The Acadiana Advocate 07-17-2026

Black leaders urge voter engagement

Acadiana officials say effort needed to protect rights

BY JOEL THOMPSON Staff writer

Black lawmakers and civil rights leaders gathered in Lafayette on Wednesday to launch a voter engagement effort they said is needed after Louisiana lawmakers eliminated one of the state’s two Black-majority congressional districts and ahead of November’s midterm elections.

Members of the Acadiana delegation of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus joined the NAACP, Urban League, 100 Black Men and the Power Coalition for Equity &

Justice to encourage residents to register, vote and remain engaged at every level of government.

Speakers repeatedly pointed to the Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which allowed the elimination of one of Louisiana’s two Black-majority congressional districts and significantly reinterpreted the federal Voting Rights Act. They argued that voter participation will be critical in determining future representation and federal funding for Louisiana communities.

“We just sat through a session where we saw them redraw the

still reeling from

BY JESSE BEDAYN and JAMIE STENGLE Associated Press

UVALDE, Texas Rescuers aboard boats and helicopters saved dozens of stranded drivers and people trapped in homes from catastrophic flash floods in Texas in areas still reeling from devastating floods a year ago.

At least one person was dead, Gov Greg Abbott said, adding that it appeared many of the summer camps hit hard last year were not in danger. “Our No. 1 focus is saving lives,” he said.

After days of pounding rain, the National Weather Service said a “large and deadly flood wave” barreled down the same river wrecked by flash floods last summer when two dozen children and counselors were killed at Camp Mystic Much like last year, the floods came in the middle of the night. But this time some residents in the Texas Hill Country said they received more warnings.

Forecasters urgently warned, “Move to higher

BY BLAKE LESCHBER

Staff writer

On July 17, 2016, six Baton Rouge law enforcement officers were shot in an ambush at a convenience store off Airline Highway, an attack that shocked the city.

Three of them — Baton Rouge police Cpl. Montrell Jackson, Officer Matthew Gerald and sheriff’s Deputy Brad Garafola — died that day A fourth, sheriff’s Sgt. Nick Tullier, succumbed to his wounds nearly six years later

On Friday 10 years after the attack, the officers are being hon-

congressional map to eliminate a Black-majority district,” state Sen. Gerald Boudreaux, D-Lafayette, said. “We came tonight to begin a process of what we have control over It’s not about rehashing the last legislative session. It’s about protecting rights from being taken away.”

Black voters were underrepresented relative to parishwide voter registration by about 10% in Lafayette Parish during both the 2023 statewide elections and the 2024 presidential election, despite

ored in what East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Sid Edwards calls a time “to remember the heroes who gave everything in service to our community.”

At 8 a.m., members of the community are invited to walk from the Baton Rouge Police Department headquarters at 9000 Airline Highway to the site of the shooting, Benny’s B-Quik at 9611 Airline. A time of reflection and prayer will be held there. Police Chief T.J. Morse said that

time was chosen because the am-

bush happened about 8:40 a.m.

Also, the Gulf Coast Brotherhood will be riding bicycles from the Slidell Police Memorial to BRPD headquarters. They are scheduled to arrive at 3 p.m. for a memorial service. Morse said the events are important, as the families of the fallen officers will be in attendance. They show that those lost in the line of duty will always be remembered, he noted. “Also, for the law enforcement officers that are there, this is a chance that they know the public

has their back and they can see,

‘Hey, if something like this ever happened to me, I know that I would still be remembered and my family would still be taken care of,’” Morse said. East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore said such events allow the community to come together and be mindful and respectful of everyone. “Remember that law enforcement and our community can be attacked at any time, and so you always have to be aware of poten-

Montrell Jackson Matthew Gerald Brad Garafola Nick Tullier

PHOTO By ROBIN MAy

Louisiana Sen. Gerald Boudreaux, D-Lafayette, encourages the audience to get out the vote at the Power and Progress town hall in Lafayette on Wednesday.

5A

2charged in alleged UFC attack plot in D.C. COLUMBUS,Ohio Twoofthe eight men indicted in an alleged drone and sniper plot to attack President Donald Trump’sUFC cage-fighting show on theWhite House lawn pleaded notguilty Thursday to federal conspiracy charges.

Clothed in jail garband shackled, Tycen Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio, and Chandler Scaggs, 21, of Chapmanville, West Virginia, entered thepleas before U.S. DistrictCourt Judge Edmund Sargus Jr.inOhio, where the case has been consolidated. They and theother six defendants are each charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal government territory and to murder afederal government official.

Sargus scheduled their trial to begin Sept. 14. It remains unclear from the court record how closethe would-be attackers were tobeing able to carry out the plan they are alleged to have hatched. Scaggs’ attorney,EricBrehm, said in astatementthat his office isonlyinthe early stages of reviewing the case, “but one issue is already clear: there appears to be asignificant disconnect between the severity of the alleged offenses and Mr.Scaggs’ naivety,lack of sophistication, and judgment.” The firstcharge is punishable by up to 15 years in prison; the second could mean prison for life.

Puerto Rico announces water rationing

SAN JUAN,Puerto Rico PuertoRico announced water rationing measures on Thursdayasa drought gripsthe U.S. territory,worsening chronic water shortagesthat have forced the governorto declare astate of emergency Thousands of people in the island’snortheast region face 48-hourrationing periods from Friday,said Luis González, executive president of the island’s water and sewer authority.

The rationing program will affect several communities in the cities of Canovanas and Rio Grande as temperatureskeep rising.

“There’sjust not enough water,”hesaid, adding that rationingwill likely be extendedto other areas.

González blamed alackof rain, although severe water shortages began affecting some of the island’smost populated areas months before the drought began, with officials yet to identify the problem.

Those outages prompted the mayor of San Juan to sue the island’sWater andSewer Authority in late May,withGov Jenniffer González acknowledging that the agency’sinfrastructure has lacked investmentand maintenance for decades.

Almost 40,000 customers were leftwithout water lastmonth, leading González to activate the National Guard. Thatoutage was not tied to the current drought.

1killed in crowd surge at Hindu festival in India

NEWDELHI Asudden crowd surge at apopular Hindufestival in eastern India’sOdisha state on Thursday left at least one person dead and manyhospitalized, a news agency reported.

The incident occurred as tens of thousands of people gathered in the coastal town of Puri for the annual RathYatra chariotfestival, according to the Press Trust of India. The festival is considered one of the world’soldest and largest religious processions. The centuries-old festival involves the idols of Hindu deities being taken outofthe Jagannath Temple and carried through the streets in colorfully decorated chariots.

Videos from the sceneshowed injured devotees being carried to hospitals as shoes, bags and other belongings were left strewn across the area in the aftermath of the incident.

Odisha police said in asocial media post that rescue teams provided first aid and oxygen to 33 peoplebeforetransferring them to nearby hospitals.

Last year,three people were killed and morethana dozen hospitalizedfollowing acrowd surge during the same festival.

U.S. expandsattacks on Iran

Tehran calls Strait of Hormuz a‘redline’ as it retaliates

BY JON GAMBRELL Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates

The United States intensified its strikes against Iran on Thursday,hitting targets farther north and firing into ashipthe U.S. accused of trying to break its naval blockade on the Islamic Republic. Iran retaliated by launching missiles and drones at U.S. allies in the region, andwarned its attacks may escalate.

The interim ceasefire agreed to last month has collapsed, and theregion hasendured days of backand-forth attacks by the U.S.and Iran as they battle for control of the Straitof Hormuz. Iranian officials say U.S. strikes have killed more than 35 people and wounded over 300 others.

For the first time in this latest round of violence, strikes also reached into areas aroundIran’scapital,Tehran, showing a widening set of targets for the Americans.The U.S. launched asecond wave of strikes late Thursday,saying it was aiming to “further degrade” Iran’smilitary capabilities.

When the U.S. andIsrael launched the war on Iran on Feb. 28, Tehran effectively closedthe strait to shipping traffic,a move that sent the

price of oil soaring and gave Iran major leverageinnegotiations.

Col. Ebrahim Zolfaghari, aspokespersonfor theIranian military’sKhatam alAnbiya CentralHeadquarters, threatened that Iran could launch widespread attackson“allthe infrastructure in theregion”if theU.S. acts on President Donald Trump ‘s repeated warnings that America could hit Iranianbridges and power plants “Undernocircumstances and in no way will we allowAmerica, as aforeign and extraregional country, to interfere in the Strait of Hormuz,” he added.“This is Iran’sinvincible red line.” Iranianstate mediasaid

the U.S. strikes Thursday hit around Tehranand Semnan province, home to Iran’sballisticmissileproductionand space program. State mediaalsoreported strikes around the provinces of Hamedan, Hormozgan, Khuzestan, Lorestan, Markazi, and Sistan and Baluchestan, as wellason Iran’s Qeshm island, near the Strait of Hormuz.

Seven people were wounded in aU.S. strike that hitthe Allah-AkbarHill residentialneighborhood in the port city of Bandar Abbas, according to Iranian state media. Twomorepeoplewere woundedina U.S. attack on the BandarAbbas railway junctionstation, state media said.

Andjustwest of Bandar Abbas, witnesses reported that two bridges were struckinaU.S.attack,killing two people and wounding four others, state media said. An attack on Greater Tunb Island targeted Iranian defense and missile sites, U.S. CentralCommand said.

Greater Tunb Island is oneofthree smallrocky islandsthatsit at theconfluence of the Persian Gulf and the strait. The islands —seized in 1971 by Iran from what would become the United ArabEmirates —help the Islamic Republic exert significant control over the strait. The U.S. military also

said it disableda Curacaoflaggedoil tanker as it sailed toward Iran’s main oil export terminal, firing amissile after the ship “ignored multiple warnings.” Another American strike Wednesdaytargeted a barracks for Iran’s388th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, which operates tanks andarmored vehicles, in Sistan andBaluchestan province, Iranian state television reported. The report said seven were killed in the attack, including conscripts and career soldiers.

Iranretaliated Thursday withmissile and droneattacks on Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait, authorities in those countries home to U.S. forces said. There was no immediate acknowledgment of damage or casualties from the attacks. Iraqi PrimeMinister Ali al-Zaidi condemned an overnightdrone attack in Iraq’s semiautonomous northern Kurdish region. The drone, which authorities said had been intercepted,came during his trip to the U.S. in whichhesaidIraqwould work to disarm nonstate armed groups, including those backed by Iran. Adrone separately targeted atanker Thursday in the PersianGulf off the coast of Basra in southern Iraq, the state-run INA news agency reported.No casualties were reported. The latest round of fightingisfocused on theStrait of Hormuz, as Iran attacks ships using aU.S.-controlled route through the vital waterway

Ukrainians protestousterofdefense minister

BY SAMYAKULLAB and ILLIA NOVIKOV Associated Press

KYIV,Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shook up his wartime government,drawing thousands into the streets Thursday across Ukraine to protest theouster of his youthful defense minister —seen as an innovator of the country’ssuccessful drone technology but who clashedwith thetraditional military establishment.

The personnel overhaul, which included replacing his prime minister,could becomeatestofZelenskyy’spolitical authority as Ukraine’s fight against Russia’sfull-scale invasion approaches41/2 years. Zelenskyy has remained in office undermartial law because wartimeelections areprohibited but has periodically reshuffled his government.

Themoves threw Ukraine’smilitary leadership into an unwelcome

ited in part with significantly improvingUkraine’s military performance in recent months against Russia’sbiggerarmy. He is leavingthe government after only six months in the post.

Fedorov appeared at a news conference in adark Tshirt andjeans, andaccused Syrskyi of blocking reforms needed because “the war has changed completely” due to new technology like drones.

During his time in office, he secured restrictions on Russian forces’ access to the

Starlink satellite communications system, allowing Ukraine to better leverage its midrange strike capabilities giving Kyiv significant battlefield advantages. Fedorov said he was willing to work with Syrskyi, “but we encountered asituation in which all the initiatives we proposed began to be blocked.”

“Under this arrangement (with Syrskyi as commander), Ipersonally do not know how the war can be won,” he said.

crisis at atime when its actions against Russia are starting to bear fruit and as Moscow hasunleashed unrelenting aerial attacks Twopeople were killedand five others were wounded, including achild, when Russianmissileshit the capital of Kyiv overnight, Ukraine’sEmergency Service said.

In making thechanges, Zelenskyycited friction

between outgoing Defense MinisterMykhailo Fedorovand Gen.Oleksandr Syrskyi,the commander of Ukraine’sarmed forces “I’mjust showing that if the sides can’tresolve an issue, Iwill have to resolve it,”Zelenskyy said at anews conference.

Fedorov,35, is considered to be avigorous modernizer whose technological expertise is cred-

U.S. designates 2new Mexican cartelsasterrorist groups

BYMARÍA VERZA Associated Press

MEXICO CITY The U.S. government has designatedtwo new Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.

They are theJuárez Cartel,onthe border with Texas, and Los Viagras, a criminal group from the western state of Michoacán. The Federal Register, the U.S. government’s gazette, published the designation on Thursday

Theyjoined sixother Mexicancriminalorganizationsthatthe U.S. considers terrorist groups, including theSinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Gangs in other Latin American countries, including Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador and El Salvador,also have beendesignatedasforeign terrorist organizations by

theTrumpadministration. President DonaldTrump begantoextend theterrorist label to LatinAmerican cartelsinFebruary 2025 to allow U.S. authoritiestotake more aggressive action against them or againstanyone who theU.S. sees as aiding the groups.

SecretaryofState Marco Rubiosaid that both criminalgroupseither have committedterrorist acts or pose aserious risk of committing acts thatthreaten the security of U.S. nationalsorthe national security,foreign policy,oreconomy of the United States. The measure represents afurther increase in pressure on Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’sadministration following the indictment of 10 current andformer officials from the state of

Sinaloa for alleged ties to theSinaloa Cartel,aswell as the controversies about U.S. operations in Mexico. Juarez Cartel is one of Mexico’soldestdrug trafficking organizations, which for decades has controlleda keycrossing point in thecentral part of the Mexico-U.S. border: Ciudad Juárez,across from El Paso, Texas. One of its factions is considered responsible for the 2019 deaths of nine U.S. citizens, six of whom were children.

Los Viagras is alocal cartel in the western state of Michoacan, which is alreadyhome to two other criminal groupsdesignated as terrorist organizations: Cárteles Unidos and La NuevaFamiliaMichoacana. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel and partners of SinaloaCartel also operate in this state.

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ISNA PHOTO By RAZIEH POUDAT

Three boys playinthe shallowwaters of the Strait of Hormuz as aplumeofsmokerises from an explosion in the background on Mondayoff Bandar Abbas, Iran.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By DANyLO ANTONIUK Ukranians gather ThursdayinKyiv, Ukraine, to denounce PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy’sdecisiontodismiss Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

Wildfire smoke makes air unhealthy across U.S.

BY TAMMY WEBBER and PHILIP MARCELO Associated Press

NEW YORK Heavy, pungent

wildfire smoke darkened skies in the U.S. on Thursday from the Great Lakes to parts of the East Coast, reducing visibility and prompting warnings that breathing the air outside could be dangerous.

Officials in many cities urged residents to stay inside or wear masks outside as air quality reached unhealthy to hazardous levels, meaning it’s unhealthy for anyone regardless of health conditions. The smoke is coming from fires that are burning primarily in Canada but also in northern Minnesota. A lingering high pressure system has trapped the smoke close to the ground, said Steven Freitag, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Detroit, where air quality was among the worst in the world for major cities.

“Sure enough, it arrived in force here and it’s really pretty extreme levels,” said Freitag, who noted that visibility in some areas was reduced to a half mile.

“It’s scary,” Omar Mitchell, 50, said as he looked he looked to the sky He wore a mask while walking to his restaurant in Detroit. “You

Trump’s

BY BILL BARROW Associated Press

ATLANTA President Don-

ald Trump’s teleprompter operator is on unpaid leave after reports that he used his inside knowledge to make bets about the president’s speeches on the online prediction market Kalshi, the White House said Thursday

The firm’s enforcement chief said Kalshi contacted federal regulators about bets allegedly made about what the president would say in public addresses.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president is aware of the situation, which she described as “unfortunate” and “a disgrace.”

“The White House has extremely strict ethical guidelines with respect to issues like this,” Leavitt told reporters, saying the aide is on unpaid leave.

ABC News reported Thursday that Gabriel Perez, who has been operating Trump’s teleprompter since 2016, used his inside knowledge to win more than $100,000 betting on what the president would say in big speeches including the State of the Union address earlier this year Robert Denault, Kalshi’s lawyer and head of enforcement, said on X that the “Kalshi surveillance team promptly flagged, investigated and referred

don’t know necessarily what the side effects may be.

That’s days or months later.”

Microscopic particles can lodge deep in the lungs and enter the bloodstream, leading to heart and lung problems and contributing to other long-term health issues.

All of Michigan and much of Minnesota were under a hazardous air quality alert. In the Chicago area, air quality ranged from very unhealthy to hazardous.

National Weather Service meteorologist Jake Petr said even if winds from the northwest clear skies as expected later this week, the smoky air

these trades” to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission that has regulatory authority over such matters.

His statement did not name Perez.

“We have been assisting regulators on this matter and provided all evidence that we collected, as we do with any referral,” Denault added

ABC based its report on multiple sources who have knowledge of the matter but spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the details.

The ABC report described suspicious activity on Kalshi’s “Mentions” market, in which users can place bets on what phrases and specific words might be used in public speeches. Kalshi recently began requiring users to disclose their place of employment, and the platform’s policy prohibits betting based on information that users gain because of their job Attention on members of the administration profiting from the presidency has reached all the way to Trump himself.

In his most recent financial disclosures Trump reported making $1.2 billion from his crypto businesses in 2025, raking in profits while his investors suffered losses in marketplaces that Trump has sought to shield from tighter federal regulation.

could keep returning until the fires are out. That could take months, until it snows in Canada and northern Minnesota, officials have said.

“Anytime we have something that could bring air from that region until the fires are over it could conceivably dip back into the area,” Petr said.

