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Downtown redevelopment plan moving forward Veto shows need for new approach, DDA head says

BY ADAM DAIGLE

Acadiana business editor

STAFF PHOTOS By SOPHIA GERMER

Scientist Solomon David holds a garfish after taking a fin clipping in Wilkinson County, Miss., on Thursday. The restoration efforts at Loch Leven, Miss., led by the Nature Conservancy, supports the growth of alligator gar populations and demonstrates the importance of floodplain habitats in the ecosystem’s health.

Alligator gar, once called ‘trash fish,’ now signal a healthy ecosystem on the Mississippi River

BY ALEX LUBBEN

Staff writer

LOCH LEVEN, Miss. — A cast net spread out like a spiderweb over murky waters, hung for a moment and dropped. Charles Vaughan hauled it in and found what he’d traveled 1,000 miles for: a baby fish.

The alligator gar was already more than a foot long at about 2 months old, armored in hard scales with a pointed snout full of sharp teeth. The species can live for a century and grow to more than 7 feet long.

“They’ve got super fast growth rates,” said Solomon David, a professor of aquatic ecology at the University of Minnesota who calls himself “the gar guy.” Under the right conditions, these fish can grow to over 2 feet long within a year. “The right conditions are basically like here,” David said.

The alligator gar is what a team of researchers — Vaughan and David, along with Gabby Gonzales and

WEATHER HIGH 94 LOW 75 PAGE 10C

A downtown redevelopment plan will still happen despite the issue getting vetoed by Lafayette Mayor-President Monique Boulet, said Downtown Development Authority CEO Kevin Blanchard.

Speaking at a Wednesday event of downtown stakeholders and others, Blanchard said he initially sought to request City Council members vote to override the veto but then backed off. Now, almost four months later, he said the matter could use a different Blanchard approach.

In the meantime, private investors have come on board to support what was the $1 million Downtown-Urban Core Redevelopment Plan that focused on putting underutilized spaces back into commerce, parking, parks in the downtown area, transportation and mobility.

“The fact that there was a veto means that I did not do my job,” he said. “I didn’t have the right conversations (and) as many conversations as I needed to. The bottom line is you have to convince people, and there’s no shortcut for that.”

That council initially voted 4-1 to fund half the initiative, but Boulet vetoed it because it lacked legal review and granted broad authority to the DDA without Lafayette Consolidated Government oversight.

ä See DOWNTOWN, page 4A

Israel says it has serious concerns with Hamas disarmament Trump announces U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement

BY SAM MEDNICK Associated Press

behind an oxbow lake — Lake Mary, which curves in a horseshoe around the property. The river kept flooding this land until the 19th century, when a levee was built in a ring around it so it could be farmed for cotton.

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel has shared “serious security concerns” with the White House regarding the proposed disarmament deal with Hamas, an Israeli official said as Israeli strikes overnight and into Sunday evening killed at least 17 people, including children, in Gaza.

The remarks by Doron Spiel- CO ONFLICT man, spokesperson for Israeli IN T THE Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, were some of MIIDDLE AST the first public comments since EAST President Donald Trump announced the agreement.

Spielman told The Associated Press that Israel’s intelligence assessment is that Hamas remains committed to rebuilding its military rather than genuinely demilitarizing. He said the Israeli military would not withdraw from Gaza — where it controls more than 60% of the territory — before Hamas disarms.

“Our assessment is that if we redeploy before

ä See SUCCESS, page 4A

ä See CONCERNS, page 4A

The Narrows and the Mississippi River are seen in Wilkinson County, Miss., as scientist Solomon David and his team of students collect gar on Thursday.

Luxi Feyereisen, all with the University of Minnesota system — spent a hot morning in July wading through the shallow waters at Loch Leven to find.

And they found one, a sign that a restoration effort here is working.

At Loch Leven, a 6,000acre former farm sur-

rounded by a levee built before the Civil War, the Nature Conservancy led a project to reconnect the waters of the Mississippi River with part of its natural floodplain, or the land that the river once flooded.

Centuries ago, the river ran through here. In 1776, it cut off the bend, leaving

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

102ND yEAR, NO. 34

2A ● Monday, August 3, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Brazil’s Lula launches reelection bid

SAO PAULO — What is very likely to be the last reelection bid of Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was confirmed on Sunday by his Workers’ Party as the 80-year-old leader faces increasing pressure from foreign leaders ahead of October’s elections. It will be his seventh race for the top job.

Lula’s rival, Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, has enjoyed open support from members of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, Argentina’s President Javier Milei and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Brazil’s president said in his party convention speech he wants to boost his country’s defense industry, protect its rare minerals, and claimed “no Chinese, no American, no French will touch” these resources without respecting the South American nation’s sovereignty.

Suicide bomber strikes Pakistan rally PESHAWAR, Pakistan — A suicide bomber targeted protesters at an antimilitant rally in northwestern Pakistan on Sunday, killing at least 14 people, mostly civilians and police officers, and wounding more than two dozen others, officials said.

The attack happened in Kabal, a town in Swat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where demonstrators had gathered near a police station, chanting antimilitant slogans and demanding peace, district police chief Omar Khan said.

According to witnesses, shortly before the attack, speakers at the rally said that ensuring security and eliminating militancy were the state’s responsibility. They also accused authorities of failing to act decisively against militants, saying residents wanted to live without fear after years of violence that devastated the region.

Police official Omar Khan said at least nine civilians and five officers were among the dead.

AI draws boos at German festival BERLIN — An experiment with artificial intelligence at the annual Richard Wagner festival in the southeastern German town of Bayreuth drew boos from the audience after producing a staging that appeared to leave some spectators confused.

Curator Marcus Lobbes and his team were greeted with boos and whistles as they took to the stage at the end of Saturday evening’s performance of “Götterdämmerung,” German news agency dpa reported. However, there was warm applause for the singers and musicians, and particularly for conductor Christian Thielemann.

Festival organizers said ahead of the performance that it would be the first time AI took part on stage at the event, “not as a character, but as an image-generating force.” They said that singers would be “the fixed point within a visually seething cosmos of light, texture, history, and association, amidst projections that erupt, constantly shift, and merge into one another.”

The AI-assisted projections included scenes from previous performances of Wagner’s “Ring” cycle and historical themes, and drew from images pre-selected by Lobbes, the director of the Academy for Theater and Digitality in Dortmund, and his team.

The collage that the technology projected on stage puzzled the audience, dpa reported, with images including former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, the towers of the World Trade Center after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and a special postage stamp marking German reunification in 1990.

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Police: Suspected shooter killed self Man found shortly after 3 die in Idaho fast-food restaurant gunfire

By The Associated Press TWIN FALLS, Idaho — The suspect in a fatal shooting at a fast-food restaurant in Idaho died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said Sunday, crediting an off-duty officer and a citizen with firing shots that diverted him.

Investigators are confident that the gunman, identified as 24-year-old Chad Williams, acted alone during the shooting Saturday in Twin Falls, Police Chief Matthew Hicks said at a news conference.

In all, three people died and seven others were injured at the recently opened restaurant in the southern Idaho city of about 56,000 people.

Authorities said Sunday that two of the injured were treated at a hospital and released, three were listed as stable, and two were in critical condition.

Hicks said an off-duty state trooper and an armed citizen — whose

identities weren’t immediately disclosed — both fired back and diverted the gunman from the restaurant.

“We believe their actions helped drive the suspect away from the scene, preventing further casualties,” the chief said. “We want to take a moment and commend the actions of the off-duty officer and the citizen, and their heroic action to stop this incident.”

Hicks said detectives are working to determine Williams’ motives, and said the suspect’s family was cooperating fully with law enforcement.

He also warned of misinformation spreading online identifying a different man as the shooter, saying the man had “no involvement in this incident whatsoever.”

One of those killed was an employee, the fast-food chain’s owner said.

“My heart is broken, my chest is heavy, my eyes burn from the tears I’ve shed. We lost one of our beautiful Associates tonight,” In-N-Out

owner Lynsi Snyder said in a statement released early Sunday on social media. “In-N-Out will be mourning with the families and praying for them as they tread through a very painful season.”

The FBI on Sunday encouraged the public to submit images and videos related to the shooting Saturday in Twin Falls that left seven other people wounded, some critically.

The In-N-Out had opened just about a week earlier, on July 24, as part of the California-based company’s recent expansion to Idaho.

Snyder did not identify the worker.

Officials were still trying to notify relatives of victims and so were not yet releasing the names, ages or other details about the people hurt in the shooting, Twin Falls spokesperson Josh Palmer said Saturday.

Police who responded to the shooting found the body of the suspected gunman in an area near the restaurant, Palmer said.

Palmer said investigators were interviewing witnesses to the shooting. The restaurant is in a busy shopping plaza, and hundreds of people were in the area when it happened around 2 p.m.

Lane Koehn, 34, said he was at a stoplight near the In-N-Out when he saw a person with an AR-style rifle emerge from the drive-thru. A man with a pistol started firing at the shooter.

He then saw someone in an InN-Out uniform drag a person, also wearing a uniform, bleeding from a gunshot wound to her chest across the parking lot. The employee, Koehn and the man with the pistol stayed until paramedics arrived for her.

“She was pretty bad off, but I don’t know. I hope she made it,” Koehn said.

He said the shooter fired at least three or four rounds and it was not clear whether or not anyone in particular was targeted.

Video taken by a driver from across the street captured a shooter, who appeared to be dressed in black, walking up to a white car carrying a long rifle, opening the driver-side door and popping the trunk.

The person then walked to the trunk and reached inside. At that point the driver who shot the video left quickly, fearing that the man might be getting more weapons.

Hundreds of thousands line Amsterdam canals Boat parade held week after deadly Berlin Pride fest attack

BY MIKE CORDER Associated Press

AMSTERDAM — Hundreds of thousands of people lined Amsterdam’s canals on Saturday to watch the city’s canal boat parade, the highlight of an annual Pride festival that this year comes just a week after a deadly attack on a Pride event in Berlin.

Openly gay Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, dressed in a white shirt, black life vest and gold necklace, waved to crowds as he sailed in a small boat through the colorfully decorated parade of 80 vessels, waving to participants and spectators as techno music pumped from speakers along the route.

The colorful floating parade came a week after the Berlin attack left one person dead and 29 injured. A suspect, Abdul Ballout, was suspected of driving a van into a crowd near the festival Saturday night before apparently stabbing others with a machete in what authorities believe was an Islamic extremist attack.

Ballout was shot and killed by police during a confrontation on July 26 in a suburb of the city, authorities said.

Jetten, the first Dutch prime minister to take part in the boat parade, said in a video posted on X that the event was more important than ever because worldwide the freedom and se-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By PATRICK POST

People celebrate atop a boat on one of the Dutch capital’s historic canals Saturday during the Canal Parade, the most popular event of the Pride Amsterdam festival. curity of the LGBTQ+ community “is under pressure with new discriminatory legislation, lack of safety on the street or last week’s terrible attack in Berlin.”

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema said in the aftermath of the German attack that authorities in the city would “where necessary take extra measures that visitors will hopefully notice as little as possible.”

Motorboats carrying police officers cruised the canals and a helicopter hovered overhead as Saturday’s pa-

rade got underway.

The Berlin attack also cast a shadow Saturday over Hamburg’s Pride parade, one of Germany’s biggest, where increased security was noticeable as dozens of trucks made their way through Germany’s second-biggest city.

Police and organizers said about 300,000 attended, compared with about 260,000 people last year, German news agency dpa reported.

Hamburg’s police chief said earlier this week that roughly twice as many officers as last year would protect the event.

Ukrainian drones kill 5 in Russia, set fire to Wildberries warehouse

By The Associated Press Ukrainian drone strikes killed at least five people across Russia, also hitting industrial sites and a further warehouse belonging to Russia’s e-commerce giant Wildberries, local officials said.

Wildberries, Russia’s largest online marketplace, is sometimes described as the country’s answer to Amazon.

In under two weeks, Ukraine has struck over a dozen of the retailer’s depots, part of Kyiv’s aerial campaign aimed at undermining Moscow’s war effort, hurting its economy and making people feel the consequences of the Kremlin’s all-out invasion of Ukraine.

Russian air defenses overnight shot down 635 Ukrainian drones, including over occupied Crimea and the

Black and Azov Seas, according to the Defense Ministry in Moscow. The ministry did not say how many were launched or struck targets.

Meanwhile, Russia attacked Ukraine with 133 drones during the night, 24 of which hit targets, according to the Ukrainian air force. Later on Sunday, separate Russian attacks on the Ukrainian cities of Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv killed at least two people, according to local officials.

Ukrainian drones targeted a Wildberries warehouse in the Samara region, some 500 miles from the RussianUkrainian border, according to local Gov. Vyacheslav Fedorishchev. He said a fire had broken out but there were no casualties.

Kyiv’s campaign against

Wildberries first hit the company’s sites in Elektrostal, just east of Moscow, and in the Tambov region July 18. Strikes followed on facilities across western and southern Russia, as well as Russian-held Crimea. At least nine people have been killed and scores wounded.

Two people were killed as a Ukrainian drone struck a residential building in the Saratov region east of Samara, local. Gov. Roman Busargin said.

He added that the strikes damaged civil infrastructure in Engels, where the deaths took place, and the regional capital, Saratov.

Both cities have been frequent targets for Ukrainian attacks in recent years. Engels hosts a military airbase, while Saratov is home to a large oil refinery.

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Wash. fires force evacuation of 5,000 homes lll

BY JOHN HANNA Associated Press

About 5,000 homes have been evacuated and about 600 homes, businesses and other buildings have been destroyed by wildfires that remained uncontained Sunday in eastern Washington state, authorities said.

The fires burned more than 8.2 square miles around Spokane, the second largest city in Washington, and were among dozens across the western U.S. — stretching the ability of federal, state and local agencies to fight them. No deaths have yet been reported from the fires in the Spokane area.

Meanwhile, crews using bulldozers and helicopters continued for the 10th day to fight a fire that has burned nearly 525 square miles of grassland in western Idaho and eastern Oregon. The area is home to cattle ranches, and authorities said the fire is threatening more than 600 homes and 800 other structures.

The National Weather Service issued warnings about the air quality in eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, western and central Idaho and western Montana. It issued red flag fire warnings for parts

the ground and keeping winds at bay will rise, allowing those winds to move through the area. The Spokane River cuts through the city of about 229,000 people, and there are steep canyons on both sides that channel the wind.

“They push the fire through the canyons, up, up the slopes, and then outside the slopes and around,” he said. “It’s very, very hilly, very, very steep slopes, a lot of canyons that create really turbulent, really challenging sort of wind scenarios.”

Authorities in Spokane set up a shelter at the city’s main convention center.

Several larger fires continued to burn in less populated areas northwest of Spokane, including one about 80 miles from Spokane that has burned about 210 square miles. Another fire in eastern ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By yOUNG KWAK Oregon, about 70 miles to the Kimberley Sather stands at the duplex she rents on West Indian Trail Road on Sunday after it burned in a northwest in the Stinkingwater wildfire in Spokane, Wash.

Mountains, has burned about 336 square miles.

“The whole northwest is heavily of Utah and Montana and west- the Fairview Fire and the Mead- situation” red flag alert for eastern impacted right now,” said Keila ern Nebraska, and extreme heat owview Fire, and the state issued Washington.

Benjamin Cossel, public infor- Vizcarra, the spokesperson for warnings for the southern parts air quality warnings. Washington of Arizona, California and Nevada Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a mation officer for the federal re- the federal team from California and northern Montana. state of emergency Saturday, and sponse team from California, said handling what’s been named the There were three fires in the the National Weather Service is- that as it gets warmer during the Big Grass Fire in western Idaho Spokane area: the Old Trails Fire, sued a “particularly dangerous day, cool air that’s now closer to and eastern Oregon.

Trump holds off Iran Helicopter collision near Athens kills 2 strikes on pledge Wildfires continue Hormuz deal is close to rage in Europe ATHENS, Greece — Two Greek firefighting helicopters collided in midair on Sunday as they were battling a winddriven wildfire west of Athens, sending one aircraft crashing to the ground. Two crew members, a Greek and a Danish national, died in the crash.

The collision laid bare the danger at the most volatile front of Europe’s wildfire emergency. Strong winds drove flames deeper into the region of the Greek capital and forced fresh evacuations, France guarded a stillburning scar four times the size of Paris, while Spain’s major fires stopped advancing.

Ceuta grapples with aftermath of border surge men, swelled Ceuta’s Alvise Pérez, a far-right Most migrants leave Spanish territory young population by more than Spanish politician and memAssociated Press

half. Abdelkader lamented what happened, but said that those who breached the border behaved relatively well.

“It could have been much worse,” he said.

The humanitarian crisis caused by the sudden rush of people has reignited a debate around immigration in Europe and beyond. Over the weekend, far-right, antiimmigrant Spanish politicians and well-known rightwing influencers descended on the city, sparking counterprotests that included members of the Spanish city’s large Muslim population, many of whom are of Moroccan descent.

ber of the European Parliament, called on Saturday evening for migrants to be expelled as he faced an angry crowd of rival protesters. Pérez eventually had to shelter in a bar as residents banged on the windows, until police escorted him away.

Among the counter-protesters on Saturday was 20-year-old Ceuta resident and student Noor Ahmed.

She denounced the protest and presence of figures like Pérez in her city as opportunistic.

“They just want to take advantage of the humanitarian crisis Ceuta is currently experiencing,” Ahmed said.

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CEUTA, Spain — Ceuta over the weekend no longer looked like a city on edge, but residents were still rattled by the events of the week.

Most of the 60,000 migrants who swam, scrambled and later charged into the tiny Spanish exclave in North Africa this week had walked back to Morocco by Sunday, but some stayed on in the hills surrounding the city. Spanish authorities continued searching for bodies in the waters near the stretch of urban beach that tens of thousand of migrants had breached days earlier.

Shops in Ceuta reopened, and the usual blend of residents and tourists in the city of 84,000 were filling the open-air terraces, restaurants and cafes.

At least 72 migrants died, including some who drowned and others who were killed in a stampede to cross a breakwater barrier, Spanish authorities said Sunday. Morocco reported 11 deaths on its side of the border, but it wasn’t immediately clear if these were in addition to those reported by Spain.

The kingdom’s authorities blamed misinformation and human traffickers for the breach, adding that they were opening an investigation into the events.

But the city that prides itself on being home to four cultures was still grappling with the aftermath of the border surge, with locals disagreeing on

what caused it and who exactly is to blame.

“It’s not the young men’s fault,” said Mohamad Abdelkader Driss, 44, a waiter at a fish restaurant in town.

“If you open the border, of course everyone comes in, but the young men aren’t to blame. The authorities are responsible.”

Some migrants who returned to Morocco described a border that was effectively open and said authorities did little as they watched thousands of people cross.

The unauthorized arrivals on Thursday and Friday of 50,000 to 60,000, mostly

e

BY SUMAN NAISHADHAM

Supe

President Donald Trump said he’s holding off delivering new strikes on Iran, after Tehran and other Middle Eastern powers told him they’re working on an agreement that might quickly reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump said he’d agreed to cancel the attack, “subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL,” according to a post on Truth Social. “Get to work, everybody, and get it DONE.” The announcement marks a moment of potential respite after days of escalating tensions that saw Trump preparing to hit the Islamic Republic “very hard” in a bid to bring an end to a conflict that’s now in its sixth month.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday on Telegram that negotiations between Iran and Oman are in the final stages.

