The Acadiana Advocate 07-25-2026

SAINTS SECONDARY FACINGKEY TEST AFTER LOSING TOPCB

LAFAYETTEPARISHSCHOOLS

$3.1M granttoexpand successful program

Third grade teacher Taylor Wallace workswith students in her math class at Baranco Elementary in

LESLIE WESTBROOK

The AcceleratedCampus Excellence partnership was implemented at Baranco and J.W. Faulk elementary schools in 2024,and school officials saystudentshaveshown significant improvement.

MoneyfromPughFoundationtargets high-needschools

BY CLAIRE TAYLOR Staff writer

The Pugh Family Foundation on Thursday contributed $3.1 million to the Lafayette Parish school system to extend the Accelerated Campus Excellence,or ACE, partnership to improve learning in high-need schools.

The grant, matched with about $1 million from LPSS for atotal of more than $4 million, allows for the expansionof the successful ACE school turnaround program to middle school students inLafayette Parish With the extension, ACE will con-

tinuethroughthe 2028-29 school year at Alice BoucherElementary School and the new Paul Breaux preK-8 campus, where students from Dr.Raphael Baranco andJ.W Faulkelementary schools willbe able to continue learning under the ACE model through eighthgrade.

The donation brings to $9.1million thedirect financial support of ACE by the Pugh foundation in theLafayette school system. TheACE model was implemented during the 2024-25 school year at Barancoand Faulk. Theprogram, which focuses on whole-child development, is the first of its kind in Louisiana

Third through fifth graders at those schools showed significant improvement since then, according to theschool system. At Baranco, an additional7%of students reached mastery level or higher on LEAP tests.

The program expandedtoAlice Boucherlastschool year,where students in their firstyear under the ACEmodelposted 2% growth, double thedistrict average. At Faulk, students showed not only academic growth but also behavioral improvements, according to a report from Steady State Impact.

ä See GRANT, page 5A

U.S. fireson merchant vessel

BY JULIA FRANKEL, STELLAMARTANY and KONSTANTIN TOROPIN Associated Press

Iran targetsAmerican strongholdsinregion CO IN T

IRBIL, Iraq The U.S. military said Friday that it fired on another merchant vessel that wastryingtobreachits blockade of Iranian ports, whileIran targetedAmerican strongholds around the Persian Gulf. The U.S. and Iran showed no sign of backing away from their conflict after a13th straightnight of strikes. With fighting flaring again and diplomacy uncertain, both sides made moves suggesting an escalation was possible. U.S. embassies in the Middle East began alerting Americans

ä See VESSEL, page 5A

U.S.

BY DAVID J. MITCHELL Staff writer

Can anational company’sentry into Louisiana’s market help thestate address itslong-standing problem with illegal tire dumping?

Liberty Tire Recycling’spurchase of Acadianabased Colt Inc. makes the Pittsburgh company one of just five with Louisiana permits to process used tires in the state. Only three of those permitted companiesare currentlyoperating, according to regulatory filings and industry officials. The purchase gives Liberty Tire access to state revenues from astate Department of Environmental Quality program that subsidizes tire recycling projects. But it is entering amarketplace where ahandful of processors operated foryears with limited methods of disposing of waste tires in away that both earned state reimbursements and wasprofitable.

In recent years, some new entrants promising alternativerecycling planshavestruggled to gain state permits and break into the market over the established competitors’ objections, even as other,existing processors have gone out of business. Those business failures have, at times, had catastrophic results. In January 2022, the abandoned tire storage facility of shuttered processor Cottonport Monofill caught fire,forced the

Fields sees no path for reelection to Congress

democrat eyed other districtsbefore deciding to seek stateSenateseat

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

Before deciding that he would not run for Congress again, U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields looked at running in four different districts —but, after Republican state lawmakers redrewLouisiana’s congressional mapthis spring, he said he realized he couldn’t win.

“When Irun foroffice, Idon’t run just to run; Irun to win,” Fields, D-Baton Rouge, said at anewsconference Friday.“I was in deep conversations with members of Congress in Washington, and there was alot of push.But at the end of the day Ididn’tsee the winning path.”

Fields said he didnot consider abid in the two New Orleans-areacongressional districts represented by Democratic U.S. Rep. Troy Carter and Republican House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, but he evaluated the other four

“I hadtorun in oneofthe four or not run at all, and that was a tough decision,” he said. Now,Fields says he is returning to his rootsand wants to continue in public service “closer to home.” He announced last week that he’ll run to finish the term of the late state Sen. Larry Selders, a Democrat from BatonRouge whounexpectedly died earlier this monthfromaheartcondition.

“The moment hascalledme to do this,” Fields said. “We’re gonna do ourbest to fillthose shoes of Larry Selders.” Aspecial primary election for

FILE PHOTOByHILARy SCHEINUK

STAFF FILEPHOTO By

2024.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Rep. Cleo Fields announces his decisionFridaynot to runfor reelectionbut rather to seek aseatinthe LouisianaSenate.

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO

Clashes rock Northern West Bank, spur lockdown

Israel deploys troops in Nablus

BY MAJDI MOHAMMED, AREF TUFAHA, ERIN CUNNINGHAM and SAM MCNEIL Associated Press

NABLUS, West Bank Israel widely deployed troops in the West Bank after clashes broke out Friday across the occupied territory following the killing of an Israeli settler triggered violence that left two Israeli soldiers and four Palestinian villagers dead. Palestinians in the West Bank have been facing a wave of violence as Israel’s hard-line government, dominated by settler leaders and supporters, has overseen a surge in settlement construction over the past four years. The international community overwhelmingly considers Israeli settlement construction in these areas to be illegal and an obstacle to peace.

6 killed as fear escalates

The Palestinian Health Ministry said Israeli soldiers shot and killed four Palestinians in the village of Tell in the northern West Bank while the military reported the deaths of two soldiers, one of whom was a settler in a local defense squad.

Two other Israelis and four more Palestinians were wounded, health officials said, and the Israeli military announced it was preparing for an “extensive” counterterror operation in the West Bank. It said it conducting a manhunt for Palestinians suspected of attacking Israelis and that it had apprehended two during a raid in Nablus.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a joint statement with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, called Friday for more troops to the West Bank and the razing of the homes of the accused in Tell, as well as collect-

ing weapons and revoking work permits in the village.

“The security forces must be allowed to act freely and with full force against terrorism,” they said.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich went farther, saying that the villages of Tell, Iraq Burin and Beit Furik “need to look exactly like the refugee camps in Nablus and Tulkarm,” referring to the mass demolition campaign that displaced tens of thousands in the West Bank towns last year

“It is necessary to evacuate the population there for their protection and to clear these villages of terrorist infrastructure,” Smotrich said. “A sharp, determined, and unequivocal military action is required here and now.”

Human rights group B’Tselem warned the violence could spin out of control as Israeli settlers and soldiers amass near multiple Palestinian cities.

“Israeli violence is spreading across the West Bank, fueled by Israeli politicians openly calling for revenge,” said Yuli Novak, the group’s executive director “We know where this leads. Millions of Palestinians are now completely exposed to further attacks, with no one protecting them.”

Unclear confrontation

The exact circumstances of Friday’s incident remained unclear, but Israeli media reports and interviews with local Palestinian officials suggested a group of settlers entered Tell and were confronted by residents who were fearful of an attack.

The village is off-limits to Israelis as part of Area B under the 1993 Oslo Accords struck after the first Palestinian Intifada.

According to the Israeli military, one of the villagers took one of the settlers’ weapons and fired on the group, killing Benayahu Mellet, 32, a security guard

in a settlement nearby In a video of the incident, confirmed by the Israeli military and circulated online by the military correspondent for Israel’s Army Radio, two armed men in civilian clothing, as well as at least one Israeli soldier, are shown pointing their weapons at a group of Palestinians who had gathered in a field.

At one point, the two armed men rushed toward several Palestinian residents with their guns drawn. In the footage, the residents try to push them back and appear to disarm one of the men before opening fire.

In a statement, the Israeli military said it killed the man who took the settler’s weapon and that he was armed when soldiers shot him. But a separate video, published by Israeli media outlets and confirmed by the military, showed Israeli forces firing on a group of Palestinians in the same field who were already on the ground.

More than a dozen gunshots can be heard in the footage, which is less than a minute long. The military said the suspect was one of the people killed in the field. It did not respond to questions about why soldiers killed the other men — all of whom were related — or how long after the original altercation the killings took place.

Later, army chief Eyal Zamir said he was sending more troops to the occupied West Bank.

Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, a settler group in the northern West Bank, posted a video online in the wake of the Tell confrontation demanding the government crack down hard on Palestinians.

“We demand an iron fist and for the government to carry out a wide military operation against the Palestinian Authority and against Hamas,” he said.

Attorney: Madison officer should be criminally charged

Family promises to seek justice for ‘unjustified’ death

BY SCOTT BAUER and REBECCA BOONE Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. — The Madison police officer who shot and killed Corey Ruiz should face criminal charges, civil rights attorney Ben Crump said Friday, after protests erupted in anger over videos of their struggle.

“They not only tackled him, not only tased him, not only kicked him, but you saw they shot him three times in his head and other parts of his body,” Crump said.

