The Advocate 07-29-2026

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EBR schools chief Cole target of investigation

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, speaks to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, right, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio before the funeral of Sen. Lindsey Graham on Tuesday.

Netanyahu calls Trump meeting ‘excellent’ Leaders together for first time since start of Iran war

BY ERIN CUNNINGHAM, MICHELLE L. PRICE and FARNOUSH AMIRI Associated Press

STAFF FILE PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

LaMont Cole has served as superintendent of East Baton Rouge Parish schools since 2024.

Probe is tied to his time on the Metro Council

BY PATRICK SLOAN-TURNER Staff writer

Baton Rouge schools Superintendent LaMont Cole is being investigated by a state grand jury about matters stemming from his time as a Metro Council member — part of an ongoing, wider probe into corruption in city government, multiple sources said.

Cole has been under investigation by the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office for several months, multiple sources familiar with the probe said.

The grand jury has already brought

charges against several Baton Rouge officials, including Metro Council member Cleve Dunn Jr. and Courtney Scott, a top aide to Sharon Weston Broome during her tenure as mayorpresident.

Reached Tuesday, Cole did not immediately comment. The Attorney General’s Office declined to comment.

A spokesperson for the East Baton Rouge Parish school system sent an email to all district staff Tuesday after The Advocate published a story about the investigation into Cole.

“We understand that news like this

can create uncertainty and concern.

During this time, we encourage everyone to remain calm, avoid speculation, and allow the appropriate processes to move forward,” wrote Taylor Gast, administrative director of communications. “Our focus remains on what matters most. We will continue serving our students, supporting one another, and continuing the important work happening in our schools and departments each day.

“We ask that you keep faith in the

ä See COLE, page 9A

WASHINGTON — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had an “excellent” meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, their first sitdown since launching a joint war against Iran that offered Netanyahu a chance to smooth out ä U.S. says strains in their relation- it knocked ship. down Iranian The closed-door meeting missile lasted nearly an hour and a half and was “positive and attack. productive,” White House PAGE 10A press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. The White House did not immediately offer more details.

It comes as both leaders face growing pressures at home. Netanyahu is up for reelection and is embattled in part because of his deteriorating relationship with Trump.

Trump is under pressure to end an unpopular war that has wreaked economic havoc and driven prices higher ahead of midterm elections this November.

An Israeli official briefed on the meeting said Netanyahu made it clear to Trump

ä See MEETING, page 8A

State Supreme Court chief justice clashes with former colleagues John Weimer from a major chief judge has gone out of in which the chief justice Genovese, who left the court Dispute triggers case involving a former col- his way to publicly dispar- accuses him of knowingly in 2024 to be president of as an attorney, after age him and that his “intense breaking the law by voting Northwestern State Univerrecusal from case league a bitter exchange this month prejudice, if not outright in policies as a justice to sity, said Weimer sent him

BY JOHN SIMERMAN Staff writer

The Louisiana Supreme Court recused Chief Justice

WEATHER HIGH 96 LOW 78 PAGE 8B

that re-aired a lingering beef at the state’s highest court.

Former Justice Scott Crichton argued in a recent letter to Weimer that the

hatred, for me” should bar him from any case Crichton handles as an attorney.

Crichton cited a letter from Weimer dated July 4

benefit himself financially. a letter “just as nasty and Weimer sought a public caustic” dated the same day. apology and reimbursement Why is unclear. Weimer while scorning Crichton. ä See CLASH, page 9A Weimer Former Justice James

Business ......................3B Commentary ................7B Nation-World ................2A Classified .....................7D Deaths .........................4B Opinion ........................6B Comics-Puzzles .....4D-6D Living............................1D Sports ..........................1C

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Ky. governor demands McConnell prove fitness WASHINGTON — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a rising national figure in the Democratic Party, is calling on the state’s Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell to either prove that he is fit to continue serving after his lengthy hospital stay or resign from office.

Beshear made the demand in a letter after McConnell’s office said Monday that the 84-yearold senator had not yet been medically cleared to leave the rehabilitation facility where he has been undergoing physical therapy. The office said he would miss a major Kentucky political event and upcoming Senate votes. McConnell was hospitalized June 14 and disclosed weeks later that it was the result of a fall.

Beshear first urged McConnell in early July to release more information about his condition after weeks of public silence.

His letter Tuesday marked a significant escalation.

“I am calling on you to directly and verbally address the people of Kentucky and provide proof of your capacity to serve, or resign,” Beshear wrote to McConnell.

Beshear also sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, urging him to investigate McConnell’s condition if the senator does not demonstrate that he is capable of continuing to serve. McConnell and Thune’s offices did not provide comment on the letter.

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Teen in Ga. shooting gets life 2 students, 2 teachers were killed

BY KATE BRUMBACK Associated Press

A judge on Tuesday sentenced a teenager who killed two students and two teachers in a shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia to serve life in prison without the possibility of parole, calling his crimes “deliberate, contemplated evil.”

Colt Gray, 16, had pleaded guilty Friday to 55 counts, including murder, Gray in the Sept. 4, 2024, shooting at the school about 45 miles northeast of Atlanta.

Barrow County Superior Court Judge Nicholas Primm handed down the sentence after hearing from family members of those killed and victims, as well as investigators, Gray’s grandmother

and a forensic psychologist who had evaluated Gray.

Murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison in Georgia, so the only decision Barrow County Superior Court Judge Nicholas Primm had to make was whether Gray should ever be eligible for parole. He decided the teen should never be allowed out.

“You do not seem to be tormented by what you did. You seem to relish following in the footsteps of the murderers you idolize. You aren’t wracked with guilt. You’re proud of yourself,” Primm said.

“We’ve seen no evidence he has any ability to develop a conscience or any ability ever to fully value human life,” District Attorney Brad Smith had said during his closing argument, insisting that Gray “cannot be in society.”

Defense attorney W. Charlton Allen told the judge his client was “not irretrievably broken.”

Teachers Richard “Ricky” Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, and students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, died in

the shooting. Another teacher and eight more students were wounded, seven of them hit by gunfire.

Victims of the shooting and family members of those killed conveyed their anger and grief to Primm on Friday, almost all of them asking him not to allow the possibility of parole.

Aspired to be a mass shooter Investigators testified during the three-day sentencing hearing that Gray idolized mass shooters, talking about them online with other members of the “true crime community,” a group of young people online who are fascinated with such attacks. Gray had chatted online about gaining notoriety through a school shooting.

Prosecutors played recordings of phone conversations Gray had with his mother, Marcee Gray, from a youth detention center in the months after the shooting.

During those calls, he directed his mother to look up what people were saying about him online. He was excited when she described

Coast Guard stops marijuana-laden boat U.S. Coast Guard crews intercepted a boat off the Bahamas on Saturday that was hauling almost 100 bales of marijuana, the service said.

Small boat crews from the Cutter Charles Sexton, along with Royal Defense Force crews, intercepted the boat off about 80 miles southwest of Inagua, an island off the eastern tip of Cuba, the Coast Guard said in a press release.

The agency estimates the value of the drugs to be $2.8 million.

The combined weight of the load was 2,380 pounds, according to the Coast Guard.

The three people on the boat and the contraband were handed over to Bahamian authorities, the Coast Guard said.

CORRECTION A story Monday incorrectly reported the political party of state Rep. Alonzo Knox of New Orleans. He is a Democrat. The Advocate regrets the error.

Grandma said he needed help “Colt got less stability than he needed, which made him even more vulnerable,” Allen, the defense attorney, argued. He said his client got wrapped up in an online community where he found the acceptance he craved but wasn’t getting at home.

Gray’s maternal grandmother, Debbie Polhamus, testified that the teen had a troubled childhood and that his parents failed him.

Her grandson had grown “highly agitated and aggressive” in the weeks before the shooting, she said, adding that she had urged his parents to get him some help but they didn’t follow through. “I tried to help Colt because nobody else was helping him,” she said.

Trump’s teleprompter operator out of a job inside knowledge to win Accused of using his more than $100,000 beton what the president inside knowledge ting would say in big speeches.

White House press secto make bets retary Karoline Leavitt

Lifeguard hailed as hero after rescuing a boy SAN FRANCISCO — A lifeguard who dove into pounding surf to save a boy in a dramatic rescue off the California coast has caught the attention of President Donald Trump, who said Tuesday that he would invite him to the White House.

The lifeguard, who has not been identified, is being hailed as a hero after he risked his life last weekend to save the boy, who was being pulled into the ocean by powerful swells that suddenly came ashore at Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz, about 60 miles from San Francisco.

“We’re going to bring this heroic young man, and his family, into the White House with, perhaps, the boy he saved, to give him a High Civilian Honor. Very brave, he deserves it!” Trump wrote on social media.

A witness captured video of the rescue Saturday.

“The waves, I wouldn’t say they were tranquil, but they were what you’d expect, a normal cadence and intensity,” Scott Vander Dussen told KNTV-TV. “And then that just changed in a heartbeat. It caught a lot of people off guard.

Unfortunately, this young man was overwhelmed and swept out in just a moment’s time. I’m glad it ended the way it did.”

In the video, the lifeguard can be seen rushing into the water after seeing the boy struggle. After reaching the boy, the young lifeguard dove into a coming wave while holding tight to the boy, who was going limp. Eventually, the lifeguard and one of his colleagues managed to get the boy safely out of the water.

“fan art” drawings depicting him or comments people made about him and the attention he was getting online.

Gray had the “mental wherewithal” to mimic details of other mass killings on the day of the shooting, Smith said.

BY AAMER MADHANI Associated Press

KyODO NEWS PHOTO

This aerial image shows the damaged AEON Mall following an earthquake in Kashima, Kumamoto prefecture, southern Japan, on Tuesday.

Earthquake hits Japan’s southern Kyushu island

out vital signs, while the conditions of Dozens missing or injured nine others were unknown, the team said.

The and Disaster Management after 7.1 magnitude strike AgencyFire said more than 260,000 people

BY MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press

TOKYO — A 7.1 magnitude earthquake shook Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu on Tuesday, leaving dozens of people injured or missing after part of a shopping center and a huge chimney at a paper factory collapsed, officials said. A tsunami advisory was issued but quickly lifted. There were fears that at least two people were dead.

In Kashima Town, the quake collapsed the second floor of the Aeon Mall shopping center, trapping an unknown number of people there, according to the fire department in the prefectural capital of Kumamoto. Japan’s NHK national television said the collapse came after an explosion, believed to have been triggered by a gas leak at the building.

Four people were pulled out with injuries and taken to a hospital, while 10 others were unaccounted for, the Kumamoto prefectural emergency response team said. It said the extent of the damage was still being investigated as the search and rescue effort continued.

At the Nippon Paper Industries Co.’s Yatsushiro factory, where a chimney collapsed and the building was damaged, 11 people were trapped underneath the debris, the Kumamoto emergency team said. Two of them were later found with-

were advised to evacuate, most of them in Kumamoto prefecture, but also in the neighboring Nagasaki prefecture.

The affected area is about 540 miles southwest of Tokyo, the country’s capital.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told journalists that there were reports of damage to roads, bridges and buildings, as well as blackouts and fires, though details were unclear.

Kyodo News said a hospital in the city of Yatsushiro took in about 40 people with injuries and about 50 others were taken to a hospital in Kumamoto city.

Shinkansen bullet trains and local trains in Kyushu were suspended for safety checks, and the runway at Aso Kumamoto Airport was closed, with “no prospect of resuming operations” anytime soon, according to a notice on the airport’s website. There were no details.

A train derailed and fell on its side at Yatsushiro station, and stone walls were damaged at Kumamoto Castle, a main tourist destination that was badly damaged in the 2016 quake and is still being repaired, Kyodo said.

“The shaking reminded me of the Kumamoto quake (10 years ago) and I was frightened,” said Hiroki Shimoda, an official at Mifune town hall, who saw roof tiles of nearby homes crash to the ground.

Kumamoto was hit with a deadly quake in 2016 that killed at least 50 people.

Keiko Fujimori inaugurated in Peru

BY FRANKLIN BRICEÑO Associated Press

LIMA, Peru — Conservative leader Keiko Fujimori was sworn in as Peru’s president on Tuesday after winning the June presidential runoff by a margin of fewer than 50,000 votes.

With the ceremony, Fujimori, 51, a four-time presidential candidate and leader of Peru’s largest political party, takes office as the country’s ninth president in a decade. She is hoping to stabilize Peru’s turbulent politics, reduce crime and boost economic growth.

Over the past decade, only three of Peru’s presidents have been elected by popular vote. The rest have come into office after their predecessors resigned or were removed

by Congress amid protests or corruption scandals.

Fujimori’s Popular Force party and its main ally, Popular Renovation, will hold half the Senate seats once the new Legislature is installed, making it harder for opposing legislators to attempt to remove her as president.

Fujimori centered her campaign around prom-

ises to improve security in a nation where extortion rackets have become a significant problem.

She is the daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, who led the country in the 1990s and stabilized its economy while defeating terror groups, but was later imprisoned for human rights abuses committed under his rule by the Peruvian military as his government took an authoritarian turn. He was pardoned in December 2023 and died in September the following year.

WASHINGTON — A White House teleprompter operator who was put on unpaid leave after news reports he had used inside knowledge to make bets about President Donald Trump’s speeches on the online prediction market Kalshi is no longer in his post, according to a White House official.

The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly about the personnel matter and spoke on condition of anonymity, said on Tuesday that teleprompter operator, Gabriel Perez, “no longer works in the federal government.” The official would not say whether he resigned or was fired.

The White House confirmed earlier this month that Perez had been placed on unpaid leave after ABC News reported he had used

had described the reports of the insider trading as “deeply unfortunate and, frankly, a disgrace.”

Robert Denault, Kalshi’s lawyer and head of enforcement, said on X following the ABC News report that the “Kalshi surveillance team promptly flagged, investigated and referred these trades” to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission that has regulatory authority over such matters. His statement did not name Perez.

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

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Tornado in Wisconsin was on ground for 20 minutes

BY DAVID COLLINS, ED WHITE and LAURA TURBAY Associated Press

First responders searched homes and buildings on Tuesday for possible victims of a powerful tornado that ravaged several northeastern Wisconsin communities.

The Fox Cities region, which is home to more than 100,000 people in the cities of Appleton, Menasha and Neenah, was left in shambles by Monday’s twister, with homes leveled, cars flipped, and power lines and trees toppled.

“The depth of the tornado and its impact is incredible, devastating. We’re really still at the assessment stage,” Winnebago County Executive Gordon Hintz said at a news conference Tuesday.

David Chew, 55, said a tree smashed through his roof in Menasha, and he still hadn’t located an outdoor patio lounger swept away by the

storm. But he’s better off than a neighbor: A portion of her roof was ripped clean, with furniture and drywall “sucked out.”

“It was just a shocker,” said Chew, who had rushed to the basement with his wife and son.

Despite widespread damage, the timing of the storm could be why there have been no reported deaths.

The tornado arrived in the early afternoon, authorities noted, when most people were awake and after warnings had been issued.

“Everybody was at work.

It was the middle of the day,” Menasha Police Chief Matt Albrecht said. “Most people were not at home and at their place of employment.”

Dozens of people were injured, and officers were still going door-to-door a day later in search of possible victims.

The tornado touched down around 1 p.m. and remained on the ground for more than

20 minutes, cutting a roughly 12-mile path of destruction, the National Weather Service reported. The area is about 100 miles northwest of Milwaukee.

It was classified as an EF3 tornado — the strongest to strike Outagamie and Winnebago counties since an EF4 touched down in April 1984, the weather service said.

Gov. Tony Evers declared a state of emergency for the affected areas.

As chain saws roared in the background, Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford said a number of neighborhoods were “truly devastated.”

Like elsewhere in the region, electricity lines were tangled around broken trees, making power restoration a slow, risky process.

More than 10,000 customers in Winnebago and Outagamie counties were still without power, according to utilities that serve them. It could be several days before

France orders 4,000 more evacuated

By The Associated Press LEGE-CAP FERRET, France — French authorities ordered 4,000 more people evacuated from tourist sites along its Atlantic coast on Tuesday, widening what may be France’s largest peacetime evacuation as returning heat threatened firefighters’ fragile hold on a vast wildfire west of Bordeaux.

Fresh flames erupted later Tuesday near Grand Crohot, a popular Atlantic beach on the Lège-Cap-Ferret peninsula, local authorities said. A fleet of 23 planes and helicopters dropped water and fire retardant as crews fought to keep the renewed flames from spreading.

“The situation remains complicated. That’s clear.

We’re not out of the woods,” Gironde prefect Sophie Brocas said.

She said that about 60,000 residents who were evacuated as a precaution from Le Haillan and parts of Mérignac and Eysines outside Bordeaux’s ring road could return on Tuesday. No fires had broken out in the three areas, but residents were told to keep their mobile phones on and emergency bags packed.

The opposing movements — thousands ordered out of coastal resorts while those returning told to be on the alert — underscored how precarious the fire’s hold remained.

Across France and Spain, roughly 330,000 people have been driven from homes and vacation sites by huge wildfires. Spain braced for its fourth heat wave of the summer, with several blazes still burning out of control, including the largest in its recorded history.

Even so, Spanish authorities began lifting evacuation and stay-at-home orders for thousands of people after firefighters made progress overnight.

The Gironde fire has burned an area four times the size of Paris and forced 220,000 people to evacuate.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has said it is “very likely” the largest civilian evacuation operation carried out in the country outside of war.

The precautionary evacuation order covered campsites, holiday villages, tourist residences and leisure parks around the resort of Lacanau, Gironde regional authorities said.

Even as nearby homes burned and authorities urged tourists to stay away, one family told Le Parisien newspaper it had gone ahead with its trip rather than forfeit a $4,558 holiday, while another group debated abandoning a vacation that had cost $741 each.

Fire makes its own weather At its most violent, the Gironde blaze created a gargantuan black thundercloud, electrified and lit from within. It generated lightning, violent winds and new fires beyond the original front.

The phenomenon, known as a pyrocumulonimbus cloud, was the first recorded in France.

France’s national weather service placed Gironde under a yellow heat warning beginning at midday Tuesday, forecasting inland temperatures of 91 to 95 degrees.

More than 448 square miles have burned across France this year, according to the Interior Ministry.

In Le Porge alone, west of Bordeaux, the municipal government said about 150 homes were destroyed.

Officials warned that smoldering vegetation, rising temperatures and falling humidity could produce fresh outbreaks along the fire’s vast perimeter.

Military engineers and forest-fire prevention crews resumed cutting firebreaks early Tuesday. Authorities said crews had completed 64 miles of firebreaks.

At least 110 firefighters have been injured, the prefecture said.

power is fully restored.

The twister was spun off by a large storm system that moved through the Great Lakes and was fueled by a buildup of heat and humidity, the weather service said.

ThedaCare Regional Medical Centers in Appleton and Neenah said it treated 40 people, mostly for minor storm-related injuries. Ascension St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton said it saw about 30 patients, all with

minor injuries.

Rachel Bernhardt, 56, said she grabbed her dog and dashed to her basement in the village of Fox Crossing after she saw a steel swing spinning in the yard.

When the storm passed, her second-floor bedroom was covered in glass and a tree branch was resting on her bed. The carpet was soaked.

“We can’t be in there anymore,” said Bernhardt, who is sleeping on the first floor

and using a generator to keep the refrigerator going.

Luigi’s Pizza in Menasha set up a food trailer to distribute hygiene packs and free slices after donors kicked in enough money to make at least 125 pizzas Tuesday.

“Sometimes a hot pizza, a taco, and a reminder that your community cares can mean more than words,” said Duncan’s Window & Door, which chipped in for 50 pizzas.

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Pictured L to R: Rob Stuart, LSU Real Estate and Facilities Foundation President & CEO; Wade Rousse, LSU President; Rochelle Touchard, Shell, Corporate Relations Regional Lead; Colette Hirstius, Shell USA, President; Lee Stockwell, Shell, General Manager, Carbon Capture and Storage North America; Krista Raney, LSU Foundation President & CEO; Robb Brumfield, LSU College of Science Interim Dean

Shell Powers Progress at LSU This article is brought to you by Shell.

The LSU community, lead donors and friends cut the ribbon on the new Our Lady of the Lake Health Interdisciplinary Science Building on April 17, 2026. The premier facility has been the university’s top capital priority for catalyzing its vision for the future of STEM education, research and impact.

Colette Hirstius, President, Shell USA said, “The opening of the LSU Our Lady of the Lake Health Interdisciplinary Science Building is a testament to the power of partnership and what can be achieved when industry and academia come together around a shared vision. We are proud to support a space where students, faculty and industry can collaborate to drive discovery, explore new frontiers and develop the next generation of scientists, engineers and energy leaders.”

The fourth f loor of Our Lady of the Lake Health Interdisciplinary Science Building includes:

Shell Research Laboratories, advanced research environments that

will support interdisciplinary scientific discovery and enable faculty and students to work together on complex, real world challenges.

Shell Interdisciplinary Collaboration Zone, focused space for collaboration across disciplines that will encourage exchange of ideas, partnership and team-based research.

Shell USA, Inc. committed $2.5 million to the Our Lady of the Lake Health Interdisciplinary Science

Building as part of a $27.5 million investment in energy-related initiatives at LSU. LSU Chancellor Jim Dalton said, “The Our Lady of the Lake Health Interdisciplinary Science Building will be integral to preparing the next scientists in biology, chemistry, geology, math, physics and astronomy.

Graduates from these programs go onto promising careers in the STEM fields across the state of Louisiana.

Alongside the elite academic experience students will receive here, world-class faculty will partner together and with industry leaders in the state-of-the-art laboratories to advance scientific discovery and move the LSU flagship toward its goal of becoming a top 50 research university.”

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Wednesday, July 29, 2026 ■ 5A

Zelenskyy has ‘good meeting’ with Trump lll

BY SEUNG MIN KIM Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Tuesday ahead of Sen. Lindsey Graham’s funeral, with the two leaders discussing ways for Ukraine to produce its own powerful weapons and “other ideas that could help” in its ongoing war against Russia.

The sit-down in the Oval Office, which was closed to the media, followed a consequential meeting at the NATO summit earlier this month in Ankara, Turkey, where Trump announced that the U.S. will give Ukraine a license to make Patriot defense systems — a long-running request from Kyiv to counter Russian missile attacks.

Taken together, those meetings underscore how much the U.S. president, once a major skeptic of continued assistance to Kyiv, has warmed to Zelenskyy as Ukraine continues to withstand the Russian barrage more than four years after Moscow’s invasion in 2022.

The Ukrainian leader, whose relationship with Trump in his second term was marked by a raucous White House visit in which he was denigrated for being ungracious, has worked to court the Republican administration while relying on both likely and unlikely allies in Trump’s orbit to exert their influence with the president.

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has consumed much of the Trump administration’s focus this year, has also become gradually entwined with Ukraine, with Ukraine firing on at least one Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea over the weekend while Zelenskyy asserts that Russia has been

offering satellite imagery of U.S. bases in the Persian Gulf to Iran.

In a post on social media after the meeting, Zelenskyy thanked Trump for the “good meeting” and the Republican administration’s efforts to aid Kyiv in the long-running war.

“The President and I discussed licenses for Patriot interceptor production and several other ideas that could help,” said Zelenskyy, who also noted that he offered condolences to Trump for the death of Graham, a close ally. “We also spoke about diplomacy — it’s important that the diplomatic process be reinvigorated.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said both the Zelenskyy meeting and a separate, later sit-down with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were “positive and productive.”

Later during his whirlwind, one-day visit to Washington, Zelenskyy posted that he met with officials from Lockheed Martin for further cooperation in both defense production and exchanging of technologies, saying, “Ukraine has a lot to share with those who help us protect lives.”

Later, in a meeting with senators at the Capitol, Zelensky again made his case for why Ukraine needs Patriot interceptors, as well as a sweeping sanctions bill to impact morale and increase pressure on Russia, according to two people with direct knowledge of the private discussion. They were granted anonymity to disclose details of a closeddoor meeting.

Luke Coffey, a senior fellow at the conservativeleaning Hudson Institute, said expanding production capacity for Patriot inter-

ceptors is not only vital for Ukraine, but also for the U.S. and its Gulf allies, particularly as supply runs low during the war in Iran.

“Ukraine has shown that its defense industry is capable, innovative and creative,” Coffey said. “I have no doubt that when they’re granted the license, they will be able to produce these missiles which will hopefully mean there will be more available for the U.S.” Trump welcomed Zelenskyy to the White House as the Ukrainian leader traveled to Washington to honor Graham, whose final act as a public official was visiting Kyiv and securing an agreement on a package of sanctions that seek to punish countries that purchase Russian oil, gas and other exports.

In a Fox News Channel interview Tuesday, Trump recalled Graham’s hawkishness and said the Republican South Carolina senator’s support for Ukraine never wavered. Trump said Graham had suggested it was time to make a deal with Iran but had no similar suggestion for the Russia-Ukraine war.

“Ukraine, he’s very militant about,” Trump said on “Fox & Friends.” “I mean, Lindsey liked war, to be honest with you.”

Ahead of the meeting, Zelenskyy also warned that Russia has been aiding Iran as the war persists by capturing satellite imagery of U.S. bases in the Gulf region that later appear in Iran.

The Ukrainian president also asserted that there was a “clear correlation” between Russia’s images and subsequent Iranian strikes.

Iran is a key ally of Russia in its war against Ukraine and has helped Moscow build up its drone expertise.

But on Monday, Trump

Senate confirms Jay Clayton as director of national intelligence

BY MARY CLARE JALONICK and ERIC TUCKER Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Senate has confirmed Jay Clayton to become head of the nation’s intelligence agencies, putting a permanent director in place weeks after President Donald Trump sought to delay his nomination.

Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and a former Securities and Exchange Commission chair, was confirmed 51-47 along party lines. Republicans had initially hoped to confirm Clayton in June, but Trump delayed his hearing in order to allow his temporary pick for the job, Bill Pulte, to take over for several weeks after former director Tulsi Gabbard resigned.

Senators from both parties have expressed concerns about Pulte, a former housing regulator who had no intelligence experience. Pulte was in charge when Trump

delivered a speech from the White House earlier this month doubling down on his false claims about the 2020 election, which he lost, and released classified documents that he said were relevant to his arguments.

Pulte has also said he has presided over a downsizing of the national intelligence office, which functions as a coordinating hub for the U.S. government’s intelligence agencies. He boasted on social media that with a latest round of job cuts, the office is carrying out about a 30% staff reduction from weeks ago. He has not offered details about those cuts, making it hard to immediately corroborate the extent of any reductions.

Democrats have also expressed concerns about Clayton, who lost bipartisan support after a contentious hearing two weeks ago in which he repeatedly refused to say that former President Joe Biden won the 2020 election.

Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate intelligence committee, said at the end of the hearing that he was “bitterly disappointed” in Clayton after initially praising his nomination. Warner said he would oppose Clayton’s nomination but acknowledged that Democrats are “between a rock and a hard place” with Pulte in the job.

Trump has made revisiting 2020 a primary focus, repeatedly trying to cast doubt on that election and amplifying debunked theories about Biden’s win. Clayton said repeatedly at the hearing that the election was “certified” for Biden, declining to say outright that the Democrat won.

Hours before the scheduled Senate vote on Clayton, Pulte released intelligence community documents from 2020 that described China’s capacity to interfere in the American political process as well as vulnerabilities in the election system.

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downplayed any impact of potential Russian assistance for Iran, even as he said he would raise the matter with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“I don’t think they’ve been doing it, certainly not at a high level,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he traveled to Michigan.

“And if they have, it has been very un-impactful.”

On the Caspian Sea attack, the foreign ministers of Iran

and Ukraine spoke about the matter, according to statements posted on social media Tuesday. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the conversation “frank” and said Ukraine’s focus is “solely at defending our country from Russian aggression and never intended to target civilian vessels or people.”

Iran has said at least one sailor was killed in the attack.

Republican leadership is hoping to advance Graham’s sanctions legislation this week, although the Senate is juggling several other priorities.

The bill has dozens of backers from both major political parties and is seen as the main policy tribute to Graham. It imposes tariffs on goods from the world’s top five purchasers of Russia oil or natural gas, including China and India.

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Richland Parish businesses experience an uptick in sales and services as construction on the Meta AI Data Center begins

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

With the world’s largest data center yet being built in Richland Parish, Louisiana, local businesses are adapting and evolving to meet the growing needs of the incoming investment. More jobs and increased sales are creating a steady stream of business for local companies, and the impact is beginning to show.

For Will Dear, owner of Rayville Tire & Service Center and lifelong resident of the area, the effect has been positive, allowing his business to expand further than he had previously imagined. Kelsey Higdon, Digital Sales Manager for Nola.com and The Advocate, sat down with him to hear the full story.

Can you tell me about Rayville Tire & Service Center and what a typical week looked like before the investment was announced?

We were always busy. We live in a farming community so it’s non-stop every day, especially during the planting and harvest season. I never thought we could be any busier than we were, but now here we are.

We are taking it one day at a time.

What does a typical week look like now since the construction has started?

I’ve hired a lot more employees and more managers to help run things, because it has been non-stop. There’s more in and out, and everything is moving a lot faster than anything I’ve seen in my life.

I can get vehicles in and out a lot faster than before it started picking up. It used to be that I would order the part and let the customer know they could come in a couple of days later. Now, sometimes they can bring it in, and we can have them out by lunch. We are turning out a lot more work because of it.

How have you had to adapt your inventory? Are you stocking additional parts or tires because of the new vehicles that are coming into the market?

We used to stock some things before this, mostly semi-vehicle parts, but now, since we know the vehicles out there, we stock

tires for every one of them. If a construction vehicle comes in, we already know what’s going to be on it. We also keep our toolboxes well stocked and always have our emergency lights because we use those every day on the trucks that come in.

What makes Richland Parish such a special place to operate a business right now?

Richland Parish is like a big family.

Everybody knows everybody. Everyone knows my dad and where my sibling and I come from. Before this project came in, everyone was very tight-knit, and we just relied on our farmers and locals to keep us afloat. Now, this project is helping everyone out, not just our local tire shop.

How do you see your business evolving even once the project is complete?

To be honest, I’ve learned more about business in the past year than I have in my entire life. I would have said I knew business before, but I didn’t really know business until we had this much work. Once the project is all said and done, I think I’ll carry that experience into the next chapter with me. I’ve gained a lot of contacts, and even when they move on to another job, we are still going to be reaching out to one another when we need help with this or that.

If I maintain the relationship, these are the types of guys who will work with you until the end of their career.

For more information on Rayville Tire & Service Center, follow them on Facebook or call (318) 728-1155.

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

6A ■ Wednesday, July 29, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

Graham eulogized as ‘American original’ lll

BY LISA MASCARO, MEG KINNARD and MARY CLARE JALONICK

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Sen. Lindsey Graham, the son of pool hall owners who rose to become one of his generation’s more influential U.S. politicians at home and abroad, was eulogized Tuesday as “a true American original” during memorial services in Washington.

Graham’s flag-draped casket arrived for a tribute at the U.S. Capitol, where the Republican served for more than 30 years as an indefatigable dealmaker who talked and laughed and badgered his colleagues into action. Later, President Donald Trump joined foreign leaders for a funeral at Washington National Cathedral, a testament to Graham’s stature on the global stage.

Trump called Graham “a giant of the United States Senate, a true American original who left us much too soon.”

In mostly prepared remarks, Trump described his onetime presidential rival turned ally as “the first person to make you laugh and one of the last people that you’ve really ever wanted to fight.”

Trump told the story of how he had publicly disclosed Graham’s cellphone number on the campaign trail, reciting the number in the cathedral, but said the senator had the last laugh because “Lindsey did not stop calling me for the next 10 years.”

Among those gathered were Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy, leaders of two countries fighting separate wars, a nod to Graham’s role as a foremost believer in the power of the U.S. and its military to intervene in the world’s problems. Fox News’ Sean Hannity, in his remarks, said Graham would have been moved that they both made the long journeys to attend.

Trump Cabinet officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and current and former senators and lawmakers joined in the pews, as did Graham’s sister, now-Sen. Darline Graham, who was appointed by the state’s governor to fill the remainder of her brother’s term.

AP PHOTO By ALEX BRANDON

Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., cries during the funeral of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, at Washington National Cathedral in Washington on Tuesday.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JACQUELyN MARTIN

President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other guests attend the funeral of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Tuesday at Washington National Cathedral in Washington.

It was the start of two days of services, with burial Wednesday in Graham’s home state of South Carolina. Joint Base Charleston will be renamed in his honor, an Air Force official said. Graham died suddenly on July 11 at his home in Washington of a likely aortic tear, according to preliminary findings. He had just returned from a whirlwind trip to a NATO summit in Turkey, where he celebrated his birthday, and a visit to Ukraine. He was 71.

Graham had spent his final days negotiating punishing Russia sanctions intended to help Ukraine, and senators worked quickly voting to advance the package late Tuesday evening, a final gesture for their colleague.