Bill Ostrowski, 76, wore a mask as he walked through downtown Chicago where wildfire smoke shrouded skyscrapers. “It stinks. It’s not a good sign when you wake up in the morning and you can smell the air,” said Ostrowski.

In St. Paul, Minnesota, the sky was “glowing yellow,” said Brent Williams, head of the soil, water and climate department at the University of Minnesota. The area “could be looking at weeks to months of continued smoke and flare-ups off and on as the winds blow in different directions,” he said.

A study published this year found that long-term exposure to tiny particles from wildfire smoke contributed to an average of 24,100 deaths a year in the lower 48 states Long-term exposure can make existing health problems worse and lead to

a range of chronic and deadly issues, including respiratory illness, cardiovascular and neurological diseases, and premature death.

In the New York City area, a thick haze tinged the morning sky orange and yellow and partly obscured Manhattan’s skyline.

City officials opened cooling centers as health officials urged New Yorkers to limit strenuous and prolonged outdoor activities.

The city’s schools, parks and other agencies moved activities indoors, rescheduled events and adjusted operations. State officials distributed tens of thousands of face masks at transit hubs and other major locations.

Gwen Moseley, 65, was among the first patrons at Rosedale Library in Queens to take advantage of the free masks, saying she’s on the road much of the day working as a therapist for children with autism.

“Who wants to be breathing this? It’s not healthy,” Moseley said as she waited to meet a young client.

“When I’m out walking, I can feel the scratchiness in my throat.”

Smoke eased a bit but was expected to thicken again by late afternoon or evening, possibly lasting overnight, weather service meteorolo-

gist Maureen Hastings said. She said it might move south for a while on Friday but return at night.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation warned that there was a potential for temporary spikes of “very unhealthy” air quality from Buffalo in the state’s western corner to Rochester by Lake Ontario, Syracuse in the central region, down to the greater New York City area.

Philadelphia officials urged people to avoid strenuous activity and stay inside or wear N95 or KN95 masks outside.

“Today is not the day to start your marathon training plan,” said Dr Palak Raval-Nelson, the city’s public health commissioner In Minnesota, forest rangers on Thursday combed a remote wilderness area for anyone who might still be there days after wildfires led to its closure.

Officials closed the Boundary Waters along the U.S.Canada border on Tuesday At the time, 6,000 to 10,000 people were inside, but Superior National Forest staff estimated Wednesday that they’d reached 90% of them, said Karen Harrison, a spokesperson for state and federal agencies involved in the response.

Louisiana parasite diarrhea cases double

Five patients now hospitalized

BY MARGARET DELANEY Staff writer

Cases of explosive diarrhea in Louisiana, caused by a parasite found in some foods, have nearly doubled in one week.

Last week, there were 23 cases, including one hospitalization. As of Tuesday, there are 43 cases, including five hospitalizations. In contrast, Louisiana has averaged about 30 cases a year during the same time frame over the past five years. No deaths have been reported.

The parasitic infection, called cyclosporiasis, can cause weeks of watery diarrhea. Louisiana is one of 38 states investigating outbreaks.

Cases have been reported in almost every region of the state with the highest numbers in East Baton Rouge and Lafayette, a representative from the Louisiana Department of Health said Wednesday

Since May 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has received reports of 1,645 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis in the U.S. and is aware of more than 5,100 cases that require further analysis to confirm the illness.

“This is substantially higher than the 249 cases reported nationally by this same time last year,” the CDC report said.

Cyclospora is a microscopic, spherical parasite that commonly causes watery

diarrhea “with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements,” according to the CDC. The illness, called cyclosporiasis, is not usually life-threatening and is typically treated with antibiotics. Cases of cyclosporiasis typically spike in the summer months, with historically active outbreaks in Louisiana between June and August. In the U.S., the cyclosporiasis season is considered May 1 through Aug 31, according to the Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention.

Over the past 20 years, between 1 to 101 cases have been reported annually in Louisiana, with 73 cases reported in 2023. The following foods have been specifically linked to previous cyclospora outbreaks in the United States and Canada: n Bagged salad mixes and kits (precut lettuce blends with romaine, iceberg, red cabbage, carrots)

n Fresh cilantro (coriander leaves) n Fresh basil n Raspberries n Snow peas n Green onions (scallions) People with diarrhea that hasn’t resolved on its own within a few days should see a health provider and discuss the possibility of cyclospora, officials say Email Margaret DeLaney at margaret.delaney@ theadvocate.com.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By PAUL SANCyA

Detroit skyline is obscured during poor air

Canadian wildfires.

HouseGOP’s $95B Iran warpackage clears firsthurdle

BY LISA MASCARO AP congressional correspondent

WASHINGTON Republicans on theHouse Budget Committee advanced a$95 billion package Thursday for the Iran war,farm aid and President Donald Trump’s push for strict new voter ID requirements, moving forward on aparty-line vote despitetrouble in thefull House —and the Senate.

Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington framed the proposal as one last pushto deliver for voters ahead of the midterm elections that will determine control of Congress. It advanced on a vote of 20-14.

“Weare rallying to finish what we started when theAmerican people sent us here,” said Arrington,RTexas.

With Iran war funding makes up thebulk of the package, some $60 billion, Arringtonacknowledged that people can debate “why we’re there” in the overseas conflict. Buthesaid the money is needed for basic supplies —“just the bombs, bullets and battlefield readiness for our men and women in uniform to finish the fight successfully and return home safely —that’sit.”

Theproposalisthe third budget reconciliation package Republicans in control of Congress have putforward thissessiontosteamroll Trump’spriorities past Democratic objections using alegislativeprocedurethat allows forsimple majority votes for passage

It’sthe sameprocess

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, used to pass Trump’sbig tax cuts bill last yearand to advance Homeland Security money after Democrats refused to fund thedepartmentfollowing the deathsofAmericans protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions earlier this year

Johnson is pushingthe effort almost single-handedly, without fullbackingfrom hisslim House Republican majority or the Senate. He held lengthy meetings with Trump this week at theWhite House and hosted aprivate session for Republicans at thepresident’sCampDavid retreat to hash out details.

But the 47-page package remains along-shoteffort —too meager for some, too costly forothers —ahead of voting in thefull House expectednext week Key Republican Rep. Chip

The resolution, which sets outinstructions for the various congressional committees to draw up proposals, also calls for $13 billion for Intelligence, $12billion for Agriculture, and $10 billion for Administration, which handlesvoting andelections.

House Budget Committee Chairman JodeyArrington, R-Texas, center,speakswith an aideThursday during amarkup on the Fiscal year 2027 spending plan, at the Capitol in Washington.

Roy,aninfluential member of the Freedom Caucus who hasexpressed reservations about the package, did not voteatthe Budget Committeesession, as his home state of Texas deals with flooding. Democrats are ready to voteagainst theproposal, as they did Thursday during committeeaction.

Rep. Brendan Boyle, of Pennsylvania, the ranking Democrat on the Budget Committee, said thedocument, some 6,500 words, never once mentionsthe issue

that’stop of mind formany Americans:affordability

“People know thisisa failed presidency,and a failedRepublicanmajority, Boyle said.

Democrats offered more thanadozen amendments to the package during the hourslong Budget Committee session andraisedquestions about how the new spending will ultimately be paid for —eithervia budget cutstoother programs or by piling onto thenation’sdebt.

Boyle offered an amend-

ment to reverse healthcare cuts from the Republicans’ big taxbreaksbill. Rep. Ilhan Omar,D-Minn., sought to reinstate funding forfood stamps under the Supplemental NutritionAssistance Program. Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif.,suggested funding forimmigrationenforcement at Department of Homeland Security could be used to offset costs elsewhere Rep. Lloyd Doggett, DTexas, blamed the high costs of living on the Iran war and

said every time Americans open theirrefrigeratorsor go to the gas pump they are “paying forawar that should never have been started.”

Next steps are highly volatile, as the House holds arare Saturday pro forma session, which is alargely administrative meeting that will allow the resolution to be filed in timefor consideration next week

Johnsoncan only lose afew detractors on his side of the aisle as he relies on Republicans only,without Democrats, for passage. But the resolution would also have to be agreed on by the Senate, and Republican senators have largely panned the House effort, waiting to see if Johnson can heave it to passage.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said senators have “a lot of questions” about it –from defense hawks concerned about the military to deficit hawks who want to offset costs.

“It’savery unevenpath,” he said.

“We’ll see what the Housecan executeon,”he said, but “I can’t make any guarantees over here.” Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., who is expected to take over the Senate BudgetCommittee after the sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, has been aleading budget hawk concerned about the nation’s rising deficits.

BY GISELA SALOMON Associated Press

MIAMI The Trump administration is reviving arule that could deny green cards to immigrants who use public benefits that could include foodstamps, Medicaid, housing vouchers and others.

The policy,known as “publiccharge,” appeared on Thursday in the Federal Register.Itwill be formally published on July 20 and take effect Sept. 18. Under the policy,applicants for green cards have to show they wouldn’tbeburdens to the

FDAOKs

country or “publiccharges.”

Thepolicy was first implementedinFebruary 2020 as one of President Donald Trump’smoves to limit legal immigration duringhis first administration,but it was reversed after Democratic President Joe Biden came to power. Its return comes when the Republican administration is implementing ahard-line policy to curb bothillegal andlegal immigration,and when the cost of healthcare andfood is rising The federal government “is reaffirming the require-

ment of self-reliance, protecting public resources and ending policies that encouraged dependency on thebacks of hardworking American taxpayers,” U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said in apost published on itsX account.

“UnderPresident Trump, USCIS is restoring the basic principlethatimmigrants must be able to support themselves,” the post said.

While theadministration’s crackdown on immigration has an increased focus on deportationsand immigration enforcement in cities

first-of-its-kindpillto

cutcholesterol in high-riskpatients

BY MATTHEW PERRONE Associated Press

WASHINGTON The Food and Drug Administration has approved afirst-of-its-kind pill that can drastically reduce cholesterol in away that’s previously only been available with expensive, injectable drugs. The drug from Merck was OK’d on Thursday forpatients with artery-clogging cholesterol that persists even after takingstatins, the standard medications for cutting heart attack risk. Merck will market its pill under the brand name Lipfendra. It’sthe firstnoninjectable medication that works by blocking aliver protein

called PCSK9. Thatprotein limits thebody’sabilityto clear cholesterolfromthe blood, and biotech injectables targeting it have been availablefrom Amgen and other drugmakers for more than adecade. But patient access has been stymied for years by high prices, insurance restrictions and limited prescribing by doctors. Statins blocksomeofthe liver’s production of cholesterol and are the cornerstone of treatment. But evenatthe highest doses, many people need additional help lowering their LDL, or bad, cholesterol enough to meet medical guidelines Merck, whichhas headquarters in Rahway,New

Jersey,won approvalbased on twostudiesinhigh-risk patients who added the company’s pill to their standard treatment, including statins. In one study of 3,000 patients, those taking Lipfendra saw their levels of LDL cholesterol dropmore than 55% after six months.Inasecond study,patients averaged a reduction of 59% compared withpatients who received a dummy pill.

That benefitdropped only slightly over ayear,and side effects— including dizziness and diarrhea were similarbetween those taking thepill or aplacebo, researchers found. One caveat: Thepill must be taken on an empty stomach.

across thecountry andat borders andentry points, it has alsotaken actions that target legal immigrants andmixed-status families, in which theparents are foreign nationals with U.S.born children.

Federal law already requiresthose seeking permanent residency or legalstatus to demonstratethat they will not become apublic charge.

The Trump administration’s rule, however,broadens the

grounds for disqualification. The new rule does not describe or specify by name the benefits andprograms that could be considered apublic charge.Instead,itsays that officers who would implement the policy will make “individualized, fact-specific public charge inadmissible determinations, basedona totality of the alien’scircumstances.”

It saysthat,“using good judgment and discretion, of-

ficerswill more accurately assess an alien’slikelihood at any time of becoming apublic charge.” The Trumpadministration first promoted the rule in 2018 as away to ensure that only thosewho were self-sufficient came to the U.S. Immigrant rightsadvocates criticized it, saying it amountedtoa“wealth test.” Public health experts saidit would lead to worse health outcomes.

both featuring Blackcandidates at the top of the ticket.

By contrast, Black voters in Lafayette Parish were overrepresented in the 2025 and 2026 elections centered on statewide constitutional amendmentsthat were widely opposedbyvoters.

“What that should tell us is that Black voters are motivated and excited about the issues,” Boudreaux said He urged attendees to remain engaged beyond Election Day “A lot of times when people reach out to their representatives it’swhen they want something. Youhave to be engaged in everything, from the federal level to the local level.”

State Rep. Dustin Miller, D-Opelousas, said maintainingpolitical representation also affects how federal dollars flow into Louisiana communities.

“The way we fund our communities and our hospitals, each oneofthemistakinga cutunlessDemocrats take controlofthe House. We need these majority dis-

tricts in order to do that,” Miller said.

The discussion also turned to economic hardship andits effect on civic participation. About one in six Lafayette

residentslives in poverty, manyofthem membersof theBlack community “Ifyou arehungry, you are unable to go to work.If you are hungry,you are un-

able to go to school. If we allow Black Louisianans to fundamentally participate, theeconomy grows,”said Charles Phipps, vice president of policy advocacy and

legal affairs for the Urban League of Louisiana.

Lawmakers also discussed lower participation among younger voters.

“I think it’s tough to convince young individuals to go forward when they’re struggling,” Miller said. “I think we have to try to reach people one at atime. Trytoget them to school, try to getthemtowork, and try to get them to understand that they can have a good life.”

State Rep. Tehmi Chassion, D-Lafayette,said civic engagement also means working across political lines.

“There were some veteranswho needed assistance. Icalledthe only congressmaninLafayette Parish at the time, Clay Higgins. Now all four of them have their disability. Sometimesyou’ve just gottodoit,” Chassion said.

“Ifyou participate, we will win,” Phipps added. “Wecan take back the House this fall and protect our voices.”

tial problems and issues,” Moore said. Edwards has directed all U.S. and Louisiana flags at city-parish government facilities to be flown at halfstaff from sunrise to sunset

“The City-Parish encourages residents, businesses, and organizations throughout East BatonRouge Parish to join in this tribute by lowering their flags to halfstaff and taking amoment to remember the heroes who gave everything in service to our community,” Edwards stated in anews release. Morsewas on the SWAT team the morning of the ambush. He saidhewas working 12-hour shifts as Baton Rouge was handling protests during the period of unrest after Alton Sterling was fatally shot by apolice officer July 5. The ambush at Benny’s B-Quik lasted alittle under 14 minutes. The gunman Gavin Long, a29-year-old former Marine who traveled to Baton Rouge from Kansas City —chose the location because it’sabout amilefrom BRPD headquarters,soofficers would drop by the store for coffee and other items, Moore said.

About 8:35 a.m., Long arrived in the area of Benny’s B-Quik in awhite Chevrolet Malibu carrying asemiautomatic rifle, according to a summary of the investigation into the attack. He ambushed Jackson and Gerald about 8:40 a.m.

At 8:41 a.m., Garafola radioed “shots fired and officer down” from behind the building and, despite being fatally wounded, Gerald transmitted his final radio call, “shots fired.” Garafola had left his cover after seeing Gerald go down.

Morse arrived at the scene and went to the wounded officers.

“When the call went out, I was one of the firstSWATofficers to arrive on thescene and the very first personto

gettoMontrelland Matthew and Brad, and found them over by the side of the business,” Morsesaid.

Long then positioned himselfbetween Carolyn Sue Drive and the Hair Crown, located next to theconveniencestore,and fired10 rounds at officers arriving on Airline to createa perimeter.At 8:45 a.m Long fired shots at Tullier and another sergeant, who survived MooresaidBRPD’s Special Response Team was right down the road from the ambush, so several members quicklyshowed up in unmarkedcars.Longalso began to fire at them.

Alongside other officers, Morsehelped track down Long, who was shot in the legabout 8:46 a.m. butwas still alive and moving toward his gun.The final shots were fired around 8:49 a.m., and Longdied at thescene.

“But forthisgroup being right down the street, he (would’ve) gone to other places,” Moore said.“He’s readyto go;his ammo is filled to go to other places andkill more people.”

Many changes were made after 2016 in how Baton Rouge police operate, Morse

said. It is now standard for officerstowear vests with rifle plates in them. Rifles are also now alarger part of the weapons officers carry, according to Morse.

Morse said training for officers’ mental health increased after the ambush.

“We’veincreased our training,increased our preparation. We can’t, unfortunately,train for everything, and officers are still being shot across thecountry,” Morse said. “Wejust need thepublic’s help when things happen and even when we’re not in atime like this in remembrance, Iencourage the public to takeamoment, say hello, tell them you appreciate them.”

Moore said he knew the officers who were shot and hadtalked to oneofthe surviving injuredofficersthe night before. He said emotionswere high after the incident duetothe proximity to home.

“It was just areally unique, unnerving situation that you can’tever think of that being created and can’t ever recreate that whole circumstance again,” Moore said.

PHOTO By ROBIN MAy

Attendees listen to speakers at the Powerand Progress town hall held Wednesday in Lafayette.

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Trump firm planstosell special access to posts

NEW YORK President Donald Trump’smedia companyis planning to charge for special high-speed access to Truth Social posts, includingpossibly hisown affecting national security and financial markets. The move announced Thursday wouldallow Wall Street trading firms and other institutions to get news from Truth Social contributors in milliseconds so theycould profit off subsequentmoves in stocks, bonds and interest rates. Called Truth PSI, it would mimic paid access at other platformswith onekey difference:The most popular Truth Social poster is thepresident himself and, as the biggest shareholder of the public traded parent company woulddirectlybenefit.

“He’sselling expedited,privileged access to information about whatheisdoing as president,” saidKathleen Clarkof Washington University School of Law and an expert in governmentconflicts of interest rules. “It’s yet more brazen corruption,animproperexploitation of government power to enrich himself.”