He spoke at an emotional news conference with Ruiz’s mother, siblings and 13-yearold daughter Kah’liyah Aliomar Ruiz, 38, was killed on a busy city street Wednesday, just a couple of blocks away from his daughter’s home and along the route she walks to school. Police say Ruiz pulled a knife during a struggle with four officers, injuring one of them. That officer then fired the shots, according to police. All four officers have been placed on administrative leave pending a state investigation, and the officer who fired the shots has not yet been identified.

Aliomar cried as she described learning of her father’s death.

“My heart was broken and hurt so much knowing I can’t see my father anymore,” she said.

His mother Elsa Ruiz said she never imagined she would have to bury her son.

“He was my love He loved his daughter, he loved his family He did not deserve to be taken out like that. They took my baby from me,” she said, sobbing. The family promised to

seek justice for Ruiz’s death, which Crump called an unjustified “execution.”

“Anytime there is excessive use of force, there should be accountability,” Crump said. He said it was “shocking on every level.”

The shooting was captured on cellphone video that was widely shared online, though Madison Police Chief John Patterson cautioned Thursday that the video did not show the altercation from the police officers’ perspective.

But unlike nearly every other similarly sized city, Madison doesn’t require its police to use body-worn cameras, so there is no footage from the officers’ perspective. Over the last decade city officials have repeatedly debated adopting the cameras at times creating subcommittees and doing studies on the idea — but local officials have primarily blamed budget concerns and political inertia for the ongoing stalemate.

Another common source of opposition, identified in a 2021 feasibility study, came from community groups worried the cameras would be used to surveil and criminalize marginalized groups Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said Thursday that she expects the new

budget that takes effect in January to include funding for body-worn cameras.

“Thank God there was video,” Crump said. “If there wasn’t video, imagine what the narrative would have been.”

Wisconsin court records show Ruiz had been in and out of jail over the past decade for mostly misdemeanor offenses including disorderly conduct, drug possession, auto theft, battery and invasion of privacy He was also convicted of felonies including possession of cocaine and marijuana, robbery, strangulation, resisting an officer and causing bodily harm.

“People are saying he’s a criminal. So what? He had a family, he had me,” Aliomar said, breaking down into tears.

Police said they were at the street to investigate reports that someone was trying to enter parked cars, something Crump said amounted to only the suspicion of a low-level property crime.

“I need somebody to help me understand why they felt it was OK to execute my brother based on no facts at all,” Veronica Ruiz said. “I hope everyone continues to support and come together and find justice for him.”

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By SCOTT BAUER Kah’liyah Aliomar, the daughter of Corey Ruiz, who was shot and killed by a Madison police officer, wipes away tears as attorney Ben Crump speaks at a news conference on Friday.

The heat will become more and more of an issue for all of us today and especiallyinto next week. Todayweare under either aminor or amoderate heat risk. It’simportant that youtakefrequent breaks cool off and stay hydrated. So expect amostlysunny, hot and humid daywith alight breeze. Temperatures this afternoon will rise to the lowtomid-90s.Humidity will remain high and therefore,heat index values will rise to 106 or greater.The UV index is at the extreme level.

descendantsofBlack CreekFreedmanargue Muscogee leadersare violatingatreaty

BY COREY WILLIAMS Associated Press

Twodescendants of Black people once enslaved by aNative American tribe areaskingafederal court in Oklahoma to force tribal leaders to issue them citizenship cards as ordered ayear agobyatribal court. Alawsuit filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Oklahoma City on behalf of Rhonda Grayson and Jeffrey Kennedy names Principal Chief David Hill and theMuscogee Nation Citizenship Board as defendants.

It says that Hill and the citizenship board are violating an 1866 treaty betweenthe tribeand the U.S. government by refusingto recognize BlackCreek Freedmen as citizens as ordered by the Muscogee NationSupreme Courtin July 2025. The board denied the applications of Grayson and Kennedy in 2019 after it incorrectly determined they could not identify a lineal descendant of the tribe, but the court said the pair are entitled to tribal citizenship.

However,Hill and the board have not yet issued the citizenship cards, denying Grayson andKennedy their “righttovoteand the ability to participate fullyasmembers of the Nation,” according to the lawsuit.

Last August, Hill blocked the tribe’scitizenship board from issuing citizenship cards until leaders decide how to change the tribe’s constitution.The tribe’s headquarters is in Okmulgee, about 100 miles northeast of Oklahoma City. Aspokesman for theMuscogee Nationsaid late Thursday afternoon that it had notyet been servedwith the complaint.

“Wewould point out thatfederal law and precedent is clear that matters of Muscogee Nation

Blackmembers of tribefile lawsuittogaincitizenship rights

ASSOCIATEd PRESS FILE PHOTO By NICK OXFORd

Rhonda Grayson and Jeff Kennedy filed alawsuit Thursdaytoforce

Muscogee Nation leadership to issue them citizenship as ordered by a tribalcourt ayearago

lawand governanceare to be addressed through the Nation’sown governmental institutions,” the MuscogeeNationsaid in astatement

“Weare committed to ensuring thatthe Muscogee Nation’sConstitution and laws are followed fairly and consistently,” the statement said. “Gettingpolicies right is alwaysmore important than getting them done quickly. Anything less would undermine the integrity of our governmental processes and therights of our citizens.”

The Muscogee Nation is one of five tribes in Oklahoma that once practiced slavery Under the1866 treaty,the tribe abolishedslavery and granted citizenship to the formerlyenslaved.

TheMuscogeeNation adopted in 1979 aconstitution that restricted membership to the descendants of people listed as “Muscogee (Creek) Indians by blood” on the Dawes Rolls, acensusofmembersofthe five tribescreatedaround 1900. When the Dawes Rolls werecreated, peoplewere listed on two separate rolls: those who were Muscogeeand thosewho were identified by theU.S. government as Freedmen

The court’s 2025 ruling also di-

rected the board to apply the treaty of 1866 to future applicants who can trace an ancestor to either roll. The decision could create apath to tribal citizenship for thousandsof new memberswho are not Muscogee by blood.

AttorneyDamario Solomon-Simmons, aBlack Creek Indian who is oneofthe lawyers representing Grayson and Kennedy,said Thursday that there are about 100,000 Black Creeks acrossthe United States.

Successful legalcases were brought against two of the five Oklahoma tribes, the Seminole Nation and the Cherokee Nation, which have since granted citizenship to Freedmen descendants.

“Every day of non-compliance is another daythatBlack Creek Freedman aredenied our birthright and our very identityascitizens,” said Grayson, president of the Muscogee Creek Indian Freedmen Band.

“The fight is biggerthanevery one of us,” shetold reporters Thursday.“It belongs to every Black Creek Freedman descendant who has carried thishistory,protected thesestories and refused to let ouridentity be dismissed or diminished.”

Administration wants to rename Penn Station

Transportation secretarysays‘Trump Station’ hasa nice ring

BY PHILIP MARCELO Associated Press

NEW YORK Will President Donald Trump’s name grace oneof themostfamous— andsometimes maligned —landmarks in his hometown of New York City?

TheRepublicanadministrationthis week urged leading U.S. Senators to rename Penn Station as it undertakes aprojected $8 billionredesign of the dreary, underground Manhattan transit hub that also happens to be the busiest in the western hemisphere. But theU.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, in aWednes-

day letter seeking congressional funding approval for the rehab andothermajor transportation priorities, stoppedshort of saying what the station’smoniker should be changed to.

Spokespersons for the transportation agency provided the letter but didn’trespond to follow up questions Thursday Duffy has made it no secret he would welcome seeing hiscurrent boss’ nameetched across the rail station’sfaçade.

“I imagine you’re asking, ’Is this going to be TrumpStation?’” the former Wisconsin congressman said last summer as officials sought bids for the project’smasterdeveloper.“Ithink that hasa nice ring to it.”

Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt,whenaskedearlierthis year, simply responded: “Why not?”

Trumpordersnew signs outsideSmithsonian

BY JONATHAN J. COOPER Associated Press

PresidentDonaldTrump ordered hisadministration Friday to install signs in front of the Smithsonian Institution‘sU.S. history museum telling visitors that some of the exhibits are inaccurate, his latest movetoreshape howthe story of the UnitedStates is told.

Trump’smovefollows areport released July 4byhis Domestic Policy Councilsayingleaders of the Smithsonianand its National MuseumofAmerican History don’ttellhistory “in away that is inspiring, unifying, and worthy of our great republic.”

The president lacks authority to quickly firethe Smithsonian leadership or to order changes to exhibits, so his executive order targets the sidewalks out front, which aremaintainedbythe National ParkService. His executive order calls for signstelling visitors about the White House report anddirecting them to resources

forwhathecalls “accurate information regarding America’shistory.” It also calls for atemporary exhibit that corrects information he deems inaccurate.

Smithsonianofficials declined to comment on Trump’sorder Anthea M. Hartig, director of the American history museum, pushed back on the White House report duringcongressional hearings this week.

“Aswecontinue to fact check thereport, we unwaveringly attest that it does notfairly or accurately characterize the full body of work at the museum,” she told lawmakers. “There is always room forimprovement. But Ialso know the beauty and the inspiration and the expertise that lies in ourcollections, our exhibits, and our programming.”

TheSmithsonian operates outside the executive branch and museum directorsreporttoSecretary Lonnie Bunch, whoissubject to oversight from aBoard of Regents.

