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M o n d ay, J u ly 27, 2026

New Iberia’s Baits Motel casting a net for visitors

$2.00X

Committee to review education funding formula

Some concerned about makeup of board, short time frame

BY PATRICK WALL

Staff writer

PHOTOS By LEE BALL

Mickey and Tiffany Bellot have transformed a property into the Baits Motel in New Iberia. Each room has been decorated to reflect its own theme. willingness to do the work themCouple’s quirky spot and selves, they learned the ropes from pouring creativity into short-term plays a part in rental properties near the heart of New Iberia’s Main Street — and revitalizing the now, they are preparing to open a new motel that feels like a classic, downtown area quirky roadside stop.

Baits Motel, at 129 Burke St., along Bayou Teche backs onto the Bayou Teche and is

BY JOANNA BROWN

Staff writer

Southwest Louisiana is home to a number of small towns where Acadiana’s culture truly shines — but, outside of chain hotels and shortterm rentals, there are not that many places for visitors to stay for a local experience.

Mickey and Tiffany Bellott want visitors to experience New Iberia the way locals do. Their answer is Baits Motel, a colorful roadsidestyle motel filled with Louisiana history, art and plenty of inside jokes.

A couple with a bold sense of style

U.S. Troy Carter, d-New Orleans, has announced his candidacy for Congressional Black Caucus chair.

STAFF PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

WEATHER HIGH 94 LOW 77 PAGE 6A

two blocks from Bouligny Plaza, near spots like the Shadows-on-theTeche museum, Victor’s Cafeteria, Bambino’s Burgers and New Iberia City Park. Events like the Spanish Festival and Books Along the Teche Literary Festival regularly take over downtown, with the rooms of this colorful little motel opening to all of the activity outside.

The motel’s name is a play on the fictional Bates Motel from “Psycho,” replacing “Bates” with “Baits” as a nod to south Louisiana fishing culture.

According to Tiffany Bellott, they

Tiffany, left, and Mickey Bellott have played a role in revitalizing New Iberia’s downtown area with their new ä See MOTEL, page 4A motel.

Beginning next month, 15 people could decide the future of school funding in Louisiana.

Lawmakers established the school-funding task force with a unanimous vote on the last day of the legislative session in June. It was pitched as a way to increase pay for teachers, who once again this year received one-time stipends instead of permanent raises.

But the committee, which is scheduled to begin meeting Aug. 13, has a far more sweeping mission than simply to find more money for teachers.

Its job is to conduct a “top-to-bottom review” of the more than 30-year-old formula that determines how much state funding every public school in Louisiana receives, according to the resolution establishing the task force. Called the Minimum Foundation Program, the formula doles out about $4 billion annually, which schools use to pay teachers, purchase textbooks, operate buses, provide special education services and much more.

After studying the MFP, the committee must recommend a “revised or replacement formula” by Landry Jan. 1, according to the resolution.

If their proposals are adopted, these 15 people will have overhauled the decades-old funding system in a matter of months.

By next year, “hopefully we’ll have a brand-new MFP — a new dawn — in Louisiana,” Gov. Jeff Landry said in June when he and legislative leaders formed the task force.

But as the group gets set to convene, public education advocates are raising concerns.

While most agree that the funding formula needs to be updated, they argue that the five-month timeline is too condensed. They also question why the committee includes 10 lawmakers and someone from the Governor’s Office, but just four people representing education groups.

Other states have engaged in lengthy schoolfunding reviews before overhauling their systems. Tennessee’s review process involved 18

ä See FUNDING, page 5A

Carter interested in leading Black caucus He’s currently No. 2 in Capitol group

BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer

WASHINGTON — New Orleans Democratic U.S. Rep. Troy Carter is the first candidate running for chair of the Congressional Black Caucus — arguing that he wants the influential caucus on Capitol Hill to work more effectively in pushing policies that help everyday people.

“I’m absolutely going to run, and (I’m) hopeful that I will have the support of

my colleagues to lead this very powerful and significant caucus,” Carter said Thursday.

In his third two-year term in the U.S. House, Carter is in the No. 2 role as first vice chair for the Congressional Black Caucus and well-positioned to take over from Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., who is stepping down.

“The CBC is more than a caucus. It is a powerful voice for millions of African Americans and for all people who have too often been overlooked, underserved or denied equal opportunity. Should my colleagues entrust me with this responsibility, I will lead with humility, cour-

age and an unwavering commitment to liberty, justice, equality and opportunity for all,” Carter, 62, said in an interview.

The election for caucus chair will be held after the Nov. 3 midterm elections, and the new leader will take office in January.

Carter believes the caucus is growing into a stronger influence in policy debates.

“I’ve worked very hard to be a bridgebuilder within the caucus and outside the caucus. And I think now more than ever, it’s what we need in Washington,” Carter

Classified .....................4B Living............................5C Nation-World ................2A Comics-Puzzles .....7C-9C Lottery ..........................4B Opinion ........................2B Commentary ................3B Metro ...........................1B Sports ..........................1C

ä See CARTER, page 5A

102Nd yEAR, NO. 27

2A ● Monday, July 27, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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U.S. and Iran pause attacks after days of escalation

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Injunction upheld to block federal voter list

A federal appeals court has upheld a ruling that in nearly half of U.S. states halted President Donald Trump’s executive order to create a federal list of eligible voters and limit delivery of mail ballots only to people on that list.

The ruling Saturday by judges of the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Trump administration’s effort to move forward with the mail-in voting restrictions in 23 U.S. states that sued ahead of November’s midterm elections.

Trump issued an executive order in March for the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the commissioner of the Social Security Administration to create a “state citizenship list” of eligible voters. It also ordered the U.S. Postal Service to deliver mail ballots only to people on that list.

Democratic officials in 23 states and the District of Columbia challenged Trump’s order in a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Boston. They argued that Trump’s order was unconstitutional because the states and Congress, not the president, have the authority to set election rules.

U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani, who was nominated by Democratic President Barack Obama, agreed and halted Trump’s order from being implemented for the Nov. 3 elections — but only in the states that have sued.

Sweltering heat wave grips U.S. another day At least 40 million people were under extreme heat warnings across central and southern parts of the United States on Sunday as high temperatures and severe humidity gripped large swaths of the country for a second straight day.

Heat indexes exceeding 105 degrees stretched from Minnesota down to Mississippi, extending west into southern California and Nevada. Parts of the Southwest could see highs of 120 degrees Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

Meteorologists said the sweltering weather was the result of another heat dome — a phenomenon in which atmospheric conditions trap heat, accentuating and prolonging already high temperatures “Right now, it’s affecting a lot of people right in the middle of the country,” said Bob Oravec, an NWS meteorologist. “The core of the heat sinks southward by early next week.”

The moist air was also producing other volatility around the top of the heat dome, including the risk of severe thunderstorms, flash flooding and hail around the Great Lakes on Sunday. The potential for heavy storms was expected to move east in the coming days.

“If you have a heat dome in one part of the country, you’ll have a different corresponding weather in another part,” Oravec said.

“It’s all related.”

Temporary relief will come to the central U.S. toward the middle of the week, but high temperatures could return by the weekend, he noted.

Raúl Castro absent from Cuba celebration HAVANA — Cuba held a traditional rally on Sunday to commemorate one of the revolution’s most important anniversaries but former President Raúl Castro was conspicuously absent.

It was the first time in at least three decades that 95-year-old Castro did not attend the event, and no explanation was given.

President Miguel Díaz-Canel read a congratulatory message from Castro to his compatriots at the rally, held in the eastern city of Pinar del Río.

The annual event commemorates the July 26, 1953, assault led by brothers Fidel and Raúl Castro on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes barracks in Cuba’s eastern region. The military action against former dictator Fulgencio Batista failed, but it marked the beginning of the revolutionary struggle that culminated on Jan. 1, 1959.

Raúl Castro’s last public appearances were in June, during an event to establish the Ministry of the Interior, and on May 1 to celebrate Labor Day.

BY SAMY MAGDY and CARA ANNA Associated Press

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By EBRAHIM NOROOZI

People gather outside the Brandenburg Gate on Sunday for a demonstration in support of the LGBTQ+ community after a car rammed into a crowd at the Pride March in Berlin on Saturday night.

Deadly Berlin Pride attack suspect killed

Ballout was tracked down himself from the militant group Police say German around 6 p.m. Sunday at a garden and no actual threat had ever main Spandau, a Berlin suburb, the terialized. citizen sought to city’s police department wrote on He was released from detenThey said he apparently ran tion pending the appeal. join terrorist group X.toward officers with a sharp inBerlin’s Pride festival is one of

BY GEIR MOULSON, KIRSTEN GRIESHABER and STEFANIE DAZIO Associated Press

BERLIN — The suspect in the deadly Berlin Pride attack that left one person dead and 29 injured was shot and killed by police during a confrontation on Sunday in a suburb of the city, authorities said.

Abdul Ballout, a German citizen with Lebanese roots, was killed following a search that lasted nearly 24 hours after the attack in downtown Berlin. Prosecutors said he had previously sought to join the militant Islamic State group.

Ballout was suspected of driving a van into a crowd near Berlin’s Pride festival Saturday night before apparently stabbing others with a machete in what authorities believe was an Islamic extremist terror attack.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the attack occurred a few hundred yards from a party near the Brandenburg Gate that was supposed to close out the city’s Pride festival.

strument, and police fired at least one shot. He died at the scene.

Ballout was born in Germany, the minister said. His mother was naturalized in 2002, three years before he was born.

Ballout traveled to Lebanon in 2025 with the goal of going to Syria to join the Islamic State group, Berlin prosecutors said Sunday.

There, he made contact with several people who were presumed members of the militant group — or at least he believed them to be, prosecutors said.

In May, a juvenile court in Berlin convicted Ballout of preparing a serious act of violence endangering the state, as well as publishing Islamic State propaganda on his Instagram account and other charges, prosecutors said.

The court handed down a suspended sentence of one year and 10 months in youth custody, which Berlin prosecutors had appealed.

The court said it took Ballout’s months of pretrial detention in Germany and Lebanon into account. It also said it considered that Ballout had admitted to the crimes, appeared to distance

Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ celebrations.

According to police, a white van drove into the Tiergarten park about 10 p.m. and hit several people before colliding with a tree. The closing party at the Pride festival, known as Christopher Street Day, was ongoing at the time next to the Brandenburg Gate, a short distance away.

Police said a woman was killed.

On Sunday afternoon, hundreds of mourners gathered at a memorial at the iconic gate. They hugged each other and laid down flowers, candles, rainbow flags and homemade signs, including a cardboard one that said: “the only thing more powerful than hate is love.”

Hundreds of thousands had come to Berlin to celebrate on Saturday, though it’s unclear how many were still at the festival by late evening. It’s one of Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ celebrations.

“We are simply stunned by what happened,” said Andre Lehmann, a top official with the main national LGBTQ+ association, LSVD+. “This suspected attack hits the heart of the queer community.”

2 West Bank mosques set on fire amid surge in settler violence

BY MELANIE LIDMAN Associated Press

TEL AVIV, Israel — Two mosques in the Israelioccupied West Bank were set on fire overnight in an apparent Israeli settler attack, officials said Sunday, after a spate of deadly violence that killed four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers.

Palestinians and the Israeli opposition accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hard-line government of turning a blind eye to attacks by settlers against Palestinians, which threaten to ignite widespread violence across the territory.

Israeli soldiers and police fanned out across the West Bank after the attack, closing off major roads and blocking access to a hospital where it said two militants were hiding.

Israel also arrested more than 70 Palestinians over the weekend as they attempted to contain the escalating violence.

The mosques, in the villages of Qusra and Kour in the northern West Bank, suffered extensive damage in the fires.

In Qusra, the attackers spray-painted “revenge Benayahu,” referring to one of the Israeli soldiers killed on Friday, and “the land of Israel is redeemed

CAIRO — The United States and Iran paused their attacks for a second straight day Sunday, as efforts continued to bring them back to negotiations on an interim ceasefire deal largely undermined by recent exchanges of fire.

It was not clear why the U.S. has paused after targeting Iranian coastal areas and infrastructure in a nearly two-week escalation sparked by Iran’s firing at ships trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz. The Pentagon did not respond to questions.

President Donald Trump is “giving talks some space. He’s giving it a little bit of room,” Mike Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told Fox News.

“We’ve had both Oman and Iran, and a number of our other negotiators, engaged at every level, from the most senior levels all the way down to the technical level over the past few weeks, and particularly in the past few days.”

Waltz dismissed the idea that the U.S. stockpile of interceptors crucial in defending against Iranian attacks is running low, but experts have questioned how long both the U.S. and Iran can afford to keep up attacks.

Since the U.S. has halted attacks for the past two nights, Iran has as well, its army spokesperson told Iran’s state TV on Sunday. Tehran in recent days has counterattacked against countries in the region hosting U.S. military forces, killing at least three service members at a base in Jordan and one in Iraq.

The 60-day period that began when the interim deal was signed by both countries in mid-June is well into its second half, and major issues that were meant to be negotiated — notably Iran’s nuclear program at the heart of tensions — remain set aside as mediators try to keep both sides talking.

A regional official involved in mediation efforts said diplomacy was underway and that a pause in U.S. and Iranian strikes was a “positive signal that helps their efforts to de-escalate.”

The official said both countries want to return to the interim ceasefire deal and that a compromise being negotiated centers on having Iran run vessel transit through the Strait of Hormuz with fewer restrictions on ships.

Commercial shipping traffic on the Strait of Hormuz was at a three-week low, a maritime body overseen by the U.S. Navy said Sunday, adding that no new attacks had been confirmed in the past 72 hours.

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ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By LEO CORREA

A Palestinian man prays Sunday inside a mosque that was burned during an attack by Israeli settlers early in the morning in the West Bank village of Qusra. with blood.” The soldier lived in a nearby settlement.

Ahmed Abu Mahmoud, 64, who lives next to the Qusra mosque, said he heard noises at 3 a.m. and discovered the mosque had been set on fire. The fire was too large for him to fight on his own, so he called for help.

“The military arrived here, saw with their own eyes and then left,” Mahmoud said.

Security footage in Kour obtained by The Associated Press showed three people dressed in civilian clothes setting off a large explosion in the entrance of the mosque in the middle of the night.

On Sunday, residents held prayers despite damage to the entrance.

Israel’s military said it was working with police to investigate the mosque attack.

“The security forces strongly condemn incidents of this kind, including harm to religious sites, and will continue to act decisively to maintain security and public order in the area,” it said.

The Israeli army often announces investigations into violence against Palestinians but rarely makes arrests or prosecutes settlers involved in violence.

The military also reported it had sealed the homes of two Palestinian militants suspected of killing the soldiers in preparation for their demolition.

Israel often demolishes the homes of attackers, claiming it deters future attacks.

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4A ● Monday, July 27, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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MOTEL

Continued from page 1A

PHOTOS By LEE BALL

The Baits Motel overlooks the Bayou Teche on July 8.

NEW IBERIA Bayou Tec

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“We want to share things that are related to our culture, our resources, our history, our people in the area.”

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had just finished watching the series when her husband suggested the name for their building — but spelled like fishing bait. The sign on the top of the motel looks like a fishing bobber, which is a great introduction to how the Bellotts’ sense of humor shines through this revitalization project.

“Our very first plan was nothing like this,” said Tiffany Bellott, walking through rooms that feature vintage finds, themed art and plenty of local flavor. “We used to stay in motels and take pictures of ideas, and it was going to be more sleek, you know, with a desk and a TV. “This just kind of progressed. We would find things and think, ‘That would look good in this room.’”

In other words, no jump scares at this getaway.

Rooms feature themes like Mardi Gras, gumbo and New Iberia’s historic Mount Carmel Academy. They are starting to look for items — like a three-legged taxidermy raccoon — for a Dave Robicheaux-themed room, paying homage to New Iberia author James Lee Burke.

“Those doors came from a speakeasy they were tearing down in St. Martinville,” said Mickey Bellot, pointing out a colorful tableau in the motel’s Mardi Gras room.

The Baits Motel building has had several different lives — from a mid-century ice cream parlor, to serving the community as a Gulotta’s workwear shop in the 1960s and ’70s (Gulotta’s is still open in New Iberia, at 916 S. Lewis St.) More recently, it housed a Pack N Mail business and dental offices.

The Bellotts purchased the building seven years ago and started the work to turn it into a motel.

With several rooms finished, they plan to begin taking reservations by late summer, with more progress to come — like comfortable patios that back down to the bayou, and future plans for a couple of family-sized suites in the unfinished section of the building.

“This is a mega-micro resort,” according to Mickey Bellott, whose ideas for the property include using a lot of old water skis he has in storage to create a fence for an outdoor shower near the bayou.

The building already resembles a gallery, or maybe an artists’ co-op, with rooms made up of art pieces and found materials turned into unique fixtures, like an old, pitted Magnalite pot turned into a sink basin. They also plan to host art shows and other events at Baits Motel, creating a business that continually evolves with the community, instead of a blank-slate room for the night.

“We want to share things that are related to our culture, our resources, our history, our people in the area,” said Mickey Bellott. On top of running their rentals in New Iberia and working on the motel, the couple started a “Better Swamps and Gar-

t.

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Baits Motel

Pet er

MICKEy BELLOTT, owner of the Baits Motel

St. Staff map

The lobby of the Baits Motel has paddleboard for a countertop. retired from her nursing career, but plans to do all the housekeeping at the motel, and Mickey Bellott is still working at his business, Royal Security in New Iberia.

For this couple, more free time is likely to involve a new project.

“I would love to buy an old school bus and make it our ‘Better Swamps and Gardens’ tour bus. Use it for the art co-op, art shows, going camping, going to cook-offs and stuff like that,” said Mickey Bellot, who is also examining how to restore old shipping containers into usable, unique space behind the motel.

“It’s a lot of work, but if the numbers work out, it’ll pay for itself. Hopefully, The Mount Carmel room at the Baits Motel was decorated by Mickey and Tiffany Bellott. give us enough to retire.

That’s the goal — to build window during community something for our granddens” LLC — another pun — der and Steve Seneca. to make and sell merchanThe Bellotts’ grandsons events to sell popsicles. kids.” dise out of the art and retail have already positioned Once the motel is up and shop in the motel’s lobby, themselves as future propri- running, retirement might Email Joanna Brown which features some local etors of Baits Motel, known finally be on the horizon — at joanna.brown@ artists like Paul Schexnay- for popping out of the lobby Tiffany Bellott recently theadvocate.com.

The Mardi Gras bathroom is seen at the Baits Motel.

Each room and bathroom of the motel has its own theme like the Sportsman’s Paradise room seen here on July 8.

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CARTER

Continued from page 1A said. “People that are able to work within the caucus, but also recognize that the caucus makes up one part of the Congress. Our responsibility is to use that force to build with other forces to advance good, sound policy.”

Louisiana power players Should the Democrats win the majority in the 120th Congress that begins its two-year term in January, Carter’s election as caucus leader would mitigate Louisiana’s loss of influence on Capitol Hill.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, of Benton, and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, of Jefferson, now the chamber’s top two leaders, will step into new roles should the Republicans lose the majority in November.

In that scenario, which polls suggest is not unlikely, Carter predicts his friend and fraternity brother, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, DN.Y., will become House speaker.

The two have a good relationship

FUNDING

Continued from page 1A subcommittees with more than 200 members and public hearings across the state, while Texas’ school-finance commission produced a 165page report with dozens of recommendations.