The Trump familycompany declined to comment. TruthSocial’spublic parent, Trump Media &Technology,did not immediately respond to emailed questions,includingwhether the president’sposts will be excluded from the offering

The release did not sayhow much customerswould be charged.

Slumping AI stocks drag down global markets

NEW YORK Drops forcomputer chipmakers and other winners of theartificial-intelligenceboom dragged down stock markets worldwide on Thursday

Nearly three out of every four stocks rose within the S&P 500 after more of the country’s biggest companies reported better earnings for the latest quarter than analysts expected.

Abbott jumped 10.7% after the healthcarecompany delivered a fatter profit than expected and raised its forecast for earnings overthe full year.J.B. Hunt Transport Services climbed 8% after thefreight companylikewise topped analysts’ expectations for the latest quarter

But a1%move forNvidia’s stock packs more punch on the S&P 500than a1%move for any othercompany because it’sthe largest on Wall Street by value. And Nvidia fell 2.4%,making it the heaviest weight on the index. Other AI winners also sank, giving back some of their stellar gains.

Micron Technology fell 5.6% to shave its gain for the year so far below 199%. Sandisk fell 12.6% but is nevertheless up 494%for theyear so far.Western Digitalsank9.2%but is still up 171% for the year so far

Average mortgage rate climbs to 6.55%

Theaverage long-term U.S. mortgage rate climbedthisweek to its highest level in nearly a year,driving up borrowing costs for prospective homebuyers.

The benchmark 30-year fixed ratemortgage rate rose to 6.55% from 6.49% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday.One year ago, theaverage rate was 6.75%. Higher mortgage rates can add hundreds of dollars amonth in costs for borrowers,limiting homebuyers’ purchasingpower at atime when affordability challenges continue to sideline many aspiring homeowners. Mortgage rates are influencedbyseveral factors, from the Federal Reserve’sinterest rate policy decisions to bond market investors’ expectations for the economy and inflation. Theygenerally follow the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans. Rates have been mostly rising this year as the war with Iran has driven crude oilprices sharply higher,stoking expectations of hotter inflation.

BUSINESS

THEADVOCATE.COM/news/business

Administration racesthe clocktorebuild tariff wall

Presidentlikelytoturn to TradeAct of 1974 to impose sanctions

BY PAUL WISEMAN AP economics writer

WASHINGTON The U.S. Treasury last year swelled with revenue from President DonaldTrump’sdouble-digit taxes on imports from almost every country on earth

But the money dried up afterthe Supreme Court struck down the biggestand boldest of Trump’stariffs in February

Thequestion nowis: Can the president’stradeteammake good on its promise to replace the lost revenue?

Adeadline is approaching rapidly Afterthe Supreme Court setback,the president turned firsttoSection 122 of theTrade Actof 1974 toimpose 10% tariffs globally. ButSection 122 only authorizes tariffs for 150 days. Trump’sexpire on July 24. Congress would have to extendthosetariffs —something lawmakers are unlikely to do as theNov.3midterm elections approach amid voter discontent over thehighcost of living.

But the administrationhas moredurableoptions: Section 301 of the same 1974 trade law permits the president to impose tariffs andother sanctionsagainst countries found to engage in “unjustifiable,” “unreasonable” or “discriminatory” trade practices. Trump used Section 301 to impose bigtariffs on China in hisfirst term and is rollingthem out again —asrecently as late Wednesday when he announced 25% tariffs on some Brazilian imports, chargingthe world’s 11thbiggest economywith ahostof unfair trade practices.

Trade attorneys and analysts are confidentthe tariff-happy

BY ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP retail writer

NEWYORK Shoppers slowed their spending in June from May, as they spent less to fill their gas tank because of falling gas prices.

Butthe report,released by the Commerce Department on Thursday,showedconsumers’ continued resilience despite ongoing economicuncertainty as they bought cars and took advantage of summersales events.

Retailsales rose 0.2% in June, after being up arevised 1% in May, accordingtothe report Outsideofgas stations, retail sales rose asolid 0.7%, according to the report. The government figuresaren’t adjusted for inflation so last month’sdeclineingas prices

Trumpadministration will managetobeat the clock and swap out Section 122 tariffs with bigger Section 301 tariffs by the July 24 deadline. “They’re going to raise thetariffwallagain,” saidtrade lawyerRyan Majerus, apartner at King &Spalding anda tradeofficial in Trump’sfirst administrationand in President Joe Biden’s. Trump lastyear tested —and exceeded —the limitsofhis authority to impose import taxes, apower the U.S. Constitution gives Congress. He invoked the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act to slap bigtariffsonmostofthe world’s countries.

He justifiedthe levies,which markedastunning reversalof decades of U.S. policyinfavor of lower tariffs and freer trade, by labeling America’slongstanding tradedeficits anational emergency

The Supreme Court didn’tbuy it, rulinginFebruary that the president couldn’tuse theemergencypowers law to impose tariffs at all. The legal defeat meantthe administration had to send refundstoimportersthat had paid thelevies.

As aresult,tariffs have at least temporarily gone from awindfall to adrain on the Treasury.

Revenuefromimporttaxes peaked at morethan $31.4 billionlast October.Then, after theSupremeCourt ruling, it started dwindling —to$22 billion in both March and April. As refund checks went out faster than revenue from the Section 122 andother tariffs came in, thenumber turned negative: A small ($42 million) shortfall in Maywas followed by awhopping $25.6 billion loss in June.

Trump andTreasury SecretaryScott Bessenthave vowed to use other legalauthoritiesto recoup the lost income.

Enter Section 301, which gives the president power to impose —and adjust —tariffs in re-

sponse to other countries’ trade practices.But the administration must first check procedural boxes—collecting comments and holdinghearings. There are no limits on Section301 tariffs. Theyexpire after four years but can be renewed

So the president has flexibility in howheusesthe Section301 tariffs. Trump can still change them —after clearing procedural hurdles —but he can’t impose or move them up or down on awhim as he often did with the IEEPA tariffs. Uncertainty over Trump’s tariff policy hasvexed businesses, leaving them hesitant to make investments and decisions because they don’tknow what the trade rules are goingtobe. Aswitch to rule-bound 301 tariffs would mean “there’sless uncertainty but not no uncertainty,” said Sarah Bianchi, aformer U.S. tradeofficial who is now chief strategist of internationalpolitical affairs at theinvestmentresearch firmEvercore ISI.

The Trump administration has turned to twobig Section301 investigations in its campaign to replace lost tariff revenue.One accuses 60 countries, accounting for99% of U.S. imports, of failing to do enough to crack down on imports created by forced labor.The other is investigating whether 16 U.S.trading partners —includingChina,the European Union and Japan —are overproducing goods, driving down worldwide prices andputting American manufacturers at adisadvantage.

The administration hasalready decided what it wantstodoabout theforced labor issue. Invoking Section 301 last month, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer proposedtariffs —10% on 16 countries and12.5% on 44 —that arethe same or slightly higher than the 10% Section122 levies they wouldreplace. ButGreer’s office is stillreceiving public comments on the proposed tariffs and has not imposed them yet.

Brazil calls Trump’s 25%tariff unjustifiable Government vows

to impose reciprocal tariffs

BY MAURICIO SAVARESE and ELÉONORE HUGHES Associated Press

RIO DE JANEIRO— Brazil has described the latest U.S. tariffs on certain Brazilian imports as unjustifiable and politically motivated and threatened on Thursday to impose reciprocal tariffs against U.S. products. The country’stop diplomat criticized U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio forthe move.

TheU.S. saidonWednesday it would impose anew 25% tariffon certain imports from Brazil, citing unfair trade practices by the world’s10th-biggest economy Brazil’sForeign Minister Mauro Vieira accused Trump administrationofficials of pressuring theSouth American nation to give American companiesexclusiveaccesstosome sectors of itseconomy.HesaidBrazil has never left the negotiating table. The tariffs,first proposed last month, will take effect July22. The order exempts somegoods that are not produced in the U.S. or that officials worry would disrupt supply chains —including coffee, beef,oranges and orange juice and aircraft components. Brazil’sgovernment said the decision hits about 3,000 items, but is yet to decide whether and how it could retaliate with alaw itsCongresspassedin2025in response to President Donald Trump’stariffs.

In astatementlate Wednesday,the office of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva refuted the U.S. allegations of unfair trade practices. It said 76% of imports from the U.S. entered Brazil duty-free in 2025, and said the averagetariff effectively applied to U.S. products was only 3.1%. It said it has taken steps to impose reciprocal tariffs,along with other trade-related countermeasures, through its own law and through the World TradeOrganization’sdispute settlement mechanism.

Vieira saidRubio made statements that are “unacceptable, offensive to the Brazilian people andthe Brazilian government” after the new tariffs wereannounced. Rubiosaidinapost on X that thetariffs were the resultof Lula putting “his ownego ahead of making adeal”and notnegotiating withthe U.S. in good faith.

“Rubio launches acrude and arrogant attack on the Head of State of afriendly nation, who has personally sought to open channels fordialogue on severaloccasions,”Vieira tolda news conference in the capital, Brasilia.

“What Secretary Rubio dismisses as ‘ego’ is, in fact, President Lula’s steadfast resolve to defend Brazil’ssovereigntyand theinterests of our businesses and workers.”

pulled down gasstation sales and thus theoverall retail sales figure. Business at gasstationsfell 5.3% lastmonth. Meanwhile, sales at motor vehicle andparts dealers rose 1.9%, helped by aggressive manufacturers’ incentives, according to thereport.

Elsewhere, shoppers were selective in their buying, given their worries about the economy and fadingbenefits of generous governmenttax benefits, which propelled spending earlier in the spring.

Business at clothingand accessoriesstoresaswell as at miscellaneousretailers both postedsmall declines,And sales at retailers that sell big-ticketitems were mixed, with business at furniture andhome furnishings merchants flat, while electronicsand appliancestores showing asmall increase for June.

Among the bright spots: online sales rose 1.9%,fueled by spending surrounding Amazon’s Prime Day event, which was held from June 23 through June 26. Business at sporting goods, hobby,musical instrument and book stores was up 1.3%, likely helpedbyspending around the World Cup tournament.

The data offers only asnapshot of consumer spending and doesn’t include activities like travel and hotelstays. The lone services category —restaurants —registered aslim 0.1% increase.

The so-called control group which excludes food services, autos, building materials and gas station sales andisusedtocalculate economic growth —rose asolid 0.5%.

The report comes as U.S. inflation cooled last month as the cost

of gas, clothes,and used cars fell, offering some relief to consumers, whileunderlying price pressures also slowed morethan anticipated. Gasprices fell to $3.94 per gallon on Thursday, down from $4.04 amonth ago, according to motor club AAA.

“Falling fuel prices weighedon headline sales data, but asmaller bill at the pumpwas asource of relief forconsumers and provided at least alittle more cushionin household spending budgets,” Jim Baird, chiefinvestmentofficer with Plante Moran Financial Advisors,wrote in areportpublished Thursday

But Baird notedthe June report suggests consumers are “perhaps taking amorediscerningapproach to where they’re spending andhow they’re prioritizing their choices.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By NG HANGUAN

Shipping containers are seen readyfor transportatthe Guangzhou Port in the Nansha districtin southernChina’sGuangdong province in April 2025.

ground now!” as rivers rose hour by hour,turning them into fast-moving seas of white water.Some spots of the Guadalupe River rose by more than 30 feet.

The governor said more than 1,300 first responders were deployed,rescuing well over 70 people.

As much as 28 inches of rain fell overthe past three days in Uvalde County which was sparedfrom the worst flooding ayear ago, theweather service said Thursday. Other areas saw roughlyafoot of rainwith moreexpected going into Friday

“This is hopefully the last real batch of rain,” said Jason Runyen, ameteorologist with the weather service.

Whileauthorities have not released the name of the person who died, Jennie Steward said the body of her husband, 65-year-old John Mark Steward, of Kerrville, was found Thursday

She wasvisitingher parents when aneighbor called overnight, saying herhusband was missingafter water had risen to the door of their mobile home, which stood about 8feet off the ground.

The entire home was swept off the platform and floated down Goat Creek on the Guadalupe River,she said.

“It’sreally hard that I wasn’tthere with him,” she said. Thetwo were married three years ago and last spoke by phone Wednesday to celebrate their anniversary

The unfolding crisis brought back haunting memories of last summer’s unimaginable Hill Country floods that killed more than 100 people over the July Fourth holiday

“It’scrazy happening two timesinone year,” said Josiah Rodriguez, who awoke to the sound of heavy rain around 2a.m. Thursday in Kerrville. He navigated flooded roads to help evacu-

ate relatives.

“Last year there wasno warning of it,” he said.“It just kind of happened overnight and it took everyone by surprise. This year, alot more alerts have gone into place, alot more safety measures.”

Residentssaidthey were caught offguard ayear ago anddidn’treceiveany warning when floods overtopped the Guadalupe. Some local leaders were criticized for notactingquickly

The stormsand flooding this time threatened multiple counties closetothe Mexico border and in the Hill Country near SanAntonio. Roughly 6million residentsacross Texas wereunder afloodwatch this week, and some were expected to remain in effect through Friday evening.

Severalagencies sent rescue helicopters to the flood zone, including Travis County in the state capital of Austin.

“My understanding is peoplewere mostly trapped in trees andonrooftops,” said TravisCounty Judge Andy Brown, who said one caller warned 10 people were

trapped on abarn roof.

At awild animal rescue, Katie Buckevacuated several dozen animals to higher groundinthe darkThursday as thenormallydry Lazy Creek overflowed. She had to quickly grab aporcupine despitehaving no gloves.

She got all of the animals to safety, but flooding destroyed several enclosures at theBuckWildAnimal Rescue and Wildlife Rehab near Ingram in Kerr County “Wewere just starting to get back on our feet again, Buck said. “Tohavetogo through this again is just devastating.”

Residents at an RV park in Comfort moved their trailers as sirens sounded,said manager Duke Earwood.

Water rose over the hoods of vehicles parked near the river at the Comfort RV Resort. Markers showed the flooding already matched last July’sbig flood.

“Too familiar for sure, and too soon,”Earwood said.

Floodwaters also overran the city of Uvalde overnight, cutting offmost outside routes. TheLeona River,normally dry most of

“People really can’tget anywhere,” said Carmen Rodriguez, who nervously watched waterengulf her neighborhood as ahelicopter roared overhead. “We have aplace to go,but allthe streets are closed.”

Rodriguez said authorities seemed to be wellprepared, ordering mandatory evacuationsand notifying people directly Texas GameWardens rescued closeto150 people by theafternoon,according to aTexas Parks and Wildlife Department spokesperson.

Videoreleased by theagency showed crews hoisting children from ahouse surrounded with water into a helicopter

So far, the heavily swollen Guadalupehas remained below the record levels reached in 2025. Gauges showed it rose by morethan 30 feet in some spots over just afew hours.

Close to Camp Mystic which hasn’treopened since last year’stragedy,the Guadalupe near Hunt reached

about 20.5 feet, which is enough to causeflooding, according to U.S. Geological Survey and National Water Prediction Service data. In Kerr County,where summer campsdot the river’sshores, the sheriff’s officesaidall camperswere safe. Several camps said the childrenwerestaying inside, with one campreporting normal flooding.

While the water didn’trise as high as ayearago in Ingram, MayorClaud Jordan believesthisroundofflooding wasmore widespread in his city.“The ruralpart of Ingram,all the roadsare just trashed,” he said. “There are abunch of businesses that haven’t reopened from last year,” Jordan said. “This doesn’thelp.” The Hill Country is especially prone to flash floods because the area’ssignature limestoneiscovered by just athin layerofsoil. During heavy rains, water can quickly shoot downhill before filling the narrow river basins.

the year, filled streets with water

‘There to help’

BY JA’KORIMADISON Staff writer

More than adozen first responders were honored Wednesdayafter working together to save the lifeof a70-year-old woman who suffered cardiac arrest duringFestival International de Louisiane and left the hospital three days later

The patient was defibrillated twice. After the second shock and about 12 minutes of resuscitation, she regained anormal heart rhythmand began making purposeful movements,according to Acadian Ambulance. She was discharged from the hospital threedays later with no neurological deficits.

Police officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs and members of the Acadian Explorers were presented with Acadian Ambulance’sMeritorious Service Award,the organization’s highesthonorfor lifesaving efforts.

The incident happenedApril 23. TwoLafayette policeofficersbegan high-quality CPRwithin one minute of the woman’s collapse. Acadian para-

medics, EMTs, Acadian Explorers andLafayette firefighters quicklyarrived and worked together to continue rescue efforts

Lafayette policeofficers Dominique Morgan and Sara Leger werethe first to respond. Morgan said theofficershappenedto be only afew feet away when the woman collapsed, allowingthem to begin CPR almost immediately while Acadian Ambulance crews were dispatched.

“Wewere just standingthereand somebody told us,” Morgan said “Wewerewithin maybe 4or5feet from her,so we letthemknowonthe radiothatwewereon scene, and we did what we could do.”

“Tosee her pretty much lifeless and then, priortoher leaving the scene, she’sliterally awakeand talking,” Leger said. “It’sthe kind of thing you see firsthand and have to just be thankful you were there to help.”

“Honestly, it’san honor,and it’sa privilegetobeableto do what we do. At the end of the day, it’sour job,but it is niceto getrecognized and to be appreciated by our community.”

PAyTON SAVOy, Lafayette Fire Department firefighter

Morgan said bothofficers previously worked as medics with Acadian Ambulance before joining the police department, allowing them to quickly transition into providingmedical care

Among those recognized was Eli Anderson, president of the Acadian Explorers. Anderson, who was off-duty at Festival International when the woman collapsed, said thecareer exploration programallows14- to 20-year-olds interested in emergency medicine to shadow professionals while earning abasic life support certificate.

“I believe the program really helps young adultslike myself,” Anderson said. “If Iwas just attending Festival International and Iwasn’tin the program, Imay not have had the knowledge that Ihave now to be able to go and help.”