‘Swashbuckling’ senator During the morning service in the Capitol Rotunda, Vice President JD Vance described Graham as a man of “swashbuckling” stature — “who swashbuckled into the Senate” with his suit jacket open — and was impossible not to like.

“Lindsey was a towering figure,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said, choking back tears during his remarks.

First elected to Congress in the 1994 Republican revolt that swept the GOP to power, Graham was part of a new era of conservatives to take their seats in the House — and among the first Republicans from his Southern state since Reconstruction.

He quickly rose to prominence as a manager in Democrat Bill Clinton’s presidential impeachment, and he was elected to the Senate in the 2002 election. There, he formed an alliance with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., in what would become the “three amigos,” globetrotting the world focused on national security issues.

Vance recalled how he argued with Graham over the senator’s staunch support for aid to Ukraine, which has divided the GOP, but praised his legacy saying Kavanaugh “would not be on the Supreme Court” were it not for Graham’s “fierce advocacy” during the confirmation hearing.

For decades, Graham had been at the center of the action — a member of virtually every bipartisan gang in Congress — with a relentless ability to adapt to political realities, partic-

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ularly when it came to Trump.

One by one, many of Graham’s colleagues said their goodbyes in the Rotunda. Sen. Katie Britt, RAla, placed both hands on his casket and then placed her hand on her heart. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., saluted from her wheelchair.

Former Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., bowed and delivered a brief kiss and Sen. John Kennedy, R-Madisonville, gave a fist bump.

Last mission: Russia sanctions Perhaps nowhere was Graham’s political dexterity on display more as when he navigated his on-again, off-again relationship with Trump.

Graham had denounced Trump as a “unfit for office” during the 2016 presidential campaign, but over time he had become what colleagues called the “Trump whisperer,” someone even world leaders relied on to understand the president.

Days before his death, Graham had won Trump’s support for a long-fought bipartisan proposal to impose sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine, in what would be one of the strongest U.S. efforts to hamper Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ability to prolong

the conflict.

Days before his death, Graham had won Trump’s support for the long-fought bipartisan proposal to impose sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine, in what would be one of the strongest U.S. efforts to hamper Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ability to prolong the conflict.

Senators said they moved the sanctions package as a tribute to Graham. After the funeral Zelenskyy, who had met with Trump earlier at the White House, arrived at the Capitol to talk with lawmakers ahead of voting. He then watched the roll call from the visitors’ gallery inside the Senate chamber.

Graham’s champions At the Washington cathedral, a roster of socially conservative and anti-abortion leaders gave readings, including Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, Marjorie Jones Dannenfelser of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and the Rev. William Franklin Graham III. Lindsey Graham never married, but the Air Force veteran helped support his younger sister after both of his parents died while he was at college and then starting law school. He became the guardian for Darline, who was then 13, and he later in life often extolled the benefits of Social Security that helped keep them financially afloat.

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MEETING

Continued from page 1A and his Cabinet that if Iran were to attack Israel, they would respond, but that beyond that, they would trust the judgment of the president regarding next steps.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to share details of a private meeting.

Despite signs of tension between the two before the meeting, Netanyahu was effusive afterward in a post on Instagram, noting that the meeting included Trump’s “entire senior team.”

Vice President JD Vance, who has had critical words for Israel and in June warned Israeli officials that Trump was their only friend among world leaders, was among those in the meeting.

“When I say excellent, I don’t mean it in a superficial way,” Netanyahu said in Hebrew. “A conversation with full partnership, with mutual support, with an understanding of the common goal of ensuring that Iran does not have nuclear weapons, and other goals as well.”

Netanyahu later joined Vance and Trump at a funeral for Sen. Lindsey Graham, where the Israeli leader was seen speaking to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who met with Trump earlier in the day.

Trump revealed some tension with Netanyahu ahead of their meeting, complaining about reports that the Israeli leader planned to discuss intelligence on Iranian activities at Pickaxe Mountain, a potential nuclear site that the U.S. president has threatened repeatedly to bomb.

“I know exactly what’s going on at Pickaxe,” Trump told “Fox & Friends.” He insisted that whatever Iran is doing is “not a big problem” and that “Bibi’s telling me that because he wants me to stay involved.”

“Why do you have to announce to the world?” Trump added, flashing his frustrations with his ally.

The Israeli official said that Netanyahu reiterated to Trump during the meeting that Israel will always share its intelligence with the U.S. but that it also understands that Washington has its own timeline and considerations to factor in, including other allied countries in the region that would be affected if

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RAZIEH POUDAT

young men ride motorcycles along the shore as a tractor pulls equipment from the water and commercial vessels appear anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, on Monday.

Washington were to escalate militarily.

Trump has had a hot-and-cold history with Netanyahu over the years, but upon his return to the White House last year, their alliance seemed stronger than ever.

When they started the war together in February, it was with a united front, touting their respective militaries as acting in lockstep to take out Iran’s leadership and pave the way for a government more friendly to the West.

But as Iran fought back — sending drones and missiles slamming into U.S. bases and high-rises in cities in the Gulf, and choking off the Strait of Hormuz — Trump came under immense pressure both at home and by allies in the region to end the conflict.

Since then, Netanyahu, who wanted to continue the fighting in Iran and against its ally, Hezbollah, in Lebanon, has been sidelined as Trump sought a deal with Tehran.

Disagreements with Trump and Vance have burst into the open over the war in Iran and more.

“The Americans are making it clear to the Israelis they are the

“When I say excellent, I don’t mean it in a superficial way.

A conversation with full partnership, with mutual support, with an understanding of the common goal of ensuring that Iran does not have nuclear weapons, and other goals as well.”

BENJAMIN NETANyAHU, Israeli prime minister

ones who are running the war,” Israeli journalist and political analyst Amit Segal wrote Monday in the daily newspaper Israel Hayom.

“It is clear to everyone that Israel has been put in the back seat.”

Of Trump, Netanyahu said Sunday that “many ways, it’s his decision” on how to move forward. “If he can do so without returning to intense military fighting, that’s fine. Why not?”

“But one way or the other, they have to end their nuclear program,” Netanyahu told Maria Bartiromo on Fox News Channel’s “Sunday

Morning Futures” about Iran.

The Israeli official said the two leaders also discussed the framework agreement that the U.S. and Israel signed with Lebanon over the Israel-Hezbollah war and the expansion of the Abraham Accords, which have Arab and Muslim-majority nations normalize ties with Israel.

Netanyahu also needed to persuade Trump that he won’t play spoiler to U.S. diplomatic and reconstruction efforts in Gaza and Lebanon, where the president has previously complained that “too many people are being killed” by Israeli strikes.

In Lebanon, where the Israeli military occupies much of the south, Israel agreed to allow the Lebanese army to deploy to some villages as part of a “pilot program” testing its ability to secure areas where Hezbollah once operated. The U.S. State Department says the next round of talks between Israel and Lebanon will take place next week in Rome with a focus on expanding the program.

On Gaza, Israel’s security cabinet green-lit on Sunday a measure

that would, in theory, grant entry to the first members of an international stabilization force outlined last year in a U.S.-backed ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

Few countries have pledged troops, however, and Israel would approve their entry into Gaza on a case-by-case basis.

The troops — including from Morocco and Uganda — would only be allowed to operate in a small, desolate area in Rafah in the south, where the plan is to vet and house some displaced Palestinians.

The Israeli military continues to carry out strikes it says target militants but that have also killed civilians.

Israel has lost a significant amount of bipartisan support in the United States, particularly over Gaza. An AP-NORC poll published this month found a dramatic erosion of support among American adults for Israel.

Near the White House, a small group of protesters chanted, “Netanyahu, you’re a tyrant” and “Bibi, you’re not welcome here,” referencing the prime minister’s nickname.

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lll

COLE

Continued from page 1A process and continue moving forward together with integrity and purpose,” Gast continued.

Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office has stated that much of its investigation stems from a previous federal probe into Baton Rouge government that took place two years ago but yielded no charges. The FBI gave information they collected to her team.

Cole was one of several council members and other public officials named in a federal grand jury sub-

CLASH

Continued from page 1A did not respond to a call seeking comment.

Crichton, who aged out of office at the end of 2024 and is now in private practice, has his own views on the matter. He wrote that Weimer held a “fixated and obsessive disdain for me and Genovese.”

Crichton also filed a motion to recuse Weimer in a case involving a $421 million jury verdict in New Orleans against Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana. He argues that Weimer should add him to an automatic recusal list. Crichton has asked the court to seal his recusal motion.

The other six justices agreed late Tuesday to recuse Weimer from the case, saying the “bitter internecine feud” would leave his decision vulnerable to attack from either side.

The rhetoric echoes a bitter dispute over judicial compensation in which Weimer has remained steadfast and alone in arguing that colleagues have illegally padded their incomes.

Weimer’s insistence has come with a price, according to the exchange of letters and Genovese. In 2023, all six of his fellow justices voted to strip him of administrative powers as chief

poena viewed by The Advocate that was served to City Hall in 2024. It requested documents and communications related to the now-defunct Mayor’s Healthy City Initiative.

The Healthy City nonprofit used federal grants to fund programs aimed at violence prevention and community development during the Broome administration. Mayor-President Sid Edwards ended it after taking office last year.

Sources with knowledge of the 2024 federal probe have told The Advocate that federal agents collected text messages sent from Cole’s phone to city-parish contractors.

judge in favor of a new “executive committee.” The court named Crichton as its chair, he wrote.

“The reason for the executive committee is Chief Justice Weimer continued to act without authority of the court, and he wouldn’t stop it,” Genovese said in an interview. “It was definitely necessary.”

Weimer’s administrative curbing does not appear to have been previously reported. Last week, in another letter to Crichton, he wrote that his colleagues had created the “so-called” committee “to usurp the constitutionally mandated duties of the Chief Justice.”

Weimer called it an unprecedented effort to silence and punish him. He added that its “very existence is tied to my attempt to insure (sic) fiscal responsibility, integrity, and transparency in the judiciary.”

Weimer wrote that he

Also named in that subpoena was Terral “TJ” Jackson and Erica Jackson, a married couple who were awarded several Healthy City contracts between 2022 and 2024.

The grand jury indicted the Jacksons in January over a Capital Area Transit System contract their company received in 2021. Prosecutors say the contract was to develop COVID-related protocols for the transit system but in reality the two were being paid public money to campaign for a CATS tax proposal.

Cole and TJ Jackson are close friends, according to multiple sources.

Dunn was charged in the CATS

“continued to discharge all the duties and responsibilities of the Chief Justice” in spite of the committee.

Weimer has long called out colleagues for distributing a supplemental fund to pad judicial salaries without first paying all of its bills. He also claims colleagues took a judicial stipend illegally in upfront lump sums.

And Weimer accuses Crichton and Genovese, in particular, of exploiting a $118 meal per diem like no other judges, claiming they double-dipped in the process by topping off a monthly stipend for housing and other expenses.

“I suggest that you apologize to the people of Louisiana and reimburse them for the extravagant and unjustified income you took from them for your benefit in meals per diem, stipend, and supplement,” Weimer wrote Crichton.

Crichton declined to comment, citing the pending

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scheme as well, accused of steering one of the public bus company’s contracts to associate Jay Colar with the help of transit administrator Pearlina Thomas. Investigators say Colar paid Dunn paid a large amount of those funds.

In February, Scott — the former Broome aide — was charged with taking part in a kickback scheme in which prosecutors say she received nearly $200,000.

Cole was elected to the Metro Council in 2016 and served until he was appointed superintendent in 2024. On the council, he was elected mayor pro tempore by his peers.

In October, a special grand jury

motion to keep the matter confidential.

Genovese said he has no business before the court and that Weimer’s letter came out of the blue.

“I don’t know why he’s still angry with me. I’ve been off the court for two years,” Genovese said. “This is old news and he’s still blowing the same horn.”

led by the state Attorney General’s Office was empaneled in Judge Brad Myers’ courtroom.

During selection, Myers asked potential jurors if they had personal relationships with any current or former officials in the MayorPresident’s Office, Metro Council or school system administrators.

Last week, council member Twahna P. Harris, who served as Cole’s aide during his time on the council, testified before the grand jury, as did former council member Chauna Banks.

Email Patrick Sloan-Turner at patrick.sloan-turner@ theadvocate.com.

The chief justice rejected the push for his recusal in a response on Friday. Weimer agreed that his views are nothing new, arguing that Crichton’s request for a blanket recusal invites judge shopping.

“I have no ill will toward former Justice Crichton’s clients,” Weimer wrote.

“I have no malice towards

Scott Crichton as an individual or an attorney. I simply remain disappointed in his actions related to votes he took behind closed doors while serving as an Associate Justice on this court to favor himself financially.”

Weimer argued against Crichton’s motion to seal his recusal motion.

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executes U.S. says it thwarted missile attack 2Fla. men in 1 day

BY BEN FINLEY

in the nation’s eastern region. It said the attacks were “once again launched from Iraqi territory and carried out by Iran-affiliated terrorist militias.”

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali alZaidi ordered security agencies to investigate after the Saudis alleged a similar attack on Monday.

The Iraqi military said in a statement that Iraq is committed to “preventing Iraqi territory from being used as a route or launching point for any attack targeting brotherly or friendly countries.”

The Iraqi militias have denied any role in the drone attacks.

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military said it knocked down an Iranian ballistic missile attack against American forces in the Middle East on Tuesday, shattering a brief pause in the fighting as mediators tried to get both sides back to negotiations.

All Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted, the U.S. Central ComCO ONFLICT mand said, adding that U.S. IN THE T forces MIIDDLE vigilant“remain and at EAST AST a high state of readiness.”

The United States and Iran had experienced a period of calm, during which neither announced attacks for days following weeks of escalation over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf waterway and narrow chokepoint through which 20% of the world’s oil normally flows.

There was no immediate comment from Tehran on the U.S. military statement or the strikes.

The resumption of fighting comes at the end of a month packed with multiple pressure points on U.S. President Donald Trump over the war. In recent weeks, four U.S. troops died during the fighting, while the Pentagon asked an increasingly skeptical Congress for money to cover the conflict’s ballooning costs.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By VAHID SALEMI

A demonstrator prays as he holds an Iranian flag at a pro-government gathering Tuesday at a square in Tehran, Iran.

Trump has repeatedly retreated from threats to knock out bridges, power plants and other infrastructure but he told Fox News Channel in an interview earlier Tuesday that Iran knows he’ll “finish the job” if its leaders don’t make a deal to end the war.

Iran had effectively closed the strait when the war began by firing at freighters and tankers off its coast or threatening them. Following the signing of an interim ceasefire deal in June, a battle for control over the strait erupted.

Iran demanded that ships use a route near its coastline and said it can potentially charge fees. Ships were increasingly navigating a

route along the coast of Oman under a U.S. overwatch operation when Iran attacked some vessels.

Drone attacks intercepted Saudi Arabia said earlier on Tuesday that it shot down drones fired by Iran-backed militias in Iraq for a second day, while Iranbacked Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed to have forced a Saudi oil tanker to turn around as part of their self-styled blockade of the kingdom.

The kingdom’s Defense Ministry said in a statement that air defenses intercepted and destroyed several drones that had attempted to target petroleum facilities

A Saudi oil tanker is targeted Meanwhile, the Houthis claim to have fired missiles at the Saudi oil tanker NCC Ghazal, forcing it to turn back. Last week, they announced a blockade of Saudi shipping, putting another key Middle Eastern waterway — through the Bab el-Mandeb strait leading to the Red Sea — at risk.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center said a tanker reported hearing explosions while traveling in the southern Red Sea. It did not name the tanker but said the crew and vessel were safe.

The U.S. ability to intercept Iran’s incoming strikes has become an increasingly salient issue as lawmakers, members of the military and experts raise concerns over the nation’s diminishing stockpiles of missile interceptors.

Pentagon creates new casualty category after end of ‘Epic Fury’

BY KONSTANTIN TOROPIN Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon said a new, separate category was created in its official casualty system to account for those killed and wounded in the renewed U.S.Iran fighting because “Operation Epic Fury,” the military’s name for combat operations against Tehran, has ended.

The Defense Casualty Analysis System, or DCAS, has removed the four soldiers killed and dozens of troops wounded in the latest exchange of fire from its official Iran war tally and placed them in a new category called

“Overseas Operations.”

The overall total of wounded from the conflict now stands at 642 troops, between the figures listed under Operation Epic Fury and those listed in the new category in the Pentagon’s online system.

A Pentagon official said Tuesday that because Operation Epic Fury has concluded, the military has decided to classify casualties tied to the latest strikes in the new category. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters, would not offer a date for the formal end of the operation.

That characterization raises questions about properly count-

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ing the impact to U.S. service members after the U.S. military carried out nearly two weeks of consecutive strikes against Iran in a bid to gain control of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded by striking neighboring countries in the Middle East that host U.S. forces.

After the four soldiers who were killed this month were removed from the Iran war death toll in the online system, Pentagon spokespeople said last week on social media that it was not an effort to hide the growing human cost of the conflict but rather the result of “anomalies” and “temporary data disruptions” that were being resolved “imminently.”

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On Sunday, those troops appeared by name in the new “Overseas Operations” category.

Three soldiers were killed after a base in Jordan was struck July 17

by Iranian ballistic missiles and drones, and one died in Iraq a day later during a controlled detonation of an Iranian drone.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters at a White House briefing in May that the operation had “concluded,” saying that “we achieved the objectives of that operation.”

When Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified before Congress last week, he didn’t argue that the Iran war had concluded.

BY DAVID FISCHER Associated Press

STARKE, Fla. — Florida on Tuesday became the first state in nearly a decade to carry out two executions in a single day, the last an 80-yearold man who was the second-oldest inmate known to receive a lethal injection in modern U.S. history.

Hours earlier, the state executed a former police officer convicted of killing a young girl.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has made Florida’s death chamber the nation’s busiest at the end of his final term, saying too many families have waited too long to see justice.

Dominick Anthony Occhicone, the octogenarian, was pronounced dead at 6:13 p.m. at Florida State Prison near Starke after a three-drug injection. His execution came five hours after the former police officer, James Aren Duckett, 68, received a lethal dose in the same death chamber.

The chamber’s curtain went up promptly at Occhicone’s 6 p.m. scheduled execution hour. He lay strapped to a gurney with an IV in his arm, a spiritual adviser near his feet.

“I know it don’t mean much, but I’m sorry,” Occhicone added. “I never meant to do what I did.”

The injection began at 6:02 p.m. followed by several minutes of deep breathing. When the breathing slowed, a warden shook him and yelled his name without response.

Occhicone, who was convicted of fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend’s parents, is the oldest known prisoner executed in Florida since it began modern record-keeping a century ago.

Afterward, the children of victims Raymond and Martha Artzner released a statement saying their family had come to “the end of a long and painful journey.”

“The years since June 10, 1986, have been filled with sleepless nights, empty chairs at family gatherings, and those one-on-one conversations that were lost,” it read in part.

Duckett was convicted of raping and drowning 11-year-old Teresa McAbee while he was working as a police officer in Florida in 1987.

“I waited nearly 40 years to have him dead,” Dorthy Tula, the victim’s mother, said before breaking down.

“This man took advantage of his badge,” said Tracy Mcfall-Buskirk, the girl’s cousin.

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1Bn

BR police ‘remain hopeful’ in search for teen Officials have no plans to halt landfill operation

BY OLIVIA TEES Staff writer

As the search for Ja’Derrius Minnieweather’s body in the Baton Rouge landfill enters its third week, law enforcement officials said they are making significant progress while maintaining the safety of all personnel involved

and have no end date in sight.

“At this time, there is no established end date for the operation.

The Baton Rouge Police Department remains committed to continuing the search and remains hopeful that its objective will be achieved before all available resources have been exhausted,” police said in a statement released

Tuesday.

As of Monday, crews had covered 2,679 square yards of the landfill, about 86% of the original 0.64-acre search area, the department said.

During the past three weeks, 1,054 tons of waste have been processed.

“The operation has continually

evaluated and refined its search methods, increasing daily productivity from approximately 90 tons per day to 150 tons per day,” police said.

Because the landfill is a hazardous area with needles, glass and potentially hazardous gases lurking below, law enforcement has worked in search party teams to maintain efficiency and safety.

Officials have been searching for the body of Minnieweather, 15, in

the landfill since July 13. The teen is presumed dead, and police have said they believe his body was dumped in a garbage bin, picked up by a garbage truck and dumped somewhere in the landfill.

Since the start of the search, more than 395 search shifts have been completed with an average of 15 people per team across three daily shifts, police say. Each

ä See SEARCH, page 2B

Cajun Navy 2016 files defamation lawsuit Nonprofit alleges United Cajun Navy has damaged its reputation

BY ELLYN COUVILLION Staff writer

STAFF PHOTOS By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Uncle Geebo wows the crowd after pulling a flag and pole out of an impossibly small bag during his magic show at the Main Branch Library in Port Allen on Friday.

LIBRARY MAGIC

RIGHT: Denver, 3, jumps with joy after Uncle Geebo transformed a bird in a cage into a bunny.

BELOW: Children react to Uncle Geebo’s magic tricks during a show on Friday.

Cajun Navy 2016, a nonprofit founded after the devastating floods that hit Louisiana 10 years ago, has filed a lawsuit against the organization United Cajun Navy and its top officials, saying that group has damaged its reputation with “a multiyear campaign of false and defamatory statements.”

The lawsuit was filed Friday in the 19th Judicial District Court against United Cajun Navy, as well as the organization’s president, Todd Terrell, and vice president, Brian Thrasher.

The lawsuit seeks damages authorized under Louisiana law, together with injunctive and declaratory relief, to prevent further defamatory conduct, Cajun Navy 2016 said in an online post.

“The lawsuit does not challenge the work of other disaster relief organizations,” the post said. “Instead, it alleges that repeated false statements about Cajun Navy 2016 crossed the line from protected criticism into defamation.”

Terrell said Monday, “United Cajun Navy has been around a long time and we’ve helped a lot of people in times of disasters.”

He said the organization also helps people outside of disasters.

“I want our day in court,” he said.

Cajun Navy 2016 and United Cajun Navy are two of about a half-dozen rescue groups, all with some version of Cajun Navy in their name, that grew out of a grassroots aid response following the widespread flooding caused hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.

The groups use boats and highwater vehicles to respond to natural disasters.

ä See LAWSUIT, page 2B

Daughter-in-law of LSU board BR man accused of towing vehicles, member faces ethics charge selling them for parts

BY HALEY MILLER Staff writer

Britney Temple violated state ethics laws when she was employed by University High School in Baton Rouge as a volleyball coach while her father-in-law, Collis Temple Jr., served on the LSU Board of Supervisors, according to charges filed by the Louisiana Board of Ethics.

The charges say the Board of Supervisors member is effectively an “agency head” for the LSU system and U-High. The Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics

ä See ETHICS, page 2B

Collis Temple Jr. listens during the LSU Board of Supervisors meeting on June 26 at the Administration Building. Temple’s daughter-in-law is accused of violating state ethics laws by working at University High School while he served on the board.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Police: Forged paperwork used for sales

on five counts of theft of a motor vehicle, five counts of filing false public records and four counts of forgery, according to a warrant for his arrest.

Baton Rouge police officers were called on May 14 to the 12000 block

BY BLAKE LESCHBER of La Margie Avenue in response Staff writer to a motor vehicle theft. The vicA man is wanted in Baton Rouge tim said he last saw his 2010 Nisafter police say he stole vehicles san Titan at 8 a.m., then returned with a tow truck and sold them for about 5:30 p.m. to find it missing, parts while forging paperwork to police documents said. scrap them. ä See FORGERY, page 2B Matthew Dunn, 35, is wanted

2B ■ Wednesday, July 29, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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N.O. businesses hurt by water main construction get grants Small sums greeted with tepid response

BY MARCO CARTOLANO and KASEY BUBNASH Staff writers

New Orleans city officials announced on Monday that $97,500 in grant funding will go to 26 businesses impacted by ongoing construction in the French Quarter along Decatur and St. Peter streets — to mixed reaction from local shops.

Applicants approved for the Business Stabilization Fund were notified late last week and will receive either $5,000 or $2,500, according to a document provided by Mayor Helena Moreno’s administration.

“It’s a small fraction of what our costs are for one week,” said Katerina Sutton, the owner of Gazebo Cafe at 1018 Decatur St., which was approved for a $5,000 grant.

For Sutton, the grants feel almost like an “attempt to appease everyone.” She said she’s already lost both business and potential employees, who would rather work elsewhere in the city where they could make more.

Moreno and other city officials announced the financial lifeline last month after businesses and residents pushed back on the Sewerage & Water Board’s prolonged effort to replace the 115-year-old water mains below Decatur be-

tween Esplanade Avenue and Dumaine Street. The project is approaching its second year and has led to some permanent business closures.

Moreno said in June that several nonprofits and public bodies had offered to partner with the city to assemble and distribute $200,000 in funding. Businesses with fewer than eight employees were to receive a one-time payment of $2,500, while those with eight or more would receive twice that. Only businesses facing the construction project street boundaries that had lost revenue were eligible for assistance.

Lily Gubser, a supervisor at Ra Shop at 733 Toulouse St., said the $5,000 the smoke shop will receive is a step in the right direction, but the city could have done more to help businesses throughout the construction.

“The grant money definitely helps, but I don’t feel like the city did much to do anything about it until it was nearing the end of construction, especially for these businesses on Decatur that shut down,” Gubser said.

Ra Shop and other more established businesses were able to survive thanks to their loyal customers, she said, but newer businesses had a harder time dealing with disruptive construction and little communication from the city.

Kim Greer, a manager at Christmas Quarters at 1027 Decatur St., said the

$2,500 grant they were approved for was a blessing, but agreed that it was not enough.

“We’re maybe making 20% of what we normally make,” she said of current revenue.

Greer said she believed Moreno was trying to help and understood that she inherited the prolonged project, but she said the work has gone on too long.

Sutton and Greer said finishing construction is still the quickest way to help businesses as the area continues to lose foot traffic, even with the removal of some barriers.

“Most people when they’re coming from Cafe du Monde, and they see all that construction, they’re going to miss us,” Greer said. “I thought when that tarp went down, it would help us, but it really hasn’t.”

City officials on Monday said they are still exploring ways to use remaining funding, whether by offering support to businesses that submitted incomplete applications or for businesses only adjacent to the construction.

The Moreno administration and S&WB officials also said they have continued regular meetings with St. Peter and Decatur street business owners to inform them of updates on the project, which is expected to wrap up this fall.

Email Marco Cartolano at Marco.Cartolano@ theadvocate.com

Officials have been searching for the body of 15-yearold Ja’Derrius Minnieweather in the Baton Rouge landfill for three weeks.

STAFF FILE PHOTO By JOHN BALLANCE

SEARCH

Continued from page 1B search team is allotted 30 to 45 minutes of active work before its members undergo a period of rehabilitation lasting more than an hour.

The rehabilitation includes decontamination from landfill hazards, rehydration, medical evaluations and putting on personal protective equipment before returning to the search.

Seventy to 80 personnel are required each day, including search teams, logistics, medical support, equipment operators, command staff and numerous support personnel who work behind the scenes to keep the operation running safely and efficiently, police say.

The biggest challenges law enforcement has faced during the search have been weather conditions, including severe heat, available crews, equipment capabilities and environmental conditions of the landfill.

The Baton Rouge Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services have been at the scene continuously, monitoring the health and well-being of all personnel on-site.

The BRPD is the lead agency on the case but has

enlisted the help of various federal and local agencies, including specialty teams from the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the Louisiana National Guard and the United Cajun Navy.

“The United Cajun Navy stands with all of the agencies and personnel involved in this operation. We know the physical and emotional toll these missions take, and we remain grateful for every individual who refuses to give up in the pursuit of truth,” the United Cajun Navy said in a statement on Facebook.

Minnieweather has been missing since June 5.

Maurice Parms, 51, who was arrested June 20 on a first-degree murder count, is accused of dumping the teen’s body in a garbage bin in the early morning hours on June 5. The garbage truck was scheduled to pick up the trash that morning at 6 a.m., according to Parms’ arrest warrant.

Police have said Parms has made no statement or offered any help to locate Minnieweather’s body. He remains in the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison and is held without bail. His next court date will be on Oct. 15 for a bail review hearing.

Parms faces the possibility of the death penalty if he is convicted of first-degree murder.

ETHICS

Continued from page 1B prohibits immediate family from being employed in an agency if their family member is the head of that body.

Britney Temple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The LSU Board of Supervisors declined to comment.

Britney Temple is married to Collis Temple III, a former LSU basketball star like his father, Collis Temple Jr., who was the first Black player on the team.

She was employed by UHigh from February to November 2023 and received $1,875 in compensation, according to the charges.

The ethics code states that violators of the law may be subject to fines, and if they were found to benefit financially from the arrangement, repayment of what they earned plus penalties.

A hearing is scheduled with the Ethics Adjudicatory Board on Thursday.

Email Haley Miller at haley.miller@ theadvocate.com.

LOTTERY

MONDAY, JULY 27, 2026 PICK 3: 3-7-3 PICK 4: 3-5-4-7 PICK 5: 7-9-1-4-5 POWERBALL: 6-26-4658-65 (25) Unofficial notification, keep your tickets.

P.O. BOx 2406 BatOn ROuge, La 344-STOP

Submit a tip anonymously from our website www.crimestoppersbr.com, or download the free anonymous P3 Tips App. CaLL tOLL FRee 1-877-723-7867

FORGERY

Continued from page 1B Members of the apartment complex management team told police that Dunn said he worked for the towing company contracted by the complex and he was there to remove abandoned vehicles, police said.

Dunn brought the Nissan to a Baton Rouge junkyard, where it was crushed for recycling, according to the arrest warrant. Police said he made $585 in the sale.

On July 20, Dunn was arrested on a count related to the May 14 Nissan theft, and a $15,000 bail was set the

LAWSUIT

Continued from page 1B Cajun Navy 2016, based in Watson, is one of the more well-known groups. United Cajun Navy, a nonprofit based out of Baton Rouge, says it has provided relief from more than 40 disasters across 17 states.

The lawsuit said that after

next day. He was released around Saturday, according to the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison database.

Now, police say Dunn is wanted in five other vehicle thefts: n On April 8, a resident reported his inoperable vehicle had been stolen from the driveway of his house. Police said the vehicle was taken to a scrap yard, where Dunn sold it for about $260. n Baton Rouge police officers were dispatched on May 13 to an apartment complex in the 12000 block of La Margie Avenue, where a Chevrolet Impala had been stolen. n A man contacted the

the United Cajun Navy was established as a nonprofit in 2018, it began “distributing false information and false statements to the public” about Cajun Navy 2016.

One of several examples of those statements, provided as exhibits in the lawsuit, is an online post that United Cajun Navy made as Cajun Navy 2016 was responding to flooding in Kerr County, Texas, earlier this month.

Baton Rouge Police Department about a month later to report his 2004 Ford pickup truck had been stolen. The vehicle had been parked at a church in the 3800 block of Keokuk Street and was last seen on June 9. When he returned to the location on June 12, the pickup was missing. n On June 22, another person contacted the BRPD, stating she had left her 1999 Chevrolet C1000 pickup truck in a parking space at her residence in the 2900 block of Lorraine Street because the battery was missing. The victim was out of town June 14-19 and returned to find the truck gone.

“FRAUD ALERT,” the post begins. “The grifters and scammers are at it again! A group identifying as ‘Cajun Navy 2016’ who is NOT authorized by any EOC (emergency operation center) in Texas is posting copied images to raise money pretending to be us. Please be aware, don’t get SCAMMED! WE ARE THE ONLY LEGIT CAJUN NAVY!” Cajun Navy 2016 said the

Officers responded to the same location on June 25, where a separate person stated she left a 2009 Chevrolet Equinox for her husband to do maintenance work on it. It was last seen on the morning of June 25, according to police records.

According to arrest warrants, during the investigation of the May 14 theft, officers obtained a search warrant for Dunn’s transaction records for a Baton Rouge scrap yard.

Records showed Dunn transported these vehicles to the scrap yard and sold them, police said. He did so by submitting fraudulent paperwork that represented him as the legal owner n

false statements questioned the organization’s legitimacy, integrity and disaster response efforts.

In its online statement, Jon Bridgers, the chief executive officer and founder of the organization, said, “For years, we’ve stayed focused on serving others. Unfortunately, the false statements have continued, and protecting our reputation has become necessary to protect our mission.”

of the vehicles, police sadi.

The false bills of sale listed Dunn as the purchaser of the vehicles from an individual named “Kevin King.”

A search of vehicle registration information showed that King was not the registered owner of the vehicles, police said. Investigators believe that King is a fake seller made up by Dunn to create false bills of sale and other documents, according to the arrest warrant.

All of the victims said they did not know Dunn or King and did not sell or transfer their vehicles to him for scrap, police said.

Dunn told police he “scraps vehicles for a living,” they said.

“When floodwaters rise, families don’t have time to sort through competing claims on social media,” Bridgers said. “They need to know who is actually showing up. Our reputation is one of the most important tools we have when lives are on the line.”

Email Ellyn Couvillion at ecouvillion@theadvocate. com.

