didn’tunderstand the germ theory of disease, but he was still absolutely correct that doctors should wash their hands before touching patients. Gender clinicians may turn out tobeprematurely conﬁdent in treatments that eventually prove out, rather than grievously wrong. The cure for bad science is better science, not lawsuits. Yetofall the frenetic action, the one thing the administration has not done is to fund serious clinical trials with long-term follow-up to provide answers patientsneed. Instead, thegovernment canceled grantsfor youth gender research. Perhaps those studieswere shoddy, and grants for better-controlled trials are forthcoming. Butthey should have been theﬁrst resort,not the last. Megan McArdle is on X, @ asymmetricinfo.

Some French say‘non’ to air conditioning;otherssay ‘oui’

Supreme Courterrs in immigration ruling

The pungent odor of Kristi Noem lingers in Washington. Nearly four months after she was ﬁred as homeland security secretary,afacetofher tenure produced aSupreme Court case, decidedlast month.

Her behavior egregiously violated the pertinent law,but wasshielded from judicial rebuke by the court majority’stoo-mechanical textualism about the secretary’s“determination,” meaning decision. And by a blinkered nonrecognition of the animus behind Noem’s action.

A1990 statute allows the DHS secretary to grant temporary protected status, shielding aliens in America from having to return to nations afﬂicted by natural disasters, wars or persecuting regimes. When the Trump administration moved to end TPS for more than 350,000 Haitians and 6,100 Syrians, ﬁve of the former and seven of the latter sued, charging thatprocedural requirements had not been followed, andthat the TPS denial was tainted by racism.

The court ruled 6-3 for the Trump administration, with Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., joinedinthe judgment by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.and Justices Clarence Thomas, Brett M. Kavanaugh, Neil M. Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett. The majority noted that the 1990 statute shields the DHS secretary’s“determination” from judicial review. And that the plaintiffs were unlikely to prevail regarding racism, because the Trump administration’s denial of TPS renewal was facially “race-neutral”: The administration has terminated every TPS designation that has comeupfor renewal.

Justice Elena Kagan, joined in dissent by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson, agrees that the TPS statute prevents judicial review of the DHS secretary’sﬁnal decision about TPS, but does allow judicial review of whetherthe secretary,inreaching that decision, “adhered to the procedures it mandates.” And Kagan noted thatalthough previous DHS secretaries had “repeatedly” found Haiti and Syria “too dangerous to permit safe return,” Noem declared them safe without complying with speciﬁc statutory proceduresthatdeny the DHS secretary “unfettered discretion.”

In February,this columnnoted: The law required Noemtoreview conditions in Haiti after consulting with appropriate government agencies (note the plural). Instead, she made her decision, then conducted amake-believe “consultation.” ANoem staffer sent atwo-sentenceemail to aState Department staffer who, 53 minuteslater,sent acomparably brief judgment that Noem’spolicy triggered no foreign policy concerns.

Froma Harrop

Europe is now the fastest heating continent, and Paris is suffering greatly under 100-plusFahrenheit temperatures.Thathas inspired some conservative Americans to politicize the Frenchaversion to air conditioning. In return, many in France are blaming Americans’ burning of planet-warming fossil fuels to power their ACs.

Whose voice hits the high note? Both, really The Wall Street Journal holds that the easy answer for France is to install air conditioners. It got allhuffy when Paris Deputy Mayor AudreyPulvar remarked, “As the second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, you bear asigniﬁcant responsibility for global warming and the consequences we, in France, are experiencing.” She speciﬁcally cited the energy Americans use to run theirACs.

Pulvar neglected to name the No. 1 emitter of greenhouse gases,which is China. And blaming the U.S. for the oppressive heat that is closing schools and ofﬁces —and endangering the health of the very young, old and those with certain medical conditions —does nothing to ease the current suffering. The French right is making thatsame argument.

All that said, air conditioning has become much more energy-efﬁcient. The popular mini-splits —separate units in different rooms —use far less energy than central air.Ownerscan thuscool only the room they’reusing. However,the French antipathy to air conditioning has its reasons. Northern cities like Paris have traditionally experienced relatively cool summers Air conditioning units hanging out the windows mar the historicstreetscapes They make noise and send indoorhot airoutside whereit’salreadysweltering. And climate changeissomething that previous American administrations have addressed but the current

one denies even exists,despite evidencetothe contrary.It’swreaking havoconmuchofthis country as well, bringing massive wildfires, flash flooding, withering crops and water shortages in the West.The list goes on. It’snot truethat there’snothing we Americans can do about this long-term threat. But there’slittle the French can do about this and lastsummer’sheat Barring asudden spell of cool air,they will have to start bringing relieftothe people Otherwise,the economy will suffer along with the Parisians. The American Southknows the importance of air conditioning to its economic viability Air conditioning takes muchcredit for theSun Belt boom following World WarII. Atlanta, Houston, Phoenix and Miami became acceptable places for corporateoffices. Beforethe advent of AC, Southernersreliedonarchitecture and naturetomake high temperatures bearable. The older houses feature high ceilings, sleeping porches and shade trees (In the 19th century,many foreign dignitaries refusedtovisit Washington, D.C. in the summer because of the humid heat, nottomention mosquitoes

and malaria.)

Proposals for our cities,northern as well as southern, include digging up moreofthe urban hardscape. Pocket parks, putting greenery in schoolyards and on medians,and installing rain gardens to capturewater areinthe plans. Paris has tree-lined boulevards but not much moreinthe way of green spaces. Chicago and New York both do alot better on thatfront.Animpervious surface covers75% of Paris,whereas even Manhattan is only 63% enclosed by asphalt,parking lots,concrete sidewalks and other surfaces that water cannot easily soak through. Paris,bythe way,has aplan to incorporate moreplantsintothe city’s landscape. That could help. And international effortstoseriously confront the threat of rising temperatures would save theentire planet.Inthe meantime, air conditioning can get the people throughthis andthe torrid summers to come.

But what Parisians do is ultimately up to the Parisians, notpartisans in the United States.N’est-ce pas?

Follow Froma Harrop on X, @FromaHarrop.

Kagan, however,noted the irrelevance of this: The law requires consultation not about foreign policy implications but about whether conditions are safe in the pertinent country.And Kagan refuted the majority’sclaim to see “no evidence that race played any role in the Haiti decision.”

Noem wasimplementing the president’sproclaimed animus even against immigrants who are in America legally,but whom he considers icky Kagan says prior court rulings establish thatthe Haitians needed to show only that “a racially discriminatory purpose” was a motivating factor” (emphasis added) in the termination of Haiti’sTPS designation. Well.

Noem’s former employer has said Haitians were eating Ohio pets (see below). He has said migrants such as they are “poisoning the blood” of America and Haitians “probably have AIDS.” Wasraceon the president’smind? Donald Trump hasclariﬁed this: “Why is it we only take people from shithole countries” like Haiti and Somalia? “Why can’twe have some people from Norway [and] Sweden?” Kagan: “Haitians are Black. (Norwegians and Swedes not so much.)”

Three days after Noemterminated TPS for Haitians and Syrians, she recommended “a full travel ban on every damn country that’sbeenflooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies” who “slaughter our heroes” and “suckdry our hard-earned tax dollars.” She refrainedfromechoing Trump’sassertion about kitten-cooking Haitians in Springfield, Ohio. This marks her as aMAGA moderate. JD Vance spread the pet-eating fiction because he said creating “stories” (his word) makes the media notice Americans’ suffering. Surely justices are not required to ignore such rhetoric? And although thoughtful people disagree about whether,orhow much, justicesshould consider the downstream consequences of their rulings, Kagan writes: One of the Haitian plaintiffs, an Alzheimer’sresearcher,has Type 1diabetes, which can be easily treated in America but can be a“death sentence” in Haiti “given that country’scollapsedhealth-care infrastructure.” And aSyrian plaintiff will have to return with her17-year-old daughter,who haslived here most of her life and “will have no future in Syria because she speaks little Arabic.”

Time and freshening breezes will cleanse Washington, dissipating the legacies of appointeeslike Noem, and of the president who chose them.The court’smistaken ruling she provoked will be more lasting.

Email georgewill@washpost.com.

George Will

ASSoCIATEd PRESS PHoTo

Awoman shields herself from the sun with an umbrella as she walks in the garden of the Palace of Versailles, outside Paris, during aheat wave withtemperatures soaring above 104 degrees.

BY JON BLAU Staff writer

A reliable tight end and a strong running game can be

a quarterback’s best friend.

LSU’s Sam Leavitt should have his security blanket in 6-foot-7, 237-pound tight end Trey’Dez Green, who is expected to have a standout junior season

A rushing attack is more of a hope, based on an expectation, because Lane Kifﬁn leaned so heavily on the run at Ole Miss. But it remains to be seen how quickly the Tigers’ 124th-ranked rush offense turns around in one season.

The rest of Leavitt’s posse? It’s a completely revamped receiving corps, which the ex-Arizona State quarterback has started building a chemistry with this summer after missing most of spring practice.

Will any of them prove to be best-friend material? Here’s how the Tigers’ top receivers could earn Leavitt’s trust.