The two countries that flank the strait are discussing a new route through it, but the talks don’t cover whether the strait will be closed or open, Araghchi spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said in an interview on Iranian state-run TV. Baghaei blamed the U.S. for the waterway being closed to shipping traffic.

Waves of tit-for-tat Iranian attacks on American allies have targeted countries across the Middle East, while Tehran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz — a global shipping chokepoint — has driven sharp swings in energy prices.

The U.S. was asked “to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to,” Trump said in his post on Saturday.

“This would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat.”

Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said Trump’s claim of halting attacks was a “repeated retreat from threats.”

Axios reported earlier that Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had urged Trump to refrain from new strikes. The official Saudi news agency said Sunday the kingdom’s de facto ruler had stressed to Trump the need for dialog to deescalate tensions.

Israel, which launched the war alongside the U.S. but wasn’t party to an initial Washington-Iran peace deal in June, is waiting out the latest diplomatic push, according to a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet, Zev Elkin.

There’s “some kind of vec-

Associated Press

al

Bloomberg News (TNS)

tor toward an agreement between Iran and Oman,” he told local Army Radio on Sunday. The two nations held discussions last month that sought to reopen the Hormuz strait.

Elkin expressed skepticism: “We’ll all wait to see if this vector really does become a full agreement, and whether it will be implemented and where it’s all leading.”

Trump met with Netanyahu at the White House last week, their first meeting since the Iran war began in late February. The Israeli premier said they’d discussed options for pursuing the campaign.

The prospect of yet more attacks had ratcheted up worries in the region, where Iranian strikes have threatened energy facilities in countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait.

Brent crude ended last week above $90 a barrel, compared with below $72 a barrel at the start of July.

Major OPEC+ nations on Sunday agreed in principle to another token increase in their production quotas for September. The move would complete the theoretical revival of supplies halted in 2023 and give scope to add more barrels once the Middle East war ends.

U.S. embassies across the region on Saturday warned Americans to be prepared for flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures and other travel disruptions as tensions remained elevated.

A U.S.-Iran truce brokered in June collapsed last month, though the two sides paused strikes again in late July to give diplomacy another chance. That lull ended Tuesday night when Tehran carried out what Trump described as a surprise attack, firing multiple ballistic missiles at a U.S. military base in Jordan.

Araghchi held separate calls with his Saudi and Turkish counterparts and Pakistan’s army chief before Trump’s announcement on Saturday. He warned against any “adventurous actions by the U.S. military,” saying Iran was “fully prepared” to respond “decisively.”

Araghchi also told Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud any regional cooperation with the U.S. would draw a decisive and appropriate response from Iran’s armed forces, according to a Telegram post from the Islamic Republic’s Foreign Ministry.

Iranian-backed Houthis rebels in Yemen have recently opened a new front in the war, threatening shipping in the Red Sea near the Bab el-Mandeb, another shipping bottleneck.

Writers Salma El Wardany and Chelsea Mes contributed to this story.

S

BY ELTAF NAJAFIZADA, SARA GHARAIBEH and DAN WILLIAMS

BY ELENA BECATOROS and THOMAS ADAMSON

were a Greek and a British national.

Farther west, containment brought no end to the emergency. France’s largest wildfire remained held within its perimeter after forcing 224,000 people to flee in what may have been the country’s largest civilian evacuation outside wartime.

Hot spots still burned within a 162-square-mile scar, thousands remained unable to return home, and nearly 3,000 firefighters were deployed against the Gironde megafire and a secASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MICHAEL VARAKLAS ond, still-uncontained blaze in Provence.

A firefighting helicopter drops water over a smoke-filled Together, fires in France forest Sunday during a wildfire near Porto Germeno, and Spain have driven northwest of Athens, Greece. roughly a third of a million people from homes and vaThe aircraft were Bell often deployed in Greece to cation sites, emptied comhelicopters operating over help tackle wildfires during munities at the height of the Psatha area west of Ath- the country’s hot, dry sum- the European summer and stretched emergency serens, each with a two-person mers. crew. Foreign firefighting The two crew members vices across simultaneous and helicopter crews are who were recovered alive disasters.

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4A ● Monday, August 3, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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SUCCESS

Scientist Solomon David holds an alligator garfish in Wilkinson County, Miss., on Thursday.

Continued from page 1A But the ring levee would be overtopped when the river rose too high, inundating the entire property all at once, filling it like a bathtub. Those floods happened sporadically throughout the 20th century, once every few decades.

Then, they started happening back-to-back — in 2008, 2011, 2013 and 2019.

“Several 100-year floods in a row,” said Will Prevost, a director of freshwater programs with the Nature Conservancy. “They’d have to cut the levees — or they blew out — every time.”

And every time the levees were overtopped, the farmland would be ruined. Animals on the property — deer, raccoons — would drown. So the landowners reached out to the Nature Conservancy.

They designed a simple structure, a box culvert with a valve that can be opened and closed.

“It allows the water on the interior of the property to rise and fall with the flood pulse of the Mississippi River,” Prevost said, keeping the river from busting through the levees. “It also acts more like a natural floodplain, like it’s supposed to.”

“Projects like this are becoming increasingly necessary, I think, on a global scale,” said Joshuah Perkin, a professor of ecology and con- Gabby Gonzales, a master’s student at the University of servation biology at Texas Minnesota- Twin Cities; Charles Vaughan, a master’s student A&M who was not involved at the University of Minnesota-Duluth; science professor with the project. “When le- Solomon David; and Luxi Feyereisen, a master’s student of vees are put in place, the conthe University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, collect and measure nection from the river to the garfish in Wilkinson County, Miss., on Thursday. floodplain is severed. This is a pattern that’s happening everywhere.” the floodplain, it’s a good in- healthy. And because they dication that the floodplain migrate between the river ‘Trash fish’ no longer is serving its use as far as and the floodplain, they Now, David is here looking supporting aquatic wild- can give scientists a fuller picture of the health of the for gars, to find out whether life,” David said. the floodplain is providing And though they’re look- broader riverine ecosyshabitat for spawning fish. ing specifically for alliga- tem.

Alligator gars need flooded tor gar, David said that’s “Although people at one vegetation to spawn — ex- because they function as an point considered gars to be actly the type of landscape “indicator species.” If the ‘trash fish,’ including alligagars are doing well, that’s tor gars, they can serve as that Loch Leven provides.

“If we find baby gars on a sign that the ecosystem is good indicators of aquatic

DOWNTOWN

Continued from page 1A Now, Blanchard and his staff will work to raise awareness of downtown’s growth over the past 40 years and offer more walking tours and monthly discussions and establish a data dashboard of downtown activity.

Sales at downtown businesses along with overall foot traffic continues to increase. Data provided by the DDA shows the area is becoming less of a destination for late-night activity and more of an evening hot spot for older residents.

“The reason I’m excited now is this is still going to happen,” Blanchard said.

“When it’s going to happen, it’s going to be at the right time when LCG is ready, sees the path forward and understands kind of what that mutually beneficial results are. Ultimately, we all share the same values.”

What the data shows If you want to know just how well businesses are doing in downtown Lafayette, perhaps the easiest way is to

CONCERNS

Continued from page 1A Hamas is truly disarmed, it will quickly expand its presence throughout Gaza, rebuild its terrorist infrastructure, once again threaten Israeli communities, and seek to carry out another Oct. 7-style attack,” he said, referring to the Hamas militant attack on Israel in 2023 that triggered the war in the Gaza Strip.

“Disarming means physically giving up the weapons.

Nothing less,” Spielman said.

His comments come days after Hamas said that it would begin disarming as part of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire signed nine months ago to end the nearly threeyear conflict. It marks a potential breakthrough in end-

STAFF PHOTOS

By SOPHIA GERMER

Scientist Solomon David, with the help of master’s students from the University of Minnesota at Twin Cities and Duluth, collects and measures garfish. ecosystem health,” David said. “And it’s not just gars that we see here. We see crappie, we see bass, we see sunfish — all kinds of other fish. We’re just using gars as a representative group.”

They’re far from trash to David, who kept several as pets while he was in graduate school. They lived in a 300-gallon tank in the house he shared with other fish scientists in Ann Arbor,

How much is downtown’s EDD collecting?

type of ear bone made of calcium carbonate crystal.

Humans have them too; when ours slip out of alignment, we get vertigo. A specialized saw cuts that crystalline bone into thin slices, and the cross sections show rings, like a tree’s, that can be counted under a microscope to estimate the fish’s age.

‘Show folks up north’ To David, all of this work is connected.

“If you think of it from an angling perspective, we all tend to want bigger fish,” he said. “Those floodplain systems can help you get those bigger fish.”

New Orleanians, who live downstream from projects like Loch Leven, are connected to it, too, according to Prevost.

When the flood gate is opened and the waters flood Loch Leven, it can hold 72,000 acre-feet of water — roughly enough water to fill 25 Superdomes — acting as a kind of mini spillway. That water isn’t flowing downstream when the river is at flood stage, and could, to a small extent, lower the flood risk downstream in Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

To the Nature Conservancy, that’s an argument for replicating these projects.

The more of them there are, the more the river can breathe, the less likely it is to flood towns and cities.

And the more baby gars David finds here, the stronger the argument becomes for reconnecting more floodplains to the Mississippi — not just on the lower river, but also in Minnesota, where his lab is.

“It would be great to see projects connecting the floodplain to the river throughout the Mississippi River, and even on other rivers,” he said. “We can show folks up north the value of floodplains.”

Michigan.

His team also stopped by the Livingston Parish Gar Fish Rodeo on Sunday at the Blind River Bar, accessible only by boat in the middle of the Maurepas Swamp.

There, working alongside local fishermen, they collected additional fish samples to bring back to their Minnesota lab.

Email Alex Lubben at They’ll age their gar spec- alex.lubben@theadvocate. imens using their otoliths, a com.

ly and the median age of people who live downtown is now 32.

“This Hotel Lafayette is going to be fabulous,” said Blake David, an attorney who also owns properties along Jefferson Street. “It can be a catalyst. There’s a lot of fun things that can be happening downtown, and we need to make sure everyone is in alignment and working toward making this the kind of place that people from all walks of life want to attend.”

Another issue could be parking, which has long been a topic of debate, with some people arguing there is plenty of parking downtown and others claiming there needs to be more.

Jaci Russo, co-founder and CEO of BrandRUSSO downtown, argues there is enough parking — mainly because the Vermilion Street parking garage is often underutilized.

“There is no way-finding signage — nothing,” she said.

“I believe we need better signage and direction because the garages are nice. There are elevators, and you’re out of the elements. But if you don’t tell people how to use the tool, how do we expect them to use the tool?”

review the 1-cent sales tax collections via the Downtown Economic Development District.

Business, according to the data, is good.

Sales tax collections in June topped $80,000, which was the highest on record and eclipsed the $75,000 collected in May, which was also a record.

Collections each year have grown, and the $721,226 collected in 2025 was 25% higher than those in 2021, the first full year of the district.

Part of that revenue funds the downtown ambassador program Block by Block.

“Why does it continue to rise when people are saying the economy is so bad?” said Jessica Hauerwas, director of Downtown Lafayette Unlimited. “People are coming and spending money here because they want to have experiences here. It’s not just coming and grabbing groceries and heading out. It’s become a lifestyle choice.”

The people who do that, according to data collected

by Placer.ai, are younger and are doing it earlier in the evening. The share of overall foot traffic from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. now makes

up for 9.9% of all activity during a typical day, an increase from just over 8.5% in 2021.

Traffic from midnight until 2 a.m. is now at 8.7% of all traffic, down from about 9.25% in 2023.

“We have a very stable midday crowd, which is super important for a downtown,” Hauerwas said.

“What we have seen for dinner is a giant spike. A thriving nightlife is important

to a downtown, but I think what we’re seeing here is the big spikes people are nervous about — safety, and specifically in those hours — downtown starts to go to bed.”

Other trends show an emerging demographic downtown, such as the rate of remote work among downtown workers is lower than the national average, the visits on Wednesdays have increased significant-

Outside Blanchard’s office on Jefferson Street is an open piece of land that for most of the year is used for parking.

But for Festival International, it becomes the Fais Do-Do Stage, the festival’s biggest draw. About a third of what Festival makes each year comes from that stage, Blanchard said.

It’s an example of what he and others want to address in a downtown redevelopment plan: How does downtown take that next step?

“We need to build on what Festival has done,” Blanchard said. “Festival is cramped every year. I want Festival to thrive downtown.

That’s a major economic driver for us, but we can’t let it hold back our other opportunities.”

Another is the 83-room Hotel Lafayette, which could finally begin construction in the coming weeks after months of delays following a groundbreaking last year.

The slab is being poured for the 32,000-square-foot Email Adam Daigle at full-service boutique hotel. adaigle@theadvocate.com.

ing the conflict, but many hurdles, conditions and long timelines remain.

Trump’s 20-point ceasefire plan calls on the militant group to surrender its weapons and destroy its vast network of tunnels. It also envisions Israeli forces withdrawing from Gaza, the arrival of a new technocratic Palestinian government, deployment of an international security force and the rebuilding of the battered Palestinian enclave.

Hamas disarming has been a sticking point and has deadlocked negotiations for months. In announcing the deal on social media on Thursday, Trump said it would be carried out in “carefully structured phases.”

A copy of the agreement obtained and verified by the AP said that all weapons held

by the Hamas-run police will be transferred to the U.S.backed Palestinian technocratic committee, known as the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, upon its arrival in the enclave. It’s not clear when that would happen since it is contingent on other steps.

A process to decommission and store heavy weapons and to dismantle military production sites and tunnels will begin after the arrival of the Palestinian committee and the deployment of international forces. The process will be linked to a phased Israeli withdrawal, according to the agreement.

The areas Israel controls in Gaza have been mostly destroyed and depopulated.

Most of the territory’s 2 million Palestinians are in the other part, where hundreds of thousands live in squalid

tent camps and destroyed neighborhoods.

Israel appears unlikely to pull back significant forces or make other concessions ahead of its October elections. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a tough reelection battle, with his far-right coalition partners urging him to keep up the pressure on Hamas and leave forces in Gaza, and opponents accusing him of failing to prevent the Oct. 7, 2023, attack.

Hamas-led militants attacked Israeli communities then, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 others hostage.

Israel responded with a punishing military offensive that has killed more than 73,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

The ministry, which was part of the recently dis-

solved Hamas-run government, maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and international organizations.

It does not distinguish between civilians and militants but says women and children make up around half of all fatalities.

While Spielman said Israel greatly appreciates Trump’s commitment to its security and to finding a durable resolution, the government’s position on disarmament is based on detailed intelligence saying that Hamas continues to rearm, recruit fighters, and rebuild its military capabilities.

The White House did not provide additional comments on Sunday, when asked specifically about Israel’s assessment that Hamas remains committed to rebuilding its military.

One-cent sales tax collections by month from the Lafayette downtown economic development district: July 2025 August September October November December Jan. 2026 February March April May June

$58,788 $55,420 $56,168 $57,523 $63,311 $60,469 $57,987 $63,802 $61,347 $66,496 $75,713 $81,921

What to address

*

* * * * * * * *

Source: Downtown Development Authority *Denotes highest collection on record for that month

Staff graphic

U.S. officials, who briefed reporters on the disarmament agreement last week, said that Israel had been consulted at every step of the negotiations and was not being asked to do anything more than what it had committed to as part of the ceasefire and hostage release agreement signed last October.

It’s unclear what exactly Israel conveyed to the White House. Two people with knowledge of the deal told the AP that Israel had communicated its issues with it to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who’s part of the Trump-led Board of Peace. One of them said that among the points Israel wanted was freedom to conduct military operations in Gaza. They spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Monday, August 3, 2026 ● 5A

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Trump polls strong on immigration among Republicans

BY AMELIA THOMSON-DEVEAUX, LINLEY SANDERS and MIKE CATALINI

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Immigration remains a stronger issue for President Donald Trump than the economy or Iran, according to a new AP-NORC poll, even after three people were killed in encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the span of under a week in July.

Trump is not getting a glowing endorsement on his immigration approach from Americans overall, the new survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found. Only 39% of U.S. adults approve of his performance on immigration, a decline from 49% at the beginning of his second term.

Despite that, about 8 in 10 Republicans continue to approve of how Trump is handling immigration. That’s a slight decline from the beginning of Trump’s second term, when about 9 in 10 Republicans approved, but his support on the issue within his base has been mostly stable since last summer despite a chaotic year of immigration enforcement actions.

Republicans are also more likely to approve of how Trump is handling immigration than the economy or Iran. In just the past month, Republican approval of Trump’s handling of Iran dropped slightly in AP-NORC polling The poll found that about half of U.S. adults say Trump has “gone too far” on deporting immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. That number has also remained steady for over a year, despite multiple immigration crackdowns that deployed federal law enforcement to large cities and at least 10 deaths involving encounters with immigration officers since the mass deportation campaign

— you’re breaking the law,” he said.

More Americans disapprove than approve of the way ICE is enforcing immigration laws. About half of Americans “strongly” or “somewhat” disapprove of the agency’s approach, while roughly 3 in 10 “strongly” or “somewhat” approve. There’s a wide partisan split, though: About 6 in 10 Republicans approve of ICE’s approach, compared with about 2 in 10 independents and just 4% of Democrats.

Eric Coursen, 76, an independent from Chincoteague, Virginia, agrees with the president that there were issues with the immigration system. He said doesn’t believe in open borders — but he’s deeply opASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By ERIN HOOLEy posed to how the administration has been enforcing immigration law.

According to a new survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for “It’s like taking some bread Public Affairs Research, 8 in 10 Republicans continue to approve of how when you’re hungry and you take President Donald Trump is handling immigration. it, you’re going to shoot that person rather than just, you know, get began. Republicans, however, are living in the U.S. illegally. In each them for theft?” he said. “It’s just much less likely to say Trump has case, about 3 in 10 say Trump’s ac- overkill.” overstepped in his immigration en- tions have been “about right,” and closer to 2 in 10 say he hasn’t gone Economy forcement actions.

Overall, Trump’s popularity far enough.

About 3 in 10 U.S. adults, 32%, apFew Republicans — about 2 in 10 prove of how Trump is handling the has fallen since he took office last year, but the findings highlight the or fewer — say he’s “gone too far” economy. That’s down from 40% relatively muted impact of the past on deporting immigrants in the at the start of his second term, and year’s aggressive immigration en- country illegally or restricting legal marks a shift from his first presiforcement on his public standing. immigration. dential term when the economy was Most Americans, however, say a stronger issue for Trump.

That’s a contrast with views of his handling of Iran, where he’s seen he’s gone too far when it comes to During Trump’s first term, his more recent signs of slippage, even using traffic stops to find and ar- lowest approval on the economy among his own supporters. rest immigrants living in the U.S. was 40% in December 2017. Now, illegally — a practice that was at his rating is well below that.

Immigration Roughly 7 in 10 Republicans — the center of two recent ICE shootAmericans remain divided on ings in Maine — and when it comes 69% — approve of how Trump whether Trump has overstepped to sending federal immigration is handling the economy. That’s agents into U.S. cities. Republicans roughly in line with the share who on immigration.

About half of U.S. adults say were also less likely to see these as approve of how he’s handing the presidency, but it’s slightly below Trump has “gone too far” when it oversteps.

James Leatherman, a 68-year-old the 78% who approved early in comes to restricting legal immigration, in line with the last time the Republican from San Antonio, is Trump’s second term.