Lafayette Fire Department firefighters Payton Savoy and FranciscoLopez said the recognitionwas meaningful, even thoughhelping people is simply part of the job.

“Honestly,it’sanhonor,and it’sa privilege to be able to do what we do,” Savoy said. “At the end of the day,it’s our job, but it is nice to get recognized and to be appreciated by our community.”

Paramedic Brandi Leonard, qualityimprovement coordinator with Acadian Ambulance andpresenter of the award, said the successful outcomereflected the coordination between multiple agencies responding to ahigh-pressure emergency in the middle of oneofLafayette’s largest annual events.

“Weget to do what we loveand make adifference in somebody’s life,” Lopez said. “We’re super happy we were there and that she madea recovery.It’sthe part of the job that makes it worth it.”

Email Ja’kori Madisonatjakori madison@theadvocate.com.

McNeeseleaderwillcontinueasstate senator

BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN Staff writer

While McNeeseState University’s new president Mike Reese originally planned to step down fromhis Louisiana Senate District 30 seat after starting his

role at the school,hewillnow be serving in both positions until his termends. Reese, R-Leesville, who wasselected as thenextpresident of McNeesein May,officially began his new position July 1while remaining astate senator and chairinga study committeethat’s

looking into Louisiana’shighereducation funding formula.

“I thinkit’sa really unique opportunity;the funding commission that Iestablished with aresolution has alot of perspectives on it,” Reese said. “Wehave thepresidentsofthe various university

systemsonthere. The Board of Regents is represented. We have other legislators that are represented there from other regions of Louisiana that have colleges in their districts. But Ithink it’svery important to have the perspective that Ican offer having amore deep understanding of thedaily operationsof

ä See REESE, page 4B

Police:Woman stabbed sleeping maninJennings

CRIME BLOTTER Advocate staff reports

erence to areported stabbing involving an adult male victim. During the investigation, officers determined that theincident occurredata residence in the 200 blockofEast Sumner Street. OfficerslearnedWilliamswas invitedover by afamily member at the residence the nightbefore.

7Brewcould

Olderbuilding would be demolished, plansreveal Awoman has been arrested after allegedly stabbing aman in the neck while he was asleep, police say Jetyrenne Williams, 28, was taken into custody and booked into the JeffersonDavisParish Jail on one count of attemptedsecond-degree murder On Thursday,the Jennings Police Departmentresponded to the Jennings hospital in ref-

BY ADAM DAIGLE Acadiana business editor

An old commercial building along JohnstonStreet in Lafayette could be leveled to clear the way for a7 Brewlocation to be built. Plans for the

be headed to Johnston

coffee shopwould be built on the site Adeal to sell the property to adeveloper is pending. The property has been listed forsome time at $1.325 million, andthe listing indicatesthe owner is retiring. If thedeal happens, it wouldbe thesecond

PROVIDED PHOTO

Acadian Ambulancehonors Lafayette’s first responders forrescuinga 70-year-old womanwho went intocardiac arrest at FestivalInternational de Louisiane.

OPINION

Newlaw aims to help make home ownershipeasier

When moms and dads lie down to sleep at night and can’t,it’sprimarily because they are worried about the cost of living in America. And the largest expense most Americans face each month is housing.

Roughly half of all Americans spend more than 30% of their income on housing, including the 16% of individuals whose rent sucks up more than half of their paycheck. When rent claims most of your income, it becomes incredibly difficult for afamily to save even $1,000 for an emergency expense, let alone adown payment on ahome. In turn, the average age of afirst-time homebuyer has increased from 30 years oldin 2010 to 40 years old today The cost of housing has spiraled out of control for many reasons, but one problem is obvious: We aren’tbuilding nearly enough homes. Demand exceeds supply

New home construction starts fell by40% over thepast two decades. Meanwhile, thecountry’s population increased by 15%. We have too many people competingfor too few homes, andithas driven housingprices to the moon. Some cities responded to this housing crisis better than others. Raleigh, North Carolina, and Austin, Texas, forexample, cut regulations to make it easier for home builders to build. Thesetwo cities lead the nation in new home construction.

Other cities spentmore time regulating than building. In Los Angeles, for example, homeowners waited for months for the city to approve newbuilding permits followingthe devastatingEaton and Palisades fires. By thefirst anniversary ofthe blaze, Californianshad rebuilt fewer than adozen of theroughly13,000

homes that burned to theground.

While it is painful to watch the incompetence in Los Angeles, Congress does not control local regulations or zoning policies and that’sa good thing.Ahousing policy that works well in New Orleans may not work in New York City,and that’sOK. Washington’s one-size-fits-all policies have a long history of making matters worse.

ButCongress should not reward cities and local governments that are making life unaffordable for American families

The federal government has manytools at its disposal to incentivize good policies and punish thebad.

Oneexample is theDepartment of Housing and Urban Development’sCommunity Development Block Grants, or CDBG, program. This program distributes $3.3 billion in grantstostate and local governmentstosupport economic development and community im-

Murrillcaseshows that lawfarehas no winners

On July 2, agrand jury charged Attorney General Liz Murrill with16 feloniesbecause of letters she sent in May to New Orleans officials during the Orleans Parishclerk of court dispute. One day later,the Louisiana Supreme Court halted the case, found her likely to prevail on amotion to dismiss and cited serious problems in how the charges were obtained.

Ihold no brief for the attorney general, and no quarrel with New Orleans. Yetthis case is a symptom of adangerous national habit: using criminal charges to fight political battles. Lawfare has no winners, and no onewho loves this country shouldwant it to become normal.

provementplans.

Local leaders have alot of discretion to choose how to use these grants, and they love this money like the devil loves sin. They’ll do just about anything to keep this money flowing into their communities, and that gave me an idea: We could use the CDBG program to reward cities that build lots of new homes,and we could take somefunding away from those that fail to increase new housing starts.

This idea turned into my Build Now Act, and it just becamelaw as part of the larger 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. Here’show it will work: Cities that fall below the national median rate of homebuilding will lose 10% of their CDBG funding.

The funding we take away from cities that fail to build will then go intoabig pot that we will proportionallydistribute to the cities that outpace the national median rateofhome building. Cities that

face natural disasters or other hardships will receive an exemption, and their CBDGfunding won’t change at all. It’s both areward to cities that increase their supplies of homes and apenalty forthose whoenjoy burdensomeregulations more than affordable housing. It’s a carrot and astick —and it could unlock the American dream of homeownership forthe families that have struggled to afford a place of their own.

The only way to bring downthe cost of anew homeistoincrease our housing supply Idon’tcare how cities do it, but they better get serious about cutting red tape if they wantto keep the federal funding they have growntolove. The days of rewarding bad policies that make lifetoo expensive forAmerican families are over

JohnKennedyrepresents Louisiana in theU.S. Senate.

Fish farmsinthe Gulf wouldhurt area fishermen

Anew law,Act 15, combined the two Orleans Parish clerk of court offices into one, as in every otherparish. Officials disagreed in good faith: One side believed it created avacant office for the CityCouncil to fill; the attorney general believed it merged theold office into theexisting one, leaving no vacancy.Her letters stated her position, quoted the law word for word,and saidshe would file acivil suit if the appointment went forward. It was an ordinary “demand letter,” sent by lawyers by the thousandsevery year.Such letters are sometimes unwelcome, sometimes even wrong They are not crimes.

On June 1, afull month before the indictment, the Supreme Court ruled that Act 15 was constitutional. The court agreed withthe heart of what her letters said. In the same ruling it protected the officials on theother side, holding that the genuineconfusion shielded them from thevery laws her letters cited. The civil courts answered the question and shielded everybody.The fight was over.Then, amonth later,criminal charges arrived anyway.They resolved nothing, because nothing remained toresolve. They could only reopen awoundthe courts had already closed On this, there can be no argument: Every official who holds thepublic’s trust, the attorney general included, answers to the same law as any citizen. Had she demanded money, threatenedharm or lied aboutthe law, her title would not protect her,and it should not. The problem withthis indictment is different: What shedid is not acrime, not for her andnot for anyone. Take awayher title, and these letters are what any Louisianaattorney sends before filing suit.The office

changes nothing but theaudience. Every citizen should worry,whatever their politics. Allover this country, on every side, aline we once respected has been erased: the line between “you are wrong” and “you areacriminal.” Losing an election used to mean goinghome. Now,too often, it means being investigated. Winning an argument used to be enough. Now the opponent mustbecharged. Each side sees its own cases as accountability and its opponent’sasattacks, and the score is kept in charges filed, not cases proven. Thedamage lands on all of us. Good people stop running for office. Those who serve govern scared. Real corruption grows harder to punish, because thepublic stops trusting any charge. Andmost gravely, the peaceful transfer of power,the thingthat makes America work,grows shaky when losing might mean prosecution.

Principles only count when they cost something, so everything said here must hold when the roles flip. If these charges are dismissed, the right response is not celebration or revenge, but aquiet return to the people’s business. Andthe real testof “noone is above the law” is whether we also believe“no one is beneathits protection,” including those we disagree with most.

This month,America turned 250. TheFounders disagreed about more than we do, yet pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to each other while trusting argument,not accusation, to settle their differences. We can disagree about this case and everything else in our politics andstill hold three truths in common:Argument should never be acrime, aprosecution never a campaignand acourtroom never a weapon Standing down is not weakness. It is thediscipline of the confident. Louisiana has already shown the country how this dispute should have ended: in acourtroom, on themerits,with gracefor thelosing side. Now,let us show how it ends for good. Let the first side to put down theweapon be theone that proves it never needed it. Let it be us, and let it begin here. There is no better gift Louisianacould give this country in its 250th year

Lance C. Beal is aLafayette attorney

Louisiana’sfishing grounds are already under pressurefrom decades of oil andgas development.Now Congress is advancing a bill that could open the door to offshore fish farming in theGulf. I’ve been acommercial shrimp fisherman in the Gulf for morethan 30 years, where my extended family and our United HoumaNation have fished for centuries. I’ve also worked in the oil and gas industry.I’ve watched corporationsput profits above our safety.Pipelines have cut through and weakened protective wetlands that shield us from hurricanes andturned working families intoclimate migrants. Even as we push for cleanup of abandoned oil and gas wells after companies fled, theGulf is facing anew threat: offshore fish farms.

Right now,Congress is debating theMarine Aquaculture Research for America Act, or MARA Act, abill seeking to open thedoor to offshore fish farms in federal waters forthe first time. The bill calls this “research.” Our communities, which have been stewarding Gulf waters for generations, don’tneed experiments on ourfishing grounds.What’smore, ourcountry is not suffering from a“seafood shortage” tobegin with. Yet, theGulf is being targeted as an “aquaculture opportunity area,” so we may be first in line for these fish farmsif MARA passes.

MARA’s “research” tagline makes it harder for thegeneral public to understand what’sreally happening. The bill would give the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration full authority to hand out permitsand governmentsubsidies to commercial operations. That makes it aone-way speedboat to permanent commercial finfish farms, with no clear way to shut it down if the impacts are disastrous, as they’ve been in countries that permit this practice.

Here’swhat we need to ask ourselves today: Should public waters support existing waysof life and community-scale seafood systemsor subsidize theworst of industrial food production in our waters?

MARA supporters and opponentsreflect an all-too-familiar divide: Megacorporations and their shareholders pursue profit on one side, and everyday people who care about our food, planet,communities and local economies on theother

The main argument used to legitimize MARA —that theU.S. needs seafood security because of our “seafood deficit”—isfalse. Our commercial fishermen already catch more wild seafood than our country eats every year In 2023, for example, thenumber landed was about 8.4 billion pounds, versus the6.4 billion pounds eaten. On top of this, arecent study in Nature backs up what many of us on the water already know: The U.S. could meet more of its

AWestbank Fishing boat passes poles used to mark oyster beads as it heads backtoEmpire loaded with menhaden caught in the Gulf.

own seafood needswith better,more independent processing and local distribution andby eatinga widervariety of species. Claimsabout industrial aquaculture’ssustainability fall apart when you look at what it actually takes to feed carnivorous fish. In practice, farmed fish are fedamix that still heavily relies on wild-caught fish, much of it extracted from coastal communities around the world to supply global fish feed markets. A 2024 study found that producing one pound of farmed salmon, for instance, can take two to five pounds of wild fish.

And because offshore fish farmsmust be industrial-scale to withstand rough seas with powerful storms, these projects will likely depend on government subsidies and taxpayerfunded cleanup when disasters like amass fish escape occur Congress should instead invest in the seafood systemswealready have, and the deep heritage they support. Bills like the Domestic Seafood Production Act focus on timely solutions, such as supporting community-based fishermen, oyster farmers and kelp growers to improve local seafood processing and distribution. In addition, the Keep Finfish Free Act would keep offshore fish farmsout of our waters, and the Destruction of Hazardous Imports Act would makesure low-quality imports don’tundercut wild-caught seafood from the Gulf Ultimately,the vote on MARA will determine whobenefits from our waters, whogets leftout and whowill carry the burden of cleanup foryears. Gulf communities have already been footing the bill —financially,culturally and with our health —for ongoing harmsfrom the oil and gas boom.Let’snot repeat that with factory fish farms.

JustinSolet is acommercial fisherman from southeast Louisiana and an Equation Fellow withTrue Transition, where he advocates for thecleanupofthousands of abandoned oil and gas wells in hisstate.

STAFF FILE PHOTOByCHRISGRANGER

COMMENTARY

ASSOCIATEDPRESS

ISSUE OF THE WEEK GRAHAM’S LEGACy

The unexpecteddeath of Sen.LindseyGraham, aSouth Carolina Republican, has led to much speculation about thefuture of theinstitution asthe midterms approach. In addition to the loss of Graham,Sen.Mitch McConnell, the longtime Republican leader, has been absentfromthe chamberfor more than amonth as rumors swirledabout thechances for his return. Graham, astaunchally of President Donald Trump, wasknown as ahawkonIranand a strong supporter of Ukraine.South Carolina Gov. HenryMcMasternamed Graham’s sister Darline Graham Nordone to fill the vacancy beforethe November elections. Butwhat will happentothe causes Graham championed and will Trump face more obstacles advancinghis agenda amid the turmoil? Here are twoperspectives:

Graham wasthe best kind of political‘operator’

On Feb. 22, 2022, two days before Vladimir Putin sent his tanks rumblingtoward Ukraine’scapital, Donald Trump said of the Russian leader: “This is genius. .Here’sa guy who’svery savvy.”

Eight days later,Lindsey Graham offered astarkly different sentiment: “The onlyway this ends is for somebody in Russiatotakethis guy out.”

The Republican senator from South Carolina had ahistoryofdismissing Trump’sworldview.When Trump first ran in 2015, Graham let loose, calling him a“race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot.”

enskyyobviously had cards in theform of Ukraine’sprogram to develop adroneforce now battering Russia’sinfrastructure.

Trumprecently did a180 on Zelenskyy

“Look, he’sdone an amazing job,” Trump said.

Illness, death, turmoil change face of Senate

Harrop

After Trump won, Graham shocked observersbyheaping unbridled praiseonthe game show host now entering the White House.Hecame off as an almost comical fawner. Many thought Graham had no principles or self-respect,that he’d do anything to ensure reelection. Turns out, he had very different motives. He was playing the long game. Graham stayedin, it seems, tostem MAGA’s weakening views on the importance of strong Americanglobal leadership. Trump himself had isolationist tendencies, amplified by ignorance of world affairs. How did Graham become oneofTrump’s dearestgolf buddies?Heemployed wit wrapped in Southern charm. He’d say things to Trump like “Mr.President, you’re not far behind God.” (The mockery it contained may have flown over Trump’shead.) Graham was playing the long gameofretaining influence in an administrationrun by amercurial and angry personality Many of us failed to see this. Grahamwas determined to stay in the president’sgood graces to preserve Americansupport for Ukraine’sresistance to Putin’saggression. And he held that stance evenwhen Trump ignorantly saidabout Ukrainian leader VolodymyrZelenskyy: “I’ve beenwatching him negotiate with no cards. He had no cards.” Zelenskyy responded, “We’re not playing cards.” Graham understood thenationalsecurity threat posed by Putin’smarchtoward NATO’sborders. And it turns outthatZel-

Graham also remained asteadfast supporter of Israel when much of MAGA andmany Democrats turned against it over thewar in Gaza. Graham didn’talways agree with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies, but he had asophisticated understanding of Israel’sneed to defend itself.

On the domestic front, Graham had joined agroup of Republicans who worked with Democrats to pass the2013 immigration reform bill in the Senate. HadRepublican House Speaker John Boehner put it up for avote, the bill would have been approved andput teeth in immigration enforcement.

Boehner let it die because some of his members opposed thepart extending amnestyto otherwise law-abiding immigrants who had been in the U.S. and working for along time. Graham was one of 10 Republicans who joined an agreement on gun control. That took guts.

Graham’s lowest moment camewhenhe triedtohelp Trump overturnthe results of the 2020 election. He asked Georgia’ssecretary of state, in BradRaffensperger’s recollection, to throwout legally cast mail ballots. Republican Raffensperger refused to do so. Complex man,Graham was.Afew days ago, hedined with DelawareDemocrat Sen. Chris Coons at theNATOconference in Turkey.“While we disagreed fiercely on many policy issues,” Coons said in astatement of remembrance, “he was complicated and could not be pigeonholed.” Coons went on: “Few have been able tofrustrate and anger, amuse and engage me in asingle conversation theway Lindsey could.”

Graham is areminder of patriots who loved this country before radicals in both parties turned against it. Can anyone replacehim?

FromaHarrop is on X, @FromaHarrop.