BY ROD WALKER Staff writer

SFive LSU relievers selected on Day 2

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

LSU baseball on Day 2 of the 2026 MLB Draft. The Tigers had nine signees and eight players selected over the 20-round draft on Saturday and Sunday, but the biggest

for LSU was who didn’t get picked on Day 1 or in the early rounds of Day 2. Top high school signees Dominic

elli (OF), Malachi Washington (OF), Kolby Stringer (RHP), Cooper Sides (RHP) and others were not selected in the

of the draft,

the way for all of them to join LSU’s roster in 2027. The ﬁve top recruits were all top-150 prospects in the MLB Draft, on either MLB.com, ESPN or The Athletic’s draft rankings. Washington was taken by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 18th round, and Santarelli was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the same round. But it’s unlikely either will end up at their respective clubs. Pittsburgh and Seattle, in all likelihood, would have to fail to sign one of their top selections to have the money needed to sign Washington or Santarelli. Washington and Santarelli also posted on social media that they were going to LSU on Sunday, not long after they were taken in the draft. With the draft complete, LSU is on track to have 16 incoming freshmen in next year’s class. LSU coach Jay Johnson told The Advocate before the draft that they expected approximately 14 signees to make it to school. The Tigers did not get through the draft unscathed on Sunday with their high school signee class. They had six signees selected by teams on Day 2 of the draft after losing three

ä See LSU, page 6B

Jayce Brown

Leavitt loved to push the ball downfield in his time at Arizona State, throwing eight touchdown passes that traveled more than 20 yards in the air during his 2024 playoff season, according to Pro Football Focus. Brown, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound receiver who reportedly runs a 40-yard dash in the low 4.4 seconds, went deep for Kansas State regularly The Florida native finished just shy of 2,000 yards in three seasons, averaging 17.1 yards per reception — top 10 in program history The speedster was targeted, on average, 14.4 yards down the field in 2025, according to PFF That’s a lot of deep routes for a receiver who lined up in the slot 70 percent of the time, catching more than a few bubble screens and racking up yards after the catch.

ä See RECEIVER, page 3B

STAFF FILE PHoTo By MICHAEL JoHnSon

LSU wide receiver Winston Watkins settles under the ball for a catch during spring practice on March 26 at the team’s practice facility

STAFF FILE PHoTo By MICHAEL JoHnSon LSU pitcher Gavin Guidry flips a baseball before a game against Sacramento State on March 8 Guidry was selected by the new york Mets in the 16th round of the MLB draft on Sunday.

ASSoCIATEd PRESS PHoTo By CHRIS SZAGoLA

Former LSU standout Kade Anderson throws a pitch for the American League during the first inning of the MLB All-Star Futures game against the national League on Sunday in Philadelphia. American League won 6-1.

Sinner wins Wimbledon again

Top-ranked star defeats Zverev for second straight Wimbledon title

BY ANDREW DAMPF Associated Press

LONDON Jannik Sinner is starting to make a habit of responding to adversity in Paris with titles at Wimbledon.

The top-ranked Sinner beat Alexander Zverev 6-7 (7), 7-6 (2), 6-3, 6-4 Sunday for his second consecutive title at the All England Club after his German opponent appeared bothered by a knee issue following a slip to the grass on a key point in the third set

Sinner’s ﬁfth Grand Slam title came in his ﬁrst tournament since a second-round meltdown at the French Open, when he wilted in a Paris heat wave When Sinner ripped a forehand winner up the line on his first match point, the Italian dropped to the grass on his back in celebration.

“There’s no better place to play tennis,” Sinner said during the trophy ceremony

A year ago, Sinner beat Carlos Alcaraz in the ﬁnal at the All England Club after wasting three match points against his rival in the Roland Garros ﬁnal.

It was Sinner’s 10th straight victory over Zverev, who was coming off his ﬁrst Grand Slam title at the French Open.

Zverev’s previous best performance at Wimbledon was reaching the fourth round three times.

“I’m 29 years old and this is the ﬁrst time I actually believe I can win this trophy,” Zverev said.

Prince William joined his wife, Kate, and two of their children for the ﬁnal in a star-studded Royal Box that also included actors Dustin Hoffman, Nicole Kidman and Ben Stiller Linda Noskova beat Karolina Muchova in an all-Czech women’s final on Saturday for her first Grand Slam title.

Zverev slips

The top two seeds appeared perfectly matched until Zverev earned his only break point of the match at 3-3 in the third set — 2 hours and 42 minutes in. Sinner produced a drop shot and Zverev slipped and appeared to hyper-extend his right knee as he attempted to change directions

behind the baseline

Zverev grasped his knee in apparent discomfort and Sinner went around the net and helped his opponent up off the grass.

Zverev quickly resumed playing but he appeared slightly hampered and slung his racket across the baseline in frustration when he missed a forehand and handed Sinner the ﬁrst break of the match and a 5-3 lead in the third. Sinner then served it out.

Zverev had also lost 14 straight sets to Sinner and when he claimed the opening set of the ﬁnal with a forehand winner up the line to conclude a tight tiebreaker, he let out a loud roar toward his box as he bent over in celebration.

Zverev cranked out serves at up to 139 mph, while Sinner produced a series of well-placed aces at a slightly lower speed.

But Sinner began to read Zverev’s serve better in the second-set tiebreaker, and Zverev started to miss forehands.

“He showed once again why he’s the best player in the world,” Zverev said.

Sinner produced 58 winners to Zverev’s 49 and had only 25 unforced errors to Zverev’s 45.

Zverev led 17-15 in aces.

Paris meltdown

Amid stiﬂing heat and humidity in Paris in late May, Sinner had his

30-match winning streak ended after coming within one game of a straight-set victory over Juan Manuel Cerundolo, who was ranked No. 56. Conditions were cooler in southwest London for the final, with clear skies and a temperature of 82 degrees, but it was also breezy which led to a series of shanked shots from both players.

Sinner went in for medical exams in Milan after the Paris defeat and didn’t play an ofﬁcial match again until he arrived at

Wimbledon, where he twice had to come back from a set down in a ﬁve-set marathon against Miomir Kecmanovic in the ﬁrst round.

Sinner then didn’t drop a set the rest of the way until the final, having dominated against Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. Despite the defeat in the final, Zverev will leapfrog Alcaraz into the No 2 spot in the rankings on Monday Alcaraz missed both the French Open and Wimbledon this year due to a right wrist injury

Ryu prevails at Evian for 2nd straight major title

South Korean defeats former Evian champ Henderson in playoff

By The Associated Press

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France A second major title in a three-week stretch. The lowest round — an 11-under 60 — in an LPGA major It was quite the weekend at the Evian Championship for Haeran Ryu, the latest South Korean sensation in women’s golf. Ryu, the winner of the Women’s PGA Championship at Hazeltine on June 29, gave up a three-shot overnight lead, birdied No. 18 to make a playoff, and beat Brooke Henderson on the ﬁrst extra hole Sunday to win the fourth women’s major of the year

“This,” said the 25-year-old Ryu, drenched in Champagne and cradling the trophy in her left arm, “is just a dream right now.” A day after rolling in nine birdies and an eagle to set the scoring record for women’s majors, Ryu couldn’t make a putt at Evian Golf Resort and found herself teeing off on the par-5 18th without a birdie on her card and in a tie for the lead with Japanese golfer Aki Iwai. Henderson — a two-time major winner and 2022 Evian champion — was a shot

ASSoCIATEd PRESS PHoTo By LAUREnT CIPRIAnI Haeran Ryu celebrates with the winner’s trophy after winning the Evian Championship on Sunday in Evian, eastern France.

back and on a charge after backto-back front-nine eagles, including a hole-in-one. With Henderson hitting her second shot to 8 feet at the last, Ryu needed an elusive birdie from further out to ensure being in a playoff.

A putt ﬁnally dropped to complete her level-par 71, Iwai missed her birdie putt to fall out of contention and Henderson curled in for eagle and a 64 to take the championships to extra

holes on a gorgeous day beside the Lake Geneva in the Alps. Ryu and Henderson, who were tied on 19-under par for the week, went back up No. 18 in separate golf carts. Ryu found the middle of the fairway, while Henderson drove left into the rough and had to lay up.

Ryu hit her second onto the green and left an eagle putt 3 feet short. That proved to be the distance needed for the win after Henderson could only make par,

Johnson wins at Firestone for first senior major title AKRON, Ohio Zach Johnson won his first PGA Tour Champions major in the ﬁnal event at Firestone Country Club, closing with a 2-under 68 for a six-shot victory Sunday in the Kaulig Companies Championship. Johnson had a 63 in the third round that staked him to a fourshot lead entering the ﬁnal round, and even with a pair of bogeys in his opening four holes, no one came particularly close. Johnson chipped in from 20 feet on his last hole. It was Johnson’s third win in his rookie season on the 50-and-older tour, allowing him to close the gap on Stewart Cink in the Charles Schwab Cup. The win makes Johnson eligible for The Players Championship next year

Fisk outlasts Pendrith on third extra hole at ISCO LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Steven Fisk outlasted Taylor Pendrith in the ISCO Championship on Sunday for his second PGA Tour title, two-putting for par on the third playoff hole. Fisk closed with a 3-under 67 at Hurstbourne Country Club to match Pendrith at 16-under 264. Played opposite the Scottish Open, the event was sanctioned by the PGA Tour and the European tour Fisk, 29, gets into the PGA Championship but not the Masters next year Last October, he won the Sanderson Farms Championship in Mississippi for his ﬁrst PGA title. Pendrith ﬁnished with a 65 The 35-year-old Canadian was trying to win for the second time on the tour Canadian Ben Silverman and Aaron Wise were a stroke out of the playoff. Silverman closed with a 66, and Wise shot 69.