Leatherman, despite his support question was asked in February. overall supportive of Trump’s hanRoughly half — 47% — say Trump dling of the presidency and backs for Trump, said he’s feeling the pinch of higher prices in his budget. has exceeded his authority when him on immigration in particular. it comes to deporting immigrants “You cannot come in here illegally “I almost have to go to the bank to

get a loan before I go grocery shopping,” he said.

About 7 in 10 U.S. adults describe the nation’s economy as “very” or “somewhat” poor, in line with April. Republicans are more optimistic, with about 6 in 10 saying that the U.S. economy is doing well, compared with about 2 in 10 independents and roughly 1 in 10 Democrats.

Healthcare Healthcare has never been a strong issue for Trump. Unlike with immigration and the economy, a clear majority of U.S. adults has disapproved of Trump’s performance on healthcare across both presidential terms. That hasn’t changed in the new poll, which found that only about 3 in 10 Americans approve of how Trump is handling healthcare, in line with when the question was last asked in December.

He’s seen a rebound on the issue among his own supporters since late last year, though. Roughly 71% of Republicans now approve, compared with 59% in the December poll.

That shift comes as Democrats kicked off 100 days until the midterm elections last week, with leaders saying they’ll focus on healthcare cuts, in addition to the cost of living and the war in Iran. Democrats and independents continue to overwhelmingly disapprove of Trump’s handling of healthcare.

The AP-NORC poll of 1,165 adults was conducted July 23-27 using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.7 percentage points. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 6.0 for Republicans overall and plus or minus 5.4 for Democrats overall.

Kansas GOP focuses Ex father-in-law skewers Max Miller on moving court right Congressman is

BY JOHN HANNA AP political writer

TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas voters will decide Tuesday whether to elect state Supreme Court justices rather than have the governor appoint them, a push from conservatives who have chafed for years over court decisions they disagreed with on issues such as abortion, school funding and the death penalty.

If the constitutional amendment passes, supporters hope to elect at least four conservative, anti-abortion justices to the seven-member court by 2033.

Kansas is considering the change amid concerns that increasingly contentious and expensive judicial elections in other states are making their courts more partisan and less independent. Spending in a single state Supreme Court race in Wisconsin last year topped $100 million.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a term-limited Democrat who opposes the measure, said gerrymandering and dark money have put the Legislature out of step with the state and, “to think you can make the judicial branch a part of that dysfunctional system is frightening.”

GOP lawmakers cite multiple rulings by Kansas courts over the past two decades as reasons for change.

Most recently, a district court judge earlier this month reinstated a threeday grace period for voters to return mail ballots after Election Day, which GOP lawmakers had eliminated. Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson, seeking the Republican nomination for governor, called the decision “outrageous” and urged people to vote yes on the ballot question.

The same judge — a finalist to fill the most recent Supreme Court vacancy — blocked enforcement of a 2025 law banning genderaffirming care for transgender minors. Masterson described him as “radical.”

The list of rulings Republicans criticize also includes rulings on education funding back to 2004.

Supreme Court decisions

forced lawmakers to increase funding to comply with the state constitution.

“If we elect our Supreme Court, they won’t force you to spend money on schools,” Masterson said in remarks in November to a conservative group, the Marion County Patriots for Liberty, the Marion County Record reported.

Electing state Supreme Court justices gained currency among Republicans after a 2022 public vote affirming the high court’s landmark 2019 decision that Kansas’ bill of rights guarantees bodily autonomy and access to abortion.

Total spending by both sides has exceeded $12 million.

Legislators who worked to overturn the Supreme Court’s protections, including Masterson, helped write this year’s proposal.

Seven weeks after that 2022 vote, Attorney General Kris Kobach, then a GOP candidate for the office, told a Republican club in Wichita that electing justices would “slowly and quietly” put anti-abortion justices on the high court.

The vote-yes campaign’s biggest donor — providing $1.7 million toward the campaign’s $3.7 million in spending — is a Nashville-based nonprofit that supports Republican candidates, groups and causes. Kansans for Life, the state’s most influential anti-abortion group, has spent at least $87,000 over the past 11 days on mailers and texts.

“Kansans can bring an end to this reign of abortion by voting ‘yes,’ ” Troy Newman, president of Operation Rescue, said in an editorial written by a staffer on the anti-abortion group’s website.

Meanwhile, the national and state affiliates for abortion provider Planned Parenthood contributed another $1.6 million toward the vote-no campaign’s $8 million-plus in spending.

Jamie Swan, an engineer and college teaching assistant who knocked on doors for abortion rights in 2022, is doing the same to try to halt the proposal.

“I really believe that this is just a power grab,” she said.

fighting domestic violence accusations

BY MARY CLARE JALONICK and JULIE CARR SMYTH Associated Press

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno said his former son-in-law, U.S. Rep. Max Miller, should not be serving in the House and should “seek professional help” as Miller defended himself against allegations of domestic abuse in a live video on X on Sunday.

Moreno, who has Miller been publicly restrained in recent months as the bitter custody dispute has played out between Miller and his daughter Emily, said

in a lengthy post: “If there are any basic standards of character required to hold elected office, Max Miller fails them.

He should not serve in the House of Representatives.”

Moreno wrote that Miller “needs serious psychological help. He is a danger to my daughter, and I hold my breath every minute he has custody of my granddaughter.”

Miller said Sunday that he will remain in his race for reelection before a Wednesday deadline to replace him. Democrats have seen a new opportunity in the northeast Ohio congressional seat as the Republican incumbent has faced mounting pressure over the domestic abuse allegations in a bitter and drawn-out custody battle with his ex-wife.

“I’m not dropping out of this race and I’ll win in No-

vember,” said Miller, who denied abusing his former wife and his daughter.

Accusations against Miller, who has been endorsed

by President Donald Trump and was a White House adviser during Trump’s first term, have been public for years but have recently drawn increased scrutiny as back and forth in the case has escalated.

Emily Moreno has said that Miller scalded, hit and threatened her while they were married. Miller denied those allegations in the video, as he has in the past.

“It’s incredibly upsetting,” Miller said, as he went through a list of the allegations.

Miller also said he had nothing to do with a broken collarbone on their 2-yearold daughter that led Emily Moreno to contact authorities. The pair, who were married in 2022 and finalized

their divorce last year, have presented different theories about how the injury occurred, according to court filings and police reports detailed in an article in July in the magazine Mother Jones that first revealed the child’s injury.

Miller accompanied his announcement with the release of a voluminous cache of investigative and court documents, as well as audio and video clips, related to the custody dispute.

A spokesperson for Emily Moreno, Stefan Mychajliw, said Sunday that the video was “shameful.”

“No loving parent would have ever used their daughter as a PR pawn to save their own political career,” Mychajliw said. “Miller can lie and spin on X, but he cannot do so under oath in a court of law. We are confident that justice will prevail in court.”

DNC leader hunkers down amid backlash

BY STEVE PEOPLES

party’s momentum in the change, and so that decision’s tin supporter. “What we’re battle to retake control of up to Ken. And he’s told me seeing right now is a whole Congress from President he’s in it, so I trust him on group of folks who live on NEW YORK — Ken Martin is in Donald Trump’s Republican making that decision,” said Twitter and consultants fightColorado Democratic Party ing harder against Ken MarParty. survival mode.

“I sense no movement Chair Shad Murib, a DNC tin than they’ve ever fought Desperate to save his job as chair of the Democratic from the DNC to make a member and strong Mar- against Donald Trump.”

National Committee, he is avoiding Protection your loved ones deserve ... media appearances, monitoring his critics’ social media posts and refusing — at least so far Martin — to make any substantive changes at his troubled organization.

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Washington Parish ‘Castle’ listed at $1.9M Property previously hosted weddings and events

BY IZZY WOLLFARTH Staff writer

For 27 years, Louisiana Castle, located in Washington Parish, has been a top spot for locals’ and visitors’ weddings, corporate and private events and romantic getaways.

The castle, spread across 10 acres of land and tucked between trees, could now become someone’s personal estate for $1.9 million.

Built in 1991, the property welcomes guests with two cement lions, named Sid and Ernie, who guard the main door. The dirt path leading to the estate is lined with medieval flags that slowly peel away to reveal the grand entrance.

After entering through the solid wood door, visitors encounter an

array of experiences and sights.

The ones that stand out are the indoor Jacuzzi, the expansive openair pavilion fit for large gatherings, king and queen thrones, and swords and armory decorating the interior walls.

A two-story home, the castle features a bride-and-groom suite, two bathrooms and a balcony that overlooks the estate grounds. The property extends beyond 6,000 square feet with most furniture and decor from New Orleans flea markets, including the thrones and prints found throughout the estate.

The listing includes a full commercial kitchen, fixtures imported from England and Wales, walk-in closets and an additional off-property guest house, included with the sale.

Designed and built by Dr. Mark

A. Belcher, the castle was originally a personal residence. As a student at Louisiana Tech University, Belcher became enamored with castles after watching a movie titled “The War Lord.”

After traveling and visiting castles around Europe, Belcher began sketching his own castle plans. He was set on creating what would become Louisiana Castle and his dream home.

In 1999, real estate agents Dolly and Steve Illg bought and expanded the property to make it into the event venue it is today.

“We view Louisiana Castle as a STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON work in progress and are always looking for anything that can be The Louisiana Castle in Franklinton could now become someone’s done to improve it. It is our intent personal estate for $1.9 million. to continue to make Louisiana Castle better and better,” they wrote So far, the castle has witnessed moments; now it could be a part of on the castle’s website. many people’s once-in-a-lifetime someone’s entire life story.

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Baton Rouge-raised emcee Kevin Gates will perform at the Cajundome this fall for Birthday Bash 23.

Kevin Gates to headline Birthday Bash 23

STAFF PHOTOS By BRAD BOWIE

SCHOOL READy

BY JA’KORI MADISON

Staff writer

Kevin Gates is headed to the Cajundome this fall for Birthday Bash 23.

Presented by Live Nation Worldwide and HOT 107.9 on Oct. 16, joining Gates as support will be Bun B, Rob49, Slim Thug, Mouse and Level and Wochee.

The full lineup is subject to change.

Born in Baton Rouge, Gates began making music in the mid2000s, gaining a loyal following with his mixtapes. His breakout mixtape, “Stranger Than Fiction” (2013), debuted in the Top 40 of the Billboard 200, paving the way for his critically acclaimed debut album, “Islah” (2016), which earned platinum certification and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 without features.

Gates has amassed multiple platinum singles, including hits like “2 Phones,” “Really Really” and “I Don’t Get Tired,” and has been recognized with several BET Hip Hop Award nominations.

Beyond music, he is a successful businessman with his Bread Winners’ Association label and an inspirational figure known for his candid discussions about mental health, spirituality and personal growth.

Tickets are available at the Cajundome box office and online at Cajundome.com.

Fans can also visit the website to information about premium experiences, including private suite rentals, the Service Chevrolet Cadillac VIP Club and the HOT 107.9 pre-show Birthday Bash event.

ABOVE: Lafayette City Marshal’s Office deputies and Explorers hand out book bags filled with school supplies during the office’s sixth annual drive-thru backpack giveaway on Saturday at Destiny of Faith Church.

LEFT: Marshal Reggie Thomas hands out a book bag, one of over 1,000 he said he and his deputies distributed.

Natchitoches man takes home cornhole crown

BY IZZY WOLLFARTH Staff writer

A Natchitoches man was ranked 1,027 in the world going into the American Cornhole Organization World Championships in Owensboro, Kentucky.

Still, Cannon Hatcher kept winning and advancing until he finally claimed the World Singles title.

Now, he is considered royalty — the “King of Cornhole.”

“It was an interesting experience,” said Hatcher in a news release. “I was so locked into the

game that whenever it was over I felt like I had another game ready to play. Though once the moment set in, it was awesome to see my success over the week.”

Cornhole is both a competitive sport and casual lawn game where players on two different teams try to throw fabric bean bags into targets or holes on inclined wooden boards. Boards are usually placed 27 feet apart with different points awarded according to where the bean bag falls.

Hatcher, from Goldonna, is a first-year computer information

systems student at Northwestern State University.

He is also the president of NSU’s cornhole club team, where students have the Hatcher opportunity to play and compete in collegiate nationals where they can earn scholarships.

“I’ve participated in major competitions since I started but didn’t find any success until after about one to two years of consis-

tent playing and practice,” said Hatcher.

His competitive cornhole journey began almost six years ago and previously secured him second place in the High School National Championships held in South Carolina in 2021.

NOLA Bags LLC, a tournament cornhole bag supplier, celebrated his win that year with a nod to his future success in the sport.

“Congrats kid big things coming in the future for you,” the NOLA Bags LLC team wrote on their Facebook.

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

Clinical trials should be accessible to all

Attorney general’s threats cross a line

Clinical trials are essential to developing new treatments and improving survival and quality of life for people with cancer. Yet, they are not accessible to everyone.

At 27, I was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia. I was lucky to receive a tailored treatment plan based on the groundbreaking blinatumomab clinical trial. The access I had to this treatment proved lifesaving and significantly improved my quality of life compared with the intense chemotherapy that had previously been the standard of care.

For many patients, both medical costs, like copays and deductibles, and non-medical costs, including transportation, lodging and meals, can also be major barriers to trial participation.

The bipartisan Clinical Trial Modernization Act (SR4440 and HR3521) would help remove these financial hurdles by allowing trial sponsors to help cover both medical and non-medical costs associated with trial participation.

It would also ensure that a portion of certain types of financial support for trial participation would not be considered as income, protecting eligibility for safety-net programs such as Medicaid and ensuring patients are not taxed for their trial participation.

As a cancer survivor, I urge our elected officials to help more patients participate in trials and access innovative treatments with this critical legislation.

Lafayette lawyer Lance C. Beal’s column critiquing the indictment of Attorney General Liz Murrill for her threatening letter to several New Orleans public officials misstates Louisiana criminal law.

He describes Murrill’s letter-writing action as “what every Louisiana attorney sends before filing suit,” a remark which is precisely wrong.

The Louisiana extortion statute is fairly broad: A. Extortion is the communication of threats to another with the intention thereby to obtain anything of value or any acquittance, advantage or immunity of any description. Any one of the following kinds of threats shall be sufficient to constitute extortion: (2) A threat to accuse the individual threatened or any member of his family or any other person held dear to him of any crime.

(5) A threat to cause harm as retribution for participation in any legislative hearing or proceeding, administrative proceeding or in any other legal action.

(6) A threat to do any other harm.

B. Whoever commits the crime of extortion shall be imprisoned at hard labor for not less than one nor more than fifteen years. (La.R.S. 14:66, in pertinent part) Lawyers, and others, are prohibited from sending demand letters which threaten any of the foregoing.

Did Murrill do that? It certainly seems so.

COURTNEY FOURNET Baton Rouge

Trump’s crusade against fraud is ironic It’s rather ironic that President Donald Trump is trying to stop nonexistent voting fraud. This is from the fellow who voted by mail recently, is on audio trying to “find” 11,000 votes in 2020 and used gerrymandering and threats to keep the Republicans in power.

Several states had fake electors trying to verify voting ballots. A year ago, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was wrecking things, looking for fraud and waste.

The new ballroom ($600 million estimated so far), trashing the reflecting pool ($14 million and counting), an airplane as a “gift,” using defense money for questionable purposes and trying to get immunity from audits for his family and business — knock, knock, Congress! Anybody doing your job? Not to mention Epstein and the Iran war. Wake up, America!

KIM ALLAIN River Ridge

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE ARE OUR GUIDELINES: Letters are

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

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New American citizens pledge their allegiance to the flag during a naturalization ceremony in New Orleans.

Love our country as it becomes better and more free over time Should we love our country because the Declaration of Independence says “Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed” and “All men are created equal?”

Or should we hate our country because it was legal to own slaves until 1865 and women weren’t allowed to vote until 1920?

Wouldn’t it be more helpful and hopeful to love our country for becoming better and more free over time?

If we love the U.S. and all our fellow Americans (no matter who they vote for), we can continue to grow.

STEVEN LEMOINE attorney at law Metairie

STEVEN W. LLOYD New Orleans

Shout out to members of National Guard

We must move beyond research to find solutions that cut carbon dioxide emissions Thank you for your recent article on our warming Gulf. Unfortunately, the editorial response deemed the threat of climate change merely “worrisome.”

Moreover, its priorities were limited to more research.

Some observers discount the impacts of climate change by failing to recognize that carbon dioxide emissions remain in the atmosphere for 100 years or so. Thus, even if the world sharply and quickly reduces its emissions, the ill effects of the changes in our atmosphere are bound to get much more serious than they are today.

The body of scientific research already justifies the need to promptly reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases. The National Academy of Sciences published a massive research agenda for climate change in 1975!

By 1979, the basics of climate science had achieved a high level of consensus. Since then, the Academy, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and other authoritative bodies have produced dozens of very detailed reviews.

Re: “Historic drop in New Orleans crime is worth celebrating:” Your recent editorial forgot to mention the dedicated, hardworking, mostly young people in the National Guard and the Louisiana National Guard for their efforts to help secure and make the city safer.

I have met many, and they’re pleasant and wonderful. I’m glad to have their help. Let’s recognize that, too.

The Gulf has not been ignored. Of note, the BP settlement after the 2010 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon directed considerable funding toward understanding Gulf science with more precision. Gaps remain. But we already know a lot.

Since the 1980s, foes of action to protect our atmosphere have argued we must wait for scientific certainty or exactitude to cut emissions. Thus, the editorial’s call to know “exactly” what’s happening in the Gulf falls into the trap of assuming that scientists will ever achieve exactitude about medicine, weather or climate. That day will never come.

We need to electrify vehicles, transition electric power away from fossil fuels and sharply reduce methane leaks. Each solution has become more affordable and practical in recent years.

If we don’t move briskly beyond more research, we will have difficulty defending our diffidence to our drowning descendants.

MORRIS KAHN New Orleans

Story on Trump’s election claims was buried Recently, the paper published an article detailing the claims that President Donald Trump’s 2020 candidacy failed due to a “deep state” conspiracy. The article debunks his claims of interference in his loss of that election.

I find it disturbing that an article about the leader of our country using his influence to mislead the populace at large with his untruths is not on the front page, but relegated to the sixth page.

Not to have this information on the front page of the paper, I believe, is a disservice to the readers, no matter what their political beliefs may be.

Our elected leaders, no matter which party or office they have been elected to, should not be allowed to push unfounded theories as truths or lies. This article could have served the readership and public at large had it been on the front page.

Please keep up the good work of informing the populace of New Orleans and surrounding parishes and cities.

JAY HAKES New Orleans

Seniors depend on Medicare Advantage plans Louisiana seniors rely on Medicare Advantage plans because they make real-world healthcare affordable.

As director of the New Orleans Senior RX Program at the Council on Aging, I appreciate that the federal government’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services adjusted the final Medicare Advantage rate notice to better reflect the real-world pressures facing the 35 million Americans and their families who rely on the program. Healthcare costs are top of mind for seniors and their families, especially to ensure access to high-quality care for many older Louisianans.

Healthcare affordability is an ongoing issue. Seniors will continue working on it with policymakers in Washington to strengthen Medicare Advantage and to ensure that concerns about the stability of the Medicare Advantage program and the predictability of healthcare costs are heard loud and clear.

For seniors and patients with disabilities who depend on Medicare Advantage, this option is a lifesaver.