Critics have suggested that Louisiana’s task force is designed to give Landry and the Legislature more sway over school funding, even though the state board of education legally controls the MFP. They fear the committee will lock in the funding cut that Landry ordered this year to pay for the teacher stipends, forcing schools to make do with less money.

“I’m praying for the best,” said St. Tammany Parish School Board member Isabelle Moore, but “I do worry.”

School funding debate The task force was ostensibly created to secure funding for permanent teacher raises. But it sprang from a much larger debate: Do Louisiana public schools need more money — or more fiscal discipline?

The debate is centered on the MFP, the system Louisiana adopted in 1992 to distribute state education dollars, which comprise about 40% of school funding (local and federal money make up the rest). The formula doles out funding to school systems based on how many students they enroll, giving extra money to districts with less local tax revenue and to schools serving students with additional needs, including those with disabilities or from low-income families.

Public school advocates generally approve of the formula’s basic design, which distributes dollars based on local needs and resources.

The main problem, they argue, is that the baseline funding amount — $4,015 per student — has increased by less than $600 over the past 20 years. Meanwhile, the cost of goods and services has soared, and schools face mounting demands to provide tutoring, mental health services, career education, enhanced security and more.

“One word they don’t want to hear is ‘adequacy,’” said Michael Faulk, the former head of the statewide superintendents association, referring to lawmakers.

“What does it actually take to provide every student an education that meets all the requirements the state puts on schools?”

But not all state lawmakers, who allocate school funding, are convinced that schools need more money.

Senate President Cameron Henry, who introduced the resolution creating the task force, said advocates who ask for more education funding can’t explain the formula or how schools spend the dollars they receive.

“You’re never going to get more money when no one understands where the money that you’re currently getting goes,” he said in an interview last month.

The funding debate came to a head this spring over the

and are on the same page for most the Democratic Party. issues, he said.

Former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Kamala Why the caucus is important Harris were members when they With 435 representatives and 100 were in Congress. So was civil senators, Congress often breaks rights icon Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga. Becoming caucus chairs has up into cliques who discuss policies, figure out stances and create been a boost for the holders of the strategies that enhance their influ- office.

Cedric Richmond, who went on ence.

The largest Democratic group is to become a top aide to President the New Democrat Coalition, with Joe Biden, and Karen Bass, who is 114 members who mayor of Los Angeles, have been focus on economic caucus chairs. policy and national security. Carter is Challenges ahead a member of that The 62-member Congressional group too.

Black Caucus has more members The Republican than ever before — but it faces Study Committee, more challenges in an era where whose 189 mem- Republicans control all three Johnson bers research and branches of government and thus develop conser- control the levers of power.

Those numbers likely will vative policies, is that party’s largest change after the Nov. 3 midterm caucus. Both Scal- elections.

Some states, including Louisiise and Johnson have chaired the ana, used the Supreme Court deStudy Committee. cision in Louisiana v. Callais to Formed in 1971, redraw and eliminate the districts Scalise the Congressional that had been configured to elect Black Caucus is minority candidates. one of the more influential voices “We’ve lost my colleague and in Congress, particularly within friend, Congressman Cleo Fields,”

question of teacher pay.

After voters rejected Landry’s plan to use education trust funds to finance raises, he pulled $168 million out of school district budgets to cover stipends for teachers and support staff. He argued that school districts can stretch the dollars they get by reducing “waste and bureaucracy.”

“We do not have a revenue problem in this state,” Landry said. “We have a priorities problem.”

Around the same time, Landry and Henry said the MFP task force would figure out how to insert teacher raises into the formula so that, after this year, temporary stipends would not be necessary.

“There is no way we can’t find a permanent pay raise in those dollars,” Henry said.

here,” said Womack, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee. “Where is the money going now?”

When other states revamped their school-funding formulas in recent years, they simultaneously boosted funding levels. Tennessee adopted a new formula in 2022 that increased annual education funding by $1 billion. Texas revamped its formula in 2019, increasing per-student funding by about 20% and boosting spending by more than $6 billion. The changes came after a commission met for about a year, hearing testimony from more than 150 educators, advocates and policy experts.

Barry Erwin is chief policy officer of the research and advocacy group Leaders for a Better Louisiana. He said he questions how lawmakers who are not schoolfinance experts will be able to rewrite the MFP in less than five months.

“Honestly, it doesn’t seem feasible to me,” he said.

“Once they start really digging into it, they’re going to see how complex it is.”

Even if the group does propose a new formula, the Legislature can’t simply adopt it. Under the Louisiana Constitution, the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education sets the funding formula, which the Legislature can only approve or reject.

Kevin Berken, who chairs the board’s education finance committee, said the board is open to recommendations, adding that there already have been two independent studies of the MFP this year.

He said the board will consider the task force’s recommendations, but noted that the group has been given a short timeline to propose a school-funding overhaul.

“It’s a pretty tall order,” he said. “I wish them a lot of luck.”

‘Tall order’ for task force

The task force faces a formidable to-do list when it convenes next month.

The committee must conduct a “comprehensive” review of the MFP, then propose a new or revised formula that is transparent, sustainable and includes “permanent and predictable” funding for educator raises, the establishing resolution says.

The resolution does not address what educators and advocates say is the underlying problem — that the state has not put enough money into K-12 education to keep up with rising needs and costs.

“I think the formula’s pretty fair,” said David Claxton, executive director of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents, who is on the task force.

“The issue is more about funding it.”

Another task force member, Sen. Glen Womack, R-Harrisonburg, said he is open to considering whether schools need more money — after the group digs into the funding formula.

Email Patrick Wall at “I think our first step patrick.wall@theadvocate. is finding out how we got com.

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BY SAM KARLIN

COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS: THE LATEST

CASES IN LA.

652 deaths

17,030 positive cases INSIDE ä Mnuchin:

direct deposits to start next week, 2A

ä New data

provides clearer picture of early spread, 4A

ä La. nursing

home deaths up to 130, 6A

Staff writer

Louisiana is set to start doling out supercharged unemployment benefits of $600 more a week on Monday, providing the first wave of relief to a staggering number of residents seeking aid as the coronavirus rocks the state’s economy.

But as benefits begin flowing and officials project no part of Louisiana is on track to run out of hospital beds or ventilators in the coming 10 days, Gov. John Bel Edwards warned Wednesday it will be a long time before things return to normal.

Until there is a vaccine and medication that can treat the virus — prospects that are months or longer away — Edwards said people will likely not see “life as you knew it before COVID-19.”

Although at some point restrictions will be loosened, it remains unclear exactly what that will look like, Edwards said. The state will rely heavily on the federal government and will need far more testing, along with contact tracing and isolation of patients who later test positive, he said.

“I promise you no matter what the timeline looks like, it’s going to be quicker if everyone follows the stay-at-home order,” the governor said.

In the meantime, as the order is set to keep thousands of businesses closed until at least April 30, the Louisiana Workforce Commission will start paying out the extra $600 per week benefit to unemployed Louisiana work-

ä See JOBLESS, page 6A

democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a March campaign rally in detroit.

BY WILL WEISSERT

Superintendents want schools to stay closed

BY WILL SENTELL

and that the school year will have effectively ended for many students on March 13.

“By not having students reLouisiana public school superintendents Wednesday turn to school facilities this asked Gov. John Bel Edwards school year combined with to extend his schools closure social distancing intervenorder through the end of the tion there could be lessening academic year because of the or even prevention of further coronavirus. community spread of the viThe request significantly rus,” superintendents said in boosts chances that classrooms their request to the governor. will remain locked for nearly ä See SCHOOLS, page 6A 720,000 public school students Staff writer

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Sen. Bernie Sanders ended his presidential bid on Wednesday, making Joe Biden the presumptive Democratic nominee to challenge President Donald Trump in a general election campaign that will be waged against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic.

Sanders initially ex- Sanders ceeded sky-high expectations about his ability to re-create the magic of his 2016 presidential bid and even overcame a heart attack in October. But he couldn’t convert unwavering support from progressives into a viable path to the nomination, with “electability” fears fueled by questions about whether his democratic socialist ide-

ology would be palatable to general election voters.

“The path toward victory is virtually impossible,” Sanders told supporters Wednesday. “If I believed we had a feasible path to the nomination, I would certainly continue the campaign, but it’s just not there.”

He called Biden a “very decent man” but didn’t offer an explicit endorsement of the former vice president. Sanders said his name would remain on the ballot in states that have not yet held primaries so he can gain more delegates and “exert significant influence” on the Democratic platform.

Biden, who is backed by much of the party’s establishment, told supporters at a virtual fundraiser that he had a “short conversation” with Sanders on Wednesday.

“He didn’t just run a political campaign. He created a movement,” Biden said. “That’s a good thing for our na-

Acadiana ICU occupancy highest in state Hospitals lean on surge plans to meet demand

BY BEN MYERS Staff writer

Lafayette hospital officials said Wednesday they expect surge plans will meet rising demand for intensive care beds from critical coronavirus patients, as new state data showed Acadiana with the highest regional intensive care occupancy rate in the state.

Officials with Lafayette General Health and Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center announced the previous day they had begun to enact phased surge plans to expand capacity.

They elaborated on Wednesday, noting

ASSOCIATEd PRESS FILE PHOTOS

President donald Trump arrives to speak at a January rally in Washington, d.C.

Sanders drops out, leaving former Vice President Biden the presumptive democratic challenger to Trump

that intensive care bed availability reported by the state does not account for maximum surge capacity.

Surge plans phase in added capacity by converting parts of facilities not typically used for intensive care. Lafayette General’s four-phase surge plan, for example, increases its intensive care capacity from 46 to 78 across three campuses, according to Amanda Logue, the system’s chief medical officer.

Lafayette General, which is in its second phase of the surge plan, had 40 intensive care patients on Wednesday, meaning it has room for another 38 if it goes through the next two phases. But the state reported only 32 available intensive care beds were available across the seven-parish region.

Still, the state reported 12 new admis-

sions to intensive care, bringing the total to 143, along with a sharp rise in the number of newly reported cases. That means Acadiana’s existing intensive care beds were 82% occupied, the highest rate among the state’s nine regions.

The 67 new cases reported Wednesday in Acadiana marked a 60% increase over new cases reported the day before. That reversed a one-day decline in the number of new reported cases. There were 42 new cases reported Tuesday and 54 the day before that.

Daily case counts typically reflect positive results from tests administered several days prior.

Logue noted that only a small percentage of newly infected people will require

ä See ICU, page 6A

tion and our future. His campaign has ended, but I know his leadership will continue.”

Trump sought to foment the tension among Democrats by tweeting Wednesday that the party stacked the race against Sanders. The president said the senator’s supporters “should come to the Republican Party.”

Sanders began his latest White House bid facing questions about whether he could win back the supporters who chose him four years ago as an insurgent alternative to Hillary Clinton. Despite winning 22 states in 2016, there were no guarantees he’d be a major presidential contender this cycle.

But Sanders used strong polling and solid fundraising — collected almost entirely from small donations made online — to quiet early doubters. Like the first time, he attracted widespread

ä See RACE, page 4A

domestic violence advocates offering help Groups: Pandemic may put survivors at greater risk

ods — and that help is available, virus or no virus.

When Gov. John Bel Edwards announced a statewide stay-athome order on March 23, Faith House of Acadiana Executive Director Billi Lacombe said she immediately feared abusers would capitalize on the Advocates for survivors of opportunity to exert control domestic violence, sexual vio- over their victims. Although lence and child abuse are rais- the order was a needed step to ing the alarm in Acadiana com- protect communities and lessmunities that the coronavirus en the spread of the virus, she pandemic may put survivors at said, it has the unintended congreater risk while home with ä See DOMESTIC, page 4A their abusers for extended peri-

BY KATIE GAGLIANO Staff writer

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Carter said of the Baton Rouge Democrat, who announced Tuesday he would not seek reelection in a seat that was redrawn in May to ensure that five of Louisiana’s six representatives would be White Republicans.

“That repeats itself in Texas and Alabama, perhaps, and other places, so we will lose some (seats). But in other places, we’ll pick up, certainly offset some of the losses,” Carter said. “So, this notion that the Congressional Black Caucus will be weakened is not true. We’ve demonstrated that even with small numbers, we have good voices.”

Carter said the caucus will continue fighting for voting rights and challenging the Supreme Court, which “seems to have lost their way. We need to reform measures so we can get the guardrails of our checks and balances healthy again.”

The Black Caucus, like the rest of the Democratic Party, also is struggling with how to incorporate far-left wing members who seek more radical solutions and more aggressive confrontations with the Trump administration.

Carter says that theme has been

overblown by the media.

“New members coming in who have very bold ideas are not going to be silenced. We’re not going to just throw them to the side because they have bold ideas,” Carter said. “Part of leadership is harnessing those ideas, harnessing that energy, and morphing it into a position that we can all work on to advance what’s best for the American people. The role that I intend to play as leader of the caucus is to not allow outside voices to try to pit one against the other.”

Carter began his political career in the 1980s as an aide to New Orleans Mayor Sidney Barthelemy.

He represented Algiers in the Louisiana House starting in 1991, then the New Orleans City Council in 1994.

In 2015, Carter was elected to the state Senate and won election to Congress in 2021 when Richmond resigned to work in the White House.

He serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which oversees oil and gas exploration and production policies.

Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate.com.

Gov. Jeff Landry speaks during a news conference about teacher pay raises at the State Capitol on May 26.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Cool Kids Inc. expands its reach, empowering youth in Northeast Louisiana to pursue brighter futures

By Stevie Cavalier Licciardi stevie.licciardi@theadvocate.com This story is brought to you by Meta.

Cool Kids, Inc. is an early development & mentoring program based in Northeast Louisiana that provides community support to school-age children and their families. From warming shelters and fresh meals to enrichment learning experiences, Cool Kids, Inc. strives to help kids unlock their full potential within their communities.

Kelsey Higdon, Digital Sales Manager for Nola.com and The Advocate, visited with Deanna Hubbard, owner of Cool Kids, Inc., to get the inside scoop on how the recent Meta investment has been impacting this local community program.

Can you tell us the story of how this organization started, and what your core mission is?

This organization was started by my son, Jordan Hubbard, who was at one time very undisciplined. To make a long story short, I told him that if he could find a few other young men who needed the same support he was then I would start an organization to help them. He was able to find about ten young men, and so it grew from ten young men to fifty, and then from fifty all the way to what we have now. It changed his whole life when the program started. Jordan was able to go to Morehouse College in Atlanta.

He is the CEO of Cool Kids, Inc. and was recently elected as alderman for the Town of Rayville.

How is the Meta investment changing the ‘day-to-day’ for families walking through your doors?

During a recent storm, the power was out and people were displaced. Kids weren’t eating because everything was closed— stores, restaurants, and schools. Jordan Hubbard called Henry Thornton, Community Development Regional Manager for Meta, and said, “Our kids need to eat.”

Within two days, we were able to feed 1,600 kids with the meals Meta provided.

We also petitioned Meta for additional funding to help with our building’s repairs and the meals we provide for 250 kids throughout three parishes each week. Our Cool Kids, Grab & Go Program provides

breakfast and lunch 5 days a week throughout the summer when children are out of school. Meta said they would help, and they did everything they said they were going to do. We have a brand-new computer room in the back of our building, thanks to Meta. It was unusable, but now it’s usable. We are also getting ready to repair the outside of the building, as well, and we will have a beautiful building to operate in because of the impact that Meta has had on this community.

Meta believes “The future is for everyone.” What does that phrase mean for the kids you are able to help?

That statement goes hand-in-hand with our motto, which is, “You are not a product of your environment, your environment is a product of you.” We look to instill in our kids the idea that you can be whoever you have decided you want to be. That means you can be a doctor, lawyer, nurse, or whatever you claim for yourself. That’s a major part of our program. When a kid comes to our door we look to make sure that they have what they need educationally, spiritually, and emotionally. We believe that every child has a chance to excel, and with Meta coming in, not only do they have a chance to excel in the present, but they have a chance to have a job for a long time in the future.

Follow @coolkidsinc1 on Instagram for regular program updates.

For more information on the Meta project in Richland Parish, see meta.com/ BuildingLouisiana.

6A ● Monday, July 27, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

lll

TODAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Mostly sunny

Sunshine

A p.m. t-storm in the area

A t-storm around in the p.m.

HIGH

HIGH

HIGH

LOW

HIGH

94° 77°

LOW

96° 77°

LOW

95° 78°

HIGH

95° 79°

Port Arthur 93/76

0s

Hattiesburg 98/76

Lake Charles 94/77

10s

20s

30s

Houma 94/77

50s

YESTERDAY

TODAY

REAdING 33 MAIN POLLUTANT Particulates

MAIN POLLUTANT Particulates

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80s

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90s 100s 110s

FULL

JUL 29

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Austin Boston dallas Fairbanks Honolulu Las Vegas Louisville Miami Nashville

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

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

HIGH

7:12p 1:17p 6:09a 8:43a 8:56a 8:11a 10:04a

FT.

NEW

AUG 5

Hi

99 75 102 64 89 110 93 89 95

TODAY Lo

76 66 80 47 77 90 80 78 78

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AUG 12

W

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AUG 19

Hi

101 76 102 68 89 110 91 91 98

TUE. Lo

75 66 80 45 78 89 69 78 73

LOW

0.00” 6.38” 5.34” 40.79” 36.49”

FT.

HIGH

0.7 6:30a -0.1 1.6 12:05a -0.3 1.8 7:53p -0.5 2.0 11:55p 0.1 1.4 8:19p -0.1 1.6 6:34p -0.3 1.7 9:21p -0.1

6:24 a.m.

8:05 p.m.

7:07 p.m.

4:22 a.m.

LAST

GOOd

PRECIPITATION

95°/76° 92°/75° 91°/77° 101° in 1893 66° in 1911

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

New Orleans 96/79

40s

LOW

91° 76°

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

Baton Rouge 96/76

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

HIGH

Lafayette through 5 p.m. Sunday

Alexandria 97/77

Lafayette 94/77

LOW

92° 79°

Jackson 98/76

Beaumont 93/76

-0s

LOW

TEMPERATURE

Longview 99/76

Many 96/75

The biggest weather issue today, and especially for the next several days, will be the heat. All of southwest Louisiana is under a moderate or major heat risk. Heat-related illnesses are a real possibility as temperatures rise to the mid-90s and the heat index values rise to 107 or higher this afternoon. The UV index is at the extreme level, so in addition to taking frequent breaks, stay hydrated, wear lightweight, light-colored clothing and your shades, and apply sunscreen.

SATURDAY

A thunderstorm in decreasing clouds spots and humid

Monroe 98/76

Shreveport 99/76

-10s

FRIDAY

W

pc pc s pc sh s pc t s

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FT.

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SOURCE: LOUISIANA dEQ ANd AIRNOW.GOV

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FT.