D’backs place RHP Gallen on 15-day IL due to elbow LOS ANGELES The Arizona Diamondbacks placed right-hander Zac Gallen on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inﬂammation, while left-hander Mitch Bratt was recalled to start against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday Gallen was supposed to start the ﬁnal game before the All-Star break before manager Torey Lovullo announced a change late Saturday Gallen, 30, has struggled for more than a month, going 0-5 with an 8.24 ERA over his past eight starts, going back to May 29. He is 3-9 on the season with a 6.34 ERA. A 2023 All-Star and veteran of eight major league seasons, Gallen is 69-61 with a 3.83 ERA over 195 career starts.

Rangers RHP Martin goes on IL with shoulder injury

ARLINGTON,Texas The Texas Rangers placed veteran reliever Chris Martin on the 15-day injured list on Sunday with a right shoulder injury

Martin, 40, has allowed ﬁve runs in 32⁄3 innings in making four appearances after being activated on July 4 from the IL following the same shoulder issue.

and Ryu made no mistake.

“It was so tough today because my putt always missed the cup,” Ryu said. “Just made the one birdie on the last hole.

“Before these three weeks,” she added, “I didn’t have a major championship — now two in a row I am so happy, I can’t believe it.”

For the ﬁrst time in women’s golf, there have been double major winners in the same year No. 1-ranked Nelly Korda won the ﬁrst two of 2026 the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open.

Henderson was looking to be the first repeat winner of the Evian Championship since it became women’s golf’s ﬁfth major in 2013.

“Obviously very exciting to get into the playoff,” the 28-yearold Canadian said. “Wish I had played a little bit better, but Haeran has been playing great. Congrats to her.”

Iwai wept as she fell short of winning her ﬁrst major title and becoming the ﬁfth major champion from Japan since the start of 2024.

Still, third place was her best ﬁnish in a major

“I got a little conﬁdence,” she said, ﬁghting back tears. “I never give up.”

The year’s final major — the Women’s British Open — is at Royal Lytham & St. Annes starting July 30.

Martin has pitched in 16 games this season, going 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA and giving up 25 hits in 14 innings.

The Arlington High grad made 49 appearances last season beginning his second stint with his hometown ballclub, earning two of his 16 career saves over parts of 11 major league seasons. In the corresponding roster move, Texas recalled right-hander Emiliano Teodo from Triple-A Round Rock. Teodo, 25, was 3-3 at Round Rock with a 3.76 ERA in 35 relief appearances.

McGregor had no prior knee injury, manager says LAS VEGAS Conor McGregor’s manager said in a social media post Sunday that the fighter did not have a previous knee injury prior to his shortened UFC 329 fight with Max Holloway McGregor’s first fight in five years lasted just 1:09 due to a knee injury sustained while attempting an opening roundhouse kick. “That opening jump switch kick was drilled daily for months, multiple times in warmup. Never an issue,” John Kavanagh wrote on Facebook. “Knee went when he (threw) the very first kick. Doesn’t get any worse than this.” McGregor’s highly anticipated return to the octagon ended in disappointment when he awkwardly landed on his right knee in the

ing seconds of Saturday’s ﬁght.

ASSoCIATEd PRESS PHoToS By KIn CHEUnG

Jannik Sinner celebrates after winning a point against Alexander Zverev in the men’s singles final at Wimbledon on Sunday in London.

Jannik Sinner kisses the winner’s trophy after defeating Alexander Zverev at Wimbledon on Sunday in London.

ASSoCIATEd PRESS FILE PHoTo By nELL REdMond

Ball trade was made with long-term success in mind

BY STEVE REED AP sportswriter

The Charlotte Hornets won 44 games last season, a 25-win improvement over the previous year So the question begs to be asked: Why would Hornets general manager and executive vice president basketball operations Jeff Peterson break up a team that seemed on the rise by trading its most dynamic offensive player in LaMelo Ball?

Peterson addressed the question on Saturday in Las Vegas where the Hornets are playing Summer League games, saying it was all about the long-term success of the organization.

“These decisions are challenging at times, but when you look at the totality of the season and everything of where we were, it’s important to take an honest look in the mirror of where you guys are as a team,” Peterson said. “And that’s what I had to do at the end of the season. And I just feel like again, the goal is never to compete for a play-in spot. The goal isn’t to get to the play-in or even the playoffs for one year.”

Charlotte reached the play-in tournament and beat Miami at home before getting blown out on the road at Orlando.

RECEIVER

Continued from page 1B

The only issue for Brown: He had ﬁve drops on on-target throws last season, and came down with just six of his 12 contested-catch attempts.

He isn’t exactly a jump-ball receiver, but Brown can separate and run under a deep pass if Leavitt puts some air on it As he’s been known to do.

Jackson Harris

There is some projection with Harris because the former Stanford receiver returns to the Power Four after an All-Mountain West season at Hawaii. But as far as body type and skill set, Harris is similar to one of Leavitt’s favorite receivers of yesteryear, Jordan Tyson, who regularly sprinted his 6-2, 200-pound frame down the ﬁeld and won his share of 50-50 balls. Harris, at 6-2, 200 pounds came down with 16 of 22 throws that were contested in 2025, according to PFF He averaged 19.7 yards per reception, along with an average depth of 15.7 yards on his targets. Those are numbers a gunslinging QB loves to see. He has to prove he can do it in the SEC before Harris is in the

PELICANS

Continued from page 1B

Summer League play In Thursday’s opening loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, he played just 12 minutes and ﬁnished with two points. He scored 12 points in 25 minutes in Saturday’s win over the

Ball who had struggled with injuries in the past, had one of his best seasons and averaged 20.1 points, 7.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game while ﬁnishing second in the league to rookie teammate Kon Knueppel in 3-pointers made with 272.

However, the Hornets failed to make the playoffs in the six seasons since Ball came to them as the No. 3 overall pick in 2020.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that we had a successful season last year by a lot of people’s standards, and of course LaMelo was a huge part of that,” Peterson said. “But again, sometimes these decisions they can be challenging. But ultimately I do feel a responsibility to the organization and to the fans really across the world of the Hornets to do what’s best for the long term of the franchise.”

Peterson believes that acquiring Naz Reid and draft picks from Minnesota for Ball will give the Hornets more ﬂexibility moving forward as they continue to build.

As part of a four-team trade with Brooklyn Chicago and Minnesota, Charlotte sent Ball and Josh Green to the Timberwolves in exchange for Reid, a 2033 unprotected ﬁrstround pick, ﬁrst-round pick swaps in 2028, 2029 and 2030, and secondround picks in 2029, 2032 and 2033.

discussion with Tyson, picked No 8 by the Saints in April, as Leavitt’s all-time favorite pass catcher But there’s a readymade role for Harris to play, if he can seize it. Same for Old Dominion transfer Tre’ Brown, another outside receiver who stands 6-2, 190 and averaged 20 yards per catch in 2025.

Winston Watkins

Watkins has a head start, endearing himself to his new quarterback because he should know Kifﬁn and Charlie Weis Jr.’s offense better than anyone.

The 5-10, 182-pound sophomore played his freshman season at Ole Miss, hauling in 26 passes for 373 yards and a score. He was in the slot for nearly 83 percent of his snaps flashing his potential as a route-runner extraordinaire. Those skills were on full display in a road win at Oklahoma. Watkins finished with 111 yards on just four catches, gliding across the middle for a 40-yard catch-and-run to set up a goahead score. Then he crossed up a defensive back on a 43-yard slant and go. Watkins is still young, but he really fits the bill as a reliable, sure-handed slot receiver who not only offers Leavitt an outlet in the quick passing game but also finds open space when the scrambling QB goes off-script.

Kim gets the engine back on track with a Scottish Open victory

By The Associated Press

NORTH BERWICK, Scotland Tom Kim played bogey-free during a tight race to the finish Sunday and closed with a 6-under 64 for a two-shot victory in the Scottish Open, his first PGA Tour title since the fall of 2023. It was the latest and best sign the 24-year-old Kim had his game on track after spending all season outside the top 100 in the world. He finished third in the U.S. Open, and then outlasted a strong field and a marathon day at The Renaissance Club. Kim who reached as high as No. 11 in the world at age 21 when he won in Las Vegas nearly three years ago, delivered the clinching blow with a shot from 203 yards to 6 feet on the par-4 16th, giving him a two-shot lead.

now they have tee times secured. Rory McIlroy got within one shot of the lead before the coleaders teed off when he shot 30 on the front nine. He wound up with a 64 to tie for seventh with Thorbjornsen. McIlroy was tied for the 18- and 36-hole lead until a 73 in the third round left him six shots back.

“It’s nice to sign this week off with a good score, but I know I need to do a bit of work between now and next Thursday to feel really comfortable with my game,” McIlroy said. “But I don’t feel like it’s too far away There’s deﬁnitely some positive signs.”

Along with draft capital the Hornets also received a $40.7 million trade exception — the largest in NBA history — as part of the deal, positioning themselves to add other top talent.

Still, the move did not sat well with many fans in Charlotte, where Ball is extremely popular and has been a huge draw

The anger is not on the same level as Mavs fans when Luka Doncic was traded to Los Angeles, but some felt the move was ill-timed given the Hornets appeared headed in the right direction with Ball as their leader

Peterson said he knows Ball will do great things in Minnesota.