Oneofthe colder aspects of lifein Washington politics is that the death of an important person often results, before much grieving is done, in afrenzy of speculation about who will get the unfortunateimportantperson’s job.Soitiswith South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham,whose deathset off an immediate “frenzy” of guessing who would fill his post both in the short and long term SouthCarolina Gov.Henry McMaster answered thefirst part of thequestion quickly,appointing thelate senator’ssister,Darline Graham Nordone, to serve the remainder of Graham’sterm, which lasts until Jan. 3, 2027. The second answer,onwho will be the next full-term senator from South Carolina, will come after aspecial primary in August and the general election in November People are still processing Graham’s loss. Think back to some of the most momentous issues of the last several decades —the war in Iran, national security, judicial confirmations, budget battles, immigration and political fights going back to theimpeachment of Bill Clinton. Graham, who, when he died, was chairman of the Senate Budget Committeebut also earlier chaired the Judiciary Committee, was in the middle of them all. He was the face of the Republican Party in theSenateonmany issues, and for many years, he was close to whoever was seen as the leader of the party Butthere is alarger story.Graham’s deathcomes at awrenching momentfor theRepublican Party in the U.S. Senate. That is because, beyond Graham, anumber of leaders who played key roles in theevents of the last decade and beyond —who shaped the Senate as we know it today —are leaving, the result of illness, age and thepolitical turmoil of the Trumpyears. Lawmakers normally exit when they retire or lose reelection. This year,there’smore than

that going on. Sen. Mitch McConnell’sdecline has been long and public, and at age 84, he is serving —sometimes from ahospital room —the last months of 42 years in the Senate. After rumors that he had died, or that he was braindead, this week, McConnell released astatement explaining that he “took afall which landed me in the hospital” and also had a“mild case of pneumonia.” Another longtimeRepublican senator,John Cornyn of Texas, is also leaving at the end of this term.Inhis 24 years in the Senate, Cornyn built areputation as an effective lawmaker and served as party whip, the second-highest position in the party.Hescored an 85% lifetime rating from CPAC USA; in 2025, he voted with President Donald Trump100% of the time. That, apparently,was not enough forthe president, whofelt that Cornyn had not supported him quickly enough in the 2024 presidential race. Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, whothen handily defeated Cornyn in the GOPprimary Two-term GOPSen. Bill Cassidy is also being pushed out by Trump, having lost aprimary to aTrump-backed opponent. Republican Thom Tillis is also leaving, by choice but also under pressure from Trump. Other GOPsenators are leaving, too. Retiring are Joni Ernst of Iowa,Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Steve Daines of Montana and Alan Armstrong of Oklahoma, whohas served as the placekeeper forMarkwayne Mullin. Tommy Tuberville of Alabamaisatthe end of his term and is running forgovernor,and Tennessee’sMarsha Blackburn, whoisinthe middle of her Senate term,isalso running forgovernor and will leave the Senate if she wins. There’sareally big change coming, no matter whowins in November Byron York is on X, @Bryon York

Byron York

Froma

Sen. Lindsey Graham,R-S.C., speaksduring a2022 news conference in Washington, D.C.

School founder charged with diverting money

Throughout this time, federal prosecutors have been looking into the charter school The current charges were sought by U.S. Attorney Kurt Wall, who took over the Baton Rouge office in October

ondary Education “to install new leadership and protect the school’s students and staff.”

funds was illegal. The Scotts have argued that the nonprofit’s finances are separate from that of the school.

BY CHARLES LUSSIER Staff writer

The founder of Impact Charter School in Baker, her husband and her daughter are facing criminal charges, accused of illegally diverting money to buy a Tesla, install a swimming pool at their house and to take trips around the world.

A federal grand jury in Baton Rouge returned an indictment on seven criminal counts Wednesday Each count is a felony, each with a maximum jail time of 10 years.

The charges are a fresh blow to founder Chakesha Scott, who lost control of the elementary school in February 2025 after a damning state audit and subsequent action by state regulators. She and affiliates of the old school have filed multiple civil lawsuits seeking to turn back the clock and restore them to power at the K-8 school of nearly 400 students.

REESE

Continued from page 1B

one of our regional universities.”

Reese said that while his top priority during his first year on campus is to get out, listen and understand how he can support the school, he is also interested in understanding higher education’s needs.

“The other priority is really working with the Legislature so that they better understand what the needs are of higher education and how the Legislature might get the outcomes that they are aiming for, which is filling the workforce needs that exist in Louisiana today, making sure our students are getting into meaningful, high-return jobs, high-wage, high-growth, high-demand jobs in the state of Louisiana and that we as a university are fulfilling that mission, “ Reese said. “So, (that means) working with the Legislature as they kind of establish what that future funding formula may look like, I think is going to be an important role in the during this first year as well.” Reese’s understanding of how advocacy at the State Capitol works was one of the qualities that the search committee for the position discussed during its inaugural meeting in March.

The committee Reese is chairing will begin in September and must have a report by February.

“Because of the multitude of very busy people that will ultimately be involved in the commission, I would be surprised if over that period of time we meet more than four times,” Reese said. “There’ll be staff work that goes on between the committee hearings, and committee members will probably drive some direction in terms of research that they want done, or outside groups

BLOTTER

Continued from page 1B

The victim, a 58-year-old male, was sleeping in his room when Williams alegedly stabbed him in the neck and hand. He was transported to the hospital, where he received medical treatment for his injuries. Williams fled the scene but was located a few blocks from the initial crime scene. The investigation remains ongoing Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Jennings Police Department at (337) 821-5500 ext. 500.

Juvenile justice worker faces charges

A specialist employed by the Office of Juvenile Justice was arrested on charges relating to malfeasance in office.

Biana Jones, 32, was em-

The grand jury also indicted Scott’s husband and former principal of the school, Eric Scott, as well as their daughter, Courtney Scott, and local construction contractor Sam Green.

In addition to potential jail time, federal prosecutors are asking the court to compel the defendants to forfeit any property “derived from proceeds traceable to the offense,” of, failing that, forfeit comparable “substitute property” or pay financial damages Chakesha Scott, who founded the school in 2014, referred questions about the indictment to her attorney, Ben Bagert of New Orleans. The Advocate left multiple messages with Bagert seeking comment.

In a statement, Cade Brumley, superintendent of schools for the Louisiana Department of Education, said the indictment “reinforces” the February 2025 decision by the state Board of Elementary and Sec-

that they want to hear from, best practices from other states that may inform how we want to mold this going forward, but it’d be a fairly small time commitment in actual meetings of the commission.”

In a statement, the University of Louisiana system said Reese continuing to serve in the Louisiana Senate is similar to what other elected officials have done while working in both higher education and state government.

“To ensure transparency and maintain a clear separation between the responsibilities of each role, he will take leave from McNeese when performing his legislative duties,” the statement reads. “His dual service provides continuity and a direct understanding of state policy decisions that impact McNeese and public higher education across Louisiana.”

Former interim President Kedrick Nicholas will serve as acting president when Reese is on leave to work in Baton Rouge.

Reese said that he doesn’t believe there is a conflict of interest in holding both positions.

“I think that it’s a unique perspective, which is why the law kind of allows for people to sometimes have some of those dual roles to bring that perspective to the Legislature,” Reese said. “Then you just have to be cognizant of the things that are inappropriate for you to participate in voting on, and there’s a whole recusal process for that.”

Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana President Steve Procopio said that it does not fall under the state’s ethics laws’ specific definitions, which specify that conflicts of interest involve a person doing something to personally enrich themselves.

Procopio used the example of a business owner who is also a legislator using their

ployed at the Acadiana Center for Youth in Bunkie as a juvenile justice specialist. According to an OJJ news release, Jones was found to have engaged in an inappropriate relationship with one of the juvenile detainees The full nature of the inappropriate relationship was not disclosed.

Jones’ arrest comes only weeks after a former specialist at the same facility was arrested for failure to maintain safety and security within the facility, and days after an OJJ employee in Monroe was charged with assisting three juveniles in escaping an OJJ facility Jones was booked into Avoyelles Parish Prison on Wednesday morning and has since been released.

Two men arrested in apartment shooting

Two Franklin men have been arrested in connection with a March apartment shooting that left one

“We appreciate federal investigators for pursuing this matter and trust the judicial system to resolve this issue in accordance with the law,” Brumley said. For their charges, prosecutors followed closely on some of the findings of the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office in their 173page audit of Impact Charter They include the following:

n Green overbilled Impact Charter to construct a temporary building at the 4815 Lavey Lane campus and then used almost $106,000 of those payouts to help complete construction on the Scotts’ home in Zachary, including installing a new swimming pool.

n Took $458,200 that Impact received from the federally-funded COVID-era Paycheck Protection Program and moved it in June 2020, two months after receipt, to the bank account of a nonprofit associated with the school, Friends of Impact Charter, a group auditors say is controlled by Chakesha Scott. Prosecutors say that diversion of

legislative authority to steer business and contracts to friends, which is a conflict of interest.

“Using your ability as a legislator to drive more money to McNeese, even though people may think that’s not right, that is not a conflict of interest per the state ethics laws because, let’s be honest, if he was a just a legislator he’s still going to try and drive money to McNeese because that’s part of his job as a legislator, too,” Procopio said. “So, the conflict part isn’t there. I don’t see it as there.”

As far as the legality of holding the position as president of McNeese State University and a state Senate seat goes, Procopio said there is a law about legislators not having employment in two branches of government.

“He’s in the legislative branch and he’s also in the now executive branch because that’s where universities fall,” Procopio said. “However, there is an exception for persons employed in a professional educational capacity, so that’s really where his exception falls, and that has been used to include things beyond just teachers, such as deans and, you know, vice presidents of a university I don’t know that’s ever been applied to a president, but I think the logic still probably holds.

In fact, on June 1, the last day of the 2026 legislative session, the Louisiana House of Representatives and Senate passed HB258, which became Act 790, to add exceptions to the dual officeholding and dual employment laws.

Within the bill, it states “ to provide relative to an exemption for elected and appointed officials to serve in a professional educational capacity; to provide for an exception for persons employed in a professional educational capacity to serve in certain roles as a federal

person dead.

Durrall Alexander Jr 22, of Franklin, was arrested in Sioux City, Iowa, and is awaiting extradition back to Lafayette. JMichael Gray, 22, of Franklin, was located by LPD’s Special Investigative Unit and arrested and booked into LPCC.

In March, LPD officers were called to Grande Pointe Apartments just after 6:30 a.m. after receiving a call about a shooting, police said in a news release.

Police found a body in the parking lot, and the victim was declared dead at the scene in the 3600 block of Kaliste Saloom Road. Police have not publicly identified the victim.

Both suspects have been charged with second-degree murder, illegal use of weapons, aggravated criminal damage to property, conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, and criminal street gangs and patterns.

This incident remains under investigation.

n Starting in June 2021, Chakesha Scott and Courtney Scott took cars acquired by the school — a 2017 Acura MDX and a 2021 Land Rover for their own personal use. Total estimated expense for the least-topurchase arrangement is pegged at $166,520.

n Chakesha Scott, “without authority,” illegally diverted more than $2 million in lease payments to Friends of Impact Charter, the owner of the Lavey Lane campus Those payments, which covered an 18-month period starting in September 2022, were $846,048 more than what Friends was paying on its mortgage. Scott also allegedly spent $171,659 from the school’s bank account to pay closing costs on that property, even though the school was not party to the real estate sale.

n The husband and wife charged $114,094 to school credit cards to pay for what prosecutors say were “personal travel expenses.” Auditors counted 20 trips taken between October 2021 and July 2023. They included a 17-day European trip

Legislature.

employee

Procopio said the bill took an attorney general’s opinion and put it into law

While the dual office holding doesn’t fall under conflict of interest or violate any laws, Procopio said there is a concern about workloads.

“What you have to be careful of is making sure neither of the jobs get short-shrifted,” Procopio said. “So, a legislator, even though they are technically part-time, works a lot of hours, at least for part of the year, and then the head of the university has a lot of responsibilities under them and not just the academics.”

Procopio said that while it is a policy issue, it is also a personnel issue, so it’s up to the University of Louisiana board to decide if Reese can handle it.

Since starting at McNeese, Reese said that he plans to limit his involvement in the

to Paris, London and Amsterdam, with a stop at Disneyland Paris. The Scotts have argued that all their trips were legally appropriate travel to professional conferences and the credit card in question was theirs and not the school’s. n Over more than five years the couple illegally diverted $292,993 from student fees and uniform sales to Friends of Impact Charter Six of the criminal counts involve “theft or bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds” and that Impact Charter during this period was receiving at least $10,000 a year in federal

“I do currently serve on a lot of interim committees and other committees, standing committees during the session, and so over the coming weeks and months, I’ll start slowly resigning from those responsibilities and passing the torch to somebody else and passing responsibility to somebody else,” Reese said “(That way) I can really minimize what my time commitment would be to the Legislature and to that job and to Baton Rouge while the responsibilities here grow and the time commitment here grows over that period of time. This will clearly be a huge, a huge priority I’m not going to let that interfere with it.”

However, Reese also said he doesn’t plan to continue as both a state senator and McNeese president for a long period of time.

out the term.” His term ends in December 2027.

“I’m not going to seek reelection .” Reese said. “I think that’s the plan now, to finish

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

After watching four and ahalfyears of middling quarterback play,ittook eight games forthe New OrleansSaintsfaithful to start feeling good about what’sgoing on under center again.

Technically,Tyler Shoughstartednine games last season (and appeared in 11 total) But the momentum truly started withstart No. 2, when he led the Saints into Carolina and delivered an impressive win against the team that would go on to win the NFC South. Shough built upon that initial winningperformanceand wound up finishing secondin theNFL’s OffensiveRookie of the Year race despite playing roughly half ofthe 2025 season. Then New Orleans spentthe offseason building up the cast of characters around him, aclear indication it felt Shough was ready to take another step

The second-year signal caller hassaid and done all the right things since the endofhis rookie season. Now he just needs to prove that optimism is well-placed.

Depth chart(name, height, weight, experience)

n Tyler Shough, 6-foot-5,210 pounds,2 years

n Spencer Rattler,6-0,211, 3

n Zach Wilson, 6-2,214,6

n Hunter Dekkers, 6-1, 210, 1

BY NICCOLÒ LUPONE

The Associated Press

MILAN The Italian sculptorwho designed the FIFAWorld Cup trophy wanted tocapture three sporting emotionsina single spiraling form: the athlete’sstruggle, the fan’s jubilation and the momentofvictory On Sunday,either SpainorArgentina will lift the trophy after the 2026 World Cup final. Here’swhat to know about the most coveted prize in soccer

Thetrophywas designed in Milan

Silvio Gazzaniga designed thetrophy in hisstudio in Milan’sBrera neighborhood after FIFAissued an open competition for anew design when Brazil took permanent possession of the original trophy by winning its third World Cup in 1970.

The design, now familiar to generations of World Cup fans, featurestwo figures swirling up toward an orb representingthe Earth.

“When he started to design the cup, he was sketching ahuge number of drawings and

SPORTS

‘READY TO GO OUT THEREAND WIN’

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

TheULRagin’Cajuns still have the scars fromlast year’sturbulent 6-7, 5-3 season.

But as coachMichael Desormeaux,quarterback Lunch Winfield and tackle George Jackson spoke duringthe Sun Belt Conference media days on Thursday at theMarriott Warehouse District Hotel in New Orleans, they’re ready to put last season behind them.

All three felt thepain and frustration of having to play 11 different starting lineups on offense in 13 games, largely because of losing the starting quarterback to injuryfor the fourth straight season and requiring 11 different linemen tosurvive theseason.

“That’s something none of us ever want to go through again,”said Desormeaux, whose Cajuns were picked to finish secondtoTroy in the West Division race. “Itwas miserable to go through, but thegood thing about going through something like that is youcome out better on the other side.”

As for theoffensive line, three startersreturn and

BY JON BLAU Staff writer

many moreseasoned reserves are back as well, to complement Tulane transfer Jayce Mitchell.

“I’m very comfortable with our offensive line right now,” Desormeaux said.

“Of course, we’reall taking care of our bodies, how, you know,our time is really made agreat plan for us.

“We’reall trying to take careofour bodies,”Jackson said. “Coach (Mark) Hocke (directorofathletic performance) has put together agreat plan forus.”

Even Winfield underwent ankle surgery in the offseason, andisready to hit August camp running.

“I just look at this season as agreat opportunity for me andfor us,” Winfield said. “I’m playing college football, man, and Igot abig fan base behind me. People want to seethe Cajuns play.We’re readytogoout there and win.”

Winfieldran for677 yardsand nine touchdowns last season, but is hoping to improve upon completing 59% of his passes.

Afteryears of lobbying Congress for help,the NCAAhas been offeredthe “ProtectCollege Sports Act” as ameans to clean up its mess. But to thesurprise of no onefamiliar with political horse-trading, the proposed legislation, which provides the NCAA power to enforce rulesregarding athlete pay and eligibility, hasn’tsatisfied allparties

Several schools, including LSU, have come out in opposition to the bill in its current form.Some institutions have detailed their objections more than others.

Alabama and Auburn penned aletter on July 6, saying thebill meant to “stabilize” college athletics would do the opposite because its antitrust exemptionisn’tstrong enough to ward off lawsuits and override apatchwork of state laws.

LSU, on theother hand, joined ahandful of SEC schoolsinpublicly opposing the bill Monday but did so without explaining why “While we appreciate allofthe efforts surrounding the Protect College Sports

Act, we believe key issues remain with the legislation,” said aletterco-signedby LSUpresident Dr.WadeRousseand board of supervisors chair Lee Mallett. The Advocatecontacted Rousse’soffice on Tuesday.Aspokesperson said the bill continues to undergo changes and the university would have no comment beyond what’swritten in the letter.Mallett did not reply to an email requesting comment either While LSU’s list of “key issues” remains unexplained, the university’sopposition underscores atension between the NCAA’s power players. In early June, the SEC and Big Tenreleased ajoint statementsaying both support a“sustainable national framework” but that the bill presented by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) left“critical issues unresolved.” Along with concerns about the strength of theact’s antitrustexemption,the SEC andBig Tenobjected to ashift of “ongoing rulemaking” to Congress. There were

Suber grabs British Open lead

Former Ole Miss star playing in only third major

BY DOUG FERGUSON

AP golf writer

SOUTHPORT,England Jackson Suber got his first taste of links golf — on his first trip to Europe when he arrived at Royal Birkdale. Three days later, he proved to be a quick study with a superb par save and a 6-foot eagle late in his round for a 5-under 65 to lead the British Open. Bryson DeChambeau might be getting the hang of this, too, no matter what three-time British Open champion Nick Faldo thinks about his strategy An opening round lasting some 15 hours included just about everything during a warm and breezy start. Five of the leading 12 players were playing the British Open for the first time. Rory McIlroy missed three 4-foot putts in a four-hole span and had six bogeys in his round of 72. Scottie Scheffler opened with four birdies in six holes and didn’t make another the rest of the way for a 68. Most startling was Suber, a 26-year-old American who has yet to win anywhere since leaving Ole Miss and is playing in only his third major He made a tough par save on the new par-3 15th with slopes off severely on both sides. He followed with a 6-foot birdie on the 16th and then choked up on a 4-iron from 233 yards and hit it to 6 feet for eagle.