ANOTHERVIEW

U.S. Senate controlhangson thesefourstates

If Republicans hold Congress in November,itmay be a bigger defeat for Democratsthanawin forRepublicans. That’sbecause it would confirm the statusquo,and the status quo on Capitol Hill is President Donald Trump’scontinued dominance. The pressure is on the Democrats. They need toshow that Trump’s57% voter disapproval ratingtranslatesinto votes for their side, especially in openseats andthose now held by Republicans. Winning close Senate racesinfour states —Maine, Michigan, Alaska and Ohio —would reinforcethe notion that the Trumpera is nearing its end. Here arethe playingfields.

Ron Faucheux

Maine. Republican Sen. SusanCollins, 73, is chasing asixth term in arace thatkeeps changing. Mainehas voted Democratic for presidentsince 1992, yetCollins has arecord of outperforming thestate’sblue tilt. Going into this election, Collins’ center-right brand was alienating votersonboth left andright; she waslooking likeasurecasualty of thedeeply polarizedpolitical environment.Thenher Democratic opponentimploded.Populist oyster farmer Graham Platner,41, hadbeensurging, especially with younger andprogressivevoters, before allegations of abusing women forced himfromthe race. Democrats quickly united around Troy Jackson, 58, aformer state Senate president. Handicappers are split between toss-upand closecalls forbothsides. AUniversityofNew Hampshire poll shows Jackson narrowly ahead, 49%to46%. Michigan. Trump carried the statetwice by slim margins, but Republicans haven’twon aSenate seat herein32 years. With Democratic Sen. Gary Peters retiring,Republicans have nominated formerU.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, 63, who lost aSenate race in 2024 byjust three-tenthsofa point. Michigan Democrats are waging oneofthe year’s hottest primary battles for aSenateseat:U.S.Rep.Haley Stevens, 43,versusAbdul El-Sayed, 41,anepidemiologist, former Wayne County health director and2018 gubernatorial candidate. It’safierce test of theparty’s establishmentwing (Stevens) versus its progressivewing(El-Sayed).

El-Sayed is backed by Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and ElizabethWarren.Stevens is backed by incumbent Peters, Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer and araft of former statewide officials. Polls are volatile. The primary is Aug.4and both sides arebusy juicing voter turnout.

Alaska. It’sasolid Republican state—exceptwhen it’s not. Alaska voted for Republican presidentialcandidates in every election since 1968, althoughaDemocrat wona Senate seat in 2008; aRepublican incumbentwho lost the GOPSenateprimary,won awrite-in campaign in 2010; and aDemocrat flipped the state’sat-large U.S.House seat in 2022.

Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan,61, is seeking athird term against Democrat Mary Peltola, 52,aformer U.S.representativewho beat SarahPalin forthe state’sat-large House seat four years ago.

Alaska’snonpartisan primary is Aug.18; thetop four candidates,regardlessofparty,advance to arankedchoicegeneral election in November. Thatsysteminvites surprises —and maybe mischief. Caseinpoint: Another Republican named Dan Sullivan jumped into the race, forcingSullivanthe senator toguard against mistaken voting.

Alaska is amust-win for Democrats now that Maine is wobbly and Michigan’s primary contesthas partystrategists worried. Ohio. Once considered thequintessential swingstate Trump turned Ohio red, winningitthreetimes. However, former Democratic Sen.Sherrod Brown, 73, wholost reelection in 2024, has achancetomake acomeback this year.The Republican nominee is Sen. Jon Husted, 58, who wasappointed to theseat when formerSen.JDVance became vice president.

While Brown’spopulismfits the currentmood among Democrats, swing voters may seehim as yesterday’s news. Election handicappers predicta closerace. Hustedknows how to win electionsinOhio:state House, stateSenate, secretary of stateand lieutenantgovernor But Trump’sjob rating in thestate isupside down—44% approve, 54%disapprove —and that complicates lifefor Husted, who has the president’s endorsement. The New York Times/Sienapoll has Hustedahead by three points. Other polls havehad Brown ahead. ADemocratic victory would signal an erodingred-state base Thesesurelyaren’t the only Senateraces to watch; another three or four could be barnburners. But these four, more than most, will determinewhich partycontrols the Senate.

Ron Faucheux is anonpartisan political analyst, pollster and writer based in Louisiana.

Forour drowning coast, dredgedsedimenta lifeline

The Coalition to RestoreCoastal Louisianaapplauds theArmy Corps of Engineers and thestate Coastal Protection andRestoration Authority for its stakeholder meetinginBaton Rouge, putting into action its plan to “build infrastructure, not paperwork.”

As participantsheard loud and clear from St. Charles Parish President Matthew Jewell, one delayed permit due to abloated bureaucratic process may have been the difference between residents flooding during arecent tropical storm or remaining dry.Our communities need aprocess that moves quickly and efficiently Oneofthe biggest recent wins for Louisiana was utilizing restoration projects as the required mitigation for storm protection. The River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp project must serve as the model for all future project planning.

As theCorps and others continue to reimagine restoration in Louisiana, it is important to keep in mindour fundamental problem: We need moreofthe material that

comprises land here: sediment. The rivers of our state are our mostpowerful tool forrestoration, because they constantly deliver us moresediment. That idea extends into therealm of dredged material.

Each year,the Corps clears theway for our robust maritime industries by dredging federal waterways. Therein lies opportunity What they are moving is the DNA of our coast, and we can put it to good use.

The Corps now has agoal of using 80% of dredged material beneficially forpurposes such as restoration.

That is admirable, but we believe we can do better.CRCL urges the Corps to press beyond that target,ensuring sediment is not just cleared from waterways but that it is used to build and protect wetlands across our coast, supercharging theprojects in our state’s Coastal Master Plan.

ETHAN J. MELANCON government affairs director,Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana NewOrleans

Misunderstanding of deficitrisks holdingU.S.back

The rallying cry to “Make America Great Again” is frequently invoked, but we will never achieve lasting greatness until we reject a fundamental economic delusion: thedeficit myth.

For decades, politicians have treated the federal budget like a household kitchen table, warning that national debt will ruin us. This is aprofound misunderstanding of acurrency-issuing sovereign nation.

When agovernment prints its own currency,deficits are not a sign of overspending —they are adirect injection of financial resources intothe public and private sectors. Outdated austeritymeasures do not protect our future; they starve it.

We only need to look across the Pacifictosee the tangible results of bold national investment. China does not view government spending as aburden to be minimized. Instead, it uses sovereign spending as apowerful engine for progress. By funding massive state-direct-

ed initiatives, China has pulled hundreds of millionsofpeople out of poverty,built the world’s mostadvanced high-speed rail network and positioned itself as a global leader in green technology, artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

While American infrastructure crumbles under the guise of “fiscal responsibility,” China treats its spending as along-term investmentinits people and its global standing.

America’sgreatness was never built on balanced books; it was built on massive public mobilizationslike the NewDeal, the InterstateHighway System and the Apollo program. If we want to compete in the 21st century and truly improve the daily lives of everyday Americans, we must stop fearing the deficit and start leveraging our currency to build abrighter,more technologically advanced future that benefitsall people.

JULIEN LAMOTHE NewOrleans

Simple blood test anotherway

to screen for colorectalcancer

Irecently read the article by Margaret Delaney on Louisiana’shigh colorectal cancer rates and Cherie Broome’sexperience with CRC. Broome’s story showsasimple truth: Screening saves lives. Because she was screened, her cancer was caught at Stage 1and today she is cancer-free.

Toomany Louisianans don’t get that chance. Louisiana ranks third in the nation forCRC incidence, with CRC the second leading cause of cancer death in our state. And while Louisiana has made real progress, almost 30% of eligible residents 45 and older have never been screened. That’shundreds of thousands of our neighbors whoare at risk of catastrophic news.

That’swhy Iwas encouraged to add to this story after hearing that the American Cancer Society recently updated its screening guidelines to include the FDA-approved Shield blood test. The test requires no special prep, no timeoff work and no procedure, just aquick blood draw during aregular doctor’s visit.

For Louisianans whowon’tfollow through on screening, more choices mean moreopportunities to catch this cancer early, when outcomes are best. Louisianans shouldn’twait. Talk to your doctor about which screening option is right for you, and get screened.

DR. FELICIA STOLER NewOrleans

Should senators be asking2020election question adifferent way?

While watching confirmation hearings, Iwondered how many members of the Senate Intelligence Committee would say that President Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election?

CURTISBECKEMEYER diamondhead, Mississippi

Jamesheading to76ers

NBAstartosign2-year, $8MdealwithPhiladelphia

BY DANGELSTON AP sportswriter

PHILADELPHIA LeBron James’ first “final” decision was that he would retire. Weeks of deep reflection led him to change hismind, however,with all the familiaroptions in front of him to extend his career; athird trip with Cleveland, asecondstop in Miami, maybe even stay in California forahighprofile union in Golden State. Nope —toall of those teams.

The blaring headline in bold letters still seemed like afeverish dreamtothe bulk of afan base that wasn’tevenalive thelast time the franchisewon atitle, but it’strue:

LeBron James is heading to the Philadel phia76ers. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer mad theannouncementonsocial media Friday saying it will be his “last decision” and that it comesafter he stronglyconsideredretirement.