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

MAJOR MINOR MAJOR MINOR

Today 10:19a Tuesday 11:06a Wednesday 11:54a Thursday 12:18a Friday 1:07a Saturday 1:55a Sunday 2:43a

City

New Orleans Orlando Philadelphia Phoenix Pittsburgh Raleigh St. Louis San diego Tampa

Hi

4:07a 10:45p 4:54a 11:31p 5:42a ---6:30a 12:41p 7:17a 1:28p 8:05a 2:16p 8:54a 3:04p

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96 91 86 111 85 89 99 79 91

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79 77 71 92 69 72 80 70 81

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97 96 78 109 79 88 92 77 91

4:32p 5:19p 6:05p 6:52p 7:39p 8:27p 9:15p

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

FLOOD STAGE

34 48 48 35 27 22 17

SUN. 24-HOUR STAGE CHANGE

5.72 30.41 33.30 18.10 10.40 8.18 5.34

-0.17 -0.76 -1.49 -1.35 -1.21 -0.88 -0.55

40

22.03

+0.59

19

-1.48

none

18 29 8

-1.09 10.30 2.32

-0.01 -0.06 -0.49

13 15

1.53 1.07

none -0.03

47 34 29 20 12 6

15.48 11.27 9.09 8.26 6.00 3.15

-0.99 -0.74 -0.86 -0.45 none -0.18

data as of 7 a.m. Sunday

pc t t t t t s pc t

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

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

Regulators seek to eliminate radiation safety practice

BY JENNIFER McDERMOTT Associated Press

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is proposing to eliminate a foundational safety principle that has for 50 years minimized the radiation people in the United States are exposed to and that has been adopted around the world.

Currently, facilities such as nuclear plants, hospitals or academic institutions that use radioactive materials must ensure radiation exposures are kept “as low as reasonably achievable” — the ALARA principle. The NRC proposal would abandon that philosophy while keeping a separate standard on maximum radiation exposure.

The two standards have worked together in radiation safety. Dose limits set the maximum amount of radiation the public and radiation workers can be exposed to, while ALARA kept radiation exposure as

low as practical under those limits.

Research shows radiation exposure increases a person’s chance of getting cancer, a risk that increases as the dose increases.

The dose limits are not changing.

But the NRC, which regulates civilian nuclear energy technologies and radioactive materials, now wants to replace ALARA with a “graded approach” that includes several actions facilities must take depending on the potential dose of radiation to workers. More rigorous radiation protection measures would be required when approaching dose limits to ensure they aren’t exceeded.

This comes as President Donald Trump attempts to quadruple domestic nuclear energy production because of surging electricity demand amid a data center and artificial intelligence boom. Reforming the NRC is one way Trump is trying to speed up nuclear reactor development. He instructed the federal

agency in an executive order last year to “adopt science-based radiation limits.”

The Energy Department, which oversees national energy policies, has already stopped using ALARA. The NRC expects to finalize its radiation protection regulations in the coming months.

NRC Chairman Ho Nieh said the commission is not lowering the bar on safety.

“We’re just removing the ambiguity,” he said in a call with reporters.

“But the standard for exposure to workers and the public, those are not changing. We’re just putting in place greater clarification.”

Nieh doesn’t expect major changes within the nation’s existing fleet of large, traditional reactors. But companies designing and building new, smaller reactors could move faster with a clearer picture of the radiation protection requirements, he said.

The NRC said radiation exposure limits are set well below levels associated with health effects, and it expects remaining standards and industry practices to keep radiation doses far below the limits. There’s incentive to do so — it’s more expensive and time-consuming to work in areas with higher radiation because access must be restricted and more surveys are required.

The nuclear industry’s trade association agrees with the NRC. “We will always continue to look at what can we do to reduce the dose to workers, and maintain our doses to the off-site public as low as possible,” said Doug True, chief nuclear officer at the Nuclear Energy Institute. “It’s not like we’re just going to throw open the doors and let everything run up to the limits.”

ALARA created a “moving target” for regulation, said Justin Friedman, a nuclear energy consultant who previously spent three decades

at the U.S. Department of State. Getting rid of the rule would allow NRC scientists to make more rational decisions about appropriate levels of manageable risk, he added.

Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists, cautions that some parts of the NRC proposal could raise permissible radiation doses in certain cases, while still staying below the cap. Lyman highlighted a proposed revision to radionuclide emissions standards, in particular.

Radiation exposure to the general public is limited to 100 millirem per year. A typical dose of radiation from a chest X-ray is 10 millirem.

The NRC wants to increase its radionuclide emissions standards from a conservative 10 millirem per year dose to 25 millirem per year, based on a hypothetical person living in a house at the property line for a nuclear plant.

European wildfires drive hundreds of thousands from homes

BY MARK CARLSON, EMMA DA SILVA and JOHN LEICESTER Associated Press

LEGE-CAP FERRET, France — A raging wildfire in southwest France forced the evacuation of 55,000 people overnight Sunday, bringing the total forced out of their homes to a staggering 220,000 in one region alone, as flames crept ever closer to the wine region city of Bordeaux. Neighboring Spain oversaw its own fire evacuations on the country’s east coast.

Shifting and gusting winds, as well as arid conditions, complicated massive efforts to limit the spread of the monster blaze burning out of control since midweek in France’s Gironde region, where Bordeaux is located.

Authorities issued overnight evacuation orders for five more localities southwest of the historic city.

“The situation remains very unfavorable,” French Interior Minister Laurent

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By MANU FERNANdEZ

A firefighter carries a hose while battling a wildfire Sunday in San Martin de Valdeiglesias, Spain, west of Madrid.

Nunez said after what he described as “another difficult night” for fire crews battling round-the-clock against the blaze that has burned an area four times the size of Paris.

“The fire became extremely virulent again and unpredictable, generating its own winds and advancing erratically toward the Bordeaux metropolitan area,” Nunez posted on X. “It became calmer by the

end of the night,” the minister added.

At the end of his Sunday Angelus prayer, Pope Leo XIV referenced “the devastating wildfires” in France and Spain and said: “I express my solidarity and invite everyone to pray for those affected and for the work of the rescue workers.”

An estimated 162 square miles had burned in Gironde, the region’s prefecture said,

much of it forests and scrubland made tinder-dry by successive heat waves. That is seven times the area of Manhattan island and four times the size of Paris.

Firefighters raced in trucks to fight flare-ups and planes dropping water and retardants rotated in the smokefilled air. Farmers delivered water in tanks to fire crews so they could fight the flames without interruption.

“This allows firefighters to focus on the fire,” said Theo Hernandez, a wine grower.

“It’s very strong, very virulent, it’s spreading everywhere.”

The number of firefighters mobilized grew to 2,500, backed by 18 planes and helicopters, including from other European nations. Soldiers have also been called in. A giant A400M military cargo aircraft dropped plumes of ochre-colored retardant.

In a first for France, the blaze alarmingly developed into a self-feeding firestorm on several occasions, most

recently on Saturday night, generating lightning bolts that can start new flare-ups, authorities said.

“It’s like being confronted by a hurricane,” said Gironde fire chief Marc Vermeulen.

Forecast high temperatures starting Tuesday could complicate the firefighting, Gironde prefect Sophie Brocas said.

In Spain, wildfires burned out of control around Madrid.

Evacuations were also carried out Sunday in the Valencia region. A man was killed Saturday in a wildfire in Manises, a Valencia suburb, marking Spain’s first recorded death in the latest fires.

“We still have some difficult hours ahead,” Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Sunday, but the night was “very positive in terms of bringing the flames under control.”

A total of 76,000 people have been evacuated in Spain while 30,000 others have been confined to their homes, the government said.

Evacuees fretted about

what they’ll find when they’re allowed to return.

Rocío Domínguez fled her house with only the clothes on her back. “All the clothes, all the memories, everything, everything, everything,” were left behind, she told The Associated Press.

“The only thing I had time to grab was a kit I have for the dogs,” Domínguez added, surrounded by her two beloved pets. Everything else she has with her now — from the clothes she wears to her food and toiletries — she received at the shelter.

At the evacuation center, where cots have been set up for about 200 people, Domínguez still has the terrifying memory of their escape fresh in her mind.

“It was madness with cars going up and down, traffic jams in the village streets as people tried to get out. It looked like the apocalypse,” told Domínguez, 35 years old and unemployed, who is with her parents and siblings. “You couldn’t see anything.”

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Opelousas native wins gold at X Games Wyatt Fontenot takes Best Whip in motocross

BY KRISTIN ASKELSON Staff writer

Opelousas native Wyatt Fontenot captured his first X Games gold medal Friday, winning the Best Whip competition at X Games New Orleans.

The victory came in Fontenot’s fifth X Games appearance and followed a bronze-medal finish earlier this year at X Games Sac-

ramento. In Best Whip, freestyle motocross riders are judged on style and control as they throw their motorcycles sideways — and sometimes nearly upside down — before bringing them back under control for a clean landing.

Fontenot, 24, has become one of the sport’s rising stars since moving to Temecula, California, in 2022 to train and compete professionally. Though he now lives on the

West Coast, he returns to Louisiana whenever he can.

Unlike traditional motocross, where the fastest rider wins, freestyle motocross rewards originality, style and execution.

While each run lasts only a few seconds, Fontenot said it takes years of practice to reach that level.

“I’ve been working on a few things for this weekend,” he said

before the competition. “So, I mean, it’s game time.”

Fontenot’s love for dirt bikes began at an early age. Growing up in Opelousas, he was surrounded by rodeos thanks to his father, who worked as a horse trainer and horseshoer. But it was watching his cousin and neighbors ride dirt bikes that sparked his passion.

“Once I got my first opportunity on a dirt bike around 10 years old, that was it,” he said.

Initially, Fontenot competed in traditional motocross racing, even-

tually reaching the professional level before discovering freestyle motocross, where creativity and style are just as important as athletic ability.

“I mean, every rider has a different style of doing things, and we’re all kind of unique in our own way,” he said. “For me, I’m known for having the Cajun vibe.”

After New Orleans, Fontenot plans to continue competing, including returning to South Africa

ä See NATIVE, page 4B

‘World Cup of cuisine’ crowns winners Team USA wins big, N.O. culinary scene shines

BY IAN MCNULTY Staff writer

Before the gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded at the threetiered podium, and before the competitors in their gleaming white chef coats and tall toques took the stage holding their national flags among a crowd of cheering supporters, New Orleans chefs were already jubilant.

They’d been watching all weekend as teams of top chefs representing countries across North and South America contended for peak culinary awards, while also rubbing elbows with visiting celebrity chefs, some regarded as rock stars by those who value tasting menus over concert tickets.

All of this culinary firepower was in New Orleans for twin global contests, Bocuse d’Or and Coupe du Monde de la Patisserie (aka the Pastry World Cup). Teams were competing to make it to their respective finals, to be held in Lyon, France, in January, an event regarded as the World Cup of cuisine.

These local competitions were qualifying rounds, and New Orleans chefs and restaurateurs attending to watch and help produce the events called them a win for the city’s own culinary identity.

“It brings such great energy, with all these chefs and food enthusiasts here,” said Alon Shaya, chef and co-owner of Saba and Safta’s Table restaurants.

“New Orleans is such a great place for people who love food and hospitality to visit, and for a lot of them this was their first time experiencing that.

I think it just multiplies the possibilities for New Orleans,” he said.

After the weekend’s performance, USA teams swept both categories and will advance to the finals. Pastry Team USA won the gold medal in the Americas round on Saturday and Bocuse d’Or Team USA won gold on Sunday.

Each team is composed of chefs from around the country, who take leave from high-profile restaurant positions to represent their country.

While still not as well known in the U.S., Bocuse d’Or and Pastry World Cup are followed obsessively by chefs and culinary aficionados around the world.

New Orleans first hosted a qualifying round for each in 2024, marking the first time they were held in any North American location. Event organizers said it was a move to increase its visibility in new markets.

It’s also an opportunity the local tourism marketing and sales agency New Orleans & Co. campaigned heavily to get. Alice Glenn, the tourism group’s executive vice president, said hosting the competitions is part of a larger strategy to elevate the city’s profile as a global travel destination and a culinary center of excellence.

“There’s no better way to do that than bringing the best chefs in

ä See WINNERS, page 4B

PHOTOS By ROBIN MAy

MONCUS MUSIC ABOVE: From left, Randy Leferink, Craig Guillory, Henry Hample, Kevin Huval, Don Fontenot and Phil Duplechin perform tunes during the Cajun music jam on Saturday at Moncus Park.

RIGHT: Lester Gauthier sings and plays his washtub bass during the Cajun music jam.

BELOW: Standard poodles Bear, left, and Cotton listen to the music.

Two arrested in fatal scooter hit-and-run 16-year-old was killed July 17 in Lake Charles

BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN Staff writer

The Lake Charles Police Department has made two arrests following a fatal hit-and-run involving a teenager on an electric scooter.

Around 12:23 a.m. July 17, officers responded to Red Davis McCollister Road, west of South Park Road, for a crash involving an electric scooter, according to a release from the department.

When they arrived, officers learned that a 16-year-old boy riding a scooter was struck by a vehicle, and the driver left before police arrived. The 16-yearold was pronounced dead at the scene.

On July 20, the department arrested 33-year-old Garrin N. Solari, of Lake Charles, in the fatal crash.

“During the investigation, officers located Solari’s vehicle at his residence and seized it as evidence,” the release states.

“Investigators also determined that Solari allegedly attempted to conceal and destroy evidence related to the crash.”

Solari was booked into the

Calcasieu Parish Correctional Center on counts of felony hitand-run and obstruction of justice, with bail set to $465,000, according to the release.

Detectives with the Police Department received additional evidence on Wednesday, which added another count.

He was served with the arrest warrant with one count of vehicular homicide at the correctional center as well as an additional bail of $250,000.

During the investigation, the department determined that 32-year-old Shane Alan Griffiths was a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the crash, and evidence revealed that Griffiths

assisted Solari following the crash, according to a Thursday news release.

Griffiths was arrested on Thursday and taken to the Calcasieu Correctional Center, where he was booked on a felony count of accessory after the fact with a $100,000 bail.

“The investigation remains active and ongoing,” the release states. “Anyone with additional information regarding this case is asked to contact the Lake Charles Police Department Traffic Division at (337) 491-1456, ext. 5429, or submit an anonymous tip through the Lake Charles Police App 411.”

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Racism isn’t destiny in important U.S. Senate race Nothing less than the future of Louisiana is at stake in the U.S. Senate race. That’s why it can’t be called off before it even begins by racism about the choices in the November election.

The campaign must be about the quality of life for every family in Louisiana: healthcare in rural areas and metro areas, the ability of families to be financially secure and earn a livable wage, the protection of access to reproductive healthcare and protections for all citizens.

But some people want to tell you the election is over now, before a single general election ballot is cast.

When Shawn Wilson was running for governor in 2024, I was so aggravated by the White Democrats and no-party folks parroting the line that a Black man could not be elected.

What that race proved is that a highly qualified Black man can’t win if we don’t vote for him. And the state is poorer today for the election of Jeff Landry over Wilson.

I hope my White friends understand what is at stake this year. We need to highlight why the Democratic Senate nominee Jamie Davis is a generational leader, who understands rural Louisiana, a businessman who farms 3,200 acres and understands the critical impact of federal policies on Louisiana farmers and working families.

Davis understands the balance between business and protecting our natural resources, environment and communities.

We need White people of character and conscience to understand this opportunity to bridge the fault lines of race, class, region and political party.

They can help elect a man who embodies the best of Louisiana.

Jamie Davis can win if we vote like our future depends on it. It is time for Louisiana to move past the racism that has polluted our politics for generations.

MELISSA S. FLOURNOY Baton Rouge

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published identifying name and the writer’s city of residence. The Advocate | The Times-Picayune require a street address and TO SENd US A LETTER, phone number SCAN HERE for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor, The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@theadvocate.com.

N.O. will pay a high price for antagonizing the governor New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno recently retracted a $110 million bond sale request before the State Bond Commission, saying she expected it to be rejected as retribution for the indictment of the attorney general.

Gee, who could ever imagine this would be the inevitable outcome of the city attacking the attorney general?

Dane Ciolino, law professor at Loyola University, opined during a recent interview that the indictment of the attorney general for cautioning city officials that they were breaking state law and could pay a price they did not want to pay was going to be a nonstarter.

The fact that all 12 Criminal District Court judges recused themselves because they were smart enough to realize that they did not want any part of this fiasco should be evidence that city officials got way over their skis.

Let’s be realists. Grand jury members didn’t get together and decide to indict Liz Murrill. Someone put that motion before them.

That was a dumb move, and the city is going to pay a big price for a long time.

I hope that Moreno doesn’t continue to antagonize the governor and his staff. The real losers will be the citizens of New Orleans.

PROVIdEd PHOTO

Surgeons operating on a patient at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston in 2025.

Research into new treatments for cancer relies on federal funding.

The breakthrough cancer drugs of tomorrow depend on our investment today For decades, pancreatic cancer has remained one of the most difficult cancers to treat.

Most patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, when surgery is no longer an option, and for those whose cancer has worsened despite chemotherapy, treatment options have been extremely limited.

That is why the recent data on daraxonrasib presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting earlier this summer is so important. In a pivotal Phase 3 study of patients with previously treated metastatic pancreatic cancer, daraxonrasib nearly doubled survival compared with chemotherapy.

A once-daily oral tablet, it is also the first chemotherapy-free treatment to show benefit in a Phase 3 trial for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

This progress did not happen overnight. It is the result of decades of scientific research into KRAS, a protein that is mutated in most pancreatic cancers.

For years, KRAS was considered “undruggable.” Continued investment in science and persistence from researchers have begun to

change that narrative.

A breakthrough like this is not just a headline. It can mean more time, something my patients and their families hope for every day.

Daraxonrasib is not yet FDA-approved, but it is available through the FDA’s Expanded Access Program in partnership with the manufacturer for certain patients with previously treated metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Researchers are also studying it in earlier stages of pancreatic cancer, in patients with untreated stage IV disease and in combination with other novel therapies.

That is how progress builds: One discovery opens the door to the next.

As policymakers debate healthcare reform and scientific research funding, they should remember that the discoveries that will save lives tomorrow depend on the investments we make today.

Patients need care to be affordable and accessible, but they also need a system that continues to support scientific innovation.

RICK ELLIS New Orleans

Size, placement of photos tell their own story after election I recently read an article in a national newspaper highlighting 16 things America got right. The one that caught my eye was titled, “Our Aspiration to Fairness.”

Soon afterward, I read my regional paper. The headlined story showed a large photo of the Republican Senate primary winner, the written commentary, a smaller photo of the Republican runner-up and below that a photo of the Democratic primary winner.

Most of the article detailed the Republican winner’s story and her connection to the president, with a brief mention of the Democratic winner’s name.

I then looked on my social media page and noticed a local news station’s post with the winners in sideby-side photos. The photo of one winner featured her professionally dressed, while the photo of the other winner depicted him in his working gear — farming attire.

While I do believe that what someone wears could be thought of as a minor indicator of ability in some minds and also that someone wearing casual or working attire could be thought of as a more relatable candidate, a photo depicting a candidate in business attire almost surely presents that person as capable of doing a better job.

It is incumbent upon reporting entities to make more of an effort to present fairly. Thinking about the sheer level of effort, energy and finance it surely takes to run for office, it is my hope that in the future, especially as the November election approaches, the media reporting stories live up to their claims of fair and nonpartisan reporting, including the headline, body and photos.

JONATHAN MIZRAHI, M.D. Ochsner Medical Center Jefferson

Industry assures neighbors they’re safe, but where’s the proof of that?

As someone who has spent years working with Louisiana communities living near petrochemical facilities, I am troubled by a familiar pattern.

Following recent industrial incidents — including the May refinery explosion and fire in Chalmette and the April refinery fire in St. Charles Parish — residents were quickly reassured that there was no threat to public health.

Yet many families living closest to these facilities continue to ask an important question: How do we know?