Not bad for his seventh round in any major and first on a links course as tough as Birkdale.

“Just kind of kept the ball in good spots and didn’t put much pressure on my game to make pars,” Suber said.

He led by one shot over Sungjae Im and Dan Brown of England.

The nine players at 67 include four Open debutants — Alex Smalley, Ryan Gerard, M.J. Daffue, Pierceson Coody And then there was DeChambeau who has missed the cut in all three majors this year and has chosen not to speak to the media since Friday at the Masters, except for on LIV Golf.

Turns out he had enough strategy to get in the mix, often ripping driver to take the fearsome bunkers out of play and doing enough right for a 67 that left him two shots behind.

Strategy became a talking point when Faldo told the Sky Sports Golf Podcast this week, “DeChambeau has zero clue of strategy He said last year, ‘I’m going to go out and attack the links’. Well, I’ve never attacked a links. You thread it, don’t you? You feed it down the fairway You don’t think, ‘Oh, I’ll just blast it down there.’”

DeChambeau hit only four fairways but missed only three greens, though he was rarely in big trouble when he wasn’t in the short grass.

He twice blasted tee shots over the trouble and close to the green at the par-4 second and the par-4 10th, the latter a blind shot. He made birdie on both. And while Jon Rahm was among those who

said going long can lead to trouble at some point, the only two shots DeChambeau dropped came from his putting (the par-5 14th) and chipping (the par-4 18th). He was tied for the early lead until going from wispy rough over the back of the 18th, chipped weakly to 8 feet and missed the putt. He missed three birdie chances from around 10 feet or under, one of them on redesigned, 321-yard fifth hole, when he drove it just over the green.

DeChambeau agreed to take a few questions from the R&A and said, “I feel like I did a really good job today of being incredibly strategic and focused super hard on placing it in the right places. Besides 18, I placed the ball in some good areas. I just need to hit more fairways. Other than that, I feel like my strategy was nice today.”

Cameron Young, one of the hottest players in the spring but quiet the past two months, also was at 67 along with Robert MacIntyre, Thomas Detry and Francesco Molinari, the 2018 Open champion at Carnoustie, which also featured a baked links course.

Scheffler had few complaints after a 68, even not making a birdie over his last 12 holes, playing the two par 5s in 1 over and making a pair of soft bogeys. He also missed a 5-foot birdie putt. Whether he could have gotten more out of his round was of little concern.

“If I continue to strike the ball the way I did today and just keep giving myself looks, that’s part of it,” Scheffler said. “Golf is played over 72 holes, and I definitely

liked what I saw today.”

Smalley who took a two-shot lead into the final round at the PGA Championship, was leading until his drive on the 18th was fading with the wind and then the luck of links golf took over One wild bounce sent it further right and out of bounds. He finished with a double bogey for a 67 “Got up to where the ball was supposed to be and was told it hit a spectator fence and kicked another 15 yards right out of bounds. All three of us in our group actually hit it over there, and mine just got an unlucky break,” Smalley said. “Poor tee shot, poor break. Sometimes that’s how it goes.”

Scheffler played in the group with DeChambeau and they traded birdies early For six holes, the world’s No. 1 player had total control of his shots and looked as though he couldn’t miss He got to 4 under when he gave a leg kick as his 40foot birdie putt dropped on No. 6. But then he missed the seventh green — 139 yards, downhill — to the left between a pair of bunkers, and his pitch was so strong it flirted with going in a bunker on the other side. He missed a 5-foot birdie chance on the 11th, and then made a mess of the par-5 17th when his ball was buried so deep in the grass he thought someone might have stepped on it during the search.

“Sometimes you hit it over there and you get a clean lie and you’re able to give yourself a look, and then other times like today, you pay a pretty severe price,” he said. “But I guess don’t hit it offline.”

James says he isn’t ready to reveal decision on his future

BY STEPHEN WHYNO AND TIM REYNOLDS AP sportswriters

NEW YORK If LeBron James knows where he will play this coming season, he’s still not saying. The NBA’s career scoring king and current free agent spoke publicly for the first time in weeks Thursday afternoon, indicating that a decision is close — though stopping short of revealing which team he’ll choose to play for this fall, despite at least one cry from someone in a jampacked room shouting for him to “pick a team.”

“I won’t hold you guys up too much longer,” James said

The four-time NBA champion had a pair of appearances Thursday: He recorded an episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast alongside guest co-host Tyrese Haliburton of the

Indiana Pacers in New York on the opening day of Fanatics Fest, then spoke at the Game Plan Summit presented by CNBC and Boardroom later in the afternoon.

At the summit, he told Boardroom co-founder Rich Kleiman in an on-stage conversation that making this decision has a slew of layers — many of which, it seems, are off the court.

“It’s not just about the team,” James said. “There’s so many other factors that I’m factoring in right now on what best fits me as a player, what best fits me as a person and what best fits my happiness, and also my family as well.”

At Fanatics Fest, an 11-year-old in the crowd asked James about free agency and his next team

— “first of all, that was a hell of a question and some of the media people here probably should learn from the young fella,” James said — and the youngster got perhaps

the best answer of the session, with James indicating that the 2026-27 season may not necessarily be his last as a player

“It’s a big decision for not only myself, but for my family as well,” James said. “Just for the last part of my career and where I want to spend the last few years or the last year or the last two years of my NBA career I’m going to try to fit into whatever team I’m going into — but also give them all the tools and give them all the knowledge that I’ve been able to grasp over the last 23 years. I know the game I know the ins and outs of the game of basketball.” James playfully chided Haliburton for asking him about his future

“didn’t we talk about this in the back?” James asked, and Haliburton said he would ”leave it alone.” Of course, they didn’t leave it alone. James made reference to a slew of teams such as Cleveland, Mi-

Liberty-Wings postponed because of travel issues

New York’s game against the Dallas Wings was postponed Thursday after the Liberty had travel delays caused by mechanical issues on their charter flight, the league announced.

On Wednesday evening, New York rookie Pauline Astier posted to Instagram that the team was “still on the tarmac” after 10 hours on the plane. The game was originally scheduled to be played Thursday night in Dallas, but has been rescheduled for 7 p.m Monday The Wings said all tickets purchased for Thursday’s game will be honored for Monday’s matchup.

The Liberty, who have dropped three games in a row, next visit Indiana on Saturday

NBA, Heat won’t punish Adebayo for altercation

MIAMI — The NBA is moving on from Tyler Herro v. Bam Adebayo, with the league issuing a statement Thursday that there will be no disciplinary action regarding last week’s practice-court kerfuffle between former Heat guard Tyler Herro and Heat captain Bam Adebayo:

“After discussing with the players involved and the NBPA, everyone would prefer to move on from this unfortunate circumstance, and no further action will be taken by the league.”

The Heat later confirmed that no team action will be taken.

Herro and Adebayo got into a confrontation over social media posts last Friday on a practice court set up at a Las Vegas resort, one utilized by teams participating in the NBA Summer League and also available to NBA players for workout sessions.

NHL releases expanded 84-game schedule

NEW YORK The most expansive season in NHL history will begin in September not October and limit most teams to four preseason games.

The league’s first 84-game season since 1993-94 opens on Sept. 29, as 32 teams will combine to play a total of 1,344 games. The season runs through April 10, before the playoffs begin the following week.

The increase from an 82-game slate, which had been the standard since the mid-90s, was agreed upon by team owners and players in the last round of talks on a collective bargaining agreement. The intent is to provide more breathing room between the end of the Stanley Cup Final and the draft in late June before free agency commences on July 1.

Burns agrees to $105M, seven-year deal with Reds

Right-hand pitcher Chase Burns has agreed to a $105 million, seven-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds that covers 2027-33, two people familiar with the deal told the Associated Press on Thursday The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. Burns has a $785,000 salary while in the major leagues this year and $198,173 in the unlikely event he is sent to the minors.

Burns’ deal would run through the 2033 season and, under the current labor contract, covers three seasons of arbitration eligibility and the first two years after he would have been eligible for free agency It does not include options or deferrals.

ami, Philadelphia and Golden State, though didn’t appear to give much in the way of hints. He did sip from a bottle of red wine that he opened and shared with Haliburton, calling it one of his podcast traditions.

And when fans shouted out suggestions for James’ next team — one even asked him to play for the New York Yankees — no clues were forthcoming.

“We’ll see,” he said.

In Miami, where the Heat introduced Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis Jr as their newest forwards on Thursday, team president Pat Riley acknowledged there have been talks about a reunion with James.

But the Heat don’t seem to have any hints either

“Right now, I think we’re like everybody else,” Riley said “We’re just waiting to see what he does and then we’ll see what happens.”

Norris hit with 10-place grid penalty for Belgian GP

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium Lando Norris’ faltering Formula 1 title defense hit another setback Thursday as McLaren confirmed he will get a 10-place grid penalty for the Belgian Grand Prix.

Norris is paying the price for poor reliability earlier in the season of the electronics that manage his car’s hybrid power systems. Fitting an upgraded power electronics unit supplied by Mercedes with what McLaren called “a series of reliability fixes” took Norris over his allowance of three for the

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By PETER MORRISON

Jackson Suber of the United States putts on the 18th green during the British Open at Royal Birkdale golf club on Thursday in Southport, England

ICON

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finally started to develop the idea to have the world and this symbol that it is like atwo DNAspirals, that are moving up,” said Giorgio Gazzaniga, the designer’sson who wasa teenager at the time.

The elder Gazzaniga, a sculptor and trophy designer who died in 2016, worked for G.D.E.Bertoni Srl andcreated some of the most prestigious trophies in the world, including the UEFACup and European Super-Cup 1930 trophywas stolen

The firstWorld Cup Trophy introduced for the inaugural tournament in 1930, depicted the Greek goddess Nike, and was known as the Jules Rimet Trophy for the tournament’s founder.FIFAcommissioned areplacement after Brazil earned permanent possession of the original after becoming the first nation to win three World Cups.

The Jules Rimet Trophy

LSU

Continued from page1C

also concerns about how the bill would change the House settlement’srevenue-sharing framework. In turn, Cantwell blasted the “Power Two” for consolidating power via conference realignment.

“The politics of these commissioners moving around deck chairs and making millions of dollars themselves and not thinking about the broad interest to solve these problems has led us to this point,” Cantwell saidduring ahearingofthe Senate Commerce CommitteeinJune. “It’stime to listen to some other people.”

Cantwell’sbill prohibits conferences earning $700 million or more from adding new members, essentially halting realignment. That hasled to more immediate discussion about expansion before alaw is passed.

The bill also amends the Sports Broadcasting Act, allowing colleges to pool their media rights, like the NFL, which would theoretically leverage more money from networks. Butthe resulting payouts could shrink the

CAJUNS

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Around Winfield, though, there isn’talot of playing experience at the skill positions. Even preseason AllSun Belt performerShelton Sampson missed multiple games with an injury at receiver last year

The two leading rushers —Zylan Perry and Bill Davis —both transferred.

No matter,the upbeat Winfieldisn’tconcerned.

“I’ve got all theconfidence in the world in those guys,” he insisted. “We’vebeen working hard together for a long time.”

Still, the overall relative youth on both sides this season, after losing valuable defenders, has this team reminding Desormeaux of the 2023 club.

“That was ayoung team, but atalented team,” Desormeaux said. “I think this team is young and very talented as well. It remains to be seen how mature this team can be. That (2023) team started out 4-2, butevery time we hadabig win, they didn’thandle it properly and messed up the next game.”

Chasing Troy

In addition to health, the team the Cajuns are chasing in the Sun Belt West is returning champion Troy

The Trojans were 8-6,6-2 last season, despitegiving up 59 sacks for 384 yards.

As aresult, coach Gerad Parker is utilizing moreof an NFL approachwith cooffensive line coaches to addressthe issue.

“There’sonly one way to get better —got to put more resources into it,” Parker said. “Sowehave two great men (Caleb Carbine, Kevin Reihner) to share responsibility equally to help put to-

captainatthe endofthe final is 14 inches tall cast in 18-carat gold, sitting on a base featuring two rings of green malachite, symbolizing the playing fields.

After thetournament, the original trophy goes back to FIFA,which keeps it at its Swiss headquarters between WorldCups.The winning team brings home agold-plated replica.

FIFA no longerletsthreetimewinnerskeeptheoriginal.

was stolen twice —first in 1966 while on public display in England, before being recovered by adog named Pickles beneathahedge in south London, according to FIFA. It was stolen again from the BrazilianFootball Confederation headquarters in 1983 afterBrazilhad taken permanentpossession. It has never been recovered and is widely believedto have beenmelted down.

Winnerstakehomereplica

The official World Cup trophyhoisted bythe winning

revenuegap betweenthe Big Ten, SECand therest.

The average SEC school for example, received just over $72millioninbroadcast revenues in 2025, while theACC averagewas $47 millionthispast year

While the SEC and Big Tendon’tappearanxious to surrender their financial advantage, there are other pointsof contention Auburn and Alabama’sletter argued that apooling of mediarights would advance theinterest of privateequity, which “stand to profit from aredistribution of media-rightsrevenue” if they invest in college sports programs There is also aworry athletes will ultimately make less money,because there is language in the 47-page bill statingthatathletes can’tstrike deals with entities closely “associated” with aschool,such asa booster-funded collective or corporatesponsor, if thosepaymentscircumvent aschool’s yearly revenue-sharing cap. As of now, schoolscan share up to $21.3million with athletes duringthe 2026-27 school year,but promotional deals withbusinesses, oftentimes facilitat-

gether anoffensiveline you want to be proud of.”

Returning quarterbacks Goose Crowder and Tucker Kilcrease will help keepthe Trojansontrack

“Goose Crowder is as good aleader as we have in our program and has beenfor quitesome time,” Parker said. “He’shealthy he’shaving agreat offseason and having the comfort of having him here to make us allfeel better.”

On defense,the Trojans were No. 3inthe league in totaldefense last season —led by DonnieSmith (11 sacks, 131/2 TFLs).

But Parker remindedthe media Thursday the Trojans have 53 new players on the roster

Tech relishes newleague

As if predicting the West Division race isn’tdifficult enough in this era, now there’s anew school with Louisiana Tech joining the league.

The Bulldogs are coming offan8-5 breakthrough season as coach Sonny Cumbie’senters his fifth season. Moreover,Tech returnsas many starters as any team in theleague, including its top two quarterbacks in Blake Baker and Trey Kukuk

“I’m excited about theretentionofa lotofour better players,” Cumbie said. “I like the continuityand chemistry of ourteam.We picked up whereweleftoff last year.”

Bakersuffered an injury last season andKukuk filled in well.

“Baker didaphenomenal job of attackinghis rehab and Ithink he’sonthe verge of havingagreat season,” Cumbie added. “Trey is the ultimate team player,the ultimate competitor.Hewilled us to afew winslast year.”

As aresult,Tech ranked fourth nationallywith138 points in the fourth quar-

Number to know:118.5

This is the 14th World Cup to use Gazzaniga’sdesign, and FIFA has decided to keep the trophy in use at least through the 2038 tournament, according to Gazzaniga’swebsite.

TheyoungerGazzaniga still vividly remembers watching the 1974 World Cup final at home withhis family as West Germanyfaced the Netherlands. It was the first time his father’strophy was presented at the World Cup.

“The real explosion of joy came when theGerman team raised thecup in Munichand the whole stadium erupted,” hesaid.“Thatwasthemoment an object became an icon.”

ed by theschool itself, don’t count toward thelimit

For instance, LSU has worked withits multimedia rights holder, PlayFly, and its apparel sponsor,Nike, to steer millionsofdollars to athletes. Nike just announced arosterfor itsBlue RibbonElite Football campaign and LSU’s 11 athletes were themostofany school.

Mostofthe rumored$40 million investedinLSU’s football roster this season came from third-party deals like these, notdirect revenue sharing withthe school.

Again, LSU’s leaders haven’tspecified which provisions in the bill are mostworrisome to them, but it’snot difficult to theorize why they currently stand against it

Thus,the horse-trading continues.

“Welook forward to working with theHouse, theSenate, andour fellow institutions in the Southeastern Conference to make the needed improvements to thelegislation,” LSU’sletter concluded.

“Weare hopeful that together,wecan supporta bill that will truly help ensure college athletics is preserved for ourstudents and all higher education institutions.”

ter,scoring the most points overall (335) since 2019.

Jaguarschasing upgrade

South Alabama struggled througha4-8,3-5 season a year ago.

Coach Major Applewhite has focused on afew key areas to upgrade this fall.

“You’ve got to takecare of theball and be able to take it away,” he said. “We’ve got to get going on offense earlier Toomany times, we fell too far back. So really it’s taking care of theball best andget moretakeaways.”

Oneway to achieve that is being one of fiveWest teams with areturning quarterback in Bishop Davenport. The other potential solutionisnew defensive coordinator Todd Orlando, who worked with Applewhite at Houston.

“In thecoaching profession, you’re looking for someonewith character and Todd hastremendous character,” Applewhite said. “He’salsoagreat communicator of information.He can create aconnection and trust withthe players.”