“I do empathize with the fans and I understand just where they’re coming from,” Peterson said. “If I’m honest, I love LaMelo. He’s a tremendous human being. Of course, he’s an enormous talent. He and I have a great relationship.

“But I would hope that they understand that I have the best interest of the Hornets organization I truly do And it’s not about one year or two years. It’s about sustained success and just being objective of where we truly are in our life cycle. I have no doubt that this team we roll out next year and the years to come is going to continue to compete and eventually we’ll get there.”

Eugene Wilson

Wilson was a Freshman AllAmerican in 2023 but injuries limited the 5-11, 190-pound wideout to nine starts over the past two seasons at Florida.

He had more catches (61) and yards (538) as a true freshman than he produced in his next two seasons combined (46 receptions for 505 yards).

But if the former top-50 recruit rediscovers his playmaking potential, he’s a versatile athlete who can line up just about anywhere, comes in and out of his breaks efﬁciently, and ﬂashes an ability to make tough catches.

The 5-11, 190-pound wideout lined up in the slot 52% of the time last season, but he was also brought in motion and stretched defenses horizontally on jet sweeps.

He’s just been on a downward trajectory since 2023, posting an 81.8 PFF grade as a freshman, then a 71.9 as a sophomore, then a 57 as a redshirt sophomore.

Maybe a fresh start helps. Maybe a more aggressive scheme he averaged just 7.4 yards of depth on his targets last season — better suits him. Wilson is more of a dark horse, but he’s very much in the running. Email Jon Blau at jon.blau@ theadvocate.com.

“That second shot might be one of the best shots I’ve hit in my career so far,” Kim said. He finished with a 4-foot par putt on the 18th as his closest pursuer, Min Woo Lee, watched from the 18th fairway and realized he needed to hole out from the fairway to force a playoff Lee closed with a par for a 67 to finish alone in second. Matt Fitzpatrick, who shared the 54-hole lead with Robert MacIntyre when the fog-delayed third round was completed Sunday morning, had a 69 and tied for third with MacIntyre (69), Keita Nakajima (67) and Johnny Keefer (67). It was a big finish for Keefer, the Korn Ferry Tour player of the year in 2025 who earned one of three spots to the British Open next week at Royal Birkdale. The other two spots went to Michael Thorbjornsen and Victor Perez. Keefer had been the third alternate and Thorbjornsen the fourth alternate for the British Open, and

Kim got off to a fast start in his PGA Tour career with a third-place ﬁnish in the Scottish Open on a sponsor exemption as a 20-year-old. He won twice on the PGA Tour that year, added another Las Vegas title in 2023 and played in the Olympics and Presidents Cup in 2024.

But the last two years has been a struggle, and Kim said he worked hard without as much attention to get going in the right direction.

“I’ve had a tough couple of years,” he said. “I got to taste a lot of that humble pie, and I got to really learn about myself and I’m still trying to grow, still trying to learn — still got a long way to go. But this one I wanted to dedicate to the people that were in my corner the whole time and struggled with me and who celebrated with me.”

He opened with a birdie and said a 2-iron he hit into the wind to 7 feet on the second hole even though he missed the birdie putt — gave him conﬁdence that his swing was good enough to win. And then he held off a strong chasing pack along the back nine without dropping a shot.

Royal Birkdale is a different British Open test than

it was in 2017

BY DOUG FERGUSON AP golf writer

SOUTHPORT England Peter Uihlein was back at Royal Birkdale for the first time in nine years, and there were times late Sunday afternoon when he felt as though he was seeing the links course for the first time. The turf was more brown than green, a sign of hot weather that has been baking Europe and an ominous sign for what figures to be a fast and fiery British Open starting Thursday The wind was strong, not unusual for links golf along the Lancashire Coast.

From 256 yards away on the par4 14th, Uihlein hit 6-iron that landed short of the green and wound up 40 yards beyond the hole. From 226 yards into the wind on the 18th, he smoked a 2-iron — he can’t remember the last time he had a 2-iron in the bag — and was just short of the green. But it was the 15th hole that gave him pause.

“What the hell?” he said from the back of the tee of a 241-yard hole. It was only a few holes later that Uihlein, a former U.S Amateur champion now with LIV Golf, said to no one in particular, “I just don’t remember a 240-yard par 3.”

That’s because it wasn’t there in 2017, the last time the Open was at Royal Birkdale.

It’s the second time in four years the R&A has effectively built a new hole, and as Rory McIlroy said last week, it’s sure to be a talking point.

Royal Birkdale began to fill Sunday for the final major of the year, a time to get reacquainted or to see it for the first time. Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka were among those who played,

both coming down from the Scottish Open after missing the cut — a ﬁrst for Schefﬂer, the No. 1 player in the world, in nearly four years.

Rickie Fowler shook off the jet lag on Saturday with a casual round at nearby West Lancashire and played all 18 holes on Sunday at Royal Birkdale with Akshay Bhatia, a Birkdale newcomer

While the changes got their attention — No. 15 is the only new hole, but the reachable par-4 ﬁfth has been redesigned and a few angles on other holes are different — what really stood out is the color of the grass, the ﬁrmness of the turf and the forecast.

Sunscreen might outpace the sale of ﬁsh and chips this week.

“It’s as close to Carnoustie as I’ve seen,” said Joe Greiner, the caddie for Bhatia who worked at Carnoustie in 2018 when it was so yellow that players were driving the ﬁrst green and Hideki Matsuyama hit a 3-wood into the burn nearly some 425 yards because the ball was rolling so much.

This is links golf at its best.

“It’s windy and firm and you need creativity to land it short very short — of the green and not be afraid of it,” Uihlein said. And then he ﬂipped through the irons in his bag and said, “Loft means nothing when it’s like this.”

Jordan Spieth arrived on the weekend to Royal Birkdale, where he won the third leg of the career Grand Slam in 2017 with an astonishing ﬁnish He was in deep grass in the dunes well right of the 13th fairway, took a penalty drop and then got free relief on the driving range and managed to save bogey He followed birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie to win by three.

Charlotte Hornets. He was 0-for7 on 3-pointers in the first two games, but finally knocked down some treys (3-for-10) Sunday He also recorded three rebounds. “I feel like I’ve shown my resilience, my toughness,” Pierre said. “Just me being from New Orleans, I’m showing that dog that I’ve got.” Malik Dia, a 6-foot-9 undrafted forward from Ole Miss, led the Pelicans with 18 points and eight rebounds in his best game in Las Vegas. Dia, who came off the bench, shot 6-of-12 from the floor “It’s just being confident in who I am,” Dia said. “I love this game. I spend so much time on it and I’m just coming out here playing another game.” Kobe Bufkin, who has been the Pelicans’ most productive offensive player in Summer League, chipped in 15 points. Bufkin, drafted by the Atlanta Hawks with the No. 15 overall pick in 2023, is averaging 21.3 points through the first three games. That includes a team-best 30 points in the opener New Orleans native Solomon Washington, a former Carver High standout who was named Louisiana’s Mr Basketball in 2022, got his first action in Summer League play The undrafted rookie missed his only shot attempt in his nine minutes of play, but recorded three rebounds and two assists. Melvin Council dished out a team-best four assists to go with his nine points. Phoenix rookie forward Koa Peat, the younger brother of former Saints’ offensive lineman Andrus Peat, finished with 12 points and four rebounds for the Suns. The Pelicans play their fourth game Wednesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball drives the ball up the court during the first half of a game against the Miami Heat on April 14 in Charlotte, n.C. Ball was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

WORLDCUP 2026

Star-studded semifinals set

Four previous champions, andabitter rivalryawaits

BY JAMES ROBSON

AP soccer writer

ATLANTA— It’saWorld Cupsemiﬁnal lineup for the ages.

Four previous champions and the four top-ranking teams in the world. Five of thesix topscorers, one GOATand one of thebitterest rivalries in soccer Argentina, Spain, France and England went into the tournament as the top four in FIFA’srankings and are two wins away from being crowned champion of theworld again.It’sjust too close to call either semifinal matchup:France will play Spain in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday and England will face Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday Not since 1990 has the final four of aWorld Cup been made up entirely of previous winners. England and Argentina were involved then, although they didn’t play each other.Then, like now, Argentina was the defending champion —after beating West Germany in the 1986 final in Mexico —and went on to lose to West Germany in the 1990 ﬁnal

And this year couldalsosee arepeat ﬁnal from 2022 if France and Argentina both advance Abitterrivalry

Argentina must overcome England in amatch that resumes a ﬁerce rivalry that goes beyond the soccer ﬁeld, with tensions also re-

lating to the1982 conflict over the Falklands Islands. On thefieldthere have been numerous flashpoints between the teamsonthe World Cup stage. Argentina captainAntonio Rattin, whosedeath wasannounced on Saturday,was sent off in a bad-temperedquarterfinal match against winner England in 1966.

England manager AlfRamsey tried to stop his playersfrom swapping shirts with their opponents after a1-0 victory Roll the clock forward20years and in 1986 Diego Maradona’sinfamous “Hand of God” goal helped Argentina to a2-1 win against England in thequarterfinals on the

Switzerlandfumes afterEmbolored card in WorldCup

BY DAVE SKRETTA AP sportswriter

KANSAS CITY,Mo. Switzerland forward Breel Embolo was sent off in the second half of its World Cup quarterﬁnal loss to Argentina on Saturday night, acontroversial decision following avideo review that is certain to fuel thosewho believe refereeshave beenbiased toward the reigningchampion throughout the tournament.