Louisiana’s seniors deserve a program that reflects today’s healthcare costs and meets their needs. More than half of Medicare beneficiaries nationwide have chosen Medicare Advantage as their coverage, and enrollment continues to grow. In Louisiana, this option serves more than 60% of all Medicare enrollees.

Healthcare costs continue to rise. When federal funding for a program doesn’t keep pace with rising medical costs, the people relying on it will eventually feel the impact.

That is our fear with Medicare Advantage.

We rely on our congressional advocates. To our elected representatives: We are watching, and we vote!

WILLIAM EDWARDS New Orleans

SHARON SHELLING New Orleans

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COMMENTARY Defense bill is no sellout to Israel Congress has been known to slip indefensible special-interest provisions into large must-pass bills when no one is looking.

What it has never done before is use such sleight of hand to hand over control of the U.S. military to a foreign country. But that’s what we’re told is on the verge of happening on Capitol Hill.

The House just passed the National Defense Authorization Act, a sprawling $1.15 trillion bill that supposedly includes a Rich provision buried in it Lowry “merging” the U.S. and Israeli militaries.

This provision, known as Section 219, has united some of the most fervent anti-Israel conspiracy theorists on the right and the left in denouncing the alleged betrayal of America, from Marjorie Taylor Greene to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, from Tucker Carlson to Cenk Uygur.

AOC has warned that the provision “is an existential threat to American sovereignty and democracy.”

Greene has said anyone who voted for the bill “sold out the American people to a foreign country.”

Carlson wants literal treason trials.

So what is the substance of Section 219? Legislation often has obfuscatory titles, but this provision is deemed, with admirable clarity, the United StatesIsrael Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative.

It calls for the secretary of defense to designate “an executive agent” to coordinate between the U.S. and Israel on “bilateral defense technology research, development, testing, evaluation, integration and industrial cooperation.”

The Pentagon will come up with a plan for such cooperation and report back to Congress.

That’s it. There is nothing about merging the general staffs of the U.S. military and the IDF; nothing about creating a joint office where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his Israeli counterpart, Israel Katz, work together; nothing about giving Bibi Netanyahu partial control of CENTCOM. That the United States would want a close working relationship with Is-

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-Benton, center, flanked by House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minnesota, left, and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, speak to reporters at the Capitol in Washington. rael on military technology is hardly surprising. Israel is one of the world’s most innovative societies and, given its precarious security environment, has become a leader in advanced defense technologies.

That a nefarious interpretation of the bill has gotten some traction underlines how any preposterous lie, so long as it’s about Israel, gets a hearing these days.

Like many conspiracy theories, this one depends on a dark view of American society. We are allegedly so corrupt that we are handing control of our military to a foreign country without any senior military leaders or officials in an “America First” administration lodging a complaint.

No wonder Carlson wants the kind of tribunals that attended the end of World War II. At the first Nuremberg Trials, Wilhelm Keitel was found guilty of crimes against humanity and hanged; at the second Nuremberg Trials, Mike Johnson will be found guilty of supporting mutually beneficial technology sharing between allies — means of execution yet to be determined.

One perversity here is that Netanyahu conceives of the technological coopera-

tion as a substitute for the U.S. military aid that he supports phasing out. In other words, enemies of Israel oppose U.S. military aid, and when a constructive plan is offered for how to go about ending it, they oppose that, too, as an Israeli plot.

Another perversity is that the U.S. should want a very close relationship with Israel on missile defense, an area where Israel excels and that, as we’ve seen in the Ukraine and Iran wars, is crucial to modern warfare.

And yet, the same people who portray themselves as zealously protective of the U.S. national interest want us to turn our back on a source of technological advance.

Israel naturally fits in the Western alliance, but nations ultimately pursue their selfish interests. If we spurn the Jewish state out of irrational animus, it will inevitably look elsewhere and perhaps build a stronger relationship with China. Then we will surely be told by the critics now obsessed with ending the U.S.-Israel relationship that Israel has shown its true colors and deserves even more of our scorn.

Rich Lowry is on X @RichLowry.

Future storms could bring worse outcomes As Tropical Storm Bertha approached Louisiana, most residents likely gave a shrug and got on with their daily routines. This wasn’t a hurricane, just a “little” disturbance. Its winds were not likely to move a shingle off their roofs and, most importantly, its storm surge would likely max out at 2 to 4 Bob Marshall feet, conditions we often see during stiff southerly blows. No big deal.

But what if those little disturbances start pushing surges 6 feet — or higher?

And what if the scientific breakthroughs that have led to better predictions for threats from weather and pollution are restricted? What if we don’t know how to best protect our families and our property?

That’s the future revealed by two news stories that arrived just before Bertha.

The first: New NASA research says in just 24 years the Gulf of Mexico will rise as much as 18 inches along the Louisiana coast.

That means that soon “little” disturbances like Bertha could push surges 4 to 6.5 feet — or higher.

More worryingly, that also means larger storms will be pushing even higher, more damaging surges further inland, not just drowning the coastal zone but requiring more frequent evacuations in areas above I-10. This increases the urgency for finding more billions in funding to lift storm surge levees. And there’s no telling how high the cost of flood insurance will soar — or if we can even get it.

The report was produced by the NASA Sea Level Change Team which includes researchers from NOAA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology, which led the effort. It was based on three decades of satellite altimeter measurements of sea surface height and correlated with NOAA tide gauge records dating as far back as 1920.

In other words, this is based on factual measurements of what has happened

STAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Plaquemines Parish flood control staff move large sandbags along La. 39 in preparation for Tropical Storm Bertha on July 21. and what is continuing to happen.

The projections now place the average 2050 rise along the contiguous U.S. at 12 inches. That includes 10 to 14 inches on average for the East Coast, 4 to 8 inches for the West Coast and 14 to 18 inches for the Gulf Coast.

The speed of that change places future sea level rise in the higher range of the scenarios in the accepted models.

Those are based largely on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions being released into the atmosphere.

This is more solid evidence that reducing the use of fossil fuels is an existential issue for Louisiana.

That second piece of news paints a dark future for Louisiana’s coastal and environmental health: President Donald Trump has decided to have political loyalists instead of qualified scientists decide how the nation spends its billions in scientific research grants.

These appointees — basically “yes” men and women — require no background in the subjects of the grants.

They must only certify research that aligns with Trump’s opinions on science and other subjects. They will have the power to deny grants on subjects

and from organizations Trump dislikes. They can also cancel grants for research he disapproves of that are already underway.

And this is a president who still claims climate change is a hoax, whose love for oil, gas and coal has led him to cancel funding for green energy programs, kill federal electric vehicle incentives and open wilderness and national monuments to drilling. He is even moving to cancel the long-standing energy efficiency ratings requirements for home appliances, a program popular among consumers because it saves them money.

So, what do you think will happen to an application for research on lighter, safer, more powerful and longer-lasting EV batteries? Or on the human health risks from pollution at petrochemical refineries and methane releases from oil drilling sites?

Or the human health impacts of greenhouse gas emissions?

Is this making America great again?

Bob Marshall, a Pulitzer Prizewinning Louisiana environmental journalist, can be reached at bmarshallenviro@gmail.com.

Democratic party’s self-destructive wing turns to Michigan If you squint, you can see them. They are signs that the Democratic Party understands historian Robert Conquest’s rule: The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.

In the Aug. 4 primary, Michigan’s Democratic Party will select its Senate candidate. Three stalwarts of the national party’s kamikaze caucus, two of them fresh from telling Maine’s Democrats whom to nominate for Senate, are now instructing MichiGeorge ganders. They are Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who called Maine’s Graham Will Platner “my kind of man,” and Sen. Bernie Sanders, another Platner enthusiast. These two, and Rep. Alexandria OcasioCortez, who flinched from Platner, have discovered a new paladin of progressivism.

Abdul El-Sayed is 41. In 2018, he lost the Democratic gubernatorial primary by 21 points to a centrist Democrat, Gretchen Whitmer, who is now completing her second term. Today, El-Sayed campaigns with Hasan Piker, a “Twitch streamer” (yes, that is a job description in today’s America) sympathetic to Hamas. Piker has apologized for having said, “America deserved 9/11.” Today, El-Sayed says Israel is a “rogue state” guilty of “genocide.” He says, opaquely, that there should be “certain kinds” of law enforcement at America’s borders, but Immigration and Customs Enforcement should be “abolished.”

He favors Medicare-for-all, a single-payer healthcare system. One hundred eighty million Americans are covered by employer-provided health insurance that El-Sayed would terminate.

He would erase much that organized labor has achieved by negotiating the untaxed benefits of generous employer-provided healthcare plans.

A moderate Democrat who had been seeking the Senate nomination recently withdrew. This should help El-Sayed’s remaining opponent, Haley Stevens, who was trailing in polls taken before the withdrawal. She is a four-term congresswoman from Oakland County, much of it suburban Detroit. Forty-six years ago, this county was the canary in the national Democratic Party’s coal mine: Oakland was an early habitat of a new political species, “Reagan Democrats.” They are now called “Republicans.”

Times change. Stevens’s district voted solidly for Hillary Clinton in 2016, Joe Biden in 2020 and Kamala Harris in 2024. Stevens is a centrist liberal, supportive of Michigan’s auto industry, not Hamas.

She is something that purple Michigan might like. Donald Trump’s 2024 victory in Michigan was wafer-thin (1.4%), but Michigan Democrats should remember: He carried it.

The American Enterprise Institute’s Ruy Teixeira, a center-left Democrat, describes a perverse dialectic of “Trumpian overreach:” The more Trump is flamboyantly provocative, the more Democrats lurch into “histrionic, radical, ineffective responses.” He controls the shrillest Democrats by triggering them, and they propel their party toward self-indulgent, self-destructive choices, such as El-Sayed.

The United Auto Workers has endorsed ElSayed. It might, however, someday be the United Graduate Students.

Michigan, historically hospitable to strong unions, experienced history-making labor conflicts in the 1930s. “The strike heard around the world” was the sit-down strike at a General Motors plant in Flint. In the “Battle of the Overpass,” Ford employees bloodied UAW organizers near the main gate of the River Rouge plant.

But U.S. automaking is no longer so concentrated in Michigan. It has dispersed, often to right-towork states, partly to avoid the increasingly radical UAW. More than 100,000 of its roughly 400,000 active members (down from a late-1970s peak of 1.5 million) are what the union calls “academic workers” — graduate student teaching assistants, postdoctoral researchers, etc.

No wonder the UAW likes El-Sayed, who vibrates like a tuning fork to academic radicalism.

And he is fluent in the online snark and condescension that clogs social media. For example, he hopes Stevens’s supporters “find some way to teach her how to string together two coherent sentences.”

She “is a suit with a large AIPAC” — American Israel Public Affairs Committee — “bank account, that’s it.”

Of course: Beware of the Jews. El-Sayed has impeccable credentials for representing today’s left.

But he is not running to be the senator from Ann Arbor. And Rep. James E. Clyburn, D-South Carolina, who is Black and the closest thing to a power broker remaining in today’s politics, supports Stevens. If El-Sayed is nominated to replace retiring Democrat Sen. Gary Peters, his Republican opponent will be former seven-term congressman Mike Rogers, who in 2024 lost a Michigan Senate race by just 0.34%. In that case, Rogers almost certainly will win. Republicans almost certainly will retain control of the Senate. And Robert Conquest’s rule certainly will be validated.

Email George Will at georgewill@washpost.com.

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Future of free LSU law clinic uncertain 2024 crime law narrows parole eligibility

BY IZZY WOLLFARTH

Staff writer

Since 2014, second- and third-year law students enrolled in the Parole and Reentry Clinic at LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center have represented incarcerated men and women before the state parole board.

The clinic provides free legal representation for men and women seeking freedom after serving at least 20 years in prison, and the students gain much-needed legal experience.

But crime legislation passed in 2024 cut early release opportunities for many who would have qualified for representation, and the clinic’s future is now uncertain.

“I have to be thoughtful about what we’re going to do to continue to give students this experience, but I do think it’s going to shift because the opportunities of the cases are just drying up,” said Robert Lancaster, assistant dean of experiential education at LSU Law School, who leads the clinic.

The clinic has operated for the past 12 years in collaboration with the Louisiana Parole Project, a nonprofit dedicated to reentry services and mentorship, and the Louisiana Board of Pardons & Committee on Parole. But during the 2024 special crime session, Louisiana eliminated parole for anyone convicted of a crime after Aug. 1, 2024. Many incarcerated persons are now also required to serve at least 85% of their sentences before becoming eligible for release.

The impact of the legislation has been dramatic. In 2023 alone, 387 individuals were granted parole out of the 790 hearings conducted, according to the Louisiana parole board. In 2024 and 2025, Gov. Jeff Landry’s first two years in office, 714 parole hearings were conducted with 185 individuals released.

Francis Abbott, executive director of the parole board,

PROVIDED PHOTOS

Students enrolled in the Parole and Re-entry Clinic at LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center in fall 2023 stand with clients whom they assisted in getting released from prison. Crime legislation passed in 2024 has drastically reduced the number of people released from prison on parole. said via email that the board continues to see the clinic as an important investment in public service.

“While the criminal justice reforms enacted in 2024 have narrowed parole eligibility, they (the Parole and Re-entry Clinic) have made the need for knowledgeable legal representation and case preparation even more important,” he said. “Their work helps to balance the board’s decisions and has greatly affected the lives of their clients.”

The clinic is a semesterlong course that accepts a small cohort of eight students. Students are expected to devote a minimum of 135 hours to the course, including time spent visiting local prisons to meet with clients and preparing for parole hearings.

While students are under the supervision of Lancaster, it is up to them to build trust and ultimately represent their clients.

Matia Wright, who enrolled in the course in fall 2024, successfully assisted a client who spent 41 years in

Stephanie King, left, a former Parole and Re-entry Clinic client graduates from Tulane University after being released from prison. Robert Lancaster, the supervisor of the clinic, attended her ceremony. prison get released on medical parole. She recounts the experience as emotionally charged, yet life-changing.

“I think that if someone

wants a second chance after they’re willing to take ownership for what they did, they’re willing to understand what they did wrong,

of how horrible the crime was,” said Lancaster. “Everything that’s written about your client is mostly about the very worst thing they ever did, and as their lawyers you have to tell the different story.”

As the number of people released on parole declines, the number of people in prison is expected to increase.

The Crime and Justice Institute estimates that Louisiana’s prison population will nearly double by 2034.

Remembering her time in the parole clinic, Wright hopes for an attitude shift in Louisiana government.

“My hope is that governors will be a little bit more empathetic towards incarceration,” said Wright. “Maybe instead of focusing on high crime or trying to get people to vote and making emotionally charged decisions based on maybe what the public thinks that they take a step back and really try and connect with the people to get them to understand why this (parole) is a good thing.”

Izzy Wollfarth received her master’s degree in mass and they’re willing to make communication from LSU society a better place, that in May. She reported and we should let them,” she wrote this story with the support of the nonprofit said.

Another former student, Louisiana Collegiate staff attorney at the Loui- News Collaborative, siana Parole Project and a an LSU-led coalition of supervising attorney for the eight universities, funded clinic, Adreaynne Hutchin- by the Henry Luce and son, said the experience in- John D. and Catherine T. fluenced the way she looked MacArthur foundations. at the criminal justice system.

“We literally walk away LOTTERY with a whole new look on not just the criminal justice sysSATURDAY,AUG. 1, 2026 tem, but people and the abilPICK 3: 6-6-6 ity for people to change and PICK 4: 6-5-4-3 your ability to connect with PICK 5: 6-2-0-3-3 people,” she said.

The purpose of the clinic, EASY 5: 3-7-21-22-23 according to Lancaster, is not LOTTO: 11-19-24-28only to provide incarcerated 30-32 persons with representation, POWERBALL: 6-17-27but also to teach future law48-50 (5) yers narrative advocacy and effective storytelling.

Unofficial notification, Lancaster explains that keep your tickets. on the first day of class, students are given a detailed folio about their client’s crime.

Funerals Today “What I hand them is a file that typically will contain Duplechin, Myrtis the appellate opinion in the Fountain Memorial Funeral Home, case, which has often a very 1010 Pandora Street in Lafayette, at 11 lengthy section on the facts a.m.

Audubon announces layoffs

as Sawaya has warned we continue to evolve, we Chief of staff, 22 and of belt tightening measures. remain focused on responfinished 2025 with sible stewardship of our reothers released in a Audubon $3 million operating loss, sources, exceptional care for third year in a row it fin- our animals, support for our cost-cutting move the employees, and delivering ished in the red.

BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer

Audubon Nature Institute Chief of Staff Gilbert Montaño is of one several Audubon employees out of a job as the organization looks to cut costs, officials said Wednesday.

Montaño, who was hired at Audubon last year after he resigned as former New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s chief administrative officer, is one of 23 employees the organization has terminated in a bid to save $500,000 this year and more in future years, President and CEO Michael Sawaya said.

The institute, which oversees a collection of parks, museums and environmental attractions throughout New Orleans, confirmed his and other employees’ terminations.

“Audubon Nature Institute has implemented organizational changes to better align staffing and financial resources with operational needs and strategic priorities,” organization officials said in a statement. “While we do not discuss individual personnel matters, we can confirm that the Chief of Staff position is among several positions that have been eliminated as part of a broader staffing reduction.”

The layoffs, which represent 4% of the institute’s more than 500 employees, are the first under Sawaya’s administration. They come as Audubon has been grappling with revenue declines

Officials told affected employees in two separate staff meetings about the changes, said the source, who was not authorized to discuss the moves publicly.

Reached by phone Wednesday, Montaño praised his former employer.

“Audubon is a wonderful organization, and restructures happen all the time, in all types of organizations,” he said. “And I’m looking forward to the next chapter in my life.”

He did not share specifics but said he was eyeing the private sector.

Montaño spent seven years as Cantrell’s budget czar and left his post as her tenure was nearing its end. A $160 million city deficit ballooned last year under his oversight, a fact City Council members have criticized.

At Audubon, he stepped into the newly created role of executive vice president of operations and chief of staff, where he was responsible for coordinating operations of all of Audubon’s facilities, for its strategic planning, and for its collaborations.

His salary was around $250,000, according to Sawaya, who said at the time of his hiring last year that Montaño’s experience and dedication “make him an invaluable asset.”

“These changes reflect a comprehensive review of our organizational structure to ensure that personnel and financial resources are aligned with Audubon’s highest priorities,” Audubon officials said Wednesday. “As

outstanding experiences for the guests and communities we serve.”

Sawaya, who took the reins at Audubon from Ron Forman in January 2025, said he spent much of his first year in his new job studying the books at the massive institution and decided early this year to hire a consultant to identify potential savings.

“After the pandemic, Audubon went back to their pre-pandemic model, and we aren’t back to pre-pandemic visitor levels in this city,” he said. “So, we had to do something.”

In 2025, for instance, the aquarium had 150,000 fewer visitors. On balance, about 70% of the aquarium’s visitors are tourists.

Sawaya said the consulting firm Treppwise recommended the layoffs, which will save $1.5 million next year and more in future years.

The layoffs were mostly in administrative and supervisory positions at the zoo and aquarium as well as in the corporate office.

“They said we were a little heavy on the executive management side and that there were some efficiencies we could achieve with layoffs,” he said, adding that no additional layoffs were planned.

“This is a one and done,” he said.

Staff writer Jessica Williams contributed to this story.

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

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Saints WR Polk retires from NFL endured a rocky Promising 24-year-old ington 2024 rookie season with the New Engreceiver placed on reserve/ land Patriots, catching just 12 of his 33 retired list on Sunday targets for 87 yards.