USM’shurdle

New Southern Miss coach Blake Anderson knows he’s got ahuge taskahead of him in his first season.

Askedhow farahead of ground zero his roster was, Anderson quickly replied, “Under,wewere under ground zero.”

The Eagleshavemore than 70 new players on their roster,with just one returning starter on either side of the ball. No team in America returns less production than theGolden Eagles.

“And ourentirestaffis new,with the exception of just acouple guys Iretained,” saidAnderson, whose Eagleswill playboth James Madison and Old Dominion. “It’sa challenge, but

That was Shough’spasser rating when targeting receivers in the intermediateareaofthe field (10-19 yards past the line of scrimmage), according to NFL Pro.Among 33 qualified NFL passers, only Detroit’s JaredGoff hada higher rating. It may sound likea nichestat, but this means much of Shough’sproductioncamewhen pushing theball downfield. With an improved crew of pass catchers,the Saintsmay be able to tap into some more explosive pass plays. Thelowdown It is hard to overstatehow much Shough’srapid ascent into apotential franchise quarterback hasmeant for theSaints. Just thinkback to what thediscoursewas like this time ayear ago. Last summer,more oxygen was expended on the Saints potentially being in position to draft aquarterback No. 1 overall in the 2026 draft than there was on Shough. That was basedontwo assumptions: The Saints were going to be the worst team in the NFL, and Shough (the No. 40 pick in the 2025 draft)was notgoing to be worthbuilding around.

As things currently stand, the Saints are apopular dark horse to go from worst to first in their division. A lotofthatisbased on the good vibes emanating from Shough’sdebut season,both directly and indirectly

Direct: Shough displayed an advanced skillset in his time as astarter.New Orleans was adifferent team when he took over,going 5-3 in their final eight games as Shough finished theseason. During thatspan, Shough ranked second amongall qualifying NFLpassers in completion percentage (69.7%),seventhinpassing yards (2,080) and ninth in passerrating (97.1)and ninthinpassing yards.

Three of theSaints’ five

winswithShoughasastarter included game-winning drives in the fourth quarter (andShough nearlypulled off twoothers). Indirect: New Orleans wasapopular destination for big-ticket free agents this offseason.Running back Travis Etienne and guard David Edwards, two of the top available players at their respectivepositions, chose to sign with the Saints. Noah Fant turned downthe Saints last year to play with Joe Burrow in Cincinnati,but wound up signing with the Saints this offseason.Shough’srole in getting the Saints arrow trending upward playeda part in that.

TheSaints shouldfeel good about Shough. They’ve invested in his supporting cast, and they’ve seen him fullytake thereins of the offensethisoffseason. But these arestill the early days, anditisalsofairtowantto seeitoveralarger sample size before NewOrleans can fully claimithas itsfranchise quarterback in place.

Potentialcampbattle

Spencer Rattler played well enoughinhis eight

starts last year to generate some buzz as apotential trade chip thisoffseason. Whether that was amedia creation or there were genuinely teams interested in acquiring him is somewhat beyond the point: He is a valuable piece of the puzzle because he is young, inexpensive and, to adegree, proven.

Thatbeing said, this likely will be his third consecutive training camp where he will have to compete for his spotonthe depth chart. New Orleans signed former No.2overall pick Zach Wilson this offseason, amove that almost certainly was made with the intent of letting him competefor the No.2job.

While Wilson’sstruggles have been well-documented, hisstatistical résumé(on a rate basis) is similar to Rattler’s. The best guess here is that Rattler will have a head start, given his history withthe team andhis recent starting experience, butWilsonwillhavethe opportunity to unseat him.

Email Luke Johnsonat ljohnson@theadvocate. com.

PHOTO

BRUNO Giorgio Gazzaniga,son of the latesculptor Silvio Gazzaniga,displays his father’s original drawingof theWorld Cup trophy.

Rerun fun

The Cary SaurageCommunityArtsCenter ShellGallery’sexhibit “Tell A Vision” runs through Aug. 14. CuratedbyJay Schwarzhoff, it

work of 21 artists whoturned trashed TVsinto works of art. 8:30 a.m.4:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 8a.m.-3:30 p.m.Friday,and noon-4p.m.on first Sundays. artsbr.org

Staff report

LIVING

Event gearsup with curated features

The Baton RougeUndergroundFilm Festival will present nine feature-length films, two extended short filmsand 56 shortfilm projects for its sophomoreevent Aug. 27-30 at the Manship Theatre.

The nonprofit festival whittled down the final lineupfrom more 400 independent submissions from around the country and the world.

“Louisiana has always played an important role in the legacy of independent cinema,” says BRUFF Creative Director NathanHall. “Our festival ensures that the Capital City continues thatlegacy, remaining afilmfriendly destination for filmmakers and moviegoers alike. Ifyou love movies, you’ll love BRUFF.” In addition to thescreenings, BRUFF will host seven panels, ranging in topics from financial knowledge to fundamentals of filmmaking. Attendees have the opportunity to winprizes, engagedirectlywithindustry professionals, and discover topics that arespecific to theircareers.

PROVIDED PHOTO Baton RougeUnderground Film Festival attendees takeina film screening at the Manship Theatre in August 2025.

Alongsidethesepanelswillbe five hands-onworkshops where filmmakers can get industrylevel training from local organizations.

BRUFF also will hostInDepth Live! as part of their workshop series. Here, attendees can learn from Mike James Gallagherand Mark Mangini about the intricaciesofsound design on Hollywood productions like “Dune” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”

“The Baton Rouge Underground Film Festival returns as afocal point for crewtraining for theLouisiana film industry says BRUFF Financial Director Joe Carleton. “In year two, the festival has already expanded to include more workshops and panels than in its first year.Education is aclear focus for this organization, and we look forwardtoseeing our filmmakers growasaresult.” The full festival scheduleis available at BatonRougeUnderground.com. Tickets are on sale now at manshiptheatre.org. Cost is $75 for thefull event pass, and$30 for aday pass, with discounts available for students.

ä See FILM FEST, page 6C

‘THE

ADDAMS FAMILY FAMIL MUSICAL’

SullivanTheater’sproduction of ‘The Addams Family’ musical WHEN: July 17-19, July 23-26, July 30-Aug.2.Sundaymatineesbegin at 2p.m.All otherperformances begin at 7:30 p.m WHERE: Sullivan Theater,8849 Sullivan Road, Central.

ADMISSION: $28-$39.

TICKETS: TICKETS sullivantheater com/tickets sullivantheater.com/tickets

Wednesday Addams is in love.

Sullivan Theater’s ‘Addams Family’household are, backrow fromleft, Peter Blanchard as Lurch, Louis Mangiaracina as Gomez Addams, Carole Moore as Morticia Addams and Mallory Taylor as Uncle Fester; frontrow,Amy Himel Gomez as Grandma Addams, Autumn Dedon as Pugsley Addams and MichelleWillis as WednesdayAddams.

Love is in theair, butnot everything is as it seemswhen

Sullivan opensshow

Yes, thesame girl whoprides herselfonterror and torture. She’sin lovewith aseemingly normalguy but wants to keep it secret.

This is really what ‘The Addams Family Musical’ is more so about than Wednesday’slove life. Secrets.Lots of them

BY ROBIN MILLER | Staff writer

BY KEITH SPERA Staff writer

Rapper Ye,previously known as Kanye West, has announced that hisintermittent stadium touris headed for the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. He is slated to headline the SuperdomeonFriday,Aug. 28. Ticketsgoonsale to the general

So manysecrets, in fact,thatitrattlesthe quirky core binding the Addams family while also smashing theillusion of happiness maintained by

Lucas Beineke’sfamily

ä See FAMILY, page 6C

PROVIDED

PHOTO By MATTHEW WALKER

PROVIDED PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK

High-energyLafayette band The Good Dudes will playRock‘n’ Bowl in Lafayette at 9p.m Saturday. yacht-Sea sharesthe bill and ticketsare $17.

SHOWSTOWATCH —ACADIANAAREA

FRIDAY LIVE MUSIC: Cane River Pecan Company Pie Bar, New Iberia, 5p.m. ALL HAPPENING: Adopted Dog Brewing, Lafayette, 6p.m.

FRIDAY NIGHT JAM: La Maison de Begnaud, Scott, 6p.m.

JULIE WILLIAMS: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6p.m.

LIVE MUSIC: Jim Deggy’s Brick Oven Pizza&Brewery, Lafayette, 6p.m.

KEITH MYERS: Naq’sn-Duson, Duson, 6p.m.

LIVE MUSIC: Prejean’s, Broussard, 6p.m.

CHEAPER THAN THER-

APYTWO-O: Buck &Johnny’s, Breaux Bridge, 6:30 p.m.

THE CAST: SHUCKS! Abbeville,6:30 p.m.

JOSH LEBLANC COMBO: Whiskey and Vine, Lafayette, 7p.m.

THE JOHNSON BROTHERS BAND: SilverSlipper, Arnaudville, 7p.m.

LIVE MUSIC: The Barrel of Broussard Broussard, 8p.m

PASSENGER ELEVEN + FIZZY +SOL ROSA+

JIMMIE STREET: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 8p.m.

THREE THIRTY SEVEN: Rock ’n’ Bowl, Lafayette, 9p.m.

SATURDAY

JEFFERYBROUSSARD &CREOLE COWBOYS: Buck &Johnny’s, Breaux Bridge, 8a.m.

CAJUN JAM: Moncus Park, Lafayette, 9a.m.

SATURDAY MORNING

JAMSESSIONS: The Savoy Music Center, Eunice, 9a.m.

CAJUN JAM: Tante Marie, Breaux Bridge, 11 a.m.

CAJUN FRENCH

MUSIC JAM: Vermilionville Living History Museum &Folklife Park, Lafayette, 1p.m.

JAMMIN’ONTHE BAY-

OU: St. Landry Visitor Center, Opelousas, 1p.m.

ZYDECO JAMSESSION: NUNU Arts & CultureCollective,

FILM FEST

Arnaudville,2p.m.

MIKE BROUSSARD: Cypress Cove Landing, Breaux Bridge, 3p.m.

CHRIS HIMEL: Lakeview Park,Eunice, 5p.m.

CHEAPER THAN THER-

APYTWO-O: Naq’s-nDuson, Duson, 6p.m.

JULIE WILLIAMS: Charley G’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6p.m.

LIVE MUSIC: Jim Deggy’s Brick Oven Pizza&Brewery Lafayette, 6p.m.

LIVE MUSIC: Prejean’s, Broussard, 6p.m.

MADISON HUGHES: Adopted Dog Brewing, Lafayette, 6p.m.

FOREST HUVAL: Buck &Johnny’s, Breaux Bridge, 6:30p.m.

JADA &KEVIN: The TapRoom, Youngsville, 6:30 p.m.

RORYSUIRE: SHUCKS!,Abbeville, 6:30 p.m

12/16 TRIO: Whiskey and Vine,Lafayette, 7p.m.

GENO DELAFOSE & FRENCH ROCKIN’ BOOGIE: Pat’s Atchafalaya Club,Henderson, 7p.m.

LUCASMEAUX: Silver Slipper, Arnaudville 7p.m.

BEATLESGIRL909 WITH RENEEREED &AMANDASPHAR: Hideaway on Lee, Lafayette, 8p.m.

HIGH PERFORMANCE: La PoussiereCajun Dancehall, Breaux Bridge, 8p.m

LIVE MUSIC: The Barrel of Broussard, Broussard,8 p.m THUNDEROSA, ESE, GRAVE PROMISE: Freetown Boom Boom Room, Lafayette, 8p.m.

NEXT GEN ZYDECO: Toby’s Lounge, Opelousas, 8:30p.m. YACHTSEA PLUS THE GOOD DUDES: Rock ’n’ Bowl, Lafayette, 9p.m.

SUNDAY

LIVE MUSIC: Tante Marie, Breaux Bridge 11 a.m

THESUNDAY PEOPLE: Whiskey &Vine, Lafayette, 11 a.m

Continued from page5C

Call forvolunteers

Join the ranksofthe Underdogs by volunteeringto take tickets,set up andtear down, workshopassistance, monitoring panels and more. All volunteers will receive abadge for the festival. In order to receive abadge, at least two time slots will need to be registered for via the BRUFF Volunteer Application on the fest’sInstagram page and at https://forms. gle/dBEDPzfDuGCfhGLK8. Libraryforum

In advance of the main event, the Baton Rouge Underground Film Festival will host asatellite eventalong with the East Baton Rouge Public Library.A filmmaker forum is set for 6p.m.

KANYE

Continued from page5C

asong from the album, “ClosedonSunday.”

“You my Chick-Fil-A,” West rapped. “Hold the selfies. Put the ’gram away

BALDUDIMANCHE —KOJACK&THE ZYDECO WARRIORS: Vermilionville Living History Museum & Folklife Park,Lafayette, 1p.m.

ALPHONSE ARDOIN: Cypress Cove Landing,Breaux Bridge, 3p.m. FORET TRADITION: Pat’s Atchafalaya Club,Henderson, 4:30 p.m JULIE WILLIAMS: CharleyG’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6p.m

REGGAE SUNDAY W/ MISTADORIGHT AND THE IRIE CREW: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 6p.m.

FOREST HUVAL: Hideaway on Lee, Lafayette, 8p.m THE JD PINKUS

TRIPTYCH, THE LYIN

SHAMES: Freetown Boom Boom Room, Lafayette, 8p.m

CHUBBYCARRIER: Rock ’n’ Bowl, Lafayette, 9p.m.

MONDAY PATRICIO LATINO SOLO: Cafe Habana City,Lafayette, 11 a.m

JACK WOODSON: CharleyG’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6p.m

BLUEGRASS JAM: Cité des Arts, Lafayette, 6:30 p.m

TUESDAY

STORYTELLERS: A SINGER-SONGWRITER

OPEN MIC NIGHT HOSTEDBYJASON HARRINGTON: Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette, 6p.m.

AUDREY BROUSSARD:

CharleyG’s Seafood Grill, Lafayette, 6p.m

ROB SAXXY: Whiskey and Vine, Lafayette, 6p.m.

TERRYHUVAL & FRIENDS: Prejean’s Restaurant, Lafayette, 6p.m.

GREENLIGHT SESSIONS OPENMIC: The Jefferson Street Greenroom, Lafayette, 7p.m.

WEDNESDAY

DULCIMER JAM: St Landry Visitor Center, Opelousas, 10 a.m. LA MAISON DE BEGNAUD BOURRÉ CARD

Wednesday,July 22, at the Main Library at Goodwood. Apanel of filmmakers from Louisiana will speak abouttheir experience, how they got into the industry, andbesttips fornew and currentfilmmakers alike

The forum will also double as anetworking event where artists can get to know each other and find like-minded membersoftheir community

“Attending community events is pivotal for growingyour career and network.BRUFF’sfilmmaker forum is one greatexample of the festival’srobust education impact on thefilmmaking community in Baton Rouge,” says BRUFF Events Director Kelly Swift. “Whether it’stomeet fellow filmmakers, people in the industry,ortosimply share ideas about the community, attendthe forumtobroaden

Get yourfamily. Y’allhold hands andpray Raise our sons. Train them in the faith, through temptations. Make sure they’re wide awake. Follow Jesus. Listen and obey.” Another of thenight’sselections, “Follow God ”featured West’ssignaturerap-

GAME: La Maison de Begnaud, Scott, 1p.m

LITERATURE AND LIBATIONS: Jefferson Street Library,Lafayette, 5p.m

ALYSEYOUNG: Park Bistro, Lafayette, 6p.m

ANDREW WAIN & LOGAN TURNER JAZZ: Whiskey and Vine Lafayette, 6p.m

AUDREY BROUSSARD: Charley G’sSeafood Grill, Lafayette, 6p.m

WANTED WEDNESDAY

KARAOKE NIGHT: The BarrelofBroussard, Broussard, 6p.m

SEAN TRCALEK: The TapRoom, Youngsville, 6:30 p.m.

CAJUN JAM: Blue Moon Saloon,Lafayette, 8p.m

CONAN: Freetown Boom Boom Room, Lafayette, 8p.m

OPEN JAMHOSTED BY NICKINEEDHAM!: Gloria’s Bar &Grill, Lafayette, 9p.m

THURSDAY

CHARLES AND WENDY TRICHE: Whiskey and Vine,Lafayette, 6p.m

JACK WOODSON: Charley G’sSeafood Grill, Lafayette, 6p.m

LADIES NIGHT WITH DJ DONOVANINTHE MIX: Cowboys Nightclub, Scott, 6p.m

LIVE MUSIC: Naq’s-nDuson,Duson, 6p.m

RORYSUIRE: SHUCKS!, Abbeville, 6:30 p.m.

KARAOKE PARTY— PANDAENTERTAINMENT: Black Bull, Youngsville, 8p.m

PALMETTO: Hideaway on Lee, Lafayette, 8p.m

KARAOKE NIGHT WITH BRANDON SMITH!: Gloria’s Bar & Grill, Lafayette, 9p.m

Compiled by Marchaund Jones. Want your venue’s musiclisted? Email info/photos to showstowatch@ theadvocate.com. The deadlineis noon FRIDAY for the following Friday’s paper

your reach andconnect with like-minded creatives in the industry.”

Sponsors,grants, donations

With support from sponsors, thefestival will be able to provide three grants to young filmmakers. The Shoestring Grant will award $5,000 cashtoafilmmaker to use on anew project. The LBLE PicturesGear Grant will award adirector or cinematographer withone week’srental of a1-ton grip andelectric package. The Celtic Studios Grant will award afilmmaker with five days of stage space. Alistofsponsors can be found at BatonRougeUnderground.com/#sponsors. Individuals can donate to support the nonprofit organization on BRUFF website and at https://www.paypal. com/donate/?hosted_button_id=DEP48THG3JFM8.

ping alongsidethe chorus’ sung lines of “stretch outmy hands to you.” His career in recent years has been overshadowed by a series of controversiesand unconventional affiliations.