“I believe Ican help make thePhiladelphia76ers achampionship team and I am so excited to energize anew fan base and start this incredible journey one last time,” James said. Afour-time NBA champion, James wrote he was “done” when his23rdNBA season

See JAMES, page 3C

UP

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

At his locker in December, Alontae Taylor begandiscussing the future of theSaints’cornerbacks. He said he believed Quincy Riley and Kool-Aid McKinstry would be the “best duo” in theleague nextseason. But when it was pointed out that it couldbea trio notjustaduo —Taylorlaughed.Itwasn’t hardtoread between the lines. “Nah. It’ll be the best duo, though,” Taylor said. Taylor wasn’tjust being humble.The 27-year-old could see his time with the franchise coming to an end —and months later, that’s exactly what happened. In March, Taylor signed athree-year,$60 millioncontract withthe Tennessee Titans.Inaninstant, the Saints losttheir top corner —adefender whocould playinside andout —on the open market. But there’sreason to be optimistic that the Saints’ secondary will be fine after losing such an important chess piece. And it has alot todowith Taylor’soriginal outlook, as hyperbolic as it may have come across. The Saints are high on McKinstry and Riley—the black and gold’s1-2 punchonthe outside. And twoyoung promisingcornersslotinnicelywith agroupthat’salsodeep at safety Without them, Taylor’sdeparture would look bleak. But that’sfar from thecase.

Cornerback depthchart (name, height,weight, experience)

n Kool-Aid McKinstry, 5-foot-11, 199 pounds, 3years

n Quincy Riley,5-11, 195, 2

n Martin Emerson, 6-2, 201, 5

n Isaac Yiadom, 6-1, 188, 9

n Rejzohn Wright, 6-2, 193, 3

n Jayden Price, 5-11, 185, 1

n T.J. Hall, 6-0, 189, rookie

n Beanie Bishop, 5-10, 184, 2

n Dalys Beanum,6-1, 200, 1

Safety depthchart

n Justin Reid,6-1, 207, 9

n Julian Blackmon,6-0, 202, 7

n Jonas Sanker,6-1, 211, 2

n Jordan Howden, 6-0, 209, 4

n Terrell Burgess, 5-11, 202, 6

n Lorenzo Styles, 6-0, 194, R

n Elliott Davison, 6-0, 190, 1

Number to know:179.2

The Saintsheld opponentstojust 179.2 passing yards per gamelastseason,the fourth-bestrate in the NFL. And while the Saints trailed in many of those games,setting

LSUpicked to finish

preseason media poll

BY REED DARCEY Staff writer

Expectations are high for LSU football ahead of its first season under coach Lane Kiffin.

Just how high are they?

TheTigers were picked to finishfifthin the SEC in the 2026edition of the league’s annual preseason poll, the results of which were released on Friday.Media members pegged LSU to land behind Georgia, Texas, Ole Miss and Texas A&M but ahead of Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Florida. Only10times since 1992 hasthe media’s preseason predicted champion proceeded to winthe SEC title game.

Nine TigerswerevotedontoanAll-SEC team,too. Tightend Trey’DezGreen andlefttackle Jordan Seaton were given spots on the firstteam offense, while center Braelin Moore landed aplace on the third-team offense. Edge rusherPrincewill Umanmielenand linebackerWhit Weekseach picked up enough votes to land on thefirst-team defense. Cornerback DJ Pickett andsafety

BY MARK LONG AP sportswriter

Aphotographer’scell phone started blaring amusical ringtone whileJon Sumrall spoke at SEC media days, and the first-year Florida coach responded with the kind of candor that has his players and his fanbase fired up about the program’s future. “You would be kicked out of our team meeting, Iswear,”Sumrall said. “Like, you’re lucky I’m not going to throw this podium right now.That drives me crazy.I would (ask) whoisthat, but I’mnot going to embarrass anybody.”

Sumralllater insisted he wasjoking. Regardless, it wasaglimpse of just howcomfortable theformer Troy andTulane coach is withbeing himself—honest, authentic and unapologetic. He washardly alone at the four-day event in downtownTampa, Florida,thatkickedoff the season for afootball league desperate to enda three-year slumpwithout anational championship. Several of the league’ssix new coaches an SEC record —made arun at “winning” the annual media event. Now,more importantly,we’llsee if theycan win on the

Saints safetyJonas Sanker runs adrill during practice on June 17 in Metairie. AP FILEPHOTO By MATTHEWHINTON

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Former Cowboys QB Romo arrested on suspicion of DUI

MILWAUKEE CBS NFL analyst and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has been arrested on suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence.

According to the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office’s arrest report, Romo performed poorly on field sobriety tests after getting stopped while driving south on Interstate 43 on Thursday Sheriff’s officials said Romo was taken into custody, booked and released. A court appearance is set for Sept. 21.

Romo went to high school about 35 miles from Milwaukee in Burlington, Wisconsin.

The 46-year-ol has been the lead game analyst for CBS’ NFL coverage since 2017 after making four Pro Bowl appearances during an NFL career that ran from 2004-16.

Hamilton looks to pressure Antonelli

Formula 1 title race heads to Hungary

BY JAMES ELLINGWORTH AP sportswriter

Lewis Hamilton has a chance to pile pressure on Kimi Antonelli and Mercedes as the Formula 1 title race heads to Hungary, and there were promising signs Friday as Ferrari seemed to have the pace in practice.

Hamilton has won the Hungarian Grand Prix eight times, making it his most successful event besides his home British Grand Prix. It’s a track where cornering ability, not raw power, tends to make the difference, which could suit his Ferrari.

“I think we’ve got a car that can compete. Mercedes is still the car to beat, and they won’t be easy to beat this weekend, but I do think we’ve made subtle progress,” Hamilton said this week. “Hopefully we can be fighting with them this weekend.”

Ferrari leads the way

It certainly seemed that way as Ferrari topped Friday’s two practice sessions.

Hamilton set the fastest time of the day as he beat Leclerc by 0.148 of a second in the second session, with Lando Norris a distant third for McLaren, 499 away George Russell was the best Mercedes in fifth and Antonelli only 13th in a session interrupted by a red flag when Franco Colapinto spun into a barrier In the first session, Leclerc went fastest by nearly half a second from Max Verstappen of Red Bull, with Hamilton a close third. Russell was fifth fastest in that session, too, while Antonelli sat out as the team worked toward its quota of practice sessions for non-regular drivers. Reserve Fred Vesti was seventh.

Struggling Aston Martin made some progress with an upgraded

car as Fernando Alonso placed 13th in the first session but a suspension failure sent teammate Lance Stroll spinning wildly The damage ruled Stroll out of the second session

It’s the last race before F1’s annual midseason break, and the next race won’t be until the Dutch Grand Prix on Aug 23.

One Mercedes driver leads

“Still a lot of work to do, still a mountain to climb in the second half of the season, but I’m more focused than ever and really believe that we can fight,” Hamilton said.

After the last race ended with celebrations for one Mercedes star and rancor from the other, this week in Hungary is a test of whether F1’s top team can stay united.

Antonelli almost doubled his lead to 45 points over Hamilton, and 50 over teammate George Russell, with a win in Belgium last week after Hamilton sent Russell spinning off the track on the opening lap.

Russell vented his frustration in an expletive-filled radio message asking Mercedes why he’d suddenly lost speed and dropped behind Hamilton, forcing him

into a risky overtake.

Mercedes deputy technical director Simone Resta said Friday it was down to “a bug in our software” and the team found the problem. “We think we’ve finally understood it and nailed it coming into Budapest,” he said.

Fewer software quirks

After one race where mysterious software issues played an outsize role, expect Hungary to be a more traditional race, though maybe not an exciting one.

It’s a slow, winding layout with plenty of places where the cars can recover electrical energy under braking.

Belgium was the opposite, with long straights which left cars running out of charge and amplified the slightest differences in how and when electrical energy kicks in.

Drivers don’t directly control how much electrical power they use and Belgium highlighted just how much they’re at the mercy of the algorithms controlling how the energy is deployed at various points around the circuit.

Asked if he sometimes felt like a passenger, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri said: “Sometimes, yes. Again at a track like Spa or a track like Silverstone, it’s going to be worse.”

He added: “Here, I really don’t expect there to be many problems at all with that kind of thing, because the straights are so much shorter, so even if there are differences they should be a lot less. But the principle of driving a race car that loses effectively half of its power before the end of the straight is hard to get your head around sometimes.” Budapest has traditionally hosted processional races with few obvious places to overtake. Sunday’s race will be a test of whether the 2026-specification cars and their battery-boosted overtaking can bring an oftendull race to life.

Kim shoots a 59 at the 3M Open, only 15th in history

BY MIKE COOK Associated Press

BLAINE, Minn. — Michael Kim card-

ed the 15th 59 in PGA Tour history on Friday, making a 24-foot putt for birdie on the 18th hole at the 3M Open.

Kim birdied the final four holes of his bogey-free round at TPC Twin Cities to get to 14-under for the tournament.

This marks the fourth 59 on tour since 2024. Jake Knapp was the last to do so during the first round of the 2025 Cognizant Classic. Jim Furyk holds the tour record with a 58 at the 2016 Travelers Championship.