Dan Ndoye had just tied the game at 1-all in the 67th minute when Argentina’sLeandroParedes was shown ayellow card following atackle on Embolo. But video showed that the Swiss player was falling beforeParedes made contact with him, so Embolo was given ayellowcard under the “mistaken identity” protocol that’sbeing used at the World Cup. Embolo also had received a yellow card earlier in the match, so he was sent off and the Swiss were left to play with 10 men the rest of the way Switzerland managed toget the game to extra time, and was trying to survive to ashootout. But then Julián Alvarezscored from long range in the 112th minute, and Lautaro Martínez added another goal afew minutes later, sending Argentina to a3-1 victory “Wewere punished because of arule that in my opinion is completely unacceptable,”Swiss coach Murat Yakin said. “It’s very painful that we wereeliminated that way.Idon’tthink we deserve that today,and in my opinion, my boys are the real heroes. They putall theirheart and their passioninto their performance. Iamveryproud. They are very proud.” Yakin wasn’tdone with his criticism of Portuguese referee João Pinheiro, though.

“The referee made the wrong decision,” Yakin said. “It was in my opinion aharmless foul, if it even was afoul. Iknow theywill

protecttheir refereebut this rule destroyed our game today,and it’svery painful, and to be eliminated in that way hurts alot.”

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni acknowledgedthat“luck was on our side because one of their players wassent off.”

It was the second time ayellow cardwas overturned using the “mistaken identity” protocol at the World Cup. Therelatively obscure ruleallows the video assistant referee to intervene when an incorrect player is shown a yellow or red card

“I thinkthe red card changed our game,” Swiss captain Granit Xhaka said. “This decision was difﬁcult to accept now afterthe gamebecause thedressing room was very quiet, disappointed.”

Earlier this week,the Egyptian Football Association said it “cannotremain silent”after what it believed wasbiased officiating in its 3-2loss toArgentina in the Round of 16.Egyptcoach HossamHassan andseveral players had criticized the ofﬁciating after the defending champion scored three unanswered goals to pull off oneofthe biggest comebacks in World Cup history

“Nobodycan question theintegrity of the FIFAWorld Cup match ofﬁcials,”FIFA’schief of refereeing Pierluigi Collina saidinresponse Wednesday.“When this happens, it mayprovoke reactions that lead to threats against them and their families. This is not right.”

Yakin stopped short of saying Argentina was being favoredby WorldCup referees. But he also didnot hold back about an incident that he believeschanged thecomplexion of Saturdaynight’smatch.

“Wewere punished by areferee’smistake,” he said. “I didn’t knowthis rule before. It was a very harmlesssituation, and then ayellow card was awarded. The VARinterfered. It was avery meaningful moment for us, and it wasdecisive in theoutcomeof thematch.”

nament,just two years sincegoinghead-to-head at the European Championship.

Spainwon 2-1witha then-16year-old Lamine Yamalonthe score sheet and went on to lift the Euros by beating England in the ﬁnal.

Kylian Mbappé’spowers were diminished in that tournament aftersustaininga broken nose, while emerging stars like Michael Olise and Désiré Doué were yet to break through.

Twoyearsonand France is widely regarded to have been themost impressive team of this World Cup with adizzying array of attacking talent and thejoint leadingscorer in Mbappé ahead of thesemiﬁnal on France’sBastille Day

quarterﬁnals.

Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane have six each,while OusmaneDembélé is on ﬁve.

way to lifting the trophy

David Beckham was sent off in 1998 forkicking outatArgentina midﬁelder Diego Simeone, who was predictablycriticized by the English mediafor his reaction to what appeared to be lightcontact. Argentina won theround of 16 match on penalties.

Beckham gothis revenge four years later by scoringa penalty in a1-0 winthatcontributed to Argentina being eliminated at the group stage.

France vs.Spain

France andSpain meet again in the semiﬁnals of amajor tour-

In contrast Spain had to contend with injuries to Yamaland fellowwingerNicoWilliams coming into the tournament and hasrelied on late goals from substitute Mikel Merino to edge past Portugaland Belgium in the last two rounds. The nations have met on anumberofoccasionsatthe WorldCup or Euros. France beat Spain in the ﬁnal of Euro 84.

Theracefor theGoldenBoot

It hasbecomeathrilling competition within the tournament as many of the world’smost lethal ﬁnishers have allturnedupinpeak form.

Erling Haalandmay be outofthe race, but ﬁveofthe six top scorers are still standing and others could yetforce their way into the race for the Golden Boot.

Mbappéand Lionel Messi lead theway with eight goals each. Haaland has seven,but he cannot add to that number after Norway was eliminated by England in the

LATE SATURDAY

Mikel Oyarzabal has four goals, so could yet challenge if Spain overcomesFranceinthe semiﬁnals.

There’salso the contest for the all-time top scorer at World Cups overall with Messi on 21 goals and Mbappé on 20.

That manMessi

He is already considered by many to be the greatest of all time —the GOAT—and his performances at whatislikelyhis last World Cup, aged 39, have only strengthened that argument.ThiswillbeMessi’s ﬁrst ever gameagainst England. If Messi can lead Argentina to the title, he wouldsurpass the great Maradona by winning two World Cups for his country Argentina wouldalsobecome the ﬁrst back-to-back champion sinceBrazil in 1958 and 1962. Soccer great Pelé waspartof those Brazil teams and also went on to winathird World Cup in 1970.

Alvarez’s112th-minute goal helpsliftArgentina

BY DAVE SKRETTA AP sportswriter

KANSAS CITY,Mo. Perhaps it is in Argentina’s character thatthe reigning WorldCup championalways ﬁnds away to win.

Perhaps it is simply itsabilityto suffer

Whether it was tiny Cape Verde taking them to extratime, or Egypt burying them in atwo-goal hole late in their match, Lionel Messi and La Albiceleste have always been able tosurvive. Andthat was the case once more on Saturday night, when Julián Alvarez’slongrange strike in the112th minute and Lautaro Martínez’sﬁnish later in extra time sent them back to the semiﬁnals withathrilling 3-1 victory over Switzerland at raucous Arrowhead Stadium

“We’re among the best four,” Alvarez said, “so we’re meetingour objectives,and we knew it wasn’t going to be easy.The whole match washard, andwewould have loved to have thewin earlier,but we tried to get thewin however we could.”

“It seems like if there’snosuffering, it doesn’tcount,”Argentina’s Leandro Paredes added, “but as long as the resultscome through.”

Alexis MacAllisterhad theother goal offa corner kick from Messi for La Albiceleste, helping to send theminto ashowdown withEngland on Wednesday in Atlanta. The Three Lions beat Norway 2-1 earlier in the day

Messi’snine-game World Cup scoring streak ended, but his pursuit of asecond World Cup title continues.With Argentina and Englandjoining Franceand Spain in thesemiﬁnals, it’sthe ﬁrst time the topfour teams in the FIFA rankings have advanced that far “A matchiscoming up,” Paredes said, “that everykid dreams of playing.”

The game against Switzerland swung on acall sure torile up those whothink Argentina has been favored by World Cup ofﬁcials.

The Swiss had just tied the game on Dan Ndoye’sgoal in the 67th

minute whenParedes wasshown ayellow card foratackle on Breel Embolo. Butvideo showedthe Swiss player falling before the Argentina midﬁeldermadecontact with him, andsinceEmbolo received ayellow card earlier in the match, he was sent off and Switzerland was left to defend with 10 players.

It was thesecond time ayellow cardhas been overturned using the“mistaken identity” protocol at the World Cup. The rule allows the videoassistant referee to intervene when an incorrect playeris shown ayellow or red card.

“Wewere punished because of arule that in my opinion is completely unacceptable,” Switzerland coach Murat Yakin said. “I don’t understand. It’svery painful that we were eliminated that way.I don’tthinkwedeserve that today, in my opinion.” It was amaddening end to the Swiss’firstWorld Cupquarterfinal appearance since1954. They still have never made asemifinal, nor have they beaten Argentina in eight meetings —three of those in thetournament thatmatters the most.

“It was just adisaster,” Switzerland’sRemo Freuler said of the red card.

Argentina has made its base for the past month in Kansas City, training at the homeofMajor League Soccer club Sporting Kansas Citywhile winning over thousands of new fans. And on Saturday night, they filledArrowhead Stadium forthe secondtime this tournament, hoping to see Messi make more magic after his hat trickagainst Algeria in the same building afew weeks ago. It wasbrutally hot and humid throughout the day,but the temperatures begantofallwiththe setting sun, producing apicturesque setting for the 100th match of an expanded World Cup, and the finalmatch of the quarterfinal round.

Thedefensive-mindedSwiss had only conceded three goals in ﬁve games, andtheydominated the ball in the opening minutes. But leaveittoMessi, whose eight goals in thetournamentare tied forthe most with France’s Kylian Mbappé, to send ajolt through that heavilypro-Argentina crowdwhich included Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

He helped to earn an early corner kick with some nifty footwork,then delivered

ASSoCIATEd PRESS PHoTo By CHARLIE RIEdEL

Argentinaforward Lionel Messi reacts after his team’s victoryover Switzerland in the WorldCup quarterfinal match on SaturdayinKansas City,Mo.