For decades, residents of Louisiana’s industrial corridor have reported concerns about cancer, respiratory illness, reproductive health problems, childhood learning disabilities and other chronic health conditions affecting multiple generations. Too often, these concerns have been dismissed or minimized.

The recently released CoDA Environmental Health Study provides new evidence that these concerns deserve serious attention.

Using Louisiana Medicaid data and government environmental data, researchers found elevated risks for several health conditions among people living in areas with higher in-

dustrial pollution exposure, including learning disabilities and anemia among children, reproductive health complications among women and other adverse health outcomes.

Importantly, these findings echoed stories shared by residents themselves during focus groups held throughout the state.

Louisiana’s communities are not asking for alarmism. We are asking for transparency, accountability, honest answers and the basic right to breathe clean air and drink clean water.

This is not unreasonable. When industrial accidents occur, residents deserve more than reassurance without clarity. We deserve to know the risk when disastrous chemical fires, spills and other industrial disasters happen in our communities.

We deserve robust environmental monitoring, clear public communication and a commitment to understanding the long-term health impacts of living near industrial facilities.

The people who live beside these plants every day deserve to be heard. Residents of Louisiana deserve better!

KANITRA CASTON New Orleans

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COMMENTARY President Donald Trump arrives to speak at Wheeler High School on July 22 in Marietta, Ga.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

Is Trump losing his touch? support his economic policies and 27% For over a decade, Donald Trump back the war effort. Two-thirds dehas demonstrated a shrewd — even brilliant — grasp of what motivates scribe groceries as “unaffordable,” up his followers. That’s why he’s won two from 45% in February, and many Reelections and only barely lost a third. publicans are increasingly frustrated But Trump has always been more with the president’s relentless rants. effective as a challenger than as an “To me, it’s just a missed opportunity incumbent — the one election he lost to talk about an issue that voters are was as a sitting president — and actually going to cast votes on,” 18 months into his second term, Michigan Republican strategist the president seems to be losing Jason Cabel Roe told The Hill. his political touch. A glaring gap “We continue to have to revert keeps growing between what back to him airing his grievanche’s focused on and what votes, and, you know, Republicans are expected to just stand and ers care about, and his recent Steve salute to it.” tone-deaf speech about voter “When moms and dads lie fraud highlights that damaging Roberts down to sleep at night and can’t, disconnect. what are they mostly worried America is at war, a war Trump about? I would say cost of living. That’s chose to fight after promising to avoid what I believe,” said Sen. John Kenneforeign conflicts, and the costs are mounting rapidly. At least 17 U.S. soldy of Louisiana. “But he’s the president and he was elected by the people and diers are dead and about 500 injured. he can talk about whatever he wants.”

The White House has requested an Other GOP lawmakers say Trump is emergency aid package of $67 billion ignoring a basic truth: that American to fund the war, and the Washington politics is always about the future, Post reports: “The Pentagon faces an urgent budget shortfall caused largely not the past. “It’s like it’s a really good show,” said Sen. Thom Tillis of North by the war in Iran, with some critical Carolina. “But you’ve watched the relines of funding set to run out within weeks…” runs too many times.”

For civilians, the average price of As a result, reports the Post, there gas is now back to over $4 a gallon, and “are signs that Trump’s base is weakaccording to Brown University’s Iran ening.” Only 15% of Trump backers War Energy Cost Tracker, Americans “approve strongly” of the president, a have shouldered more than $72 billion new low, down from 19% in February. in increased fuel bills since the war And there is a growing enthusiasm gap began in February. That works out to between potential Democratic and Remore than $550 per household, and con- publican voters.

“Democrats are 10 points more likely sumer resentment is rising. to be certain to vote this year than ReIn a recent Washington Post poll, Trump’s overall approval rating republicans,” writes the Post. “And more than 7 in 10 Democrats say it is ‘more mains stuck at 37%, but only 33%

important’ to vote in 2026 than in previous midterm elections, compared with just over half of Republicans.”

To some strategists, this fading zeal explains Trump’s speech on voter fraud. He pulled out all the favorite catchphrases that have always motivated his base — plot, fraud, cheat, even Deep State — in an attempt to generate pressure on Congress to pass the SAVE Act, a bill that would rig the fall election for Republicans by disenfranchising as many as 21 million valid voters. And if the bill fails, as is likely, he acquires one more grievance to motivate his supporters.

But his ploy could also ignite “a political backfire for the GOP,” warns The Wall Street Journal. “If Republican voters believe” the election system is corrupt, then “why waste time going to the polls in November?”

Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who lost a primary to a Trump-backed challenger, argues that since Republicans control the White House and both houses of Congress — plus the Supreme Court — playing the victim won’t work.

“And we’re trying to convince people that the problem is we can’t win elections or the elections weren’t fair?”

Massie told The Hill. “It may energize a small amount of the base, but it’s going to fall flat among the swing voters.”

Do those swing voters care more about election fraud in Venezuela or gas and grocery prices in Visalia or Vincennes or Vicksburg? The answer is obvious, but not to Trump.

Email Steven Roberts at stevecokie@ gmail.com.

When the guardrails are destroyed could lay out why economic incentives, People of a certain age were taught rather than government diktats, are to respect the police, obey the law and more effective at allocating other rules and regulations resources. But the GOP led by mostly practiced by our parPresident Donald Trump has ents and grandparents. They spent more time name-calling believed such things would lead than making a positive case for to better lives for themselves the American system.” and for the nation. For many, Calling people names doesn’t they did.

Cal change their minds. It hardens Today we look at the lawlessThomas their hearts. Republicans should ness, the antisemitism, the hate focus on why they think — and speech directed at the presiprove — their ideas are better than dent, teen takeovers, attacks on police what the Democratic Socialists are officers and others and we might ask: selling. A little bit of history might Why is this happening? help, especially when the younger The answer can be found on the side generation may have missed learning of the road. To use a metaphor, the guardrails have been removed. Guard- about much of the 20th century which saw communism and socialism kill milrails are crash-tested barriers designed to keep vehicles from running lions of people, the imprisonment of off the road. Moral, ethical and deport- millions more, suppression of speech and religion and a state-controlled ment “guardrails” have functioned to press. keep us from “running off the road.”

If guardrails are destroyed, where Politicians, including President Donald Trump and Democrats in Congress, does one turn for protection of what we in America know as basic human throw rhetorical barbs at each other, rights? No guardrails, no freedom and sometimes using vulgar language. anything goes, depending on who has What kind of lesson does this teach the power. As the verse says: “If the young people? foundations be destroyed, what can A Washington Post editorial titled “Name-calling won’t win election” puts the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3). Asit this way: “Republicans could explain suming, that is, anyone can be called why putting bureaucrats in charge of “righteous.” the economy has ended disastrously The World Cup, watched by huneverywhere it has happened. They dreds of millions around the world,

has boundaries on the field. So do other sports. There are speed limits and limitations on other behavior to protect our safety, allow for the pursuit of happiness or at least contentment, and contribute to the general welfare. If there were no boundaries in sports how could anyone keep score? If there are no moral boundaries in life, anarchy results.

Replacing these guardrails cannot be done by government alone, or even mainly. It requires a change of heart for individuals, which can then lead to a change in direction for the country.

I’ve quoted it before, but the condition in which we find ourselves deserves repeating it: “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25) Guardrails are coming down faster than Trump’s name on The Kennedy Center in Washington. Truth has become subjective. Everyone does what seems to him or herself to be right — without being able to define right or wrong using a universal standard.

Notice the number of politicians who refuse to define “woman.”

As in ancient times, we are seeing the results of what we are dismantling.

Email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@ tribpub.com.

One brave Democrat delivers a blunt party autopsy Former South Carolina congressman Joe Cunningham talks — and writes — like someone who has nothing to lose. Or, he is one brave man, willing to tell the unvarnished truth to his fellow Democrats.

At 44, Cunningham isn’t nearly finished with what he started out to do when he was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 after running on a promise to vote against Nancy Pelosi Kathleen as House speaker. He quickly Parker transformed into a national political star after becoming the first Democrat to win the state’s 1st Congressional District in four decades. His career was cut short just two years later when Republican Nancy Mace ousted him in a close election. A run for South Carolina governor in 2022 against the seemingly invincible Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican, also proved quixotic.

Some might say that a Democrat such as Cunningham isn’t electable in MAGA-red South Carolina, where President Donald Trump is still the endorser-in-chief. Cunningham admits that campaigning was often tough. In Trump strongholds such as Goose Creek (near Charleston) or even Hilton Head, people don’t want to hear a word from Democrats, he told me in an hourlong conversation. At least Cunningham was hearing people out as he tackled a tour of the state’s 46 counties before the governor’s race.

He heard what voters cared about — not the Democratic Party’s green energy tax breaks, but grocery prices, affordable housing, education and health care. The mayor of one small town told Cunningham that residents just wanted a grocery store.

These days, Cunningham is less frustrated by his defeats than by the sorry state of the Democratic Party — the hypocrisy, disingenuousness and disconnect from what Americans generally care about. He detailed his observations in a recently self-published book, “Life of the Party,” an easy-to-read autopsy of his beloved party’s departure from reality.

“The Party’s gaze has drifted beyond the basic needs … and has settled on a culture war that includes gender identity, racial quotas, DEI, and bathrooms,” he wrote. “It has cost them swaths of voters who may never come back.”

He points out that a tiny percentage of people are transgender and asks what percentage of those want to play sports. Victory for a minuscule slice of the population may fill the virtue cup, but it’s not a win for the country. Diversity, he wrote, should be the nation’s barometer, not its guiding star.

Cunningham’s book offers insights, as well as statistics and stories from his Kentucky upbringing, into his heroes and simpler times when humility, honesty and accountability were social norms. The world has changed so rapidly in the past two decades that most Americans struggle not only to make ends meet but also to make sense of things. Most baffling (and frightening) are advances in artificial intelligence and the predatory practices of Big Tech. A father of two with a baby due any day, Cunningham said the Democratic Party should shift focus from tangential issues to, among other things, the challenges all parents face in protecting their children.

Those most confused are sometimes elderly elected officials — the people Cunningham calls the “geriatric oligarchy.” He argues that the country needs younger representation from generations that understand the complexities of technology. In his book, he recounts an anecdote from 2018 when Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg testified at a U.S. Senate committee hearing about data abuse and social media privacy. Then 84-year-old Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, R-Utah, asked, “How do you sustain a business model in which users don’t pay for your service?” Zuckerberg responded, “Senator, we run ads.”

In 2006, during a debate about net neutrality, Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, then 82, shared his expertise, explaining that “the internet is not something that you just dump something on.

It’s not a big truck. It’s a series of tubes.”

Cunningham proposes age limits for elected officials and the judiciary. “It’s hard to take the keys away from your parents,” he told me, but age matters.

He argues that his party, more than Republicans, needs new ideas. “You have to make things simple, and Trump does make things simple,” he told me. “No tax on tips was one. …

We can’t better dissect our healthcare system and come up with some new ideas?

Cunningham said he hopes his book will contribute to a more honest self-appraisal by his former colleagues and a return to big ideas.

One might also hope it will lead him to run again for public service. A third party might be just the ticket.

Kathleen Parker is on X, @kathleenparker.

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Tulane water runoff project helps city

BY MIKE SMITH Staff writer

On the surface, it is an inviting expanse of bright green grass stretching out across the heart of Tulane’s uptown campus.

But much like the classic literature read by the university’s students, a deeper meaning lurks underneath.

A new project unifying green space at Tulane is also designed to help with one of the city’s most pressing problems: managing stormwater. To do that, the project includes what might be called a dungeon for runoff.

Just below the grassy surface, chambers have been built capable of holding 440,000 gallons of water — about two-thirds of an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

That water is then slowly released into the city’s drainage system, easing pressure during heavy rainfall.

The project is part of a larger plan being put in place across Tulane’s campuses — including its downtown expansion — to manage stormwater more effectively. City policies require it, though Tulane officials say they want to go above and beyond.

It has divided its campus into “watersheds,” and has built projects that blend seamlessly into campus life.

“There are all kinds of techniques, and Tulane has really been creative in using them all where they’re appropriate,” Emily Bullock, a landscape architect with SMM who consults for Tulane, said during a recent tour of the campus.

Projects range from permeable parking lots to native plant gardens and architecture that subtly helps preserve majestic live oaks.

Stormwater systems similar to the chambers under the new “Unified Green” project have been built beneath its sports fields.

The recent walk across campus demonstrated the array of projects hidden in plain sight. The blades of Louisiana irises extend from native gardens absorbing rain, while the curved glass wall of the uni-

versity’s business school is designed to leave space for oak trees’ roots to soak up stormwater.

“These projects demonstrate that stormwater management is not solely the responsibility of public agencies — it is a shared effort, and institutions and developers all have an important role to play in building a more resilient New Orleans,” Meagan Williams, the city’s chief sustainability officer, said in a prepared statement.

“The project’s incorporation of stormwater detention alongside improvements to public space is a great example of how thoughtful site design can really deliver multiple community benefits.”

‘Secret weapon’ Flooding problems in the former swamp now called New Orleans are no secret, and climate change is projected to intensify rainfall in the years ahead. That has led to a chorus of voices warning that the drainage system will not be able to cope on its own.

The latest version of the city’s stormwater policy took effect in 2018. It requires development or redevelopment projects of significant size to retain and filter the first 1.25 inches of stormwater runoff.

Residential properties with less than six units are exempted.

Mid-City po-boy shop Parkway is a regularly cited example of a private business employing stormwater management. Its parking lot can appear to be simple gravel, but it is actually a permeable surface that acts as a sponge, absorbing water and slowly draining it, said Jessica Dandridge-Smith, executive director of The Water Collaborative nonprofit.

On a larger scale, Williams cites projects associated with the Gentilly Resilience District, which is incorporating green infrastructure into drainage improvements, including wetlands, detention ponds and permeable pavement.

She also named the Mirabeau Water Garden, which broke ground in late 2023 and

is designed to hold up to 10 million gallons of stormwater.

Dandridge-Smith, whose organization has long worked on stormwater-related issues in the city, said the policy is “one of those secret weapons that New Orleans has.”

“I think the stormwater code gets us a little bit closer to where New Orleans should be,” she said. “Every property should be holding and storing water, so that way we can see a reduction in flooding.”

That, in turn, will help businesses thrive because, if it “floods every time your door is open, then obviously your business will be harmed by that,” said Dandridge-Smith.

Other cities also have stormwater policies, though not necessarily with the same focus. Less flood-prone locations may be more interested in water quality, with a focus on filtering the water before it drains out into surrounding waterways, said Colleen McHugh, a senior planner with the Baton Rouge-based Water Institute.

McHugh, who has worked on stormwater issues in New Orleans and other parts of the country, spoke of the collective effort in the city in recent years to advance projects that work with nature.

“The bigger institutions and landowners play this important role in this collective effort of living with water in New Orleans,” she said.

“Rather than trying to push water out of the city as fast as possible, actually trying to slow it down and give it spaces where it can go safely, while also providing other benefits for communities, such as increasing the quality and access of green spaces.”

The stormwater policy ties in to ongoing discussions about whether New Orleans should institute a stormwater or parcel fee. The idea is to provide needed funding for infrastructure by including nonprofits and government institutions exempt from property taxes.

Tulane is among those, and under some proposals being discussed, the university could potentially receive incentives or credit for its

stormwater management projects if a fee is instituted.

‘We’re storing water’ Tulane’s larger “Unified Green” project is uniting the previously separate Newcomb Quad and Berger Family Lawn in the center of campus. Construction began in April and is expected to be complete next spring.

The newly expanded green space provided a unique opportunity to address stormwater with the detention system. There were already examples elsewhere on campus, with systems built beneath the football practice field and the baseball team’s Turchin Stadium.

About two feet under the green, below grass and fill material, storage chambers shaped like half-tunnels collect the stormwater as it filters down. The ground below remains earthen and able to absorb rain, and a weir gradually chokes out the water that collects in the chambers.

Jeffrey Stolier, senior associate vice president for planning at Tulane, said such additions add significant additional expense to projects, but he noted their importance. The stormwater system and related infrastructure for the Unified Green project will cost around $4.5 million. Tulane declined to provide a total cost for the entire project.

He said the benefits of the larger project go beyond the detention system. Unifying the two quads means taking out the street between them.

“So that will remove just a lot of asphalt, and we’re replacing that with permeable paving and much less of it,” he said during the recent tour of campus.

“So we’re going to have gardens, and there’s going to be a big medallion in the middle with the Tulane insignia, a place for events, but it’ll also be permeable.

And so we’re reducing the amount of impermeable surface area while we’re storing water.”

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Continued from page 1B to defend his King of the Whip title after winning the event last year. He’ll also compete in Big Hill Jam, where he has finished runner-up multiple times, and hopes to continue building his career.

Email Kristin Askelson at kaskelson@ theadvocate.com.

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Continued from page 1B the world here,” she said.

“They’re meeting people, seeing young chefs on the rise, seeing the dining scene as it is today. This is how catalytic things happen.”

Local chefs attending the competitions agreed. Some called the events another reflection of the city’s growing reputation as a creative hub of rising talent, along with other milestones like New Orleans’ debut in the Michelin Guide last fall and hosting the North America’s 50 Best Restaurants ceremony last spring.

“I think it’s showing that New Orleans is not just a legacy food city but a place where people are reinventing it,” said Kaitlin Guerin, pastry chef and owner of Lagniappe Bakehouse in Central City. “It shows we’re on the map for what we are now, not just for the past.”

The events were held in conjunction with Louisiana Restaurant Association’s annual trade show, and turned one part of the convention center into an arena-style competition kitchen. Fans and family members who had traveled with the teams and

IS WORTH Call Today for an Expert Valuation and Make Your Next Move STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEdIAK

The crowd cheers during the Bocuse d’Or international culinary competition at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on Sunday. trade show attendees packed the room, many wearing their national colors, waving small flags and ringing noise makers and bells in zealous support.

By contrast, the chefs pursued their work with laser focus and tight coordination, ever aware that the clock was ticking and that the judges, all acclaimed chefs, were circulating to watch their performance.

Familiar ingredients are transformed into works of culinary art. Team USA’s winning platter for the Pastry World Cup round, for instance, was a diorama of dino-

saurs and prehistoric plants that covered an entire table.

One prominent chef in attendance was Jérôme Bocuse, the chef who continues the legacy of his father Paul Bocuse, the revered godfather of modern French cuisine who first created Bocuse d’Or in the 1980s. He was effusive in his praise of New Orleans as host city, citing its historic connection to France and vibrant food culture.

“When we came here two years ago, I didn’t think it could be possible to do it better, but this year it was,” Bocuse said.

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Pels ink training camp deal with Bufkin

SAINTS PREVIEW SPECIAL TEAMS

Former Laker could earn one of final roster spots in N.O.

BY ROD WALKER Staff writer

FIXERUPPER

Kobe Bufkin made the most of his chance to play with the New Orleans Pelicans’ Summer League team.

The Pelicans have signed Bufkin to a training camp deal. The deal will allow Bufkin an opportunity to earn one of the final roster spots, according to a team source.

Bufkin, a 6-foot-4 guard, was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks with the 15th overall pick in the 2023 draft. The former University of Michigan standout has played in just 43 games in his three NBA seasons. He spent his first two seasons in Atlanta before playing last season with the Los Angeles Lakers.