“Today was an awesome day, but still, I’m only halfway there so still need to kind of get focused up for the weekend,” said Kim, who shot 69 Thursday and holds a threeshot lead over first-round leader Ben Kohles after the Friday morning rounds. Kohles shot a 2-under 69 to get to 11-under His post-round interview was interrupted by a roar when Kim made his final putt. “That’s sick,” he said smiling. “There’s a 59. I guess 62 wasn’t as good.” Kim’s mindset is to not play “too protective.” That is not easy at the par-3 No. 17 and par-5 No 18 where water lines each hole.

“I just kind of told myself like,

“I tend to leave those short when it’s that uphill and I just, last thing was just get it there, just don’t leave it short,” said Kim, who raised his hands and did a few fist bumps when the ball sank into the cup. Kim, whose previous career low round was 62, made five straight birdies beginning on No 3 and added three in a four-hole stretch beginning on No. 9. Eight of his birdies were from more than 10 feet.

“When you hit a putt and it does exactly what you kind of envisioned before you hit it, it’s an awesome feeling. Felt like that all day out there,” said Kim, whose lone tour win came at the 2018 John Deere Classic.

Second in the Valero Texas Open in April, Kim’s best finish in 12 tournaments since was 17th, and he missed four cuts, including the past three weeks at the British Open, Scottish Open and John Deere Classic.

the Women’s Scottish Open by five strokes after two rounds at Dundonald Links on Friday Shin started the second round with a bogey and shrugged it off with six birdies, including on her final hole, for a 5-under 67. She’s at 11 under overall.

“Tried really hard not to make any three-putts,” Shin said. Shin was co-leader with American Lauren Coughlin on 6 under after day one of the tournament co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour and LPGA Tour But Coughlin who won the Aramco Championship in April and the Scottish Open in 2024, hit 2 over on Friday and dropped to 4 under and a tie for fourth with Japan’s Erika Hara.

The closest to Shin was German golfer Esther Henseleit, who carded 4-under 68 with two birdies and an eagle.

South Korea’s A Lim Kim remained at 5 under and in third place after an even par round with two birdies and two bogeys.

F1 parent company reaches settlement in ticket lawsuit

LAS VEGAS Formula 1 parent company Liberty Media, which also promotes the Las Vegas Grand Prix, has agreed to a settlement of about $3 million to end a class-action lawsuit brought by spectators regarding the inaugural 2023 race. The opening-night practice session on Nov 16, 2023, was halted after nine minutes when Carlos Sainz Jr drove over a water valve cover that severely damaged his Ferrari. Practice didn’t resume until the early morning hours of Nov. 17, ending at about 4 a.m local time.

Those who had tickets for only that practice session or bought three-night tickets are eligible for compensation under the settlement. Claims must be filed by Aug. 27.

IOC won’t pursue member Infantino over red-card ruling

GENEVA IOC member and FIFA leader Gianni Infantino will not have to explain to the Olympic body how U.S. President Donald Trump helped to stop a player’s ban at the World Cup.

The IOC said on Friday it has no jurisdiction to investigate Infantino’s alleged lack of political neutrality

A London-based NGO formally complained this month to the International Olympic Committee ethics commission about Infantino, including his part in ensuring United States forward Folarin Balogun did not serve a mandatory one-game ban despite being sent off in the previous game.. Action has been taken against just one IOC member in the past eight years for unethical conduct.

Tennessee State places AD Allen on administrative leave NASHVILLE,Tenn. — Tennessee State University president Dwayne Tucker on Thursday placed athletic director Mikki Allen on administrative leave following an internal investigation which was prompted by a vote of no confidence from six coaches at the school.

Tucker’s investigation followed a May 28 letter from coaches at the school who expressed concerns about the athletic department’s leadership, direction, communication and operations.

“We were made aware of multiple concerns surrounding the leadership of the TSU athletic department through an open letter from six head coaches on May 28, 2026,” Turner said in a statement released to The Associated Press.

Man City and Spain midfielder Rodri to have back surgery

MANCHESTER, England Manchester City midfielder Rodri will undergo back surgery next week, coach Enzo Maresca confirmed Friday Rodri, who sustained an ACL damage in 2024 endured an injury disrupted campaign last season before winning the World Cup with Spain.

‘Hey, this is the way, this is the moment to get into the history books and let’s go for it, let’s not try to luck our way into it, let’s try to step up and hit some really good shots,’” he said Kim made a 17-foot birdie putt on No. 17, and a wedge from 124 yards landed pin high but rolled to the fringe of the 18th green, leaving an uphill putt with little break.

Playing the previous five weeks, Kim thought about skipping this week’s tour stop.

“I felt decent energy-wise,” Kim said, “so I went home after I missed the cut at the Open, just spent a couple days relaxing and came up here and really happy I did.”

LPGA Scottish Open

South Korea’s Jenny Shin led

Asked about her earmuffs, Kim said, “They keep my ears warm and my confidence is higher.”

World No 1 Nelly Korda was at 4 over, two above the cut line, after finishing her round of 76 with four straight bogeys.

Defending champion Lottie Woad was in a tie for 11th at par after a 2-under 70.

Maresca did not say how long it would take for him to recover from his latest setback, but confirmed he wanted the former Ballon d’Or winner to stay at the club amid speculation about his future.

“Around a big player, there are always speculation so I’m not worried about that. I think it’s normal also because they won the World Cup. He was one of the best players and I think every manager wants to have Rodri because he’s a top player,” Maresca said.

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By dARKO BANdIC

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain walks past supporters after the first free practice ahead of the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix in Mogyorod, near Budapest Hungary, on Friday.

AP PHOTO By dAVId GOLdMAN Michael Kim of the United States, shown at the British Open last Friday, carded just the 15th 59 in PGA Tour history on Friday to take the lead at the 3M Open in Blaine, Minn.

SAINTS

up the opposing team’s run game, New Orleans’ defense also graded favorably on metrics such as passing expected points added per play, which accounts for game situation, opponent, and other factors.

The Saints’ pass EPA of -0.09 ranked 12th. And the change in scheme helped. By playing lots of Cover 3 and two-high safety looks, the Saints emphasized taking away the deep shot and forced opponents to take underneath options.

The Saints went from allowing 6.4 passing yards per play in 2024 (ninth-most) to 5.7 (11th-fewest)

last year

New Orleans also cut down on its

explosive plays allowed, at times their Achilles heel in former coach Dennis Allen’s final season.

The lowdown

The Saints may be positive they can make up for Taylor’s absence, but there is still some question over how they go about doing so.

During OTAs and mandatory minicamp, the Saints elected to put second-year safety Jonas Sanker at the “star,” Staley’s version of the slot cornerback position that Taylor occupied That’s putting a lot of trust in the 23-year-old, but New Orleans’ staff strongly believes he’s up for the task. As a rookie, Sanker started every game at safety after Julian Blackmon suffered a season-ending injury in Week 1. They believe he’s smart enough to handle all the different intricacies

the position requires.

But there is a difference between being a good fit on paper and showing that he’s up for the task. And as confident as the Saints are in Sanker, the former third-rounder will have to show he’s capable of protecting the slot as Taylor once did. There are also questions about New Orleans’ depth at corner If Sanker gets hurt, for instance, who is the next man up at star?

Jayden Price and Beanie Bishop took the backup reps during the spring; both were on the practice squad a year ago On the outside, Martin Emerson and Isaac Yiadom provide a veteran presence in case Riley or McKinstry gets hurt, but Emerson is coming off a torn Achilles and Yiadom was benched last season. Still if this group can stay

SEC

Continued from page 1C

Here’s a look at the guys in new places who have created renewed hope at nearly a third of the league:

Pete Golding • Ole Miss

Age: 42 Alma mater: Delta State

Previous job: Ole Miss defensive coordinator (2023-25)

Notable: Already has a 2-1 record with the Rebels. Was promoted to head coach following Lane Kiffin’s departure before the College Football Playoff. Is involved in an NCAA investigation regarding the recruitment of former Clemson linebacker Luke Ferrelli.

Quotable: “There’s always going to be history It’s the ex, right? There’s always going to be the history ” — Golding on replacing Kiffin

Alex Golesh • Auburn

Age: 42

Alma mater: Ohio State

Previous job: South Florida head coach (2023-25)

Notable: Brought 13 players with him from USF to Auburn, including QB Byrum Brown and WRs Chas Nimrod, Keshaun Singleton, Jeremiah Koger and Christian Neptune. Those familiar faces could help ease Golesh’s transition to the SEC.

Quotable: “I don’t set goals. I’ve always thought that that’s a little bit like New Year’s resolutions — they

usually work for a little bit and you kind of keep it moving. I set standards. Our standard is to be the best versions of us every single day.”

Lane Kiffin • LSU

Age: 51

Alma mater: Fresno State

Previous job: Ole Miss head coach (2020-25)

Notable: First head coach at three different SEC schools (Tennessee, Ole Miss, LSU). Gave up social media in May after his teenage son, Knox, challenged him to do so and says “comparisons are the thief of joy.”

Quotable: “We’re all going to die. And so some of the things that we put importance on, we worry about, and what this person says and that, really aren’t going to matter.”