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

Going into training camp, several people in the New Orleans Saints organization said they were excited to see what receiver Ja’Lynn Polk would do with his second opportunity.

The team never got to find out: Sunday afternoon, the Saints placed Polk on the reserve/retired list, meaning Polk has retired from the game at the age of 24. The reasons behind Polk’s decision are still not known.

The former second-rounder out of Wash-

He suffered a shoulder injury that required seasonending surgery before the 2025 season began.

New Orleans liked Polk when he was coming out of the draft and bought low on his potential, acquiring him from the Patriots last fall for a late-round pick swap.

He had earned some admirers inside the organization for the work he put in this

ä See POLK, page 3C

WR Ja’Lynn Polk

STAFF PHOTO

By DAVID GRUNFELD

1Cn

‘A great deal for our program’ How LSU landed first-round draft pick LHP Schmidt and how he fits in the Tigers’ pitching staff

BY KOKI RILEY Staff writer

Jay Johnson had only seen it happen once before.

When Johnson was the associate head coach at San Diego in 2010, signee and right-handed pitcher Dylan Covey wound up at school despite being the Milwaukee Brewers’ first-round pick. His physical with the club after he was picked revealed that he had Type 1 diabetes, resulting in the two sides not being able to agree to signing terms.

The Covey saga was the only time Johnson had a high school signee who was picked in the top few rounds of the MLB draft but still ended up at school. But that changed on Saturday.

Logan Schmidt, one of the top high school left-handed pitchers in this year’s draft who the Cleveland Guardians selected with the No. 59 overall pick in the second round, is joining the Tigers, he announced on Saturday. The top prospect turned down a chance to sign with the Guardians and join the junior college ranks — which would have allowed him to be eligible for next year’s draft — to come to Baton Rouge.

“In this era, they only pick guys that they have agreements with,” Johnson said in an

ä See LSU, page 3C

SHIFTING INTO

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU coach Jay Johnson reacts to a call in a game against Sacramento State on March 8 at Alex Box Stadium.

Saints cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry takes a break in between drills during organized team activities on June 10 in Metairie. McKinstry is hoping to step up in his third year with the Saints. STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

“The leap he made from Year 1 to Year 2 was pretty good,” Loomis said. “We need another.”

The playbook, intentional or not, mirrors what happened with Chase Young a year ago. Last summer, players and coaches weren’t shy about boasting about the pass rusher — all while acknowledging they needed more out of him. That mix of confidence and pressure worked. Young rewarded their faith with a career-high 10 sacks in 12 games, putting it all together despite missing the first five weeks because of a calf injury.

Now, the attention has turned to McKinstry. And it makes sense. The Saints lost Alontae Taylor in free agency to the Tennessee Titans, and rather than spend big on his replacement, New Orleans is trusting safety Jonas Sanker can hold it down in the slot and that McKinstry further ascends as a No. 1 corner. (Taylor played both inside and out.)

Fittingly, McKinstry is back wearing No. 1 — his college number that was previously taken by Taylor. When McKinstry wore that jersey at the University of Alabama, that was the last time he was truly seen as a true, shutdown cornerback.

LSU football players report Tuesday for preseason camp, with the first full-team practice set for Wednesday.

Typically, I loathe preseason camp, smothered as it is by August’s giant outdoor sauna of oppressive heat and humidity.

But considering how fast, furious and mind-spinning off-the-field news continues to be surrounding college athletics, never have I been Scott so looking forward to standRabalais ing on a sideline dripping sweat while watching the Tigers assemble the building blocks for the coming season.

No cell phone calls or texting allowed during practice, you say? Fine with me.

It will be a welcome respite from the constant barrage of sweeping and stunning changes that have me longing to just watch someone play a game.

Could be football. Could be cornhole at this point. I almost don’t care.

Three headlines from the past week highlight the constantly shifting landscape of college sports where we are all trying to

ä See SAINTS, page 3C

ä See RABALAIS, page 3C

Saints want cornerback McKinstry to step up in year 3

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

Justin Reid wants to tell you about Kool-Aid McKinstry.

The New Orleans Saints safety wants to tell you about the work the third-year cornerback has done from the start of the offseason program to training camp. He wants to tell you about the growth that he’s seen, how McKinstry has disrupted play after play with an urgency and naturalness that makes it apparent that the corner has been working on his game. And Reid wants to tell you how excited he is for McKinstry this coming season, how confident he is that all the work the 23-year-old has put in will pay off.

“That cat is going to be something special,” Reid said.

Reid is far from alone in his opinion. All offseason, numerous Saints — from players to coaches to even general manager Mickey Loomis — have made a point to single out McKinstry, so much so that it almost feels deliberate. On some occasions, like with Reid, the praise comes when asked a general question about the secondary. On others, the mention comes completely out of nowhere — like when Loomis targeted McKinstry as a key player the Saints are hoping will take another leap in 2026.

Barrage of news means fall camp can’t get here fast enough

2C ● Monday, August 3, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Kuwaki wins Women’s British Open

By The Associated Press LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England — Shiho Kuwaki of Japan saved par to stay alive in a sudden-death playoff Sunday and won with a par on the second extra hole to claim the Women’s British Open over Esther Henseleit of Germany for her first major title.

Kuwaki closed with a 1-under 70 and looked like a winner as she waited nearly 30 minutes in the scoring room. Henseleit, in the final group, holed a 40-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole at Royal Lytham & St. Annes for a 70 to join Kuwaki at 5-under 279.

Henseleit then had the advantage in the playoff when the 23-year-old from Japan was in deep grass short of a bunker and had to lay up short of the green.

Kuwaki hit wedge to 3 feet to save par and got another chance when Henseleit missed a 15-foot birdie putt for the win.

The tables turned on the second extra hole. Henseleit’s tee shot on the 18th drifted far enough to the right that it was beneath a gorse bush. She did well to get that back to the fairway, and hit wedge to about 12 feet. But her par putt stayed left of the cup, and that left Kuwaki to tap in for par.

“Very happy with how I gave myself the opportunity to win today and how I handled myself. Just got a bit unlucky on the second playoff hole there,” Henseleit said. “I tried really hard and I guess it just wasn’t meant to be today.”

This is the second straight Women’s British Open title for Japan, following Miyu Yamashita’s victory last year at Royal Porthcawl.

Kuwaki, often known for her fashion, becomes the fifth player from Japan to have won an LPGA major over the past three years.

“I can’t believe it,” Kuwaki said through a translator and the trophy presentation.

The disappointment on Sunday belonged to third-place Yealimi Noh (74), the 25-year-old Californian who began the final round with a three-shot lead until it slowly went away with bogeys.

She fell out of a share of the lead with a bogey on the 14th hole. Noh was one shot behind and had two reasonable looks at birdie — with Kuwaki already in the clubhouse at 279 — but failed to convert.

“It stings being one short,” said Noh, who had missed three straight cuts before this week.

“I told myself this morning, no matter what happens I’m happy to be in this position again. A couple of weeks ago, I was losing a lot of motivation. This week has helped me feel so much bet-

The Los Angeles Sparks traded All-Star guard Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury for a first-round pick next year, Monique Akoa Makani and a second-round draft choice in 2028.

The deal was finalized late Saturday night ahead of Sunday’s trade deadline and was first reported by ESPN. It’s rare for an All-Star to be traded in the middle of the season, only happening a handful of times before Saturday night.

Plum will wear No. 0 for the Mercury. She is a free agent at the end of this season and has been sidelined since June 21 because of a lower leg injury.

Plum was averaging a careerbest 23.9 points and 6.4 assists before getting hurt. Los Angeles has struggled without her, including losing its past six games.

A’s slugger Kurtz to see specialist for hurt thumb

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JON SUPER

Shiho Kuwaki holds up the trophy after winning the Women’s British Open on Sunday in Lytham St. Annes, England.

GOLF ROUNDUP ter about my game.”

Haeran Ryu fell short in her bid to become the first player since Inbee Park to win three straight majors in one year. The Women’s PGA and Evian Championship winner was still in the mix on the back nine. She needed birdies and instead closed with two straight bogeys for a 74 to tie for sixth.

Nelly Korda, the No. 1 player in women’s golf and winner of the year’s first two majors, started eight shots behind and closed with a 68. She was the leader in the clubhouse for the longest time at 2 under until Kuwaki finished.

Korda tied for fourth along with Jeeno Thitikul (73).

Kuwaki, at No. 46 in the women’s world ranking, played bogey-free over the last 13 holes as everyone around her made mistakes. She was in the scoring room after signing and stayed even as Henseleit and Noh had birdie chances on the final two holes to force a playoff.

Henseleit delivered with a most unlikely putt, 40 feet across the 18th green. The 27-year-old German raised her right arm as the golf ball still had a few feet to

on his last hole to shoot 7-under 63 and reach 18 under to win his first PGA Tour title by two shots at the final Rocket Classic.

The 24-year-old Thorbjornsen sealed his spot in the FedEx Cup playoff after rolling into the Motor City No. 69 in the standings.

The top 70 advance to the postseason after next week’s Wyndham Championship.

Thorbjornsen started the fourth round three shots behind leader Davis Riley, whose rough start opened opportunities for the field.

Thorbjornsen took advantage, surging into the lead at No. 14 with his third of four birdies in a six-hole stretch and closing with AP PHOTO By JOSE JUAREZ a clutch, curling putt that went in the right side of the cup.

Michael Thorbjornsen hits from “Perfect pace, perfect read,” he the fifth tee during the final round said. of the Rocket Classic on Sunday He’s the eighth first-time winin Detroit. ner this season on the PGA Tour and the second straight, followgo and punched the air when it ing Jackson Koivun’s victory last dropped for birdie. week at the 3M Open.

It was only the second playoff “It was such a battle, playing since the Women’s British Open with some great players,” Thorbecame a major in 2001. bjornsen said. “Everyone was in the mix after nine holes.”

Thorbjornsen wins in Detroit Xander Schauffele (65) briefly In Detroit, Michael Thorbjorn- led during the final round and finsen made a 26-foot putt for birdie ished second, two shots back.

Palou, Rossi give new IndyCars rave reviews

BY MICHAEL MAROT Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — Alex Palou and Alexander Rossi were sold on the new IndyCar at first glance.

Then they climbed inside the cockpit, took it around Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course and were even more impressed.

Palou, the four-time series champ, and Rossi, the 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner, became the first test drivers of the new model and both left the track giving the car rave reviews.

“I am very happy to announce that we will race it next year,” Palou joked Sunday. “I wish (it was next year) — like that’s the level of excitement I think among everybody. I think everybody, when we saw it live for the first time, I was shocked at how good it looked and how excited I was to give it a try.”

The Spaniard who drives for Chip Ganassi Racing certainly would be leading the pack again if he actually competed in the IR-28 next year because it isn’t scheduled to debut until 2028. Naturally, though, Palou, who has won 21 of the past 64 races including Indy in 2025 and is on the cusp of clinching a fourth straight series title, would prefer everything goes quicker.

His interest in this model was piqued after seeing the initial renderings of the lighter, sleeker, jet-like looking car.

The higher sidepod and more

L.A. sends All-Star Plum to Mercury for Makani, picks

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MIKE MAROT

Reigning IndyCar champion Alex Palou drives into the pit lane to test a new IndyCar model on Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. expansive, wavier front wings make the car look larger while the digital display featuring the car’s position during a race, qualifying or practice appears just behind the redesigned, less bulky aeroscreen give as a high-tech feature.

Designers promised the car would have roomier cockpits, run faster and race better all while adding safety features.

Rossi thought it was better than advertised. He started seven Formula 1 races in four seasons before moving to IndyCars in 2016, and at 6-foot-1, Rossi is one of IndyCar’s tallest drivers.

“Not to draw comparisons to F1, we don’t like doing that, but

I think anyone who drives an F1 car for the first time, they notice how smooth the car is — not from a powertrain standpoint but from the surface standpoint,” Rossi said Saturday. “This car starts to get to that level.”

He added: “It’s a little bigger, certainly more room for me. My knees aren’t headed into the top of the chassis, which is great. But it’s not like you’re out there driving a Suburban.”

And even though the goal was not necessarily to post fast laps, both drivers enjoyed the ride.

Track officials said no official or unofficial speeds were kept.

Instead, series officials asked

Rossi and Palou to produce some baseline measures about the car’s on-track performance, which can be used to help modify setups for future tests. That made it essentially a two-day shakedown with Rossi scheduled to run three hours on Saturday and Palou three hours Sunday.

There was just one problem — rain.

Each driver had their allotted time slot cut by at least half because of the cool, wet conditions that blanketed the Indianapolis area Saturday and Sunday. Still, it didn’t dampen the spirits of either driver.

“It’s pretty incredible to be able to be a part of the next evolution and to do it at a place that obviously means a lot to me and all of us here,” Rossi said. “It’s a small part to play in the history and the future of this championship, and that’s super cool.”

What’s next remains the great unknown.

While series officials have not yet scheduled the IR-28’s next test, Palou wants other drivers to join the parade he and Rossi just led.

“It’s super fun,” Palou said. “It’s just like being on a higher end car.

It feels like one of those interiors that are like good leather and it’s quiet inside. It’s good, it’s comfy, so, yeah, I can’t wait to hopefully try it in the dry (conditions) and see how it really feels when I push it.”

IndyCar returns to action next Sunday at Portland, Oregon.

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Athletics slugger Nick Kurtz will see a hand specialist in Los Angeles on Monday about his injured right thumb and could be headed to the injured list.

Kurtz went on the IL with a sprained right thumb on July 11 and returned two weeks later. But he has struggled at the plate since then, going 1 for 18 in seven games.

Kurtz was also hit on the left forearm with a pitch on Wednesday but was able to return to the lineup for the next two games.

Manager Mark Kotsay said on Sunday that the team will determine the next steps for Kurtz after he visits the specialist.

The 23-year-old Kurtz is batting .256 with 21 homers and a teamhigh 69 RBIs.

Braves place López on IL with knee inflammation

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves placed right-hander Reynaldo López on the 15-day injured list with left knee inflammation on Sunday.

The Braves recalled right-hander JR Ritchie from Triple-A Gwinnett to start Sunday’s game against the Washington Nationals.

The move with López was expected after he was scratched before Saturday night’s scheduled start against the Nationals. López was warming up in the bullpen when he experienced discomfort in the knee.

Fill-in starter Martín Pérez held Washington hitless until the seventh inning of the Braves’ 8-3 win.

Ritchie is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in 13 games, including seven starts, with Atlanta.

British PM: Infantino not the right man to lead FIFA

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Sunday that FIFA president Gianni Infantino was not the right man to lead world soccer’s governing body in the latest fallout from the now abandoned plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.

“I do not believe that he is the right man to lead football forward on the world stage,” Burnham said. “The plan that was put forward was offensive to many people, football people, around the world, and it can’t be the case that we just move on and forget that, it wasn’t acceptable.”

On Saturday, European soccer’s governing body UEFA said it had lost confidence in FIFA’s leadership — possibly paving the way for a challenge to Infantino’s presidency.

Wiebes wins again at Women’s Tour de France

GENEVA — Lorena Wiebes again sprinted to victory in the second stage of the Women’s Tour de France on Sunday.

The Dutch rider won the flat 91.9mile stage from Aigle to Geneva, the second on Swiss territory, in 3 hours, 42 minutes, 8 seconds.

Wiebes went ahead with some 250 yards to go and claimed her seventh overall victory at the tour.

Wiebes also won the opening stage on Saturday in the same dominant fashion.

“It’s special to win in the yellow jersey, but also because again, my team SD Worx-Protime, worked really hard for this,” Wiebes said.

“The girls were chasing full gas in the final to bring back Riejanne Markus. That makes it even more beautiful to finish it off.”

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

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SAINTS

Continued from page 1C But if the progress he has seemingly made this offseason is real, and the momentum carries into the regular season, it won’t be long before McKinstry’s reputation as an elite corner is established at the NFL level.

“I’m the type of guy that keeps my head down and work,” McKinstry said. “I thank (my teammates) for that recognition.

It just showed me that my work is paying off, but me, I’m the type of guy that I’ve got to keep my head down and work and be able to do this day in and day out.

“That’s the type of guy that I am.”

So, this offseason, McKinstry made it a priority to get in the best shape of his life. Back in his hometown of Birmingham, the Alabama native focused on running. Miles. Sprints. Forty-yard dashes. You name it. McKinstry said he did it all because if there’s one thing he’s realized the most about playing his position, it’s that cornerbacks have to be able to run.

But McKinstry didn’t come to the realization on his own. For that, he credited his coaches — past and present. Former Alabama coach Nick Saban, he said, used to stress that a cornerback needed to play every down, even if they were only seeing the ball five times per game. And last year, Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley pointed to Jalen Ramsey’s conditioning when McKinstry inquired about some of the greats that Staley previously coached before arriving in New Orleans.

“You got to be able to run all day,” McKinstry said.

Before he suffered a minor ankle injury that kept him out of team drills Friday, McKinstry had been running and then some. Ar-

RABALAIS

Continued from page 1C get a grip and find our footing.

Protect College Sports Act There was widespread surprise Friday when the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten reversed course to express support for the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act. The bill, which was running on fumes at best, now has a renewed chance of becoming law, though a narrow window before the congressional summer recess and November’s midterm elections remain major hurdles.

What changed the SEC and Big Ten’s collective mindset? Political pressure from the Trump administration was a factor, but apparently the big selling point was a provision that prevents schools from circumventing the revenue-sharing cap through third-party deals. Under the PCSA, schools would be allowed to pay players as much as $48.8 million annually, according to CBSSports.com.

Also very importantly, the PCSA would protect women’s and Olympic sports, almost all of which operate at a financial deficit. Schools would be prohibited from reducing the number of varsity teams, roster participants or competition (games and tournaments) below a threshold required for FBS membership.

Again, the bill still has a long way to go to get across the goal line, but at least there is a chance. Congressional oversight, of course, has its potential pitfalls and unintended consequences, but schools have shown over and over again that they are unable to police themselves when it comes to spending. The PCSA has the potential to take college athletics off the unsustainable path it is currently on.

Class of 2022 injunction Also Friday, a U.S. district judge in Denver ruled that all college athletes who graduated high school in 2022 whose clock ran out this spring were eligible for a fifth season in 2026-27.

The judge, Charlotte Sweeney, clarified her ruling Sunday (that’s as of this writing; who knows what could change again?) to say her ruling doesn’t override current transfer rules, roster limits or revenue sharing caps. In other words, if a football team has a full roster for this fall, it can’t just add a fifth-year player or exceed its revenue sharing cap.

The NCAA, which adopted a “five-for-five” eligibility rule set to go into effect this fall, is expected to appeal what still is a potentially chaos-causing ruling.

All that said, Sweeney’s deci-

guably the Saints’ top performer to begin camp, no play appeared to summarize his effectiveness more than his pass breakup on Devaughn Vele in which he came crashing in to knock the ball out of the receiver’s hand. Even without pads, McKinstry had established a level of physicality and command that kept him on the winning end of his matchups.

That, too, started to happen more and more as last season progressed. The Saints believe McKinstry made significant strides over the second half of the season. And though Pro Football Focus’ charting system is subjective, the data reflects what the team saw. McKinstry, according to PFF, went from allowing 32 catches for 444 yards and five touchdowns over the first nine games to just 17 catches for 228 yards and three touchdowns over the final eight contests.

Now, there’s demand for another jump.