7/29/2026

Crime Stoppers will pay a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of these wanted fugitives.

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FORGERY, MONETARY INSTRUMENT ABUSE, EXPLOITATION OF THE INFIRMED & MISD. THEFT

Warrants active as of 7/28/26

IMPORTANT: ALL PERSONS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY

If you have any information on these fugitives contact: CRIME STOPPERS at 344-STOP (7867), submit a tip anonymously from our website www.crimestoppersbr.com, or download the free anonymous P3 Tips App.

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

DOW 52,747.32 537.24 1.03%

NASDAQ 24,876.91 -55.17 -0.22%

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FROM WIRE REPORTS

Oil prices ease as tech stocks tumble

NEW YORK — Most of Wall Street rose Tuesday, even as stocks of computer chipmakers continued to tumble worldwide. Oil prices, meanwhile, eased further from the two-month high they hit last week.

The majority of the U.S. market rose after more companies delivered stronger profits for the spring than analysts expected. Coca-Cola climbed 5% after its revenue rose 7% despite what CEO Henrique Braun called “a dynamic consumer landscape.”

Sherwin-Williams rallied 8.3%, and Illinois Tool Works rose 3.6% after both likewise reported stronger earnings for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Stock prices generally follow the trend of corporate profits over the long term, and expectations are high for this most recent round of reports with the U.S. stock market still near its all-time high.

Such expectations are weighing particularly heavily on stocks of chipmakers and other companies that have been huge winners from the boom in artificial-intelligence technology.

But worries are rising about whether such growth is sustainable. Big spenders on computer memory could pull back on investments if AI does not produce as much profit or productivity as promised.

S&P 500 7,428.78 15.60 0.21%

EURO 1.1391 0.0018 0.16%

CRUDE OIL 82.61 -6.70 -7.50%

GOLD 4,036.30 -38.20 -0.94%

6-MO T-BILLS 4.03 -0.05 -1.23%

30-YR T-BONDS 5.09 -0.04 -0.8%

Confidence in U.S. economy falls

modestly in June as gas a risk to President Donald Trump 33% more expensive since the beRising inflation costs proved prices came down to around $3.70 and Republicans in the midterm ginning of 2019. To navigate those gallon from more than $4.50 a elections, which are now less than higher prices, Americans have blamed on gas prices agallon in late April and early May. 100 days away. turned to coupons, comparison

BY MATT OTT

Associated Press WASHINGTON — Americans’ confidence in the economy fell this month as gas prices resumed their climb after the U.S. and Iran stepped up their fighting.

The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index fell to 90.8 in July from 92.2 in June. That’s essentially the same tepid range its been in since the beginning of the year. In late 2024 and early 2025 the readings were well above 100.

Consumer attitudes had im-

But as fighting in the Middle East escalated, the average price for a gallon of gas in the U.S. started to rise again. On Tuesday it was $4.10, according to the auto club AAA. After being attacked by the U.S. and Israel in late February, Iran shut down the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil travels, causing a spike in gas prices. That accelerated inflation, causing Americans’ inflation-adjusted incomes to decline.

Americans remain sour on the economy after five years of elevated inflation, potentially posing

Trump continues to blame inflation on his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden. Yet inflation has risen since Trump’s inauguration last year, to 3.5% from 3% in January 2025. It jumped even further after the Iran war began Feb. 28, when it was just 2.4%.

Write-in responses to the survey, which were collected July 1-22, remained pessimistic. The Board said references to gas prices were down slightly but remained elevated. Respondents’ mention of food and grocery prices increased.

Government data shows that buying food to bring home has gotten

shopping and cutting back as they absorb the biggest jump in grocery prices in a half-century.

Beef epitomizes out-of-control grocery prices for many Americans with ground beef reaching $6.82 a pound in June — 79% more than at the beginning of 2019, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

References to jobs and unemployment picked up slightly this month and views of the current job market fell. Expectations of how the labor market will be six months going forward improved slightly, but remained in negative territory.

‘The original celebrity chef’

BuzzFeed slashing workforce by 35% BuzzFeed is cutting roughly 35% of its workforce in its first major restructuring since media mogul Byron Allen bought a majority stake in the firm two months ago.

The layoffs, outlined in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Monday, will affect about 180 staff and contract positions across BuzzFeed and its sister brands HuffPost and Tasty.

“We’ve been actively managing costs for some time, working through scenarios to save as many jobs as possible,” BuzzFeed’s leadership team said in the memo. “Unfortunately, the elimination of certain roles is still required.”

The company said the changes are necessary to “put our business on a path to profitable and sustainable growth.”

The BuzzFeed purchase is the latest in a series of business moves Allen has made in recent years to build his entertainment empire. The former standup comedian recently purchased a portion of CBS’s late-night block earlier this year, taking over the time slot for the 2026-27 season.

The slot once belonged to “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” which was canceled last year and aired its final episode in May. BuzzFeed was founded in 2006. The website became known as a pop culture hub, where readers could indulge in the latest celebrity gossip or discover a unique cooking recipe.

Settlement proposed to end longtime talc suit Johnson & Johnson has agreed to pay $5.5 billion to tie up remaining lawsuits that claim its talc products caused ovarian cancer.

The drugmaker, which has been fighting talc-related lawsuits for more than a decade, said that the settlement is conditioned on at least 95% of remaining claimants participating.

A U.S. bankruptcy court judge denied a $9 billion settlement proposed by company subsidiary Red River Talc last year that would have been one of the biggest mass tort settlements in history.

Johnson & Johnson decided not to appeal that ruling and instead fight on in court.

A federal judge last week ordered plaintiffs in the case against Johnson & Johnson to show why the remaining pending talc claims should not be dismissed after their witnesses could not provide a direct link between the company’s product and cancer.

KFC founder Colonel Sanders’ personal items, former home, restaurant up for auction

BY DYLAN LOVAN

ABOVE: Auctioneer Jonathan Klunk said there’s a little-known secret behind the bow tie.

‘Not a lot of people know; he did wear clip-ons.’

LEFT: Klunk stands behind a display of personal items owned by KFC founder Harland Sanders.

Associated Press

SHELBYVILLE,Ky. — KFC founder Colonel Sanders ‘ pressure cooker, black bow tie and dozens of other personal items are up for public auction Tuesday night, along with his former home and a dinner house Sanders opened after selling his iconic restaurant chain.

Harland Sanders, still known as the face of the worldwide chain originally known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, established the Shelbyville property as the first headquarters of his restaurant business in the late 1950s. He sold the property, which included his home and the Claudia Sanders Dinner House, to Tommy and Cherry Settle in 1974, who have run the restaurant since then.

“Colonel Sanders was the original celebrity chef,” said Bill Menish, whose firm, The Menish Group, is conducting the auction.

“The feedback has been worldwide, so we needed to have an auction that would cater to that worldwide audience.”

Online pre-bidding concludes with a live, in-person auction for the Sanders memorabilia on Tuesday evening. Sealed bids for the restaurant and Sanders’ former 5,000-square-foot home, which he named Blackwood Hall, will be taken until Friday.

Sanders’ personal watches, an original cash register, his cutlery set, a bust sculpted by his daughter and a commercial gas range from the colonel’s former residence are among the items up for bidding. The bust had a bid of $4,400 on Tuesday morning, and

AP PHOTOS the cash register was bidding at $5,000.

Sanders sold KFC in 1964 to a group of investors, but continued as a brand ambassador for the company.

Menish called Sanders a “marketing genius” for creating the character of the colonel.

“He didn’t dress like that before he was starting to build Kentucky Fried Chicken,” Menish said. “He adopted the colonel: the clothes, the bow tie, the glasses, the goatee.”

One of the most intriguing pieces could be a personal 1964 planner with a handwritten herbs and spices recipe that was later the subject of an early 2000s lawsuit filed by the KFC Corp. to keep the contents private. KFC

later dropped the legal action, saying after reviewing the planner the ingredients didn’t match Sanders’ secret blend of 11 herbs and spices and was likely for a stuffing recipe.

“What a keepsake,” Menish said.

The current high bid Tuesday was for a 1955 certificate naming Sanders as an honorary Kentucky Colonel that is fetching $7,500 so far.

One of Sanders’ signature black bow ties is also up for auction. The highest online bid for the tie was more than $4,000 on Tuesday.

Auctioneer Jonathan Klunk said there’s a little-known secret behind the bow tie.

“Not a lot of people know; he did wear clipons.”

Minnesota’s ban of prediction markets halted in federal court

BY MARC LEVY Associated Press

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A federal judge has temporarily blocked Minnesota’s first-in-the-nation law banning prediction markets just days before it was to take effect, the latest clash between President Donald Trump’s administration and states over who regulates operators such as Kalshi and Polymarket.

Monday’s decision is the latest setback for states trying to outlaw or regulate fast-growing prediction market platforms.

U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez in Minnesota found that the U.S. Commodity Futures Trad-

ing Commission, Kalshi and Polymarket were likely to succeed in their challenge to the law and that letting it take effect would cause “irreparable harm” to the operators.

The law was scheduled to take effect Saturday.

It would have made it a crime to create or operate prediction markets or help administer nearly any activity connected to one. The law will remain blocked while the lawsuit proceeds.

Kalshi, Polymarket and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission want the law permanently blocked and argue that federal law gives the CFTC exclusive jurisdic-

tion to regulate the type of “eventcontract transactions” offered by Kalshi and Polymarket.

States argue that the vast majority of the business on prediction market platforms is sports betting, which they are empowered to regulate, and that is completely different from the commodities and futures contracts that the commission has historically regulated.

In a statement Tuesday, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said prediction markets are “gambling, plain and simple.”

“And Minnesota has every right to keep predatory gambling out of our communities,” Ellison said.

Neal Kumar, Polymarket’s chief

legal officer, said in a statement that the decision makes clear that prediction markets on commission-registered exchanges “are governed by federal law, not a patchwork of state rules.”

A Kalshi spokesperson, Elisabeth Diana, said in a statement that “states cannot ban things that they don’t have jurisdiction over.”

Menendez’s decision follows a declaration in February by Trump’s appointee atop the Commodity Futures Trading Commission that the agency “will no longer sit idly by” while states aim to regulate or ban prediction markets and “undermine the agency’s exclusive jurisdiction.”

Bordelon Jr., Curtis

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Obituaries Allen, Sheri Blackwood

Amanda Baggett, 36, of Prairieville, Louisiana, passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 12, 2026.

Amanda was a devoted wife, loving mother, cherished daughter,and friend, whose life was defined by compassion, kindness, selfless love. Amanda treasured her family and found joy in creating lasting memories. She leaves behind a legacy of faith, generosity, and unconditional love that will continue to inspire all who knew her.

Knighten, Randolph Sheri Blackwood Allen passed away peacefully on July 22, 2026. A funeral will be held on July 30, 2026 at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church starting at 11:00 AM. Visitation will be from 9:30-11:00 at the church.

Sheri will be deeply missed but her love and spirit will always be with us .

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Sibille and Georgette Mercedes Horaist Sibille; his sisters, Jacklyn Marie Sibille Landry and Georgette Mercedes Sibille Stevenson; and his grandson, David Warren Foster,

Jr. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Demoruelle Sibille; his son, Keith Sibille (Annie); his daughters, Karen Sibille (Bruce) and Wendy Hall (Bob); and his grandchildren, Alex Sibille, Elyse Sibille, Harrison Terrell (Alyssa LeBourgeois), Wyatt Sibille, Melaine Sibille, Robert Hall Jr, and Katherine Hall (Hunter Lambert).

Our family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Our House of Respite for the love and compassionate care of our Papa.

A service will be held on Thursday, July 30, 2026.

Visitation will be held at St. George Catholic Church at 10am with Mass of Christian burial at 11am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Alzheimer's Services of the Capital Area, www.alzbr.org.

Robert K. Sibille, 89, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on July 28, 2026.

Robert moved through life with remarkable warmth, patience, and compassion — a gentle soul whose kindness and understanding touched everyone fortunate enough

How to place an Obituary Notice EMAIL:

obits@theadvocate.com OR CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION:

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How to place a Memorial Ad An “In Memory Of” ad, is a way to pay tribute to your loved one. This remembrance is often printed on the anniversary of a loved one’s death. The deadline is two days prior to the day you want your ad to appear.

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

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

OUR VIEWS

Funding review for education can bear fruit if done right We agree with Gov. Jeff Landry and legislators that it’s time for the Minimum Foundation Program, the state’s primary method of delivering funding to school districts, to be reviewed.

Louisiana doles out MFP funds to local districts based on the number of students. MFP funding makes up about 40% of total education funding for most districts. Currently, the MFP pays a base of about $4,000 per student, a number that has risen only about $600 in the last two decades. If the allocation had kept pace with inflation, the MFP would now pay about $5,600 per pupil.

So we’re cautiously hopeful that a new task force, created this year by the Legislature initially as a way to find permanent funding for teacher raises, will chart a path forward. But we share the concerns of education advocates and others that its timeline is too compressed.

We urge members to take the time to do the job right.

What they are attempting is no small task. The 15 members of the task force — mostly legislators or their designees — are charged with creating a “revised or replacement formula” by Jan. 1, according to the resolution that formed it. Given that their first meeting will take place next month, that’s a very quick turnaround.

Other states that have conducted similar reviews in recent years, such as Tennessee and Texas, have taken longer and involved more people.

Nevertheless, we don’t think the short timeline makes the job impossible. The process can bear valuable fruit if legislators follow some simple maxims.

First, the group must focus on building on recent successes. For the last few years, Louisiana students have made impressive gains in the classroom, turning the state into an improbable success story among education wonks.

Those improvements have come on the back of a renewed focus on classroom instruction. Any change to the MFP must keep the teaching of students at its center.

Of course, that includes finding permanent funding for raises. Many of the gains should be credited to teachers, and they deserve more than the uncertainty that has characterized the last several years.

Second, the task force should not remove any options from the table. When Tennessee and Texas finished their reviews, they concluded that more funding was needed. Louisiana’s leaders should be open to similar conclusions. As mentioned above, the MFP has barely increased in two decades even as the demands on school systems have grown.

The task force must do all this while putting aside the temptation to pursue strictly political aims. Louisiana’s education formula can improve — for taxpayers, teachers and students — only if it is done without the partisan maneuvering that so often characterizes state government.

There are plenty of questions as the task force begins its work. But with the right priorities, we believe it can yield good results.

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YOUR VIEWS

AI may force Congress to adopt long-rejected solutions

Give states time to prepare for law that could cut food access Louisiana families should be able to sit down at the dinner table knowing there will be enough food tomorrow. Yet high grocery, housing and utility costs are making that increasingly difficult.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, helps more than 800,000 Louisiana residents afford groceries each month, including children, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and working families. At Feeding Louisiana and our five regional food banks, we see how SNAP helps families remain stable. SNAP also strengthens Louisiana’s economy. Benefits are spent at grocery stores, farmers markets and other food retailers, supporting local businesses, farmers and jobs.

A new federal law will require states, for the first time, to pay a portion of SNAP benefits based on administrative payment error rates. Louisiana could face an estimated annual cost of $184 million.

Louisiana has traditionally maintained a relatively low SNAP payment error rate. We recognize and appreciate that the Louisiana Department of Health is

working hard to improve the state’s current rate and ensure benefits are issued accurately.

Payment errors should be corrected, but they are not fraud. They often result from complicated rules, outdated technology, staffing challenges or paperwork mistakes. Imposing a major new cost before improvements are completed could force Louisiana to cut services or restrict SNAP access.

A two-year delay is the responsible solution. It would give Louisiana time to modernize systems, train staff, implement new requirements and improve accuracy without disrupting food assistance.

Feeding Louisiana urges Sens. Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy to support legislation delaying the SNAP cost shift for two years. Louisiana cannot balance its budget on the plates of working families. Congress should give our state time to strengthen SNAP while protecting the neighbors who depend on it.

The July 11 editorial by Ron Faucheux, “The next American revolution is already here,” speculating on future Democratic and Republican remedies to the rapidity of change being brought by AI, was very provocative.

He mentions such traditional Democratic solutions as Medicare for All, cash assistance for the disadvantaged, higher taxes on the rich and an array of free or subsidized social services.

Republicans and Congress itself may be forced into accepting such policies when faced with an economic crisis from the impacts of AI, which forces “the government to think and act differently.” Faucheux even mentions Elon Musk’s comment that universal basic income (UBI) may be needed as AI changes the work landscape.

As college economics students decades ago, we studied the economic remedies Faucheux mentions and are reminded of Thomas Paine’s quote in Common Sense: “A long habit of not thinking a thing is wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason.”

When it comes to our government’s economic response to AI in the workplace — however obstructive the GOP may be — time will convert all of us to the old/new ways of the solution.

PAT VAN BURKLEO executive director, Feeding Louisiana Baton Rouge

Believers called to rise above desire for revenge Those who quote “eye for an eye” from Old Testament passages as a justification for our modern system of execution seem to completely ignore the New Testament and Jesus, making specific reference to those ancient passages from the Jewish Torah that he had grown up with.

In the Sermon on the Mount, he provided a new gospel and new covenant for all to follow. He emphasizes love, forgiveness, mercy and nonretaliation, teaching that believers should rise above the natural desire for revenge and instead show love even to enemies.

In modern times, beyond religious values, we know that our justice system is flawed and we too often unjustly convict people and sentence them to death.

Bryan Stevenson’s work at the Equal Justice Initiative shows that for every nine convicts executed, one is exonerated. We get it wrong far too often. Even

once is too much.

The work of Sister Helen Prejean from Baton Rouge — who has lived a life of service starting as a schoolteacher and following Jesus’ call to help the poor, sick and incarcerated — is informative. She has spent decades as a spiritual adviser to convicts on death rows around the country as well as to families of victims, and she has come to believe that no person is beyond redemption even if they have to spend their lives in prison.

Her very insightful books, “Dead Man Walking” and more recently “River of Fire,” are well worth reading before advocating for vengeance and the death penalty. She rightly says, “no government is ever innocent enough or wise enough or just enough to lay claim to so absolute a power as death.”

TERRY VERIGAN KATHY HIGGINS Metairie

Looking forward to writer Jan Risher’s uplifting columns

BILL BRIGMAN Baton Rouge

Messi’s nod to winning team was a classy move Lionel Messi, the world-renowned soccer player from Argentina, played his heart out in the final World Cup game.

But his side lost.

In his statement to the press, Messi said, “I feel sad. They were better, to be honest.”

In the streetside language of my youth, what a class act! Wasn’t Messi’s loss statement better than what we usually hear now in our country: “We got screwed”?

I love reading Jan Risher’s column. It’s uplifting and informative.

I can’t wait to read it tomorrow.

SAM GALLO Baton Rouge

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COMMENTARY Exposing academia’s cluelessness It can’t have been fun for the anequivalent of turning an astronomy thropologists when their discipline department into an astrology departwas singled out as a hive of political ment.” groupthink. In fact, they got very When the interviewer pushes back on angry about the “Report on the State that last point, she tries to dodge and of Scholarship in the Humaniweave, but has no idea what an effective dodge would be. So we ties and the Humanistic Social end up watching an unintentionSciences,” commissioned by Vanderbilt and Washington al comedian take repeated pratUniversity in St. Louis. falls, such as suggesting that The 10 scholars who authored people who believe sex is binary the report, which was released maybe “want to kill babies that Megan ega in June, offered anthropology McArdle aren’t just XX presenting XX as an example of a field where or XY presenting XY,” and that “we see a widespread deterioteaching that sex is binary is ration in scholarly standards … togeth- as inappropriate in a classroom as deer with a toxic intellectual climate in bating the pros and cons of interning which reasonable dissent on politically Japanese people. Perhaps this sounds charged topics is routinely suppressed more coherent if you are fluent in Anand punished.” For instance: The thropologese, but to those outside the American Anthropological Association tribe? Woof. canceled a 2023 conference panel on It makes for painful reading, not just the relevance of biological sex to anbecause Rouse can’t seem to untangle her foot from her tonsils, but because thropology. she exemplifies some of the deepest Carolyn Rouse, the president of the problems with academia today.

American Anthropological AssociaRouse comes off as someone who tion, was not one to stay silent while has not talked to anyone outside of outsiders claimed that her field had abandoned rigorous argument in favor academia for a long, long time. That can’t actually be true, since she menof social justice orthodoxy. No, sir.

Instead, she opened her mouth and tions her extensive fieldwork in a rural proved it.

White community. This boast makes Her interview with the Chronicle of it even more disturbing that she is so Higher Education has to be read to be comically bad at communicating with believed. No, strike that, I’ve read it normal people. three times, and I am still struggling to Rouse had one job in that interview: convince myself that it’s real. to defend the integrity of her disci“They used AI,” said the Princeton pline. She botched that assignment anthropology professor, apparently un- because the only audience she cared about believes it has no reason to be aware that using artificial intelligence defensive. It is the latest in a long line to survey large bodies of text is an increasingly common method in many of such errors: the college presidents who fumbled their congressional hearsocial science fields. She rambled about a couple of passing references ing, the public health experts who isto Socrates as if this somehow discred- sued a get-out-of-lockdown-free pass ited the report. She asserted that teach- for George Floyd protests, and the ending there are two sexes would be “the less think pieces arguing that reform-

ers who are trying to rebuild trust are quislings handing academia’s enemies more ammunition.

This inward-focused culture was bred when a college diploma was a near-guaranteed ticket to a good job, and public faith in academia was high.

Academics didn’t have to cater to the public; the public had to cater to them.

Those days are over, though word does not yet seem to have reached the faculty lounge. Only 50% of Democrats now express much confidence in higher education. Independents are at 39%, Republicans at 23%. The most common reason given for distrusting academia is “political agenda,” closely followed by “cost” and the perception that degrees no longer prepare graduates for the workforce. Meanwhile, a demographic cliff is hitting enrollments.

Academics need to sell the public on the value of their project. Many people in academia do understand this, including the administrators who commissioned that report.

But many others are still clueless.

Even if they grasp, dimly, that something is seriously amiss, they do not understand what it will take to fix the problem.

They can get away with this in the classroom. They can play those lines for applause at disciplinary conferences.

But in the world outside, “experts say” no longer works. Academics spent years lending their institutional credibility to various political projects.

Now they are reputationally bankrupt.

If they don’t repair the damage and convince people to keep writing the checks, many institutions will eventually be financially bankrupt as well.

Megan McArdle is on X, @asymmetricinfo.

The case against confirming Todd Blanche What benefit of norms is owed to someone who disdains norms? There are many sufficient reasons to oppose confirming Todd Blanche as attorney general.

Presidents generally are owed some deference in selecting Cabinet memGeorge bers, but “some” implies Will limits, lest the Senate’s advice-and-consent duty be drained of responsibility. And not all presidents are equally owed. Today’s president is owed little, given his contempt for the unwritten rules of civility that can lubricate a congenial society’s governance.

Eight days after the 2024 election, Donald Trump set the tone of his second term by announcing his beau ideal of an attorney general: Rep. Matt Gaetz. This insult lasted eight days, until Gaetz withdrew as nominee. He had resigned from the House earlier, reportedly to prevent release of the House Ethics Committee’s report on his alleged drug use and sexual misconduct, which a woman said included sex with her twice when she was 17.

Trump settled for Pam Bondi as attorney general, with Blanche as her deputy. While Blanche was the Justice Department’s second-in-command, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, a Justice appendage, sought criminal indictments of six congressional Democrats, all with military or intelligence backgrounds. They had made a video.

Made while Trump’s administration was killing people on boats (in international waters) suspected of carrying drugs, the video said what the Uniform Code of Military Justice says: Do not obey illegal orders. A grand jury did something vanishingly rare in criminal cases. It refused to indict the six.

Blanche was acting attorney general when the Justice Department took seriously Seashellgate. His department secured a second indictment of former FBI director James B. Comey, this time for posting a photograph of shells arranged on a beach to read “86 47”; “86” is slang for “remove.” Trump is the 47th president. Blanche’s DOJ pretended to regard Comey’s infantile gesture as a prosecutable threat.

Republican senators now have demanded Blanche’s assurances that the proposed $1.776 billion slush fund, for compensating persons Trump designates as victims of Biden administration persecution, is dead. But this grift was incubated in Blanche’s DOJ.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MARIAM ZUHAIB

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche talks with reporters after attending a meeting related to survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Blanche, who serves at the pleasure Trump’s pardons of almost all the apof the president, signed a memo pledg- proximately 1,500 Jan. 6 rioters when, to a gathering of Trump supporters, ing that the IRS is “Forever Barred” from “examinations” of Trump, certain he praised the “generous” pardons as one of the administration’s accomplishmembers of his family, the Trump Organization and “related or affiliated in- ments.

If at most four Republican senators dividuals.” This “negotiated” — try not had, in committee or floor votes, beto snicker — settlement between the president and the executive branch he haved as independently as the Foundheads exemplifies the administration’s ers thought senators would, Bondi, sludge of self-dealing.

Kristi Noem, Tulsi Gabbard, Pete Trump sicced Blanche’s compliHegseth, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and others would not have been confirmed ant Justice Department on Federal to offices far above their competences.

Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell, osChildren probably have died of meatensibly about fictitious criminality in construction spending, actually to pres- sles, and of hepatitis B passed from mothers to infants, because of vaccine sure Powell to resign. With Blanche as hesitancy promoted by Kennedy, who deputy, then acting, attorney general, the Justice Department (per the Econo- lied when he promised not to indulge in such quackery if confirmed as Secremist) gave courts inaccurate information “nearly 100 times in Mr Trump’s tary of Health and Human Services. first 14 months.”

Now comes Blanche. He received In April, Blanche became acting this embarrassingly backhanded enattorney general when Trump fired dorsement (in the Wall Street Journal) Bondi. “Nobody has any idea why,” said from former attorney general William Blanche.

Barr: Blanche “will run the department Plausible reports said Trump conas effectively as anyone could under President Trump.” Is this sufficient sidered Bondi insufficiently aggresreassurance for Republican senators? sive about prosecuting his enemies.

Blanche has said, cloudily, that “some” Or will, at last, a nominee trigger their gag reflexes?

Justice Department prosecutions “inOnce, when someone noted that volve men, women, and entities” that Sen. Richard Russell, the Georgia Trump “has had issues with. … That is his right, and indeed it is his duty to do Democrat, had “served under” six presidents, Russell bristled, saying he that, meaning, to lead this country.” “served with” six. It will be a pleasant Blanche said it is “completely false” surprise if, concerning Blanche, a few that the president targets political enRepublican senators become similarly emies. Trump merely “wants justice.” sensitive about those prepositions.

Blanche said he was not “celebrating”

A congregation turns on the pastor of a S.C. church PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. — This peaceful coastal community has been swept by a tsunami of outrage after residents learned about allegations that a convicted sex offender was allowed to volunteer at a church that operates a daycare center and school.

The growing scandal and resulting criminal investigation led to the arrests of the registered Kathleen sex offender and three leadParker ers at Pawleys Island Community Church and Pawleys Island Christian Academy. The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office learned about the allegations in the case on July 12 after a parent found Warren Perry, 70, listed on a sex offender registry.

The parent told investigators that Perry was in close proximity to children at the church academy.

At a recent news conference, Georgetown County Sheriff Carter Weaver announced that investigators had arrested and brought criminal charges against Perry, whom the children called “Mr. Warren,” according to a lawsuit filed against the church and academy. Weaver said former pastor Don Williams and former academy director Jennifer Nicole “Niki” Howard were each charged with obstruction of justice, unlawfully placing a child at risk and criminal conspiracy. Ginny Williams, the pastor’s wife and former guest services director at the church, was charged with criminal conspiracy and obstruction of justice. The pastor, his wife and Howard had resigned from their positions days before their arrests.

Perry was charged with obstruction of justice and criminal conspiracy and is being held without bond.

Weaver said Perry was charged by the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office in August 2020 with two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. In November 2023, Perry was found guilty of one of those counts. He was placed on probation for five years with restrictions on contact with minors.

Details regarding whether Perry was an employee or a volunteer are murky, which is significant because state law requires background checks of anyone employed at a licensed childcare facility. Weaver said Perry became “employed” at the Pawleys Island church and academy in a maintenance position shortly after his arrest in 2020. The sheriff described Perry’s role as “what anybody would call employed.”

At the news conference, Weaver displayed two pictures that he said show Perry near children. One of the photos appears to show an adult washing Perry’s feet with children close by.

Other allegations make this story uniquely disturbing: According to a lawsuit, the church academy advertised an auction in which children who won would get to spend a day with one of two maintenance workers, including Perry. Seriously? A day with a sex offender? No wonder parents are on the warpath.

Four lawsuits, including a $25 million classaction complaint, have been filed against the church and its leaders.

At a community meeting Williams hosted at his church on July 15, the pastor insisted that Perry was never supposed to be alone with children and was closely supervised. Members of the packed audience responded that the pastor should be in jail, among other withering suggestions.

Williams’ feeble attempt to quell his congregation’s anger was almost comical as he read stiffly from a prepared statement while the crowd roared its disapproval. Their protests were so deafening that you could barely hear the words, but Williams kept reading, as though talking to himself, until the last page. Williams explained that only a core group knew about Perry’s background — staff, church leaders and he and his wife. When he talked about the decision not to share “sensitive information” about Perry with teachers and parents, the sanctuary erupted in fury.

I guess it’s up to parents to demand proof that all employees and volunteers have clean slates. To find out that a sex offender had access to children for so long was breathtaking and heartbreaking for parents. Williams tried to make the case that, as Christians, his flock should be willing to forgive Perry for his transgressions. This didn’t go over well.

Forgiveness is a lovely concept and fundamental to the Christian faith. I, too, believe in turning the other cheek most of the time, but some cases tax one’s principles more than others. I draw the line at children. The sexual predation of children is especially unforgivable given the disparity between a child’s innocence and the predator’s power. Children trust and look to adults to protect them. The shattering of that trust through sexual exploitation imposes lifelong consequences that warrant a strong sentence.

I like to think of forgiveness and justice as cellmates. Those who would knowingly and intentionally harm a child are best forgiven behind bars.

Kathleen Parker is on X, @kathleenparker.

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TO SEND US A LETTER, SCAN HERE

8B ■ Wednesday, July 29, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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TODAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

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MONDAY

A t-storm around in the p.m.

Humid; a stray p.m. t-storm

A t-storm around in the p.m.

Mostly cloudy

Some sun with a thunderstorm

A t-storm around in the a.m.

HIGH

LOW

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96° 78°

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93° 76°

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

Beaumont 95/77 Port Arthur 93/78

Baton Rouge 96/78

Lake Charles 95/78

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PRECIPITATION

94°/77° 92°/74° 95°/75° 100° in 1995 65° 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 97/80

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

0s

Hattiesburg 99/77

Alexandria 97/78

Lafayette 95/79

HIGH

93° 76°

Baton Rouge through 5 p.m. Tuesday

Jackson 98/76 Many 97/76

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90° 74°

TEMPERATURE

Longview 100/77

-0s

LOW

92° 77°

Monroe 98/78

Shreveport 99/78

-10s

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93° 77°

The heat continues to be our biggest issue this week, weatherwise.

In fact, another heat advisory has been issued for the Baton Rouge area because heat index or “feels-like” temperatures could rise to 110 or higher, while the actual temperatures are in the mid- to upper 90s. We are also under either a major or an extreme heat risk today, so heat illnesses are a real threat if you don’t take precautions. There’s a slight chance of rain today but a better chance of showers and thunderstorms tomorrow.

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

HIGH

8:36p 2:49p 6:42a 9:28a 10:14a 9:35a 11:22a

6:21 a.m.

8:01 p.m.

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LAST

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AUG 5

Hi

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0.7 7:42a -0.1 1.6 12:55a -0.2 1.7 8:40a 1.6 1.9 12:26a 0.1 1.4 9:16p 0.0 1.6 7:35p -0.1 1.7 10:18p 0.0

FT.

--- ----- --1:42p 1.7 --- ----- ----- ----- ---

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READING 62 MAIN POLLUTANT Particulates

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SOURCE: LOUISIANA DEQ AND AIRNOW.GOV

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--- ----- --8:57p -0.3 --- ----- ----- ----- ---

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

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11:50a 5:38a ---- 6:01p 12:14a 6:26a 12:37p 6:48p 1:03a 7:13a 1:24p 7:35p 1:51a 8:01a 2:12p 8:23p 2:39a 8:50a 3:00p 9:11p 3:28a 9:39a 3:50p 10:01p 4:17a 10:29a 4:41p 10:53p

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Los Angeles 87 Miami 94 Nashville 91 New york City 79 Philadelphia 83 Phoenix 110 St. Louis 87 San Francisco 71 Seattle 76

TODAY Lo

67 79 67 67 69 92 68 57 52

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89 95 90 75 81 115 89 72 76

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66 80 64 66 68 93 71 57 56

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

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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

TUE. 24-HOUR STAGE CHANGE

5.91 27.99 30.68 15.43 8.42 6.62 4.55

+0.10 -0.64 -1.28 -1.27 -0.89 -0.70 +0.06

40

21.21

-0.59

19

-1.48

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18 29 8

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13 15

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none -0.02

47 34 29 20 12 6

13.23 9.45 7.65 6.97 6.00 2.72

-1.00 -0.79 -0.59 -0.57 none -0.22

data as of 7 a.m. Tuesday

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

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1Cn

SAINTS TRAINING CAMP

OLD GUARD’S ROLE Loomis explains why Jordan, Kamara are crucial to meeting team’s expectations

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By MATTHEW HINTON

Georgia coach Kirby Smart speaks to quarterback Gunner Stockton before the Sugar Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal game against Ole Miss on Jan. 1 at the Caesars Superdome.