Ryan Silverfield Arkansas

Age: 45

Alma mater: Hampden-Sydney

Former job: Memphis head coach (2020-25)

Notable: Has 80 new players on Arkansas’ roster, including seven from Memphis. First thing he did with the Razorbacks: installed new lightbulbs everywhere and says “it shows changes are coming.” Takes over a Razorbacks team that lost seven games by less than 10 points and five by less than three points last season.

Quotable: “That’s great. Keep doubting me. What did you say my record was against the coaches in this conference?” — After being asked about his 5-1 record against

current SEC coaches.

Will Stein • Kentucky

Age: 36

Alma mater: Louisville

Previous job: Oregon offensive coordinator/QBs coach (2023-25)

Notable: Has a pickleball court in his backyard Grew up in Kentucky and attended Wildcats games at Commonwealth Stadium. Father played at Kentucky, and mother is a UK graduate.

Quotable: “Because of me, to be honest. I know what it takes. I have seen it at the highest levels. You just got to believe, man You just got to put the ball down and play There’s really nothing else to be said.”

Stein when asked why he believes he can win big at Kentucky

Jon Sumrall • Florida

Age: 44 Alma mater: Kentucky

Previous job: Tulane head coach (2024-25)

Notable: Went 43-12 at Troy (202223) and Tulane, reaching a conference title game in each of his first four years as a head coach. Has the fourth-highest winning percentage (.796) of any current FBS coach.

Quotable: “There are no shortcuts. I don’t care if you’ve been winning or you hadn’t been winning. There have been some really good things going on at the University of Florida before my arrival. There have. We haven’t won enough games. We need to win more games. Like 4-8 last year is not OK at the University of Florida. We got to fix that.”

healthy, the Saints have plenty to like. New Orleans’ secondary features observant players who react quickly and understand the complex match-zone concepts that Staley deploys.

Training camp battle to watch

In practices open to the media this offseason, the Saints used only Sanker in Taylor’s old spot. But under coach Kellen Moore last year, New Orleans waited until training camp for position battles to truly begin If that pattern holds, perhaps the Saints will try several combinations with the first-team to see what they have before the season begins.

“Our goal is to get the best five (defensive backs) on the field,” safeties coach Terry Joseph said. There are other combinations

JAMES

Continued from page 1C

ended and that it was his last with the Los Angeles Lakers.

“I was pretty sure I played my last game. I was honest at that last press conference when I said I needed to look at myself and decide if I still love this game,” James wrote. “I still truly love this game, and I have more to give.”

The 41-year-old James is set to sign a modest $8 million, twoyear contract on the veterans’ minimum with the Sixers, according to ESPN. He made nearly $53 million last season.

“I’m not going for money I’m not going for family,” James wrote. “What am I really playing for at this point? I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning.”

James celebrated his decision on Instagram with a career highlight reel set to Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill’s “Dreams and Nightmares,” the adopted sports anthem of city teams. The video ends with the lyric, “hold up, wait a minute Y’all thought I was finished?” and cuts to a 76ers’ logo.

Fanatics already had his No 23 jersey on sale for $125 with delivery not expected until the end of August The company sold out within hours of the announcement.

that the Saints can try One simply entails swapping Blackmon and Sanker, with Sanker moving back to safety and Blackmon playing inside. But it would benefit the Saints to experiment with other looks, given Blackmon’s lengthy injury history That could mean New Orleans trying Riley or McKinstry inside, with Emerson in one of their outside spots. It also remains to be seen whether any of the Saints’ draft picks can contribute this season. Lorenzo Styles, a fifth-round pick, played in the slot at Ohio State but is considered a raw prospect. The same can also be said about seventh-rounder

T.J. Hall, who is seen more as an outside corner

Email Matthew Paras at matt. paras@theadvocate.com

Maxey posted an Instagram story of him celebrating in a gym and yelling “what!? what?!” over the news while Brown wrote on X “#throwtheballup.” Brown wrote the same phrase in his introductory note to Philadelphia, and it has already been branded on billboards throughout the city Pennsylvania Gov Josh Shapiro even proclaimed Friday as LeBron James Day in the state. Turned out with the Brown deal, new 76ers team president Mike Gansey an Ohio prep basketball star with James — was just getting started with his summer of surprises. No move, of course, hits like James’ arrival.

Playing with his home team in Cleveland to the bright lights of Los Angeles and with the talent he took to Miami, James won an NBA championship everywhere he played James left the Lakers after an eight-season run highlighted by the 2020 NBA title. James is the NBA’s oldest active player at 41 and the only player in league history to have a career spanning 23 seasons; this coming season will be his 24th. Speculation has been rampant for more than two months about his future, officially starting in May when the Lakers were eliminated from the NBA playoffs.

“I was pretty sure I played my last game. I was honest at that last press conference when I said I needed to look at myself and decide if I still love this game. I still truly love this game, and I have more to give.”

LeBRON JAMES, NBA star on the end of his 23rd season

Much as James did for Cleveland when he ended a 56-year championship drought for the city by leading the Cavaliers to the title in 2016, he can snap a lengthy title drought for the Sixers.

The Sixers went 45-37 last season and were swept in the second round by the NBA champion New York Knicks.

Most betting sites had the Sixers as 9-1 favorites to win the championship behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks, as of Friday afternoon.

James joins a 76ers team that has not won an NBA championship since 1983 and has not advanced out of the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs since 2001.

The 76ers should boast one of the top starting fives in the NBA with second-year standout VJ Edgecombe, fellow All-Stars Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown — the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, a five-time All-Star and the league’s fourth-leading scorer this past season acquired in a stunning offseason deal with the Celtics.

James’ resume is beyond compare in NBA history He’s a 22-time All-Star, a 21-time All-NBA selection, a fourtime Most Valuable Player, a four-time NBA Finals MVP, a three-time All-Star Game MVP, and was a member of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team.

He’s also coming off a season where he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game. For his career he’s averaged 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.4 assists in more than 1,600 games.

James started his career in Cleveland in 2003 and spent seven seasons with the Cavaliers before heading to Miami for four seasons — where he won his first two NBA titles. He then returned to Cleveland for four more seasons, including that title run in 2016, and left in 2018 for the Lakers. Cleveland and Miami were believed to be on James’ radar again as he weighed this decision.

“Thank you LA. Miami I’ll forever love and Northeast Ohio will always home!” James wrote. He eighty-sixed them all for a shot to win a title with the 76ers, a franchise with a career lineup that includes Wilt Chamberlain, Allen Iverson, Julius Erving, Charles Barkley and, for the next two seasons, LeBron James.

Ty Benefield earned slots on the second-team defense.

TJ Dottery was one of the linebackers voted onto the third team, and Grant Chadwick was the firstteam punter Two voters (out of 164) said LSU will win the SEC crown, which makes it one of eight teams to receive at least one first-place nod. Last season, the Tigers finished 10th in the league after it was picked to finish fourth in the preseason poll. That disappointing result led the school to fire coach Brian Kelly and hire Kiffin a move that made its football program one of the top storylines at SEC media days in Tampa, Florida. Kiffin was a subject of conversation all week before the LSU contingent arrived at the event on Thursday The first-year coach fielded more questions about his controversial decision to leave

“I’ve built my life on pushing out of comfort,” Kiffin said. “And that may not be for everybody and that’s fine. That’s just how I am Everyone talks about the pressure of LSU and what comes with that then there’s the expectations that everybody in the media has that we’re supposed to be this

IV, Georgia First-team specialists PK: Tate Sandell, Oklahoma P: Grant Chadwick, LSU Return specialist: Ryan Niblett, Texas

specialist: Tate Sandell, Oklahoma

snapper: Ben Anderson, Oklahoma Second-team offense QB: Arch Manning, Texas RB: Jadan Baugh,

his recent decision to go quiet on social media, a move that he said started as a challenge from his teenage son, Knox.

PROVIdEd PHOTO By TOdd VAN EMST/SEC

Florida coach Jon Sumrall speaks during SEC media days on Wednesday in Tampa, Fla.

FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Speakerfinds happinessin ‘Theologyof theBody’

The right theology led Evan Lemoine to happiness and his life’scalling.

The Baton Rouge native is an internationally known speaker and expert on “Theology of the Body.” Now living in Mexico, Lemoine recently returned for presentations at St. Agnes Catholic Church, including ayoung adult sessiontitled “Does God Want Me Happy? Who IAmand Who God is Based on the Theology of the Body.”

“The Theology of the Body gave me the understandingthat God calls me to happiness anda very intimate relationship with him,” said Lemoine, aCatholic High and LSU graduate.

Based on aseries of 129 teachings developed by Pope John Paul II, Theology of the Body presents God’splan for human love, sexuality and dignity

“The body and only the body is capable of making visible the invisible,the divine spiritual and the divine. It transfers early reality,the mystery of God, to all eternity,” Lemoine said, quoting John Paul II. Lemoine, 44, explained that the teachings stress God’sdesires for people to experience alife of abundance, not merely enduresacrifice and suffering.

“He wantshappiness,” Lemoine said. “He wants his glory for us here on earth and in heaven. It’snot just aboutsucking it up until we die and hope it was all worth it.”

The teachings helped transform Lemoine’slife as a 21-year-old LSU student.

Lemoine said his world was “rocked” in high school when his parentsseparated briefly After they reconciled, Lemoine asked his father how theywere able to rebuildthe marriage.