His best season was his second one with the Hawks when he averaged 5.3 points and 2.1 rebounds. He averaged just 2.9 points this past season with the Lakers. However, he played well for the South Bay Lakers, the G League affiliate. He averaged 24.8 points, 4.4

ä See PELS, page 3C

STAFF FILE PHOTO By SOPHIA GERMER

Saints’ sixth-round draft-pick Barion Brown runs with the ball during rookie mini-camp on May 9 at the team’s indoor practice facility in Metairie.

After NFL-worst finish in 2025, Saints committed to fixing special teams

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

Quietly, the New Orleans Saints allocated some of their offseason resources toward addressing a third phase that had grown stagnant in recent years — special teams.

The first came in free agency, when the Saints signed former Minnesota Vikings (and Tulane Green Wave) punter Ryan Wright to a four-year, $14 million deal — hopefully putting a stopper into the creaky revolving door at the position they created when they cut Thomas Morstead five years earlier.

Then, on Day 3 of the draft, New Orleans used a sixthround pick on one of the draft’s most electric return men, LSU’s Barion Brown. That may not sound like much, until one remembers New Orleans has found its last two AllPro returners in the undrafted ranks.

And, finally, the Saints waited until one of the final days of their offseason program to add kicker Tanner Brown — who was named the United Football League’s 2026 Special Teams Player of the Year — to compete with incumbent Charlie Smyth.

The investment was necessary. Last season, New Orleans ranked dead last in both field goal percentage (71.1%) and gross (43.3 yards) and net punting average (36.1).

Depth chart (name, height, weight, experience) n Charlie Smyth, 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, 2 years n Tanner Brown, 6-0, 177, 1

n Ryan Wright, 6-3, 245, 5 n Zach Wood, 6-3, 255, 10

n Barion Brown, 5-11, 177, R

n Ty Chandler, 5-11, 205, 5

Number to know: -63.3 That is the cumulative Expected Points Added (EPA) contributed by the Saints special teams units in 2025.

Take note of the minus sign in front of that number. It was the worst figure in the NFL last season by a significant margin. The difference between the Saints and the second-worst team, the Arizona Cardinals (minus-44.2),

ä See SAINTS, page 3C

Beltrán, Andruw, Kent enshrined into HOF Associated Press COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — If it’s true that a good baseball team is strong up the middle, then the Hall of Fame roster got a significant boost Sunday as it inducted do-it-all center fielders Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones, along with the most prolific power-hitting second baseman the game has ever seen in Jeff Kent.

A record 60 Hall of Famers filled the stage at the Clark Sports Center, with the three newcomers among them. Fifty-seven previously inducted immortals — from the Class of 1972’s Sandy Koufax to last year’s three living honorees CC Sabathia, Ichiro Suzuki and Billy Wagner — have returned to Cooperstown to celebrate their new brethren.

Beltrán and Jones are just the third and fourth center fielders elected by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in nearly half a century. Since Duke Snider went in with the Class of 1980, only Kirby Puckett (2001) and Ken Griffey Jr. (2016) were counted as center fielders elected by the BBWAA until this year.

Kent, who was elected by the Contemporary

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By SETH WENIG

The 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame inductees Jeff Kent, left, Andruw Jones, center, and Carlos Beltran pose for pictures after the induction ceremony on Sunday in ä See HOF, page 3C Cooperstown, N.y.

AP FILE PHOTO By KyUSUNG GONG

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bufkin dribbles during a game against the Sacramento Kings on March 1 in Los Angeles. Bufkin signed a one-year deal with the Pelicans on Sunday.

Embiid’s pitch to James worked — even if it was 12 years later

BY DAN GELSTON AP sportswriter

PHILADELPHIA — The social media pitch to bring LeBron James to Philadelphia was an almost naive one from Joel Embiid. “ @KingJames hey bro hope you’re having a good day...... Want to join us in philly??

Peace,” Embiid wrote.

His recruitment skills were on point and James — the four-time NBA champion and career scoring leader — will join Embiid in a startling turn of events on the Philadelphia 76ers.

Ok, fine, just a short 12 years after the July 1, 2014, post.

The 76ers expect James to be worth the wait and hope he can win an NBA championship in Philadelphia much as he did in his previous three stops in Cleveland, Miami and with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The 76ers are used to playing the long game. The franchise hasn’t won an NBA championship since 1983, when Julius Erving still soared and a year before James was born.

Certainly not as dominant as he was in

ä See JAMES, page 3C

2C ● Monday, July 27, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Memphis, Caldwell-Pope reach buyout agreement

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Kentavious Caldwell-Pope reached a buyout agreement with the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.

ESPN, citing sources, reported late on Saturday that Caldwell-Pope plans to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers after clearing waivers.

Caldwell-Pope averaged 8.4 points and 21.9 minutes in 51 games last season for Memphis. He had finger surgery in February and missed the final 31 games of the season.

Caldwell-Pope underwent surgery to address a misalignment of his right pinkie finger in February and missed the last 31 games of the season.

The 33-year-old guard has a career 11-point average in 963 games in 13 seasons with Detroit, the Los Angeles Lakers, Washington, Denver, Orlando and the Grizzlies. He was part of championship teams with the Lakers in 2020 and the Nuggets in 2023.

All-Star Bellinger heads to IL with hamstring strain

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By dARKO BANdIC

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain celebrates after winning the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring racetrack on Sunday in Mogyorod, Hungary.

Norris ends wait for F1 win in Hungary The Associated Press MOGYOROD, Hungary — Lando Norris ended an eight-month wait by “flying” to a Formula 1 victory with strong pace and a dose of good fortune at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday.

The defending champion was on pole but lost the lead to his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri when he ran wide at the second corner.

Norris got the lead back after Piastri was delayed by a collision with Carlos Sainz Jr. while lapping the Williams driver, allowing Norris to come out of the pits ahead of his teammate. He cruised to the win from there.

“Car was unbelievable today, well done guys, incredible. We were flying,” Norris said. “Nice to be finally able to do it all for you.

Feels like it’s been a while.”

Piastri then stopped with a bro- Prix race since Sao Paulo in Noken gearbox, paving the way for vember, though he did win a sprint Max Verstappen to take second, in Miami in May. with Kimi Antonelli third.

Hungary was the last race before the mid-season break. The Antonelli gets boost in title fight next race is the Dutch Grand Prix Even with Mercedes largely on Aug. 23. off the pace for once and a threeplace grid penalty in qualifying, Hamilton left to rue penalty Antonelli recovered from seventh “Sometimes you just can’t catch to take his ninth podium finish in a break,” Hamilton had written 11 races and make a statement to on Instagram on Saturday. He his title rivals. discussed how his three-place Antonelli increased his stand- penalty in qualifying — Hamilings lead to 50 points over Lewis ton’s third penalty in three race Hamilton, who was fifth after a weekends — made it “difficult to penalty for speeding in the pits. hang on to that positivity”.

George Russell was barely a facA fourth penalty won’t have tor as he drove through the field helped, and nor will yet another to seventh after a near-stall at the Ferrari strategy blunder.

When Piastri’s breakdown at the start dropped him to the back. He drops 59 points behind his Mer- side of the road brought a virtual safety car slowdown, Ferrari decedes teammate Antonelli.

Norris hadn’t won a full Grand cided it was worth calling in Ham-

ilton for fresh tires.

Unfortunately for the seven-time champion, he left the pit lane to see Antonelli approaching fast. In what appeared to be a rush to keep the Mercedes driver at bay, Hamilton broke the pit lane speed limit.

Hamilton ended up being asked to give the place back to Antonelli and was then given a five-second penalty that dropped him behind teammate Charles Leclerc in the final standings.

“Handing out penalties like crazy,” he told Ferrari over the radio.

Isack Hadjar took sixth after a tactical race holding up drivers who threatened his Red Bull teammate Verstappen, with Russell seventh. Liam Lawson was eighth for Racing Bulls ahead of Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg in ninth and Lawson’s teammate Arvid Lindblad 10th.

Shin claims first LPGA win in more than a decade The Associated Press TROON, Scotland — South Korean golfer Jenny Shin secured a twoshot victory at the Women’s Scottish Open on Sunday to end a wait of more than 10 years for her second LPGA win.

The 33-year-old Shin, who won the Texas Shootout in May 2016, carded a 3-over 75 on the Dundonald Links to finish at 9 under.

“My first one didn’t really feel like a win at the time,” Shin said.

“I didn’t feel like I deserved it.

It felt very accidental. But this one definitely feels a lot different. This one feels like I earned it. I worked hard for it.”

Shin was in tears after the final putt dropped on the 18th and was doused with water and champagne by a group of friends.

Leading since the first round, Shin could afford three straight bogies on Nos. 6-8 after starting

done everything right but just wasn’t hitting it like I was the last three days and just hitting it into bunkers and bushes and that wasn’t fun.

“With three bogies in a row, I thought, ‘oh boy, I don’t know where this is going to go’. But yeah, I hung in there, so I’m quite proud of myself and very happy.”

Shin is now thinking about the next challenge.

“I’m going to do everything I can to win again,” Shin said. “I can’t believe it happened this week.”

A Lim Kim finished second after a 4-under 68, with four straight birdies helping her ASSOCICATEd PRESS PHOTO By STEVE WELSH leapfrog two shots ahead of Anannarukarn, who dropped to Jenny Shin of South Korea celebrates after winning the 2026 ISPS third.

HANdA Scottish Open on Sunday at dundonald Links, Ayrshire.

The Women’s Scottish Open comes between the final two the final round with a five-shot holes but had made two birdies majors — the Evian Championlead over Thailand’s Pajaree earlier. ship and the Women’s British Anannarukarn (74). Shin also “I wasn’t as nervous as yester- Open starting Thursday at Royal bogeyed two of the last three day,” Shin said. “I feel like I’ve Lytham & St. Annes.

Pogacar confirms his status as one of cycling’s greats

BY JEROME PUGMIRE AP sportswiter

PARIS — Tadej Pogacar confirmed his status as one of cycling’s alltime greats after winning a record-equaling fifth Tour de France title in emphatic style.

Daring mountain attacks from deep, multiple stage wins and an ice-cool temperament all helped the 27-year-old Slovenian seal his victory on Sunday. He joined Belgian Eddy Merckx, Spaniard Miguel Indurain and Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault as the only riders to win five Tours.

“I’m speechless. It’s an incredible day, there was an incredible atmosphere,” Pogacar said. “I’ve ridden seven Tours already and

I’ve always finished on the podium. You might think this is a fairytale, it’s incredible for me too.”

After competing strongly in Sunday’s 21st and exciting final stage in Paris, Pogacar finished 6 minutes, 26 seconds ahead of Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel in the overall standings.

Two-time Tour champion Jonas Vingegaard was Pogacar’s main rival heading into the race but the Dane crashed out on the 15th stage.

“Shame that Jonas and others crashed out of this Tour,” Pogacar said. “I hope we can all fight again next year.”

Pogacar’s UAE Team Emirates XRG teammate Isaac Del Toro, a 22-year-old Mexican making his Tour debut, was third at 9:42

back from Pogacar, who smiled and held up his hand to signify his wins. His teammates then joined him as they stood proudly on the Champs-Élysées.

“I don’t know how I do it,” Pogacar said. “I now have to find a new goal to chase. Which goal? Let’s just not jump ahead of ourselves, and enjoy this moment.”

Pogacar won the Giro d’Italia in 2024 but has not won the Spanish Vuelta, which starts on Aug. 22.

“Will I be at La Vuelta in a few weeks?” he said. “Let’s see.”

Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel, who just held off the chasing pack on the home straight for his second stage win at this year’s race and fourth overall.

Sunday’s 88.7-kilometer (55mile) stage looped around Paris and was mostly processional, although less so than in previous years, which were usually entirely flat stages for sprinters and not for the rest of the peloton.

The stage was shortened from 133 kilometers and its starting point in Thoiry, west of the capital, was changed to Paris so as to Peerless Pogacar reduce pressure on emergency Pogacar won five stages at this services combating wildfires in year’s race to take his impressive the southwest. Some security forces initially mobilized for Paris tally to 26 overall.

He tried to win on Sunday, too, were redeployed to help response but victory ultimately went to efforts.

PHILADELPHIA — The Yankees have placed All-Star outfielder Cody Bellinger on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain, a blow to New York’s defense on a team already missing several big bats.

The Yankees recalled outfielder Spencer Jones from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre before Sunday night’s game at Philadelphia to take Bellinger’s spot on the roster.

New York has been without slugger Aaron Judge since May 31 because of a fractured rib and designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton is still out with a strained right calf that’s sidelined him since April 24. The Yankees entered Sunday’s game 21/ 2 games behind Tampa Bay in the AL East.

F1’s Bahrain Grand Prix to be held in Malaysia

MOGYOROD, Hungary — Formula 1 is heading back to Malaysia for the first time in nine years as the Bahrain Grand Prix was rescheduled there for Oct. 4.

The Sepang circuit is slotted in between races in Azerbaijan and Singapore, subject to approval from the FIA’s world motor sport council, F1 and the FIA said Sunday.

F1 called off its races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, which had been set for March and April, as the Iran war escalated.

Despite taking place in Malaysia, the race will still have Bahrain Grand Prix branding.

It’s not the first time an F1 race has been named for one country and took place in another. The long-running San Marino Grand Prix was held in neighboring Italy but last used that name in 2006.

Texas SS Seager takes first BP since back injury

ARLINGTON, Texas — Corey Seager took live batting practice Sunday for the first time since the Texas Rangers shortstop was sidelined by a back injury for the second time this season on July 1.

Seager finished the session with a home run and was planning to take live BP again Monday before what would appear to be a minor league rehab assignment.

The two-time World Series MVP and five-time All-Star played two games in the minors in early June when he was returning from a three-week absence because of lower back inflammation. Seager spent two more weeks on the injured list in June after getting a concussion.

Former Patriots offensive lineman Devey dead at 38

Former NFL guard Jordan Devey, who won Super Bowl 49 with the New England Patriots in 2015, died Tuesday. He was 38.

Devey’s family revealed in a GoFundMe fundraiser that the football star died by suicide. They said he was known for his “unwavering dedication to serving others.”

“His commitment to uplifting those around him extended far beyond sports, as he faithfully served in his church, offering support, counsel and friendship to anyone in need,” the post read.

“He was deeply loved by the players who saw him as a mentor, role model and friend.”

His wife, Linsey Devey, shared on Instagram that the couple was a few days shy of their 15th wedding anniversary.

His family revealed that the retired footballer spent his final years coaching athletes at Eagle High in Idaho.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Monday, July 27, 2026 ● 3C

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PELS

Continued from page 1C assists and 3.7 rebounds. He shot 41.9% on 3-pointers for South Bay. He put up similar numbers playing for the Pelicans in Summer League. He played in three games in Vegas and led the Pelicans in scoring with 21.3 points per game.

His best game was the first one against the Minnesota Timberwolves when he poured in 30 points and shot 5-for-9 on 3-pointers.

“Our coaches put me in a position to thrive, so I just took advantage of the opportunities that they gave me,” Bufkin said after the first game.

His 3-point shooting dropped off in the other two games and he finished Summer League 7-of-22 (31.8 %) from long distance. He

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C is about the difference between the Cardinals and the eighthworst team.

It was an all-around poor performance. The field goal unit struggled throughout the course of the season (though things were better after Smyth took over).

The punting unit routinely underperformed and also allowed two kicks to be blocked. The Saints’ best overall performance came from their punt returners, who finished 19th in average yards per return.

The lowdown At bare minimum, the Saints should be a competent team when their punting unit jogs onto the field.

While New Orleans was struggling last season, Wright was enjoying one of the best years of his career. He finished 2025 ranked No. 3 in the NFL in net punting average (44.5, more than eight yards better than the Saints’ total), No. 7 in average hang time (4.49 seconds) and No. 4 in touchback percentage (4.6%). He also had the longest punt in the NFL last season, a 77-yarder against the Cleveland Browns in London that traveled 63 yards in the air before rolling to the 2-yard line, where it was downed.

Even if Wright doesn’t maintain that standard, he’s a safe bet to be better than what the Saints have trotted out since letting go of Morstead.

Since the start of the 2021 season, 168 punters have recorded at least 20 punts in a season. The four players who have punted for the Saints in that span achieved the following ranks in gross punting average: 65 (Blake Gillikin), 109 (Gillikin), 138 (Kai Kroeger), 152 (Matthew Hayball) and 162 (Lou Hedley). In other words, three of the five are in the bottom 20th percentile.

The return game had been steady for a long time in New Orleans, whether it was Deonte Harty or Rashid Shaheed back to strike fear into opposing specialists. But the Saints had a need after trading Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks last offseason, and Brown should be the first to get a

HOF

Continued from page 1C Baseball Era Committee at the Winter Meetings last December, is the first second baseman to join the Hall since another Astro: Craig Biggio in 2015.

The sixth Puerto Rican elected to the Hall of Fame, Beltrán has a strong contingent in town for the weekend.

“It’s very incredible that I have both of my parents here,” he said on Saturday. “They came from Puerto Rico — coming to Cooperstown, you know, it’s not an easy task. … We brought probably like 150 people from the island.”

A second-round Draft pick of the Royals in 1995, Beltrán debuted at 21 in ’98 and won the 1999 American League Rookie of the Year Award handily. He was bound for Cooperstown that first summer: When George Brett became the first Royal enshrined, the team played in the annual Hall of Fame Game exhibition at Doubleday Field.

“I had the chance to introduce Carlos to my good friend Orlando Cepeda as the ‘next Hall of Famer from Puerto Rico,’ That’s how much I trusted his ability and I trusted him as a person,” Brett wrote in the Hall of Fame’s 2026 yearbook.

Beltrán was in shock.

“I’m like, ‘What are you doing?’

Like, I haven’t played a game and you’re introducing me as a Hall of Famer,” Beltrán recalled on Saturday. “I don’t think that’s a good statement, George. And George

also averaged 5.3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.

Before the team made the trip to Vegas, first-year Pelicans head coach Jamahl Mosley talked about what an opportunity like this could mean for the former first-round draft pick.

“I think it’s great for Kobe,” Mosley said. “He’s been excellent in his communication with the coaches in what he’s trying to do and what we’re asking of him to do. Just be a facilitator and attack the basket when he needs to.

Defensively, can he pick guys up full court? Can he make it harder for the other team’s point guard?

It’s a great opportunity for him, but it’s a great opportunity for all these guys to show what they are capable of doing.”

Now Bufkin will get to attend training camp and try to earn a roster spot.

shot at filling it.

Brown was an exceptional college football return man, setting the Southeastern Conference record for career kick-return touchdowns (six) during his time at Kentucky and LSU. It will be interesting to see if Brown gets a shot to return punts in the pros — in college, he returned only 11 punts in his career.

If Brown is unable to duplicate his success in the NFL, the Saints could lean on free agent signee Ty Chandler, who has a 25.7-yard career kick return average in the NFL (albeit in a limited sample size).

As for kicker, well …

Training camp battle Smyth waited a long time to earn his place on an NFL active roster, spending about 18 months on the practice squad after signing from Ireland via the International Player Pathway. And while he wasn’t perfect in his debut season — he drilled a game-winner in the closing seconds against Carolina and hit from 57 yards out, but he also missed four of his 11 field goal attempts beyond 40 yards — he showed more than enough potential to merit a longer look.

It’s just a question of how long that look will be.

New Orleans has actively pursued competition for Smyth this offseason. It signed (and subsequently released) former Texas kicker Mason Shipley after the draft and also worked out former Pro Bowler Younghoe Koo. But the most daunting challenge may come from Brown.