Sideline standings

After significant turnover, here is how SEC coaches stack up In my nearly 25 years as a columnist I’ve never done a

2. Lane Kiffin, LSU

ranking of Southeastern Conference football coaches. But considering new LSU coach Lane Kiffin is one of six SEC coaches in new venues this fall, I thought this was a good time to start. Most of

Scott Rabalais

these rankings are based on achievement, some on expectations, a couple on flipped coins (no, not really). Hardly a scientific quantification,

but rankings and opinions are the grease that lubricates the American sports engine — especially in the offseason.

Kiffin

ä See SAINTS, page 2C

3. Steve Sarkisian, Texas

So, to quote Jackie Gleason, “And away we go …”

1. Kirby Smart, Georgia Age: 50 Career record: 117-21 Hot seat rating (10 hottest, 0 coldest): 1 Smart’s Bulldogs have lost a little off their fastball since backto-back national titles in 2021-22, but Georgia is still the twotime reigning SEC champion and picked to win the SEC again.

In an ever more competitive league, Smart has maintained almost Saban-esque levels of success.

Age: 51 Career record: 116-53 Hot seat rating: 1 His early coaching career (Raiders, Tennessee, USC) was a minefield, but Kiffin was 81-32 combined at Florida Atlantic and Ole Miss.

Hard to believe he has the second-most wins of any active Southeastern Conference coach, but it’s true. Kiffin said he will win a national championship at LSU. He has all the tools to do it.

To be the team the New Orleans Saints want to be in 2026, general manager Mickey Loomis is counting on the black and gold’s young foundation to take a leap. The executive wasn’t shy about rattling off examples, either.

The Saints want to see cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry make yet another jump after being pleased by his growth from Year 1 to Year 2, Loomis said. New Orleans also wants the cornerback across from McKinstry, Quincy Riley, to build on a promising rookie year. Loomis didn’t even have to mention Tyler Shough as the quarterback’s importance should go without saying.

But for the Saints to finally snap a five-year playoff drought, Loomis concluded they still need running back Alvin Kamara and defensive end Cam Jordan, too.

“They have the opportunity to continue their career with the Saints and only the Saints,” Loomis said. “I think that’s really special, and it’s meaningful to them and meaningful to us.”

Another training camp is here as players reported to the Saints’ facility Tuesday in advance of Wednesday’s first practice. New Orleans begins camp this year with relatively high expectations after last season’s strong finish and optimism around Shough.

Just as notable, the Saints will start camp without any major drama. While questions over Kamara’s future had lingered throughout the offseason, he and New Orleans seemingly resolved that issue earlier this month by agreeing to a pay cut that will keep the Saints’ all-time leading rusher on the roster. That deal came a month after the Saints brought back Jordan, the franchise’s all-time sacks leader, on a

Sarkisian

Age: 52 Career record: 94-55 Hot seat rating: 3 Sark is 35-8 the past three seasons in Austin, but the overall record (48-20) doesn’t overwhelm. I also can’t get past how the Longhorns plodded through much of last season (10-3) offensively, missing the CFP despite lofty expectations. There are no excuses this season for Texas.

ä See RABALAIS, page 4C

STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis speaks about training camp during a news conference on Tuesday at the team’s practice facility in Metairie. The Saints are trying to end a five-year playoff drought.

Many NFL teams enter camp without QB settled

BY DAVE CAMPBELL AP pro football writer

EAGAN, Minn. — The quarterback position took even more heat — and hits — than usual last season around the NFL. Ill-timed injuries to Daniel Jones, Patrick Mahomes and Bo Nix left their teams in the lurch.

Joe Burrow, Jayden Daniels and Lamar Jackson had trouble staying healthy.

Others once trained as franchise players were either sidetracked or discarded, as J.J. McCarthy, Kyler Murray, Michael Penix and Tua Tagovailoa found themselves on insecure ground.

Training camps always present a fresh start. Jones, Mahomes ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By SUE OGROCKI and Nix have been cleared for full Cleveland Browns quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders, left, and Deshaun activity, stabilizing or energizing the huddle in Indianapolis, KanWatson throw during practice Tuesday in Berea, Ohio.

the connection to the perpetually shuffling depth chart at quarterback, with 42 different starters over those 27 years.

The latest was Shedeur Sanders, who fell to the Browns in the fifth round of the 2025 draft after they’d selected Dillon Gabriel in the third round. Sanders is now competing for the job with Deshaun Watson, the fallen star whose health problems and off-the-field trouble have limited him to just 19 games over the last five seasons.

Watson last played on Oct. 20, 2024, before an Achilles tendon rupture kept him sidelined in 2025. Rookie coach Todd Monken Browns had hoped to name a starter by Since Cleveland got its NFL the start of training camp, but the team back in 1999, the Browns competition will last at least a few have made the playoffs just three more weeks. times — and won only one postä See QB, page 3C season game. There’s no arguing sas City and Denver. Cincinnati, Washington and Baltimore are plenty happy to turn anew to Burrow, Daniels and Jackson. Murray (Minnesota) and Tagovailoa (Atlanta) flew to new places for welcomed scenery changes.

After all 32 reset buttons have been pushed, a handful of teams have reported with varying levels of intrigue and scrutiny surrounding the most important position on the field. Here’s a closer look at the camps where there’s either a legitimate competition for the season-opening starter or a measure of uncertainty:

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Vikings sign veteran Adams to bolster defense

EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings signed 10th-year veteran Jamal Adams to bolster their depth at the beginning of training camp on Tuesday, adding a safetyturned-linebacker with pass-rushing skill for defensive coordinator Brian Flores to work with.

Adams, a former LSU player, was the sixth overall pick in the 2017 draft, made three Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro in 2019 with the New York Jets. He has been an excellent blitzer who set the NFL season record for sacks by a defensive back (91/ 2) in 2020 after being traded to the Seattle Seahawks. Injuries have derailed him since then, with Minnesota becoming his fifth team in four years. Adams severely tore his quadriceps in the 2022 season opener in Seattle.

Eagles set to make Carter highest-paid DT in NFL

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Saints wide receiver Chris Olave, left, scores a touchdown against New york Jets safety Dean Clark during a game at the Caesars Superdome on Dec. 21.

Saints, Olave still eyeing extension

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

The last major domino of the New Orleans Saints’ offseason has yet to fall, but it doesn’t mean there isn’t work being done behind the scenes.

Unless something changes quickly, Chris Olave will show up for his fifth training camp Wednesday Saints entering the final notebook year of his rookie contract. General manager Mickey Loomis said both the organization and Olave’s representatives are continuing to have talks about a long-term deal that will keep Olave in New Orleans.

“We’re having a lot of discussions,” Loomis said. “We’re just not there yet. We’re hopeful.”

Olave is coming off the best season of his professional career, posting career-highs in receptions (100), receiving yards (1,163) and receiving touchdowns (nine) on his way to second-team All-Pro honors.

Perhaps most importantly, he matched his career-high in games played (16) after missing nine games in 2024 with a series of concussions that forced Olave to consider an early retirement.

He did suffer a blood clot that forced him out of the lineup for the Saints’ Week 18 loss to Atlanta, but after missing some of the summer program, Olave has been cleared for training camp, Loomis said.

The injury history is a “variable” in contract discussions, Loo-

“I think we’ll see him play football tomorrow,” coach Kellen Moore said.

Tyson endured several injuries throughout his college career at Colorado and Arizona State, the latest being a hamstring injury that limited him to nine games in 2025. That injury lingered through the pre-draft process, and Loomis said Tuesday that Tyson suffered a “recurrence” of the injury before the Saints selected him.

He participated in the first day of rookie minicamp but was then held out of team drills for the remainder of the summer.

While Moore didn’t explicitly say Tyson would go through competitive periods this week, he did say Tyson has “done an awesome job through this whole process” and that he would ramp up with the rest of his teammates toward the first padded practice on Aug. 3.

Saints director of sports science Ted Rath has devised much of the plan for Tyson to this point, giving the team signals for when to push the rookie and when to back off.

“One thing I’ve discovered in the last season was Ted Rath knows his stuff,” Loomis said. “So we’re Rookie ready to go going to rely on him and (direcJordyn Tyson spent most of the off- tor of sports medicine Ben Stollberg season program watching from and head athletic trainer Shone Gipthe sidelines, but it sounds like son) in terms of managing (Tyson) that is about to change. through this early part of training The Saints still will monitor camp.”

Tyson closely and manage his workload in training camp, but he Transaction will be out there playing with the The Saints made one roster rest of his teammates when camp move Tuesday, signing cornerback opens Wednesday.

Mike Reid and waiving Beanie Bishop.

mis said, but it hasn’t changed the Saints’ desire to get a new contract in place for the young receiver.

“We want to get it done,” Loomis said. “Chris and his agents, Jason and Drew Rosenhaus, I know they want to get it done. We all do, but it’s got to be right for both parties.”

New Orleans could be motivated to get something done before the start of the season so it doesn’t have to keep seeing the bar set higher by new receiver contracts.

Olave’s college teammate, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, signed the richest contract ever for a receiver in the offseason (four years, $168 million). Eleven receivers currently make more than $30 million annually, and that doesn’t include Rams wideout Puka Nacua, who could surpass Smith-Njigba’s contract when he signs.

The Saints are also motivated because they see Olave as a foundational piece.

“Chris has been as enthusiastic and optimistic as anyone,” Loomis said. “So I really appreciate the way he’s conducted himself. And that’s not just this year; it’s every year with Chris.”

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C one-year deal.

The lack of distractions should pave the way for coach Kellen Moore and his staff to focus on fostering the development required for the Saints to take that envisioned leap.

“Anytime there’s definition, it allows us to build plans,” Moore said of the clarity from having the situations addressed. “It’s the NFL — there are always a million moving pieces. That’s just inevitable. These rosters are always moving, but Cam, Alvin, they’re really talented players and they mean a lot to this organization.”

Those pieces, as Moore said, continue to move. The Saints have yet to reach a long-term extension with star wide receiver Chris Olave. Rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson’s workload is expected to be carefully managed after he was limited by a monthslong hamstring injury. There will be other issues that pop up between now and the regular season.

STAFF AND AP FILE PHOTOS

Saints running back Alvin Kamara, top, and defensive end Cam Jordan, right, give the Saints veteran leadership going into the season.

But Moore and Loomis gladly will embrace the expectations, with each acknowledging they’d rather there be a positive outlook than a negative one. The latter was the case a year ago when the Saints were routinely projected to be the league’s worst team during Moore’s first season.

New Orleans, even at 6-11, defied those projections and has since become a trendy pick to be one of the NFL’s most improved teams.

Colin Cowherd of Fox Sports

said he believes the Saints will be a “nine-to-10-win” team. ESPN’s Mina Kimes has been bullish on Shough, particularly believing in his connection with Olave and Tyson. And the Saints often have been mentioned as a team that could go from “worst to first,” experiencing the kind of turnaround that has become common in the league.

“We like expectations,” Loomis said. “I want our guys, and I want us to have expectations that we want to meet. But we can’t let the

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Reid signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent last season. He spent the campaign with both the Panthers and Seahawks practice squads, then re-signed with Carolina this offseason before his recent release.

Bishop joined the Saints midway through last season after the Steelers cut him. He was facing an NFL suspension to start the season after the league found he violated its policy on substance abuse.

Injury updates Loomis said Tuesday afternoon that the team was placing receiver Mason Tipton and defensive lineman Keeshawn Silver on the physically unable to perform list (PUP), while rookie defensive tackle Zxavian Harris will begin camp on the nonfootball injury list dating back to a college injury. Loomis also said rookie tight end Cody Hardy failed the conditioning test, which will keep him off the field.

Loomis said none of those players are likely to miss significant time.

Players who begin camp on the active PUP list are eligible to return at any time, and they continue to count against the 90-man roster limit.

Notably, this group does not include running back Kendre Miller, who is aiming to return from a torn ACL that prematurely ended his 2025 season after eight games.

Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com.

expectations interfere with the process. We’ve got a lot of guys that we’re optimistic about. But they still have to perform. They have to get better.

“And our coaches and myself, all of our building, we have to create an environment where they can get better and help them to do that.”

That environment also explains why the Saints wanted Kamara and Jordan to stick around. Loomis pointed to each of their resumes, noting they have a “positive influence” on the roster.

Loomis also said they can still contribute on the field — even if that could be in reduced roles.

Jordan, despite coming off a 101/ 2sack season, will have to carve out time in a rotation.

Kamara likely will see fewer snaps because of Travis Etienne’s signing. Loomis said he talked with both players about expectations before their deals were reached.

“These guys have a lot left in the tank,” Loomis said.

“It’s up to us to put them in positions that we can take advantage of that.”

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Eagles are set to make two-time Pro Bowl selection Jalen Carter the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The Eagles and Carter announced that they agreed to terms on a fouryear extension through the 2031 season.

Carter was runner-up for the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2023 to Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson. He has 13½ sacks in 43 career games — he missed three games last season with injuries.

Carter earned Pro Bowl selections for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

The Eagles have re-signed two of their top young defensive tackles this offseason, including Jordan Davis.

49ers coach Shanahan takes blame for car crash

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan took the blame for the car crash that left him with a concussion and other injuries, saying he took his eyes off the road to reach for his fallen cellphone before hitting another vehicle.

Shanahan crashed into a 21-yearold woman driving in the other direction in Palo Alto on July 14 and was left with a concussion, broken ribs, a broken nose, a broken left hand and stitches for a large cut above his right eye. Shanahan was briefly hospitalized after the crash while the other driver suffered minor injuries and did not need to be hospitalized.

Shanahan has been unable to run the team or practice since training camp started on Saturday.

Forward Green signs 1-year extension with Warriors

SAN FRANCISCO — Draymond Green has agreed to a one-year, $27.7 million deal to return to the Golden State Warriors, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Green will sign the contract that essentially matches the deal he opted out of last month before the Warriors made an unsuccessful bid to sign LeBron James, the person said.

Green is now set to play his 15th season with the Warriors and if he plays in 51 games he will join Stephen Curry as the only players in franchise history to appear in at least 1,000 contests.

Golden State last won the title in 2022 and hasn’t made it past the second round of the playoffs since then.

Zidane takes charge of French national team

PARIS — Moments after being announced as France’s new coach on Tuesday, Zinedine Zidane clenched his fists and his usually measured voice trembled a little.

“I’m excited,” he said. “The France team makes you dream. We have extraordinary players, an extraordinary team.”

Zidane coached Real Madrid until leaving in 2021. He replaces Didier Deschamps at the helm of the France team he led to glory as arguably its greatest ever player.

French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo announced Zidane’s appointment at the FFF headquarters in Paris on Tuesday, saying he has been given a 4-year contract.

Diallo called the hiring of Zidane “an exceptional moment,” calling Zidane “one of the legends of French soccer.”

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NFL Rodgers says ‘zero debate’ this is his last NFL season

BY WILL GRAVES AP sportswriter

LATROBE, Pa. — Aaron Rodgers said there’s “zero debate” whether this season will be his last.

The future Hall of Fame quarterback’s status beyond 2026 is seemingly one of the few certainties for the Pittsburgh Steelers, where the only thing Rodgers familiar about their annual pilgrimage to Saint Vincent College for training camp might be the venue.

Having a new head coach for the first time in a generation will do that.

While native son Mike McCarthy’s Pittsburgh roots run deep, he also brings a career full of experiences built coaching elsewhere to a franchise that has done certain things a certain way for a long, long time.

The quaint spectacle of players being swarmed by cameras and microphones as they lugged their bags and personal items into Rooney Hall is no more.

Most of the roster arrived quietly late Monday. Nearly all of them were on the field for a post-breakfast condi-

tioning test on Tuesday, a glorified jog that was typically done in the late afternoon during former coach Mike Tomlin’s 19-year run.

No wonder linebacker T.J. Watt likened the beginning of his 10th year in the NFL to the first day of school.

“There’s just a lot of unknown,” he said.

The next three weeks in the western Pennsylvania hills are a feeling-out process of sorts for players and coaches alike. Watt insists he is embracing the new.

Good thing, because there’s plenty to go around.

The afternoon practices in the midsummer heat that Tomlin leaned into now will be held earlier in the day.

Team meetings will start at 7:30 a.m., with all practices scheduled to wrap up by 1:30 p.m. at the latest, around the same time Tomlin’s practices usually began.

McCarthy said he’d be fine with practicing right after breakfast if he could. And tackling? Well, that’s mostly out, too.

“You try to reduce risk,” said McCarthy, who said the emphasis will be on making sure players correctly do all the fundamental things required for good tackling form — like footwork — so they’ll be ready when the games count.

Still, McCarthy is well

aware that trying to prevent all injuries is a fool’s errand.

If he needed a reminder, he got one when veteran defensive back Jalen Ramsey tweaked a knee during minicamp, a setback that landed him on the physically unable to perform list, though McCarthy stressed the move was precautionary and that Ramsey is expected back in a couple of weeks.

A little more uncertain is the status of cornerback Joey Porter Jr. The club placed him on the PUP list on Tuesday but offered no details. The timing comes with Porter angling for a new contract as he enters the final year of the rookie deal he signed in 2023 after Pittsburgh selected him with the first pick of the second round.

Porter held himself out of certain team drills during minicamp in June in an effort to protect his health, saying at the time that he feels like he’s one of the elite players at his position in the league.

The one person general manager Omar Khan won’t have to worry about negotiating with anymore is Rodgers. The four-time MVP said when he signed a one-year deal in May to return to Pittsburgh after leading the Steelers to an AFC North title last season that “this is it.”

Cousins opens camp atop Raiders’ QB depth chart

BY MARK ANDERSON AP sportswriter

HENDERSON, Nev. — As Klint Kubiak oversees his first training camp as a head coach, he is faced with the daunting task of figuring out how to juggle going with Kirk Cousins as the starting quarterback — for now — while getting the most out of overall No. 1 draft pick Fernando Mendoza.

Kubiak made clear Tuesday that when the Las Vegas Raiders take the field early Wednesday for their first training camp practice that Cousins will run the firstteam offense.

But there also will be plenty of focus on Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner who led Indiana to the national championship

QB

Continued from page 1C

Falcons Atlanta had a big hand in the offseason quarterback carousel, cutting Kirk Cousins to clear salary-cap space after two unfulfilling seasons and signing Tagovailoa after Miami dumped him and ate a record $99 million in dead money against the cap.

Cousins’ status immediately got complicated when the Falcons drafted Penix eighth overall in 2024, and the situation grew murkier last year when Penix tore the ACL in his left knee.

Penix had not yet been cleared for full-team work when the Falcons were last on the field at minicamp, so health and experience make Tagovailoa the front-runner for the job, though new coach Kevin Stefanski has declared this an open competition.

Vikings McCarthy struggled with consistency and injuries that further hindered his opportunities to learn and improve in his debut with the Vikings last season, so

last season. Mendoza operated the third-team offense in offseason practices behind Cousins and Aidan O’Connell, so the Raiders initially eased him into the lineup.

Now it comes down to performance.

“It’s important for me to be fair to the players and to put the best player out there,” Kubiak said.

“When we go out to practice tomorrow, Kirk Cousins is the starting quarterback. He’s the guy, and he’s going to get a ton of reps. He deserves them because he has played really good football, but I want Fernando and I want Aidan to push him.”

Kubiak and his coaches enter camp with a plan for how to navigate the quarterback

competition early, but they are ready to make adjustments depending on how it plays out.

“We have a starting point on where those reps want to be for the guys,” Kubiak said. “We’re really thoughtful about how many reps each guy’s getting up against what defense. There’s going to be times where it moves and certain guys are with the twos, certain guys are with the threes. We’ll get the second guy with the ones. We have an early-on plan, but it’s always a moving target.”

Kubiak had said he expected star pass rusher Maxx Crosby, who underwent knee surgery in January, to be ready to go once camp begins. That is indeed the case.

the club reopened the search this year and found Murray available for the veteran’s minimum salary.

The Vikings have not given up on McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in the 2024 draft, and they’ll split turns with the first-team offense at least for the early stage of training camp. But if Murray is healthy, after spraining his foot last season and missing time between 202223 to recover from knee surgery, he’s the clear favorite.

since a four-season stint with Indianapolis. He was the starter for the Colts in 2017 and 2019.

Minshew, who’s on his sixth team in eight years in the league, was the primary starter for the Colts in 2023 after replacing then-rookie Anthony Richardson.

Cardinals After moving on from Murray, the Cardinals landed on this short list of quarterback uncertainty — until satisfying veteran frontrunner Jacoby Brissett with a new contract and formalizing his place atop the depth chart on Sunday. Fellow journeyman Gardner Minshew and third-round draft pick Carson Beck are waiting behind him in case a significant injury or costly interceptions were to give new coach Mike LaFleur pause at some point this season.

Brissett, who’s in his 11th year in the NFL, started 12 games last season after Murray’s injury. After switching teams five times in five years, Brissett has stayed put for the first time

Raiders The best long-term outlook of the group clearly belongs to Las Vegas after taking Heisman Trophy and national championship winner Fernando Mendoza with the first pick in the draft. The Raiders under new head coach Klint Kubiak also brought in a sturdy bridge to that bright future by signing Cousins to help ease the rookie in.

Cousins is on top of the depth chart to start camp and the favorite to lead the Las Vegas offense in the opener, which would stop a streak of six straight quarterbacks drafted No. 1 overall starting their season opener — following Cam Ward, Caleb Williams, Bryce Young, Trevor Lawrence, Joe Burrow and Murray. Baker Mayfield in 2018 with the Browns was the last quarterback who didn’t start his first game as the first overall pick.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By PHELAN M. EBENHACK

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas sets up for a play against the Seattle Seahawks during a game on Oct. 12 in Jacksonville, Fla.

Jaguars WR Thomas wants to be ‘undeniable’ Ex-LSU star struggled during second NFL season

BY MARK LONG

AP pro football writer JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — No one in Jacksonville made more plays and turned more heads this offseason than receiver Brian Thomas.

The third-year pro out of LSU caught every pass thrown his way during organized team activities and minicamp. It was an encouraging sight for a franchise hoping Thomas can become a No. 1 receiver in 2026 — and for years to come.

“It’s just another step,” Thomas said last month.

“It’s just a big step in where I’m trying to go and where I’m headed.”

Nonetheless, Thomas still has plenty to prove as training camp opens Wednesday. He needs to show he can catch passes in traffic and over the middle, reversing a troubling trend from last season.

Thomas had 48 receptions on 91 targets, catching just 47.3% of the balls thrown his way. He tied for second in the NFL with 10 drops and had several more in which he short-armed attempts or stopped running.

He even ducked while going for one pass in the end zone.

He made plays, too, but finished with 707 yards and two touchdowns a year after hauling in 87 passes for 1,282 yards and 10 TDs while making the Pro Bowl as a rookie.

No one, not even Thomas, could figure out exactly why he seemed off all season. The death of his former college teammate, Kyren Lacy, in April 2025 weighed on his mind. And the mounting drops definitely affected his confidence.

“It was just really a lack of concentration, not being focused on the task at hand,” Thomas said. “I don’t really try to make excuses.

Even with all the off-field stuff that’s went on — had a rough last offseason — but I just got to focus on the task at hand, lock in and go out there and do my job.”

He was able to get a “mental reset” after a season-ending loss to Buffalo in the playoffs and credited his father with helping him regroup in February and March.

“We heard everything that was going on, all that, but he just told me, ‘Come out here and be undeniable,’ ” Thomas said. “That’s just something I live by every day. I want to be undeniable.”

The 23rd pick in the 2024 NFL Draft was undeniably

the best Jaguars receiver in offseason drills. He constantly made big plays down the field and looked more like he did as a sensational rookie than a struggling second-year pro.

“When it all the way clicks for him, I really don’t see how you stop him,” fellow Jaguars receiver Jakobi Meyers said. “But good luck to whoever is trying.”

The Jaguars believe they have one of their deepest receiving corps in years, especially if Thomas returns to form. They acquired Meyers at the trade deadline last year, watched Parker Washington emerge as Trevor Lawrence’s top target down the stretch and have two-way standout Travis Hunter returning from a season-ending knee injury.

Thomas, though, could be the most important guy in the position group.

“It’s hard to not hear everything,” coach Liam Coen said. “For him, I know there were standards in which he wanted to improve upon.

“I’ve been very pleased with the way that he has attacked this offseason. He’s come out here and worked his (butt) off, having a great attitude and then making plays. That is something that you cannot simulate in routes on air. You cannot simulate that type of confidence until you do it in practice.”

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Ole Miss sues LSU players, claims contract breach

BY JON BLAU Staff writer

Ole Miss is seeking nearly $1 million combined from LSU football players Princewill Umanmielen and Devin Harper for breach of contract.

The Clarion-Ledger obtained a copy of complaints filed by Ole Miss in Lafayette County, Mississippi, on Monday, which state that Umanmielen and Harper signed revenue-sharing agreements with the school before entering the

transfer portal in January.

Umanmielen, the Rebels’ sacks leader in 2025, inked a new deal with Ole Miss at 10:02 p.m. on Jan. 3, according to the university, and Harper, a sophomore offensive lineman, signed his at 8:19 a.m. on Jan. 6.

Harper entered the transfer portal on Jan. 12. Umanmielen entered on Jan. 15, just one day before it closed. Both chose LSU, which is where their head coach, Lane Kiffin, ended up after six seasons with the Rebels.

The players’ agreements, according to Ole Miss’ legal filing, contained penalties for breaching their contracts within a 90-day early-termination window.

Ole Miss is seeking a penalty of $550,000 from Umanmielen and $400,000 from Harper, plus reimbursement for legal fees.

In a statement released Tuesday, Ole Miss said it contacted LSU requesting payment on each player’s behalf on March 12. LSU denied Ole Miss’ request on March 18, according to Ole Miss, because

LSU said it was not a party to the contract.

A spokesman for LSU declined to comment.

Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter said earlier this month that the university was considering taking legal action against Umanmielen and Harper if payment wasn’t received.

“Those are the kind that, having signed a brand-new rev-share contract basically a week or two before wanting to leave, put you in a bind, especially there in the por-

RABALAIS

Continued from page 1C

4. Kalen DeBoer, Alabama Age: 51 Career record: 57-17 Hot seat rating: 4 DeBoer in two years got Bama to the SEC championship game and the CFP. But the fear factor with Alabama football is DeBoer gone. That 38-3 thumping by Indiana in the CFP quarterfinals looms large.

He got a contract extension in April, but that won’t mean much if Alabama stumbles.

5. Mike Elko, Texas A&M

STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK

Carlos Sample coaches Scotlandville against Port Allen on Jan. 21, 2023, at Scotlandville High School.

Back in the game

Prolific winner Sample named BRCC men’s basketball coach

BY CHARLES SALZER Contributing writer

The speed of the hire spoke volumes.

Only two weeks after Baton Rouge Community College announced that former men’s basketball coach Byron Starks was leaving to move closer to family in Lafayette, the Bears named Carlos Sample as their new coach.

What appeared to be a period of uncertainty for the program quickly turned into an optimistic buzz. The BRCC program found its man, and it wasted no time reeling him in.

“I saw the opening when coach Starks left to move closer to home,” Sample said. “I contemplated and thought about it, and it kind of hit me that I should talk to them and apply. We got a dialogue going, and here I am back in the saddle.”

Sample joins BRCC three years after he stepped away from a Scotlandville High program he had built into a powerhouse. It was a 16-season run that included 14 consecutive state title game appear-

ances and eight championships.

Sample grew up in Baton Rouge, and he eventually moved on to a collegiate career earning allSouthwestern Athletic Conference honors twice under legendary Southern coach Ben Jobe. It’s all part of a Baton Rouge heritage that made the BRCC opening too appealing for Sample to pass up.

“This is my hometown,” Sample said. “I grew up here, and Baton Rouge made me. It just felt right because there’s no place like home.”

Sample inherits a team that competes in the Louisiana Community Colleges Athletic Conference, a league of NJCAA Division I schools. The Bears were 14-15 last season, 3-3 in conference play and went 1-1 in the NJCAA tournament. Sample will have about two months to flesh out his roster before the start of the season.

Among the Bears’ top performers last season were guard Amir Abdul-Rauf, who was the team’s best 3-point shooter while averaging 10.1 points, and point guard Noah Whitehead, who scored 8.8 points per outing. Sample will

need to re-recruit the players to keep them around for the coming season.

“There was a lot of turnover after coach Starks left,” Sample said.

“There are some kids that came in last year, but I’m still trying to figure out the roster. Right now, I’m just taking the John Calipari approach. I’m going to play dogs, and I don’t make side deals. I’m going to play the guys who’ll give it to me. If they’re not dogs, they won’t play. It’s just that simple.”

At Scotlandville, Sample was known for running his program similar to that of a college-level team. There are adjustments he will need to make, including one for a shot clock that doesn’t exist in high school games, but the level of his sustained success gives Sample confidence.

“I think I was born to play basketball, and I think I had a great career,” Sample said. “Now, being able to coach and teach kids, to do my thing, I think it’s my calling.

One of my church pastors told me, ‘Don’t sleep on your gift,’ so I’m trying to get back out and use my gift.”

Rangers in good position as only winning AL West team

BY STEPHEN HAWKINS AP baseball writer

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers have put themselves in a good position in the AL West just by having a winning record.

Entering play on Tuesday, Texas (54-52) was the only team in the division not under .500 with about one-third of the regular season remaining. The Rangers have a two-game lead over in-state nemesis Houston (53-55) and are 21/ 2 games in front of reigning division champion Seattle (52-55) after taking three of four against the Mariners.

“Every win matters, but I think the ones right before the deadline, there’s always a little more stress ... especially in a situation where you could go either way,” said Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson, who homered twice

in the series-ending 7-3 win over Seattle on Monday. “But I think we put ourselves in a good spot, and we’ve got to continue to play like that.”

The Mariners, who last year won their first AL West title since 2001, have lost 11 of 16 games.

They led for only three innings during the four games in Texas, all after a four-run seventh inning Sunday on the way to a 6-4 win, the first time in 46 games this season the Rangers lost when leading after six.

“I think we looked at the series as if we split it, it was a failure, with where the AL West is and the AL wild card is,” Texas first baseman Jake Burger said. “I think we showed what type of team we can be.”

The Rangers won their only World Series title in 2023 after getting into the playoffs as a wild

card, but they last won the West in 2016. They missed the playoffs the past two seasons, when only the AL West champion made the postseason — which could very well happen again this year.

Houston (53-55) won seven of the previous eight AL West titles before last season. The Astros had been in third place for a month before a four-run rally in the ninth inning Monday night gave them their sixth win in seven games, 6-4 over the last-place Los Angeles Angels in the opener of a three-game series.

Texas already has clinched its season series — and potential tiebreaker — against the Mariners, up 7-3 with a three-game series left at Seattle in early September. The Mariners still have five games to play against Houston, but they have that season series in hand by a 7-1 margin.

Age: 49 Career record: 35-16 overall Hot seat rating: 2 When the Aggies routed LSU 49-25 in October, they looked like the nation’s best team. Then came November, rallying to beat South CaroElko lina 31-30 after a 30-3 halftime deficit, a 27-17 loss at Texas and 10-3 home loss to Miami in the CFP. Elko faces promise and peril going forward.

6. Clark Lea, Vanderbilt Age: 44 Career record: 26-36 Hot seat rating: 0 Few SEC coaches have seen their credibility make a bigger one-year leap than Lea last season. If Vandy was TexLea as, the 10-2 Commodores would have been in the CFP. Lea’s job is safer than safe, but the question remains: Can he keep winning without quarterback Diego Pavia?

7. Brent Venables, Oklahoma Age: 55 Career record: 32-20 Hot seat rating: 3 Venables guided the Sooners to the CFP after two 6-7 seasons in his first three in Norman.

Venables turned the temperature Venables way down, but with quarterback John Mateer returning and a stellar defense, there are no excuses for another downturn in 2026.

8. Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri Age: 43 Career record: 58-30 overall Hot seat rating: 3 Drinkwitz has made Mizzou a consistent winner. That said, Drink is 0-16 against SEC teams with winning records, Drinkwitz and his record has gone from 11-2 in 2023 to 10-3 to 8-5. Missouri fans don’t expect national titles, but they may tire of just being pretty good.

9. Pete Golding, Ole Miss Age: 42 Career record: 2-1

Hot seat rating: 1 The Hammond native went 2-1 in the College Football Playoff, but was that becaue of post-Kiffin momentum or Golding his handiwork?