“He said, ‘You have twooptions: Youcan either build your house on sand, or you can build it on solid rock,’”Lemoine recalled. “’For the first 25 yearsofour marriage, we built it on sand, and you saw what

ä See FAITH, page 6C

As the school year starts, we’re thinkingabout thepeoplewho stand at the front of the room, who open classroom doorswith asmile. Sometimes astranger in August becomes the person a student never forgets. Certain teachers saysomething on arandom October afternoon and studentsrepeat it for decades to come —orateacher mayleadbyexample and give in waysthat changes lives. We invite readers to tell us about that teacher who made all the difference: write aletter directly to the teacher and send it to us. Or tell the story plain:a name, aclassroomand the moment that stuck. We’relooking forthe lessons that have outlasted the chalkboard(or the dry-erase board,as the case maybe). Send your letter or story,includingthe name of the teacher, name of school, city andyear to jan.risher@ theadvocate.com by 2 p.m. July 28. Photos of the teacher arealso welcome.

Cutie-pie Cognac takes aselfie

withreporter Maddie Scott after hanging out for afew hours.

DOG dATE

nods off while watching ‘Couragethe Cowardly dog.’

pit bull mix, wasadopted from the Companion Animal

N.O. team off andrunning on ‘Great Food TruckRace’

BY JUDY BERGERON Staff writer

Learning on the job is onething; learning while $50,000 isonthe line is quite another That’sthe position aNew Orleans restaurant family found themselves in when theywere recruited for the

through the Great Smoky Mountains, stopping in cities withvibrant food scenes— allwhile adding unexpected twists and turns from the very first mile,” theshow synopsis states. “Every week, the teams must prove their cooking expertise, marketing savvy andselling skills in themed challenges to beat their rivals.” The last team standing takes home thedough. The New Orleans hopefuls of Stuph’d Beignetsand Burgers DuanaLawrence andher daughter, Dionne Lewis, along with Lewis’father, Sherman Clarke —had no food truck experience previous to filming

BYMADDIESCOTT taff writer

It was arainy Monday afternoon, and Iwas sitting n the couch watching “Courage the Cowardly Dog” with a65-pound furball pure of heart.

Meet Cognac, a7-to8-year-old pit bull mix, who I met through theDate-A-Dog program at Companion Animal Alliance in Baton Rouge. The program tranitioned to include public participation in January,alowinganimal lovers to take adog outfor adate,on utings like awalk around the LSU lakes, grabbing a up cuporhanging out at home.

For Cognac and I, it was watching cartoons on a loomysummer afternoon. He laid on the couch, noding off halfwaythrough an episode of “Courage the Cowardly Dog”while cuddling aSaints blanket that I aught in this year’sSpanish Town parade.

CAA is anonprofit that began in 2010 and is the only pen-intake shelter in East Baton Rouge Parish. The helter has acontract withEast Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control, and by law,CAA can’tturn any animals away unless they’re found outside of the parish, ccording to Collins Fairley,programsdirector at CAA.This includes livestock, gerbils, rabbits, ferrets, reptiles, birds and more.

Fairley oversees ahandful of programs, including

ä See DOG, page 6C

son. “Host Tyler Florence will lead theroute starting in Nashville and

ä See RACE, page 6C

PROVIdEd PHOTOFROMFOOd NETWORK duana Lawrence, fromleft, dionne Lewisand Sherman Clarke are Team Stuph’donthisseason of ‘The Great Food TruckRace.’

STAFF PHOTOSByMAddIESCOTT Cognac

Cognac,a

Alliance last week.

DOG

Continued from page 5C

Date-A-Dog, which began about three and a half years ago as a volunteer-only program during COVID. In January, the program opened to anyone interested.

“We wanted more of our animals to get outside of these four walls and be seen,” Fairley said. “And by being seen while they’re out there, we’re learning about them. You’re going to see personality traits that you just do not see in this shelter.”

Fairley said the shelter’s chaotic environment can start to weigh on the animals physically, so with this program, dogs can catch a break.

“Any dog that’s been in the shelter for over 30 days, we’re going to start working a little harder to find placement, because every 30 days, you’re going to start to see behaviors compound,” she said. “You’re going to start to see physical changes in the dog.”

How to sign up

To partake in the DateA-Dog program, those interested can visit CAA at 2550 Gourrier Ave., fill out a Google form (which is accessible through a QR code

encourages participants to fill out a “report card,” an online form that asks how the date went. Where did you go? How were the dog’s leash manners? Did your date know any commands?

Cognac the cutie-pie

During my day with Cognac, the sky couldn’t decide whether it wanted to rain or not, so we kept busy with indoor activities, other than a short walk around the neighborhood.

near the front doors), watch a quick orientation video and pay a $5 participation fee.

“That participation fee is a donation,” Fairley said. “It comes back to our shelter and ideally allows us to keep the supplies needed for Date-A-Dog but also to our enrichment program.”

From there, participants get to pick a dog from a curated list. To get on the list, dogs must meet three criteria: they must be spayed or neutered, microchipped and rabies vaccinated. Dogs also make the list based off length of stay

Once both the human and dog are date-ready, participants can pick up a pooch during CAA’s operating hours. Be sure to drop your date back off by 5 p.m.

After the date, the shelter

I saw a lot of personality in Cognac. He’s a laid-back sweetheart who followed me wherever I went. When I washed dishes, he joined, plopping on the kitchen floor until I was done. When I sat next to him, he always rolled onto his side to ask for belly rubs.

I tried to give him a Slowpoke Pokémon stuffy, but he wasn’t interested. Cartoons seemed to suffice.

I’m happy to report that Cognac was adopted on July 18, just five days after our date If you’re interested in taking other dogs out on a date, visit Companion Animal Alliance. Or better yet, adopt!

Companion Animal Alliance, 2550 Gourrier Ave., Baton Rouge. Date-A-Dog pickups are available noon to 4 p.m Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday

duana Lawrence races to finish a cooking challenge on ‘The

19 premieres on Sunday on Food

RACE

Continued from page 5C

“Race” in April.

“That was the really exciting part about it all,” said Lawrence, 45, on a group call on Monday “That was our first time doing a food truck or being on a food truck.” The series’ casting team reached out to the trio after seeing a review on social media about their St. Claude Avenue eatery, which they’ve operated for 10 years. The menu features traditional beignets, sweet-stuffed beignets (Oreo, sweet potato pie and praline cheesecake among the choices), and savory beignets (veggie, barbecue beef, and surf and turf.) A regular burger is available on the menu, but there’s also cheddar and jalapeño-stuffed burgers, hot sausage-stuffed burgers, shrimp-stuffed burgers and more.

The “stuffed-ness” is what makes the burgers stand out, Clarke, 55, said Stuph’d Beignets and Burgers is a small operation five employees and limited hours right now The colorful, eclectic dining area’s walls spotlight New Orleans artists, including Sheila Bankston’s (@EyezArtwork) paintings and a mural by Journey Allen. With only their hometaught culinary skills, the Stuph’d team headed for “Race’s” starting line along with fellow contestants: Bug & Bear’s Cannoli, Los Angeles (Joseph Serpico, Matthew Wilson, Dina Pecci); Cason Funnel Cakes, Richmond, Virginia (Terrance Cason, Andre Cason, Morris Green); Deadproof Pizza Co., Derry, New Hampshire (Thomas Lomanno, Dante Marino, Lisa Bosteels); Grounds Donut House, Bronx, New York (Carmela Varotta, Gabriella Amoroso, Stephanie Hill); Hele Rolls, Kapolei, Hawaii (Brit-

Seventh-day Adventist Grill & Chill event

Berean Seventh-day Adventist Church, 5100 Osborne Ave., Baton Rouge, will host a free Community Grill & Chill from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday The evening will offer grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, chilled watermelon, assorted beverages, live and recorded music, fun activities for all ages and prayer for those who desire it. The community is invited.

Missionary event set for Aug. 4-6

First Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church, 575

RELIGION BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

tany Lopez, Jasmine Milam, Mari Wills); Jollof Bowl, Baltimore, Maryland (Ethel Kamara, Andrea Kamara, Lekan Oketunji); and Waffadilla, Hampshire, Illinois (Shawn Peterson, Madison Peterson, Gavin Mari).

”We had a blast. It was tiring. It was filled with lessons,” LSU graduate Lewis, 26, said. “It showed us how much we can come together and make something happen when we really want to.”

Veteran TV food personality and restaurateur Florence also passed along some knowledge.

“I understand chef talk now T-Man (Florence) has taught me so much chef talk,” Lewis said. “I understand the importance of differences in textures and colors. All of that matters. I never thought about any of that stuff prior to meeting Chef Tyler.”

Email Judy Bergeron at jbergeron@theadvocate. com.

By The Associated Press

Today is Saturday

July 25, the 206th day of 2026. There are 159 days left in the year

Today in History:

On July 25, 1972, the notorious Tuskegee syphilis experiment came to light as The Associated Press reported that for the previous four decades, the U.S. Public Health Service, in conjunction with the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, had been allowing poor, rural Black male patients with syphilis to go without treatment, even allowing more than 100 of them to die, as a way of studying the disease.

Also on this date:

In 1866, Ulysses S. Grant was named General of the Army of the United States, the first officer to hold the rank.