Asurgeoftropical moisture from the Gulf interacting with astalled frontal boundarywill resultinwidespreadscattered to numerous showers and storms once again today. In fact, we are under aslight risk of excessiverainfallthat couldlead to somemeasure of flash flooding todayand tomorrow. So expect amostlycloudy, very warm, very humidand windyday with rainand thunderstorms.While the primaryrisk todayis floodingand flash flooding,lightning is also a significant concern.

ASSoCIATEd PRESS PHoTo By GEnE J. PUSKAR Pittsburgh Pirates pitcherand former LSU standout Paul Skenes delivers duringthe second inning of agame againstthe Milwaukee Brewers on SundayinPittsburgh.

Skenes,Pirates rout Brewers14-5

BY WES CROSBY Associated Press

PITTSBURGH Paul Skenes won hissecondstraightstart aftergoingwinless fornine in arow as thePittsburgh Pirates scored 10 runs in the fourth inning to rout the Milwaukee Brewers 14-5 Sunday and head intothe All-Star break with athreegame sweep. What was slatedtobea highprofile matchup lost some of itslusterwhenMilwaukee scratched hard-throwing Jacob Misiorowski on Saturday because of arm fatigue. While Skenes and Misiorowskiare AllStars, both will skip pitching in Tuesday’sshowcase.

Skenes (8-8) allowed two runs and three hitsover 51⁄3 innings with one walk and seven strikeouts —including four amonghis ﬁnal ﬁve batters. He had been 0-6 in nine starts before beating Atlanta on Tuesday,and the Pirates lost all nine of those games. Robert Gasser (2-4)gaveup

sevenruns and eight hits in three-plus innings Pittsburgh (50-47) took a4-2 lead into the fourth and scored seven runs before makinganout.

MarcellOzuna homered, Henry Davis had anRBI single and Jared Koenig hit Bryan Reynolds with apitchwiththe bases loaded, forced in arun by walking Esmerlyn Valdezand allowed Ryan O’Hearn’s run-scoring single thatboosted the advantage to 9-2.

Nick Gonzales greeted Grant Anderson with atwo-run double, Triolo hit atwo-runsingle and, after avideo review reversed the call at ﬁrst on what appeared to be an inning-ending double-play grounder by Davis, Jake Mangum hit an RBI triple.

Skenes tossed three perfect innings before giving up back-toback doubles starting the fourth to ChristianYelich and Chourio. Gary Sánchez hit into arun-scoring forceout.

Brice Turang hit atwo-run homer in athree-run eighth.

recruits to the draft on Saturday

TheChicago Cubs took righthander Dylan Blomker in the ﬁfth round withthe 159th overall pick, andtwo more signees were snatched up in the11th round. The Pirates took left-hander Spencer Evans at No. 318 overall and the DetroitTigersselectedﬁrstbasemanWill Adams at No. 336 overall.

The Washington Nationals also took outﬁelder Anthony Murphy in the 16thround, but there’sa better chance thannot thathenever signs for reasons similartothose involving Washingtonand Santarelli.

LoganSchmidt(LHP),Jensen Hirschkorn (RHP) andWessley Roberson(OF)were thethree signees taken in the draft on Day 1. Schmidt was taken in the second round by the ClevelandGuardians, Hirshkorn was selected by theAtlanta Braves in the third round and Robersonwas snatched up by the Miami Marlins in thefourth.

On Sunday,five LSU relievers were taken in the later rounds. Right-hander GrantFontenot waspickedinthe 10th roundby the KansasCityRoyals at No. 299 overall; left-hander Santiago Garcia was taken in the 12th round by the Toronto Blue Jays at No. 372 overall; andthe Marlins took righthanderConnor Bengeinthe 13th round at No. 385 overall.

TheNew York Mets also picked right-hander Gavin Guidryinthe 16th round with the480th overall pick, and the Guardiansselected right-handerZacCowanwiththeNo. 573 overallpickinthe 19th round. Outfielders Derek Curiel and Jake Brown, and right-hander Deven Sheerin were theTigers taken on Day 1ofthe draft. Curiel was the No. 5overall pick, selected by the Pirates, while the Seattle Marinerstook Brown in thesecond round andthe PhiladelphiaPhillies snatched up Sheerin in thefourth. High school signeeslost Blomker was the ﬁrst Tigerof any kind to be taken before the 10th round. At 6-foot-4 and 212 pounds, he attended LasCueva High in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He has afastball that reaches the mid-90s,but hisstrength on the mound is his ability to throw multiple breaking balls at ahigh level.

Onescout who spoke with The Advocate saidthathe’sthe best prospect to come out of New Mexico since LSU star Steven Milam “He has all the ingredients if you read it on apiece of paper,”the scoutsaid. “That sounds like it’sa starter with four pitches, and they ﬂash averageorbetter,and there are outings where you show up one time, and he’sthrowing 65% strikes. Andthen youshowupanother time, andyou read everything, and you’re like, this guyhas nothing.”

Evanswas theonly left-handed pitching signeefrom LSU taken in the draft. He attended TNXL AcademyinOcoee, Florida,and is from Ocoee. He was the No. 194 player in MLB.com’sdraft rankingsand throws afastballthatreaches the mid-90s, along with aslider His biggest issue, according to scouts, was his inabilitytoconsistently throw strikes.

Evans’ TNXL teammate and fellow LSU signeeColeton Brady announced Saturday night that he’d be going to school andwithdrawing fromthe draft. Bradywas oneof four LSU signees to withdraw their name from the draftbefore Sunday Adams wasthe top-ranked recruit in MLB.com’srankings who wasselectedafter the10th round. He attended Hoover High in Alabamaand is one of the top recruits in LSU’s2026class.Hewas theNo. 57 player in The Athletic’s draft rankings and atop-130 player in ESPN and MLB.com’s lists.

He wonthe Gatorade Player of theYear Award in Alabama, hitting 13 home runs witha .489 batting average. He has some power, but is mostly knownfor his strong contact skills andpatienceatthe plate.Adamsisone of themostpolished players in LSU’s class.

“Great kid, good hitter.Probably going to be like acorner type of defender. Leftfield, right field, first base,because he’sa left-handed thrower,” ascoutsaid. “Good,good hitter. He could go there and play well as afreshman.”

The Nationals and Pirates took ﬂiers on two of LSU’stop signees in the later rounds,incase they couldn’tsign one of their top picks.

LSUplayers in laterrounds Fontenothad acareer year as a ﬁfth-year senior this spring.

He spent three seasons with the Tigers, redshirtingasa freshman in 2022beforeleaving the program for two yearsand returning to LSU

in 2025. He posted a7.20 ERA in limited work in his return to Baton Rouge,but posted a4.18ERA in 321/3 innings as akey piece in the Tigers’ bullpen this year “He got to pitch morethis year than he ever had,” one scout said. “So it kind of told you they believed in him more.”

Fontenot transferred to McLennan Community College after his freshman year at LSU.Hethen spent the 2024 season at Texas before returning to Baton Rouge. After transferring in from Oregon,Garciaposted a5.96ERA in 222/3 innings in his lone season with the Tigers. He produced plenty of swings and misses —striking out 35 batters —but walks were an issue forthe junior. He issued17of them and threw eight wild pitches during his timeinBaton Rouge.

He transferred to LSU fromOregon last offseason, posting a4.20 ERAasa sophomoreinhis only year with the Ducks. Before Oregon, Garcia spent hisfreshman season at Central ArizonaCommunity College, where he had a3.04 ERA in 232/3 innings.

Benge had a9.00 ERA in seven innings this season for the Tigers. He walked three batters and struck out 13 as asenior,spending two seasons with LSU after transferring in from Dallas Baptist. In his ﬁrst season at LSU, Benge had a6.75 ERA in 16 innings. He owned a5.73ERA in his only season at Dallas Baptist and spent his freshman year at LSU Eunice.

In fourseasonswiththe Tigers, Guidry had a4.66 ERA in 962/3 innings. He began his collegiate career as an inﬁelderbut moved to the mound midway through the year, ending the season with a3.77 ERA andrecording theﬁnalout of LSU’s national championshipin2023.

“I could seesomebodytaking him;he’sbeen around awhile. He’s worn the (number) eight at LSU, so there are probably sometrustworthy traits there,” ascout told The Advocate. Cowan, meanwhile,was one of LSU’smost importantpitchers over thepasttwo seasons. He helped guidethe Tigers to anational championship in 2025 and was one of their top reliefpitchers this spring “Cowan kind of runs into the no fastball (problem). He’sagood changeup guy,” onescoutsaid. “But someone should give him achance. He throws strikes. He’saveteran guy.Hecan pitch in multiple roles.”

EMMY AWARD NOMINATIONS

Runaway leader, surprise snubs

‘The Pitt’receives themostnods

BY ALICIA RANCILIO Associated Press

The Primetime Emmy Award nominations are out and not-sosurprisingly “The Pitt” is an early winner with more nods than any other show.Also, it’sagreat start for the cast of “Widow’s Bay”who enter with 19 nominationsfor its freshman season. There were plenty of surprises and some snubs from Wednesday’s nominations, including some hits and misses for “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr.and Carolyn Bessette” and aﬁrst nom for Connor Storrie —just not for the show most people know him for If “The Bear” star Jeremy Allen Whiteattendsthe Emmy Awards this year,itwon’tbeasanominee. The acclaimed series got several nominations for its ﬁnal season, justnot an acting nod for itshead chef. Read on for more noteworthy nominees and those who gotoverlooked.