Golding must prove he can run a program 24/7, 365 days. His hot seat rating goes up enormously if he doesn’t beat You-Know-Who on Sept. 19 in Oxford, Mississippi.

tal cycle,” Carter told the ClarionLedger in a July 13 article. “Those two, we’re going to continue to figure out how to collect. We feel like based on the contract, we deserve to collect.”

Two weeks later, the school followed through by filing lawsuits against each player.

Ole Miss said in its statement that it has a “responsibility to enforce its contractual terms” and that it attempted to “amicably” resolve the matter prior to filing its lawsuits.

10. Jon Sumrall, Florida Age: 44 Career record: 43-12 Hot seat rating: 1 Sumrall won at Tulane and Troy in brief two-year bursts. It’s not his fault, but his resume is awfully Billy Napierish at this point.

Sumrall Also not his fault, but Florida has chewed up four coaches since Urban Meyer left Gainesville in 2010.

11. Josh Heupel, Tennessee Age: 48 Career record: 73-28 overall Hot seat rating: 5 The bloom has come off the Heupel rose since an 11-2 record and Orange Bowl appearance in 2022. He’s gone Heupel 4-4 in SEC play three times, including this past season, and Tennessee hasn’t made the SEC title game since 2007.

12. Alex Golesh, Auburn Age: 42 Career record: 23-15 Hot seat rating: 1 Golesh was Tennessee’s play-caller in 2022. His uptempo offenses and modest success in three years at South Golesh Florida got him this job. Fans are starving for a winner at Auburn after five straight losing seasons, but it may take time.

13. Shane Beamer, So. Carolina Age: 49 Career record: 33-30 Hot seat rating: 10 The sight of Beamer pumping his arms to the South Carolina section up 30-3 at halftime at Texas A&M is hard to shake.

It’s win or go Beamer home for Beamer, who showed how dire things are by bringing in Kendal Briles to be the team’s offensive coordinator.

14. Ryan Silverfield, Arkansas Age: 45 Career record: 50-24 Hot seat rating: 0 Silverfield won every year at Memphis. But resurrecting Arkansas, which the athletic director said isn’t set up to win a national title, Silverfield isn’t easy. Silverfield is 5-1 against current SEC coaches, but this is a full-time SEC gig now.

15. Jeff Lebby, Mississippi State Age: 42 Career record: 7-18

Hot seat rating: 8 Lebby is State’s sixth head coach since 2017, a string that includes Mike Leach’s untimely death in 2022. A 1-15 SEC mark Lebby doesn’t give Lebby much leeway.

16. Will Stein, Kentucky Age: 36 Career record: 0-0

Hot seat rating: 0 Stein returns to his home state after three seasons as the Oregon offensive coordinator, but he’s the Stein only first-time coach in the SEC. The learning curve will be steep. Kentucky hosts LSU on Oct. 10.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Wednesday, July 29, 2026 ■ 5C

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U.S. keeper: Tough to get over Belgium loss

BY STEVE REED AP sportswriter

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Goalkeeper Matt Freese admits he’s not over the United States’ abrupt exit from the 2026 World Cup after a 4-1 loss to Belgium in the round of 16.

Quite frankly, he’s not sure he will ever get there.

“Big losses in tough moments are things you never really get over because they stay with you for the rest of your career,” Freese told The Associated Press ahead of the Major League Soccer All-Star Game coming up Wednesday in Charlotte, North Carolina. “They continue to motivate you for the rest of your career.”

Freese made a costly mistake in the loss when he rushed well out of his box to clear a long ball, then hesitated under pressure to kick it away. Belgium quickly converted the miscue into a goal to take a 3-1 lead in the 57th minute, all but sealing the Americans’ fate.

American soccer fans haven’t let Freese forget about it.

In his first MLS match since the World Cup last week, the New York City FC goalkeeper was reportedly booed by fans every time he touched the ball during the game in Columbus, Ohio.

“It’s important to not let bad things define you, but I think it’s also important not to let good

things define you, either,” Freese said. “It’s important to be a consistent presence with consistent energy.”

Freese is one of four U.S. national team players selected to the MLS All-Star Game.

Another, veteran defender Tim Ream, openly acknowledges he doesn’t have a secret formula for what it’ll take for the Americans to one day reach the World Cup quarterfinals. He can only point to the one thing he knows that lends itself to success: hard work.

“You put your head down and do as much as you possibly can,” Ream said. “And, at some point you will break through that barrier. It just takes work, more work and more work. Before you know it, you’re past that.”

Ream said he believes better days are ahead despite the loss.

Wing-back Max Arfsten thinks the increased fan attention on the World Cup — with the majority of games played in the United States — will inspire more athletes in the country to take up the sport.

That, he said, is a good thing.

“The next step for us is to keep growing the sport,” Arfsten said.

“The more people that are playing, the better players there will be. The more competitiveness, the more players playing in the top leagues in Europe is important as well. I feel like all of those com-

“It’s important for us to be aware of the positive outcomes that happened in the tournament as well as use that to inspire new generations to continue to get better — to get past that round of 16, to get past the quarterfinals and make it to the semis and the finals,” Freese said.

Charlotte is hosting the MLS All-Star Game for the first time at Charlotte FC owner Dave Tepper’s Bank of America Stadium, but the league will again be without its biggest star for the showcase event.

Lionel Messi, who helped Argentina reach the finals of the World Cup before losing to Spain, is taking advantage of some allotted time off before returning to soccer and Inter Miami CF. Messi has 12 goals and eight assists this season in MLS play.

Several players, including Ream, said they have noticed a big boost in fan interest in MLS games and soccer in general since the World ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By LINDSEy WASSON Cup. “We could see it while we were United States goalkeeper Matt Freese reacts following the World Cup playing in the World Cup, but now round of 16 soccer match between the United States and Belgium in it’s like I can’t leave my house,” Seattle on July 6.

Ream said.

He’s not complaining.

“Being able to inspire more peobined is going to lead to success.” complished in the earlier games.

Ream added that when it comes “You can be proud of how much ple to play is obviously secondary to the World Cup, two things can it galvanized the country, the peo- to what our job is, which is combe true: Players can be disappoint- ple around it and the sport — and pete and win games, but it’s such ed over the way they played and just how much fun it was,” Ream a rewarding feeling knowing that so many more people are paying “crashed out” against Belgium but said.

Freese agrees. attention to our sport,” Ream said. also excited about what they ac-

Koivun already a PGA winner, but give him time for development

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By PETER MORRISON

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland tees off on the fifth hole during the final day of the British Open at Royal Birkdale on July 19 in Southport, England. McIlroy is approaching Tiger Woods’ all-time earnings on the PGA Tour.

McIlroy, Scheffler approaching Tiger’s all-time PGA earnings

BY DOUG FERGUSON AP golf writer

Tiger Woods went to the top of the PGA Tour career money list when he was runner-up at Torrey Pines on Feb. 13, 2000, and he has stayed there ever since. His last check for finishing last at the 2024 Masters ($44,400) pushed his career earnings to $120,999,166.

Being passed is inevitable and now is in clear view. It’s just a matter of who tops him first.

Rory McIlroy, who lost in the quarterfinals of the 2009 Match Play in his PGA Tour debut, is Golf second on the list notebook at $116,446,772.

Scottie Scheffler, who cashed his first PGA Tour check in 2018, moved to $116,364,411 with his runner-up finish in the 3M Open.

That leaves both of them just over $4 million away from Woods coming into the lucrative FedEx Cup postseason — $20 million purses at two playoff events, and the Tour Championship with its $40 million bonus pool that now counts as official money.

Expanding horizons Former U.S. Army captain Marcus Plunkett reached one goal when he qualified for his first major at the British Open and made the cut. And then his journey just got started.

Plunkett raced back from Royal Birkdale to play in a U.S. qualifying tournament for the PGA Tour of Australasia. First, he had to stop at a sporting goods store to buy a push cart for the fourround event. He tied for second at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club near Valdosta, Georgia, to earn his card for the 2026-27 season.

“I was definitely a little delirious round one, but as the week’s gone on, started to feel a little bit back to normal,” Plunkett said.

He said he has never been to Australia, but all his friends from Down Under have told him the coffee is the best, “so I’ve got to see if they’re pulling my leg or not about that.”

Plunkett, who spent five years in the Army after graduating from West Point, already has had a Korn Ferry Tour card and currently plays the Asian Tour.

“I have Asian Tour status so I’m trying to figure out the balance of the two moving forward,” he said. “But I’m really excited to get out to Australia and get on the links out there.”

golf yet, but I’ve played some nice golf over the course of the season.”

The not-so-magic number

Scott Stevens on the PGA Tour Americas in the opening round and Michael Kim on the PGA Tour in the second round of the 3M Open are the latest to join the growing list of 59 or lower on golf circuits around the world.

Most surprising is that it took until July 23 for the first person of 2026 to post a sub-60 round.

Golf’s “magic number” has lost a little bit of magic during the inevitable evolution of scoring. Al Geiberger was the original Mr. 59 in the 1977 Memphis Classic.

Since then, there have been 69 sub-60s rounds on 21 recognized Scheffler’s majors mirror season tours around the world.

There were eight sub-60 Scottie Scheffler had the lowest combined score to par in the rounds in 2025, and nine sub-60 majors this year, finishing at rounds in 2024.

21-under par, but without a major trophy for the first time since Divots 2023.

The last six winners of the The world’s No. 1 player was Women’s British Open have come runner-up at the Masters, tied from six countries — Japan, New for fourth in the U.S. Open and Zealand, the United States, South British Open and tied for 14th Africa, Sweden and Germany. in the PGA Championship. What Michael Roman, the former does it all mean? That he’s been chairman and CEO of 3M, has playing pretty good golf, much been elected to the PGA Tour like the rest of a 2026 season that policy board filling an open seat features five runner-up finishes for independent directors. but only one win.

Jackson Koivun became the “One of the things that I’ve al- fourth PGA Tour winner this year ways kind of prided myself on to play bogey-free on the weekis the consistency. That’s some- end, joining Matt Fitzpatrick thing that shows that I’m playing (Valspar), Ricky Castillo (Puerto some pretty good golf,” Schef- Rico) and Nico Echavarria (Cogfler said last week before the 3M nizant Classic).

Open. “It just hasn’t been quite The R&A has put together dougood enough to win some tourna- ble major winners Nelly Korda ments. I still feel like my game’s and Haeran Ryu for the opening in a good spot and I’ve played two rounds of the Women’s Britsome nice golf. ish Open. They will be joined by “I haven’t played any great Lydia Ko.

For a sport with a reputation for moving slowly, golf always seems to be in a hurry to appoint the next big star.

Jackson Koivun is next on the list and certainly worth watching.

It’s not just because he won a PGA Tour event — which included the No. 1 player in the world — just two months after leaving college.

Remember, it was only two years ago when Nick Dunlap won The American Express (Scottie Scheffler played that one, too) while he was a sophomore at Alabama.

Different about Koivun is that he carried the expectations of being the No. 1 amateur in the world. He won six times in college, swept all the Doug awards as the best Ferguson player, led Auburn to another NCAA title and last year had three straight top-10 finishes in PGA Tour events without ever looking as though the moment was too big.

And then in his third start as a pro, Koivun shot 61 on Saturday in the 3M Open after Scheffler had set the target, and then held off Scheffler and everyone else with a 66 and a three-shot victory.

That he played bogey-free on the weekend — only three other PGA Tour winners this year have done that — speaks to his poise. There’s also the three words he writes on his golf glove — confidence, trust, dominate. That last word he came up with at Auburn “because I just want to go see how good I can play.”

He can play.

So where does he go now? For starters, the Rocket Classic this week in Detroit.

Koivun, who earned his card a year ago as the No. 1 player in the PGA Tour University accelerated program for underclassmen, moved to No. 70 in the FedEx Cup with his victory at the 3M Open.

Two tournaments remain for the top 70 to qualify for the postseason. That would be impressive.

But that’s not enough. There already is chatter about Koivun being an option for Brandt Snedeker to take as a captain’s pick for the Presidents Cup in September.

The notion would seem to follow Europe (never a bad idea when it comes to a cup) when Ludvig Aberg of Sweden was No. 1 in the PGA Tour University ranking in 2023. He didn’t win until his ninth start as a pro — at the European Masters in Switzerland — but the polish and power were so evident that Luke Donald put him on the Ryder Cup team in Italy.

The idea was to take a player expected to be on many teams for many years and give him a taste of team competition early, especially a home game. It worked out well for Aberg, who went 2-2 in Rome, and ended the year matching the PGA Tour scoring record (253) to win at Sea Island.

The Presidents Cup is nothing like the Ryder Cup, of course. The

greatest value would be getting comfortable in a team environment — although Koivun did play in the Walker Cup at Cypress Point last September — and getting phone numbers for group chats with players he still hasn’t met.

Picking someone so raw wouldn’t be all that unusual on the American side.

Jordan Spieth won his first PGA Tour event at age 19 — he started the year without a card and won in his 15th start as a pro — and he was picked for the 2013 Presidents Cup. Spieth qualified for the postseason and in the second playoff event in Boston shot a 62 on the final day. That led Phil Mickelson to text U.S. captain Fred Couples, “Dude, you’ve got to pick this guy.”

He did, and Spieth played on nine of the next 10 U.S. teams. Two years after that pick, Spieth won the Masters and U.S. Open, had a chance at all four majors and reached No. 1 in the world.

Is that the road awaiting Koivun? He clearly has the game and can handle the stage.

Even so, golf is best viewed with a wide lens.

There was another California native once looked upon as golf’s next big thing. Matthew Wolff had enormous power and a knack for big moments, leading Oklahoma State to the NCAA title in 2018 and then crushing the field the next year to win the NCAA individual title, one of six college wins.

Wolff turned pro and won the 3M Open in his third start in 2019, making eagle on the final hole to beat Bryson DeChambeau and Collin Morikawa. Wolff finished No. 70 in the FedEx Cup in just six starts, but he lasted only one playoff event.

The Presidents Cup had four captain’s picks in 2019 (Tiger Woods used one of them on himself for Royal Melbourne) and Wolff was a never a big part of the conversation.

One year later, Wolff had the 54-hole lead in the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot and was on the verge of veritable stardom until DeChambeau raced past him to win. Within six months, Wolff was struggling with expectations and mental health issues. And then in 2022, he was off to LIV Golf.

Aberg has taken his lumps along the way — he has won just once since that blazing start right out of Texas Tech. Morikawa, who won in his sixth start as a pro, had two majors a little more than two years after leaving Cal. Scheffler was part of that age group and took nearly four years to win. And then he didn’t stop winning.

“I had a decent college career, but by no means was I a can’t-miss type of prospect,” Scheffler said.

Koivun fits that mold. He had a great college career. He already has the hype and he already has a trophy. It will be fascinating to see where he goes, how quickly he gets there, how long he lasts.

Give it time.

6C ■ Wednesday, July 29, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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SCOREBOARD Holes-in-one Roland Lyons

Mac Couhig

Course: The University Club Hole: No. 8 Yardage: 170 yards Club: 8 iron Witnesses: Buster Couhig

3 6 11

Texas Houston Seattle Athletics Los Angeles

W 54 53 52 44 42

L 52 55 55 62 65

Pct .509 .491 .486 .415 .393

GB — 2 2½ 10 12½

UNDERDOG LINE Baltimore +141 Texas +116 at WHITE SOX +119 Kansas City OFF Houston OFF at ATHLETICS +125 UNDERDOG at MIAMI Arizona Atlanta at SAN FRAN Colorado Atlanta Chicago Cubs

LINE +140 +113 OFF +125 +188 OFF OFF

UNDERDOG LINE at WASH +100 at CINCINNATI +112 Seattle OFF

Pro basketball WNBA Glance 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

GB — ½ 2 2½ 6½ 8 10

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

No games scheduled.

Tuesday’s Games

Washington 92, Connecticut 84 Minnesota 100, Toronto 93 Indiana at Seattle, n New York at Los Angeles, n Portland at Las Vegas, n

Western Conference

Wednesday’s Games

Toronto (Yesavage 4-5) at Washington (Littell 7-8), 12:05 p.m.

Baltimore (Rogers 6-7) at Detroit (Skubal 7-5), 12:10 p.m.

Texas (Gore 6-8) at Tampa Bay (Seymour 6-3), 5:40 p.m.

Cleveland (Cantillo 8-6) at Cincinnati (Lowder 3-7), 6:10 p.m.

Kansas City (Dobnak 0-0) at Minnesota (Ryan 6-6), 6:40 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees (Schlittler 10-6) at Chicago White Sox (Martin 9-5), 6:40 p.m.

Houston (TBD) at L.A. Angels (Rodriguez 3-3), 8:38 p.m.

Boston (Sandoval 0-0) at Athletics (Lopez 5-4), 8:40 p.m.

Seattle (Hancock 6-4) at L.A. Dodgers (Lauer 5-5), 9:10 p.m.

National League Atlanta Philadelphia Washington Miami New York

W 62 57 54 53 45

L 44 50 53 54 62

Pct .585 .533 .505 .495 .421

GB — 5½ 8½ 9½ 17½

Milwaukee Chicago Pittsburgh St. Louis Cincinnati

W 66 60 55 53 49

L 40 46 52 53 55

Pct .623 .566 .514 .500 .471

GB — 6 11½ 13 16

Pct .632 .514 .500 .425 .393

GB — 12½ 14 22 25½

Central Division

West Division Los Angeles Arizona San Diego San Francisco Colorado

W 67 55 53 45 42

Monday’s Games

L 39 52 53 61 65

Toronto 3, Washington 2 Miami 8, Philadelphia 7 N.Y. Mets 14, Atlanta 3 Pittsburgh 3, Arizona 2, 10 innings Chicago Cubs 7, St. Louis 3 San Francisco 3, Milwaukee 0 Cleveland at Cincinnati, ppd.

Wednesday’s Games

Atlanta at Dallas, 7 p.m.

Golden State at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

Major League Baseball

Tuesday’s Games

Tampa Bay New York Boston Baltimore Toronto

W 62 60 55 52 49

L 43 46 50 55 58

Pct .590 .566 .524 .486 .458

GB — 2½ 7 11 14

Cleveland 6, Cincinnati 5, 1st game Arizona at Pittsburgh, n Miami 1, Philadelphia 0 Toronto at Washington, n Atlanta at N.Y. Mets, ppd.

Cincinnati 2, Cleveland 0, 2nd game Chicago Cubs at St. Louis, n Colorado at San Diego, n Milwaukee at San Francisco, n Seattle at L.A. Dodgers, n

Chicago Cleveland

W 55 54

L 50 53

Pct .524 .505

GB — 2

Philadelphia (Luzardo 9-5) at Miami (TBD), 11:10 a.m.

Arizona (Rodriguez 9-3) at Pittsburgh (Jones

American League East Division

Central Division

Wednesday’s Games

Vancouver Los Angeles FC San Jose Real Salt Lake Houston FC Dallas St Louis City Seattle Minnesota United Portland LA Galaxy San Diego FC Colorado Austin FC Sporting Kansas City

W L T Pts 10 3 3 33 10 5 3 33 10 4 3 33 8 6 2 26 8 6 2 26 7 5 5 26 7 6 4 25 7 6 3 24 6 6 5 23 6 8 3 21 5 7 6 21 5 7 5 20 6 10 1 19 4 8 5 17 4 11 2 14

Eastern Conference

GF GA 37 16 34 18 35 20 28 24 23 24 32 25 23 23 19 20 19 24 31 32 24 29 31 28 26 25 22 35 18 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, July 22

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

Tennis WTA Mubadala Citi DC Open Results At William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center Washington DC, United States Purse: $2,488,125 Surface: Hardcourt outdoor Results Tuesday from Mubadala Citi DC Open at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center (seedings in parentheses):

Men’s Singles

Round of 32 Ugo Humbert, France, def. Andres Martin, United States, 6-2, 7-5.

Kamil Majchrzak, Poland, def. Tommy Paul, United States, 7-5, 7-6 (4).

Alex Michelsen, United States, def. Mackenzie McDonald, United States, 6-4, 7-5.

Adrian Mannarino, France, def. Learner Tien (5), United States, 7-5, 6-4.

Rafael Jodar, Spain, def. Arthur Fils (8), France, 7-6 (5), 6-3.

Cruz Hewitt, Australia, def. Marcos Giron, United States, 6-3, 6-4.

Women’s Singles

Round of 32 Wang Xinyu, China, def. Julieta Pareja, United States, 7-6 (3), 6-3.

Polina Kudermetova, Russia, def. Cristina Bucsa, Spain, 5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-0.

Men’s Doubles

Round of 16 Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash (3), Britain, def. Michael Venus, New Zealand, and Yuki Bhambri, India, 6-3, 6-4.

Guido Andreozzi, Argentina, and Manuel Guinard (4), France, def. Lucas Miedler, Austria, and Marc Polmans, Australia, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (6).

Women’s Doubles

Round of 16 Xu Yifan and Qianhui Tang, China, def. Anna Danilina, Kazakhstan, and Leylah Fernandez (4), Canada, 6-2, 6-4.

ATP World Tour Los Cabos Open Results Monday

At Solaz Resort & Spa Los Cabos Los Cabos, Mexico Purse: $909,790 Surface: Hardcourt outdoor Results Monday from Abierto Mexicano de Tenis Mifel at Solaz Resort & Spa Los Cabos (seedings in parentheses):

Men’s Singles

Saturday, July 25

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

Friday, July 31

Toronto FC at New York City FC, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, August 1

Atlanta at Philadelphia, 6:30 p.m.

Los Angeles FC at Vancouver, 6:30 p.m.

Charlotte FC at Chicago, 7:30 p.m.

Houston at Sporting Kansas City, 7:30 p.m.

San Diego FC at Minnesota, 7:30 p.m.

Real Salt Lake at St Louis City, 7:30 p.m.

Austin FC at Colorado, 8:30 p.m.

FC Dallas at LA Galaxy, 9:30 p.m.

Seattle at Portland, 9:30 p.m.

Tuesday

MLS Glance

Cleveland 6, Cincinnati 5, 1st game Detroit 14, Baltimore 0 Texas 4, Tampa Bay 1 Toronto at Washington, n Cincinnati 2, Cleveland 0, 2nd game Minnesota 3, Kansas City 2 N.Y. Yankees 3, Chicago White Sox 2 Houston at L.A. Angels, n Boston at Athletics, n Seattle at L.A. Dodgers, n

East Division

2-1), 11:35 a.m.

Toronto (Yesavage 4-5) at Washington (Littell 7-8), 12:05 p.m.

Atlanta (Holmes 6-4) at N.Y. Mets (Manaea 2-5), 12:10 p.m.

Milwaukee (Drohan 5-4) at San Francisco (Webb 5-7), 2:45 p.m.

Colorado (Hughes 0-2) at San Diego (Canning 1-9), 3:10 p.m.

Cleveland (Cantillo 8-6) at Cincinnati (Lowder 3-7), 6:10 p.m.

Chicago Cubs (Boyd 6-1) at St. Louis (May 5-7), 6:45 p.m.

Seattle (Hancock 6-4) at L.A. Dodgers (Lauer 5-5), 9:10 p.m.

Soccer

Tuesday’s Games

Wednesday

Monday’s Games

.495 .467 .421

Texas 7, Seattle 3 Baltimore 8, Detroit 5 Toronto 3, Washington 2 N.Y. Yankees 9, Chicago White Sox 5 Boston 4, Athletics 2 Houston 6, L.A. Angels 4 Cleveland at Cincinnati, ppd.

Sports Betting Line MLB

WESTERN CONFERENCE

54 57 62

Monday’s Games

Odds

EASTERN CONFERENCE

53 50 45

West Division

Course: Beaver Creek Hole: No. 17 Club: A wedge Witness: Ronald Abarrow

American League FAVORITE LINE at DETROIT -174 at TAMPA BAY -134 N.Y Yankees -146 at MINNESOTA OFF at LA ANGELS OFF Boston -155 National League FAVORITE LINE Philadelphia -166 at PITTSBURGH -138 at N.Y METS OFF Milwaukee -155 at SAN DIEGO -236 at N.Y METS OFF at ST. LOUIS OFF Interleague FAVORITE LINE Toronto -123 Cleveland -132 at LA DODGERS OFF

Minnesota Detroit Kansas City

San Jose at Cincinnati, 6:30 p.m.

Nashville at D.C. United, 6:30 p.m.

Columbus at Miami, 6:30 p.m.

New England at CF Montréal, 6:30 p.m.

Orlando City at New York, 6:30 p.m.

Round of 32 Bernard Tomic, Australia, def. Alex Hernandez, Mexico, 6-1, 6-0.

Tristan Boyer, United States, def. Gabriel Diallo, Canada, 7-5, 6-2.

Cameron Norrie (5), Britain, def. Aleksandar Kovacevic, United States, 6-4, 6-1.

Coleman Wong, Hong Kong, China, def. Darwin Blanch, United States, 6-3, 6-4.

Auto racing NASCAR Cup Series Points Leaders Through July 27

1. Denny Hamlin, 886.

2. Tyler Reddick, 802.

3. Ryan Blaney, 766.

4. Ty Gibbs, 751.

5. Carson Hocevar, 638.

6. Chase Elliott, 635.

7. Chase Briscoe, 623.

8. Kyle Larson, 617.

9. Chris Buescher, 613.

10. Christopher Bell, 609.

11. Daniel Suárez, 583.

12. William Byron, 568.

13. Joey Logano, 545.

14. Bubba Wallace, 540.

15. Shane Van Gisbergen, 537.

16. Austin Cindric, 518.

17. Ryan Preece, 480.

18. Erik Jones, 474.

19. Brad Keselowski, 468.

20. Michael McDowell, 442.

21. Ross Chastain, 436.

22. AJ Allmendinger, 409.

23. Todd Gilliland, 406.

24. Zane Smith, 393.

25. Riley Herbst, 370.

26. Ricky Stenhouse Jr, 364.

27. John H. Nemechek, 355.

28. Austin Dillon, 349.

29. Alex Bowman, 310.

30. Cole Custer, 270.

31. Noah Gragson, 268.

32. Ty Dillon, 266.

33. Josh Berry, 264.

34. Connor Zilisch, 216.

35. Cody Ware, 183.

36. Casey Mears, 12.

37. Kevin Magnussen, 11.

38. Jimmie Johnson, 9.

39. Katherine Legge, 8.

40. BJ McLeod, 4.

Transactions Major League Baseball

American League DETROIT TIGERS — Reinstated SS Javier Báez from the 60-day IL. Designated C Jake Rogers for assignment.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS — Recalled RHP Easton McGee from Omaha. Placed RHP Beck Way on the 15-day IL. Sent 3B Maikel Garcia on a rehab assignment to Northwest Arkansas.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS — Sent 2B Adam Frazier and Cs Travis d’Arnaud and Sebastián Rivero on rehab assignments to Rancho Cucamonga (CL).

MINNESOTA TWINS — Recalled RHP Jack Anderson from St. Paul. Placed RHP Cole Sands on the 15-day IL retroactive to July 27.

NEW YORK YANKEES — Agreed to terms with C Christian Bethancourt on a minor league contract.

SEATTLE MARINERS — Sent 3B Brendan Donovan on a rehab assignment to Tacoma (PCL).

TAMPA BAY RAYS — Sent RHP Manuel Rodríguez on a rehab assignment to Durham (IL).

TORONTO BLUE JAYS — Sent RF Jesús Sánchez on a rehab assignment to Buffalo (IL).

National League MIAMI MARLINS — Sent RF Owen Caissie on a rehab assignment to Jacksonville.

NEW YORK METS — Sent RHPs Clay Holmes and Austin Warren on rehab assignments to St. Lucie (FSL).

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES — Optioned C Payton Henry to Lehigh Valley.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS — Recalled RHP Gus Varland from Rochester. Optioned LHP Andrew Alvarez to Rochester (IL).

FOOTBALL

National Football League CAROLINA PANTHERS — Activated CB Jaycee Horn from the active/non-football injury list.

CHICAGO BEARS — Placed DL Montez Sweat on the active/non-football illness list.

DETROIT LIONS — Released DL Jay Tufele.

Placed DB Christian Izien on the active/ non-football illness list. Placed OL Christian Mahogany on the active/non-football injury list.

GREEN BAY PACKERS — Signed K Lenny Krieg and TE Thomas Yassmin. Released EDGE Dante Barnett and K Lucas Havrisik.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS — Signed CB Corey Ballentine to a contract.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS — Signed LS Peter Bowden.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS — Signed RB Jordan Mims to a contract. Signed T Brian O’Neill to a four-year contract extension through the 2030 season.

SOCCER

Major League Soccer LOS ANGELES FC — Loaned D Artem Smoliakov to FC Kharkiv of the Ukrainian Premier League through June 2027.

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

|

W e d n e s d ay, J u ly 29, 2026

1dn

Chinese street food restaurant hits BR

BY MADDIE SCOTT Staff writer

Tiger Tang soft-opened in Siegen Village this month with build-your-own malatang bowls.

At 7064 Siegen Lane, Tiger Tang serves build-your-own malatang bowls, a type of Chinese street food known for its heat and spicy flavors.

Inside, customers grab their own bowl and tongs so they can load the bowl up with ingredients held in buffet-style counters. There are leafy greens like spinach and bok choy, vegetables like onions and broccoli, numerous types of mushrooms, several types of noodles and many protein options from beef to chicken to seafood.

There’s also a sauce and toppings station with six sauces (peanut, sesame, oyster, chili garlic, chili oil or spicy and aromatic sauce), plus green onion and chili peppers.

STAFF PHOTOS By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Regular Terrance Williams, right, says goodbye to owner Cynthia Owens-Green after chatting with her at Owens Grocery & Market on July 15 in Baton Rouge.

‘Made with love’

STAFF PHOTO By MADDIE SCOTT

Build-your-own malatang from Tiger Tang

Baton Rouge grocery turned soul food spot has built a local legacy since 1938

Once each bowl is filled with ingredients, it’s weighed at the front counter ($10.99 per pound), and the customer tells the cashier which of the eight broths they want. Customers can then sit and wait while the bowl is taken to the kitchen and cooked.

The restaurant also serve appetizers like beef or chicken skewers, crab rangoon, gyoza and egg rolls. A couple of desserts are on the menu, like mochi ice cream and brown sugar rice cakes.

For beverages, there are 13 flavors of milk tea, such as Thai, taro, mocha or strawberry milk teas. Nondairy options include 10 flavors of fruit teas ranging from mango passion fruit to lychee. Both teas can be loaded with popping boba, fruit jellies and tapioca. A grand opening date and normal hours has not been announced yet.

E

BY MADDIE SCOTT Staff writer

very day, 76-year-old Cynthia Owens-Green wakes up around 4:30 a.m. to start her job at Owens Market & Deli, her business that has served Baton Rouge since 1938.

In Louisiana’s Capital city, Owens Market & Deli first opened as a grocery store and deli after the start of World War II. Now, it’s a breakfast and lunch restaurant serving scratch-made plates Tuesday through Saturday. People stop by for the soul-filled fare, but many use the opportunity to catch up with Owens-Green and her familyfilled staff, whom customers have grown with over the decades.

After Eleanora Wooders, 81, finished her lunch plate of turkey wings, rice and collard greens on a Wednesday afternoon, she was blowing kisses and poking her cane across the room at one of OwensGreen’s three daughters, Kristi Green, 54.

“They’re my family,” Wooders said. “Their children, my children, they all grew up together.”

Visiting Owens Market & Deli has become a routine for Wooders, who drives a short distance a few

Tiger Tang, 7064 Siegen Lane, Baton Rouge. Open daily 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

A shrimp po-boy with onion rings and peach cobbler sit atop the sides and entrees of the daily hot lunch at Owens Grocery & Market. times every week (if the weather is good) to get a taste of OwensGreen’s food.

overlooking the restaurant they built from the ground up.

With a sixth grade education, David Owens had to learn his own Standing the test of time trades, his daughter said.

“He had a mindset for math — For 88 years, Owens Market & Deli has stood between the same to run anything, to rent houses,” walls at 2444 Balis Drive, where said Owens-Green, after darting Owens-Green’s parents, David and around the room to greet customEmma Owens, started the busi- ers and shake hands with regulars. ness. A portrait of the couple hangs ä See OWENS, page 2D on the wall next to the front door,

“I want people to know that this is what I live for.

And that we’d love to serve you. Just come on by.”

CyNTHIA OWENS-GREEN, Owens Market & Deli owner

Maybe as you walked out of the first Ice Water round, it hit you.

Maybe it was a door that opened — or one that didn’t. Maybe it wasn’t until the next year when you were on the other side of the process. It could have been a moment standing in a hallway, waiting, that you can still describe in detail years later.

We’re inviting readers who went through sorority recruitment — recently or decades ago — to tell us about it: What’s the specific moment from Rush week you still think about? And what did Rush teach you that you didn’t expect? Send your response to jan.risher@theadvocate.com by 2 p.m. Aug. 10.