Young knows what it’s like. In training camp last year, teammate Cam Jordan notably said they wanted to see waves, not splashes, from the pass rusher.

And linebacker Pete Werner called for Young to be “on his game” in the fall. But that type of push, Young said last week, provided motivation. He understood it came from a healthy place — and that his team had faith in him.

This year, Young said he can tell that McKinstry understands his “number is being called” — but also noted McKinstry hasn’t had a pass caught on him yet.

“He knows he has to step up,” Young told the Times-Picayune.

“It’s good.”

In addition to his team standing to benefit if McKinstry hits a new gear, the cornerback could stand to gain a lot individually as well.

He’ll enter the final year of his contract in 2027, and if he dominates, McKinstry could be in line for a big-time extension, even before that season begins.

sion could be a silver lining for LSU men’s basketball and coach Will Wade. He is still trying to build a roster for the 2026-27 season, a build-out being hampered by new NCAA restrictions on players who have competed in foreign professional leagues.

Programs with open roster spots and revenue-sharing funds could be landing spots for Class of 2022 players seeking a fifth year. Arizona has already signed former Clemson forward RJ Godfrey, one of the plaintiffs in a suit against the NCAA’s “fivefor-five” rule.

Sweeney’s ruling highlights the need, hopefully addressed by the PCSA, to steer college athletics away from the epidemic of players and schools seeking out a friendly judge to grant their eligibility. That can’t be what the legal system is about.

Ole Miss lawsuit This past week, Ole Miss announced it was seeking nearly $1 million in combined damages for breach of contract from two Ole players now at LSU: defensive end Princewill Umanmielen and offensive lineman Devin Harper. Both reportedly signed revenue-sharing agreements with Ole Miss before jumping in the portal in January to follow Lane Kiffin to LSU. Ole Miss, which claims it was put in a roster bind because of when the players left, says it’s tried to collect from LSU on Umanmielen and Harper’s behalf. Ole Miss said it’s heard crickets from LSU other than to affirm it wasn’t party to either player’s contract with their former school.

I see both sides of this convoluted coin. On one hand, a contract should be a contract, and both players should be beholden to Ole Miss for the deals they signed.

On the other hand, this makes Ole Miss look rather petty, especially since it’s also asking for reimbursement of legal fees.

Would Ole Miss be doing this if Umanmielen, a certain starter for the Tigers, and Harper, in the mix for a starting spot on the O-line, hadn’t followed the now vilified Kiffin to LSU? No way to tell, but I believe if they’d gone to NC State or Louisville (who the Rebels open with Sept. 6 in Nashville) this wouldn’t be an issue.

In the end, it’s another log for the LSU-Ole Miss-Kiffin fire leading up to their ever more emotional Sept. 19 showdown in Oxford.

Maybe Ole Miss and LSU should agree to play double or nothing with the lawsuit riding on the outcome.

For more LSU sports updates, sign up for our newsletter at theadvocate.com/lsunewsletter

SAINTS CAMP OBSERVATIONS

Rattler holding steady in backup QB battle Shough sporadic as first-team offense has sloppy outing

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

At some point, Kellen Moore says he plans to rotate the backup reps between Spencer Rattler and Zach Wilson.

The New Orleans Saints signed Wilson with the intention of creating a competition for the spot behind starter Tyler Shough. The move was nothing against Rattler personally — the Saints kept the quarterback, despite plenty of trade speculation — but rather, New Orleans’ staff wanted to see what they had in the former 2021 second overall pick.

But through the first four practices of training camp, as well as OTAs and mandatory minicamp, the competition hasn’t materialized.

And that’s a credit to Rattler.

The third-year quarterback has seemingly given his coaches no reason to contemplate a switch over the past few months. The 25-year-old has been largely steady, even as the offense has yet to fully find a rhythm. Wilson, by contrast, looks very much like a player still learning a new system, which is understandable since this is his first year with the Saints.

“Eventually, we’ll probably do something,” Moore said. “We just like to rotate these guys and give different exposures. All three of those guys are playing good football.”

But if Rattler keeps performing as he has been, he likely won’t be in jeopardy of losing his backup job.

Here’s what else stood out on Day 4.

Attendance: The Saints saw a few faces return to practice. While Cesar Ruiz and Ja’Lynn Polk were still excused for personal reasons, tight end Cody Hardy was removed from the non-football-injury list. Defensive linemen Zxavian Harris (foot) and Keeshawn Silver (undisclosed) were in uniform, but still working with trainers off to the side.

Cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry (ankle) returned to team drills after sitting out of them Friday as a precaution.

STAFF PHOTO By DAVID GRUNFELD

Saints backup quarterback Spencer Rattler runs a drill during training camp on Sunday at the team’s indoor practice facility in Metairie.

Two of those seeming incompletions were up for debate as it was unclear whether Chris Olave was in bounds on a deep ball on Shough’s first throw, while another appeared to be incomplete on a bang-bang play that could have been interpreted as a catch-and-fumble by Travis Etienne. Another of Shough’s incompletions, too, would have been wiped away because of an offsides penalty from Chase Young.

Still, whether he was 3-of-13 or 5-for-12, Shough struggled in team drills against New Orleans’ starting defense. He threw his second interception of camp when he held the ball for too long and tried to force a throw near the end zone that safety Julian Blackmon intercepted. He also saw Jonas Sanker make an impressive pass breakup when the second-year safety broke up a pass to Jordyn Tyson on the way to the ground.

Shough hasn’t received a lot of help from his playmakers, either.

Drops were again an issue Sunday as Alvin Kamara couldn’t hold onto a good look that was generated off of play action. And there was one — or two — fumbles from the supporting cast, as well.

On the first, Juwan Johnson fumbled the ball out of bounds after a completion. The second turned out to be more controversial. Late in practice, linebacker Pete Werner punched the ball out of Etienne’s hands as soon as Shough’s pass arrived — causing the official to rule it a catch-and-fumble. This, however, was highly debatable as it appeared Etienne had not established full control and for these purposes, we’re counting it as an incompletion.

If there was a bright spot for Shough, it came during 7-on-7 drills. He went 4-for-4 in his reps,

notably hitting Etienne on a nice wheel route and finding Devaughn Vele in traffic for a touchdown from the 5-yard line.

“It’s training camp,” Moore said.

“There are good days and days you want to improve. That’s part of this installation process.”

cision of bringing me in here.”

Polk had been absent from the Continued from page 1C past two days of training camp for what the Saints called an excused absence for personal reasons.

He was expected to play a large offseason, and Polk also seemed motivated to put his time in New part of a revamped Saints receiver corps this season.

England behind him.

Polk was one of three receivers “I feel like I’m supposed to be here,” Polk said earlier this sum- the Saints acquired shortly before mer. “For them … bringing me in the start of last season, joining here and having that trust of see- Devaughn Vele and Trey Palmer. ing the player I’m capable of be- Then New Orleans selected three reing, it speaks a lot. I just want to go ceivers in the 2026 NFL draft, includout there each and every day and ing No. 8 overall pick Jordyn Tyson.

The Saints’ top three in their roshow them they made the right de-

tation may not change after this news — Vele may have had the inside track at the primary No. 3 role, though the Saints certainly would have varied personnel based on their opponent.

But Polk’s sudden retirement may impact the schedule New Orleans had for its other young receivers, with fourth-rounder Bryce Lance potentially being pushed into a bigger role than initially envisioned for him. It could also create space for another player to make the roster, such as Ronnie Bell or Kevin Austin.

Sloppy starters The Saints moved practice indoors Sunday due to inclement weather.

Practicing inside did not help the first-team offense get into a groove.

Shough was again sporadic as he and the Saints try to adjust to the new pieces on offense. In 11-on11 drills, Shough completed only three of his 13 passes — although there are some caveats.

POLK

LSU

Continued from page 1C interview on Saturday. “In this case, they picked a player they didn’t have an agreement with.

“It also speaks to his talent and his capabilities that they were willing to roll the dice on it.”

Schmidt, a top-60 player in the draft, according to The Athletic, ESPN and MLB.com, will get a chance to develop under Johnson and LSU for potentially the next three seasons before he is eligible to be drafted again in 2029.

“It’s a great deal for our program on a lot of levels,” Johnson said.

“Having been doing this for a long time now, you don’t win these with Major League Baseball, typically.”

LSU ramped up its communication with Schmidt’s camp once it became clear that he wouldn’t come to an agreement with Cleveland, speaking with them “several times” in the 2-3 weeks leading up to Saturday’s announcement.

Johnson met with the lefty in per-

son twice last week, including with pitching coach Nate Yeskie on Saturday.

LSU’s meetings with Schmidt were less about selling him on his opportunity to play for the school and more about listening to him and his family about what they thought was best for him.

“This is a trickier dynamic with a player that was sought after

by Major League Baseball for a long time,” Johnson said. “I mean, he reclassified up into the 2026 class with the thought of being a first-round pick, and, frankly, he pitched that way during the high school season this year.”

Schmidt’s fit at LSU in 2027 With 39 players on its roster before Schmidt’s surprise inclusion, it was hard to find many holes on LSU’s roster after the MLB draft.

But Schmidt still fills a potential need as a lefty who could contend for a place in the starting weekend rotation. Freshmen rarely come out of the gates as starters in Southeastern Conference play, but Schmidt’s bigger frame (he’s

Play of the day Bryce Lance continues to make plays. And during a 7-on-7 rep Sunday, the rookie wide receiver read the Saints’ zone defense perfectly as he found an opening in the back of the end zone so that Rattler could deliver the strike past a few nearby defenders.

Rattler’s pass itself was a dime.

But the play also said something about the fourth-round wideout’s ability to read coverage.

“For him to be able to weave through all that coverage, it might not look like nothing is there at first, but for him to just feel that zone in the back of the end zone was big time,” Rattler said.

Odds and ends n Defensive tackle Bryan Bresee will indeed undergo knee surgery after tearing his ACL last week, Moore said. n The Saints squeezed in some extra reps near the end of practice as they conducted 11-on-11 drills with the first-team on one side of the field, while the second and third units worked on the opposite end. n Sunday’s practice again featured a lot of work in the red zone, an area New Orleans struggled in last season. n Moore estimated the team has installed only half of its playbook so far. n Monday marks the first day of pads for the Saints. Get ready.

6-foot-4), mid-90s fastball, strikethrowing capabilities and two off-speed pitches provide him the tools to contend for a rotation spot.

LSU has seven lefties besides Schmidt, but Cooper Williams was the only arm among them who had any chance of cracking the rotation.

“It’s a wide-open competition, and he has the ability to contend for it, as I think the number of guys do,” Johnson said. “We have to perform better there.”

At the very least, Schmidt has the talent and polish to make a big impact out of the bullpen immediately, similar to what Casan Evans provided for the Tigers in 2025. He and fellow freshman Lucas Nawrocki — the No. 91 player in the draft, according to ESPN — were LSU’s biggest left-handed additions over the offseason after the Tigers didn’t add a lefty out of the portal.

“I’ve always believed in lefthanded pitching and left-handed hitting,” Johnson said. “And really excited about that group as we start out.”

4C ● Monday, August 3, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

lll

PREP FOOTBALL SE ASON PRE VIE W

Loreauville

2026 SCHEDULE Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct 29 Nov. 6

ERATH Central Catholic Vermilion Catholic Kaplan Abbeville FRANKLIN CATHOLIC-NI Lafayette Christian WEST ST. MARy DELCAMBRE

PLAYERS TO WATCH Thomas Carter RB 5-11, 205, Jr. Carter brings a ton of playing experience to the field. With the team losing a major playmaker at quarterback, his experience and talent will be critical at running back.

HOME GAMES IN CAPS

Christopher Jones OL/DL, 6-2, 275, Jr. If anyone is the anchor of the Tigers’ squad, it’s Jones.

He is a talented, big and fast leader of the defensive line who is also expected to be a leader on the offensive line.

PAST 5 YEARS 2025: 9-4 2024: 6-6 2023: 8-3 2022: 7-5 2021: 11-1

PROJECTED STARTERS Offense

WR Kadyn James (5-10, 165, Sr.)* WR Caillou Polk (5-10, 190, Sr.) TE Cole Delahoussaye (6-1, 195, Sr.)* TE Eli Landry (5-10, 200, Sr.)* OT Christopher Jones (6-2, 275, Jr.)* OG Joshua Haydel (5-9, 240, Jr.)* C Benjamin Picard (5-9, 235, So.) OG Luke Haydel (5-8, 275, Jr.) OT Zane Cooper (6-1, 245 Jr.) QB Wyatt Hazelwood (5-8, 160, Sr.) RB Thomas Carter (5-11, 205, Jr.)*

Defense

DE Cole Delahoussaye (6-1, 195, Sr.)* DE Christopher Jones (6-2, 275, Jr.)* NG Jansin Conner (5-9, 270, Jr.)* LB Caillou Polk (5-10, 190, Sr.)* LB Eli Landry (5-10, 200, Sr.)* LB Christian Jones (5-11, 185, Jr.)* LB Thomas Carter (5-11, 205, Jr.) CB Kadyn James (5-10, 165, Sr.)* CB Wyatt Hazelwood (5-8, 160, Sr.)* SS Rajon Matthews (5-9, 160, Jr.) FS Brenner Babineaux (6-0, 165, Fr.) * RETURNING STARTERS

COACHES Head coach: Terry Martin (134-115 overall; 58-35 at Loreauville).

Assistant coaches: Derwin Antoine, Darrell Caesar, Trent Delahoussaye, Jude Dugas, Jacody Ford, Charles Francois, Eric Howard, Nick Julien, James Knatt, Kyle Poirier and Chad Pourciau.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Loreauville High offensive and defensive backfield leaders include, from left, Courtland Owens, Hayden Hebert, Asa Romero, Brenner Babineaux, Thomas Carter, Wyatt Hazelwood and Rajon Matthews.

Cole Delahoussaye TE/DE, 6-1, 195, Sr. The senior is a returning starter on the defensive line and receiver on offense.

Delahoussaye is expected to have a big impact on both sides of the ball this year for the Tigers.

Last year’s defensive leader, Eli Landry, returns to head up the linebacker corps.

The 2025 football season saw Loreauville High fight “We’ve got a lot of returning players, and we’re going through some early struggles, put together an incredible to have to play a couple of freshmen, but if we can get second-half run to the playoffs and again reach the quarterback settled, and we stay healthy, we can be second round. really good, ” Martin said.

The 2026 season should see more the same for the Tigers because they’ve What we don’t know got a number of players coming back.

The biggest question mark facing the Tigers is who is “The front seven on defenses, all back going to replace Blake Delcambre at quarterback. this year,” Loreauville coach Terry Martin Last season, he had 30 touchdowns on offense and said. “We really have work to do on that added several more return touchdowns on special Martin side of the ball to replace a couple of teams as either a kick returner or punt returner. people in the secondary. On offense, we got our main “We really haven’t settled on a starting quarterback running back back, and we’ve got some receivers back. yet,” Martin said. “We have one right now who’s a little “We got the offensive line back. If we can get our bit better at throwing the ball, and we have a couple quarterback situation settled, we have a chance to be who are a little bit better at running the ball. really good.”

“We could end up having two quarterbacks. We did Senior quarterback Wyatt Hazelwood is the current that when I was head coach at Cecilia, and we ended starter, but that could change, because two others are up having a pretty good season. So that option is in the mix and performing well. always there. ” “No one has really stepped up and taken control of the job right now,” Martin said. “Hopefully by the time How we see it the season starts, we’ll have that settled. But I’ve played In any other year, with the talent that Loreauville two quarterbacks before during a season, and that has coming back, the Tigers would automatically be a option’s still on the table.” favorite to not only win the district but make a deep run Returning junior Thomas Carter heads up the running in the playoffs. But not having an established starting back room. He was the leading rusher last year and quarterback potentially presents an obstacle that could battled some injuries late in the season, but he comes linger as the season goes on. back this year healthy.

But Martin is a long-time established coach who has “Thomas has been starting since he was a freshman,” dealt with this issue before and has had success.

Martin said. “He’s up to about 205 pounds now, which The best bet is to pencil in at least another seven- or makes him a bigger back, and he still has his speed.” eight-win season and a deep playoff run for the Tigers.

The offensive and defensive lines return intact — both anchored by Christopher Jones.

Neal McClelland

What we know

Eli Landry TE/LB, 5-10, 200, Sr. Landry was the team’s leading tackler last season and was honored as the district’s Most Valuable Player. Landry is also expected to play a larger role on defense as well.

Kadyn James WR/CB, 5-10, 165, Sr. James is expected to be the Tigers’ leading receiver this season while also playing a huge role on the defensive side at cornerback.

SCOREBOARD Hole-in-one

Tampa Bay (Seymour 7-3) at Colorado (Lorenzen 3-9), 7:40 p.m.

National League glance

Jeff Walker

East Division

Course: Pelican Point Golf Club Hole #, yardage: Links Hole #4, 126 Yards Club Used: 8 iron Witnesses: Richard Clement and Brent Broussard

Odds American League FAVORITE LINE at HOUSTON -138 National League FAVORITE LINE at PHILADELPHIA -144 at MILWAUKEE -142 LA Dodgers -122 San Diego -111 Interleague FAVORITE LINE at N.Y YANKEES -191 San Francisco -110 Tampa Bay -156

UNDERDOG Toronto

LINE +114

UNDERDOG Washington Pittsburgh at CHI. CUBS at ARIZONA

LINE +134 +122 +112 -105

UNDERDOG St. Louis at TEXAS at COLORADO

LINE +162 +102 +136

Major League Baseball American League glance Tampa Bay New York Boston Baltimore Toronto

W 65 63 59 54 52

L 46 49 51 58 60

Pct .586 .563 .536 .482 .464

GB — 2½ 5½ 11½ 13½

Chicago Cleveland Minnesota Detroit Kansas City

W 59 57 56 54 46

L 52 56 57 58 67

Pct .532 .504 .496 .482 .407

GB — 3 4 5½ 14

Houston Texas Seattle Athletics Los Angeles

W 58 55 55 45 43

L 55 57 58 67 69

Pct .513 .491 .487 .402 .384

GB — 2½ 3 12½ 14½

Central Division

West Division

W 67 59 58 55 47

L 45 53 55 58 66

Pct .598 .527 .513 .487 .416

GB — 8 9½ 12½ 20½

Milwaukee Chicago Pittsburgh St. Louis Cincinnati

W 69 63 56 55 53

L 42 49 57 57 58

Pct .622 .563 .496 .491 .477

GB — 6½ 14 14½ 16

Los Angeles Arizona San Diego San Francisco Colorado

W 69 59 58 47 45

L 42 53 54 65 67

Pct .622 .527 .518 .420 .402

GB — 10½ 11½ 22½ 24½

Central Division

MLB Monday

East Division

Atlanta Philadelphia Miami Washington New York

Saturday’s games

Toronto 5, St. Louis 1 Tampa Bay 1, Chicago White Sox 0 Seattle 4, Minnesota 3 Chicago Cubs 5, N.Y. Yankees 2 Philadelphia 5, Baltimore 0 Houston 5, Texas 4 Arizona 12, Cleveland 8 Colorado 12, Kansas City 6 Boston 3, L.A. Dodgers 2 Milwaukee 3, L.A. Angels 1 Detroit 8, Athletics 6

Sunday’s games

Philadelphia 8, Baltimore 0, 6 innings St. Louis 5, Toronto 1 Cleveland 5, Arizona 0 Chicago White Sox 9, Tampa Bay 1 Houston 7, Texas 3 N.Y. Yankees 2, Chicago Cubs 1 Colorado 8, Kansas City 1 L.A. Angels 3, Milwaukee 0 Seattle 7, Minnesota 6 Detroit 11, Athletics 0 Boston at L.A. Dodgers, n

Monday’s games

St. Louis (McGreevy 4-9) at N.Y. Yankees (Schlittler 10-6), 6:05 p.m.

San Francisco (Webb 6-7) at Texas (Quantrill 4-3), 7:05 p.m.

Toronto (Bieber 2-2) at Houston (Wesneski 1-0), 7:10 p.m.

West Division

Saturday’s games

Toronto 5, St. Louis 1 Miami 6, N.Y. Mets 2 Pittsburgh 4, Cincinnati 1 Atlanta 8, Washington 3 Chicago Cubs 5, N.Y. Yankees 2 Philadelphia 5, Baltimore 0 Arizona 12, Cleveland 8 Colorado 12, Kansas City 6 Boston 3, L.A. Dodgers 2 San Diego 6, San Francisco 5 Milwaukee 3, L.A. Angels 1

Sunday’s games

Philadelphia 8, Baltimore 0, 6 innings Atlanta 4, Washington 2 St. Louis 5, Toronto 1 Cleveland 5, Arizona 0 Miami 2, N.Y. Mets 0 Cincinnati 10, Pittsburgh 2 N.Y. Yankees 2, Chicago Cubs 1 Colorado 8, Kansas City 1 L.A. Angels 3, Milwaukee 0 San Diego 5, San Francisco 4 Boston at L.A. Dodgers, n

Monday’s games

Washington (Littell 7-8) at Philadelphia (Nola 3-9), 5:40 p.m.

St. Louis (McGreevy 4-9) at N.Y. Yankees (Schlittler 10-6), 6:05 p.m.

Pittsburgh (Chandler 3-8) at Milwaukee (Sproat 3-6), 6:40 p.m.

L.A. Dodgers (Wrobleski 11-2) at Chicago Cubs (Boyd 6-1), 7:05 p.m.

San Francisco (Webb 6-7) at Texas (Quantrill 4-3), 7:05 p.m.

Tampa Bay (Seymour 7-3) at Colorado (Lorenzen 3-9), 7:40 p.m.

San Diego (TBD) at Arizona (Pfaadt 5-1), 8:40 p.m.

Pro golf Women’s British Open par scores Sunday

At Royal Lytham & St. Annes Lancashire, United Kingdom Purse: $10 million Yardage: 6,601; Par: 71 Final Round 66-70-73-70—279 Shiho Kuwaki Esther Henseleit 73-69-67-70—279 Yealimi Noh 67-70-69-74—280 73-68-73-68—282 Nelly Korda Jeeno Thitikul 64-73-72-73—282 Wei-Ling Hsu 71-74-69-69—283 Charley Hull 69-71-71-72—283 Hae-Ran Ryu 66-69-74-74—283 Rio Takeda 69-73-72-69—283 Shannon Tan 69-74-71-69—283 Lottie Woad 69-71-70-73—283

-5 -5 -4 -2 -2 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1

Celine Boutier 67-74-74-69—284 E Minami Katsu 72-68-71-73—284 E Sara Kouskova 77-69-71-67—284 E Yuka Saso 72-73-71-68—284 E Lauren Coughlin 69-71-74-71—285 +1 Jin Hee Im 70-71-72-72—285 +1 Hyo Joo Kim 75-71-72-67—285 +1 Lucy Li 72-68-69-76—285 +1 Soo Bin Joo 70-69-73-74—286 +2 Lydia Ko 71-70-71-74—286 +2 Chanettee Wannasaen 68-72-71-75—286 +2 Pia Babnik 72-74-71-70—287 +3 Ashleigh Buhai 69-76-68-74—287 +3 Amelia Garvey 76-70-73-68—287 +3 Mao Saigo 69-74-73-71—287 +3 Patty Tavatanakit 73-73-73-68—287 +3 Carla Tejedo Mulet 76-70-68-73—287 +3 Yuna Araki 73-71-74-70—288 +4 Hannah Green 71-73-72-72—288 +4 Brooke Henderson 72-72-72-72—288 +4 Chizzy Iwai 68-77-71-72—288 +4 Sei Young Kim 72-72-72-72—288 +4 Paula Martin Sampedro 69-71-76-72—288 +4 Anna Nordqvist 73-70-77-68—288 +4 Alexandra Forsterling 70-75-70-74—289 +5 Mimi Rhodes 71-70-74-74—289 +5 Maja Stark 74-72-73-70—289 +5 Jing Yan 72-68-74-75—289 +5 Arpichaya Yubol 70-74-77-68—289 +5 Cara Gainer 74-72-73-71—290 +6 Auston Kim 75-68-77-70—290 +6 Yana Wilson 70-72-76-72—290 +6 Nasa Hataoka 73-71-76-71—291 +7 Nastasia Nadaud 77-69-72-73—291 +7 Dewi Weber 75-69-72-75—291 +7 Robyn Choi 71-70-73-78—292 +8 Manon De Roey 75-71-72-74—292 +8 Jin Young Ko 75-70-75-72—292 +8 Jenny Shin 72-72-73-75—292 +8 Amy Yang 72-73-72-75—292 +8 Rose Zhang 74-70-74-74—292 +8 Ayaka Furue 76-70-65-82—293 +9 Alice Hewson 70-74-75-74—293 +9 Ariya Jutanugarn 73-71-74-75—293 +9 Julia Lopez Ramirez 74-69-78-72—293 +9 Yunseo Yang 70-76-72-75—293 +9 Kajsa Arwefjall 73-69-77-75—294 +10 Annabell Fuller 71-74-73-76—294 +10 P. Roussin-Bouchard 73-72-78-71—294 +10 Lindy Duncan 75-69-73-78—295 +11 Aki Iwai 72-72-78-73—295 +11 Aunchisa Utama 73-69-80-73—295 +11 Amanda Doherty 73-71-76-76—296 +12 MinJi Kang 71-72-76-78—297 +13 Mi Hyang Lee 72-73-78-74—297 +13 Alison Lee 72-74-74-77—297 +13 Casandra Alexander 72-74-81-71—298 +14

Rocket Classic par scores Sunday

At North Course Detroit Purse: $10 million Yardage: 7,328; Par: 70 Final Round M. Thorbjornsen Xander Schauffele Davis Riley Rasmus Højgaard Hideki Matsuyama Kris Ventura Matt Wallace Patrick Cantlay Rickie Fowler Ryan Gerard Michael Kim Chris Kirk Davis Thompson Cameron Young Keegan Bradley Michael Brennan Doug Ghim Rico Hoey Sungjae Im Chandler Blanchet Ricky Castillo Luke Clanton Corey Conners

69-64-66-63—262 -18 66-66-67-65—264 -16 68-64-63-70—265 -15 69-68-61-68—266 -14 67-68-68-64—267 -13 68-66-65-68—267 -13 67-64-69-67—267 -13 64-66-70-68—268 -12 63-68-67-70—268 -12 63-69-69-67—268 -12 65-67-67-69—268 -12 65-67-66-70—268 -12 67-68-67-66—268 -12 69-61-68-70—268 -12 65-68-69-67—269 -11 65-67-64-73—269 -11 65-67-70-67—269 -11 66-69-66-68—269 -11 67-69-66-67—269 -11 72-65-66-67—270 -10 66-68-68-68—270 -10 66-67-67-70—270 -10 67-67-69-67—270 -10

Russell Henle 67-67-67-69—270 -10 Keita Nakajima 69-67-66-68—270 -10 Jacob Bridgeman 68-65-70-68—271 -9 Stephan Jaeger 65-68-69-69—271 -9 Ben Kohles 70-65-68-68—271 -9 Mac Meissner 69-68-65-69—271 -9 Kevin Roy 69-66-67-69—271 -9 Emiliano Grillo 66-67-69-70—272 -8 Jackson Koivun 69-67-67-69—272 -8 David Lipsky 67-67-67-71—272 -8 Jordan L. Smith 66-71-65-70—272 -8 Brandt Snedeker 66-68-68-70—272 -8 Jordan Spieth 68-66-70-68—272 -8 Kevin Yu 66-70-65-71—272 -8 Austin Eckroat 67-68-67-71—273 -7 Benjamin James 67-68-65-73—273 -7 Justin Lower 68-65-67-73—273 -7 Thorbjørn Olesen 67-68-67-71—273 -7 Joe Highsmith 68-67-67-72—274 -6 Si Woo Kim 69-66-65-74—274 -6 Hank Lebioda 69-66-70-69—274 -6 Christiaan Bezuidenhout 68-69-68-70—275 -5 Beau Hossler 69-67-70-69—275 -5 Marco Penge 70-64-68-73—275 -5 Adrien Saddier 67-67-67-74—275 -5 Gordon Sargent 67-69-67-72—275 -5 Zac Blair 69-66-70-71—276 -4 Patrick Fishburn 64-66-74-72—276 -4 Max Greyserman 68-68-68-72—276 -4 Ryo Hisatsune 66-70-72-68—276 -4 Matt Kuchar 68-68-70-70—276 -4 Matthew McCarty 70-66-72-68—276 -4 Adam Schenk 67-68-69-72—276 -4 Neal Shipley 67-70-67-72—276 -4 J.J. Spaun 67-67-70-72—276 -4 Jackson Suber 66-71-69-70—276 -4 Johnny Keefer 66-70-67-74—277 -3 Brian Campbell 68-68-70-72—278 -2 Mark Hubbard 66-68-73-71—278 -2 Nicolai Højgaard 66-69-70-73—278 -2 Nick Taylor 69-66-71-72—278 -2 Zecheng Dou 69-67-66-77—279 -1 Karl Vilips 69-67-68-75—279 -1 Dylan Wu 67-70-71-71—279 -1 Peter Malnati 61-71-74-74—280 E William Mouw 71-66-75-68—280 E Adam Svensson 69-68-74-70—281 +1 Harris English 67-69-72-74—282 +2 Tony Finau 68-67-70-77—282 +2 Marcelo Rozo 69-68-78-71—286 +6

Pro basketball WNBA glance EASTERN CONFERENCE Indiana Atlanta Washington New York Chicago Toronto Connecticut

W 19 18 16 17 11 10 7

L 11 10 12 13 18 18 22

Pct .633 .643 .571 .567 .379 .357 .241

GB — ½ 2½ 2½ 8 8½ 12

Minnesota Las Vegas Golden State Dallas Portland Los Angeles Phoenix Seattle

W 25 20 19 18 11 11 11 6

L 6 9 9 11 19 17 19 25

Pct .806 .690 .679 .621 .367 .393 .367 .194

GB — 3½ 4 5½ 13½ 12½ 13 18½

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Saturday’s games

Chicago 84, Las Vegas 83 New York 94, Phoenix 92

Sunday’s games

Minnesota 108, Indiana 100 Los Angeles 106, Portland 101 Connecticut at Dallas, n Toronto at Golden State, n

Monday’s games

Las Vegas at Atlanta, 6 p.m.

Seattle at New York, 6 p.m.

Phoenix at Chicago, 8 p.m.

Soccer MLS Glance Western Conference

W Vancouver 10 Los Angeles FC 10 San Jose 10 Houston 9 Real Salt Lake 8 FC Dallas 7 St Louis City 7 Portland 7 Seattle 7 Minnesota United 6 Colorado 7 LA Galaxy 5 San Diego FC 5 Austin FC 4 Sporting Kansas City 4

Eastern Conference

L 3 5 5 6 6 5 6 8 7 6 10 7 7 9 12

T Pts 4 34 4 34 3 33 2 29 3 27 6 27 5 26 3 24 3 24 6 24 1 22 7 22 6 21 5 17 2 14

GF GA 38 17 35 19 37 24 25 24 29 25 32 25 24 24 33 33 20 22 20 25 27 25 24 29 32 29 22 36 18 46

W L T Pts GF GA Nashville 12 2 4 40 35 14 Inter Miami CF 11 2 5 38 45 32 New England 9 5 3 30 28 21 Chicago 9 6 2 29 32 23 New York City FC 7 6 5 26 31 24 Cincinnati 7 6 5 26 45 44 Charlotte FC 7 7 4 25 29 27 New York 7 7 4 25 29 39 D.C. United 5 5 8 23 26 29 Orlando City 6 10 2 20 30 47 Columbus 5 8 5 20 26 28 Toronto FC 3 7 8 17 24 32 Philadelphia 4 10 4 16 25 33 CF Montréal 4 10 4 16 24 35 Atlanta 3 12 3 12 19 33 NOTE: Three points for victory, one point for tie.

Friday, July 31

Toronto FC 1, New York City FC 1, tie

Saturday, Aug. 1

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

Saturday, Aug. 8

Houston at New England, 3:30 p.m.

Transactions BASEBALL

Major League Baseball American League CHICAGO WHITE SOX — Acquired RHP Luis Castillo from Seattle in exchange for RHP Seranthony Domínguez, C Boston Smith, RF Nolan Jones and cash. Reinstated RHP Luis Castillo from the IL. Recalled RHP Duncan Davitt from Charlotte (IL).

CLEVELAND GUARDIANS — Reinstated RHP Craig Yoho from the IL. Optioned LHP Will Dion to Columbus (IL).

DETROIT TIGERS — Recalled RHP Brenan Hanifee from Toledo (IL). Optioned RHP River Ryan to Toledo (IL). Sent RHP Jackson Jobe on a rehab assignment to West Michigan (MWL).

KANSAS CITY ROYALS — Reinstated CF Kyle Isbel from the IL. Selected the contract of LHP Aaron Bummer from Omaha (IL). Placed RHP Luinder Avila on the 15-day IL. MINNESOTA TWINS — Reinstated RHP Dean Kremer from the IL. Optioned RHP Jack Anderson to St. Paul (IL).

LIVING

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

|

M o n d ay, au g u s t 3, 2026

5Cn

Ring the changes Austria’s 16th-century bell foundry adds modern tech to keep the casting process alive

BY PHILIPP JENNE Associated Press

TNS PHOTOS By JEFFEREE WOO

A mural for ‘The Art of Banksy’ exhibition is displayed outside of the Straz Center in Tampa.

FOR THE PEOPLE

Banksy didn’t authorize the Banksy exhibition in Tampa, but he knows about it

BY CHRISTOPHER SPATA

ä See FOUNDRY, page 6C

Fraser Goulding, left, and Jake Grundy, art installers, take out Banksy’s ‘Mona Lisa on Mesh’ while they prepare to hang it on a wall at the Straz Center on July 27 in Tampa. edition numbers on some artworks so that Pest Control wouldn’t know whose they were.

There were other attempts at disruption, Boersma said, without getting into details. “It involved (Banksy) involving his Hollywood friends and two very influential

artists to try to stop us.”

That complicated relationship follows “The Art of Banksy” to Tampa, where it runs through Sept. 27 on the stage of Morsani Hall at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts.

ä See BANKSY, page 6C

‘60 Minutes’ announces new slate of correspondents

BY JOCELYN NOVECK

O’Donnell, former anchor of “CBS Evening News.”

The show’s new execuNEW YORK — Two months tive producer, Nick Bilafter a major shakeup, ton, announced the news CBS’s “60 Minutes” has in a staff memo Tuesday, hired a lineup of new corshared on X. Joining Douthat and O’Donnell respondents and contribO’Donnell will be author Sebastian utors in time for its 59th season, including Ross Douthat, a Junger, Trevor Phillips and Giconservative opinion columnist at anna Toboni. All will be contribuThe New York Times, and Norah tors to the show.

AP national writer

AP PHOTO By MATTHIAS SCHRADER

An employee works on the inside of a bell at the 400-yearold family-owned bell foundry Grassmayr in Innsbruck, Austria.

The Grassmayrs’ secret to success: tenacity combined with innovation, such as 3D printing, scanning, lasers, and computer simulation apps.

“Certain things are just like they were 400 years ago. But we innovated a lot. Especially within the last 20 years, we’ve changed a lot,” Johannes Grassmayr told The Associated Press.

The production cycle for making a bell takes three to four months. In the past, cleaning a freshly cast bell and polishing

Tampa Bay Times (TNS)

TAMPA, Fla. — For years, Michel Boersma, curator of a private collection of 160 works by the artist Banksy going on display in Tampa this week, has traded emails with the artist’s mysterious and notoriously strict authentication office known as Pest Control.

It’s the only conduit for those without a direct relationship with Banksy to reach out to the artist, whose identity has never been confirmed.

“I”m 99% sure there’s a section of that correspondence that was directly with (Banksy),” Boersma said. “At some point I’m like, ‘I’m in my 50s, you’re in your 50s, and we’re emailing each other at 2 o’clock at night. I know who I’m talking to. Why are we playing this game?’”

At first, the emails felt only contentious. Banksy, he said, had been actively trying to disrupt the traveling exhibition behind the scenes, pressuring collectors who’d purchased pieces to not allow them into the show. Boersma, to get cooperation, agreed to cover the

INNSBRUCK, Austria — Wearing protective gear to shield from the extreme heat of molten bronze, workers at one of the last bell foundries in Europe are casting bells weighing several tons.

One after another, the artisans carefully pour the molten metal into specially shaped molds held together with steel bands to create 12 bells for churches in Italy, Germany and Romania.

Founded in 1599, the Grassmayr Bell Foundry, in Innsbruck, western Austria, has survived wars, famines, epidemics and economic challenges.

These days, the family business is run by brothers Johannes and Peter Grassmayr.

During the Renaissance in the late Middle Ages, there were hundreds of bell makers in Europe, while today only a handful remain across the continent.

The new journalists join current correspondents Lesley Stahl, Jon Wertheim and Bill Whitaker.

Their hirings come two months after a shakeup at the storied program, led by the network’s new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss.

Weiss installed Bilton, who has little substantive broadcast news experience, as executive producer, replacing Tanya Simon, who was let go after a 30-plus year

tenure with the show. Also let go were correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega — and soon after, Scott Pelley, after a tense confrontation with his bosses over the changes.

In addition to the three dismissed, Anderson Cooper — whose primary job is at CNN — said earlier this year he was

ä See '60 MINUTES', page 6C

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.

6C ● Monday, August 3, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

BANKSY

Richard Wormley, an assistant curator, shows Banksy’s ‘The Flower Thrower’ at the Straz Center on July 27 in Tampa.

Continued from page 5C Visitors will walk through a temporary museum displaying prints, paintings, sculptures, sketches, stencils and ephemera owned by about 40 private collectors. Tickets start at $29.99 before fees.

Banksy emerged from the graffiti scene in Bristol, England, in the 1990s and gained attention in the 2000s as his darkly funny stencils appeared on walls across the world. His instantly recognizable attacks on war, authority, consumerism and inequality — and his hidden identity — created a phenomenon. Soaring auction prices, famous collectors and the Oscar-nominated documentary “Exit Through the Gift Shop” put him at the center of the art world.

The exhibition in Tampa includes familiar images such as “Girl with Balloon” and “Rude Copper,” along with what its organizers call the original “Flower Thrower,” apparently made as a gift to one of Banksy’s former girlfriends years before the image became internationally recognizable. Another featured work is a version of the “Mona Lisa” that was purchased by actor Brad Pitt, returned to Banksy in 2022 and transformed into a new work that is now being publicly displayed in the United States for the first time.

The show has traveled internationally for about a decade, but Tampa marks the first time it has been installed directly on a theater stage. Temporary walls were erected across the stage and orchestra pit area, creating a sort of maze where the art will be individually lit and rock music will play. Videos feature people from Banksy’s past, including printmaker Ben Eine and former girlfriend Leonie Laws.

Banksy did not curate, approve or authorize any of it.

Pest Control declined to comment on specifics of “The Art of Banksy” or Boersma’s characterizations of their communication. In an email to the Tampa Bay Times signed “PCO,” the office only reiterated that the exhibition is “wholly unofficial and unauthorized.”

But over the years, Boersma said, Banksy has stopped trying to disrupt the exhibition. And he has never condemned “The Art of Banksy” publicly. That’s not an endorsement, by any stretch, but to Boersma, it means something.

“If you look at Pest Control’s website right now, on the homepage above or under their logo, there’s a message attacking another exhibition in London,” Boersma said. “They could have done that when we were in London, but they never did.”

He feels his exhibition, due to its effort to authenticate every artwork, has reached a sort of “gentleman’s agreement” with the artist.

Most of the works in the exhibition carry certificates of authenticity issued by Pest Control. Other pieces, such as personal sketches or gifts, fall into categories for

FOUNDRY

Continued from page 5C it made up 30% of total production time. Nowadays, with the help of modern tools, that process takes only a tenth of the time.

Grassmayr keeps some of its most innovative production steps a secret, such as a special chamber where the bells are cleaned with a highpressure sandblaster, not to mention the specialized apps used to calculate the sound of each particular bell.

Even with modern technology, the process of designing and forming the molds for a large bell can take up to six months.

“The important thing is that you have calculate, form and then cast the bell as a musical instrument.” Johannes said, adding that the greatest difficulty in creating the bell is the risk that molten metal pressure will destroy the mold.

When the workers cast a large bell weighing several tons, the liquid bronze creates up to 137 tons of pres-

lll

TNS PHOTO By JEFFEREE WOO which Banksy does not issue certificates. Those have been supported by provenance connecting them directly to Banksy or his associates, including correspondence, photographs and statements from their original owners.

Boersma said the exhibition has turned down objects that looked convincing when he and other experts could not trace their histories.

“The risk of us putting it on display and then it not being correct was just not worth it,” Boersma said.

The relationship with Pest Control shifted, Boersma said, when the office began pressing him to provide a list of works traveling under Banksy’s name. Boersma initially refused, but it became clear to him they only wanted to make sure anything identified as a Banksy was actually made by Banksy — and that any work made by somebody else properly credited the real artist.

That made Boersma realize they were, from different angles, trying to protect the same thing.

“I’m taking a leap of faith,” Boersma recalled writing.

“I’ll send you the artwork list.” It was, he said, “the beginning of us doing a dance of trusting each other.” Pest Control, he said, will flag anything that isn’t right.

Pest Control did not confirm that arrangement to the Times.

The producers are making some of that email correspondence part of the Tampa attraction. Visitors purchasing the VIP experience can enter a lounge displaying selections from the emails. The exhibition’s website characterizes them as an ongoing dialogue about authenticity and intellectual property.

Corey Ross, owner of Starvox Entertainment and a producer of the exhibition, said the presence of actual artwork is the main difference between “The Art of Banksy” and competing attractions that rely heavily on enlarged scans, recreated images or immersive projections.

Boersma, Ross said, spent years developing relationships with collectors and convincing them to let valuable and sometimes intensely personal objects travel.

“This show, in a way, celebrates the collectors as much as it celebrates Banksy,” Ross said.

The works in this exhibition are not taken from streets or public walls, or works that were ever available to see for free, its producers say.

They are objects Banksy sold or gave to people who now control where they are displayed. They also believe that as more artwork is stashed in storage containers to avoid

taxes, awaiting the day it will be flipped for a big payoff, there’s value in keeping it on display somewhere.

Many of the lenders are not wealthy art investors, Boersma said. They are early admirers who bought prints when they cost 50 or 100 pounds or spent years of savings on a work before Banksy’s market exploded.

Some knew the artist personally. Others bought the art before his name alone could add hundreds of thousands of dollars to its value.

The exhibition’s early “Flower Thrower” offers the most personal example.

Boersma said Banksy made the small work in 1997 as a Valentine’s Day gift for Laws. In a filmed interview included in the exhibition, Laws recounts receiving it and later sending it to Pest Control while seeking formal authentication.

The work was returned months later with its original personal message partly ground away and replaced.

The exhibition will show visitors a scan of the reverse side, where remnants of the first inscription can still be seen.

For Ross, an independently assembled retrospective can do something Banksy’s own projects can’t do. When Banksy creates an exhibition, it is typically a new artwork, not a history. “The Art of Banksy” places pieces from different stages of his career together, alongside the stories of the people who acquired them.

Museums generally have policies against staging a retrospective for a living artist without that artist’s direct cooperation.

“When someone is as public and as political and as influential as Banksy has been,” Ross said, “there’s also a place and value for a third party to look at what his work is and to talk about it.” Banksy is arguably the most famous living artist in the world.

Tampa artist Leon Bedore, better known as Tes One, sees the absence of Banksy’s permission as a disqualifying problem.

Bedore, whose career has roots in graffiti, declined an invitation to walk through the exhibition before it opened.

“The reason is that ‘The Art of Banksy’ is not an authorized exhibition of his work,” Bedore wrote in an email.

“It’s just one of many exhibitions that tour and exploit his work for spectacle and profit.

“If you’re a fan of Banksy, I highly encourage you to seek out and experience his work where he originally placed it,” he wrote. “Context is key, and an unauthorized exhibition has none of it.”

sure inside the molds, he said. To ensure the integrity of the mold, only high-quality clay is used and then encased in steel sleeves designed to withstand extreme pressure.

But it’s not only the difficulty of the production that has Grassmayr worried.

The modern bell-making industry is under pressure as fewer churches are being built, changing the demand for bells. Rising energy costs due to the war in Ukraine are not helping, and labor costs have risen 30% since the pandemic in 2020.

But the main cost factor of a newly cast bell is still the price of materials. The best bells require high-quality bronze, which is 80 parts copper to 20 parts tin. A few years ago, the price of bronze was $9.23 per kilogram compared with $26.17 today, Johannes said.

“That’s why I can’t even say how much a bell is going to cost in a year. I just hope the metal price is going to come down again,” he added.

To keep the business going, the family has increasingly turned to restoring old

bells, often with the help of modern technologies. Hundreds of defective bells from 12 European countries have been restored at the Grassmayr bell foundry, according to the company.

Bells made by Grassmayr can be found in over 100 countries, ranging from Japan to the United States.

One of the largest the brothers have cast was for Romania’s National Cathedral in Bucharest. Cast in 2016, it is 10.8 feet tall and weighs more than 27.5 tons.

Another creation, weighing 16.5 tons, hangs in a church on Mount Tabor in Israel.

Johannes showed the AP several recently cast bells that were being left to cool down for a week before being removed from their molds. He pointed to the precise negative imprint still visible in the clay form.

“This bell is for the church in Zethau, in Germany,” he said. “I’m very happy with the casting. I’m especially happy that the innovations of the past decades helped a lot to make the bells ever more beautiful and better.”

TODAY IN HISTORY

By The Associated Press Today is Monday, Aug. 3, the 215th day of 2026. There are 150 days left in the year.

Today in history: On Aug. 3, 2019, a gunman opened fire at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas, resulting in the deaths of 23 people; after surrendering, the gunman told detectives he targeted “Mexicans” and had outlined the plot in a screed published online shortly before the attack.

Also on this date: In 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail from Palos, Spain, on his first voyage that took him to the present-day Americas.

In 1936, Jesse Owens, of the United States, won the first of his four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics as he took the 100-meter sprint.

In 1972, the U.S. Senate

ratified the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union.

In 1977, the Tandy Corporation introduced the TRS80, one of the first widelyavailable home computers.

In 1981, U.S. air traffic controllers went on strike, seeking pay and workplace improvements (two days later, President Ronald Reagan fired the 11,345 striking union members and barred them from federal employment).

In 2018, Las Vegas police said they were closing their investigation into the Oct. 1, 2017, shooting that left 58 people dead at a country music festival without a definitive answer for why Stephen Paddock unleashed gunfire from a hotel suite onto the concert crowd.

In 2021, New York’s state attorney general said an investigation found Gov.

Andrew Cuomo had sexually harassed multiple current and former state government employees; the report stepped up pressure from fellow Democrats for Cuomo to resign, and he did so a week later.

Today’s birthdays: Football Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy is 101. Actor Martin Sheen is 86. Lifestyle guru Martha Stewart is 85. Film director John Landis is 76. Actor JoMarie Payton (TV: “Family Matters”) is 76. Hockey Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne is 75. Actor John C. McGinley is 67. Rock singer/guitarist James Hetfield (Metallica) is 63. Actor Lisa Ann Walter (TV: “Abbott Elementary”) is 63. Rock musician Stephen Carpenter (Deftones) is 56. Former NFL quarterback Tom Brady is 49.

Actor Evangeline Lilly is 47. Olympic swimming gold medalist Ryan Lochte is 42.

a correspondent on 60 Min- dent. Based in London, he is ‘60 MINUTES’ utes.” “one of the most respected

Continued from page 5C

leaving of his own accord after two decades.

Enthusiasm over hires Weiss and Tom Cibrowski, the CBS News president, praised the new hires in an internal memo. “We couldn’t be more excited about this news,” the two said, welcoming the new additions. “Onward!”

Bilton called Douthat “one of the preeminent public intellectuals in America today, a thinker of uncommon rigor and a journalist of deep empathy.” The columnist has spent nearly two decades at the Times and is an author of numerous books.

The producer called O’Donnell “a powerhouse.”

“You’ve seen her all over the network. She’s launched a new podcast. And you’ll see much more of her in our halls because Norah will be

Bilton praised Junger for his nonfiction work “The Perfect Storm,” about a catastrophic 1991 storm. The book “landed with an electric charge in the world of reported nonfiction, defining an intense and intimate form of storytelling and establishing Sebastian as a generational talent,” Bilton said.

Toboni joins“60 Minutes” as a contributor and CBS News as a national correspondent. Previously a senior correspondent with VICE News and VICE on HBO, she comes to the program from CNN. Calling her a journalist of “extraordinary range,” Bilton noted that Toboni has interviewed members of ISIS, investigated cartel violence in Mexico and has written a book on the death penalty.

Also serving as contributor will be Trevor Phillips, announced last month as the news division’s senior global affairs correspon-

and trusted voices in the United Kingdom for his ability to ask the toughest questions and hold anyone in power to account,” Bilton wrote in his memo.

Upheaval at ‘60 Minutes’ Turmoil had raged at “60 Minutes” for more than a year before the May shakeup. Much of it came after President Donald Trump sued the show over its editing of a 2024 interview with then-Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

That became part of a broader shakeup at CBS News after Weiss was named to the new role of editor-in-chief by parent company Paramount late last year following David Ellison’s arrival as the network’s corporate leader.

Jocelyn Noveck covers the intersection of media and entertainment for The Associated Press.

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lll

FrAnK And erneSt

roSebUdS

zItS

zodIAC LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Gather information and consider the possibilities.

Don't stop short, have low confidence or let confusion take over. If you do the legwork, you'll be surprised how much you can achieve.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Personal situations involving money, contracts and commitments will be strained if not handled openly and honestly. If you feel someone is giving you the runaround, they probably are.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Complete your missions before you get into discussions or take on new projects. It's important to stay on top of matters if you want to eliminate undue stress.

Don't overthink.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Stay focused on your agenda and objective. A pleasant disposition will help you gain the respect and assistance you need. A change or move you want to pursue will have underlying stipulations.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Make domestic changes to ease your overhead. Consider who and what is costing you, and go through a process of elimination to ensure you aren't wasteful.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Educational pursuits that enrich your mind or physical changes that make you more appealing can both help you build momentum in achieving personal and professional gains.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Imagination, intuition and an abundance of energy

that needs an outlet will help you find a path loaded with all sorts of interesting opportunities. Reinvent yourself.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Pull in the reins and rethink your plans. Acting prematurely will leave you cleaning up a mess. Be methodical, resourceful and humble when it comes to how you proceed.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Limit the information you share. Choose your words wisely, and don't make promises you can't honor. A direct approach will help you get what you want and when.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Choosing practicality over whimsy will save you from loss. Avoid hype about earning easy money. Someone will have a hidden agenda that can leave you in a vulnerable position.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Making a lifestyle change or renovation or participating in a pastime you feel passionate about will enhance your chances of fraternizing with someone who offers insight into something unique.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) The more information you have, the easier it will be to avoid traps and trouble.

Listen carefully, and don't let anyone push you into an argument. Using charm will help you get the support you need.

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: G EQUALS I

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon FAMILY CIrCUS

dooneSbUrY

8C ● Monday,August 3, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

CurTiS

Hi and LoiS

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Sudoku InstructIons: Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers.

The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Saturday’s Puzzle Answer

BaBY BLueS

BLondie

THe wiZard oF id

nea CroSSwordS

La TimeS CroSSword

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Monday,August 3, 2026 ● 9C

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B.C.

Bridge

BY PHILLIP ALDER John Wesley, an 18th-century English preacher, said, “Once in seven years I burn all my sermons; for it is a shame if I cannot write better sermons now than I did seven years ago.”

Last week I mentioned the Rule of Seven. In a no-trump contract, when a defender leads a suit in which declarer has only one top-trick stopper (usually the ace), the Rule of Seven tells declarer how long to hold up that stopper. He subtracts from seven the total number of cards his side has in the suit and holds up for that number of rounds.

When declarer is only worried about the suit led, the Rule of Seven works fine.

But it needs careful handling.

In this deal, how should South plan the play in three no-trump after West leads the spade two?

The Rule of Seven is primarily useful when the opponents have eight cards in their suit dividing 5-3. Declarer holds up his ace for two rounds (seven minus five is two), so that the defender with the long suit can cash his two remaining winners only if he has an entry.

What if their eight-card fit is breaking 4-4? Then there is no point in holding up, because declarer cannot break the opponents’ communication in the suit. They will always get three tricks (unless declarer can immediately run for home).

garfield

Pearls Before swiNe

hagar the horriBle

In this deal, if South takes the first trick and drives out the diamond ace, he loses only one diamond and three spades.

But if he ducks his spade ace at trick one, East might notice the interesting heart situation and shift to the heart king. Then South will lose one spade, three hearts and one diamond to end down one. © 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 — outMoDED: owt-MOH-did: No longer in style.

Bizarro

marmaduKe

Average mark 13 words Time limit 25 minutes Can you find 21 or more words in OUTMODED? SAtuRDAY’S WoRD — MESoMoRPH memo mesh moor moose mope moper more mores morose morph mosh

shoe shoo shop shore some sore sperm spoor spore oomph oops

repo romp room rope rose perm peso poem pome pooh poor

pore pose poser posh proem prom promo prose hemp hero hers

hoer home homer hoop hope hops horse hose

loCKhorNs hidato Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

today’s thought “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.” Psalms 68:19

Thank the Lord for all of his blessings. — G.E. Dean

10C ● Monday,August 3, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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TODAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Mostly sunny

A t-storm around in the p.m.

Partly sunny

Partly sunny

A t-storm around in the p.m.

Partly sunny with a t-storm

HIGH

HIGH

HIGH

HIGH

HIGH

LOW

94° 75°

LOW

93° 77°

LOW

92° 75°

Beaumont 96/77 Port Arthur 95/76

Baton Rouge 94/72

Lake Charles 96/77

New Orleans 93/78 Houma 91/75

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

0s

Hattiesburg 93/70

Alexandria 94/72

Lafayette 94/75

10s

20s

30s

40s

50s

HIGH

93° 75°

LOW

93° 75°

TEMPERATURE Jackson 92/70

Many 94/71

LOW

YESTERDAY

Lafayette through 5 p.m. Sunday

Longview 98/73

-0s

92° 76°

Monroe 95/70

Shreveport 97/73

-10s

LOW

The rain and thunderstorms were all east of us yesterday, and today, they are nonexistent across southern Louisiana. Expect a mostly sunny and hot day with a light breeze. Temperatures this afternoon will be above average, in the mid-90s. Because the dew point temperatures are a little lower, the heat index values will mostly be in the low 100s. There is a slight chance for rain today, and the UV index is at the very high level, just below extreme, so apply sunscreen.

60s

70s

80s

90s 100s 110s

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

Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today

AUG 5

City

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

92°/79° 92°/75° 92°/74° 102° in 1922 64° in 1936

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

LAST

Austin Boston Dallas Fairbanks Honolulu Las Vegas Louisville Miami Nashville

PRECIPITATION

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

HIGH

2:28p 8:24a 7:43a 9:08a 3:50a 3:27a 4:58a

6:28 a.m.

8:00 p.m.

10:50 p.m.

11:09 a.m.

NEW

FIRST

AUG 12

Hi

101 78 101 62 87 113 83 92 85

TODAY Lo

76 67 79 53 75 88 65 79 68

FULL

AUG 19

W

s t s r sh s pc t t

AUG 27

Hi

102 83 102 72 87 114 87 91 89

TUE. Lo

77 69 79 54 75 87 70 78 70

W

s pc s c sh s t t t

FT.

LOW

0.06” 0.06” 0.38” 40.85” 37.80”

FT.

HIGH

0.3 7:55a 0.2 1.0 1:05a 0.4 1.5 12:36p 0.6 1.4 3:03a 0.8 0.7 6:14p 0.6 0.8 8:26a 0.7 0.9 7:16p 0.7

P U acadiana wake

presented by

Every morning.

Everything you need to start your day

Meteorologist Damon Singleton

READING 53 MAIN POLLUTANT Particulates

MAIN POLLUTANT Particulates

LOW

FT.

0.3 9:00p 0.3 0.7 2:37p 0.6 1.2 11:33p 1.0 1.3 4:22p 0.7 ----- --0.7 5:39p 0.6 ----- ---

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

MAJOR MINOR MAJOR MINOR

Today Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

City

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

3:32a 4:21a 5:12a 6:05a 7:01a 7:57a 8:55a

Hi

93 89 85 113 79 86 85 79 88

9:43a 10:33a 11:25a 12:19p 12:45a 1:41a 2:39a

TODAY Lo

78 75 70 91 60 73 68 70 79

3:54p 10:05p 4:45p 10:57p 5:38p 11:51p 6:34p ---7:31p 1:16p 8:29p 2:13p 9:27p 3:11p

W

pc t t pc pc t pc pc t

Hi

94 89 85 111 83 84 89 77 89

TUE. Lo

78 76 73 91 69 73 69 69 77

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

Wake up with me every morning

MODERATE

SOURCE: LOUISIANA DEQ AND AIRNOW.GOV

FT.

11:13p 6:17p 9:04p 11:26p --12:12p ---

TODAY

MODERATE

W

t t pc pc pc t s pc t

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

FLOOD STAGE

34 48 48 35 27 22 17

SUN. 24-HOUR STAGE CHANGE

1.00 24.90 27.20 12.20 6.60 5.15 3.50

-1.40 -0.50 -0.50 -0.30 -0.10 -0.26 +0.07

40

15.04

-0.50

19

-1.54

+0.06

18 29 8

-0.58 10.37 0.27

-0.42 +0.24 -0.49

13 15

1.78 0.94

-0.25 -0.02

47 34 29 20 12 6

11.02 7.57 6.09 5.48 4.10 2.63

none -0.07 +0.05 -0.15 -0.30 +0.10

data as of 7 a.m. Sunday

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