Some have compared Brown to Dallas Cowboys All-Pro kicker Brandon Aubrey, not only because of where they came from (Aubrey found immediate success after playing in the USFL; Brown is trying to make a similar leap from the UFL), but because of their powerful kicking legs.

While Smyth has shown more than enough leg in practice settings, hitting some that look like they’d be good from 70 yards, Brown has proven it in a game setting. He connected on a pair of 60-plus-yard field goals in one UFL playoff game last year, following up a regular season in which he successfully converted 29 of his 32 kicks.

said, ‘Well, Carlos, everything is possible in life. If you play hard and if you continue to play good, and if you continue to develop yourself, this is an opportunity, and this is a chance that you could be here.”

Twenty-seven years later, here they are.

“It’s a thrill,” Brett said on Saturday.

One year after the Hall welcomed its first Japanese-born player, Jones becomes the first native of Curaçao, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, to be inducted. He managed the Netherlands squad in this year’s World Baseball Classic and enjoyed watching the island’s soccer team compete in the World Cup. “I always love this game.

Baseball is my life,” he said on Saturday morning. “So to get a chance to represent your country, manage your country, and get a chance to coach my son on the professional level, it was fun.

I enjoyed every bit of it.”

Unlike his fellow inductees this year, Kent did not debut with a bang. Traded three times before he was 30, he did not establish himself as a middle-of-the-order, middle-infield star until being dealt to the Giants before his age29 season in 1997. There, Kent formed a potent trio with Barry Bonds and J.T. Snow.

That’s when Kent’s journey to Cooperstown really began: the 2000 NL MVP Award with San Francisco, five All-Star selections and 377 career home runs, the most of any primary second baseman.

LATE SATURDAY

EMOTIONAL WIN Heavy-hearted Jones helps lift Team Spoon past Team Coop in WNBA All-Star Game

BY JAY COHEN AP sportswriter

CHICAGO — Jonquel Jones, Nneka Ogwumike and Dominique Malonga made WNBA history on Saturday night.

It was quite the All-Star party in the league’s 30th season.

Jones had 22 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, helping Caitlin Clark and Team Spoon outlast Marina Mabrey and Team Coop 129122 in the WNBA All-Star Game.

Playing with a heavy heart after the death of an aunt, Jones was named MVP. The 32-year-old New York Liberty center became the first player to win the league, WNBA Finals, Commissioner’s Cup and All-Star MVP awards.

“No matter what mood I’m in, basketball can pick me back up,” Jones said, “and so just leaning into that.”

Malonga had a first-half dunk for Team Coop, but Team Spoon had eight players score in double figures in an All-Star Game that featured 127 3-point attempts and very little defense. Allisha Gray had 19 points for Team Spoon, and Clark finished with 17.

It was the first WNBA All-Star Game in Chicago since 2022. This time, the marquee event was played in front of a record crowd of 19,783 at the United Center instead of the smaller Wintrust Arena in downtown Chicago.

“To be able to have tonight, have 19,000 people in the highest attendance ever in the All-Star Game just really shows that our league is growing and people want to be around us and want to be a part of this and understand how special it is,” Jones said.

Ogwumike scored 11 points for Team Spoon while passing Maya Moore (119) for the most career points in All-Star Game history.

Kelsey Mitchell had 28 points for Team Coop, and Mabrey scored all of her 23 points during a red-hot first half. The 20-year-old Malonga finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds.

“I got to see a few go down early,” said Mabrey, who matched the WNBA scoring record when she had 53 points for Toronto in a win over Los Angeles on June 25.

“That’s kind of like my thing. Get them up when they’re going in.”

WNBA greats Cynthia Cooper

JAMES

Continued from page 1C his MVP heyday, LeBron James is still, well LeBron James and his addition should lift any team mired in the NBA mucky middle such as the Sixers into contention.

Throw him into in a lineup that includes a league MVP in Embiid, All-Stars Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown, and promising secondyear standout VJ Edgecombe, and it’s no shock the Sixers moved up few a few pegs Friday on the betting board and into the short list of favorites for an NBA title.

Just not the favorite.

James is again chasing a ring and his arrival on a two-year deal for the veterans’ minimum of about $3.9 million per season shook up the Sixers and put the Eastern Conference on notice — yes, even the NBA champion Knicks — that a real championship contender might finally emerge in Philly.

76ers won the offseason Here they come, team of the year?

The Sixers earned straight A’s on their summer school report card even before James said he would sign with team.

The Sixers fired team president Daryl Morey and replaced him with longtime Cleveland executive Mike Gansey, who came out swinging for the fences in his first month on the job. He pulled off the shocker of a trade with Boston that landed them Brown — the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, a five-time All-Star and the league’s fourthleading scorer this past season.

It’s difficult to fathom that an oftinjured Embiid — who won Olympic gold with James — and Maxey alone would have been enough to coax James to Philadelphia.

But adding a stud like Brown?

Brown surely played a key deciding factor in James’ decision — his “last” one, he says — and now the Sixers boast perhaps the top

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By NAM y. HUH

Team Spoon center Jonquel Jones, left, and Team Coop forward Natasha Howard, right, battle for a rebound during the All-Star game Saturday in Chicago. and Teresa Weatherspoon drafted the All-Star teams from players that were either voted as starters by fans, media and fellow players or chosen as reserves by the league’s coaches. Las Vegas’ Becky Hammon coached Cooper’s team, and Minnesota’s Cheryl Reeve was in charge of Weatherspoon’s squad.

Clark went 5 for 15 from beyond the arc and had five assists in her return to the All-Star game. The Indiana Fever guard missed last year’s event in Indianapolis because of a groin injury.

“Last year really stunk being in our home city; you never want to miss that for the fans,” Clark said.

“I love to show up and compete.”

The 24-year-old Clark came out firing, connecting from 33 feet and 37 feet on her way to 11 points in the first 21/ 2 minutes. She buried another 3 early in the second quarter off a slick no-look pass from Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles, the only rookie selected for the game.

Clark and Mabrey each put on

an offensive show, but Malonga got the biggest cheer of the night.

The 6-foot-6 center from the Seattle Storm ran down the lane, got a pass from former LSU standout Angel Reese and threw down a right-handed jam with 6:24 left in the first half.

Reese jumped up and down as Malonga finished the play, and the two exchanged a mid-air chest bump on their way back down the court.

“The way she makes it look easy, the excitement around it,” said Paige Bueckers, who scored 12 points for Team Coop. “I love Dom ... really happy for her in just how easy she makes it look.”

It was the first dunk in a WNBA All-Star Game since Sylvia Fowles in 2022. Lisa Leslie (2005), Jones (2017), Brittney Griner (2019) also have accomplished the feat.

Leslie was on hand for the festivities, along with South Carolina coach and former WNBA guard Dawn Staley. Former NBA star Dwyane Wade also was courtside.

starting five in the NBA. And boy, what a bargain.

There are some caveats, of course.

James turns 42 in December and there are a lot of miles on those legs. James battled injuries last season and played in only 60 games. Embiid has never been reliable, with only 57 combined games played the last two seasons, and the Sixers have churned through a slew of imported stars over the last decade — James Harden, Jimmy Butler, Paul George — and still haven’t advanced out of the second round since 2001.

There’s only one ball and a lot of talent that has the resume to command it.

But with apologies to Wilt Chamberlain, many, many apologies, James becomes the most accomplished player to ever wear a 76ers uniform.

He won’t be alone in that No. 23 uniform — Fanatics sold out almost instantly of his jerseys on Friday.

It’s also a big win for front office boss Bob Myers, who openly pitched for James to sign in Philadelphia on his agent’s podcast and won four championships as a Golden State Warriors executive.

are a two-star team with Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. Antetokounmpo, Adebayo and James would have made them a new Big 3, much like when James won titles in Miami with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

Toronto is hopeful for a resolution to their held-up trade with the Los Angeles Clippers that should land them Kawhi Leonard. The trade is on hold pending the outcome of the NBA’s investigation into whether the Clippers circumvented salary cap rules.

Power shifts in the East

LeBron’s legacy

The Sixers ended their season with a second-round sweep to Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and the NBA champion Knicks.

The Knicks are still the team to beat. By talent, by virtue of winning it all and, at least out of the East, the betting favorite to again reach the NBA Finals.

The Knicks have largely stayed pat while other hopeful contenders went for major moves.

The Heat — hey, when exactly is that presser? — like their chances after they traded with Milwaukee for Giannis Antetokounmpo. The two-time MVP was the latest on a long list of superstar acquisitions made since Pat Riley arrived to take over as team president in 1995.

Much like the Sixers before they acquired Brown, the Heat

Look, James’ legacy is set and not even a flameout in Philly is going to change his indelible stamp on the game from the court to the cash register.

There is one major mark he could hit should he send the Sixers on a parade route down Broad Street. He would become the first player to win NBA titles with four teams.

Sixers coach Nick Nurse turned 59 on Friday and there’s no better professional gift he could have received than LeBron James.

Purchased on a discount rack.

Look for LeBron on opening night in New York. Look for LeBron on a Christmas game in Philadelphia. Look for LeBron to keep Sixers’ tickets sky high on the secondary market even on nights when Embiid sits.

A bad day for Cleveland The Cavaliers would have loved a sentimental third tour with James and have the franchise’s greatest player eventually retire in Cleveland.

James instead left the Cavaliers in a lurch, and they have to hope they can re-sign 36-year-old James Harden as part of a lineup that includes Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell.

They will be projected to finish behind the Knicks and 76ers in the East.

Don’t forget, Detroit won 60 games last season and would like to prove its early playoff exit was a part of the growing pains of a contender.

4C ● Monday, July 27, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

lll

Heim holds on for historic Brickyard 400 win

BY MICHAEL MAROT

members tried to get Blaney’s No. 12 Ford back in cotention, but he couldn’t pass Gilliland, who finished 24th. Blaney was 26th.

Ty Gibbs won stage one and finished third in stage two before getting shuffled back to 14th during a pit stop in stage three. Ross Chastain won the second stage.

Kyle Larson and Daniel Dye were knocked out of the race early when blown tires sent them into the wall before the end of stage two. Chase Elliott also was knocked out early when he hit the wall and the right rear wheel went flat.

AP sportswriter

INDIANAPOLIS — Corey Heim passed team co-owner Denny Hamlin on the final restart Sunday and then held off the hard-charging cars of Christopher Bell and Joey Logano to capture his first Brickyard 400 crown.

The 24-year-old has won twice this season, even though he won’t be driving full-time in NASCAR’s Cup series until next season. He’s the first Cup driver to win twice in his first 15 career starts since A.J. Foyt in 1965.

And he did it this time with a daring outside move to overtake Hamlin, then leading the final 35 laps and holding off Bell by 0.287 seconds on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s historic 2.5-mile oval.

Logano, last week’s winner, finished third, 0.972 seconds behind, again keeping team owner Roger Penske out of victory lane.

“That was a damn handful,” Heim said. “I was hanging on for dear life once the shade went down and the pace picked up, my car got really loose and I never really got a lot of clean air throughout the day, so that was the hardest I’ve ever fought in my life to make sure I focused on the exits and get through dirty air.”

Hamlin, who is part of Michael Jordan’s ownership group with 23XI Racing, made his second straight trip to victory lane as a team owner. Bubba Wallace, Heim’s teammate, won the 2025 title. But Hamlin finished fifth, more than six seconds back, as he tried to add the only missing link in

Larson’s drought It was another tough weekend for Larson, the defending Cup champ whose winless streak reached 46 races as he finished last in the 39-car field late in stage one.

First, Larson qualified 10th with a lap time more than 0.3 seconds behind pole winner Carson Hocevar. Then Sunday, he was ready to cycle into the lead when a left rear blew, sending him hard into the wall coming out of Turn 3 and making him the first car out of the race.

“We just had a tire let go. I wouldn’t say pushing had anyASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By MICHAEL CONROy thing to do with it,” he said. “Just a little bit of bad luck, I guess.”

Corey Heim heads into the first turn during the NASCAR Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on He’s won 26 races and two series Sunday in Indianapolis. crowns since joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2021. But even though a career sweep of NASCAR’s four collecting the $1 million In-Season ond stage. the No. 5 Chevrolet last reached crown jewel races. He’s now 0 for Challenge despite qualifying 36th But the payoff came after 2023 victory lane in May 2025 at Kan18 all-time at Indy. and spending most of the day be- Cup champ Ryan Blaney was col- sas, the longest drought in Larson’s Todd Gilliland of Front Row Mo- hind 2023 Cup champ Ryan Blaney. lected in a nine-car crash with 41 Hendricks tenure may not deter torsports surprised everyone by He also finished second in the sec- laps to go. Team Penske’s crew him from defending his Cup title.

SCOREBOARD Odds

Team Spoon 129, Team Coop 122

MLB

No games scheduled.

(Liberatore 5-7), 6:45 p.m.

Milwaukee (Sproat 3-5) at San Francisco (Mahle 2-9), 8:45 p.m.

Monday’s games None scheduled.

Pro golf

Major League Baseball

ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open par scores

Sunday’s games

Monday

American League FAVORITE LINE Seattle -126 Baltimore -114 N.Y Yankees -143 Houston -119 Boston -165 National League FAVORITE LINE at MIAMI OFF Arizona -125 Atlanta -117 at ST. LOUIS OFF Milwaukee -127 Interleague FAVORITE LINE at WASH OFF at CINCINNATI -164

UNDERDOG at TEXAS at DETROIT at CHI W. SOX at LA ANGELS at ATHLETICS

LINE +106 -104 +121 +101 +138

UNDERDOG Philadelphia at PITTSBURGH at N.Y METS Chicago Cubs at SAN FRAN.

LINE OFF +105 -102 OFF +107

UNDERDOG Toronto Cleveland

LINE OFF +137

Cycling Sunday Stage 21 A 55-mile ride from Thoiry to Paris Champs-Elysees Stage Results:

Also:

49. Matteo Jorgenson, United States, Team Visma ‘ Lease a Bike, 2:00:59.

70. Sean Quinn, United States, EF EducationEasyPost, 2:06:39.

107. Matthew Riccitello, United States, Decathlon CMA CGM Team, 2:09:43.

124. Sepp Kuss, United States, Team Visma ‘ Lease a Bike, 2:09:43.

Overall Standings:

1. Tadej Pogacar, Slovenia, UAE Team Emirates-XRG, 73:56:26.

2. Remco Evenepoel, Belgium, Red BullBORA-hansgrohe, 74:02:52.

3. Isaac Del Toro Romero, Mexico, UAE Team Emirates-XRG, 74:06:08.

4. Paul Seixas, France, Decathlon CMA CGM Team, 74:08:22.

5. Lenny Martinez, France, Bahrain Victorious, 74:09:28.

6. Mattias Skjelmose, Denmark, Lidl-Trek, 74:11:25.

7. Juan Ayuso, Spain, Lidl-Trek, 74:14:14.

8. Richard Carapaz, Ecuador, EF EducationEasyPost, 74:16:26.

9. Tom Pidcock, Great Britain, PinarelloQ36.5 Pro Cycling Team, 74:25:54.

10. Jordan Jegat, France, TotalEnergies, 74:29:47.

Also:

13. Sepp Kuss, United States, Team Visma ‘ Lease a Bike, 74:58:49.

18. Quinn Simmons, United States, Lidl-Trek, 75:31:54.

19. Sean Quinn, United States, EF EducationEasyPost, 75:43:31.

24. Matthew Riccitello, United States, Decathlon CMA CGM Team, 76:07:35.

30. Matteo Jorgenson, United States, Team Visma ‘ Lease a Bike, 76:29:55.

Withdrew Stage 18

Brandon McNulty, United States, UAE Team Emirates XRG, 60:57:21.

Pro basketball WNBA Glance EASTERN CONFERENCE

Tampa Bay New York Boston Baltimore Toronto

L 43 45 50 55 58

Pct .590 .567 .519 .481 .453

GB — 2½ 7½ 11½ 14½

Chicago Cleveland Minnesota Detroit Kansas City

W 55 54 53 50 45

L 49 53 54 56 62

Pct .529 .505 .495 .472 .421

GB — 2½ 3½ 6 11½

Texas Seattle Houston Athletics Los Angeles

W 53 52 52 44 41

L 52 54 55 61 64

Pct .505 .491 .486 .419 .390

GB — 1½ 2 9 12

Central Division

Kansas City 3, Detroit 2 San Francisco 9, L.A. Angels 2 Toronto 6, Boston 0 N.Y. Yankees 3, Philadelphia 1 Tampa Bay 3, Cleveland 0 Baltimore 3, Atlanta 2 Minnesota 2, Athletics 0 Houston 4, Chicago White Sox 1 Texas 7, Seattle 1

Sunday’s games

Tampa Bay 1, Cleveland 0 Boston 6, Toronto 1 L.A. Angels 4, San Francisco 3 Kansas City 5, Detroit 4 Chicago White Sox 12, Houston 3 Atlanta 3, Baltimore 2, 11 innings Minnesota 11, Athletics 8 Seattle 6, Texas 4 N.Y. Yankees at Philadelphia, n

Monday’s games

Seattle (Kirby 8-8) at Texas (Rocker 3-8), 1:35 p.m.

Baltimore (Bradish 7-9) at Detroit (Montero 7-5), 5:40 p.m.

Toronto (Scherzer 1-4) at Washington (Alvarez 2-3), 5:45 p.m.

Cleveland (Cecconi 4-7) at Cincinnati (Burns 12-1), 6:10 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees (Fried 4-3) at Chicago White Sox (Schultz 3-7), 6:40 p.m.

Houston (Imai 6-4) at L.A. Angels (Ureña 6-7), 8:38 p.m.

Boston (Tolle 5-6) at Athletics (Perkins 2-5), 8:40 p.m.

National League

East Division Atlanta Philadelphia Washington Miami New York

W 62 56 54 52 44

L 43 49 52 54 62

Pct .590 .533 .509 .491 .415

GB — 6 8½ 10½ 18½

Milwaukee Chicago Pittsburgh St. Louis Cincinnati

W 66 59 54 53 49

L 39 46 52 52 55

Pct .629 .562 .509 .505 .471

GB — 7 12½ 13 16½

Los Angeles Arizona San Diego San Francisco Colorado

W 67 55 53 44 42

L 39 51 53 60 65

Pct .632 .519 .500 .423 .393

GB — 12 14 22 25½

Central Division

West Division

Saturday’s games

Washington 5, Arizona 3 San Francisco 9, L.A. Angels 2 San Diego 7, Miami 2 N.Y. Yankees 3, Philadelphia 1 Chicago Cubs 11, Pittsburgh 0 Baltimore 3, Atlanta 2 Milwaukee 8, Colorado 5 St. Louis 7, Cincinnati 0 L.A. Dodgers 4, N.Y. Mets 3

Sunday’s games

Indiana Atlanta New York Washington Toronto Chicago Connecticut

W 17 16 15 14 10 9 7

L 10 10 12 12 16 18 20

Pct .630 .615 .556 .538 .385 .333 .259

Minnesota Golden State Las Vegas Dallas Portland Los Angeles Phoenix Seattle

W 22 19 18 18 11 10 10 6

L 6 8 8 9 16 16 18 23

Pct GB .786 — .704 2½ .692 3 .667 3½ .407 10½ .385 11 .357 12 .207 16½

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Sunday

W 62 59 54 51 48

Saturday’s games

1. Mathieu van der Poel, Netherlands, Alpecin-Premier Tech, 1:58:49.

2. Jasper Philipsen, Belgium, Alpecin-Premier Tech, same time.

3. Mads Pedersen, Denmark, Lidl-Trek, same time.

4. Max Kanter, Germany, XDS Astana Team, same time.

5. Olav Kooij, Netherlands, Decathlon CMA CGM Team, same time.

6. Matej Mohoric, Slovenia, Bahrain Victorious, same time.

7. Rick Pluimers, Netherlands, Tudor Pro Cycling Team, same time.

8. Anthony Turgis, France, TotalEnergies, same time.

9. Milan Fretin, Belgium, Cofidis, same time.

10. Clement Russo, France, Groupama-FDJ United, same time.

2026 All-Star Game

East Division

West Division

Tour de France

Saturday’s games

American League

GB — ½ 2 2½ 6½ 8 10

Pittsburgh 8, Chicago Cubs 7 L.A. Angels 4, San Francisco 3 San Diego 5, Miami 3 Washington 10, Arizona 7 N.Y. Mets 8, L.A. Dodgers 3 Milwaukee 11, Colorado 2 Atlanta 3, Baltimore 2, 11 innings Cincinnati 5, St. Louis 3, 10 innings N.Y. Yankees at Philadelphia, n

Monday’s games

Arizona (Kelly 8-8) at Pittsburgh (Keller 6-7), 5:40 p.m.