Savor our recent favorite dishes with big flavors Butter chicken and garlic naan from Spice Junction in Baton Rouge

STAFF PHOTO

By JOy HOLDEN

Staff report

Butter chicken

n Spice Junction, 11777 Coursey

Blvd., Baton Rouge

I had been hearing about the new Indian restaurant on Coursey Boulevard, so I stopped in for lunch. I ordered garlic naan and butter chicken. The rice was cooked perfectly, fluffy

and separate, which is a big deal to me. The butter chicken was the epitome of comfort food — flavorful with just enough spice.

There was plenty to bring home as well.

I also tried the sweet thali dessert, which is a sampler of three popular desserts — Gulab Jamun, Rasmalai and Badaami

ä See BEST, page 3D

2D ■ Wednesday, July 29, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Catching tricky food grease

STAFF PHOTOS By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Echo Ratcliff, center, serves herself a plate as regular Eleanora Wooders, left, chats with employee Sierra Boyd at Owens Grocery & Market on July 15 in Baton Rouge.

OWENS

Sierra Boyd spoons broth over baked chicken and rice at Owens Grocery & Market.

Continued from page 1D In the late 1930s, the grocery store and deli was decked with two gas pumps, butcher services, produce, sliced meats and everyday essentials, a time before Interstate 10 split Balis Drive in half. Some of her earliest memories are running around the store as a little girl.

“They had these things called gondolas,” she said.

“It’s a big shelf that they used to have in grocery stores that you could put flour, different items, in.

I remember as thunderstorms came, I would hide in them.”

The area around Balis Drive had almost everything one could need: a barbershop, saloon, laundromat and church.

The family has owned several properties on the street for generations. Next door to the business is the house Owens-Green was born in — the youngest daughter of 11 children. Across the street is another family home that used to be a daycare. Many family members live just a short walk away.

Owens-Green eventually took over operations of Owens in 1979 at age 29. Her three daughters grew up at the store, helping out with chores and learning how to cook from their grandmother. One of Owens-Green’s daughters, Malissa Fowler, 45, remembers playing stand-up video game machines like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong in the 1980s.

Around 2005, the grocery store gradually shifted operations and started making the bulk of its money from scratch-made food.

Menu rundown Each day, except Sunday and Monday, has a selection of rotating hot plates.

There are dishes like baked chicken, smothered turkey necks, lasagna, fried fish, Salisbury steak and more.

There’s also a menu of daily items of burgers, po-boys and sandwiches.

Thursdays and Fridays are “hot days,” OwensGreen said, when the biggest crowds shuffle through the front door. They come hungry for the most popular

rotating dishes: baked turkey wings on Thursdays and crawfish étouffée or fried catfish on Fridays.

The business also has catering services for events and family meals.

“They love our food because our food is homemade from scratch,” OwensGreen said. “It’s made with love.”

Desserts in the form of cakes, cupcakes, cookies and more are supplied by Creative Crumbs Cakery, a home bakery owned by Owens-Green’s daughter Erica Matthews, 49. In 2021, Matthews opened the business in honor of her 20-year-old son with autism.

“Our plans are to open a facility to employ young adults like himself just to give them a work opportunity,” Matthews said. “That is what we plan to do in the near future.”

Longtime regulars When longtime Owens regular Terry Vessell was 7 years old, she’d visit the grocery store on her regular cookie runs, and both David and Emma Owens would separately sneak her extra butter cookies.

“He would say, ‘Now, I’m going to give you an extra cookie. Now don’t you tell anybody.’ That was Mr. Owens, and so Mrs. Emma would do the same thing,” Vessell said, laughing with the memory.

Decades later, the hunt for butter cookies has evolved into once-a-week visits, often for Vessell’s favorite plate: the baked catfish, a hearty dish covered in bell peppers and onions.

“When you give a smile, you’ll always get one back nine times out of 10, and that’s what she does,” Vessell said about OwensGreen. “She shows love and kindness, and love and kindness comes back to her.”

What keeps Vessell coming back to the business isn’t

Dear Heloise: For years, I housewarming party. Peodrained greasy foods on ple brought some very nice paper towels but items, but my brothended up having to er-in-law liked mine pick off tiny pieces the best. I gave of paper. Finally, them a hand cart to I found a better haul heavy or very way. We bought a large objects. They new stove and oven had a couple pieces Hints from of furniture that combo, and I saved Heloise were still in the gathe oven rack from the old one we had. rage because they Now I place the oven rack couldn’t haul them into the over the sink with newshouse. A hand cart makes paper underneath to catch this possible.

When newlyweds buy the grease and fried foods that get placed on the rack. their first house, they usuI don’t let grease go ally need practical items. down the drain because a Vases are lovely, and so is plumber told me that this a serving platter, but items just clogs the pipes. Lately, such as electric scissors, I’ve used old cardboard cut a hand cart, an electric out from delivery boxes to screwdriver, and basic catch the grease. — Agnes D., tools are way more useful. in Lexington,Tennessee — Victoria J., in Austin,Texas

A useful gift

Securing a bookcase

Dear Heloise: My sister and brother-in-law just bought their first home and had a

Dear Heloise: I have a hint that might save someone from a trip to the hospital.

If you have a bookcase, a large TV, an aquarium, or heavy stone yard art, please secure it so that it cannot topple over. A friend of mine stopped by to say “hello,” and while we were talking, her son tried to climb my bookcase to get to my cat and pet it.

The bookcase came crashing down and thankfully landed on the back of a chair, which kept the bookcase from falling on the child. The boy was uninjured, but this was due to luck. I had my handyman come and see to it that the bookcases were secured to the wall. — Joan C., in Minnesota Send a hint to heloise@ heloise.com.

NEWS 24/7 ON

just the food, but also how the staff shows love to the community and gives back.

Legacy of giving back For the past nine years, Owens Market & Deli has hosted an annual Back-toSchool Giveaway for children in Valley Park and surrounding areas. This year’s giveaway will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 1.

Matthews said her mother’s heart is in service, something she’s passed down from generation to generation. Owens-Green welcomes those who are hungry and want something to eat. A stack of crates in a corner in the dining room holds various toiletries, reserved for people experiencing homelessness.

“It’s a blessing that God has still allowed me to try to build my health and strength to instill in my children and to know what service of others is,” she said. “That’s my thing.”

Over eight decades, Owens Market & Deli has stood the test of time, and responsibilities have passed down to younger generations like her three daughters and her grandchildren, who work the kitchen from sunrise to sunset.

“We are Black-owned,” Owens-Green said. “The thing about it is, sometimes it’s hard for Black owners to try to succeed and to stay in business. Sometimes it takes a lot of effort. There’s hard days.”

Despite challenges and a bad knee, Owens-Green returns to the store nearly every day, overseeing operations, greeting customers and catching up with regulars. She tries to help in the kitchen, but her family members lovingly tell her to sit down.

“I want people to know that this is what I live for,” Owens-Green said. “And that we’d love to serve you.

Just come on by.”

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Wednesday, July 29, 2026 ■ 3D

lll

Party guests make a beeline for the house

Dear Miss Manners: I have a left that she was just having tiny house, so I enjoy hosta bad day.

To what extent should ing dinner parties al fresco a hostess accommodate in my backyard. I recently these concerns — or invited guests to quirks? I didn’t want dine when the her to eat alone, but weather was lovely, it seemed to me she 75 degrees with a disrupted the party. soft breeze.

What would you During the first advise in this situacourse, a bumblebee Judith flew over the table tion?

Martin and then moved on.

Gentle reader: The MISS One of my guests real question is not MANNERS announced, “There who is to blame. are bees out here,” Though if it were, picked up her plate, and Miss Manners votes for, in went inside the house. Her order: the bee; the guest husband followed her. who stood up after your Before I could think of friend, as being the person what to do, my other guests who likely precipitated the stood, took their plates, and group decision to decamp; went inside, with one sayand the friend’s husband, on grounds of general ineptiing, “Well, I guess we have to go in now.” We finished tude. the meal in my living room The real question is: What with plates balanced precould you have done about it? cariously on our laps.

You cannot require guests I have known this woman to remain someplace they for 15 years and know she feel threatened, but you can is not allergic to bees. Her persuade — which might husband told me as they

have been sufficient in a situation that sounds to have been more Follow-the-Leader than thought-through.

You might have instead stood immediately, offered to take your friend inside and then attempted to clear out the bee (singular), telling everyone else they were welcome to remain outside — but that they could go in, if they needed to. That might have been enough to stop the mass ingress.

You could have then set your friend up indoors and check on her periodically, in between rounds of improvising a bee-clearing dance.

Send questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners. com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail. com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

TODAY IN HISTORY

By The Associated Press Today is Wednesday, July 29, the 210th day of 2026. There are 155 days left in the year.

Today in history: On July 29, 1967, an accidental rocket launch on the deck of the supercarrier USS Forrestal in the Gulf of Tonkin resulted in a fire and explosions that killed 134 service members.

Also on this date: In 1836, the newly completed Arc de Triomphe was inaugurated in Paris.

In 1858, the United States and Japan signed the Harris Treaty, formalizing diplomatic relations and trading rights between the two countries.

In 1890, artist Vincent van Gogh, 37, died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in Auvers-sur-Oise, France.

In 1914, transcontinental telephone service in the U.S. became operational with the first test conversation between New York and San Francisco.

In 1921, Adolf Hitler became the leader of the National Socialist German Workers’ (Nazi) Party.

In 1954, the first volume of JRR Tolkien’s novel “The Lord of the Rings” (“The Fellowship of the Ring”) was published.

In 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, creating NASA. In 1981, Britain’s Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer in a glittering ceremony at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.

(They divorced in 1996.)

In 1986, a federal jury in New York found that the National Football League had committed an antitrust violation against the rival United States Football League, but the jury ordered the NFL to pay token damages of

just $3.

In 1994, abortion opponent Paul Hill shot and killed Dr. John Bayard Britton and Britton’s escort, James H. Barrett, outside the Ladies Center clinic in Pensacola, Florida.

In 1999, a former day trader, apparently upset over stock losses, opened fire in two Atlanta brokerage offices, killing nine people and wounding 13 before shooting himself; authorities said Mark O. Barton had also killed his wife and two children.

In 2016, former suburban Chicago police officer Drew Peterson was given an additional 40 years in prison for trying to hire someone to kill the prosecutor who put him behind bars for killing his third wife.

In 2021, a newly arrived Russian science lab briefly knocked the International Space Station out of position when it accidentally

fired its thrusters. For 47 minutes, the space station lost control of its orientation when the firing occurred after docking, altering a key position for communications and for getting power from its solar panels.

Today’s birthdays: Former Sen. Nancy Kassebaum-Baker is 94. Former Sen. Elizabeth H. Dole is 90. Artist Jenny Holzer is 76. Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns is 73.

Style guru Tim Gunn is 73.

Rock singer-musician Geddy Lee (Rush) is 73. Rock singer Patti Scialfa (Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band) is 73. Actor Alexandra Paul is 63. Country singer Martina McBride is 60. Actor Wil Wheaton is 54.

R&B singer Wanya Morris (Boyz II Men) is 53. Actor Stephen Dorff is 53. Actor Josh Radnor is 52. Hip-hop DJ/music producer Danger Mouse is 49. NFL quarterback Dak Prescott is 33.

Living Waters has affordable rooms and houses for rent.

Please call our office for more information at 225-356-7142

STAFF PHOTO By MADDIE SCOTT

Fried chicken, mac and cheese, potato salad and a roll from Chicken Shack

BEST

Meatball stew

n Gravy, 107 E. Main St.,

Continued from page 1D Kheer. Of the three, the Badaami Kheer, a creamy almond-infused rice pudding with saffron and cardamom, was my favorite.

— Joy Holden, features reporter

Fried chicken dinner

n Chicken Shack, 413 N. Aca-

dian Highway, Baton Rouge

After writing about different local chefs’ favorite fried chicken in Baton Rouge, I decided it was time to visit my favorite spot.

On the way home from work, I stopped at Chicken Shack and ordered the twopiece dinner, which has fried chicken, two sides (I picked potato salad and mac and cheese) and a roll.

I opened the plate and realized they gave me an

Lafayette

With no shortage of spots to get a delicious plate lunch in the Lafayette area, somehow, rice and gravy still never gets old.

Gravy, a new plate lunch restaurant from the restaurateurs behind Pamplona in downtown Lafayette, offers their own spin on an Acadiana classic with a rich, STAFF PHOTO By JOANNA BROWN tasty meatball stew, side of Meatball stew from Gravy in savory collards and a spicy, Lafayette mustardy potato salad that brings an elevated flavor to extra piece of chicken, the tender meatballs (yes, which may not have been when it comes to a plate intentional, but hey, a win lunch, the foods mix on my is a win! I dove in and, fork). y’all, this hit all the right Come hungry, and ideally, spots. This longtime Baton bring a friend — Gravy’s Rouge staple was a taste daily plates include meatof comfort after a long day ball stew, sticky chicken, of work, and I think that’s beef debris and smothered why I love Chicken Shack sausage, and you’ll want to so much. try at least a couple.

— Maddie Scott, — Joanna Brown, features reporter staff writer

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4D ■ Wednesday, July 29, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

FrAnK And erneSt

roSebUdS

zItS

lll

zodIAC LEo (July 23-Aug. 22) Set up meaningful conversations that can open doors or help you envision how you can reach your goals. Refuse to let a lack of knowledge or not sharing your plans be your nemesis.

VIRGo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Keep your plans and your actions to yourself. Working behind the scenes will help you get things done without interference.

Invest more time in yourself and your objectives.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) Engage in an activity that serves as a platform to showcase your skills, projects and longterm goals. The people you encounter and what they offer will be eye-opening. Embrace the possibilities. scoRPIo (oct. 24-nov. 22) Stop, listen and observe before you decide to join in.

Your intentions may be honorable, but you aren't likely to be met with positive feedback if you are restrictive or pushy. sAGIttARIus (nov. 23-Dec. 21) Spend more time at home and doing what you can to lower your overhead. You can cut your losses if you walk away from what's holding you back. Say no to subscriptions you no longer use. cAPRIcoRn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Pay attention to detail, money management and your health. Put time aside to nurture yourself and your relationships with those who contribute to your happiness.

AQuARIus (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Rely on your own devices instead of waiting for someone to do the work for you. It's

time to take responsibility and to apply your skills, knowledge and experience to make headway.

PIscEs (Feb. 20-March 20) Refuse to let what others do make you angry. Freedom to do as you please comes at a price. Weigh the pros and cons, then proceed with honorable intentions.

Explore the possibilities.

ARIEs (March 21-April 19) Take an interest in others, events and activities that grab your attention. Being an enthusiast will lead to friendships with likeminded people and information that can enrich your life. tAuRus (April 20-May 20) Overindulgence will set you back. Concentrate on decluttering and minimizing your stress. Distance yourself from emotional issues and people who tend to bring you down or cost you emotionally or financially.

GEMInI (May 21-June 20) A change of routine will boost your ego and your enthusiasm. Engage in events that look promising and help you connect to someone who shares your beliefs and goals. Don't take risks. cAncER (June 21-July 22) Pick and choose carefully. Anger and manipulation will set you back. If you want something, proceed with a kind word and a positive attitude. Be willing to give and take.

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

peAnUtS

SALLY Forth

beetLe bAILeY CeLebrItY CIpher Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

toDAy's cLuE: L EQuALs D

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon FAMILY CIrCUS

dooneSbUrY

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Wednesday, July 29, 2026 ■ 5D

lll

CurTiS

Hi and LoiS

Sudoku InstructIons: Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers.

The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

BaBY BLueS

BLondie

THe wiZard oF id

nea CroSSwordS

La TimeS CroSSword

6D ■ Wednesday, July 29, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

B.C.

Bridge

By PHILLIP ALDER Simone de Beauvoir, a French writer, said, “I tore myself away from the safe comfort of certainties through my love for truth — and truth rewarded me.”

At the bridge table, the truth is that we love certainties — lines of play or defense that are guaranteed to work. In this deal, is there a way for South to make sure of six no-trump, given that clubs are not breaking 5-0?

South’s two-diamond rebid was fourthsuit game-forcing. When North bid four hearts, he showed a minimum opening bid. With extras he would have controlbid (cue-bid) four clubs. South signed off in six no-trump to protect his diamond holding, expecting North’s values to be in his long suits.

Declarer starts with 10 top tricks: two spades, five hearts, one diamond and two clubs. His plan should be to win four club tricks — but how?

The club nine in South’s hand makes getting four tricks a near-certainty.

After winning the first trick with his spade ace, declarer should play a club to dummy’s ace, then return a low club and cover East’s eight with his nine.

Here, that ends South’s problems. But if his nine were to lose to the 10, the suit

garfield

Pearls Before swiNe

hagar the horriBle

would be splitting 3-2 and the contract would be home.

Finally, if East shows out on the second round of clubs, declarer wins with his king and leads back through West’s queen up to North’s jack.

Note that six hearts can be made by taking the same safety-play. © 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 — KILLDEER: KIL-deer: An American plover.

Bizarro

marmaduKe

Average mark 21 words Time limit 35 minutes Can you find 30 or more words in KILLDEER? yEstERDAy’s WoRD — WARDRooM ward warm wood word worm ardor armor arrow ramrod road roam

roar rood room doom door dorm dram draw odor marrow mood

moor morrow

loCKhorNs hidato Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

today’s thought “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45 Our words will give us away. What’s in our hearts? G.E. Dean

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Wednesday, July 29, 2026 ■ 7D

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classifieds.theadvocate.com Search Search& &Place PlaceAds AdsOnline Onlineatatclassifieds.theadvocate.com classifieds.theadvocate.com* Call * Call -Friday Us Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM at 225-383-0111 8AM-5PM at 225-383-0111

Announcements Former yellow cab Drivers requested for Monday - Friday for Shopping and Errands. Will pay for Round Trip destinations & waiting. Larger vehicle preferred.

Call 225-768-7798

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Kendall Plain please contact attorney Larry McAlpine at 225-3171956.

195578-JULY 29-31, 3T $62.80 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Sara F. Liberta, please contact Creighton B. Abadie, Attorney, at (225) 924-5150.

195651-7/29-30-31-3t $64.90 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Travis D. Collier, please contact Creighton B. Abadie, Attorney, at (225) 924-5150.

195653-7/29-30-31-3t $64.90 FSE 4959 LLC d/b/a Fast Stop Express 11 is applying to the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control of the State of Louisiana for a permit to sell beverages of high and low alcoholic content at retail for offpremises consumption in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, at the following address: 4959 Evangeline St Baton Rouge, LA 70805 FSE 4959 LLC d/b/a Fast Stop Express 11 Member: Rami Maree 195579-July 29, 1t $98.14

a permit to sell beverages of (high, low, light wine, high and low, or low and light wine) alcohol content at retail in the Parish of East Baton Rouge at the following address 10467 Airline Hwy Baton Rouge La 70816. Kimberly Cage & Dikyreah Cage Next Cedarcrest Bar & Lounge members: Kimberly Cage and Dikyreah Cage 195566-7/29-1t $107.86 Rowin R LLC d/b/a Rivers Market is applying to the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control of the State of Louisiana for a permit to sell beverages of high and low wine, high and low alcohol content, at retail in the Parish of East Baton Rouge at the following address 10770 N Harrells Ferry Rd, Baton Rouge, LA, 70816. Owned by Brandon and Ritchie Rivers and dba Rivers Market.

195630-7/29-1t $95.98 Seeking information on the whereabouts of a Carrie Morris Bergeron, who is currently married to Clinton Bergeron, please contact Attorney Robin V. Cazayoux at (225) 381-3141 or by email at robin@cazayouxlaw.com.

195490-7/27-28-29-3t $94.30 Seeking information on the whereabouts of a Carrie Morris Bergeron, who is currently married to Clinton Bergeron, please contact Attorney Robin V. Cazayoux at (225) 381-3141 or by email at robin@cazayouxlaw.com.

195500-July 28-30, 3t $98.50

Kimberly Cage d/b/a Next Cedarcrest Bar & Lounge is applying to the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control of the State of Louisiana for

Public Notices

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS BID EVENT #48 Sealed Bids will be re‐ ceived electronically through our E-Procure‐ www. ment site at jeffparish.gov/supplier until 2:00 p.m., Septem‐ ber 10, 2026 and shall, at the below listed time and place, be publicly opened and read aloud. At no charge, bidders may sub‐ mit via Jefferson Parish’s electronic procurement page by visiting www. jeffparish.gov/supplier to register for this free site.

Bids will be accepted and received through Bridge until 2 p.m. The public bid opening will be held at the West Bank Pur‐ chasing Department at 200 Derbigny Street, Suite 4400, Gretna, LA 70053 beginning at 2:30 p.m. on each bid opening date for the following project: Two (2) Year Contract to Provide Labor, Materials, and Equipment Necessary for Emergency Tree Removal, Stump (Rootball) Removal, Hazardous Limb Removal and Hauling Tree Debris for the Jefferson Parish Department of Parkways Late bids will not be ac‐ cepted.

Jefferson Parish strongly encourages the involve‐ ment of small busi‐ nesses, minority busi‐ nesses, women's busi‐ ness enterprises, and veteran-owned busi‐ nesses to stimulate par‐ ticipation in procurement and assistance pro‐ grams. work in accor‐ dance with the specifica‐ tion with no additional cost to the owner.

Renny Simno Director Purchasing Department Misty A. Camardelle Assistant Director Purchasing Department ADV: The Baton Rouge Advocate: July 22, 29, and August 5, 2026 For additional informa‐ tion, please visit the Pur‐ chasing Webpage at https://www.jeffparish. gov/464/Purchasing or you may call 504-3642678.

194391-jul 22-29-aug 5-3t $113.08

PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS BID EVENT #58 Sealed Bids will be re‐ ceived electronically through our E-Procure‐ www. ment site at jeffparish.gov/supplier until 2:00 p.m., August 18, 2026 and shall, at the below listed time and place, be publicly opened and read aloud. At no charge, bidders may sub‐ mit via Jefferson Parish’s electronic procurement page by visiting www. jeffparish.gov/supplier to register for this free site.

Bids will be accepted and received through Bridge until 2 p.m. The public bid opening will be held at the West Bank Pur‐ chasing Department at 200 Derbigny Street, Suite 4400, Gretna, LA 70053 beginning at 2:30 p.m. on each bid opening date for the following project: Three (3) Year Pre-Placed Emergency Contract for Emergency Transporta‐ tion Assets during a De‐ clared Emergency in Jef‐ ferson Parish for the De‐ partment of Emergency Management Late bids will not be ac‐ cepted Jefferson Parish strongly encourages the involve‐ ment of small busi‐ nesses, minority busi‐ nesses, women's busi‐ ness enterprises, and veteran-owned busi‐ nesses to stimulate par‐ ticipation in procurement and assistance pro‐ grams. work in accor‐ dance with the specifica‐ tion with no additional cost to the owner.

Renny Simno Director Purchasing Department Misty A. Camardelle Assistant Director Purchasing Department

ADV: The Baton Rouge Advocate: July 22, 29, and August 5, 2026 For additional informa‐ tion, please visit the Pur‐ chasing Webpage at https://www.jeffparish. h i

Public Notices Bids/Proposals p j gov/464/Purchasing or you may call 504-3642678.

194560 July 22, 29, Aug. 5, 2026 3t $112.09

PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS BID EVENT NO. #52 Sealed Bids will be re‐ ceived electronically through our E-Procure‐ ment site at www.jeffpar ishbids.net until 2:00 p.m., September 1, 2026 and shall, at the below listed time and place, be publicly opened and read aloud. At no charge, bid‐ ders may submit via Jef‐ ferson Parish’s electronic procurement page by visiting www.jeffparishb ids.net to register for this free site.

Bids will be accepted and received through Central Bidding until 2 p.m. The public bid opening will be held at the West Bank Purchasing Department at 200 Derbigny Street, Suite 4400, Gretna, LA 70053 beginning at 2:30 p.m. on each bid opening date for the following project: Westbank Expressway Median Improvements Phase 3 Extending from Louisiana Street to Terry Parkway All bids must be in accor‐ dance with the contract documents on file with the Jefferson Parish Pur‐ chasing Department, Suite 4400, Jefferson Parish General Govern‐ ment Building, at 200 Derbigny Street, Gretna, Louisiana. Late bids will not be accepted.

The Jefferson Parish Council reserves the right to reject all bids and to reject bids for just cause, pursuant to the law. Jefferson Parish and its partners as the recipi‐ ents of federal funds are fully committed to awarding a contract(s) to firm(s) that will provide high-quality services and that are dedicated to di‐ versity and to containing costs. Thus, Jefferson Parish strongly encour‐ ages the involvement of small businesses, minor‐ ity businesses, women's business enterprises, and veteran-owned busi‐ nesses to stimulate par‐ ticipation in procurement and assistance pro‐ grams.

All prospective bidders are invited to attend this non-mandatory pre-bid conference, which will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Au‐ gust 10, 2026, in the Jef‐ ferson Parish Purchasing Department, located in the General Government Building, 200 Derbigny St., Suite 4400, Gretna, LA 70053. However, failure to attend the pre-bid con‐ ference shall not relieve the bidder of responsibil‐ ity for information dis‐ cussed at the confer‐ ence. Furthermore, fail‐ ure to attend the pre-bid conference and inspec‐ tion does not relieve the successful bidder from the necessity of furnish‐ ing materials or perform‐ ing any work that may be required to complete the work in accordance with the specification with no additional cost to the owner.

Renny Simno Director Purchasing Department Misty A. Camardelle Assistant Director Purchasing Department

Baton Rouge Advocate: July 22, 29, and August 5, 2026 For additional informa‐ tion, please visit the Pur‐ chasing Webpage at https://www.jeffparish. gov/464/Purchasing or call 504-364-2678.

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

FOR: REBID - Furnish Labor and Materials for Campus Wide Direct Digi‐ tal HVAC Control System, Item 54 Louisiana State University Alexandria, Louisiana Project No. 01107-24-05, F.01004604 LSU SOLICITATION NUMBER: RFQ-0000002860 Complete Bidding Docu‐ ments for this project may be obtained from: www.centerlinebidco Printed nnect.com. copies are not available from the Designer, but arrangements can be made to obtain them through most repro‐ graphic firms.

Contractors unable to access bidding docu‐ ments at www.centerl inebidconnect.com should contact

M & E Consulting, LLC Skye Miller 1304 Bertrand Drive, Ste F7 Lafayette, LA 70506 337.362.3979 skye@meconsulting. com All bids must be accom‐ panied by bid security equal to five percent (5%) of the sum of the base bid and all alter‐ nates, and must be in the form of a certified check, cashier’s check or Bid Bond Form written by a surety company licensed to do business in Louisiana, signed by the surety’s agency or attor‐ ney-in-fact. Surety must be listed on the current U.S. Department of the Treasury Financial Man‐ agement Service list of approved bonding com‐ panies as approved for an amount equal to or greater than the amount for which it obligates it‐ self in the Bond, or must be a Louisiana domiciled insurance company with at least an A- rating in the latest printing of the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide. If surety qualifies by virtue of its Best’s list‐ ing, the amount of the Bond may not exceed ten percent of policyholders’ surplus as shown in the latest A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide. The Bid Bond shall be in favor of the Louisiana State Uni‐ versity and Agricultural and Mechanical College, and shall be accompa‐ nied by appropriate power of attorney. No Bid Bond indicating an oblig‐ ation of less than five percent (5%) by any method is acceptable.

The successful Bidder shall be required to fur‐ nish a Performance and Payment Bond written by a company licensed to do business in Louisiana, in an amount equal to 100% of the Contract amount. Surety must be listed currently on the U.S. Department of Trea‐ sury Financial manage‐ ment Service List (Trea‐ sury List) as approved for an amount equal to or greater than the con‐ tract amount, or must be an insurance company domiciled in Louisiana or owned by Louisiana resi‐ dents. If surety is quali‐ fied other than by listing on the Treasury list, the contract amount may not exceed fifteen percent of policyholders’ surplus as shown by surety’s most recent financial state‐ ments filed with the Louisiana Department of Insurance and may not exceed the amount of $500,000.

However, a Louisiana domiciled in‐ surance company with at least an A- rating in the latest printing of the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide shall not be subject to the $500,000 limitation, provided that the con‐ tract amount does not exceed ten percent of policyholders’ surplus as shown in the latest A.M.

PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

A PRE-BID CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD

Bids will be received by the Office of Purchasing, Room 213 Thomas Boyd Hall, Louisiana State Uni‐ versity and Agricultural and Mechanical College 70803 until 11:00 AM on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.

10:00 AM, Thursday, July 30, 2026 LSU - Alexandria, Facility Services Build‐ ing, Conference Room, 8209 Acorn Drive, Alexandria, LA 71302

** Refer to www.centerlinebidco nnect.com for bid sub‐ mission instructions. All bids must be submitted via email to lsubids@lsu. edu **

Bids shall be accepted from Contractors who are licensed under LA. R.S. 37:2150-2163 for the ME‐ classification of CHANICAL. Bidder is re‐ quired to comply with provisions and require‐ ments of LA R.S. 38:2212 (A)(1)(c). No bid may be withdrawn for a period of thirty (30) days after re‐ ceipt of bids, except under the provisions of LA. R.S. 38:2214.

ANY PERSON REQUIRING SPECIAL ACCOMMODA‐ TIONS SHALL NOTIFY LOUISIANA STATE UNI‐ VERSITY, OFFICE OF PUR‐ CHASING OF THE TYPE(S) OF ACCOMMODATION RE‐ QUIRED NOT LESS THAN SEVEN (7) DAYS BEFORE THE BID OPENING.

APARTMENT 3060 N. Acadian Thrwy (Wtr/Swr Pd) 5135 & 5137 Fairfield (Duplex Updt) 1BR/1BA, Rent $500, Dep $100 225-357-6436

The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bid f j

MOBILE HOME 1, 2 & 3 BR mobile homes, $675 & up 6061 Plank Rd. CALL 225-978-4653 ROOMS FOR RENT Furnished Rooms. $125/wk. $500/mo.

225-933-7560

When you need the news.

Wherever you read the news.

APARTMENT AREA 5 1BR $600, 2BR $700 Tigerland. $500 Deposit. 225-475-1737

APARTMENT Silverside Gardens, very nice home, Lg 2-Story apartment w/cent a/c/heat, all electric, w/d hu, ceiling fans. remodeled & very clean. $900/mo & $850/dep 225-939-5229 WANT TO BUY Old Records 33's, 45's & 78's. All types of music. Call 985-259-1889

AREA 3

Subscribe today Scan the QR code

3017 Chippewa St. 3BR 1BA Rent $800/mo $300/dep 225-357-6436

Pets / Pet Services Directory

Baton Rouge Real Estate For Sale

PETS • SUPPLIES • SERVICES • OBITUARIES • LOST & FOUND

RETIREMENT COMMUNITY Village Woods Independent Condo Living 2 BRS, 2 BA, available ranging from $142,900 to $209,900 225-718-3025 www.jarreaurealty.com

PLACE YOUR PET SERVICES INFORMATION IN THE PET SERVICES DIRECTORY TODAY! • IT IS FAST AND EASY! • CALL 225-383-0111 MORKIES, SHORKIES, BISHON YORKIES, CKC YORKIES vet checked shot worming meet Gulfport $450 334 467-3416 AKC Belgian Malinois Pups Beautiful, Easily Trained $2,000.00 601-299-0264 www.psdkennels.com DOGS Precious Maltese Male Puppies, $350 7-wks Call 225-936-2441

CATS RAGAMUFFIN & RAGDOLL KITTENS www.CatsByFrancy.com/kittens $1500up! Reg. Shots & Guaranty 337-230-3150

CLASSIFIEDS.THEADVOCATE.COM

Best’s Key Rating Guide nor fifteen percent of policyholder’s surplus as shown by surety’s most recent financial state‐ ments filed with the Louisiana Department of Insurance.

The Bond shall be signed by the surety’s agent or attor‐ ney-in-fact.

194775-jul 22-29-aug 5-3t $158.56

Baton Rouge Rental

Merchandise

APARTMENTS 655 North St Subsidized Efficiency Apartments cpabr.org 225-383-5551 TDD/TTY 711 RELAY

Public Notices Bids/Proposals g j y bids for just cause. In ac‐ cordance with La. R.S. 38:2212 (A)(1)(b), the pro‐ visions and requirements of this Section, those stated in the advertise‐ ment for bids, and those required on the bid form shall not be considered as informalities and shall not be waived by any public entity.

When this project is fi‐ nanced either partially or entirely with State Bonds or federal funds, the award of this Contract is contingent upon the granting of lines of credit, the sale of bonds by the Bond Commission or the commitment of federal funds. The Uni‐ versity shall incur no obligation to the Con‐ tractor until the Contract Between Owner and Con‐ tractor is fully executed.

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

ders. Sureties used for obtaining bonds must appear as acceptable on the U. S. Department of Treasury Circular 570.

j Louisiana Project Name: Riverplex Megapark Heavy Haul Road and Construction Bridge Location: Ascension Parish, LA

No bidder may withdraw his/her bid within fortyfive (45) days after the actual date of the open‐ ing thereof.