‘The Pitt’anEmmys juggernaut

Last year,Shawn Hatosy won best guest actor in adrama for “The Pitt.” This year,he’sgotten bumped up to supporting actor status and has an Emmy nomination to show for it. He is competing against co-stars Patrick Ball and Gerran Howell in the same category.Taylor Dearden, Fiona Dourif and Sepideh Moaﬁ receivedtheir ﬁrst nominations for best supporting actress in the HBO Max medical drama. While the cast racked up numerous nominations,two actors ended up being their own best cheerleaders. Brittany Allen and Jeff Kober each guest starred as ER patients on Season 2and self-submitted their work for nominations. Now,they’reEmmy nominees in the guest-acting categories.

Bartram andwhatare allthe signsfor?

MARKING HISTORY

BYROBIN MILLER Staff writer

Ask Louisianans to nameafamous naturalist, and John J. Audubon’s name will top thelist.

It’sunderstandable, withAudubon’sname prominently attached to everything from zoos and aquariums to bridges and parks and, yes, even a golftrail.

Audubon visited Louisianaoften, spent lots of time in New Orleans and even based his portfolio, “Birds of America,”onmany of the birds he collected and documented while livinginSt. Francisville.

But Audubon wasn’tthe ﬁrst naturalist to document Louisiana’snatural landscape and its inhabitants. That distinction goes to William Bartram, whomade his way through the Louisiana territory in 1775, ayear before the Declaration of Independence was signed and 10 years before Audubon’s birth.

Doubts? Well, proof is found in the historic markers documenting Bartram’strail through theBaton Rouge area, each bearing alocal passage from his book, “Travels of William Bartram.”

One of these markers piqued Cynthia Jardon’scuriosityabout thelegendarynaturalist.

“I saw amarker relating to William Bartram on avisit to the Burden Center,” the Alexandria reader said. “I’ve

been told there are moremarkers in Baton Rouge. So, why did Bartram travel through Baton Rouge, andhow was it decided where themarkers would be placed?”

Answering the last part of that question is easy

“Weplaced the markers according to locationsinthe passages in William Bartram’sbook,” said Michele Deshotels,amember of the Bartram Trail Project Committee and theLSU Hill-

top Arboretum’s board of directors.

She refers to Bartram’s 1791 book, “Travels of William Bartram,” in which he accurately chronicles his 1773-1777 exploration of the southern colonies and southeastern region of North America. In it, Bartram speciﬁcally documents the ﬁndings of his visit to the “Baton Rouge settlement,” where he not only takes note of a bluffalong the Mississippi River,but also ariver called Amite and an area by the nameofManchac.

Why did Bartram decide to conduct this survey of the South’secosystem? It wasinhis blood. Bartram’s father wasnoted naturalist John Bartram.Though dad was born in the “British Province of Pennsylvania” in 1699 and was aclose friend to Founding Father Benjamin Franklin, son William Bartram is celebrated as America’sﬁrst native born naturalist and scientiﬁc illustrator According to Allen Johnson’s1929 entry on Bartram in the “Dictionary of American Biography,” the naturalist’stalent fordrawing was recognized by Franklin, who“offered to

PHoTo PRoVIdEd By APPLE TV+

‘Widow’sBay’received 19 Emmy nominations, including star MatthewRhys.

STAFFPHoTo By LAUREn CHERAMIE

LSUHilltop Arboretum director Tara Titone passes the Bartram Trail Markeralong the WilliamBartram Trail at the arboretum.

American naturalist William Bartram made his waythroughthe Louisiana territoryin1775.

Several William Bartram Trail Markers are in the Baton Rougearea.

STAFF PHoTo By RoBInMILLER

PRoVIdEd PHoTo FRoM HBoMAX Louisiana nativeKatherine Lanasa is again nominated foranEmmy for her roleinthe HBoMax medical drama ‘The Pitt.’

ä See EMMY, page 2C

teach (young Bartram) printing, and then suggested for him the trade of engraver.”

Instead, Bartram tried his hand working as an independent trader in Cape Fear, North Carolina, before accompanying his father’s 1765-66 exploration of the St. John River in Florida.

The father and son duo wrote a book about that trip, titled “Travels on the St. John River,” and though it was published in 1791, it’s still in print through the University of Florida Press

But William Bartram’s life journey would take a different path after that.

“His father’s friend, the English naturalist Peter Collinson, had before his death in 1768 shown drawings by William — ‘elegant performances’ to the Duchess of Portland, and to Dr John Fothergill, a (British) botanist and a Friend, who soon extended his patronage to the young American,” Johnson writes. “At Fothergill’s expense, Bartram spent the years 1773-77 exploring the southeastern part of the United States. In return, Fothergill was to have seeds, specimens, and drawings; journals and exquisite drawings.”

It was through Fothergill’s patronage that Bartram was able to travel as far west as Louisiana. Started out in Philadelphia Bartram was living in Philadelphia when he set out on his pioneering, four-year solo journey, which brought him through the Carolinas and the Gulf South to Louisiana and the Mississippi

EMMY

Continued from page 1C

Another commonality: Allen and Kober have each won Daytime Emmy Awards for “All My Children” and “General Hospital.”

The 25 nominations for “The Pitt” are nearly double what it received for its ﬁrst season. Besides acting categories, it’s nominated for best drama and behindthe-camera work like directing and casting. Other fresh faces

In a sea of regular nominees like Jean Smart, Quinta Brunson and Martin Short, some new names managed to squeeze in. Less than one month after “Widow’s Bay” completed airing its first season, the comedy horror starring Matthew Rhys is planting a flag at the Emmy Awards Kate O’Flynn, Kevin Carroll, Stephen Root and Dale Dickey are cast members among the first-time nominees.

The newlywed characters in “Beef” Season 2 split when it came to Emmy recognition. Charles Melton got his ﬁrst nomination, while Cailee Spaeny was overlooked.

17200 Airline Highway near Bayou Manchac; n the LSU Hilltop Arboretum, 11855 Highland Road; n Burden Museum & Gardens, 4560 Essen Lane; n BREC Magnolia Mound Museum + Historic Site, 2161 Nicholson Drive; n and the Main Library 7711 Goodwood Blvd.

“The marker at the library was in storage at a botanical garden in Mississippi,” Deshotels said. “We approached the library and asked if they would be interested in having this original marker, which took an overall view of the area through the writing in the book. We thought it was just perfect for the library, and they even chose some plants that were related to Bartram for their landscaping.”

Markers also stand at the intersection of Plains-Port Hudson Road and Old Scenic Highway in the Zachary-Plains area, along La. 42 in Port Vincent and, again, along La. 420 in Pointe Coupeé Parish.

A marker commemorating Bartram’s journeys through the Lake Pontchartrain Basin also stands in Pelican Park at 63350 Pelican Blvd./Pelican Drive in Mandeville.

Finally the trail winding through LSU Hilltop Arboretum is named for Bartram.

By The Associated Press

Today is Monday, July 13, the 194th day of 2026

There are 171 days left in the year

Today in History: On July 13, 1985, the “Live Aid” beneﬁt rock concerts were held simultaneously in London and Philadelphia, raising millions for famine relief in Ethiopia.

Also on this date: In 1793, French politician physician and journalist Jean-Paul Marat was assassinated by Charlotte Corday, who stabbed him to death in his bath. In 1863, deadly rioting against the Civil War military draft erupted in New York City (The insurrection was put down three days later.)

In 1923, a sign consisting of 50-foot-tall letters spelling out “HOLLYWOODLAND” was dedicated in the Hollywood Hills to promote a real estate subdivision (the last four letters were removed in 1949).

In 1930, the ﬁrst FIFA World Cup began in Uruguay In 1960, John F. Kennedy won the Democratic presi-

River He observed and recorded native plants, animals and people in his journal along the way That includes a drawing of alligators, though he documented them in Florida before arriving in Louisiana.

“He didn’t explore a whole lot of Louisiana,” Deshotels said.

“He only got as far west as Pointe Coupee.”

“Monster: The Ed Gein Story” didn’t have the buzz of previous monster stories about Jeffrey Dahmer or Lyle and Erik Menendez. Its star, Charlie Hunnam can count himself an Emmy nominee though. His work as the serial killer brought him his first nomination File this next one under, “We’ll take what we can get.” While Connor Storrie of “Heated Rivalry” also received his first Emmy nomination, it’s not for the show that made him a star There’s a technicality where shows financed outside the U.S. are ineligible for Emmys, and the same goes for their cast Storrie is instead a contender for guest-hosting “Saturday Night Live.” While it’s no surprise that Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder and Paul W. Downs got recognized for the final season of “Hacks,” a nice addition to the list is co-star Meg Stalter, who is up for her first Emmy as best supporting actress.

You’ve been snubbed

Let’s start with the big one. After receiving two Emmy Awards for best actor in a comedy, Jeremy Allen White was not nominated for the ﬁnal season of

Or as Bartram spelled it in his book, “Pointe Coupe.” A marker stands across from St. Francis Chapel along La. 420 bordering the Mississippi River levee.

But his chronicle of the Baton Rouge area was thorough, as told through the markers.