Philadelphia (Wheeler 10-2) at Miami (Phillips 2-5), 5:40 p.m.

Toronto (Scherzer 1-4) at Washington (Alvarez 2-3), 5:45 p.m.

Atlanta (Pérez 6-6) at N.Y. Mets (Thornton 1-1), 6:10 p.m.

Cleveland (Cecconi 4-7) at Cincinnati (Burns 12-1), 6:10 p.m.

Chicago Cubs (Peterson 5-7) at St. Louis

At Dundonald Links Troon, United Kingdom Purse: $2 million Yardage: 6,543; Par: 72 Final Round Jenny Shin, $300,000 66-67-71-75—279 -9 A Lim Kim, $167,294 67-72-74-68—281 -7 P. Anannaruk., $111,529 71-69-69-74—283 -5 Esther Henseleit, $83,647 70-68-73-73—284 -4 Lauren Coughlin, $62,271 66-74-74-71—285 -3 Miyu Yamashita, $62,271 70-74-70-71—285 -3 C. Wannasaen, $52,047 71-76-70-69—286 -2 Erika Hara, $44,612 70-70-71-76—287 -1 Leona Maguire, $44,612 72-72-73-70—287 -1 Ryann O’Toole, $44,612 73-72-71-71—287 -1 Aki Iwai, $39,965 78-70-69-71—288 E J. Lopez Ramirez, $39,965 71-74-73-70—288 E Hye Jin Choi, $35,318 76-70-76-67—289 +1 P. Tavatanakit, $35,318 71-69-78-71—289 +1 Amy Yang, $35,318 76-69-71-73—289 +1 Diksha Dagar, $31,600 74-73-70-73—290 +2 Hyo Joo Kim, $31,600 75-70-73-72—290 +2 Nelly Korda, $31,600 72-76-73-69—290 +2 Daniela Darquea, $27,108 71-72-74-74—291 +3 Alice Hewson, $27,108 75-70-75-71—291 +3 Sei Young Kim, $27,108 75-72-73-71—291 +3 P. R.-Bouchard, $27,108 73-73-76-69—291 +3 Maja Stark, $27,108 74-72-73-72—291 +3 Weiwei Zhang, $27,108 73-73-73-72—291 +3 Nataliya Guseva, $22,306 72-74-73-73—292 +4 Ariya Jutanugarn, $22,306 73-73-71-75—292 +4 Rose Zhang, $22,306 73-72-71-76—292 +4 Anna Nordqvist, $18,588 70-79-73-71—293 +5 Ina Yoon, $18,588 73-68-76-76—293 +5 Arpichaya Yubol, $18,588 73-72-77-71—293 +5 Manon De Roey, $14,716 73-75-76-70—294 +6 Hannah Green, $14,716 74-76-74-70—294 +6 Chizzy Iwai, $14,716 72-74-75-73—294 +6 Sara Kouskova, $14,716 77-69-76-72—294 +6 Mi Hyang Lee, $14,716 75-68-77-74—294 +6 N. Nadaud, $14,716 75-71-74-74—294 +6 Pia Babnik, $11,339 77-71-74-73—295 +7 Amanda Doherty, $11,339 72-73-77-73—295 +7 Moa Folke, $11,339 76-70-75-74—295 +7 Lottie Woad, $11,339 74-70-78-73—295 +7 Allisen Corpuz, $10,595 78-72-72-74—296 +8 You Min Hwang, $10,316 74-74-77-72—297 +9 Lisa Pettersson, $10,316 69-77-77-74—297 +9 Helen Briem, $9,480 77-70-74-77—298+10 Lindy Duncan, $9,480 74-74-76-74—298+10 Amelia Garvey, $9,480 76-73-72-77—298+10 Charley Hull, $9,480 78-71-75-74—298+10 Grace Kim, $9,480 74-70-76-78—298+10 Alexa Pano, $9,480 75-72-78-73—298+10 Dewi Weber, $9,480 79-71-76-72—298+10 Jenny Bae, $8,551 72-76-74-77—299+11 Mimi Rhodes, $8,551 77-71-75-76—299+11 Emma Spitz, $8,551 77-73-78-71—299+11 Nasa Hataoka, $8,179 74-72-77-77—300+12 In Gee Chun, $7,993 73-76-77-75—301+13 Robyn Choi, $7,714 76-73-79-74—302+14 Soo Bin Joo, $7,714 76-74-80-72—302+14 Yana Wilson, $7,435 73-76-77-77—303+15 C. Tejedo Mulet, $7,156 74-76-80-74—304+16 Aunchisa Utama, $7,156 73-74-84-73—304+16 Yan Liu, $6,692 77-73-83-72—305+17 Olivia Cowan, $6,506 74-75-80-78—307+19 Hannah Darling, $6,134 75-74-80-79—308+20 B. Navarrosa, $5,948 76-73-81-79—309+21 Rio Takeda, $5,576 76-74-84-76—310+22

PGA 3M Open par scores

71-66-72-64—273 67-69-68-69—273 70-69-66-69—274 66-66-69-73—274 68-69-71-66—274 71-68-67-68—274 67-71-66-70—274 70-69-66-70—275 71-68-65-71—275 71-67-68-69—275 68-69-67-71—275 67-72-69-67—275 70-69-66-70—275 65-69-70-71—275 71-66-66-73—276 69-70-67-70—276 72-66-66-72—276 69-69-69-69—276 69-69-70-69—277 69-68-67-74—278 69-67-71-72—279 65-70-72-72—279 68-68-72-71—279 68-70-72-70—280 68-69-73-70—280 67-72-68-74—281 67-72-71-71—281 70-68-71-73—282 67-70-72-73—282 71-67-72-75—285

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

Auto racing NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 presented by PPG results Sunday

At Indianapolis Motor Speedway Speedway, Ind. Lap length: 2.50 miles (Start position in parentheses) 1. (7) Corey Heim, Toyota, 160 laps, 0 points.

2. (23) Christopher Bell, Toyota, 160, 35.

3. (19) Joey Logano, Ford, 160, 34.

4. (11) Chase Briscoe, Toyota, 160, 36.

5. (5) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 160, 44.

6. (16) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 160, 31.

7. (26) Josh Berry, Ford, 160, 30.

8. (34) Ryan Preece, Ford, 160, 33.

9. (1) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, 160, 40.

10. (3) Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 160, 28.

11. (15) Chris Buescher, Ford, 160, 28.

12. (4) Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 160, 43.

13. (12) Cole Custer, Chevrolet, 160, 24.

14. (35) Austin Cindric, Ford, 160, 23.

15. (30) Zane Smith, Ford, 160, 22.

16. (25) S. Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet, 160, 21.

17. (2) Daniel Suárez, Chevrolet, 160, 25.

18. (6) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 160, 30.

19. (8) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 160, 18.

20. (24) R. Stenhouse Jr, Chevrolet, 160, 17.

21. (21) William Byron, Chevrolet, 160, 22.

22. (33) Noah Gragson, Ford, 160, 15.

23. (22) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 160, 24.

24. (36) Todd Gilliland, Ford, 160, 22.

25. (9) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 160, 12.

26. (13) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 160, 11.

27. (14) Erik Jones, Toyota, 160, 12.

28. (29) Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 160, 9.

29. (20) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 160, 8.

30. (28) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 160, 7.

31. (37) Cody Ware, Chevrolet, 160, 6.

32. (17) John H. Nemechek, Toyota, 158, 5.

33. (32) A. Hill, Chevrolet, accident, 125, 0.

34. (31) C. Zilisch, Chevrolet, accident, 122, 3.

35. (38) C. Mears, Chevrolet, accident, 121, 2.

36. (18) R. Herbst, Toyota, accident, 120, 1.

37. (27) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 119, 1.

38. (39) D. Dye, Chevrolet, accident, 93, 0.

39. (10) K. Larson, Chevrolet, accident, 43, 1.

-25 -22 -20 -20 -20 -20 -19 -19 -18 -17 -17 -17 -16 -16 -16 -15 -15 -15 -15 -14 -14 -14 -14 -13 -13 -13 -13 -13 -13 -13 -12 -12 -12 -11 -11 -11

Pro soccer MLS glance Western Conference

W L Vancouver 10 3 Los Angeles FC 10 5 San Jose 10 4 Real Salt Lake 8 6 Houston 8 6 FC Dallas 7 5 St Louis City 7 6 Seattle 7 6 Minnesota United 6 6 Portland 6 8 LA Galaxy 5 7 San Diego FC 5 7 Colorado 6 10 Austin FC 4 8 Sporting Kansas City 4 11

Eastern Conference

T Pts 3 33 3 33 3 33 2 26 2 26 5 26 4 25 3 24 5 23 3 21 6 21 5 20 1 19 5 17 2 14

GF 37 34 35 28 23 32 23 19 19 31 24 31 26 22 18

GA 16 18 20 24 24 25 23 20 24 32 29 28 25 35 44

W L T Pts GF GA Nashville 12 2 3 39 33 12 Inter Miami CF 11 2 4 37 43 30 New England 9 5 2 29 26 19 Chicago 8 6 2 26 30 22 New York City FC 7 6 4 25 30 23 Charlotte FC 7 6 4 25 28 25 Cincinnati 6 6 5 23 41 42 New York 6 7 4 22 26 37 D.C. United 5 5 7 22 24 27 Orlando City 6 9 2 20 28 44 Columbus 5 8 4 19 24 26 Toronto FC 3 7 7 16 23 31 CF Montréal 4 10 3 15 22 33 Philadelphia 3 10 4 13 22 31 Atlanta 3 11 3 12 17 30 NOTE: Three points for victory, one point for tie.

Wednesday’s games

Cincinnati 4, Vancouver 3 New York City FC 2, Columbus 1 Miami 3, Chicago 2 Toronto FC 0, New England 0, tie Philadelphia 3, New York 1 Atlanta 2, Charlotte FC 2, tie D.C. United 1, Houston 1, tie Sporting Kansas City 2, Minnesota 1 Nashville 1, CF Montréal 0 Austin FC 3, Seattle 1 Colorado 1, San Diego FC 0 St Louis City 3, LA Galaxy 1 Los Angeles FC 3, Real Salt Lake 1 FC Dallas 2, Portland 2, tie Orlando City 4, San Jose 0

Saturday’s games

Charlotte FC 2, New York 0 Columbus 2, Cincinnati 1 D.C. United 2, Toronto FC 1 Miami 1, CF Montréal 0 New England 4, Atlanta 1 New York City FC 3, Chicago 1 Philadelphia 1, Seattle 0 Houston 3, Austin FC 0 Vancouver 0, Minnesota 0, tie St Louis City 1, Colorado 0 Orlando City 1, Nashville 0 San Diego FC 1, FC Dallas 0 Los Angeles FC 4, Sporting Kansas City 0 Portland 2, Real Salt Lake 1 LA Galaxy 1, San Jose 1, tie

Transactions BASEBALL

Average Speed of Race Winner: 127.429 mph.

Time of Race: 3 hours, 8 minutes, 21 seconds.

Margin of Victory: .287 seconds.

Caution Flags: 5 for 27 laps.

Lead Changes: 15 among 11 drivers.

Lap Leaders: C.Hocevar 0-31; D.Suárez 32; D.Hamlin 33-39; T.Reddick 40; C.Heim 41-44; T.Gibbs 45-74; C.Heim 75-91; J.Nemechek 92; J.Berry 93; C.Briscoe 94; R.Preece 95; R.Chastain 96-100; T.Gibbs 101-116; C.Heim 117-118; D.Hamlin 119-125; C.Heim 126-160 Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Led, Laps Led): C.Heim, 4 times for 58 laps; T.Gibbs, 2 times for 46 laps; C.Hocevar, 1 time for 31 laps; D.Hamlin, 2 times for 14 laps; R.Chastain, 1 time for 5 laps; C.Briscoe, 1 time for 1 lap; J.Berry, 1 time for 1 lap; R.Preece, 1 time for 1 lap; T.Reddick, 1 time for 1 lap; D.Suárez, 1 time for 1 lap; J.Nemechek, 1 time for 1 lap.

Wins: T.Reddick, 5; D.Hamlin, 4; R.Blaney, 2; C.Elliott, 2; S.Van Gisbergen, 2; T.Gibbs, 1; C.Hocevar, 1; C.Briscoe, 1; D.Suárez, 1; J.Logano, 1.

Top 16 in Points: 1. D.Hamlin, 842; 2.

T.Reddick, 774; 3. R.Blaney, 755; 4. T.Gibbs, 708; 5. C.Elliott, 634; 6. K.Larson, 616; 7. C.Hocevar, 598; 8. C.Briscoe, 587; 9.

C.Buescher, 585; 10. C.Bell, 574; 11. D.Suárez, 558; 12. W.Byron, 546; 13. B.Wallace, 531; 14.

S.Van Gisbergen, 516; 15. J.Logano, 511; 16.

A.Cindric, 495.

Major League Baseball American League ATHLETICS — Recalled C Brian Serven from Las Vegas (PCL). Placed C Shea Langeliers on the 10-day IL, retroactive to July 25.

BOSTON RED SOX — Reinstated LHP Ranger Suárez from the IL. Optioned LHP Alec Gamboa to Worcester (IL). Acquired 3B Curtis Mead from Washington in exchange for LHP Connelly Early.

HOUSTON ASTROS — Recalled RHP Miguel Ullola from Sugar Land (PCL). Optioned RHP Kai-Wei Teng to Sugar Land (PCL).

KANSAS CITY ROYALS — Acquired LHP Rob Hensey from Sussex County (FL).

MINNESOTA TWINS — Reinstated LHP Connor Prielipp and RHP Cole Sands from the IL. Optioned RHP Jack Anderson to St. Paul (IL). Placed RHP Mike Paredes on the 15-day IL, retroactive to July 23.

NEW YORK YANKEES — Recalled CF Spencer Jones from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (IL).

Placed LF Cody Bellinger on the 10-day IL. SEATTLE MARINERS — Recalled RHP Alex Hoppe from Tacoma (PCL). Optioned RHP Nick Davila to Tacoma (PCL).

National League MILWAUKEE BREWERS — Recalled RHP Garrett Stallings from Nashville (IL).

Designated RHP Lance McCullers Jr. for assignment.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES — Agreed to terms with OF Derek Curiel on a contract.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS — Recalled LHP Carson Whisenhunt from Sacramento (PCL). Optioned RHP Tristan Beck to Sacramento (PCL).

A maximum of 150 points can be attained in a race.

The formula combines the following categories: Wins, Finishes, Top-15 Finishes, Average Running Position While on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish.

National Football League SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS — Signed DL Kevin Givens to a one-year contract. Waived DL Evan Anderson. Placed DLs Alfred Collins and Mykel Williams, RB Isaac Guerendo and TE George Kittle on the active/PUP list.

Race statistics

Sunday

At TPC Twin Cities Blaine, Minn.

Purse: $8.8 million Yardage: 7,431; Par: 71 Final Round Jackson Koivun 64-68-61-66—259 Scottie Scheffler 65-70-64-63—262 Brian Harman 69-64-66-65—264 Hideki Matsuyama 70-65-65-64—264 Denny McCarthy 66-68-64-66—264 Chandler Phillips 66-65-66-67—264 Emiliano Grillo 64-67-65-69—265 Davis Thompson 68-68-63-66—265 Ben Kohles 62-69-65-70—266 Michael Kim 69-59-70-69—267 Seamus Power 68-68-63-68—267 Gary Woodland 64-71-67-65—267 Zac Blair 68-65-68-67—268 Billy Horschel 67-66-65-70—268 Jake Knapp 68-70-68-62—268 Davis Chatfield 69-68-64-68—269 Zecheng Dou 67-69-67-66—269 Patrick Fishburn 70-68-66-65—269 Kevin Yu 69-66-66-68—269 C. Bezuidenhout 68-67-69-66—270 Lee Hodges 68-67-65-70—270 Tom Kim 68-69-67-66—270 R. Neergaard-Petersen 66-72-66-66—270 Chandler Blanchet 67-68-67-69—271 Michael Brennan 65-69-63-74—271 Kurt Kitayama 68-69-66-68—271 69-69-65-68—271 Hank Lebioda John Parry 69-69-69-64—271 Austin Smotherman 68-67-68-68—271 67-68-69-67—271 Kevin Streelman Max Greyserman 69-70-69-64—272 Chris Kirk 70-69-64-69—272 Kevin Roy 65-70-68-69—272 Joel Dahmen 70-69-66-68—273 Muzzy Donohue 73-63-73-64—273 Mark Hubbard 70-69-65-69—273

Maverick McNealy Vince Whaley Corey Conners Troy Merritt Pontus Nyholm Jordan L. Smith John VanDerLaan Zachary Bauchou Ricky Castillo Mackenzie Hughes Keith Mitchell Matti Schmid Neal Shipley Jesper Svensson Casey Jarvis Jimmy Stanger Kris Ventura Camilo Villegas A.J. Ewart Beau Hossler Austin Eckroat Lucas Glover Hao-Tong Li Will Gordon Sam Stevens Trace Crowe Rico Hoey Lanto Griffin Jeffrey Kang Fabián Gómez

NASCAR Driver Rating Formula

FOOTBALL

LIVING

T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M

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M o n d ay, J u ly 27, 2026

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LOUISIANA NATIVE SPENCER WILLIAMS JR. PAVEd THE WAy FOR BLACK FILMMAKERS.

AP PHOTO By dARIO LOPEZ-MILLS

A plain bagel with cream cheese

The bagel’s journey to American breakfast staple

WHY WAS HE FORGOTTEN?

BY JOSH CORNFIELD Associated Press

NEW YORK — The bagel in America is an immigrant story with a hole in the middle.

It came to America with Eastern European Jews escaping poverty and antisemitism. It landed in New York street carts and neighborhood bakeries. Later, it made its way to supermarket freezer aisles and into the Part of an breakfast oroccasional der of so many series from every day. And The Associated like every food Press on story, it starts America’s freedom with the first bite.