OWNER CITY OF ZACHARY BY: /s/ DAVID MCDAVID, MAYOR PUBLICATION/DATES The Advocate Wednesday, July 29, 2026 Wednesday, August 5, 2026 Wednesday, August 12, 2026 195512-jul 29-aug 5-12-3t $196.96

193340 July 15, 22, 29, 2026 3t $207.66

PUBLIC NOTICE ---

PUBLIC NOTICE ---

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS EVENT BID NO. 55

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS City of Zachary (herein referred to as the "Owner") hereby solicits sealed bids for the 2026 Asphalt Road Improve‐ ments Program project described as follows: STATEMENT OF WORK (FORTE & TABLADA Pro‐ ject No. 260291): Asphalt road patching, cold plan‐ ing, asphalt overlay, and associated appurte‐ nances.

Sealed Bids shall be ad‐ dressed to the City of Zachary, and delivered to the Zachary City Hall, 4700 Main Street (Post Office Box 310), Zachary, LA 70791) not later than 10:00 a.m. on August 26, 2026. Any bid received after the specified time and date will not be con‐ sidered. The sealed bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at 10:00 a.m. on August 26, 2026, at the Zachary City Hall located at 4700 Main Street, Zachary, LA 70791.

Complete Bid Docu‐ ments, Instructions to Bidders, Bid Form, Con‐ tract, Plans, Specifica‐ tions, and Forms of the Bid Bond, Performance Bond and Payment Bond, and other bidding docu‐ ments may be down‐ loaded from the City of Zachary Plan Room as hosted by Central Bid‐ ding https://www.cen tralbidding.com (subject to fees and conditions).

For any questions re‐ garding the website call Central Bidding at 225810-4814.

Prospective Bidders are solely re‐ sponsible for obtaining the most up-to-date bid‐ ding Documents from the designated website. Bids will be received by mail and/or hand delivery to the location as stated above. In addition to paper bids, electronic bids and electronic bid bonds for the following project will be accepted by the City of Zachary.

Electronic bids and elec‐ tronic bid bonds must be submitted through the City of Zachary Plan Room as hosted by Cen‐ tral Bidding https:// www.centralbidding.com prior to the electronic bidding deadline. Begin‐ ning at 10:00 a.m. (local time) on August 26, 2026 all bids will be down‐ loaded. No bids will be accepted after the said date and time.

Complete Bid Documents may also be examined by emailing publicworks@ forteandtablada.com or at the Office of the Engi‐ neer for the contract; Forte and Tablada. lo‐ cated at 9107 Interline Avenue, Baton Rouge, La 70809; (225) 927-9321.

Hard copies may be ob‐ tained at this office upon payment of a deposit of $150.00. This deposit will be refunded upon re‐ quest in accordance with R.S. 38:2212.

Contractors submitting bids shall be licensed under LA R.S. 37:21502164, Highway, Street and Bridge Construction. The bidder shall show his li‐ cense number on the bid and on the sealed enve‐ lope submitting the bid.

The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause; such actions will be in accor‐ dance with Title 38 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes.

In accordance with R.S. 38:2212 (A)(1)(b), the pro‐ visions and requirements stated in the Bidding Documents shall not be waived by any entity.

Each Bidder must de‐ posit with his/her bid, security in the amount of at least five percent (5%) of the total bid price, provided on the specified form and subject to the conditions provided in the Information for Bid‐

Sealed Bids will be re‐ ceived electronically through our E-Procure‐ www. ment site at jeffparish.gov/supplier until 2:00 p.m., August 13, 2026. At no charge, bid‐ ders may submit via Jef‐ ferson Parish’s electronic procurement page by visiting www.jeffparish. gov/supplier to register for this free site.

Bids will be accepted and received through Bridge until 2 p.m. The public bid opening will be held at the West Bank Pur‐ chasing Department at 200 Derbigny Street, Suite 4400, Gretna, LA 70053 beginning at 2:30 p.m. on each bid opening date for the following project: PRE-PLACED EMERGENCY CONTRACT FOR THREE (3) YEARS FOR OXYGEN CYLINDERS AND SUP‐ PLIES FOR JEFFERSON PARISH DURING A DE‐ CLARED EMERGENCY Late bids will not be ac‐ cepted Jefferson Parish strongly encourages the involve‐ ment of small busi‐ nesses, minority busi‐ nesses, women's busi‐ ness enterprises, and veteran-owned busi‐ nesses to stimulate par‐ ticipation in procurement and assistance pro‐ grams. work in accor‐ dance with the specifica‐ tion with no additional cost to the owner.

Renny Simno Director Purchasing Department Misty A. Camardelle Assistant Director Purchasing Department

ADV: The Baton Rouge Advocate: July 29 and Au‐ gust 5, 2026 For additional informa‐ tion, please visit the Pur‐ chasing Webpage at https://www.jeffparish. gov/464/Purchasing or you may call 504-3642678.

195441 July 29, Aug. 5, 2026 2t $80.36

PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Sealed bids will be ac‐ cepted in the Purchasing Department at Bossier Parish Community Col‐ lege until 2:00 P.M., CST, August 13, 2026, as per the specifications. Bids must be returned to the Purchasing Office in a sealed envelope marked with the Bid Number and Opening Date and Time.

Bids must be submitted on the form enclosed herewith, and in strict conformity with the in‐ tent of same without modifications. Bids must be signed in ink, dated, and title of person sign‐ ing bid must be shown on bid. Bid Number 40003-10595 – Provide Charter Bus Services for Athletic Teams. No bid may be withdrawn for a period of thirty (30) days after receipt of bids.

Bossier Parish Commu‐ nity College reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive any in‐ incidental formalities thereto. Complete bid‐ ding documents may be obtained from Bossier Parish Community Col‐ lege, Kori Hearon, khcaron@bpcc.edu tele‐ phone (318) 678-6242.

195475 July 29, 1t $122.91 PUBLIC NOTICE --ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS The Port of South Louisiana hereby adver‐ tises for bids for: Project: i i

Port

of

South

NOTICE: Pursuant to La. Stat. Ann. § 38:2215, pub‐ lic notice is hereby given that for this project the funding will not be read‐ ily available at the times the bids are received and therefore the statutory time periods for holding bids, issuance of work orders and to commence work shall not be applic‐ able as the contract is to be financed by bonds which are required to be sold after opening of bids on the contract, or the contract is to be fi‐ nanced in whole or in part by federal or other funds which will not be readily available at the time bids are opened. By submitting a bid, prospective bidders ac‐ knowledge this notice The Port of South Louisiana shall incur no obligation to the bidder until the Contract Be‐ tween Owner and Con‐ tractor is fully executed.

Description of Basic Work: Scope of work con‐ sists of the construction of: A. Mobilization and De‐ mobilization 1. Mobilization and de‐ mobilization of all equip‐ ment, manpower, and all other items necessary to complete the work out‐ lined in the attached documents.

B. Site Clearing 1. Contractor shall be re‐ sponsible for clearing and grubbing the project site in accordance with the Project Drawings and as delineated in the Technical Specifications.

C. Survey 1. Contractor shall be re‐ sponsible for all survey and layout work neces‐ sary for the construction of the Marine Offloading Facility, Heavy Haul Road, and Mega-Bridge Structure in accordance with the Project Draw‐ ings and as delineated in the Technical Specifica‐ tions.

D. Marine Offloading Fa‐ cility 1. Contractor shall be re‐ sponsible for the design, procurement, fabrica‐ tion, and installation of the temporary Marine Of‐ floading Facility, includ‐ ing steel pipe piles, castin-place concrete pile caps, and removable steel frame bridge pan‐ els in accordance with the Project Drawings and as delineated in the Technical Specifications.

Contractor shall be re‐ sponsible for monitoring the river elevation pro‐ jections and adding or removing the temporary spacer frames and deck panels as needed for op‐ erational purposes. +15’ at Donaldsonville gage E. Heavy Haul Road 1. Contractor shall be re‐ sponsible for the con‐ struction of the tempo‐ rary earthen Heavy Haul Road, including procure‐ ment and installation of fill material and fabrica‐ tion and installation of the concrete abutment in accordance with the Pro‐ ject Drawings and as de‐ lineated in the Technical Specifications.

F. Mega-Bridge Structure 1. Contractor shall be re‐ sponsible for the design, procurement, fabrica‐ tion, and installation of the temporary MegaBridge Structure, includ‐ ing support piling , steel beam framing, steel decking, and guardrail in accordance with the Pro‐ ject Drawings and as de‐ lineated in the Technical Specifications.

G. Mooring and Breasting Dolphins 1. Contractor shall be re‐ sponsible for the pro‐ curement, fabrication, and installation of two (2) mooring dolphins, in‐ cluding all mooring hard‐ ware, and three (3) breasting dolphins, in‐ cluding fenders, in accor‐ dance with the Project Drawings and as delin‐ eated in the Technical Specifications. Contrac‐ tor shall also be respon‐ sible for the fabrication and installation of a tem‐ porary floating pontoon for barge breasting as shown in the Project Drawings.

H. Maintenance of Heavy Haul Road 1. Contractor shall be re‐ sponsible for the peri‐ odic maintenance of the earthen heavy haul road for a period of three (3) years after completion of construction. Contractor shall perform monthly in‐ spections of the heavy haul road and add fill material as needed to maintain the design ele‐ vation and side slopes as shown in the Project Drawings, particularly after high river periods.

Contractors shall also provide adequate drainage for heavy haul road.

Description of Alternate No. 1:

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Public Notices Bids/Proposals

_________N/A_______ Description of Alternate No. 2: ___________N/A______ Sealed Bids must be re‐ ceived by the Port of South Louisiana, 1720 Louisiana Highway 44.

Reserve, Louisiana 70084, either by mail, hand de‐ livery or electronic bid, NO LATER THAN AUGUST 26, 2026 at 2 PM, local time, Attn: Julia FisherCormier, Sealed Bid En‐ closed- [project name], Contractor’s License Number and Contractor’s name should be printed outside of the sealed bid.

Promptly thereafter, the bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the Port of South Louisiana, 1720 Louisiana Highway 44. Reserve, Louisiana 70084.

Electronic bids are ac‐ cepted on the Central Auction House Bidding www.central Website: auctionhouse.com Complete Bidding Docu‐ ments may be examined at the Port of South Louisiana, 1720 Louisiana Highway 44, Reserve, Louisiana 70084 or at www.centralauctionh ouse.com upon deposit of twice the actual cost of reproduc‐ tion for each set of docu‐ ments. Deposits on the first set of documents furnished prime bidders shall be fully refunded upon return of the docu‐ ments no later than ten days after receipt of bids. On other sets of documents furnished to bidders, the deposit less the actual cost of repro‐ duction shall be re‐ funded upon return of the documents no later than ten days after re‐ ceipt of bids. Contact in‐ formation shall be pro‐ vided by persons re‐ questing bidding docu‐ ments including email, mobile phone, fax num‐ ber and physical address information for the pur‐ pose of addenda distrib‐ ution. by either facsimile transmission, e-mail, other electronic means, by hand, or by overnight delivery using a nation‐ ally recognized carrier.

All bids shall be accom‐ panied by bid security in an amount of five per‐ cent (5.0%) of the sum of the base bid and all al‐ ternates. The form of this security shall be as stated in the Instructions to Bidders included in the Bid Documents for this project.

The successful Bidder shall be required to fur‐ nish a Performance and Payment Bond written as described in the Instruc‐ tions to Bidders included in the Bid Documents for this project.

In accordance with La R.S. 38:2212 B. (5) Written evidence of the authority of the person signing the bid for public works shall be submitted at the time of bidding. The authority of the signature of the person submitting the bid shall be deemed suf‐ ficient and acceptable if any of the following con‐ ditions are met: (a) The signature on the bid is that of any corpo‐ rate officer listed on the most current annual re‐ port on file with the sec‐ retary of state, or the signature on the bid is that of any member of a partnership, limited lia‐ bility company, limited li‐ ability partnership, or other legal entity listed in the most current busi‐ ness records on file with the secretary of state. (b) The signature on the bid is that of an autho‐ rized representative as documented by the legal entity certifying the au‐ thority of the person. (c) The legal entity has filed in the appropriate records of the secretary of state of this state, an affidavit, resolution, or other acknowledged or authentic document indi‐ cating the names of all parties authorized to submit bids for public contracts. Such docu‐ ment on file with the sec‐ retary of state shall re‐ main in effect and shall be binding upon the prin‐ cipal until specifically re‐ scinded and canceled from the records of the office.

See the Contract Docu‐ ments for Certificates of Insurance requirements.

BID PROTEST PROCEDURE By submitting a bid, bid‐ ders agree that any and all disputes arising from or connected with the bidding on or award of the contract for this pro‐ ject shall be resolved by way of the following which bidders acknowl‐ edge as the available ad‐ ministrative remedy: 1. Any and all bidders' in‐ formation shall be avail‐ able upon request as a bli d i h

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Public Notices Bids/Proposals p q public record, either no sooner than nine (9) working days following the bid opening or after the recommendation of award by the public en‐ tity or the design profes‐ sional, whichever occurs first, and the requester shall pay reasonable re‐ production costs.

2. Any protest of the re‐ sponsiveness of a bid or responsibility of a bidder shall be submitted in writing and received by the Port of South Louisiana and the design professional of record within fourteen (14) working days following the bid opening. Any protest of the award of the contract shall be submitted in writing and received by the Port of South Louisiana and the design professional of record within three (3) working days following the award.

3. A written protest shall fully identify the reasons and the evidence offered to support the protest.

4. At the discretion of the Port of South Louisiana, either an informal hear‐ ing will be conducted or a decision on the protest will be issued within three (3) working days of receiving the protest.

Disqualification of a po‐ tential bidder or as the low bidder on grounds that such bidder is not a “responsible bidder” shall be conducted pur‐ suant to La. Stat. Ann. § 38:2212 X. A MANDATORY PRE-BID CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD On Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at 1:00 PM at the Port of South Louisiana / Administra‐ tive Building / Board Room 1720 LA-44, Reserve, LA 70084.

All prospective bidders shall be present at the beginning of the pre-bid conference and shall re‐ main in attendance for the duration of the con‐ ference. Any prospective bidder who fails to at‐ tend the conference on time or remain for the duration may be disqual‐ ified as a bidder or pro‐ hibited from submitting a bid for the project.

Bids shall be accepted from Contractors who are licensed under La. R.S. 37:2150-2192 for the classification of High‐ way, Street, and Bridge construction, Heavy con‐ struction.

No bid may be with‐ drawn for a period of forty-five (45) calendar days after the actual date of opening thereof except as provided by La R.S. 38:2214(C). The par‐ ties may mutually agree to extend the bid for ad‐ ditional days.

Pursuant to La R.S. 38:2214(B) the Owner re‐ serves its right to reject any and all bids for just cause. In accordance with La. R.S. 38:2212(B) (1), the provisions and requirements of this Sec‐ tion, those stated in the bidding documents shall not be considered as in‐ formalities and shall not be waived by any public entity.

Julia Fisher-Cormier Executive Director Port of South Louisiana Advertisement Dates: July 22, 2026 July 29, 2026 August 5, 2026 END OF DOCUMENT 194586-jul 22-29-aug 5-3t $448.75 PUBLIC NOTICE --Bid #3161 Southern University at New Orleans is soliciting an Invitation to Bid (ITB) to provide Dumpster Rental and Garbage Dis‐ posal Services. Rental services include dump‐ sters on both the Main and Park Campus. A Mandatory Pre-Bid Meet‐ ing will be held on Mon‐ day, August 0, 2026 at 10:00 am and the Open‐ ing Bid Conference Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at 10:00 am. Both meet‐ ings are located at 6400 Press Drive, New Orleans, LA 70126 in the Emmitt Bashful Building (Admin.

Bldg.) 3rd Floor, Rm. #306. Sealed bids will be received by Southern University at New Or‐ leans in the Purchasing Department, Emmitt Bashful Bldg. Rm. #202 up to 10:00 am August 25, 2026.

Public Notices Bids/Proposals y Purchasing Director mmanuel@suno.edu or (504) 286-5020 194555 July 22, 29, Aug 5, 2026 3t $42.15

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids for the fol‐ lowing will be received by the Louisiana Depart‐ ment of Transportation and Development, Pro‐ curement Section, 1201 Capitol Access Road, 4th Floor, East Wing Room S447, Headquarters Ad‐ ministration Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, Telephone number (225/379-1444) on date(s) shown below, until 10:00 A.M. No bids will be ac‐ cepted after this hour. At 10:00 A.M. of the same day and date, they will be publicly opened and read in Headquarters Ad‐ ministration Building, 4th Floor, East Wing S-447.

Evidence of authority to submit the bid shall be required in accordance with R.S. 38:2212 (A)(1)(c) and/or R.S. 39:1594 (C)(2) (D).

BID TO BE OPENED August 17, 2026 DOTD – MAST ARM POLES RFx 3000026540 Full information may be obtained upon request from the above address.

The Department reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive any informalities.

GLENN P. LEDET, JR. SECRETARY, LADOTD JULIE KENNISON, CPPB, NIGP-CPP DOTD PROCUREMENT DIRECTOR 195663 July 29, 1t $16.05 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO BIDDERS - - Sealed Bids will be ac‐ cepted until August 13, 2026, at 12:00 pm for the following Bid 262702 Welding Gas Cylinders Rental. Bid must be sub‐ mitted to: The Mail Bag c/o Baton Rouge Commu‐ nity College, 7515 Jeffer‐ son Highway #326, Baton Rouge, LA 70806. Baton Rouge Community Col‐ lege (BRCC) will open all timely submitted sealed bids at its office located at 201 Community Col‐ lege Drive, Magnolia Building, Dumas Room, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, on August 13, 2026, at 2:00 pm., in response to this Invitation to Bid. All Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud.

Bid forms and specifica‐ tions may be obtained by accessing the bid num‐ ber in LaPac at https:// wwwcfprd.doa.louisiana. gov/osp/lapac/pubMain. cfm. No bids will be re‐ ceived after the date and time specified. The right is reserved to reject any and all bids and to waive any informalities. De‐ siree Brown, Assistant Director of Purchasing, brownd3@mybrcc.edu.

195623 July 29, 1t $

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO BIDDERS SP# 138 Sealed bids will be re‐ ceived by the Procure‐ ment Section of the Divi‐ sion of Administration, 1201 N. 3rd. St., 2nd.

Floor, Suite 2-160, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 10:00 A.M. for the follow‐ ing: RFx No. 3000026505, Emergency Personal Care Services - LDH, 8/13/26 RFx No. 3000026475, CCORTECH Brand Name Surveillance, 8/18/26 RFx No. 3000026523, Fire Suppression System – DMA, 8/18/26 Bid proposal forms, in‐ formation and specifica‐ tions may be obtained by accessing the bid num‐ ber in LaPac at www.doa. la.gov/doa/osp/ or from the procurement section listed above. No bids will be received after the date and hour specified.

The right is reserved to reject any and all bids and to waive any infor‐ malities.

Amy Vincent Director of State Procure‐ ment FAX (225) 342-8688 195538-JUL 29-1T $13.77

To be shown in the newspaper:

PUBLIC NOTICE ---

July 22, July 29, and August 5, 2026

Notice to Proposers SP# 139

Contact Person: Marilyn Gilmore-Manuel, h i i

Sealed proposals will be received by the Office of State Procurement, 1201 North Third Street, 2nd

8D ■ Wednesday, July 29, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Floor, Suite 2-160, Baton Rouge, LA until 10:00 AM CT on September 10, 2026 for Solicitation Number Doc2325458855 - Request for Proposal (RFP) for On-Site Dialysis Services for DPS&C. The RFP may be accessed https:// portal.us.bn.cloud.ariba. com/dashboard/public/ appext/comsapsbncd iscoveryui#/RfxEvent/ preview/1110019692?anI d=ANONYMOUS No proposals will be con‐ sidered after the date and hour specified. The right is reserved to reject any and all proposals and to waive any infor‐ malities.

Amy Vincent Director of State Procure‐ ment Phone (225) 342-8010 195539-JUL 29-1T $11.48 PUBLIC NOTICE --PROPOSALS TO BE RECEIVED: September 1, 2026 at 2PM

NOTICE TO PROPOSERS Notice is hereby given that sealed proposals will be received by City of Baton Rouge and the Parish of East Baton Rouge until September 1, 2026 at 2:00 PM local time in Room 826 of City Hall, 222 Saint Louis Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802 for: RFP SOLICITATION NO. 2026-11-7731 – Janitorial Services for Environmental Services Building A mandatory pre-pro‐ posal conference and job site visit will be held in person on August 14, 2026 at 9:00 AM. The mandatory pre-proposal conference and job site visit will be held at the Environmental Services Building, 12422 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70802. A company repre‐ sentative must be in at‐ tendance at the pre-pro‐ posal meeting and job site visit to receive an award for this project.

Copies of the Request for Proposal may be ob‐ i d f

Public Notices Bids/Proposals p y tained from LaPAC (https://wwwcfprd.doa. louisiana.gov/osp/lapac/ dspBid.cfm?search=dep artment&term=102), Central Bidding (http:// www.centralauctionh ouse.com) or by email re‐ quest to: RFP2026117731JanSer‐ vEnv@brla.gov. *Note: The City-Parish has elected to use LaPAC, the state’s online electronic bid posting and Central Bidding noti‐ fication system, in addi‐ tion to its standard means of advertising this requirement. LaPAC is resident on State Pur‐ chasing’s website at https://wwwcfprd.doa. louisiana.gov/osp/lapac/ pubmain.cfm and is available for vendor selfenrollment. NOTE: This RFP is not available to submit online via Central Bidding; submissions MUST be mailed or hand delivered to the address mentioned in the RFP. In that LaPAC and Central Bidding provides an im‐ mediate e-mail notifica‐ tion to subscribing bid‐ ders that a solicitation

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Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

and any subsequent ad‐ denda have been let and posted, notice and re‐ ceipt thereof is consid‐ ered formally given as of their respective dates of posting. Though not re‐ quired if receiving solici‐ tation and addenda no‐ tices from LaPAC and Central Bidding the CityParish will email ad‐ denda to all vendors con‐ tacting our office and re‐ questing to be put on our office Vendor Listing for this solicitation.

Statute RS 33:2233.4. It is the policy of the Parish to ensure that Eligible Business Enterprises EBE’s, certified in accor‐ dance with the Parish program, have an equal opportunity to receive and participate in parish contracts.

All questions concerning the Solicitation and Con‐ tract Documents MUST be received in accor‐ dance with the Schedule of Events cited in section 1.3 of the Solicitation documents and as further defined in section 1.7.2 Proposer In‐ quiry Period of the same document.

Louisiana is soliciting Bids for a contractor to supply aviation fuel to Port of South Louisiana Executive Regional Air‐ port (APS or herein re‐ ferred to as “Airport”) for up to a period of ten (10) years. This Bid also in‐ cludes the supply of re‐ lated delivery equipment at APS.

Though not required if receiving solicitation and addenda notices from LaPAC, the City of Baton Rouge, Parish of East Baton Rouge will e-mail or mail addenda to all vendors contacting our office and requesting to be put on our office Ven‐ dor Listing for this solici‐ tation.

Bids will be received until August 26, 2026, 11:00 AM Central Time in the Port of South Louisiana Administration Building located at 1720 LA Highway 44, Reserve, LA 70084 and thereafter opened and publicly read for the following: “Avia‐ tion Fuel Supplier for Ex‐ ecutive Regional Air‐ port”.

195457 July 29, Aug. 5, 12, 2026 3t $199.26

Each bid must be con‐ tained in a sealed enve‐ lope, and each envelope must be clearly marked as applicable:

The deadline for receiv‐ ing written inquiries is August 18, 2026 at 5:00 PM CST. Proposals received after the above specified time will not be considered.

The right to reject any and all proposals and to waive irregularities and informalities is reserved.

The City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge has established a Socially and Economi‐ cally Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (SEDBE) program in ac‐ cordance with Revised

For this project the EBR Parish Purchasing office has directed a review of the scope of work and participation is strongly encouraged but not re‐ quired.

The City-Parish is an equal opportunity em‐ ployer and encourages the participation of Dis‐ advantaged Business En‐ terprises (DBE) in all of its projects.

Pro‐ posers/Prospective Con‐ tractors are strongly en‐ couraged to make posi‐ tive efforts to utilize mi‐ nority subcontractors for a portion of this project.

Proposers are requested to include in their pro‐ posal a description of plans for minority partic‐ ipation under this Con‐ tract as suppliers or sub‐ contractors.

PUBLIC NOTICE --REQUEST FOR BID FOR AVIATION FUEL SUPPLIER FOR EXECUTIVE REGIONAL AIRPORT (APS) Notice is hereby given that the Port of South

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Port of South Louisiana (POSL) is the owner and operator of POSL Execu‐ tive Regional Airport (APS). POSL is aware of the shortage of profes‐ sional pilots and aircraft mechanics, and with a focus on workforce de‐

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All bidders are afforded full and fair opportunity to submit bids in re‐ sponse to this invitation.

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Preference is hereby given to materials, sup‐ plies and provisions, pro‐ duced, manufactured or grown in Louisiana, qual‐ ity being equal to articles offered by competitors outside of the state.

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g j y Bids, to negotiate the terms and conditions of the Bids, to waive irregu‐ larities and/or formali‐ ties, and to make an award in a manner deter‐ mined to be in the Port of South Louisiana’s best interest.

IF NO ANSWER LEAVE MESSAGE

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p p South Louisiana, 1720 Highway 44, Reserve, Louisiana 70084 or viewed at portsl.com.

Bidders also have the op‐ tion to review bid docu‐ ments and submit bids electronically by visiting www.centralbidding. com. You must register directly with Central Bid‐ ding to utilize this ser‐ vice. You may also con‐ tact them at 1-833-4125717.

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Public Notices Bids/Proposals

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Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

PUBLIC NOTICE ---

velopment, it is POSL’s goal to provide students and residents of the River Paish Region with a pathway to meet the de‐ mands of the industry.

Currently, the Airport of‐ fers some independent flight instruction.

Sealed Bids for the Cool‐ ing Tower Renovation will be received at the Jackson Barracks 6400 Saint Claude Bldg. 3022 New Orleans, Louisiana.

70117 until 11:00 a.m. CT on Wednesday, Septem‐ ber 2, 2026.

The operator shall pro‐ vide quality Federal Avia‐ tion Regulation (“FAR”) Part 61 and/or Part 141 flight instruction at APS, either as a primary or FAA-approved satellite base of operations. A co‐ ordinated program of in‐ struction by the opera‐ tor, at a minimum, shall result in completion of the Private Pilot, Instru‐ ment, Commercial, and Flight Instructor courses under FAR Part 61 and FAR Part 141. It is ex‐ pected that the syllabi for both programs em‐ ployed in the training by the operator to include scenario-based and in‐ corporate human factors training throughout the course of instruction.

The operator may setup and operate, within a ne‐ gotiated timeframe, a FAA-approved testing center for FAA written knowledge tests, includ‐ ing at a minimum, for Pri‐ vate Pilot, Instrument, Commercial, Flight In‐ structor, Airframe and Powerplant certificates.

Aircraft utilized by the operator may be either owned by the operator or under a leaseback/mar‐ keting agreement with another owner. POSL has potential facilities avail‐ able as well as open real estate for development.

Operator would enter ap‐ propriate real estate (lease) and/or operating agreements as required

by FAA, State and/or local laws or regulations.

ANY PERSON REQUIRING SPECIAL ACCOMMODA‐ TIONS SHALL NOTIFY JOHN WALKER OF THE TYPE(S) OF ACCOMMO‐ DATION REQUIRED NOT LESS THAN SEVEN (7) DAYS BEFORE THE BID OPENING. Complete Bid Documents for this project are avail‐ able in electronic form.

They may be obtained without charge and with‐ out deposit from Louisiana Military De‐ partment (CFMO) (318) 664-4558. Printed copies are not available from the Designer, but arrangements can be made to obtain them through most repro‐ graphic firms. Plan hold‐ ers are responsible for their own reproduction costs. Questions about this procedure shall be directed to the Designer at 420 F Street, Pineville, Louisiana 71360. Atten‐ tion: John Walker, E-Mail Address: John.F.Walker3. ctr@army.mil or via phone (318) 664-4558.

A Mandatory Pre-Bid conference and site visit is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. CT on, Wednesday, August 12, 2026, Jackson Barracks Jackson Bar‐ racks 6400 Saint Claude Bldg. 3022 New Orleans, Louisiana. 70117 . Atten‐ dance at this Conference is mandatory. Prospec‐ tive bidders must attend the entire mandatory Pre-Bid conference in order to submit a bid.

The Pre-bid conference shall be conducted within current appropri‐ ate guidelines concern‐ ing COVID-19. The Mili‐ tary Department and CFMO point of contact is John Walker, Email: John.

F.Walker3.ctr@army.mil , Bldg. 420 F St., Room 233, Pineville, LA 71360.

POSL and the successful Proposer shall enter into negotiations for a re‐ spective operating and/or lease agreement.

Sealed Qualifying Ques‐ tionnaires will be ac‐ cepted until 10:00 am, August 31, 2026 at 1720 Highway 44, Reserve, Louisiana. Please mark all envelopes “Sealed Ap‐ plication –‘Flight School” – Attention: Chanse Wat‐ son, Airport Director. Ap‐ plications may also be submitted electronically at www.centralbidding. com.

BIDS SHALL BE ACCEPTED ONLY FROM CONTRAC‐ TORS THAT ATTEND THE ENTIRE MANDATORY PREBID CONFERENCE.

Qualifying Question‐ naires may be picked up at the Port of South Louisiana’s Administra‐ tion Building, 1720 High‐ way 44, Reserve, Louisiana 70084 or ac‐ cessed at www.central bidding.com.

ANY PERSON REQUIRING SPECIAL ACCOMMODA‐ TIONS SHALL NOTIFY JOHN WALKER OF THE TYPE(S) OF ACCOMMO‐ DATION REQUIRED NOT LESS THAN FIVE (5) DAYS BEFORE THE MANDATORY PRE-BID CONFERENCE.

The Port reserves the right to accept or reject any questionnaires, whole or in part and waive any formalities.

All Bids must be accom‐ panied by Bid Security equal to five percent (5%) of the Base Bid and Additional Bid Items (ABI) and must be in the form of a certified check, cashier’s check or bid bond.

If you have any questions about the proposal process, or for technical questions and/or to schedule an on-site visit, please contact Mr. Chanse Watson at (985) 536-1999, or cwatson@ portsl.com.

Bids shall be accepted from Contractors who are licensed under LA. R.S. 37:2150-2192 for the classification of Building Construction. Bidder is required to comply with provisions and require‐ ments of LA R.S. 38:2212(B) (5).

Julia Fisher- Cormier Executive Director Advertisement 7/29/26, 8/5/26,8/12/26

The successful Bidder will be required to fur‐ nish a Performance and Payment Bond written by a company licensed to do business in the State of Louisiana, equal to 100% of the Contract amount, including Addi‐ tional Bid Items (ABI), if required.

195471 July 29, Aug. 5, 12, 2026 3t $118.47

PUBLIC NOTICE --River Parishes Commu‐ nity College is seeking bids for a 40005-FY27-012, 2026 48 ft Dry Van Trailer – CDL Training Program (Qty 2). To obtain bid package, please visit https://wwwcfprd.doa. louisiana.gov/osp/lapac/ dspBid.cfm?search=dep artment&term=4.

No Bid may be with‐ drawn for a period of forty-five (45) days after receipt of Bids except under the provisions of LA R.S. 38:2214.

Electronic Bid Docu‐ ments may be submitted

by Contractors to the Construction & Facilities Management Office by submitting their bid along with their bid secu‐ rity to https://www.cen tralauctionhouse.com/.

Electronic bids must be submitted to be posted prior to 11:00 a.m. CT on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. Hard copies of the contractor’s elec‐ tronically submitted k b

The following bids are open: #4005FY27-012 195319 July 27-Aug. 10 15t $86.40

CLASSIFIEDS WORK

Public Notices Bids/Proposals y packet must be sent to Construction Facility Management Office, ATTN: John Walker, 420 F Street, Camp Beaure‐ gard, Pineville, LA. 71360, telephone (318) 664-4558.

Contractors MUST attend the mandatory Pre-Bid conference scheduled for 11:00 a.m. CT on Wednes‐ day, August 12, 2026., at the above listed location in order to submit an electronic bid.

The Owner reserves the right to accept or reject any and all Bids for just cause. In accordance with directives and guid‐ ance published by Facil‐ ity Planning and Control, the Louisiana Revised Statutes, the provisions and requirements of those stated in the ad‐ vertisement for bids and those required on the bid not be form shall waivered. The Louisiana Military Department Deputy Director for Con‐ tracting and Purchasing and the State Contract‐ ing Officer do not pos‐ sess authority to waive any informality inciden‐ tal thereto. The Owner shall incur no obligation to the Contractor until the Contract between Owner and Contractor is fully executed.