Email KeithSpera at kspera@theadvocate.com.

Newstovetopcan turn itself off

Dear Heloise: Iread the hint from your reader, Jim, about leaving stovetop knobs slightly off the vertical linetoremind him to turn them off. If anyone’sin themarket for a new stovetop, may I recommend induction stovetops? Not only can you boil acup of water in 60 seconds, but if you remove apan from the burner,it’ll automatically turn off if it doesn’tdetect thepan again. —Emily M., in Kingwood,Texas Boxedcollectibles

they help you. Iwanted to add in the fact that the value of what’sinthe box will increase by keeping the item in the box in many cases.

Hints from Heloise

Dear Heloise: There was a great hint on how boxes should be saved and your advice to keep boxes if

By The Associated Press

Today is Friday,July 17, the198th day of 2026. There are 167 days left in theyear

TodayinHistory:

On July 17, 1955, Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California, after its $17 million,yearlong construction;the park drew amillion visitors in its first 10 weeks.

Also on this date:

In 1862, during theCivil War, Congress approved theSecond Confiscation Act, which declared that all enslaved people taking refuge behind Union lines were to be set free.

In 1902, Willis Carrier produced aset of designs for what would become the world’sfirst modernairconditioning system.

In 1936, theSpanish Civil Warbegan as right-wing army generals launched a coup attempt against the Second Spanish Republic.

In 1944, during World WarII, 320 men, two-thirds of them African Ameri-

FAMILY

Continuedfrom page5C

Lucas is Wednesday’slove interest. He’splayed by TylerBrian in Sullivan Theater’sproduction of “The Addams Family,” opening Friday on itsstage at 8849 Sullivan Road,Central. Broadway debut

Themusical made its Broadway premiere on April8,2010,inthe LuntFontanne Theatre, treating audiences to all of the beloved charactersfrom Charles Addams’ daily comic strip, which inspired the1960s televisionseries, whichinspired the 1990s movies.

And through each iteration,the family’sgothic authenticity is aconstant.

The family,inthis production, is headed by Gomez,the hopeless romantic patriarch played by Louis Mangiaracina, and Morticia, the aloof and unbreakable matriarch played by Carole Moore.

Butinthe spotlight is thebroodingWednesday playedbyMichelle Willis,who not only has fallen in love with anormal guy, she’ssworn herdad to silence about her secret.

He’snot even allowed to tellMorticia, theone person from whom he’snever kept asecret.

“Buthehas to keep this secret from her,” Mangiaracina said. “And it causes trouble for him later.”

Well familiar with Gomez Mangiaracina knowsGomezwell. He played the Addamsdad in ahigh school production.

“It was my first musical,” he said. “And when I learned that Sullivan would be doing ‘The Addams Family,’Ithought, ‘Why notdoit again?’” Why not, indeed?Especially when there’ssomuch comedyintertwinedwithin Gomez’sromanticdisposition. And Mangiaracina believesthis added comedy to Gomez’s character

Having been a collector of Lionel trains in the past, I discovered that the box is very important forthe contents, even downtothe condition of the box itself.The box can reveal pertinent information such as the part and model number,aswell as the date of production to authenticate the content inside. After discussing the topic with somecollectors, we compiled alist of some collectibles in which the

TODAYINHISTORY

cans, werekilled when a pair of ammunition ships exploded at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in California.

In 1945, following Nazi Germany’ssurrender, President Harry S. Truman,Soviet leader Josef Stalin and British Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill began meeting at Potsdam in the final Allied summitofWorld WarII.

In 1981, 114 people were killed when apair of suspended walkways above the lobby of the Kansas City Hyatt Regency Hotel collapsed during atea dance.

In 2020, civil rights icon John Lewis, whose bloody beating by Alabamastate troopers in 1965 helped galvanize opposition to racial segregation, and who went on to along and celebrated career in Congress, died at age 80.

In 2022, areport said nearly 400 law enforcement officials rushed to amass shooting that left 21 people dead at Robb Elementary

differentiatesthe musical from both the television and movie versions of the family

“He’sjust so funny in this show,” he said. “That’sjust what makes it so different.” Some of that comedydoes arise from his alliance with Wednesday,whose odd love forLucas seems real.But why? Wednesday is as unbreakable as her mom, a cynicwhose unapologetic morbid view of the world is laced in dark comedy And Lucas?He’sjust an everydayguy living anormal life. Or is he?

“I thinkWednesday is very attracted to the fact that Tyler seemslike anormal person, but in reality, there’ssomething lurking underneath the surface that she latches on to,” Brian said. “And because of that, he latches on to Wednesday.So, they suit each other morethan people would think when they first look at them.”

Thetruth is revealed

Meanwhile, Wednesday’s youngerbrotherPugsly, played by AutumnDedon, doesn’tlike any of it and decidestobringthe truth to light —oratleast to whatever light is available in the

boxes would contribute to overall value: vintage toys, dolls, ammunition, tools, silverware, glassware, knives, guns, cameras, salt and pepper shakers, the sleeves forLPvinyl records, and record albums. Without adoubt, there are manymore than those we listed.

I’mcurrently acollector of wax crayons, and to me, it’sall about the box. This helps in not only identifying the contents, date of production, production location, and part number, but also in protecting the colorful waxcrayons. From the House Where We Have Waxtothe Max! Sendahinttoheloise@ heloise.com.

School in Uvalde, Texas, but “egregiously poor decision-making” resulted in achaotic scene that lasted more than an hour before the gunman wasfinally confronted and killed.

Today’sbirthdays: Former sportscaster Verne Lundquist is 86. Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom is 79. Rock musician Terry “Geezer” Butler is 77. Actor Lucie Arnaz

Addams’ dark quarters when Lucas and his parents are invited to dinner How? Well,it’snot giving away any spoilers to reveal that Pugsly has atruth serum in his possession. But it would be amajor spoiler to reveal exactly what happens when he laces everyone’sbeverages withitat dinner

Mingling in the midst of all the action are the Addams’ ancestors, who have ventured out of their graves for theannualfamily celebration of all Addamses, living or dead.

This is where director Matt Miyagi wasable to wield his own magic into the production.

“I had areally fun idea to make the ancestors different in this show,”he said. “Typically,the ancestors, as they’rewritten in the script, are abride, a caveman, et cetera. But I decidedthatthe ancestors would be amix of historicalfigures,along with Tim Burton characters. So, we have the Corpse Bride from TimBurton’smovie, Katrina Anne VanTasselfrom‘SleepyHollow,’ JackSkellingtonfrom ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas,’ Zelda Fitzgerald and others. Ijust felt like it was something different, something Ihadn’tseen before and Iwanted to explore that.”

“The Addams Family” marks Miyagi’sSullivan Theater directorialdebut, though he honedhis ghoulish comedy skills by directing aTheatre Baton Rouge production of “The Rocky Horror Show.” But the Addams crew is much biggerthanthatof “Rocky.”

“Wehave 24 in the cast,” Miyagi said. “So, thisisa huge show.” Ashowwith love and secrets that stand ready to be revealed in the mysterious andspookyand alltogether ookyAddams Family abode.

Email RobinMillerat romiller@theadvocate. com.

PROVIDED PHOTO By MATTHEW WALKER Tyler Brian playsWednesday Addams’ love interest, Lucas Beineke.

cANcER (June 21-July 22) Alittle charm will carry you along waywhen dealing with personal situations and people you want to keep by your side. Stick to the truth and offer incentives. Be agood listener LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Explorepossibilities, but hold your thoughts while gathering information.Big talkerswillbemisleading andeager to take advantage of you if you give them the chance. You can be direct, but don't give away your ideas VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Wait and watch Thechanges unfolding around you will have consequences that canhurtyour status quo. Pay more attention to what youcan control, and invest more time and effort in expanding your interests.

LIBRA (sept.23-oct.23) Take adisciplined approach to learning, using your skills and outmaneuvering anyone whochallenges you. Opportunities are apparent, but obstacles exist. Choosingthe right path will be difficult.

scoRPIo (oct.24-Nov. 22) An open mind will lead to seminars, documentaries and conversations with informative people who sparkyour imaginationand encourage you to go on alearning expedition.

sAGITTARIus (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) If you venture off course, you'll encounter emotionally manipulative people. Your best opportunities will come from being selfserving, not counting on others to do things for you.

cAPRIcoRN(Dec. 22-Jan.19) Take note where your money goes. Don't feel you have to pay for others' entertainment or

mistakes. Let your income reflect your lifestyle. Don't hesitatetohave tough talkswith anyone you feel is taking advantage of you.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) An opportunity to work in afield that offers security or to surround yourself with people who share your beliefs will encourage you to get out more and enjoy what life has to offer.

PIscEs(Feb. 20-March20) Choose your battleswisely. Concentrate on nurturing important relationships. Social events, entertainment and activities you enjoy will put you in agood mood and give you achance to meet people.

ARIEs (March21-April 19) Chooseacreative outletorsocial event that favors ahobby or pastime you enjoy. Participation will lead to an interesting offerorconcept that can change your lifestyleorhow you earn your living.

TAuRus (April 20-May 20) Socializing will lead to interesting conversations and an opportunity to hear about aprofessional opportunity or an introduction to someone of interest.Don't feel obligated to show off.

GEMINI (May 21-June20) You'llface emotional obstacles if you participateincompetitivechallengesthatputyourphysical well-being in jeopardy. It'sOKtocheer from the sidelines.

Thehoroscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. ©2026 by NEA, Inc dist.ByAndrews McMeel Syndication

CelebrityCipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present.Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

cLuE:K EQuALs s

ToDAy's

CeLebrItY CIpher

beetLe bAILeY Mother GooSe And GrIMM

Sudoku

InstructIons: Sudoku is anumber-placing puzzle based on a9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1to9inthe empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

THewiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

CurTiS

Bridge

By PHILLIP ALDER

Gary Player said,“Agood golfer has thedeterminationtowinandthepatience to wait for the breaks.”

At the bridge table, the break in one suit can influence how declarer plays. In this exampledeal, Southisinfour spades. West cashes his three top clubs, thenshiftstotheheartthree.Howshould declarer continue after taking East’s queen with his ace?

North, despite having abalanced hand, raisestotwo spades withthree good trumps because he is very weak in an unbidsuit. If hisside belongs in three no-trump, probably South should be the declarer. And here, when South jumps to fourspades, he ought to have at least afive-card suit so that he can guarantee an eight-card fit.

Southhas nine top tricks: five spades, oneheart and three diamonds. He needs to establish afourth diamond trick. This willbeeasyifdiamondsarebreaking3-3, but if they are 4-2, declarer will have to ruffadiamond in hishand, draw trumps and be in thedummy to cash the last two diamonds.

The key question is: How are the trumps dividing?

South cashes his spade queen, then plays aspade to dummy’s king. If they split 4-1, declarer will have to draw

trumps and hope that the diamonds divide 3-3. Here, though, he next plays adiamond to his ace, returns adiamond to dummy’s queen, ruffs adiamond high in his hand, leads aspade to dummy’s ace (drawing West’slasttrump), and cashes the diamond king and six for his contract. ©2026 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

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

Previous answers:

word game

INsTRucTIoNs: 1. Wordsmustbeoffour or moreletters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,”are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a“d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

ToDAy’sWoRD GLABRous: GLAY-bruss: Smooth.

Average mark 24 words

Time limit 40 minutes

Can youfind 33 or more words in GLABROUS?

yEsTERDAy’sWoRD —VEsTuRE

wuzzles

loCKhorNs

Amen! G.E. Dean

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles hidato mallard

UV index is back at

level, and thisweekend, we’ll be under a moderate or major

PR-009-2026 Aresolu‐tionofthe Lafayette ParishCouncil express‐ing itssupport forthe program provided by the Capital Area FinanceAu‐thority forthe financing ofloans to first-time homebuyerswithinthe ParishofLafayette (CD&P) ORDINANCES FORFINAL ADOPTION

5. PO-025-2026 An ordi‐nance of theLafayette ParishCouncil setting forth anddesignating the advalorem taxmillage rates andimposingtaxes onall property subjectto advalorem taxation in the Parish of Lafayette and authorizingthe As‐sessorand TaxCollector for theParishof Lafayette to assess and collect property taxesfor 2026. (Finance)

6. PO-026-2026 An ordi‐nance of theLafayette ParishCouncil amending the FY 25/26 operating budgetofthe Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Governmentbyincreas‐ing revenuesinthe amount of $62,305.23 Emergency Management Program Grant(EMPG) fundsreceivedfromthe Governor’sOffice of HomelandSecurityand Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP)and appropri‐ating

nance of theLafayette ParishCouncil amending the FY 25/26 operating budgetofthe Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Governmenttoadjust amountsfor administra‐tiveand generalcosts to actual. (Finance) 10.PO-030-2026 An ordi‐nance of theLafayette ParishCouncil amending the FY 25/26 operating budgetofthe Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Governmentbyadjusting the manningtablesand increasingthe hourly pay rateofone (1)TreeTrim‐mer Foremanposition, one (1)TreeTrimmer po‐sition, andone (1)Labor Foreman Ipositionwithin the Traffic, Roads, and Bridges DepartmentStreetsDivision. (TR&B) 11.PO-031-2026 An ordi‐nance of theLafayette ParishCouncil amending the FY 25/26 capitalbud‐get of theLafayette CityParishConsolidatedGov‐ernment by transferring fundsfromvarious ac‐countstothe EBrous‐sard/Robley Drive Roundaboutaccount for additionalfunding needed.(CID) ADJOURN IN ACCORDANCE WITH LA. R.S. 42:14(E)ASEN‐ACTED BY ACTNO. 393 OF 2023 ANDTHE AMERI‐CANSWITHDISABILITIES ACT,PLEASECONTACT JOSEPHGORDON-WILTZ,

of theCityof Lafayette,providing for the annexation of addi‐tionallandintothe Cor‐porateLimitsofthe City ofLafayette,Louisiana CaseNo. 2026-12-REZ 2125 West Willow Street (Plot 1-A) Annexation,lo‐cated generallynorth of Zachary Drive; west of North BudStreet,and south of West Willow Street;and assigning a zoningclassification of CH(Commercial-Heavy) (District 1).(CD&P) 6. CO-057-2026 An ordi‐nance of theLafayette CityCouncil amending the Lafayette Develop‐mentCodeand theoffi‐cialmap of theCityof Lafayette,providing for the annexation of addi‐tionallandintothe Cor‐porateLimitsofthe City ofLafayette,Louisiana CaseNo. 2026-13-REZ103 WestBroussard Road An‐nexation, locatedgener‐allynorth of Johnston Street,eastofTouchet Road, andsouth of West Broussard Road;and as‐signing azoningclassifi‐cationofCH(Commer‐cial-Heavy) (District2). (CD&P)

7. CO-058-2026 An ordi‐nance of theLafayette CityCouncil settingforth and designatingthe ad valorem taxmillagerates and imposing taxeson all property subjecttoad valorem taxation in the CityofLafayette andau‐thorizing theAssessor and TaxCollector forthe ParishofLafayette to as‐sessand collectproperty taxes for2026. (Finance)

8. CO-059-2026 An ordi‐nance of

of theCityofLafayette (CD&P) APPEAL

11.AppealofCityPlan‐ning Commission Action (JohnstonStreet Subdivi‐sion) Case No.2026-34-PCpre‐liminary plat INTRODUCTORY ORDI‐NANCES

12.CO-062-2026Anordi‐nanceofthe Lafayette City Councilproviding for theabandonment of a portionofthe Hellen Street right-of-way lo‐catedalong thesouthern boundaryofSt. Antoine Gardens, therebyperma‐nently terminatingpublic access between Rufus Peck Addition Subdivi‐sion andSt. AntoineGar‐densvia HellenStreet and authorizingthe Lafayette Mayor-Presi‐denttoexecute an Actof Abandonment andRevo‐cationofDedication. (ElroyBroussard)

13.CO-063-2026Anordi‐nance of theLafayette CityCouncil amending the Lafayette Develop‐mentCode so as to re‐classifythe property of CaseNo. 2026-2-AZON Greig Street &Street of LoveAdministrativeRe‐zoning, locatedgenerally north of East Simcoe Street,westofDudley Avenue,and southof MuddAvenue;306, 310 & 314 Mudd Avenue,113 114, 118, 119, 121, 122 & 123 Street of Love and 310 &311 GreigStreet being rezonedfromCH (Commercial-Heavy)and IL (Industrial-Light) to MN-2(Mixed-UseNeigh‐borhood), and116 Street ofLovebeing rezoned fromCH(CommercialHeavy)and IL (IndustrialLight)toonlyCH(Com‐mercial-Heavy). (CD&P) 14.CO-064-2026Anordi‐nance of theLafayette CityCouncil amending the Lafayette Develop‐mentCode so as to re‐classifythe property of CaseNo. 2026-14-REZ 6800 BlockJohnston Street Rezoning,located generally northof KeenelandLane, east of JohnstonStreet,and south of E. Broussard Road; beingrezoned fromA (Agricultural) to CH(Commercial-Heavy) for the first250 feet of depth from Johnston Street,and from A(Agri‐cultural) to RS-2 (Resi‐dential Single-Family) for the remainingdepth of the property.(CD&P) 15.CO-065-2026Anordi‐nanceofthe Lafayette i il di

y City Council amending the FY 25/26 operating budgetofthe Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Governmenttoadjust amountsfor administra‐tiveand generalcosts to actual. (Finance)

16.CO-066-2026Anordi‐nance of theLafayette CityCouncil authorizing the Lafayette MayorPresident to enterinto a DrainageBetterment Agreement between the CityofLafayette and Lafayette GeneralHealth System, Inc. to remove and replacedeteriorated publicdrainageinfra‐structure locatedalong 401 AudubonBoulevard (Drainage)

17.CO-067-2026Anordi‐nance of theLafayette CityCouncil amending the FY 25/26 capitalbud‐get of theLafayette CityParishConsolidatedGov‐ernment by transferring fundsfromthe Multipur‐poseRoom Carpet RPL