As a layer of crunch prepares your brain for a crusty piece of bread, it’s immediately met by the soft yet dense chew of the inside. Eating the two textures together brings a feeling of joy, along with whatever toppings you’ve added.

A schmear of cream cheese to keep it simple. A flavored spread to add a bit of zest. Or a bagel topped taller than the human mouth can handle with fish, tomato, cucumber and red onions.

And we haven’t even talked about the flavor choices.

A simple plain or egg bagel works for some (no judgment).

Others insist on seeds — poppy, sesame — or shards of onion or salt. Others say it’s not a bagel unless it’s an everything, each bite snapping back at you with a different cascade of flavors.

Purists will tell you to keep it simple. But with a bagel, like so much in American life, you can have it any way you’d like.

AMERICA @ 250

BY ROBIN MILLER | Staff writer

What started out as a simple internet search ended with a lost piece of Louisiana entertainment history for Michael Wynne.

Now Wynne, the Alexandria historian, is curious as to why there isn’t a state historical marker dedicated to Spencer Williams Jr. in Vidalia, where he was born on July 14, 1893.

Who is Spencer Williams Jr.? He’s probably best known for his final acting role as Andrew “Hogg” Brown, or simply Andy, in CBS’s 1950s era television version of “The Amos ‘n’ Andy Show.” The show began as a nightly radio program in the 1920s featuring White actors. Racial stereotypes stirred intense controversy, and the television series was canceled.

ä See BAGEL, page 6C

ä See CURIOUS, page 6C

Smear campaign

Museum honors late artist within enough peanut butter to make 15,000 sandwiches

BY MOLLY QUELL

Associated Press

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands — More than 800 pounds of peanut butter — enough for around 15,000 sandwiches — has been spread across the floor of a museum in the Netherlands in tribute to Dutch artist Wim T. Schippers, who died last month.

The conceptual artist, who died at the age of 83, first created the Pindakaasvloer, or

peanut butter floor, in 1969.

The work was unveiled in June at the Depot offshoot of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam for a two-month show.

Schippers was a beloved nonconformist character in the Netherlands, where he also voiced Ernie and Kermit the Frog in the Dutch version of “Sesame Street,” and created

Workers spread peanut butter on a floor to recreate the ‘Peanut Butter Floor’ artwork in tribute to dutch artist Wim T. Schippers at the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

ä See HONORS, page 6C

AP PHOTO By MOUNEB TAIM

As the school year starts, we’re thinking about the people who stand at the front of the room, who open classroom doors with a smile. Sometimes a stranger in August becomes the person a student never forgets.

Certain teachers say something on a random October afternoon and students repeat it for decades to come — or a teacher may lead by example and give in ways that changes lives.

We invite readers to tell us about that teacher who made all the difference: write a letter directly to the teacher and send it to us. Or tell the story plain: a name, a classroom and the moment that stuck.

We’re looking for the lessons that have outlasted the chalkboard (or the dry-erase board, as the case may be). Send your letter or story, including the name of the teacher, name of school, city and year to jan.risher@ theadvocate.com by 2 p.m. July 28. Photos of the teacher are also welcome.

6C ● Monday, July 27, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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TODAY IN HISTORY

By The Associated Press

PROVIdEd PHOTO

A sign at the end of the Mississippi bridge connecting Concordia Parish to Adams County, Mississippi, at Natchez, welcomes travelers to the town of Vidalia. Vidalia was Black filmmaker Spencer Williams Jr.’s native home.

CURIOUS

Jones writes. “In the early 1940s, Williams met Al Continued from page 5C Sack, a Dallas-based film distributor whose company, Sack Amusement Enterprises, provided ‘ethnic While perusing the interfilms’ for many theaters in net for a favorite childhood the Southwest.” episode of the TV comedy, And it was in Dallas Wynne discovered that where Sack financially Williams not only made backed Williams in a series filmmaking history, but he of feature films for Black maintained his Louisiana audiences, resulting in 10 roots. films for which Williams “He kept ownership of wrote, directed and acted. two lots of land in the Bing“Sack evidently gave ham addition in Vidalia Williams the freedom to until his death,” Wynne PUBLIC dOMAIN shape the films as he saw said. “He also married a fit,” Jones writes. “Unlike Louisiana woman, Olivia A movie poster for Spencer most of the genre, Williams’ Jones, in 1929, and had one Williams Jr.’s 1941 selfdaughter.” produced film ‘The Blood of films are generally faithful to reality and unmarred by Williams was considered Jesus’ stereotypes.” one of the top pioneers in Probably Williams’ most Black cinema. noted movie was the 1941 “He paved the way for the University of MinneBlack actors and Black sota, but his time there was feature, “The Blood of Jedirectors in the movie incut short by the U.S. Army. sus,” filmed for $5,000 by the “In 1914, he began his Amegro Film Co., founded dustry,” Wynne said. “They four-year Army service at

by Williams that same year. wouldn’t have had those Fort Slocum, New York,” opportunities in the early National Registry of Films Wynne said. “He became movie industry if it wasn’t Gen. John J. ‘Black Jack’ for Williams.”

According to the nonPershing’s personal bugler profit Black history website Why no remembrance? in Mexico, while the genBlackPast.org, “The Blood eral was on the trail of Pan- of Jesus” is “considered But the “Amos ‘n’ Andy” one of the most effective controversy eclipsed Wilcho Villa. After World War depictions of Black church I started, Spencer served liams’ career. life in the South and was seextensively in military in“Forget about ‘Amos ‘n’ Andy,’ ” Wynne said. “Spen- telligence in France after lected by the United States his promotion to sergeant Congress for entry into the cer Williams should be major.”

National Registry of Films honored for his pioneering After that, it was back to in 1991.” The website also work. So, why isn’t there a points out that Williams historical marker honoring New York, where Williams recorded the duet “It Feels also composed music. him?”

So Good” with native New Then came 1951, when Then again, Wynne alOrleans jazz guitarist LonWilliams landed the role of ready knows the answer.

Andy.

Williams fell out of favor nie Johnson on the Okeh “Although he is best rewith Hollywood after CBS Race Records label, which canceled its Thursday night targeted African American membered for his role as series on June 11, 1953, and audiences. New Orleans’ slow-witted, often duped faded into obscurity. Wynne King Oliver and Louis Arm- and frequently unemknows that if he didn’t know strong also produced early ployed Andy, Williams later Williams’ story, neither did recordings on the label with protested the demeaning others. So, no marker.

Armstrong eventually mak- public images in which HolBut that wasn’t the case ing music history. lywood subjected Blacks when Williams was on teleto portray,” BlackPast.org Taking a different path states. “He pressed for vision. Archived editions more serious depictions of of The Advocate and The But Williams’ recording Times-Picayune include would point him down a dif- Blacks in motion pictures and attempted to rectify photos of the actor, along ferent path. the stereotypical climate with mentions that he was “Williams’ work in the by making movies after the a Louisianan from Vidalia New York recording in‘Amos ‘n’ Andy’ series that during the series’ run. dustry led to an invitation were more in line with AfriAnd historians have since to move to Hollywood as a written of Williams. sound technician for Chris- can American life.”

Historian G. William But Williams’ attempts ty Studios,” Jones writes.

Jones’ short biography of “Like other studios, Christy failed. He died of kidney Williams for the Texas State was gearing up to meet the failure in his Los Angeles Historical Association’s new challenge of sound mo- home on Dec. 13, 1969.

“Handbook of Texas,” notes tion pictures. Al Christy, “His tombstone in the Los that Williams moved from the studio head, began mak- Angeles National Military Vidalia to New York in his Cemetery notes his home ing a series of Black cast teens. state as Louisiana,” Wynne short films adapted from Texas was both his home said. “His life is worthy of the magazine stories of and filmmaking base in the Jewish writer Octavus Roy a historical marker and a 1940s, but as a teenager in book.”

Cohen.”

New York, Williams worked Christy asked Williams to as a “call boy,” or stagehand, write the scripts to give the Do you have a question for theater impresario Osdialogue a more authentic about something in Louisiana that’s got car Hammerstein — grand- sound. By the 1930s, Wilyou curious? Email father to playwright-lyricist liams also was acting in your question to Oscar Hammerstein II, who these films produced for curiouslouisiana@ would co-write and stage Black audiences. theadvocate.com. Include some of Broadway’s most “Williams also wrote and your name, phone number legendary musicals. appeared in the first horand the city where you Williams eventually left ror film with an all-black New York and enrolled at cast, ‘Son of Ingagi’ (1940),” live.

Today is Monday, July 27, the 208th day of 2026.

There are 157 days left in the year.

Today in History: On July 27, 1953, the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed at Panmunjom, ending three years of fighting on the Korean peninsula that killed an estimated 4 million people.

Also on this date: In 1789, President George Washington signed a measure establishing the Department of Foreign Affairs, forerunner of the Department of State.

In 1909, during the first official test of the U.S. Army’s first airplane, Orville Wright flew himself and a passenger, Lt. Frank Lahm, above Fort Myer, Virginia, for one hour and 12 minutes.

In 1940, Billboard magazine published its first “music popularity chart” listing bestselling retail records. In first place was “I’ll Never Smile Again” recorded by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra, with featured vocalist Frank Sinatra.

In 1974, the House Judiciary Committee voted 27-11 to adopt the first of three articles of impeachment against President Richard Nixon, charging he had personally engaged in a course of conduct designed to obstruct justice in the Watergate case.

In 1980, on day 267 of the Iranian hostage crisis,

the deposed Shah of Iran died at a military hospital outside Cairo, Egypt, at age 60.

In 1981, 6-year-old Adam Walsh was abducted from a department store in Hollywood, Florida, and was later killed (Adam’s father, John Walsh, subsequently became a victims’ rights activist and, in 1988, launched and hosted the television show “America’s Most Wanted”).

In 1996, terror struck the Atlanta Olympics as a pipe bomb exploded at Centennial Olympic Park, directly killing one person and injuring 111. (Anti-government extremist Eric Rudolph later pleaded guilty to the bombing, exonerating security guard Richard Jewell, who had been wrongly suspected.)

In 2012, Britain opened its Summer Olympic Games in a celebration of Old England and new, even cheekily featuring stunt doubles for Queen Elizabeth II and fictional special agent James Bond parachuting into Olympic Stadium.

In 2013, security forces and armed men clashed with supporters of Egypt’s ousted president, Mohammed Morsi, killing at least 72 people.

In 2015, the Boy Scouts of America ended its blanket ban on gay adult leaders while allowing churchsponsored Scout units to maintain the exclusion for religious reasons.

In 2018, the White House announced that North Korea had returned the remains of what were believed to be U.S. servicemen killed during the Korean War, with a U.S. military plane making a rare trip into North Korea to retrieve 55 cases of remains.

In 2020, the world’s biggest COVID-19 vaccine study began with the first of 30,000 planned volunteers helping to test shots created by the National Institutes of Health and Moderna Inc. Today’s birthdays: Singersongwriter Bobbie Gentry is 84. Actor-director Betty Thomas is 79. Olympic gold medal figure skater Peggy Fleming is 78.

Singer Maureen McGovern is 77. Comedian-actorwriter Carol Leifer is 70.

Comedian Bill Engvall is 69. Actor-martial artist Donnie Yen is 63. Jazz singer Karrin Allyson is 63. Rock musician Juliana Hatfield is 59. Former professional wrestler Triple H is 57. Actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is 56.

Comedian Maya Rudolph is 54. Rock musician Abe Cunningham (Deftones) is 53. Singer-songwriter Pete Yorn is 52. Former MLB All-Star Alex Rodriguez is 51. Actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers is 49. Actor/comedian Heidi Gardner (TV: “Saturday Night Live”) is 43. Actor Taylor Schilling is 42. MLB All-Star pitcher Max Scherzer is 42. Golfer Jordan Spieth is 33.

ASSOCIATEd PRESS PHOTO By dARIO LOPEZ-MILLS

A breakfast egg and cheese on an ‘everything’ bagel

BAGEL

Continued from page 5C The bagel started in Jewish communities in Poland and was brought here by Eastern European Jews escaping growing antisemitism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After arriving from Poland, Harry Lender worked at a New Jersey bakery to earn enough to bring his family to America. His sons grew the family’s work from their New Haven, Connecticut, bakery to supermarkets around the country

with frozen bagels.

The bagel, then, is another story of the success of immigrants in America.

The shops that now sell them are run by families of those original immigrants and new groups who’ve come for a better life.

But no matter how far the bagel spreads, it maintains a special place for American Jews. Many moments in the circle of life for Jews in America include boiled rings of dough stacked high to celebrate or eat away the grief.

Ritual circumcision for a baby boy? Snip snip, then bagels for all.

Bar mitzvah day 13 years later? Months of practice for an hour of work. Then: bagels.

Shiva house mourning a loved one? “Sorry for your loss.” “Thank you. Bagels are in the other room.”

In these situations, the bagel brings comfort — just as it has for generations of American Jews, immigrants, and anyone else looking for their place at the table.

Part of a recurring series, “American Objects,” marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.

YEARS

HONORS

Continued from page 5C absurdist and silly works that challenged conventional ideas about the meaning of art.

“Isn’t it fantastic that we are all standing here looking at peanut butter?” Schippers told journalists gathered at the Central Museum in Utrecht in 1997 where Pindakaasvloer was on display for the second time.

Schippers created the work as part of a Floor Covering Series, which also included floors covered with glass shards and salt.

The aroma, redolent of breakfasts and lunch boxes, is what lingers with many who experience the work first hand. Museum staff directed visitors for the opening to “follow the smell” which was wafting by the ticket counter, three floors below where the artwork is laid out.

“The thing I remember is the smell,” Mieke Weismann told The Associated Press.

The food photographer and writer saw the 1997 exhibition as a teenager.

The art installation may not be for everybody. A sign at the museum’s entrance warns visitors with peanut allergies that they might not want to enter the space.

It took two employees of the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen several days to spread 40 buckets of peanut butter across a 270-squarefoot hexagon.

“It was a lot of work,” Leon Duenk, one of the two men who installed the artwork, told AP. The pair used drywall trowels to smear the peanut butter to a thickness of 0.8 inch.

Prior to his death the museum and Schippers discussed how to recreate the work in the future, producing a 20-point plan that included the requirement to apply the peanut butter “as

smoothly and boringly as possible” and that “no one is supposed to stand in, or lie down on the peanut butter.”

Schippers did not specify the size or shape of the work, but he did say it needed to be smooth peanut butter and that he preferred the Dutch peanut butter brand Calvé.

The company donated 40 tubs of peanut butter for the work.

Multiple visitors stepped into the artwork when it was on display in 2011. In 1997, the work was “vandalized” when a group of people placed 12 slices of bread and several bags of hagelslag — chocolate sprinkles commonly eaten on bread at breakfast in the Netherlands — on the floor.

“It doesn’t look bad,” Schippers told Dutch newspaper Volkskrant at the time. “The sprinkles have been applied with a sense of proportion and a skillful hand.”

AP writer Mike Corder in The Hague, Netherlands, contributed.

EXPLORE THE SCIENCE, POLITICS AND PEOPLE SHAPING THE FUTURE OF LOUISIANA’S FRAGILE COASTLINE.

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The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Monday, July 27, 2026 ● 7C

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FrAnK And erneSt

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zodIAC LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Choose to do something that encourages you to learn and experience something new and exciting.

Connect with people who share your concerns and interests. Anger is a waste of time and effort.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Reach out to those already doing something you want to pursue, but don't bank on having the same experience. Fine-tune your path forward to bypass the pitfalls others encountered.

LIBRA (sept. 23-Oct. 23) Keep personal information a secret. Take care of matters with institutions, government agencies and authority figures. Researching something will help you determine the best alternatives to implement. scORPIO (Oct. 24-nov. 22) Speak up. Honesty is the best way to stifle negativity.

Stop worrying about who walks away.

If a connection is causing you grief, let it go. Take the path that offers food for thought. sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) All is good if you take care of your health and physical well-being. Taking on too much or more than you can handle will leave you subject to risk and injury. cAPRIcORn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Address issues concerning legalities, health issues and your financial future with those who influence your lifestyle and how you proceed. A commitment will help you get back on track.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Keep your thoughts to yourself. Listen, learn and formulate a plan that encourages you

to broaden your awareness, needs and what you want to pursue. A lifestyle change is overdue.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Pay attention to detail and what others think and do. If you become a spokesperson and articulate your thoughts and plans, you'll attract people who want to achieve the same goals.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) If you take the plunge and let your imagination lead the way, you'll devise innovative ideas and plans that will help you shine in your professional arena. tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Letting situations, people and worry take up your time will result in few accomplishments. Put your time to good use, focus on physical activities and reiterate to those close to you what you feel is important.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) An instinctive move on your part or that of someone close to you will have two parts — benefits will unfold, but the cost and emotional mayhem that transpires may put a damper on the outcome. cAncER (June 21-July 22) Slow down, breathe and focus on what brings you peace and joy. Refuse to let mixed emotions cause problems with associates, lovers or friends. Pay more attention to your surroundings.

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

For better or For WorSe WonderWord

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8C ● Monday, July 27, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Sudoku InstructIons: Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers.

The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Saturday’s Puzzle Answer

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The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Monday, July 27, 2026 ● 9C

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B.C.

Bridge

By PHILLIP ALDER Zig Ziglar, a writer, salesman and motivational speaker who died in 2012, said, “You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.”

To succeed in a bridge deal may require taking a winner at the right moment. A trick too soon or too late may prove fatal.

In today’s deal, South is in four spades.

West leads the club queen. What should declarer do?

In the auction, South probably should have rebid three no-trump. With eight winners, he needed partner to provide only one more trick, or for the opening lead to be a low heart away from the ace.

Declarer apparently has these 10 tricks: six spades, one heart, two diamonds and one club.

However, to get that heart trick, South has to lead his king to drive out the ace, then get to the dummy to cash the queen.

And apparently the only dummy entry, the club ace, has been removed by West’s opening lead. Well, if a heart trick is impossible, maybe South’s 10th trick can be a club ruff in dummy.

Some players would take the first trick and return a club, but the defender who won that trick would surely shift to a trump to stop declarer’s club ruff.

garfield

Pearls Before swiNe

hagar the horriBle

Instead, suppose West is allowed to take trick one. What will he do next?

If he leads a trump, South wins, draws trumps, and leads the heart king to establish dummy’s queen, with the club ace still on the board. If West continues clubs, then declarer can ruff a club on the board for the required extra winner. © 2026 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

wuzzles Each Wuzzle is a word riddle which creates a disguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD = GOOD AFTERNOON

PiCKles

Previous answers:

mallard fillmore

word game InstRuctIOns: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3.

Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

tODAy’s WORD — FILIGREE: FIL-ih-gree: Ornamental openwork of delicate or

Bizarro

marmaduKe

intricate design.

Average mark 16 words Time limit 25 minutes Can you find 21 or more words in FILIGREE? sAtuRDAy’s WORD — FERVIDLy felid fervid field fiery file filer fire five fled flied flier

flyer fried edify evil rely ride rife rifle rile rive veil

verify verily very vide vied vier vile viler idle idler idly

defy deify deli devil devilry diel dire dive diver drily drive

drivel dyer levy lied life live liver livery lyre yield

loCKhorNs hidato Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

today’s thought “Only take heed to yourself, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life: but teach them your sons, and your sons’ sons;” Deuteronomy 4:9 Be diligent for the Lord. Many are counting on us. — G.E. Dean

10C ● Monday, July 27, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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