The Louisiana Military Department is a partici‐ pant in the Louisiana Ini‐ tiative for Small Entre‐ preneurships (SE) Pro‐ gram (the Hudson Initia‐ tive) and the VeteranOwned and Service-Con‐ nected Disabled VeteranOwned Small Entrepre‐ neurships Program (the Veteran Initiative). Bid‐ ders are encouraged to consider participation.

193112-jul 22-29-aug 5-3t $204.37

PUBLIC NOTICE --Sealed Bids for the JB Barracks Roof Repairs, 6400 St Claude Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70117 will be received at the Construction & Facilities Management Office Building #3022, Office 235 (CFMO Environmental), 6400 St Claude Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70117, until 11:00 a.m. CT on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.

ANY PERSON REQUIRING SPECIAL ACCOMMODA‐ TIONS SHALL NOTIFY DAVID L HOWLEY OF THE TYPE(S) OF ACCOMMO‐ DATION REQUIRED NOT LESS THAN SEVEN (7) DAYS BEFORE THE BID OPENING. Complete Bid Documents for this project are avail‐ able in electronic form.

They may be obtained without charge and with‐ out deposit from LANGCFMO. Printed copies are not available from the Designer, but arrange‐ ments can be made to obtain them through most reprographic firms.

Plan holders are respon‐ sible for their own repro‐ duction costs. Questions about this procedure shall be directed to the Designer at Construction and Facilities Manage‐ ment Office, 6400 St Claude Avenue, New Or‐ leans, LA 70117. Phone (504) 278-8129. Attention: David Howley. E-Mail Ad‐ dress: david.l.howley. nfg@army.mil.

A Mandatory Pre-Bid conference and site visit is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. CT on, August 5, 2026, Construction and Facility Management Of‐ fice Building # 3022, Of‐ fice 235 (CFMO Environ‐ mental), 6400 St Claude Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70117. Attendance at this Conference is manda‐ tory.

Prospective bidders must attend the entire mandatory Pre-Bid con‐ ference in order to sub‐ mit a bid. The Construc‐ tion and Facilities Man‐ agement Office point of contact is David L. How‐ ley, Email: david.l.howley. nfg@army.mil CFMO Building # 3022, Office # 235, 6400 St Claude Av‐ enue, New Orleans, LA 70117, 504-278-8129.

BIDS SHALL BE ACCEPTED ONLY FROM CONTRAC‐ TORS THAT ATTEND THE

UPDATED QUALIFYING FEES EAST FELICIANA PARISH QUALIFYING FOR NOVEMBER 3, 2026 PRIMARY/CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION QUALIFYING DATES & TIME: PLACE TO QUALIFY: MUNICIPAL OFFICES:

Aug 5th - Aug 7th, 2026 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Clerk of Court’s Office 12305 St. Helena Street Clinton, Louisiana

Judge:

Democrat $625.00

Republican $625.00

No Party $325.00

District Attorney:

Democrat $425.00

Republican $425.00

No Party $250.00

Democrat $175.00

Republican $175.00

No Party $100.00

Justice of the Peace & Constable (J.P. Court) District 1- Precincts- 1, Part of 2, 3, 3A, Part of 4, 4A, 8, Part of 11 District 2- Precincts- Part of 2, 6, 6A, 7, 10, 10A, Part of 11, 12, 12A District 3- Precincts- Part of 4, 4B, Part of 4C, 5, 9, Part of 13, 13A District 4- Precincts- Part of 4C, Part of 13, 14, 14C Democrat $105.00

Republican $105.00

No Party $65.00

WILSON: Mayor (Part of Precinct 12A) Alderman (3 to be elected) (Part of Precinct 12A) JACKSON: Mayor- unexpired vacancy (Precinct 6, 6A) Board of Trustees- unexpired vacancy (2 to be elected) (Precinct 6, 6A) SLAUGHTER: (Precinct 1) Alderman-unexpired vacancy (1 to be elected) Democrat $255.00

Republican $255.00

No Party $140.00

SCHOOL BOARD: District 1: Precincts- Part of 10, 10A, 12, 12A, Part of 13 District 2, Div 1: Precincts- Part of 6, 7, Part of 8, Part of 10, 11, 13A District 2, Div 2: Precincts-Part of 6, 7, Part of 8, Part of 10, 11, 13A District 3, Div 1: Precincts- 2, Part of 3, Part of 3A, Part of 6, 6A District 3, Div 2: Precincts- 2, Part of 3, Part of 3A, Part of 6, 6A District 3, Div 3: Precincts- 2, Part of 3, Part of 3A, Part of 6, 6A District 4: Precincts- 1, Part of 3, Part of 3A District 5: Precincts-Part of 4, 4A, Part of 8 District 6, Div 1: Precincts- Part of 4, 4B, 4C, Part of 5, 9, Part of 13, 14, 14C District 6, Div 2: Precincts- Part of 4, 4B, 4C, Part of 5, 9, Part of 13, 14, 14C District 6, Div 3: Precincts- Part of 4, 4B, 4C, Part of 5, 9, Part of 13, 14, 14C District 7: Precinct- Part of 5 STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT ALL FEES BE CASH OR MONEY ORDER!!

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT DAVID DART CLERK OF COURT 225/683-5145

195513-672079-jul 29-1t $ 117.81

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

ENTIRE MANDATORY PREBID CONFERENCE.

p neurships Program (the Veteran Initiative). Bid‐ ders are encouraged to consider participation.

p g the reading of the names of those vendors who submitted bids.

p gov/osp/lapac/dspBid. cfm?search=departm ent&term=102.

Join by phone +1-408-418-9388 United States Toll Access code: 263 373 080 (followed by the # but‐ ton)

Bids, amendments to bids or request for with‐ drawal of bids received after time specified for bid openings shall not be considered for any cause whatsoever.

ANY PERSON REQUIRING SPECIAL ACCOMMODA‐ TIONS SHALL NOTIFY DAVID L HOWLEY OF THE TYPE(S) OF ACCOMMO‐ DATION REQUIRED NOT LESS THAN FIVE (5) DAYS BEFORE THE MANDATORY PRE-BID CONFERENCE. All Bids must be accom‐ panied by Bid Security equal to five percent (5%) of the Base Bid and Additional Bid Items (ABI) and must be in the form of a certified check, cashier’s check or bid bond.

Bids shall be accepted from Contractors who are licensed under LA. R.S. 37:2150-2192 for the classification of BUILD‐ ING CONSTRUCTION. Bid‐ der is required to comply with provisions and re‐ quirements of LA R.S. 38:2212(B)(5).

The successful Bidder will be required to fur‐ nish a Performance and Payment Bond written by a company licensed to do business in the State of Louisiana, equal to 100% of the Contract amount, including Addi‐ tional Bid Items (ABI), if required.

No Bid may be with‐ drawn for a period of forty-five (45) days after receipt of Bids except under the provisions of LA R.S. 38:2214.

Electronic Bid Docu‐ ments may be submitted

by Contractors to the Construction & Facilities Management Office by submitting their bid along with their bid secu‐ rity to https://www.cen tralauctionhouse.com/.

Electronic bids must be submitted so as to be posted prior to 11:00 a.m.

CT on Wednesday, Au‐ gust 19, 2026. Hard copies of the contrac‐ tor’s electronically sub‐ mitted packet must be sent to ATTN: David L Howley, Construction and Facility Management Office Building #3022, Of‐ fice #235, 6400 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117, telephone 504-2788129. Contractors MUST attend the mandatory Pre-Bid conference scheduled for 11:00 a.m.

CT on Wednesday, Au‐ gust 5, 2026 at the listed above location in order to submit an electronic bid.

The Owner reserves the right to accept or reject any and all Bids for just cause. In accordance with directives and guid‐ ance published by Facil‐ ity Planning and Control, the Louisiana Revised Statutes, the provisions and requirements of those stated in the ad‐ vertisement for bids and those required on the bid not be form shall waivered. The Louisiana Military Department Deputy Director for Con‐ tracting and Purchas‐ ing and the State Con‐ tracting Officer do not possess authority to waive any informality in‐ cidental thereto.

The Owner shall incur no obligation to the Con‐ tractor until the Contract between Owner and Con‐ tractor is fully executed.

The Louisiana Military Department is a partici‐ pant in the Louisiana Ini‐ tiative for Small Entre‐ preneurships (SE) Pro‐ gram (the Hudson Initia‐ tive) and the VeteranOwned and Service-Con‐ nected Disabled VeteranOwned Small Entrepre‐ hi ( h

193966-jul 15-22-29-3t $212.08 PUBLIC NOTICE --VOUCHER# 26-000723 – REBID2 BIDS TO BE OPENED: 08/10/26 NOTICE TO BIDDERS Electronic or sealed bids will be received by the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, Purchasing Divi‐ sion, City Hall Building, Room 826, 222 Saint Louis Street, 8th Floor, Baton Rouge, La. until 11:00 A.M. August 10, 2026 for the following: A26-0723 OEM SRP & MAS for GENPRO GENERA‐ TORS- REBID2 Official bid documents are available at Central Bidding (https://www. centralauctionhouse. com/rfpc10656-city-ofbaton-rouge.html) or by request from the City of Baton Rouge at ermiller@ brla.gov.

Bids shall be submitted electronically via www. centralbidding.com or on the solicitation bid forms furnished by the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge prior to the bidding deadline.

Electronic bids for the solicitation will be down‐ loaded by the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, Pur‐ chasing Division. Begin‐ ning as soon as feasible after the bid closing time all electronic bids will be downloaded and publicly read aloud along with all paper bids received, if any, in Room 806 immedi‐ ately after the 11:00 a.m. bid closing. Bidders or their authorized repre‐ sentatives are invited to be present.

NOTE: The only vendor information shared at the bid opening will be the reading of the names of those vendors who submitted bids.

Note: The City-Parish has elected to use LaPAC, the state's online electronic bid posting and notifica‐ tion system, in addition to its standard means of advertising this require‐ ment. This Invitation to Bid is available in elec‐ tronic form at the LaPAC website https:// wwwcfprd.doa.louisiana. gov/osp/lapac/dspBid. cfm?search=departm ent&term=102.

Bids, amendments to bids or request for with‐ drawal of bids received after time specified for bid openings shall not be considered for any cause whatsoever.

Inquiries will be received up until 5 pm on July 31, 2026.

Full information may be obtained upon request from the above address or by telephoning ELIZA‐ BETH MILLER at (225) 389-3259, Ext. 3283, or via email ermiller@brla.gov.

Any vendor who would like to listen to the open‐ ing of this bid can access the following link, at the date and time of this bid opening: NOTE: The only vendor information shared at the bid opening will be h di f h

Alternate numbers to call if number above is not available, which may occur due to network traffic (use the same Ac‐ cess Code, followed by the # button): United States Toll (Boston) +1-617-315-0704 United States Toll (Chicago) +1-312-5358110 United States Toll (Dal‐ las) +1-469-210-7159 United States Toll (Den‐ ver) +1-720-650-7664 United States Toll (Jack‐ sonville) +1-904-900-2303 United States Toll (Los Angeles) +1-213-306-3065 These numbers will pro‐ vide you with live audio access to this bid open‐ ing.

194767-JUL 22-29-2T $106 PUBLIC NOTICE --VOUCHER# 26-000724REBID2 BIDS TO BE OPENED: 08/10/2026 NOTICE TO BIDDERS Electronic or sealed bids will be received by the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, Purchasing Divi‐ sion, City Hall Building, Room 826, 222 Saint Louis Street, 8th Floor, Baton Rouge, La. until 11:00 A.M. August 10, 2026 for the following: A26-0724 OEM SRP & MAS for HOLGAR GENERATORS - REBID2 Official bid documents are available at Central Bidding (https://www. centralauctionhouse. com/rfpc10656-city-ofbaton-rouge.html) or by request from the City of Baton Rouge at ermiller@ brla.gov.

Bids shall be submitted electronically via www. centralbidding.com or on the solicitation bid forms furnished by the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge prior to the bidding deadline.

Electronic bids for the solicitation will be down‐ loaded by the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, Pur‐ chasing Division. Begin‐ ning as soon as feasible after the bid closing time all electronic bids will be downloaded and publicly read aloud along with all paper bids received, if any, in Room 806 immedi‐ ately after the 11:00 a.m. bid closing. Bidders or their authorized repre‐ sentatives are invited to be present.

NOTE: The only vendor information shared at the bid opening will be the reading of the names of those vendors who submitted bids.

Note: The City-Parish has elected to use LaPAC, the state's online electronic bid posting and notifica‐ tion system, in addition to its standard means of advertising this require‐ ment. This Invitation to Bid is available in elec‐ tronic form at the LaPAC website https:// wwwcfprd.doa.louisiana. l d id

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA In re: § CASE NO. 26-10678 § (JOINTLY ADMINISTERED) CROSBY MARINE TRANSPORTATION, LLC, § § § § CHAPTER 11; COMPLEX CASE COMPLEX CASE Debtors. § SECTION: A NOTICE OF SALE OF THE DEBTORS’ ASSETS FREE AND CLEAR OF ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, INTERESTS, AND ENCUMBRANCES ________________________________________________________________ PLEASE TAKE NOTICE the above-captioned debtors and debtors in possession (collectively, the “Debtors”) are soliciting offers, potentially at an auction, for a transaction or transactions, any of which may include the purchase of some or all of the Debtors’ Assets, consistent with the bidding procedures (the “Bidding Procedures”) approved by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (the “Court”) by entry of an order on July 21, 2026 [ECF Doc. 665] (the “Bidding Procedures Order”). All interested bidders should carefully read the Bidding Procedures and Bidding Procedures Order. To the extent that there are any inconsistencies between this notice and the Bidding Procedures or the Bidding Procedures Order, the Bidding Procedures or the Bidding Procedures Order, as applicable, shall govern in all respects.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Bid Deadline is August 7, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. (prevailing Central Time), Copies of the Bidding Procedures Order or other documents related thereto, including any Stalking Horse Agreement or an exhibit identifying the Assets, as applicable, are available upon request to Stretto by calling (833) 307-4262 (Toll Free) or +1 (916) 405-7847 (International) or visiting the Debtors’ restructuring website at (https://cases.stretto.com/crosby/) as the deadline by which all binding bids must be actually received by the Debtors, and that any person or entity who wishes to participate in the Auction must comply with the participation requirements, bid requirements, and other requirements set forth in the Bidding Procedures.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Debtors intend to conduct the Auction, at which time they will consider proposals submitted to the Debtors and their professionals, by and pursuant to the Bidding Procedures as set forth in the Bidding Procedures Order, with the first day of the Auction (if any) to start on August 13, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (prevailing Central Time) and continuing through August 14, 2026, as necessary, in person at a location to be disclosed in writing to the Qualified Bidders and the Consultation Parties. Each Qualified Bidder shall attend the Auction in person through at least one representative, unless the Debtors agree to another method of appearing at the Auction, after consultation with the Consultation Parties.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that no later than twenty-four (24) hours after the conclusion of the Auction, the Debtors shall (a) file notice of the Successful Bid(s) and the Successful Bidder(s) with the Court (the “Post-Auction Notice”), which Post-Auction Notice shall include a list of any executory contract and leases to be assumed and assigned.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Debtors expect to seek approval of any Sales at the Sale Hearing, on August 31, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. (prevailing Central Time), or such other date and time as the Court’s calendar permits before the Honorable Meredith S. Grabill in the United States Bankruptcy Court, 500 Poydras Street, Courtroom B-709, New Orleans, LA 70130.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that, except as otherwise set forth in the Bidding Procedures Order with respect to objections to proposed cure amounts or the assumption and assignment of Assigned Contracts, objections, if any, to a proposed Sale must: (a) be in writing; (b) conform to the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Rules and the Bankruptcy Local Rules; (c) state with particularity the legal and factual basis for the objection and the specific grounds therefor; and (d) be filed with the Court by August 24, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. (prevailing Central Time).

CONSEQUENCES OF FAILING TO TIMELY MAKE AN OBJECTION ANY PARTY OR ENTITY WHO FAILS TO TIMELY MAKE AN OBJECTION TO A SALE ON OR BEFORE THE SALE OBJECTION DEADLINE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BIDDING PROCEDURES ORDER SHALL BE FOREVER BARRED FROM ASSERTING ANY OBJECTION TO SUCH SALE, INCLUDING WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSFER OF THE SELLING DEBTORS’ ASSETS FREE AND CLEAR OF ALL LIENS, CLAIMS, ENCUMBRANCES, AND OTHER INTERESTS, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE APPLICABLE PURCHASE AGREEMENT(S).

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Inquiries will be received up until 5 pm on 07/31/2026.

Full information may be obtained upon request from the above address or by telephoning ELIZA‐ BETH MILLER at (225) 389-3259, Ext. 3283, or via email ermiller@brla.gov.

Any vendor who would like to listen to the open‐ ing of this bid can access the following link, at the date and time of this bid opening: NOTE: The only vendor information shared at the bid opening will be the reading of the names of those vendors who submitted bids.

Join by phone +1-408-418-9388 United States Toll Access code: 263 373 080 (followed by the # but‐ ton) Alternate numbers to call if number above is not available, which may occur due to network traffic (use the same Ac‐ cess Code, followed by the # button): United States Toll (Boston) +1-617-315-0704 United States Toll (Chicago) +1-312-5358110 United States Toll (Dal‐ las) +1-469-210-7159 United States Toll (Den‐ ver) +1-720-650-7664 United States Toll (Jack‐ sonville) +1-904-900-2303 United States Toll (Los Angeles) +1-213-306-3065 These numbers will pro‐ vide you with live audio access to this bid open‐ ing.

194770-JUL 22-29-1T $102 PUBLIC NOTICE --VOUCHER# 26-000724-RE‐ BID2 BIDS TO BE OPENED: 08/10/2026 NOTICE TO BIDDERS Electronic or sealed bids will be received by the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, Purchasing Divi‐ sion, City Hall Building, Room 826, 222 Saint Louis Street, 8th Floor, Baton Rouge, La. until 11:00 A.M. August 10, 2026 for the following: A26-0724 - OEM SRP & MAS for DETROIT DEISELREBID2 Official bid documents are available at Central Bidding (https://www. centralauctionhouse. com/rfpc10656-city-ofbaton-rouge.html) or by request from the City of Baton Rouge at ermiller@ brla.gov.

Bids shall be submitted electronically via www. centralbidding.com or on the solicitation bid forms furnished by the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge prior to the bidding deadline.

Electronic bids for the solicitation will be down‐ loaded by the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, Pur‐ chasing Division. Begin‐ i f ibl

Public Notices Bids/Proposals g g ning as soon as feasible after the bid closing time all electronic bids will be downloaded and publicly read aloud along with all paper bids received, if any, in Room 806 immedi‐ ately after the 11:00 a.m. bid closing. Bidders or their authorized repre‐ sentatives are invited to be present.

NOTE: The only vendor information shared at the bid opening will be the reading of the names of those vendors who submitted bids.

Note: The City-Parish has elected to use LaPAC, the state's online electronic bid posting and notifica‐ tion system, in addition to its standard means of advertising this require‐ ment. This Invitation to Bid is available in elec‐ tronic form at the LaPAC website https:// wwwcfprd.doa.louisiana. gov/osp/lapac/dspBid. cfm?search=departm ent&term=102.

Bids, amendments to bids or request for with‐ drawal of bids received after time specified for bid openings shall not be considered for any cause whatsoever.

Inquiries will be received up until 5 pm on 07/31/2026.

Full information may be obtained upon request from the above address or by telephoning ELIZA‐ BETH MILLER at (225) 389-3259, Ext. 3283, or via email ermiller@brla.gov.

Any vendor who would like to listen to the open‐ ing of this bid can access the following link, at the date and time of this bid opening: NOTE: The only vendor information shared at the bid opening will be the reading of the names of those vendors who submitted bids.

Join by phone +1-408-418-9388 United States Toll Access code: 263 373 080 (followed by the # but‐ ton) Alternate numbers to call if number above is not available, which may occur due to network traffic (use the same Ac‐ cess Code, followed by the # button): United States Toll (Boston) +1-617-315-0704 United States Toll (Chicago) +1-312-5358110 United States Toll (Dal‐ las) +1-469-210-7159 United States Toll (Den‐ ver) +1-720-650-7664 United States Toll (Jack‐ sonville) +1-904-900-2303 United States Toll (Los Angeles) +1-213-306-3065 These numbers will pro‐ vide you with live audio access to this bid open‐ ing.

194769-JUL 22-29 $106

Public Notices DEQ Permits pp y feet wide would be cut between an existing dredge pit and Holm Lake to move a suction dredge into Holm Lake.

The notch will be closed once the dredge is in Holm Lake. In addition, an access road will be constructed near Holm Lake to place a pump into the Red River for water supply. Work will occur off Highway 3049 no1th of Belcher and northwest of Benton in both Bossier and Caddo Parishes. Lone Star Sand, LLC is applying to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Office of Environmental Services for a Water Quality Certification in accordance with statu‐ tory authority contained in the LAC 33:IX.1507.A-E and provisions of Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. Comments concerning this application can be filed with the Water Per‐ mits Division within ten days of this notice by ref‐ erencing WQC 260508-01, AI 240771 to the following address: Louisiana Depa1tment of Environmental Quality Water Permits Division P.O. Box 4313 Baton Rouge, LA 708214313 Attn: Water Quality Certi‐ fications Comments may be sub‐ mitted by email to DEOWaterQualityCertifica‐ tions@la.gov.

A copy of the application is available for inspec‐ tion and review at the LDEQ Public Records Center at 602 No1th Fifth Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The available information can also be accessed electronically on the Electronic Docu‐ ment Management Sys‐ tem (EDMS) on the LDEQ public website at www. deq.louisiana.gov.

195562-JUL 29-1T $237.23

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE: East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority’s (EBRPHA) Admissions and Occupancy Policy (ACOP) is available for review and public com‐ ment at EBRPHA offices and posted on the EBR‐ PHA website at www. ebrpha.org. Public com‐ ments may be submitted in writing no later than 4:00 PM (CT), 9/8/2026, via email to dmejia@ ebrpha.org or in writing to EBRPHA Attn: Doris Mejía, 4731 North Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70806. A public hearing is sched‐ uled for Tuesday, Sep‐ tember 8, 2026, 4:00 PM (CT), at the above ad‐ dress.

195237 July 26 - Aug. 1, 2026 7t $64.05

Public Notices DEQ Permits

PUBLIC NOTICE --Notice is hereby given that Lone Star Sand, LLC has applied for a 401 Water Quality Certifica‐ tion to commercially dredge Holm Lake at the rate of 10,000 tons/day.

As part of the project, a notch approximately 40 f id ld b

PUBLIC NOTICE --Notice is hereby given that APB Land Re‐ sources, LLC has applied for a 40 I Water Quality Ce1tification to clear, grade, excavate, and place fill to construct a new office, access areas, aggregate laydown areas, detention ponds, and associated infra‐ structure off Prater Road in Sulphur, Calcasieu Parish. APB Land Re‐ sources, LLC is applying h i i

NO SUCCESSOR OR TRANSFEREE LIABILITY The Sale Order is expected to provide, among other things, that the Successful Bidder from the Sale will have no responsibility for, and the Assets will be sold free and clear of, any successor liability, including the following: To the greatest extent allowable by applicable law, the Successful Bidder shall not be deemed, as a result of any action taken in connection with the Stalking Horse Agreement (in the case where a Stalking Horse Bidder is the Successful Bidder) or a separate purchase agreement entered into with the Successful Bidder (if a Stalking Horse Bidder is not the Successful Bidder), the consummation of the Sale, or the transfer or operation of the Assets, to (a) be a legal successor, or otherwise be deemed a successor to the Debtors (other than with respect to any obligations as an assignee under the Assigned Contracts arising after the Effective Date); (b) have, de facto or otherwise, merged with or into the Debtors; or (c) be an alter ego or mere continuation or substantial continuation of the Debtors, in the case of each of (a), (b), and (c), including, without limitation, within the meaning of any foreign, federal, state or local revenue law, pension law, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, the WARN Act (29 U.S.C. §§ 2101 et seq.), the Fair Labor Standard Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended), the Age Discrimination and Employment Act of 1967 (as amended), the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended), the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. § 151, et seq.), environmental liabilities, debts, claims or obligations, any liabilities, debts or obligations of or required to be paid by the Debtors for any taxes of any kind for any period, labor, employment, or other law, rule or regulation (including without limitation filing requirements under any such laws, rules or regulations), or under any products liability law or doctrine with respect to the Debtors’ liability under such law, rule or regulation or doctrine.

All rights of any party to set off any claims, debts or obligations owed by or to the Successful Bidder in connection with the Assets shall be extinguished on the Effective Date pursuant to the Sale Order.

Other than as expressly set forth in the Stalking Horse Agreement (or another Successful Bidder’s purchase agreement, as applicable) with respect to Assumed Liabilities, the Successful Bidder shall not have any responsibility for (a) any liability or other obligation of the Debtors or related to the assets or (b) any claims (as such term is defined by section 101(5) of the Bankruptcy Code) against the Debtors or any of their predecessors or affiliates. To the greatest extent allowed by applicable law, the Successful Bidder shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to the Debtors’ (or their predecessors’ or affiliates’) respective businesses or operations or any of the Debtors’ (or their predecessors’ or affiliates’) obligations based, in whole or part, directly or indirectly, on any theory of successor or vicarious liability of any kind or character, or based upon any theory of antitrust, environmental, successor or transferee liability, de facto merger or substantial continuity, labor and employment or products liability, whether known or un-known as of the Effective Date, now existing or hereafter arising, asserted or unasserted, fixed or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, including liabilities on account of any taxes arising, accruing or payable under, out of, in connection with, or in any way relating to the operation of the Assets prior to the Effective Date.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Debtors reserve the right, after consultation with the Consultation Parties and in their reasonable business judgment and subject to the exercise of their fiduciary duties, to modify the Bidding Procedures and/or to terminate discussions with any Potential Bidders at any time, to the extent not materially inconsistent with the Bidding Procedures.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that copies of the Bidding Procedures Motion, Bidding Procedures, and Bidding Procedures Order, as well as all related exhibits, are available: (a) free of charge upon request to Stretto (the notice and claims agent retained in these chapter 11 cases) by (i) calling (833) 307-4262 (Toll Free) or +1 (916) 405-7847 (International); or (ii) visiting the Debtors’ restructuring website at (https:// cases.stretto.com/crosby/); or (b) for a fee via PACER by visiting http:// www.laeb.uscourts.gov.

195455-671911-jul 29-1t $ 2,125

10D ■ Wednesday, July 29, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate Legal Notices

pp y g to the Louisiana Depart‐ ment of Environmental Quality, Office of Environ‐ mental Services for a Water Quality Certifica‐ tion in accordance with statutory authority con‐ tained in the LAC 33 :IX.1507.A-E and provi‐ sions of Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. Comments concerning this application can be filed with the Water Per‐ mits Division within ten days of this notice by referencing WQC 260505-01, AI 205002 to the following address: Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Water Permits Division P.O. Box4313 Baton Rouge, LA 708214313 Attn: Water Quality Certifications Comments may be sub‐ mitted by email to DEOWaterOualitvCe1tifica‐ tions@la.gov.

A copy of the application is available for inspec‐ tion and review at the LDEQ Public Records Center at 602 North Fifth Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, from 8:00 a.m. to

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

Legal Notices

4:30 p.m. The available info1mation can also be accessed electronically on the Electronic Docu‐ ment Management Sys‐ tem (EDMS) on the LDEQ public website at www.deq.louisiana.gov.

195691 July 29, 1t $201.53

PUBLIC NOTICE --The Louisiana Office of State Parks is requesting proposals for a PublicPrivate Partnership pro‐ ject to design, construct, and operate a high-qual‐ ity recreational vehicle campground and related amenities. For more in‐ formation go to opportu‐ nitiesinlouisiana.com.

192994-jul 2-aug 15-45t $207.90

PUBLIC NOTICE --GREATER BATON ROUGE PORT COMMISSION Commission Meeting 5:00 p.m. Thursday, June 25, 2026 The Greater Baton Rouge Port Commission met in regular session at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, 2026 at the Maritime Security Operations Cen‐ ter meeting room in West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana.

Following the Call to Order and the Pledge of Allegiance, the roll was called.

PRESENT Mr. Michael D. DeLaune Mr. Shelton C. Dixon Mr. Ted H. Glaser Ms. Brenda R. Hurst Mr. Bob Kelly Mr. Wally McMakin Mr. Travis M. Medine Mr. Keith E. Morris Mr. Jessel M. Ourso, III Ms. Lynn Robertson Ms. Lynnel B. Ruckert Mr. Donald M. Schexnay‐ der Mr. Bobby Watts ABSENT

lll

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

Mr. Johnny B. Bradberry Ms. Rebecca A. Cunard Mr. Brad J. Daigle Mr. Troy S. LeBoeuf

presented to all Board members. No action was required.

Agenda Item 4 - Public Comments: Comments from the public regard‐ ing any/all of the agenda items listed below will be accepted at this point in the meeting. The meet‐ ing chairperson may also allow further comments from the public as and when each agenda item is considered during the meeting process.

There were comments.

no

public

Agenda Item 5 - Approval of minutes of a Commis‐ sion meeting held on Thursday, May 28, 2026.

On a motion by Ms. Brenda Hurst, seconded

by Ms. Lynn Robertson, the minutes were unani‐ mously approved.

Agenda Item 6 - Monthly Engineering Report Mr. Cortney White pre‐ sented the monthly engi‐ neering report, as out‐ lined in documentation

Agenda Item 7 - Financial Report Ms. Katie LeBlanc pre‐ sented the monthly fi‐ nancial report. No action was required.

Agenda Item 8 - Other matters Mr. Jay Hardman ad‐ dressed the Board, for in‐ formational purposes only, by stating that Mr. Johnny Bradberry apolo‐ gized for being unable to attend the meeting and give a presentation on carbon capture and se‐ questration. The presen‐ tation will be resched‐ uled at a later date.

Agenda Item 9 - Adjourn‐ ment On a motion by Mr. Shel‐ ton Dixon, seconded by Mr. Bobby Watts, the meeting adjourned.

Secretary: Ted H. Glaser President:

Donald

M.

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

Schexnayder Date approved: July 23, 2026 195506-JUL 29-1T $63.35

Public Notices Successions

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE: SUCCESSION OF BOBBY JOSEPH GAUTHIER, SR. PROBATE NO. 118,058 19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that BOBBY GAUTHIER, JR. AND HIS SISTER, DANA GAUTHIER CAMPBELL, CO-EXECUTORS of the Succession of BOBBY GAUTHIER, SR., are apply‐ ing for authority to sell the following described real estate for the price of $118,000.00 and on the

Public Notices Successions and on the terms and conditions contained set forth in the purchase agreement at‐ tached to the petition to sell immovable property: A certain lot or parcel of ground, together with any buildings and im‐ provements thereon, sit‐ uated in that subdivision of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, known as PARK FOREST, TENTH FILING, and being designated according to the official map thereof on file and of record in the office of the Clerk and Recorder for the Parish of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as LOT NINE HUNDRED NINETY FIVE (995), said subdivi‐ sion, said lot fronting a total of 80.06 feet on Sunny Cline Avenue, with a depth on its westerly sideline of 159.57 feet, and a depth on its east‐ erly sideline of 161.16 feet, and a width in the rear of 80.0 feet, with a municipal address de‐ scribed as 10402 Sunny Cline Drive, East Baton Rouge Parish, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70814.

For information only, said property bears a munici‐ l dd f

Public Notices Successions p p y pal address off 10402 Sunny Cline Drive, Baton Rouge LA 70814.

A judgment authorizing the sale may be issued after the expiration of seven (7) days from the last date of publication of this notice. An opposi‐ tion must be filed with the Clerk of Court for the 19th Judicial District Court, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, prior to the Issuance of the Judg‐ ment.

Respectfully submitted, FERRARA LAW FIRM TRIAL LAWYERS FOR SUCCESSION OF BOBBY JOSEPH GAUTHIER, SR. By:_________________ FRANK FERRARA, ESQ. ATTORNEY AT LAW LSBA#5539 P.O. Box 159 Walker, LA 70785 Telephone: (225)281-8661 Facsimile: (225)667-3028 frank@ferraralaw.org 193410-jul 8-15-2t $93.84

CLASSIFIEDS.THEADVOCATE.COM

Public Notices Successions

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE IS GIVEN that Kim Vicaro Dykes, Dative Ex‐ ecutor of the Succession of Beverly Louise Drago Vicaro, Probate No. 106,605, Div. 26, 19th JDC, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, has applied for authority to sell at private sale the Dece‐ dent’s undivided interest in the immovable prop‐ erty situated in East Baton Rouge Parish and being described as 1.48 acres of Lot 23A, situated in section 40, T-6-A, R-1-E, G.L.D., for no less the sum of EIGHT THOUSAND AND 00/100 ($8,000.00) DOLLARS, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the petition. Any opposition to the pro‐ posed sale must be filed within seven (7) days from the date of the last publication of this notice.

Additional details are contained in filings avail‐ able at the Clerk of Court for East Baton Rouge Parish.

195569-JUL 29-aug 17-2t $50.72

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