In 1898, U.S. military forces landed in Guánica, Puerto Rico, during the Spanish-American War; Puerto Rico would become a self-governing U.S. commonwealth with the adoption of a constitution.

In 1943, Benito Mussolini was dismissed as premier of Italy by King Victor Emmanuel III, and placed under arrest. (He was later rescued by the Nazis and reasserted his authority.)

In 1946, the United States detonated an atomic bomb near Bikini Atoll in the Pacific in the first underwater test of the device.

In 1956, the Italian liner SS Andrea Doria collided with the Swedish passen-

FAITH

Continued from page 5C

happened. Now we’re built on rock, and that rock is having God at the center and learning how to love one another the way God loves.’”

The father then introduced him to Theology of the Body

“It echoed so deeply in my heart,” he said. “This is what my desires were

Handy

Education St., Baton Rouge, will host a revival TuesdayThursday, Aug. 4-6, with prayer, praise and worship from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., followed by the revival service at 7 p.m. each evening. The guest speaker for all three nights will be the Rev Ricardo L. Handy Sr of Mount Zion Inner-City Church, Plaquemine. The revival theme is “You Must Leave the Boat,” based on Matthew 4:18-22. The Rev Henry J. Brown is the host pastor Partici-

TODAY IN HISTORY

ger ship Stockholm off the New England coast late at night and began sinking; 51 people — 46 from the Andrea Doria, five from the Stockholm — were killed. (The Andrea Doria capsized and sank the following morning.)

In 1960, a Woolworth’s store in Greensboro, North Carolina, that had been the scene of nearly six months of sit-in protests against its Whites-only lunch counter, dropped its segregation policy

In 1978, Louise Joy Brown, the first “test tube baby,” was born in Oldham, England; she’d been conceived through the technique of in vitro fertilization.

In 1994, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Jordan’s King Hussein signed a declaration at the White House ending their countries’ 46-year-old formal state of war

In 2000, a New Yorkbound Air France Concorde crashed outside Paris shortly after takeoff, killing all 109 people on board and four people on the ground; it was the firstever crash of the supersonic jet.

In 2010, the online whistleblower WikiLeaks posted some 90,000 leaked U.S. military records that amounted to a blow-byblow account of the Afghanistan War, including unreported incidents of Afghan civilian killings as well as covert operations against Taliban figures.

In 2019, President Donald Trump had a second

screaming at me, and I just was feeding my desires and appetite for something that was never going to satisfy me.”

His understanding deepened after he attended a course in Baton Rouge by renowned author Christopher West, president of Theology of the Body Institute in Philadelphia.

“(West) said at the end of the course that some people here might feel the call to spend the rest of their lives diving deep into this

pating churches include Star of Bethlehem Baptist Church and Greater Beulah Baptist Church. The public is invited.

Greater Mt. Carmel Back 2 School Bash

Greater Mt. Carmel Baptist Church of Scotlandville, 1414 Sora St., will host its annual Back 2 School Bash from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1. Sponsored by the ABWM Sisterhood Ministry, this year’s school supply giveaway is themed “Preparing Our Youth for a Brighter Tomorrow.” For more information, call (225) 775-7372.

phone call with the new Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy during which he solicited Zelenskyy’s help in gathering potentially damaging information about former Vice President Joe Biden; that night, a staff member at the White House Office of Management and Budget signed a document that officially put military aid for Ukraine on hold. In 2024, Mexican drug cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, who eluded authorities for decades, was duped into flying into the U.S., where he was arrested alongside a son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. Zambada was sought under U.S. efforts to dismantle the Sinaloa cartel responsible for large-scale drug trafficking across the Mexico-U.S. border Today’s birthdays: Folk-pop singer-musician Bruce Woodley (The Seekers) is 84. Rock musician Jim McCarty (The Yardbirds) is 83. Reggae singer Rita Marley is 80. Musician Verdine White (Earth, Wind & Fire) is 75. Modelactor Iman is 71. Rock musician Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) is 68. Celebrity chef/TV personality Geoffrey Zakarian is 67. Actor Matt LeBlanc is 59. Actor Wendy Raquel Robinson is 59. Actor David Denman is 53. Actor Jay R. Ferguson is 52. Actor James Lafferty (TV: “One Tree Hill”) is 41. Actor Meg Donnelly (TV: “American Housewife”) is 26. Actor Mason Cook is 26.

and spread it around the world, and I felt that call,” Lemoine said. Since 2008, he has served with the Theology of the Body Institute, presenting its teachings worldwide in English and Spanish. In 2013, Lemoine helped found the Amar al Máximo Institute, a Catholic educational ministry in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Contact Terry Robinson at terryrobinson622@gmail. com.

STAFF PHOTOS By MAddIE SCOTT

Cognac was recently adopted from the Companion Animal Alliance in Baton Rouge.

Companion Animal Alliance gives volunteers a drawstring bag with two bowls, waste bag a resource card, plus the collar leash and ‘adopt me’ bandana worn by the pup.

PROVIdEd PHOTO FROM FOOd NETWORK

Great Food Truck Race.’ Season

Network

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Signupfor an event that you feel passionate about,and do your part. With an open mind and acreative spirit, you will contribute plenty anddrum up some enthusiasm from those in apositiontohelp

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Keep your eye on your target. Emotions will surface if you aren'tarticulate regarding what you can do. Focus on money matters, investments anddebt. Jointventures maytempt you.

LIBRA (Sept.23-Oct. 23) Do what you say and say what you do. Letting your actions speak for you will helpyou build astellar reputation as well as thefundamentals forgood relationships withfamily, friends and associates.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) You'll fall short if youaren't reasonableorcostefficient or don'tfollow through. Akind word will make adifferencetothose wholook up to you or need your help.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov.23-Dec. 21) Achange will turninto more than you bargained for.Takeastepbackand monitor promises, reactions and what'spossible before you agree to ajoint venture or investment.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Reach out, pay back, turn any wrong into aright and practice what you preach. It's never toolate to take the positive path and be the one to rectify problems. Step into the spotlight.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20-Feb. 19) Envision the life you want and the relationships

that make you happy, and adjust your schedule to fulfill your heart'sdesires. Opportunity is apparent, but you must do your part.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Reach out to those who can offer insight into what's available. Someone will captivate your attention, but before you trust them or make acommitment, verify facts and the person'sintegrity.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Do something creative. Invest time in learning about and producing something that brings you joy, such as extra cash, or pleases someone you love. Achange is on the horizon.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Leave nothing to the imagination. Figure out every angle, situation and potential loss or gainthat will manifestdue to your actions. Take amoment to consider how your wordswill affect others.

GEMINI (May 21-June20) Achange is overdue. Research, pick apath and begin your journey. Doors will open if you start conversations with people who have experienceand insight into what you wanttopursue.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) If youquestion everything, you will discover how to use your insight and innovation to mastermind your waytoabetterheadspace. Attitude can change everything.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. ©2026 by NEA, Inc dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created fromquotations by famous people,past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands foranother.

TODAy'S CLUE:L EQUALS O

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 levelofthe Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

THewiZard oF id

BLondie

BaBY BLueS

Hi and LoiS

CurTiS

Bridge

BY PHILLIP ALDER

CharlesBaudouin said, “No matter howhard youworkfor success, if your thought is saturated with the fear of failure, it will kill yourefforts,neutralizeyour endeavors and make success impossible.” That can apply at the bridge table. In today’s deal, though, South hastotry to neutralize the threat of East’s heart suit. Southisinthreeno-trumpandWestleads the heart six. Whatshould declarer do?

South starts with seven top tricks: one spade,one heart(given the lead), four diamonds andone club. At leasttwo more tricks areavailable from theclub suit. But is there any danger?

If, at trick one, declarer plays low from the dummy and wins East’s nine withhis king, then, when he takes the losing club finesse, West will lead his second heart and the defenders will win one club and four hearts.

The result will be the same if South plays dummy’s heart 10 and takes East’s jack with his king. Instead, declarer should call fordummy’squeen.Easthastotakethetrickwith his ace; otherwise, South gets two heart tricks. But what does Eastdonow?

If he leadsanother heart, he gives declarertwotricksinthesuit.Soheshifts to the spade king. South could win that trick, but does better to duck it. Whateverhappensafterthat,declarertakesat leastonespade,oneheart,fourdiamonds and three clubs (and can squeezeEastin the majors foranovertrick).

Finally, the curious may work out how East-West can defeat three no-trumpif declarerallowsEasttowintrickonewith his heart nine.

©2026 by NEA, Inc., dist.

By Andrews McMeel Syndication

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

Previous answers:

word game

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

toDAY’s WoRD FERVIDLY: FUR-vid-lee: With extremefeeling.

Average mark 37 words Time limit 60 minutes

Canyou find 54 or morewords in FERVIDLY?

YEstERDAY’s WoRD —DEMEAns

dame damn dean deem demean dense ease edema emend enema made

mane manse mead mean mend mesa amen amend name need same sand sane seam seamed seamen sedan seed seem seen send

and prayed.” Luke5:16

wuzzles

loCKhorNs

If Jesus prayed we certainlyneed to thesame and more. G.E.Dean

marmaduKe

Bizarro

hagar the horriBle

Pearls Before swiNe

garfield

B.C.

PiCKles hidato

mallard fillmore