Each was spearheaded by Baton Rouge’s Bartram Trail Project Committee, headed by the late

“The Bear.” The show got nominated, however, as did Ayo Edebiri for best comedy actress.

Sarah Pidgeon is nominated for her portrayal as Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy in “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr & Carolyn Bessette” but that love only goes so far Paul Anthony Kelly who played Kennedy was shut out.

“The Four Seasons” is about a group of friends but Colman Domingo is the standout this year Domingo was nominated for best supporting actor in a comedy while Tina Fey who created the series and also stars, got overlooked.

Apple TV’s “Your Friends & Neighbors” stars Jon Hamm as a man who secretly steals from his wealthy neighbors. The show got a drama series Emmy nomination. Hamm did not.

Paramount+ may have Taylor Sheridan but it doesn’t have any acting nominations to celebrate. The star power of “Landman” nor “The Madison” didn’t wow Emmy voters. The streamer is competing in a mere two categories: stunt work on “Tulsa King” and choreography in “Noah’s Arc: The Movie.”

dential nomination on the first ballot at his party’s convention in Los Angeles. In 1973, former presidential aide Alexander P. Butterfield revealed to Senate Watergate Committee staff members the existence of President Richard Nixon’s secret White House taping system In 1999, Angel Maturino Resendiz, suspected of being the “Railroad Killer” responsible for the deaths at least nine people, surrendered in El Paso, Texas. He was convicted of capital murder in a Texas court and executed in June 2006. In 2013, a jury in Florida cleared neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman of all charges in the shooting of Trayvon Martin an unarmed Black teenager whose killing unleashed furious debate over racial profiling, selfdefense and equal justice. In 2018, a grand jury indictment, sought by special counsel Robert Mueller, alleged that the Russian government was behind a sweeping conspiracy to interfere in the 2016 U.S presidential election In 2020, Washington’s NFL franchise dropped the

“Redskins” name and logo amid pressure from sponsors; the move followed decades of criticism that the name and logo were offensive to Native Americans. (The team was eventually renamed the Commanders.)

Today’s Birthdays: Game show announcer Johnny Gilbert (TV: “Jeopardy!”) is 98. Author and Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka is 92. Actor Patrick Stewart is 86. Actor Harrison Ford is 84. Singerguitarist Roger McGuinn (The Byrds) is 84. Rubik’s Cube inventor Erno Rubik is 82. Actor-comedian Cheech Marin is 80. Actor Daphne Maxwell Reid is 78.

Actor Didi Conn is 75. Actor Gil Birmingham is 73. Singer Louise Mandrell is 72.

Former boxing champion Michael Spinks is 70. Actordirector Cameron Crowe is 69. Comedian Tom Kenny is 64. Actor Ken Jeong is 57. Singer Deborah Cox is 52. Actor Aya Cash is 44.

Former St. Louis Cardinals

catcher Yadier Molina is 44.

Actor Colton Haynes is 38.

Actor Steven R. McQueen is 38. Soul singer Leon Bridges is 37. Actor Hayley

Erin (TV: “General Hospital”) is 32.

Randy Harelson, in cooperation with the nonproﬁt Bartram Trail Conference.

The markers’ locations In Baton Rouge, they can be found: n on the Mississippi River levee at the intersection of South Boulevard and River Road downtown; n BREC Airline Highway Park,

Unlikely nominations

The 2023 breakup that shocked the Bravoverse known as “Scandoval” has led to very good things for Ariana Madix. After splitting with her longtime boyfriend, she’s performed on Broadway, competed on “Dancing with the Stars” and is now nominated for an Emmy as outstanding reality TV host for “Love Island USA.”

“All kinds of great things are associated with William Bartram,” Deshotels said. “And he was actually asked to go on one of the great explorations after the Louisiana Purchase, but he said no, because by then he was too old. He thought his ﬁreplace in his own house would be a much nicer place to be.”

Email Robin Miller at romiller@ theadvocate.com.

A second Bravo breakup has been a big win for the network. The uncoupling of “Summer House” stars Amanda Batula and Kyle Cooke had viewers tuning in to Season 10 to see their marriage crumble. But when Batula then began dating one of their co-stars and Hamptons housemates, West Wilson, who used their other castmate Ciara Miller, it reached a whole new level of pop culture fodder

Voters were paying attention because it’s received a surprise Emmy nomination for unstructured reality show Soon, the Mirrorball Trophy may not be the only award linked to “Dancing with the Stars.” Season 34 of the celebrity dance competition show received an Emmy nomination for best reality show after getting shut out for a decade.

Celebrating the Sept. 13, 2015, unveiling of the William Bartram Trail Marker at the Main East Baton Rouge Parish Library were, from left, Library director Spencer Watts; Kizzy Payton, East Baton Rouge Parish Library Board of Control president; Randy Harelson; associate Professor Charles Fryling, LSU College of Art & design; Sally diagle, William Bartram Trail Project committee member; Kathy Wascom, Library Board of Control member; Peggy davis Coates, LSU Hilltop Arboretum executive director; Melissa Eastin, library archivist; and Andrea Wulf, author of ‘Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, nature & the Shaping of the American nation.’

cAncER (June 21-July 22) Be brave,ask forwhat you want and don't shy away from setting boundaries if someone triestotake advantage of you. Achange of heartwill result if you let criticism and ego get in the way of common sense LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Explore creative possibilities. Consider your skills and what youenjoy doing most,and search for career choices thatcan be instrumentalinfurthering your agenda.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept.22) Take amoment to breathe. Distance yourselffrom chaotic situationsand people who contribute to your stress and anxiety. Surround yourself with apeaceful environment.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Contemplate your alternatives, play each scenario outstart to finishand rethink your objective. Pay attention to what's working for you andwhat is causing confusionand uncertainty.

scoRPIo (oct.24-nov. 22) Keep life simple, doable and affordable. Refusetolet temptation, overindulgence andpoor influences take over. Avoidmaking hasty decisionsregarding your health or financial welfare.

sAGITTARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Open your eyes and your wallet. Take care of what's dragging you downathome, medically or legally. Declutter your life and let go of the past.

cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Pull it together, make your move and live up to the promises you made yourself. A

change may notbeeasy physically or financially, but the result will be uplifting.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Payattention to how you earnyour living and how to channel your energy into prosperity and aprofession that excites you more thansucks the life outofyou.A change will help you put your life back in perspective.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) High standards, expectations and drive will carry you forward. Don't let others manipulate youorleadyou astray.Takethe walk that leads you in adirection that makes you feel good.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Be honestwith yourself and considerate of others. If youare willingtomeet in the middle and accept thetruth, you'lldiscover howtodeal with the transparency issues you face.

TAuRus (April 20-May 20) Getinvolved, make adifference anddoyourpart Adversity may rear its ugly head, but if you proceed with kindnessand love, you will be partofthe solution, not the problem.

GEMInI(May21-June 20) If you don'tlike something,change it. Research, find alternatives and make it happen. Take responsibilityfor your life, health and destination. Talk is cheap.

FAMILY CIrCUS

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms arecreated from quotations by famous people, pastand present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

ToDAy'scLuE: MEQuALsn

CeLebrItY CIpher

beetLe bAILeY

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placingpuzzle basedona9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1to9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 boxcontains the same number only once. Thedifficulty level of the Sudoku increasesfrom Monday to Sunday

Saturday’s Puzzle Answer

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

Bridge

By PHILLIP ALDER

One of thetoughest card-play concepts for less experienced players is the “danger hand.” Thisoccurs when declarer mustdohisutmosttokeeponeparticular opponent off the lead.

Today’s deal, it will not surprise youto learn, is atextbook example Southisinthree no-trump. West leads the diamond six: five, two (lowest from threeworthlesscards),jack.Howshould Southcontinue?

Note North’stwo-heart rebid. Withtwo lowdiamonds, it is preferable to raise hearts with only three thantorebid one no-trump. Then South carefully jumps to threeno-trump, not four hearts,asking his partner to choose between those two game contracts.

Southstartswithseventoptricks:three spades,oneheart,onediamond(fromthe first trick) and two clubs. The extra winners can obviously come fromthe club suit. Butthrough which opponent should declarer finesse?

The first trickmakes it clear that West has the diamond queen and ace. If East had either of those cards, he would have played it at trick one —third hand high. So, if East gains the lead, he will return adiamond straight through South’sking 10, and West will cash several tricks in the suit. But if Westisonlead,South still hasadiamondstopper.Eastisthedanger hand.

However, declarer still hastobecareful. He should cross to dummy with a spade, then run the club 10. Whenthat finesse wins, Southplays aclub to his jack, cashes the club king, returns to dummy witha spade,takes the club ace and clubeight, and ends with an overtrick.

Each Wuzzle is aword riddle which creates adisguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOONGOOD =GOOD AFTERNOON

Previous answers:

word game

InsTRucTIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Wordsthat acquire four letters by theaddition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a“d” or an “s” maynot be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words arenot allowed.

ToDAy’s WoRD REAMERs: REEM-ers: Rotating tools withcutting edges used to enlarge or shape ahole. Average mark 14 words Time limit 20 minutes Can you find 19 or more words in REAMERS?

sATuRDAy’s WoRD —conVERsE

today’s thought “Whenpridecomes, then comes shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. Theintegrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perversenessoftransgressors shall destroy them.” Proverbs 11:2-3

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

wuzzles

loCKhorNs

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles