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LSU QUARTERBACK LEAVITT ‘READY’ TO PLAY AFTER FOOT SURGERY 1C

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St. George growing ranks of reserve officers

said. “The goal is to have several officers, bringing the total to five. Todd Morris. New city’s volunteer force aims to assist liceTheChief Sheriff’s Office provides law reserves here maybe by the end of The first two reserve officers were officially appointed in a May council enforcement services to the city the year.” East Baton Rouge deputies on patrol These volunteer officers still have meeting, with one who has already and Morris serves as a liaison be-

BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD Staff writer

Later this year, vehicles marked with St. George Police Department driven by ofﬁcers in navy blue uniforms will be seen patrolling around the recently created city. But despite the look of it, St. George officials have no plans to

create a full-time police department. Instead, the addition is a part of St. George’s initiative to expand its volunteer reserve ofﬁcer program. These officers have law enforcement experience and will serve the city on an unpaid part-time basis to aid the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Ofﬁce, said St. George Po-

tween the office and St. George. St. George provides supplemental services to law enforcement, like the reserve program and its On Scene Services contract for minor traffic incidents. “I thought, ‘If I can have some reserves, they can just help out and supplement what our Sheriff’s Office traffic division and uniform patrol division is doing,’ ” Morris

to maintain Louisiana Peace Officer Standards and Training certifications every year and any other required law enforcement training. “The reserve officer for the city of St. George would be no different than seeing an officer on the street,” he said. “They’re going to look the same; they have the same training.” The operating plan includes the addition of three volunteer reserve

2016 flooding haunts south Louisiana

been serving. The goal is to eventually have up to about 10 reserve ofﬁcers in the next few years, Morris said. Morris said the reserve program is a way to help out local law enforcement in a cost-efﬁcient way that avoids large ongoing expenses that come with a full-time police

ä See POLICE, page 5A

Federal ‘U visa’ probe rooted in small-town La. widens 800 applicants tracked across 20 municipalities

BY JAMES FINN Staff writer

Two years ago, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ofﬁcials started to notice a strange phenomenon along a central Louisiana roadway: A section of La. 165 seemed to have become one of the most violent sectors in the country. Triggering their concern was a yearslong wave of applications for special “U visas,” which the government grants immigrant crime victims who help police investigations. The applications all contained police reports describing hundreds of violent robberies along La. 165 near Oakdale, population 6,500. “You’d think people would notice and wonder, ‘What the heck is going on in Oakdale?’ ” said Adam Parks, a senior U.S. Homeland Security Investigations agent who is involved in the probe. “It looked like the most violent place in the world.”

ä See U VISA, page 5A

STAFF PHOTO By JOHN BALLANCE

A flume is under construction for the diversion structure of the Comite River Diversion Canal. After rains of catastrophic proportions flooded parts of southeast Louisiana, billions in federal dollars for rebuilding homes and businesses, elevating houses and flood-control projects flowed in.

Lasting legacy has transformed communities’ homes, development policies and drainage planning BY DAVID J. MITCHELL Staff writer

The warnings for flash flooding came early on the morning of Aug. 11, 2016, as rain that never seemed to stop pounded Baton Rouge, Lafayette and parts beyond. The next morning, television and cellphone screens showed a flooded school bus in Zachary nosedown in a ditch filled with water. The rain would become one for the history books, an anonymous but potent storm in a state where the memory of disaster is usually marked by a name: Audrey, Betsy, Katrina, Gustav, Laura. “This is a flood of epic proportions. This makes the flood of 1983 a mere distant memory,” then-Central Mayor Jr. Shelton said a few days into the storm, recalling the Baton Rouge area’s previous record flood. “When we talk about floods now, we’ll talk about the great flood of 2016. Everything else pales in comparison.” The catastrophe that would eventually be dubbed the “Great Flood of

WEATHER HIGH 94 LOW 76 PAGE 6B

STAFF FILE PHOTO By TRAVIS SPRADLING

A volunteer boatsman helps in rescue operations in the Brittany area of south Gonzales near Sorrento in Ascension Parish in the aftermath of heavy rains that flooded the area in 2016. A decade later, some flood projects have been finished, while others like the Comite River Diversion Canal is underway. 2016” hits its 10-year anniversary this week. It left a lasting legacy on the people and communities in its path, shifting the politics of development and government policy on home construction, spurring new drainage planning efforts, sparking better regional co-

operation tied to data and scarring collective memory. Billions in federal dollars for rebuilding homes and businesses, elevating houses and ﬂood-control projects ﬂowed in.

ä See FLOODING, page 4A

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

A mural downtown welcomes visitors to Oakdale.

Trump signs vaccine order against medical groups’ guidance BY ALI SWENSON and COLLIN BINKLEY

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order calling for revamped childhood vaccine recommendations that promote his long-held but discredited theory that childhood shots should be spaced out into separate medical visits. The order advocates separating the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine into three

Business ......................6A Commentary ................5B Nation-World ................2A Classified .....................6D Deaths .........................3B Opinion ........................4B Comics-Puzzles .....3D-5D Living............................1D Sports ..........................1C

ä See VACCINE, page 5A

102ND yEAR, NO. 42

2A ■ Tuesday, August 11, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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FROM WIRE REPORTS

Contiguous U.S. breaks hottest month record

KENSINGTON, Md. — The contiguous United States sizzled to its hottest month ever last month, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. July averaged 76.89 degrees across the Lower 48 states, eclipsing the Dust Bowl’s July 1936 by an eighth of a degree. Records go back to 1895. “It’s not good when you’re breaking records from the Dust Bowl, which we are in this case,” said meteorologist Jeff Masters of Yale Climate Connections. “And that was a crazy sort of situation where you put tens of millions of people in motion. You had this great migration because of the drought and the heat that hit the center of the U.S. — just a cataclysmic event in U. S. history. If we’re exceeding records from the Dust Bowl, that says that we’re in deep trouble.” Although it was unusually cool in Alaska, hotter-thannormal conditions blanketed the Lower 48, with the most excessive heat in the Mountain West, Southwest, Northern Plains and Southeast. The heat was so widespread that every one of the Lower 48 states was at least 1 degree warmer than the 20th-century average, said Russ Vose, chief of monitoring at NOAA’s National Center for Environmental Information. The heat in the Dust Bowl years was more concentrated in parts of the Midwest and was aggravated by agricultural practices at the time, Vose said. What’s happening now is due to the burning of coal, oil and gas, scientists said.

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Magnitude 7.4 quake rocks Colombia Officials say at least 111 killed

BY ASTRID SUÁREZ, MEGAN JANETSKY and JUAN DIAZ Associated Press

CALI, Colombia — A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 111 people, damaging hundreds of buildings and leaving many trapped under debris while their loved ones and rescue workers searched through rubble. Search teams and civilians picked through the remains of destroyed buildings in the country’s thirdlargest city, Cali, passing large pieces of concrete and other rubble down a long line of volunteers. “Our building has basically been left in ruins, and the building next to ours? Completely collapsed,” said Álvaro López, who cradled his dog as he watched the search. The desperate scene recalled the searches still ongoing in neighboring Venezuela weeks after that country was devastated by two powerful earthquakes. Besides Cali, the quake ravaged cities across western Colombia, including Pereira, Quibdo and Manizales, and was felt in neighboring Ecuador and

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By SANTIAGO SALDARRIAGA

Residents and rescue workers search through the rubble of a collapsed building on Monday after an earthquake struck Cali, Colombia. Panama. The epicenter was in San Jose del Palmar, a community of about 4,800 people in the Choco region about 250 miles west of Bogota, the U.S. Geological Survey said. Colombia’s President Abelardo de la Espriella said at least 87 people were injured and around 1,600 buildings were damaged, including at least 61 that completely collapsed. He declared an emergency to expedite funding for the quake recovery. “We aren’t going to leave people alone. They are in our hearts and we are going to tend to people with our full determination,” he said. Colombia’s Geological

Boat driver charged in deadly capsizing in N.Y.

NEW YORK — The driver of a speedboat that capsized in New York Harbor over the weekend, killing a 27-year-old woman and her infant daughter, was charged Monday with causing their deaths through misconduct or neglect. Manuel Hernandez, 46, wiped his eyes with his hand as he arrived for his initial appearance in Manhattan federal court. He was not required to enter a plea and was released on bail. Sara Sanchez and her 5-monthold daughter, Antonella Garcia, died after the 22-foot Yamaha speedboat overturned late Saturday near the Statue of Liberty. Twelve others were rescued and are in stable condition, authorities said. The vessel was pulled from the water and taken to the New York Police Department’s harbor unit facility on Randall’s Island.

40 people who were killed in the Risaralda region, where Pereira is located, and 27 people in the Valle del Cauca region, where Cali is located, including three children. Authorities also confirmed nine people killed in Choco, two in the Caldas region and a 73-year-old in the Antioquia region. It was not immediately clear where the other 32 people died. The earthquakes left many in the Andean nation unnerved after two backto-back quakes devastated neighboring Venezuela in late June, destroying hundreds of buildings and killing more than 6,300 people. By Monday afternoon,

Trump lashes out against Iran’s demands as deal hopes dim

WHO: Ebola outbreak started in February

BUNIA, Congo — The fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record started in February, months before it was officially declared in mid-May, the World Health Organization said Monday as responders in eastern Congo struggle to catch up. The WHO regional director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, told a news conference that sequencing indicated the outbreak’s start. He said some cases early on were wrongly attributed to other diseases, including malaria and typhoid. “So we are chasing the virus, the virus is ahead of us,” Janabi said. Dr. Thierno Balde, WHO’s incident manager for the Ebola response, said the genetic sequencing was conducted under the leadership of Dr. Steve Ahuka, head of the virology department at Congo’s National Institute for Biomedical Research. Confirmed cases of Ebola in this outbreak have reached 4,200, including over 1,900 deaths, according to the latest government figures. WHO assesses the global risk of spread as low because Ebola does not travel through the air, making it much harder to spread than respiratory viruses. Cases detected outside the affected region have so far been quickly identified and contained without leading to sustained transmission, according to the agency. The outbreak declared on May 15 is unlike most previous ones for Ebola because the rare Bundibugyo virus responsible for it has no approved vaccines or treatments.

Service said Monday’s quake was the country’s strongest recorded “in the 21st century,” and that it was followed by several aftershocks. Colombia’s Pacific region around the epicenter lies along the “Ring of Fire,” the line of seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean where most of the world’s earthquakes occur. The Pacific, particularly the Choco region, is one of Colombia’s poorest, nestled in dense jungle. Much of Choco is only reachable by boat or plane, which may pose difficulty in assessing the wider toll. Local authorities said the death toll included at least

people had begun reporting their loved ones missing on digital databases just as civilians did following Venezuela’s earthquakes. One database had more than 2,000 people, mostly in Cali and Pereira, with the number steadily climbing. Photos of the missing included a young mother and her baby in Pereira; another showed an 80-year-old woman in Cali whose family was desperately looking for details after her building collapsed. Jorge Moncayo, a 64-yearold taxi driver in Cali, said he saw plumes of dust shoot up across the city as buildings collapsed. Residents and rescue workers were searching the rubble for survivors. The local government said that people remained trapped in a number of the city’s 380 damaged buildings. Little was known about the extent of the damage in Choco, a remote region where officials reported dozens of injured people and damaged buildings but few other details. Phone signals were out in many parts of the region’s capital, Quibdo. The town closest to the earthquake’s epicenter, San Jose del Palmar, has no airport, and is located on top of a mountain ridge along a highway linking the cities of Cali and Pereira.

BY JOSH WINGROVE and PATRICK SYKES

Bloomberg News (TNS) ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By KATERyNA KLOCHKO

Rescue workers try to put out a fire Monday after a Russian strike in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine.

Ukrainian strike on oil hub in Russia kills 13, officials say By The Associated Press Ukraine attacked the petroleum hub of Nizhnekamsk in central Russia’s Tatarstan region on Monday, killing 13 people and injuring 78 others, local authorities said, in one of the deadliest attacks in the country in the 4-yearold war. The Ukrainian military said it hit an oil refinery in Nizhnekamsk, which is about 750 miles east of the Ukrainian border and has a population of about 240,000. Russian officials didn’t say what the drones targeted, but the city is home to two refineries and a petrochemical plant. Ukraine has targeted Russian oil facilities with long-range drones almost daily in recent months. The campaign has caused fuel shortages in Russia, eaten into its refining capacity and unsettled the population. Previous Ukrainian attacks on Russian soil with high death tolls have come in the border region of Belgorod. In December 2023, Ukrainian shelling of the region’s capital, also called Belgorod, killed 25 people and wounded over 100, local officials said. Five months later, a Belgorod apartment building partially collapsed after shelling, killing at least 13, according to Russian authorities. Also on Monday, several Ukrainian drones sparked a fire at an industrial facility in the Tyumen region of western Siberia, said Gov. Alexander Moor, without offering any details. Ukraine’s General Staff said its forces damaged part of a petrochemical

complex in Tobolsk, in the Tyumen region. The plant produces rocket fuel components, aviation fuel, composite materials for drones and high-octane gasoline, it said in a Telegram post. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country is trying to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table and stop his full-scale invasion, launched in 2022. Russia is one of the world’s biggest energy producers. Ukraine’s General Staff said its forces struck a Taneco oil refinery in Nizhnekamsk, starting a fire. The city came under a “massive” drone attack targeting industrial and civilian facilities, according to the press service of Tatarstan’s head, Rustam Minnikhanov. One of the drones hit a hostel, killing nine of the 13 victims, including citizens of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, officials said. Uzbekistan’s consular office in Tatarstan said seven of its nationals were killed. Russia has also regularly battered Ukraine from the air using missiles, powerful glide bombs and drones, hitting civilian areas and causing thousands of civilian casualties, according to the United Nations. In the first six months of this year, 1,396 civilians were killed and 7,978 injured in Ukraine, the U.N. office in Kyiv said last week. A Russian glide bomb struck the city of Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine, injuring 24 people, authorities said Monday.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump lashed out Monday against Iran’s demands for war compensation as part of talks to wind down the conflict, dimming hopes of a quick deal that would reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz and pushing up oil prices. “I am likewise demanding compensation from Iran, for all of the people that they have killed and gravely wounded with their roadside bombs and many conflicts,” Trump wrote on social media. “Additionally, compensation should be paid to the families of the hundreds of thousands of innocent protesters that Iran has killed over the last 50 years.” The sweeping new demands from Trump, which he said will be put “firmly into any, and all, future negotiations,” are almost certain to be rejected by Iran, and come after Tehran reiterated requests for reparations over the weekend and on Monday. Shortly after his post, Trump expanded the scope of his new demand, saying Iran should be responsible for “damages and death to the people of Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Gaza,” without offering any details. The hardening on both sides makes it unlikely that Washington or Tehran will be able to agree to any immediate pact on Hormuz that could help end the war. Trump and other U.S. officials had recently cheered markets by suggesting a deal with Tehran was getting closer, with both Iran and Oman in parallel discussions over the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude rose more than 4% on Monday to over $87 a barrel, extending a rally of more than 5% over the previous three sessions. European diesel futures surged more than 10% as refineries in Saudi Arabia and Russia also came under attack, further tightening the market for the fuel considered the workhorse of the global economy. While Trump insisted Monday that compensa-

tion for Iran “was never mentioned in any of our negotiations or meetings,” the 14-point memorandum of understanding that Iran and the United States agreed to in June details plans for Washington and regional partners to develop a $300 billion fund for the “rehabilitation and economic development” of Iran after the war. On Monday, Iranian officials reiterated demands for reparations and tied it to the opening of Hormuz. “As long as hostile actions continue, the conditions for ensuring the safety of this waterway are not in place,” Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei

told reporters. “Its reopening is contingent on the U.S. ceasing its illegal actions, lifting the siege and compensating for damages.” Trump had earlier signaled Sunday that he was prepared to let economic pressure on Iran build, rather than launch fresh military strikes to force a reopening of the crucial waterway for oil and gas flows. “We are just watching Iran with its huge inflation and the fact they have no money,” Trump told Axios in an interview Sunday, saying that a U.S. naval blockade of the country was deepening its financial woes. “We are lowkeying it.”

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Todd Blanche sworn in as attorney general BY ALANNA DURKIN RICHER Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, was sworn in Monday as attorney general after a bruising confirmation fight that exposed bipartisan concerns about the Justice Department’s direction under the Republican president. Another former Trump attorney — Emil Bove, now a federal appeals court judge — administered the oath of ofﬁce to Blanche at the White House following early Saturday’s Senate confirmation vote by the narrowest of margins. Shortly after, the newly sworn-in attorney general arrived at Justice Department headquarters to cheers from employees lined up along the entrance. Blanche, a former federal prosecutor in New York, is officially taking command of a Justice Department he

President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, was sworn in Monday as attorney general.

ä Cassidy discusses decision to vote for Blanche. PAGE 2B

has been leading in an acting capacity since Pam Bondi’s firing in April. With the confirmation battle behind him, Blanche now faces the challenge of having to navigate the demands of a president who has made no secret his desire to use the law enforcement agency to target his political foes. Blanche will do so with an agency that has been hollowed out by resignations, firings and voluntary departures while also confronting mounting pushback from the courts. Blanche was confirmed in a 50-49 vote, opposed by two Republicans who cited concerns about what they described as increased politicization of the department under Trump. Under deputy attorney general and later as acting

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By MARK SCHIEFELBEIN

attorney general, Blanche has overseen the investigations of numerous Trump foes, including former FBI Director James Comey, whom the Justice Department indicted in April for a second time since Trump returned to the White House

last year. Blanche has strongly defended the Trump administration against accusations that it has weaponized the Justice Department. Blanche has said he feels no pressure to placate Trump and insists he sees no prob-

lem with the president’s interest in Justice Department matters, calling it the president’s “right” and “his duty.” Blanche entered the president’s orbit when he left his law ﬁrm in 2023 to represent Trump against multiple criminal cases, in-

cluding two brought by the Justice Department under Democratic President Joe Biden. Blanche has said that experience afforded him a ﬁrsthand look at what he contends was the weaponization of the criminal justice system against Trump. Blanche’s defenders say the close relationship he developed with Trump as his defense lawyer can make him more successful than Bondi was at pushing back on the president’s demands. Blanche’s nomination was almost scuttled over bipartisan concerns about Trump’s controversial settlement of his lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. His nomination only moved forward after he conﬁrmed in writing, under pressure from Republicans, that the administration was rescinding plans to create a $1.8 billion fund to compensate Trump allies who believe they were wronged by the department.

Defense takes aim at psychiatric Russia’s high court bars only party care before woman killed her kids opposing war in Ukraine from ballot BY JENNIFER PELTZ

By The Associated Press

Associated Press

Lindsay Clancy’s lawyer probed her psychiatrist’s expertise, prescribing decisions and overall treatment as the defense sought Monday to suggest that the mental healthcare system mishandled the Massachusetts mother’s decline in the months before she killed her three young children. In questioning Dr. Jennifer Tufts, defense lawyer Kevin Reddington spotlighted her use of 25-minute video appointments with limited time for talk therapy, the computerized forms that documented her observations, and the series of pharmaceuticals she recommended as Clancy reported various side effects, symptoms and concerns about taking medications. Reddington portrayed Clancy’s care not as common practice in U.S. mental healthcare, but rather as inadequate and indifferent treatment of a deteriorating patient. At one point, Reddington implied that the doctor was a box-checking “robot.” “What did you do? You had a woman who was telling you she felt hopeless,” he asked as they discussed an appointment about two months before the killings. “I told her that this was something we could address, that there was hope, that there are treatments, that there are different types of programs,” Tufts said, “so she knew that she still had options and a reason to hope.” “Did you ever suggest to her that ‘maybe you should come in and see me, rather than on the computer?’ ” Reddington asked. “Talking to her over the video didn’t seem like an is-

PATRIOT LEDGER PHOTO By GREG DERR

Psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Tufts speaks on the witness stand on Monday during Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial at Plymouth Superior Court in Plymouth, Mass. sue. It didn’t seem like there was something I was missing,” Tufts replied. Clancy, 35, has pleaded not guilty to murder charges in the deaths of Callan, Dawson and Cora Clancy, who ranged from 8 months to 5 years old. They were found in the basement of the family’s home in coastal Duxbury, Massachusetts, where their mother was lying in the yard. She had jumped out a second-story window and remains paralyzed from the waist down. Prosecutors argue that the former labor and delivery nurse was an intentional killer who connived to get her husband out of the house, then strangled the children with exercise bands on Jan. 24, 2023. Prosecutor Shanan Buckingham has urged jurors not to view the trial as “a public debate about women’s mental health and how the medical system treats women.” Clancy’s attorneys don’t dispute that she killed the children. But they say she shouldn’t be held criminally responsible because she was mentally ill, believing that she heard voices ordering her to take the children’s lives and her own. The defense contends that she was in the grip of bipo-

lar disorder and postpartum psychosis, a rare postpregnancy condition that can alter women’s sense of reality. A forensic psychiatrist diagnosed her with those conditions after the killings. Her attorneys say Clancy did everything she could to seek help: She turned to multiple outpatient providers, tried various drugs they prescribed, called a suicide hotline, went to an emergency room, and approached but wasn’t accepted into a hospital-based, full-day treatment program for women with postpregnancy mental health problems. Clancy then even checked herself into a psychiatric hospital for several days. Rather than improving, her condition worsened on the ever-remixed cocktail of psychiatric medications, some of them problematic for bipolar patients, her attorneys and family say. Tufts noted that it can be difﬁcult to tell whether such conditions as depression are continuing because of a medicine or despite it. Tufts saw Clancy, via video, from September 2022 until the day before the killings. Her diagnosis: generalized anxiety disorder and an adjustment disorder with depressed mood.

Turkey’s parliament OKs pardon-like bill for thousands of PKK militants BY SUZAN FRASER Associated Press

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s parliament on Monday approved legislation that would introduce a conditional pardon for thousands of Kurdish militants in a bid to advance the government’s peace initiative with their insurgent group. Legislators voted 468-88 in favor of the measure that would only come into effect after Turkish authorities have verified that the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, has fully disarmed. The PKK announced last year that it is ending its decadeslong armed campaign against the Turkish state, declaring a decision to dissolve itself as part of the peace effort. The move came in response to a call from its imprisoned leader, Abdul-

lah Ocalan. The group then staged a symbolic disarmament ceremony in northern Iraq, where it is based, and announced that it was withdrawing fighters from key locations in Turkey to Iraq. The measure, which is a step toward ending a conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people, could have implications beyond Turkey’s borders, leading to closer Turkish-Iraqi ties. It could also support the Syrian government’s efforts to integrate areas that were under the control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, affiliated with the PKK. It also offers Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan the opportunity to court the support of the pro-Kurdish DEM party to help him remain in office beyond the

presidential two-term limit. Erdogan could run again if parliament calls an early election during his current term. The 12-article legislation outlines the procedures for the group’s disarmament and the rehabilitation of thousands of PKK members. It will suspend some prison sentences for convicted PKK members and postpone ongoing investigations and trials against others for ﬁve or 10 years, depending on the severity of the alleged offenses. If no terror-related crime is committed within the time frame, the cases will be dropped. Militants convicted of intentional killings and those sentenced to life terms before 2005 are excluded from the bill’s provisions. This applies to Ocalan and other senior PKK ﬁgures.

MOSCOW — Russia’s highest court on Monday ordered the only party opposing the Kremlin’s military action in Ukraine to be removed from the ballot in next month’s parliamentary election. The Supreme Court annulled the registration of Yabloko — which is Russian for “apple” — after an appeal from a pro-Kremlin party. Last month, the Central Election Commission had initially allowed Yabloko on the ballot along with 10 other parties. Once a leading liberal voice in parliament and often critical of the government, Yabloko later lost its bloc of seats in the State

Duma as the Kremlin tightened its grip on Russian politics. In recent years, Yabloko was the only registered opposition party that opposed sending troops into Ukraine. Its campaign slogans included “For a ceasefire agreement, diplomacy and peace!” “Our goal is to prevent nuclear war!” and “For a Russia free from fear and political repressions!” Veteran liberal politician Grigory Yavlinsky, who co-founded Yabloko in the 1990s and chairs its political committee, deplored the ruling and said the party would appeal it. “Barring Yabloko from the election means a refusal

to engage in dialogue with those who ask questions that make the authorities uncomfortable,” Yavlinsky said in an online statement. “We hope the authorities will heed the public demand for peace, freedom, and life without fear, and change their policy.” Many Russian opposition figures in exile had urged voters to back Yabloko, including Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, and politicians Ilya Yashin and Vladimir Kara-Murza. “I believe it’s morally and politically right to support the Yabloko party,” Navalnaya said in an Aug. 6 statement on Telegram, noting the party’s anti-war stance.

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4A ■ Tuesday,August 11, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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FLOODING

Continued from page 1A A decade later, some flood projects have been finished: the Laurel Ridge levee in Ascension Parish, a $50 million bayou debris removal in Livingston Parish, straightening and de-snagging Bayou Manchac, unclogging ditches in Baton Rouge. Homes have been elevated in some low-lying areas, creating new resilience. A ride down La. 42 in Ascension — which in some spots required a high-water military troop transport to penetrate during the flood — reveals a string of homes on piers or high earthen mounds. Since 2020, 44 homes in Ascension have been elevated through its grants program, with five more pending, said Marshall Courtney, a parish government spokesperson. Nineteen others received initial approval but didn’t complete the grant process; some of those were elevated anyway. The biggest flood control projects, including the Comite River Diversion Canal and the “Five Bayous” project in Baton Rouge, are underway but not finished. A few, like the $2.3 billion Darlington dry dam and home-elevation project, have been killed in favor of proposed home elevations and flood-proofing. Others, like new $60 million pumps for the New River Basin in Ascension, are in design and other stages of review. Various governments are buying large sites to hold floodwater temporarily, known as “regional detention.” And Baton Rouge is closing in on a project at Wards Creek’s junction with Bayou Manchac to improve water flow out of East Baton Rouge, Ascension and Iberville parishes. Local officials say that despite the progress, it’s hard to create infrastructure and development rules for another flood like 2016. “The magnitude of a 2016, right, is an animal of its own. So, nobody can prepare for something that drastic,” said Ron Savoy, who manages drainage projects for Ascension Parish. Some people remain uneasy when weather threatens. Mary Randall, 45, a mother of four in Central’s Carmel Acres neighborhood along Blackwater Bayou, lives in her former mother-in-law and sister-in-law’s home that flooded with 6 feet of water in 2016. She notes that while some drainage work has been done, other big projects aren’t finished. She and her kids still worry about the rain. “Every time we get a hurricane or whatever, I start to get a little nervous,” said Randall, a Florida native whose home was flooded as a child. She said her young children have heard the 2016 stories about the high water, grandma’s and their aunt’s loss of almost everything and, afterward, months living in a trailer in the yard as the shell of their home was restored. “So, they’re like every time it rains, ‘Are we gonna get flooded?’” Randall said.

31 inches in 48 hours When Shelton spoke on that Saturday a decade ago, he did so with foresight even as floodwaters were still moving south. Lasting over five days, the storm dumped 7 trillion gallons of water across the state. It covered an area of the Baton Rouge region the size of Connecticut with an average of 18 inches of rain in three days. Rain fell for about 50 hours nonstop at official Baton Rouge and Lafayette weather stations, generating multiple records that exceeded a 1,000-year event, according to LSU researcher Vincent Brown and others. Rivers in the Baton Rouge region set 13 all-time records. Ten spots on the Amite, Comite, Tangipahoa, Tickfaw and Natalbany rivers hit high water marks that were at least greater than a 500-year flood, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

STAFF PHOTOS By JOHN BALLANCE

The channel section of the Comite River Diversion Canal under construction will need 2,245 piles driven as much as 63 feet deep and covered with 5 feet of concrete. The structure — a flume — must brace against the force of water diverted just upstream from the Comite River.

Rene Poche, spokesperson for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in New Orleans, talks about the construction of the diversion structure of the Comite River Diversion Canal. A 1,000-year event is one with a 0.1% chance of happening in any year; a 500-year event has a 0.2% chance. Both are less likely than a 100-year — or a 1% chance — flood, which is the federal flood insurance program’s threshold for mandated coverage with a home mortgage. Brown, who recently took a job out of state, said what role climate change may have played in the 2016 flood is complicated. A warming climate puts more energy into the oceans and more water vapor in the atmosphere, making the conditions for extreme events more likely than 100 years ago. But work continues at finding out how much more likely, he said. “Instead, it’s always a question of whether global warming added to the existing mix of ingredients that already make extreme weather happen. Global warming may be a cause for an event, but not the cause — at least not yet,” Brown said. Whatever the causes, the flood had an estimated $8.7 billion impact on the state. It damaged nearly 91,630 homes, caused 13 deaths statewide and required 30,000 search-and-rescues. Though most of south Louisiana had a minimum of 2 to 4 inches in the August storm, the most intense rain focused around two nodes — in the Lafayette area and the eastern half of Baton Rouge — where two-day totals exceeded 20 inches. In those two zones, the capital region had it worst due to an intense band across parts of northeastern East Baton Rouge, southern St. Helena and northwestern Livingston parishes — and directly over the Amite River. A gauge in Watson in Livingston hit 31.39 inches in 48 hours, still the largest two-day rainfall on record in Louisiana. Nearly 72% of all homes damaged in the August flood were in one of three parishes: Livingston, East Baton Rouge and Ascension. Lafayette and Tangipahoa parishes had the next most

home damage.

Neighbors, pets, dead fish The water spreading across the Amite River Basin created remarkable scenes of a community transformed by flood. Major roads like Airline Highway in Sorrento, South Harrell’s Ferry in Baton Rouge and La. 16 south of Interstate 10 in Denham Springs assumed new roles with the rise of water and the loss of traffic. The usually busy thoroughfares became combined boat launches and recovery zones. A mass of volunteers and law enforcement and emergency workers ventured out and returned with homeowners escaping the murky brown water for a ride to dry land and shelter. On Woodland Ridge Boulevard near Episcopal High School in Baton Rouge, a slight decline in the roadway created mini rapids with white, foamy riffles as parents with their children in tow worked to pull an underpowered flatboat through the current. A nearby bridge crossing Jones Creek was so swamped that it became a water channel framed by the tops of roadway guardrails. Rescue boats crossed through it to reach inundated homes. Close to 300 graves across the region were uprooted in the high water, a state report later tallied. In Livingston Parish, Becky Cambre and her adult children tried to fight the floodwaters as they had done, mostly successfully, since the late ’60s at their home on La. 16 north of Port Vincent. Her son, Marc, now 55, and others built a floodwall of plywood, braced with wood supports and sandbags and footed in a trench dug in the ground. The wall was covered with plastic sheeting and outfitted with interior drainage pipes and a pump to remove water leaking in, he recalls. The scale of the flood was too much for those elaborate defenses. Six-and-a-half feet of wa-

ter ended up in Becky Cambre’s slab home, rising to the bottom of the roofline. Even Marc and Cindy Cambre’s home next door, though up on piers, had enough water to ruin the floors. Along with several flooded neighbors ferried in by an air boat, Becky, Marc and Cindy waited out the flood in Becky’s daughter’s house nearby, which at 10 feet off the ground didn’t flood. Fifteen people, three cats and two dogs took refuge there. “It was unbelievable,” Becky said. When the water receded, a dead fish was found amid the silt in her locked house. After years of waiting on government programs, Becky Cambre tore down her brick slab home and rebuilt, this time 81/2 feet off the ground, complete with an elevator. Marc Cambre said he’s thankful for not having to sandbag his mom’s house in the next flood. His mom said she has some level of comfort. “If it floods again at 81/2 feet, I’m not even coming back. I’m just going to a retirement home,” Becky Cambre said with a laugh.

Decades in coming The blue-white ﬂash of a welding torch ﬂickered from the top of one of the hundreds of piles driven into the ground that outline the contours of a deep earthen channel north of Baton Rouge. On a recent workday, contractors were preparing one of the metal H-piles, already driven into the channel bank, for a pour of concrete, said Rene Poche, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spokes-

person. One of the two business ends of the long-awaited, $908 billion Comite River Diversion Canal, the channel section under construction will need 2,245 piles driven as much as 63 feet deep and covered with 5 feet of concrete. The structure — a flume — must brace against the force of water diverted just upstream from the Comite River. During floods, the concrete-and-rock-lined diversion channel will become an 8-mile waterway with the volume of the Arkansas River, flowing fast enough to fill LSU Tiger Stadium in six minutes. Though many times more costly and far more politically fraught than first envisioned after the historic 1983 flood, the canal’s concept is a simple one: Take high water from the Comite and, by extension, the Amite River Basin and send it to the Mississippi River. Fred Raiford, the Baton Rouge city-parish transportation and drainage director, called it the “most impactful” project for his parish’s flood protection. In the days after the 2016 flood, officials at the Amite River Basin Commission — who helped oversee the diversion, which had been bogged down for years in regulatory and funding hurdles — argued it could have lessened the devastation if the then-partially built structure had been finished. Calls soon followed to fully fund the project and other stalled ideas that grew out of the 1983 flood. Dollars soon followed. Construction began in 2019 to finish the diversion canal.

Corps of Engineers officials now say they expect the diversion to be operational by the end of 2028. They’ve offered estimates in the past that work was two years from completion, but this time the end of the project seems near. Seventeen of the 23 construction phases through the Corps and state highway department are finished, including canal sections and bridges. The remaining phases are underway, said Christy Marino, a Corps spokesperson. One of the bigger recent roadblocks, the relocation of natural gas pipelines owned by Florida Gas, has been dealt with. In another sign of progress, local officials who for years pressed the Corps to speed up construction are now pressing the agency to complete studies to determine the flood insurance benefit once the project is finished. State Sen. Valarie Hodges, a Denham Springs Republican and advocate for the Comite diversion, leads a legislative task force on the waterway. It will meet at the end of August to learn more about future insurance benefits and what it could mean for her Senate district, where 3 out of 4 homes flooded, and for others in the river basin. “Flooding is a very personal issue for every resident in this district,” she said. “The upcoming anniversary is a reminder that our family, neighbors, friends and loved ones lost nearly everything.” David J. Mitchell can be reached at dmitchell@ theadvocate.com.

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The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Tuesday, August 11, 2026 ■ 5A

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POLICE

Continued from page 1A department. “That has never been the plan of the city of St. George. No need to create a duplication of services,” Morris said, about creating a fulltime police department. “We’re not starting a police department because St. George ran on an efﬁcient

U VISA

Continued from page 1A The sleepy area was hardly the hub of lawlessness conjured by the visa applications. Federal prosecutors last summer secured 62 criminal counts against an Oakdale businessman and four local lawmen, charging them with a yearslong kickback and bribery scheme that produced the flow of fabricated reports later used on U visas applications. Now, officials say the probe has widened into a nationwide search for hundreds of immigrants accused of paying to obtain the fraudulent reports and later submitting them with visa applications to the federal government. Homeland Security agents in more than 20 U.S. cities are tracking down about 800 applicants who filed the reports, according to estimates from investigators — a staggering figure that has not been previously reported. The new focus significantly widens an investigation that unfolded as President Donald Trump’s administration launched its crackdown on illegal immigration. The administration has focused largely on apprehending entrants at the southern border and deporting people here without authorization, including those have sought residency through formal avenues. In Oakdale, federal agents untangled what officials called a far more cunning form of unauthorized immigration: one that targeted the immigration system’s official pathways through years of sophisticated fraud. “What we have here is public corruption on a pretty epic scale,” said Zachary Keller, the U.S. attorney for Louisiana’s Western District. “This is a program that was built to help violent crime victims, people who are living in the shadows of our communities and may be afraid to report to police.” The plan’s mastermind, local Subway franchise owner Chandrakant Patel, pocketed $20,000 from each applicant, he admitted in court papers this spring, then turned around and paid the lawmen $5,000 for each false report they generated. All five defendants in Oakdale have since pleaded guilty, many of their conversations captured by a wiretap. They are awaiting sentencing. Investigators are now working to identify and “make contact” with each U visa applicant allegedly involved in the scheme, plus their family members, some of whom authorities believe applied for immigration-related benefits available to relatives of crime victims, said Charlotte Green, another HSI agent assigned to the case. Little is known about the immigrants themselves. Officials declined to offer further details, citing the ongoing probe. Key questions, such as how Patel apparently developed a nationwide reputation among Indian immigrants as a man to call to secure a U visa, remain under investigation, the officials said. Patel’s attorneys did not respond to a request for comment.

‘Flashing red light’

government to minimize expenses.” ment totals to $28,500, and getting and integrating a records manageA look into the program ment system totals to $56,000, acThis budget year, the city is cording to the 2026-27 St. George spending about $294,000 for this budget plan. “There’s all the equipment you expansion to its public safety prosee an ofﬁcer wearing now that we gram. The city leasing three vehicles want to purchase, and those are and equipping them with in-dash mainly one-time expenses upfront,” cameras adds up to $137,900, buy- Morris said. “It’s an initial cost to ing law enforcement equipment get the program starting for our and ﬁrearms totals about $71,400, community.” The reserve officers, who typipurchasing mobile computer equip-

rural land. It amounted to what Green called a “flashing red light.” From there, the case relied heavily on the court-approved wiretap that captured conversations among the five primary suspects, according to court records and the two officials. Last July, hundreds of FBI and Homeland Security SWAT agents fanned out to arrest Patel at his home in Oakdale, along with several of the police chiefs at a law enforcement conference in Baton Rouge. As the investigation broadens, officials have not publicly disclosed arrests of visa applicants now in the probe’s crosshairs. Court records and some public documents from the case, though, show those people spanned the southeastern and eastern United States. A map of the applicants’ residents generated by investigators shows dozens of them clustered in Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky, with others scattered around Florida and across the east coast. Only one appeared to have applied from Louisiana: Patel, whom authorities have previously said was the recipient of a U visa.

Far-flung destinations After the indictment was unsealed, The Times-Picayune obtained police reports penned by Glenmora Police Chief Tebo Onishea, one of the four lawman accused of taking bribes from Patel to produce bogus police reports. Onishea, former Forest Hill Chief Glynn Dixon, former Oakdale Chief Chad Doyle and former Oakdale Marshal Michael Slaney have since pleaded guilty. Onishea’s reports listed 22 purported crime victims, ranging from 25 to 46 years old and hailing from Lithonia, Georgia; Frankfort, Indiana; Louisville, Kentucky; Tennessee; and Queens, N.Y. Nearly all of them had the last name Patel, among the most common on the planet. The reports repeatedly describe Onishea investigating carloads of men who stopped to fix flat tires or other mechanical issues, then said they were accosted by armed thieves. Onishea’s attorney, Lester Gauthier, declined to comment beyond saying that his client served in the Louisiana Army National Guard and deployed to Iraq. Attorneys for the other former lawmen declined to comment. The other police agencies declined requests to provide copies of the reports. Three of the agencies last week directed a reporter to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana, which declined to provide the records, citing the defendants’ pending sentencing hearings. Parks emphasized that the estimate of 800 visa applicants thought to have been involved in the scheme is a fluid figure. The total number who may have benefited could be nearer to “a couple thousand,” he said, because family members of U visa applicants also qualify for certain benefits from the federal government. The four lawmen admitted in court papers filed with their guilty pleas to certifying a total of 279 fraudulent reports between 2020 and in 2025. In news releases and news conferences, the Justice Department has cast the crackdown on fraudulent visa applicants as part of the administration’s commitment to tamping down on benefits fraud and illegal immigration alike. This spring, the department highlighted indictments of 10 people near Boston accused of running a plot to stage armed convenience store robberies to fraudulently secure U visas.

The inquiry that yielded last July’s bombshell indictment began in 2024 with a referral from USCIS’ Fraud Detection and National Security unit, which noticed the surge of U visa applications containing reports of crimes happening in and around Oakdale. “There were a lot of the same scenarios, and responding ofﬁcers, over and over,” said Green. Many reports came from people without connections to Louisiana who said they had been roadtripping far from home, all claiming to have been robbed Email James Finn at jﬁnn@ in the same stretch of remote theadvocate.com.

cally already have full-time jobs, will serve when they have the time. Morris predicts they will work mainly during peak traffic times or weekends. The officers won’t be called first but instead will respond to issues they hear from the Sheriff’s Office or patrol areas they know have frequent issues. The officers could also go out and patrol neighborhoods that request patrol units. The officers will be able to issue

citations for traffic incidents like speeding or running a stop sign. These citations will be processed through the 19th Judicial District Court. “We just want to be able to help supplement the Sheriff’s Office and help with traffic issues and traffic enforcement in St. George,” the chief said. Email Claire Grunewald at claire. grunewald@theadvocate.com.

VACCINE

Continued from page 1A different single-disease shots and administering all childhood immunizations at separate appointments whenever possible. It also directs the nation’s health department to improve research on vaccines, which are already extensively studied, and present a plan to offer separate measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines for children, since that is not currently an option in the United States. The renewed focus on vaccines marks a departure from the Trump administration’s recent efforts to emphasize less controversial health policies related to healthy eating, drug price negotiations and medical fraud crackdowns ahead of November’s midterm elections. Public health experts have raised concerns that spacing out shots as Trump suggests can lead to an increased risk that children become infected with a vaccine-preventable disease before returning for another visit. Childhood vaccines — and how and when to give them in combination — go through rigorous studies, and safety tracking continues for years as the shots are used. Trump called the announcement a “major victory for parents’ rights, religious and constitutional rights, and for the gold standard science.” Speaking about the order at the Oval Office on Monday, Trump repeatedly suggested the number or timing of vaccines could play a role in rising rates of autism spectrum disorder, even as scientific consensus and decades of studies have firmly concluded there is no link. The order also includes several changes to the childhood vaccine schedule that his health department has already attempted, but that have been blocked by a federal judge. A White House official who insisted on anonymity to brief reporters said Trump was within his right to provide his own recommendation through the executive order and said the lawsuit blocking the health department’s schedule was a separate issue. Dr. Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said the announcement spreads uncertainty, fear and confusion where “there doesn’t need to be any of that.” He disputed Trump’s recommendations and said previous ones should stand. “Science about vaccines and their efficacy has not changed,” he said. “The distribution of viruses and other pathogens in our environment has not changed. Children in this country have not changed in the last 48 hours.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JACQUELyN MARTIN

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., right, speaks next to President Donald Trump during a meeting to sign an executive order about vaccines Monday in the Oval Office of the White House. vaccinations for schoolchildren. The order advises states with school vaccine mandates to consider updating their laws to reﬂect the administration’s preferred schedule, according to a White House fact sheet. “Vaccines are overwhelmingly safe. Vaccines are effective. Vaccines DO NOT cause autism,” Cassidy added on X. “Breaking up vaccines will mean Cassidy children have to get more shots to get the same protection, not fewer shots. It will increase hesitancy and make children less safe.” Last December, Trump ordered the Department of Health and Human Services to review how peer nations approach vaccine recommendations and consider revising U.S. guidance accordingly.

The department responded by cutting the number of vaccines it recommends for every child, a move that has since been blocked in court. Changes to federal childhood vaccine recommendations customarily require approval from the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The newly Senate-conﬁrmed CDC director, Dr. Erica Schwartz, oversaw policies promoting vaccination of service members while in a leadership position at the U.S. Coast Guard.

A test for Schwartz However, public health law expert Lawrence Gostin at Georgetown University said the Supreme Court’s interpretation of Trump’s power may allow him to supersede Schwartz if she does not agree to new recommendations. “This is clearly the first test for Dr. Erica Schwartz,” Gostin said in an email. “The President is placing her in an

untenable position.” Asked on a call with reporters why the president was advocating splitting MMR into three single-disease vaccines, the White House ofﬁcial did not provide any studies supporting the decision. They said that was Trump’s long-held view and that some countries provide individual measles vaccines in certain circumstances. Kush Desai, a Trump spokesperson, told The Associated Press that the president is “one of countless parents who have voiced questions and concerns about the combined MMR vaccine” and said the plan to develop single-disease vaccines would “give parents more options on timing and frequency for their children,” ultimately increasing vaccine uptake. Studies of babies and toddlers in the U.S. have shown that the use of combination shots for childhood vaccines, rather than single ones, increased the likelihood of completing all recommended vaccinations by the age of 2. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine activist before he entered politics, set out to overhaul immunization guidance at DHS in the first year of Trump’s term. He ﬁred an entire 17-member vaccine advisory committee, installing replacements who made far more restrictive recommendations that have since been halted by a federal judge. He also personally directed the CDC to abandon its position that vaccines do not cause autism, without supplying any new evidence to support the change.

Cassidy reacts U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, RBaton Rouge, blistered the presidential order recommending fewer childhood vaccines just moments after President Donald Trump signed it late Monday afternoon. “I’m a doctor. This executive order is wrong. The President does not have the expertise to make these changes,” Cassidy wrote on X. “Parents should listen to their child’s pediatrician about vaccines rather than listening to an inaccurate executive order. This is so wrong.” Even as the order calls for revised vaccine recommendations, states, not the federal government, have the authority to require

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6A ■ Tuesday,August 11, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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

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BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Taylor Farms recalls jalapeño products

Taylor Fresh Foods, parent company of Taylor Farms, is voluntarily recalling some products that include jalapeños because of worries about a possible salmonella contamination. The announcement comes a few weeks after Taylor Farms voluntarily recalled its iceberg lettuce products sourced from central Mexico because of a potential link to a multistate cyclospora outbreak that has sickened people across the U.S. Taylor Fresh Foods said that it was pulling some products, including jalapeños from store shelves after finding out that Coast Citrus Distributors was voluntarily recalling fresh jalapeños due to a potential salmonella contamination. Guacamole, pico de gallo and taco dip are some of the prepared foods included in the recall. The list of recalled products was distributed by Taylor Farms in multiple states with a “Best If Used By” date up to and including Aug. 16, 2026. The products were sold at stores including Kroger, Stop & Shop, Target, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and Walmart. Taylor Fresh Foods said that the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were working with state and local partners to investigate illnesses in a multistate outbreak of salmonella infections linked to fresh jalapeños supplied by Coast Citrus Distributors. The company said that a grower in Sinaloa, Mexico, a supplier to Coast Citrus Distributors, was identiﬁed as the potential source in the outbreak.

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Stocks edge down from Friday record Oil prices rise on Iran uncertainty

BY STAN CHOE Associated Press

NEW YORK — The U.S. stock market edged down from its all-time high on Monday, while oil prices rose on uncertainty about when the Strait of Hormuz could reopen and get the global ﬂow of crude going again. The S&P 500 slipped 0.1% from its record set on Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 60 points, or 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.3%. Momentum slowed for stocks following a rally powered by soar-

ing profits for big U.S. companies. Reports are on track to show earnings per share leaped 50% in the spring from a year earlier for companies in the S&P 500, according to FactSet. That would be the best growth since five years ago, when the economy was roaring out of the chasm created by COVID. Berkshire Hathaway is one of the latest companies to deliver a stronger profit for the last quarter than analysts expected, and the company built by legendary investor Warren Buffett said over the weekend that it’s also invested some of its massive pile of cash into stocks under its new CEO, Greg Abel. Berkshire Hathaway has been famous for buying stocks at what

it considers low prices, and criticism has been high that U.S. stocks generally look too expensive. But when they report strong proﬁts, it helps them look less pricey. Berkshire Hathaway’s stock rose 1.5%. MarineMax jumped 46.1% after the retailer, marina operator and superyacht services provider said it agreed to sell itself for about $1.5 billion in cash to a portfolio company of Blackstone. Varex Imaging leaped 48.8% after Teledyne Technologies said it would buy the maker of X-ray imaging components for $18.90 per share in cash. But Intel helped offset such gains and fell 4.1% after saying it may sell $15 billion of its stock. Such a

move would dilute the ownership stakes of shareholders, and Intel said it would likely use the cash for investments to take advantage of the huge spending underway on artiﬁcial intelligence technology. In the oil market, the price for a barrel of Brent crude rose 5% to $87.72. It had swung between $72 and $102 last month as hopes rose and fell that the United States and Iran could reach an agreement that would allow oil tankers to freely exit the Middle East again to deliver crude worldwide. But hopes are turning toward caution again, and the price of Brent is back to where it was earlier this month, as well as in mid-July, mid-June and in the ﬁrst week of the war in March.

Trump extends Jones Act waiver for 90 days WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday extended a waiver for 90 days for foreign ships to transport goods, including oil, fertilizers and other fossil fuel products, among U.S. ports. The president ﬁrst waived the Jones Act on March 17 so that it would be easier to transport oil and reﬁned fuels among ports, reducing price pressures after the start of the war with Iran. The latest extension will take effect on Aug. 17 and suggests that the U.S. might be preparing for continued price pressures as the Strait of Hormuz, a primary waterway for shipping oil and natural gas, remains effectively closed because of the war. Unlike previous extensions, the Pentagon will consult with the Maritime Administration to decide which voyages are exempt from the 1920 law containing the Jones Act. The new waiver will only apply to cargo that are sources of energy and commodities related to agriculture such as fertilizers and soybean oil. Taylor Rogers, a White House spokeswoman, said the administration extended the waiver “to ensure our military and key industries maintain uninterrupted access to critical resources.”

China fails to launch a rocket carrying satellite BEIJING — China‘s launch of a rocket carrying a communications satellite on Monday evening was not successful, state media reported, adding that the cause of the failed launch was under investigation. The ChinaSat 4B satellite aboard a Long March 7A rocket was launched from the country’s southern island of Hainan, which is home to the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site, part of China’s space program. The ChinaSat 4B is a comms satellite. “The rocket experienced an anomaly during the ﬂight and the launch mission failed,” the Xinhua news agency said. It was the ﬁrst reported Long March 7A failure since its maiden flight in March 2020, when the rocket malfunctioned after launching from Wenchang, according to Xinhua. China has launched hundreds of missions using Long March carrier rockets delivering internet and communication satellites into a pre-set orbit.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

A 1981 Commodore SP9000 ‘Super PET’ computer and floppy disk drives displayed at the Vintage Computer Festival in Mountain View, Calif. More than 3,500 people attended the two-day festival that celebrated the 50th anniversary of Apple.

VINTAGE TECH

As AI grips world, the thrill of collecting older computers is growing BY TERRY CHEA

“The enthusiasm for the history of computers and all the stuff around it is growing,” said Erik Klein, president of the Vintage Computer Federation, which organizes an annual festival at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View in the heart of Silicon Valley.

Bringing collectors together

Associated Press

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Software engineer Josh Dersch loves old computers. He spends countless hours tinkering in his garage, trying to coax decades-old machines back to life. He estimates he owns more than 200 vintage computers and devices in his Seattle home. “It’s always been fascinating to me to see the origins of things,” Dersch said. “It’s a fun challenge to debug and repair. You can understand the entire system from top to bottom.” Dersch is part of a growing community of vintage computer collectors who are preserving the classic machines that helped launch the digital revolution. While Silicon Valley has since moved on to shaping the future of artiﬁcial intelligence, these hardware enthusiasts are intent on saving the Atari, Commodore and IBM machines that are ancestors to today’s laptops, wearable devices and smartphones. Where others see junk, people like Dersch see artifacts of computer history that are worthy of attention and respect. They delight in hearing the beeps and chimes of their childhood and ﬁring up a low-def game of “Pong” or “Space Invaders.”

This year more than 3,500 people attended the two-day Vintage Computer Festival in early August that celebrated the 50th anniversary of Apple, founded in 1976 in nearby Cupertino, Calif. It featured a panel with cofounders Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne reminiscing about the company’s early days as a scrappy startup led by the late Steve Jobs. More than a dozen such gatherings have since sprung up in cities across North America, South America and Europe. Growing interest is reﬂected in more demand for vintage computers in online marketplaces, Klein said. Rare, iconic computers like the Apple-1 — the company’s ﬁrst product — can fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars. Collectors exhibited the computer systems that they have painstakingly restored to their original working condition, allowing attendees to play with the computers built long before the internet, social media and AI transformed the world.

Restoring the ‘grandfather’ Dersch drove down from Seattle to showcase the pride of his collection: the Xerox

Alto. He spent years restoring what’s considered “the grandfather of the modern computer,” which was developed at the pioneering Xerox Palo Alto Research Center in the 1970s. The Alto was one of the earliest computers to move beyond text on screen and use the mouse and graphical user interface — such as windows, icons and cursors — that became the industry standard. The model famously inspired Jobs and Bill Gates to incorporate the technologies in their early products. Dersch’s exhibit featured a fully functioning Xerox Alto workstation with its boxy vertical monitor, chunky keyboard and mouse, as well as pizza-sized spinning disks that store tiny amounts of data by modern standards. “It’s fun to share what I’ve done with people. It’s fun to share in what other people have done,” Dersch said. “Also, there’s a consignment area where I can buy more junk to take home with me, so that’s always fun.” Klein, a Silicon Valley software engineering manager, was a passionate collector until his hobby overwhelmed his home and family life. He had as many as 150 computer systems — complete with accessories, documents and packaging — crammed into his closets and garage. He said his beloved collection had become an “albatross” and he worried about burdening his family. So he started selling and giving away his machines until he only had a few favorites left at home.

Trump officials propose new rules for food additives, ingredients BY MATTHEW PERRONE Associated Press

WASHINGTON — U.S. health ofﬁcials on Monday proposed a rule change that would require food manufacturers to notify regulators before introducing new ingredients or additives into processed or packaged foods. The proposal would change a decades-old policy that advocates have called a regulatory loophole, blaming it for allowing thousands of unvetted ingredients into the U.S. food supply. Under the proposed rule from the Food and Drug Administration, companies would have to document and submit their safety rationale

for new ingredients, giving regulators the opportunity to investigate if they see a potential risk. Currently, companies can decide for themselves if an ingredient or additive is “generally recognized as safe,” or GRAS, and there is no requirement to notify or submit evidence to the FDA, although some ﬁrms do. “Shifting to a mandatory notiﬁcation system closes a decades-old information gap, giving the FDA the comprehensive visibility needed to enhance postmarket safety,” acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas told reporters on Monday. The FDA will take comments on the proposal for 120 days. Susan Mayne, former director of

FDA’s food program, said the new requirement would give the FDA a clearer picture of the vast number of ingredients on the U.S. market, though only a small portion would actually undergo review. “This is a reasonable ﬁrst step towards a more complete inventory, but most self-affirmed GRAS ingredients will still not be reviewed for safety by the FDA, with food ingredient safety continuing to be risk-based,” said Mayne, who is now a public health expert at Yale University. The FDA also plans to publish a list of company-submitted ingredients. Mayne said Americans should understand that “inclusion on the list would not mean FDA thinks the

ingredient is safe.” In a separate move, the FDA said it has completed work on the federal government’s first definition of ultraprocessed food, but did not release any details or the proposed language. The agency said it submitted the definition to the White House for further review. Health advocates consider an official definition of ultraprocessed food a key step toward bringing greater scrutiny to meals that are blamed for multiple chronic health problems afflicting Americans. A government-backed definition could pave the way for more federal research and, eventually, possible warning labels or other restrictions.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Tuesday, August 11, 2026 ■ 7A

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Canada puts military on standby over wildfires British Columbia blazes kill 1, displace thousands

BY ROB GILLIES and JAMIE STENGLE Associated Press

Canada put its military on standby Monday to help battle deadly wildfires in British Columbia as a local mayor warned that one of the blazes had wreaked huge destruction on his community. A woman has died and some 20,000 people have fled their homes. For days, scores of wildfires have burned across the province, nearly half of them out of control in hot, windy weather and prolonged drought. Thousands have fled on jammed roads as officials said even more communities could be threatened. The mayor of Summerland — home to about 12,000 people, which was ordered evacuated on Saturday night along with about 8,000 people in and around nearby Peachland — warned that the affected areas remained too dangerous to enter and that it was impossible to determine the scope of the destruction.

CANADIAN PRESS PHOTO By DARRyL DyCK

People float Monday on the Channel Pathway that connects Okanagan Lake and Skaha Lake as smoke from wildfires burning in the region fills the air in Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. The blaze, known as the Bald Range wildﬁre, remained out of control after racing toward Summerland and other communities along Okanagan Lake over the weekend. “We need to brace ourselves for that bad news when it’s time to go back. Everybody will know somebody who has lost a home,” Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes said. Defense Minister David McGuinty said the Canadian Armed Forces were in constant contact with pro-

vincial and federal ofﬁcials and were ready to respond if British Columbia formally requested assistance. The federal government has already approved provincial requests for help with shelter and accommodations. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said an 80-year-old woman died while trying to escape the fire near Summerland. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the death was heartbreaking and that the federal government would

continue supporting British Columbia. The British Columbia Wildfire Service said Monday the fire had grown to about 60 square miles. Officials warned clearer skies and direct sunlight could increase fire activity. Ravi Parmer, British Columbia Minister of Forests, said 19 helicopters were assigned to the Bald Range wildfire but that its intensity made it impossible to halt the blaze. British Columbia Wildfire

Service information officer Nicole Bonnett said the smoke lingering over the fire has reduced visibility, limiting the use of air tankers and water-skimming aircraft. Bonnett said the blaze has been fueled primarily by extremely dry conditions rather than wind, and grew explosively Friday, reaching 19 square miles within three hours. Holmes, the Summerland mayor, said there was no timetable for when residents would be able to return as power lines had been downed and hazards at the destroyed or damaged buildings would have to be assessed first. “The hard part is going home and seeing the devastation,” he cautioned. Kyla Gaudiuso, a resident of the tiny community of Faulder, said her home was likely destroyed as she had gotten a photo showing the ridge where it stood engulfed in flames. She described the community’s evacuation as “pandemonium” and said she was now staying with a friend in the town of Penticton. “It doesn’t really seem real,” she said. “I have to see it to believe it.” Canada has endured increasingly destructive wildfire seasons in recent years,

forcing mass evacuations and repeatedly sending smoke across large parts of the country and neighboring United States. In California, evacuations have been ordered for areas along the famous Big Sur coast as a wildﬁre burns in the nearby steep, rugged mountains. The Timber Fire in Monterey County started Sunday and had grown to about 2 square miles by midday Monday, according to Cal Fire. By Monday, a quick-moving blaze just north of Reno, Nevada, had forced about 5,500 people to evacuate, according to the U.S. Wildland Fire Service. Fueled by hot, dry and windy conditions, the Bug Fire grew to about 26.6 square miles after igniting Saturday in California. Firefighters in Spokane, Washington, have strengthened containment lines around three destructive blazes in recent days, allowing some evacuated residents to return home. Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson said Monday he visited some of the burned neighborhoods and met a retired couple who lost everything. They told him that losing their home was terrible, but losing the community was worse, he said.

Trial starts for man accused of ordering Tupac Shakur’s killing BY JESSICA HILL Associated Press

LAS VEGAS — Almost 30 years after rap legend Tupac Shakur was gunned down near the Las Vegas Strip, the former gang leader accused of ordering the killing went on trial Monday. The 1996 drive-by shooting remains one of the hip-hop world’s defining moments and enduring mysteries. Family members of Shakur were among those who gathered at a Las Vegas courthouse for the beginning of jury selection, which could continue through much of this week.

“Whoever had anything to do with it, whoever set it up, whoever had any hand in it should be locked up in prison,” said Shakur’s cousin, Kendrick Lesane. Duane “Keffe D” Davis, 63, has pleaded not guilty to murder with a deadly weapon with the intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang in the rapper’s death. At the time, Davis was a leader of the South Side Compton Crips in California. Davis sat next to his attorney Monday while Nevada Judge Carli Kierny asked a group of 75 potential jurors whether they have any medical issues, language barriers

or conﬂicts with serving in a trial scheduled to last about a month. Thirty years after his death, Shakur remains a cultural icon and is considered one of the most inﬂuential and versatile rappers of all time. Shakur’s death at age 25 came as his fourth solo album had sold 5 million copies. He was in a BMW on Sept. 7, 1996, with music mogul Marion “Suge” Knight when a white Cadillac pulled up at a red light. Shakur, who was in the passenger seat, was shot multiple times and died six days later, while Knight survived.

Hanging death of woman in Miss. shakes family, community By The Associated Press JACKSON, Miss. — The hanging death of Tasia Fortune, whose body was found outside an abandoned house, has shaken her family and community in Mississippi, where two other people have been found hanging from trees in less than a year. Police have not indicated whether they consider the 29-year-old Black woman’s death suspicious, saying only that they are actively working “to determine the circumstances surrounding the death.” A week after her body was found, a memorial with a photo of her face sur-

rounded by pink and white balloons, flowers and teddy bears remained Monday behind the home in a predominantly Black neighborhood. Jackson police officers responded to the home on Aug. 3 and discovered a body hanging in the backyard. Hinds County chief medical examiner investigator Jeremiah Howard later confirmed the identity as Fortune. Her body is now in the custody of the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office, where an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause and manner of death. Christy Spivey, Fortune’s mother, told ABC News on Sunday that she last saw

her daughter on July 26. Fortune, a mother of four who had lived in Mississippi for more than 10 years, had traveled to Kentucky for a family reunion. She described her daughter as a loving mother who was not behaving out of the ordinary. “She did not do this to herself,” Spivey told the outlet. “I know my daughter, and she did not do this to herself.” On Wednesday, Jackson City Councilman Kenneth Stokes wrote a letter to Mississippi U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger asking for assistance in the case. In the letter, Stokes referred to Fortune as a murder victim.

‘Dukes of Hazzard’ actor, former U.S. House member Ben Jones dies at 84 BY JEFFREY COLLINS Associated Press

Ben Jones, who played the good ol’ boy mechanic in “The Dukes of Hazzard” TV series and parlayed his fame into a political career and two terms in the U.S. House, has died. He was 84. Jones had a heart attack in his home Sunday in Washington, Virginia, as he was waiting to watch his beloved Atlanta Braves play baseball, his wife, Alma Viator, said on social media. Rappahannock County Sheriff Connie Compton conﬁrmed his death. Jones’ fame came from his role as Cooter Davenport, the mechanic who got the Duke boys out of jams as they tried to do the right thing and ﬁght the corrupt Boss Hogg in the fictional Hazzard County, Georgia.

After playing Cooter for all seven seasons of the series from 1979 to 1985, Jones turned to politics and was elected to the U.S. House from a district near Atlanta in 1988. The Democrat served two terms beJones fore he was redistricted out of the seat. Jones was born in North Carolina and in college got involved in acting and civil rights, he wrote in his autobiography “Redneck Boy in the Promised Land: The Confessions of ‘Crazy Cooter.’ ” Acting took over his life. Jones performed in numerous stage productions and had a few minor TV and movie roles in Atlanta during the 1970s before his life-

defining break came on a TV show Jones defended as a modern-day morality tale and a ﬁne example of Southern values. For seven seasons, Jones was one of a small band of friends and family helping Bo and Luke Duke in “The Dukes of Hazzard.” The brothers were on probation for running moonshine and were constantly trying to clear their names and stop the crooked and powerful Boss Hogg from stealing or cheating. The Duke boys drove a modiﬁed 1969 Dodge Charger called the General Lee with a Confederate flag on its roof. Cooter owned “Cooter’s Garage” in the town square. Nearly every episode involved a car chase with jumps and stunts and a patrol car badly in need of repairs.

The case went cold until recent years, when public statements and a tell-all memoir from Davis in 2019 revived it. He was arrested in 2023. As the trial began in Clark County District Court, Davis said Monday that if he’s convicted, he wants the judge to decide his sentence, not the jury. Binu Palal, the county’s chief deputy district attorney, told potential jurors they were in court for a murder trial involving Shakur. He began listing names of people

involved in the case to see if potential jurors were familiar with them, including Knight and Sean “Diddy” Combs. Prosecutors are not accusing Davis of pulling the trigger that night, and the trial likely won’t conﬁrm who did. Instead, prosecutors plan to show that Davis made the calls that led to Shakur’s death and provided the gun. Davis co-wrote the memoir “Compton Street Legends,” which vividly describes the shooting. The book says Davis obtained a handgun from an associate and tossed it into

the back seat of the Cadillac but did not say who ﬁred the fatal shots. Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, Davis’ nephew, has long been considered the suspect who pulled the trigger, but charges were never brought against him. He died two years after Shakur in an unrelated gang shootout in Compton. Two others — Deandrae “Freaky” Smith and Terry “Bubble Up” Brown — were in the car with Davis and Anderson, but they have since died as well.

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Ban on hemp products delayed Jan Risher LOUISIANA AT LARGE

Stockett draws 500 women to La. for night of sisterhood Hundreds of women in bright floral and toile dresses rarely choose to stand outside in the lateafternoon heat of August in Louisiana. But that’s what happened Wednesday in St. Francisville — and no one was complaining. Before 5 p.m., the steps of St. Francisville’s Freyhan Center were filled with women in colorful dresses. It looked like a garden in bloom. If there ever was a scene that had the look of a middle-aged sorority recruitment party, this was it. However, nobody was rushing anybody. If laughter and smiles are an indicator, everybody seemed to already belong. The women had come to hear Kathryn Stockett, author of “The Help,” talk about her new novel, “The Calamity Club,” a story the author says is about sisterhood. The event was free. My best count put the crowd near 500 people — some of whom spent the evening in the overflow rooms, where they couldn’t see but could hear Stockett. St. Francisville, population 1,557, is not a place folks pass through by accident. Everyone there decided, on purpose, to be there. The evening existed because Missy Couhig, owner of The Conundrum bookshop, was plucky enough to ask for it. She went to hear Stockett at a similar event hosted by Dixon Books in Natchez, near Stockett’s Mississippi home. Couhig waited until the end of the event and asked if the author would consider coming to St. Francisville. Detail by detail, the rest came together. Couhig’s bookshop was too small, so she contacted the recently renovated Freyhan Center, a 1908 schoolhouse that reopened as a community center in 2025. Before I hosted the questionand-answer portion of the evening, Stockett spoke to the crowd. Her remarks included a reference to a Washington Post piece by Monica Hesse — about Cheryl Hines at the White House Correspondents Dinner, watching her husband, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., get whisked off by security while she, in a strapless cocktail dress, hobbled after them. Stockett read from Hesse’s piece about Hines: “We are all Cheryl Hines. Unprepared for the scenario in which we will be forced to run for our lives. Watching the important people be whisked away while we wonder whether we should try to follow them, or duck under a table, or grab the good wine. This country is exhausting and perverse. We should have worn different shoes.” The evening felt like every woman in the room understood the sentiment. Shantell Gomez, who drove

ä See RISHER, page 2B

New regulations could kill state’s THC drink industry

BY RICH COLLINS Staff writer

The potential doomsday for Louisiana’s popular “weed drinks” is set to be pushed back — by a few weeks, at least. The state’s manufacturers of

THC beverages and other hempderived THC products are celebrating a political victory at the federal level in the ﬁght to save their industry after the U.S. Senate voted Saturday to delay a federal ban on the products by four weeks. The new law was set to take effect Nov. 13 after Mitch McConnell, Kentucky’s senior senator, led a legislative effort last year to close a 2018 loophole that inadvertently paved the way for the

ä See THC, page 2B

STAFF PHOTOS By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Marlene Zabalaoi, Jen Bienvenu and Ashley Weaver react as Keith Harmon of Stone Crystals shows them the inside of a geode he cracked open at his booth during the Baton Rouge Gem and Mineral Society’s annual gem and mineral show on Sunday at the LamarDixon Expo Center in Gonzales.

Arabella Schuessler, center, looks at an opal sphere with her father Nathan and her brother Gideon at the Rock Ninja booth during the gem and mineral show on Sunday.

Charles Lapham, right, shows dinosaur fossils at the gem and mineral show.

Bridge restrictions affect Zachary school bus routes BY OLIVIA McCLURE Contributing writer

Jan Risher, from left, author Kathryn Stockett and Missy Couhig, owner of The Conundrum, gather at the Freyhan Center in St. Francisville for an event with Stockett to talk about her new book, ‘The Calamity Club.’

hole has led to roughly $28 billion in annual U.S. sales of THCinfused beverages, gummies and other products. Beverages, though only contributing about $1 billion in annual sales, make up one of the most visible product categories. Cans of THC drinks like Louie Louie, Crescent 9 and Driftee, all made by Louisiana companies, have become common sights on the

Not-so-hidden gems

Ten structures in district reclassified into lower weight limits

STAFF PHOTO By JAN RISHER

rise of the modern THC products industry. Language in that year’s Farm Bill legalized certain consumable products made with the active compounds derived from hemp, a form of the cannabis plant with lower levels of THC than marijuana. Entrepreneurs quickly learned they could simply gather lots of hemp-derived THC to create products with psychoactive effects similar to those created with stronger strains. The loop-

Some Zachary students are starting off the new school year with a longer-thanusual walk to catch a school bus, after several bridges in the district were closed to heavy vehicle trafﬁc. Ten bridges within the Zachary Community School District, along with 42 others in East Baton Rouge Parish, were reclassiﬁed into lower weight limits by the

Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Kyle Cutrer, location manager with First Student, the school system’s transportation contractor, said his company and district officials only recently were informed of the updated bridge restrictions. Those bridges now prohibit vehicles that weigh more than 10 tons, with some limiting vehicles to just 5 tons. A school bus weighs more than 15 tons — without fuel or children aboard, Cutrer said. Bridge classification changes along with a road closure related to the Comite River Diversion Canal construction project have thrown wrenches into bus routes

ä See BRIDGES, page 2B

Man who pleaded guilty to disposal of remains gets 26 years BY OLIVIA TEES Staff writer

Derrick Perkins, the man who pleaded guilty to dumping the body of Georgia businessman Nathan Millard, was sentenced Monday morning to 26 years in prison. Perkins, 49, pleaded guilty to unlawful disposal of remains and obstruction of justice in Judge Carson Marcantel’s court on Nov. 5. He was sentenced to 18 years for obstruction of justice, three years for disposing of the body and ﬁve years for aggravated ﬂight. He will get credit for time served. Millard, 42, an employee of Advanced Construction based in Covington, Georgia, traveled

ä See REMAINS, page 2B

2B ■ Tuesday,August 11, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Cassidy: Blanche decision based on U.S. attorneys’ support

— Lisa Murkowski, of Alaska, across the nation have been has should be above the law, and that, sial selections to join the Cabinet. Senator says their tors and Susan Collins, of Maine — an- focused on ﬁghting violent crime, frankly, almost weighed to vote Cassidy is responsible for Robhuman and drug trafﬁcking as well ‘no,’” Cassidy said. nounced they were voting “nay.” ert F. Kennedy Jr. acquiring just advice swayed him on Some of Blanche’s critics had as rooting our fraud in government Cassidy said he sought the ad- enough votes to become secretary hoped Cassidy, who will soon leave agencies. And the department pro- vice of Cornyn, who was one of the of the U.S. Department of Health Trump’s AG nominee the Senate after Trump helped vides extra resources and clear leading Republican senators rais- and Human Services. As chair of

BY MARK BALLARD Staff writer

WASHINGTON — When U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy cast the deciding vote to conﬁrm Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump’s controversial nominee for attorney general, he did so after hearing support from U.S. attorneys in Louisiana, he said. “If you’re looking for a black or white decision here, you’re not going to ﬁnd it. This is a gradation of gray,” Cassidy said Sunday on CBS News’ “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.” He could have gone either way, and it took a couple days of weighing pros and cons before coming to his decision, Cassidy said. Louisiana’s senior senator had voiced reservations, as other senators had, that Blanche would politically weaponize the Department of Justice. Cassidy’s position became decisive when two fellow GOP sena-

Rep. Julia Letlow, R-Baton Rouge, unseat him, would join the duo. But Blanche was conﬁrmed, 5049, early Saturday morning after hours of negotiations. Cassidy noted that he wasn’t an attorney and, as most senators do when weighing controversial decisions, he sought ad- Blanche vice from others. He said he looked to Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and checked in with U.S. Attorneys Kurt Wall, of Baton Rouge, and David Courcelle in New Orleans. Wall and Courcelle told Cassidy how the Department of Justice was operating under Blanche, who has been running the department on an interim basis since Pam Bondi was ﬁred in April, Cassidy said. He said he was told that federal prosecutors in Louisiana and

BRIDGES

RISHER

on East Flanacher Road, Twin Oaks Drive, Angus Avenue, Old Baker Road, Port Hickey Road, Lower Zachary Road and Avenue G. Not all affected stretches of road have bus stops, Cutrer said. In some instances, it has been possible to simply route buses around the bridges or, where enough space is available, to direct drivers to turn around. Still, some students’ homes are practically impossible for buses to reach, he said, and they’re having to be picked up and dropped off farther away than they’re used to. About 10 children on East Flanacher now have to board the bus at the school district’s Gaynell C. Young Center at Port Hudson. For another 10 living on Twin Oaks, the bus stops on nearby Heck Young Road at Wisdom Drive. “That’s the nearest place we could safely put a school bus,” Cutrer said. At their meeting Tuesday, just two days before classrooms reopened, School Board members grilled Cutrer about the route changes and raised questions about what would be done to keep children safe as they trek to the new bus stops. Board member Tracey Taylor-Jarrell, who represents the Port Hudson area, said she drives East Flanacher regularly. She described it as a busy road, even in the early morning hours. She’s worried about the safety of children who have to walk because their parents aren’t able to drive them to and from the bus stop. She also was upset about the last-minute announcement of route changes. “School starts Thursday, and it appears you have not had one conversation to ﬁgure out what’s going to happen. Every question we’ve asked you, you’re like, ‘This is a peculiar situation.’ And where we go from there is my question,” Taylor-Jarrell said. Cutrer said he had done his best to work with DOTD and the school district to find a way to get buses as close to children as possible. “This is our best-case scenario with this,” he said. “I can’t drive a school bus over a bridge that DOTD says I can’t because I don’t want to be all over the news when the bridge collapses and there’s a Zachary school bus, right?” Superintendent Ben Necaise said his ofﬁce is doing what it can to improve matters. He pledged to board members to look into arranging for security for three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon at the Young Center bus stop. And, if the district can identify a turnaround area along East Flanacher, that would eliminate the need for students to go to the Young Center to catch the bus. “If a property owner potentially would say, ‘Hey, we can use some gravel in our yard, and we can create a turnaround,’ that’s something else that can be considered,” Necaise said.

in from Lafayette, said Stockett was refreshingly real and funny and that she “felt feelings of collective understanding.” Stockett told of getting expelled from school in sixth grade for reading her mother’s copy of “Fear of Flying.” She mentioned not being brave enough as a child to ask her family’s maid about her life outside their home. I asked her when she became brave. She said she thought it showed up the ﬁrst time she sat down to write a story. Then Stockett offered another glimpse into the creative process, reading a line from a New York Times story about Steven Spielberg by Wesley Morris: “I can’t express enough how therapeutic and healthy it is for me to keep doing this job over and over and over again,” Spielberg said. “I work so much out through this process. So much out. I get to bleed off some of the darkness instead of letting it fester inside me. You get to let it fester inside you.”

Continued from page 1B

metrics to judge how well individual prosecutors are performing. “Our morale is up, not despite the accountability, because of the accountability,” Cassidy said. “There’s a lot of positive things to say about Todd Blanche.” Weighing against those positives was Trump’s efforts to establish a taxCassidy payer funded $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund,” to compensate conservatives who felt unfairly targeted by federal law enforcement. As Trump’s lawyer, Blanche created the fund to settle a tax dispute Trump and his family were having — giving them immunity from future audits. Cassidy said giving the Trump protection from tax probes is “totally wrong.” “No American should be targeted by the law, but no American

ing questions about the weaponization fund and audits. In addition to having been an attorney general in Texas, Cornyn had been a state district judge in San Antonio and a Texas Supreme Court justice. After negotiating with Cornyn, Blanche agreed to ensure the antiweaponization fund would not go forward. Opponents fear that Blanche’s assurances were not the stakethrough-the-heart they wanted to see for the fund. But Cornyn was satisﬁed, and that was persuasive for Cassidy. Cornyn, along with Cassidy, and North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, are the three GOP incumbents whose reelections Trump actively worked against. As lame ducks, the three have pushed back on Trump positions, which most Republicans avoid. It was the second time Cassidy has been the deciding vote for approving one of Trump’s controver-

the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee and a physician who strongly endorses the use of vaccines to avoid lifethreatening maladies, Cassidy’s support for Kennedy, a vaccine skeptic, was critical. But that was back when Cassidy was running for a third, six-year term against the headwinds of Louisiana Republicans angered at his vote to convict Trump of impeachment charges of inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. Cassidy was twice censured by members of the state’s GOP, was forced to run in a closed primary where only Republican voters had a say and was the target of personal attacks by Trump. He lost in the May 16 closed party primary and will leave ofﬁce in January when the newly elected 120th Congress is sworn in.

Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate.com.

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THC

Continued from page 1B shelves of major retailers like Rouses and Total Wine. Other THC products are also mainstays at convenience stores and gas stations. A bipartisan group of legislators hopes to get all of the options off shelves, but makers of the most mainstream products are hoping there will be a move to regulate instead of ban. They say the Senate’s 6132 vote, part of a broader, bipartisan government funding bill that will need to be approved by the House when members return from recess, gives them four more weeks to make their case. “The next chapter begins today,” Christopher Lackner, founder and president of the Hemp Beverage Alliance, said in a statement after the vote. “We stand ready to work with Congress, the White House and stakeholders throughout the country to pass federal legislation that is strong, sensible, reliable, and pri-

REMAINS

Continued from page 1B to Baton Rouge for a short business trip on Feb. 22, 2023, to meet a client and visit a job site. He was reported missing when he didn’t show up to a meeting with the client the next day. Two weeks later, Millard’s body was found

STAFF PHOTO By JAN RISHER

Jan Risher, left, and author Kathryn Stockett gather with 500 other women at the Freyhan Center in St. Francisville for a free event with the author. Wednesday night felt like living proof of the sisterhood at the heart of Stockett’s new book — before “The Calamity Club” was even mentioned. Dr. DeeDee Luke, who drove 97 miles from Acadiana, must have felt it, too. She said, “I left feeling hopeful for the South. I teared up several times through the night. It’s so nice to be in a room of

readers on the same page.” Long after the last question, the line for signed books still snaked around rooms inside the building. Even then, spirits stayed high. Five hundred women showed up on a hot August evening to hear an author talk about sisterhood. A small-town bookshop made it happen in a century-old schoolhouse that local peo-

ple, many of them women, recently saved from ruin. An author drove 90 minutes for a free event and stayed until the last book was signed. Maybe we all miss the things we don’t or have never had. I have two younger brothers — for whom I am grateful — but I have always been sisterless. Maybe that’s why sister-

oritizes public safety.” Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., who had been leading the fight to keep the ban on schedule, expressed disappointment with the vote’s outcome. “We agreed to ban these drugs nearly nine months ago, but clearly our ﬁght to stop this scourge is just beginning,” he said in a social media post.

Hope for growing industry In Louisiana, beverage manufacturers expressed optimism about the Senate’s vote despite a lack of support from their state’s federal delegation. “While it was disappointing to see our Louisiana senators vote to destroy jobs and businesses in their home state, we hope to see Sen. (John) Kennedy and Sen. (Bill) Cassidy take a more pro-business stance once a more robust regulatory bill is up for consideration,” said Joe Gerrity, a founder of the new Louisiana Hemp Beverage Coalition and CEO of Crescent Canna, one of the nation’s biggest THC beverage manufacturers. The offices of Kennedy and Cassidy did not imme-

wrapped in a plastic sheet in a rug behind the now-closed Rhodes Funeral Home on Scenic Highway. During the criminal investigation, Baton Rouge police tracked Millard’s location the night of Feb. 22, and found he had visited multiple local businesses in the downtown area. The client he had met with parted ways with Millard about 11:30 p.m. after at-

STAFF FILE PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER

Port Orleans Brewing Co. employees package Louie Louie THC seltzers in New Orleans. diately respond to a request for comment. Marie La France, one of the co-founders of Basin Street Beverages, maker of Louie Louie drinks, said Louisiana consumers “overwhelmingly” want to continue to have access to low-dose hemp beverages wherever alcohol is sold. Local beverage makers are supporting three potential federal bills, including the Lawful Hemp Protection Act, the Hemp Planting Predictability Act and the Hemp-Derived Beverage Regulatory Clarity Act.

The first two would ban synthetic intoxicants and create standards for testing and packaging. The third creates a regulatory framework speciﬁcally for hemp beverages. “Any one of these bills would maintain the standards and access we have here in Louisiana when it comes to hemp beverages,” La France said. “Congress now has multiple paths. We hope they will listen to voters and pass sensible legislation.” President Donald Trump’s administration has signaled

tending an LSU basketball game and grabbing a drink at Happy’s Irish Pub downtown. Millard reportedly went back to his hotel but a welfare check requested by the client the next morning shows that the room was never slept in. Perkins was charged on June 1, 2023. He told police on the night of Feb. 22 and into the early hours of the next day,

he and Millard took drugs and went with two women to a house on Lori Burgess Avenue, where Millard paid them for sex and they continued taking drugs. Then Millard overdosed from a mix of cocaine and fentanyl. Perkins told police that he and Tabbetha Barner, one of the women, administered Narcan to Millard, but it did not revive him.

hood represents so much hope to me. I seek (and receive) it in my cousins. I seek (and receive) it from my friends. Hope is always right there on the surface when it comes to sisterhood — and that’s how Wednesday night in St. Francisville felt to me. Email Jan Risher at jan. risher@theadvocate.com.

support for the industry, including in a June 24 letter from Trump Cabinet member Russell Vought to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton. Congress should revise “the Federal regulation of hemp to ensure the fair treatment of hemp products,” Vought wrote in a document laying out the administration’s funding priorities. Other Louisiana hemp entrepreneurs note that the four-week delay on the products they sell, while encouraging, still leaves lots of uncertainty. Monica Olano, founder of the Cali Sober Market in Metairie and owner of Mélange, a nonalcoholic bar in the Faubourg Marigny, said the extension is better than nothing, but still just a “Band-Aid.” “For small businesses like us, where this isn’t just one revenue stream but the majority of our business, it’s still a very big question mark,” she said. “There’s still a lot of regulation and consensus that needs to happen before any of us know what our world looks like at the end of the year.”

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Funerals Today Breaud, Billy

Baker Funeral Home, 6401 Groom Road, Baker, LA at 11am.

Fussell, Randall

Rabenhorst Funeral Home & East, 11000 Florida Crematory Boulevard, Baton Rouge at 7:00pm.

Robertson, Betty

Louisiana National Cemetery at 1pm.

Obituaries Ellzey, Rose Gibson

Rose Gibson Ellzey passed away peacefully after a long battle with dementia on August 8, 2026. Rose was born on January 27,1939 in Harrisonburg, Louisiana to the late David Wana and Olive Gibson. Rose graduated from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA with a degree in Education. She was a devoted mother who loved the outdoors, especially fishing with her good friends on False River and hiking in the mountains of Colorado. You could also find her watching sunsets on Navarre Beach along with her grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Rose is survived by her son's Ken Ellzey, Jr. (Marilyn), David Ellzey, daughter Katherine Wilkinson (Horace) and four grandchildren; Grant Wilkinson, Grace Wilkinson, Gibson Ellzey and Haynes Ellzey. She is also survived by her sister Evelyn McDonald (Wayne) of Greenville, SC and numerous nieces and nephews. Rose was preceded in death by her sisters Dr. Wana Ann Fort, Marjorie Sharp, Jane Noonan, Polly Hamilton and Lee Mills. We would like to thank Barclay House of Baton Rouge, Clarity Hospice and Tori Baker for the exceptional love and care they provided. A private celebration of life will be held at a later date. To honor Rose's memory, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

Fussell, Randall Norris 'Randy'

Randall "Randy" Norris Fussell,73, a native of Baton Rouge and resident of Prairieville, died on Friday, August 7, 2026. Randy lived life with a dynamic energy, a devotion to his family, and an unmatched spirit of generosity. He was a hard worker, a natural host, and always the first to offer a helping hand. A graduate of Broadmoor High School who attended Louisiana Tech, Randy launched his

career in the industrial refractory industry, advancing rapidly from field construction to Operations Manager. He later established his own enterprise specializing in industrial roofing and insulation systems. Following Hurricane Katrina, Randy's company spent years working nonstop to restore the heavily damaged roofing infrastructure at Ingalls Shipyard. Following this chapter, he transitioned into a busy "retirement" by establishing a thriving rental property business. Early in his career while in Jackson, Mississippi, Randy met Jenny—the love of his life, his best friend, and his steady anchor. Randy and Jenny built a dedicated life together and raised two children, Christopher and Katie. Randy was immensely proud of his family, and his five grandchildren were his ultimate source of joy. He loved the Lord and together with Jenny raised his family in the church and most recently attended River Community Church in Prairieville. Despite facing significant health challenges that began in midlife, Randy met every obstacle with extraordinary fortitude. He continued working and supporting his family while enduring hardships with a warm, optimistic disposition, shielding those around him from his pain. Randy was exceptionally generous with both his time and resources. Whenever he saw a need, he stepped in immediately to help—whether for an old friend or a complete stranger. He will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. He was preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Kathryn Fussell. He is survived by his loving wife, Lillian "Jenny" Fussell; children, Regina (Frank) Kathryn Fussell Rebel and Christopher (Lisa) Norris Fussell; grandchildren, Ryan Rebel, Hannah Rebel, Frankie Rebel, Victoria Fussell, and Lucas Fussell; and siblings, Laura (Frank) Baragona, Douglas (Stacey) Fussell, Jim Fussell, Mark (Kris) Fussell. Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation which will be held at Rabenhorst Funeral Home & Crematory East, 11000 Florida Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70815, on August 11, 2026, from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Service will follow at 7:00 pm.

Johnson, Scott David

Scott Johnson, age 65, of Denham Springs, Louisiana, passed away on Sunday, August 2, 2026. He was born on November 24,1960, in Austin, Minnesota. He is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Candy Johnson; children, Paris Land and Johnathan Johnson; and grandchild, Beckham Land. He is also survived by his siblings,

Julie Johnson, Tim Johnson, Reed Johnson, and Bruce Johnson; nieces, Jillian, Jordan, Jenna, and Jayden; nephews, Bruce Jr., Corey, Casey, and Colten; and many extended family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, David Johnson and Jeannie Martin Johnson. Scott was a proud graduate of Louisiana State University (LSU) and built a successful career as a computer consultant and developer. He had a passion for technology and enjoyed using his knowledge and talents throughout his professional life. Outside of work, he loved fishing and spending time enjoying the simple pleasures of life. He will be remembered for his intelligence, dedication, and the lasting impact he made on all those who knew and loved him. Seale Funeral Home of Denham Springs, Louisiana, is honored to be entrusted with Mr. Johnson's funeral arrangements. His family invites you to share thoughts, memories, and condolences by signing an online guestbook at www.sealefuneral.com.

Lambert, Ronald Jude

gether with his vibrant spirit and outgoing personality. A devoted family man, Ronald is survived by his loving wife Noel Nettleton Lambert; his cherished daughters Lisa Lambert Adams (Jerry Adams, Jr.) of Bourg, LA, and Melissa Lambert Tumy (Patrick Tumy) of Madisonville, LA. He deeply adored his three grandchildren, Macy Adams Arceneaux (Louis Arceneaux III), Mia Adams Tucker (Bryce Tucker), and Peyton Tumy, as well as his great-grandchild, Briar Aurelia Arceneaux. Ronald was preceded in death by his parents Aubrey A. Lambert and Marie Waguespack Lambert as well as his siblings Joseph Lambert, Earl Lambert, Aubrey J. Lambert, and Marie Lambert. The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate staff of Hope Hospice, Terrebonne Home Care, and the many doctors, nurses, caregivers, and healthcare professionals who provided him with exceptional care, kindness, and dignity throughout his journey. Your compassion, support, and dedication brought comfort not only to Ronald but also to his family, and your kindness will always be remembered with deep appreciation. Ronald was laid to rest at a private family service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Landry, Rusty

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Ronald Jude Lambert, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, who departed this life on August 4, 2026, at the age of 87. Born on February 17, 1939, in Gramercy, Louisiana, Ronald lived a life marked by an unwavering commitment to his family and community. Ronald graduated from Southeastern Louisiana College majoring in accounting and began his career as a math teacher. Soon thereafter, he was drafted into the U.S. Army where he proudly served his country with honor. After his military service, Ronald transitioned into the accounting profession. Driven by his entrepreneurial spirit, he opened a business, Bourg Hardware, which he proudly owned and operated for many years. When the business closed, he returned to his career in accounting where he continued to provide trusted service up until his death. Throughout his life, he was actively involved in numerous community organizations and was dedicated to serving others. He enjoyed dancing, socializing with family and friends, and never missed an opportunity to bring people to-

Frederick Russell "Rusty" Landry, age 71, passed away on August 7, 2026. Born on December 28, 1954, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Rusty lived his life with a quiet strength, a gentle spirit, and an unwavering love for his family. Rusty began his career as a machinist shortly after graduating from high school. He later continued his education at Louisiana State University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering. Exceptionally intelligent yet remarkably humble, Rusty never sought recognition or attention for his accomplishments. That quiet humility was simply part of who he was. Rusty was an avid hunter and fisherman who found great joy in the outdoors. He loved sports of all kinds, but LSU football and baseball held a special place in his heart. He was also a devoted fantasy football fan and looked forward to the competition and camaraderie it brought. Those who knew Rusty will remember his subtle sense of humor and his gentle, quiet demeanor. He was a private man who never

needed to be the center of attention, yet his presence left a lasting impression on those fortunate enough to know him. He cared for people with his whole heart and consistently placed the needs of others before his own. He was selfless, kind, humble, and deeply devoted to the people he loved. Above all else, Rusty loved his family more than life itself. His gentle spirit and the quiet ways in which he showed his love will remain with them always. He was deeply loved in return, and his absence will be felt beyond measure. Rusty was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Delma Landry and Irene Chiasson Landry; his brother, Joseph "Boo" Landry; and his sisters, Geraldine "Gerry" Landry, Gwendolyn "Gwen" Landry Trabeaux, and Janice Landry Bellue. He was also preceded in death by his brother-inlaw, Sonny Trabeaux. He leaves behind his nieces and nephews, Denise Kirk (Chuck), Deanna Mims (David), Dianna Cox (Ron), Robbye Keown (Jim), Tonya Landry (Anne Marie), Kandie Distefano (Donnie), Kim Bergeron, Lee Bellue (Amy), Dawn Doucet (Darryn), Dana Dugas (Dwayne), and Donna Moye, along with extended family and friends who loved him dearly. The family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to St. Joseph Hospice and The Carpenter House for the compassionate care and support they provided to Rusty and his family. Visitation will be held Wednesday, August 12, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Resthaven Funeral Home. The funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m., with burial immediately following at Resthaven Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Lee Bellue, Donnie Distefano, Darren Doucet, Dwayne Dugas, Kyle Kurk, Dylan Doucet, Luke Bellue, Bryce Distefano, and Brandon Bergeron. Honorary pallbearer will be Barry Bellue, Sr. Rusty lived quietly, loved deeply, gave selflessly, and asked for little in return. His was a gentle life that left a lasting mark, and he will be forever loved and deeply missed.

Sr. He graduated from Central High School before attending Nicholls State University, where he played football. Spencer dedicated his career to the refinery industry, where he earned the respect of countless coworkers, employees, and friends who became family. As President of Specialty Welding and Turnarounds, he was known not only for his leadership and work ethic, but also for his willingness to mentor others and help those around him succeed. Spencer was happiest spending time with family and friends, whether sitting in a deer stand, bass fishing in Mexico, or enjoying a day on the golf course. He had a gift for bringing people together, and wherever he went, laughter, friendship, and unforgettable memories were never far behind. Spencer was preceded in death by his beloved father, James "Joe" Moak, Sr. Spencer is survived by his wife, Shannon Brunson Moak; his mother, Sue Corban; his children, Spencer Moak, Jr. (Amanda), Shelby Moak, and Summer Moak McNulty (Brandon); his stepchildren, Kaylee Austin and Jacob Austin; his grandchildren, Harper Allen, Spencer "Tripp" Moak III, Malcolm Moak, and Nathan Moak; his brother, James Moak, Jr. (Kitty); and his nieces, Kimberley Simpson and Kelsie Moak. Visitation was held at Greenoaks Funeral Home & Memorial Park, on August 8, 2026. Pallbearers were Spencer Moak, Jr., Jacob Austin, Joel Johns, Reed Brunson, Daniel Brunson, Preston Radley, Kirbie Hunley, and Jack Corley.

SEVEN DAYS

HOME DELIVERED Moak, Spencer Kevin

LOUISIANA OWNED

Spencer Kevin Moak, Sr., of Kemah, Texas, passed away unexpectedly on July 28, 2026, at the age of 55. Born on January 30, 1971, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Spencer was the son of Sue and James "Joe" Moak,

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

OUR VIEWS

Slightly smaller LSU freshman class is a positive sign After eight consecutive record-breaking years, LSU’s freshman class this year will be slightly smaller than the one before. That’s a good thing. A smaller incoming class does not reflect lower demand: LSU received more than 67,000 applications this year. That’s more than three times the number a decade ago and continues an upward trajectory that has accelerated since the pandemic. LSU is also benefiting from national trends that show more students applying at major Southern schools. With such a large applicant pool, LSU officials are smart to apply stricter admission standards. They have also said they intend to work hard to attract the top echelon of students, those with an ACT score of 30 or above, essentially those in the top six percent of all students. The fact that those standards were largely applied to out-of-state students is another positive. LSU and its appeal as a brand exert one of the state’s few gravitational pulls for new residents. Students who study here are more likely to stay here; if we can take the best of those from other states, all the better. That’s what other states have been doing to Louisiana for years. We are also glad to see that the proportion of in-state students accepted actually ticked up a bit. Even as it pursues academic prestige, LSU must not forget its core mission as the state’s flagship university: providing a quality education for the benefit of all Louisianans. The regional campuses, including the recently reassimilated University of New Orleans, can play a key role in this pursuit by making a good education affordable and practical for many in-state students. Other regional LSU sites, such as Alexandria, have in recent years seen enrollment booms; New Orleans, which has struggled to attract students, could use the same. The smaller incoming class size will have some practical benefits as well. LSU’s main campus in Baton Rouge is at or near capacity. Parking is tight, on-campus housing is packed and off-campus apartments are even more expensive. One student recounted seeing students standing in a 200-desk lecture hall because there were not enough places to sit. “If we’re committed to excellence both in the classroom and in the student experience, then part of that calculus does have to involve maybe not growing beyond what the campus capacity is,” Emmett Brown, LSU’s head of enrollment, told this newspaper’s Haley Miller. All of these tweaks are in service of what LSU President Wade Rousse has said is a key goal — for LSU to be named among the top 50 of the National Science Foundation’s Higher Education Research and Development Survey, which ranks top research institutions across the nation. This is a good aim. Lifting the standards at the Baton Rouge campus — and accepting the slightly smaller classes — can serve that end as well.

YOUR VIEWS

Global culinary events spotlight New Orleans hospitality scene

Politicians who targeted Murrill must be punished Several weeks ago, we were proud to stand next to Attorney General Liz Murrill and present her with the Home Defense Foundation’s Hero of Home Defense Award. We present that award very sparingly, and only to public ﬁgures who have shown courage while ﬁghting for the rights of taxpayers and law-abiding citizens. As proud as we were on that day, we are doubly proud of the attorney general when she requested an investigation into the conduct exhibited by the New Orleans politicians who thought she should be imprisoned for enforcing laws passed by the state Legislature. Talk about “lawfare” and improper use of government power! The conduct of those New Orleans politicians takes the cake. The AG is correct to say that their disgraceful and illegal conduct must be punished. For if you do not punish illegal and shameful conduct, you will get more of it. If you do not punish robberies, for exam-

ple, you will get more of them. And if you do not punish political illegalities, such as indicting an AG who is merely following an actual law — albeit one that you do not like — you will get more of them. In sum, let us say that many New Orleans politicians have horribly mistreated their law-abiding taxpayers. These people have ignored bribery, pretended they were ignorant of “overtime pay” which really stole public funds and turned a blind eye when criminals have been set free again and again to harm the taxpayers, to give just three examples. It is time to hold these politicians accountable for their actions, and AG Murrill’s request for an investigation of their improper lawfare is a good start.

A recent weekend marked another milestone for New Orleans’ culinary and hospitality community. Hosting the Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie and the Bocuse d’Or Americas Selection, alongside the arrival of the Michelin Guide and the return of North America’s 50 Best Restaurants, underscores what we’ve long known: The world is paying closer attention to what makes New Orleans extraordinary. Our students are learning in one of the world’s most celebrated culinary and hospitality cities. They build their skills in the classroom, explore the industry through field trips, gain hands-on experience through externships and launch careers in New Orleans’ vibrant hospitality community. When world-renowned chefs and hospitality leaders engage directly with our students, they expand perspectives, share new techniques and strengthen our classrooms and our local culinary community. These experiences inspire students to dream big while reinforcing that the skills, creativity and connections they develop at the New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute can prepare them for success wherever their ambitions take them. These international events also celebrate something New Orleanians have always known: Our city is defined not only by remarkable food, but by exceptional hospitality. New Orleans & Company deserves tremendous credit for elevating our city’s culinary reputation while showcasing the authentic culture that makes New Orleans unique. At NOCHI, we see the impact firsthand. As global recognition grows, so do opportunities for our students. The greatest measure of this success will be the next generation of culinary and hospitality professionals inspired to build their careers and strengthen our city’s future right here in New Orleans.

MIKE WEINBERGER founder, Home Defense Foundation JEFF CROUERE policy adviser, Home Defense Foundation Metairie

Think creatively to help college sports programs get funding With universities looking for a means to increase income due to the creation of NIL, let me offer this suggestion: Two schools should schedule home football games on back-to-back weekends in the spring, at the conclusion of their spring practices. The two schools cannot have played the prior year nor the current year. Players and coaches will beneﬁt from game day experience without an effect on the team’s record. Crazed football fans gathering on a spring afternoon or evening for a taste of what might be coming in the fall will ﬁll the stadiums. All media would welcome the readership/viewership

with television rights gladly paying the schools to televise the games. Outcomes of the games will have no bearing on the records for the fall season. Call it the Preview Season. Instead of a meaningless intrasquad scrimmage in the spring, debut the current year football team after March Madness, during regular season of college baseball and before the College World Series. The players want to get paid, and schools looking for income could ﬁnd this a means to be a partial solution to ﬁnancial issues.

JOSEPH BEREY Covington

Banning foreign robotics dulls ability of U.S. to compete LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE ARE OUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published

identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’s city of residence. The Advocate | The Times-Picayune require a street address and phone number 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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Recent actions by the Federal Communications Commission to block foreign-made advanced robotics (see your recent article, “U.S. bans foreign-made humanoid robots”) under the guise of national security represent a troubling slide into protectionism. While shielding domestic firms from intense price competition may offer short-term comfort, it inflicts a far more damaging, long-term cost on the American economy: the loss of the ability to learn through competition. Capitalism thrives on the relentless pressure to adapt, innovate and outcompete rivals on an open field. When international competitors command the vast majority of the global market and drive rapid technological iteration,

erecting trade barriers does not foster true resilience. Instead, it creates an insulated bubble that deprives domestic developers of the rigorous, real-world benchmarking necessary to sharpen their capabilities. Just as military strategists warn against compressing decision cycles to the point of blindness, we must recognize that artiﬁcially slowing down market exposure to global innovation does not protect us. It isolates us. True economic strength is forged not by hiding behind walls, but by engaging with the world’s most advanced technologies and cultivating the capacity to out-learn and out-compete them.

GERALD DUHON president and CEO, New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute New Orleans

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COMMENTARY No matter the context, Cole’s texts look very bad Say this for Baton Rouge schools Superintendent LaMont Cole: He communicates clearly. At least when he wants to. “He knows I’m getting a kickback from both of you and he plans to expose us,” the former Baton Rouge Metro Councilman wrote in a text message to two friends, both of whom happened to have Faimon also contracts with the cityRoberts parish. The message was one of several revealed after a state grand jury indicted Cole on five counts last week. He faces charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, money laundering and malfeasance in office. The recipient of the texts, Cole’s longtime friend TJ Jackson, was also indicted. One text cited in the probable cause affidavit shows Cole telling Jackson: “Just took care of you in a MAJOR way which means I just took care of us.” Another said that Cole “could use an additional 60k-120k a year,” according to the affidavit. Notably, the indictment does not include a bribery charge, just conspiracy to commit bribery; Cole’s defense will certainly seek to exploit the slim daylight between the two. And of course he is presumed innocent, so the burden of proof remains with the prosecution. But, even in the best possible light, Cole’s own words in those texts are going to be tough to overcome. Even if he was joking, even if it was banter between old friends, the messages just look incriminating. That raises the biggest question: What was he thinking? His words in those texts reflect either an astonishing lack of self-awareness or brazen arrogance. Each beggars belief.

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

EBR Parish Schools Superintendent LaMont Cole sings at the end of his speech during the annual back-toschool convocation for EBR Schools at Southern’s Clark Activity Center on Aug. 4.

Former Gov. Earl K. Long must be doing a celestial facepalm. Long’s famous maxim warns officials against writing anything you can phone, phoning anything you can talk, talking anything you can smile. Long died long before the age of text messages, but it’s pretty easy to extrapolate what he would have said there. Just don’t do it. It’s not as if Cole isn’t politically astute or a gifted communicator. He put both those skills on display in the days after his indictment. Wednesday, at a back-to-school event for teachers, Cole danced onto the stage to entrance music and smoke effects, arriving at the mic like the Rock into the ring to a rapturous reception. During his speech, he took a moment to thank supporters for messages that flowed in after a report in this newspaper identified him as a target of the at-

torney general’s investigation. He then broke into song, belting out the theme to the 1980s sitcom “The Golden Girls”. “Thank you for being a friend,” he sang, urging attendees to join in. Many did. Those friends must include members of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board. The board has not made any attempt to reduce or limit Cole’s duties while the case plays out. Thursday, he attended a board committee meeting as if nothing had happened. Board Vice President Cliff Lewis told those who attended the meeting that the issue would not come up. “I just want to make it perfectly clear, we are here tonight to discuss the business of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board,” Lewis said. “We are not here to discuss anything that anyone may have read or heard or said.” Anyone going off topic would not be allowed to speak further, Lewis said. Cole gave a report on the ﬁrst day of school. That leaves his Wednesday evening statement as the only public comment he has offered on the indictment. “I’ve provided servant leadership to this community for decades, guided by humility, integrity, and ethical standards,” Cole said. “Today’s actions are simply a miscarriage of justice based on association, not attestation, and proximity to potential crimes without proof.” There’s some nice alliteration there. But it’s also the sort of cloudy wording that could have been written by a criminal defense attorney attempting to sow reasonable doubt with potential jurors. Until Cole clearly addresses the allegations against him, we are left with just the text messages. At least those are clear.

Email Faimon A. Roberts III at froberts@theadvocate.com.

Closed primaries are driving U.S. crazy How could Donald Trump, with bottom-scraping approval ratings, decide who would represent the Republican Party in the upcoming Texas senatorial race? The primary system offers an explanation. A simple open primary system would have let the broader public choose — and, ironically, save Republicans from a very possible loss in November. Open primaries let registered voters cast a ballot without being members of the party. Closed primaries allow only party members to vote. About 15 states now run genuinely open primaries. There are mixed systems that still help small numbers of voters nominate extreme candidates. Texas is one. Texas started with an open primary in which incumbent Republican John Cornyn ﬁnished slightly ahead of Trump’s Froma choice, Ken Paxton. Harrop But because neither got more than 50% of the vote, the top two candidates, Cornyn and Paxton, competed in a runoff. But under Texas rules, anyone who had voted in the Democratic primary could not participate in that contest. Paxton had been impeached by the Republican-controlled Texas House. His own top aides reported him to the FBI alleging bribery. And his wife ﬁled for divorce citing adultery. Small wonder that recent polls show him trailing Democratic candidate James Talarico in a state said to be deep red. Maine’s primary system is even less open, which explains how Graham Platner — he of the Nazi tattoo and creepy history with women — became the Democrat to oppose incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Platner was a creature propped up by the hyperactive Democratic Socialists of America. After a plausible rape charge had him dethroned as the Democratic candidate, Platner was replaced with Troy Jackson. Jackson wasn’t chosen in a primary at all but by Democratic delegates at a special convention. Maine polls now have Jackson and Collins running neck-and-neck. Most big American cities run open, “all-candidate” primaries rather than party primaries, which limit voting to

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By RyAN MURPHy

New york City Mayor Zohran Mamdani discusses plans for citywide discounted grocery stores. party members. New York City is an exception. And that helps explain how the citizens ended up with the radical and increasingly unpopular Zohran Mamdani as mayor. The formula for fringe groups, whether left or right, is to organize a march into thinly attended closed primaries and make their candidate nominee for a major party. That happened in New York on June 24, 2025, a day of record temperatures that made parts feel like 126 degrees. Older voters especially feared leaving their apartments. The DSA took advantage of the situation and nominated Mamdani in a vote that was closed to the 21% of the voters registered as independents and the 11% who are Republican. Put another way, Mamdani wrangled the Democratic nomination in a primary in which only 8% of registered voters participated. Come Election Day, he got less than half the vote in an overwhelmingly Democratic city. The city’s Charter Revision Commission adopted an interim report that suggested letting voters decide in November whether to move New York

to open primaries. That’s how Boston and Seattle do it. They allow all eligible candidates that can be on the ballot and all registered voters to participate. The top two vote-getters advance to the general election. Mamdani opposes open primaries. “I am quite content with the system of primaries that we have thus far,” he said unsurprisingly. Not content is John Opdycke, head of Open Primaries, a political-reform organization. “It’s ironic,” Opdycke said, “that Mayor Mamdani, who is raising important questions about the economic power of poor and working people, won’t advocate for their political power.” The group’s own polling shows even most city Democrats favoring open primaries. There’s a reason fringe governance — from the right, the left or both — is driving so many of us crazy. Open primaries are a step toward saner majority rule. Follow Froma Harrop on X, @FromaHarrop. She can be reached at fharrop@gmail.com.

What the professors lost by winning with El-Sayed Was it a win for the American Association of University Professors? On July 30, the organization announced that it was endorsing a political candidate for the first time in its 110-year history. Abdul El-Sayed, a left-wing Michigan Democrat running for the Senate, got the Megan ega a few days before the DemoMcArdle nod cratic primary. Last Tuesday, El-Sayed eked out a win over moderate Rep. Haley Stevens. So was it also a win for the AAUP? Any number of critics have sprung up to say no, it was an own goal. They make the point that I’ve offered repeatedly in recent columns: The perceived politicization of academia has eroded public trust, making universities vulnerable to unprecedented Republican attacks on higher education. Universities desperately need to regain their credibility as neutral institutions, not publicly position themselves on the Democratic Party’s leftmost flank. The rejoinder of Todd Wolfson, the AAUP’s president, is that it’s too late for meek accommodation. Wolfson, who inaugurated his term in 2024 by calling JD Vance a “fascist,” recently told Inside Higher Ed that there’s a “radical, right-wing agenda coming out of the federal government” and the organization needs to engage in “politics proper” to protect the university’s prerogatives. Obviously I disagree. But I’m also conscious of John Stuart Mill’s admonition, “He who knows only his own side of the case, knows little of that.” So what’s the best case that professors should be in the fray, rather than above it? Wolfson and his allies regard the GOP as a lost cause, leaving them no option other than counterattack. And I have to grant that conservatives really do seem bent on either destroying universities or bringing them to heel. Rebuilding the public trust, and defusing conservative rage, will take years, at best. Much damage will be done in the meantime. But is it smart politics to join the left-wing insurgency that’s currently upending Democratic primaries? Maybe the AAUP has earned some goodwill from El-Sayed, but Michigan is not some deepblue congressional district where races are decided in the Democratic primary and progressives can afford to indulge their least-popular inclinations; the state went for Donald Trump twice. The endorsement of El-Sayed will also send a message about the AAUP to legislators in other redder states, where races are often decided in the Republican primary and ElSayed’s flavor of politics is poison. Nor am I sure that this will get the AAUP much from Democrats. Will El-Sayed feel indebted? Will other Democrats fall in line on issues such as tenure protections for professors, for fear of losing the AAUP endorsement? The most coveted union endorsements tend to come from large groups that can mobilize a big turnout, muster plenty of financial support and give politicians opportunities to stage rallies packed with blue-collar workers. Unions with concentrated memberships, like the United Auto Workers, can significantly influence results in key states. The AAUP fits none of those descriptions: Its membership is a modest 57,000, scattered across the country, and it is poor compared with heavy hitters like the 2 million-member Service Employees International Union. If the AAUP wants to be in the political fray, rather than above it, the organization will have to learn to think of politics like professionals, rather than professors. Engaging in “politics proper,” as the AAUP’s Wolfson vowed, is not a form of self-expression or group bonding. It is not a way to find meaning in an otherwise uncaring world. It is not an advocacy for a grand theory of radical change. Rather, it is the prosaic art of getting things done. In a fractious democracy such as America’s, success for an organization in practicing politics proper requires appealing to the public and building relationships with as many legislators as possible. Often that means focusing efforts on the policy positions that sound most appealing, rather than the ones the organization cares most about. For the AAUP, improving student loan terms would be an easier lift than convincing the public that professors require more direct subsidies for higher education, minimal oversight and ironclad job guarantees. It isn’t impossible to make progress on an issue that has no great popular appeal, but it’s best if that issue is too minor for the public to notice, or too complicated for most people to understand. Unfortunately for the AAUP, the fight between universities and conservatives is already highly visible, and the politicization of academia is all too easy for Republicans to explain to the public. The AAUP won’t win that fight by making the GOP’s job even easier. Megan McArdle is on X, @asymmetricinfo.

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6B ■ Tuesday,August 11, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

TODAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

A t-storm around in the p.m.

Hazy sunshine

Mostly sunny

A stray afternoon t-storm; hot

HIGH

LOW

HIGH

94° 76°

LOW

HIGH

94° 76°

LOW

94° 76°

Beaumont 92/77 Port Arthur 93/77

Baton Rouge 94/76

Lake Charles 93/78

New Orleans 92/78 Houma 90/76

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

Hattiesburg 98/76

Alexandria 95/74

Lafayette 92/77

10s

20s

30s

40s

50s

LOW

HIGH

LOW

98° 76°

YESTERDAY

Baton Rouge through 5 p.m. Monday

Jackson 97/76 Many 94/72

HIGH

96° 76°

TEMPERATURE

Longview 99/77

-0s

LOW

Monroe 98/77

Shreveport 97/77

-10s

HIGH

97° 74°

Well, we are closely following three areas of disturbed weather in the Atlantic, all of which have a chance of developing into tropical systems. None is currently a threat to southern Louisiana. The heat, however, will become more and more of a threat as we go through the week. Today, the Baton Rouge area is under either a major or moderate heat risk. Temperatures this afternoon will be rising into the low to mid-90s. When you factor in the humidity, “feels-like” temps could rise to 107. Rain chance is 30%.

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 12

City

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

88°/75° 93°/74° 91°/73° 103° in 2015 62° in 1976

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

NEW

Atlanta Austin Boston Charlotte Chicago Dallas Denver Houston Las Vegas

PRECIPITATION

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

HIGH

7:41p 1:36p 5:39a 8:33a 9:28a 8:40a 10:36a

6:29 a.m. 7:50 p.m. 5:02 a.m. 7:20 p.m.

FIRST

AUG 19

91 100 88 94 80 100 98 97 104

TODAY Lo

75 79 70 73 70 80 68 78 85

FULL

LAST

AUG 27

t pc pc t t s t t pc

SEP 4

92 101 83 94 81 101 93 98 101

WED. Lo

73 79 68 73 69 81 62 79 81

t pc pc t t s t s t

FT.

LOW

0.83” 0.83” 1.89” 42.32” 38.98”

FT.

HIGH

0.9 6:35a -0.2 1.9 12:13a -0.3 2.0 7:51a 1.9 2.0 --- --1.6 8:35p -0.1 1.9 6:52p -0.3 2.0 9:37p -0.2

FT.

--- ----- --1:12p 2.0 --- ----- ----- ----- ---

MODERATE

READING 39 MAIN POLLUTANT Particulates

MAIN POLLUTANT Particulates

SOURCE: LOUISIANA DEQ AND AIRNOW.GOV

LOW

FT.

--- ----- --8:11p -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 10:44a Wednesday 11:39a Thursday 12:07a Friday 1:00a Saturday 1:52a Sunday 2:43a Monday 3:34a

City

Los Angeles 86 Miami 93 Nashville 97 New york City 87 Philadelphia 90 Phoenix 105 St. Louis 97 San Francisco 73 Seattle 78

4:29a 11:14p 4:59p 5:25a 12:06p 5:52p 6:19a 12:32p 6:44p 7:12a 1:24p 7:35p 8:04a 2:15p 8:26p 8:55a 3:06p 9:17p 9:45a 3:56p 10:08p

TODAY Lo

68 81 77 72 73 85 78 59 59

s sh t t t t pc pc s

TODAY

GOOD

84 93 95 84 86 102 95 72 75

WED. Lo

68 79 77 71 73 81 78 60 59

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

pc pc t pc pc t t pc pc

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

FLOOD STAGE

34 48 48 35 27 22 17

MON. 24-HOUR STAGE CHANGE

0.03 18.58 21.35 8.80 4.37 4.01 2.79

+0.14 -0.23 -0.45 +0.50 -0.33 +0.18 -0.44

17.31

+1.06

-1.48

+0.14

18 29 8

-1.06 10.10 2.10

+0.08 -0.06 -0.05

13 15

2.58 0.95

-0.01 +0.03

47 34 29 20 12 6

7.54 5.11 3.60 3.96 2.80 1.87

-0.23 -0.22 -0.01 -0.23 -0.50 +0.11

data as of 7 a.m. Monday

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Boats are stranded in a tributary of the Rhine River that is running out of water in Mackenheim near Mainz, Germany, on Monday.

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U.K., France prepare for heat wave BY STEFANIE DAZIO and SYLVIE CORBET Associated Press

PARIS — The U.K. and France are bracing for the fifth heat wave of the season, adding to an intense stretch of hot weather that has repeatedly sent temperatures soaring across Europe since May. National weather agency Météo-France is warning about temperatures approaching 104 degrees from Tuesday onward in southeastern France. And in the U.K., an amber heat health alert for most of England will be in place beginning Tuesday as temperatures are forecast to climb to 97 later this week. Across Europe, the extreme heat began in May and has contributed to major wildfires, prolonged drought and new national temperature records, as well as thousands of projected heat-related deaths. Globally, so far this is the third-hottest year, behind 2024 and 2025, climate statistics show. But 2026 still has time to catch up. Thanks to the one-two punch of accelerated human-caused global warming and a supersized El Nino — a periodic warming of parts of the Pacific that leads to temperature variations around the globe — there’s an increasing chance that by the end of the year, 2026 could become the hottest year on record, scientists said. Last month saw the highest average sea surface temperature ever recorded for July across the extrapolar oceans, or the oceans free of seasonal sea ice, according to the European climate agency Copernicus. The new average record for July is 69.73 degrees, which beat the 2023 record of 69.60. But last month’s average surface air tem-

perature globally was 62.42, making it only the joint second warmest July on record, tied with July 2024, Copernicus reported. In Western Europe, meanwhile, the average temperature record for the June-July period hit 70.92, Copernicus said, toppling the 2022 record. “Persistent high-pressure systems trapped heat over western Europe, the extreme temperatures also amplified widespread drought. As soils dry out, they lose their ability to provide natural cooling, allowing heat to build more readily,” said Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. In France alone, heat wave alerts were issued for the first time on record in May, when more than half the country recorded new monthly temperature highs. The heat intensified in June, a period during which at least 5,700 more deaths than usual were recorded, according to France’s public health agency. Météo-France said June 23 was the hottest day ever recorded in the country. Temperatures climbed as high as 111.7 in the southwest. Provisional data show that England and Wales have had their driest July in records dating back to 1836, with 19 counties of England seeing no rain for the entire month. The heat alert warns that significant impacts on health services, including a rise in deaths among older and vulnerable people, are likely. Two record-breaking heat waves in May and June led to more than 2,800 excess deaths linked to extreme temperatures.

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OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

SPORTS N O L A.C O M

QB Leavitt speaks, runs, throws and is ready to lead a title chase Here’s everything you want and need to know about new LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt: n He can run and move in the pocket. n He can throw, deep and accurately, though he admitted he’s had to adapt to gripping footballs in the swimming-pool-like Louisiana humidity. n He speaks. The last part you didn’t know about unless you atScott tended LSU’s recent womRabalais en’s football clinic, or saw video clips thereof. But talk he finally did to the media after the Tigers’ Monday practice session for a highly anticipated 10 minutes, the first time LSU’s quarterback has uttered a word to reporters since transferring from Arizona State. Not surprisingly, for his first time out, Leavitt said all the right things. “It’s just been a blessing to come here,” the West Linn, Oregon, native said. “It’s a historic place. There have been so many great players to come out of here. Then to see the players you go up against every day in practice — Whit Weeks, TJ Dottery and Ty Benefield — it’s a special situation to be in. I don’t really see how anyone could pass it up.” The first time LSU fans set their eyes on Leavitt in person was at a Jan. 6 men’s basketball game against South Carolina. That night, an intimate gathering of a few thousand folks (was there anything but an intimate gathering for men’s basketball the past couple of seasons?) looked on a scene that seemed like it was going to be a cameo

ä See RABALAIS, page 5C

T u e s d ay, au g u s T 11, 2026

LSU QB Leavitt states he is fully recovered following foot surgery

‘I AM

’ 100%

BY JON BLAU Staff writer

The readiness of LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt’s surgically repaired foot has been a question for months, and the program dropped the slightest of hints Sunday. At the three-second mark of a 19-second compilation of practice clips posted to social media, Leavitt could be seen rolling to his right, appearing to pick up speed for a full-blown scramble as he zoomed out of frame. A strong clue was backed up by a deﬁnitive statement Monday when Leavitt reached the podium for his ﬁrst interview session as the Tigers’ signal caller. “I’m 100% right now,” he said, “and I’ve been 100% for the past few months.” Leavitt still has to prove it Sept. 5 against Clemson, but LSU fans can take some solace in the quarterback’s bounce-back ability as he recovers from a Lisfranc injury that, historically, hasn’t always been easy to come back from. STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt talks to the media for the first time following Monday’s fall practice at the team’s facility.

1CN

Earlier in the summer, a video surfaced of Leavitt, who also played high school basketball, windmill-dunking a football on the goal posts of LSU’s practice facility. “If they need me to suit up, and they’ll let me go, I’m ready,” Leavitt kidded when asked about joining Will Wade’s roster-depleted basketball program. That dunk was solid evidence of the stability of Leavitt’s foot. It just wasn’t followed up by much. The Arizona State transfer didn’t speak with the media before Monday because he missed most of spring practice after an April 6 procedure to remove surgical pins from his foot. Leavitt wasn’t at SEC media days, either. Leavitt says his foot “popped” back to full health quickly after the pins were taken out. “It’s just been incredible. I really don’t think about it on the ﬁeld at all,” Leavitt said. “Just have to obviously warm it up a little bit before practice. But just keeping

ä See LEAVITT, page 5C

LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt drops back to make a pass during a drill on Thursday at the team’s practice facility. On Monday, Leavitt spoke to the media for the first time, stating he is fully recovered from his Lisfranc injury. STAFF PHOTO By

MICHAEL JOHNSON

Southern RB Remo out with knee injury Southern running back Barry Remo runs with the ball during a spring showcase on April 4 at A.W. Mumford Stadium. Remo is likely to miss the 2026 season because of a knee injury.

BY TOYLOY BROWN III

Staff writer

Southern’s depth in the running back room took a major hit entering the second week of preseason camp practices. Running back Barry Remo will likely miss the 2026 season due to a knee injury, coach Marshall Faulk said on Monday. The junior has been sidelined during camp due to a knee injury from spring practice. He had a successful medical procedure after spring practice, and Faulk said after a conversation with Remo on Sunday, they decided it would be best to prepare for him to sit out this season rather than expecting him to return to the ﬁeld. “The mental health part of this game,” the ﬁrst-year coach said when asked about Remo’s absence. “When you work so hard, Barry busted his butt, got most valuable player of the Bayou Classic, had a great spring, worked out, was in great shape. Earned a scholarship, you know, he was a walk-on kid, and then he hurts his knee, and he’s looking at what we have. Mentally, you know, providing him the support (is the focus).” Remo played sparingly to start his sophomore season. He eventually proved himself worthy to be the Jaguars’ second featured running back in the offense behind redshirt junior Trey Holly. In seven

Former Lions cornerback faces eight felony charges

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

ago, his team was second in the conference in rushing yards with 3,151 yards and produced three of the league’s top 15 rushers. Remo was expected to battle for a spot as one of the featured running backs in the new offense. The coaching staff last season complimented him for his bluecollar approach to the position and saw his potential in a standout performance in the 52nd Bayou Classic in 2025. In Southern’s

The New Orleans Saints plan to bring in free agent cornerback Terrion Arnold for a visit, a source with knowledge of the situation said. The visit, ﬁrst reported by the NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, comes more than a month after the 23-year-old was arrested on eight felony counts related to a kidnapping and robbery case in Florida. The Detroit Lions released Arnold, who denies the charges, ﬁve days after his arrest. The exact date of Arnold’s visit has yet to be determined, a source said. But the Saints would be the latest team to show interest in Arnold, a former 2024 first-rounder out of Alabama. The Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks have also brought in the cornerback. Arnold’s agent,

ä See SOUTHERN, page 2C

ä See SAINTS, page 4C

STAFF FILE PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON games played, Remo rushed 50 times for 289 yards (5.8 yards per carry) and two touchdowns. The 5-9, 195-pound product from Catholic also had four catches for 21 yards. Southern’s tailbacks will be a signiﬁcant part of offensive coordinator Ken Merchant’s Go-Go offense, which is traditionally a run-heavy system. Faulk said that he wants his team’s “brand of football” to be the ground game, although he will adjust mid-game if necessary. When Merchant was at Sacramento State a season

Free agent CB Arnold to visit Saints

2C ■ Tuesday, August 11, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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Drivers scramble for spots in Chase BY JOHN BOHNENKAMP

Associated Press

NEWTON, Iowa — Erik Jones knew the reality of his situation heading into the NASCAR Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway. Jones came into the weekend 18th in the standings, 44 points behind 16th-place Austin Cindric for the final spot in The Chase that determines the series champion. The 350-lap race Sunday was the first of the final four races of the regular season, and Jones was running out of time. “One more bad week where we lose any ground, and it’s going to be pretty insurmountable,” Jones said. Then Jones, who started 10th, got taken out four laps in when Tyler Reddick’s car slid into him, sending both cars into the wall and ending the day for both drivers. Reddick knew the damage he had done. “If I’m going to take myself out, that’s one thing,” Reddick said. “But I took out a (Toyota) teammate who needed a good day.” Such is life in the closing stretch of the regular season, where one bad finish or one good finish can change fortunes. Denny Hamlin leads the standings with 923 points, 103 points ahead of Ty Gibbs, who won Sunday’s race just ahead of Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Christopher Bell. Only four drivers have wrapped up Chase spots: Hamlin, Gibbs, Ryan Blaney (813) and Reddick (803). Cindric has 526 points. Ryan Preece is the first driver below the cutline at 497 points. Ross Chastain jumped three spots after his

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CHARLIE NEIBERGALL

A crew member leaps in front of Ty Gibbs’ car during a pit stop during a NASCAR Cup race on Sunday at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. seventh-place finish at Iowa, moving into 18th place at 479 points. Brad Keselowski is one point behind Chastain. Other than maybe the last one or two spots, the biggest scramble now in this final month could be for seeding. Points for the top 16 drivers will reset after the Aug. 29 regular-season finale at Daytona. The regular-season champion will be the top seed and start The Chase with 2,100 points, the second seed will have 2,075 points and the third seed will have 2,065, with a five-point drop for each seed after that.

“You have all these other little battles going on, like the battle from sixth to 11th or 12th right now is really, really tight and that’s exciting,” said Blaney, who finished third Sunday. “Those guys are dogging it out right now. That’s a lot of points from sixth down to 11th or whatever. So I think it creates a lot of exciting things through the regular season.” Some of the biggest changes in the standings came in that middle group. Chase Briscoe rose three spots to ﬁfth place with 663 points. He’s four points ahead of Bell,

UEFA, CONCACAF, AFC say Infantino’s plan breached trust By The Associated Press

SOUTHERN

Continued from page 1C 28-27 victory over Grambling, he had seven carries for 107 yards and a touchdown on his way to being named the offensive MVP in the game that snapped a ninegame losing streak. The injury misfortune is compounded by the departure of Texas A&M transfer Ronnie Crosby, who participated in Southern’s spring practice. Merchant didn’t state the reason for Crosby’s exit but said he looked good before camp. The 5-8, 210-pound running back from DeRidder didn’t appear in a game his first two seasons

The Dallas Cowboys and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams agreed Monday on a $105.9 million, three-year extension going into his ﬁrst full season with the team. The contract includes $101 million guaranteed and will be added to the two years on his existing deal. The $35.3 million annual average on the extension is second among defensive tackles to Jalen Carter of NFC East rival Philadelphia. The lucrative extension could keep Williams with the Cowboys through 2030 after they traded for him during the 2025 season. Dallas gave up one of the two ﬁrst-round picks acquired in the shocking trade that sent star pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers just a week before the opener last year.

Falcons sign Sample to add depth at edge rusher

who climbed four spots with his second-place finish. A crash ended Kyle Larson’s day and he finished 33rd to drop four spots in the standings to 10th. The crucial jump of the day, though, belonged to Gibbs, who went from fourth to second. “We’ve scored a lot of points in the last couple races,” Gibbs said. “To be able to finish it off today was awesome. I think the difference between the leader and 16th is 100 points, isn’t it, when the playoffs start? So it puts you in a better shot for the title at the end of the year.”

FIFA accused of ‘deception’ over World Cup plans

UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC believe that FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s recent plan to sell an interest in the World Cup was a “fundamental breach of trust” with the institutions world soccer’s governing body serves. In an “open letter to the football family” revealed on Monday, UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC also said that “when trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned.” UEFA runs soccer in Europe, CONCACAF does the same for North, Central America and the Caribbean, while the AFC governs the sport in Asia. The letter was co-signed by UEFA president Aleksander eferin, AFC president Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani and three general secretaries. “Football is the world’s greatest shared passion. It belongs to no individual and no institution. It belongs to the players, the fans, the clubs, the member associations and every institution entrusted with safeguarding its future,” the open letter said. “It is in that spir-

Cowboys, DT Williams agree on $105.9M deal

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MATIAS DELACROIX

FIFA president Gianni Infantino arrives for the inauguration of President Abelardo de la Espriella on Friday in Cali, Colombia. it, as confederations representing its members, that we speak collectively today.” Infantino is facing a revolt after his failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private equity investors. “It is not the conduct of a custodian of the game, but of one who believes the game is answerable to him,” the letter said. “These are not the qualities football deserves in its leadership. That is why we have taken this stance: not lightly and not alone, but together, and out of duty to the game we serve.” UEFA previously issued a threat to boycott the World Cup and other FIFA competitions despite the governing body abandoning and apologizing for its failed plan.

with the Aggies and had a carry for a yard in one game in 2025. Southern will look to the other nine players at the position group to step up. Faulk, a Pro Football Hall of Fame running back, said it’s important for them to continue progressing in preparation for the season. “It’s critical for them as individuals,” he said. “We have enough guys to where there’s a hearty competition. Barry not being here means that there’s reps for someone else, and you got to take advantage of these opportunities.” The Jaguars’ other returners who will likely fight for snaps this season are Holly, graduate student Franklin, redshirt sophomore Jason Gabriel, sophomore Armariyan Asberry, redshirt ju-

Norway’s soccer federation called for Infantino to step down, while the English Football Association has also withdrawn its support for Infantino’s re-election next March. “Football’s strength has always been its unity. We call for that unity to be honoured now,” the letter said. “For leadership that serves football, not seeks to command it.” Last Wednesday, FIFA said it had apologized for errors made over the failed plan but that senior staff at a crisis meeting in Morocco “reafﬁrmed their full support” for his presidency. However, the nature of the meeting was also met with criticism. “FIFA’s own letter also conﬁrms

nior Princeton Cahee and redshirt sophomore Zaccheus Cooper. The 5-7, 192-pound Holly had 869 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns, both fourth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, in 11 games. His carries could rise with an offense that lost a couple of players in the room. One player who could soak up some of the rushes Remo leaves is the 6-2, 225-pound Franklin. He was the second most-used tailback early in 2025 but only played four games before suffering a noncontact foot injury that required surgery on Oct. 7. Franklin averaged 4.1 yards per carry in his time last season. Asberry might also be the next man up. Similar to Remo, he wait-

that only one elected ofﬁcial was present at the leadership meeting in Morocco,” the open letter said. “No FIFA Council members or Member Associations were invited to participate. Only the management committee, composed of FIFA-employed senior staff, was present.” FIFA was also urged to go further than just acknowledging mistakes were made. “It treats this as a failure of communication, when what football witnessed was a failure of judgment,” the letter said. “There remains no recognition that attempting to sell an interest in the FIFA World Cup was a profound failure of judgment — not just a procedural misstep, but a fundamental breach of trust with the very institutions FIFA exists to serve.” In a statement Saturday, FIFA defended Infantino against what it called a “concerted and ongoing effort” to undermine his leadership of the organization. That statement followed a report by British newspaper The Daily Telegraph raising questions about an exit package paid by UEFA to a female staffer who worked with Infantino when he was general secretary of European soccer’s ruling body. UEFA conﬁrmed that a “departure payment” was made to the employee and said it was “in line” with regulations at the time. Infantino worked at UEFA for 16 years before being elected FIFA president.

ed his turn and had a solid freshman season. The former Southern Lab star had 114 rushing yards on 29 attempts, 3.9 yards per carry. Faulk sees the preseason camp as the building blocks for the successful season he wants his team to have. He also views his job as an educator of the sport, teaching players how to triumph and overcome adversity. “Barry needs us to love on him,” Faulk said. “He’s watching. He sees what we’re doing, and he wants to be a part of it. So we had a conversation just yesterday, speaking of it, and he understands what we need from him, and we understand what he needs from us as well. “He’s still a huge part of the team.”

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons signed defensive end Cameron Sample on Monday, adding depth at edge rusher less than one week after Jalon Walker’s season-ending knee injury. Sample, 26, is a native of Snellville, Ga., near Atlanta. He was a fourth-round draft pick by Cincinnati in 2021 and signed a one-year deal with San Francisco on April 13 before he was released last week. Sample had 85 tackles and seven sacks in four seasons with the Bengals. He missed the 2024 season with an Achilles tendon injury. He returned to start in two of 14 games with Cincinnati last season and had 17 tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble.

Henry signs a two-year extension with Patriots

BOSTON — One of Patriots quarterback Drake Maye’s favorite offensive targets isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Tight end Hunter Henry conﬁrmed Monday that he signed a two-year extension to remain in New England through the 2027 season. ESPN and the NFL Network reported that the extended pact has a base value of $16 million with incentives that could push it up to $20 million. It ends a period of limbo for Henry, who was about to enter the ﬁnal season of the previous threeyear extension he signed in 2024. Henry, 31, led the team with seven receiving touchdowns in 2025 and his 60 catches and 768 yards were second only to Stefon Diggs.

49ers McCaffrey sits out practice with ‘tightness’

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey was held out of practice on Monday with what the team described as general tightness. The 30-year-old McCaffrey had participated in every practice so far this summer for the 49ers as the team altered its schedule for training camp this year to eliminate stretches of three straight full practices. Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said McCaffrey was “doing ﬁne” and the team was managing his workload. San Francisco is hoping to ﬁnd a reliable backup for McCaffrey to lighten his workload after he led the NFL with 413 touches from scrimmage in the 2025 regular season.

All-Star, former White Sox SS Anderson is retiring

CHICAGO — Tim Anderson, a twotime All-Star shortstop who won the 2019 AL batting title with the Chicago White Sox, has decided to retire after spending 10 years in the major leagues. Anderson, 33, made the announcement on Monday. “I fought for the last two, three years. You know, I trained and I just couldn’t get the body to operate like it used to,” Anderson said. “So I mean, I’m not one of those guys that’s going to just continue to try to get back to somewhere where I just, you know, I couldn’t get it back there.” Anderson hit .276 with 98 homers, 350 RBIs and 122 steals in 991 games. He played for the White Sox for eight seasons before ﬁnishing his career with Miami and the Los Angeles Angels.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Tuesday, August 11, 2026 ■ 3C

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Portland embraces its reborn WNBA team BY ANNE M. PETERSON AP sportswriter

The fact Portland has shown up for its new WNBA team is, in many ways, unsurprising given the city’s long history of embracing women’s sports. The expansion Fire rank fourth in the league with an average attendance of about 14,500 fans per game. The only teams drawing more are the Golden State Valkyries, the New York Liberty and the Caitlin Clarkled Indiana Fever. The Fire have dubbed the Moda Center the “Fire Pit” on game days and the team leans into the motif with pyrotechnics in game introductions. “I think we’ve just been so fortunate, to be honest, all year to have such an amazing atmosphere here at the Fire Pit,” Fire coach Alex Sarama said. “So that’s on the fan base, that’s because of this local community and just turning up and supporting the team as they do.” Portland has long supported women’s sports. For many years, the University of Portland’s soccer team had the top attendance in college soccer, spurred by national championships in 2002 and 2005 and star players like Christine Sinclair and Megan Rapinoe. The Portland Thorns were among the founding teams of the National Women’s Soccer League in 2013 and have regularly been one of the top drawing clubs in the league. And then there’s the Sports Bra, the nation’s first women’s sports bar, which opened in 2022. “We have some of the loudest

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By STEVE MARCUS

Portland Fire center Megan DiLeo reacts after scoring against the Las Vegas Aces during the first half of a game on July 28 in Las Vegas. fans in the WNBA,” center Megan DiLeo said. “And they’re really like our sixth man, to be honest.” This is the second iteration of the Fire. Portland’s ﬁrst WNBA team started its short run as an expansion team in 2000. Portland Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen, the cofounder of Microsoft who died in 2018, was the Fire’s chairman. Among the Fire’s original players were Jackie Stiles and Vanessa Nygaard. The team averaged some 8,600 fans per game in 2001. So when the team folded in 2002, it was not for lack of fan support.

AROUND THE WNBA

That year the NBA, which had owned the league’s teams, sold them to afﬁliated NBA teams or independent owners. Allen declined to buy the Fire and the team folded. In 2024, the Bhathal family bought the NWSL’s Thorns for $63 million. Later that year, Lisa Bhathal Merage and brother Alex Bhathal, under the banner Raj Sports, were awarded a WNBA expansion team. The Bhathals invested in a joint basketball-soccer training facility, the ﬁrst of its kind in women’s sports, which will formally open this month.

The team leaned heavily into the “Fire Reignited” theme and has so far put on a respectable performance for an expansion franchise, ranking ninth overall in the league with a 13-19 record. “They’ve done a really nice job of recognizing the past while also bringing in new fans,” said fan Laura Belfour. “There’s a welcoming atmosphere and it’s cool to see so many families with kids.” Guard Carla Leite is averaging 15.5 points and 6.2 assists a game and Bridget Carleton is averaging 14.6 points and 4.4 rebounds. Car-

leton was the team’s first pick in the WNBA expansion draft. But the team has been stung by the recent loss of guard Sarah Ashlee Barker to a season-ending ACL injury. DiLeo and her corgi Pancake, who has her own Instagram following, have become local celebrities. Formerly Megan Gustafson before her recent marriage, DiLeo has written a children’s book “Pancake’s Passport” about the beloved pet’s travels. “I always heard things here and there about Portland and the women’s sports fandom that is here,” Carleton said after the team’s home opener. “But never knew too much about it, especially never really being on the West Coast. But even this past week, feeling it on social media, feeling it in the city — going on a walk and people recognized me already, and I hadn’t even played a game yet. It’s just incredible.” Sarama is the team’s inaugural coach after serving as an assistant for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He practices an innovative coaching method called the Constraints-Led Approach, or CLA, which eschews repetitive drills in favor of putting players into situations that require creative problem-solving. “I think we’re excited because I think there is a really good foundation here,” Sarama said. “I think the good thing is we overachieved, but we haven’t done that at the cost of development and playing our young players. So I think what that will do is put us in a very strong position in two years and three years as we kind of add to this core group that we have.”

For U.S. medalists, LA28 Olympics feel ‘extra special’ BY WILL GRAVES AP national writer

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By PAUL BEATy

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark drives the ball during the second half of a game against the Chicago Sky on Saturday in Chicago.

Clark, Indiana set to take on Liberty

BY DOUG FEINBERG AP basketball writer

NEW YORK — The surging New York Liberty will face Indiana on Tuesday night in a marquee WNBA matchup that will see the Fever at full strength after the league rescinded a technical foul against Caitlin Clark that would have kept her out. Clark picked up her eighth technical of the season on Saturday, the number that triggers a one-game suspension, but league officials quickly rescinded it. New York has won four straight games and seven of its last eight thanks to strong play from its top three players Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones and Sabrina Ionescu. The trio has been taking turns leading the Liberty during the recent hot streak that’s bumped them up to seventh place in the standings — but just two games behind thirdplace Las Vegas. The Liberty are coming off a 40-point win over the defending champion Aces on Sunday. The Aces rested stars A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young as it was the second half of a brutal back-to-back for Las Vegas. “It doesn’t matter who’s playing on the other side, we understand we needed to win,” Ionescu said. “It doesn’t matter, we wanted to go out. We wanted to execute, we wanted to play our brand of basketball, knowing every game is important and this game isn’t going to have an asterisk by it because those players didn’t play. It’s going to show up as a win or a loss.” New York lost by 20 to Indiana just before its current hot streak, so the Liberty would love to get some revenge.

Power poll rankings Minnesota held onto the top spot in the power poll this week, although the Lynx weren’t unanimous. No. 2 Golden State received two votes and third-ranked Washington got one. Las Vegas, Indiana and New York were next. Atlanta, Dallas and Chicago followed the Liberty. Portland was 10th and Los Angeles 11th. Phoenix, Connecti-

cut, Toronto and Seattle rounded out the poll.

Taskforce meeting WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert sent a memo to all the teams that there will be a meeting this week to continue discussions around transgender athletes in women’s basketball. The memo, sent Friday afternoon, said the topic will be discussed further by a task force of team presidents and general managers at a previously scheduled meeting next week.

Record shooting performance Kayla McBride had a recordsetting game Sunday, scoring a career-high 43 points and hitting a league-best 10 3-pointers in a win over Dallas. McBride made 10 of 14 shots from behind the arc. “Minneapolis has become home for me and I want to give my best,” she said. “Whether the ball goes in or doesn’t, I just feel so much love. I think that’s why I can come out here and do my thing. I feel so loved and appreciated for who I am and I just love the game. I want to win. So I’m grateful for these fans, this organization. I’m just overcome with joy, and when I have opportunities like that I want to give it back.”

Player of the week Shakira Austin of Washington was the AP player of the week for the second consecutive week. The forward averaged 22.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks to help the Mystics win all three of their games last week. Other players receiving votes included Breanna Stewart of New York, Bridget Carleton of Portland, Kelsey Mitchell of Indiana and Kayla McBride of Minnesota.

Game of the week Washington at Las Vegas, Tuesday and Thursday. The Mystics will try to extend a seven-game winning streak when they visit the Aces for a pair of games. A win Tuesday would tie the franchise record of eight consecutive victories by Washington, matching the 2018 team.

PHOENIX — For those who have competed — or nearly competed — under the Olympic rings, the fear of missing out the next time the Games beckon is real. Regardless of the venue. Regardless of the sport. Athletes who try to run it back following a lengthy sabbatical (and in some cases, a lengthy retirement) is hardly new. The list is filled with household names, from Mark Spitz to Michael Phelps. From Lindsey Vonn to Simone Biles. And on and on and on. Still, the steady drip figures to be more of a deluge as Los Angeles 2028 approaches. The inherent pull of the Games combined with the chance to compete at home on the world stage under the white-hot spotlight only the Olympics provide is already proving too tempting to ignore for a generation of American stars who have racked up medal after medal on seemingly every other continent but their own. Track icon Allyson Felix is mounting a return in her early 40s. Six-time Olympic medalist and 2020 Olympic gymnastics allaround champion Suni Lee (with documentary crew in tow) announced last month she’s started training for a shot at her third Games. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Jade Carey is already back, winning the vault and finishing fifth in the all-around at the U.S. championships over the weekend. Asked how much of a factor the chance to do her thing on American soil played into her decision as she enters her late 20s, Carey just smiled. “I probably would have gone for it regardless,” said Carey, who will be 28 when the flame is lit at the Coliseum in Los Angeles. “But it does make it a little extra special that it’s in the U.S.” Or maybe a lot more special. Oh, and conceivably a lot more lucrative too.

Life-changing success The media landscape has shifted dramatically since the 1996 Games in Atlanta. The rise of social media allows athletes to easily tell their stories directly to new audiences, and the ability to create and curate their own brand opens sponsorship opportunities that didn’t exist a generation ago. Finding your way onto the medal stand at the Olympics anywhere in the world can make you a hero. Doing it in the States, however, can turn you into a legend. Mary Lou Retton, Mike Eruzione and Kerri Strug know how that goes. Longtime agent Sheryl Shade, whose list of clients over the last

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ROSS D. FRANKLIN

From left, All-Around second place finisher Claire Pease, champion Hezly Rivera, center, and third place finisher Charleigh Bullock stand on the podium at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships on Sunday in Phoenix. 30 years has included a “who’s who” of Olympians, from gymnasts Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson to soccer pioneer Mia Hamm and figure skater Tara Lipinski, called the opportunities for athletes to capitalize on success in Los Angeles “exponentially” greater than any Games that have come before. “It’s going to be long-range too,” Shade said. “Because now it doesn’t end at the Olympic Games. That’s why LA is so important. This is about legacy.” Look no further than “The Magnificent Seven” for proof. Three decades ago, the members of the 1996 U.S. women’s Olympic gymnastics team walked onto the floor of the Georgia Dome for the team final as underdogs. They walked off it with gold medals around their necks, their lives forever altered. “I mean, we all knew that was going to be special,” team captain Amanda Borden said. Even if they had no idea how special at the time. While the group, all teenagers that summer, eventually retired and went on with their lives, to this day they get stopped by fans who remember where they were that memorable July night when the injured Strug gingerly stuck her vault landing to secure gold for the Americans. They’ve lived the dream. In some ways, they’re still living it. So no, they’re not surprised that so many who’ve “already been there, done that” want to give it another shot. “I can promise (for) every athlete that makes the team, this Olympics will be one of the greatest moments of their careers,” seven-time Olympic medalist Shannon Miller said. Her advice to anyone considering it: go for it, even if things don’t work out exactly as you planned. Miller decided less than a year before the 2000 Games in Sydney

to give it one ﬁnal shot at age 23 — considered ancient for a gymnast at the time, though not so much anymore. An injury at the Olympic trials ended that dream. Miller has no regrets, and a quarter century later it’s considered largely a footnote for the most-decorated American women’s gymnast not named Biles.

Quest for Olympic immortality Still, the attempt comes with considerable risk to both your mental and physical health. For every athlete that makes it, there will be countless others that don’t. And for those that do, the burden to succeed will be ratcheted up to a level they’ve likely never experienced. Dominique Moceanu, the youngest member of the Magnificent Seven, described it as a “doubleedged sword.” “You have to understand that it will be probably the biggest moment of your life,” Moceanu said. “Whether it’s because you put it on yourself or you feel the enormity of the weight of the country and the expectations. That does something to people, right?” It does. Biles brought the discussion around mental health to the forefront of the Games in Tokyo when she removed herself from multiple nights of competition to protect herself while dealing with “the twisties.” She took some time off before returning in 2023, capping the perhaps ﬁnal chapter of her career — Biles remains noncommittal about her future — by winning a second all-around gold in Paris a year later. Skye Blakely watched Biles’ triumph from afar after her bid to make the 2024 Olympic team ended when she tore her right Achilles while training at the Olympic trials, three years after her outside shot at making the 2021 squad ended with an elbow injury at the same meet.

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NFL As Tunsil needs surgery, Commanders turn to Coleman at left tackle BY ETHAN CADEAUX

Associated Press

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By STEW MILNE

New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore prepares to drop the red challenge flag during the second half of a game against the Tennessee Titans on Dec. 28 in Nashville, Tenn.

NFL to allow an assistant to throw a challenge ﬂag BY JOSH DUBOW

AP pro football writer NFL head coaches will now be able to designate an assistant to handle the task of throwing the red ﬂag to challenge a call through instant replay. Since the current instant replay rule was put in place in 1999, only the head coach was allowed to throw the ﬂag to challenge a disputed call. But the league tweaked the language in Rule 15 Section 1 of the rule book for this season, allowing that task to be delegated.

“The head coach or head coach’s pregame challenge designee can initiate a challenge by throwing a red flag onto the field of play before the next legal snap or kick,” the rule book says in Article 1 (a). If a head coach wants to give up those duties, he will have to let the officiating crew know before the game. The decision to throw the flag is typically made in consultation with staff in the coaches booth with the head coach having final say. That won’t likely change even if the task of throwing the flag might be del-

egated. Teams are granted two challenges per game and can get a third if one of the first two leads to an overturn. Replay can be used in several scenarios including possession, whether the ball or a player touched the ground, whether a player was inbounds, whether a player gained a first down, or how many players were on the field. Any scoring play, turnover, failed fourth down, possession after a kick or disqualification are automatically reviewed and can’t be challenged by teams.

QB Bridgewater explains his sudden retirement from Lions BY RICHARD SILVA

The Detroit News (TNS) ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Asked on Sunday whether Teddy Bridgewater’s exit from the Detroit Lions meant he was completely done playing football, Dan Campbell said, “I think only he can truly answer that.” Bridgewater has now responded to that question. “This time it’s ofﬁcial,” Bridgewater said in an Instagram post Monday. “It’s so crazy 10 years ago around this time, I suffered one of the most gruesome knee injuries the game itself, its players and some doctors had ever seen. Everything football related since 2016 had been fueled by the ‘experts’ predicting that I would never play football again. We re-

ally showed them by playing 10 more seasons! “However, this wheel of mine can no longer deal with something so simple as standing around on the turf field. This thing just doesn’t recover the same way it did years ago so I rather officially hang it up. It’s finally run its course and when the body speaks to me, I have to listen so I that I can be in one piece and available for my children as they grow up. The game of football was beyond great to me and owes me nothing at all.” Bridgewater was first signed by the Lions to be their backup quarterback in 2023. He was brought back toward the end of 2024 following a brief retirement to coach high school football, then spent 2025 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Lions again signed

Bridgewater in March. A ﬁrst-round draft by the Minnesota Vikings in 2014, Bridgewater suffered a brutal leg injury at practice in 2016, one that included a torn ACL and a knee dislocation. He went on to make 37 starts over the next nine seasons, including an undefeated ﬁve-week stretch with the New Orleans Saints in 2019. Campbell and Bridgewater overlapped for two seasons in New Orleans. The Lions coach was emotional Sunday while discussing Bridgewater stepping away. “Just like one part of my career was fueled by a series of events, this next chapter of my life will be fueled with an abundance of love by this sweet little angel of ours that’s coming in a couple of weeks,” Bridgewater added.

Lions center Mays will miss signiﬁcant time with a wrist injury, Campbell says BY PAULA PASCHE

Associated Press

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Center Cade May, who was signed to anchor the Detroit Lions’ reworked offensive line, will be out for signiﬁcant time because of a wrist injury, coach Dan Campbell said Monday. “You hate it, I hate it for him because I felt like he was having a good camp and he’d grown so much in our system just since spring,” Campbell said. He would not give a timeline on May’s return from what he described as a freak injury that happened at camp Sunday. “It stinks, but I know he’ll work his way back and be ready to go at some point,” quarterback Jared Goff said. May’s absence will give Seth McLaughlin and Juice Scruggs

the opportunity to compete for the start at center. Scruggs was sidelined with a soft tissue injury on Monday, so McLaughlin got all the snaps with the starters while Michael Niese worked with the No. 2s. Goff said communication was good with McLaughlin even though he had never had a snap from him before Monday. “That’s the best way to ﬁnd out on some of these guys, that’s all you can ask for. Man, it’s your shot, we’ll see where we can go with it,” Campbell said. McLaughlin will start in the Lions’ preseason game at Cincinnati on Thursday. “It’s the hand you’re dealt and you move on,” Campbell said.

Teddy Bridgewater, whose retirement was announced Sunday. It’s the second stint in Detroit for Dobbs, who spent two weeks on the practice squad in 2022. “We really liked him and then he got poached, that’s kind of where it went,” Campbell said. “It’s good to get him back.” Dobbs was on the ﬁeld for Monday’s practice but did not take any reps. Rookie QB Luke Altmyer will start Thursday night. If Dobbs is up to speed, he could see action. A fourth-round draft pick out of Tennessee by the Steelers in 2017, Dobbs has made 27 career appearances and 15 starts. He spent last season with the Patriots as Drake Maye’s backup. Lions sign backup QB Dobbs He appeared in four games and Veteran Josh Dobbs was completed 7 of 10 passes for 65 signed to replace quarterback yards.

ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders will be without their best offensive lineman for the foreseeable future. Coach Dan Quinn confirmed Monday that left tackle Laremy Tunsil needs surgery on his left triceps and will be sidelined indefinitely. Quinn said the team won’t know how long Tunsil’s absence will last until after the procedure is done. “It’s always tough to talk about a player missing time, and especially a great player like LT,” Quinn said. “He is an absolutely fantastic teammate, and he’ll be missed. We certainly can’t wait to get him back.” Tunsil was injured Saturday during an individual drill against pass rusher Odafe Oweh. Tunsil immediately took a knee after the play and was quickly ushered into the facility following a chat with the training staff. Losing Tunsil is a significant blow for the Commanders after the franchise made him the highest-paid tackle in the NFL in March. Tunsil, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, is one of the sport’s best pass protectors and a force in the run game. “He is really on the top of his game right now,” Quinn said. “Both in the run and pass, this is an equally strong player, and so it’s a big deal.” With Tunsil out, the Commanders pivoted to Brandon Coleman to ﬁll the void. It’s a natural transition for Coleman, who started 12 games at left tackle as a rookie for Washington in 2024 and played well. He made three starts at left tackle last year. “He’s played a lot of winning football at left tackle here, and we know that he’s ready for it,” Quinn said. “He’s put in an excellent offseason, and the team is very conﬁdent in him.” It has been just one practice, but Coleman said returning to left tackle has been a smooth transition — “like riding a bike.” He’s excited to return to his natural position, where he feels he can showcase his athleticism and footwork. “My feet are good,” Coleman said. “Being able to dance with those guys, I’m able to keep up. Now that I’m getting my hands under control in terms of knowing where to punch, knowing

what I want to do, that stuff just helps me out even more.” Coincidentally, Coleman — along with right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. — traveled to Alabama this summer to work out with Tunsil. Spending nearly a month training together, Coleman said the experience completely changed his training habits. “He basically revamped my whole approach to how I treat camp and the season,” Coleman said. “There’s a lot of stuff that I took from him, from his nutritionist to his strength guy, working with a chef, just taking care of my body a lot better. My prep for practice is a lot different. Seeing how a guy like that prepares every day, how he treats his body, what he does in his off time and how he recovers, that’s the price of stuff that you can’t (get) anywhere.” Shifting Coleman to tackle allows the Commanders to maintain continuity along the rest of the offensive line. Coleman and Chris Paul entered training camp in competition for the starting left guard spot. Now, they’re working alongside each other. “We played together last year a little bit,” Coleman said. “We trained together last year. Close, always talking, always joking around. (He is) arguably one of the strongest humans I’ve ever met. It deﬁnitely helps you out, especially having that chemistry beforehand.” The plan is to for the Commanders to give Coleman an extended look in Tunsil’s old spot, with veteran Andrew Wylie staying in his backup swing tackle role. Quinn consulted with general manager Adam Peters and said they don’t expect to explore help in free agency right now. Washington hopes that Tunsil can return at some point this season. His teammates expect him to do everything he can in rehab to make that happen. “It’s tough to see a guy who put all that work in go down like that,” tackle Trent Scott said. “But he’s a stud. I’m pretty sure he’s going to attack rehab and he’ll probably be back sooner (than later).” In the interim, Coleman will do his best to ﬁll Tunsil’s void — something Coleman knows himself is nearly impossible to replicate. “There’s only one Laremy Tunsil in my opinion,” Coleman said. “The best tackle in the league.”

Former Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold celebrates after making an interception against the Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 2. Arnold, a free agent, is set to visit the Saints. AP FILE PHOTO By RICK OSENTOSKI

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C

rating when targeting Arnold in coverage with 79 catches for 1,059 yards, according to Pro Football Focus. “What I’ll say is Terrion Arnold had No. 1 cornerback potential, but it was still untapped, you know what I mean?” Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard told reporters last week. “And I’ll kind of leave that at that.” If Arnold signs with the Saints, he would end up reunited with former college teammate KoolAid McKinstry. The Saints’ cornerback room is headlined by McKinstry and second-year Quincy Riley, but is seen as one of the team’s thinner positions in terms of depth. New Orleans drafted rookies Lorenzo Styles (ﬁfth round) and T.J. Hall (seventh), while signing veteran Martin Emerson this offseason. The Saints also lost Alontae Taylor in free agency to the Tennessee Titans, who gave the former Saints corner a three-year, $80 million contract.

Nicole Lynn, testiﬁed to a judge last month that four teams — the Texans, Seahawks, Jets and Colts — had inquired about him. Arnold faces multiple charges after Tampa police said he was the “primary conspirator” in a plot to detain and pistolwhip three people whom he believed had stolen luxury goods and $100,000 in cash from him. The incident reportedly took place on Feb. 4. According to the Associated Press, at least six others face charges stemming from the plot. Two of them have pleaded guilty. Arnold is entering his third NFL season. He appeared in 24 games with the Lions, starting 22 of them. He is coming off seasonending shoulder surgery. Even before his legal trouble, Arnold’s performance had been largely uneven as a pro. Oppos- Email Matthew Paras at matt. ing quarterbacks had a 96 passer paras@theadvocate.com

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Tuesday, August 11, 2026 ■ 5C

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Former QB Carr joins UCLA’s coaching staff as a special adviser BY GREG BEACHAM AP sportswriter

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By SCOTT KINSER

South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer watches a replay during the first half of agame against Coastal Carolina on Nov. 22 in Columbia, S.C.

UNDER PRESSURE Six coaches entering 2026 season with much to prove

BY MAURA CAREY AP sportswriter

Patience for poor performance is a rarity in college football and that’s only become clearer in recent years. Eight Power Four coaches were jobless by November in 2025, and fifteen Bowl Subdivision coaches were ﬁred throughout the season, totaling a record $270 million in buyout packages. As the 2026 season arrives, here are six coaches entering the fall under the most pressure for instant results:

Mike Norvell • Florida State Florida State peaked too early last season with a 31-17 Week 1 upset of Alabama and two blowouts against East Texas A&M and Kent State, cruising to a 3-0 start. And then things got shaky for the Seminoles, winning just two of their final nine games. Coach Mike Norvell is just above .500 in his six years at FSU (38-34). Thirteen of those wins came during the Noles’ playoff run in 2023. Since then, FSU has landed in the win column just seven times and finished bottom five in the ACC in back-to-back years — leaving Norvell in the win now bucket.

Bill Belichick • North Carolina Bill Belichick arrived at UNC as a ﬁrst-time college coach who had won six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, but the hyped hiring fell ﬂat in Year 1. The Tar Heels had 70 new players while ending up with more double-digit

losses (five) than total wins (four) and missing a bowl for the first time since 2018, and there were multiple helpings of unwanted offfield headlines, too. Belichick enters this year with 60 new players in another roster overhaul. The Tar Heels are picked to finish 15th in the 17-team Atlantic Coast Conference and have a tougher schedule in Year 2, including home games against Notre Dame and preseason ACC favorite Miami. Another off-field issue hit before camp: General manager Michael Lombardi is on leave as the subject of a school investigation. Belichick originally signed a five-year, $50 million contract paying him $10 million in base and supplemental pay each year, though only the first three years were guaranteed. That means the school would owe the 74-year-old Belichick roughly one year’s pay if it decided to move on after the season.

Bill O’Brien • Boston College

After leading Boston College to a 7-6 record and Pinstripe Bowl appearance his first season, the Eagles regressed in 2025, finishing with a 2-10 record and ahead of only Syracuse in the ACC. Boston College’s two wins came in the first and last weeks of the season against Fordham and Syracuse, sandwiching 10 straight losses. The sharp decline after an encouraging first season has left little Shane Beamer • South Carolina margin for error heading into Year Shane Beamer‘s fifth year at 3. South Carolina didn’t quite go to plan, with the Gamecocks finish- Mike Locksley • Maryland ing 4-8 and 15th (1-7) in the SEC. Maryland’s Mike Locksley reSouth Carolina’s stint in the AP mains squarely on the hot seat Top 25 was short-lived, entering after nearly identical seasons in the season at No. 13 in the pre- 2024 and 2025, finishing 4-8 overseason poll and falling out of the all and 1-8 in Big Ten play. In eight rankings entirely after a Week seasons, Locksley is 37-49 for the 3 loss to Vanderbilt. The Game- Terps, and the best years in the cocks lost six of their final eight stretch were back-to-back 8-5 seagames. sons in 2022 and 2023, when MaryBeamer returns with something land won its third bowl game in as to prove and he has quarterback many years. LaNorris Sellers, standout edge Locksley said the tough days are rusher Dylan Stewart and receiver behind the program at Big Ten Nyck Harbor to help. media days, looking forward to ramping up this season with what Luke Fickell • Wisconsin he described as one of the most It’s no secret Wisconsin’s Luke talented rosters during his time at Fickell is back on the hot seat — Maryland.

RABALAIS

Continued from page 1C appearance in Baton Rouge for Leavitt as he sat courtside next to LSU coach Lane Kiffin. Leavitt didn’t commit but instead was soon gone to Tennessee and Miami, his two recruiting visits after leaving Baton Rouge. What happened next was pure recruiting theater. Kiffin flew in pursuit of Leavitt to Knoxville — where the LSU coach once coached one season and where they don’t like him much more than they do at Ole Miss — to continue his pitch to Leavitt while on his Tennessee visit. Kiffin’s dogged determination worked, giving LSU the top-rated quarterback in the 2025-26 transfer portal cycle. “The portal process was pretty crazy,” Leavitt said. “I didn’t expect it to go in that direction. When I came out here and took my visit, I fell in love with the place.” Initially not so much in love that he didn’t leave Baton Rouge for those other visits, but sometimes love has to grow on you. His confirmed NIL deal, according to the recruiting site On3.com, of $4.5 million obviously helped. If that sounds like a lot of money — and it is — bear in mind that Miami reportedly ended up giving Darian Mensah $6.5 million after being spurned by Leavitt. That does tell you Leavitt’s love for LSU wasn’t merely transactional. The Kiffin/Charlie Weis Jr. factor (LSU’s offensive coordinator who followed Kiffin from Ole Miss) also plays an enormous part. Leavitt had to take a hard look at what they did with Trini-

he acknowledged it himself at Big Ten media days. A 4-8 record in 2025 was Wisconsin’s second straight losing season for the ﬁrst time since the early 1990s. The Badgers reached lows they hadn’t seen since the 70s this past season with shutout losses against Iowa and Ohio State in back-to-back weeks. Fickell hasn’t been able to replicate the level of success he had in Cincinnati yet, with a 17-21 record. Wisconsin opens against Notre Dame at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.

STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON

LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt sets up to make the pass during drills at fall practice on Monday at the team’s practice facility.

dad Chambliss last season with the Rebels, the prolific nature of Kiffin’s offenses throughout his tenure in Oxford, and figured this is where he would best grow into a polished NFL prospect. “It’s easy to sell on how well people play in a short period of time with us,” Kiffin said Monday. “They don’t have to come and wait a year and learn. “Him projected to miss spring and not be fully cleared in spring, we sold him on, ‘Hey, at the last place, without a spring, look at what the quarterback was able to do.’ We brought in pieces around him. I think it was kind of an easy

sell. Then you’re playing quarterback at LSU, which has been a pretty good move the last 10 years.” Those making that move to LSU, of course, include another Arizona State quarterback, Jayden Daniels, who in 2023 passed and ran his way to the Heisman Trophy. Sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett may have gotten Jayden Daniels’ former No. 5 to wear this season — a promise from his recruitment under Brian Kelly that, kudos to Kiffin, he decided to honor — but Leavitt gets transfer quarterback-turned-superstar expectations heaped on his shoulder pads. Before Daniels, it was Joe Burrow winning the Heisman Trophy and the national championship in 2019. Despite his Lisfranc foot injury that required season-ending surgery in 2025 — Leavitt proclaimed himself 100% healthy Monday — he goes into this season with shorter Heisman odds than Burrow had. Joe was 200/1 in August that year. Leavitt is 20/1. Not one of the top three or four favorites, but a contender based on the Kiffin/Weis magic and his dual-threat ability, a potent pairing of scheme and skill. “Sam’s an unbelievable leader,” said safety Ty Benefield, himself a highly touted transfer from Boise State. “I love the confidence and swagger he has. Also, his big-play ability to make things happen. It’s definitely good to have that in a quarterback. We talk after practice about things he sees from me and I tell him things I see with him. “He’s going to do great.” At LSU, if you’re a transfer quarterback, nothing less than great is expected.

LOS ANGELES — Former NFL quarterback Derek Carr has joined UCLA’s coaching staff as a special adviser to head coach Bob Chesney. The Bruins announced the hiring Monday of the 35-year-old Carr, who is volunteering in his ﬁrst major coaching role. The longtime Raiders starter will help Chesney and the Bruins’ offensive staff with game planning and strategy, and he will work with UCLA’s quarterbacks. “His experience, leadership and football knowledge will be an incredible resource for our coaching staff and student-athletes,” Chesney said in a statement. “What stands out most is his passion for the game and his commitment to developing young people. Derek will have a tremendous impact on our players and is a great addition to our program.” Chesney and his staff are in their first season in Westwood after he was hired away from James Madison last December. Carr’s connection to the job was through Bruins general manager Darrick Yray, an offensive assistant and an assistant director of football operations at Fresno State during Carr’s prolific career with the Bulldogs. “I’ve known Darrick for a long time and have great respect for the work he’s done throughout his career,” Carr said in a statement. “The opportunity to help Coach Chesney, the staff and the quarterbacks at UCLA was one that really excited me. I’m looking forward to sharing my expe-

riences and helping support the program in any way I can.” Carr is 22nd in NFL history after passing for 41,245 yards during his 11-season career with the Raiders and the New Orleans Saints. He is the Raiders’ career leader in yards passing, completions and passing TDs. Carr was a four-time Pro Bowl selection in Oakland and Las Vegas. After two subsequent seasons as the Saints’ starter, Carr retired from the NFL in May 2025 due to a serious right shoulder injury. Carr’s No. 4 is retired at Fresno State after he passed for 12,842 yards and 113 touchdowns, leading the nation in both categories in 2013 while winning the Sammy Baugh Trophy. At UCLA, Carr will work with presumptive starter Nico Iamaleava, the Tennessee transfer and Long Beach native who passed for 1,928 yards and 13 touchdowns last season for the Bruins. Iamaleava’s younger brother, Madden, is expected to be their backup quarterback in his second season in the program. Even before this high-profile addition to his staff, Chesney was already building early momentum in his significant rebuilding project at a program that has foundered over the past decade. Chip Kelly produced six mediocre seasons before he bolted from Westwood in February 2024, leaving the Bruins in the lurch after that winter’s coaching cycle had largely ended. Former UCLA star DeShaun Foster took over on short notice, but was fired three games into his second season last fall before the Bruins finished 3-9.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO By JASON BEHNKEN

Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr stands on the field before a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Jan. 5, 2025, in Tampa, Fla.

LEAVITT

“That’s kind of something that I prioritize in my life, I think, kind Continued from page 1C of on an extreme level.” A healthy Leavitt is essential for first-year LSU coach Lane all my routine and everything at Kiffin, who historically uses quarnight, it’s really zero thought pro- terbacks in the run game. Leavitt has been a plus runner when cess for me.” The foot had been on Leavitt’s healthy, racking up 306 rushing mind for some time because his in- yards in just seven games as a jury reportedly occurred early in redshirt sophomore. The former basketball player the 2025 season and lingered until he was ultimately shut down in late has a way of extending plays, jukOctober after a loss to Houston. He ing defenders and spinning out of tackles — as long as that foot isn’t had surgery quickly after that. Leavitt was admittedly a bit a hindrance. Kiffin certified his quarternaive in how fast he thought he’d back’s health after the opening recover. “I’d say it was definitely more practice of preseason camp, saying he wouldn’t have challenging within known Leavitt was the first four or five “I’d say it was ever hurt by the way months,” Leavitt definitely more he looked in practice. said. “I thought I was just going to snap challenging within It was just tough to the first four or independently veriback into being full fy with Leavitt doing go (after the April five months. I procedure).” thought I was just little more than takshort dropbacks Leavitt credited going to snap back ing and throwing routes LSU athletic trainer into being full go on air during media Dalis Boyette with (after the April viewing windows. putting together a plan The short video to limit his activity as procedure).” LSU released Sunhe recovered from the SAM LEAVITT, day, showing Leavitt second procedure. LSU quarterback, escaping the pocket, And the 21-yearwas further evidence old quarterback was on his recovery of his progress. Kiffin keen to follow the then added another staff’s instructions. He’s long been an optimizer, positive assessment Monday. He’s been “taking care of the whether it was his daily 7 p.m. shoulder mobility exercises as a ball,” Kiffin said, and throwing teen or the meditation practice he “accurate and on time.” “We have high standards of how took up at Arizona State. Leavitt has even found a local we want things and what we want farmer who supplies him his pro- them to look like. It was probably unrealistic what I was expecting duce. “My health is one thing that I him to look like when he can’t take very seriously,” Leavitt said. move and he’s just throwing with”Whether it’s the food I eat, the out really having his weight to be way I sleep, the way I recover able to push into,” Kiffin said. — it’s really never a question for “Now that he’s healthy, he’s had a me. You can ask everyone from great week. We’re really excited about him.” everywhere I’ve been.

6C ■ Tuesday, August 11, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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THIS WEEK IN BASEBALL

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STANDINGS

MLB’s worst teams in 2026 much more competitive

BY DAVID BRANDT

AP baseball writer

American League glance East Division

W 71 66 64 57 57

Tampa Bay New York Boston Baltimore Toronto

West Division

The full-blown tank is no longer trending in Major League Baseball. After a handful of infamous team performances in recent seasons — like the Colorado Rockies losing 119 games last season and the Chicago White Sox dropping an MLBrecord 121 games in 2024 — the worst teams have been much more competitive. In fact, there’s a decent chance that no team will lose 100 games for the ﬁrst time since 2017. The worst teams are the Rockies (46-72), Los Angles Angels (4573), Athletics (47-71) and Kansas City Royals (49-70), putting them all within reach of avoiding tripledigit losses even if they play belowaverage baseball. This year’s show of relative competitiveness by the league’s bottom feeders might just be a statistical outlier, though it might also be a sign that teams are viewing complete teardowns as a less compelling strategy. The Houston Astros paved the way for the all-out tank in the early 2010s when they lost at least 106 games in three straight seasons. It was a painful stretch but paid off in the coming years with World Series titles in 2017 and 2022. The problem is it doesn’t always work out as planned. The Baltimore Orioles were awful from 2018 to 2021 while they rebuilt their roster with high draft picks, but have zero playoff wins to show for it ﬁve years later. At last week’s trade deadline, they unloaded former No. 1 overall pick Adley Rutschman to the Boston Red Sox and appear headed for another rebuild.

Pre-game ejections Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale was ejected by umpire Dan Merzel before a pitch was thrown in Sunday’s game against the New York Yankees. The veteran lefty was still in a foul mood a day after being called for a balk that scored a run. Pregame MLB ejections are rare, but not completely unprecedented. San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin was ejected before a game against the Colorado Rockies in 2024 after he and bench coach Ryan Christensen delivered the lineup card to home plate umpire Alex MacKay.

L 46 52 54 62 63

Pct .607 .559 .542 .479 .475

GB — 5½ 7½ 15 15½

W 61 59 58 58 49

L 56 61 60 61 70

Pct .521 .492 .492 .487 .412

GB — 3½ 3½ 4 13

W 60 59 56 47 45

L 58 59 63 71 73

Pct .508 .500 .471 .398 .381

GB — 1 4½ 13 15

Central Division Chicago Minnesota Detroit Cleveland Kansas City Houston Texas Seattle Athletics Los Angeles

National League glance

Sunday’s games

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By CHARLIE RIEDEL

Kansas City Royals right fielder Jac Caglianone celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run in the seventh inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday in Kansas City, Mo. Earlier this season, Brent Suter of the Los Angeles Angels and Steven Wilson and Manuel Rodriguez of the Tampa Bay Rays were ejected because of a “standoff” following the “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Umpire Lance Barrett tossed the trio after they refused to leave the ﬁeld. Historically, former Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver is famous for a 1975 incident when he was ejected from the ﬁrst game of a doubleheader for arguing with umpire Ron Luciano. Before the second game even started, Luciaino tossed Weaver again when he continued arguing.

NL MVP race heats up The race for National League MVP is shaping up to be a classic. Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani and the Chicago Cubs’ uber-athletic Pete Crow-Armstrong have turned the competition into a two-man race with roughly 25% of the regular season remaining. As of Sunday, Crow-Armstrong was a slight favorite over Ohtani, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, and both teams are firmly in the playoff hunt. Crow-Armstrong is trying to earn his ﬁrst MVP award while Ohtani is chasing No. 5, which would be the second-most in MLB history behind Barry Bonds, who had seven. Here’s a look at the resume of both players. n Crow-Armstrong has blos-

somed into a full-blown superstar for the Cubs, greatly improving his consistency at the plate. He’s slashed .286/.388/.544 through Sunday’s games and has 26 homers, 71 RBIs and 30 stolen bases, all while playing an exceptional center ﬁeld. The two-time All-Star also has been worth 7.4 WAR so far this season, according to baseball-reference. com, which is the best in the big leagues. The two-time All-Star also has been worth 7.4 WAR so far this season, according to baseball-reference.com, which is the best in the big leagues. n Ohtani continues to be an offensive powerhouse, though his numbers are down from previous season. The Japanese standout is slashing .292/.395/.542 and has 26 homers and 71 RBIs. Unlike CrowArmstrong, Ohtani usually doesn’t provide any value in the ﬁeld, serving as designated hitter when he’s not pitching. But that’s the thing: When Ohtani is healthy, he is also one of MLB’s most dominant pitchers. The righthander has an 8-2 record and 1.79 ERA over 14 starters with 95 strikeouts over 852⁄3 innings. Ohtani hasn’t pitched since July 3, mainly because of soreness in his left knee. He resumed playing catch on Saturday and is slowly working toward a return to the mound. If he can provide a few good starts in September for the Dodgers, it might tip the MVP scale back in his favor.

East Division Atlanta Philadelphia Miami Washington New York

W 71 63 60 59 53

L 48 56 59 61 67

Pct .597 .529 .504 .492 .442

GB — 8 11 12½ 18½

W 74 69 59 58 56

L 44 50 59 62 61

Pct .627 .580 .500 .483 .479

GB — 5½ 15 17 17½

W 70 63 61 49 46

L 48 56 57 69 72

Pct .593 .529 .517 .415 .390

GB — 7½ 9 21 24

Central Division Milwaukee Chicago St. Louis Pittsburgh Cincinnati

West Division Los Angeles Arizona San Diego San Francisco Colorado

Sunday’s games

Atlanta 2, N.Y. Yankees 1, 10 innings Athletics 4, Boston 3 Miami 12, L.A. Angels 3 Chicago Cubs 10, Kansas City 2 Chicago White Sox 5, Cleveland 3 Philadelphia 7, Toronto 6, 12 innings Milwaukee 4, Minnesota 3, 10 innings Baltimore 10, Texas 5 Detroit 3, San Francisco 1, 10 innings Tampa Bay 4, Seattle 1 San Diego 7, Houston 2

Washington 7, Cincinnati 1 Atlanta 2, N.Y. Yankees 1, 10 innings N.Y. Mets 11, Pittsburgh 1 Miami 12, L.A. Angels 3 Chicago Cubs 10, Kansas City 2 Philadelphia 7, Toronto 6, 12 innings St. Louis 7, Colorado 4 Milwaukee 4, Minnesota 3, 10 innings Arizona 4, L.A. Dodgers 2 Detroit 3, San Francisco 1, 10 innings San Diego 7, Houston 2

Monday’s games

Toronto 2, Boston 1 Minnesota 9, Baltimore 5 Texas at L.A. Angels, n Tampa Bay at Athletics, n Houston at San Francisco, n Kansas City at L.A. Dodgers, n

N.Y. Mets 8, Atlanta 5 Philadelphia 6, St. Louis 5 Colorado at Arizona, n Milwaukee at San Diego, n Houston at San Francisco, n Kansas City at L.A. Dodgers, n

Tuesday’s games

Cleveland (Bibee 4-11) at Detroit (Anderson 4-4), 5:40 p.m. Seattle (Woo 8-8) at N.Y. Yankees (Weathers 5-7), 6:05 p.m. Boston (Sandoval 1-0) at Toronto (Cease 7-5), 6:07 p.m. Baltimore (Young 8-3) at Minnesota (Ober 7-3), 6:40 p.m. Cincinnati (Lodolo 3-2) at Chicago White Sox (Burke 7-6), 6:40 p.m. Texas (TBD) at L.A. Angels (Johnson 2-6), 8:38 p.m. Tampa Bay (Martinez 11-3) at Athletics (Barnett 1-2), 8:40 p.m. Houston (Brown 3-1) at San Francisco (Whisenhunt 2-3), 8:45 p.m. Kansas City (Wacha 5-8) at L.A. Dodgers (Snell 0-1), 9:10 p.m.

Tuesday’s games

Pittsburgh (Skenes 9-10) at Miami (Pérez 5-9), 5:40 p.m. Chicago Cubs (Imanaga 8-9) at Washington (Irvin 2-5), 5:45 p.m. N.Y. Mets (McLean 8-7) at Atlanta (Pérez 7-6), 6:15 p.m. Cincinnati (Lodolo 3-2) at Chicago White Sox (Burke 7-6), 6:40 p.m. Philadelphia (Sánchez 15-4) at St. Louis (Pallante 12-6), 6:45 p.m. Colorado (Sugano 11-5) at Arizona (Bratt 1-1), 8:40 p.m. Milwaukee (Harrison 9-2) at San Diego (Buehler 6-5), 8:40 p.m. Houston (Brown 3-1) at San Francisco (Whisenhunt 2-3), 8:45 p.m. Kansas City (Wacha 5-8) at L.A. Dodgers (Snell 0-1), 9:10 p.m.

BOX SCORES Toronto 2, Boston 1

N.Y. Mets 8, Atlanta 5

Boston

New York

Toronto

ab r h bi ab r h bi Sogard ss 4 0 1 0 Lukes rf 4 0 0 0 Rafaela cf 3 0 2 1 Bateman cf 4 0 1 0 Abreu rf 3 0 0 0 V.Guerrero 1b 4 0 1 0 Contreras 1b 3 0 0 0 Springer dh 4 1 1 0 Yoshida dh 2 0 0 0 Sánchez lf 2 0 0 0 White pr-dh 0 0 0 0 Straw lf 1 0 0 0 Durbin 3b 4 0 0 0 Giménez ss 4 0 1 1 Duran lf 4 0 1 0 McAdoo 3b 2 1 1 1 Seigler 2b 3 1 1 0 Clement 2b 1 0 0 0 Wong c 3 0 1 0 Smith 2b-3b 3 0 1 0 Monaste. ph 1 0 0 0 Valenzuela c 3 0 1 0 Totals 30 1 6 1 Totals 32 2 7 2 Boston 000 000 100 — 1 Toronto 000 011 00x — 2 E—Seigler (6). DP—Boston 0, Toronto 1. LOB—Boston 9, Toronto 8. 2B—Duran (12), Valenzuela (7). HR—McAdoo (2). SB—Springer (9), Giménez (16), White (5). SF—Rafaela (1). S—Seigler (2). IP H R ER BB SO Boston Gray L,14-3 6 6 2 2 1 4 Morán 2 1 0 0 0 1 Toronto Taillon 4 1 0 0 3 3 Woods Rich. W,2-7 3 4 1 1 1 2 T.Rogers H,24 1 0 0 0 1 1 Varland S,25-26 1 1 0 0 0 1 HBP—Gray (Sánchez). WP—Gray, Taillon. Umpires—Home, Charlie Ramos; First, Nestor Ceja; Second, Willie Traynor; Third, Chris Guccione. T—2:48. A—42,511 (39,150).

Atlanta ab r h bi ab r h bi Ewing cf-lf 5 1 1 0 Baldwin dh-c 5 1 2 1 Lindor ss 5 3 3 1 Acuña rf 4 0 1 1 Bichette 3b 3 1 1 1 Olson 1b 5 1 1 0 Benge rf 3 1 0 0 Harris cf 5 1 2 0 J.Young 1b 4 1 2 2 Albies 2b 2 0 0 0 Semien 2b 5 0 1 0 Dubón lf-ss 5 0 1 2 Baty lf 3 1 1 4 Riley 3b 3 1 1 0 Pache lf 0 0 0 0 Jarvis ss 2 1 0 0 Robert ph-cf 1 0 0 0 Ystrze. ph-lf 1 0 0 0 Polanco dh 3 0 1 0 Murphy c 3 0 1 0 Alvarez c 4 0 2 0 Smith ph 0 0 0 0 Mederos p 0 0 0 0 Totals 36 8 12 8 Totals 35 5 9 4 New York 511 000 001 — 8 Atlanta 200 210 000 — 5 DP—New York 1, Atlanta 1. LOB—New York 8, Atlanta 10. 2B—Ewing (16), Lindor (7), Baldwin (8), Murphy (1), Harris (25). HR— Baty (8), Lindor (11). SF—J.Young (2). IP H R ER BB SO New York Scott 4 7 4 4 1 6 Pintaro 1 1 1 1 2 1 Lavender H,3 1 1 0 0 1 2 Duarte W,1-0 2 0 0 0 1 0 Senga S,1-1 1 0 0 0 1 2 Atlanta Elder L,8-7 5 10 7 7 3 4 Suter 3 1 0 0 1 3 Mederos 1 1 1 1 1 1 Lavender pitched to 1 batter in the 7th. HBP—Scott (Albies), Mederos (Benge). WP—Pintaro. T—3:05. A—28,402 (41,149).

SCOREBOARD Hole-in-one Bobby Wade Course: Historic City Park Hole #, yardage: No. 1, 137 Club used: 9-iron Witnesses: Jerry Matthews, John Lancaster, Bert Brouillete

Odds MLB Tuesday

American League FAVORITE LINE at DETROIT -126 at N.Y YANKEES -133 at TORONTO -153 Baltimore -119 Texas -144 Tampa Bay -162 National League FAVORITE LINE Pittsburgh -122 Chicago Cubs -166 at ATLANTA -132 Philadelphia -170 Milwaukee -143 at ARIZONA -176 Interleague FAVORITE LINE at CHI. W. SOX -166 Houston -200 at LA DODGERS -282

UNDERDOG Cleveland Seattle Boston at MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS at ATHLETICS

LINE +103 +109 +125 -102 +122 +136

UNDERDOG at MIAMI at WASH. N.Y Mets at ST. LOUIS at SAN DIEGO Colorado

LINE +100 +140 +108 +138 +118 +143

UNDERDOG Cincinnati at SAN FRAN. Kansas City

LINE +135 +168 +222

Major League Baseball American League Leaders BATTING—Alvarez, Houston, .322; C.Simpson, Tampa Bay, .304; Ya.Díaz, Tampa Bay, .298; Jo.Jung, Texas, .294; Aranda, Tampa Bay, .286; McGonigle, Detroit, .286; Contreras, Boston, .285; Clement, Toronto, .284; Rafaela, Boston, .284; Witt, Kansas City, .284. RUNS—Alvarez, Houston, 79; Vargas, Chicago, 78; McGonigle, Detroit, 76; Neto, Los Angeles, 74; Arozarena, Seattle, 73; Rice, New York, 72; Alonso, Baltimore, 71; Caminero, Tampa Bay, 71; Henderson, Baltimore, 67; Meidroth, Chicago, 67. RBI—Alvarez, Houston, 86; Dingler, Detroit, 80; Rice, New York, 75; Alonso, Baltimore, 75; Aranda, Tampa Bay, 72; Caminero, Tampa Bay, 71; Contreras, Boston, 70; Okamoto, Toronto, 70; Kurtz, Athletics, 69; C.Montgomery, Chicago, 68; Bell, Minnesota, 68. HITS—Alvarez, Houston, 137; Ya.Díaz, Tampa Bay, 131; Clement, Toronto, 128; Rafaela, Boston, 126; McGonigle, Detroit, 125; C.Simpson, Tampa Bay, 124; Caminero, Tampa Bay, 123; Aranda, Tampa Bay, 122; Nimmo, Texas, 117; Greene, Detroit, 115; C.Young, Seattle, 115. DOUBLES—Clement, Toronto, 28; Rafaela, Boston, 28; Nimmo, Texas, 27; Vargas, Chicago, 26; Greene, Detroit, 25; Soderstrom, Athletics, 25; Alvarez, Houston, 24; Arozarena, Seattle, 24; Bell, Minnesota, 24; Jensen, Kansas City, 24; C.Walker, Houston, 24; Witt, Kansas City, 24. TRIPLES—C.Simpson, Tampa Bay, 6; Clemens, Minnesota, 5; Taveras, Baltimore, 5; Henderson, Baltimore, 4; Keith, Detroit, 4; Nimmo, Texas, 4; 17 tied at 3. HOME RUNS—Alvarez, Houston, 35; Caminero, Tampa Bay, 33; Rice, New York, 32; Murakami, Chicago, 26; Dingler, Detroit, 26; C.Montgomery, Chicago, 26; Buxton, Minnesota, 25; Alonso, Baltimore, 25; Okamoto, Toronto, 24; Vargas, Chicago, 24. STOLEN BASES—C.Simpson, Tampa Bay, 31; Witt, Kansas City, 31; Chisholm, New York,

30; Ramírez, Cleveland, 29; Caballero, New York, 28; J.Naylor, Seattle, 23; Arozarena, Seattle, 20; Mullins, Tampa Bay, 18; Walls, Tampa Bay, 18; Bazzana, Cleveland, 17; J.Duran, Boston, 17. PITCHING—S.Gray, Boston, 14-2; N.Martinez, Tampa Bay, 11-3; Rasmussen, Tampa Bay, 11-5; G.Williams, Cleveland, 11-6; Schlittler, New York, 10-6; Eovaldi, Texas, 10-9; Seymour, Tampa Bay, 9-3; Bradley, Minnesota, 9-4; Kay, Chicago, 9-5; Messick, Cleveland, 9-6; Soriano, Toronto, 9-6; D.Martin, Chicago, 9-6; McClanahan, Tampa Bay, 9-6. ERA—Schlittler, New York, 2.209; Cease, Toronto, 2.280; Messick, Cleveland, 2.568; N.Martinez, Tampa Bay, 2.651; Rasmussen, Tampa Bay, 2.751; S.Gray, Boston, 2.783; Burke, Chicago, 3.078; Soriano, Toronto, 3.243; Hancock, Seattle, 3.347; Montero, Detroit, 3.384. STRIKEOUTS—G.Williams, Cleveland, 185; Cease, Toronto, 184; Schlittler, New York, 182; Detmers, Los Angeles, 150; Bradley, Minnesota, 148; L.Gilbert, Seattle, 145; Burke, Chicago, 144; deGrom, Texas, 144; Gore, Texas, 140; Ryan, Minnesota, 138.

National League Leaders

BATTING—Arraez, Philadelphia, .320; O.Lopez, Miami, .318; Gonzales, Pittsburgh, .306; McCarthy, Colorado, .306; F.Freeman, Los Angeles, .303; Moreno, Arizona, .302; J.Lee, San Francisco, .298; Rumﬁeld, Colorado, .295; Ohtani, Los Angeles, .292; M.Harris, Atlanta, .291. RUNS—Wood, Washington, 100; Crow-Armstrong, Chicago, 84; Olson, Atlanta, 83; Reynolds, Pittsburgh, 80; Turner, Philadelphia, 80; Abrams, Washington, 74; Swanson, Chicago, 74; Turang, Milwaukee, 74; Wetherholt, St. Louis, 74; Ohtani, Los Angeles, 73. RBI—Abrams, Washington, 89; S.Stewart, Cincinnati, 87; J.Walker, St. Louis, 83; Burleson, St. Louis, 78; L.García, New York, 76; Pages, Los Angeles, 76; Turang, Milwaukee, 74; B.Lowe, Pittsburgh, 74; Wood, Washington, 73; Olson, Atlanta, 72. HITS—O.Lopez, Miami, 147; Arraez, Philadelphia, 143; Gonzales, Pittsburgh, 133; F.Freeman, Los Angeles, 132; Tatis, San Diego, 130; Crow-Armstrong, Chicago, 128; J.Walker, St. Louis, 127; Abrams, Washington, 126; Burleson, St. Louis, 126; Bichette, New York, 124; M.Harris, Atlanta, 124. DOUBLES—O.Lopez, Miami, 29; Olson, Atlanta, 29; Burleson, St. Louis, 28; Reynolds, Pittsburgh, 28; Devers, San Francisco, 27; F.Freeman, Los Angeles, 27; Turang, Milwaukee, 27; J.Lee, San Francisco, 26; Wood, Washington, 26; 8 tied at 25. TRIPLES—Carroll, Arizona, 13; Arraez, Philadelphia, 7; Crow-Armstrong, Chicago, 7; O.Lopez, Miami, 7; McCarthy, Colorado, 7; X.Edwards, Miami, 6; Perdomo, Arizona, 6; Stott, Philadelphia, 6; E.De La Cruz, Cincinnati, 5; L.García, New York, 5; Lile, Washington, 5. HOME RUNS—Schwarber, Philadelphia, 35; Goodman, Colorado, 34; Olson, Atlanta, 34; Wood, Washington, 30; Abrams, Washington, 28; Ohtani, Los Angeles, 26; CrowArmstrong, Chicago, 26; Harper, Philadelphia, 25; B.Lowe, Pittsburgh, 25; S.Stewart, Cincinnati, 25. STOLEN BASES—Nuñez, Washington, 40; Crow-Armstrong, Chicago, 30; E.Ruiz, Miami, 27; Tatis, San Diego, 26; O.Lopez, Miami, 23; Merrill, San Diego, 23; Abrams, Washington, 22; Stott, Philadelphia, 22; O.Cruz, Pittsburgh, 21; E.De La Cruz, Cincinnati, 21; D.Hamilton, Milwaukee, 21; Mangum, Pittsburgh, 21. PITCHING—C.Sánchez, Philadelphia, 15-4; Burns, Cincinnati, 13-2; Ashby, Milwaukee, 13-2; S.Alcantara, Miami, 13-6; F.Grifﬁn, Cleveland, 12-3; Pallante, St. Louis, 12-6;

Sale, Atlanta, 12-7; E.Rodriguez, Arizona, 114; Wrobleski, Los Angeles, 11-4; Misiorowski, Milwaukee, 11-5; B.Ashcraft, Pittsburgh, 11-5; Sugano, Colorado, 11-5. ERA—Misiorowski, Milwaukee, 1.759; Sale, Atlanta, 2.195; Burns, Cincinnati, 2.613; C.Sánchez, Philadelphia, 2.646; Yamamoto, Los Angeles, 2.648; E.Rodriguez, Arizona, 2.700; F.Grifﬁn, Cleveland, 3.062; Ray, San Diego, 3.243; Luzardo, Philadelphia, 3.320; M.King, San Diego, 3.367. STRIKEOUTS—Misiorowski, Milwaukee, 204; Luzardo, Philadelphia, 176; C.Sánchez, Philadelphia, 174; Skenes, Pittsburgh, 162; McLean, New York, 156; Sale, Atlanta, 151; B.Ashcraft, Pittsburgh, 145; Burns, Cincinnati, 143; Cavalli, Washington, 141; Wheeler, Philadelphia, 132.

Sunday’s games

Portland 4, Boston Legacy FC 3 Bay FC 0, Chicago 0, tie Angel City at Seattle, n

Eastern Conference

Saturday, August 15

Nashville Inter Miami CF New England Chicago New York City FC Cincinnati Charlotte FC New York D.C. United Orlando City Columbus Toronto FC Philadelphia CF Montréal Atlanta

Western Conference

L 2 2 6 6 6 6 7 7 5 10 8 7 10 10 12

T Pts 4 40 5 38 3 30 2 29 5 26 5 26 4 25 4 25 8 23 2 20 5 20 8 17 4 16 4 16 3 12

GF GA 35 14 45 32 28 23 32 23 31 24 45 44 29 27 29 39 26 29 30 47 26 28 24 32 25 33 24 35 19 33

W L T Pts GF GA Vancouver 10 3 4 34 38 17 Los Angeles FC 10 5 4 34 35 19 San Jose 10 5 3 33 37 24 Houston 10 6 2 32 27 24 Real Salt Lake 8 6 3 27 29 25 FC Dallas 7 5 6 27 32 25 St Louis City 7 6 5 26 24 24 Portland 7 8 3 24 33 33 Seattle 7 7 3 24 20 22 Minnesota United 6 6 6 24 20 25 Colorado 7 10 1 22 27 25 LA Galaxy 5 7 7 22 24 29 San Diego FC 5 7 6 21 32 29 Austin FC 4 9 5 17 22 36 Sporting Kansas City 4 12 2 14 18 46 NOTE: Three points for victory, one point for tie.

1, Haeran Ryu, .80%. 2, Jeeno Thitikul, .75%. 3, Isabello Fierro, .74%. 4 (tie), Dongeun Lee and Lottie Woad, .73%. 6, 5 tied with .72%.

Saturday, August 8

Houston 2, New England 0

Saturday, August 15

New York at Atlanta, 6:30 p.m. Columbus at Charlotte FC, 6:30 p.m. D.C. United at CF Montréal, 6:30 p.m. Cincinnati at Orlando City, 6:30 p.m. New England at Toronto FC, 6:30 p.m. LA Galaxy at Houston, 7:30 p.m. Miami at Nashville, 7:30 p.m. Sporting Kansas City at Colorado, 8:30 p.m. Minnesota at Real Salt Lake, 8:30 p.m. San Diego FC at Los Angeles FC, 9:30 p.m. St Louis City at San Jose, 9:30 p.m.

NWSL glance

W 12 11 10 10 9 9 8 7 7 7

L 3 5 5 7 6 7 6 7 7 10

T Pts 4 40 3 36 3 33 2 32 3 30 3 30 4 28 2 23 2 23 2 23

GF GA 24 12 29 17 31 19 24 20 32 26 29 25 28 25 24 17 20 21 23 29

Putts per GIR

1, Hyo Joo Kim, 1.71. 2 (tie), Minami Katsu and Angel Yin, 1.73. 4 (tie), Nelly Korda and Mi Hyang Lee, 1.74. 6, Gaby Lopez, 1.75. 7, 6 tied with 1.76.

Pro football NFL Preseason glance

Birdies

Thursday’s games

1, Aki Iwai, 249. 2, Lottie Woad, 225. 3, Miyu Yamashita, 219. 4 (tie), Minami Katsu and Haeran Ryu, 213. 6, Ina Yoon, 207. 7, Jin Hee Im, 205. 8, Jeeno Thitikul, 202. 9, 2 tied with 200.

Detroit at Cincinnati, 6 p.m. Green Bay at Pittsburgh, 6 p.m. Indianapolis at New England, 6:30 p.m. Arizona at Las Vegas, 7 p.m. L.A. Chargers at Houston, 7 p.m. Tennessee at San Francisco, 8 p.m.

Eagles

1, Brooke M. Henderson, 14. 2, Nelly Korda, 9. 3 (tie), Hye-Jin Choi, Minji Kang, Sei Young Kim and Ryann O’Toole, 8. 7, 6 tied with 7.

Friday’s games

Denver at Atlanta, 6 p.m. Miami at Washington, 6 p.m. Tampa Bay at N.Y. Jets, 6 p.m.

Sand Save Percentage

1, Pornanong Phatlum, .61%. 2 (tie), Peiyun Chien, Jin Hee Im and Nelly Korda, .59%. 5, Minjee Lee, .58%. 6 (tie), Minami Katsu and Patty Tavatanakit, .57%. 8, 3 tied with .56%.

Saturday’s games

Carolina at Buffalo, noon Cleveland at Chicago, noon Minnesota at N.Y. Giants, noon Jacksonville at New Orleans, 3 p.m. L.A. Rams at Kansas City, 3 p.m. Philadelphia at Baltimore, 6 p.m. Dallas at Seattle, 7 p.m.

Rounds Under Par

1, Miyu Yamashita, .59%. 2, Aki Iwai, .55%. 3, Nelly Korda, .76%. 4, Haeran Ryu, .69%. 5, Lottie Woad, .56%. 6, Jeeno Thitikul, .59%. 7, Minami Katsu, .56%. 8, Jin Hee Im, .53%. 9, Cassie Porter, .59%. 10, Ina Yoon, .58%. 11, Rio Takeda, .55%.

Pro basketball

Transactions

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

W 20 19 20 20 12 10 8

L 12 12 12 13 20 22 23

Pct .625 .613 .625 .606 .375 .313 .258

GB — ½ — ½ 8 10 11½

x-Minnesota Golden State Las Vegas Dallas Portland Los Angeles Phoenix Seattle

W 27 23 22 19 13 12 12 6

L 7 9 11 14 19 19 22 28

Pct .794 .719 .667 .576 .406 .387 .353 .176

GB — 3 4½ 7½ 13 13½ 15 21

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Sunday’s games

New York 111, Las Vegas 71 Washington 95, Phoenix 75 Minnesota 103, Dallas 90 Golden State 84 Los Angeles 78

Monday’s games

Atlanta 107, Toronto 95 Chicago at Seattle, n

Tuesday’s games

1, Nelly Korda, 69.18. 2, Haeran Ryu, 69.51. 3, Hyo Joo Kim, 70.16. 4, Jeeno Thitikul, 70.18. 5, Miyu Yamashita, 70.29. 6, Lydia Ko, 70.36. 7, Ruoning Yin, 70.63. 8, Ina Yoon, 70.73. 9, Sei Young Kim, 70.74. 10, Hannah Green, 70.76.

Greens in Regulation

Houston at North Carolina, 6 p.m. Washington at Angel City, 8 p.m.

W 12 11 9 9 7 7 7 7 5 6 5 3 4 4 3

LPGA Tour statistics Through Aug. 9 Scoring

1, Riley Smyth, 288.74. 2, Julia Lopez Ramirez, 288.55. 3, Auston Kim, 280.58. 4, Polly Mack, 279.46. 5, Suvichaya Vinjichaitham, 278.26. 6, Ina Yoon, 277.93. 7, Laney Frye, 277.63. 8, Nanna Koerstz Madsen, 276.33. 9, Helen Briem, 276.18. 10, Bailey Tardy, 274.47.

Kansas City at Gotham FC, 7 p.m. Denver Summit FC at San Diego, 9 p.m. Chicago at Seattle, 9 p.m. Bay FC at Utah Royals FC, 9 p.m.

Sunday, August 16

MLS glance

Pro golf

Driving Distance

Friday, August 14

Boston Legacy FC at Louisville, 5:30 p.m. Orlando at Portland, 7:45 p.m.

Soccer

Gotham FC Washington Utah Royals FC San Diego North Carolina Kansas City Portland Angel City Seattle Orlando

Denver Summit FC 5 7 5 20 22 23 Boston Legacy FC 5 8 5 20 19 24 Houston 5 8 5 20 19 25 Bay FC 5 9 3 18 18 24 Louisville 5 11 2 17 24 35 Chicago 4 13 0 12 9 33 NOTE: Three points for victory, one point for tie.

New York at Indiana, 6:30 p.m. Phoenix at Los Angeles, 9 p.m. Washington at Las Vegas, 9 p.m.

BASEBALL

Major League Baseball American League ATHLETICS — Reinstated 3B Zack Gelof from the 10-day IL. Designated SS Jonathan Ornelas for assignment. BALTIMORE ORIOLES — Recalled RHP Cam Sanders from Norfolk (IL). Optioned LHP Cade Povich to Norfolk. HOUSTON ASTROS — Claimed LF Nelson Velázquez off waivers from St. Louis. Designated 3B Shay Whitcomb for assignment. KANSAS CITY ROYALS — Agreed to terms with RHP Craig Kimbrel on a contract. Reinstated RHP Craig Kimbrel. Optioned RHP Easton McGee to Omaha (IL). LOS ANGELES ANGELS — Selected the contract of LHP Sammy Peralta from Salt Lake (PCL). Placed RHP Shaun Anderson on the 15-day IL. TORONTO BLUE JAYS — Recalled 2B Charles McAdoo from Buffalo (IL). Selected the contract of RHP Simeon Woods Richardson from Buffalo. Optioned LF Davis Schneider and RHP Lazaro Estrada to Buffalo. Designated C Willie MacIver for assignment. Sent RF Rudy Martin Jr. outright to Buffalo. National League ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS — Agreed to terms with RHP Zack Littell on a contract. Optioned RHP Kade Strowd to Reno (PCL). Designated RHP Paul Sewald for assignment.

LIVING

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

T u e s d ay, au g u s T 11, 2026

1dN

BUG OFF

Sooty mold isn’t a disease. It’s a sign of an insect problem. Here’s how to get rid of it. As summer wears on, it’s not uncommon to spy a crape myrtle in the Louisiana landscape whose bark — and maybe even leaves — appears to have grown a powdery, black crust. Usually, this is not a disease. It’s more likely to be something called sooty mold. “It’s actually GARDEN a fungus that NEWS is a symptom of the problem,” said LSU AgCenter entomologist Aaron Ashbrook. “It is growing on the sugary excretions from several different pest insects that are on the tree.” Those pests often include aphids, scales and mealybugs. They favor crape myrtles but also target other trees and shrubs, and they tend to come out in force in the heat of summertime. “They’re using their piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed upon the xylem and phloem to obtain sugary nutrients from the plant itself,” Ashbrook said.

STAFF PHOTOS By By MADDIE SCOTT

Turkey Tail is a type of mushroom that grows naturally in Louisiana, like here on a log in Baton Rouge’s Forest Community Park.

Fungi functionality What are functional mushrooms? Baton Rouge business says they may improve sleep, health, more

LSU AGCENTER FILE PHOTO

Aphids, whose sugary excretions provide a growing medium for sooty mold, can be seen on these crape myrtle leaves. The insects’ sticky waste, known as honeydew, lands on bark and leaves. “Honeydew has a little bit of sugary shine to it, and ultimately, that material will grow the sooty mold,” Ashbrook said. The problem isn’t limited to the infested plant. Honeydew can drip onto anything nearby — other plants, mulch, sidewalks and vehicles, for instance — and create sooty mold breeding ground. By the way, if you’ve ever stood under a crape myrtle and felt mysterious water droplets hitting your skin, that probably was honeydew.

BY MADDIE SCOTT

with a degree in biological engineering and moved to Massachusetts where she was one of the ﬁrst people in the country to cultivate cordyceps mushrooms, a medicinal fungus used in traditional Chinese medicine. Since moving back to Baton Rouge, Gros began selling tinctures in 2023.

Staff writer

rouched down in the middle of the woods in Baton Rouge, Jordan Gros pointed at something growing on the side of a log. “This is turkey tail,” said Gros, 31, a biological and agricultural engineer. “Turkey tail is one of the most studied mushrooms, and it’s very common across the U.S.” The fungi can improve metabolism, support healthy cholesterol levels and support a healthy gut microbiome, Gros said. It makes up one of five functional mushroom tinctures Gros sells through her small-batch mushroom tincture business, Mycocentrics, along with reishi, lion’s mane, cordyceps and chaga. On a Monday morning in August, Gros was on one of her routine foraging walks at Forest Community Park in Baton Rouge. The park is one of many sites ideal for mushroom foraging in the city. To find mushrooms, she first tries to spot microclimates where water might

Properties, extraction process Baton Rouge-based business Mycocentrics sells functional mushroom extracts in five different varieties. be held, usually in the form of fallen trees. She forages mushrooms for personal use but also enjoys the nature walk to spot snacks like muscadine grapes or bug-repelling leaves from the beautyberry plant. “I’ve always had that connection to nature, and I’ve always wanted my own lab,” Gros said. “That’s how I pictured myself, like a nerdy scientist.” Born and raised in Thibodeaux, Gros graduated from LSU in 2018

She sources her mushrooms from small farmers across the country to extract molecules that provide beneﬁts. On a normal day, Gros uses at least 2 milliliters of a tincture daily, often in her tea, but it can also be dropped directly on the tongue or added in a beverage. Lion’s mane is her most popular seller, which can support cognitive performance, memory, focus and mental clarity. It’s also the mushroom that got her into the business — following a skiing incident, Gros used lion’s mane when recovering from head and spinal injuries. She gets the most feedback from reishi, because customers have

ä See MUSHROOMS, page 2D

ä See MOLD, page 2D

Popular Asian bakery franchise to open second location in BR BY MADDIE SCOTT Staff writer

An Asian bakery franchise called 85°C Bakery Cafe is coming to Baton Rouge in the fall. The franchise has over 1,000 locations worldwide. This will be its second location in Louisiana, the ﬁrst having opened in Metairie by owner Yeoh Ah Ho in May 2025. Ah Ho is also behind the new capital region location, currently under con-

struction inside a 3,300-squarefoot space, formerly the Subway in Siegen Village (7044 Siegen Lane). The bakery will likely open by late September or early November, he said. It’ll look almost exactly like the Metairie location, interior-wise and menu-wise. “I think Baton Rouge is a good area,” Ah Ho, a Metairie resident, said.

ä See BAKERY, page 2D

85°C will have a large selection of pastries baked in-house every day. A variety of pastries at the Metairie location is pictured here.

PROVIDED PHOTO By yEOH AH HO

Food bank plans community kitchen initiative Staff report The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank announced plans on Tuesday for the creation of a community kitchen in partnership with another local nonproﬁt. According to a news release, the community kitchen will combine the Food Bank’s distribution network, volunteer base and regional reach with local nonprofit Three O’ Clock Project’s experience in food rescue and child nutrition programs.

ä See KITCHEN, page 2D

2D ■ Tuesday,August 11, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

lll

The unsolved case of addressing strangers

phone. So you call out — what? DEAR MISS MANNERS: Some months One category of entries pleaded ago, you asked your readers for a way of addressing strangers whose for warmth. “Friend” was the most gender is not obvious, but common suggestion, deI have not seen the answer. We need it, so as to keep scribed by one reader as from insulting unknown “a way to convey respect people when we need to get and warmth. A lovely, their attention and don’t calm way to interact.” One want to say “Hey, you.” Gentle Reader added, “I Judith Didn’t anyone have any try to make it a bit more Martin formal by expanding it to ideas? Did you give up? MISS GENTLE READER: No; there ‘good friend.’ I do not think MANNERS were many charming the Quakers have minded suggestions, and yet the my appropriation of it.” question is still open. Picky Miss Another asked, “Why not use Manners is not quite happy that the word ‘dear’? While techniany submitted so far would pass cally it’s a term of endearment, her test for usefulness. it’s a fairly safe one used mostly That test is to imagine that outside of romantic context by someone is about to exit a cafe, friends and acquaintances.” having scooped up their laptop Going a step further, someone and papers, but leaving a cellwrote, “My dear aunt, now in her 90s, uses ‘love’ — ‘Yes, love,’ phone on the table. You need to or ‘Love, would you mind …’ We shout something to stop this perneed more love these days.” son, who will be gone before you A second category emphasized can get to the door to return the

TODAY IN HISTORY By The Associated Press Today is Tuesday, Aug. 11, the 223rd day of 2026. There are 142 days left in the year. Today in history: On Aug. 11, 1934, the first federal prisoners arrived at Alcatraz Island, a former military prison, in San Francisco Bay; the island would be home to more than 1,500 prisoners over the next three decades, including gangsters Al Capone and James “Whitey” Bulger, before closing in 1963. Also on this date: In 1919, Germany’s Weimar Constitution was signed by President Friedrich Ebert. In 1929, Babe Ruth became the first baseball player to reach 500 career home runs with a homer at Cleveland’s League Park. In 1949, President Harry S. Truman nominated Gen. Omar N. Bradley to become the first chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In 1952, Hussein bin Talal was proclaimed King of Jordan, beginning a reign lasting nearly 47 years. In 1956, abstract painter Jackson Pollock died in an automobile accident on Long Island, New York, at age 44. In 1965, rioting that claimed 34 lives and lasted six days broke out in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. In 1972, the last U.S. ground combat troops left South Vietnam to return to the United States. In 1973, at a house party in the Bronx, 18-year-old DJ Kool

KITCHEN

Continued from page 1D This initiative will transform a 5,000-square-foot space inside of the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank’s existing facility (10600 S. Choctaw Drive) to add a commercial production kitchen, culinary classroom and workforce training center, the news release stated. The initial operations are expected to produce approximately 1,000 meals daily, and there’s capacity to expand as food rescue efforts grow and partners join the initiative. Elizabeth Pﬁfer, president and CEO of the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, said the community kitchen is a step forward toward meeting the needs of neighbors. “It’s more than just preparing meals,” Pfifer said. “It’s about creating opportunity, improv-

Herc began extending the musical breaks of the records he was playing and speaking over the beat, marking the (unofﬁcial) birth of hip-hop music. In 1992, the Mall of America, the nation’s largest shopping and entertainment center, opened in Bloomington, Minnesota. In 1997, President Bill Clinton made the ﬁrst use of the lineitem veto, rejecting three items in spending and tax bills. (The U.S. Supreme Court later struck down the veto as unconstitutional.) In 2012, more than 300 people were killed and more than 3,000 injured after earthquakes struck near Tabriz, Iran. In 2014, Academy Awardwinning actor and comedian Robin Williams died in Tiburon, California, at age 63. Today’s birthdays: Magazine columnist Marilyn Vos Savant is 80. Country music singer John Conlee is 80. Computer scientist and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is 76. Musician Joe Jackson is 72. Playwright David Henry Hwang is 69. Actor Viola Davis is 61. Actor Embeth Davidtz is 61. Actor-host Joe Rogan is 59. Actor Anna Gunn is 58. Actor Sophie Okonedo is 58. Rock guitarist Charlie Sexton is 58. Hip-hop artist Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest) is 56. Actor Will Friedle is 50. Rock singer Ben Gibbard is 50. Actor Merritt Wever is 46. Actor Chris Hemsworth is 43. Rapper Asher Roth is 41. Political commentator Tomi Lahren is 34. Actor Alyson Stoner is 33.

ing health and building a stronger community. The community kitchen will help us feed more people, transform more surplus food into nutritious meals and develop a sustainable model that has the potential to be adapted and replicated in communities across Louisiana and beyond.” Emily Chatelain, founder and executive director of Three O’Clock Project, said her nonproﬁt has seen ﬁrsthand how consistent access to nutritious meals can change a child’s trajectory and strengthen the entire family. “This community kitchen will allow us to rescue more food, prepare more healthy meals and reach more children through trusted community partners,” Chatelain said. “By combining our hands-on meal production and child nutrition experience with the Food Bank’s scale and reach, we are building a lasting solution for South Louisiana.”

MOLD

Continued from page 1D To get rid of sooty mold, you must get rid of the insects that cause it. To do this, Ashbrook suggests applying a systemic insecticide to the plant’s roots. “But we want to be protecting our pollinators, so be sure to use those products when ﬂowers and blooms are not present,” Ashbrook said. Alternatively, spray the plant with a solution of 1 tablespoon of natural Castile soap mixed into 1 gallon of water to help control both insects and sooty mold. You also can dislodge insects with a strong blast of water. Ashbrook recommends keeping ant populations in check, too. “They will farm or tend the scales or aphids,” he said.

respect. Many argued for “Your honor.” One advocate added, “Yes, it’s used for judges in the courtroom, but if we use it out of the courtroom, I don’t think we’ll confuse most people, most of the time.” “Your grace” also made an appearance in this category. “You don’t need to be Christian to believe in the value of grace, with implied graciousness, in the world,” wrote a Gentle Reader, who then acknowledged, “Perhaps reviving and widening this usage would be rejected as too strongly implying subservience or entitlement.” Similarly, “Noble” was suggested, with the question “Since ‘sir’ and ‘ma’am’ were originally used for those of rank and nobility, why not skip straight there in honoring someone?” And “Peer,” which can refer to aristocracy, but also to “an equal in excellence or endowments: In song he never had his peer. A compan-

n Vitamins B and C are waterDear Heloise: People spend money on vitamins without knowing soluble and can be taken without when and how to take food. When taken with food, them. Certain vitamins they’re absorbed slower. will do their job best when What your body can’t use they are absorbed or ride will be eliminated through along with certain foods. your waste product. n Vitamin C will have the For example: n Fat: Soluble vitamins best effect if taken little Hints from by little all day long. A, E, D and K are best Heloise Calcium tablets work absorbed when they are best with vitamin D, but taken with fat-rich foods such as whole milk, butter, oil and be very careful because excesyogurt. If at all possible, take them sive amounts of vitamin D can be with your largest meal of the day. harmful.

n Zinc and folate tablets work well when taken together. n However, a word of warning: Before taking any of these vitamins, please consult with your doctor about whether you should be taking any vitamins at all. While vitamins can provide a beneﬁt, they can also cause harm if they’re not taken correctly or not taken in moderation. — Brent K., in Fayetteville,Tennessee

Send a hint to heloise@heloise. com.

STAFF PHOTO By MADDIE SCOTT

MUSHROOMS Continued from page 1D

told her that it’s allowed them to sleep through the night. For athletes, Gros recommends her personal favorite: cordyceps, which can promote more balanced, long-lasting energy through cellular energy (adenosine triphosphate) production and supported lung function, physical endurance and muscle recovery after exercise. Each tincture is part of a batch made from a multiday, dual-extract process in her lab where a portion of the mushroom is extracted into organic cane ethanol, and the other portion of it is extracted into distilled water. Gros uses a dual-extract process because certain molecules will only be extracted into one or the other, she said.

Pastries, sweets, coffee, more

Keep in mind that sooty mold won’t vanish immediately, even once the insects are under control.

Send questions to Miss Manners at her website, www. missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Jordan Gros, owner of Mycocentrics, shows off a jar of functional mushroom extract, left, and dried cordyceps mushrooms.

Continued from page 1D

LSU AGCENTER FILE PHOTO

by a daughter that it is used in science ﬁction — and if it is good enough for those good folks in the future, it is good enough for me.” And “Peeps” was suggested as “nonoffensive in any way, and kind of endearing.” One person wrote that they were “taking inspiration from your own ‘Gentle Reader’ usage” and trying “’GentleSoul’ … It is digniﬁed, easy to say, respectful, benevolent and a compound of two familiar parts.” Do any of these pass the test? Miss Manners does not believe so. She would not, for example, suggest yelling “Folk!” at a stranger in a crowded cafe.

Take vitamins with appropriate food

BAKERY

Mulch covered with sooty mold under a crape myrtle

ion; a fellow; an associate: He all his peers in beauty did surpass.” A third category simply acknowledged humanity. Several suggested “Human.” And there were many advocates for “Person,” with the possibility of its being shortened to “Pers,” and the argument that “it has no particular baggage.” Also presented was “Folk,” with the interesting explanation that “Originally and properly it had no plural, being a collective noun; but in modern use, in America, it has lost its singular number, and we hear it only in the plural. Since we have already adopted a plural pronoun (they) to describe one person, I imagine people could get used to this.” Finally, there is a miscellaneous category. “Cer” was suggested by a Gentle Reader as “a neutral derivation of ‘Ser,’ a Latin contraction of ‘Senhor,’ having been assured

The bakery has an assortment of sweets galore. Cakes in ﬂavors of red velvet, deluxe chocolate mousse, tiramisu, ube cream or creme brulee, available by the slice or in 8-inch cakes. “We make all the bread fresh every day,” he said. “Fresh everything. We will be here 4 o’ clock in the morning baking or maybe earlier.” There’ll be an assortment of over 50 pastries, which can be ordered individually or in box sets. Pastries span a variety of categories includ-

“By doing both, I’m able to make a full spectrum product, and that’s really where the beneﬁt comes,” Gros said. “It’s not one molecule. It’s not two molecules. It’s these hundreds of molecules working in synergy together.” The process is held under low temperatures to make a terpenerich extract, the same terpenes that, for example, give reishi mushrooms a bitter taste and also may help improve sleep. The tinctures are sold on Gros’s website, but they’re also available in some Baton Rouge businesses such as Rad Dad Alternative and Focus and Flow.

outside to play. But contrary to popular belief, touching mushrooms isn’t dangerous. Even touching poisonous mushrooms isn’t dangerous, because the toxins aren’t absorbed through the skin, Gros said. “I encourage people to get out into nature and start learning about them,” Gros said, “and that might help with the mycophobia.” The practice of using mushrooms for medicinal benefits traces back to 5,300 years ago, according to the National Library of Public Medicine, and today, certain mushrooms are an approved prescription medicine in countries like China and Japan, including Centuries-old practice turkey tail. “Humans have been using them Medicinal mushrooms may turn some people away due to learned for thousands of years,” Gros mycophobia (the fear of mush- said. “So, I believe that anecdotal rooms), Gros said. In America, evidence is part of the supporting children often grow up hearing, evidence that people should con“Don’t touch that” when they go sider.”

ing Danishes, strudels, croissants, cruffins, rolls, toast and more. Those who like matcha may enjoy the strawberry matcha bun, a soft, matcha-green bun filled with strawberry custard and topped with whipped cream and freezedried strawberries. There’s also ube bread, a classic sweet bread filled with ube filling and topped with ube stripes. For a savory profile, try the pork sung bun, a Taiwanese bun topped with dry shredded pork and 85°C blend mayonnaise sauce. Those who enjoy kolaches may want to try the cheese dog, a soft bread wrapped around a hot dog, with cheddar and mozzarella cheese, then baked with ketchup, light mayonnaise, black

pepper and dried parsley. The beverage menu includes coffee, matcha, herbal teas, Thai tea, boba milk tea, fruit smoothies and more.

Opening day freebies An exact opening date hasn’t been nailed down yet, but Ah Ho expects the bakery to open by late September or early November. On opening day, the ﬁrst 100 customers will get a free T-shirt, and if they spend above $30, they’ll get complimentary swag like a free tote bag, hat or mug, Ah Ho said. The first 10 customers may receive $25 gift cards. The bakery will be open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Tuesday, August 11, 2026 ■ 3D

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FrAnK And erneSt

roSebUdS

zItS

zodIAC LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Let your personality shine through and your enthusiasm mesmerize those you want on your team. How you present what you want to accomplish and promote who you are will determine who wants to tag along. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) You'll be tempted by suggestions. Use information as a starting point to dissect and establish how you can incorporate what might work to help improve your skills and develop your plans. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Put your best foot forward and let your charm and intellect lead the way. Refuse to show disappointment or upset if someone gives you a hard time; instead, come back with kindness. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) It's time to take a step back and reevaluate your situation. If you refuse to rush into something you have even the smallest reservation about, you'll spare yourself money, time and upset. Pay attention to detail. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Ride the wave, and engage in what excites you. Pay attention to where your money goes and the returns you receive. You can bring in cash if you handle your investments with insight and intelligence. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Communication with someone close to you will confuse and unnerve you. Don't let anger set in when what's necessary is having the ability to redirect your energy into something that works for you. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Observe what outsiders have to offer. If you show inter-

est, you'll receive double the information regarding how to avoid pitfalls and make the most out of what you want to pursue. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Put your energy into domestic solutions and improvements. Change may not be required, but an adjustment that offers space to redesign what's important to you will lead to better results. ARIES (March 21-April 19) Put your imagination to work. Explore the possibilities, and put your talents to good use. Being social will allow you to pick the brains of people who have something to contribute to your well-being and prospects. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Slow down, consider the consequences and refrain from sharing too much personal information. Focus on using your skills and traits to ferret out specifics regarding domestic and professional situations. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Push for answers. Having open dialogue will be your ticket to success. If you explore activities and projects of interest, you'll expand your mind and insight into what's possible. CANCER (June 21-July 22) Go over documents carefully, and make changes that protect you from being taken advantage of. Leave nothing to chance, and refuse to give anyone the right to disrupt your life. 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: E EQUALS H

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon FAMILY CIrCUS

dooneSbUrY

4D ■ Tuesday,August 11, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The 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. Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

BaBY BLueS

BLondie

THe wiZard oF id

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La TimeS CroSSword

The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Tuesday,August 11, 2026 ■ 5D

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B.C.

Bridge BY PHILLIP ALDER James Thurber, a cartoonist, playwright, author and wit, asked of an unknown voice, “If I called the wrong number, why did you answer the phone?” In bridge, working out the right number is a big help. In this deal, South and East have to come up with the important figures. South is in three no-trump. West leads the heart four. How should South plan the play? South’s two-no-trump rebid is in principle game-forcing. North may pass only with fewer than six points and no long suit. This agreement gives the responder the three-level to suggest alternative strains, or to start a slam investigation. South has eight top tricks: three spades, three hearts (given the lead) and two diamonds. Obviously, he should hope for a 3-2 diamond break to generate the extra winner that he needs. But since dummy has no entry outside diamonds, South should lead a low diamond from his hand and play low from the board. What should happen after that? It will be tempting for East to win the trick and return his second heart. But with this layout, South runs home with an overtrick. Since West is known to have only four hearts (he led a fourth-highest four, and the two and three are in the dummy), East should realize that even if West has

garfield

Pearls Before swiNe

hagar the horriBle

strong hearts, one diamond and three hearts will not produce the number of tricks needed to defeat the contract. Instead, East should hope his partner has good clubs. After overtaking West’s diamond nine with his jack, East should shift to the club six. Here, that works perfectly. © 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 — BAtHER: BAY-ther: One who swims or takes a bath.

Bizarro

marmaduKe

Average mark 19 words Time limit 25 minutes Can you find 23 or more words in BATHER? YEstERDAY’s WoRD — LEAGuEs lase league lease lues luge eagle ease easel else

ague alee gale glee glue usage sage sale seal

segue slue slug

loCKhorNs hidato Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

today’s thought “For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knows that you have need of these things.” Luke 12:30 God knows what we need and when we need it. Trust the Lord. — G.E. Dean

6D ■ Tuesday,August 11, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate

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classifieds.theadvocate.com Search Search& &Place PlaceAds AdsOnline Onlineatatclassifieds.theadvocate.com classifieds.theadvocate.com* Call * Call -Friday Us Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM at 225-383-0111 8AM-5PM at 225-383-0111

Announcements Private Sitter, 6 Years Experience in Private Sitting with the Senior Citizens. Call for more information 225-379-0773. ANYONE knowing the whereabouts of any property owner, heir or other related person, in regard to the properties listed below, please contact the East Baton Rouge CityParish, Department of Development – Neighborhood Revitalization Ofﬁce at 225-389-8680. 2704 TECUMSEH ST DAVID AND KATIE EVERITT 3586 CANONICUS ST PAULETTE JACKSON 2601 NORTH BLVD GREGORY STEVEN LATHAN 2628 EDGEWOOD DR MACWCP II LLC 1834 GAYOSA ST VALENTINO BUILDERS, LLC 2963 TECUMSEH ST UNITED COMPANIES LENDING CORPORATION 8225 DENBO DR TERYL CHAMBERS VINCENT 4676 SHERWOOD ST EVA M SCOTT HARRIS 1075 PARLANGE DR THE ESTATE OF VIVIAN MOORE AND THE ESTATE OF 1137 S 15T RUSSELL KELLY 725 N 26TH ST MARION L REDDITT SANDRA R GORDON & KATHY R JONES 2536 HURON ST EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD 2515 HURON ST ISAAC HENRY MASON 3224 TECUMSEH ST ROBERT JORDAN 2842 FAIRFIELDS AVE TSCHAKIWA J SMITH 5562 WINBOURNE AVE EBR OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 3461 N FOSTER DR JENNIFER SMITH BELL 3419 MYRTLELAWN ST INVEST PROPERTIES, LLC 4121 PROVOST ST CLAUDE WASHINGTON 4062 PROVOST ST IVY LEE REED & LORRAINE GRAY REED 6233 MATTHEWS ST VANCE ALLEN SMITH 2425 70TH AVE LESTER J MENDEZ 1556 FRATERNITY ST MODERN DAY MANAGEMENT, LLC 3430 NEWBURY DR JBFH CORPORATION 3422 ARBOR VITAE DR HANH T TRAN 233 GATEBRIAR AVE SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATTN: AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EXTENSION 6453 ARBOR VITAE DR

Public Notices

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE --The Louisiana Ofﬁce of State Parks is requesting proposals for a PublicPrivate Partnership pro‐ ject to design, construct, and operate a high-qual‐ ity recreational vehicle campground and related amenities. For more in‐ formation go to opportu‐ nitiesinlouisiana.com. 192994-jul 2-aug 31-t PUBLIC NOTICE The Planning Commis‐ sion of the City of Baton Rouge and the Parish of East Baton Rouge will hold a public meeting on Monday, August 17, 2026 at 5:00 p.m., in Room 348, City Hall located at 222 St. Louis Street, 3rd ﬂoor, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Planning Commis‐ sion will consider the fol‐ lowing rezoning requests and amendments to the “Comprehensive Land Use Plan” as indicated: PUBLIC HEARINGS – CITY & PARISH CURRENT ZONING CASES: PA-5-26 17060 Florida Boulevard To amend the Comprehensive Land Use Plan from Residential Neighborhood and Com‐ mercial to Commercial, located on the south side of Florida Boulevard, east of South Stevendale Road, on property now or formerly known as Tract LL of the A. J. Melancon Tract. Section 73, T7S, R2E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Coun‐ cil District 4- Moak) CASE 28-26 17060 Florida Boulevard To rezone from Rural to Light Commer‐ cial Two (LC2) on prop‐ erty located on the south side of Florida Boulevard, east of South Stevendale Road, on property now or formerly known as Tract LL of the A. J. Melancon Tract. Section 73, T7S, R2E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Coun‐ cil District 4- Moak) CASE 27-26 3680 and 3696 Dalton Street To rezone from Single Family Resi‐ dential (A2) to Neighbor‐ hood Commercial (NC) on property located on the south side of Dalton Street and west of North 38th Street, on property now or formerly known as Lots 115 and 116 of Highland Gardens Subdi‐ vision, Square 286. Sec‐ tion 61, T6S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 7- Harris) CASE 29-26 7122 Florida Boulevard To rezone from Heavy Commercial (C2) to Commercial Alcoholic Beverage (restaurant) (CAB-1) on property lo‐ cated on the south side of Florida Boulevard, east of Croydon Avenue, on property now or formerly known as a portion of Lot 5 of Florida Plaza Subdi‐ vision. Section 82, T7S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Coun‐ cil District 7- Harris) A certain tract of land designated as Lot 5, Florida Plaza Subdivision (2nd Filing), having a mu‐ nicipal address of 7122 Florida Boulevard, Suites A & B, containing 3,440 square feet, located in Section 82, T-7-S, R-1-E, Greensburg Land District, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, and being more particularly de‐ scribed as follows: Com‐ mencing at the north‐ west corner of Lot 5, Florida Plaza Subdivi‐ sion, on the south rightof-way line of Florida Boulevard, proceed S 00° 00' 00" E a distance of 56.00 feet to a point and corner; thence, proceed N 90° 00' 00" E a distance of 28.00 feet to a point and corner, this being the Point of Beginning; thence, proceed N 90° 00' 00" E a distance of 43.00 feet to a point and cor‐ ner; thence, proceed S 00° 00' 00" E a distance of 80.00 feet to a point and corner; thence, proceed N 90° 00' 00" W a dis‐

IVORY L WHITFIELD 8268 INNOVATION PARK DR WILLIE E ZANDERS 1925 BRIGHTSIDE DR JENNIFER KAY ROSZELL 2605 TOULON DR FRANCIS N TRAN 9721 JUDI AVE DALE WAYNE GORDON, JR 9397 W DARRYL PKWY MERCHELLE ROBINSON 2135 VICKERS DR JAYLIN JOHNSON 650 WOODDALE BLVD CADLES OF WEST VIRGINIA, LLC 725 S BURGESS DR HJOHNNY ENGLISH DAWSON 10332 OLD HAMMOND HWY RESHONDA RICHARD 2683 LINWOOD AVE MARY T GANT 643 WINDINGWAY MARY KELLY 1486 FIG ST LEOLA ROBERTSON SCOTT 4234 MAPLE DR TAMMY BROWN 2500 ERIE ST EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD 1250 W GRANT ST FRANKLIN WATSON JUANDRIKA MILLER-WATSON 3046 BRANDYWINE THE ESTATE OF JOSEPH PEYTON PARKER, JR 1728 N 44TH ST DONNIE L CARTER 5544 MADISON AVE KIMBERLY DESHAWN ROGERS 3424 BEECHWOOD DR GLORY DAVIS 2585 DOUGHERTY BERNARD KIBODI 2806 EATON ST TAYLOR WILLIAMS 4284 O'DELL ST THE ESTATE of ELNORA PROFIT JOHNSON C/O BETTY JONES 4030 O'DELL ST BERNARD JONES 914 N 36TH ST WARDEL MARIE JACKSON 1185 N ACADIAN THWY E BRIA COLEMAN 1572 SORA ST BENJAMIN THOMAS 1914 72ND AVE ALAN W JUDERJAHN 3014 69TH AVE THE ESTATE OF MAE ALMA BEACHEM / C/O TABBITA REED 763 FLICKER ST FRANK B MILICAN, JR 6739 VINEYARD DR CAROLE SCOTT 5624 TIOGA DR PATRICK SIGNATER, JR 848 BAIRD DR JONATHAN BARON WILLIAM PEAK 3324 CRESTAIRE DR MICHAEL DELONE 3683 EATON ST THOMAS HUBBLE, II 9166 W POMONA DR DOUGLAS JOSEPH CAULFIELD 1608 THOMAS H DELPIT DR EVONNE THOMAS/ MABLE SCOTT 2107 CEDARDALE AVE CLARENCE E HALL 3789 KEOKUK ST

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

R1W, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 2 – Ken‐ ney) CASE 23-26

Rouge, as contained in and made part of the “Uniﬁed Development Code “, as amended so as to change the zoning on the property located at 228 West Chimes Street To rezone from Heavy Commercial (C2) to Commercial Alcoholic Beverage (bar and lounge) (C-AB-2) on prop‐ erty located on the north side of West Chimes Street, west of Highland Road, on property now or formerly known as a por‐ tion of Lot 6 of the Cam‐ panile View Subdivision, Square 1. Section 54, T7S, R1W, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 10 Coleman) CASE 25-26

Legal Notices

tance of 43.00 feet to a point and corner; thence, proceed N 00° 00' 00" W a distance of 80.00 feet to the Point of Beginning. CUP-6-26 2340 Tulip Street Proposed acces‐ sory dwelling on prop‐ erty located on the south side of Tulip Street, east of Drehr Avenue, on property now or formerly known as Lot 7-A of Drehr Place Subdivision, Square 10. (Council Dis‐ trict 10- Coleman) CS-9-26 Dolly Tucker and Alice Westbrook Property (14987 Port Hudson-Pride Road) Proposed ﬂag lot minor subdivision lo‐ cated on the north side of Port Hudson-Pride Road, west of Robinson Road, on property now or formerly known Lot B-2 of the Alice Westbrook Property. (Council Dis‐ trict 1- Noel) Run Dates: 8/7/2026 8/11/2026 8/13/2026 196304 Aug. 7, 11, 13, 2026 3t $163.89

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

PUBLIC NOTICE --REQUISITION 11297769 OFFICIAL PUBLIC NOTICE OF THE REGULAR ZONING MEETING OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL OF THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE AND THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE Notice is hereby given to all citizens of the City of Baton Rouge, Parish of East Baton Rouge and to all other interested per‐ sons, of the introduction at the regular meeting of the Metropolitan Council of the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, held on July 22, 2026, of the pro‐ posed ordinances, the ti‐ tles of which are set forth hereinafter, and that public hearing will be held thereon by the Metropolitan Council at 4:00 P.M., Wednesday, August 19, 2026, in the Council Chambers (Room 348) on the third floor of the City-Parish Govern‐ mental Building in this City, these proposed or‐ dinances being entitled as follows: ORDINANCE Amending the Compre‐ hensive Zoning Map of the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, as contained in and made part of the “Unified Development Code “, as amended so as to change the zoning on the property located at 13118, 13122, 13126, 13130 and 13040 Scenic Highway To amend the Comprehensive Land Use Plan from Neighborhood Center to Industrial, lo‐ cated on the east side of Scenic Highway, south of Rafe Mayer Road, on property now or formerly known as Lot Y-1 and 118-B of the Shady Acres Subdivision. Section 48, T5S, R1W, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 2 - Ken‐ ney) PA-4-26 ORDINANCE Amending the Compre‐ hensive Zoning Map of the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, as contained in and made part of the “Unified Development Code “, as amended so as to change the zoning on the property located at 13118, 13122, 13126, 13130 and 13040 Scenic Highway To rezone from Heavy Commercial (C2) and Limited Residential (A4) to Light Industrial (M1) on property located on the east side of Scenic Highway, south of Rafe Mayer Road, on property now or formerly known as Lot Y-1 and 118-B of the Shady Acres Subdivi‐ sion. Section 48, T5S,

JBJ REALTY LLC REGISTEREED AGENT: JONATHAN GORDILLO 1502 LEHMANN ST WILMER HARDY AND LISA SUMMERS MILLER 4025 MONROE AVE ISAAH DUNN JR & KIM YVETTE BURKES DUNN 2608 WASHINGTON AVE CRAIG T AND FANNIE MAE G JOHNSON 16444 CEASAR AVE CARLOS GARCIA 3829 FLORIDA BLVD WALEED MOHAMED AHMED ALGAMAL 2432 DELTA ST MILDRED SIMS GIVENS 2024 SILVEREST AVE ROY DOUGLAS CHAPPELL 5822 LARCHWOOD DR VICTOR DUNCAN 527 W BUCHANAN ST BERNICE R SIDEBOARD 963 MAXIMILIAN ST CHARLET PROPERTY GROUP, INC /C/O BRENT CHARLET 1073 SOUTH S AMEKA THOMAS 1201 CHARLES T SMITH DR LPI VI LLC 5080 JACKSON AVE TEVH, LLC 3904 MONROE AVE MARGARET MCCLAIN SNYDER 4044 ODELL ST THOMAS WASHINGTON, JR 990 N 35TH ST KESHANDRA LATRECE MCINTYRE 7911 KEEL AVE BSC INDUSTRIES LLC 7951 KEEL AVE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF GREATER BATON ROUGE, INC 1947 MARINER DR CHUQING HE 12617 WARWICK AVE RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST 10094 AVENUE B ESTATE OF WOODROW GEORGE 1923 75TH AVE LADONNA ROBERTSON 5915 WRIGHT DR GREGORY WILLIAMS 1923 HARDING BLVD TINA HENDERSON 8114 BAYOU FOUNTAIN AVE MICHAEL S JOSEPH 1724 LAUREL ST ROBERT KYLE PHILLIPS JAMES LUTHER MARTIN 14314 SUNNYHILL AVE BRANDON WASHINGTON 2045 SAINT CROIX AVE TERRY L PIXLEY 5252 BRIGHTSIDE VIEW DR PAUL J MOONEY 2432 DELTA ST MILDRED SIMS GIVENS 2578 JURA ST ANN DEAN ROBERTSON 1162 N 35TH ST VELMA MILTON 790 N 35TH ST RITA D MILLIGAN 4608 OSBORNE AVE KENDRICK T HUNT 1246 N 37TH ST VANESSA BROWN 1355 N 36TH ST

ORDINANCE Amending the Compre‐ hensive Zoning Map of the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, as contained in and made part of the “Uniﬁed Development Code “, as amended so as to change the zoning on the property located at 9798 Greenwell Springs Road To rezone from Light Commercial (C1) to Commercial Alco‐ holic Beverage (restau‐ rant) (C-AB-1) on prop‐ erty located on the south side of Greenwell Springs Road, west of Platt Drive, on property now or for‐ merly known as a portion of Lot C of the W.A. Henry Lee Tract. Section 26, T6S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Coun‐ cil District 5 – Hurst) CASE 22-26 ORDINANCE Amending the Compre‐ hensive Zoning Map of the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, as contained in and made part of the “Uniﬁed Development Code “, as amended so as to change the zoning on the property located at 4743, 4747, 4751, 4755 and 4759 Peerless Street and 4730 Paige Street To rezone from Single Fam‐ ily Residential (A2) to Two Family (A2.9) on property located on the north side of Peerless Street and south of Paige Street, east of Moon Street, on property now or formerly known as Lot 9-A, 10-A, 11-A, 12-A, 13-A and 40-A of the Fortune Addition Subdivision, Square 11. Section 96, T6S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 5 Hurst) CASE 24-26 ORDINANCE Amending the Compre‐ hensive Zoning Map of the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton

PRESTON CHUBE 6586 GLEN OAKS DR MARLON M MCCOY 1621 SWAN AVE VIEWPOINT DEVELOPMENT & CONSTRUCTION COMPANY 2943 REBECCA LYNN AVE NATHAN G WILSON 8855 GOVERNOR PLEASANT DR BRON R NOEL 763 FLICKER ST FRANK B MILLICAN, JR 10591 AVENUE D DAVID EVERITT 5435 SILVERLEAF AVE DANIEL G BOWMAN 5858 KILONA DR CHARLENE PORTER 3425 GERLANDO DR ANDREW GRANT 5133 N AFTON PKWY E&E PREFERRED PROPERTIES, LLC 7767 TOM DR HARRY P ROBERT

APPLIANCES Side by Side stainless steel Whirlpool Refrigerator, like new. 36"X 69". $500. Call 225-205-3316.

Baton Rouge Real Estate For Sale COMMERCIAL PROPERTY Selling Business only not building. Don't have enough workers to run. Has great potential in Reeve's shopping center. Has all equipment needed to boil crawﬁsh, fry seafood plates amongst other foods with warmer in front. Asking price 50k negotiable and rent is needed to negotiate with landlord. Call or Text Steve 225-341-9235

APARTMENT 3060 N. Acadian Thrwy (Wtr/Swr Pd) 1BR/1BA, Rent $500, Dep $100 225-357-6436

Merchandise Appliances for sale Black Frigidaire gas stove. Black Frigidaire refrigerator Cash only $185.00 for both. 225-284-3950 civello.email@gmail.com

AREA 3

3017 Chippewa St. 3BR 1BA Rent $800/mo $300/dep 225-357-6436

HOUSE 3Br/1Ba $950/month $700/deposit. 2571 72nd Avenue. Section 8 welcome. Call 225-355-6004

Baton Rouge Rental

196825-Aug 10-16, 7t $6,033.10

APARTMENTS 655 North St Subsidized Efﬁciency Apartments cpabr.org 225-383-5551 TDD/TTY 711 RELAY

APARTMENT AREA 5 1BR $600, 2BR $700 Tigerland. $500 Deposit. 225-475-1737

MOBILE HOME 1, 2 & 3 BR mobile homes, $675 & up 6061 Plank Rd. CALL 225-978-4653 ROOMS FOR RENT Furnished Rooms. $125/wk. $500/mo. 225-933-7560

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PLACE YOUR PET SERVICES INFORMATION IN THE PET SERVICES DIRECTORY TODAY! • IT IS FAST AND EASY! • CALL 225-383-0111 DOGS 3 Female German Shepherd puppies, S/W $350. 11wks old. 225-205-4311

DOGS Chihuahuas, Long hair, tiny, born 4/1/26, shots & wormed. Lafayette area 937-844-7271 Mia's GoldenDoodles 6-11-26 3M/2F Vet Chkd, $800 SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY!! CASH ONLY! 5043077786 5045411098

CATS RAGAMUFFIN & RAGDOLL KITTENS www.CatsByFrancy.com/kittens $1500up! Reg. Shots & Guaranty 337-230-3150

MORKIES, SHORKIES, BISHON YORKIES, CKC YORKIES vet checked shot worming meet Gulfport $450 334 467-3416

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min y y known as the W. Y. Pettit Tract of the Eva T. Graves Land LLC and Tract 8-B-2A of H. B. Weiland Prop‐ erty. Section 33, T5S, R1E, GLD, EBRP, LA (Council District 2 - Kenney) MCUP-1-26 195383 July 28, 1t $278.83

Public Notices Successions

PUBLIC NOTICE --19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH STATE OF LOUISIANA SUCCESSION OF ROBERT LEE TURGEON PROBATE NO. 119022, SEC. 25 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR AUTHORITY TO SELL IMMOVABLE PROPERTY AT PRIVATE SALE NOTICE IS GIVEN that Linda Dianne Turgeon, as Administratrix of the Succession of Robert Lee Turgeon, has, pursuant to the provisions of the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure, Articles 3281 and 3282, petitioned this Honorable Court for au‐ thority to sell at private sale for the price of TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY THOUSAND AND NO/100 DOLLARS ($260,000.00), the Succession’s ﬁfty percent (50%) interest in and to the following de‐ scribed property:

Public Notices Successions grounds measuring ap proximately (#152 × 28 × 59 × 54 × 41 × 51 × 59). NOW AND THEREFORE, in accordance with law, notice is hereby given that Linda Dianne Tur‐ geon, as Administratrix of the Succession of Robert Lee Turgeon, pro‐ poses to sell the afore‐ said immovable property, at private sale, for the price and upon the terms aforesaid, and the heirs, legatees, and creditors are required to make op‐ position, if any they have or can, to such sale, within seven (7) days, in‐ cluding Sundays and hol‐ idays, from the date whereon the last publica‐ tion of this notice ap‐ pears. _____________ CLERK OF COURT East Baton Rouge Parish State of Louisiana Signed this 20th day of July, 2026 ATTORNEY: M. Janice Vil‐ larrubia-1500 Lobdell Ave., St. A, Baton Rouge, 0806 (22 ) 38 800

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Public Notices Successions Ave., St. A, Baton Rouge, LA 70806: (225) 381-7800 PUBLICATION: The Advocate Newspaper-10705 Reiger Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70809: (225) 288-0128 194905 July 22, Aug. 11 $ PUBLIC NOTICE --19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH STATE OF LOUISIANA SUCCESSION OF ROBERT LEE TURGEON PROBATE NO. 119022, SEC. 25 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR AUTHORITY TO SELL IMMOVABLE PROPERTY AT PRIVATE SALE NOTICE IS GIVEN that Linda Dianne Turgeon, as Administratrix of the Succession of Robert Lee Turgeon, has, pursuant to the provisions of the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure, Articles 3281 and 3282, petitioned this Honorable Court for au‐ thority to sell at private l f th i f TWO

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Public Notices Successions thority to sell at private sale for the price of TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY THOUSAND AND NO/100 DOLLARS ($260,000.00), the Succession’s ﬁfty percent (50%) interest in and to the following de‐ scribed property: Family home bearing mu‐ nicipal address of 5845 South Shore Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70817, East Baton Rouge Parish, described as follows: WARD 3, SUBDIVISION: LAKE AT WHITE OAK, LOT 164, THIRD FILING, RESUB. 1986 On lands and grounds measuring ap‐ proximately (#152 × 28 × 59 × 54 × 41 × 51 × 59). NOW AND THEREFORE, in accordance with law, notice is hereby given that Linda Dianne Tur‐ geon, as Administratrix of the Succession of Robert Lee Turgeon, pro‐ poses to sell the afore‐ said immovable property, at private sale, for the price and upon the terms aforesaid, and the heirs, legatees, and creditors are required to make op‐ position, if any they have or can, to such sale, within seven (7) days, in‐ dh l l di S d

Public Notices Successions within seven (7) days, in cluding Sundays and hol‐ idays, from the date whereon the last publica‐ tion of this notice ap‐ pears. _____________ CLERK OF COURT East Baton Rouge Parish State of Louisiana Signed this 20th day of July, 2026 ATTORNEY: M. Janice Vil‐ larrubia-1500 Lobdell Ave., St. A, Baton Rouge, LA 70806: (225) 381-7800 PUBLICATION: The Advocate Newspaper-10705 Reiger Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70809: (225) 288-0128 194905 July 22, Aug. 11 $92.48

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Family home bearing mu‐ nicipal address of 5845 South Shore Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70817, East Baton Rouge Parish, described as follows: WARD 3, SUBDIVISION: LAKE AT WHITE OAK, LOT 164, THIRD FILING, RESUB. 1986 On lands and grounds measuring ap‐ i t l (#152 28

VISIT BATON ROUGE Special Board Meeting Notice & Agenda Date: August 11, 2026 Time: 12:00 Noon Location: Visit Baton Rouge Office 359 Third Street I.

Call to Order

II. Opportunity for Public Comment

Rowdy Gaudet Rowdy Gaudet

III. New Business A. Discussion/action in connection with consideration of a Angie Adolph resolution giving the Chair, Vice-Chair, and/or Secretary/Treasurer of the Board authority to review any offers to purchase, to select the purchaser, and to approve terms of not exceeding Seven Million Dollars ($7,000,000.00) of Revenue Bonds, Series 2026. B. Discussion/action in connection with consideration of a Jill Kidder/Danielle Prejean resolution giving the Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary/Treasurer and Jill Kidder, President & CEO of VBR the authorization and approval to enter into a banking relationship with Renasant Bank. C. Discussion/action in connection with consideration of a Jill Kidder/Henry Olinde resolution giving Jill Kidder, President & CEO of Visit Baton Rouge and Rowdy Gaudet, Chairman of the Board authorization to enter a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Baton Rouge to provide Interim Management of River Center Facilities. D. Discussion/action in connection with consideration of a Jill Kidder/Henry Olinde Resolution giving Jill Kidder, President & CEO of Visit Baton Rouge the authorization and approval to engage with Hunden Partners to provide professional advisory services related to the solicitation and selection of a private management company to manage and operate the River Center Facilities. IV. Adjourn 196808-675817-aug 11-1t $ 64.68

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8D ■ Tuesday,August 11, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

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Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF BAKER PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA COUNCIL CHAMBERS 3325 GROOM ROAD, BAKER, LOUISIANA 70714 www.youtube.com/@bakerforward July 28, 2026 - 6:00 p.m. The City Council of the City of Baker, Louisiana, met in regular session on July 28, 2026, with the following members in attendance at the meeting: MAYOR Darnell Waites

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

PUBLIC MEETING 1. Adopt Ordinance 2026-25, an Ordinance directing the levy and collection of an ad valorem tax of ten (10) mills on the dollar of assessed valuation of all property subject to taxation within the geographic boundaries of the City of Baker, State of Louisiana, for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2027 and ending with the year 2036, for the purpose of providing funds for salaries for third engine personnel and increasing salaries and benefits for all employees of the Fire Department of the City who are members of the Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service System (Mayor) (Introduced 7/14/2026) Public meeting was held. The title of the ordinance was read by Aneatra Boykin. The mayor called for public comments or questions.

COUNCIL MEMBERS Desiree Collins Rochelle Dunn Cedric Murphy Dr. Charles Vincent Robert Young

The motion was made by Council Member Dunn, seconded by Council Member Young to adopt Ordinance 2026-25. The mayor called for public comments or questions.

CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Waites presided. The invocation was given by Council Member Murphy. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Council Member Vincent. ***Public comment shall be observed before a vote is taken on any agenda item. Such comments shall not exceed 3 minutes and shall be confined to the agenda item and any proposed disposition thereof.*** DISPOSITION OF THE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The motion was made by Council Member Dunn, seconded by Council Member Murphy to approve the minutes of the meeting held on July 14, 2026. The mayor called for public comments or questions.

ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS The mayor stated that the city worked on the gravel portion of the parking lot at Baker High School and the area is much improved. The mayor clarified that the newly constructed neighborhood Sunshine Gardens, is in fact, within the city limits of the City of Baker. The mayor reported that the state will begin construction on a new prison facility on Groom Road.

Vote was called for. YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Vincent, Young NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None The motion passed with a vote of 5-0.

Council Member Young asked that discussion be initiated regarding the installation of a traffic light at the intersection of Groom Road and Highway 964.

The motion was made by Council Member Vincent, seconded by Council Member Dunn to move item number three up on the agenda to number one under Resolutions and Proclamations. The mayor called for public comments or questions.

Regarding the City of Baker school system, the mayor stated that the goal is to have everyone who attends a Baker school in K-8, eventually attend Baker High School. The mayor announced the city will begin work on the walking track soon. The mayor stated the construction work on Groom Road will be completed in 2027.

Vote was called for. YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Vincent, Young NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None The motion passed with a vote of 5-0.

ANNOUNCEMENTS/COMMENTS 1. District 3 announcements (Collins) Council Member Collins stated the mayor and council will be attending the LMA convention the first week of August, and that the mayor will be inducted as President at that time. She announced the Baker Jr. Buffs are now enrolling those interested in playing football or cheering for this upcoming season. She announced District 3 is hosting a “Mental Health and Mingle” workshop on Sunday, August 19, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Jefferson Street Park. Dinner will be provided free of charge.

RECOGNITIONS PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS RESOLUTIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS 1. Proclamation recognizing and celebrating Dr. Barbra Thomas-Parker (Dunn) The proclamation was read by Aneatra Boykin. Council Member Dunn commended Dr. Thomas-Parker and presented her with a token of her appreciation and support. 2. Resolution to promote dignified discourse communication (Mayor) The resolution was read by Aneatra Boykin.

Vote was called for. YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Vincent, Young NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None The motion passed with a vote of 5-0.

and

productive

The mayor called for public comments or questions. The motion was made by Council Member Collins, seconded by Council Member Murphy to adopt the resolution. The mayor called for public comments or questions. Vote was called for. YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Vincent, Young NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None The motion passed with a vote of 5-0.

2. District 2 announcements (Dunn) Council Member Dunn congratulated the mayor on being President of LMA. She announced there will be a community softball game on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at the BREC park on Chamberlain Avenue from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. She asked that everyone come out and support this community event. 3. District 1 announcements: thanks to mayor and Public Works Department for picking up litter before cutting grass and thanks for Lavey Lane and Thomas Road rights-of-way, speed bumps on Morvant possibilities, etc. (Vincent) Council Member Vincent thanked everyone who participated in the backto-school giveaways. He thanked the mayor and Public Works Department for picking up the litter along the Lavey Lane and Thomas Road rights-ofways before cutting the grass in these areas. He also thanked everyone who participates in his Friendly Neighbor Keeper initiative on the third Saturday of every month. He stated a constituent has contacted him regarding speed bumps on Morvant.

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

3. Proclamation declaring July 25, 2026, Arts and Health Day in the City of Baker (Mayor) The proclamation was read by Aneatra Boykin. The motion was made by Council Member Dunn, seconded by Council Member Vincent to accept the proclamation. The mayor called for public comments or questions.

Council Member Young stated there is a possibility of a celebratory event taking place once everyone returns from the LMA convention in honor of the mayor being LMA President. APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

Vote was called for. YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Vincent, Young NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None The motion passed with a vote of 5-0.

CONDEMNATIONS

4. Proclamation declaring July 2026 Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month in the City of Baker (Vincent) The proclamation was read by Aneatra Boykin. The motion was made by Council Member Vincent, seconded by Council Member Murphy to accept the proclamation. The mayor called for public comments or questions. Vote was called for. YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Vincent, Young NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None The motion passed with a vote of 5-0.

REPORTS ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS 1. Planning and Zoning Commission 2. Annexation Review Committee 3. Economic Development Team 4. Heritage Museum/Related Committees 5. ABC Board 6. Other Special Committees a. Buffalo Festival b. Prayer Breakfast c. Strategic Planning Committee d. Citizens Advisory Board to Law Enforcement e. Main Street District Committee ADJOURN The motion was made by Council Member Dunn, seconded by Council Member Collins to adjourn. The mayor called for public comments or questions.

5. Proclamation declaring July 2026 National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in the City of Baker (Vincent) The proclamation was read by Aneatra Boykin. The motion was made by Council Member Vincent, seconded by Council Member Dunn to accept the proclamation. The mayor called for public comments or questions. Vote was called for. YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Vincent, Young NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None The motion passed with a vote of 5-0.

The meeting was adjourned. CITY OF BAKER PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA I, Angela Canady Wall, certify that I am Clerk of the Council for the City of Baker, Louisiana, and that the above and foregoing is a copy of the minutes of a regular meeting of the Council for the City of Baker, Louisiana held on July 28, 2026. ____________________________________ Angela Canady Wall, LCMC Clerk of Council

NEW BUSINESS 1. Entergy’s Beat the Heat Grant Presentation (Mayor) Desiree Harris, Entergy’s Customer Service Manager, announced that through Entergy’s “Beat the Heat” program each council member will receive fans to distribute in their district. Entergy’s “Beat the Heat” program helps vulnerable customers stay cool and manage energy bills during the summer months by providing bill payment assistance, fans, energy efficiency kits, and resources from community partners. The program also connects customers with Single Stop, a free service that helps them access financial assistance and other support.

MINUTES BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS NORMAN E. “PETE” HEINE MEMORIAL GARDENS CITY OF BAKER PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA 3325 GROOM ROAD BAKER, LA 70714 July 28, 2026

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

of Commissioners for Norman E. “Pete” Heine Memorial Gardens, met in regular session on July 28, 2026, with the following members in attendance at the meeting: COMMISSIONERS Desiree Collins Rochelle Dunn Cedric Murphy Dr. Charles Vincent Darnell Waites Robert Young CALL TO ORDER – Commissioner Waites presided. DISPOSITION OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The meeting was called to order and the motion was made by Commissioner Waites, seconded by Commissioners Dunn/Murphy to approve the minutes of the meeting held on July 14, 2026. Commissioner Waites called for public comments or questions. Vote was called for. YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Vincent, Waites, Young NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None The motion passed by a vote of 6-0. PUBLIC NOTICE NEW BUSINESS OTHER NECESSARY BUSINESS 1. Monthly Business Report 2. Other Reports 3. Items Requiring Action ADJOURN There was no other business to come before the commission. The motion was made by Commissioner Waites, seconded by Commissioners Collins/Dunn to adjourn. YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Vincent, Waites, Young NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None The motion passed by a vote of 6-0.

CITY OF BAKER PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA I, Angela Canady Wall, certify that I am Clerk of the Council for the City of Baker, Louisiana, and that the above and foregoing is a copy of the minutes of a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners for the Norman E. “Pete” Heine Memorial Gardens held on July 28, 2026. _________________________________ Angela Canady Wall, LCMC Clerk of Council MINUTES BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BAKER CONSOLIDATED UTILITIES SYSTEM CITY OF BAKER PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA 3325 GROOM ROAD BAKER, LA 70714 July 28, 2026 The City Council of the City of Baker, Louisiana, sitting as the Board of Commissioners for the Baker Consolidated Utilities System, met in regular session on July 28, 2026, with the following members attending: COMMISSIONERS Desiree Collins Rochelle Dunn Cedric Murphy Dr. Charles Vincent Darnell Waites Robert Young

A brief discussion regarding the process for installing speed bumps was held. Council Member Vincent asked for points of clarification regarding the businesses that were approved at the last Planning and Zoning meeting. Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Willie Williams answered Council Member Vincent’s questions. Council Member Vincent asked the mayor if the city can do anything about the sidewalks in his subdivision. The mayor stated the only way the city will become involved with sidewalks is if the situation is a safety issue.

Public Notices Meet/Hear/Min

CALL TO ORDER – Commissioner Waites presided. DISPOSITION OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The meeting was called to order and the motion was made by Commissioner Waites, seconded by Commissioner Murphy to approve the minutes of the meeting held on July 14, 2026. Commissioner Waites called for public comments or questions. Vote was called for. YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Vincent, Waites, Young NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None The motion passed by a vote of 6-0. PUBLIC NOTICE NEW BUSINESS OTHER NECESSARY BUSINESS 1. Monthly Business Report 2. Other Reports 3. Items Requiring Action ADJOURN There was no other business to come before the commission. The motion was made by Commissioner Waites, seconded by Commissioners Dunn/ Vincent to adjourn. Commissioner Waites called for public comments or questions. Vote was called for. YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Vincent, Waites, Young NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None The motion passed by a vote of 6-0. CITY OF BAKER PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA I, Angela Canady Wall, certify that I am Clerk of the Council for the City of Baker, Louisiana, and that the above and foregoing is a copy of the minutes of a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Baker Consolidated Utility System held on July 28, 2026. _________________________________ Angela Canady Wall, LCMC Clerk of Council

The City Council of the City of Baker, Louisiana, sitting as the Board

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